Best Mexican food near LAX?

[PlumLoco]

My wife is returning from 5 weeks in Southeast Asia tomorrow at 3 pm. She says she is craving tacos, and I don't want to drive home from El Segundo at 4 pm. Finding a hidden gem of a place to kill some time and some tacos seems like a solid plan. But where to go? I really don't know the area. Any ideas? Let's have 'em.

 

[relaxalot]

Paco's authentic

 

[HNL2LHC]

We found Hacienda Del Rey about 15 years ago. We keep going back. Might not be the best but the people are always pleasant and make tortillas right there in the restaurant.

 

[DarkHorseRacing]

El Chollos is the OG Mexican place in LA. They've been branching out opening new locations on the westside. Dont know if any are near LAX or you could make a drive to the closest location.

 

[PlumLoco]

El Chollos is the OG Mexican place in LA. They've been branching out opening new locations on the westside. Dont know if any are near LAX or you could make a drive to the closest location.

I love El Chollo's. Their margaritas are the absolute best. But their food is not that out of the ordinary sadly. And I still have to drive the girls home once traffic subsides some. That ain't gonna happen if we stop at El Chollo's.
Man I really want a margarita right now.

 

[Racey]

My wife is returning from 5 weeks in Southeast Asia tomorrow at 3 pm. She says she is craving tacos, and I don't want to drive home from El Segundo at 4 pm. Finding a hidden gem of a place to kill some time and some tacos seems like a solid plan. But where to go? I really don't know the area. Any ideas? Let's have 'em.

Lol it's funny you bring this up, I know a Mexican guy that did 2 weeks in Switzerland for his 50th birthday with his wife. When his brother came to pick him up at LAX he asked for 2 burritos and ate them on the drive back home, it's all he thought about on the flight home

 

[PlumLoco]

We found Hacienda Del Rey about 15 years ago. We keep going back. Might not be the best but the people are always pleasant and make tortillas right there in the restaurant.

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I just looked at the menu here. I'm liking what I see. Close to the airport too. This may just check all the boxes. Thanks HNL2LHC

 

[WTR&PWR]

I worked near lax for the past 5 years. Highly recommend the place below. Excellent Mexican food and super good ceviche.

 

[TrollerDave]

My wife is returning from 5 weeks in Southeast Asia tomorrow at 3 pm. She says she is craving tacos, and I don't want to drive home from El Segundo at 4 pm. Finding a hidden gem of a place to kill some time and some tacos seems like a solid plan. But where to go? I really don't know the area. Any ideas? Let's have 'em.

Paco's authentic

Paco’s is really good. Nice sit down restaurant with a bar.
Benny’s tacos and rotisserie chicken is good, but only has a small outdoor covered patio with tables and chairs, but nice.
LaFonda in Inglewood has really good food.

If you’re feeling brave, LAX tacos was good when I went a few years ago after watching a Bellator fight at the forum. You order through an opening in 2” thick plexiglass, but it was good.

 

[NicPaus]

@rivergames is who I would ask.

I would post up at Common spaces for a few beers and eat the food truck there. Have the Wife drive after unless she likes beer.

 

[Aces & Eights]

Pacos Cantina

Pacos Cantina

Mexican Cuisine · Westchester, Los Angeles

maps.apple.com

 

[Cobalt232]

We like Tito's. Gotta ask for the green chile stuff on the side to mix in the salsa.

 

[PlumLoco]

@rivergames is who I would ask.

I would post up at Common spaces for a few beers and eat the food truck there. Have the Wife drive after unless she likes beer.

The wife left Viet Nam about 15 minutes ago on the way to Taipai. After a 3 hour layover they are due in L.A. at 3:30 pm PST. That is about 18-20 hrs of travel time. They are leaving around noon on Tuesday and getting here at 3:30 on Tuesday again. But it will take them 18 hrs to do it. Neither her or her girlfriend is going to want any part of driving L.A. to Redlands at quitting time. I volunteered for this a year ago when the trip planning first started. Time to pay up.

 

[FCT]

I love the shity street taco stands

 

[TPC]

Lol it's funny you bring this up, I know a Mexican guy that did 2 weeks in Switzerland for his 50th birthday with his wife. When his brother came to pick him up at LAX he asked for 2 burritos and ate them on the drive back home, it's all he thought about on the flight home

We returned from Europe a few weeks ago and headed to the Del Taco drive thru and inhaled three Tacos drowned in hot sauce before I left the parking lot.

 

[lbhsbz]

For more of a sit down place…Pancho’s in El Porto. El Tarasco is right up the street on Rosecrans…hole in the wall but good.

 

[JFMFG]

I love the shity street taco stands

Dude. The sketchy ones are the best. It’s definitely rolling the dice if you’re gonna get the shits or not. But usually worth it.

 

[Clank123]

For more of a sit down place…Pancho’s in El Porto. El Tarasco if right up the street on Rosecrans…hole in the wall but good.

Pancho’s is a great call.
OB’s Grill across the street is one of my favorite Burger joints in the area as well.

 

[Babyback]

We like Tito's. Gotta ask for the green chile stuff on the side to mix in the salsa.

This

 

[BingerFang]

I love El Chollo's. Their margaritas are the absolute best. But their food is not that out of the ordinary sadly. And I still have to drive the girls home once traffic subsides some. That ain't gonna happen if we stop at El Chollo's.
Man I really want a margarita right now.

