Guacamole-topped tacos. | Asadero Tres Pablos Discover the capital city of Baja California’s unique cuisine Just two hours from San Diego, on the other side of the border from Calexico in Imperial County, is Mexicali, the capital of Baja California. The name “Mexicali” is a combination of Mexico and California, while “Calexico” is a combination of California and Mexico. While other Baja regions like Valle de Guadalupe, Tijuana, and Ensenda are well-known food meccas, Mexicali is a hidden gem. It’s a small, slower-paced city than Tijuana and more urban than Valle de Guadalupe while holding its own culinary discoveries. Modern-day Mexicali is filled with taquerias and modern Mexican restaurants, including a few starting to gain recognition on the global dining scene. It also, uniquely, has more than 300 Chinese restaurants packed within its 43 square miles. In the early 1900s, there were more Mexicali residents of Chinese descent than native Mexicans, and every November, the Festival Dia de China En Mexicali is celebrated with an outdoor banquet for hundreds of guests to honor the Chinese-Mexican partnership. Mexicali blends Mexican and Chinese food cultures on the plate; Mexican kitchens utilize Asian ingredients like bok choy, while Chinese restaurants incorporate Mexican staples like arrachera. Here’s a list of 20 restaurants to try in this fascinating city.