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Ratings and reviews

RATINGS
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere

Details

CUISINES
Mexican, Latin
Special Diets
Vegetarian Friendly
Meals
Lunch, Dinner, Breakfast, After-hours
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meals, features

Location and contact

Santa Monica
3.6 km from Santa Monica State Beach
Reviews (179)
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5
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Traveller rating
82
55
18
6
5
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All reviews enchiladas arroz con pollo chicken mexican restaurant great friendly service margaritas ranchero onions craving
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Reviewed 19 December 2023

We came here on a Friday night and really enjoyed ourselves. They had live music with two guitar players singing traditional Mexican favorites. The food is really excellent. My wife was raving about the chile relleno. She said it was slow cooked so that the...cheese was completely melted inside and the outside was not overly breaded. I had the carnitas con chile verde and it was delicious as well. They have a full bar upstairs, as well as downstairs, and plenty of large tables to accommodate families. Lares is a great place to enjoy Mexican comfort food in a friendly, neighborhood atmosphere.More

Date of visit: December 2023
Helpful?2  
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.
Reviewed 12 June 2023 via mobile

My husband, his cousin and I came to the restaurant on our final free night in Santa Monica. The food is phenomenal and very authentic. The sopa de fideo was fantastic, and the arroz con pollo reminds of home cooked from my mom. Finally, the...Chile Colorado and the enchiladas de ranchero were delicious. You can't go wrong coming here for your Mexican food cravings.More

Date of visit: June 2023
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Reviewed 1 March 2023 via mobile

I had the Enchiladas rojos with cheese which were absolutely delicious with refried beans and rice. My wife had a chicken burrito which was equally good and filling. We both enjoyed a margarita and had a nice lunch experience. Be prepared for LA beach prices...if you’re not from California.More

Date of visit: March 2023
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Reviewed 16 January 2023

I meet my sister and her husband there once a month. 1st time was terrible, waiter spent most of his time with one Cutomer. I said I would try it one more time. Called to make sure they could hold onion spice in the chicken...for my wife. The waiter was very good. Margaritas were about a 7.5 . Tried a Cadillac margarita and it was a 8.5. Getting better... My wife said her tostada was about a 6.5 compared to El Coyote's in LA. My burrito was only average at best. How hard is it to make a good burrito. Now I just order a chicken taco and a Cadillac margarita & have a late lunch...More

Date of visit: August 2022
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Reviewed 3 October 2022

I left Santa Monica almost twenty years ago but took a few friends to Lares over this past weekend. Perfect everything. My guests were blown away. Highly recommend!!

Date of visit: October 2022
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Reviewed 16 June 2022 via mobile

Great friendly service with a smile. Our server recommended 3 dishes to share between 2. One each of pork, beef and chicken. All delicious, fresh and very generous servings. We rolled out of there!

Date of visit: June 2022
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Reviewed 28 February 2022

We walked to this restaurant from the hotel and i'm glad we did. The service and the food were great.

Date of visit: February 2022
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Reviewed 12 March 2020 via mobile

Came here with a group of work colleagues after a 11hr flight and the food was just what we needed. Service and waiter were fantastic. Food very tasty and well priced for size.

Date of visit: January 2020
Helpful?1  
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Reviewed 8 January 2020

Really enjoyed dining here. The atmosphere is perfect- It’s cozy with lots of dark wooden beams, and twinkle lights. The decorations are old school and make the experience all the more enjoyable. I had the chicken fajita and really enjoyed it. My family had the...Chalupa (just ok- forwarning, it is NOT as spicy as it claims to be) and the Savanitas which were good but honestly the fajitas were what we all loved and enjoyed most. Great flavor. You order the sour cream, guacamole and veggies on the side if you want. Great wait staff. Good chips and salsa while awaiting the main meals. Totally recommend and if I were a local, this is the Mexican restaurant I’d be at regularly. Priced $16-18. Good amount of food for fajitas...easily feeds two people in my opinion..good place to share family style too. The atmosphere is the best part...show up fancy dress or casual.More

