34 Best Mexican Restaurants in Santa Monica

“One of my absolute favorite places to eat in Los Angeles!“

“Great food and drinks 🍹 really good 👍🏾“

“Tu Madre was a perfect pick for our team dinner. They accommodated a party of nine with zero hassle, seated us quickly, and kept the service smooth and attentive all night. The menu has great variety, the mezcal margaritas were spot-on, and every taco we tried was excellent. Do not skip the truffle guacamole—it’s a must. Ambiance was lively but comfortable, with lounge-y music at just the right volume so we could actually talk. All around, great experience for large groups.“

“Best duck taco I've ever had. Came in for the Karaage but they were out, so decided to go with duck and it did not disappoint. I also met and talked to the owner, and he was incredibly generous and kind. I didn't eat there but the vibe was cool, would definitely dine in too.“

“I have been following tacos 1986 on Instagram (joy tostada) and have been wanting to try his tacos. we planned a family vacations to California to try their tacos and they did not disappoint. Tacos were DELICIOUS!! and the staff was very friendly. We even came in more than once to eat. Highly recommend it.“

“I came back here for the first time in years. The first time since last decade, and it seems even better than I remember it. The one staff member they had their it seems serving everyone, Elisa, made sure of that. In a world where I'm so accustomed to restaurants declining in quality and cutting corners over time, I had a great experience.

Elisa, one of their workers was taking orders, delivering the food to the tables, clearing and cleaning tables by herself, and was knowledgeable about the menu. The service was excelent despite this place being understaffed. I'd definitely come back here again, and recommend it to lots of people.

I ordered every taco on the menu and more. I was also here with my vegan friend who was satisfied with the selection of vegan friendly options. So if you're vegetarian or vegan this place may also be a great option for you.

Vegetarian options: There's an abundance of vegetarian options with their burritos, bowls, and tacos. And even some vegan options.“

“The entire experience was wonderful the food , drinks and service will definitely have me returning. Even the Owner was so friendly personable, came out spoke with us about different options on the menu, sang happy Birthday to my sister and even a picture with our was absolutely a worthwhile outing.“

“Great Mexican food!
We love their octopus and sugar cane filets. Very authentic tastes. Only one downside is the kids salmon is a bit too salty. Other than that everything is great with Sol Agave! Recommend this place if visiting Santa Monica!
Tip: REMEMBER to validate your parking ticket to get 90 minutes free parking.

Kid-friendliness: Yes“

“I'm gonna miss LA, but Papi Tacos in Santa Monica made my last day unforgettable! Being conveniently close to the Fairmont, I swung by for a taste of something I just can't get at home. The platter for one was absolute perfection - an assortment of tacos that hit all the right spots. But let's talk about that consommé... it was like a warm hug for my tacos. Dunking each bite into that rich, flavorful broth was pure bliss. If you're ever in LA and craving authentic tacos, Papi Tacos is a must-visit. I'm already planning my next trip back 🤤🌮️.“

“Love this place. I made an order online. Got a call that tamale wasn't available. (2pm totally fair) But the offered to switch out to something different. No problem. The man suggested a taco. Added brand to my rice accidentally. And you know what?! This upgraded my meal 100%! I ended up with a carnitas taco. The meat was so good, corn tortilla was soft. The beans and rice were in point. Salsa are delicious. Chips perfectly salted. Food gets prepped quick.

Really good drinks available. Flavors change.

Nice staff. Street parking. Tables inside. TV almost always featuring LA teams, soccer or something awesome like dog diving competition.

The staff are always happy and really nice.“

“Muy rica la comida y excelente servicio“

“AMAZING food and drinks. Purely fresh and tastes fantastic. I can’t wait to come back. ♥️♥️♥️“

“Hurry for the best Mexican breakfast! So glad I chose Gilbert’s for the delicious everything from the warm, homemade chips with sides, soft tortillas and holy frijoles. Having tried several Mexican restaurants during my visit this was hands down my fav! Loved the outdoor seating, great service- met the founder’s daughter, whose parents from Guadalajara, started it 50 years ago. Good coffee too! Will for sure return when back in Santa Monica! Muchas gracias!“

“The best authentic Mexican restaurant at the heart of Santa Monica. We met one of the owner and he explained the origin of the dish. All the food we tasted here were all so delicious full of flavour.“

“Great food! Love my breakfast burrito.“

“My gf and I recently dined at El Portal de Oaxaca, and it was an incredible experience!
We ordered the Molcajete, which was rich and flavorful, featuring a delicious broth and perfectly cooked meats and cheese. Each bite was a delight!

