I never knew of any cute cantinas around Malibu and stumbled across this one on Opentable. Went in with reservations and we were seated right away with excellent service. The only thing is they told us that the hours on Google are wrong so they were going to close very soon. I would call and ask prior to visiting. Luckily, they served us very quickly and were very kind!! The food was DELICIOUS. Everyone left very satisfied and happy. My vegan taco was something that I still think about to this day. Very flavorful and unique. The staff was amazing too-- they made sure that we had the best experience possible. I recommend this spot to my friends anytime they need good food and drinks in Malibu! I'll be back soon! read more

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La Nena Cantina Visited: March 8, 2026 This was my first time trying La Nena Cantina, and I was pleasantly surprised. Even though we kept it simple and only ordered the nachos, they were very good and packed with flavor. The nachos were $15, and we added beef for $6, bringing the food total to $21. They were topped with carne asada, beans, a small side of guacamole, and a generous amount of finely chopped jalapeño, which gave the whole dish a really nice kick. The setting is also a big plus. The restaurant sits in a beautiful spot in Malibu with nice views of the surrounding hills, which makes it a great place to relax and enjoy a casual meal. Service is the only reason this doesn't quite make it to five stars. Everyone we interacted with was very friendly, but the staff just wasn't attentive enough. Our table went quite a while without water, and when I ordered a fountain soda ($4) it took long enough that I eventually had to flag down another server walking by to ask for it. All in all, the food was very good and the location is excellent. Our total for the nachos with beef and a soda came to $27.49 with tax, which is about what you'd expect in Malibu. Despite the minor service issues, I'd definitely come back and try more from the menu next time. read more

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These are a few of my favorites. Staff is always friendly and food is fresh and flavorful ‍ Parking is easy (come early) read more

La Nena Cantina - Nachos, cheese enchiladas, taco and chips and excellent salsa - Mexican Near Me - Malibu, California

Had to stop by my favorite margarita and Mexican food spot in Malibu while I was driving through. Alex and Kevin are great bartenders who not only make great drinks but provide great service. Food is great love the quesabirria tacos but the menu has so many options everyone can find something they enjoy. Must try spot if you're in Malibu!! read more

La Nena Cantina - Fortaleza reposado - Mexican Near Me - Malibu, California

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Stopped in at La Nena over the weekend for dinner. Had the hard shrimp tacos. Very tasty, loved the garnish, great combination of flavors. Wife had the carne asada fajitas. We were in a rush and let the server know that we're in a hurry, food came out timely, we ate and were on our way. We didn't stay long but did take in the restaurant and the environment, nicely done. It was later in the evening, people were still coming in. So it must be a popular spot. read more

La Nena Cantina - Asada Fajitas - Mexican Near Me - Malibu, California

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Everything we've tried here was extremely fresh and authentically Mexican with high quality ingredients and special touches like adding blue corn tortillas and house made salsas. Once you try the carnitas you will want come for them every week!!! You wouldn't think Spanish rice rice would be how you want to splurge on carbs but omg. SUPER DELISH read more

Service was fantastic. Our servers were on it. I would have rated higher but the food. Now everything came out fast n hot however I have never been to a Mexican restaurant where all the food was so bland. The elote was watery and no flavor. The tacos were over loaded with cilantro and the rice was mushy overcooked and again no flavor. I love good Mexican where u can taste all of the herbs and spices but unfortunately. Everything here was just super bland and the plain. The ambiance and staff were fantastic tho read more

Such great quality food for a great price! Came across them gem after Zumba hike and ordered the ceviche de pescada which was the perfect balance of fish and lime! we also got the guac that we didn't know came with a while presentation! That was a pleasant surprise The ambiance was casual fancy & the interior was beautiful! We came from a hike and were sat down quickly without a reservation read more

La Nena Cantina - Ceviche de pescado - Mexican Near Me - Malibu, California

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This was literally the best salad I have ever eaten in my life. Seared tuna salad + aquilita drink. Wow. read more

La Nena Cantina - Mexican Near Me - Malibu, California

I love this restaurant. It has such a nice casual Malibu vibe. The tacos are excellent too! read more

