Browsing at Manzo’s will certainly make you hungry. Two blocks east up Devonshire is both a great place for lunch and yet another example of the neighborhood’s diversity. Lily’s Mexican Restaurant is truly a family-run affair, with each member of the Esparza family doing their part. Dad acts as host and bartender (he’s very proud of his margaritas), two daughters and a son take turns taking orders and bringing out food and mom cooks almost every dish herself.
With mom putting so much care into the food, it’s no surprise that it always tastes great. Lily’s proudly describes its food as “homestyle Mexican,” and that seems to be a very fitting description. Most dishes are fairly simple, without a lot of the bells and whistles you usually see at larger Mexican restaurants. But that, as you’ll discover, can be a really good thing.
