Blue Plate Taco

I've driven by and seen this place many time through the years and always wanted to go. A friend was visiting we ended up walking to the pier and going to Blue plate Taco. I thought it would be a little touristy. It was less expensive than I thought it would be The food was really good and The waiter was friendly and attentive. I would definitely come back here and order food again. The barbacoa tacos were amazing!

The shrimp tacos were the best tacos I’ve ever had. Perfect amount of spice and great flavour. They also had a kids’ menu, and service was great as well. We sat in the street patio, which was cozy and not too loud. Glad I had booked a reservation after our fun day at Santa Monica pier, as the restaurant was quite busy!

Delicious! Convenient location near Santa Monica Pier. The atmosphere was fun and the food was full of flavour. The Nachos are a MUST try. We went back twice because we loved it so much.

I had the steak tacos and asked for the pickled onions. The flavors were fantastic! Service was fast and attentive. About $22 a plate which is expensive for this Texan, but the outdoor dining and service was worth it.

Very close to the pier with a nice patio and interior. Service is friendly and helpful. Would skip the chicken tacos, the chicken itself is lacking flavour and comes in large chunks. Would be better if it was shredded. Chips and salsa come to the table before food which so nice.

Loved this place ! Great for a chill (and family friendly) vibe by the Santa Monica pier . The servers were super friendly (they even offer complimentary food for your dog). The portions are large and filling. The grilled fish taco (snapper) was delicious and their guacamole is fresh and chips are not too salty. I especially enjoyed the watermelon agua fresca (fresh watermelon that is not too sweet). 100% recommend this spot.

Good food close to Santa Monica Pier. 1/2 off on selected menus during happy hour. Liked calamari frito and ceviche.

Beautiful place, great service, and everyone enjoyed their meal. My entree was the wet burrito with green and red sauce, and it was just what I expected but nothing out of this world. The chips and salsa and plantains were incredible.

10/10. Everything from the moment we walked in. Everything. They were so kind to us and our dog. Margaritas fantastic. Nachos 10/10. Salsa flight 10/10. Recommend to everyone! Service was one of the best I've had in a long time!

After spending the entire day in Santa Monica, my friend Lucy and I decided to have dinner near the parking structure where we had parked before heading back home. We had several choices but we opt to try out this place, which was also recommended by a waiter that worked here and The Lobster, where we had met. He wasn't our server but he did service us a couple times after being seated. The wait wasn't too long, about 20-30 mins, as we didn't have a reservation and it was a game night (Dodgers (2) vs Padres(0)) so I think that attracted a lot of people. We didn't want to eat a lot and my friend wanted to snack on something. Several servers recommended the nachos saying that was a popular choice. We couldn't decide on the protein, but one of the server said to go with the steak. We were glad we did because it was delicious. The presentation was beautiful and colorful. It had plenty of topping like cauliflower, pumpkin slices, radish, cheese, jalapeno slices, guacamole and pico de gallo salsa. It tuned out that it was fajita steak when we got our check at the end. This really was a popular choice and glad we tried this place. We were served by Bartolo L and few other gentlemen. They all gave an excellent service making sure our food was good and our iced teas filled. Highly recommend to give this place a try when in Santa Monica. Thanks Blue Plate Taco team for the excellent service last night!! 5 to Bartolo and his team of servers!!

I've been wanting to try this place for awhile. I made reservation online for 2 and came around 4:30pm on a Friday and were seated right away. There was plenty of seating still too so I don't think you need a reservation that early. I ordered the guac and chips the half size which is more than enough for 2 people. It comes with 2 salsas but I didn't know that and added the salsa flight. Allllllllll their salsas are so good!!! For food we ordered the chicken tacos and the fish tacos. Both were really really good. They come with rice and beans but the rice and beans actually weren't good at all. The rice tasted rubbery and the beans had a weird flavor. For drinks I got a Jamaica which was a bit too sweet and my friend got a margarita which she really enjoyed. She said it was strong. Overall we had a good experience and I would definitely come back. Park in one the parking structures nearby and walk 5 minutes. You get 1.5 hours free that way.

