Prima Cantina & Tacos

Nice staff and attentive service with fairly large portion sizes. Quality of the food is just not there. Margarita is disappointing and tastes cheap and more like a juice. Corn tacos are soggy and hard to eat. Overall food is fine but not loaded with flavor. Restaurant and bathrooms are dirty and the whole place needs a deep clean. Tables have that layers of sticky feel and everything needs cleaned much better. Bathrooms have that smell that indicates they aren’t cleaned well at all.

I ordered a gluten free dish and unfortunately was still given flour tortillas. Also my friend ordered gluten free as well and she was served corn tortillas which also were not gluten free. Apparently they have two versions of corn tortillas and only one is gluten free.

Authentic and delicious Mexican.Second time here, but not the last. Margerithas with a sting. We love it 🇲🇽🇲🇽🇲🇽

What a lovely restaurant! Great service. Warm. Friendly. Kind. Thoughtful. And the food was great too. Salsa Flight is such a fun thing to try! And tjeir fresh churros are so so good. Such a relaxing vibe. Will come again.

Ughhh I really wish these tacos were better. It's a wonderful location, but the tortillas taste store-bought, the meat is horribly underseasoned, and the chips are stale. The guac and corn are good though, so I know they can do better!

Thursday Aug 11th a coworker & myself stopped here to eat. I ordered carnitas tacos, coworker ordered fajitas. And we both had the Street Corn Esquites, which was very good. The beans were good also. A little hiccup in service but the server may have been new. The food seemed a tad bland, taste was okay, just for a Mexican restaurant, there wasn’t the spicy 🌶 kick one would expect. Not saying it needed habanero mixed in everything, just go up the street a few steps to Whole Foods and pick up a jalapeño or two and don’t be afraid to use them. Nice atmosphere, dined outside.

My boyfriend and I loved everything we got! Margaritas are fabulous, tacos are especially good- we got the impossible tacos and the carnitas. Highly recommend!

Perfect, I believe they used best ingredients to make the best taste for Mexican food around Santa Monica, they do have out side seating area but my wife said it's to windy. Don't forget to try the tequila..not too much

Items purchased: veggie Bowl, Prima Burrito with grilled veggies and 2 glasses of wine. Food: A, Food was Fresh and nicely presented and came out the kitchen in a timely manner. Service: A, Waiter greeted us and was polite and courteous. Cleanliness: C, Dining area and outside patio could use a little attention . Bathroom was clean and stocked but had a funky smell and food was stored on the floor in the hallway leading to the bathroom. Value : A, Pricing was on point. Ambiance: A, Pleasant and Relaxed.

Shared Chicken Fajitas ($25) and Salmon Burrito ($22). Food here is very good, but expensive. Consistent problem in this restaurant is that they are stingy on the protein. The Chicken Fajitas had hardly any chicken and the Salmon Burrito was low on Salmon. The free chips were not to my liking--they had that "old cooking oil" after taste. This restaurant is exactly why I prefer to eat at home. It's not the value that I want to see dining out--and I know the rent on this street is as high as Beverly Hills. Free parking in the large lot in back of the restaurant or 2 hours free on the side street. Paid meters in front on Montana till 6 pm. Service was "okay." When I asked for another cup of salsa--the waiter told me that it would be an extra charge per the restaurant rules. This is not a restaurant I would be running back to, but if you are in the area and craving Mexican food and you are okay with $25 PP for your dinner--it's fine provided you acknowledge the things I noted above.

I wasn't a big fan of the location, since it's on a busy street and the view isn't very nice. It also felt a little uncomfortable that people passing by could see everything inside. We ordered the Carne Asada, Short Rib, and Chicken tacos. All of them were good, though the Carne Asada was a bit dry. The chips and salsa were also enjoyable--the salsa tasted homemade, and I really liked the fresh diced ingredients in it. The service was friendly and welcoming, and you can tell they really try to make guests feel comfortable.

I visited here before going to the aero theatre. The service was great. Our waiter was very attentive and super friendly. It's very clean inside and has a welcoming ambiance. The food was good, a little on the pricey side but it is good. The margarita I ordered was great and worth the money. I'd come back if I happened to be in the area again.

