La Perla:

Nick discovered La Perla in Gardena when he asked some locals if they knew of a good place to eat. They told him La Perla was the only place they ate besides their own homes. Recommendations don’t get much better than that.

Nick and Carlos told me this was the best Mexican restaurant they know of and after eating there I can’t argue with them. It’s Mexican food for Mexican people. I asked for guacamole and chips and was told they don’t have guacamole. My burrito was wrapped in a flour tortilla made seconds before it was filled. The inside was carnitas, beans, rice, and salsa. Everything about it was perfect. It’s amazing how much of a difference a fresh flour tortilla makes. They are not supposed to be thick and white like the ones you get a taco bell. They should be thin and almost transparent.

On the weekends you can order barbecue ribs. Seemed like an odd menu item so I tried one. The barbecue sauce squirted on top kind of skeeved me out because of how closely it resembled ketchup. The meat itself was too fatty. Stick to the burrito.

Next my eyes got to big for my stomach and I ordered a fish taco. The fish taco at La Perla comes with a full filet of fish. It could have been served as a fish in chips entree in a pub. Fish tacos don’t really get me going. As we discussed that day, fish tacos should only be eaten while you are looking at the ocean after a long day at the beach. A strip mall in Gardena is not the right setting.

Nothing I have had in Los Angeles has come close in terms of mastering the right flavor, balance of ingredients, and freshness as La Perla. If you find yourself in Gardena you must go there and it’s worth the drive if you are 30-45 minutes away.