We truly couldn't have had a better experience. The food, decor and cocktails were incredible, and the menu is the perfect mix of my favorite cuisines. But what really stood out was the hospitality. We were celebrating our Anniversary and Valentine's Day, and I had arranged to have flowers delivered to the restaurant earlier in the day so they'd be waiting on the table as a surprise for my wife. The staff was kind enough to accommodate the request and have them set up before we arrived. Unfortunately, the delivery driver accidentally dropped the flowers off at the other Hermanito location on Sawtelle! I assumed the surprise was ruined. Then the hostess came up to me and said, "Don't worry... our manager is driving over there now to pick them up and bring them back." I couldn't believe it. Sure enough, just as I was finishing my first Japanese Old Fashioned, Gilbert (the manager) walked in with the bouquet and completely surprised my wife. Absolute save. Huge thanks to Gilbert and the entire staff for going above and beyond to make the night so special. (I wish I remembered the names of our wonderful server and the incredible hostess who helped coordinate everything!) Thank you both too. As for the food: the Oaxacan Queso Fundido, Bao Buns and Pork Cutlet were five stars. We'll definitely be back to explore more of the raw bar and tacos. The menu is huge and I want to try it all. Highly recommend! read more

Hermanito - Enjoying the Queso Fundido and Bao Buns, the moment the manager Gilbert delivered the missing flowers! - Mexican Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Service excellence is found here Drinks that taste well and the good stuff given generously. Food portions is not.. ordered calamari it was mid. Not really shareable. Atmosphere is perfect real talum vibes with open wall windows bring in sunlight and fresh ocean area. Came on a Sunday with my wife and friends good vibes. read more

Hermanito - Menu - Mexican Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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A go-to place for margarita, mezcal and tequila enthusiasts. Vibe: 5 Margarita: 5 Mezcal Selection: 5 Tequila Selection: 5 Chicken Taco : 1 Hanger Steak Taco: 3 Spicy Fish Taco: 4 Brussel Sprouts: 5 read more

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The food was delicious and the service was fantastic. Loved the look of the place, too. My only complaint is about the flooring - it looks great, but too easy to twist an ankle! Maybe cover it with clear plexiglass or something - easier to walk on, but could still see the cool design. (Probably would be easier to clean, too.) read more

Loved the vibey atmosphere here, the lighting was super dim and they brought candles out and had the heat lamps going when it got darker. We got guac and chips as an appetizer and I ordered the birria tacos and a margarita. The tacos were just the right amount of crispy and gooey. Would definitely come back when I visit Santa Monica again read more

Hermanito - Birria tacos - Mexican Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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Loooooved it! Gorgeous inside. They did a great job on this new restaurant in an old Santa Monica institution. Even kept the little circle window! Went for happy hour. Had the CHICKEN TACOS. 100/10 !!!!!!! DELICIOUS and a HUGE portion! The GUAC?!? So delicious and flavorful! My friend has Margs. I had wine. Absolute winner! We will be back for many more Happy Hours and back to try the full menu as well. Thanks Oscar, for the amazing service! read more

Hermanito - Happy hour chicken tacos - Mexican Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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The steak breakfast tacos are sooo underrated! Absolutely bomb. You can swap the potatoes with fruit but honestly, these potatoes were delish - crispy on the outside and warm and soft on the inside. The entire plate had so much flavor. The ambience is amazing as is the service. We sat near the open windows, which was really pleasant. The Santa Monica location was super convenient (Hermanito also has a spot in Sawtelle) and our server had a great attitude. Highly recommend if you're looking for a brunch or dinner spot to try. There's also a tv at the bar for all of you sports fans (but this place definitely has more Tulum vibes). I'll definitely be returning. read more

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We popped in on a Sunday night. What a stylish, hip interior. It's a bit dark inside so it's tough to read menus or fully take in the food. Immediately the bartender directed us to seating and quickly took our orders. I LOVED the Paloma cocktail I had-super fresh tasting juice and well-balanced. Great guacamole and perfectly salty and crispy chips. I thought the grilled shrimp taco was a bit one note with char flavor, but it was also a delicious tortilla and had a nice amount of greenery topping it. My hubs really liked the carnitas taco. Three of us also shared the bao and hamachi sashimi: both were flavorful and nicely sized. read more

