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Monarca Mexican Restaurant

4.6 (77 reviews)
Open • 8:00 am - 9:00 pm

About Monarca Mexican Restaurant

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MONARCA MEXICAN RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Dogs allowed
Good for groups
Good for kids

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Recommended Reviews - Monarca Mexican Restaurant

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Pastor tacos and table salsa with chips

Flavors BOMB!! Pastor and asada.. bomb.. looking forward to try more items.. but tacos are delicious!!! The table salsa they give is sooooooo good!!!!! Will be my go to taco spot during my lunch hour!

Brit D.

The huarache was so delicious. Great consistency with the actually huarache. Meat was abundant. I got it to go.

Excellent Huarache Supreme: I added home grown, aromatic organic basil leaves. Good Señorial natural flavour Sangría Soda
Gary I.

Down home, unpretentious eatery in a small strip mall much like El Ruby's in Glendale. No air conditioning so be prepared if the outdoor temps go beyond 90°F when take out would be a better option. Nice service with complimentary light, crispy Totopos/fried corn tortilla chips and fresh, mild tomato, onion, cilantro based Salsa while waiting for your order. Order at the counter, they bring the food to you. 2024-10-1 Lunch 1) Taco Dorado: Dressed with loads of shredded ice berg lettuce, diced tomato, Salsa Verde, slice of avocado. I requested crumbly, dry, fermented Cotija cheese. The corn tortilla shell was way overfried so it left an overly toasted scent in the mouth as well as cracking & fragmenting in my hand while trying to eat it. If they can make such exemplary Totopos, why can't the cooks also make just right fried Tacos? a. Res Deshebrada/stringy beef was over fried, like jerky, no beefy flavour. b. The pollo/chicken version was overfried too but a bit better. It didn't have that Jidori chickeny taste like at Josie's in Gardena. Had these Tacos Dorados not been overfried which cooked out their intrinsic natural flavours, I'd guess that they'd be way more palatable. $3 each 1c) Horchata: Very watered down, almost translucent with a yellow tinge which at least let the weak vanilla flavour come through. There was relatively more emphasis on vanilla; way less emphasis on the rice which made this drink less rich in satisfying mouthfeel & flavour. 2024-10-20 Dinner 2) Huarache Supreme: Huarache means sandals in Spanish since the corn Masa is shaped into the sole of a sandal. Monarca's version is excellent. The Masa isn't too thick so when fried, it comes out ethereally light & crispy; not thick, heavy, and gummy. In some places the Masa is grilled but does not seem so at Monarca. The Huarache is slathered with creamy, Frijoles de Pinto which had a nice meaty, bean Umami that paired well to the corn Masa. I opted for the moist, mild red chile sauce tinged, roasted al Pastor pork meat. Again dressed with loads of shredded ice berg lettuce, diced tomato, Salsa Verde, slices of avocado. Crumbly, dry, fermented Cotija cheese. Bit pricey at $14 but well worth it. 2a) Since the Horchata here was a bust, I got Señorial natural flavour Sangría Soda which has real sugar and not the unhealthful sugar substitutes. It has grapey, red wine flavours with a kiss of warm spices like cinnamon. The Huarache Supreme will call me back to Monarca Mexican Restaurant. Hope they can create better Tacos Dorados that don't fry away all the natural flavours. Just for the Huarache Supreme 4- stars.

Maddy M.

I was excited to try this spot based off of all the good reviews but unfortunately I did not enjoy the food as much as I would have hoped. The person as the front was SO friendly but there was some miscommunication about my order. I asked for guacamole and the person on the phone told me the servings were small so I ordered two and it was way too much. Their version of guacamole is more like a guacamole-salsa and it's SPICY! The flavor is good, but it's definitely not guacamole. My husband liked it. I got asada tacos for myself and the meat was dry and some pieces were chewy. I got everything on it which was a spicy salsa, some cilantro and like a couple bits of onion. Their quesadillas were good. Packaging for take out was not the best. I would maybe come back and try their breakfast burritos.

Michelle H.

