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Pescado sarandeado at Madre on a ceramic plate. — Pescado sarandeado at Madre.

21 Essential Sit-Down Mexican Restaurants in LA

Grab a seat and some mezcal or an agua fresca

by Eater Staff Updated Sep 19, 2023, 1:48pm PDT

4 comments / new

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Pescado sarandeado at Madre.

| Jakob Layman

by Eater Staff Updated Sep 19, 2023, 1:48pm PDT

4 comments / new

Eating one’s way through Los Angeles’s expansive Mexican restaurant scene can be gratifying and overwhelming. Because the city hosts the largest concentration of Mexicans in the United States, there’s an endless number of places for tacos and tortas (and tortas ahogadas) and tamales — and that’s to say nothing of the birria, the barbacoa, the plant-based options, and all manner of Sinaloan and Oaxacan specialties, among others.

The city is bursting with incredible Mexican cuisine, from street food to upscale spots, so this map focuses on the sit-down, full-service restaurants throughout greater Los Angeles. These selections are traditional brick-and-mortar or ones nestled inside a residential backyard. Consider it a sampler of where to find excellent Mexican food in LA, while any of the previous links will ease the process of finding specific dishes or regions. Here are 21 respected places to sit and enjoy Mexican food in Los Angeles.

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Casablanca

Nothing about Casablanca in Venice makes complete sense: Its location is across from a Whole Foods/Chevron complex and kitty-corner to La Cabana, another neighborhood Mexican American favorite. Its namesake theme and decor revolves around the influential 1942 movie set in Morocco, which makes it somewhat irresistible and definitely irreverent. Expect a roving tequila cart churning tableside margaritas, dexterous older women flipping tortillas on the dining room’s centerpiece comal, and a menu that focuses on grilled seafood dishes, one section dedicated fully to mammoth grilled calamari steaks, just because.

220 Lincoln Blvd, Venice, CA 90291

Visit Website

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A post shared by Jose Armando (@charrito23)

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Sonoritas Prime Tacos

West LA’s neighborhood taqueria has some of the finest grilled carne asada and other tacos in the city, all made on handmade flour or corn tortillas with a cozy outdoor patio. For those unable to venture to the Westside, Sonoritas also took over the former Broken Spanish space in Downtown LA.

2004 Sawtelle Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90025

Visit Website

Tacos from Sonoritas Prime in Los Angeles.

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Birrieria Apatzingan

Classic Mexican antojitos and birria destination Apatzingan operates from the north side of Laurel Canyon Boulevard near the 118 and the 5 Freeways. Try the birria with Apatzingan’s large, floppy tortillas along with the weekend special: pozole and menudo.

10040 Laurel Canyon Blvd, Pacoima, CA 91331

A beige bowl of glistening red goat birria topped with cilantro and onion on a table outdoors. — Birria at Birrieria Apatzingan in Pacoima.

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14 Busy Stops to Dive Into LA’s Enduring Birria Scene

Madre Restaurant

Los Angeles standout Madre has locations in Palms, West Hollywood, and Torrance, plus one headed to Santa Clarita on October 2. Each is a prime spot to secure Oaxacan cooking including memelas, moles, and tlayudas — and all served alongside one of the widest selections of mezcal in the country. Try not to miss brunch at Madre WeHo or Torrance.

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10426 National Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90034

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Deep fried masa or memelas with toppings from Madre restaurant in Los Angles, California. — Memelas from Madre.

Comedor Tenchita

Comedor Tenchita’s Mid-City backyard restaurant is usually packed, and that’s because the 76-year-old Doña Hortensia “Tenchita” Melchor prepares some of LA’s most unique Oaxacan food that varies weekly, but handmade tortillas piping hot from a comal are always on hand.

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2124 S Cloverdale Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90016

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Traditional Oaxacan dishes are laid out on a colorful table at Comedor Tenchita. — Comedor Tenchita.

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Coni'Seafood

This Inglewood restaurant is the master of shrimp in all preparations, whether fried, sauteed, cut into ceviche, or left whole for shockingly bright and spicy aguachile with a vibrant jalapeño puree. But the real star here is the pescado zarandeado, a whole snook coated in an umami-rich paste and shaken over coals, served either indoors or out on the covered patio.