We only stopped in for drinks, but they were tasty and our server was friendly and attentive! I got the skinny margarita (plus soda water that the server stayed on top of refills with!) and it was delicious. We enjoyed sipping our bevs on the patio and taking in the busy buzz Santa Monica.

This place is delicious! We made reservations on our first night in Santa Monica because of the great reviews and proximity to our hotel. It did not disappoint! The location is great, with tons of outdoor seating. We basically watched the sunset from our dinner table. The server was wonderful! Attentive and speedy and checking in, but not hovering. We started with the queso fundito which was amazing and came with chips and a couple different salsas. I had the seasonal teriyaki portobello mushroom tacos for my main, with black beans and slaw. Everything was fantastic and fresh and flavorful! My husband enjoyed his lobster tacos, as well. Highly recommend if you're in the area!

So I visited this place yesterday with my girlfriend during our trip to California. We came across this place in Santa Monica when we stopped by to visit the shopping center Santa Monica place. We pulled up and were seated fairly quickly I wanna say, we didn't even have to wait at all which made it a plus already. As we sat down we were greeted by an employee who took care of us super duper quick. We put in our order for some chips and guacamole along with our main dishes. The place itself was really nice and you had a nice view towards the pier and the ocean. Chip and Guacamole - the red sauce that was alongside the guacamole was fairly good but not too spicy like I would have expected it, still good though. The guacamole itself was very creamy and had a great taste to it, tasted super fresh. Red snapper tacos - I ordered these due to the fact that I was next to the ocean and the day just felt right. I also wanted to be different as I would usually go for meat or chicken, the batter on the fish was a nice coat and the creamy slaw on it was fire! The rice and beans were your traditional Mexican restaurant rice and beans. Barbacoa Tacos - so my girlfriend got these and I liked them to be honest. Only thing is I wish they would have came with a spicy sauce on the side. The consomé was delicious though and it made it feel like birria tacos. Nonetheless a good choice. Food - 8.5 / 10 Service - 10 / 10 Setting - 9 / 10 Total - 9 / 10

Delicious good quality drinks and amazing service, went here with some great people and service staff and back of house did a good job while being slammed. I had the Calimari and the nachos both were good.

All around a perfect little restaurant for mexican cuisine with great margs and tacos. The views of the sunset are immaculate and conveniently right on Ocean blvd. We experienced great service and got our food relatively quick even during a busy saturday night. Definitely don't skip on the chips and salsas as well as the marg pitchers.

I've been to this location a few times. Easy to locate on the corner, I usually park in the parking structure near by. Their margaritas are so tasty and hit the spot! I love sitting outside on the patio. You can view the beach! Be sure to order their chips, salsa, and guacamole. Addicting is the best word for it. All of theirs tacos are great, and massive portions. I went with 2 friends on the last visit and we could only finish 2 tacos each, the chicken is the best in my opinion. Their rice and beans are good as well. U love the funky vibes, the cute decor here, even the bathroom has a beautiful mosaic mirror. They play upbeat music, and it's really a great spot to come with friends, a group, families, on a date etc. Our server was attentive and made sure we had everything we needed ( like more margaritas!) You can make a reservation on open table and bypass the line!

When we visit LA we always go to Santa Monica for just about everything. I enjoy the people, the pier of course, and just walking along ocean avenue. That's what we were doing when we walked by Blue Plate and the nachos were calling my name. How crazy is it that we ordered a whole plate of nachos but didn't feel gross after? The nachos had a white queso cheese but FULL of fresh veggies. Radish, carrots, guac and more. I must admit I was not convinced until I had my second chip and then I could not stop eating it LOL. The margaritas were fresh and paired really well with the nachos. The staff are friendly and the manager stopped and asked us how everything was going! We sat on the patio and it was the perfect night. Not too cold and of course had the breeze from the ocean. I'm a fan and next time we're in Santa Monica, this will be on the top of my list. Please do not remove those nachos from the menu..... like ever lol

What a nice little seaside gem! So welcoming!! Service was exceptional and their drinks and appetizers hit the spot. Excellent impromptu happy hour for us gals out celebrating our friend's birthday. Thanks so much to their attentive and friendly staff for a wonderful visit!!

