Chichen Itza at Mercado La Paloma

(Credit: Annie Wells/Los Angeles Times)

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Long before its elegant sibling set up a full-service shop in MacArthur Park, Chichen Itza was enlightening Angelenos, ostensibly well-versed in Mexican food, to the delights (and differences) of Yucatecan cuisine from this modest food court stand. Now known as the quick-service location, this Chichen Itza continues to dole out such Mayan-inflected classics as pibil (meat braised in banana leaves with sour orange and achiote), poc chuc (pork marinated in sour orange and achiote, then grilled) and panuchos (Yucatan’s version of tacos). Food hounds still choose to venture to this originating spot, for more than nostalgia’s sake.

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