Very very good! The ambience was very homey. The service was excellent. They brought out my food before they said it the wait time was. The bathrooms were clean. I would definitely come here again and bring friends next time.

Not sure if I'll return. I came here for a late lunch/early dinner. Service was very slow and we got there before the restaurant got busy. Eventually within 45 minutes, the restaurant was popping, yet the food was not super tasty. I got the prima salad, and it wasn't anything spectacular. My partner had shrimp tacos and they were simply okay. If you're looking for tasty Mexican food, especially tacos, I'd go somewhere else. The staff is friendly, but the slow service and flavorless food doesn't make me want to return again.

Delicious! My favorite little gem in Santa Monica. The menu has plenty to choose from, with great vegetarian and vegan options. The guacamole is aaaamazing, and the generous portions mean you'll almost always have leftovers (that are just as good the next day).

I checked out Prima Cantina for the first time last week to meet up with a friend for dinner and a good catch-up. It's a small, cozy spot on Montana Ave with a warm, welcoming vibe that really captures the spirit of Baja, California. The ambiance was relaxed, and the food was delicious. There were so many tempting options on the menu, but I went with the three-taco plate, which comes with cilantro rice and norteño beans. I mixed it up with grilled salmon, shrimp, and short rib tacos--and wow, the food was so good. The short rib taco was definitely the standout--super flavorful--and the rice and beans were tasty, too. I couldn't finish everything, so I brought the rest home, and it was just as good the next day. Prima also has a fully stocked tequila bar. I wasn't drinking that night, but I'll definitely be back to sample some of their selection. We sat at the bar and ended up chatting with a local, which added to the laid-back feel. The service was a bit on the slower side, though it seemed like they might've been short-staffed and didn't have a dedicated bartender at the time. Still, I'd absolutely go back to try more from the menu--and a tequila or two!

Went last weekend and enjoyed some tasty food and drinks. They also have nice happy hour

LA is known for having some of the best Mexican food in the country, so I was curious how a ritzy-looking Santa Monica cafe would stack up to the unbeatable hole-in-the-wall taco stands that locals have frequented for generations. My family was in Santa Monica for the day, and popped into Prima Cantina to grab a quick bite for lunch. At around 1pm on a Tuesday, the restaurant was about half full, with only one server. A small sign adorns the exterior, with a cute ambiance inside: ocean-themed murals cover the walls, and the wooden bar is quaint and charming. We were immediately seated and provided complimentary chips and salsa - these chips were fresh-made from corn tortillas, and still piping hot! The salsa was also decent as well, and you can tell they make it in-house. We opted to get an additional Guacamole ($10) - this was smooth, rich, and creamy, but we prefer our guac with a bit more of a textural contrast! The menu isn't as long as some places, but there's a good variety of appetizers, entrees, salads, tacos, and burritos, all with customizable protein options. My mom wasn't feeling too hungry, so she ordered their Quesadilla ($10, +$6 for protein), which came with three pieces of crispy quesadillas with cheddar jack cheese, sour cream, pickled onions, and salsa. These were above average, with fully melted cheese (not congealed like some other places), and the toppings added a nice texture/flavor contrast. Additionally, they also gave her a small bowl of cilantro lime rice, which was well-seasoned and perfectly cooked. My dad ordered two tacos: both Carnitas ($7/pc). You get a choice of corn or flour tortillas, and of course he chose the corn option! While these weren't the best tacos he's had, the protein inside was generously portioned, and he enjoyed the crunch of the pickled onions. My brother ordered a taco trio: Carnitas ($7), Short Rib ($8), and Pescado ($7 - your choice of grilled or fried fish), and also chose to add rice and beans on the side for a small charge. His favorite was the Pescado, which makes sense for a Santa Monica/California Mexican place! One thing to note is that they do add an extra charge per taco if you decide to mix and match your proteins. Lastly, I ordered their La Paz Chopped Salad with Mahi Mahi ($13, +$7 for protein) which was surprisingly delightful! It came with plenty of fresh vegetables, including crunchy romaine lettuce, fresh sweet corn, juicy cherry tomatoes, and green beans. The vinaigrette it was served with was perfectly tangy, complementing the richness of the shredded cheese. Lastly, the protein was perfectly cooked: juicy and tender on the inside, and melt-in-your-mouth rich for such a lean fish! Since it's a $7 charge for adding protein, I would go with fish over a cheaper protein like chicken, since it's the same price for all of them, and we all liked their fish the best. Overall, while this isn't the most authentic Mexican place, it's a great stop if you're in Santa Monica and want a cute vibe, great service, and tasty food. Be prepared to pay a bit more since you're in a pricey area, but it's certainly a fun option!

