Tocaya Modern Mexican

Without exaggerating, the best Tacos I ate in the US. During my travels along the west coast I stopped at many places and for me these were number one. Creative creations, all very tasty. Allergens also marked exemplary. Went here two days in a row because it was so good. On the first day I got served by an extremely friendly lady (reddish hair). The second day by a young guy with longer wavy hair. He was not nearly as friendly as the lady who served me the day before. No Hello / greeting, just looked up at me. I asked him for the very spicy (orange) sauce for my tacos, but it wasn’t brought with my food.

I was greeted immediately upon entering the restaurant. Service was friendly & professional. My meal came out promptly and was served at a good temperature! My salmon was a little too done for my taste, but I still enjoyed my meal! I got a to-go box for my leftover veggies. As I departed the restaurant, someone thanked me for my visit. I had a pleasant experience.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5) Tocaya Modern Mexican in Santa Monica delivers a very polished overall experience. **Service:** 5/5 – Warm, friendly, and genuinely welcoming. **Decor:** 5/5 – Nicely decorated with a clean, modern aesthetic. **Food Quality:** 5/5 – Ingredients appear fresh and high quality. **Food Presentation:** 5/5 – Well presented, even for takeaway orders. **Food Flavor:** 3/5 – While the quality is evident, the proteins (pork and beef) lacked flavor. There was no noticeable seasoning at all, resulting in a bland bite. This is an area with clear room for improvement. With more attention to seasoning and depth of flavor, the food could easily match the strong service and atmosphere.

I came back here for the first time in years. The first time since last decade, and it seems even better than I remember it. The one staff member they had their it seems serving everyone, Elisa, made sure of that. In a world where I'm so accustomed to restaurants declining in quality and cutting corners over time, I had a great experience. Elisa, one of their workers was taking orders, delivering the food to the tables, clearing and cleaning tables by herself, and was knowledgeable about the menu. The service was excelent despite this place being understaffed. I'd definitely come back here again, and recommend it to lots of people. I ordered every taco on the menu and more. I was also here with my vegan friend who was satisfied with the selection of vegan friendly options. So if you're vegetarian or vegan this place may also be a great option for you.

I was craving chicken tinga tacos and these were top notch. Tasted like homemade tinga tacos, very nostalgic. I also got the Baja taco and was thoroughly impressed with the flavors. The prices were fantastic. Will be back to try more but can confirm the tacos are gas

Truly a wonderful surprise while walking in beautiful Santa Monica city. The ambiance caught my attention , very modern and minimalistic , and when I checked the menu , I truly wanted to try the tacos. Well , I was extremely surprised by the quality of the Tacos and also of the side dishes , like the street corn and the Agua Fresca of Pineapple and Jalapeño (amazing flavor indeed).Also the fresh salsa and the chips are excellent. The only problem with this place is parking , but oh well , that's the life in Southern California. Price was on spot for the quality offered here too. I will definitely come back or to the other locations in Los Angeles.

Tocaya Organica in Santa Monica is a fantastic spot for fresh, flavorful, and health-conscious dining. Their impressive selection of vegetarian dishes, from tacos and bowls to burritos and salads, offers something for every plant-based food lover. The ingredients are vibrant and incredibly fresh, making each bite a delightful burst of flavor. Their customizable options with vegan-friendly proteins like vegan picadillo and adobo tofu allow for a truly personalized meal. With a modern, welcoming ambiance just steps from the beach, Tocaya Organica is a must-visit for anyone seeking delicious, fresh, and satisfying vegetarian cuisine.

The cocktail I ordered was good, but the 2 mains we ordered were so bad we could not eat them at all, unacceptable to serve this. A small burnt piece of Salmon and the worst refried beans I have seen in a long time. Was sad and disappointed that this is the level at this location right now.

Love the California burrito,is so tasty! The beans are delicious with tortilla chips. The staff is always very friendly and professional.

Ordered Tocaya for a few company lunches and have been here for lunch a couple of times - save your money! Ordered a fajita burrito ($14.85) with gluten-free battered & fried mahi mahi (additional $3.45) - literally got TWO bites of mahi mahi and the rest of the burrito was rice. Same case when I dined in - ordered a shrimp burrito and had maybe two shrimps lol. I keep giving them the benefit of the doubt, but no thank you! Cute and modern vibes but the food is very mediocre.

