Beverly Hills Happy Hour Alert: Taberna Mexicana

Can it be? Mexican food without lard? Nary a pinata in sight? Plantains, yucca and blue corn strips served with homemade salsa in place of stale chips and bland pico de gallo? It's true, and it's at Taberna Mexicana in Beverly Hills. Now before you jump to a "Beverly Hills' Mexican food must be overpriced and inauthentic" conclusion, know that Taberna Mexicana is different. Not to mention, it has a brand spanking new happy hour (my personal favorite) from Monday to Friday 4 - 7 p.m. with $7 dishes like fajita sliders with Poblano chile strips, avocado, grilled onion and cabrales cheese; a chorizo burger wrapped in crispy chicharron (mmm, pork rinds) with chipotle aioli and mushrooms; and a light halibut and shrimp ceviche. Sound worthy of a mere $7 per dish? I'd say so.

Taberna Mexicana's New $7 Cantina Happy Hour!

What's more, every dish on the menu is made from scratch in Taberna's kitchen, from hand-pressed corn and flour tortillas to the 48-hour marinade flavoring the habanero-laced Cochinita Pibil. And, in a fantastic twist, lard has been banned in favor of olive oil, resulting in healthier versions of traditional dishes that won't leave you feeling like a tub of lard yourself.

Wash down the flavorful fare with a glass of wine ($5), specialty Mexican beer ($4) or a specially-priced hand-crafted margarita ($6), described by Taberna as perfect with "no more and no less than 'small batch' distillery tequila, fresh squeezed lime juice and sea salt... poured over large, slow-melt cubes of clear ice." Or, if you're feeling fruity, ask for a seasonal flavor like Bing cherry or avocado, muddled with a fistful of fresh fruit.

Taberna Mexicana Happy Hour - Cantina Bar Menu (All dishes $7)

Sopes | Carnitas with black beans, tomatillo salsa, cojita cheese

Empanadas de Camarones y Jaiba | Shrimp and crab with pickled slaw

Chorizo Burger | wrapped in crispy Chicharron with Chipotle aioli and mushrooms

Fajita Sliders | Poblano strips, avocado, grilled onion and Cabrales cheese

Tostada de Ceviche | Halibut and shrimp

Ostiones | Oysters with tequila Mignonette and salmon roe

Guacamole

Tacos de Carnita | Tomatillo salsa with onions and cilantro

Fajita Taco | Guacamole, pico de gallo, shredded cheese

Taberna Mexicana

369 N. Bedford (at Wilshire)

Beverly Hills, CA 90210

(310) 858-7070

www.tavernamexicana.com