This place actually had almost 5 stars so I was really excited to try it! The place itself is super small, and a little bit hot inside but we were there for the food. The gentleman at the register was really nice although it seems like a mom and Pop shop because there were only two people in there one in the back and the gentleman at the front and as soon as we placed our order, he went to the back and we didn't see him very much. The food came out pretty quick. We ordered the tacos Dorados. And I got a side of rice. They forgot a couple things on our tacos but no big deal. We had to go up a couple times and call them from the back to get what we needed, but they were happy to oblige. The tacos themselves were really good. The shell was super crunchy and crispy and they put a lot of meat and toppings on them. We both got shredded beef and there was so much filling in those tacos. I could only eat one of the two I ordered. The rice was pretty good too. All in all I liked their food a lot! Would visit again.

Its huge!
Dana K.

This place is so good! Since I'm a vegetarian and also picky, I always get a particular burrito with my egg whites and my detailed ingredients and they always make it to perfection! And they're still reasonably priced which I can appreciate and the burritos are always a big size. I highly recommend this place especially if you're vegetarian cause they can accommodate you, but of course they have plenty of meat.

Counter with menu
Leigh M.

OMG! This place was so good! Sergio was at the counter and was awesome! He helped us decide what to order and his recommendations were top notch. We ordered Huarche, Burrito Supreme, and nachos. They start with complimentary chips and salsa. The salsa is so fresh and full of flavor . Sergio brought us some complimentary ceviche to try and it was delicious too. The Huarache with asada meat did not disappoint. The torta was cooked just right - slightly deep fried and had all the toppings on it. My son devoured his huge burrito and raved about how good it is. So much food for under $50. We brought half of it home for us to enjoy tomorrow. I highly recommend this place. There is plenty of parking, the food is reasonably priced and so fresh and made with care. The dining area and restrooms are very clean.

Asada Huarache
Stephanie B.

Fast friendly service. Their huaraches are loaded with toppings but definitely needed more cheese/ sour cream. Overall not bad but also not the best I've had in the San Fernando Valley. Didn't dine in or order anything else. This review is only for the asada huarache & for the takeout experience. Would come back and try other foods from here

Torta de Milanesa
Beverly Q.

Monarca Mexican Restaurant in Van Nuys is the kind of place that reminds you why hole-in-the-wall spots are always worth seeking out. From the moment you walk in, you're welcomed with warm hospitality and a basket of complimentary chips & salsa! My family & I went all in and tried a huarache supreme with asada, a milanesa torta, tacos de lengua & asada & (I believe buche too?), a tamarindo agua fresca, and of course, a classic Mexican Coke. Every bite was bursting with authentic Michoacán flavors! The huarache was generously topped and packed with savory goodness, while the torta had the perfect crunch from the bread, giving way to tender, well-seasoned milanesa. The tacos? Absolute perfection--especially the lengua, which was melt-in-your-mouth tender. And that tamarindo agua fresca? Refreshing, tangy, and the perfect balance to all the rich flavors. I can't wait to come back and try more!

Large horcháta

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2 years ago

Service sucked. They close at 8pm not 9pm. Got there at 7:50 and they would serve me, said the kitchen was closed.

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2 years ago

That was delicious. Chicken nachos. Carnitas combo plate. Rice was good. Beans were authentic. Salsa was good. Recommend this place!

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1 year ago

Came here with my family and the food was amazing! I highly recommend getting a Horchata and the Huarache!

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Ask the Community - Monarca Mexican Restaurant

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This bar is fantastic! A large space with lots of options for seating inside and out. Very chill…read morevibe. We had intended to go to the bar next door, but one look at the crowd there and the loud throbbing music turned us off. I had wanted to go to Mi Corazon anyway, and was glad the group agreed. Lots of great mezcal and tequila options, as well as a well-stocked bar with wine, beer and cocktails. And the food menu looks great, but we didn't try it. Next time! The bartender was great and served us at our table. Brought us chips and a delicious homemade spicy salsa. The atmosphere was perfect for conversation, with good indie music playing at the right level. I will be back.