La Nena Cantina - Queso something taco. Amazing - Mexican Near Me - Malibu, California

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4.5 Stars, but a strong 5 stars for Malibu. Update after initial opening: This place continues to be a favorite with a fun ambiance, the best margaritas, affordable family options, and really good food. Great mole, a unique selection of soft tacos, and delicious tableside prepared guacamole. Inside is bustling, lively, bright, and the booths are comfy. Exterior wrap-around patio offers some more private options and a decent sunset view over the mountains. It is hard keeping a business open in these parts, but these guys are doing a great job with service, food quality and hopefully are here for the long-haul! read more

The service was great the food delicious and the patio was perfect! Everything was just amazing! We ordered the Tacos Malibu, agua chile (shrimp), ala carte tacos, zarandeado, baja, shrimp, grilled fish, fried plantains, and grilled asparagus. Oooooh, Be sure to order the table-side guacamole and chips with their perfectly delicious salsa! To drink try the pasión de tamarindo and the mescalita. Their michelada was also perfect! Everything was very satisfying and pleasant after a lovely day at the beach! We'll definitely be back because we couldn't get enough! read more

Great experience at La Nena, the food was tasty, amazing atmosphere and the drinks were good. Great spot to hang out at the bar, watch a game, or have a nice evening dinner. Will be back. read more

I love a good Michelada! La Nena has two good ones! Delightful elotes and good mole as well. I recommend this place! read more

What an amazing restaurant. We had a party of ten and the service was great - the food was outstanding - and everyone gave it 5 stars! We tried everything-great table made guacamole, steak tacos are the best and the shrimp fajitas were the best we ever had. The best churros ever! Overall - great restaurant and one we highly recommend and will be taking more friends back! read more

Would go back again for my next meal! We loved our waiter, Efrain ... gave us excellent menu recommendations. Give the Michelada a go & if you like heat, go for the Pozole! read more

La Nena Cantina - Michelada & Street Corn - Mexican Near Me - Malibu, California

Absolutely delicious! Loved the ambience and decor! The service from Rafael at the bar was top notch! He was friendly & knowledgeable of the menu! First time here on a busy Sunday evening & happy to have found two seats at the bar! The fish, mole, Chile relleno & carnitas tacos were absolutely tasty! We enjoyed every bite! My Paloma was perfectly delicious too! A week later I made reservations & we returned with our best friends! They loved it just as much! Definitely my new favorite! read more

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Wonderful Happy Hour, w. $4 pollo mole tacos or piles of fat BBQ chicken wings! The clasico margie is very good, too;-) I have been here for excellent dinners, as well, but I'm partial to daylight and schmoozing w. people at the bar. read more

Went midweek for dinner. Pretty crowded but a short wait. Fast and friendly service! Drinks, appetizers and dinner all delicious! read more

La Nena Cantina - Paloma and margarita - Mexican Near Me - Malibu, California

Absolutely fabulous! The atmosphere at La Nena Cantina is so fun and festive! The food is fantastic! We ordered the fajitas.... They were so fresh and delicious! And the desserts were amazing! We had the flan and the churros, which are not to be missed! The best Mexican food we have ever had!!! read more

la nena cantina's my favorite mexican restaurant to go after zuma beach or when i'm in malibu! food is amazing and the restaurant itself is gorgeous. i love the guac it comes with table side preparation. i've tried most tacos and they're all fantastic. i love the rice and beans. my friend loves their plantains! you can't miss when you eat here!! service is attentive and kind read more

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Amazing food, service and ambiance. Highly recommend for date nights, family outings, or even solo! Always a 10/10 in my book!!

