i've been to Puerto Vallarta Mexico, and I've savored the most amazing seafood tacos, but this restaurant trumps that experience! My husband ordered the Carne Asada and I ordered the fish tacos and my daughter had a quesadilla. Everything was cooked perfection. It is so fresh it taste like they had caught the fish right out of the ocean. Our server was so kind and pleasant, and really understand that toddlers don't particularly like tacos Thank you for the best lunch!!! read more

Counter Service Only. You order, pay and then the staff will lead you to your table. I recommend reading the menu ahead of time, since there are a lot of good options. There is only one line and if you don't know what you want before you reach the counter, other folks behind you in line may get cranky. Weekday Lunch specials are a good deal for $9.95 and add $2 for a soda or ice tea. However,I ordered the Socalo Burrito/ chicken which comes with a beautiful salad, approximately $14. My chicken burrito had 2 chicken bones within the first 2 bites. My friend ordered the shishito peppers and a bowl of tortilla soup. She enjoyed the shishito peppers, but the soup was a bit salty. I didn't taste it. The food presentation is beautiful. The service, not so much. The soup and shishito peppers came out within minutes! My burrito took another 15 minutes. I told my friend to eat and not wait for me, thank goodness. We both just ordered ice water, and I asked for refills twice before getting my glass refilled. Granted it was lunch time, but the server acknowledged that I wanted water twice! We both wanted to order the trio of sorbets but when we looked at the line to ORDER.... we decided to leave. Shame. I guess I could of ordered the sorbets when we placed our lunch order, but ..... I am giving 4 stars total because the service and that this is no longer a Full Service restaurant. I almost want to give them 3.5 stars, but .... read more

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The food was delicious and flavorful-service spectacular The ambiance was so special even with the frequent LOUD cars, because we had a really loving family sharing the outdoor patio read more

I like the branzino, shrimp quesadilla, chips and salsa and the guacamole. The prices are reasonable and the service is good.

Very mid/avg. Got the vampiro steak & shrimp tacos & just beef tacos, then rice & beans, corn, and tortilla soup-- best out of all of them was the tortilla soup... otherwise the corn was extra greasy and pretty tasteless & rice & beans meh. read more

Another seamless and delicious experience with Socalo. A fan fav at my office and we'll keep ordering catering for events to come! If anyone is looking for a good Pride Month offering this is the place! read more

This is a hidden gem in Santa Monica. The food is so delicious. I ordered the jackfruit taco and the mushroom taco and they were over the top delicious. My friend also enjoyed the barbacoa. They have a decent list of drinks and the amount of alcohol in the drinks is sufficient. Rob, our server, was fantastic! He was very knowledgeable of the menu and was able to help us navigate thru it to help us make our choices. The overall decor of the restaurant is so upscale but the prices are very competitive. I will definitely recommend this place and return again to explore more of the dishes they have on the menu. read more

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I've heard many positive things about Socalo! We decided to to see for ourselves. The atmosphere in general was very cool given the fact it is located in a boutique hotel. Thus, the prices are matched accordingly. You will be able to find great prices on their Happy Hour Menu. The food was awesome considering the quality and the chef behind it. Definitely will come back to try the regular menu. read more

Casual and trendy Mexican fusion spot in the heart of Santa Monica with tasty food and plenty of menu options. Their lunch menu has good options for a decent price. Don't come here if you want authentic Mexican food. Their shrimp tacos are tasty.. the rice is a little dry and bland, but the shrimp tacos are tasty and have a unique flavor compared to what you get at a taco truck or mom and pop shop. Cute interior with plenty of seating and fast service! When you walk in, they have menus by the door, order at the bar, and they bring your food to your table. Perfect lunch time spot. read more

