HomeState | Briana Valdez Brings Tex-Mex Breakfast To L.A. | Tasting Table Los Angeles

Does the thought of Frito Pie fill you with nostalgia? How about gooey guacamole-topped queso scooped up with tortilla chips?

If so, you and Briana Valdez have something in common.

Valdez is the owner of HomeState, a welcoming Los Feliz café where she pays homage to the cuisine of her native Texas.

Of course, you don't have to be an Austin expat to appreciate the thrill of the proper breakfast tacos ($3) here, which showcase thick house-made flour tortillas, scrambled eggs, refried charro beans and a sprinkling of cheddar cheese.

Belly-filling migas ($6), salsa-doused eggs scrambled with corn tortilla strips, and kolaches ($3.50), prune–filled Czech pastries popular throughout the Lone Star State, complete the Texas breakfast trifecta.

Chili Frito pie (Photo: HomeState)
Inside, weathered wooden benches serve as seating, while an old porcelain bathtub filled with ice holds bottled drinks. If you imagine yourself hanging out on someone's front porch, Valdez feels she has done her job.

Just don't overlook that humble Frito Pie in a Bag ($6.50), a sloppy combination of crunchy chips, chili con carne, cheese, sour cream, shredded lettuce and pickled jalapeños.

And in true L.A. style, it can also be made with soy-rizo.