Came out for a bachelorette party and it was the first stop on our bar hopping, it ended up being a there for hours because our bartenders were so much fun!! They were so attentive and chatted with all of us all night to the point we couldn't leave them. 100/10 on service from julian our bartender and Kevin for putting up with our shenanigans all night. Even me being the pregnant lady, I had so much fun. Going back for round 2 today! Also the churros?? Unreal. read more

Esperanza Cocina de la Playa - A surprise drink. - Seafood Near Me - Manhattan Beach, California

Let me tell you something: You want 5 star service? You ask to be sat in Ben's section. The man did it all: He had our refills before we asked for them. He had our food before we knew what we even wanted to order! He is the best damn server this side of the Mississippi! A FIVE STAR MAN! read more

charming experience ~ delicious food and our waiter, Ben was hilarious. he did so many good impressions.

I wish I had 5 more stars because I would give my experience a 10! The honest truth..... I loved my first experience at Esperanza so much so that I took my fiancé for dinner. The second experience was not great. It was an extremely busy night, and the service was not what I expected. I told the waiter I was displeased. He apologized; however, I was disappointed and we left. After I left, I received a message from my server, Ben, asking for an opportunity to to make it right and inviting me back. Two months later, I took him up on the offer. He booked my reservation right away. Upon arriving at the restaurant with my Mom, we were seated right away and given such good treatment, we felt like celebrities. And the food, AMAZING! The churros for dessert - Chef's kiss. What makes this stand out for me is that Ben went so far above and beyond to make sure that I had a good experience. His apology was sincere enough, but he didn't stop there. A lot of people are not willing to go the extra mile like he did that day. I am very grateful and appreciative, and I do not take it for granted. The food at Esperanza speaks for itself, but the SERVICE 100/10! No notes. Thank you Ben. read more

Esperanza Cocina de la Playa - Fried Horchata Ice Cream - Seafood Near Me - Manhattan Beach, California

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This used to be my favorite breakfast spot in Manhattan Beach before the restaurant was remodeled and the second floor was added. My family and I went there almost every Sunday, especially for the French toast. The staff back then was always friendly, welcoming, and attentive, and it was a place we genuinely looked forward to visiting. Unfortunately, after the remodel, everything seemed to change. The hosts at the front often came across as unfriendly and unwelcoming. On several occasions, despite having a reservation and seeing plenty of empty tables throughout the restaurant, we were directed upstairs to the "community table," which was disappointing and made us feel like our reservation didn't matter. The overall atmosphere also changed. The service no longer felt warm or customer-focused, and our interactions with both management and staff were noticeably less pleasant than they had been in the past. To make matters worse, they changed the menu and stopped serving many of the dishes we loved, including the French toast after 1:00 p.m. on Sundays. That was one of the main reasons we kept coming back. It's disappointing to see a restaurant that was once one of the best in Manhattan Beach lose so much of what made it special. In my opinion, the quality of both the service and the dining experience has declined significantly since the remodel. read more

Was able to snag a bar seat here on a really busy Friday night. There was a long wait for people to be seated at a table, the place was a mad house. All signs of a good restaurant, and it was. They didn't have a mocktail menu, which was a big bummer. I don't know I just think in today's day and age with fewer and fewer people drinking alcohol, it would be nice to have fun options for them too. I'm sure if I had asked them to make me a fun drink they would have but I feel needy when I do that. Their food menu however, looked insane. It was very hard to choose but I went with their fish tacos made with seared halibut, jalapeño crema and slaw, pico de Gallo served with rice and beans. They also gave me a tortilla on the side with guacamole, some salsa and a sour cream of the sort, at least that's what it looked like. The fish tacos were seriously so so good and really filling. I ended up eating one of the two and took the rest home with me. Hearty and fresh. The sour cream wasn't for me though, it tasted like butter I was not a fan. Overall a good experience for sure. read more