Work completed--time for Happy Hour! This is one of two locations, and we went to the one closest to work. The vibe was super chill, and the happy hour menu offered great options for both drinks and small plates. The space is on the smaller side, giving it a cozy, intimate feel. Service was just okay--not bad, but nothing memorable. Parking can be a bit tricky, but overall it's still a spot worth checking out if you haven't been, especially if you're already in the area. read more

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Hermanito brings bold flavors in a beautiful setting. The Yellowfish Tuna Hand Rolls was fresh, vibrant, and plated with clean, colorful detail, while the Hangar Steak Tacos were charred to perfection--packed with flavor in every bite. The open, dim-lit space carries a Tulum-inspired feel that makes the experience both stylish and inviting. Service is hospitable and prompt! read more

Hermanito - Yellowfish Tuna (Hand Roll) - Mexican Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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We really enjoyed the unique Japanese-Mexican fusion dishes. Exceptional service and delicious cocktails! Definitely try the queso fundido!

New branch of Sawtelle bar opened in former Swingers Diner spot at the corner of Broadway & Lincoln in Santa Monica. Beautiful renovation with floor-to-ceiling glass panels opening on Broadway. Excellent drinks like the original, good food as well, including a raw bar. Friendly attentive staff. Happy hour available read more

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We came in here (for the first time) starving , with literally one minute before the kitchen closed, and were kindly greeted and given suggestions on what to order. Shoutout to the workers here, they were incredibly kind. We ordered guacamole, chicken tacos and birria tacos. The chicken tacos were amazing! So fresh, and had a pleasant chipotle mayo which gave it a nice, unexpected dimension. The birria was also delicious, but paled in comparison. Guacamole (w/salsa) and fresh chips was the cherry on top for a perfect meal. After we devoured our food we only then realized how gorgeous this place is. Lime-washed walls, a modern aesthetic, and organic shapes + curves everywhere. Will definitely be back to the enjoy the ambiance a bit more next time. read more

Hermanito - Birria tacos (2) - Mexican Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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Great place to gather with friends after work to relax and enjoy some delicious drinks with while sharing a few appetizers. I recommend their blistered shishito peppers... easily had two bowls. The service is amazing! read more

Food and drinks (except the HH white wine, 0/10) were pretty good, if way overpriced. Service was unenthusiastic & inattentive. The ambiance is nice and the Happy hour menu, while not at all happy hour priced, has some menu items we enjoyed. They seemed to have a reasonable tequila selection. read more

Chris was amazing, the decor is good looking, and the food is great. One of the nicest places i have seen.

Wanted to try Hermanito since we'd never been, so we checked it out after a meeting. The decor is lovely, especially the beautifully designed bar. The menu blends Latin and Japanese flavors, with options from both land and sea. We were a bit indecisive (there's a Tuesday special!), but our server, Anais, was incredibly helpful. She shared her favorite dishes, recommended drinks to pair with our meal, and gave us great insight overall. At one point, she even stopped us from over-ordering (which I really appreciated). Most places will upsell to the point of excess, but thanks to her, we had just the right amount for two. I'll definitely be back to try more of her recommendations and next time with a bigger group so we can order everything, especially more of the spicy fish tacos! : read more