Awesome food and service. I got the queso with chihuahua cheese. Perfect ocean view outdoor seating. Great wine selection for a taco place. Fair priced for Santa Monica. Fantasctic service.. this place is on point

Absolutely incredible tacos hands down! Service is great! Very hospitable waiters! Ambiance is very nice! Their chihuahua coasters are super cute, if you're a dog lover like me, you'll probably want to take them home with you!

You can't beat the location. This place is right across from a beautiful view of the beach and the pier. The food comes out fast and the flavors are epic! Chips and guacamole were a solid choice. The chipotle salsa had great smoky flavor and the chips were fresh and crispy. The Veggie taco combo... holy cow, for veggie tacos they bursted out with so much flavor! Definitely a must try. My favorite was the seasonal Mexican minestrone soup. It was the perfect comforting bowl of warm soup on a cold day. The flavors are so delicious from a vegan broth. The veggie size and ratio were perfect and the crispy tortilla strips added the crunch it needed. Service was good. Overall come here for the food and the yummy Margaritas!

Great customer service, tasty Mexican food. Areivrd without reservation; no problem, drinks were made soo good, our waiter, Allen, soo nice, always with a smile and keeping an eye on everything.

Food was great, seating was great, drinks were great and Portobello Tacos/ they really Stood out! Remember to order limes and salt for the guacamole/ just a suggestion Enjoy happy hour at my new local spot.

Wow the food was amazing! Lovely place to eat near the water! Outdoor dining was an excellent experience! Will be back soon! Service was amazing! Staff was friendly and attentive!

If you come here you MUST get the chips and salsa. There must be crack in the salsa or something bc it's SO GOOD. This was probably the best restaurant salsa I've ever had!! Also their fresh squeezed orange juice is randomly so good as well -- recommend that if you're looking for a great non alcoholic drink option :) Onto the tacos -- we got the steak tacos and the shrimp tacos and the portions are huge! Each plate comes with 3 sizable tacos and rice and beans. The rice is great and not bland at all. Tacos were also delicious. Very simple, unpretentious, but seriously delicious tacos on an amazing chewy tortilla. My plating probably could have been a little better but the flavor was 10/10. Service here was great! The workers were all very friendly and helpful. The seating inside is quite crowded so you'll be really close to neighboring tables. It's a very lively environment inside so expect it to get quite loud. They have outdoor seating which I wish we could've experienced bc the vibes out there looked amazing! It would be such an experience eating these tacos watching the sunset. Wait here is quite long as it's a really popular spot close to Santa Monica Beach but it's worth it!

I ate here with friends where we were very attentively greeted by our server who checked in consistently throughout the night to make sure that we enjoyed our experience - +1 for service! We were seated outside where bright Christmas-like lights were strewn across the roof canopy, where we could enjoy watching the bustling life of Santa Monica near the water. Lively music played, adding to a relaxed and exciting dining atmosphere. Since I was the driver, I did not unfortunately get to try their drinks, but my friend said their margarita was one of the best he's had! We started with an appetizer of chips and salsa along with the poblano queso dip- a decision we did not regret. The chips were slightly under salted, but seasoned with a slightest hint of lime, and were not over oily, as is usually the case with complimentary chips. The poblano queso dip was delicious- a creamy and melted texture, that was seasoned just right, making for a multidimensional flavor: not your typical "nacho" cheese. Upon the server's recommendation, I ordered the prime barbacoa taco combo. The portions were large, with a complimentary side of well-cooked Mexican rice and beans included, both of which were pretty ordinary. It also came with a small cup of beef drippings to which to dip the tacos. The tacos themselves were topped by pickled onions, which were a nice reprieve from the heavy barbacoa-packed tacos, though in my opinion not enough. By the end of the meal, I sorely wished for something a little bit lighter on the plate- to help alleviate the heaviness of the tacos. The flavor of the meat itself was a bit one dimensional and bland, but they definitely did not skimp on filling the tacos, which at least was very nice to see. All in all, an above average taco restaurant with a nice view and ambiance, though I'd like to be back to try the fish tacos for a more fair review!

