Restaurantji's Encino Mexican restaurant picks are here.
“Atmosphere is pretty lively, fun and uplifting, was a "party" here on Sunday from the time we were there 8:30pm-10pm Sunday Nite. We chose to come here because they were open till 11pm on a Sunday night for our Sunday Date Time. We very much enjoyed ourselves and would come back again! The Green Enchiladas and Molcajete with sour creme Enchiladas were delicious! Very much enjoied our Mangoinada, Piña Colada, and shot drinks, they were delicious!“
“I don’t know why I didn’t give enough credit to Poquito Mas before. My choice was always other places when I was craving Mexican food. It changed about 3 weeks ago when I tried Poquito Mas after a long long time. Now it became my number one go-to place when I was some burrito for me. Good thing is my 9 year old likes this place too. Good taste, great customer service, clean and a good location. Very reasonable prices too..“
Vegan • $
“After visiting Hijo de su Madre several times for their award winning and phenomenal Yucetecan vegan greatness I was quite excited when I saw on their IG they were adding a vegan burger menu. It just launched a few days ago, but is already my favorite burger (got the Phat Hass Burger) in LA and I have had them all. Even more profoundly, they have the best loaded frots I’ve ever had by a landslide! Run don’t walk to try the new menu (will be on the delivery apps soon!) and then keep coming back because everything on the menu is perfection. 5 stars!!!“
“I know, the name outside is a Mexican restaurant, but you will travel to Sri Lanka for sure. The ambiance is really simple, casual, every Friday and Saturday nights they have buffet for $20 person. You need eat with hooper, a pancake bowl. The food is delicious! And the service is friendly. Also, you need try Fatoolah, delicious drink dessert , $4. There is a market beside, I will try next day. It was a tip from one Sri Lanka guy.“
“Great vegan restaurant in Melrose. The food has plenty of flavor and tastes fresh. Prices during happy hour are very affordable, and it’s a great for big groups to share bites and drinks. Atmosphere is nice, especially outdoors on the patio. The highlight of the evening for me was the olive oil brownie — a must try!“
“This is my favorite vegan Mexican spot. They have the best food and it’s fairly affordable considering it’s vegan. I always get the Al Pastor burrito, cause it’s packed with flavor. They have other amazing items, but I tend to stick with my go to option that I listed. Overall, I am never disappointed when I go here, cause for the price the burritos are huge.“
“This was easily one of the best dinner experiences of my entire trip to California.The queue is long, but who cares? Just stand in line and salivate at the thought of insane tacos, or perhaps a stupidly large burrito that can feed a family of three. Or you know, just get there earlier. The servers were super cheery and helpful as well, which is always a pleasure.The food is so flavourful, it even managed to retain its flavour when cold! Did I mention the food is amazing? It's amazing.“
“Super tasty food, delicious snacks. Everything done at the moment!! And the unique attention. Very friendly and attentive. First time and I was impressed. I recommend it, I will return every time I go from San Francisco to San Fernando Los Angeles. God Bless the workers, owner and Restaurant and prosper them!!!“
“First time going. Went for a late lunch. Staff was very friendly & the food came out fast. This has an elevated or more modern vibe compared to other "traditional" Mexican restaurants with familiar menu items (tacos, chips&guac, street corn) but several premium items (tomahawk steak, lobster bomba rice) or unique options (jimca salad, shrimp chile) as well. I like the small plates and tacos but also appreciate the large plates for dinner. They also have mocktails which are fantastic- we had spicy passionfruit. Wel will ne neck amd the atmosphere is lively from watching sports to a date night.“
“The food was very good. My favorite thing was the spicy Pescado tacos. The chorizo scramble on toast was not as good as I was hoping it would be, but I did love the mimosa option with a flight of juices to kind of make your own mimosa. got there fairly early so there weren't many people and there, so the noise level was low and the atmosphere there is very charming and warm..“
“listen: its west LA, there are a *TON* of options... but none of them are as good as this. start with the chilaquiles -- they are *chef's kiss* incredible. and anything else you order will be impeccably seasoned, full of authentic flavor, and fresh. everything is “