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Last night after a gallery opening down the street we decided to check out Socalo. We arrived around 8:30pm and they were able to accommodate our party of 9:). Our hostess Juliette was lovely and said it would be about 5 mins. Np! The inside is very clean, spacious and they also have a nice outdoor patio. Our table was a high top by the bar which was perfect. Our server Rinata, came up to our table immediately to welcome us and take our drink order. Ofc, I ordered the house margarita on the rocks sugar rimmed, that did not disappoint. A few of us ordered the carne asada tacos (very good), enchiladas in a green sauce (just okay) shrimp&beef tacos (very good), and a few other dishes. My brother ordered 2 guacamole & chips. Yum! The drinks and appies came out quickly. Our food came within 20 minutes of ordering. Highlights: *Good service *Manager came up and checked to see if we were happy. *Food and drinks were good. *Cool Decor *90 min Free Parking in Lot (also plenty of meter parking) *Can accommodate small and large parties *Great staff *Decent variety on menu *Vegan options *Organic menu Lowlights:) *Food was not very hot *Rice & Beans do not come with meals. Would I go back? YES!!!! Definitely read more

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Excellent, excellent! Loved the food and the personable and attentive staff. Check this place out.

I really loved this place! We went on a weeknight so it was happy hour and we got cheap drinks and yummy food! I had two of the tacos (chicken dorados and socal veggies) and the nachos which were delicious. The food incorporated veggies in a really delicious and unique way! We did wish they could have made a simple quesadilla for a pickier eater in our group but super yummy regardless. read more

Socalo - Margaritas and nachos! - Mexican Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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The names of celebrated chefs Mary Sue Millikan and Susan Feniger are an integral part of the LA culinary fabric. Their Border Grill Mexican restaurant in Santa Monica made a distinct mark to become a sought after Southern California dining destination. My regret is that, in the hullabaloo of life, I never made it there, in the over 2 decades of the eatery's existence. Border Grill has a new life at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. But I missed that opportunity too, because my lunch reservation was on the day the unprecedented hurricane was to hit LA and proceed along my return route to LA. So I cancelled and hit the road from Las Vegas to LA. Chefs Millikan and Fenigar opened Socalo, the Santa Monica counter Mexican restaurant, in 2019. I finally got the chance to pay it a visit and was extremely excited to do so. The interior and exterior seating design is very simple. But we come here for the food. I counter ordered the lunch special of two tacos ($9.95). There is no mixing of different types. So I ordered two lamb birria tacos (folded corn tortilla, cilantro, onion, mexican cheese, avacado tomatillo salsa) and an extra carne asada taco (guacamole, fresca and quemada salsas, $2.50). The lamb tacos were juicy, lots of meat, with texture and mixed flavors. The carne asada taco was moist, the meat tender and tasty. I used the picante sauce to complement my meal. Parking is complimentary for 90 minutes. The only deterrent to this location is the excruciating traffic to get here and back from the SFV. It took me two and half hours to make the round trip journey. Will I do it again? Yes maybe, after much repeated contemplation. read more

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Wow!!!!!!!the food was really good, we ordered, the vampiro steak and shrimp tacos, cochinita pibil tacos tortilla soup, fish tacos and shrimp in poblano sauce!!!!!! Sooooooo delicious. We also had the jamaica gimlet and. The traditional Oaxaca drink!!!!! I highly recommend this place. read more

