After reading some of the other reviews, the first impression I got of Prima Cantina seems to be correct: that it's now a neighborhood institution within the Palisades. One of the first restaurants to reopen since the fires, Prima Cantina gives off a friendly demeanor, as the employees are attentive and thoughtful. My friends and I came around 4:30pm on a Saturday, before the evening dinner rush began, and were treated to a cozy Californian feel to the restaurant, which was decorated in shades of blue and woods. We first ordered the guac and chips, which went magnificently alongside our classic margaritas (heads up, they're strong! Nice!). Additionally, we ordered the Street Corn Esquites, which had a lovely roasted / smoky aftertaste, but could've done well with an additional lime slice or two. The steak quesadilla was stellar, especially alongside the cilantro rice. Simple yet effective, the flavors of both the main and the side worked so wonderfully in conjunction. I could eat a whole tub of that cilantro rice. Would definitely come back! read more

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Prime Cantina deserves recognition not just as a restaurant, but as a true pillar of the Palisades community, especially in the aftermath of the evacuation. In moments when everything feels uncertain, it becomes very clear which businesses genuinely care about the people around them. Prime Cantina stepped up in a way that went far beyond food and service. They showed up with consistency, warmth, and generosity when the community needed it most. After the evacuation, Prime Cantina became a place of comfort and familiarity. A space where neighbors could reconnect, check in on one another, and feel a sense of normalcy again. The staff welcomed everyone with kindness, patience, and empathy. You could feel that this was not business as usual. This was about community. The team handled everything with grace. From the moment you walk in, there is a feeling of being taken care of. The staff is attentive, calm, and genuinely happy to be there for their customers. No rushed energy, no stress passed along. Just solid, thoughtful service. The food continues to be excellent, which says a lot given the circumstances. Everything is fresh, flavorful, and made with care. It is comforting food done right, and it hits differently when you know it is coming from a place that truly cares about the people they serve. What stood out most to me was how intentional Prime Cantina has been about supporting locals. This is a business that understands its role in the neighborhood and takes that responsibility seriously. They supported the community not because they had to, but because it is clearly who they are. Places like this are why Yelp exists. Not just to highlight great food, but to spotlight businesses that show up when it matters most. Prime Cantina is the kind of establishment you want to support, recommend, and return to again and again. If you are looking for a place that delivers quality, consistency, and heart, Prime Cantina is it. Their support during a difficult time will not be forgotten, and they have earned lifelong customers because of read more

Prima Cantina - Fajita love! - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Enjoyed our dinner. Staff friendly and helpful and prices quite reasonable. We loved our shrimp tacos and the salads and margaritas are terrific. There are many menu choices and the atmosphere is lively and fun read more

Service is always great whether dining in or taking out. A previous gem of a restaurant in this little community doing its best to rebuild and reunite. Whether you're in the OC, LA, or IE take a trip to our neighboring community for some tasty treats, and show some Community Support. North of Orange County, and to the west of Los Angeles, it's a beautiful coastal drive past Huntington, Long Beach, Redondo, Hermosa, Manhattan, Venice, and Santa Monica on up to Temescal Canyon Rd. What's even better, if you can't decide between Mexican or Italian, you're all set as they offer both! read more

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Mexican food has good portions, the free chips and salsa was good a little hard but the salsa was amazing, got a burrito and its was good size. Reccomend read more

We walked in here after our hike and to our surprise there was a 50% Happy Hour menu that blew us away! What great service, ambiance and food! Absolutely delicious! The Happy Hour menus started at 5-6 and it really was well worth the price. read more

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Take out!!! Delicious We are so excited and happy to have such a delicious restaurant in our town. The menu is diversified and interesting. read more

I was a big fan of Kay and Dave's, but had moved back East before the restaurant was sold. Had a chance to visit LA a couple years ago and made a point to go to Prima. To my surprise, the food was even better, and I would not have thought that possible. I had assumed that the restaurant perished in the fire, so I am delighted to learn that it did not! I wish everyone in the Palisades all the best as they rebuild. It has always been a beautiful area and it will be again. Pali Strong! read more

It was okay. We were going to go to Cafe Vida, yet walked by here and thought we'd try it for the first time. I liked the free chips and salsa. The chips were thicker than usual, so they may have been store bought versus made fresh on premises. The service did its job, but definitely not overly friendly or warm. When we left, the servers clearly saw us walking out and didn't utter a word of "Thank you" or "Have a good night!" My margarita was tasty. My salad was bland and the cook forgot to put dressing on the salad. I asked for dressing, and even with the dressing it wasn't very flavorful. I added shrimp, so I don't feel like it was worth the $22 price tag. The ambiance is cute, cozy, and small. It was just okay, I'm not sure I'd go back. read more

