Vamos. Vamos.

Such a great hidden gem in Santa Monica. We came by on a Sunday around 5pm--friendly service and a relaxed vibe right off the bat. The cocktails (Skinny Z's and Gracias Jesus, both extra spicy) were refreshing and flavorful. The lime bitters in the Skinny Z really gave it a nice pop. Food-wise, the 7 Layer Dip was surprisingly light and super tasty--not your usual heavy version. The grilled fish tacos were tender and melt-in-your-mouth good. The duck tacos were a standout--rich, flavorful, and with an unexpected but delicious Asian twist. The house made flour tortillas were phenomenal and make sure to ask for both in-house hot sauces - spicy and worth dipping everything in. Definitely worth a visit!

I’ve been here twice now - and I can’t wait to come back again! The carne tacos are bomb. Yes, portions are small for what you get. But it’s delicious. I’ve had the Hamaci, avocado fries, chicken karage app, shrimp taco, 7 layer dip, carne taco and birria tacos. Would eat all of it again!

UPDATE: Still fire upon second visit, hamachi was hella fresh with great 90s tunes. don't listen to these few haters below .Stoked for the new ownership and menu! Ate here once before with old menu and it was decent but now it's beyond fire! Sean and Lou were great people who took awesome care of us. Insanely good carne asada, chicken and mushroom tacos with a yummy caesar salad. cocktails were on point as well. this spot is a vibe can't wait to come back. They had some great tunes bumping the whole night too. main street needs this! If you have extra room, definitely try the Tres leches its decadent. Cant wait to go back 🌊

The saddest tacos ever is what you get at Vamos Vamos. They actually advertised $10 tacos, like that was a deal. $10 tacos? I asked for salsa and they told me it was $4.75 and you get chips with that. Salsa is the spirit of a taco, but at Vamos Vamos you have to pay extra for the spirit. Forgot the napkins too!

Extremely disappointing tacos! Ordered fish, tacos and steak tacos. When I asked the server, if this is the amount of fish that usually comes with the taco, he said “um yea, typically one cube of fish.” (See photo). Steak tacos were poorly seasoned and had a lot of chewy fat… Would not go back, as there are many better taco spots on west side.

Best duck taco I've ever had. Came in for the Karaage but they were out, so decided to go with duck and it did not disappoint. I also met and talked to the owner, and he was incredibly generous and kind. I didn't eat there but the vibe was cool, would definitely dine in too.

0 stars if I could. Every dish was missing ingredients listen in the menu (for instance the Santa Fe salad came out as only lettuce and tomatoes). Taste was also definitely lacking

This place is under new ownership and they really shouldn’t still call it Vamos Vamos. The new ownership owns a very different restaurant down the street and tried to bring in an Asian fusion theme, but this place is the epitome of “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” They got it right the first time—amazing neighborhood spot with an incredible menu. Always packed. Now it’s half full on a Friday night. I hope the new ownership realizes why. I truly don’t write this review with any intention other than to implore the new ownership to just do less. Please bring back the old menu and put everything back the way you found it.

I absolutely enjoyed my time at Vamos Vamos. Im from Baltimore MD and the food was so good I ate there two days in a row. Shit was bussin

Such a great hidden gem in Santa Monica. We came by on a Sunday around 5pm--friendly service and a relaxed vibe right off the bat. The cocktails (Skinny Z's and Gracias Jesus, both extra spicy) were refreshing and flavorful. The lime bitters in the Skinny Z really gave it a nice pop. Food-wise, the 7 Layer Dip was surprisingly light and super tasty--not your usual heavy version. The grilled fish tacos were tender and melt-in-your-mouth good. The duck tacos were a standout--rich, flavorful, and with an unexpected but delicious Asian twist. The house made flour tortillas were phenomenal and make sure to ask for both in-house hot sauces - spicy and worth dipping everything in. Definitely worth a visit!

Vamos Vamos is most known for their margaritas and nachos (at least in my mind) and they do both spectacularly well. My favorite nachos are the carne asada nachos. They're loaded and well-distributed so every bite had a little bit of everything, from cheese to beans to meat. The skinny margarita is also great or when they have the passionfruit special, that one is NEXT LEVEL. The tacos and green chile things were just okay when I tried them, so I'd stick to the nachos. But the service has always been quick and the ambiance is great for a date or a nice happy hour.