Socalo - Mexican Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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tl;dr despite promising a sophisticated spin on Mexican cuisine, the flavors were watered down, the prices stayed high, and the service was memorably bad Socalo is a sit-down Santa Monica cantina, opened by Susan Feniger and Mary Sue Milliken (aka the Too Hot Tamales). The spot quickly garnered popularity across the LA dining scene for California-Mexican fare focusing on local, conscientiously-sourced, and seasonal ingredients. The restaurant space is hip in an obviously Santa Monica way. The indoor space opts for polished concrete floors, adobe red exposed ductwork, and modular wooden furnishings. The whitewashed walls are sparsely decorated -- apart from one wall completely covered by faux flowers, and another monopolized by a 6-foot portrait of a Chihuahua. The outdoor patio to the side of the restaurant is enclosed by colorful tarps and a medium-tall wooden fence. Large patio plants and space heaters are intermixed with the sturdy patio furniture, and twinkle lights dangle from above. Contemporary English- and Spanish-language pop plays unobtrusively about the space. My family arrived for early Sunday dinner to celebrate a birthday, and we were sequestered at a table too small to accommodate our party. Right off the bat, the staff gave us a hard time about pulling up another two-seater table -- yet, even at the very end of our meal, there were almost no other groups seated on the patio. Service remained a challenge throughout the remainder of our experience -- our waitress ghosted us most of the meal, forgot multiple items as requests went in one ear and out the other, and handed us multiple sets of sticky of silverware. The food and drinks unfortunately were only marginally better. The Margarita de la Casa was an eye-popping $14, and, while refreshing and clean, were surprisingly weak. The Guacamole & Chips crisp, fresh-baked chips and an awesomely dynamic sweet, rich, and spicy macha salsa, but the guac and the quemada salsa were otherwise forgettable. The Smoky Roasted Cauliflower was indeed smoky, but the veg was blatantly undercooked. The Corn Esquite aimed to be an elevated version of elote, but ended up nearly flavorless apart from the pool of lime juice and chipotle aioli that sank to the bottom of the bowl. Entrees were similarly hit-or-miss. The best were the tender, savory Lamb Birria Tacos and the large Santa Monica Street Bowl (although the latter would have been mostly dull without the salsa that we, fortunately, had to separately, explicitly order). The Grilled Steak Arrachera platter had tender, slightly smoky beef that was topped with a bland chimichurri and supplemented by a smattering of head-scratching sides (such as large heirloom tomato slices topped with gummy, room-temperature cheese. The Tomahawk Pork Carnitas came as an impressive bone-in chop, drizzled with a thick, sweet-and-savory garlic moja. The crispy exterior of the pork hit the spot, but the meat itself was dry and overcooked. Further, the herb "salad" side consisted of a few sprigs of parsley, mint, and cilantro over a few out-of-place peach slices. Finally, dessert brought us no respite. The Warm Brownie Sundae was not particularly warm at all. The Mexican hot chocolate sauce tasted only vaguely of either cinnamon or chocolate, the brownie was dry and cakey rather than dense and fudgy, and the many mixed-in nuts added no extra flavor yet consistently ended up caught in our teeth. The tiny, bite-sized Vanilla Flan was rich and chewy but otherwise had no other flavor or texture. The only hit of was the Sorbet Trio, particularly the surprisingly delicious and refreshing canteloupe scoop. To say that Socalo was good would unfortunately be an overstatement. Every menu item was slightly too expensive, any semblance of Mexican inspiration was watered down, and service was memorably bad. While I couldn't fully endorse any dish, certain components of individual dishes were certainly enjoyable. Stick to the most basic menu items, and your wallet and your palette with thank you -- or, better yet, opt for one of the many other more-authentic Mexican joints in the area. read more

Socalo - Tomahawk Pork Carnitas - Mexican Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Tried this restaurant while visiting Santa Monica and it did not disappoint! It is a cute space and nicely decorated. The staff was wonderful. Our server was Maria, and she was so pleasant and kind! I have a dairy allergy, and she handled it very well and answered all my menu questions. I ordered the Santa Monica street bowl with chicken. It was delicious and filling! The chicken was cooked very well, and the dish included a great, light green sauce, farro, and sautéed vegetables. I highly recommend! read more

Socalo - Santa Monica Street Bowl with Chicken. - Mexican Near Me - Santa Monica, California

This place is phenomenal. The tacos are great and I so want to explore this menu and come often. There's validated parking and the service and ambiance are chic. Daneé is also freaking awesome and made me an awesome drink! Def 100/10 highly recommend read more

I still love this place! The waiters and manager are amazing! Specific shout out to Donald and Raynata. They also host events here. When we were looking for a place to host our event we contacted many restaurants but this place was the most flexible and accommodating and more affordable. I love all the little touches they do! I have had almost everything on their brunch and dinner menu but I never get tired of it because there's always new things and they rotate some items. I love their Taco Tuesdays and happy hour! Everything I have had is amazing. I especially love the vampiro tacos, the ceviche, the mimosas, French toast, heuvos rancheros. Even their rice and beans are yummy too. I also like that the menu is friendly for dietary restrictions or for picky eaters. They don't even advertise this enough but their chef, Susan Feniger is world famous! When I told one of my friends we were having our engagement party here she was like "I've been dying to try her food" and of course it didn't disappoint! read more