By far my favorite Mexican food of all time; wish they had locations elsewhere! For some reference, I've had Plata, El Torito, and Poquito Mas. Not the biggest or bestest range to compare to, but wow the guacamole, street corn, steak quesadilla, and cilantro rice here are just the best. Such a cute hole in the wall spot with nice decorations. I take all my friends from out of town here. And happy hour half off deal, hell yeah!!

What a awesome little spot. Prima Cantina is pretty cute inside with only a few tables and a couple more outside. Great decor. Even better staff. Charlie was our server and was SO kind, helpful, and patient. He had great menu suggestions for us. Victoria was also incredibly kind and continued to check on us, brought a water bowl for our pup and gave her some love while we were outside. The drinks here are spectacular. The food is pretty good but is probably the biggest place for improvement. The homemade salsas are top notch. Definitely do a salsa flight. My spice-loving husband could barely handle the spiciest one, which is rare. The enchiladas were really good and I was able to put my favorite green salsa from the salsa flight on them. The burrito was good but nothing to really brag about. Overall the staff, drinks, and location are the biggest selling points here. The food is also good, but not AMAZING. Would definitely come back!

Something is seriously wrong regarding their "happy hour" pricing which ends at 6 pm. I don't think they want to offer it and do everything they can to avoid honoring it. We were seated by 5:45. They took our drink order which never came. Then 6 pm rolls around (it was 5:55) and they say we missed the happy hour window. Same thing happened with the food. It was only when my friend threatened to leave a negative Yelp review that they finally honored the happy hour pricing. Can some manager please respond. The food is good but the service is stressful and ridiculous.

My cousin and I come here for drinks as you can see. They make them right. Strong and tasty. Not watered down like (won't name names). The food? So far just had chips, salsa and guacamole cuz didn't want to dilute the goood feeling I'm paying for. Chao mein all! Give Haxel a huge tip. Ps the decor is fun but not upscale so no need to dress to impress. Only thing they require is shoes, and preferably a friendly attitude cuz it is hard waiting tables in Brentwood where folks feel untitled. Pss went back in the evening with my family on a Saturday night and was so low energy. Killed our happy vibe. Maybe stick to happy hour.

The food is so delicious and especially their handmade corn tortillas! The rice comes with a tasty green "salsa?" and the portions are generous. The ambience is friendly and the service is great! This is my husband's favorite spot.

Both my friend and I ordered Carne Asada as a topping, but my Carne Asada was cold and very dry. My friend's Carne Asada was warmer and juicy. When I had asked the waiter about this, his response was that sometimes the kitchen gets really busy and that's how it comes out. We had paid to add the Carne Asada onto my salad and instead of either bringing a fresh side of it which probably would've taken a while they charged us for it with a very lackluster excuse of why my steak was a lot colder and dryer than my friends steak. I left the very dry Carne Asada on the plate. We paid our bill and left. I will say that we were able to get seated right away as there were not that many people in there so the excuse of the kitchen getting really busy didn't make sense and our food took a long time to come out. Not sure what's going on here, but maybe we caught them on an off day.

This was geniunely some of the most bland food that I have ever eaten. While the tres leches cake was good everything else lacked any sort of seasoning. For some reason all of the flavor and spice in that entire restaurant is packed into the spiciest salsa on the planet that is geniunely inedible. I hope this review can help anyone that wants to go here.

