WHY Beautiful Mexican seafood in a landmark Boyle Heights setting, with kind service. Try the shrimp gorditas for lunch and a fresh-fish special for dinner.

WHAT An L.A. treasure, La Serenata serves carefully prepared, sometimes elegant Mexican seafood dishes to a loving and longtime clientele. It now has two branches on the westside, and they’re fine, but this is the holy ground. Seafood is the focus, but vegetarians are tended to, as are people who insist on having beef tacos. Take the Gold Line—a Metro stop is across the street!

WHO Politicians, depressed L.A. Times people, leaders in the Latino community and really smart tourists.