1,322 reviews
#14 of 514 Restaurants in Santa Monica$$ - $$$, Mexican, Southwestern, Vegetarian friendly+1 310-458-2985+ Add websiteImprove this listing
Hours
Sun
11:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Mon
12:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Tue
12:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Wed
12:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Thu
12:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Fri
12:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Sat
11:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Reserve a table

What is Travelers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Ratings and reviews
Travelers' Choice 2024
RATINGS
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere
Food and ambience
Local cuisine, Mexican, Southwestern, Latin, Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options
Menu
Can a gluten free person get a good meal at this restaurant?
Details
About
We will be closing for renovations from Monday April 23rd - April 26th. We do apologize for the inconvenience. We will reopen doors on Friday April 27th.
CUISINES
Mexican, Southwestern, Latin
Special Diets
Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options
Meals
Lunch, Dinner, Brunch, Late Night
FEATURES
Takeout, Reservations, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Highchairs Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service, Waterfront
Contribute
4.5
1,322 reviews
Excellent
676
Very good
471
Average
115
Poor
40
Terrible
20
Phil H
Sevenoaks32 contributions
Jul 2023 • family
We wanted to have at least one Mexican meal on our road trip and were running out of days. The restaurant was fully booked when we arrived but we enjoyed a 30 minute wait watching the world go by as the location is really good. We definitely enjoyed the Prime Barbacoa combo - top pick. The flour taco’s won the taste test. The shaved Elote was the best corn we have tasted in many a year. Thank you. Victor was a great host and really looked after us
Written July 23, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
dan j
Port Coquitlam804 contributions
Sep 2023 • family
We went to visit the pier and decided to find a place to eat, googled best Mexican restaurant and Blue Plate Taco was #1, so we gave it a try. We were all very impressed, everyone enjoyed their taco's and the salsa's were just excellent! It's located right across the street from the pier and has great views, the prices and reasonable and service was fairly quick considering how busy they were. We would definitely go back.
Written September 25, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dane and Rachel B
20 contributions
Jun 2023 • couples
We expected that this might be one of those overrated tourist stops and we were pleasantly surprised! It was a busy Saturday night and after a short wait we were seated. Margaritas were excellent fresh with enough punch you new you were in to something. Husband had Pozole which was the soup and I had the pork belly tacos. The soup was hearty and filling and sooooo full of flavor! The pork belly tacos were to die for - they were so good with their marinated pineapple star anise and cloves … who knew that was gonna be such a taste sensation!?. The black beans were well seasoned and the cilantro slaw was divine! Although they were packed and it was getting late, each staff member we encountered from the hostess to the bartender to the waiter were very friendly and we couldn’t be happier! Great choice! exquisito!
Written June 26, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
pjack68
982 contributions
Oct 2023 • family
First time at a Mexican restaurant although we enjoy cooking tacos at home.  Margaritas ordered were very nice and we had high hopes based on TA ranking. Ordered Shrimp and Lobster tacos. Asked server what the difference was between the corn and four tortillas (as remembered one was a different texture but needed clarification). She rather unhelpfully, or perhaps obtusely replied one was made our of corn and one was made out of wheat - well thanks! Shrimp Taco I found quite unpleasant but this may be because I dislike the texture of crunchy prawns.  Was more optimistic about the lobster but actually found it very bland. Wondered if we'd made an error not ordering a salsa so opted for a habanero.  When this was brought we were warned it was mega hot and this was the case so it didn't really solve the problem of the bland Taco and it might have been nice to get some advice as to what we should add to the Taco to make it more interesting. Was very happy to have another margarita but by the end we had no enthusiasm so left. Such a shame as we were looking forward to this restaurant, although we intend to visit Oscars in San Diego in case this was a poor example.
Written October 21, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Satu
19 contributions
Jan 2023 • couples
The fish tacos were dry even after we asked for more sauce. Presentation on the plate was quite messy. My Ceasar salad was also quite tasteless and dry. Service was ok. We chose this place pretty much based on reviews, but will not visit again.
Written January 8, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
russalka
9 contributions
Apr 2023 • none
We delicious tacos with a view of a the ocean. The serving sizes were generous and came with 3 tacos, chips and salsa, rice and beans or slaw and rice. The restaurant was very busy but service was quick. There was a mixture of families and couples and groups of friends when I went. This is easy to combine with going to the Santa Monica pier.