I've been coming here since it opened, but the frequency of visits has dwindled. Everything is ridiculously expensive. I really love the carne asada tacos and the street corn- that's the only reason I haven't just stopped eating there. The people who work there are lovely and the bartenders are great, but it's just really difficult to justify the prices.

It's always a good sign when the chips and salsa are tasty! I popped in to escape the hustle and bustle of a mini shopping spree on Montana. This sweet little place has a tequila bar which appears to have a robust selection -- I did not partake but it looked fun! The food selection is great with plenty of options for vegans and vegetarians. The tacos are not tiny. So the three taco plate is filling but a nice way to sample different ones which I did! Shrimp, Grilled Mahi Mahi and Impossible Beef all on corn tortillas served with cilantro rice and beans. All were delicious. My favorite was the shrimp taco. This place is a great little find on Montana and I will be back! Perfect for a bite pre or post screening at The Aero too!

We absolutely loved Prima Cocina! Our server was awesome, the piccante margaritas were spicy, strong and delicious, the tacos were fantastic! The lobster taco in the handmade corn tortilla was definitely the highlight, so much delicious perfectly cooked lobster and the tortilla was great. The salmon taco was also tasty. The pescado taco was my least favorite, lacking flavor but the other two were so good it didn't matter. If you can handle spicy, like seriously burn your mouth crazy spicy, ask for their ghost pepper salsa, wowsa it was hot and good. The rice and beans had a ton of flavor and were cooked perfectly. The piccante margaritas weren't too spicy and were quite good, let's just say we had more than one Overall ambiance was really nice. Outdoor seating on Montana, with heat lamps. And our server was the best, it made for a lovely evening. We will definitely be back!

The Albondigas soup was bland and tasted like water. I only ate a few bites and left hungry to go get some lunch somewhere else. They should add salt and maybe some flavor to this item.

Stumbled across this restaurant and very glad I did! I ordered carne asada tacos ($17) with the cilantro rice. Delicious! The steak was very tender and flavorful. The rice was so good- lots of butter -yum! The tacos tasted better with a Skinny Margarita... Service- the server was attentive, and the food arrived very fast. Highly recommend Prima - can't wait to try other items!

No transparency on food ingredients or prep. As a vegetarian and customer of many years, I am absolutely dismayed and furious to have just found out that this restaurant cooks even their plain rice in chicken broth. Their menu and their staff never disclosed that their non-meat dishes have meat-based ingredients, until now with the updated menus. They have been feeding me, a vegetarian, meat dishes - even after I've told the staff that I'm a vegetarian and so I'm ordering vegetable dishes they didn't disclose that the rice is, and who knows what else is, cooked with meat ingredients. if you order a plate of rice and vegetables, it should not have any meat ingredients in it without disclosing that. Really disgusting and horrifying.

Fantastic service, quick chips and salsa before you realize it. Guacamole is unbelievable and if not allergic to red onions you must get this. Tacos are some of the best I have ever, and I mean ever, eaten. Small and best to go earlier before the dinner crowd arrives. They also have a comprehensive drink menu if you want a drink. The staff are very engaging and willing to give opinions. Try it and you will like this place.

Ordered a mani mani tempura battered fish taco. Gave me a piece of fish the size of a small chicken McNugget. Will never return.

By far the best restaurant on Montana that doesn't cost you an arm and a leg. The carne asada tacos are really good, friendly staff, and the tortilla chips and salsa are always fresh.

Prima Cantina is a total scam. We were charged $140 for just three cocktails, one mocktail, and guacamole--seriously? It was ridiculously overpriced, especially when we went next door to R+D Kitchen and got food and drinks for just $200 (and it was amazing) The place was completely empty, and now I know why. Overpriced, underwhelming, and absolutely not worth it. Don't waste your money here.

I had lobster tacos which were delicious and filled with lots of lobster. Fresh flour tortillas too. I really enjoyed this restaurant and will be back again.

Ughhh I really wish these tacos were better. It's a wonderful location, but the tortillas taste store-bought, the meat is horribly underseasoned, and the chips are stale. The guac and corn are good though, so I know they can do better!

The veggie bowl and veggie nachos are the best! The chips are also so addicting. Love it!

