Toca Madera West Hollywood

"A Mexican clubstaurant originally opened in Los Angeles, set to reopen on Melrose Avenue in about a year, with additional locations in Houston, Scottsdale, Las Vegas, and an upcoming one in Miami." - Matthew Kang

"What It Is: Toca Madera is a very popular and very corporate “modern Mexican steakhouse” on 3rd. Street in Beverly Grove. It’s so popular that, since opening in 2015, it’s expanded to both Scottsdale and Las Vegas, bringing the same bland and generic Mexican food to two other states that don’t need it.  Verdict: Most places on this guide aren’t serving great food, but at least the majority of them have other fun, over-the-top elements to distract from it. At Toca Madera, people are there solely to eat—and that makes the level of food here unforgivable. We’re talking about $16 for a scoop of soured guacamole and $22 for an al pastor taco with a tortilla that crumbles in half when you pick it up. If there was something more exciting going on here than a bored DJ in the corner and a crowd full of people who still haven’t gotten cast on The CW, we might see the appeal. But at Toca Madera, what you see is what you get, which, unfortunately, isn’t much.  " - brant cox

"Toca Madera is a “modern Mexican steakhouse” on W. 3rd Street that’s packed to the gills every night with people who clearly love hanging plants and food that tastes like nothing—because that’s all you’ll find here. We’re at peace eating lackluster food at clubstaurants (we expect it, actually) but Toca Madera doesn’t have any other fun elements in play to distract you from the fact that you just spent $16 on one scoop of sour guacamole or $22 on an al pastor taco with a tortilla that crumbles when you pick it up. If you want to meet someone for a quick margarita at the bar, this place will suffice. Otherwise, there’s no reason to come here. " - brant cox, sylvio martins, nikko duren

"We’re fine eating lackluster food at clubstaurants—we expect it, actually—but Toca Madera, the corporate-y “modern Mexican steakhouse in Beverly Grove” isn’t a clubstaurant. It’s a generic regular restaurant with bland food and a DJ in the corner playing Top 40 radio. If you do attempt to eat, you’ll be saddled with the fact that you just spent $16 on one scoop of soured guacamole or $22 on an al pastor taco with a tortilla that crumbled in half the second you picked it up. If you want to come here for a quick margarita at the bar with a coworker—or please a client who wants to feel hot—Toca Madera will suffice. Otherwise, there’s no reason to come here.  " - Brant Cox

"As part of Toca Madera West Hollywood’s Mezcal Mondays tradition, which utilizes the smoky spirit as a launchpad for creative cocktails and tapas, the Mexican steakhouse debuted a new fall menu this month." - Jean Trinh