The food is okay. The service is okay. The drinks are okay. The ambiance is okay. The prices are high. There are much better places for Mexican food. Won't be back.
Emily F.
This is a family owned restaurant & has been in Santa Monica for a million years. Their food is delicious. Service is fast. If you're looking for something fancy, this isn't it. But if you're looking for yummy Mexican food that's affordable & served promptly, this is your spot. My favorite is the chimichangas!
Sivan C.
I have been to Gilbert's many times. I am a vegetarian and also keep kosher -- I don't eat pork or meat and dairy together. I always ask the waiter if my dish is vegetarian, how the beans and rice are cooked, etc. Today, the waiter told me EVERYTHING IS COOKED IN LARD. I confirmed this with the manager and owner and proceeded to have an anxiety attack. The manager started berating me telling me that it's my fault for not asking the manager versus the waiters if the food was vegetarian and that according to the waiters, chips cooked in lard and rice cooked in chicken broth counts as vegetarian. I was with two other friends who are also Jewish and don't eat pork. Everyone was upset. Never go here. They are dishonest and if you have an eating restriction, they will not respect it and then blame it on you.
Eden Fanali
Everything is 10/10 except one time I went and they didn't bring us our food for like 40 minutes and when we asked about it they forgot to make our food. But they gave us free alcohol to make up for it so not the worst thing.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Patricia R.
Been coming to Gilbert's for years. It's our favorite date night, birthday restaurant. Literally come here just because. The food is amazing, the service is always 10/10 family owned so guaranteed family friendly. Ambiance is always so inviting. Indoor outdoor seating both great options. I don't think I'll ever get tired of coming here.
Maile Carnahan
I can't say enough nice things about this place. I placed a larger order and everything was SO smooth, from the actual placing of the order all the way to pickup. They even put each meal in its very own baggie, labelled with names!! It made my life sooo much easier and on top of that, everyone I spoke to was SO kind and eager to help!! I will absolutely be ordering from here again and again!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Clarence Y.
Great food, good service, outdoor dining in patio with umbrellas and free parking. Go too place for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
Mike S.
I been coming to Gilbert's El Indio for 46 years. OMG! The food is amazing! Family owned business since day one. Great prices. Super friendly staff. I love this place!
nora Sanchez
I ordered a chicken soup, I'm sorry to say it but it was the worst soup I ever had in my life ? extremely salty, and didn't even have a taste it was having salty warm water with some kind of very heavy accented herb they must use to supposedly enhance the "flavor". It was the first time I consumed a dish at this place but I don't think I will comeback ?. I saw the place was busy and people looked enjoying the place, parking and customer service are good though.
Great neighborhood mexican food!! Nice staff, booth seating, big portions (chicken fajitas are good!) and good vibes.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Mike Tomlinson
Don't expect white linen tablecloths and fime stemware, just the best authentic California-Mexican food in LA and great table service from ample caring, knowledgeable wait staff. They have been serving the same style of food in the same location for about 50 years.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Aria Biavar
I haven’t gotten my food yet but everyone’s so nice &
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Richard Leber
Great food, atmosphere and fresh, hot chips. A definite place to try.
The food was decent, but ended up getting it to go the wait was SO LONG!!! Beware: the service was painfully slow and the hospitality was subpar. The servers were rude and unhelpful, making everyone feel uncomfortable, particularly one server who was overly hyped up, antsy, and rude. He made us immediately uncomfortable by not greeting us, got mad we asked him for help and was yelling at other customers walking in, telling them to write they’re name on the sign in sheet. Two other servers said they’d be right back after asking them for help and they NEVER came back. Just a horrible experience and will never return.
The food is okay. The service is okay. The drinks are okay. The ambiance is okay. The prices are high. There are much better places for Mexican food. Won't be back.
This is a family owned restaurant & has been in Santa Monica for a million years. Their food is delicious. Service is fast. If you're looking for something fancy, this isn't it. But if you're looking for yummy Mexican food that's affordable & served promptly, this is your spot. My favorite is the chimichangas!
I have been to Gilbert's many times. I am a vegetarian and also keep kosher -- I don't eat pork or meat and dairy together. I always ask the waiter if my dish is vegetarian, how the beans and rice are cooked, etc. Today, the waiter told me EVERYTHING IS COOKED IN LARD. I confirmed this with the manager and owner and proceeded to have an anxiety attack. The manager started berating me telling me that it's my fault for not asking the manager versus the waiters if the food was vegetarian and that according to the waiters, chips cooked in lard and rice cooked in chicken broth counts as vegetarian. I was with two other friends who are also Jewish and don't eat pork. Everyone was upset. Never go here. They are dishonest and if you have an eating restriction, they will not respect it and then blame it on you.
Everything is 10/10 except one time I went and they didn't bring us our food for like 40 minutes and when we asked about it they forgot to make our food. But they gave us free alcohol to make up for it so not the worst thing.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Been coming to Gilbert's for years. It's our favorite date night, birthday restaurant. Literally come here just because. The food is amazing, the service is always 10/10 family owned so guaranteed family friendly. Ambiance is always so inviting. Indoor outdoor seating both great options. I don't think I'll ever get tired of coming here.
I can't say enough nice things about this place. I placed a larger order and everything was SO smooth, from the actual placing of the order all the way to pickup. They even put each meal in its very own baggie, labelled with names!! It made my life sooo much easier and on top of that, everyone I spoke to was SO kind and eager to help!! I will absolutely be ordering from here again and again!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great food, good service, outdoor dining in patio with umbrellas and free parking. Go too place for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
I been coming to Gilbert's El Indio for 46 years. OMG! The food is amazing! Family owned business since day one. Great prices. Super friendly staff. I love this place!
I ordered a chicken soup, I'm sorry to say it but it was the worst soup I ever had in my life ? extremely salty, and didn't even have a taste it was having salty warm water with some kind of very heavy accented herb they must use to supposedly enhance the "flavor". It was the first time I consumed a dish at this place but I don't think I will comeback ?. I saw the place was busy and people looked enjoying the place, parking and customer service are good though.
One of my favorite Mexican restaurants in LA!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Great neighborhood mexican food!! Nice staff, booth seating, big portions (chicken fajitas are good!) and good vibes.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Don't expect white linen tablecloths and fime stemware, just the best authentic California-Mexican food in LA and great table service from ample caring, knowledgeable wait staff. They have been serving the same style of food in the same location for about 50 years.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
I haven’t gotten my food yet but everyone’s so nice &
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great food, atmosphere and fresh, hot chips. A definite place to try.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Fajitas, Salsa, Fernando's Burrito
The food was decent, but ended up getting it to go the wait was SO LONG!!! Beware: the service was painfully slow and the hospitality was subpar. The servers were rude and unhelpful, making everyone feel uncomfortable, particularly one server who was overly hyped up, antsy, and rude. He made us immediately uncomfortable by not greeting us, got mad we asked him for help and was yelling at other customers walking in, telling them to write they’re name on the sign in sheet. Two other servers said they’d be right back after asking them for help and they NEVER came back. Just a horrible experience and will never return.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 3
Service: 1