Tired of holiday leftovers? Check out these Eastside Eats picks
Tamales and pozole will always have our hearts, but if you’re craving something new or need a spot to take family visiting for the holidays, these places deliver.
Jesus Manzo and his family drove from the San Fernando Valley to dine at Moles La Tía on Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (Photo by Jessica Perez / Boyle Heights Beat)
By now, you’ve probably had too many tamales, or is that even a thing? Maybe the pozole is starting to look a little tired.
If you’re ready for something different or looking for places to take family visiting for the holidays, we’ve got you covered.
This year, Boyle Heights Beat started featuring local eateries on the Eastside. Here’s a list of spots to try, but be sure to check their hours before you go.
My background: I was born in Mexico and raised in Boyle Heights, where I got my start in journalism by launching a community blog. Most recently, I worked at the Los Angeles Times and have spent most of my career covering local news in LA, with a focus on community-centered stories, Latino communities and mentoring emerging writers.
What I do: I lead coverage of Boyle Heights and East LA across all platforms to inform, connect and uplift our community. I spend my days listening, planning, editing and coordinating to make sure our stories reflect the community fairly, while supporting and mentoring my team of reporters and freelancers so they can grow along the way.
Why LA?: It’s home. It’s the sounds of Spanglish and other languages, the smell of tacos and kimchi, the way street art tells stories and how, even though I hate traffic, I love how the freeways can take me to the beach or the mountains on a whim.
The best way to contact me: My email is jessica.perez@boyleheightsbeat.org.
