Lares Restaurant

(310) 829-4559

2909 Pico Blvd
Santa Monica, CA 90405 34.02489 -118.4593

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Neighborhoods: Pico, West LA

lares-restaurant.com/

Years in business

Established in 1968

Price:

$

Last updated 6.04.11

Category:

Restaurants, Catering

Payment Methods:

American Express, Visa, Discover, Diners Club, MasterCard

Restaurant Special Features:

Local Favorite, Late Night Dining, Special Occasion Dining, Hidden Find, Lunch Spot, Group Dining, Happy Hour, Live Music, Carry Out, Dine At The Bar, Bar Scene

General Info:

Open 7 Days

Cuisine:

Fast Food, Mexican

Editor's Tips

What People Are Saying About Lares Restaurant

Featured Review

Mar Yvette

Contributor

In Short – Stepping into this dimly lit space is like walking into a rustic Mexican adobe. Framed prints of Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo artwork hover near the sunken bar made of heavy carved wood, while the roaring fireplace, exposed beams and a white stucco interior make it homey and inviting. (And if that doesn't do it for you, the host's "Hola, como estas?" greeting will.) The noise level is conversational; upstairs there's yet another bar and tables that fill up with late-night revelers on weekends. Dishes range from the simple (carnita tacos, cheese enchiladas) to the more…