This place is a joke. Gringolandia and mediocracy at its finnest. Waiter was nice, asked the cooks if there was Steak in my burrito as it was almost invisible to the eye. Chips were stale, just a NO. I obviously wont be back, not even if I was paid. Waste of money and time

Cute little restaurant on Montana specializing in Mexican for Americanized palates. We arrived on a Friday night around 8. They were busy, but sat us quickly. Staff was helpful and friendly. I appreciate that they brought out chips without charging us, especially as we were quite hungry. Other westside Mexican spots have sadly become too snobby for this.. We weren't big fans of the red salsa they brought out with the chips, which was super mild and tasted like it came from a 2 dollar jar on a shelf at Ralphs. Our server was nice and brought out samples of the green and spicy salsas as well. The spicy salsa is certainly not for the faint of heart. The green salsa came out piping hot and appeared fresh, as if they had just roasted the tomatillos. I ordered the mushroom and fish tacos, while my friends ordered a couple other dishes. Portion sizes are generous considering the part of the city in which this restaurant is located. I felt like the food was a bit bland and could have used more seasoning/sauces. For instance, the rice and beans had no heat whatsoever, and the fish and mushroom tacos were lacking in toppings (e.g., would have loved more pickled onions on them, and more sauce). If you prefer Mexican food with minimal to no spice, you'll appreciate this spot. I didn't hate my experience there, but nothing stood out exceptionally to guarantee me a visit back.

This spot has become a recent favorite of mine. I've dined in the outdoor space about 3 times now, and have had an amazing experience everytime. Customer service is always solid, the the food is fresh, and parking is easy. Below are a few of the things that I've tried: Salmon Tacos - 4 1/2 Stars. Cooked perfectly, and the perfect bite. Lobster Tacos - 5 Stars. Absolutely delicious, and best on a flour tortilla. Side of Veggies - 4 1/2 Stars. Always fresh, grilled, and the perfect health alternative to chips and salsa. Caesar Salad - 4 Stars. All in all, a pretty good salad. I'll definitely be back when I'm in the area, this fusion Mexican American spot checks all my boxes.

*** 3.5 stars *** The servings are large and the queso was great (not velveeta here, folks) but the tacos were just okay. I had the mahi mahi, chicken, and mushroom tacos (3 taco combo - they were huge and I probably should have just ordered 2 tacos). I found them to be a bit dry and flavorless, and the handmade corn tortillas were actually a bit too thick. But I have a feeling that all of their starters are amazing since the queso was, so next time I might just stick to those.

If you're looking for delicious tacos - keep looking. I feel bamboozled! I ordered one fish, one lobster, and one shrimp taco. Each of them came with the same oily pesto drizzled on top - PESTO?! There was nothing Mexican or remotely Spanish about these tacos.

Sadly my mom received food poisoning from the cilantro here last week. Slow service and very disappointing to know the tacos were not food safe. I would say this place used to be good but now never will return. The cocktails changed and are not nearly as good as they used to be too. Over priced, not good and unsafe.

Highly recommend The Hubby & I enjoyed our first evening last Saturday at Prima's and it's a hidden for sure!! The incredible Drink menu alone is enough to inspire you to hydrate a week before, just so ya don't have to make any hard choices. And THE FOOD is outstanding!! Everything is made to order, fresh, locally sourced, and just mouthwateringly good. All from this sweet little tucked away romantic spot. Thank You Victor and Anthony for spoiling us so much that now it's a weekly thing.

Nice little gem in Montana. Great ambiance, good food and quality, I could honestly eat here everyday. Great friendly service (shout out to Vicki) and everyone is super accommodating.

More on the slow side but the food has always been delish! They serve their chips hottt which is the best!

We walked into this restaurant on a whim. The restaurant is small. The fried Mahi Mahi tacos were delicious. The guacamole was very fresh, and they gave you a large portion. I would come back when in this area.