How have I never reviewed Tocaya?! This is such good comfort food when you're in LA after 20 years in Austin, Texas. Consistently delicious. Reliable for high quality ingredients - good flour tortillas, good cilantro lime rice, tangy chicken tinga! I'm not so into the blue corn tortillas (floppy) or the plantain chips (too dry).I love that squash blossom though. I'd happily invest in a dozen of those! The sweet corn tamales are great for dessert or breakfast! The roasted salsa is irresistible. Even the fruit salad is perfect.

Food was great. Service was good. Ambiance was nice, place was decorated well and very spacious. Not your classic tacos but a good spin on it. Baja taco 5/5 Steak taco 5/5

Ok service, good food, love that they offer vegan options. They can also veganize many of the dishes! Lots of fake plants that take away the charm. Sadly The few live plants were dying. I was enjoying the music playlist until the vibe was interrupted by the loud music coming from the kitchen. It caused too much of a clash.

Tocaya had just the type of fresh and light meal I was looking for. It's a fast casual dining restaurant but the seating area was nice. I really enjoyed my fish tacos, black beans and street corn. I'll admit the tacos could benefit from a mango salsa or something to add a bit more flavor. Otherwise, it was delicious. We ordered at the counter and our food was delivered to our table quickly. We sat at a large booth with plenty room for all of our food and things.

Pretty decent and filling but a little flavorless. The salsa has no spice. I usually get a bowl but have to add lemon and hot sauce to bring out the flavors. Service is pretty okay too. Good for a quick lunch place or low key dinner.

What a great location with lots of seating. We ordered the quesadilla with mushrooms and it came with salsa that paired perfectly. We also got the en fuego bowl which had kernels of sweet corn that tasted bright and sweet. I added some to the quesadilla which made it taste even better. I barely ate the Turkey part. They have a lot of to go orders. I was hoping it'd be a quick dinner given the meter running. They might be prioritizing the to go orders. Parking is street which can be hard. I really like how they offer some outdoor dining though!

Great food , excellent service, hard ass workers! Ty always great environment comfy vibes!

I went here with a couple friends for an early dinner and it was tasty and filling! The service was quick too! I ordered the taco combo (chicken tinga and Baja) and chose chips and queso for my side. The tacos were tasty and hot, and the chips were good and not too salty but the queso was very underwhelming and bland. I ended up asking for a side of fresh garden salsa and that was better. I also decided to order the tortilla soup and was pleased. It was tasty and creamy. For dessert, I decided to try the churro bites and that was a real treat, especially with the accompanying caramel sauce. Other than the underwhelming queso, everything else was good! The booths and chairs were comfortable inside the restaurant too.

The food never disappoints. Great flavors with a serious effort to traditional seasoning in a semi fusion style. The service was fast and welcoming. The restaurant has a Baja-style ambience, open layout with light colors.

Tocaya organic was good. We came here because we were running errands and wanted a bite to eat and well this was the closest Mexican cuisine they had besides La condesa. ( expensive) Service was great. Please mention if it's your first time there so that they can explain to you how their menu works. It was clean and aesthetically pleasing however the bathrooms could use a little fixing. The door latch is broken on one of them.

Stopped by with some family. Quick and friendly service. Big portions. Nice vibe. Would come back!

Well if you're looking for a Chipotle style restaurant with the wait of a sit down.... wait no further!!! Went there with the family and truly disappointed !!! The food was good... when it finally came out. Sat for 30 min. from the time ordering at the counter. There were 8 people in the kitchen all looking at the order monitors like it was the World Cup playing!!! I swear they're more concerned with the take out than the people eating in!!! Take a hard pass next time!

The girl i ordered was bright and bubbly, greatI think her name was Kaya. Cindy on the other hand who I made sure I got her name right was full of attitude when she brought my food out. I asked her for some water age game me a face and never brought my water. Then she made eye cintact with me a few times. Still no water. Potatoes in my burrito were too hard. Not cooked enough. I couldnt eat them.

I love their takes on Mexican dishes, while I enjoy authentic Mexican food, Tocaya keeps it different and just as healthy. I ordered the Salmon Bowl and it was so fresh and enjoyed the tomatoes and squash along with the tomatillo rice. They had what tasted like a yogurt cream sauce that I was hesitant about but paired well with the vegetables.

I usually come on a Tuesday for the tacos Tuesday deal. $2 chicken tacos and there're always great. I like the tinga the most. They also have except guacamole with pomegranate seeds in it and the tortilla chips are made in house. Service is fast, prices are cheap and the food is great. I like the ambiance at the century city mall much better but Santa Monica is fine too.