Socalo - My name on our table - Mexican Near Me - Santa Monica, California

First time eating here. Place is really nice. Food was delicious . Will definitely stop by again

Great food and atmosphere. Mexican food on a whole new level. We love everything about this place. From the moment you walk in the staff is incredibly professional and friendly from the front to the back. Tacos here are a work of art and the ingredients and flavor profiles incredible. Each dish is unique and creative and the prices are so reasonable for Santa Monica. The cocktails are equally inventive and fun. And save room for the deserts. The chocolate brownie is a work of art and the most wonderful chocolate and not to be undone but the churros. We can't wait to return and explore more of the menus! read more

We came here for lunch on a Tuesday while working in the area. They had a menu for taco Tuesday deals, which we ordered off. We had to order at the bar as their table service does not start until 4pm. We got the chips and salsa and I ordered a Carnitas taco and mulita. The flavors of the food were good but the portions were very small for the price. The tacos were about 2/3 the size of a normal street taco. You would definitely have to order a lot to fill up, which could get pricey. read more

Socalo is an amazing, creative and high quality Mexican restaurant in Santa Monica. Location: kinda strange location being downstairs from a lower budget hotel and across the street from St John's medical center. Definitely not in the touristy area of Santa Monica and more of a spot locals would frequent. Parking: free 90 minute in the underground parking lot (tight spaces typical in Santa Monica). Metered street parking available but sparse and not usually available at peak times. Small public lot on street level that is used by the medical offices but technically is public pay lot that you scan QR code to easily pay. Ambiance: low key casual but definitely upscale/nice Mexican restaurant. Inside there is low level lightning and overall tasteful decor. Nice little outdoor patio with heaters which is actually quaint and comfortable. Drinks: some decent cocktails on the menu. Margaritas were definitely tasty! Food: the Esquite (Mexican street corn salad) was amazing...definitely a must try! Spinach queso dip was good but could have used more chips. Chips and salsa not standard but can be ordered for a fee. The tacos were delicious!! I had the carne asada tacos and my wife had the lamb birria tacos, both were excellent!!! Our little guy enjoyed a small cheese quesadilla with small side of rice and he was in heaven. Definitely a place to go out of the way to try out. If you are visiting St John's or taking care of something at the medical offices, definitely walk in there for lunch. read more

The fish tacos were seriously incredible. I could eat about 5 of them. The fish was cooked to perfection. The drinks were okay. The service was okay as well. I'd come for happy hour or this place is over priced. The only reason I'm giving this place four stars is due to the guac being about $14. avocados should never cost this much and LA needs to stop up charging this amount for fruits and veggies. read more

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I've been coming here since 2020! All around the best Mexican in LA. So good I bring friends here and bump into them bringing their friends/family!! The ingredients are clean. And you can taste it. Every dish is amazing. The chips and house margarita are my favorite. Queso is awesome too! My boyfriend loves the Vampiro nachos The service is impeccable. read more

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Socalo is a fun spot in Santa Monica. The food was fresh and offered a few twists on traditional Mexican cuisine. They have indoor seating and a small side patio. We enjoyed the salad and the ceviche the most! Parking was easy and validated for the lot next door. read more

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This restaurant was recommended to me and I was not disappointed. We made a reservation, and when we arrived, the name of our reservation was hand-written in a beautiful, artistic way which made us feel fancy. The artistic and fancy flare did not stop there! Each dish (we ordered about 6 or 7 different things) was prepared very nicely.. the lamb tacos were really excellent. The steak tacos were also thinking excellent. The griddled cheese they put on the tacos is heavenly and unique. The ceviche (we tried both types the offer) was very fresh and tasty. My one criticism is that I prefer the seafood chunks to be slightly larger. Lastly, servers and bartneder were polite and open to joke around with us. We were having a nice time stuffing our faces and enjoying the cocktails, and the staff let us stay late to close the place down. Definitely will be back! read more

Socalo - Ceviche, lamb tacos, and steak tacos. - Mexican Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Service was lacking but food was good. I like the authentic taste and the menu could be a bit longer. I don't have that many choices.

