Imagine a sunny Sunday morning when you wake up completely hung over, thirsty with a headache. You don't feel like eating at all, but your stomach calls for some attention after all that drinking you've done last night. You're lying in a bed picturing what food could satisfy your curious state of body and mind...then, you think of Maricos; then, you think of Colima, a local LA chain of seafood joints. BINGO.
You quickly get dressed in whatever you have on hand and make your way to the nearest Colima location. You order Cocktail de Camarones (Shrimp Cocktail), or, for the more adventurous, a dark and rich Levántate Lázaro (Seafood Cocktail), or Tostada de Jaiva (Tostada with Crab), or any other seafood tostadas mixtas. They also have great seafood caldos (soups) and pescados (fish). Plus you can order original Coca Cola, hecho en Mexico.
(Coctel de Camaron - Shrimp Cocktail)
(Tostada De Jaiba)
(Oysters - 6 for $6 / 12 for $12)
Then, you sit outside this small hut and enjoy the local flavor of the neighborhood. Straight ahead you see Griffith Park Observatory and the Hollywood sign; and yet, you feel suspended in time and place. You can buy a huge avocado on the street corner. You can even bring other food from neighboring places, like Guatemalteca Bakery- nobody cares!
Suddenly, your cocktail arrives and you proceed to prepare it by adding ketchup, tapatio, lemon, salt, and you can add more avocado at your pleasure. The cocktail comes with tostadas or crackers. Both of these have a salty taste and go delightful with the rest of the food.
As you take your first sip of delicious cocktail juice, the freshness and flavor cure your hang over; and as you are finished with it, you feel extremely satisfied. The day has just begun....I wish for there to be many more days like this!
Be ready with cash- $10-12 will go a long way. The portions are generous and the food makes it worth supporting this local joint @ 4002 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90004
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