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We stumbled upon this restaurant and decided to try it since it looked pretty chic from afar. This is a hole in the wall type restaurant with a very warm and welcoming ambiance. Right as you enter your hit with color. The food itself was underwhelming, especially for the prices. The chips tasted like they're store bought and then heated up. The salsa reminded me of the canned grocery salsa. The salad entree was just sad. I've never had a salad that was not dressed... literally just Romaine with shrimp on it. The fish tacos, though, were decent but not for the price. The most disappointing experience was the service. Although the waiters and waitresses seemed nice, they weren't friendly. Our waiter had to be reminded to bring simple things to the table. He barely spoke loud enough to hear and had to think of he, yes he, was ready to take our orders. As we stood up and began to exit, there was no "thank you" or "have a good night" as you'd expect. Hospitality is lacking. Honestly, will not return. read more

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We had a group lunch for 20 people at Prima/Spumoni and I can't say enough good things about the experience. I was nervous about serving such a large group at once, especially using only half the restaurant, but the staff handled everything seamlessly. The tables were set beautifully, the service was organized and timely, and the food was delicious. They even managed individualized checks for 20 people quickly and without any fuss -- truly impressive. We're so grateful to have Prima/Spumoni in the neighborhood. It made for a wonderful afternoon, and we also enjoyed doing some great shopping nearby at BOCA and Elizabeth Lamont. Palisades Strong! read more

Tacos & guac are good, best margs & very polite service! Support this Palisades staple Thx Prima read more

Prima Cantina - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

4.5 I really like this restaurant. I would like to preference this because I did go for a work event that rented out the restaurant and had a coursed menu. So, my experience might be super different from others. But, the food was fantastic, and I actually ate so much that I couldn't finish my meal because it was all so good! The drinks are delicious, and I would highly recommend getting one. The servers were also super nice, and the decor was super cute. It is a very small restaurant, so if you don't like that vibe you might not like this. Overall, my experience was super good! read more

Prima Cantina - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Driving back from the Malibu fire zone we were tired and hungry, actually hangry. My wife remembered she read about the reopening of this location of Prima Cantina on Sunset. Though it is sad to see the destruction of many parts of Malibu and the Pacific Palisades this location changed our views and after a stressful afternoon that would seem hard to accomplish. Great food, fantastic waiter, great ambiance inside. The Carne Asada plate was perfectly cooked. I had to put the brakes on eating all the salsa and the extra guacamole to save room for dinner. This was the first time for this dish in this restaurant chain and it was perfect. My wife had 2 chicken tacos and rice and loved the choice. We will be back. Please support this restaurant as anyone in the fire zone is trying to serve others and you will not be disappointed in the food or service. read more

Good and service are excellent. This is one of the first businesses in the Palisades to reopen after the fires.

Before the fire, after they replaced Kay n Dave's, we used to dine here about once a week. Even though our house is no longer standing, we made the trek to support them once they reopened. However, the last 2 times we visited, the food has deteriorated significantly. Same friendly atmosphere and staff just not the same food quality. If the economy is dragging them down, there are other ways to deal with it than compromising on the food. I hope they turn things around but I won't be making the much longer trek to support them. Maybe when we have a house in the neighborhood again I will give them another try. Really wanted them to survive but not so badly that I will pay for low quality food. I hope they figure this out. read more

The employees very rude seem like they don't care about their job. No welcome no thank you. Don't work here. Have to ask for water twice and took for ever. The food aren't that great Kay and Dave were 100x better . We really missed them both. The went on f the new restaurant better talk to there employee how they should be nice and to be rude t there customer. This is not going to be last to long if this keep up with there attitude. Good luck new owner. read more

My son and I are regulars. We love it here. He gets the Prima Burrito and I get shrimp tacos. Delicious and the staff are lovely.

I now change my review to 5 stars, as I have dined at this restaurant many times since the initial review. Their drinks, fajitas, guacamole and everything we've ordered are some of the best I've had. Great service, great vibe. Will continue to be a customer for the foreseeable future. read more

The ambiance is appealing. It is bright and cheery.The decor is tasteful. Service is prompt and excellent. Great selection of Tequilas and mixed drink. The food is well presented but oriented towards bar food more than dining. Their fish tacos are good but not savory enough to want more. The seating arrangement had the feel of an arena, only a few corners for a private conversation. The chips were average and the salsa thin and watery. As a tapas bar or drinks and tastes I would definitely go back for a number of their adult beverages. read more

