Holbox

This Michelin-starred, no-frills food stall in South L.A. offers one of L.A.’s best Mexican seafood experiences—all at a fairly reasonable price. Housed inside food hall Mercado La Paloma, Gilberto Cetina Jr.’s Yucatecan-style mariscos counter is a profound revelation for those who enjoy spice, citrus and smoke. The approachable deep-fried fish tacos and well-made coctel mixto, of course, bring in the daytime crowds, but more upmarket dishes like the smoked kanpachi tostadas and freshly shucked oysters more than hold their ground against other seafood heavyweights. When it comes to tacos (around $6), the menu changes often and you’re just as likely to find scallops spilling from corn tortillas as you are uni, crispy octopus or kanpachi. A newly offered $130 tasting menu on Wednesday and Thursday evenings is an only-in-L.A. culinary journey that’s also, relatively speaking, remarkably budget-friendly—note that reservations for the next month drop on the first day of each month at 11am.