Excellent food! We had fajita burrito and cauliflower tacos, delicious, perfect portion!

First, and shockingly, they were out of ice. A restaurant out of ice? it sounds like a contradiction in terms. Therefore, no margaritas. I ordered the spicy avocado bowl but they forgot to include the spicy. it was flavorless. I had the same food at the Olive Street location: simply fabulous. So, this location was a great disappointment. Even the decor was bland.

My sister wanted to take me to the LA location when I visited a few years ago but we had other food adventures. But she got married and ordered food for dinner and boy was it good. Very good. But the chips! First of all, amazing chips but they gave us too many. Otherwise, I would have escorted them back to my house, but my baggage could not accommodate. But for real, these chips were good. The food had a while to travel, but it was mighty tasty. The tortillas were ok but could have improved if heated on a gas stove, I wish I could have brought these home too. But, all and all, next time I'm in town, I'm definately asking for a trip here. The food was that good.

I been to this location twice, both times there wasn't to many people which was nice I came on a Sunday afternoon and a Wednesday evening. The food comes out pretty quickly under 10 minutes. The place is always clean and relaxing feel. I got the gluten free burrito it was really good! I would recommend it! The burritos don't come gluten free but you can ask for a gluten free wrap.

MODERN MEXICAN is the right way to describe this place. You can tell the difference in flavors between food truck Mexican food to the food in Tocaya. It was very tasty my favorite was the fish taco. The stuff were nice and quick and the environment inside to dine in was welcoming. I recommend this restaurant!

Amazing place-I've been coming here for years! It never disappoints highly recommend their steak tacos, strawberry basil drink is tasty as well. All around great location and always clean, but busy.

Thank you, Juan, thank you Francis and William! Your location is great with great hospitality, plus and accommodations with eating healthy and yummy! Love you have vegan and stand by organic and local sourced for more than any other restaurant in the US. We are lucky to have Tocaya nearby. Love love!! Taco Tuesday is great too!! Oh and made to order crafted organic tequila margarita's, even one even has fresh hibiscus. Delicious!!

Enjoyed the cauliflower tacos and the guacamole! I also love their bowls, lots of options. Delicious!

Best Vegan Tacos ever!! The energy of the people is great, the space is very comfortable. Is my husband and I favorite spot in all LA!

My office gets this delivered from time to time and what trash! Flavorless chicken, fatty beef, cumin in refrieds? Blech. And pomegranate seeds in guacamole isn't innovative.

Julieta was extremely pleasant. The entire restaurant is so nice and upbeat and positive energy. Great music and great food! Thank you and thank you for your great and positive personality Julieta. Wonderful experience!

This is one of my go to food stops! It's consistent, quick and easy and tasty! It's a fun place to stop into to eat with plenty of seating and they keep it clean or it's a nice take out option

Delicious. It has a corporate feel, but the tacos taste authentic. The Baja fish tacos are as good as the ones I had in cdmx ! Super sweet staff too

I love Tocaya and the Fajita Del Rey bowl with extra chipotle sauce. The chips guac, ceviche, burritos are all great. This review is specifically just for this location. I really wanted to try the new steak bowl. This location is near my work and every time I've had it l, it's not good. The staff is nice but the food tastes old. This bowl looks greyish in the photo and was greyish in real life. The steak was overcooked and just fatty pieces that you have to spit out, rice was hard. Do not base your only try of this restaurant at this location.

Pricing is fair, on time, professional, and the quality of works speaks for itself! I'll be using their services again

I want to love this place more than I actually do. The concept is great--healthy-ish Mexican food with vegan options--but the execution can be kinda hit-or-miss. The bowls are generous and the ingredients feel fresh, but sometimes the flavor is just...meh. Service is usually quick and the space is cute and clean. I'll keep going when I want something easy and light, but I'm never like, craving it, you know? Can't go wrong but also nothing really special if that makes any sense

I love this place! Always special! Food, atmosphere, pricing, variety, organic!! Their guacamole with yucca chips is my favorite.

The food is always great here!!The atmosphere and costumer service is top tier. I've been coming here for a couple of years now and they never miss a step. If your looking for a twice a week joint here it is right here.

Consistently good Mexican food. Great burritos and bowls. Friendly staff!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm kinda breaking up with my local Tocaya in Scottsdale bc something is always off. I can't put my finger on it, but I usually walk out hungry and $50 poorer. They have great kids meals and their happy hour is good (1/2 off apps and $5 margs). This was close to my hotel and I felt like tortilla soup (theirs is hearty and vegan). It was LOADED with avocado. It was so good and hit the spot. Thanks, Tocaya Santa Monica for this redemption.

