The Gold Standard: Lenchita's

Pulitzer Prize-winning critic and LA Weekly columnist Jonathan Gold seeks out some of the best pressed-to-order tortillas in town. At Lenchita's, women slap out the tortillas the old fashioned way – by hand, then toss them onto the grill. Lenchita's specializes in stews like chile verde, smoky strips of grilled pork stewed in a spicy chile broth, accompanied by rice and beans plus a stack of tasty tortillas. Lenchita's also makes hard-shelled tacos; gorditas, a sort of Mexican pita bread, stuffed with lettuce, meat and cheese; and sopes, fried masa mounded with lettuce, meat and cheese. Jonathan also recommends Lenchita's soups, especially the menudo and albondigas (meatball).

Lenchita's Tortillas Restaurant

13612 Van Nuys Blvd (east of Laurel Canyon Blvd)

Pacoima, CA 91331

818-899-2623

If I Had You by Bucky Pizzarelli and Frank Vignola