Alegria on Sunset
3510 W. Sunset Blvd.
L.A., CA
Maltman and Golden Gate avenues
323-913-1422

Hooeee, these gals can cook for us any ol' time.

Popular Food: Mega-sized burritos, really fresh fish tacos and enchiladas, anything with carne asada.

Unique Food: Gourmet sopes with shrimp and flair; tampiqueña (a steak dish taken from a favorite restaurant in Mexico City).

Drinks: Top notch drip coffee; super fresh aguas frescas are slushy and rotate daily (pray for the kiwi); café de olla.

Seating: Small tables good for eavesdropping.

Ambience: Silver Lake meets Southwest; packed with locals, rockers, and the occasional Westsider slumming it.

Extras / Notes: Family run by Nadine Trujillo and her daughters Denise and Jackie. The friendly bare bones staff at Alegria will whip up a creative meal, advise you on what to order and your love life, and lavish you with so much attention you'll feel like the only one in the house -- but you won't be. Dinner costs a few more bucks than breakfast and lunch, and for a real deal hit the place before 10 a.m. for the early bird breakfast menu where just about everything's under five bucks.

Parking: Plenty in the mini-mall lot.

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Hours: Mon.-Thu., 8 a.m.-10 p.m.; Fri.-Sat., 8 a.m.-11 p.m.

Fax: 323-913-0311