Esperanza Cocina de la Playa - Seafood Near Me - Manhattan Beach, California

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We went to Esperanza Cantina on Juneteenth for brunch with my in-laws, and overall we had a really nice time. The space is bright and beautiful, and everyone was kind and accommodating. The only issue we had was with the corner seating. It gets a little tricky when your party is seated in a corner and the party next to you is also cornered into their seats. Anytime someone needs to get up or go to the restroom, both parties have to shift and adjust. The party next to us seemed visibly and verbally frustrated, and it felt like they were blaming us for blocking them, even though we were just seated where the restaurant placed us. They made a few comments under their breath, which made the situation feel awkward and a little uncomfortable. Also, the tall tables are a bit wobbly, so if you are getting in and out of the booth, definitely grab your drinks first, especially if you ordered a Big Daddy Margarita. No one wants that beauty tipping over. That said, the food was amazing. I had the pescado del día, which was sea bass, and our waiter recommended it with the wine sauce, corn, and rice. Omg, it was so good. The fish melted in your mouth and was so moist and delicious. We also ordered two Big Daddy Margaritas, which we already love from their sister restaurant, Palmilla. Overall, we'll definitely be back. I'm still thinking about that sea bass and will absolutely be coming back for it soon. read more

Esperanza Cocina de la Playa - Pescado del día sea bass - Seafood Near Me - Manhattan Beach, California

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Extremely modern and upbeat Mexican restaurant and lounge. I have come here a few times now just for the crunchy chicken tacos and the butter tortillas that come with the table. I've tried the chicken tostada salad which was massive, so much food. I've also tried the ceviche sampler which was fresh and delicious. The drinks have always been on point here as well. Really good for a date night during the week or to start your night out with friends over the weekend. The music is pretty loud at night over the weekend so be mindful it feels more like a party than a restaurant. My bartenders and servers have always been super kind, efficient and helpful. read more

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The asada was very good and flavorful. They give you tortillas as appetizers alongside with chips which was nice. Service was great and nice ambiance inside. For parking, you can do street or any of the nearby structures. read more

Esperanza Cocina de la Playa - La Asada con Salsa - Seafood Near Me - Manhattan Beach, California

Delicious! Went for Brunch - loved the flour tortilla appetizer, ordered guacamole and Chips and the huevos with carne asada. Mimosas were $10 or the pitcher was $40. Ambiance - had a table on the first floor - nice! Service - excellent. Well done! read more

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Had a business dinner here and what a fun experience! Restaurant is beautiful, has a lovely area upstairs with a fire pit and a bar upstairs and downstairs. The noise level can be a bit loud and it can be crowded but the service, drinks, and food were exceptional! Their menu offered a nice variety of foods- from vegan to seafood, and their drink menu offered a nice variety of options. Their guac was chunky and delicious and their churros were superb! The churros were not heavy and texture and taste were excellent! Their sangrias were refreshing and oh so tasty! I ordered the Achiote Beso Salmon (per our waiter's suggestion), and it was perfectly cooked, presented beautifully, and tasted great! Can't wait to come back! read more

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First time here and let me tell our server Devon was very attentive and helpful from beginning to end. Not only he recommended some bomb margaritas he also suggested sone very top flight seafood plates. I was there to celebrate my anniversary with hubby and will be coming back. Please give this guy a raise he deserves it his customer service is in point! read more

Really underwhelming mexican food. One start for large servings but taste was not good. Also, the owners should really look at the cleanliness of their restaurant like how could you just have your couches stained and allow that to be a representation of you. I really dont get some owners. I would never leave anything stained. Also, extremely loud chaotic not peaceful atmosphere with music on way too loud. read more

Esperanza Cocina de la Playa - Seafood Near Me - Manhattan Beach, California

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The Chile Relleno: 5/5 This was the highlight for me. It was rich and filling, and the batter was thick and airy with the perfect crunch. After asking, I learned that they make it with Modelo Negra, which they have on tap. I will definitely be back for it. Short Rib enchilada: 3/5 It was good, but the sauce masked the short rib, which seemed to be tender and well prepared. I will likely try the taquitos instead next time. The drinks were the right kind of strong. Sound seems to echo and travel, so parts of the conversation were hard to hear across the table, but it was still a great atmosphere with the lighting and decor. read more

