Mexican restaurants in Los Angeles are legendary, and there are so many yummy options to choose from. You’ll love anything you get from these fan-favorite eateries but you might just have to try them all. Check out our guide to the best Mexican food in LA to guarantee the most incredible apps, mains, drinks, and desserts.
1. Damian
Address: 2132 E. 7th Place, Los Angeles, CA 90021
Hours: 5:30 – 9 pm Monday, Wednesday, & Thursday; 5:30 – 10 pm Friday; 5 – 10 pm Saturday; 5 – 9 pm Sunday
Support LA’s agriculture industry by eating meals at Damian, where the menu is made with locally grown ingredients. The chef merges everyone’s favorite Pacific Coast cuisine with Mexican culture through his menu. You might enjoy Damian’s salmon tostadas or the duck carnitas. Walk into the open-air venue ready to try new flavor combinations that redefine what a good meal should taste like. It’s closed on Tuesdays to gather more local ingredients and continue serving the freshest foods throughout the week. The LA Girl’s Pick: The dry-aged branzino and tamal de ricotta.
Courtesy of Damian
2. Viaje
Address: 5224 2nd St, Long Beach, CA 90803
Hours: Mon-Wed. 5pm-9pm, Thurs-Fri 5pm-10pm, Sat. 12pm-10pm, Sun. 12pm-9pm
We just dined at Viaje in Long Beach ( located on the iconic 2nd St.) and you can bet we will be back! This place is truly a restaurant hidden gem which doesn’t focus on one region of Mexico. Their dishes are a melodic blend of traditional and modern and pack more flavor than your Abuelita’s albondigas. The vibe of this restaurant is an intimate and Spanish romantic scene. We also love that it has an indoor/outdoor feel with tables on the patio to catch all the action of 2nd St. The bar is a whole vibe too. Expert bartenders are crafting the most tasty and incredible looking cocktails. Everything from inventive margaritas, old fashion’s, and palomas. FYI: most of their spirits are from Mexico, which is so cool, because you know you’re getting an original and unique drink. Now for our favorite part...the FOOD! We love the ceviche to start off with and the short rib flautas (pictured below). Both excellent choices that give you a surf and turf feel. For an entree – The LA Girl’s pick is the Pollito con Mole Oaxaqueno – it’s sweet, smooth and turns any regular pollito dish upside down. We also love this restaurant has churros on the menu for dessert!
Courtesy of Viaje.
3. Ka’teen
Address: 6516 Selma Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90028
Hours: 6 – 10 pm Tuesday through Thursday; 6 pm – 2 am Friday; 11:30 am- 2:30 pm & 5 pm – 11:30 pm Saturday; 11:30 am – 2:30 pm & 5 – 10 pm Sunday
The reeded tunnel at the entrance of Ka’teen promises an incredible atmosphere and even better food. Everything from the mushroom birria to the lamb shank barbacoa tastes out of this world. It’s exactly where you want to go when you want a meal that satisfies with your first bite. Ka’teen’s pollo asado with spicy achiote sauce merges your lifelong comfort foods. The LA Girl’s Pick: Baja Caesar salad and potato taquitos.
Courtesy of Ka’teen
4. Loreto
Address: 1991 Blake Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90039
Hours: 5 – 9 pm Sundays through Wednesdays; 5 – 9:30 pm Thursdays through Saturdays
Loreto is the place to go when you want Mexican seafood dishes. It’s next to the LA River and has a stunning wraparound bar that might just take your breath away. The shrimp empanadas are amazing, but the kondo tostadas are really where it’s at. They arrive piled with scallops and wasabi aioli sauce that keep everyone coming back for more. Remember, the fresh fish of the day may change depending on what’s in season. You might discover something new every time you go. The LA Girl’s Pick: Loaded sweet potato botanas with clams and a Rosarito tiki cocktail.
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5. Mírate
Address: 1712 N. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90027
Hours: 5 – 11 pm Monday through Thursday; 5 pm- 12 am Fridays; 11 am – 12 am Saturdays, & 11 am – 11 pm on Sundays
You’ve probably seen this spot blowing up your FYP. Mírate is the stunning Mexican restaurant with lush green plants, two-tiered dining areas, and menu options like no other. It has a crispy fried snapper plate topped with fermented chintextle salsa that adds a bit of probiotics to your meal. You should also try Mírate’s heritage duroc pork shoulder, which features a mix of Mayan spices you can’t find anywhere else. This spot is just as tasty as it is Instagram worthy. The LA Girl’s Pick: The cauliflower ceviche and pan de maiz.
Courtesy of Mirate
6. Carnes Asadas Pancho Lopez
Address: 3326 Pasadena Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90031
Hours: 9:30 am – 4 pm Tuesdays and Wednesdays; 9:30 am – 7 pm Thursdays and Fridays; 9 am – 7 pm on Saturdays; & 9:30 am to 3 pm Sundays
If you drive through LA, you can’t miss Carnes Asadas Pancho Lopez. The vibrant colors in the restaurant’s exterior paint and blooming flowers are just as colorful as the interior. Try the tacos dorados con carnitas smothered in homemade tomato sauce. It’s also famous for its molcajete, which feeds two to three people. It includes chicken, cheese and cactus topped with a secret spicy sauce. It’s closed on Mondays, so schedule your next Mexican night out accordingly. The LA Girl’s Pick: A bowl of birria en consome and frijoles pancho lopez.
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7. Alma at the Grove
Address: 189 The Grove Drive Suite H-10, Los Angeles, CA 90036
Hours: 11:30 am – 10 pm Sunday through Thursday; 11:30 am – 11 pm Friday & Saturday
It’s hard to know where you should get dinner if you’re in the mood for a little bit of everything. Alma at the Grove is the perfect place for those nights. It has a taco sampler with meat, seafood and veggie toppings in addition to its standard meals. Whether you choose the avocado enmoladas or vegetarian hongos, Alma will set a new standard for every restaurant. The neutral color scheme under the restaurant’s soft lighting makes it the ultimate place to relax after a long week and taste some seriously delish food. The LA Girl’s Pick: A plate of pescado al pastor and tres leches.
Courtesy of Alma
8. Guerrilla Tacos
Address: 2000 E. 7th St., Los Angeles, CA 90021
Hours: Noon – 9 pm Sunday through Thursday; noon – 10 pm Friday & Saturday
Some of the best Mexican food in LA comes from laid-back venues like Guerrilla Tacos. The intimate atmosphere and wicker chairs form the perfect place to catch up with loved ones. Order the poke tostada if you’re in the mood for scallions or lomo saltado for a Mexican twist on steak and potatoes. You can even claim one of the outdoor tables if the weather’s nice. The LA Girl’s Pick: A chicken mole quesadilla and cara cara olive oil cake.
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9. Madre
Address: 801 N. Fairfax Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90046
Hours: 11 am – 10 pm Sunday through Thursday; 11 am – 10 pm Friday & Saturday
Splurge on the upscale Madre menu to have an unforgettable meal while you’re in LA. It serves delectable squash blossoms that may remind you of your favorite spiralized meals you typically only eat in winter. Did we mention they serve up an amazing brunch spread? Fans of shareable plates can also order a large serving of barbacoa de res so everyone can dine on Madre’s renowned Angus beef with dried chiles and avocado leaves. End your day with a chilled Mexican draft beer or maybe even a frozé. The LA Girl’s Pick: Vegetarian taquitos and a passionfruit frozé.
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Discover more incredible places to eat around LA by checking out our Favorite Places to get a Smashburger around town!
Feature image courtesy of Damian.