My friends and I are longtime fans of Hermanito -- we've been to the Sawtelle location many times, and we were excited to try the new spot. The space is gorgeous, it feels like you're transported somewhere else the moment you walk in. The architecture is stunning, and the manager was amazing -- they accommodated our party of 30 last minute around 8pm on Saturday, 9/20. Most of the staff was equally wonderful, especially the bartenders, who were friendly and attentive. The food itself was delicious and came out fairly quickly, which we really appreciated given the size of our group. Unfortunately, our experience was soured by our server, Anaeis. The first issue came when I asked about cocktails. I don't drink tequila, and since I noticed vodka wasn't listed, I asked Anaeis for recommendations. Her response: "You can read the menu." When I clarified and asked if she had any suggestions, she repeated, "You can look at the menu." I felt dismissed and pressured, so I ordered a margarita for a friend just to move on. Later, I went to the bar, and the bartender kindly recommended a Japanese vodka they actually had available -- proving that a little effort would have gone a long way. Another moment that stood out: someone accidentally bumped into me, which lightly brushed Anaeis as well. I immediately apologized, but she looked me up and down and brushed her arm dramatically, which felt unnecessarily rude. The final straw was when my sister wanted to order food around 10pm. Other tables were still eating, yet Anaeis insisted the kitchen was closed and pushed to close out our tab. We didn't want to argue, so we closed it -- only to find that the bartender was still able to order food for us without any issue. We were an easy, calm party that stayed just two hours, and we came ready to celebrate and enjoy. While the food, ambiance, and most of the staff were fantastic, Anaeis' attitude and lack of hospitality really ruined the evening for us. I'm sharing this so management is aware -- because this new Hermanito is truly a beautiful addition, and I'd love to return. But I hope no other guests have their night spoiled the way ours was. read more

stifling loud, the food was not at all intriguing or good. The octopus tacos was one of the worst dishes. I've ordered in a long time and the steak tacos were very disappointing covered in a mountain of fried onions. Very unhealthy stuff. read more

Very good food and service! Sashimi, tacos and avocado tempura were amazing. Thank you!

Staff was so nice and accommodating when a menu item was sold out for the night. The drinks were amazing as well ! Lovely ambiance and restaurant set up ;) read more

Hermanito was such a vibe. The mood, lighting, music, service, all on point. The happy hour margaritas were so good (dangerously good), easily a highlight. Our server Jose was awesome, super friendly, attentive, and made the experience even better. It's one of those rare spots that works for everything, a casual work hang, chill drinks, or a perfect pregame before going out. We'll 100% be back!! read more

This was my second time at Hermanito and I'm from Massachusetts but this had to be my first stop back in LA. The food is unreal here, so flavorful. The drinks- amazing. The staff are all super friendly and attentive. The inside is so cool with a great ambiance. Will come here every time I'm in LA! (TikTok on it: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZThFUJ8tM/) read more

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eally enjoyed this spot. The flavors were bold and creative, especially in the tacos and cocktails. Everything tasted fresh, and the portions were just right. The vibe is fun and upbeat, and the staff was friendly and quick. Great place to grab drinks and good food with a chill atmosphere. read more

Hi I recommend this please because is amazing the food is amazing very delicious and the staff is so friendly I love this restaurant read more

Hermanito - Is. The nachos plate is delicious - Mexican Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Nice ambiance, service was fine, the house chips were great (unusually well seasoned!). But 3 stars for serving distinctly *fishy smelling* scallops- maybe dumped on us as walk in happy hour guests? It didn't go unnoticed. read more

Jose was amazing! He really made our experience at Hermanitos so much fun! He's very attentive and so nice. The food was great as well as the drinks. We will definitely come again and hope to get attended by Jose again! read more

Amazing food, drinks, and service. Interior is so well done and the quality of drinks and food is unreal. Love the Sawtelle location and love this even more. Can't wait to come back! read more

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This spot was legit! Can't wait to go back. The bartender and the manager had great customer service. Job well done.

Great food and super nice staff. The design inside is super cool too. Added to our favs.