“Food is delicious! Been here twice and it doesn't disappoint Service is fast and efficient. Servers are attentive to their tables! Just amazing!Highly recommended for authentic Mexican breakfast, plus i love the music! Got to hear PXNDX! which is one of my favorite bands !“
“We liked it a lot! I went with my family, and all the dishes we ordered were very well served and delicious. We ordered birria, a fish fillet, some tacos, chicken fajitas and Menudo. Excellent service and the place is very cozy.I highly recommend this place!!“
“SOOOOO soo good!! Always look forward to stopping by whoever the truck is at. Highly recommend the Classic burger and also the Chicken katsu sandwich. Thé gorgonzola on thé burger is DELICIOUS. The veggies are crisp and fresh. And the sauces are homemade, so so delicious. A MUST try“
“Yo I've lived in sherman oaks for a long time and I cant believe I just found out about this place. I came with my friend for lunch and it was packed. The workers are really nice and I got recommended the torta and the lunch plates. The carne asada plate was fire and so was their horchata it tasted homemade not the powder kind that some places give. I'll def be backParking: 2 parking spots in the back“
“Socalo is consistently great. Everyone I introduce it to ends up returning on their own. Everything is great here, the food especially of course (the menu is innovative with kind of a classic base and the ingredients are very high end). Somehow though, they manage to keep the prices reasonable. The staff is really nice, the design and atmosphere are beautiful both during the day and the evening. I love that it's an all day restaurant so you can even grab a meal or a snack during in-between hours. This place is kind of a sleeper favorite and because it seems to be under the radar a bit, getting a reservation is always easy. I truly love this place.“
“I don't even eat at gracis senor, but I am writing this review because there is a local law firm called Davis Wright and Tremaine that has been harassing the local taco vendors for the past few weeks in the Pacific Palisades. Apparently the law firm has delivered threatening letters to Gracias Senor (the daytime taco truck), as well as the nighttime pop-up tent-based taco vendors, and perhaps the other trucks as well. There are clearly a coalition of palisades karens who have nothing constructive to do with their time and therefore seek to destroy the hard work of local businesses, lessening the beauty of the Palisades in the process. These same anti-taco-truck karens are probably the same types of people who yelled at people for not taking covid vaccines two years ago: the type of people who thrive on the oppression of the free will of other human beings and live to control others, for it gives them a false sense of empowerment and meaning. These anti-taco karens would clearly like for every single establishment in the palisades to be bland, overpriced, licensed and regulated by some nonsensical city governing body, and close early. The good news is that for every one of the anti-taco Karens who seek to oppress the small business owners, there are twenty more people who support the taco vendors! Don't be intimidated by Davis Wright and Tremaine and the karen army.“
“I personally had the best experience here with my family! The staff was so nice and accommodating we had 2 senior dogs that we needed to bring with us because they have heart issues and can't be left alone I had them in a HUGE stroller and the staff helped me so much and gave me no hassle in bringing them in the patio area. They gave us a spacious table like I requested and I loved it! The food was amazing! Huge compliments to the chef we did the 3 course lunch meal and it was perfect! We have an autistic child that usually hates eating everything and they made him a chicken quesadilla that he devoured! This was a huge delight and was very much worth it! They even have valet which made it extremely hassle free and accommodating. You should definitely check this place out the vibe, food,decor, and staff, are all perfect!“
“I order tamales from Me Gusta all of the time at our Ventura Farmers Market. They are the best! My favorite is chili cheese but they all are so good. Serves hot or coldVegetarian options: Chili cheese are the bomb but they also have bean and cheese, pineapple, strawberry, etc“
“This place is quality! The food is well prepared and always delicious. You can tell a lot if thought goes into the menu.…they do not skimp on the shrimp in the shrimp burrito/shrimp bowl. The avocado salsa is so fresh and has actual avocado in it. Breakfast burrito is amazing/huge, but won’t leave you feeling gross. Highly recommend.“
