By Michael Hepworth

Los Angeles, CA(Hollywood Today)9/30/11/—Located in a non-descript shopping mall on Central and 6^th in downtown Los Angeles, YXTA Cocina Mexicana restaurant has been quietly making a name for itself especially with the lunch crowd. Evening business was originally slow probably because of the location but now that is picking up thanks to the food and the rather cavernous location which suits this writer perfectly. This is a popular spot now for the downtown after work crowd who snap up the Happy Hour $5 margaritas, and the outside patio remains one of the places to be.

In fact we went on a Thursday night around 8pm, and the place was about half-full, and although there was a large birthday crowd that night in attendance, the distraction was minimal. A large open kitchen also gives YXTA that extra buzz with three chefs working feverishly to keep the supply of fresh dishes flowing.

Designer of the 1200 square foot location was Poonam Khanna. and he is already at work on the third restaurant in the group fronted by owner Jesse Gomez. That will be Mercado in Santa Monica featuring chef Jose Acevedo, formerly of Taleo Grill in Irvine.

YXTA is the sister restaurant of Highland Park’s El Arco Iris, and specializes in excellent hand made tortillas, fresh guacamole, slow cooked carnitas, enchiladas de mole, and such items as tostadas with sashimi tuna, sweet shrimp taquitos and salmon in pipian verde. I would certainly be predictable next visit and go for the Tacos that are prepared perfectly and with a choice of eight to choose from with chicken. shrimp, beef, pork, zucchini and crispy white fish and the prices for a plate are so reasonable between $9 and $13.

If they can keep these kind of prices for Santa Monica then the opposition will certainly be running scared. The bar keeps about 50 tequilas in stock and signature drinks and margaritas run too lengthy to itemize here, although the high end versions are generally priced no more than $8. I am also told that the bartenders love to experiment quite a bit here, and best place to hang out is at the bar itself.

YXTA will be my first choice if I am in the area and have a craving in particular for a spicy shrimp taco, or for that case any other Mexican dish, because the menu is certainly extensive enough to satisfy almost everybody. Before I forget, close out your meal with the Mexican bread pudding, one of the best sellers here and a perfect complement to the savory and Nuevo-authentic food that precedes.

YXTA-601 S.Central Ave, Los Angeles

213-596-5579

www.yxta.net

Private parking lot

Good for kids

Take out available

Hours: Mon-Wed 11.30am-9pm

Thur-Fri    11.30am-10pm

Sat            5pm-10pm