3544 W Imperial Hwy, Inglewood, CA 90303

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A top down view of grilled fish, shrimp, and ceviche. — Coni’Seafood

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Ka’Teen

Chef Wes Avila’s assembly of LA, Mexican, and specifically Yucatánean flavors are on display at Ka’Teen with classics like cochinita pibil, big eye tuna aguachilie and scallop ceviche tostadas. Located in the Hollywood Vinyl District, diners can also savor craft Mexican beer, wines, or inventive cocktails.

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6516 Selma Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90028

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A corner view of a bar outside at Ka’teen restaurant at night. — Ka’teen.

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Gish Bac

Maria and David Ramos own one of the coziest dining rooms and most impressive Oaxacan restaurants in the city, serving stellar mole and excellent lamb barbacoa on the weekends. The latter makes Gish Bac an unmissable spot on California’s barbacoa trail, but be sure to order the horchata or jamaica to wash down the meal.

4163 W Washington Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90018

White plate holding a stacked torta sandwich with meats, lettuce, and sauce from Gish Bac. — A torta from Gish Bac.

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El Cholo

One of LA’s oldest Mexican restaurants turned 100 in 2023 and maintains a historic presence on Western Avenue just north of Pico. But there are six bustling SoCal locations serving margaritas, combination platters, and El Cholo’s signature green corn tamales.

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1121 S Western Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90006

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The front facade for El Cholo in Los Angeles. — El Cholo.

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Guelaguetza Restaurant

There’s little debate that Koreatown’s Guelaguetza is an essential Oaxacan stop in Los Angeles. This is the restaurant to indulge in complex moles, two-foot-wide tlayudas, and platters of crispy toasted chapulines. The room feels especially festive thanks to live music and brightly colored walls and the food remains top-tier.

3014 W Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90006

Visit Website

Moles at Guelaguetza in LA’s Koreatown.

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Mírate

Mírate settled into Los Feliz in 2022 with a more casual feel and fare in a stunning historic space. There are two bars — one specifically for mezcal — and chef Josh Gil’s multi-regional menu with Baja-style deep-fried fish or charred octopus tacos, albondigas, and tlayudas under a retractable roof. Try to get a table on the top floor for the best view.

1712 N Vermont Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90027

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View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Mírate (@mirate.losangeles)

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Ceviche Project

Situated on the western edge of Silver Lake, Ceviche Project chef and owner Octavio Olivas’ breezy sit-down restaurant sources excellent seafood while making some of LA’s most creative twists on ceviche including the kanpachi tostada or whatever Olivas creates with the catch of the day.

2524 1/2 Hyperion Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90027

Visit Website

Razor clam ceviche on ice in a bowl, from Ceviche Project. — Razor clams from Ceviche Project.

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Bar Amá

Chef Josef Centeno’s longtime DTLA spot slightly skews Tex-Mex but is mostly Mexican with micheladas, guacamole, aguachile, tacos, and enchiladas.

FARMERS AND MERCHANTS BANK BUILDING, 118 4th St, Los Angeles, CA 90013

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Bar Ama restaurant interior in Downtown Los Angeles. — Bar Amá.

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Loreto

In early 2023, Downtown’s LA Cha Cha Chá opened a sister restaurant in Frogtown one block away from the LA River. Chef Paco Moran utilizes mostly Mexican seafood to prepare Sinaloan-style shrimp, Baja scallops, and four types of Nayarit-style grilled zarandeado with excellent cocktails and a bustling outdoor patio.

1991 Blake Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90039

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Outdoor dining at Loreto. — Loreto patio.

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Guerrilla Tacos

Downtown staple Guerilla Tacos is an ideal spot to grab a table and order oysters with salsa, popcorn fish tacos with Thai flavors, a poke tostada, or the melon Kampachi crudo. There’s a well-lit patio, but the main dining area is also an ideal room to take in a meal.