“They are open Monday through Friday from 6pm to very late 1130pm and are very nice people. The food is excellent especially the tacos are my favorite. The burrito is good but a little pricey for the size. Overall we were very satisfied with our meal and the friendly service here. The best part is living 2 blocks away.“
“This restaurant is the Epitome of Taco paradise! They have the most amazing meat, it's so fresh and delicious. The restaurant is in an interesting location, but it's so fun! The staff is very attentive and gracious. You order from the monitors on the wall and they bring the food to you. Their details are impeccable, they have to go dishes out for you to grab if you need them and various condiments and such. Go early, parking is just street parking and that's very rare to find. Also, their birthday celebration is very cute! Go for your Bday and try it out.“
“Loved this place ! Great for a chill (and family friendly) vibe by the Santa Monica pier . The servers were super friendly (they even offer complimentary food for your dog). The portions are large and filling. The grilled fish taco (snapper) was delicious and their guacamole is fresh and chips are not too salty.I especially enjoyed the watermelon agua fresca (fresh watermelon that is not too sweet).100% recommend this spot.“
“Sol Agave is a solid choice for lunch. It wasn’t super busy on a Sunday at 1pm. The covered patio was heated and comfortable even though it was chilly and windy. We tried the charred romaine salad which was just ok. The chips and salsa and guacamole were delicious. I also really liked the Camerones Al Gusto. Our vegan tacos could have been more flavorful, maybe with the addition of a nut based “crema” or something to give a little more flavor. Surprisingly dessert was one of my favorite parts of the meal. The butter cake is a MUST order menu item. Sol Agave is worth a try!“
“The place is well located and comfortable, the food is excellent ? the attention from the waiters who, despite being very young, provide magnificent service, they are bilingual and make you feel very comfortable.. in general the staff is very attentive and friendly, I highly recommend This place has reasonable prices and the food is of very good quality. I hope to return soon.“
“It's all about the beef. Their prime meats are delicious. The other food is good too but it's all about the prime meat. There is no table service you order up front and then they bring your food to you. I didn't care for the margarita.“
“My first time in Santa Monica. My friend searched Mexican food spots in the area and we chose this one. Ordered for pickup and it was ready in a good amount of time. My food was hot, fresh, and flavorful. I got the OG Burrito with Birria and churros. So so good! Highly recommend you stop here and enjoy the other options as well. Customer service was great, too.“
“At Villanueva Mexican Restaurant, embark on a salsa odyssey that elevates the ordinary to extraordinary! Their legendary salsa bar, a carnival of flavors, turns each bite into a fiesta. The shrimp fajitas, while promising a flavor explosion, waded through a sea of gravy, a twist in our culinary tale. Though this unexpected plot thickens our journey, the salsas alone make Villanueva a treasure worth exploring. It's a solid four-star adventure, where every dip transports you closer to Mexico. Dive into Villanueva for a taste escapade that’s almost perfect – just watch out for the gravy waves!Recommendations:Their salsa bar!Vegetarian options: Few vegetarian items“
“This is a hole in the wall restaurant that seems to be a neighborhood favorite. There are not many tables inside, but they have a lot of covered seating outside behind the restaurant. Parking is limited, but we found some nearby at a strip center. 4/5 - Complimentary Tostadas: Served with pico de gallo, salsa and bean dip. Really good. 4/5 - Horchata 4/5 - Eggs, Beans & Carne Asada: My husband requested this (since it's not on the menu) and they made it for him. He was very happy. 2/5 - Beef Machaca: The beans and rice and tostada were really good. I didn't love the machaca though. The food came out to 3.5 stars. Service was friendly and attentive, so I will bump it up to 4 stars. I think this is probably a good lunch / dinner location.“
“Literally a delicatessen. Bring your Mom cause she doesn't want to cook, invite your Grandma I wish I was able to. Delicious, just as Mothers family's kitchen. NOPALESon pointVegetarian options: Nopales a la MadreKid-friendliness: Healthy good food to strengthen these muscles. ?“
