7 Mares
North Hollywood, CA Photo courtesy Tony Craig
A giant lobster and a mermaid give 7 Mares in North Hollywood a roadside introduction worth noticing. Apparently announcing seafood called for something more than a few words over the door. The lobster handles the menu suggestion, while the mermaid supplies a little extra company. 03-07
The unusual facade makes this restaurant an entertaining stop for anyone who enjoys buildings with characters attached. A seafood dinner is one reason to pull in, but admiring the oversized decorations doesn’t require an appetite. They certainly give passing motorists something to remember along Lankershim Boulevard.
7 Mares
North Hollywood, CA Photo courtesy Tony Craig
Inside, the Mexican seafood menu carries the theme beyond the decorations, with dishes such as caldo de pescado giving customers something warm to enjoy after their roadside inspection. The name translates to “seven seas,” although finding dinner here only requires a drive through the Valley.
An unverified tale describes splashing sounds near the front windows after hours, accompanied by a green shimmer in the mermaid’s eyes. Really? Perhaps she was hoping someone would finally bring her a little water. With a companion like that lobster, she certainly wouldn’t have to dine alone.
UPDATE: Casa 7 Mares continues operating in North Hollywood, serving Mexican seafood along Lankershim Boulevard. The lobster-and-mermaid facade remains a distinctive part of its roadside identity, giving this neighborhood restaurant an introduction all its own. 10-26
Taco Lita
Arcadia, CA Photo courtesy John King
Along Duarte Road in Arcadia, Taco Lita offers the familiar appeal of an old-fashioned taco stand. Grab some tacos, a burrito, and a few of those much-loved sauce packets before heading back onto the road. 09-10
Opened in 1967 as the chain’s fifteenth restaurant, this location became the last remaining Taco Lita. Nearby Taco Treat gives roadside travelers another longtime stand to check out. Apparently Arcadia takes its taco traditions seriously.
An unverified tale describes coins tapping against the ordering ledge after closing, followed by a paper bag rustling. True story? Perhaps one customer still hasn’t accepted closing time.
UPDATE: Taco Lita remains open in Arcadia, keeping its familiar name and taco sauce tradition going. The stand reaches its sixtieth anniversary in 2027. 10-26
El Cholo Cafe (Closed)
Pasadena, CA Photo courtesy Rod Holcomb
A little Los Angeles restaurant history came to Pasadena when El Cholo Cafe opened on Fair Oaks Avenue in 2000. The original El Cholo began in 1923, moving into its familiar Los Angeles bungalow in 1927. The Pasadena branch brought that long tradition east, with green corn tamales and margaritas helping make the introduction. 11-10
The Fair Oaks building had previously housed the John Bull Restaurant, giving the location another layer of local dining history. One familiar restaurant taking over from another made this more than an ordinary new branch opening.
El Cholo moved to Paseo Colorado in 2010, continuing its Pasadena run in a different setting. That move matters when looking back at the old Fair Oaks location, which wasn’t where the restaurant spent its final years.
An unverified tale associated with the former John Bull setting describes the smell of pipe tobacco and a faint voice calling last orders. Think this is true? Perhaps an old regular was still waiting for the pub menu.
UPDATE: El Cholo Cafe ended its Pasadena restaurant operations on August 3, 2025, after nearly 25 years. Its catering operation shifted to the Western Avenue restaurant in Los Angeles. 10-26
Ernie Jr's Taco (Gone)
Pasadena, CA Photo courtesy Rod Holcomb
The marquee for Ernie Jr’s Taco House recalls a longtime Pasadena stop for Mexican food. Opened in 1955 as Taco House #4, the restaurant served the neighborhood until 1998. That gave customers more than four decades to develop a favorite order. 11-10
The name belonged to a family restaurant story that reached beyond Pasadena. Ernie and Albina Cruz’s restaurant business began in Lincoln Heights in 1944, with later branches bringing their food to other Los Angeles neighborhoods. The Pasadena location became part of that expanding local tradition.
An unverified tale describes the smell of fried tortillas drifting along the sidewalk after closing, accompanied by faint music from an empty restaurant. True or false? Perhaps the kitchen was having trouble calling it a night.
UPDATE: The Pasadena restaurant closed in 1998. The Eagle Rock branch, still operating when the earlier entry was written, also closed in April 2014. Both are now part of the region’s restaurant past. 10-26
7 Mares
7 Mares
El Cholo Cafe (Closed)
Ernie Jr's Taco (Gone)