2000 E 7th St, Los Angeles, CA 90021

Visit Website

Guerrilla Tacos stand in Downtown Los Angeles. — Guerrilla Tacos.

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Damian

Celebrated Mexican chef Enrique Olvera’s Arts District restaurant is a stunning space. It’s where lead chef Chuy Cervantes prepares pristine dishes like lobster al pastor, uni tostada, and a pineapple, coconut, and lime soft-serve. Try not to miss weekend brunch.

2132 E 7th Pl, Los Angeles, CA 90021

Visit Website

Tostadas by La Guerrerense served this past weekend at Damian. — Tostadas at Damian.

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La Casita Mexicana

A standard-bearer for Mexican cuisine in Los Angeles, La Casita Mexicana is as award-winning as it is delicious. Sure, the team there has gone on to open several other places since, but La Casita arguably remains the definitive destination for anyone looking to explore essential Mexican cooking in a colorful dining room.

4030 Gage Ave, Bell, CA 90201

Visit Website

Chilaquiles rojo from La Casita Mexicana in Bell, California. — Chilaquiles rojo from La Casita Mexicana

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Aqui es Texcoco

Tucked into the City of Commerce is the neighborhood favorite Aqui es Texcoco. With additional outlets in Tijuana and San Diego, this restaurant remains one of the stronger options for eating big weekend plates of smoky pit-roasted lamb in a casual dining room.

5850 S Eastern Ave, Commerce, CA 90040

Visit Website

Aqui es Texcoco in Commerce, California.

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Rocio's Mexican Kitchen

The Goddess of Mole aka Rocio Camacho earned the crown for a reason: her moles and recipes are truly some of the best in the entire country. Take a seat in Rocio’s Mexican Kitchen’s intimate dining room for the carne asada platter, tlayudas, and traditional chile en nogada. When the weather is ideal, there are a handful of outdoor tables as well.

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7891 Garfield Ave, Bell Gardens, CA 90201

Chef Rocio Camacho stands inside her colorful Mexican restaurant, wearing a white shirt. — Chef Rocio Camacho stands inside her colorful Mexican restaurant.

Playa Amor Mexican Cocina

Make a day of it when dining at Playa Amor Mexican Cocina. Open since 2016, this Long Beach restaurant is a block away from the Long Beach Marina with Mexican dishes that bear a slight twist. Try the ceviches, Mexican clam chowder with roasted pasilla chiles, a mole tot poutine, and a mayan hummus made with pumpkin seed

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6527 Pacific Coast Hwy, Long Beach, CA 90803

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A post shared by PlayaAmor ™️ (@playaamor)

Campo é Carbón

Ulysses Gálvez co-owners Adriana Alvarez and chef Ulysses Gálvez formed the idea of a backyard restaurant after a 2019 trip to Baja California’s Valle de Guadalupe wine country. The result is a popular monthly feast in a lush La Puente backyard. The menu changes regularly, but expect plenty of seafood over a wood fire, cocktails, and excellent table service. Try to nab a table early by signing up on their email list.

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A backyard dinner at Campo é Carbón in La Puente, California — Campo é Carbón.

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Casablanca

220 Lincoln Blvd, Venice, CA 90291

Nothing about Casablanca in Venice makes complete sense: Its location is across from a Whole Foods/Chevron complex and kitty-corner to La Cabana, another neighborhood Mexican American favorite. Its namesake theme and decor revolves around the influential 1942 movie set in Morocco, which makes it somewhat irresistible and definitely irreverent. Expect a roving tequila cart churning tableside margaritas, dexterous older women flipping tortillas on the dining room’s centerpiece comal, and a menu that focuses on grilled seafood dishes, one section dedicated fully to mammoth grilled calamari steaks, just because.

220 Lincoln Blvd, Venice, CA 90291

Visit Website

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Jose Armando (@charrito23)

Sonoritas Prime Tacos

2004 Sawtelle Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90025

West LA’s neighborhood taqueria has some of the finest grilled carne asada and other tacos in the city, all made on handmade flour or corn tortillas with a cozy outdoor patio. For those unable to venture to the Westside, Sonoritas also took over the former Broken Spanish space in Downtown LA.

