Blue Plate Taco

I scheduled a reservation under my name for 10:15pm as a last minute resort for our evening plans. Our evening plans got moved around so we stopped in the restaurant around @ 8:30 and asked if we could be seated earlier but was told that the wait was an hour and that someone would text us. An hour and a half later we came back and they said they had no record of this, or the reservation I made for 10:15pm. The two hostesses were so snide, it made no sense why they would pick this moment to be unreasonable. It was freaking cold that night! After a few minutes, the manager came over and offered us a table, on the patio… on Ocean Blvd in Santa Monica? Even with their ponchos and heat lamps we were freezing but they did give us a complimentary drink. Semi happy ending.

Fresh food but it comes at a price! Final bill for two people with chips/​guacamole, two entrees, corn on the cob, Mexican slaw and a pitcher of margaritas was $ 124!!!
Overall the views, quality of food and ambiance make this place a must try. You must try the lobster tacos!!!

The tacos here are non-​traditional but delicious. I’ve had the lobster tacos, the guac and chips, and the shrimp tacos, and I’d recommend both. The sides, too, are worthwhile, given the fact that I usually pass on rice and beans.
The wait staff is friendly and laid back, attentive without being overbearing. I’ve eaten there twice and feel the same way about the place after both experiences. The prices are kind of steep, given what arrives on the plate, but it’s a nice treat.

I don’t write negative reviews — I just generally don’t care enough to do that, but tonight’s experience was particularly bad. To start off the night, they blew our reservation by 30 mins. If every table was packed, I get it, but they had four empty tables. Annoying? Yes. Something that will ruin the night? No.
So, 30 mins after our scheduled 6pm reservation, we happily say down at our great table on the outside overlooking the ocean, ready to enjoy our margaritas and our guacamole. Our guacamole arrived (delicious), but then we were told (not asked) that we had to move to a different (worse) table. Annoying? Yes. Something that will ruin the night? No, but two strikes and counting.
At this point, it shocked me that they didn’t even bother to have the manager (or anyone for that matter) come over and apologize for the inconvenience. We don’t need free food, but an acknowledgement that our experience wasn’t awesome so far would’ve been wonderful.
To top off the night, we received the check and had an additional $ 40 on our check for three extra drinks that we didn’t order. To make it even better, they questioned us when we told them we never ordered wine. We had a pitcher of margaritas on the table and dealt with the same waiter the whole night. No wine.
I get it, there are busy nights. I’m not doubting that, but one of those three issues is fine. Three of them? Absolutely enough reason to not return. An apology or acknowledgment would’ve gone a long way here. Very disappointed in this experience, and sad our Chicago guests had to be a part of it.

Well, well, well… I really enjoyed the atmosphere here. The food was honestly nothing to write about. Their rice and beans were completely flavorless. The pork belly tacos were okay. Their margaritas weren’t bad though. If I were to return to this place, it would be to watch the sunset at the beach with a couple pitchers of margaritas, with friends (just wanted to clear that up so I don’t sound like a raging alcoholic).

My girlfriends & I came here on a Saturday afternoon for Dine LA and it was very busy. We got lucky & were seated in the colorful patio, with a view of the beach.
Appetizers: Chicken Flautas & Tuna Ceviche, amazing. So much flavor in both dishes and the tuna was so fresh! Had us craving for more.
Entrees: Seafood Enchiladas & Pork Tacos. This was my first time having seafood enchiladas & they were pretty tasty. There were sautéed mushrooms and spinach on top and black beans on the bottom. The toppings lightened the dish since it was layered with cheese and full of seafood. My friend enjoyed her tacos but I think for the price we pay for Dine LA, 2 tacos aren’t worth it but they didn’t taste bad.
Drinks: I had the Mule (with tequila) and it was super refreshing. Eventually we got a pitcher of the White Sangria, which was pretty tasty.
Service: host, bartenders and waitress were all amazing. Very attentive and extremely nice.
–1 because parking is impossible and the regular menu looks pretty pricey.