“To the person that is reading this, I just want you to know that the food was so good that it saved me from depression. It was a rainy day, I had no motivation no energy no nothing. But then I went around and looked for food places near by and I went and ordered “Carne Asada fries” (I’m lactose) but that didn’t stop me. The staff were awfully nice and sweet. I was all depressed until they said my food was ready. I took one bite and oh my days. My toes started to curl, my hair started to go up, I was literally floating. Each fry was unbelievable savory and so good. My depression on that day was finally cured. 15 years of depression all gone with just one fry. So yes I do definitely recommend this. Ps. If you don’t eat from here then you’re gay.“
“Some of the best Taco's I've had. Cochinita, Pibil, Nopales,... Mouth watering and bursting with the right flavors! Or try the 6 mini taco sampler to nail down your favorite.Aqua de Jamaica that's not not watered down and drowning in sugar! Love the Taco truck atmosphere, the convenience of covered outside seating and friendly folks bringing your order to the table. Will definitely be back for more. Well done!“
“I revisited this place after years, having been a regular from 2007 to 2014 growing up. Surprisingly, nothing much has changed, except for the owner sporting grey hairs and the welcomed addition of card payments. The familiar great taste of the food, horchata, and salsa remain the same in a good way.“
“This place was a 10-10!! I had to go to La to do a quick run and I seen this was a hotspot ! We'll let me tell you the birria plate which idk why it didn't post when I posted a picture of it but it was so good and the ceviche tostada also good they only accept cash just a heads up ! The service was a 10/10 as well it's a small spot max maybe 20-30 people can fit in there maybe less but overall I would definitely come back here again !“
Seafood • $
“Honestly probably the best mariscos I’ve had! I love the aguachile! The mariscos pieces are always plump and big, they really don’t skimp out on it. The owner is so friendly and willing to help you decide what to get based on what you like. The vibe is really chill with music always playing and tables to sit and eat at. Such a fun vibe. But the best thing about this place is probably the spicy red sauce. It goes good on everything! Seriously the star of the place, I crave it randomly all the time. Can’t recommend more!“
“Tacos and margs are pretty stellar at this place. Came on Taco Tuesday, which is $1 off all tacos and $9 margs. Place wasn't busy when we got there at 12 and we were able to get our food and drinks very quickly. FYI it's more of a trendy sports bar than a restaurant, so don't be thrown off when you walk in, but deff a good place for casual lunch or happy hour.For drinks, husband and I both got the classic marg, which had a decent amount of tequila. Enough to made you happy but didn't make your eyes burn when you drank it (make sense?)We ordered 4 tacos in total (short rib, chicken, shrimp and carnitas). Short rib was my favorite by far. Super flavorful with picked onions and a spicy salsa verde sauce. Husband also really liked the chicken, which was also a little spicy (not as much as the short rib) and I also got the shrimp, which was bomb. The pineapple salsa on top really made the shrimp shine. The carnitas was ... fine. Not bad but nothing to write home about. Also ordered the carnitas nachos. Prob would have ordered this with short rib had I known how good that was. They come pretty stacked with pork, shredded cheese, homemade cheese sauce, tomatoes and onions, but personally felt like they needed some acid. Pro tip, ask for the spicy salsa verde on the side. It deff satisfied that "somethings missing" feeling. Once got that we really enjoyed the nachos. Overall, we really liked this place. Food and drinks were really good and it's off the beaten path enough that you can sit and enjoy your food in a laid back place without crazy LA prices.“
“Very cool and delicious taco spot, with a low key (get it?) vibe. They’ve expanded their menu in the past year, so now they have even more good options other than their killer chicken and beef tacos. They have bowls that are of similar quantity as a Chipotle bowl, but much higher quality. This is a great lunch stop when coming to Platform at Culver.Vegetarian options: Mushroom taco, quesadilla, and chips + guac are great vegetarian options.“
“I'm visiting from the High Desert today and my daughter lives around the corner. This had to be the best Mexican food I've ever eaten. Hands down fantastic. Fresh, beautifully cooked and delicious. There aren't enough words to describe how amazing it is. If you're looking for authentic flavors, please don't hesitate.“