Date of visit: January 2020
Helpful?1  
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Reviewed 8 January 2020

Absolutely great ambience if you're looking for a place where the locals go. Very intimate! Wish I had kept it simple and ordered just tacos or fajitas. My steak was just okay but the beans were amazing. We were disappointed in the chipolte chicken. The...fajita was excellent. I wold recommend the restaurant if you're looking for a local flair.More

Date of visit: January 2020
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Reviewed 20 October 2019 via mobile

3 of us were staying in a nearby hotel & wondering about getting a good meal without walking too far or taking a cab that evening. We had already dined at Upper West (which is excellent) and decided to give Lares a try. We were...very glad we did. We opted to dine upstairs (there are 2 levels). The restaurant is a bit dark with heavy wood carved table, chairs & bar. It has dark rich ambiance (would be good for date night). The free fresh (still warm) chips & salsa are deliciously addictive. We had cocktails - good margaritas & a specially made drink ( all not too sweet). The 3 of us enjoyed our generously portioned, tasty meals. I absolutely loved my meal - Savanitas. So yummy - tender steak is a delicious sauce (which the chef & waiter would not divulge the secret spices despite my many attempts). I would highly recommend this dish. There is live Mexican / mariachi music but not annoying. Service is fast & friendly. If in the area again would definitely go to Lares again.More

Date of visit: May 2019
Helpful?1  
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.
Reviewed 3 August 2019

This place was so good! The service is so good and the waitresses were so nice. They got the food out fast and it was fantastic, I would definitely recommend this place!

Date of visit: August 2019
Helpful?1  
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.
Reviewed 10 March 2019 via mobile

Prior to seeing a musical artist at McCabe’s Guitar Shop ( they also recommended Lares) a friend and I had dinner. The menu had all the usual Mexican dishes except I saw they had Lengua Tacos. They were so good. Perfectly cooked meat in corn...tortillas with some of the best refried beans I’ve tasted and yummy rice as sides. The margaritas were on the rocks, and generous in size. (There is the blended style if one desires). The service was excellent and friendly. It was not a huge place but very welcoming and comfortable. I look forward to going back.More

Date of visit: March 2019
Helpful?1  
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.
Reviewed 4 March 2019

We dined here with friends. It was our first visit; our friends had eaten here a number of times. I ordered the carnitas, which was excellent--wonderfully flavored roasted pork, served with beans, rich and a few slices of avocado. My wife ordered carnitas in a...chili verde sauce, which was very good. The service is friendly and efficient. The owner walks the room, checking to make sure customers are happy. We will definitely be back.More

Date of visit: March 2019
Helpful?1  
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.
Reviewed 23 February 2019

most underrated Mexican restaurant on the west side, period... i've been exploring Mexican cuisine on the west side of LA for 14 years, and Lares is the first place i bring out-of-town visitors who want a good Mexican dining experience... the fresh, homemade chips &...salsa are unique here, consistently excellent, and head-of-class for the region... the margaritas are always on point, fresh, and also consistently better than other local options (no sweet-n-sour-fructose BS)... the ambience is almost perfect: old wooden hand-crafted bar, low-lighting, colorful local artwork, it is romantic enough for a date, and also festive enough for a family or larger parties... the service stands out! Lares is family owned and operated... when you see the same faces year after year, always with a big, proud smile on their face, you know they are doing well and genuinely happy to serve their guests... gentle, charming mariachis are serenading some nights... the food is reasonably priced and always comes fast, no matter how crowded... Lares is slightly off the beaten path from normal tourist hotspots, and not necessarily walkable, but it is a quick cab ride from downtown Santa Monica well-worth the extra effort... i highly recommend the mole sauce (pronounced MO-lay)More

Date of visit: February 2019
Helpful?1  
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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Lares, Santa Monica - Santa Monica - Menu, Prices & Restaurant Reviews - Tripadvisor

Frequently Asked Questions about Lares

Yes, Lares offers takeaway services.

Lares is rated accordingly in the following categories by Tripadvisor travellers:
  • Food: 4
  • Service: 4
  • Value: 4
  • Atmosphere: 4