Food is fine but pricey. You can get much more authentic for much cheaper. Especially here in LA. Came here with a lady friend. We tried their shrimp tacos, carne asada, ceviche, and elote. I found all the food to be serviceable but on the expensive side. The ingredients are fresh but they would add things that I felt didn't really add to the food but just to make it look more appealing such as radish. This may just be me. I was hankering for ceviche and it wasn't bad here but it was quite expensive. Socal has nicely plated food but you're not going to leave satisfied like a lot of many more authentic places here in LA. read more

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Great carne asada tacos and a really nice dark salsa (Salsa Macha) that came with the chips. Service was good and the waiter was very attentive and friendly. Nice place and would come back if I'm in the area again. read more

Hidden gem! Good neighborhood spot with free parking below. Great for both vegan and non vegans. Lots of vegan options. Mexican with a CA/healthy twist. Kale salad is super tasty! Milpa is yummy and unique. Guac is nice and fresh. read more

When we walked in we were immediately welcomed in. The manager opened the door for us and we asked to sit at the bar. At the bar we were greeted by valentin. He embodies everything that is great customer service. We had planned to have drinks at the bar while we waited for our dinner reservation at a different restaurant. Left for dinner and immediately came back because we were so happy with the service and drinks. Then came back the following morning because we couldn't get enough! The GM Donald had a whole set up for us at the bar when we walked in. We were blown away by all the details and we felt so special because of Valentin and Donald. Thank you both for making our visits to socalo INCREDIBLE. We can't wait to come back @socalo owners good job on hiring these 2 gentlemen! They sure are giving your restaurant a very good reputation. read more

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Absolutely love this spot! I came here with my mom and we both tried a few of their dishes and everything was so amazing! Our favorite was the grilled steak arrachera. Also the service was excellent and their servers were so kind and attentive. Definitely will be back. read more

Shrimp taco was amazing. Would for sure get it again. ‼WARNING: I'm gluten free and ordered the spinach queso. The queso is marked "gluten free available" so I asked the waiter about it before ordering. He made it sound like the only issue was the chips since they are fried in a cross contaminated fryer. I said that was fine as I have a sensitivity, not an allergy. We had eaten 99% of the queso when he came over and very causally said he his chef told him there's actually flour in the queso. There wasn't much I could do since I had already eaten all of it. Absolutely wrecked my stomach for the next two days ‼ read more

Dined here last night and had a fantastic time. Great service, food and overall experience. Good mix of indoor and outdoor seating. The outdoor area was well lit, plenty of heat lamps and felt very cozy. Started with the guacamole and chips--fresh fried chips still glistening from the fryer and a nice chunky guacamole with just enough lime. Very fresh! I had the steak and shrimp tacos. Everything was cooked perfectly, good flavor, and Just the right size. Loved the pickled onions on top. The dude had the lamb dish. Super flavorful, large portion with fresh tortillas. Smelled amazing! Service was in point. We were greeted and seated without delay (had reservations) and I liked how the person that helped us (I think the owner) greeted us by our names and they also had our name written on the table. Overall, great ambiance, service and food. Would definitely come back! read more

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The manager was rude to our table and didn't set the right tone for the meal. She through her staff under the bus -- honestly, good service is learned through proper training via management. The waitstaff took a long time to process lunch checks. Overall, would not go again. read more