2004 Sawtelle Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90025

Visit Website

Tacos from Sonoritas Prime in Los Angeles.

Birrieria Apatzingan

10040 Laurel Canyon Blvd, Pacoima, CA 91331

Classic Mexican antojitos and birria destination Apatzingan operates from the north side of Laurel Canyon Boulevard near the 118 and the 5 Freeways. Try the birria with Apatzingan’s large, floppy tortillas along with the weekend special: pozole and menudo.

10040 Laurel Canyon Blvd, Pacoima, CA 91331

A beige bowl of glistening red goat birria topped with cilantro and onion on a table outdoors. — Birria at Birrieria Apatzingan in Pacoima.

Madre Restaurant

10426 National Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90034

Los Angeles standout Madre has locations in Palms, West Hollywood, and Torrance, plus one headed to Santa Clarita on October 2. Each is a prime spot to secure Oaxacan cooking including memelas, moles, and tlayudas — and all served alongside one of the widest selections of mezcal in the country. Try not to miss brunch at Madre WeHo or Torrance.

Open in Google Maps

10426 National Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90034

Visit Website

Deep fried masa or memelas with toppings from Madre restaurant in Los Angles, California. — Memelas from Madre.

Comedor Tenchita

2124 S Cloverdale Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90016

Comedor Tenchita’s Mid-City backyard restaurant is usually packed, and that’s because the 76-year-old Doña Hortensia “Tenchita” Melchor prepares some of LA’s most unique Oaxacan food that varies weekly, but handmade tortillas piping hot from a comal are always on hand.

Open in Google Maps

2124 S Cloverdale Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90016

Visit Website

Traditional Oaxacan dishes are laid out on a colorful table at Comedor Tenchita. — Comedor Tenchita.

Coni'Seafood

3544 W Imperial Hwy, Inglewood, CA 90303

This Inglewood restaurant is the master of shrimp in all preparations, whether fried, sauteed, cut into ceviche, or left whole for shockingly bright and spicy aguachile with a vibrant jalapeño puree. But the real star here is the pescado zarandeado, a whole snook coated in an umami-rich paste and shaken over coals, served either indoors or out on the covered patio.

3544 W Imperial Hwy, Inglewood, CA 90303

Visit Website

A top down view of grilled fish, shrimp, and ceviche. — Coni’Seafood

Ka’Teen

6516 Selma Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90028

Chef Wes Avila’s assembly of LA, Mexican, and specifically Yucatánean flavors are on display at Ka’Teen with classics like cochinita pibil, big eye tuna aguachilie and scallop ceviche tostadas. Located in the Hollywood Vinyl District, diners can also savor craft Mexican beer, wines, or inventive cocktails.

Open in Google Maps

6516 Selma Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90028

Visit Website

A corner view of a bar outside at Ka’teen restaurant at night. — Ka’teen.

Gish Bac

4163 W Washington Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90018

Maria and David Ramos own one of the coziest dining rooms and most impressive Oaxacan restaurants in the city, serving stellar mole and excellent lamb barbacoa on the weekends. The latter makes Gish Bac an unmissable spot on California’s barbacoa trail, but be sure to order the horchata or jamaica to wash down the meal.

4163 W Washington Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90018

White plate holding a stacked torta sandwich with meats, lettuce, and sauce from Gish Bac. — A torta from Gish Bac.

El Cholo

1121 S Western Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90006

One of LA’s oldest Mexican restaurants turned 100 in 2023 and maintains a historic presence on Western Avenue just north of Pico. But there are six bustling SoCal locations serving margaritas, combination platters, and El Cholo’s signature green corn tamales.

Open in Google Maps

1121 S Western Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90006

Visit Website

The front facade for El Cholo in Los Angeles. — El Cholo.

Guelaguetza Restaurant

3014 W Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90006

There’s little debate that Koreatown’s Guelaguetza is an essential Oaxacan stop in Los Angeles. This is the restaurant to indulge in complex moles, two-foot-wide tlayudas, and platters of crispy toasted chapulines. The room feels especially festive thanks to live music and brightly colored walls and the food remains top-tier.

