KOMAL

This is the Season of Corn-Powered Desserts | Bon Appétit

"In Los Angeles I tasted nicuatole at Komal — a pre‑Hispanic Oaxacan jelly made from corn, cinnamon, and water that sets from the corn’s natural starch; chef Fátima Juárez tops it with piped strawberry whipped cream and hibiscus, and she uses an heirloom Mexican corn called chalqueña cremoso to give the jelly a delicately milky flavor. Komal, one of Bon Appétit’s Best New Restaurants of 2025, is also exploring other corn desserts like chocolate tortillas, corn cookies, and conchas while emphasizing the unique flavor notes of heirloom varieties." - BySam Stone

The 20 Best New Restaurants of 2025 | Bon Appétit

"At Komal’s counter inside Mercado La Paloma I watched Fátima Juárez nixtamalize and blend multiple masa varieties to create marbled tetelas and other masa-based wonders—she offers delicate, masa-forward dishes like ayocote-bean–filled sheaths that spotlight nuanced corn flavors and textures, elevating what might be a simple lunch into a revelatory lesson in corn." - ByThe Bon Appétit Staff

These Are LA’s New Michelin Bib Gourmand Restaurants for 2025 | Eater LA

"Opened by Holbox alumnus chef Fátima Juárez and Conrado Rivera in Mercado La Paloma, this place is a love letter to the pre-Hispanic dishes Juárez grew up eating in Mexico City and Oaxaca. It emphasizes Indigenous corn that is sourced directly from farmers and nixtamalized on-site, showcased in preparations like a flor de calabaza quesadilla, a chorizo-topped Taco Sonia, and tender oval-shaped tlacoyos." - Rebecca Roland

"In the bustling Mercado Del Paloma, Chef Fátima Juárez runs this little stall specializing in corn. Heirloom varieties sourced from Mexico and nixtamalized in-house form the heart of the menu. A quesadilla lined with squash blossoms and sweet corn bound with melty quesillo earns top marks. Golden-fried plantain balls set in a smoky black mole is another accomplished winner. From tlacoyas topped with cactus to tacos lined with short rib, be liberal with the salsa for extra punch and power." - Michelin Inspector

Michelin Adds Three Exciting New Los Angeles Restaurants to the California Guide | Eater LA

"A Mexican restaurant located in Mercado La Paloma serving Mexico City-style street food and pre-Hispanic dishes; recently added to the Michelin Guide in the latest Southern California expansion and explicitly noted as eligible to receive a Michelin star or a Bib Gourmand designation at the Michelin Guide California ceremony on June 25, 2025." - Rebecca Roland