Tostadas

It’s a salad, it’s an antojito: a crisp fried tortilla piled high with lettuce and other goodies.

El Dorado: The house salad here is basically a tostada: chopped romaine, avocado, papaya and red bell pepper tossed in vinaigrette and served on a fried flour tortilla. (Ensalada de El Dorado, $8.) El Dorado, 11777 San Vicente Blvd., Brentwood, (310) 207-0150.

*

Sonora Cafe: At this elegant Tex-Mex restaurant you can get either grilled chicken or achiote-marinated grilled vegetables on your tostada. Either way, it will also include some chopped romaine, black beans and goat cheese and a citrus vinaigrette. (Chicken or vegetable tostada, $12.75.) Sonora Cafe, 180 S. La Brea Ave., L.A., (323) 857-1800.

*

Prado: Here we have layers of shredded lettuce, bolito beans and lemon grilled chicken breast piled on a crisp blue tortilla. There’s a container of tomatillo sauce on the side. (Chicken tostada, $13.75.) Prado, 244 N. Larchmont Blvd., Hancock Park, (323) 467-3871.

*

Marix Tex Mex Cafe: The tostada Tejana is layers of mixed greens, lime grilled chicken breast, guacamole, tomatoes and sour cream on a flat fried corn tortilla. The tostada California uses a flour tortilla fried in the shape of a bowl and fills it with greens, refried beans, tomatoes and chicken machaca (stewed with tomatoes, onions and green peppers), all topped with guacamole, sour cream and salsa. (Tostada, $8.95.) Marix Tex Mex Cafe, 118 Entrada Drive, Santa Monica, (310) 459-8596; 1108 N. Flores St., West Hollywood, (323) 656-8800.

*

Paco’s Tacos: If you’re really hungry, order one of the towering specialty tostadas. A fried flour tortilla is topped with lettuce, refried beans and either carne asada or beef or chicken in mole sauce. Then come avocados, sour cream, a dusting of grated cheese and a big chunk of jicama. (Chef’s specialty tostada, lunch, $7.95; dinner, $8.95.) Paco’s Taco’s, 4141 Centinela Ave., L.A., (310) 391-9616; 6212 W. Manchester Ave., Westchester, (310) 645-8692.

*

Tia Juana’s Long Bar & Restaurant: This lively cantina’s “world famous” tostada is large but manageable (you could pick up in your hands if you really wanted to). It’s a fried corn tortilla, refried beans, shredded lettuce, pico de gallo, sour cream, shredded Jack and Cheddar cheeses, guacamole and shredded “Spanish style” beef or chicken stewed with tomatoes. (World famous tostada, $7.95.) Tia Juana’s Long Bar & Restaurant, 14988 Sand Canyon Ave., Irvine, (949) 551-2998.