"Oaxacan specialist Gish Bac has recently expanded to larger digs with Casa Gish Bac, with plans to close the original in the coming months. Both the daily goat barbacoa and weekend-only lamb barbacoa cement the restaurants as an essential stop on California’s barbacoa trail, which stretches the length of the Golden State. Other must-tries include the mole negro; tlayuda with tasajo, cecina, chorizo, grilled chicken, and grilled cactus; and a torta with chorizo, tasajo, and cecina. Wash it all down with a Mexican beer or a horchata." - Rebecca Roland