CINCO DE DRINKO. Best (Boujee) Mexican Restaurants in LA.
It's Cinco de Mayo and it's a Friday. (Woohoo!!!) Here are a few of our favorite Mexican bars and restaurants in Los Angeles. We've tried a lot of Mexican restaurants in LA (Yes, we are obsessed!) so we know what's up! Get your sombreros out and get ready for a gnarly hangover Saturday morning.
- Las Perlas -
(Downtown Los Angeles)
If you're looking to do more drinking than eating this Cinco de Mayo, Las Perlas is the spot for you! This is a super trendy Mexican bar and restaurant in Downtown LA that prides itself on being the Nation’s first Mezcal Bar. The big Cinco de Mayo bash is starting at 12 p.m. (no time to waste). The $5 happy hour menu features margaritas, draft cocktails, Mexican mules ... oh yeah and some food dishes. There's also going to be live music from 1-4 pm. Las Perlas is definitely going to a good time. You could honestly spend all day here if you wish or even stop by for a few (or several) drinks and then go to one of the other nearby nightlife venues like the Crocker Club which is only a five minute walk.
- Gracias Madre -
(West Hollywood)
Gracias Madre takes a nontraditional spin to traditional Mexican food. The menu has classic Mexican American dishes like enchiladas and sopes but with a spin - everything is organic and vegan. Yep, Gracias is definitely the typical trendy, wannabe health conscious LA restaurant. And we are totally not vegan, but these dishes are so flavorful that you totally forget you've skipped the meat! Gracias Madre is a bit overpriced for having only plant-based dishes, entree prices seem to hover at around $16. But honestly the food is delicious and you are paying for the centralized location in West Hollywood and the sophisticated aesthetic. So far, there have been no updates as to whether or not they will have a special menu for Friday’s big event, but if we had to guess we would say they probably will have some sort of special. This is the perfect spot to kick off a more boujee night spent around the West Hollywood area, enjoy a fun snow cone cocktail and the dimly lit sophisticated outdoor patio before hitting Warwick or Bootsy Bellows or some other nearby venue.
- El Carmen -
(Beverly Grove)
Join El Carmen for their Cinco de Mayo celebration starting at noon. El Carmen is a 21+ cantina with a romantic speakeasy feel. To be honest, on the exterior, the restaurant looks a bit trashy because of the oversized red drapes and club-like entrance, but the interior seriously has a cool, relaxed aesthetic. The dimly lit interior features a variety of Mexican wrestler-themed artwork and string lights. Their happy hour menu (5-7PM) features $5 margaritas, $6 for two tacos and $4 quesadillas. So, head on over after work and indulge yourself. It's only Cinco de Mayo once! The chips and salsa are delicious and quesadillas are totally drool worthy - definitely the best we've had in Los Angeles. Even if you can't make it during happy hour, the menu is still incredibly affordable. Portions are appetizer-size which are also great because you can sample a few different dishes. El Carmen has very limited seating so if you're looking to go on Friday, we would highly suggest calling to make reservations beforehand.