Editor's Tips

Parking:
The surrounding residential neighborhood parking is permit-only, so the restaurant's valet is the best option.
ambiance
94.44000244140625% positive
  1. “the ambience in this wonderful restaurant is just festive.”
  2. “Lares is one of the best of LA, with a great atmosphere, staff, and traditional down home mex (nothing fancy).”
  3. “We were then seated by the window, which afforded us a good view of passersby as well as the trickling-in crowd on the first-floor dining area w/the white plaster walls & dark-wood sunken bar.”
  4. “It's a great little place, with a nice, friendly, atmosphere.”
  5. “Not only is the food out of this world, but the ambience is great and the service is fantastic.”
  6. “I'd like to try it for dinner, as well, as the ambience seems to lend itself to a cozy evening with friends, or a date.”
  7. “Great ambience, horrible food!”
  8. “It has a very nice atmosphere with live music.”
  9. “The food is delicious, the staff is unfailingly courteous and the ambience is lovely and mellow.”
  10. “really liked the atmosphere of this place, and with 40 years owned by the same family, wanted to love this place.”
  11. “The atmosphere was beautiful and rustic with a band playing songs on their acoustic guitars.”
  12. “The decor & atmosphere are very nice, and the wait staff is excellent.”
  13. “The ambiance is terrific.”
  14. “The ambiance is comfortable and unpretentious, but nowhere near seedy.”
  15. “Cool hidden-away atmosphere, great service, and an excellent margarita round out the meal, deceide for yourself.”
dessert
100.0% positive
  1. “For example, the fajitas come sans guacamole and sour cream, but they feature the most divine combination of ingredients!”
  2. “Their margaritas are strong, but still taste good and I love their Mexican hot chocolate.”
drinks
100.0% positive
  1. “dim lighting with interesting wooden tables and bar.”
  2. “We were then seated by the window, which afforded us a good view of passersby as well as the trickling-in crowd on the first-floor dining area w/the white plaster walls & dark-wood sunken bar.”
  3. “Without question the best Mexican restaurant in L.A.--food, drinks, staff, and the rest.”
  4. “Beautiful furnishings, and quite a scene at the upstairs bar at night.”
food quality
92.79000282287598% positive
  1. “Cool hidden-away atmosphere, great service, and an excellent margarita round out the meal, deceide for yourself.”
  2. “The margaritas are excellent, as are the tacos.”
  3. “The chips were good but the salsa had so much garlic that i'm still scraping my tongue a day later.”
  4. “The food is great.”
  5. “Incredibly fresh chips and homemade salsa made their way to the table quickly, and came dangerously close to being too filling.”
  6. “the potato tacos are the best!”
  7. “By the time the chips and salsa arrived and the margaritas were on the table, my anticipation of a great meal was peaked.”
  8. “It is definitely our favorite mexican food in LA.”
  9. “Great margaritas and the food is phenomenal.”
  10. “The menu is extensive, with many standard Mexican fares scattered among some more unique dishes.”
  11. “All the food we've tried here is good.”
  12. “When I requested hot sauce for them, the waiter brought some kind of goopy tomato paste instead of more of the fabulous salsa.”
  13. “And the food is good, too!”
  14. “The food is delicious, the staff is unfailingly courteous and the ambience is lovely and mellow.”
  15. “Warm, fresh tortilla chips start off the meal followed by expertly prepared entrees that seem less touched by Americanism than at some of the other more well-known Mexican restaurants.”
  16. “How hard is to mix only fresh lime juice, orange liquer, and tequila?”
  17. “The texture was perfect, the chicken was roasted to an amazing tenderness, and the red chili sauce was a perfect spicy addition.”
  18. “If you like chorizo, be sure to substitute the rice for their chorizo beans.”
  19. “highly recommend the pork "Manny Layne" chile verde burrito.”
  20. “The staff was friendly and quick - ready with a fresh, cold cerveza by the time the last gulp was hitting your lips.”
  21. “This is a very friendly restaurant with great Margueritas and wonderful Mexican cuisine.”
  22. “Everything I've had on the menu has been wonderful - I recommend the huevos rancheros or the carne asada tacos - the meat is tender and very flavorful.”
  23. “The waitresses are as charming as the food is good.”
  24. “If you love Mexican food”
  25. “Not only is the food out of this world, but the ambience is great and the service is fantastic.”
  26. “The menu had a good range of American favorites (quesadillas, fajitas) and some more serious mexican food (good seafood, great mole).”
  27. “Awful service, awful food.”
  28. “Great ambience, horrible food!”
  29. “am a huge fan of Mexican food; I've been to El Chollo, Casa Vega, Border Grille, etc., and the bottom line is that Lares is one of the best Mexican restaurants in L.A.”
  30. “Is there any good mexican food here?”
  31. “was their Hostess many years ago and my favorite dish is Chicken Chipotle.”
  32. “The food and salsa were great!”
  33. “Without question the best Mexican restaurant in L.A.--food, drinks, staff, and the rest.”
  34. “After many "hit-and-misses" at other so called Mexican restaurants, we finally found one with a good variety of authentic Mexican Food equaled by taste.”