1 Star -- Extremely disappointing experience…read more Unfortunately, our experience at this restaurant was horrible from the moment we arrived. When I first arrived, I gave them the name of our reservation, and the staff had no idea what I was talking about. We were a party of 6, yet they seated us at a tiny table that was clearly not appropriate for our group. When it was time to order, my husband very clearly told the waiter which pasta he wanted and even showed him a picture of the item on the menu. The waiter looked at it and agreed. My food came out, but my husband's food never did. We eventually found out that his order was never even put in. What made it worse was when the waiter came out saying, "Oh my God, I thought you said you didn't want it." Everyone at the table looked at him completely confused because my husband had literally told him what he wanted and showed him the menu item. Instead of simply acknowledging the mistake and fixing it, we were left waiting. On top of that, trying to get anyone's attention was nearly impossible. We had to repeatedly try to get someone's attention just to get basic service. Then there was another issue with the entrance fee. My sister-in-law had messages showing that we were told that if we ate at the restaurant, we would no longer have to pay the entrance fee. We showed those messages to the woman handling the wristbands, but instead of looking into it or speaking to someone who could clarify the situation, she simply said, "I don't know, you have to pay." No attempt was made to investigate or resolve the issue. After everything that happened, they still added a tip to the bill, despite the extremely poor service we received. Overall, this was one of the most frustrating restaurant experiences I've had. Poor communication, poor service, lack of organization, and no effort to make things right. I definitely will not be recommending this place to anyone, and we will not be returning.

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4.1(1.1k reviews)
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I chose to go here on my birthday with a reservation but was kinda disappointed that for it being a…read morepricey place they don't offer something for your birthday. Again it is a little pricey but the food was really good I'm not going to lie I really did enjoy the flavors. The drinks were pretty great too, good amount of alcohol not too sweet. The Ambiance is beautiful which is one of the main reasons I wanted to go there so I could also get my birthday photos and that I did because it was super pretty. I am going to say if you have a hard time seeing it is a little dark so be prepared to get that flashlight ready. Service was pretty good, we were running a bit late and they accommodated to that and everything came out at a pretty good pace.

came back to Ka'teen to finally try the Dine LA menu, and I'm so glad we did. This easily made my…read moretop 3 Dine LA experiences. The service was impeccable--everyone was attentive, friendly, and made the whole experience feel special. We had to get the Michelada Oysters again because I had been craving them since our last visit. They were just as amazing as I remembered--fresh, perfectly seasoned, and seriously addicting. For Dine LA, I started with the Tostada Campechana, which was like an elevated ceviche with scallops, tuna, yellowtail, avocado, and a citrus sesame sauce. Everything tasted super fresh and the citrus gave it the perfect balance. The Bone Marrow Mole was rich, flavorful, and came with a generous portion and toast. For my main course, I had the skirt steak, which was cooked perfectly--tender, well-seasoned, and delicious with the green sauce. The homemade tortillas were amazing too. We ended with the Dulce de Leche Panna Cotta, and it was the perfect finish--creamy, smooth, not overly sweet, and so good we practically cleaned the plate. Amazing food, great portions, beautiful atmosphere, and excellent service. Ka'teen definitely delivered. I would absolutely come back again.

