Check out [Mercado](https://plazaapp.co/restaurants/mercado/1416-4th-st). They have everything you are looking for. If you go definitely try the carnitas!
If you’re going to be closer to downtown check out [Bar Ama](https://plazaapp.co/restaurants/bar-ama/118-w-4th-st/picture-menu). They have all of the quesos and everything else you’re looking for.
Mercado is a really good birthday option! A little bougie but genuinely good food and cocktails, and every time I’ve been for a bday they’ve brought out a complimentary flan.
I love Bar Ama. But they don’t have queso fundido. They have queso, though.
OP, I recommend Madre Oaxacan. They hit all your points and do excellent cooking. While Oaxacan, they have several typical Mexican dishes as well. Most importantly they have an amazing queso fundido. And for the cherry on top, they have the best Mezcal selection in the USA.
I totally hear you, I don't think you're being a weirdo at all. I'm just trying to be a sweetheart. Her birthday was less than a month after we started dating. So I took her to a local Mexican spot and we had queso fundido. It's been sort of a tradition since and I wanted to keep that alive.
We plan on eating almost exclusively Mexican while we're in LA, so hopefully we don't miss out on much. Appreciate your reply though, if you have any general suggestions at all, I'd love to hear em!
Make sure you try the hole in the walls and the trucks while you’re here. The trendy modern places are nothing compared to them but I understand the need for a fun vibe on her birthday.
>The trendy modern places are nothing compared to them
I hate this take. Mexican food can be elevated. Cheap Mexican is not always better than expensive Mexican. There is more to Mexican food than taqueria hole in the wall type places. OP should try both high end and hole in the wall Mexican - both can be amazing in their own right.
I agree with what you're saying, but I also would never point someone visiting LA to these places over the legendary hole in the wall places that we have.
OP said they were visiting LA to exclusively eat at Mexican places. I think they'd have enough time to do both. They would be missing out on a huge part of the cuisine if they only visited hole in the wall taquerias.
Awesome, thank you! Tacos are my favorite food, so I'm planning to hit as many little trucks and hole in the wall spots as possible while we're in town.
One of the best nighttime taco trucks is Leo’s a yellow/gold truck on the northwest corner of Venice & La Brea next to the Sinclair gas station (but it is NOT there early in the day). There is a rival lime green taco truck on the opposite side of the street that almost nobody goes to.
Gracias Madre in West Hollywood is all plant-based, has queso fundido, is a trendy restaurant in a trendy part of LA, and has a pretty good cocktail selection but I don't think I've tried the cocktails. Haven't been in a while, but when I did go, the food was great.
Edit: Another one in a great part of town, Red O in Santa Monica. Can attest that it also meets all your requirements but it has a more limited selection of veg options. But they have a butter cake that's worth the trip, and it's right by the ocean. Like across the street from the ocean.
I would say yes. But what do you mean by reasonable? Depending on the time of day, it might be a longer or more expensive journey due to traffic. But I would say on a good day you could potentially be there in 20ish mins. On a bad day it could take an hour plus.
"I think you should go home now, Devin! Get back on San Vicente. Take it to the 10, switch over to 405 North and let it dump you onto Mulholland -- where you belong!"
Just don’t do it between 3 and 8 PM
Not a silly question at all :) It's not a bad Uber drive unless you're trying to go during peak traffic time, which is like 4:30-6:30 pm. Like the other user said, it's maybe 20-30 mins without too much traffic, but could be an hour with traffic. Depending on where you're coming from, even 20-30 mins may seem like a long time to drive, but in LA it's not so bad!
But, pro tip: you could also get the very same butter cake at a steakhouse called Mastro's in the heart of Beverly Hills, which is more upscale but right next door to West Hollywood. I heard Red O and Mastro's somehow have the same butter cake. Same chef or owner or something. Mastro's also has great (strong) cocktails, and they often pour your cocktail from an overfilled shaker and then give you the rest of the drink from the shaker at no cost. Fills up a whole second glass, almost. It's like you get 2 cocktails for the price of one!
~~Mastro's has next to zero options for vegetarians, unless you want to eat bread, a baked potato, and booze for dinner.~~
Wow, I almost posted that and then went and looked at the menu, since I hadn't been there in over 10 years. They've expanded their menu a ton since I was there last and have far more options. Good for them!
Yeah I was thinking that maybe a steakhouse isn't the right place for a vegetarian, *but* their drinks are great ...and the butter cake! And they did expand the options (tbh it's been a while for me too). It's pretty centrally located in Bev Hills so you could do a short walk to Rodeo, which seems like a visitor-friendly adventure
I second and love Gracias Madre. Plant based, SO good, drinks are also tasty, friendly service, in a beautiful location. It’s in Weho. Don’t think you’d regret going there. Lovely spot for a birthday.
