You can recognize El Rincon Hondureño by the bright mural entitled “Wish You Were Here.” Featuring a beachy landscape, it is a Honduran homage to the Central American community’s nostalgia for their homeland. It is this yearning for home that this family-run restaurant aims to create through familiar Central American recipes—especially Honduran—and the power of food to connect people to culture and memory.

Many dishes on their extensive menu were initially special requests by loyal customers, which owner and chef Doña Blanca enthusiastically fulfilled. Her attitude has always been, “If I have the ingredients, I can make it!” She runs her kitchen with a magic touch, conjuring traditional flavors as she mixes herbs and spices from her country into recipes that resonate with regulars seeking a slice of home.

Doña Blanca and her late husband, Adan Bonilla, bought the restaurant in 2009, which she describes as an American dream realized. Initially they opened a second-hand store as a way to transition Blanca out of her 25-year career in housekeeping, its location just a few doors down from El Rincon Hondureño, at the end of the street where they lived. They frequented the restaurant on lunch dates, sitting and daydreaming about owning it, and, amazingly, the vision became reality!

Doña Blanca is from Guatemala and her late husband was from El Salvador, and yet they proudly embraced their role in preserving the recipes and culture from neighboring Honduras.

After Doña Blanca’s husband passed away, her children, Stephanie and Don Luis, stepped in to help run the business, and today, they continue to work together to not only honor the Honduran community but also the legacy of their father, whose presence they feel everyday.

Through food and love they preserve the culture of Honduras, and pride themselves on the hospitality they offer to not only the Central American community, but to Angelenos of all backgrounds who visit their magical corner in West Adams.