Getting the Best For Less at La Cevicheria

La Cevicheria

Ever since Profiled Lunch’er Sara recommended La Cevicheria back in August of last year it’s been on my list of places to hit up.  It took me a year to finally do so because for some reason I had gotten it into my head that despite its Mid City location (on Pico just East of Crenshaw) lunch at this Guatemalan ceviche specialist was going to end up costing more than $10, my self imposed lunchtime limit (what can I say, I’m a cheap bastard.)  And sure enough the specialty of the house, which features blood clams highly recommended by The Guru himself, is a whopping $15.   But it is actually far easier than I expected to get a lunch for under $10, without sacrificing the best dishes La Cevicheria has to offer.

La Cevicheria

There’s a reason the Guatemalan ceviche is the most expensive dish on the menu. It not only features blood clams, but the mix of onions, tomatoes, mint and Worcestershire sauce gives the dish a kick that renders the plain ceviches and cocteles completely bland. In other words, it is without a doubt the best dish on the menu.

La Cevicheria

But order the “chapin”, the dish recommended by Sara, and for only $10 you’re getting the exact same flavor.  Same worcestershire sauce/mint combo, but with crab instead of blood clams.  For a special splurge, or for La Cevicheria newbies, it’s worth the extra $5 to try the clams.  But for an every day lunch, the chapin is just fine- provided that you don’t mind imitation crab meat.  Don’t like imitation crab? They’ll make yours without it.  In fact, they told me they would make any of their regular ceviches (many of which are only $10) “Guatemalan style” if you just ask- allowing you to get practically whatever combination of fish/shrimp/octopus you want.

La Cevicheria

Don’t like worchestershire sauce?  The cocteles (which are ceviches + tomato juice, and are all only $10) are simple and delicious, provided you don’t compare them to the Guatemalan flavor explosion you see above.  This mixed one came with shrimp, oysters, abalone, octopus, crab and fish, and was very nice.

La Cevicheria

$10 still too expensive?  You can get any of their ceviches as a tostada for $2.50 to $5.  The mixed had way too much imitation crab for me, but the shrimp and octopus one was very nice.  Not as good as what you get from the Mariscos Jalisco truck, but fresh and clean tasting, and certainly cheap considering the quality of the place.  And I didn’t ask but I’ll bet you could even get these made “Guatemalan style” for the same price… now that would be huge!

La Cevicheria

Whatever you end up ordering just make sure you ask for their special yellow hot sauce, which they keep in a fridge behind the counter.  The Guatemalan ceviche doesn’t necessarily need it, but it goes a long way in transforming the simple ceviches and the cocteles into something really special.

La Cevicheria

But the biggest surprise of the menu (for cheap bastards) might be the fish tacos.  For only $4.50 you get two pretty large fried fish tacos, topped with shredded cabbage, tomatoes, cilantro, avocado, red hot sauce and white sauce.  The fish was crunchy and perfect, and my friend Katie noted that the white sauce, which was pretty heavy on the mayo, gave the whole thing a filet-o-fish taste (in the best possible way, of course.)  Better than Ricky’s Fish Tacos?  Don’t know if I want to go that far… but for $4.50 these fish tacos are pretty amazing and a complete steal.  Paired with a tostada, made “Guatemalan style” it might be the perfect La Cevicheria “cheap bastards” lunch.  In other words… mission accomplished.

THE + (What somebody who likes this place would say)

  • I love Guatemalan style ceviche!
  • Blood clams?  Yes please.
  • The seafood is super fresh, but it’s not super expensive
  • Mayo + deep fried fish is a combo made in heaven (and I can’t believe those tacos are two for $4.50)
  • That yellow hot sauce is pretty spectacular
  • When you go to the bathroom check out the kitchen.  Spotless.

THE – (What somebody who doesn’t like this place would say)

  • Imitation crab meat is a crime against ceviche
  • The mixed tostadas aren’t as good as the ones you get at Mariscos Jalisco
  • The plain ceviches are kind of boring compared to the Guatemalan ceviches
  • I don’t like worchestershire sauce
  • Did I mention I hate imitation crab meat?

La Cevicheria, 3809 W. Pico Blvd., 323-732-1253

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