Bianca’s Beautiful L.A.- “Olvera Street”

As a native Angelino, i’ve spent my fair share of time frolicking and eating down on Olvera Street. I’d even go so far as to say that it’s one of my all time favorite places in the entire city…its that good. Olvera Street is the oldest street in all of Los Angeles- it even still has some of the original cobblestones from yesteryear…and the original Avila Adobe (the oldest house of LA) that has been restored and turned into a museum that you can visit for free anytime of the year- during regular business hours. Its really a beautiful little oasis in the middle of downtown, right across from Union Station, blocks away from the county jail, and one minute away from Chinatown. It’s a little reminder of just how Mexican L.A used to be…errr still is. If Tijuana is too far…go to Olvera…its literally a half hour away from wherever you are in the city because of how centrally located it is to many of our freeways. I was turned onto Olvera Street as a child, by my father, who started his own mexican restaurants because of his love for our Los Angeles-Mexican food. I went everywhere with my dad- and he was always downtown at the produce market, the flower mart, and Olvera Street. There were many other places in town to have good mexican food- but my dad fell in love with El Rancho Grande…

Check out their brick stove- its insane- it looks like it’s been there for a hundred years and its so basic yet so ‘Grande’ they have the ONLY taquitos i will ever eat- (i order the #3 combo- 3taquitos, beans w/ cheese, and salad).

The shredded beef, the way they deep fry them, their special avocado sauce- its not guacamole- everything they do there is just right. They cook your food in record time too- before you can even turn around they have your order ready- its fantastic! Be sure to get either an horchata ( rice drink) or a jamaica (hibiscus drink)….yummm! After the feast i recommend going for some stuffed churros from The Churro Man…ask for a churro with custard…it will be life changing…when i see plain churros i cant even stomach the idea of having mine plain…its so sacreligious.

Moving right along…there are so many stores to hit-

i dont recommend hitting them all-

some of them get a little redundant

- with very few of them selling very different things- that said however- if you are a hunter like i am- hit everysingle vendor you see because this place is such a gem stuck in time.

Olvera street has fallen on hard times and is in desperate need of the city’s help to be able to stay authentic and special.

Over the last few years i’ve seen three of my favorite places there, that had been there for what seemed like forever- finally close their doors for good. Its so sad when that happens-

The Candeleria is closed, the glass blower is gone, and the old man that used to make velvet paintings is now gone…They each were such a big part of what made olvera street so unique- the old velvet paintings were housed in a shop that had cobwebs that had never been touched for probably 50 years- i was careful not to disturb them- for fear that i might be tainting the very delicate ecosystem that was unique to the Olvera Street legacy…apparently that didn’t work.

The glass blower used to have all his wares proudly displayed for all to see on beautiful reflective glass shelves- they shone so brightly in the California sunshine- and on the rare occasion that you would be there at just the right moment, as the crowd would gather you could watch them making new glass figurines…they were exquisite and now extinct. I have a superstition- every time i go to Olvera Street, i have to (even if there isnt any water in it) throw a penny into the blue fountain located sort of near the middle of the street- there’s another fountain- but that’s not the one i wish in- and dont be fooled by the “wishing well” either- i swear by the blue fountain..its lucky. Click on this link to learn more about the history of Olvera Street, fun stuff to do there, and how you can help keep the tradition alive go to-
http://www.olvera-street.com/