3014 W Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90006

Visit Website

Moles at Guelaguetza in LA’s Koreatown.

Mírate

1712 N Vermont Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90027

Mírate settled into Los Feliz in 2022 with a more casual feel and fare in a stunning historic space. There are two bars — one specifically for mezcal — and chef Josh Gil’s multi-regional menu with Baja-style deep-fried fish or charred octopus tacos, albondigas, and tlayudas under a retractable roof. Try to get a table on the top floor for the best view.

1712 N Vermont Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90027

Visit Website

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Mírate (@mirate.losangeles)

Ceviche Project

2524 1/2 Hyperion Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90027

Situated on the western edge of Silver Lake, Ceviche Project chef and owner Octavio Olivas’ breezy sit-down restaurant sources excellent seafood while making some of LA’s most creative twists on ceviche including the kanpachi tostada or whatever Olivas creates with the catch of the day.

2524 1/2 Hyperion Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90027

Visit Website

Razor clam ceviche on ice in a bowl, from Ceviche Project. — Razor clams from Ceviche Project.

Bar Amá

FARMERS AND MERCHANTS BANK BUILDING, 118 4th St, Los Angeles, CA 90013

Chef Josef Centeno’s longtime DTLA spot slightly skews Tex-Mex but is mostly Mexican with micheladas, guacamole, aguachile, tacos, and enchiladas.

FARMERS AND MERCHANTS BANK BUILDING, 118 4th St, Los Angeles, CA 90013

Visit Website

Bar Ama restaurant interior in Downtown Los Angeles. — Bar Amá.

Loreto

1991 Blake Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90039

In early 2023, Downtown’s LA Cha Cha Chá opened a sister restaurant in Frogtown one block away from the LA River. Chef Paco Moran utilizes mostly Mexican seafood to prepare Sinaloan-style shrimp, Baja scallops, and four types of Nayarit-style grilled zarandeado with excellent cocktails and a bustling outdoor patio.

1991 Blake Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90039

Visit Website

Outdoor dining at Loreto. — Loreto patio.

Guerrilla Tacos

2000 E 7th St, Los Angeles, CA 90021

Downtown staple Guerilla Tacos is an ideal spot to grab a table and order oysters with salsa, popcorn fish tacos with Thai flavors, a poke tostada, or the melon Kampachi crudo. There’s a well-lit patio, but the main dining area is also an ideal room to take in a meal.

2000 E 7th St, Los Angeles, CA 90021

Visit Website

Guerrilla Tacos stand in Downtown Los Angeles. — Guerrilla Tacos.

Related Maps

Damian

2132 E 7th Pl, Los Angeles, CA 90021

Celebrated Mexican chef Enrique Olvera’s Arts District restaurant is a stunning space. It’s where lead chef Chuy Cervantes prepares pristine dishes like lobster al pastor, uni tostada, and a pineapple, coconut, and lime soft-serve. Try not to miss weekend brunch.

2132 E 7th Pl, Los Angeles, CA 90021

Visit Website

Tostadas by La Guerrerense served this past weekend at Damian. — Tostadas at Damian.

La Casita Mexicana

4030 Gage Ave, Bell, CA 90201

A standard-bearer for Mexican cuisine in Los Angeles, La Casita Mexicana is as award-winning as it is delicious. Sure, the team there has gone on to open several other places since, but La Casita arguably remains the definitive destination for anyone looking to explore essential Mexican cooking in a colorful dining room.

4030 Gage Ave, Bell, CA 90201

Visit Website

Chilaquiles rojo from La Casita Mexicana in Bell, California. — Chilaquiles rojo from La Casita Mexicana

Aqui es Texcoco

5850 S Eastern Ave, Commerce, CA 90040

Tucked into the City of Commerce is the neighborhood favorite Aqui es Texcoco. With additional outlets in Tijuana and San Diego, this restaurant remains one of the stronger options for eating big weekend plates of smoky pit-roasted lamb in a casual dining room.

5850 S Eastern Ave, Commerce, CA 90040

Visit Website