I’m at El Cholo’s in La Habra at least twice a month. Their margaritas will send you home crosseyed and the food is amazing.

 

[rivergames]

Pacos on Manchester Blvd has great Mexican Food and killer Margz

I eat at Hacienda on Lincoln a lot too, but Pacos tastes better!

 

[rivergames]

We like Tito's. Gotta ask for the green chile stuff on the side to mix in the salsa.

I have been a HUGE fan of Tito's FOREVER, but they recently took a shit and are not watching what they are doing. They need to get back on track

 

[lbhsbz]

I have been a HUGE fan of Tito's FOREVER, but they recently took a shit and are not watching what they are doing. They need to get back on track

That’s a shame…on Saturdays when I worked at MDR Toyota we’d send the porter there for lunch…he’d come back with a mini van full of tacos and they were awesome.

 

[dirtslinger2]

In El Segundo, try La Paz, it's just an old school mexican restaurant, I've been eating there for probably 45 years.

Manhattan has Poncho's which is pretty good as well, and the inside of the restaurant is amazing.

There's an El Tarasco's in El Segundo, and also one in Manhattan beach, I prefer La Paz over them.

 

[rivergames]

That’s a shame…on Saturdays when I worked at MDR Toyota we’d send the porter there for lunch…he’d come back with a mini van full of tacos and they were awesome.

I've grown up eating Tito's my whole life. I've never had bad food from there but multiple close family have eaten there recently and said Tito's went down hill fast. Also crazy they are getting about $6 for 1 taco

 

[rivergames]

When I was posting this, I was thinking more of Mexican in Westchester (North Side of LAX)

If you want some of the best Mexican you've had, Sausal in El Segundo (South side of LAX) is BOMB!!!!! Pricey, Great food and a clean restaurant

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[dirtslinger2]

When I was posting this, I was thinking more of Mexican in Westchester (North Side of LAX)

If you want some of the best Mexican you've had, Sausal in El Segundo (South side of LAX) is BOMB!!!!! Pricey, Great food and a clean restaurant

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Blah, I think it's boujee and over rated. Their salsa is like a sauce.

 

[dirtslinger2]

I'll add, if you want/like fish tacos, everyone at work likes Ensenada Tacos, I don't like fish tacos, so I always skip it.

 

[TrollerDave]

I'll add, if you want/like fish tacos, everyone at work likes Ensenada Tacos, I don't like fish tacos, so I always skip it.

I like Ensenada’s. Not quite Senor Baja/Taco Nazo, but good.

 

[brianwhiteboy]

In El Segundo, try La Paz, it's just an old school mexican restaurant, I've been eating there for probably 45 years.

Manhattan has Poncho's which is pretty good as well, and the inside of the restaurant is amazing.

There's an El Tarasco's in El Segundo, and also one in Manhattan beach, I prefer La Paz over them.

X10 on La Paz. Been around forever and the same family has run it for as long as I can remember.

 

[TPC]

I have been a HUGE fan of Tito's FOREVER, but they recently took a shit and are not watching what they are doing. They need to get back on track

Us other regulars noticed a change too.

 

[rivergames]

Had Tito's last night. They've definitely fallen off from what they once were, but still are pretty damn good.

 

[TrollerDave]

The wife left Viet Nam about 15 minutes ago on the way to Taipai. After a 3 hour layover they are due in L.A. at 3:30 pm PST. That is about 18-20 hrs of travel time. They are leaving around noon on Tuesday and getting here at 3:30 on Tuesday again. But it will take them 18 hrs to do it. Neither her or her girlfriend is going to want any part of driving L.A. to Redlands at quitting time. I volunteered for this a year ago when the trip planning first started. Time to pay up.

Did you end up trying any of these places?

I went to Paco’s today.

Their chips and salsa are so good.

 

[PlumLoco]

We ended up at Hacienda del Rey actually. Closeness to LAX was perfect, just what I was looking for, although parking was kinda sketchy. Food was fine, but certainly not outstanding for So Cal. Service was perfect, as we stayed there almost 2 hours and they kept checking in on us but never making us feel rushed. I only had one margarita but the ladies kept the bartenders awake on an otherwise very slow night.

Thanks to any and all who chimed in here. I appreciate all the recommendations and Hacienda worked out perfectly for us.

 

[caribbean20]

Times 3 on Pancho’s in MB, especially if you have extra time to kill and plan to linger a bit in the restaurant. It’s a nice place to relax, but with drinks, can be a bit spendy.

 

[hawgty55]

King taco!

 

[ChumpChange]

Had Tito's last night. They've definitely fallen off from what they once were, but still are pretty damn good.


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Unfortunately this is true. Prices have gone through the roof as well.

 

[CCXHAL]

Had Tito's last night. They've definitely fallen off from what they once were, but still are pretty damn good.


View attachment 1458446

taco in a coffee filter??? WTF?

 

[Dan Lorenze]

Went to Frijoles Restaurant near LAX last weekend, great family owned place.

 

[brianwhiteboy]

Had Tito's last night. They've definitely fallen off from what they once were, but still are pretty damn good.


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That’s about $60 worth of food there lol.

 

[NicPaus]

That’s about $60 worth of food there lol.

$10 at Miches tonight. $2 fish tacos on Wednesday. $16.50 for the Michelada but so worth it. Lol

 

[brianwhiteboy]

$10 at Miches tonight. $2 fish tacos on Wednesday. $16.50 for the Michelada but so worth it. Lol View attachment 1458965

That looks legit