It's a touristy vibe for sure but the super cool perk is that it's delicious. I was not expecting the food to be as good as it was. The nachos not only looked delicious but also tasted great. It doesn't need any proteins, it can stand alone. Barbacoa tacos are also a great option. Service is quick and friendly, so no worries there. This is a good option for visitors to the area that are just looking for some good food. Goodie...

10/10 recommend getting their farmers market nachos and adding steak to it. Adding steak cost like an extra $9 but I think it's so worth it. I got it to go and enjoyed the nachos on the beach! They package the queso separately so the nachos don't get soggy which I thought was so thoughtful. It also comes with a salsa that is also packed on the side. Everything tasted super flavorful and fresh!! Would 100% get it again. My boyfriend and I split the nachos and we were so full afterward! ‍

Very convenient location a few blocks from the Santa Monica pier with some views of the ocean with a good amount of outdoor seating. In terms of food, I found the portions to be on the larger side especially when ordering a taco plate. I found the food to be flavorful but nothing terribly unique. The pineapple Aqua Fresca though was my favorite part though! I ended up getting 3 refills throughout the evening. In terms of service, I give this place 5 stars! I came with a large party of 7 and the staff was very accommodating. Our waiter was very helpful in giving recommendations, and bringing out the food shortly after ordering. Additionally, they checked in on us regularly and made sure our drinks were always filled.

A bit touristy, but very good with excellent service. My wife and I ate here while staying at the The Georgian Hotel up the street. It's very close to that hotel. We made reservations and were quickly seated. We chose to sit outside since it was nice. It gets a little chilly with the breeze after the sun goes down. The servers were very polite, quick and attentive. If your glass was half empty it was refilled quickly. Their menu has lots of choices and everything was very tasty. The location is excellent if you are staying in Santa Monica. The tacos were excellent.

Margaritas were freshly squeezed, salsas were flavourful, and tacos were fresh and tasted great! Only down grade is that the chips didn't seem fresh and were stale. Pro tip: I wish we had just bought the pitcher of margaritas. Looked to be a much better deal.

Restaurant right near the beach with a gorgeous view of the water and the pier. The staff is all super nice and very helpful! They answered all of our questions about the food. Most importantly, the food was all delicious!! We ordered the quesadillas and nachos and both were amazing and we ate all of it. I really, really recommend the nachos they will be the best you ever have!

I loooooove the tacos!!! The crispy tacos were bussin! I liked the chicken a lot. It also had a bunch of cheez

Blue Plate Taco was soooo good! We ate outside and it is the perfect spot for people watching. Started with the guacamole- it was a no frills guac. Good, but nothing super special. We then had the fried fish tacos, lobster tacos, and shrimp tacos. The portions are super generous and they all come with a large amount of rice and beans. You could definitely take leftovers home and get more than one meal out of this portion size. I didn't think that the lobster tacos were worth the cost, the shrimp and fish tacos were much better. The fish tacos were the best in my eyes, they were served with a super yummy sauce that I was licking off the plate! For drinks we had the el matador and passion smash margaritas. The passion smash was the best- get it served with a tajín rim! We finished up with a round of watermelon tequila shots- which were actually quite good! Our server was awesome and attentive. She gave plenty of recommendations when we asked, and they were all super delicious. An awesome spot, I would definitely be back!

Great service, good food, and great view of the sunset! We sat outside and although it was cold, they had the canopy inclosed and heaters on. I can't wait to be back!

The taco here are a good deal. You can get this entire plate of food for $18 which is a steal for me coming from SF. The ambiance here is more casual but that doesn't mean I wouldn't come here again. Overall, me and my fiancée each got a taco combo and half chips+ guac, with everything it came out to around $25-$30/person which isn't too bad. We also had leftovers for a snack.