The atmosphere was warm and inviting, and the staff was incredibly friendly, making us feel right at home. We also tried their agua frescas--both the maracuya and the Oaxacan horchata, they were refreshing and so delicious.

If you're looking for authentic Oaxacan cuisine, this place is a must-visit! Can't wait to return!“

“Every time I eat here, I wonder why I don't come here more often. It's a little shack on the side of the road, so it's best for takeaway. Dang, the fish tacos are good. The prices have gone up on the e.g. ceviche, but it's still fresh and good food.“

“Food is Amazing and Staff treats you like family. Been goung here since 1996 . My Favorite is the Chicken Enchildas with Hreen Sauce.“

“Its a nice and a clean place.. My favorite stuff its the Chipotle burrito..They have a burrito named chipotle.“

“Friendly atmosphere Delicious meals are tasty, appetizing, scrumptious, yummy, delightful, lovely, wonderful, pleasant, enjoyable, appealing, enchanting, charming and hihgly pleasant to the taste.“

“Me encantó el lugar, excelente comida y un trato muy cordial“

“Good service and good food�����������“

“I stopped by Yagul Cafe and had my first ever Oaxacan latte, it was a very big cup, full of flavor and just the right amount of spice. Such a pleasant surprise! I wasn’t sure what to expect, but it was incredibly comforting and delicious.

Everyone at the cafe was so friendly and welcoming, which made the whole experience even better. I’ll definitely be coming back to try more of their menu!“

“Had a great Mexican dish for dinner, which I enjoyed a lot, a number of Mexican designed cocktails as well. I would recommend this place for dinner and/or lunch.“

“Excellent and authentic! Highly recommend!!“

“Me encanta la comida y el servicio soy cliente desde hace 12 Años“

“Awesome food and great service“

“Let me just say...I’ve been living in Santa Monica for awhile now and Los amigos food truck La is BOMB 🔥 FINALLY good, authentic comida Mexicana. It’s been a rough journey trying to find decent Mexican food out here in Santa Monica but they definitely surpassed all these “Mexican” spots out here. 12/10 definitely recommend if y’all are out here 🥵🥵“

“This place is AMAZING!! From the service to how flavorful their salsas were. That spicy green salsa will burn your mouth just the way you like it. Hard to find places that make good salsas. Taco de asada was amazing in flavor and so was my coctel de camaron and pulpo. Muchas gracias por su servicio ?☺️“

“Delicioso!!!!! Muy recomendado“

“Ordered lunch from here this week - here's my Mas Veggies review. I like that the menu is very simple to order. Choose the flavor & protein you'd like, and get it in a bowl or burrito or as tacos or nachos. We ordered 3 different kinds of burritos. The baja one with the 'fish' was my favorite. The carnitas with jackfruit was not really my taste. The asada with cauliflower was alright. Each burrito was quite filling. Got it thru doordash.“

“The best authentic Mexican restaurant at the heart of Santa Monica. We met one of the owner and he explained the origin of the dish. All the food we tasted here were all so delicious full of flavour.“

“muy buena atención al cliente limpio el lugar buen salón amigable el cajero 100 % garantizado“

“We have been walking by this place for weeks, and tonight we finally decided we were gonna stop in. We always notice that there's a line of people out front, and we figured we would just check it out. My wife and I were not that hungry, but we figured we'd try their chicken burrito. Wow!!!. We were thoroughly impressed. The burrito was thoroughly hot all the way through, and all the ingredients tasted really, really fresh and good. I would have to say it's one of the best burritos I have had in a very long time, and my wife agreed. My wife is not a big Mexican food lover, but she definitely enjoyed that burrito. The place is clean, the people are nice, and the food comes out pretty fast. Food quality is extremely good and that's what's most important..“