Gilbert's El Indio is a beloved Santa Monica staple serving up classic Mexican comfort food with generous portions and a laid-back vibe, perfect for a casual night out.
"Located on a stretch of Pico with an unusually high concentration of dental offices, Gilbert’s is a Santa Monica landmark from the '70s that does classic Mexican food in a festive space filled with tchotchkes. Mostly, it's a fun place for a night out that involves margaritas by the pitcher. You won’t find any flashy takes here, but you will find huge, delicious burritos, solid crispy shell tacos, and little sides of pickled carrots served with the chips and salsa (a nice touch). Bring people who won’t judge you for having mole dripping down your chin. You’ll be too busy slipping into a food coma to care." - brant cox, garrett snyder, arden shore
"Gilbert’s El Indio has been serving Mexican classics on Pico in Santa Monica for almost 50 years - and the pandemic hasn’t slowed them down. Their patio is open for combo platters, margaritas, and more." - brett keating
"Gilbert’s is a place worth visiting any night of the week for its casual-but-fun atmosphere and legitimately good Mexican food. Taco Tuesday definitely draws a crowd, but it doesn’t turn into as much of a sh*tshow as some of the other places on this list. The deal: $1.50 tacos, $4 beers, $7 micheladas, from 4-11pm." - amy clark, kat hong
"Pico is a weird street with lots of dentists and many buildings that could be offices, but could also be grow houses. One thing is certain: Pico has Gilbert’s El Indio. This is where you come when you and your friends want a fun night, but you’re all pretty broke, so it would be nice to be able to order an Extra Super Mule burrito for under $12, spend the rest of your money on margaritas, and take the other half of the burrito home for breakfast the next morning." - jess basser sanders
"Gilbert’s is classic, accessible Mexican food served in a festive space that makes for a great night out. You won’t find any new takes on Mexican here - what you will find are huge, delicious burritos, excellent tacos, and strong margaritas. Bring people you know won’t judge you for having mole dripping down your chin. You’ll be too busy slipping into a food coma to care." - jess basser sanders, amy clark
