If you want authentic Mexican food, this is the place! Everything was packed with flavor the tacos…read morewere amazing, and the chile relleno was delicious (just needed a quick reheat, which the owner happily took care of). The green tomatillo sauce had the perfect kick of spice, just how I like it. Service was excellent, prices were super reasonable, and the portions were generous. Definitely adding this to my list of regular spots!

I ordered the Durango Special and food was great. The service was quick (we were really hungry).read more

I lived in Little Armenia for 7 years but never got a chance to check out HomeState. During our…read morevisit to LA last month we met up with a friend who lives in the area. She suggested HomeState for breakfast. Now was our chance. And it did not disappoint. Great breakfast tacos. I recommend the Trinity and Pecos. The crispy potatoes side and quesadilla were also solid. They have indoor and outdoor seating. Dogs are allowed, but only outside, unless they're service dogs. Street parking only.

How did HomeState, a restaurant celebrated for bringing an authentic taste of Texas to Southern…read moreCalifornia, become so beloved in a city synonymous with the LA street taco? Most people would point to its outstanding tacos, built on pillowy, made-from-scratch flour tortillas and comforting Austin-style Tex-Mex fillings. HomeState emphasizes slow-cooked meats, warm hospitality, and the welcoming food culture that Texas is known for. They are also well known for their perfectly seasoned eggs, making their breakfast tacos especially popular. I ordered two of their Anytime (Daytime) Tacos: the Picadillo (grass-fed ground beef, potatoes, carrots, cabbage slaw, and pickled jalapeños) and the Chicken (organic achiote-marinated chicken, cabbage slaw, and guacamole). The achiote-marinated chicken was exceptionally tender, juicy, and well-seasoned. The achiote gave the meat its signature deep-orange hue and subtle earthy flavor, while the generous portions of creamy guacamole and crisp cabbage slaw added freshness and a satisfying crunch. The Picadillo taco was equally impressive. The combination of seasoned ground beef, tender potatoes, sweet carrots, crunchy cabbage slaw, and tangy pickled jalapeños created a delicious balance of flavors and textures. A few generous dabs of HomeState's housemade hot sauces elevated it even further. The seasoned beef paired with the red salsa reminded me of a Taco Bell Burrito Supreme--but made with fresher, higher-quality ingredients, more texture, and a welcome kick from the jalapeños, all without the sour cream. These tacos do not hold together for very long, but that is largely because the fillings are so juicy and generously portioned. It was a trade-off I was more than willing to accept. The undisputed star of the meal, however, was the fresh flour tortillas. They lived up to every expectation--pillowy soft, perfectly thick, buttery, and incredibly fresh. They were not just a vessel for the fillings; they were the defining element of the entire meal and easily the highlight of my visit. To wash everything down, I ordered the hibiscus limeade. The refreshing blend of steeped hibiscus, fresh lime juice, and agave syrup struck a perfect balance between tart and sweet, making it an ideal companion to the rich tacos. Traditional LA street tacos will always define the city's taco culture, but HomeState has carved out its own loyal following by embracing something entirely different. When you are craving Austin-style Tex-Mex and some of the freshest, fluffiest flour tortillas you will find anywhere in Los Angeles, HomeState absolutely delivers. 4.5 stars

I just had a friend cater from here and I think I ate enough for a small country to be full for a…read moremonth. The food was absolutely amazing. I'll go one by one as I really didn't skimp on any of it..... First off, the brisket was so tender I couldn't even get it on to my plate originally. I had to keep stabbing at it with a fork and it just kept falling into pieces it was magical. The flavor was amazing with the perfect combination of that smokey and fire grilled taste. Didn't even need to use any sauce, but don't sleep on their BBQ sauce it had the perfect flavor of not too acidic and not too sugary. It's hard to stop eating it. I had to follow it up with the brisket quesadillas because.... well because they were staring at me and I had to show them who was boss.... Again, insane flavor combo and pleasantly addicting. Next move I had to throw down on a couple of hot wings to make sure my taste buds were still jumping and ready for the upcoming situation. Just for reference purposes, nice little kick with a bit of smokey flavor. Could've eaten 20 in one sitting but was continuing on my path of BBQ destruction. We now veered over to the baby back ribs .... I think I ate 10 before I realized what was going on. Yet again, the flavor was perfect and the meat was cooked to perfection. It didn't need any sauce, but I was a big fan of loading up on the BBQ sauce for these bad boys..... Next I shifted my fat eyed focus over to the tri-tip. It had that perfect pink center looking like a medium rare meaty super model. I went a different route here and dipped it into this horseradish sauce concoction that I never seen or heard of in my life. I don't know what was in that sauce, but it was phenomenal. I could have literally eaten this stuff by itself, but everyone was looking so I didn't want to make it weird. The tri-tip itself didn't even need any sauce and was super juicy, but that sauce just elevated the taste to another level. Now we decided to go a different location on the farm pay tribute to some smoked chicken. I had to dabble with both the BBQ sauce and the horseradish sauce as my dipping/smothering choices for this tasty bird. Couldn't even tell you how great it was without the sauce, since my mind was already fading trying to fight off my meat sweat coma. Lastly for our protein portion of the evening, I had to top it off with some of that pulled pork. Now this was extremely flavorful and some of the best I've had in quite some time. I did however enjoy lathering it up with that BBQ sauce like some of his fellow plate mates I already devoured. I will give a shout out to the sides, even though I only had a brief taste of each as I was going hard on the proteins. High fives to the potato salad, coleslaw, Mac and cheese, street corn, corn bread, tator tots and collard greens. I may have possibly missed one or 2, but after gorging on disgusting amounts of food, you tend to forget things. Had to make sure to sneak some of those greens in there so my heart didn't give out.... I however did not indulge in the chips and salsa that were there since I didn't want to come off as a pig..... So instead (as I forgot to mention previously), I took the queso and poured it over some pulled pork because that's what needed to happen at that moment.... Boom! For the grand finale, we had this banana pudding dessert that literally put me over the top. If I could openly cuss on this platform, I genuinely would.... It was absolutely orgasmic. That's right, you read that correctly. I don't know what they put in that thing, but to call it amazing would be an understatement. Pretty sure I blacked out at some point while finishing my bowl of dessert. As you can read, I was not a fan of any of the food in any way shape or form.(Sarcasm ...) I look forward to going back, but I will need to wait until I awake from this painful food coma I've been fighting off since the ending of the World Cup match watching USA beat the breaks off of Bosnia with one man down. Much love on the food and I happily dedicate this extra fat fold on my stomach and the 8lb weight gain to AJ's BBQ.