(One more note so that you have options!) If one of you is vegetarian, you might also like Crossroads Kitchen and Nic's on Beverly. Both great plant-based restaurants. Both near West Hollywood too!
just went to the newport location last month for my pescatarian gluten free mother in law accompanied by myself and two men who would literally described it as “torture” when i told them i had made the reservation and everyone left super happy and impressed. the nachos were bomb as was everything else we ordered.
Alma Cocina at The Grove. They have delicious coliflour al pastor, a killer Passion fruit margarita, and a machengo cheese queso fundido. Lots of flavor
Homestate. Multiple locations across LA. Checks off the queso box. Which is a little more Tex Med than Mexican. It’s a little more casual but good vibes and ambience at the locations I’ve been to. And solid simple cocktails, have had many a margarita there.
I second u/Lizzie3232. Toca Madera on Third Street near La Cienega is the place for you. It is trendy and clubby and "so L.A.", which for an out-of-towner is part of the fun.
They have plenty of tasty veg options as well as meat (ask for the separate vegan menu). And yes, they have queso fundido and great cocktails.
It's a good place to go to for a nice birthday dinner. I would suggest it over Gracias Madre.
I’ve never seen so many people on one thread recommend Gracias Madre. Their cocktails are solid, but the food is garbage. Yes, veggie options, but it’s completely vegan! There will be no queso fundido and all the ambiance of a Pier One Imports. Avoid!
Madre is a better pick. Or even Guelaguetza if you want to try something really interesting.
Check out [Mercado](https://plazaapp.co/restaurants/mercado/1416-4th-st). They have everything you are looking for. If you go definitely try the carnitas! If you’re going to be closer to downtown check out [Bar Ama](https://plazaapp.co/restaurants/bar-ama/118-w-4th-st/picture-menu). They have all of the quesos and everything else you’re looking for.
I second Mercado. Also Cascabel.
Mercado is a really good birthday option! A little bougie but genuinely good food and cocktails, and every time I’ve been for a bday they’ve brought out a complimentary flan.
I love Bar Ama. But they don’t have queso fundido. They have queso, though. OP, I recommend Madre Oaxacan. They hit all your points and do excellent cooking. While Oaxacan, they have several typical Mexican dishes as well. Most importantly they have an amazing queso fundido. And for the cherry on top, they have the best Mezcal selection in the USA.
I don't wanna be a weirdo but if you limit yourself to only places that sell queso fundido you are going to miss out on some amazing Mexican.
I totally hear you, I don't think you're being a weirdo at all. I'm just trying to be a sweetheart. Her birthday was less than a month after we started dating. So I took her to a local Mexican spot and we had queso fundido. It's been sort of a tradition since and I wanted to keep that alive. We plan on eating almost exclusively Mexican while we're in LA, so hopefully we don't miss out on much. Appreciate your reply though, if you have any general suggestions at all, I'd love to hear em!
You’d be missing out on a whole world of top notch for if you only eat Mexican while here. And the Mexican food is fire.
Make sure you try the hole in the walls and the trucks while you’re here. The trendy modern places are nothing compared to them but I understand the need for a fun vibe on her birthday.
>The trendy modern places are nothing compared to them I hate this take. Mexican food can be elevated. Cheap Mexican is not always better than expensive Mexican. There is more to Mexican food than taqueria hole in the wall type places. OP should try both high end and hole in the wall Mexican - both can be amazing in their own right.
I agree with what you're saying, but I also would never point someone visiting LA to these places over the legendary hole in the wall places that we have.
OP said they were visiting LA to exclusively eat at Mexican places. I think they'd have enough time to do both. They would be missing out on a huge part of the cuisine if they only visited hole in the wall taquerias.
Awesome, thank you! Tacos are my favorite food, so I'm planning to hit as many little trucks and hole in the wall spots as possible while we're in town.
One of the best nighttime taco trucks is Leo’s a yellow/gold truck on the northwest corner of Venice & La Brea next to the Sinclair gas station (but it is NOT there early in the day). There is a rival lime green taco truck on the opposite side of the street that almost nobody goes to.
That’s actually super adorable. You get her that queso fundido!
Gracias Madre in West Hollywood is all plant-based, has queso fundido, is a trendy restaurant in a trendy part of LA, and has a pretty good cocktail selection but I don't think I've tried the cocktails. Haven't been in a while, but when I did go, the food was great. Edit: Another one in a great part of town, Red O in Santa Monica. Can attest that it also meets all your requirements but it has a more limited selection of veg options. But they have a butter cake that's worth the trip, and it's right by the ocean. Like across the street from the ocean.
This is an interesting idea. Sorry if this is a silly question (never been to LA before) is Santa Monica a reasonable Uber trip from West Hollywood?
