Best Happy Hour Tacos Restaurants in Los Angeles
29 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: February 2026
Our Top Pick
Madre
Oaxacan-driven kitchen with serious mezcals and refined tacos.
Notable Picks
#1
Madre
8.5
Madre West Hollywood is an Oaxacan restaurant and mezcaleria where tacos share space with moles, ceviches, and a deep agave list. It’s more of a sit-down dinner spot than a quick taqueria, but its Camaron and barbacoa tacos make it a destination for elevated, regionally focused Mexican cooking.
Must-Try Dishes:
Camaron shrimp taco, Barbacoa de borrego taco, Mole negro enchilada
What Makes it Special: Oaxacan-driven kitchen with serious mezcals and refined tacos.
#2
A Tí
8.4
Modern Mexican bar from former Bestia chef de cuisine Andrew Ponce, serving inventive tacos that blend traditional Mexican flavors with LA's multicultural influences. Creative dishes like Japanese sweet potato tacos and duck confit with date mole showcase culinary innovation on blue corn tortillas, accompanied by craft cocktails including yuzu margaritas.
Must-Try Dishes:
Sweet Potato Taco, Al Pastor with Cinnamon Pineapple, Duck Mole
What Makes it Special: Bestia alum's inventive fusion of Mexican tradition with global ingredients
#3
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.
#4
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.
8.4
Kalaveras in Marina del Rey is a high-energy cantina that treats tacos as centerpiece plates, from classic asada and pollo to birria served alongside cocktails and margarita slushies. The space leans into colorful, Day-of-the-Dead–inspired design with loud music, brunch buffets, and a scene that makes this one of the liveliest spots in the Marina for taco nights and big-group outings.
Must-Try Dishes:
Asada Tacos, Pollo Tacos, Birria Tacos
What Makes it Special: Loud, party-forward cantina with a deep taco menu and brunch.
8.4
A high-energy modern Mexican room that blends dinner-and-a-show vibes with a cocktail-forward happy hour. The kitchen leans luxe—seafood, steaks, and bold sauces—while the bar anchors the experience with mezcal and margarita builds that keep the crowd rolling in before the nightlife spike.
Must-Try Dishes:
Lobster enchiladas, Birria quesatacos, Signature mezcal margarita
What Makes it Special: DTLA’s nightlife-leaning Mexican happy hour with showy cocktails.
#7
The Hideaway
8.4
This rooftop Mexican steakhouse inside Rodeo Collection blends premium cuts with traditional Mexican flavors, offering margarita-making classes and an extensive tequila collection. The hidden gem features intimate cabanas, a stunning outdoor patio, and live entertainment that transforms dinner into an experience.
Must-Try Dishes:
Wagyu Carne Asada, Lobster Enchiladas, Tableside Guacamole
What Makes it Special: Beverly Hills' only rooftop Mexican steakhouse with craft margarita classes
#8
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.
#9
Tu Madre
8.4
Born from a happy accident with a fried chicken taco, Tu Madre reinvents the taco game with creative combinations like ahi tuna on handmade tortillas. Their vibrant cantina atmosphere and $1.50 happy hour tacos make this a local favorite for groups and date nights alike.
Must-Try Dishes:
Fried Chicken Taco, Ahi Tuna Tostada, Street Corn Nachos
What Makes it Special: Inventive fusion tacos with daily happy hour featuring $1.50 tacos
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.
8.2
A Wilshire-front cantina with a real downtown happy-hour pulse, where tacos are the main event and margaritas keep the room humming. The menu leans classic-to-modern Mexican, and the taco lineup holds up whether you’re here for after-work bites or a late-night reset. Expect lively energy, steady crowds, and a bar-driven flow that suits sharing plates.
Must-Try Dishes:
Al pastor tacos, Quesabirria tacos, House margarita
What Makes it Special: A bar-first DTLA cantina where tacos and margaritas anchor a true happy hour.
#12
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
#13
Lenny's Casita
8.1
A full-service kosher Mexicali spot that brings proper taco-and-tequila energy to Pico-Robertson. The cooking leans soulful and bold—think slow-cooked meats, bright salsas, and comfort-forward plates that still feel chef-driven. One of the ZIP’s most reliable Mexican dining rooms for groups and repeat visits.