MAKE A RESERVATION! Otherwise, they'll sit you at a long communal table with VERY LOUD strangers directly next to you during a pandemic. You get to hear all their overreactions to everything, as well as their coughing. Other than the sardine seating - it's deeeeelicious. If you make a reservation you get your own cute lil' table, inside or OUTSIDE. Next time ‍. The seabass was great. Make sure you get dessert! We love Tres Leches so you know we had to try the STRAWBERRY TRES LECHES. It was great. But... (we must admit)... the BROWNIE SUNDAE stole the show. Amazing. (Don't tell tres leches we said that). Fun fact: this is probably our 2nd fav tres leches in LA... but we still have some more to discover (MILK on Beverly is still #1 for us). read more

We have loved Socalo ever since it opened, which is why we thought of it for our informal wedding reception in August of 2024. It was a special moment for us, and the team (especially Brianna) worked with us every step of the way to ensure that the event was everything we wanted it to be. The food and cocktails were fantastic, and we got rave reviews from all of our guests. The service was another standout -- everything was served to a large group in a timely fashion and the GM was present to make sure everything ran smoothly. He even offered to arrange a special meal for our 2-year-old niece, with no advance prep. With that level of attention to detail, we knew every person at our event would be well taken care of and we could relax and enjoy our evening. Whether visiting for a casual meal, a special celebration, or a larger event, would always recommend Socalo for an amazing dining experience with superior service! read more

*** 4.5 stars *** Wow, the food here is good and they validate parking in the parking lot of the adjacent hotel (note that you do need to share an elevator with the hotel guests and maids to get to the street level - the stairs work for getting out of the garage but not back in). They did a great job of renovating what was previously an IHOP, but the location is not ideal for attracting foot traffic. We were pleasantly surprised to find it relatively empty on a Saturday afternoon after seeing that every restaurant on the boardwalk was overflowing. The food here is MUCH better than anything on the boardwalk. They are currently doing a casual style (at least for lunch) where you order at the counter and they bring the food out to you, but everything is served on nice dinnerware with cloth napkins. I have to imagine this is meant to be a more formal establishment that has adapted for COVID. The ceviche was a generous portion and enough to qualify as a meal for me. It came with two fried tortillas and a few slices of avocado. The fish was fresh and satisfying. My bf had the chicken enchiladas which were wow. I usually never order enchiladas because I just imagine a creamy mess of cheese and sauce but that was not the case here at all. The flavor of the sauce was incredible but not overwhelmingly heavy and the cotija cheese they used with it was perfect. I was definitely a bit jealous and stole a few bites for myself. High quality ingredients and very kind service (we asked a LOT of questions and they were very kind answering all of them and making recommendations). Great spot! read more

Came here for a light bite and drinks with friend. All the food was excellent. I enjoyed the tacos and guacamole. The friend shrimp was just ok. The drinks were delicious. Had two skinny margaritas. Fast, efficient, friendly service. Parking underground. Cool spot. read more

SOCALO is part of the Gateway Hotel, about 19 blocks from the beach in Santa Monica. Celebrity chefs and owners Susan Feniger and Mary Sue Milliken, aka 'The Hot Two Tamales,' were conscious of making the restaurant casual with mexican cantina vibes. When I learned Socalo uses organic rice, beans, and corn tortillas; seasonal, local ingredients; antibiotic/hormone-free meats and poultry; and sustainable seafood, I was interested. Subterranean parking 90 mins Gratis. Indoor and outdoor seating available. Service was cordial and attentive and dog friendly. COVID rules observed: masks, gloves, sanitizers, and social distancing. There was a 4 page menu, but since it was conveniently Taco Tuesday, that menu was best. Enjoyed the glass served margarita and the Baja fish tacos most. Vegan options available and I tried the jackfruit in tangy tinga sauce with veggies and kale which was ok, not muy bueno. Because All the ingredients, especially the corn tortillas, were organic, I was able to eat this food comfortably without any allergic reaction. The chips and salsa would have been good, but was sent back as there was a long thread like lint in both salsas :( which I noticed after I had the tasty tacos, otherwise this place would earn a low 1-2 star. Perhaps that foreign debris in the salsas incident was a one time occurrence, but nonetheless NOT thrilling as I want to try the other items on the menu but not in a hurry to return perhaps otro tiempo! read more

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