A much needed upgrade with new menu created by chef at much higher priced Edgewater (down the street). I prefer this fusion style taco heavy menu to the old nacho menu. Food was fresh and flavors popped. I would have ordered the fish, cod, but it was sold out. I'm never bothered when they're sold out... my assumption is that they don't keep months worth of inventory in the freezer, but they serve fresh food instead. Oddly, the signage says margaritas, but they don't show them on their menu. I hope this sticks around on Main Street since there were multiple items on the menu that I would like to try. The birria taco has most flavor, followed by mushroom. I'll order both of those again. The chicken was sort of ordinary, so wouldn't get that one again. Duck was good, but not amazing. Service was super friendly!

We walked in because the sign outside says "nachos and margaritas." Where are the nachos and margaritas on the menu??? There is one nacho on the list of appetizers for $14, which we ordered. It is the tiniest portion of nachos I've ever seen and you have to pay more to add carne asada or pollo. The cheese on it tastes like Tostitos queso from a jar, all gloopy and flavorless. Your sign outside points out nachos as the stand out or only dish! Why is it so tiny and awful? The tacos weren't bad, but tiny for the price. These are not elevated tacos. You can get better ones at an upscale chain like Homestate for $5 less. Is anything a margarita on the menu? Maybe the "Skinny Z'z"? The names of the drinks are a random selection of words put together and you have to guess or ask what each one is. Why is "Slow Life Rich" simply a negroni? Call it a negroni. We tried to order a second drink but it was impossible. As soon as our food was set down, no one came to visit until we were finished with our drinks for a good 30 minutes and finished with our meal 20 minutes. Like, we wanted to order more and pay you more money! We left hungry and thirsty and ended up going to Ashland Hill, which is far better service and better portions of food. The server was nice. Overall, this place has bad vibes. Frustrating service. Tiny food. It's not swanky enough or good quality food or unique pairings or slow cooked with care to be charging so much. And PLEASE CHANGE YOUR SIGN. This is not a nacho and margarita place. It's a place to throw away money and leave hungry. If someone offered me a free meal here, I would not go. That's how unlikeable this place is. Literally go anywhere else on Main Street.

The taco deal on Tuesday is where it's at. I will say I don't remember all the tacos we got but we each got a spicy one that kicked our butt. Everything was super tasty though and came out so quickly. Come here for an elevated taco experience! Staff was nice as well and the vibes were good. One of the few in the restaurant so I don't think you'll need a rezzy!

One of my fav spots with the coolest staff. They have some newer management and have been changing this space for the better. Cocktails are delicious. Check out "A Hawaiian Pineapple in Venice"

Food was great. Angel really was the best. He gave us agave when we ordered spicy drinks. The atmosphere and service were formidable. Would go back here again!

Went there for a bite and drinks with a friend. Haven't been since ownership changed so I was skeptical about going. Vamos Vamos has some of the best margaritas in Santa Monica and we loved the food we chose. Wanted to shoutout Johan, hope I spelled that right, for providing awesome service. Had to wait for my food to get made again due to an allergy issue and he talked me through everything and made sure my food was next on the grill. Really took care of us.

Wasn't able to take photos of the food but it was absolutely delicious, we got the nachos with carne asada & a burrito. The drinks were made perfect as well, definitely recommend. The staff was super helpful on deciding on what to order & made sure we were having a good time.

New Management is a disaster, do not eat here. Upon sitting down, the waitress informed that the restaurant is under new management, which explains why the menu is different and now has a new Asian-Mexican style. The fun variety of delicious nachos is gone, and the replacement is a small bowl of cheese whiz over chips. Just not the quality we were used to. The caesar salad was fine, but the tacos is were where it really got bad. While I have never seen tacos so small and they give you 1 tortilla instead of the typical 2, the fish was insanely low quality, like frozen tilapia or something, and the duck tacos were inedible. I never send food back and I had to step up and say something because it was so unacceptable, and $20! The waitress was incredibly kind and very helpful and I feel very sorry that I was such an unhappy customer; it was not her fault. This restaurant will be out of business very soon.

I come here as much as I can! It's not terribly hard to get a reservation and the service is always super kind and speedy. As a nacho fanatic, that's the best thing to order here - the portions are insanely generous and reasonably priced. For vegetarians, the classic and elote nachos are excellent. If you're feeling more protein, the chicken tinga and chile verde nachos are also tasty and come loaded with meat. The margaritas, especially the chimayo drip hibiscus margarita, are delicious as well.

