Gracias Madre

"Full of models and bloggers taking pictures of food they have no plans to eat, brunch time at Gracias Madre is the biggest scene in the whole city. But if you just spent $150 on a blowout and want to show it off on their beautiful side patio, we support you. Is the food any good? Not really, but no one comes here with an appetite." - brant cox, sylvio martins

"The chilaquiles at West Hollywood's Gracias Madre are the misunderstood teenagers of this list. Sure, they’re “different” because they’re plant-based and don’t come slathered in ladles of salsa. But if there’s one thing that teenage angst taught us, it’s that different is cool and we probably shouldn’t invest too much emotional energy into things like stewed tortilla chips. Rather than salsa, these totopos get coated in a delicious coloradito mole that's sweet and smoky, with a subtle hint of heat lingering in the background. The avocado and cashew crema topping brings some extra nuttiness and texture, along with the dish's side of black bean puree—not the most exciting frijoles we've had, but we're not complaining either. " - sylvio martins

"The West Hollywood restaurant is bringing back their holiday tamales (1 dozen for $54), which come stuffed with things like poblano peppers, jackfruit, and guajillo. They also offer canned cocktails and holiday sides that you can purchase in-person at the restaurant, or ahead of time on their website." - kat hong, nikko duren, garrett snyder

"Gracias Madre needs no introduction. Frankly, there’s a decent chance some of you are currently reading this from their patio. But for all the hoopla and delicious margaritas they’re serving, this Cafe Gratitude offshoot is nothing more than a place for aspiring pilates instructors to eat colorful cardboard in a garden. It’s one thing for a vegan restaurant to take meat and dairy out of Mexican food, it’s another to take out the flavor altogether. But that’s exactly what Gracias Madre has done. So the next time someone in the group chat suggests “Gracias night!!,” eat beforehand. Otherwise expect to be stuck staring at a plate a waiter triumphantly announces to be cashew puree. " - brant cox

"“Gracias Madre was a place I walked to when I first moved here. I didn't even know it was vegan. I just sat down to eat and the menu was so good. For somebody like me who doesn't eat meat and doesn't eat dairy, I can pick anything off the menu. They have little taco trios, queso fundido, and different types of salsas. They have fancy glasses where they'll have different shaped ice depending on the drink, which to me always seems rich.”" - brant cox