Fresh Mint

This fresh-tasting herb appears in both sweet or savory dishes, not to mention drinks.

* Ammo: This sleek little spot serves grilled ahi, covered with a light tomato reduction, on a bed of white beans, arugula and mint. Specials may include a salad of field greens, mint, radishes, feta and golden beets in lemon vinaigrette. (Grilled ahi, $20; salad of field greens, $7.) Ammo, 1155 N. Highland Ave., Los Angeles, (323) 871-2666.

* Axe: For a delightful light lunch, try chef Joanna Moore’s composed salad of beets, fennel, red onions, avocado and lots of mint with a squeeze of lime. You can also get a tall, cold glass of mint tea. (Composed salad plate, $4; fresh mint tea, glass $2, half carafe $4, carafe $6.) Axe, 1009 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice, (310) 664-9787.

* Golden Deli: This place makes crisp, fragrant Vietnamese egg rolls (phan cha gio) stuffed with vermicelli, mushrooms and pork. You wrap them up with mint, basil and cilantro in a lettuce leaf “taco” and dip it in fish sauce. (Phan cha gio, $3.95 for five.) Golden Deli, 815 W. Las Tunas Drive, San Gabriel, (626) 308-0803.

* Carousel: At this handsomely decorated Lebanese restaurant, try fattoush, a salad of tomatoes, cucumbers, parsley, pita toast and whole handfuls of fresh mint; or shanklish, a tasty dry cheese mixed with chopped tomatoes, onions and mint. (Fattoush, $4; shanklish, $6.95.) Carousel, 304 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale, (818) 246-7775.

* Ciudad: The great whistle-wetter at this lively downtown spot is mojito (or a nonalcoholic version called mint cooler). Both are made from cane juice, lime juice and crushed mint poured over ice; the rest of the glass is filled with soda water, plus a shot of rum for the mojito. (Mint cooler, $3.50; mojito, $6.25.) Ciudad, Union Bank Plaza, 445 S. Figueroa St., Los Angeles, (213) 486-5171.

* Koutoubia: To balance richer Moroccan dishes, try the special salad of chopped tomatoes, bell peppers, slivered onions, cucumbers and plenty of fresh mint, dressed with lemon juice and olive oil. Then cleanse your palate with a Moroccan mint tea made with four mints plus one honorary mint (lemon verbena), all grown by owner Michel Ohayon. (Koutoubia special salad, $9.50; mint tea, $2.25.) Koutoubia, 2116 Westwood Blvd., West L.A., (310) 475-0729.