Was intrigued by the name of this place and their specializing in nachos and tequila. The ambiance was incredibly comforting and the decor was light and inviting. We stopped by on a Wednesday evening, well after happy hour, unfortunately. But we decided to try it out anyway, our waitress was super nice and attentive. Within a few minutes we had placed our order and our drinks were delivered quickly. The drinks were delicious but I would not say they were anything incredibly unique. The nachos were big enough for two to share and we also ordered a quesadilla to share. The nachos were far superior to the quesadilla and is the way to go when sharing items. I will say the flour tortilla from the quesadilla tasted like it was hand made, so that definitely earned it some extra points. I'd recommend coming for happy hour or during their taco Tuesday deals, food and service was good regardless.

What a nice experience!! Sweet reception, helpful server and delicious appetizers and cocktails. The latest addition to the appetizer menu is Japanese fried chicken and it is fabulous. We were a party of 4 and all ordered tacos. All of the tacos were delicious and we had four different ones, including, shrimp, carne asado, chicken and a mushroom. We left happy and satisfied with food and the vibe.

I like this spot. It's nothing earth shattering in terms of food, but a great place for some drinks with friends alongside tasty nacho and taco dishes. I also like sitting at the counter inside and watching the chefs do their thing. Sometimes the service can get a bit slow when they're busy, but thats really my only constructive criticism. Worth checking out if you're looking for something that checks most of the boxes and a bit different than anything else on Main Street.

This place in way no way should be considered a New Mexican food restaurant as it does not represent any actual New Mexican food meals anymore. It is a disgrace to associate this restaurant with New Mexico and delicious New Mexican cuisine. The only thing on the menu anything close to New Mexican food is only because it's named "Santa Fe" salad. Don't be fooled. So disappointing discovering this after having eaten actual New Mexican food there several times before.

I came across ads for this place on Instagram and decided to give it a try on a quiet Sunday evening. It wasn't too busy, likely because I just missed the dinner rush. Our server was exceptionally friendly, allowing us to choose our seats and offering some great recommendations. The drink menu is impressive, with lots of options--definitely a highlight. I ordered the Baja tacos, but unfortunately, they didn't live up to my expectations. The flavor was lacking, and I wasn't a fan of the cold tortillas. On the upside, we started with the esquites, which were delicious. I might return to explore more of the menu, as the atmosphere was charming. The music was fun, and the outdoor seating area had a great breezy vibe, which added to the experience.

Yesterday was my 3rd V V experience. The food has always been 'skimpy portion, but excellent. Unfortunately, however, the service staff is rather abrupt and aggressive in Trying to clean plates and offer more drinks while my group of 4 talk at the table. 2 or 3 times they tried to push the bill or stand there while it was NOT busy and hold the pay machine. We are all in our early 60's n had to tell the kook staff to back off or leave bill and not to just stand there while we were talking. This behavior clearly comes from management and will 100% keep us from going back $300 for a group of 4 for tacos n drinks is one thing we can handle, but to have to constantly shoe away push servers n busboys is flat out wrong. Ne Leary & or don't try n have a discussion as they will constantly interrupt with BS!

So this place is a nice cocktail bar with absolutely terrible unacceptable Mexican food. We had come here for drinks before and they were excellent and finally decided to try the food. The Nachos barely had cheese on them, a sprinkling of sliced tomatoes and maybe a tbsp of guac. Moving onto the carne burrito and the carne asada plate... the carne asada plate was laughable. Steak was completely over cooked, there was hardly any meat, and on the plate itself was unseasoned rice, refried beans, two strings of green onions and a pinch of cotija cheese (pictures attached of instagram vs the sad sad reality). I actually asked the waitress if there was a veggie or cheese they could add on but didn't even end up finishing it because it was so overcooked. My boyfriend offered me some of his burrito and it was 3/4 filled with potato mush and wasn't much better. They ended up taking the carne asada off the bill and it was still somehow $90 with tip. Will never go back and you shouldn't either

Vamos Vamos se ha ido----the restaurant is no longer serving New Mexican cuisine! It's now a fusion of Japanese and Mexican fare. My family and I are so disappointed. The waiter explained it is now under new ownership. After being seated at a very awkward, cramped table facing the rear of the bar and viewing the new menu we decided to leave. The new menu? confused and unappealing. No need to waste $!

UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT! Complete turnover of all staff and new menu. Menu has been pared down to only a handful of items. We ordered the nachos and they were completely flavorless. The pineapple margarita was undrinkable and we sent it back. The whole vibe has changed, the lighting is dimmer and it feels like they are trying to be a trendy date night spot. Not the fun, casual Mexican spot it used to be. Incredibly disappointed, this used to be our go-to spot for quality Mexican food but we will not be returning.