Stopped here for lunch during the week; there was ample seating & beautiful ocean views across the street. Service was friendly & food was served fairly quickly. We enjoyed our time there!

I came here for a friend's graduation party and she ordered a month in advance. She got margaritas, chicken taquitos, side salad and steak tacos for the table. All the food was delicious and super filling. All the meat was juicy and had amazing flavor paired with the tomato salsa. Make sure you don't eat too many chips before the main meals come out!! The passion fruit margaritas were refreshing, sweet, and didn't taste too much like alcohol. You get the choice between salt and sugar on the rum and we got salt. Overall the service was really good with the waiters checking on us to take away plates and refill water in a timely manner. Definitely recommend coming here just for dinner or for a special event!

The restaurant has a breathtaking view of the ocean during the day, and at night it is a very lively restaurant with lit up decorations in the outdoor seating area. The food was alright, they have creative tacos, but they were not as great in taste as they sound. Ambiance: Loud music and chatter, festive Food: What we tried - Chicken Pozole: Not that great, it came with lettuce and onion to add in it. It was a bit salty, and I wish it came with a wedge of lime/lemon. Plenty of shredded chicken and hominy in the soup. Ceviche Tostada: My boyfriend really enjoyed this. He said it was flavorful Chicken tacos w/ rice and beans: These looked delicious, and my boyfriend really liked them. These were hard shell tacos topped with cheese, lettuce, and a generous amount of avocado. He finished his whole plate! Pork belly tacos w/ rice and beans: I did not like the tacos. It came with two cubes of hard pork belly with some adobo tasting sauce and pickled carrots on top. I can definitely taste the sourness to the pickled carrots. Tres leches cake: It was a generous piece, cinnamon on top added good flavor. Very spongy and milky. I just thought it was too sweet. ****Parking: Street metered parking, or surrounding lots available at a cost. I came right before closing time (9:30 PM), we were lucky enough to find metered parking. Thank you for participating in DINE LA week, it gave us a good taste of what the restaurant had to serve (for a very reasonable price). Unfortunately, I did not see the hype to the food and vibes and I will not be returning.

Did not enjoy any of the cocktails. Food was just okay. Unfortunately all I got was a mouth full of salt with my salmon and my cocktail. Maybe it was just a busy night.

This is a great go-to if you're looking for delicious food, indoor and outdoor dining options, and a no-fuss option that everyone can appreciate! Most of the restaurants on Ocean Avenue are either on the more expensive end or just okay food quality-wise but this place hits the "just right" plate! They provide a fun mix of seasonal tacos but at the same time stay true to their roots. I'm a fan of the lobster tacos that come with Maine lobster, jack cheese, jalapeños, heavy cream sauce, truffle oil, and green onions. My friend also loved the veggie tacos which included corn, mushroom, leek, kale, goat cheese, cotija cheese, and truffle oil. Great food, nice service, an fun atmosphere. Enjoy!

Wait time = less than 12 minutes. Customer service= Excellent! Ambiance = perfect mix of modern social yet relaxed vibes. Close to ocean. 100% recomn

Came here for lunch on Saturday. There was a small line at the host stand but by the time we got up there we were sat immediately. We orders two margaritas , and chips and queso as an appetizer. Both came out quickly and had good flavor. We sat outside on the patio, It was a bit chilly but the sun helped. When our lunch came we both ordered tacos. Both were suggested by our waiter. They were both good, but the steak on my steak tacos did lack some flavor. Didn't seem to be seasoned. Once I added the verde it did help the flavor. Overall a cute spot to get a meal at.

Service is poor. Checked in and was told it was a 10 minute wait to be seated in the sun. Took a shade table. Sitting in the shade for 15 minutes now. And the 3 tables in the sun.... Right next to me remain empty.... Update.... Turns out if you're young and pretty you get the sunny tables.l....lol... old and buffed your in the shade. Am image thing?. Food was great as was our server.

Pretty solid mexician food. Been here a few times with my dog. So definitely dog friendly. They even have a dog menu! Of course my little pooch loved his taco. I must say they do make some pretty damn good nachos. Servers here are super friendly and the drinks are solid. It's right across from the beach so it's a pretty place to eat while watching the sunset.

