Skip to Content
News

Chiles Rellenos, Horchata, and More: These Are the Oaxacan Platillos That Biden and Harris Ate in L.A.

[dropcap size=big]T[/dropcap]he long road to the presidency (and vice presidency) is paved with tlayudas, mole, and chiles rellenos. There is only one Mexican restaurant in Los Angeles that both Joe Biden and Kamala Harris feasted on before arriving at the White House: Guelaguetza.   

During their respective campaign tours before the California primary elections last year, both offices reached out to the Lopez family to try food authentic to both Los Angeles and Oaxaca. The James Beard Award-winning restaurant that has been a bonafide eating destination in Koreatown and a valuable resource for L.A.’s OaxaCalifornia community since 1994 obliged.

“Our doors are always open to all,” Guelaguetza’s co-owner Fernando Lopez tells L.A. Taco when asked how it all happened. “We welcomed them with open arms.” 

When it came time to order food for the table, Lopez shares that both parties insisted on being served “something [the Lopez] family might order.” That was the cue for the kitchen to send out all the family-style favorites that Guelaguetza is celebrated for: their “Festival de Moles’ sampler, quesillo fundido with their house-made Oaxacan-style chorizo, a “Botana Oaxaqueña” platter with cecina (adobo-rubbed thin-cut pork), tasajo (salted thin-cut beef), vegetarian tlayudas, and Oaxacan-style chiles rellenos that are stuffed with a sweet shredded chicken picadillo instead of cheese. 

A tlayuda vegetariana at Guelaguetza.

All washed down with Guelaguetza’s famous naturally pink horchata, made from toasted rice powder, crimson-colored cactus fruit syrup, chopped pecans, and ripe cantaloupe melon bits. 

“We remember President Biden not getting enough of our chips and mole, and really getting in there to sample all the flavors on the table, especially the Botana Oaxaqueña and our Tlayudas,” Lopez says.  He shares that Harris enjoyed Guelaguetza’s food so much, she ordered some take-out for the rest of her staff.  “They got to try what Oaxaca in L.A. is all about.

Bricia Lopez, Fernando’s sister and other co-owner of the restaurant along with their other sibling Paulina Lopez, was particularly grateful that both candidates cared so much about culture and representation early on.

“It was refreshing. As a majority-women-owned restaurant, today’s inauguration meant to so much to me and our daughters to see us represented in the White House,” Bricia tells L.A. Taco. She is a board member of Regarding Her Food, a charitable organization for women-owned restaurants in Los Angeles, created by women who own restaurants in Los Angeles.

“It’s a great day for little Black and Brown girls everywhere.”

Fernando shares that both the President and Vice President of the United States also took home a copy of the restaurant’s cookbook, “Oaxaca: Home Cooking From the Heart of Mexico.”

“We hope to see our dishes in both their homes and the White House soon.”

Disclosure: Javier Cabral is the co-author of “Oaxaca: Home Cooking From the Heart of Mexico.”

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from L.A. TACO

Six Musical Legends You Forgot Are From South L.A.

While the world may be familiar with the South Los Angeles roots of Dr. Dre, Serena Williams, Kendrick, and Flo-Jo, numerous musical legends people forget come from the city's heart. That’s why L.A. TACO is here to remind you of some musical legends from South L.A. 

May 16, 2025

‘Deportation Set Me Free:’ Deported Influencer Is Building Community and Thriving In Mexico

"I view the U.S. as a golden cage with many of our immigrant brothers and sisters trapped inside a system out of fear of the unknown in their home countries," says Anni Garcia, an influencer who has been documenting herself thriving in Jalisco.  

May 16, 2025

This SELA Taquería Cooks Its Tacos Straight In The Fire…

This weekend, we're also pointing you, loyal L.A. TACO members, to pho brisket tacos, a secret Beirut sandwich spot, and a new noodle shop in Venice from a winner of The Great Food Truck Race.

May 16, 2025

The People of Los Angeles Can Finally Go Back to Therapy

If you are one of the 4.9 million Kaiser Permanente members in Southern California who have been unable to see your regular therapist since mental health workers began striking in October 2024, the good news is that the strike is finally over.

May 15, 2025

A Running List of Mom N’ Pop Businesses In Danger Of Closing That Need Community Support Right Now

It feels like almost every other month, we hear about a business closing its doors or attempting to stay open. To help these businesses stay open rather than report on them once they’ve closed, we created this ongoing list of restaurants and businesses in Los Angeles that need the most support. Did we miss any? Let us know which ones also need love in the comments.

May 15, 2025
See all posts