Best Girls Night Out Mexican Restaurants in Los Angeles
18 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: February 2026
Our Top Pick
Nativo
Cocktail-bar energy with serious regional Mexican cooking and agave.
Notable Picks
#1
Nativo
8.8
Nativo is a modern agave-focused cantina where chef-driven Mexican plates meet one of Highland Park’s strongest cocktail programs, with owners Gabriel Paredes and Corissa Hernandez steering the vision. Weekday happy hour brings discounted tacos, snacks, and signature drinks, making the back patio and bar a go-to early-evening hangout for locals.
Must-Try Dishes:
Mole-covered tater tots, Street-style taco trio (tinga, mole verde, barbacoa), Cucurrucu mezcal cocktail
What Makes it Special: Cocktail-bar energy with serious regional Mexican cooking and agave.
8.6
At The Grove, Alma Cocina de Mexico brings a polished, Mexico City–leaning menu of tacos, moles, and seafood to a patio overlooking the fountain. Guests come for shareable plates, serious cocktails, and an atmosphere that feels more like a modern dining room than a mall restaurant.
Must-Try Dishes:
Coliflor al Pastor, Quesabirria Tacos, Enchiladas de Mole
What Makes it Special: Upscale Mexico City–style cooking with cocktails and fountain-front patio seating.
8.6
Perched atop Level 8 across from Crypto.com Arena, Brown Sheep does chef-driven tacos on a rooftop terrace that runs deep into the night. Expect creative fillings like mushroom chicharron and crispy carnitas, cocktails from the adjacent bars, and a lively DJ-fueled scene that feels more night-out than taqueria.
Must-Try Dishes:
Mushroom chicharron taco, Carnitas taco, Carne asada taco
What Makes it Special: Rooftop gourmet taco truck by chef Ray Garcia with nightclub energy.
8.5
Kalaveras brings a fresh, modern vibe to Mexican Happy Hour with creative cocktails, colorful decor, and a menu spanning street tacos to birria quesadillas. Their Happy Hour offers excellent value and a stylish crowd. Standout choices include tacos gobernador, birria tacos, and their signature churro sandwich dessert.
Must-Try Dishes:
Quesabirria Tacos, Churro Sandwich, Tacos Gobernador
What Makes it Special: Modern Mexican spot with lively Happy Hour and colorful presentations.
8.5
La Nena Cantina’s 2025 Hollywood opening brings a coastal-leaning Mexican cantina to Columbia Square, with a sunlit patio and a menu that treats burritos with the same care as ceviches and tacos. Handmade tortillas, a dedicated Burrito La Nena, and burrito party packs make it an unexpected option for more upscale burrito cravings.
Must-Try Dishes:
Burrito La Nena, Burrito Gobernador, Breakfast Burrito
What Makes it Special: Design-forward cantina with named burritos and a full burrito bar program.
#6
Bar Amá
8.4
Josef Centeno’s downtown Tex-Mex cantina balances comfort and craft, with puffy tacos, borracho beans, and mole-leaning plates that feel personal rather than performative. The room stays lively without losing warmth, and the menu rewards both quick bites and full dinners.
Must-Try Dishes:
Puffy tacos with lengua carnitas, Menudo, Super nachos
What Makes it Special: Chef-driven Tex-Mex with puffy tacos as the signature.
#7
Chulita
8.4
Alta-California Mexican with a serious mezcal program and a weekday happy hour that includes cocktail deals and snackable plates. Tacos come on fresh tortillas with bright salsas, and the stylish patio pulls an early crowd along Rose.
Must-Try Dishes:
Grilled shrimp tacos, Chicken tinga tacos, Queso fundido
What Makes it Special: Modern mezcal bar with taco-friendly happy hour and a design-forward patio.
#8
El Carmen
8.4
El Carmen is a long-running tequila and mezcal bar on 3rd Street where tacos, chips, and guacamole support a serious margarita program. Locals treat it as a lively, dimly lit hangout for shrimp tacos, al pastor, and strong drinks rather than a traditional sit-down taqueria.
Must-Try Dishes:
Shrimp tacos, Carne asada tacos, Al pastor tacos
What Makes it Special: Tequila-focused bar with better-than-expected tacos and lively decor.
#9
Tu Madre
8.4
Vibes:
Girls Night Out Approved
Birthday & Celebration Central
Happy Hour Hotspots
Group Dining Gatherings
Tu Madre’s West Hollywood outpost is a lively cantina-style space built around creative tacos, strong margaritas, and a big patio just off Santa Monica. High-volume crowds fuel a party atmosphere, but the menu still delivers thoughtful combinations from crispy shrimp to ahi tuna and plant-based options.