Must-Try Dishes:
Birria tacos, Carne asada plate, Churro dessert
What Makes it Special: Kosher Mexicali with full-service bar energy and deeply flavored tacos.
#14
Baja Cantina
8
Open since the mid-1970s, Baja Cantina is a long-running Mexican restaurant and cocktail bar at the base of Washington that locals hit for margaritas, game days, and hearty plates of tacos and combo platters. The sprawling indoor–outdoor layout, sand-adjacent vibe, and live entertainment give its fish and street-style tacos a festive backdrop that feels very Marina-meets-Venice.
Must-Try Dishes:
Baja Fish Tacos, Carnitas Street Tacos, Taco Tuesday Mix & Match
What Makes it Special: Beach-adjacent Mexican mainstay with decades of taco and margarita history.
#15
Chulita
8
Alta California modern Mexican built around a plant-forward kitchen that treats roasted cauliflower and oyster mushroom tacos with the same seriousness as its Creekstone hanger steak, all backed by a deep mezcal and tequila program. The West Adams location draws groups who want to split shareable plates across dietary lines without anyone feeling like they got the B-menu. Expect a brunch-to-happy-hour rhythm where the cocktail list does as much work as the food.
Must-Try Dishes:
Roasted Cauliflower Tacos, Tres Leches Cassava Waffle, Creekstone Natural Hanger Steak Tacos
What Makes it Special: Alta California modern Mexican with an extensive mezcal and tequila bar and a plant-forward menu that gives vegan dishes equal billing
8
Te’kila has been pouring tequila and rolling burritos on Hollywood Boulevard since 2010, blending sports-bar energy with a full Mexican menu. Between happy hour margaritas, game-day crowds, and late-night service, its steak and shrimp burritos function as sturdy fuel for a long night on the Walk of Fame.
Must-Try Dishes:
Asada Steak Burrito, Shrimp burrito, Bean & cheese burrito
What Makes it Special: Tequila-heavy sports bar with full burrito plates and late hours.
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Family Friendly Favorites
Hidden Gems Heaven
Happy Hour Hotspots
Michoacan-style Mexican from a crew that spent over a decade on the food truck circuit before planting a flag in a Northridge strip mall in 2024. The menu leans into regional comfort — carnitas, enchiladas suizas, a cheesecake flan that signals ambition beyond the typical taqueria — at prices that keep families coming back without thinking twice. A low-key neighborhood spot where the cooking carries more weight than the setting.
Must-Try Dishes:
Carnitas, Carne Asada Burrito, Enchiladas Suizas
What Makes it Special: Michoacan-style cooking from a team that ran a beloved food truck for over a decade before opening their first restaurant in 2024.
Worthy Picks
#18
Cantina Frida
7.9
This vibrant cantina brings sophisticated Mexican cuisine to Beverly Drive with an emphasis on craft cocktails featuring top-shelf mezcal and extraordinary tequilas. The contemporary space showcases authentic regional Mexican dishes made from scratch daily, creating a modern dining environment perfect for both business lunches and festive dinners.
Must-Try Dishes:
Mole Poblano, Carnitas Tacos, Ceviche Mixto
What Makes it Special: Extensive mezcal collection from different regions of Mexico
7.9
Trejo’s Cantina brings Danny Trejo’s playful take on tacos, bowls, and margaritas to a lively corner of Cahuenga. The menu leans toward healthier-leaning Mexican with vegan options, while the space functions as a buzzy hangout for pre-bar hops and casual meetups. It’s less chef-driven than some neighbors, but the branding, music, and crowd keep it feeling current.
Must-Try Dishes:
Carnitas taco or street tacos trio, Cauliflower or jackfruit taco, Trejo’s nachos
What Makes it Special: A celebrity-backed cantina with colorful tacos, margaritas, and a lively soundtrack.
#20
Cabo Cantina
7.8
This party-centric cantina near the Promenade serves mega margaritas and late-night tacos until 2am daily. Known for its 2-for-1 happy hours and raucous atmosphere, it's where beach vibes meet border-town energy with affordable street tacos and bottomless specials.