This place has unbeatable tacos, rice, and beans! I always go for happy hour. You can not beat their lobster or salmon tacos! They replaced Kay and Dave's, and I might say I am so happy they did! This is the best Mexican food in the Palisades' hands down! They have unbeatable prices as well. Their margaritas are great too. Lisette read more

Absolutely love this spot!! My husband and I recently discovered this restaurant a few months ago and have been eating in person as well as ordering food for delivery on Caviar/Doordash. Great food, large portions, tasty margaritas, wonderful service. Our personal favorites: Chips & Guacamole, Queso Fundido, Ceviche, Lobster Tacos (by far the largest serving of lobster in any lobster taco I've eaten!), Mushroom Tacos (so so good!), and the Branzino. Will def be happy returning customers as long as things stay at this level :) read more

I really like this place, first time here definitely not the last time, the chicken tortilla was really good, the chicken cooked very nicely with tasty kick, the service was great and definitely recommend read more

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Food was really good. Some of the Kay n Dave staff. Service was perfect and friendly. Food was tasty and spicy marg as well. Highly recommend! read more

A new restaurant replacing Kay n' Dave's, this spot was great. At the time of this review they have only been open for two weeks in this location. My family and I never liked Kay n' Dave's too much so we thought we should give Prima a try. We walked in with no reservation and we were seated immediately by a friendly staff member. We were served very good, and Fresh Chips and Salsa. We as well ordered some guacamole, which was delicious. We also ordered a corn appetizer, esquites, which were great. Everyone in my family got something different. I ended up getting a few different Tacos, which I thoroughly enjoyed, I would strongly recommend the Carnitas tacos. They also have many other menu options, such as Bowls, Burritos, other entrées, and salads. In the end, I believe this restaurant has great value for money, considering the location in the Palisades. Another restaurant, Que Padre, that also has Tacos that are good, but so much more expensive and limited to variety, and I feel that Prima has good quality food, good variety, while not making it too expensive. So, to conclude, Prima is a nice, modern Mexican restaurant with good food, friendly staff, and fairly priced items. If you are in the Palisades and want some Mexican food, I'd say it's worth checking out! Thank you, Ilan S. Side note: They do have a bar but I didn't get anything from it. The drinks they were making looked like they were good, though. read more

Prima Cantina - Outside of the Restaurant - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

My wife and I came here for the first time on a recent Friday night. We were craving good Mexican food, but unfortunately were left very disappointed. It started well enough - the tortilla chips were fresh and warm and the salsa very good as were our margaritas. For entrees we had chicken enchiladas and fajitas. The enchiladas had very little cheese and were thin on sauce. The corn tortillas used were very thick (I know corn is traditional, but I prefer flour) all of which made the dish not very enjoyable. Definitely not your soft, melty kind of enchiladas. For the fajitas we had steak and shrimp. The shrimp and veggies were quite good, but the steak was extremely tough and chewy. The rice and beans were also a letdown. The rice was clumpy and not cooked well and the beans were lukewarm and fairly flavorless. The service was ok, though despite being such a small space our server was not very attentive and clearly wanted to be somewhere else. We were excited to have a Mexican option in town (I'm not counting Chipotle) and really wanted to like Prima, so I'm hoping this will help them improve. Maybe it was an off night as other reviewers seemed to have a much better experience, but everything was so mediocre that I don't know that we'll be back. read more

I always used to go to the Montana location but now come to the Palisades location for Timothy. He always gives me a good laugh and has great menu recommendations. Go to Prima Cantina Palisades and ask for Timothy! read more

I finally stopped and tried the basic Prima Burrito that consistently gets high marks from Yelpers. It was abundant and perfectly prepared. Let's support this restaurant so it can stay in the Palisades! I often stop at the wonderful Galvan food truck, which has some excellent items as food truck food goes. But the Prima Cantina burrito was quite different and the chips and fresh salsas were terrific. I'll be ordering a flight to compare salsas on my next visit. read more

Good food...Good portions...Good service...and Good prices...They know how to run a great restaurant!

Food is great, I've tried a bunch. Carne asada tacos are prime. Service is friendly but slow and kind of not dialed in. Not a great place to be in a hurry. But friendly, just distracted. read more

The impossible taco was amazing! Super flavorful and the texture was just right! One of the best tacos I have ever had!

We ate at Kay n' Dave's perhaps more than any other restaurant in the world, and were sad when it closed. We ordered some take out from Prima three weeks ago. I had carnitas which were perhaps the best I have had anywhere. My family ordered the carne asada, and the chicken enchiladas. Everyone was pleased, and we have ordered from Prima every week since then. read more

The food here is great and the service is even better. All of the staff greeted and treated my family with care. We have 2 young boys (4 & 6) and the restaurant was very accommodating. The boys are picky eaters but simply smashed their chicken tacos. ...oh, and the churros, definitely get those!! read more

Their "bloody" Michellada is fiiiireee. Very friendly staff and solid ambiance. Smiles all around! read more

Prima Cantina - Quesadilla n cornn offf the cob - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Not a good experience. Food was mediocre, staff certainly didn't want to be there. Certainly wouldn't go back.