Shaun and mason were absolutely attentive and wonderful. The shrimp tacos were a 10/10. Cool vibes and will be back.

Came here Saturday, you can find street parking or some of the parking lots where it's pretty inexpensive for 3 hrs, no more than $4 and plenty of parking. Didn't have a reservation and got quoted a 20 min wait but it was only 10 which was great Walking in hearing Baby bash, Justin Timberlake, big pun and all 2000s music definitely sets a vibe before sitting down The bartenders were really friend and Jay was great and so was the drink named after him. Our nachos came with a tiny bit of carne asade. We brought it up to the waitress and she was more than happy to bring a plate full of freshly made carne asade for them The shrimp tacos and whatever sauce was in them was delicious and two was actually enough. Crispy freshly made. Happy to stumble upon this place walking Main Street

Vamos Vamos brings decent casual Mexican fare to Main Street when you can you a Casa Migos frozen margarita machine, easy to share nachos, and a variety of tacos. The margaritas were pretty solid, both the John Locos, which went down smooth and easy with a good balance of sweet, and I'm Secretly Dating Carlos which is more spirit forward. The Chile Verde nachos were good - fair portion of well flavored and tender pork along with cheese and beans - could've used a little more acidity. The tuna tostada was a good flavor bomb - they give a lot of the aioli so it'll get messy but it's still a great bite. Fish tacos were a tad bland - wish they were more generous with the green aioli they used. Flan was great though. Service was nice. Though they didn't have a menu item so I ordered something else but I didn't realize until I was home that they never took off that menu item from my bill since they bring you the toast machine with the total. Some indoor and outdoor seating with a chill vibe. The fish

Marvin and Lou were great. Good service, and amazing drink and great food. Thanks for the shot!

This place used to be amazing. They had a great variety of nachos, tacos, entrees (with sides), and drinks. Now it's mainly tacos (2 street taco style per serving), some shareables, and a much more limited cocktail menu. Shrimp tacos were fine (only had two small shrimp per taco), but not worth the price and the wait. My friend ordered the burrito and it looked like it could've been a burrito off the kids menu for its size. I could've dealt with the food if the service was better. When we were seated, they did not have enough (tiny) water glasses for us. It took over 10 minutes to order drinks and another 15 to actually get the drinks. We finally ordered our food after having our drinks for like 10 minutes and it took another 20 minutes to get our food. They messed up what was supposed to be a vegetarian burrito by putting chicken in it (they did remake it quickly). We were no given napkins until halfway done with the two tiny tacos and never got silverware. We paid and left promptly after finishing the food (it felt more like appetizers) and walked to street tacos for better food at a much better value.

Service was good but bad food options and extremely over priced. Protein is optional apparently for basic stuff like a "classic burrito". Friendly staff but way overpriced and super small portions

Solid fish tacos Great tequila selection and mezcal selection The service is inconsistent. Our waitress did a great job. However, we were informed that there was a 2 hour limit on the table which is something none of us were notified of when we were seated. I understand that a group of people seated around late afternoon/early evening (5:00 - 5:30) are likely not expected to stay through peak dining hours and, if they do, the restaurant needs tables for their reservations during those peak dining hours. But rushing a group of costumers who are continuing to buy food and drinks is poor customer service. Make it known upfront that there is a time limit on dining.

PHENOMENAL. This rebrand is exactly what Santa Monica needed - Shawn, Bob & Lou could not have been more engaging, knowledgeable and kind. The guac and salsa were the best I've had in Cali & tortillas were warm and tasty, Plus, the drinks were not sugary at all. Great ambiance and will be back

Perfect place for a quick bite and great drinks. The manager Shaun is one of the best!

Very good. Get what they're known for and rep: margaritas and nachos. Fish tacos are good as well Nuff said.

The place is small but bright and clean. There is outdoor seating and service is pretty fast. I like that there are multiple options for vg and gluten free and all the dishes are fresh. I had the crispy carne asada tacos, came 2 per order but really good size and lots of flavor. Also had the avocado nachos and that was very delicious as well. For drinks, the Paloma with mezcal, super refreshing and the secretly dating.. was fantastic. The music is great here as well as the laid back vibes. Fresh delicious food and great service. Highly recommend.

The sopapilla plain with honey on the side and the green chili burger are my go-to's. I can't get enough of this place. Super charming, chic, and good service. I'll be back.

I ordered the chimayo drip margarita and it was really good. I enjoyed it a lot. However, service was a bit slow/backed up when it came to receiving our drinks and food. We also ordered the elote nachos that were pretty unique. Definitely on the lighter side. Overall, would try this place again.