Must-Try Dishes:
Carne Asada Tacos, Fish Tacos with Habanero Sauce, Grilled Shrimp Tacos
What Makes it Special: 36oz Mega Margaritas and kitchen open until 2am every night
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.
#23
Pinches Tacos
7.8
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Family Friendly Favorites
Happy Hour Hotspots
Hidden Gems Heaven
Family-owned neighborhood taqueria serving traditional Mexican fare since opening in Culver City. The carnitas and al pastor benefit from daily-fresh preparation, while the homemade tortilla chips and complex red salsa have developed a loyal following among locals seeking unpretentious authenticity.
Must-Try Dishes:
Carnitas Tacos, Al Pastor Burrito, Beef Birria Tacos
What Makes it Special: Family recipes and generous portions at prices that honor working-class roots
7.7
Counter-service Mexican that differentiates itself with a signature fried chicken taco and a full plant-based lineup—soy-fried chicken, oyster mushroom bulgogi—running alongside standard carne asada and seafood builds. It functions as a quick-turn lunch spot for Brentwood locals who want creative options without a long sit-down, especially if dietary flexibility matters. The 77% five-star rate across a small review pool suggests the food connects, though the 11% one-star cluster signals occasional misses worth noting.
Must-Try Dishes:
Carne Asada Burrito, Crispy Shrimp Taco, Ahi Tuna Taco
What Makes it Special: Counter-service Mexican built around a signature fried chicken taco, with a full plant-based menu featuring soy-fried chicken and oyster mushroom bulgogi alongside classic carne asada and seafood options.
7.7
A Mexican-Korean fusion patio spot on Hillhurst Ave that builds its menu around creative crossovers—kimchi-topped steak tacos and KBBQ plates alongside red velvet churros and margarita flights. The outdoor seating is the primary draw for Los Feliz groups and date nights, though the kitchen can be uneven across visits with a notable share of disappointed diners. Best approached as a social outing where the setting and shareable plates carry the experience.
Must-Try Dishes:
Korean BBQ Tacos, Red Velvet Churros, Buttermilk Fried Chicken
What Makes it Special: Mexican-Korean fusion kitchen on one of Los Feliz's most acclaimed patios, blending dishes like kimchi-topped steak tacos and KBBQ alongside red velvet churros and margarita flights.
#26
Fiesta Cantina
7.6
This lively cantina in Boystown brings the party with mega margaritas, 2-for-1 happy hours, and all-you-can-eat Taco Tuesdays for $9.99. The sports bar atmosphere with DJs and rooftop patio makes it a go-to for groups seeking affordable drinks and late-night tacos until 2am.
Must-Try Dishes:
Carne Asada Tacos, Fish Tacos, Loaded Nachos
What Makes it Special: West Hollywood's party taco headquarters with unbeatable specials
#27
The Mixx
7.6
Located in the Arts District, this contemporary American bar features a dedicated Taco Program with $3 tacos during their all-day Tuesday-Thursday happy hours. The venue combines New American cuisine with live entertainment, offering craft cocktails and upscale bar food at competitive prices.
Must-Try Dishes:
Happy Hour Street Tacos, Pastrami Burger, Craft Cocktail Tacos
What Makes it Special: $3 tacos during all-day happy hour Tuesday-Thursday
7.6
100% scratch kitchen Mexican restaurant featuring all-natural ingredients with no additives. The family-run establishment offers authentic Mexican brunch dishes like huevos rancheros in a casual setting with outdoor seating and signature margaritas.
Must-Try Dishes:
Huevos Rancheros, Breakfast Burrito, Homemade Tortillas
What Makes it Special: Everything made from scratch daily with all-natural ingredients
#29
Tacolina
7.5
Baja California-inspired restaurant from Blue Plate Taco featuring farm-to-table ingredients in a lush garden setting. Chef Jonathan Juarez's menu includes organic chicken tacos, seasonal salads, and craft cocktails, though the stunning verdant patio outshines the food execution.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chicken Taquitos, Grilled Chicken Tacos, Caesar Salad
What Makes it Special: One of LA's most beautiful outdoor dining patios