I’ve dined at blue plate taco as well as their other restaurant «blue plate oysterette» and neither of the two have really impressed me.
We came to blue plate taco during lunch hours and it was very busy, so make sure you make reservations. The decoration for this place + location is absolutely astonishing. If you want to go somewhere happening during lunch time with great views but not so good food, then this is the place for you.
As for the food… Ehh… Is all I’ve got to say. Expensive tacos for not so expensively made food. I had the «steak tacos» and I honestly could’ve done a better job myself. My SO had the Mahi Mahi tacos and he wasn’t very impressed either. Our friends had the lobster taco (which I’ve had before at blue plate oysterette), & they liked it. However, they didn’t think it was worth the price. I on the other hand wasn’t impressed at all with the lobster taco. Our other friend had the shrimp taco and she thought it was okay. We also had chips and salsa and that was probably my favorite part of the meal.
As for the drinks & service, the drinks were yummi we all had skinny margaritas. However, the services was pretty meh. It might’ve been due to the fact that the place was pretty busy.

Came on a Monday night had 8:30pm reservations. It was pretty busy. They greeted us quite quickly and served us waters even though everyone in our party wasn’t present. Ben from Oysterette was great.
The guacamole was fresh. Tried new appetizers on the menu-​agave chipotle grilled carrots and sweet potato augratin (the best way to explain). Sweet potato was my favorite-​it was amazing. Definitely taste the sweet potato, perfect serving of cheese the group thought it was lasagna. The carrots are good the chipotle kick was a little much for me and some of the bites I took were a little too hard for me. I was expecting it to be a little softer on the teeth.
I loved that I had the option to mix and match my taco choices. I had shrimp, grilled fish, and lobster. They piled on the lobster meat in my taco that was a pleasant surprise. Will definitely come back. The servers were great and attentive. The atmosphere was relaxing.

I’m a big fan of tacos and a BIG fan of Blue Plate on Montana, so figured I’d try this today.
The Good: food seemed pretty pure, as in not over seasoned, with quality ingredients used. My toddler scarfed the corn on the cob. The portion of my taco plate, which came with 3 tacos and brown rice with corn and pinto beans, was hearty. Service was ok… not too friendly but they got the job done pretty quickly. didn’t have a margarita but they looked tasty. Really cute little restaurant overlooking ocean Ave and the ocean!
The Meh: $ 6 for one whole piece of corn with a couple forkfuls of cabbage slaw? And $ 16 for 3 tacos? Those prices seem a little steep to me. Not saying we didn’t enjoy them… but if we had gone to a taco truck we would’ve spent half and would’ve been just as happy. Also, the carnitas was pretty oily (left lots of grease all over the plate), and bits of it were almost plastic-​y in texture, like it was sitting in an oven too long. I’d say, half the pieces of corn and give your customers at least 3 pieces. It’s only a half piece more but at least it will be shareable and several can enjoy it.

I love Blue Plate Oysterette, so I assumed that this would be a solid choice for a New Yorker looking for a taco. I get to Santa Monica every year or so, but I wish I had just walked a little farther to Oysterette as Blue Plate Taco missed the mark.
The atmosphere is actually just fine and I would go back for drinks again. The tacos were mediocre (I get way better in NY) and I just think California has a higher bar for tacos in general. Anyways it wasn’t an expensive mistake, but a disappointment nonetheless.

I really liked!!! Past tense. This place
The food was good. Friday night January 22, 2016. I Made dinner reservations for 6 people for 9:00pm. My party grew to 8 people I called 2 hours before my reservation to add 2 more guest. The hostess didn’t ask any questions and said will see you. When I showed up to the restaurant they didn’t have my reservation. I know better going out on a Friday night with more then 4 people would be a hassle. I made sure to make a reservation. I know better then that!!! When we showed up the RUDE HOSTESS made us wait 45 minutes. The hostess are extremely rude the manager never came to apologize for the mistake. Unfortunately this place is Poorly manage. The Bartender ended up being our server since we finally got a table at the bar. the bartender was awesome! Never coming back!