Esperanza Cocina de la Playa - Short Rib enchilada, chile relleno, black beans, and rice - Seafood Near Me - Manhattan Beach, California

Lots of great options in Manhattan Beach but beautiful Esperanza never disappoints. My server Ben suggested I try the aged ribeye and it was amazing. Thanks for the suggestion!! read more

Incredibly beautiful restaurant! We came on a Tuesday evening table for three people with a reservation. We were sat down quickly towards the back & put in our order for drinks! They served us handmade tortillas with a dripping sauce tray. We all enjoyed it very much & the tortillas were incredibly tasty! I will say, it was busy and our drink order took longer than expected The drinks were delicious! All their margs can be make into mocktails Once we put in our food order it took approximately 45 minutes for it to come out! The food, nonetheless, was tasty! I will say the crispy taco with braised short rib was dry, however, the chile relleno was perfectly tasty!! Overall cute restaurant. The food/drinks took quite a bit to come out, then for our server to bring the check. By this time many people had left. Perhaps some servers didn't come into work today. I always like to give their staff the benefit of the doubt. Will come again to re-rate the service & try different plates! read more

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Olivia Olivia Olivia, that girl was amazing at her job. Professional. Kind, and very attentive. Baby babies us to tipping her . She did an amazing job. It's rare to see this type of service. We enjoyed the food, drinks, and Ms. Olivia! read more

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Good food. I love their ceviche and tacos Rice and beans were flavorful and not too salty. Meat was mostly tender. Service is pretty quick and servers are very friendly It does get very crowded sometimes and hard to get through when there's a lot of people on the second floor.. and first floor too I guess haha Parking is a bit of a hassle but that's the whole Manhattan beach. read more

I was not expecting to like this place too much but wow was this place really good. I will say the prices are a bit high but I think it's still worth a try. They have Mexican cuisine here and if you like mexican food, this place is great. I love the way they cook their tortillas. I usually am not a fan of corn tortillas but at this place. they were so good. They had the best texture. I recommend the Tacos de Filet Mignon! It was super good and delicious. The meat was well seasoned and the tortilla was perfect. It was sooo good!!!! The restaurant was also so cute and peaceful but at night, this place does get louder because people come here to drink. Their drink menu was fairly large!! The staff here were also really nice and accommodating. Overall great experience and very much worth a try! I would come here again and try a different item on the menu. read more

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Super cute location! The handmade tortillas with butter are amazing. I tried the langosta tacos and they had a nice mixture of flavor. My husband also enjoyed the carnitas plate, while my aunt thought the chile relleno was okay. Drinks were okay. read more

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Another magical afternoon at Esperanza. We gathered for a friends birthday brunch and the experience was first rate from start to finish. Our servers, Julian and Ben, were friendly, gracious and very attentive to our every need. They made sure the birthday girl felt very special. 5 star service. The roof is also a great place to catch a World Cup game. I'll be back to watch a match soon. read more

Esperanza Cocina de la Playa - Julian bringing the first class service Esperanza is known for. - Seafood Near Me - Manhattan Beach, California

Best lobster tacos! Didnt even know they were a thing til coming to Esperanza, but our waiter Ben recommended them and they blew us away. Delicious fresh fruit cocktails, outdoor seating close enough the ocean for a nice post dinner stroll Will definitely be coming back next time we're in in LA. 5 star experience! read more

The food was average--nothing particularly unique stood out. I ordered the chicken chipotle with mushrooms; it was fine, but the rice and salad weren't appealing to me. What really elevated the experience was the service--our server was attentive, knowledgeable, and offered thoughtful recommendations, which I appreciated. The ambience is definitely the highlight of the place: lively, stylish, and full of people dressed up, giving it a fun, happening vibe. Cost $50 / person read more