So here we are about 3 days after consuming the gluten which is pure poison for me having severe gluten intolerance and I haven't been this sick in years. I was up for about 24-48 hours basically crawling in and out of the bathroom in excruciating pain which is what happens when I have gluten (and yes it can be days later). I hadn't been well since eating it but this is so bad I almost went to the ER. And ALL because that girl with the pink hair carelessly did not put in a gluten free wrap on the burrito I ordered AFTER I requested GF. I am at a loss for words with how carelessly this location handled the matter which has SEVERELY affected my life. Upset doesn't come close. This will take a LONG time to repair the damage done to my gut but right now I've had to focus on just being stable enough the function with how sick I am, and medical bills later...

very fresh fast casual mexican place. will definitely be returning. food was served fast and was also delicious

Love Tocaya Organica for the delicious and healthy menu items! I want to give a thank you for hiring a fine team to represent the brand. Francis in the Santa Monica location always provides extraordinary customer service displays professionalism, care with a smile. The ambiance at all locations are delightful. Thank you again Tocaya Organica!!!

Love Tocaya but for the last 3 months or so it seems the rice is crunchy almost every time I go there. There's rice in every item on the menu almost - if anything should be cooked well it's the rice.

Phenomenal service! Phenomenal food! Beautiful location! Amazing experience. The entire experience from the host was exceptional. Pointing out favorites, walking you through a menu and process that can arguably be confusing but I believe that's a part of their planned experience - to build what you want. Fajita Del Rey, Keto Bowl, Fajita Burrito, Barrio Fruit, Churros and SalsaChips were our plates of choice and they were amazing. Evenly flavored without heavy salt. The Spanish cauliflower rice was phenomenal. Great pairing of items I would have never imagined. My mom enjoys Keto meals, I enjoy clean eating and my family are just plain ole "give me great food" so everyone left happy. We were able to sit inside and felt pretty comfortable. All in all 5 star experience. Interested, my mom went down to get another Leto bowl as I'm writing this because she enjoyed it so much; so there you have it.

I order the salmon bowl and it was BLAND. I actually had to get salt and a side of hot salsa to add some flavor. I usually love this dish but I always go to the Tocaya on Sunset in Hollywood and they never disappoint. Unfortunately, Santa Monica, the bowl was lacking. And for nearly $20, I think I'll stick with the Hollywood location.

Ordered a BUNCH OF FOOD Got to the store and guess what? "We don't accept cash " Tacos Por Favor on 1408 Olympic Blvd Santa Monica, CA 90404 United States. Is 100x better in quality food + discount for every customer that pays with CASH

I'm so sad! They're not longer vegetarian and vegan friendly. They have a couple items but they used to be able to do the chicken tinga as chicken or vegetarian, same with the Baja, etc. I'm not vegetarian or vegan, but those were their best tacos. I will miss Tocaya

Came here for lunch this week and enjoyed the ambiance and food. If you're unsure of what to order, the service is very friendly and folks are helpful in making recommendations. Hubby and I wanted to eat light so we only ordered a couple of items. Taco Salad - 5/5 Yum! The raw onions were a bit overpowering so just be aware of that. Taco Sampler - 4/5 Pretty fun! You get 3 tacos - ours came with asada (beef), tinga (chicken) and tierra (fried mushroom). I found the tierra taco to taste pretty bland. The saving grace was the yummy guacamole. Tocaya offers a pretty nice HH menu so if you're around the area from 3-6pm, consider this a healthy and tasty option!

I really like this place and have been here before, but unfortunately the Shredded Kale & Quinoa salad has switched to "Baby Kale" which is not shredded at all and is a totally different leaf which looked and tasted more like giant parsley. I appreciated that the manager Juan acknowledged the change and offered service recovery. Please switch back to regular kale! The salad was nothing but giant stems.

Far better than the Venice location. Cleaner, bigger, and nicer staff. This location is closer to my Dad and Stepmother anyways. I love the bowls here. I usually make sure I get a bowl, the guac, and a margarita. Same when I go to Chipotle only here the food is actually hot when it comes to the table.

Ordered a quesadilla. Chicken was dry and bland. Whole thing was bad. Mediocre service. Do not go here. Place is not what it used to be.