Definitely had better fish tacos in the high desert that is hours away from the ocean. Whenever I go to the beach I always try to get fish tacos at least once. These tacos were mid and overpriced. Margarita was good. No chips and salsa here unless you pay for them. Service was terrible. Had four different servers and they all were non existent, we had to ask for water multiple times. Bathroom was very gross, dark, dingy, dirty, sticky floor. I've been in cleaner porta potty's. Won't be going back.

1-star because I went to the all-gender dim lighting private bathroom and saw blue-lighting camera pointing directly at me as I sat down on the toilet seat. Yikes !!! Why????? Managers, if you read this, please fix this and I will change my rating. Food is fantastic. Service is great, friendly staff, nothing was in need or missing. Ambience is nice given its water front location. We had 4 taco plates, so yummy chips- guacamole, excellent fried calamari. Love the shrimp tacos.

This place always delivers with great food, service and ambiance. Must try it, always busy which indicates it's good.

The food and ambience keeps me coming back. There are a lot of menu items to choose from for food and drinks and you can't go wrong with anything. I recommend the steak fajitas and enchiladas.

Blue Plate taco is a solid but pricey option for Mexican food in Santa Monica. They have a great patio that faces Ocean Avenue. To start the meal, I recommend the chips and guacamole. The poblano and corn queso dip is also very good. If the table is going to have more than 4 drinks, pitchers are the way to go. They aren't cheap - ranging from $64-$72, but you will get 6+ servings. The margarita is great, and the house made strawberry syrup is my preferred choice. For the main course, I went with the steak tacos. They were good but nothing out of the ordinary. At $19, they are certainly on the pricey side, but not unexpected for the location. I recommend Blue Plate Taco for the ambiance/location. If you're looking for great Mexican food, there are certainly better and cheaper options. But you probably won't find a better view!

Visited about 2:30 pm on a Thursday. Pretty busy but got seated right away in the outdoor sidewalk section. Took awhile for the server to come get my order and it was fairly slow coming out. Overall, the service was sub-par. The carnitas tacos were good, but not as good as I remember them being a few years ago when we stopped here. Not bad, just average. Chips and salsa were tasty.

Great food drinks and people my favorite is the taco plate vegan of course alot of sexy people I SM

This is a lovely spot near the pier, with a lovely view of the Pacific Ocean. However, be warned, with the current situation in California, you will likely be viewing a good number of homeless while you dine, who have set up camp in the park. That aside, the food and the service are very good. The feel is indoor/outdoor in the California way. The salsa sampler is a great way to meet the tastes of your whole table. The Mexican specialties are fresh and very tasty. High top, patio, and restaurant dining spaces are available. A small bar has seating and a TV as well.

This place has a great location, you have a view of the pier and beach. The food was tasty. The rice was nicely cooked, a little greasy and the chicken tacos were nicely made. The salsa could have had a kick but other than everything was great!

Service is awesome, very friendly, front girl seating people was awesome think her name was Amanda. Waiters were very nice, checked on us every time they would go to another table. Starters Farmers market nachos - is a must order, veggies, jack cheese it's very cheesy which is plus , guacamole, pico, radish, jalapeño They recommend calamari frito - I would recommend also nice starter light crispy and fried, served with chipotle aioli, fresno pepper, cilantro & lime Cheese quesadilla - crispy tortilla with a lot of cheese melted Steak taco plate - meat wasn't all that very chewy, lacked on flavor, topped with red onions, cilantro, and red salsa. I'll try them out next time with some other type meat for sure.

My standing over 8 years go to order is- Baja fish tacos and a pitcher of hibiscus margaritas! The guacamole is delish! I bring every guest that ever visits me in LA on the tour of Santa Monica. For me it's the service- quick, but not pushy- prices fair for the portions and quality- and ambiance- grab a seat outside and people watch and enjoy the weather! (They will turn the heat lamp on for you if it happens to be chilly! Perfect spot to recharge after the beach, or to start your beach day.