  35. “The energy spent at other restaurants forcing waitstaff to wear "authentic" Mexican dress is clearly aimed at making the food authentic here.”
  36. “Lares is a gem hidden on Pico that serves incredible Mexican food.”
  37. “This place is one of (if not the) the worst places for mexican food I have ever been.”
  38. “The best mexican food around.”
  39. “down-and-dirty Paco's Tacos (great margarita, solid food).”
  40. “This place is highly recommended if you want a great meal with great service.”
  41. “I've been eating there for 25 years(+-), and have tried virtually everything on their menu with not one disappointing meal.”
  42. “We were pretty disappointed with the food, but the people and venue were fantastic!”
  43. “THE CARNITAS ARE STILL JUST AS GOOD and the don julio margaritas are just as yummy!”
  44. “The carne asada and the tacos are pretty good, but what keeps me keep coming back is the carnitas.”
  45. “Any carnitas dish is excellent.”
  46. “The food was great, and they're open a little later than other restaurants in the area.”
  47. “Fresh chips and salsa are addictive, not a bad thing on the menu, and I've had all of it.”
  48. “My favorite dish is the Carnitas which is done si.”
  49. “Amazing Mexican food”
  50. “great genuine cuisine”
  51. “I've been going to Lares for over 15 years now, and overall, it's pretty much the best Mexican food in the immediate area.”
  52. “Tastes like my mom's homemade Mexican food.”
menu variety
85.71000099182129% positive
  1. “Fresh chips and salsa are addictive, not a bad thing on the menu, and I've had all of it.”
  2. “After many "hit-and-misses" at other so called Mexican restaurants, we finally found one with a good variety of authentic Mexican Food equaled by taste.”
  3. “I've been eating there for 25 years(+-), and have tried virtually everything on their menu with not one disappointing meal.”
  4. “The menu had some nice selections, but I was in the mood for something simple.”
  5. “The menu had a good range of American favorites (quesadillas, fajitas) and some more serious mexican food (good seafood, great mole).”
  6. “The menu is extensive, with many standard Mexican fares scattered among some more unique dishes.”
  7. “Everything I've had on the menu has been wonderful - I recommend the huevos rancheros or the carne asada tacos - the meat is tender and very flavorful.”
overall
100.0% positive
  1. “It's a great little place, with a nice, friendly, atmosphere.”
  2. “After reading the reviews, thought I had found a great new place to try for our weekly Sunday dinner.”
  3. “my favorite mexican restaurant”
  4. “This is the best Mexican restaurant I have been to in Los Angeles.”
  5. “Without question the best Mexican restaurant in L.A.--food, drinks, staff, and the rest.”
return potential
100.0% positive
  1. “Like I said, I really wanted to like this place, but would love to go back in time and not have gone.”
service
92.3900032043457% positive
  1. “everytime i go, the staff is so friendly and prompt.”
  2. “Great Food and friendly people”
  3. “We were pretty disappointed with the food, but the people and venue were fantastic!”
  4. “To the restaurant's credit, our server was very helpful and asked if everything was ok since he noticed our stil-full”
  5. “This is a very friendly restaurant with great Margueritas and wonderful Mexican cuisine.”
  6. “The waitresses are as charming as the food is good.”
  7. “Awful service, awful food.”
  8. “The service is the best.”
  9. “Without question the best Mexican restaurant in L.A.--food, drinks, staff, and the rest.”
  10. “I've always had friendly, gracious service, and an overall good experience.”
  11. “Lares is one of the best of LA, with a great atmosphere, staff, and traditional down home mex (nothing fancy).”
  12. “There is an upstairs and a downstairs area (both are great), but no matter where you sit you get great service.”
  13. “When I requested hot sauce for them, the waiter brought some kind of goopy tomato paste instead of more of the fabulous salsa.”
  14. “Excellent service with a very friendly waiting staff.”
  15. “Cool hidden-away atmosphere, great service, and an excellent margarita round out the meal, deceide for yourself.”
  16. “It's a great little place, with a nice, friendly, atmosphere.”
  17. “The food is delicious, the staff is unfailingly courteous and the ambience is lovely and mellow.”
  18. “The decor & atmosphere are very nice, and the wait staff is excellent.”
  19. “The service can be a little slow at times, but not intolerable.”
  20. “This place is highly recommended if you want a great meal with great service.”
  21. “Not only is the food out of this world, but the ambience is great and the service is fantastic.”
  22. “The staff was friendly and quick - ready with a fresh, cold cerveza by the time the last gulp was hitting your lips.”
  23. “The service was friendly.”
value
100.0% positive
  1. “am a huge fan of Mexican food; I've been to El Chollo, Casa Vega, Border Grille, etc., and the bottom line is that Lares is one of the best Mexican restaurants in L.A.”
wait time
62.5% positive
  1. “The service can be a little slow at times, but not intolerable.”
  2. “The staff was friendly and quick - ready with a fresh, cold cerveza by the time the last gulp was hitting your lips.”
1 Star Rating: Poor

