CaCao Mexicatessen, a cute little place in Eagle Rock, describes itself as a modern version of a Mexican deli that pays homage to Mexico’s greatest contribution to the Culinary World — Chocolate! Â This is misleading. Â While you order at a deli counter, CaCao Mexicatessen is simply one the best gourmet Mexican restaurants in the city. Â And while they serve awesome hot chocolate drinks and offer some great mole dishes, this place is about so much more than chocolate and mole.
The menu is extensive and full of so many amazing small plates of perfection, it is hard to know where to begin. Â The Carnitas de Pato (duck confit, avocado, vinegar onion, radishes and chili oil) as either a taco or a sope is a must-have. Â As is a taco or sope made with the Chorizo Rojo Con Papa (house-made spicy ground pork seasoned with Mexican spices, dried potatoes and topped with onion, cilantro and salsa). Â The Chile Rellenos at CaCao are perhaps the best I’ve ever had. Â Their standard Chile Rellenos incorporates squash blossoms, green pumpkin seed mole, imported Oaxacan and Jack cheese, and roasted corn. Â A special version I had recently had Chorizo Tejano, Salsa Ranchera and Crema de Habanero. Â If you feel like going more exotic, I also recommend getting a taco with the Conejo Con Granada tacos (rabbit confit with a four chile pomegranate sauce) and one with the Wild Boar Chorizo Verde. CaCao has many great vegetarian tacos as well, including an excellent one made with fried hibiscus flowers. Â Make sure to go there with a group so you can sample as many things as possible!
CaCao Mexicatessen is located at 1576 Colorado Blvd, Los Angeles (in the Eagle Rock neighborhood, mid-way between Glendale and Pasadena).
A cute, small and brightly-colored restaurant
Hot Cacao, the speciality of the House
Carnitas de Pato (duck confit) taco and sope
Flor de Jamaica (hibiscus flower) taco
Mole Poblano (chicken mole) tacos
Conejo con Granada (rabbit with four chile pomegranate sauce) taco
The best thing between bread in all of LA can be found at a gourmet Italian deli in Santa Monica.  “The Godmother” Sandwich at Bay Cities Italian Deli & Bakery is perhaps the perfect sandwich.  It’s worth driving a long distance to get and it’s also worth waiting for in Bay Cities’s very long deli counter line  (tip:  you can order ahead online to avoid the wait).  Yes, it’s that good.  One of the reasons The Godmother reigns supreme is the amazing crusty bread, which they bake fresh every 20 minutes.  Equally excellent is what they put between the bread:  four amazing Italian meats (Genoa Salami, Mortadella Cappacola, Ham and Prosciutto) plus Provolone plus “The Works” (mayo, mustard, onions, pickles, lettuce, tomatoes, homemade Italian dressing and pickled hot or mild peppers).