While walking down Santa Monica and Ocean Ave, we came across Blue Plate Taco. If you want great views of the ocean while eating lunch, I would recommend this spot just for that. When we went, all the tables outside were filled, so we decided to sit at the bar inside. From the bar, you’ll sit pretty close to the kitchen and get a glimpse of all the action.
The waitress was super polite and took our order without any problems. I was definitely entertained just engaging in conversation with her. For starters, I ordered a Pacífico Grupo Modelo S.A. de C.V. to drink and the Pollo A La Parilla as my large plate.
The food was absolutely delicious and the beers definitely refreshed my palate! For the price that it was worth, it definitely made for a great meal. If you like great views and great food, feel free to stop by Blue Plate!

Can’t figure out how I feel about this one. Super cute, great location, great service, and the drinks were divine, but the food just didn’t quite deliver. I got the tacos and wasn’t impressed, although I did love the (taste of the) complimentary chips and salsa (& purchased Guac). I’ll probably give them another shot, w that view and ambiance.
Update: was contacted with apologies from the general manager and the offer to give it a second go. Way to handle it, BPT ! Thanks.

YUM — amazing tacos with a seaside view!
I’ve been eyeing Blue Plate Taco since Blue Plate Oysterette was on the DineLA list, but never had a chance to try it until recently. For starters, the chips and guac are delicious! I believe you get unlimited chips so conserve that guac if you have a big party. Personally, I always get the tacos, but my friends have gotten the quesadillas and different entrees and they’ve all been great! For tacos, I ADORE the lobster and the short rib ones but have tried the steak and fish ones as well.
TIP: You can mix and match and the waiters will charge you individually for the taco based on the menu prices. AND if you’re like me and know you don’t want the side beans and rice, you can ask for just tacos and they take off a couple bucks as well.
When you’re here, make sure you order the pitcher of margarita to share with your table! It complements the tacos and other dishes well and helps you relax and enjoy that you’re in Santa Monica. At the end, we’ve also tried the dessert churros which are delish but since it was a surprise, I had no room in my stomach for them… Overall — service is A+. They’re super willing to accommodate you, from seating arrangements to splitting the bill. My order of just tacos usually ends up to be around $ 20. Last thing — if you want to avoid a wait, be sure to call in and make a reservation ahead of time.
Great food, great views & great vibes — can you ask for more?

Want the nutshell?
Killer tacos and good margaritas! Go at sunset and sit outside to fully enjoy that amazing view!
Want the details? Read on…
SERVICE:
Incredibly friendly! We loved loved loved our waitress who was attentive, funny, and just all around awesome. She was switched to another side of the restaurant but kept checking on us throughout our meal even though we had a new waiter. (He was also good, but he had crazy big shoes to fill).
FOOD:
This is a place you come to for tacos. So get the damn tacos! We had guac, tortilla soup, and enchiladas– all average. The tacos are really where they shine. (Hello, it’s in the name!) I really really loved the shrimp tacos. That pumpkin pesto was just to die for. My husband was all about the lobster with the crispy shell and truffle oil, and my brother was all about the steak. You really can’t go wrong! They are super flexible, so you can order a combination of whatever you want instead of just getting one thing. I got shrimp, lobster, and chicken. All good, but I loved the shrimp so much I could’ve eaten three!
DRINKS:
Definitely get a pitcher! Way more cost effective! A little too much sweet & sour for me and my group’s tastes, but a solid margarita overall.
AMBIANCE:
It’s on Ocean. You have a killer view of the ocean. Enough said. (Hey, I’m a beach girl). Also love the star lights, the blankets they provide, and the cozy vibe.
PRICE:
A little high for a small place and tacos! But hey, you pay for that view.
Overall, good place to add to your Santa Monica repertoire.

4.5 delish!
Fairly close the beach, great outdoor seating with a view. Reminds me why I love LA so much!
I also ordered one of their spicy margaritas, love jalapeños in margaritas, it was yummy!
Half order of guac (4 stars) — Pretty standard, tasted fresh and delish to me!
Short rib, fish and pork tacos were a hit, I loved how you could mix and match, I was surprised at how good these tacos were!!! Rice and beans were pretty bland for me though, they need to spice those up or add some more flavor! Short rib was probably my favorite taco! (4.5 stars)
Churros were actually really good, crispy but soft on the inside! (4 stars)
Cinnamon Ice Cream (3.5 stars) — pretty good flavor, but got a little heavy for me after awhile!
Parking sucks near the beach as you all know, they have valet on the other side, opted for that option to make it easier!