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Chris you did just a great job! My party and I were 13 people in total! This was such a beautiful resturant both upstairs and downstairs. The food was also really flavorful and yummy. There was a large selection to choose from as well!! Be mindful when reserving for larger parties! There is a $75 min for parties over 16. read more

Amazing food and even better service. Can't go wrong with the apps. Shout out to our waiter Ben! We'll be back

I came into Esperanza the other day and had such a great experience! Our server Ben was very helpful with his recommendations, he talked me into getting the Asada Con Salsa and the watermelon cooler and they were both delicious! The chimichurri sauce on the steak was top notch and the margarita was so refreshing with the perfect amount of spice! I will definitely be back again! (My homemade chimichuri is just a tiny bit better) read more

Esperanza Cocina de la Playa - Seafood Near Me - Manhattan Beach, California

Love the vibe. Super cute ambiance and love the elevated Mexican food. Dogs allowed on the ground only. Reservations available on Open Table, but we also walked up on Saturday morning and was seated right away. They have Hightop, booth, and regular table seating options. The provide you when you sit with their homemade tortillas with two different salsa and a butter. Omg delicious. Of course saved the remaining of the salsa to add to our meals. I devoured the breakfast burrito. Filet Mignon tacos were on point. Everything was cooked perfectly and super tasty. read more

Esperanza Cocina de la Playa - Breakfast burrito - Seafood Near Me - Manhattan Beach, California

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Had a reservation for my birthday dinner. When I went up to check into my table, I got seated almost right away! Service was amazing and the food was so delicious. The servers were very attentive and made my birthday night a little more special! My friend and I ordered the La Asada Con Salsa, Traditional Guacamole, and the Ceviche los Cabos. All were such profound dishes and were seasoned amazingly. Don't get me started on the complimentary tortillas with the honey butter that comes with it---it is absolutely to die for! The ambiance was one of my favorite parts. The lighting was dim and cozy, the decor was modern and chic, and the location couldn't have been better--just a small walk from the pier. It was the perfect spot for a nice dinner and a great overall vibe. Definitely 10000/10 recommend and would probably come back here whenever I get the chance. read more

Came on St patty's weekend. Quite busy! The hostess was luckily able to fit us two in the front. Extremely sunny day, I had to wear sunglasses to eat. Ordered 2 items, both $17 each. The burrito was smaller than Chipotle. Every table gets a free tortilla and salsa set of 3. The chorizo was salty so I took it home! Great ambiance for a brunch! Cute spot for a date or with family! Dog friendly too. Metered parking sadly. read more

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It's 12:09 on a Sunday they said they were closed but were drinking and had other costumers when yelp says 2:00am

We were invited back to the restaurant for a second time by the management. Our initial experience needed a little additional finesse. This time our food, service, and management were top shelf! Very impressed! Not only was the quality of food great but the portions were very generous. Our drinks were made perfectly and strong! Ask for Sadie, if you want a positive, uplifting time there, she was fabulous. The management must know she's the best. I'm hard to impressed but this turned out to be an incredible all around dining experience! A great vibe with an upscale atmosphere. Most importantly, John Fox, the manager, made sure our afternoon was flawless. Hats off to this outstanding professional! read more

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Great mocktails, cute spot, and decent food (just don't expect super authentic Mexican). The guacamole was fresh and tasty. I got a watermelon mocktail--it wasn't on the menu, but I asked for a cocktail without alcohol and they made it happen. I was worried it might be too sweet, but it was actually really refreshing and well-balanced. I ended up loving it. I was pretty into the chile relleno. I added shrimp (for an extra charge), and it came out super creamy and cheesy. Kind of reminded me of a chile en nogada without the cream. The restaurant is cute and just a short walk from the beach. It is on the smaller side, so it might feel a little tight for bigger groups. There's a rooftop area too--definitely want to check that out next time. read more

Esperanza Cocina de la Playa - Chips and Guacamole Traditional - Seafood Near Me - Manhattan Beach, California

