Best Mexican Restaurants in Westwood
8 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: February 2026
Our Top Pick
Frida Mexican Cuisine – Westwood
Lively regional Mexican cooking with a central patio for mezcal-fueled meals.
Notable Picks
Vibes:
Birthday & Celebration Central
Group Dining Gatherings
Outdoor Dining Oasis
Trendy Table Hotspots
Part of Vicente Del Rio’s Frida group, the Westwood outpost pairs polished regional Mexican cooking with a sidewalk patio overlooking Lindbrook. It’s where families, students, and office groups settle in outside for guacamole, mole, and mezcal margaritas before or after neighborhood events.
Must-Try Dishes:
Mole Poblano Enchiladas, Guacamole en Molcajete, Shrimp Tacos Gobernador
What Makes it Special: Lively regional Mexican cooking with a central patio for mezcal-fueled meals.
8.3
Fresh Corn Grill is a fast-casual Westwood staple since 2006, known for build-your-own plates, grilled vegetables, and a lighter take on tacos. Students, hospital staff, and office workers rely on it for char-grilled chicken, salmon, and steak tacos that feel noticeably fresher than the average combo plate.
Must-Try Dishes:
Grilled chicken tacos, Salmon tacos, Skirt steak tacos
What Makes it Special: Health-leaning California spot where grilled fish and chicken tacos headline a bigger menu of customizable plates.
8.3
Vibes:
Comfort Food Classics
Family Friendly Favorites
Group Dining Gatherings
Quick Bites Champions
A long-running Westwood Boulevard diner, Headlines folds a surprisingly deep burrito lineup into its all-day breakfast and Mexican sections. From basic egg-and-bacon wraps to oversized fajita and Cali burritos, it’s where you go when you want big, filling burritos with classic diner comfort on the side.
Must-Try Dishes:
Breakfast Burrito, Fajita Burrito, Cali Burrito
What Makes it Special: Classic diner turning out an unusually broad lineup of breakfast and Mexican-style burritos all day.
8
Tucked just off the main Westwood drag, Pinches Tacos runs a casual counter-and-patio setup where combo plates of tacos, rice, and beans fuel long study nights. It leans into straightforward fillings and generous portions, making it a go-to for students and staff looking for a sit-down alternative to late-night chains.
Must-Try Dishes:
Shrimp Taco, Al Pastor Taco, Taco Pinche Combination Plate
What Makes it Special: A family-run taqueria with student-friendly combo plates and a relaxed patio.
Worthy Picks
#5
Tacos 1986
7.9
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Quick Bites Champions
Outdoor Dining Oasis
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
The Westwood Village location of Tacos 1986 brings Tijuana-style adobada tacos, mulitas, and quesadillas to a casual counter with sidewalk seating. Late student crowds and a constant line at the window turn the Kinross patio tables into one of the neighborhood’s most reliable cheap outdoor meals.
Must-Try Dishes:
Adobada Taco, Mushroom Mulita, Carne Asada Quesadilla
What Makes it Special: Tijuana-style tacos from a cult-loved stand with busy sidewalk seating.
7.9
This modern chicken-focused spot off Lindbrook folds a composed Burrito Mexicano into a menu built around roasted free-range chicken and market sides. The burrito leans fresher and lighter than most, with whole wheat tortillas, beans, rice, and guacamole echoing the rest of the vegetable-forward menu.
Must-Try Dishes:
Burrito Mexicano, Tacos Dorados, Tostada Bowl
What Makes it Special: Health-leaning chicken specialist serving a composed Burrito Mexicano with better ingredients than the average wrap.
A Mixe-run taco truck slicing trompo al pastor off a vertical spit curbside on Santa Monica Blvd, serving until the early morning hours when most options have closed. The al pastor here is carved to order from a bright red trompo—straightforward street-style tacos, burritos, and mulitas built around well-rendered pork with honest portions at food-truck prices. Pull into the commercial lot, order at the window, and eat standing up or in your car.
Must-Try Dishes:
Tacos Al Pastor, Al Pastor Burrito, Cabeza Burrito with Cheese
What Makes it Special: Mixe-run taco truck slicing trompo al pastor off a bright red spit curbside on Santa Monica Blvd until the early morning hours
#8
Taco Plus
7.7
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Quick Bites Champions
Hidden Gems Heaven
Family Friendly Favorites
A Bundy Drive fixture since the 1980s running the same formula—oversized burritos wrapped tight, slow-cooked weekend menudo, and carne asada plates portioned for the price of a fast food combo. Regulars treat it like a commissary, looping through the small lot for the same three or four orders on repeat. Expect a parking lot taco stand that delivers on quantity and flavor without pretending to be anything else.
Must-Try Dishes:
Carne Asada Burrito, Pollo Asado Plate, Menudo
What Makes it Special: Old-school taco stand on Bundy serving oversized burritos and slow-cooked menudo at drive-through prices since the 1980s.