LOS ANGELES — Westwood’s latest resident North of the Border Cantina and Grill opened the doors of its Le Conte location last Friday, serving up Texas-Mexican fusion cuisine at the modest price of $30 per hard-shell taco.
“Finally, a restaurant that caters to both my wallet AND my low spice tolerance,” commented UCLA legacy first-year and Wisconsin native Doyle Barron, rolling the “r” in “restaurant.” “Plus, by supporting a small, Latinx-owned conglomerate, I can eat good while doing good!”
Beyond a wide array of refried bean-based culinary offerings, this new student hotspot doesn’t skimp on the ambiance. Nestled between a derelict office space and a seasonally derelict Halloween store, North of the Border is the perfect destination for a special dinner with out-of-state parents afraid of “urban gang violence.” The table-side guacamole carts, bottomless marg towers, and a self-serve salsa bar stocked with everything from mild to regular sour cream guarantee you go home full, your wallet goes home empty, and your parents go home disturbingly hammered.
But NotBCaG isn’t just about food—it’s a bold political statement on diversity, community, and resistance. As the pink neon sign next to the bathroom indicates: “Make Tacos, Not War.” From the moment guests enter, they are given a taste of culture in the form of a hand-painted mural, or “fresco”, depicting a wolf with a Frida Kahlo unibrow and sombrero howling at the moon, designed by a local white artist.
“After moving to LA, I experienced a real culture shock. I couldn’t find a place that served authentic midwestern-style fuh-jai-tas, just like how my maid used to make them. It’s so empowering to feel seen,” added Barron. “When I’m chowing ‘chos with my bros, I know I’m more than just the son of the guy that campus building is named after.”
While students complain about high food costs in the Westwood area, there may be a good reason for these rising prices. According to the back of their menu, for every smothered chimichanga purchased, the chain donates one Mexican centavo, or 0.0005 dollars, to a farmworker in need. A spokesperson for the restaurant’s parent company, Nestlé, declined the Enabler’s request to comment on its involvement in economically-destabilizing military juntas across Latin America.