Must-Try Dishes:
Crispy shrimp taco, Ahi tuna taco, Korean BBQ steak taco
What Makes it Special: High-energy taco bar with creative fillings and serious cocktails.
An Oaxacan-focused spot with a deep mezcal bench and a menu built around moles, tlayudas, and slow-cooked meats. The kitchen leans traditional but plates with polish, and the bar program makes it a natural linger-and-share destination. Multiple locations exist, but this Palms outpost is the one in 90034.
Must-Try Dishes:
Tlayuda con asiento, Mole negro over chicken or enchiladas, Carnitas or barbacoa tacos
What Makes it Special: Oaxacan specialties plus one of the Westside’s better mezcal programs.
#11
Lanea
8.1
This cocktail bar showcases over 400 tequilas and mezcals alongside authentic street tacos from East LA's 'Barbacoa Queen' Petra Zavaleta. The 36-hour pit-roasted lamb barbacoa wrapped in agave leaves pairs perfectly with handcrafted wellness-driven cocktails.
Must-Try Dishes:
Barbacoa Lamb Tacos, Al Pastor, Carnitas with Consommé
What Makes it Special: One of the largest tequila/mezcal selections in the US
Worthy Picks
#12
Cocorenos
7.9
Mexican cantina adjoined to the Reno Room bar serves elevated street food with vegan and carnivore options in Belmont Heights. Famous for $1.50 Taco Tuesdays and strong Cadillac margaritas in a hip atmosphere with pool tables and late-night hours.
Must-Try Dishes:
Cancun Salad, Shrimp Tacos, Breakfast Burrito
What Makes it Special: Taco Tuesday deals with bar atmosphere and late-night availability
7.9
Día de Muertos-themed cantina established in 1991 featuring Mexico City-inspired dishes and over 300 tequilas on a colorful outdoor patio. The kitchen emphasizes lighter preparations suitable for various dietary preferences while maintaining authentic regional flavors.
Must-Try Dishes:
Shrimp Tacos, Lula Margarita, Chicken Mole
What Makes it Special: One of LA's largest tequila collections with over 500 varieties and vibrant Chicano art
7.8
Guac Daddy’s West Hollywood location is a newer, party-leaning taqueria near Plummer Park, known for birria, loaded guacamole, and colorful drinks. It plays louder and trendier than most nearby taco stands, with a menu that leans into shareable combos alongside classic à la carte tacos.
Must-Try Dishes:
Birria tacos, Champiñones vegetarian tacos, Loaded guacamole and chips
What Makes it Special: New-school taqueria with birria, big guacamole, and party energy.
7.8
Las Perlas is a mezcal-and-tequila bar that doubles as a late-night taco stop thanks to its attached kitchen turning out taco flights, veggie options, and bar snacks until the early hours. The focus is cocktails and music first, but the ability to sit with a mezcal margarita and a plate of tacos after midnight makes it a key late-night tacos option in 90046.
Must-Try Dishes:
Taco Flight (Al Pastor, Carne Asada, Veggie), Mushroom or Squash Blossom Taco, Quesabirria-style Taco Specials
What Makes it Special: Agave-focused cocktail bar with a real late-night taco program attached.
7.7
The Miracle Mile outpost of Chicas Tacos serves chef-led tacos, bowls, and nachos built around organic tortillas and fresher-leaning fillings. It functions as a modern fast-casual taqueria for office workers and locals who want something a bit lighter than old-school combo plates.
Must-Try Dishes:
The Crispy Taco, Baja Fish Taco, Jackfruit Taco
What Makes it Special: Chef-founded taco shop focused on organic tortillas and modern fillings.
#17
Mi Corazon
7.7
This modern mexi-goth spot opened in 2012 serves nuevo-tradicional cuisine using organic chicken, grass-fed beef, and wild-caught seafood in a striking atmosphere with día de los muertos décor. Daily happy hour runs Monday-Friday 4-7pm, featuring over 60 tequilas and mezcals from family-owned farms alongside vegan-friendly menu options.
Must-Try Dishes:
Vegan Enchiladas, Pozole Verde, Mole Enchiladas
What Makes it Special: Nuevo-tradicional approach with extensive tequila selection and vegan options
7.6
Mr Tempo Cantina is a high-energy Hollywood Boulevard spot where oversized cocktails, loud music, and colorful Mexican plates define the experience. Expect a party-forward vibe with everything from tacos and ceviches to brunch dishes served late into the night.
Must-Try Dishes:
Pork Belly Bites, Ceviche Duo, Steak and Eggs
What Makes it Special: Lively cantina where big cocktails and Mexican plates meet nightclub energy.