Adoro Mexican Grill – Los Angeles, CA

Adoro Mexican Grille, 7th + Fig

Wandering around the L.A. Convention Center during Siggraph, we decided to try 7th + Fig. Metro ads plastered about claimed it was the shopping and eating capital of downtown. Well, if it meant that Adoro, one of its few actual restaurants (they have a food court) was expensive, they were right about that.

Looking at the menu, it looked amazing. But $16 for a burrito just seemed irreligious. But CPK across the veranda was jam-packed with crazies willing to wait an hour for a pizza. So we sucked it up.

The menu is actually quite wonderful. It promises gourmet burritos and tacos and delivers. I can’t tell you much about the atmosphere inside, as we sat on the patio, but the seats were comfy, the table didn’t wobble, and the wait staff was friendly and knowledgable –albeit a bit absent at the end when a large group came in. (It took us 20 minutes to get our check, after asking for it twice. And the guys next to us never got their side of cheese or salt.)

I ordered the Burrito Fajita. A whole wheat tortilla stuffed with cheese, sauteed onions, peppers, tomatoes and guacamole. My mom ordered the carnitas.

They bring out delicious homemade chips with a trio of dipping salsas. One had a barbecue flavor to it, delicious and sweet and spicy. A green tomatillo sauce which was spicy hot. And, of course, the spicy pickled carrots and onions. They were all incredibly flavorful.

Once the food was brought out –and service was fast– it was to-die-for delicious. The guacamole was fresh, the vegetables tasted fresh, the ranchera salsa was excellent. Just so yum. In fact, I completely forgot to take a picture of it until it was halfway eaten. Sorry!

Burrito Fajita, Adoro Mexican Grille (half-eaten, oops)

My mom’s carnitas were also good. The meat looked very moist.

We also had a Kahlua cheesecake with orange-flavored whipped cream. Also very very good and full of delicious flavor. I’m not sure, though, if it was made in-house.

In the end, it was quite pricey. Nearly $20 for each of us (we got the dessert free with a coupon). I’m not used to spending that kind of money on Mexican food, but it was almost worth it this time around. A few dollars cheaper would’ve made more sense though.

PEOPLE: ***

FOOD: ****

PLACE: ****

OVERALL: ****

Check out their site at http://www.adorogrille.com/