By the time Francisco and Patricia Jimenez opened their small restaurant, La Cabañita, in 1989, they were out of funds to buy food for the kitchen. No matter—they were so certain of their eventual success, they sold many of their personal effects to finish opening. Their dedication has decidedly paid off: in 2002, La Cabañita moved from a space that seats 40 to one that seats more than 100, fueled by the popularity of its boldly spiced, traditional Mexican specialties. (More recently, it's also added breakfast.) A luminous mural covering Mexican history spans one long wall, adding a sense of depth to a room filled with rustic wooden furniture and framed photos.

Most of the family recipes at La Cabañita come from Francisco's mother. Starting at 7 a.m., the kitchen turns out homey dishes that, unlike stirring your coffee with a jalapeño, start the day off on a deliciously spicy note—chilaquiles, eggs with chorizo, and chipotle omelets. The rest of the day brings staples such as stuffed poblanos and fajitas, along with soups and stews; the chicken soup and the pozole with hominy broth are perennial favorites. In 2011, LA Weekly had special praise for the tacos at "the pride of Montrose," noting: "Eating a meal of tacos at La Cabañita is the rough equivalent of a tasting menu: you get the opportunity to sample the kitchen's wide variety of excellent dishes."