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went to their sister restaurant, palmilla last month for brunch and wanted to check esperanza out. made rez via opentable and booked seating for their newly opened upstairs/rooftop! it was an unexpected warm sunny day, the hostess was so gracious and gave us options for seating. we still opted for upstairs but in the shade. friendly and fast service. i was bummed there isnt a view of the ocean and the menu is the exact same as palmilla. whomp whomp. but i did want to order from their brunch menu! ordered: Papas Rajas Hash - asked for eggs to be scrambled instead of fried and did not add any protein Tacos de Halibut Frito def enjoyed their brunch menu vs their lunch menu food was delicious and loved the jalapeño crema the best out of the three. love love love their homemade flour tortillas. gorgeous restaurant! parking: located in dtmb. metered street parking, metered lots, metered garages. read more

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Came here in a Monday night and it was rock in'!! Place was full and atmosphere very buzzy! But it was really too loud and hard to hear! Menu had lots of yummy dishes and fun drinks. I ordered a pineapple mojito and Taco Bell+ Chili Relleno! While we waited we got handmade tortillas with sauces. Scarfed those puppies down!! Overall the food and drinks took wayyy too long!! Not if they were short in the kitchen or bar. Our food and drinks were delicious overall. And as usual for MB it was pricey so may just come back for drinks. But a full restaurant speaks volumes. read more

5 Stars for the Spicy Mango Marg, the Vibe, and the Food! Esperanza is officially my new favorite spot in Manhattan Beach. The Spicy Mango Margarita is a MUST-order--it's the perfect balance of sweet, spicy, and salty. The service was fantastic, and the entire place has such an incredible vacation vibe that makes you feel like you're on a luxury getaway. It's the perfect beachy-chic atmosphere to unwind. The food is just as impressive as the drinks. I highly recommend the Ceviche Los Cabos--it was incredibly fresh, flavorful, and easily one of the best I've had. The interior design is stunning, and the energy is always great. If you're near the pier, don't miss out on this gem. Highly recommend for both the food and the experience! read more

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Esperanza is my favorite. Such delicious food. Everything is seasoned right. Always fresh and quality dishes. I love coming here. Great vibe and always a happy beautiful crowd. read more

Esperanza Cocina de la Playa - Enchiladas - Seafood Near Me - Manhattan Beach, California

Esperanza delivers when it comes to food quality everything we ordered was full of flavor, well-seasoned, and beautifully presented. The ambiance is vibrant and the menu offers a great mix of classic and creative dishes. That said, the experience could've easily been a 5-star if the service had matched the food. Our order took quite a while to arrive, and a couple of items were either missed or not prepared as requested. The staff was friendly and tried to make up for the delays, but it did affect the overall experience. Still, if you're not in a rush and want to enjoy excellent food, Esperanza is worth the visit. Just be prepared to wait a bit longer than expected. read more

Esperanza Cocina de la Playa - Crunchy Taco - Seafood Near Me - Manhattan Beach, California

ALWAYS a great time here thanks to all the staff who are so kind and welcoming! My husband and I just wanted to stop by for some margaritas the day before Mother's Day. We had a baby and they, without question, accommodated us and even sat us at a prime table! Quick service, great drinks, attentive, and vibrant ambiance. We'll always come back! read more

Came for a rooftop lunch with a fairly large group for a friend's special day. The vibes on the roof were both lively and chill. Waiters all seem like they could be on a reality tv show - handsome, cheerful and exceptional service - we were lucky enough to get Ben K. read more

Esperanza Cocina de la Playa - Extra large Cadillac margarita - Seafood Near Me - Manhattan Beach, California

I was pleasantly surprised by how good our cocktails and appetizers were! Too many over priced Mexican cuisine restaurants with fancy decor typically do not deliver. This was opposite. Very good quality. Short rib taquitos legit Sea Bass ceviche classic and top notch so flavorful paired well with banana chips Sunset cocktails amazing read more

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