Marvin was awesome -- food was awesome -- overall awesome. I would recommend for sure yasssss

exceptional ! ....great food, excellent cocktails and terrific service. We split some nice things and it's reasonably priced. Really a cute space... enjoy!

Shaun and Mason are the absolute best. Service was 10/10 and food was so good. the Hamachi is a must and the Shrimp tacos are a must as well.

Service 10/10 Happy hour drinks 8/10 Food 5/10 Ambiance 9/10 The service is excellent, fast and attentive at Vamos Vamos! Drinks are solid: $10 for a skinny marg during happy hour. The food is where I was unpleasantly surprised. It's not the worst but if you've ever eaten at a taco truck or elsewhere and then come here for tacos, you'll be confused for sure. It's also not cheap...$10 for two tacos during happy hour?! Uhhh what? Lol Nice spot for drinks on Main St close ish to the beach.

Honestly, everything was amazing from top to bottom! The service staff is attentive and fun, the food and drinks were delicious! The presentation was on point for both food and drinks... wish I took photos, but we devoured everything so fast! Even something as simple as the guacamole was beautiful and the shot glasses are really cool little wooden boxes. The kitchen is also right next to the bar so it's cool to be able to see your food being made, and the chefs are very friendly as well. 10/10 recommend!

Music is great food is great service Marvin is great Shawn is great no notes very good atmosphere

The avocado fries are delicious . It was a great atmosphere with good music. A spot to go to if in Santa Monica.

My friend and I came here for an early drink. We each got our own cocktails and split the elote nachos. I really enjoyed my drink. The Cheeto rim added a nice texture and the drink wasn't too heavy or aggressive. It was well balanced and definitely on the spicier side. I hate when cocktails are advertised as spicy and they are more sweet! In terms of food, we split the elote nachos. They were pretty run of the mill, if I'm being honest. They didn't stick out to me from other bars or Mexican restaurants in the area. The restaurant itself is cutely decorated and the servers are attentive and kind. I really like the restaurant group this place is a part of, so I'm slightly disappointed. Not a place that I'm rushing to go back to, but would maybe come back again for drinks.

they moved ownership and changed the menu completely. it is now a mexican asian fusion and not the best. i used to be the biggest fan of their california burrito but they no longer have it on the menu

Just tried this place for the first time on taco Tuesday. The food was average at best. Every came out quickly though. I had the carnitas burrito and was a decent size but really underwhelming. My girlfriend had two shrimp tacos that were pretty tiny. The guacamole needed some salt and way too much lime in it. The drinks were OK. Nothing spectacular though. The positive was the ambiance and atmosphere was very pleasant and fun. The food was way overpriced though. Lot better options in SM and Venice for tacos in my opinion.

I dont come to this neighborhood a lot, but i found Vamos Vamos pretty expensive for what it was. The Elote Nachos ($18) didn't have that much corn, mostly just a corn sauce. The Crunch Asada Tacos ($12) had good meat, but the rest if it was so inelegant and average. The carrots ($12) were pretty well-cooked and close to fine dining, though the quantity was so little. The vibe was pretty cool though, so maybe that was what you pay for. The most egregious thing to me was that they didn't have spicy salsa. They have regular salsa (fire roasted tomatoes) with chips or tapatio. i just wanted some habanero salsa...

Vamos Vamos has very Great food ! Great service and margaritas - Marvin is the man!

Service was amazing and the food was so good! I loved how they adjusted to the new menu but really embraced the traditional feel. Marvin was a great waiter too if you get him 10/10! Also it is so cute in here.

This spot is always bustling on the weekends and it is always so good! I love the drinks, nachos, tacos, and the vibes. The service has definitely improved since they first opened too! I am here for the happy hour and taco Tuesday deals!

Vamos Vamos is pretty much a fail on every level. I'll give 3 stars because staff was so nice. First off, their nachos. They're not really nachos as much as they are a platter of chips, with beans and Pico de gallo. They have almost no cheese. Maybe this is the heighth of nachos and I have been ordering wrong all these years? Anyway, strange. The fish tacos, at $15 seem they'll be some kind of main... like really large or have a side of rice and beans.... but no. Just two, small, pretty pedestrian fish tacos. The mushroom pizza was maybe the best of the items. The crust reminded me of Sotto. Great crust. But the cheese was bland,. Needed some sharpness or an edge to it. It was a pretty bland affair. Won't be coming back for sure! They're not in it for the long haul, anyway... it seems.