Seafood-Focused Spot
Holbox, located in Mercado La Paloma, has its roots in the South Los Angeles Figueroa Corridor, an area characterized by a community of entrepreneurs, artists, musicians, and people with strong cultural traditions.
Inside Mercado La Paloma, there are not only restaurants but also small businesses and various shops, making it a place where you can enjoy both meals and desserts at once. Particularly, there are artists performing live music and singing, which seems to enhance the atmosphere inside. Among the many shops, we visited Holbox, which does not take reservations and requires you to stand in line to order. We ordered a few dishes along with Sparkling Lemonade. Shortly after, our drinks, nacho chips, and sauces arrived. Most tables had lemonade, so we decided to try it as well, and we found it delicious with a sweet taste rather than sour, and you could feel the lemon bits while drinking. There were various types of hot sauces on the table, and since each sauce has a strong level of spiciness, it would be wise to start with a small amount to find your preferred level.
The food we ordered includes Sopa de Mariscos (seafood stew) served with bread on the left and ceviche de callo (Baja bay scallop ceviche). The stew contains various seafood, including fish roe. At first glance, I thought the stew was tomato-based because of its color, but upon tasting it, I realized it was bean-based. It’s delicious on its own, but dipping the bread into it enhances the flavor even more. I watched the preparation of the ceviche de callo, and they start making it by cleaning various vegetables and scallops as soon as the order comes in. The freshness and zest were so delightful that just one bite made me feel happy.
We additionally ordered 6 pieces of Ostiones (Oyster) and erizo (sea urchin). I love oysters, so it’s one of the must-order items, and these were much fresher than at other places. There was no fishy taste at all, just a full seafood aroma. The sea urchin dish involves scooping out the inside of the urchin, filling it with scallop ceviche, and topping it with the urchin itself, which gave a rich, nutty flavor along with a feeling of the ocean in my mouth.
Holbox
Holbox is a restaurant that has been recognized as a Bib Gourmand establishment in the 2023 Michelin Guide USA for providing good quality and value, so if you want to enjoy Mexican-style seafood in LA, I highly recommend visiting Holbox.
