Sonoratown

Sonoratown brings the cooking of Sonora, in northern Mexico, to Downtown Los Angeles. Where most of the city's taquerias lean on corn tortillas, Sonoratown is known for thin, soft flour tortillas made by hand with pork lard, in the Sonoran tradition, and its meats are grilled over a fire for a smoky edge. The original Downtown shop on East 8th Street has been joined by locations in Mid-City and Long Beach.

The menu is short and well chosen. The caramelo is a flour tortilla folded around pinto beans, Monterey Jack, avocado salsa, salsa roja, avocado and cabbage, with grilled meat if you wish; the chivichanga is a slim, crisp rolled burrito filled with shredded chicken or beef, cheese, blistered tomato and smoky Anaheim chilli. Tacos are made with grilled steak and other fillings, and the salsas are fresh.

Prices are low, portions are satisfying and service is fast, so it is ideal for a quick lunch or a casual dinner between sights. The Downtown shop is small and can be busy at peak lunch hours, and many people take their food away or eat on the go. Ordering at the counter is straightforward, and the staff can explain the menu if you are new to Sonoran food.

All three locations are open every day from 11am to 10pm, which makes Sonoratown a reliable option on any day of the week. It suits budget travellers, solo diners and anyone looking for a different take on Los Angeles tacos.

The Downtown shop sits in the Fashion District and Historic Core fringe, a short walk from the Broadway theatres and the 7th Street/Metro Center station. For questions, catering or large orders, Sonoratown lists a single phone number for all locations and the email [email protected]. Sonoran cooking is built around beef and wheat rather than the corn-based dishes found further south in Mexico, and the flour tortillas here are thinner and more delicate than many visitors expect. Try one item plain first to taste the tortilla itself, then add salsas to taste. Vegetarians can order the bean-based options, and the staff are happy to adjust fillings. Large groups or catering orders should call ahead.

If you are touring the city's taco scene, Sonoratown pairs well with a visit to Grand Central Market, about a ten-minute walk north, where several other Mexican stalls trade. Together they make an easy self-guided food crawl through Downtown.