Fashion District’s International Food Court on 9th and LA is a tasty hidden gem with enough food varieties to rival any of DTLA’s popular food halls. Fun for the entire family, from Chinese to Meditterean, you’ll find a traditional menu close to home beginning with family owned and operated, Cilantro Lime.
For DTLA workers and shoppers grabbing a bite before work, stepping away from the desk at lunch or finding a food sanctuary while shopping is ritual. Part of that ritual enjoys traditional family owned and operated restaurants like Cilantro Lime.
Cilantro Lime is located at 934 S. Los Angeles, inside of Cosmo Plaza’s International Food Court proving variety is the spice of life while serving breakfast and lunch for hundreds Monday through Saturday from 8am to 4pm.
This Cinco De Mayo, Owner Leo Matias will be celebrating 3 years at the location. Matias, coming from a long history of working in restaurant management started Cilantro Lime in response to what may have been his mother’s last wish. However, with the promise of a new restaurant, Maria E. Matias started to recover and she has been the final say when it comes to what’s being served.
Tacos, burritos, tostadas, quesadillas, menudo, enchiladas. Cilantro Lime has all the favorites, just like mom used to make.
And Just Like Mom Still Does…
One thing about Mrs. Matias, she can cook. The Matias house was real popular with friends in the neighborhood growing up. After all this time, the Matias family still offers the same hospitality, giving DTLA Weekly and everyone who visits the “Mi Casa es Su Casa” treatment.
What mom brings in flavor and tradition, Leo brings in creativity, adding a special twist to recipes past down from generation to generation. Take for instance the Cilantro Lime’s Burnt Cheese Crust Quesadillas, a visual and mouth-watering delight with a crispy cheese border stuffed with chicken, cheese, pork or carne asada. Or Cilantro Lime’s DTLA Famous Carne Asada Fries, topped so high you can barely make out the fries underneath. Two items on the menu that grew Cilantro Lime’s fan base practically overnight after being introduced.
Ideas like these this set Cilantro Lime apart and make it easy for all to frequent.
Family Secrets
Cilantro Lime has a secret menu… but to some, they have two secret menus really. One loaded with experimental wonders like BBQ Carne Asada Fries, towering tuna fish sandwiches and Chilaquiles Breakfast Burritos and one that may not be so familiar to the masses when it comes to home-cooked meals like tinga flautas, mulitas, elote corn cup and chile rellenos. All made fresh to order and served hot with a side of “Cry Baby Sauce”.
Yes, Cilantro Lime sticks to tradition so the salsa is very hot. And yes, for some, there will be tears. But, you don’t have to ask for the Cry Baby Sauce if you cant handle the truth, Cilantro Lime has milder options that all taste wonderfully authentic.
WINNING
All this, plus Cilantro Lime is winning on social media. Pulling in big names for future events, and social influencers around DTLA who eagerly join “la familia,” taking on the task of sharing the flavor of Cilantro Lime around the world. #cilantrolimedtla
Alexander Orozco, aka@TheHoodFoodie, is one of LAs most powerful social media influencers with his followers attaching easily to his unique brand. Handsome, fun and ready to expose the world to as many mom and pops as possible, beginning with Cilantro Lime, The Hood Foodie has begun adding his own creations to the menus across LA alongside an official “The Hood Foodie Certification” plaque. Cilantro Lime is his first certified location. When you’re at Cilantro Lime, ask for The Hood Foodie Torta. It’s a sandwich bed of chicarrones, covered with a whole chile relleno, topped with pico de gallo, their signature salsa, and Mexican crème.
Join the family, The Hood Foodie and co-host KLOS Radio’s, TANIA ESTRADA, for a Cinco De Mayo celebration with a Carne Asada Fries Eating Contest.
Everyone is a winner, but only one will reign supreme by climbing one of DTLAs monumental French fry topped dishes.
Everything works and taste well at Cilantro Lime with more than enough love to go around. Matias attributes his DTLA success to those he considers familia. One of those members is mentor and friend Mark McCabe, who gave Matias his first position in restaurant management and taught him the same skills he now passes on to his team. Team members Bianca Castro, Kenya Martinez, Vanessa Munibe and Edgar Molina aka Baby Face support his dream and work hard to realize his vision and wife Arpeneh and daughter Italia Bella, have been the rock and pebble behind it all.
With DTLA desired more than ever for living, we all have one thing in common… We stay hungry. Thanks for the love Cilantro Lime. www.cilantrolime.net
