THIS WEEK IN L.A. RESTAURANTS: TACOS AND A TIENDITA AT ALMA

A restaurant from a prolific Mexico City hospitality group is now open within the Grove. Alma Cocina de Mexico is the first United States foray from Grupo
Hunan, which operates more than two dozen concepts, and is the planned beginning of multiple restaurants in Southern California. At Alma, the ground floor is dedicated to a casual taqueria serving barbacoa and al pastor, as well as a tiendita — selling imported goods, bottles of mezcal and tequila, jarred moles and fresh tortillas — and a cocktail bar led by Ryan Hooks (formerly of Bottega Louie and SBE). The 2,650-square-foot upstairs dining room is set to open in late May and will offer dishes such as abalone sopecitos, filets with chile-pepper au jus, and albóndigas de res. Alma Cocina de Mexico takes over the space previously inhabited by 189 by Dominique Ansel and Curtis Stone’s Picnic Society and is open daily from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the taqueria and noon to 10 p.m. in the tiendita. The upstairs restaurant will be open from 5 to 10 p.m.

 189 The Grove Drive, Suite H-10, Los Angeles, alma.mx