1. Blue Plate Taco
8.4
1515 Ocean Ave, Santa Monica, CA
Mexican Restaurant · Downtown Santa Monica · 137 tips and reviews
Joseph Duerr: Lobster taco, margaritas, chips with guacamole are excellent!
Chris Visinho: Margaritas, shrimp tacos, amazing mole sauce.
William Capodanno: Great chips and guacamole, delicious margaritas and solid but not great tacos ( specifically the surf and turf special)
2. Lares
8.4
2909 Pico Blvd (29th St), Santa Monica, CA
Mexican Restaurant · 65 tips and reviews
Nick Don Vito: Great food! Love the daily specials...Fridays my fave, grilled red snapper tacos rice and beans $8! Great margaritas too 👍
Natalie Guerra: Definitely one of the most authentic Mexican Food places on the west side. The setting is great and the food is even better. I recommend the Chicken Chipotle, margaritas & the breakfast!! ❤️
Troy Devers: Really great food, a wonderful staff, and cheap and amazing margaritas! What else could you want? :)
4. Gilbert's El Indio
8.6
2526 Pico Blvd (26th street), Santa Monica, CA
Mexican Restaurant · 69 tips and reviews
Mallory Maske: A margarita on the rocks with salt and carnitas soft tacos can't be beat! Cash only.
Daniel Garcia: Place has a long history! Great staff, great atmosphere, and the burritos and margaritas will blow your mind! (But don't drive until your mind returns...!)
Tyler: Such yummy everything! Carnitas and pitchers of old school margaritas.. even the chips are amazing! Cash only.
10. True Food Kitchen
8.9
395 Santa Monica Pl Suite 172, Santa Monica, CA
New American Restaurant · Downtown Santa Monica · 263 tips and reviews
Gilt City: On May 7, an exclusive pre-opening event benefits VH1 Save the Music. Enjoy three-courses made with locally-sourced ingredients and two cocktails (Hint: try the Cucumber-Kumquat Skinny Marg).
Sean Stoner: The ginger Margarita is super delicious and refreshing! The bison Burger is superb.
Timm K: Cold natural drink highly recommended. Friendly service. Best espresso in town.
11. Cassia
9.1
1314 7th St, Santa Monica, CA
Asian Restaurant · 62 tips and reviews
Emily Wilson: The menu is large and built for sharing, so come with a group. Vibe is meh, but food is top notch. Highlights include the Thai basil margarita, oysters, chickpea curry, fried cauliflower, and laksa.
Simple Foodie: Charcuterie Platter, Kaya Toast, Whole Grilled Sea Bass, Charcuterie Fried Rice, Chopped Escargot, Spicy Lamb is spicy.
Vivian Doan: Loved their green papaya salad (the spiced walnuts give it a kick!) and clay oven bread with chickpea curry! Can't wait to go back again and enjoy their patio
13. Bodega Wine Bar
8.7
814 Broadway (at Lincoln Blvd), Santa Monica, CA
Wine Bar · 57 tips and reviews
Bryan O.: best happy hour margarita pizza west of the 405
Shaun Brown: Amazing Wines and Bites! Fun Environment, Highly Suggest
Alexandra E.: Be careful if you're a girl and leave alone, the valet guys here are known to be creepy. Trust me, ladies... Eye out.
14. Upper West
8.4
3321 Pico Blvd, Santa Monica, CA
American Restaurant · 87 tips and reviews
Elle Cameron: The picante margarita is delicious but super spicy! You can ask for less spice and an extra splash of agave, sooo good! Love the corn soup, mussels are amazing, short rib is too notch!
Sam Licker: Lamb and fennel sausage flatbread was out of this world!
Mindy Johnson: No Wi-Fi. Veggie burger is pretty good.