07/22/11

Jesse the "Manager"

by hogan32

Stay away from the "semi manager" named Jesse. He is a large man and he greeted us when we came in. However since our entire party was not there he said he could not seat us and recommended we wait at the bar. I understand THIS IS STANDARD PRACTICE IN THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY. However when we went to the bar it was completely full with standing room only. I was with someone with a physical disability so I went to Jesse and let him know there was no room at the bar and we would like to be seated. He refused despite the fact his patron had a disability. So we said, "What if we prepay our bill and offered him $200 to secure payment of the bill. He said yes I'll take your money....but I'll take it for myself and it won't help you get seated or go towards your bill. Two issues.....this restaurant discriminates against disabled people and they give managerial control to someone who is looking out for their own interest and doesn't even care about driving revenue for the very company represents. DON'T GO HERE. I'm sending this to the Better Business Bureau and the ACLU. You think I'm bluffing....just wait!

1 Star Rating: Poor

09/10/10

DONT TRUST THEM

by ninsazd

we are regulars on friday nights here. I left my purse tonight, went back 20 minutes later and all the money was gone. what an embarrassment.

EWWWWWWWWWW

2 Star Rating: Below Average

07/05/10

Big on portions, and disappointment

by jordana_lorraine

I've been here twice...sort of. A friend and I called on Cinco de Mayo to ask how long the wait was. We were shocked when they said there wasn't one, so we headed straight over (from 2 miles away.) After paying for the valet, we got inside and saw more what we had expected and wanted to avoid---basically, a zoo. We left.

We decided to go back last week, and were greeted by an odd guy who showed us to a table and was kind of weird when we said we'd prefer to sit at the bar. The bartender got us some (verrry sweet) margaritas quickly, but took a while to ask for our food order. My friend's tostada was OK; I ordered steak+shrimp. I got enough food to feed a family of four! First, a tasty salad. Then, the steak, shrimp and "steamed" (to death) vegetables. The shrimp were delicious, but the steak was just a hunk of mediocre, unseasoned meat. Ick.

We also felt like the odd guy was hanging back and watching us, which was uncomfortable. Overall a weird experience and I doubt I'll be back.

  • Pros: large portions
  • Cons: weird service, inconsistent food quality
1 Star Rating: Poor

03/18/10

stay way stay away

by A Soni

STAY AWAY! THEY CHARGE YOU 75 cents for WATER!

Went here for dinner a few days ago. Awful service, awful food.

Waiters treat you like you don't exist. They push alcohol and if you

don't order any they look at you like weirdos. Nickel and dime you for everything. Better to eat at a TACO truck than to go to a dump like this.

STAY AWAY.

  • Pros: awful service. Rip off
  • Cons: awful service. Rip off
1 Star Rating: Poor

11/23/09

Bland Tam;les, Chocolate Pudding Mole

by dlmuns

I really liked the atmosphere of this place, and with 40 years owned by the same family, wanted to love this place. The atmosphere is legit...dim lighting with interesting wooden tables and bar. By the time the chips and salsa arrived and the margaritas were on the table, my anticipation of a great meal was peaked. The chips were thick and made on site it seems and the salsa was spicy and tasty.

Unfortunately when my tamales arrived, there were beyond bland. When I requested hot sauce for them, the waiter brought some kind of goopy tomato paste instead of more of the fabulous salsa. It seemed to have no spice in it. Beans were flavorless as was the rice.

My boyfriend says Bill Cosby would have loved the Mole because it tasted just like Chocolate pudding. It was very sweet.

Service started out good but soured as soon as I asked for the hot sauce. Like I said, I really wanted to like this place, but would love to go back in time and not have gone. At least we didn't pay outrageous prices like we did at Border Grill. Poor Santa Monica. Is there any good mexican food here?

  • Pros: Decent drinks, great chips and salsa
  • Cons: boring tamales and too sweet mole

The Details on Lares Restaurant

Place Categories:

  • great solid food
  • great gracious service
  • best mexican restaurants
  • best mexican food
  • very nice hiddenaway atmosphere
  • great don julio margaritas
  • like new place
  • fresh tortilla chips
  • fresh homemade salsa
  • comfortable ambiance
  • love lares
  • favorite carnitas dish
  • wonderful restaurant
  • awful food
  • awful service
  • like carnitas
  • recommend carne asada tacos
  • wonderful everything
  • good taste experience
  • great mole
  • favorite mexican
  • great ambience
  • prompt wait staff
  • great meal
  • fantastic people
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