Written April 7, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Isunwin
Los Angeles1469 contributions
Sep 2022 • couples
Above average food, located across the street from the Santa Monica Pier and beach, service was average. They charge a kitchen fee of 3% which I’ve never seen before. Parking is around the corner and pricey.
Written September 3, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
FuddleWuddle
London64 contributions
Jul 2023 • family
Good margaritas and breezy service. Choice of salsas with chips was great- we liked all 6. Sadly our tortillas for our tacos were soggy and thick- don’t recommend the Barbacoa tacos. steak tacos were ok apart from tortillas.
Overall I wouldn’t go back, unless I only wanted drinks, chips and a flight of salsas.
Written July 12, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jehenson81
Washington DC25938 contributions
Sep 2024 • solo
When I was visiting Santa Monica Pier, I wanted to grab lunch from some place not on the pier. I looked for some place in the general area and came across Blue Plate Taco. I got there a few minutes after they opened on a Monday and they were already doing good business. I wandered inside and ordered my food at the bar. After making a few drinks, the friendly bartend gave me the check and I waited for my food. I was getting the taquitos off the appetizer menu. It was a meal all on its own and I was so glad I ordered it. The taquitos were crispy (even when I ate them an hour after I got them) and covered in homemade gauc, a spicy crema and pico. It was delicious and I ate the whole thing without a second thought. There was also cotija cheese crumbled over the top and it acted as a nice neutralizer for the spicy sauce. So good and the staff was so helpful and friendly.
Written September 24, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JAR1991
Canterbury155 contributions
May 2022 • couples
The food here is good (not great), the service we received however, was not. It started well but we were quickly forgotten about and our server seemed to be a lot more attentive to every other table he was looking after. Our drinks were cleared away and we waited, and waited to order more. Our mains arrived but before we could ask our server walked briskly away. My husband ended up going to the bar to get our drinks, we're from the UK and thought this was pretty unacceptable, but particularly in the US as throughout our trip we had received really good service. We had no table water at our table despite asking for it, and our server did not return to check on us with our mains until we had pretty much finished, so had there been an issue it would have been too late to fix it. Overall we were not impressed and for that reason we gave a very minimal tip, in the UK we would not have tipped anything. I found the service surprising given how dependent waiters are on tips in the US, probably wouldn't return here.
Written May 3, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ASBCRB
Urbana458 contributions
Mar 2024 • family
We all had different tacos, and they were all fresh and delicious and not all the same ole thing you get everywhere else. I ordered no cilantro since I'm one of those lucky people who taste soap when I eat it. The chef made my sauce special for me without cilantro. It was so good and, of course, very fresh. One of us had a mojito and thought it was the best he'd ever had!
Written March 14, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Romanophile
Santa Fe209 contributions
Jan 2024 • couples
Avoid, if you know food. This is Mexican food dummed down for American tastes. Complete lack of spicing on their tacos and no Cholula sauce or even Tapatio sauce available. They do provide a habanero salsa, if you ask, which helps. Margaritas were weak. Service was okay, but we will not eat here again.
Written January 31, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nelson P
Salt Lake City43 contributions
Mar 2022 • couples
Cute place with tasty food! The waitress was super friendly and got everything correct. We let her know we were hungry and she made sure everything came out as quickly as possible. Best meal we had on our trip in cali. So happy when they offer flour tacos instead of corn.
Written March 14, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
sdominello
Huntingdon Valley14 contributions
Aug 2023 • family
Good food and a fun spot to people watch and enjoy the scene. Mix of families, friend groups, and couples. The food was good and service was very good considering how crowded it was. Order came out pretty quickly. Checking back in on drinks could have been a little faster, but totally understand why it was delayed. Food was good too. Was passing through town on a trip so for that purpose the soak it all in type of environment was fun.
Written September 14, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MellyRussi
347 contributions
Aug 2024 • friends
2 adults ate for the first time on Thursday, August 22. It’s a cute little place right on the bustling street of Santa Monica, across from the beach. They had wonderful food and prompt professional service. I had the enchiladas and my friend had the lobster tacos - both were excellent. I would visit again and recommend.
Written August 24, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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