This was our first time at this location and it is a great addition to the area. We go to other restaurants on Montana but it's nice to know that there's more variety. Unbeknownst to us this location had been there for almost 8 months and based on our experience I could see it being there for years to come. We decided to stop here when we were en route to another tried and true restaurant that we usually go to. Just the fact that there was a Mexican restaurant in the area was incentive enough to give it a try. The colors and decor are Baja California and the theme is a mariscos beach type of vibe. The menu has the staples so we tried their renditions of chicken Fajitas and carnitas. I had the Fajitas and my girl had the carnitas. We both enjoyed our meals for the most part but I would say that we both felt like our dishes could have used a little more salt. I liked the handmade corn tortillas that I requested with my Fajitas and my girl enjoyed her food as well as her Piccante Margarita. The service was great and everyone was nice. Other than the salt we would definitely recommend and suggest this place to try some other things on the menu. We're glad to have another restaurant to add to our options when we are on Montana.

If I could give this place zero stars, I would. We've been three times - once without our dog ( we sat inside ). The second time we show up, they tell us our 11 pound dog who's in a carrier can't come in even though the place is crawling with huge dogs everywhere - on the floor in the booths, on laps. Fine, we sat outside and they still gave us weird attitude. We just went back to try their happy hour in a last ditch effort, sat outside in their disgustingly filthy chairs and tables, and the same waiter comes out to tell us we have to put our dog under the table (who's all the way in her carrier and on my lap) or we wont be served. Mind you, the whole place is completely empty and this is on Montana Blvd, maybe the most dog friendly street in LA. We were OUTSIDE - mind-blowing. Gross place, gross discriminatory behavior and treatment, with the most mediocre, overpriced food EVER! Not only are we never coming back, we'll go out of our way to tell everyone else to steer clear. Happy to give our business to all the other wonderful places surrounding this dumpster fire in our wonderful new neighborhood.

Really nice service at pick up and just great tacos. The guacamole was wonderful too.

Very nice environment with friendly staff. Unfortunately the tortilla chips were bland to start. Asked the waiter if I should go with fajitas or tacos. Fajitas were highly recommended. Chose the chicken and steak. The tortillas were small, no sour cream or cheese and the total meet had to have been leas than 4 ounces. They loaded up the veggies which were thick cut and made it hard to eat without constantly popping out of the kid size tortilla.

Food was really good. Staff super friendly and helpful. Inside was so cute. Would definitely come back. Thank you.

Adorable little spot on Montana. I love love love the Cheese Enchiladas. You can choose your sauces and they are all delicious. I also love the shrimp tacos. The people are all really friendly and the decor is adorable.

What a burrito bummer! What happened to your delicious veggie burrito? I came by the other day and ordered my regular veggie burrito only to get a huge, bland stuffed with mealy white rice, way too few beans, barely any guacamole and trimmings thing. Very disappointed. Please bring back the smaller, adequately beaned and trimmed veggie burrito. This bigger version is absolutely no good!

Very flavorful tacos, showed they were each made to order and cooked fresh; best mushroom taco Ive tasted so far in California; Opted for the flour tortillas and think that was the right call. The guacamole was great as well, added a bit of fresh lime once it was on our table which took it over the top. Great service in the midst of Covid restrictions. Highly recommend for a chill-low key date night, place to get your buzz on or just enjoy some flavorful tacos and yummy drinks

This was the most disappointing Mexican food we've had in the past 20 years. Oven-heated chips from a bag, jar salsa (if it was fresh they should fire the chef!), and $10 guacamole that was *definitely* from a bag or tub. The menu invites you to enjoy a "flight" of salsa -- to choose three varieties. I would have settled for one adequate one. When I asked for a different kind of salsa because the "complimentary" tomato-sweet watered-down stuff they served us was so bad... I was brought a small container of sour-green enchilada sauce, warmed. Very odd. Tables on both sides of us left their bowls of guacamole one-third eaten as well -- that should have been a clue. The tacos (grilled fish) were bland and just a piece of overcooked fish on a bed of shredded cabbage with a way-too-sweet sauce drizzled on top. With so much tasting so awful, the fact that the rice and beans were flavorless was, in hindsight, perhaps a blessing in disguise. I can't imagine what those who've rated this spot so highly were eating -- maybe they were drinking tons of tequila and didn't care? If you want good Mexican food, this ain't it.