10 Places to Celebrate Taco Tuesday in Los Angeles
Published by Eater Los Angeles
Christmas, Thanksgiving, and … Taco Tuesday? This weekly celebration of tortillas and tequila is practically a citywide holiday in Los Angeles. While Angelenos don’t exactly get the day off to revel in salsa and spirits, we at least know there’s a delicious light at the end of the tunnel after suffering through the workday grind. The only problem? Figuring out where to find the best tacos and tequilas after clocking out. We’ll save you the stress of deciding where to decompress with this list of 10 restaurants — from casual cantinas to upscale date night options — where the tacos are to die for and the margaritas are top shelf.
1. Sol y Luna
Part Mexican folk art museum, part family restaurant, this Tarzana eatery is incredibly popular for a reason — or really, for many reasons. First, there’s the guacamole, a lush concoction created fresh at your table. Second, there’s the fantastic weekday happy hour, which gets you crispy shrimp tacos, crunchy tacos de papas, and gooey quesadillas at a fraction of their usual price. Finally, there’s the well-stocked bar, where a refreshing Sol y Luna margarita or spicy japaleño margarita will help bide the time until your table is ready.
2. Pink Taco Sunset Strip
Located in the middle of the action on the famous Sunset Strip, this trendy establishment doesn’t shy away from embracing the area’s rock ‘n’ roll vibes while cranking up the volume on flavor. Their Taco Tuesday menu includes favorites like grilled corn (slathered in spicy chipotle mayo and sprinkled with cotija cheese) and their signature Pink Taco, which comes loaded with achiote chicken and fixings, then topped with a tangy pile of bright pink pickled onions. Indulge your inner rock star with a shot of Cazadores Blanco or the Cock Fight margarita, mixed with tangerine and cucumber.
3. Soho House
Sure, this is a swanky private club, but it’s a treat to spend time here if you’re lucky enough to score an invite from a member (or have the cash and cred to become one yourself). You can nosh on tacos, but we suggest heading straight for the bar at any of the club’s three dining rooms. The drinks at Nava boast a distinctly Middle Eastern flair, with ingredients like turmeric and sumac shining alongside top shelf tequila, and the club’s signature Picante de la Casa (Tequila Cazadores Reposado, chilis, lime, and cilantro) kicks up the heat with a take on the classic margarita.
4. Tortilla Republic Weho
Any restaurant that features a dedicated “Margarita Bar” earns extra points in our Taco Tuesday book. Sidle up for an array of potions concocted with house-made syrups and inventive ingredients, like the sweet ancho chile margarita balanced with passion fruit purée. The food menu also trades in surprising flavors. Tacos come stuffed with duck confit, tequila-battered (or grilled) shrimp, and a mixture of grilled octopus and chicharrón; enchilada fillings span the gamut from creamy shrimp and lobster bisque to a vegetarian smorgasbord composed of truffle oil-drizzled spinach, asparagus, chayote, brussels sprouts, and cremini mushrooms.
5. Toca Madera West Hollywood
This lounge-like West Hollywood hotspot is brimming with atmosphere, from the in-house DJ spinning tunes to the stunning quartz bar glowing in the center of the room. You can’t go wrong with the margarita selection, or with the Street Taco Box, a tasty selection of chicken, beef, and tofu tacos that mirror what you find at your favorite food truck But make sure you save room for dessert: The churro ice cream sandwich, a large scoop of dulce de leche ice cream nestled between two swirled churro “cookies,” is out of this world.
6. Mercado
Restaurateur Jesse Gomez and chef José Acevedo have established an impressive contemporary Mexican food empire, and their dual chops are on full display at this bright, modernist West Hollywood outpost. Their “Hora Feliz” offers the requisite drink specials along with a host of elevated bites including a dreamy choriqueso dip, knockout carnitas nachos, and crunchy jicama shrimp tacos. Wash it all down with their signature spicy cucumber margarita, created with a house-made jalapeño purée.
7. Gloria’s Restaurant & Bar
While it forgoes a set Taco Tuesday menu in lieu of weekly specials, this Huntington Park institution has more than a few tasty tricks up its colorful sleeve. A special cocktail menu created by Tequila Cazadores ambassador and award-winning mixologist Manny Hinojosa highlights the best agave has to offer, while the seasoned kitchen draws repeat customers with its special twist on homemade recipes. Don’t miss the flavor-packed potato tacos, overflowing parrilladas, and the surprisingly creamy off-menu ceviche — just ask for it “Juan’s way.”
8. Baja Sharkeez
Located a short walk from the Hermosa Beach Pier (and the Pacific Ocean), this family-owned joint straddles the very festive line between seaside cantina and streetside sports bar. Figure out whether to enjoy the ocean breeze on the outdoor patio or cheer along with the action on a multitude of TVs inside, then prepare for more difficult decisions — like which handheld delights to pick from the packed Taco Tuesday menu. Thick corn or flour tortillas? Grilled mahi or blackened ahi? Mesquite-grilled tri tip or achiote chicken breast? Sipping on a sweet and tangy passion fruit paloma will help ease the decision-making process.
9. Palmilla Cocina y Tequila
Though it shares owners with Baja Sharkeez across the street, this elegant date night restaurant offers a completely different vibe — and menu. Starting with drinks, you can’t go wrong with any one of their inventive craft margaritas; options like the pineapple serrano cilantro margarita and ginger margarita seamlessly blend taste profiles, playing both hot and cool on the tongue. The food is just as sensory. Dig into the lush honey butter-topped tortillas as a starter, but save room for the taqueria tacos langosta, which serve up the warm comfort of spicy sautéed lobster topped with a refreshing jalapeño slaw.
10. Los Compadres Mexican Restaurant
Locals flock to this LBC favorite Monday through Friday for its stellar happy hour deals. Sure, there’s usually a wait to be seated, but you can pass the time in style with one of their legendary margaritas, as pleasing to the eyes as they are on the tongue. Once you do land a spot, make sure you’re really hungry, then tuck into one of their massive molcajetes, stuffed with the perfectly seasoned protein of your choice.