Excellent tacos Superb service Oscar G knows how to mix a Margarita Outdoor seating available Highly recommend this new Malibu eatery read more

Cannot tell you how excited we are to have this restaurant here! The food is absolutely incredible. They have so many options. It is so fresh and delicious. They have plenty of vegan and vegetarian options as well. The drink menu and mocktail menu was incredibly well designed. The service was also great. The restaurant is incredibly vibe and beautiful and clean. We will definitely be coming here often! so happy!! read more

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My husband picked up take out!!! The best chicken and beef tacos in corn tortillas are absolutely delicious. Tortillas are so good and thin . Check it out! read more

La Nena Cantina - Take out, what a treat. Malibu residents. - Mexican Near Me - Malibu, California

Great Mexican food and ambiance, mariachi during Sunday brunch. Feels like traveling to mexico .

rarely leave reviews this direct, but La Nena Cantina in Malibu was a complete letdown. From the moment we arrived, it felt more like a chaotic tourist trap than a refined dining experience. The food was served cold, not even lukewarm. Their "signature" guacamole tasted off--made with bottled lemon juice and tomatoes that didn't seem fresh. The ceviche was overly sour, likely due to artificial lime juice, and the fish had a rubbery texture. For the price point, this was unacceptable. Service was equally disappointing. Staff seemed overwhelmed and unfamiliar with the menu. One server, who had a visible neck tattoo, didn't offer water, barely checked on our table, and seemed more focused on tips than hospitality. Professionalism was lacking across the board. The bathrooms were in poor condition--unclean and outdated. The space was crowded, but not because of quality--it's clear the location draws in tourists who may not know better. If you're looking for a true Malibu dining experience, skip this spot. Head to Gladstones for fresh seafood and ocean views, or Mastro's Ocean Club for upscale service and quality. Even Santa Monica has better options like Water Grill, The Albright, or Back on the Beach Café--places that actually deliver on taste, cleanliness, and professionalism. Bottom line: La Nena Cantina is overpriced, undertrained, and not worth the hype. Don't let the location fool you--there are far better places nearby that respect your time and your taste buds. read more

La Nena Cantina - Soggy overpriced tacos even king taco is better than this not worth the price and service . - Mexican Near Me - Malibu, California

jiggy and i went here when we were in malibu, it was very lively and lots of people were here. we ordered the nachos, beef tacos and aguachilies. i remember us really loving the nachos, tacos were good and aguachilies was also good and it's something i've never tried before. def a cool spot with good food-k tbh it was pretty good food, i really enjoyed the aguachiles, and i loved how "limoney" it tasted lol! it was very lively, like kev said & the atmosphere was cool. service was quick and friendly as well! read more

La Nena Cantina - aguachiles & tacos - Mexican Near Me - Malibu, California

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Items purchased: Guacamole and chips, Tostada, 2x 2 Tacos with rice & beans, 1 plate with grilled veggies-rice & beans and tortillas. Food: A, Food was Fresh and nicely presented and came out the kitchen in a timely manner. The Black beans were slightly salty. Service: A, Hostess and Waiter greeted us and were polite and courteous. Cleanliness: A, Dining area and outside patio were clean. Bathroom was clean and stocked. Value : A, Pricing was on point. Ambiance: A, Pleasant and Relaxed. read more

The decor has been very well updated, the service was good, the food was decent, Margaritas were very good but overall as an eating experience it was incredibly impersonal, the kind of I don't give a flying squirrel attitude, but formally asking '"How is your food TASTING?" Four of us ordered a guacamole $18, Pico de gallo $6, one mole $22, one carnitas $29 dish and 2 Pozole $18, 3 Margaritas and the total bill was $200. All good, but we never got the Pico de Gallo dish $6 for which we paid for, which the waitress confirms has no Habanero pepper because hubby can't have it. The waitress came back saying the dish contains habanero and my husband asks her instead for the 3 little ramekins that come along with the guacamole dish and he could mix them on his plate. Ok, I know but the dude wants his Pico de gallo, and it is very little he is asking for! The waitress returns saying: "The chef can't accommodate you." Come on, you can mix together a couple of tablespoons of chopped tomatoes, onions and cilantro and bring it to the table for your customer, even the French Laundry is more accommodating! Meanwhile I'm trying to enjoy my mole, but I'm really ticked off how freaking rude this help is, the younger version of me would ask the manager for an explanation, or just walk out but instead I'm eating the boring skinless chicken breast mole and sipping the Margarita which is probably the only reason to ever go back. Later the manager comes by asking how was our meal and my husband politely says we couldn't get a side order of Pico and then she shakes her head and walks away. Sorry but I'll rather drive to Oxnard or Agoura where I get authentic food and great service, because you obviously don't need my businesses. And please no need for those "I'm so sorry about your experience" reply, I so miss the previous business here killed by the crazy rent and Covid, Duck Dive. Yes it is great to have a new Mexican restaurant in Pt Dume, but the reason the Cantina, down the street lasted for 30 years with beyond mediocre food is because it catered to its customers, and they also made a killer Margarita. Restaurant business is 50% how they make you feel when you walk in ( no matter who you are) and the rest is the food. read more