Wow! My new favorite BBQ spot in LA. To start, great service! Everyone was super nice and…read moreinformative! Now let's get into the food. I got a brisket and half rack of ribs, with corn bread, greens, and beans. My friend got the elote cup and that was equally as amazing! Everything was excellent! The meat was perfectly cooked and seasoned and the sides were delicious. My husband and I were blown away and already planning our next visit back.

Chuy's is a great place to eat dinner or lunch. It's a family place, so bring the kids. They have…read moregreat kid's meals and an arcade. They also frequently have car shows and live music. Kids eat free on Monday with the purchase of an adult meal! You can also register with their app for discounts! They have a full bar and great margaritas. Free chips/salsa with meal. I love their tri-tip. They have tater tots instead of fries, too!

I ordered a bowl of tri-tip Chilli beans. What I got was a bowl of Chilli beans with sausage bits…read morewith some tri-tip. I returned the food and got my money back. The sausage was more like bologna. Terrible.

I love this place. The service is always exceptional…read more Just learned that the front patio is dog friendly so Louas and I had to stop by for a margarita before the fireworks started. The music was playing but Louas did not seem to mind. He enjoyed himself. And as usual, he stole the show!

The service was great and so were the margaritas!! Great place to stop for a yummy lunch!…read more The skillet landed with that soft, theatrical hiss that always makes you feel like you ordered correctly. The shrimp sit there like they know they're the main event--plump, lightly charred, and still glistening, the kind of sheen you only get when a cook actually respects seafood instead of bullying it into rubber. The peppers and onions are wilted just enough to collapse under the fork but still hold their color, a small but telling sign that someone in the kitchen understands the difference between sautéing and surrendering. There's a whisper of tomato in the mix too, adding that gentle acidity that keeps the whole thing from sliding into monotone richness. The aroma hits first: sweet pepper, a little caramelized onion, that unmistakable briny‑grill perfume of shrimp cooked hot and fast. It's the kind of smell that makes you forgive the world for every lukewarm fajita plate you've ever been served--because let's be honest, most places treat fajitas like a noisy delivery system for steam and disappointment. Here, though, the sizzle isn't just theatrics; it's evidence of proper heat management. The shrimp look like they were kissed by the grill, not punished by it, and the vegetables still have enough integrity to remind you they started life as actual produce. Wrapped tortillas wait off to the side, the foil puffed slightly from residual warmth--always a promising sign. The guacamole sits in its little bowl looking fresh and unfussy, the kind of guac that doesn't need to announce itself with cilantro bravado or lime aggression. Everything on the table feels honest, almost restrained, like the kitchen trusts the ingredients to do their job without drowning them in excess. What stands out most is the balance: the sweetness of the peppers, the savory depth from the onions, the clean snap of well‑cooked shrimp, all playing together without any one element trying to steal the spotlight. It's the kind of dish that reminds you why fajitas became a staple in the first place--simple components treated with care, arriving hot, vivid, and ready to be assembled into something greater than the sum of its parts.