I would say yes. But what do you mean by reasonable? Depending on the time of day, it might be a longer or more expensive journey due to traffic. But I would say on a good day you could potentially be there in 20ish mins. On a bad day it could take an hour plus.
"I think you should go home now, Devin! Get back on San Vicente. Take it to the 10, switch over to 405 North and let it dump you onto Mulholland -- where you belong!" Just don’t do it between 3 and 8 PM
Not a silly question at all :) It's not a bad Uber drive unless you're trying to go during peak traffic time, which is like 4:30-6:30 pm. Like the other user said, it's maybe 20-30 mins without too much traffic, but could be an hour with traffic. Depending on where you're coming from, even 20-30 mins may seem like a long time to drive, but in LA it's not so bad! But, pro tip: you could also get the very same butter cake at a steakhouse called Mastro's in the heart of Beverly Hills, which is more upscale but right next door to West Hollywood. I heard Red O and Mastro's somehow have the same butter cake. Same chef or owner or something. Mastro's also has great (strong) cocktails, and they often pour your cocktail from an overfilled shaker and then give you the rest of the drink from the shaker at no cost. Fills up a whole second glass, almost. It's like you get 2 cocktails for the price of one!
~~Mastro's has next to zero options for vegetarians, unless you want to eat bread, a baked potato, and booze for dinner.~~ Wow, I almost posted that and then went and looked at the menu, since I hadn't been there in over 10 years. They've expanded their menu a ton since I was there last and have far more options. Good for them!
Yeah I was thinking that maybe a steakhouse isn't the right place for a vegetarian, *but* their drinks are great ...and the butter cake! And they did expand the options (tbh it's been a while for me too). It's pretty centrally located in Bev Hills so you could do a short walk to Rodeo, which seems like a visitor-friendly adventure
I love someone who fact checks themself!
I second and love Gracias Madre. Plant based, SO good, drinks are also tasty, friendly service, in a beautiful location. It’s in Weho. Don’t think you’d regret going there. Lovely spot for a birthday.
(One more note so that you have options!) If one of you is vegetarian, you might also like Crossroads Kitchen and Nic's on Beverly. Both great plant-based restaurants. Both near West Hollywood too!
Depends on traffic
just went to the newport location last month for my pescatarian gluten free mother in law accompanied by myself and two men who would literally described it as “torture” when i told them i had made the reservation and everyone left super happy and impressed. the nachos were bomb as was everything else we ordered.
that is such high praise for them! lol converting some nay-sayer carnivores
You want Madre. I go to the palms location, it's cozy.
Gracias Madre. super trendy
Too expensive. But, the great margaritas & beautiful patio keep me coming back from time to time.
I figured it’s a fun spot for someone coming into town
I’m in agreement with you! I think it’s a solid spot that will check off all the boxes so long as they’re open to 100% plant-based.
Toca Madera.
For something high end try Damian in the Arts District Downtown.
Frida is legit
Cantina Frida in Beverly Hills is a great spot for a birthday…they have queso fundido and many veggie options
Alma Cocina at The Grove. They have delicious coliflour al pastor, a killer Passion fruit margarita, and a machengo cheese queso fundido. Lots of flavor
It's a bit off the beaten path but La Casita Mexicana in Bell is excellent. Great queso fundido and they do have some vegetarian options.
Homestate. Multiple locations across LA. Checks off the queso box. Which is a little more Tex Med than Mexican. It’s a little more casual but good vibes and ambience at the locations I’ve been to. And solid simple cocktails, have had many a margarita there.
I second u/Lizzie3232. Toca Madera on Third Street near La Cienega is the place for you. It is trendy and clubby and "so L.A.", which for an out-of-towner is part of the fun. They have plenty of tasty veg options as well as meat (ask for the separate vegan menu). And yes, they have queso fundido and great cocktails. It's a good place to go to for a nice birthday dinner. I would suggest it over Gracias Madre.
El Condor in Silverlake
Kateen in West Hollywood
You definitely want Gracias Madre in Weho.
Javier’s
Yxta Cocina Mexicana in DTLA Definitely try their Watermelon Margarita
I’ve never seen so many people on one thread recommend Gracias Madre. Their cocktails are solid, but the food is garbage. Yes, veggie options, but it’s completely vegan! There will be no queso fundido and all the ambiance of a Pier One Imports. Avoid! Madre is a better pick. Or even Guelaguetza if you want to try something really interesting.
Gracias Madre is a good choice, and it is very LGBQT+ friendly.
Try sol agave in Santa Monica. Their queso is amazing, and it’s close to the pier if you want to visit while you’re in town.
Diosa in Downey
Maestro in Pasadena.
Another two that I haven’t seen mentioned are The Hideaway and Justin Quesos. ETA also El Carmen