We went to check them out during happy hour and ended up having a great time. Our waitress was Anais and she was great, friendly and helpful. The margaritas were great, and the food was mostly excellent- the fish tacos. Birria tacos, calamari, hamachi, shishido peppers were all Great. The avocado tempura was ok but would've been better not served as a sushi roll. We didn't like the nachos. We will definitely go back. We had lots of fun and the drink were so good. My big gripe: The floor should be the ceiling and the ceiling should be the floor. The floor is beautiful but totally uncomfortable to walk on, especially since I'm disabled. I couldn't imagine having to walk on that for a whole shift. Why would you make the floors all uneven like that? read more

Great mezcal selection, good looking menu, friendly service! The bar and overall decor are gorgeous, excited for when they start broadcasting special events. read more

Great service! Great food! But the noise level makes any conversation impossible! Even got an Apple Watch warning about dangerous noise level! read more

Beautiful restaurant. Really gorgeous and fun vibe when you enter. The acoustics are quite loud and made it hard for my party of four to hear each other and our server, but that wasn't too big of a deal. The waitress was less than friendly and appeared annoyed to answer any questions we had about the menu. Unfortunately, about half of the menu was not available that night due to an emergency with their sushi chef (was sorry to hear and totally understandable, it happens). The amount and quality of the food we did order was not congruent with the pricing however. Each taco comes out to around 12 dollars give or take and a plate comes with two with no sides. The tacos themselves were small as well. Birria tacos came out cold and the shrimp tacos had barely any shrimp in them. The octopus and salmon tacos were delicious, but we ended up going next door to bodega for pizza since some of our party was still hungry after their tacos. However the most unfortunate part was that I called the place prior to eating there regarding food allergies and was explained what dishes were safe for me to eat and what accommodations the restaurant could make to keep things safe for me. The waitress again seemed annoyed at my follow up on providing that information, and though my dish tasted good, I did end up getting exposed to my allergen and suffered the health repercussions. read more

Great spot! Hermanito is new to SM tho has been on Sawtelle for awhile. This is my first time at the restaurant. Creative menu of Mexican and Japanese. A delicious raw bar....the oysters and scallops particularly yummy. The largest shrimp I've ever seen and also perfectly cooked. Plus the most delicious shashito pappers. Huge and great texture. Hand rolls great as well. Plus the decor is so well done. Simple, a little futuristic and very creative. Like the food. Obviously we liked it alot but it also helped that we had a lovely waiter who was friendly, helpful and took great care of us. Next time I'm trying more of the Mexican side. There will definitely be a next time! read more

I dined at Hermanito on Broadway last week and have to say everything was spectacular, from the décor, to the incredible hospitality to the fantastic food and drinks--the birria tacos were my favorite. I really enjoyed sitting at the bar and while I did not catch his name, the bartender was lovely and made a delicious margarita. I will absolutely be back, do not miss this relatively new neighborhood gem! read more

The food was great, the host was welcoming and kind. The service was not great on the other hand. The server seemed annoyed with us from the minute we ordered. She didn't check on us or even offer another round. We had to ask for the check and even that seemed to annoy her. read more

Beautiful and awesome atmosphere! Saw all the reviews recommending happy hour - they are spot on. Looking for a new spot? You've found it! read more

So the space is beautiful and the food is good. The problem is what they are charging. Clearly they are going for the young tech crowd who are flush with stock options, but everyone else will swing by once and then head for long time favorites that are more reasonable. Wishing them luck. read more

I rarely give restaurants a negative review or any business because it's so hard to have a successful business. But the owner needs to come in here and see what is going on. The decor was beautiful! One of the most beautiful places I've seen. But that is the only nice thing I can say. Actually two more nice things. The Jaimica drink was awesome and tres leches desert was excellent ! For the Bad: 1). The waiter and manager are obvious friends so they spent a lot of time just chit chatting with each other while giving us poor service. 2) The food was way too spicy. The Guacamole was ridiculous, the waiter should have warned us. 3). The manager had an attitude- when I suggested a few improvements he gave me a smirk look. 4) The fish tacos were spicy and disappointing. 5). No rice and beans - disappointing menu 6) Extremely loud - you will be uncomfortable after your meal since it was so loud. 7). There's no sign (there is a small sign but it's neon and they don't have it on so its not visible. 8) A few waiters had a shirt with the name of the restaurant but most did not. 9) There was only a happy hour menu, they should have given us the option of ordering off the happy hour menu or a full menu since they had a large display of raw fish. 10) it was way too expensive! read more