I was disappointed twice today at lunch. First it was the same waiter who had no personality was there again. And secondly, the food I had did not compare to what I had there a few months ago. The quality on the tacos was no comparable to the past. So it was a disappointing lunch. I probably will not go back there again. read more

Upon walking in, there were only 2 tables occupied. We waited about 4 minutes to be seated. Not like no one noticed us. They just all expected the other to seat us. Service was so substandard from beginning to end. Then after 45 minutes our food comes out. The steak was non-edible. It was super chewy. No flavor and super greasy. We got home smelling like a greasy kitchen. $30 fajita dish that was the worst I've ever had. read more

The Mexican dishes we ordered for the 3 of us were deliciously prepared by the chef with a wonderful blend of freshly prepared garden vegetables for our chicken, steak and shrimp dishes. Chips and salsa were fresh: a great beginning served with perfectly salted chips and homemade salsa. Beer was bottled and cold. A bottle of Pino Grigio for our group was cold and delicious. Our waiter, Timothy was very knowledgeable of the menu, served our food hot from the kitchen, and had very good manners. In fact, the entire Wednesday evening waitstaff worked well together as a team should. Food was not bland or overly spicy. It was prepared perfectly. We sent our highest compliments to the chef. Will definitely return! read more

I happen to be in the area, and wanted to give this place a try again since it changed ownership. I loved Kay & Dave's and had dined there often. Unfortunately last night was a mistake, although the place looked busy. The service and food all left me disappointed. First off, the service was bad. When we first arrived, we didn't feel very welcomed. The manager or waitress who seated us was not very friendly, and didn't even smile or say "welcome," she just bluntly asked "how many?" Secondly, the waiters were just as bad, not very welcoming, odd, and un-attentive. They didn't bother coming by to ask us if we needed anything. In fact, we had to ask them several times for certain items, and on top of that, they would completely forget about us and we ended up asking for the same items 2-3x. In regards to the food and drinks, it all lacked flavor, and was very bland. The house margarita I ordered was watered down, and for some reason they put OJ in it! When I questioned the waiter (who also made my drink) about it, he said it's part of their house mix, and he added OJ. I have never had a margarita in my life with OJ in it, did they run out of the margarita mix? And if I wanted OJ in my alcoholic beverage, I would have ordered a Mimosa! It had no flavor, and did not taste like a margarita at all. I clearly stated that I did not like 2x, and the waiter failed to ask me if I would like another drink and just apologized. Before the bill came, I requested that they please remove it from the check, but he only ended up giving me 50% off. I asked why, and he stated that I drank 1/2 of the drink which was not true! The glass was more than half full, & I had taken 2 sips at most so I can decide whether I wanted to keep it or not. I could not prove it since he took the glass away! But, out of courtesy, if a customer does not like something, and not it's best, it should automatically be removed from the bill. The combo Fajita's we ordered (chicken/Steak) were horrible. The chicken was dry and bland, steak was tough! Lastly, be aware if you order anything extra, like salsa's, extra tortilla's, there is a charge! Not sure if it was an off night, but we did arrive after the Happy hour, and the restaurant had cleared out by that time we ordered, so they had plenty of staff to attend to us. They seemed like they rather clean up tables than come by to check on the customers who were still there dining! I know this may seem harsh, but this is all my opinion. Compared to Kay & Dave's, this place is not great. I don't plan on returning, and rather have gone somewhere else to dine where I could have enjoyed the service, food, and ambience. read more

So, my wife and I originally planned to eat at the restaurant across the street, but the wait was really long. We have been wanting to try this place for awhile now, so it was the perfect time. The food was excellent. Chips and salsa were very fresh. We tried the guacamole appetizer. That, too, was excellent. The tacos, especially the grilled Mahi Mahi, were fantastic as were the chicken enchiladas. This place is worthy of 5 stars had it not been for our waiter. After reading multiple other reviews which commented on the server and his lack of concern for his diners, we came to the conclusion that it was our waiter who was likely responsible for those reviews. The bus boy was extremely helpful and did most of the work. Our waiter was completely disinterested in being helpful. We told each other that it seemed as if he had just been told tonight was his last night of employment and, as such, he could care less about his service. Too bad that a great neighborhood place line this allows this server to drag down their ratings and reputation. We'll definitely try it again and hopefully won't have to deal with him next time! read more