Mexican Restaurants in LA

If you’re in La La Land for Cinco de Mayo, you’re in luck: the fiesta is celebrated widely across the city. But even outside of the 5th of May, the city has a mighty-fine selection of Mexican restaurants, from contemporary street eats to modish vegan joints. Take your pick!

For Mexican street food with a contempo twist head to Malo, where you can feast on the likes of beef pickle tacos, burnt habanero cream salsa and ensenada bacon-wrapped shrimp. Zesty margaritas and low-lit red leather-clad booths make this a top night time spot. Alternatively, the new Downtown outpost – Màs Malo – offers upscale dining with an impressive tequila and mezcal cocktail collection.

Honouring Mexican mamas and their devotion to honest home cooking, Gracias Madre is a plant-based, organic Mexican restaurant slap-bang in Melrose. Using fresh, locally sourced ingredients, Chandra Gilbert takes culinary innovation to the next level; even the most ardent of carnivores will be tempted by the flavoursome dishes such as sopes con mango (potato-masa cakes, mango salsa, guacamole, black beans, cashew crema and escabeche). Terrific mezcal bar too.

Repping a mod-Mex vibe, Broken Spanish serves fresh n’ zesty shareable plates such as whole red snapper with caper, olives, celery, Chile piquin and avocado adorning. Its light and airy dining room with stone-blue walls and large communal tables make this a top choice for a soriée with friends in tow.

The atmosphere might be relaxed at neon-tinged Tacos tu Madre, but the food certainly isn’t. The customisable, creative taco menu lets you mix and match your perfect dish: choose from the likes of braised lamb with house avocado coconut cream, ahi tuna with spicy citrus yuzu or katsu chicken. For a similar laid-back vibe, beeline to Mexican-meets-French Trois Familia. Only open during the daytime, this buzzing hipspot doesn’t take reservations so be sure to go early to avoid the queue.

Malo / 4326 W Sunset Blvd / +1 323 664 1011 / 11am-11pm Mon-Thu, 11am-12am Fri, 10am-12am Sat, 10am-11pm Sun / malorestaurant.com/home/

Màs Malo / 1/F/ 515 W. 7th Street / +1 213 985 4332 / 11am-11pm Mon-Thu, 11am-2am Fri-Sat, 11am-10pm Sun / masmalorestaurant.com

Gracias Madre / 8905 Melrose Ave / +1 323 978 2170 / lunch & dinner Mon-Fri, brunch & dinner Sat-Sun / graciasmadreweho.com

Broken Spanish / 1050 S Flower St /  +1 213 749 1460 / 5.30-10pm Sun-Thu, until 11pm Sat / brokenspanish.com

Tacos tu Madre / 945 Westwood Blvd / +1 424 832 7092 / 8am-1am daily / facebook.com/Tacostumadre

Trois Familia / 3510 Sunset Blvd / +1 323 725 7800 / lunch & dinner Mon-Fri, brunch & dinner Sat-Sun / www.troisfamilia.com