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My parents were visiting from Florida for their annual family trip, and I wanted to treat them to a…read moremeal and introduce them to the diverse food scene in Los Angeles. Since they live in an area with limited Mexican cuisine, I chose Guelaguetza, a James Beard Award-winning restaurant with authentic Oaxacan recipes, something completely new to them. They were excited to try something different, as they don't have many Mexican food options where they live, and I wanted to expand their culinary horizons. We were greeted with complimentary chips - some were drizzled with mole and Oaxacan cheese, which we requested refills of, and others were served with red and green salsas. The green salsa had a nice kick to it. For our meal, we shared two large dishes: the Festival de Moles ($53.00) and the Tlayuda Guelaguetza ($27.50). The Tlayuda Guelaguetza, which is also called a Mexican pizza, was layered with bean and chicharron spread, queso fresco, cabbage, quesillo, beef tasajo, pork Cecina, and pork chorizo. While I've always wanted to try Tlayuda, this one wasn't good, and I wouldn't recommend it. The pork chorizo was particularly unappetizing, and neither my parents nor I enjoyed the dish, feeling it was a waste of money. The Festival de Moles ($53.00) featured four individual moles - negro, rojo, coloradito, and estofado - with a choice of shredded chicken breast or pork spare ribs. We opted for a mix of both and found this dish to be excellent, and we would definitely order it again. They were very impressed with the moles, and enjoyed them for the first time. The only minor complaint was a lack of tortillas to dip with the mole, though they did provide some rice. We ordered several drinks, which significantly increased the bill. I was surprised we spent $200 on lunch for three people with only two meals. I started with the Pasion De Oaxaca ($16.00), a mezcal, tequila, passion fruit, grapefruit juice, and tajin cocktail that was excellent, perfectly balanced, strong, but not too sweet. For my second drink, I had the refreshing Aquas Frescas - Jamaica ($6), which was perfect after my meal. I even took it to go, and they kindly provided a cup. My dad ended up taking it, as he needed it with his medication (they're old!). My parents, who were trying mole for the first time, were very impressed and really enjoyed it. Our only minor complaint was the lack of tortillas to dip in the mole, although they did provide some rice. The food took a little longer to come out, even though the restaurant wasn't busy. I imagine this type of cuisine is labor-intensive, and you can't rush the cooking time for mole. You just have to trust the process! We thoroughly enjoyed our experience at Guelaguetza Restaurante and will definitely be back. I can see why they're a James Beard Award-winning restaurant; you can get authentic Oaxacan flavors in LA! We're lucky to live here.

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4.1(1.2k reviews)
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I only came here for the bar so this review is strictly for the drinks. I did not know this place…read morewon Top 50 Bars of America for 3 years in a row, so I was pleasantly surprised to see that sign when we entered. My girls and I were bar hopping in WeHo for our friend's bachelorette and this place was recommended to us for good drinks. We went in with no reservation and the seats downstairs for the open bar area were full, so one of the servers told us we can lounge around at the bar upstairs and grab some chairs until someone kicked us out. Thankfully, we were able to grab a couch and everyone was super friendly and sweet. We ordered some signature cocktails off the menu and as the night went on, we ordered some tequila shots as well. Instead of lime and salt, they gave us our shots with golden berries and salt and wow. I'm definitely going to be taking my tequila shots with this combo! It was sooooo good. The interior of the restaurant is beautiful and very spacious, and the food looked really good too. I'd love to come back with my husband to give them a try!

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We came to Holbox right at noon and ended up waiting about an hour, but it was worth it. The prices…read morefelt very reasonable considering the quality and freshness of the ingredients. The tuna & uni tostada was the standout. The tuna had the perfect balance of acidity, and the uni on top added just the right amount of richness. Every bite had so much going on without feeling too heavy. The ceviche was incredibly fresh and bright. The octopus taco was another favorite. The octopus was so tender with no chewiness, it was cooked perfectly. We also tried the aguachile, which was really good, but the tuna dishes stood out to me so much more. Overall, such a great menu with really high-quality seafood at a reasonable price. There are so many other things I want to try, so I'll definitely be coming back!

Holbox has been on my list of places to try for a long time. We finally decided to come on a Sunday…read moremorning. We arrived as they're opening and there was already a long line out the door. The staff were wonderful and offered everyone umbrellas so we can wait in the shade. Be prepared because the wait is LONG, we probably waited 45 minutes before getting in the building, then you wait a bit longer to order. Patience definitely pays off because the food was absolutely delicious! We started with a huge bowl of creamy guacamole, it was well seasoned and great but we ran out of chips. My uni and bay scallop ceviche was super fresh, the seafood tasted so sweet and was paired with the perfect amount of citrus and creamy sauce to tie everything together without overpowering the seafood flavors. I also tried a bite of the kanpachi tostada and that was wonderful too! Everything they made highlighted the seafood so well. I didn't get a chance to try everything we ordered but we all loved every dish we tried. Definitely check this place out if you love seafood, but I'd recommend coming either on a weekday or really early to avoid the crowd. There are a few parking spots available outside and street parking as well so it's pretty convenient.

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Monarca Mexican Restaurant - mexican - Updated October 2026

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