The best Mexican restaurants in Los Angeles in 2026 are Guelaguetza for Oaxacan mole, Holbox for Yucatán seafood, Damian for modern Mexican in the Arts District, La Casita Mexicana in Bell for chiles en nogada and El Tepeyac in Boyle Heights for giant burritos. Madre adds more Oaxacan cooking and mezcal, and Yuca's is the classic stand.
Los Angeles has the largest Mexican population of any US city, and its Mexican food covers every region: Oaxacan moles, Yucatán seafood, Jalisco birria and Sonoran beef. This guide is for sit-down meals; for street food, see our best tacos in LA.
LA's Oaxacan landmark, with a James Beard America's Classics award.
Guelaguetza, run by the Lopez family, is a big, festive Oaxacan restaurant in a bright orange building on Olympic. Order the mole sampler, a tlayuda and a mezcal flight.
Live music on some nights adds to the party.
Good to know: Try the mole sampler with tortillas to choose a favorite. Parking lot on site.
3014 W Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90006
Yucatán-style seafood counter, one of the most acclaimed in LA.
Holbox is chef Gilberto Cetina's seafood counter inside Mercado La Paloma, near USC. The ceviches, aguachiles, sea urchin tostadas and smoked kanpachi tacos are outstanding.
It has been recognized by the Michelin Guide while staying a casual counter.
Good to know: Order at the counter and arrive early to avoid the lunch rush.
3655 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90007
Enrique Olvera's modern Mexican restaurant in a lofty courtyard.
Damian is from Enrique Olvera, the chef of Mexico City's Pujol. The menu is modern and seasonal, with dishes like the scallop aguachile and the duck carnitas.
Ditroit, its taqueria in the alley behind, is a cheaper option.
Good to know: Book ahead and ask for the patio.
2132 E 7th Pl, Los Angeles, CA 90021
Mexican regional cooking and famous chiles en nogada.
La Casita Mexicana in Bell is run by chefs Jaime Martín del Campo and Ramiro Arvizu, known for moles and regional dishes from Jalisco and beyond. Their chiles en nogada, served in season, is a highlight.
Start with the chips and three moles.
Good to know: Chiles en nogada is seasonal (late summer to fall).
4030 Gage Ave, Bell, CA 90201
Home of the Hollenbeck burrito, one of the largest in LA.
El Tepeyac has been a Boyle Heights fixture for decades, famous for the Hollenbeck burrito stuffed with pork, rice and beans, smothered in sauce.
Portions are huge; one burrito can feed two.
Good to know: Order a half-size first. Expect a line at lunch.
812 N Evergreen Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90033
Oaxacan cooking and one of the largest mezcal collections in LA.
Madre serves Oaxacan dishes — moles, tlayudas, memelas — alongside a huge list of mezcals. It has locations in Palms, Torrance and West Hollywood.
It is a good place to learn about mezcal.
Good to know: Ask the bartender for a mezcal tasting flight.
10426 National Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90034
A tiny Los Feliz stand with a James Beard America's Classics award.
Yuca's is a family-run walk-up stand in a Los Feliz parking lot. Its Yucatán-style cochinita pibil tacos and burritos made it a James Beard America's Classics winner.
It is a quick, cheap stop near Griffith Park.
Good to know: Order the cochinita pibil burrito.
2056 Hillhurst Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90027
Sonoran-style grilled meats on a big outdoor patio.
Salazar is an outdoor restaurant in a former auto shop in Frogtown, cooking mesquite-grilled meats on flour tortillas in the Sonoran style, plus cocktails.
It is popular for group dinners on warm nights.
Good to know: Book ahead on weekends. Bring a layer: it is all outdoors.
2490 Fletcher Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90039
Taquitos in avocado sauce on Olvera Street since 1934.
Cielito Lindo is a small stand at the end of Olvera Street that has been serving taquitos topped with avocado sauce since 1934. It is a short stop on a downtown walk.
Order a plate of taquitos and eat at the benches nearby.
Good to know: Combine with Union Station across the street.
E-23 Olvera St, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Guelaguetza in Koreatown is the most celebrated, a James Beard America's Classics award winner for Oaxacan food. Holbox and Damian are the modern favorites.
Guelaguetza and Madre are the best-known Oaxacan restaurants. Order mole negro, tlayudas and mezcal.
Holbox at Mercado La Paloma is the most acclaimed, with Yucatán ceviches and tacos. For a truck, see Mariscos Jalisco in our taco guide.
Damian, Madre, Salazar and Guelaguetza take bookings for most parties. Holbox, El Tepeyac and Yuca's are counter service.
El Tepeyac's Hollenbeck burrito in Boyle Heights is legendary for its size. Yuca's in Los Feliz is famous for its cochinita pibil burritos.