Los Pueblos Mexican Restaurant, San Diego

In the summer of 1971, the streets of Mexico City were teeming with farmers selling their crops and produce and students protesting government edicts. Under the canopy of a market grill, a young Jeremy Kravitz feasted on juicy carnitas in a lightly grilled corn tortilla as his parents navigated the crowd, picking up groceries. Born and raised in Mexico, he and his family emigrated to the United States in 1972, and Kravitz re-creates the hospitality and food of his native country as the owner of Los Pueblos.

The successor to Chilango's Mexico City Grill, Los Pueblos has a menu rooted in a deep love of Mexico. Along with colorful, abstract paintings, images of Mexican life ornament the restaurant's wall, depicting scenes such as farmers growing fresh burritos from the soil. Sauces and marinades at the salsa bar bear each region's traditional flavors and ingredients, and chefs strive to keep every dish authentic.