Cozy little Mexican restaurant. Menu is small enough not over complicate things, but has enough of a variety to always try something new. We ordered the table side guacamole, which was fresh and delicious. My wife had some pascal, which was seasoned well and cooked to perfection. I tried the Cabana Trio Sampler, 1 soft taco, 1 hard taco and an enchilada. Everything tasted fresh, even the tortilla seems like they were just made. The salsa with the chips was awesome and Smokey. The service was friendly and attentive. While pricey, it was worth every penny. read more

I've avoided giving this place a review since it opened bc I wanted to keep it a local spot. Now that everyone knows it... 5 stars for everything they do and make! All margaritas are made with fresh ingredients, muddled cucumber, muddled passion fruit, muddled berries, fresh squeezed grapefruit... their margaritas selection is off the charts and the passion fruit margarita with mezcal is my favorite! Perfectly tart and balanced. We go every Saturday and despite having gone countless times we never make it past their taco section to the main dishes. Their tacos, handmade tortillas and meat are PHENEMONAL! Quesabirria and queso taco pastor and queso taco asada are our favorites of all the tacos we've tried. We love our favorite bartender Alex! This place gets fun in the evening and we love the ambiance! I would recommend not bringing your kids after 7 pm. There are plenty of other family friendly spots for kids and toddlers and the bar becomes a fun adult spot. read more

We loved this place! The decor was lovely, good service and delicious food. We will be back! read more

La Nena Cantina - Seafood Molcajete - Mexican Near Me - Malibu, California

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Love this spot so much we popped in twice last week! Truly great service, easy parking, amazing food and super cozy! read more

La Nena Cantina - Mexican Near Me - Malibu, California

Wow! What an amazing new restaurant! We ate here before going to a passport appointment at the post office across the street and were blown away! We had the fish ceviche- so fresh with lots of lime. We also got a bunch of different tacos- Baja, fish, quesabirra and quesataco...all with handmade tortillas and every single one delicious! The kids had the bowl with chicken- huge, flavorful and tasty, and the nachos- some of the best we have ever had. The decor is light and airy, the service friendly and fast. We will for sure be back!! read more

Wow what an addition to malibu. We went in early on a Sunday and they quickly made a large table available with us. I can't get over how fast the food comes out the service is probably the best in malibu. So fast so attentive! I got the two vegan taco options they were both to die for I had to get two more. Chips are fine nothing special likewise w the salsa. My kids got the fajitas and they loved them and the nachos were a big hit as well. Such a nice staff fresh clean food we will absolutely be back and soon! read more

The horribly bland food is only surpassed by the awful service. Good place to come if you're on a diet, because no matter how hungry you are, the food tastes horrible. read more

Our first time at La Nena Cantina and couldn't be more happier that we tried it out. Everything was amazing! Our server Efrain was very attentive and took care of us. This location is very beautiful! read more

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Food was delicious We ordered Ceviche Fish delicious Molcajete seafood tacos gobernador wow wow Malibu Seafood tacos and dessert yummy Service was great My Cadillac Margarita perfect Thank you very satisfied overall 100 5 stars read more

This place is the old Duck Dive and a bad Thai spot. Like what they did to the place. Service was on point. Tableside guac was tasty and fresh, chips were high quality and fresh served with a smoked salsa and green avocado sauce. Drinks were a little weak. Had the shrimp with garlic and butter. Tasty, kind of small portion and process a little high but it is Malibu. I would come back! read more