Your local favorite joints to grab the grub

[Ghoulish Delight]

I just discovered a fantastic new place to eat, so I thought I'd start a thread to share my favorite local eateries (no, Kevy, the Cheesecake Factory that just opened doesn't count!). There's nothing I like better than a small independant place that just knows how to serve good, fresh food.

The place I just discovered is Taco Mesa. Now, they've got a few locations and I actually think I've been to their Mission Viejo location. But I do not remember it being this freaking good. This time I went to the original, on 19th in Costa Mesa. It turns out they are doing $1 tacos on Tuesdays. I ordered 3, figuring they'd be little 2-bite street tacos. Holy moly, these things were more like little burritos than tacos! And it's not like the $1 was a huge discount. Normal price is $1.50-$2.50 depending on the kind of taco. And they tasted so damned good. Nothing better than when something tastes 100% fresh. Mmmm. If you're in Costa Mesa and are looking for Mexican...

Also in Costa Mesa is The Gypsy Den, at the Lab Antimall. A tiny little bakery/cafe that serves delicious sandwiches on fresh baked bread. Their soups leave something to be desired as every soup they serve is basically cream of cumin that's been dyed the color of whatever it's supposed to be. But man, those sandwiches. And it's all about the atmosphere. Seating is a mix of little cafe patio tables and couches with coffee tables. They've got two big doors that are always open to the outside seating area, so it's nice and airy. It's decorated in a great eclectic lounge style, with randomly filled bookshelves. It's just the most relaxing place to sit and have a meal.

My last recomendation will have to be updated later, because I don't actually know the name or exact location of the place. My sister used them to cater their Superbowl party this weekend, and my BiL and his friend are actually renting their kitchen for a little side business they're running. But it's a soul food restaurant in Encino, and by God the food at that party was absolutely sinful. A killer real deal mac and cheese casserole, heavenly corn bread, hush puppies served with hot sauce (kinda like buffalo wing sauce) that were just delicious. But the star of the show were the ribs. Oh...my....goodness. Literally falling off the bone, and the most flavorful ribs I've ever tasted. I stuffed my self silly, and I'm still craving it. Apparantly there were also supposed to be some yams that were equally stellar, but they never made it. I think we lived anyway (or maybe that's WHY we lived). I can't wait to eat at the actual restaurant.

So those are a few from me. What are yours?