Street-side Michelin 🌮 Actually Earns a Michelin Star 🌟

【Holbox】Michelin has always favored fine dining, but when you see a street food stall in a food court earning a star, you know it must be extraordinary. Upon investigation, it turns out that this Mexican eatery, located near the University of Southern California in a food court, not only earned a Michelin star in 2024 but also ranked fifth on the list of the best restaurants in Los Angeles. Apart from the tasting menu offered only two nights a week, the best way is, of course, to walk in and join the long line to experience the joy of eating in a food court. We went on a weekend afternoon, and although the line looked long, it only took us a quarter of an hour to order. After ordering and getting a number, we found a spot in the food court, and someone would come to you with utensils and complimentary tortilla chips, bringing your food to your table. Based on many online reviews, we ordered these dishes: 🔷 Erizo $27 Two halves of fresh sea urchin, accompanied by fresh scallops. The sea urchin is freshly cut, so much so that you can see the black spines still moving, indicating its freshness. Served with biscuits, it gives a South American ceviche vibe, very appetizing. 🔷 Tostada De Kanpachi & Uni $22 Smoked amberjack and sea urchin tostada, with a generous amount of onion and tomato. For those who don't eat onions, proceed with caution. The price is significantly higher than other tostadas because of the sea urchin. Personally, I recommend the version without sea urchin, which should also be very good. 🔷 Pulpo a Las Brasas $26 Grilled octopus served with guacamole, tomato salad, black beans, and tortillas, all presented on a cutting board. The octopus is incredibly tender, paired with a slightly spicy sauce and salad wrapped in a tortilla. I really enjoyed this dish. 🔷 Baja fish taco/ Baja shrimp taco $5/$6 We also ordered fried fish and shrimp tacos. Honestly, they were really delicious. Although the prices are not as cheap as food trucks since they've earned a star, the taste is truly great. Overall, the experience was excellent. The ability to gain fame in a food court and attract a large number of foodies and food enthusiasts is truly commendable. Without fancy storefronts or high-end ingredients, they have won over the hearts of Michelin judges who prefer fine dining and the public's votes on the La list with just street food. In terms of cost-performance ratio, it's really quite high. Even the slightly more expensive dishes with sea urchin use fresh, locally sourced, freshly opened sea urchin, making it well worth it. It's a pity that such restaurants are only found in Los Angeles; it would be great if the Bay Area could have a few affordable street Michelin restaurants as well. #BudgetEatsGuide #StreetSideMichelin #LosAngelesTravel #LosAngelesFood