Los Angeles - March 23, 2009

The Good Olé Days

Yxta Cocina Mexicana

Type the characters you see below:

Yxta.

No, it’s not kooky computer mumbo jumbo; it’s a recently opened cocina Mexicana in the downtown Industrial District.

The food and drink work of Jesse Gomez, whose family has run good old El Arco Iris in Highland Park for the past 40 years, and design of Poonam Khanna (The York, Laurel Tavern) come together for a modern neighborhood joint with authentic flair.

Along with salads, sopes, tacos, and traditional made-from-scratch bites like tinga de pollo, carnitas estilo Michoacán, and chiles rellenos, there are Mexican beers, California wines, and a long list of refreshing house cocktails to try: Paloma (tequila, Squirt, fresh grapefruit juice); Jamaica margarita (tequila, house-made sour mix, hibiscus); and Agua Fresca (ingredients include agua fresca of the day and trust).

It’ll surely captcha your heart.

Yxta Cocina Mexicana, 601 South Central Avenue, between East Sixth and East Seventh Streets, Downtown Industrial District (213-596-5579).