I really love this place. It’s a perfect location to enjoy a meal on a sunny day while overlooking the Santa Monica pier. I’ve even spotted a couple of celebrities here.
The chicken enchiladas are so delicious. They are drizzled with salsa verde and sour cream. And then garnished with fresh avocado, cotija cheese, picked turnips, and cilantro. I’ve been to this place multiple times and after finally trying the chicken enchiladas I will definitely be ordering them every time after.
Their guacamole is made on the spot with fresh ingredients so I always order one for the table. It could use a little lime or seasoning though.
I love sitting outside and enjoying one of their ice blended margaritas on a date or with a group of friends. I especially like the strawberry one on a summer day.
I will say that the portions are small for the cost of the food but I still enjoy coming here regardless.

At around $ 5/​taco, these should be gourmet and stellar like the ones you can get at Guerrilla Tacos. Only they aren’t. You’re definitely paying for the real estate here. It’s a better option for drinking before heading over to the beach across the way.
Their tacos come three to an order with rice and beans. I asked about ordering tacos a la carte and our server said that was fine. So I got one each of the SHRIMP TACO, FISH TACO and STEAK TACO. The tacos are fairly small and I’m sure I’ve had street tacos larger than these. The tacos were alright, nothing I’d want again.
Place gets crowded so expect a wait.

Deeelishous!
I’m so glad we popped in here today. The outdoor area was packed so I thought that perhaps it would be tasty. I was definitely correct.
It says «tacos» on the sign outside, but they have so much more than that.
I had a steak fajita burrito with green chili salsa. There was green and red peppers inside, rice, beans and probably a salsa. I was so hungry and greedy that I almost ate all of it even though it was ginormous. They offer the burrito with chicken or pork as well.
Please note that this was not your traditional Mexican sloppy burrito, though it resembles one. It was probably in between a taco truck and Chipotle. I had no expectations so I didn’t care, though I truly love the sloppy taco truck variety (retried beans).
Sit at the Chefs Counter to see the cooks in action. It was a treat.
I’m only leaving 4 stars because my husband said he hated that his taco shells were wet and falling apart. He believes the description on the Tinga said «crispy shells» but that was not the case. Also, his son ordered no salsa because it said Diablo and it came out with salsa anyway. They were willing to remake them, but also slightly hesitant. I suggested that he just try it because it seemed like an issue. He ate it and said the salsa wasn’t hot at all. Do not expect a fire hot salsa because he can’t handle anything hot and he handled these.
I loved my food. Haha!

We walked by the night before wanting some Mexican but the wait was several hours. We made a reservation for the next day and generally enjoyed our meal. The Hibiscus Prickly Pear Margaritas were a great complement to the food, albeit on the sweeter side. I would highly recommend the pitcher as it is a lot better value than individual drinks. We ordered the chips and guacamole to start. The guacamole was freshly made and some of the best I’ve had recently while the chips were still warm.
Three of us had the surf and turf tacos from the special menu. My only negative was the beef portion of them. It was a little stringy and chewy, not the quality I was expecting for the price. My wife had the salmon special and it was quite fresh, well prepared and presented. For dessert we shared the churros which came with six accompanied by chocolate and whipped cream.
The food was good, not great and the prices high, but expected that given LA and the location across from the beach.

Der erste Taco meines Lebens! Ich habe die vegetarische Version probiert mit Champions, Mais und Käse. Ich finde Tacos sind etwas schwer zu essen. Das Lokal befindet sich in unmittelbarer Nähe zum Steg von Santa Monica. Der Ausblick ist toll. Das Essen wurde schnell serviert. Es ist relativ teuer, aber ich denke der Ausblick wird hier mit bezahlt.