Came here solo after a recent Yelp Elite event (another shout out to Sarah) armed with a cute "two…read morefree tacos & a drink" card given by the amazing staff from Home State at that particular event. Therefore, I have to come and take advantage right? Well, I was able to order both tacos keto style (Dallas Fort Worth variety) and have their contents put in these cute cups. Needless to say they were delicious as was the fresh coffee. The CSA (CUSTOMER SERVICE ALL STAR) of this experience was none other than Erik-pictured. What a super nice guy! Erik was super humble, and yet calm cool and collective-while managing the usual door traffic. I guess where I'm going with this is I certainly couldn't do it! Thanks Erik, your a credit to the Home State brand.

HomeState has become my go-to breakfast spot in the Playa Vista/Westchester area. This isn't your…read moretraditional taco stand - it's definitely a more modern, hipster take on Texas-style breakfast tacos. But they execute it pretty well. One of my favorite morning routines is grabbing a coffee from Blue Bottle next door, then settling in at HomeState with my two favorite breakfast tacos: the Guadalupe and Don't Mess with Texas. Guadalupe - 4/5. I always order this on a corn tortilla. It comes with eggs, chorizo, and cheese, and the ingredients are decent. The portion is generous, with plenty of fluffy eggs that are cooked just right - not overdone or runny. The cheese melts nicely into the eggs, creating a good texture. The chorizo is decent, though it's the weakest component of an otherwise excellent taco. Also, I realized that the portion of chorizo has shrunk over the years. Don't Mess with Texas - 4/5. I'm generally not a fan of refried pinto beans, but this taco completely won me over. The combination of beans, bacon, potatoes, and cheese works surprisingly well, especially with the salsa verde. The flavors come together beautifully, making this one of the more satisfying breakfast tacos on the menu. I've tried a few of their other breakfast tacos, and they're all good. Still, I always find myself coming back to these two. HomeState offers two house salsas roja and verde, both with a brighter, more acidic profile than what you'd typically find at a taco shop. Usually that would be a bit problematic for regular tacos, but that acidity pairs well with the rich breakfast tacos. My only complaint is that I wish they packed more heat. Hot sauces are available, but I'd rather the house salsas bring the spice on their own. Even so, they're flavorful and complement the tacos well. Overall, I like my Blue Bottle coffee + 2 breakfast tacos combination, and will continue eating here.

I have loved Santa Fe cafe for a long time now but it's been awhile and I'm still happy every time…read moreI go! A nice cafe in a not so traveled part in Calabasas welcomes you inside into a cafe that serves Mexican favorites on one part and coffee/beverages in the other section. The atmosphere here is casual with friendly hosts that I have seen. I got the soy chorizo burrito and it was delicious! Very filling and flavorful and I love the side of salsa on the side too that comes in mild, medium, and hot variety. There is also a small side of chips. The main issue here is the price. I would say it's more than chipotle and chips may be more value for your money, but this place still has a good variety and I wouldn't skip it if you are in the area!

This is updated review,I hadn't been back since 2021 so I stopped by today since I heard it was…read moreunder new management for the past 3 yrs to my suprise! Wow the service was exceptional the food was homemade vibes it was like stepping into grandmas kitchen. The husband,wife team definitely brought back the good hometown taste back to calabasas. I am definitely supporting this local restaurant. Gracias for my big sour cream on the side

Ancho's is one of those places I honestly don't know if it's considered a hidden gem or not, but…read moreafter living in Riverside for the past 3-4 years, I can't believe I've never been here until now. I found out about it through my cousin, who's a UCR alum, and I'm really glad I finally got to try it. The staff were super nice and attentive, constantly coming by our table to check if we needed more water, tortillas, or anything else we might want. Even with how busy it was, they still made sure everyone was taken care of, which I really appreciated. The restaurant was packed, and it actually surprised me because I don't usually see that many people at restaurants in Riverside. The energy inside felt lively but still comfortable. One of my favorite parts was the fresh tortillas. They come out hot and fresh from the oven, and you can literally watch them being made right in front of you, which made it even better. And the best part is they're free. We ordered the carne fajitas and chile relleno. The fajitas were incredible, the meat was juicy, tender, and packed with flavor, with that perfect smoky sear that comes from being cooked fresh on a hot skillet. Everything came out sizzling and stayed flavorful with every bite. The chile relleno was also really good, with a nice balance of savory and slightly creamy filling that paired well with the sauce. It was actually my first time trying fajitas, and I can confidently say I'll be ordering them again the next time I come back. I definitely plan on returning while I'm still at UCR to make up for all the years I didn't know this place existed.

If I could rate separately for service I would give it a 5…read more This place is not lacking any help in the waiter and waitress department. We have not been here since the 90's and I have to say, it was much better back then. All in all, there is just no flavor. The salsa tasted like watery tomatoes, our waitress gave us a little side of habanero salsa to incorporate with it but that heat is the extreme for me. We ordered the Mesquite chicken and steak fajitas which were less than average. Not sure if it was just a bad day, but the taste of the protein did not match up to the wonderful smell of BBQ outside the restaurant. The tortillas were just ok, first batch was not even warm. My Michelada was good though. Bummer visit after being away for so long. Looks like the interior could stand a makeover.