“I absolutely love this place. I love their tacos. The nice thin tortilla with perfectly fried shrimp. Everything about this place is awesome. And the fact that it's a family owned business is even better. I love it can't get enough.“
“Best breakfast burrito I've had in quite some time. Best part was that they let me sub potatoes for the meat. The burrito came out quickly after ordering at the counter. The lady who helped me was incredibly nice and offered some extra salsa (the spicy salsa was perfect). The burrito had tasty potatoes, fluffy eggs, and a good portion of beans, wrapped in a warm, flakey tortilla. Don't miss it!“
“I've been coming here since I was a kid but the new owner Marcos is definitely the coolest man/owner! He treats everyone like family and I love that he personally walks my order out to me every time. We chat like we've always known each other I think it's awesome! Highly recommend eating here! I eat here once a week and bring it on the golf course with me every weekend!“
“I’ve been looking for a delicious torta for a long time and I finally found the place! If you like fresh delicious food this is the place. The service is excellent, they answered all my questions and explained their menu. I created my own sandwich with some recommendations from Johnathan who was awesome. This is by far the best torta I’ve ever had! It was so good I was back a couple days later for another! Wifey ordered tacos and they were amazing as well. The flavor and freshness of the meat is what sets them apart. No old meat being served here. Definitely my go to spot for delicious fresh food!“
“Real Mexican cuisine!!! Despite the fact that the place looks very “simple,” the guys cook truly delicious Mexican food. I work nearby and it seems to me that I have already tried everything!! Favorite - casadilla with chicken and avocado?“
“The Pastrami burrito was a hearty, but not a cheap breakfast. Loaded with big salty chunks of meat, crispy hash, eggs, and kicked it up a notch with some sliced jalapenos. Careful with the salsa, the green one is mild and smokey, the red one is fire.“
“Best margarita in town, love the rice and salsa, they use to have taco tuesdays not sure if they do anymore but the place is always busy when i go with my family. i love their fajitas and service is a amazing. large assortment of high end tequilas that my husband truly appreciates.“
“I visited Antonio's today to cater for my mom's party, as she had a craving for Mediterranean cuisine. Despite it being Super Bowl Sunday and the restaurant bustling with activity, the staff graciously guided me through the catering menu. They even went above and beyond to accommodate a last-minute order, with the cook agreeing enthusiastically. Despite the rush, they ensured my order was delivered promptly. The food, as always, was superb, leaving everyone thoroughly satisfied. I opted for the special for 10 people and added an additional 10 skewers for an extra $50. A big thank you to the entire team at Antonio's for their exceptional service and delicious food.“
Mexican • $
“Literally some of the best service I've received during a late work lunch. Came in and Abraham explained anything I had questions on and recommended the best pina I've had in a long time. Overall, great food and great service, definitely coming back. The food wasn't super heavy, and was very flavorful. The number 5“
“I enjoyed this place very much. The food was amazing, the portion was enough for two meals, and the customer service was great! There’s not a lot of seating, which is fine because it was just me. I will definitely be back! Oh, and the quac sauce and spicy red sauce served with the chips was the bomb! I put it on my burrito and it made it even better! Definitely recommend!“
“If you're not here, then you're missing out! Had the burrito and the crispy tacos...and...man o man! Super delicious!!! I would have taken pictures, but the food was gone before I could post anything. The tacos were deliciously crispy, while the meat was marinated to perfection. The garnishes on the side, cucumbers, and radishes, were the perfect addition to my meal. Ordered three of these bad boys with a side of Mexican Coke. Pure cane sugar is so much better than High fructose corn syrup. My wife had the burrito. It was juicy, had all the right seasoning, and fell apart like any delicious burrito should.. Also, I said delicious a ton of times. Because it is! It's delicious!!!“
“We like a lot going out. Last night we arrived in this magnificent restaurant which we didn’t know before. We spent a beautiful evening there with first-rate cooking and a nice crew and a professional chief cook. We added this fine restaurant in our list and we will no doubt visit again soon. We warmly recommend.“