Eat Out. Lotería Farmers Market.

I'd been wanting to try the Farmers Market Lotería for a long time, and finally did on Wednesday night for a colleague's going-away party. I had a potato and cheese quesadilla and cantaloupe agua fresca. And then I went back for lunch on Thursday and got shredded beef tacos (photo above). It's so fresh and flavorful--really great Mexican food. The setting is open-air and really casual, perfect for meeting friends after work or for a quick lunch alone.

Last fall, I wrote about brunch at Hollywood's Lotería Grill.

6333 West Third Street in Los Angeles. Info: loteriagrill.com, (323) 930-2211

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: the BEAT

Eat Out. Lotería Grill.

I was halfway through my Sunday brunch when I realized I should blog about it.

Huevos rancheros at Lotería Grill in Hollywood are a great morning or mid-day meal, especially after a late Sidecar-filled night. The dish is on the menu with fried eggs, but our waiter was more than happy to adjust the egg preparation to scrambled at my request. The melon agua fresca was delicious, and the salsa that came with the chips was one of the tastiest spicy salsas I've ever had. The mashed potatoes (Papa con Rajas) were also notably scrumptious.

The Hollywood location is clean and bright, with large Lotería-style cards as decorations, so learning a few new Spanish words is an added bonus while you're there.

Lotería Grill is located at 6627 Hollywood Blvd. in Hollywood. Info: loteriagrill.com, (323) 465-2500. There's also a popular Farmers Market location, and one in Studio City.

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: the BEAT

Eat Out. La Capilla.

La Capilla has gotten the thumbs up as the best place for Mexican food in the South Bay for years, and after a recent visit it's not hard to see why. Generous portions and flavorful sauces with unique ingredients (I'm sure they put cinnamon in their enchilada sauce) this is a very good Mexican restaurant.
A girlfriend recently told me about their birthday menu (a free meal on your birthday) and I went with a few friends on my birthday and we were all happy.

Pictured above is one of their many birthday dinners, two enchiladas, beans and rice. The cheese was very tasty. I'm sure it was a blend of Mexican queso fresco and other cheeses, rather then just cheddar and monterey jack which even many good Mexican restaurants seem to use.

The friends I was with also said their beef was very good -- moist and flavorful like shredded pot roast. Most meals are under $10 making this a very affordable dinner out. One friend even had their special which was $6 for a taco, beans, rice, and a second side. Enough for her dinner and lunch the next day.

La Capilla is in Old Town Torrance and also next to a decent brewery with some good locally brewed beers on tap.

La Capilla is located at 1332 Sartori Ave.

-- Lauren Williams