"Cacao Mexicatessen doesn’t just have one of the most phonetically satisfying words in the English language in its name (Mexicatessen is our personal "cellar door"), it’s also a Northeast LA staple that has been serving delicious and inventive tacos for over a decade. The famed duck carnitas here are a must-order, with its sweet, fatty meat soaking perfectly into a warm blue corn tortilla. We also love the Ensenada fish tacos, which come with a giant piece of golden fried fish topped with cabbage, crema, and pickled onions (add sea urchin if you want to go big), as well as the sesame-topped Korean short rib and the guisado de pato, duck cracklings and nopales stewed in a savory chile de arbol salsa. Order at the counter and then sit in the large adjacent dining room with TVs and a cocktail menu if you want to hang out. " - sylvio martins, garrett snyder, brant cox, nikko duren
