We came here for my husbands birthday! The vibe is great right by the beach with a patio area that's amazing. The food was also good. Everything except the carne tacos . The meat was more steak than carne asada. Tastes kinda weird . I really enjoyed the shrimp enchilada read more

RED O - Mexican Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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This location has been closed since May 5 for a health code violation for vermin (rats). My wife and I have Mother's Day reservations set for tomorrow and thank God we somehow found out that it was closed currently (she works in commercial property and monitors closures). I verified on the health department's website that they are in fact closed for various violations, some major (see attached pictures). We got LUCKY we discovered the closure...The issue is they never canceled the Mother's Day reservations. As of right now, they still have not called to cancel the reservation or automatically canceled it for tomorrow. If we would not have found out, we would have showed up tomorrow to Mother's Day, extremely disappointed. I had to call their Westlake location to verify that they were in fact closed because their (Santa Monica location) phone just keeps ringing when you call it. HORRIBLE management to not at least cancel the reservations so people could make other arrangements. Westlake location was very nice and apologized for this location but it's simply unacceptable and frankly, diabolically insensitive to not cancel/call the Mother's Day reservations to explain the situation. Never returning. read more

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This visit to Redo was a pleasant experience, especially for families with little ones. We ordered a cheese quesadilla for our baby, and it was a hit -- soft, simple, and cheesy without being overwhelming. Definitely one of those dishes you feel comfortable sharing with a child. I had the slow-cooked pork, and the portion size was very generous. The meat was tender and flavorful; slightly on the salty side for my taste, but still enjoyable overall, especially given the hearty serving. One nice extra was the photo service offered during the visit. They took photos for us and printed them on the spot -- four photos total: one small print that was complimentary, and three larger prints available for purchase at $20 each. Everything was explained clearly, with no pressure to buy. One small suggestion for improvement: it might feel more comfortable if guests could choose which photo to print before printing multiple copies. When photos are already printed but not purchased and end up being discarded, it can feel a bit wasteful as a guest. Giving people the option to select first could make the experience even better. Overall, between the generous portions, family-friendly options, and thoughtful service, it was a solid experience. read more

RED O - Mexican Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Going out of business??? I don't know, but when a place with "cantina" in its name only has two of the wines on its menu in stock, has no sangria, is down two of their virgin menu offerings, claims to have hendricks and then doesn't, one has to wonder: Are they running dry because they plan to close??? Additionally the food was just meh. One might expect some seasoning in the entrees, but the fajitas and carne asada were bland. At least our guacamole was good so the evening was not a total loss Edited to correct my error --- Happy Hour is only week days read more

Highly disappointed. I created this reservation a month in advanced. And I confirmed the reservation 4 times!! And had a call from them as well, also called them myself to confirm again. They sent me several texts and open table texts to keep confirming. When it comes to the day of the resturant was completely closed. At least tell or notify your customers that you guys aren't open. Whether it's an email or an Instagram post etc. not fair. I drove from Vegas for this restaurant specifically. It was one of my favorites... unfair. read more

RED O - Steak Sizzling Fajitas Queso Fundido Catering Chips and Guacamole ( sweet plantain chips) - Mexican Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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Canceled my 11 party reservation less than 24hours before Mother's Day, everywhere is booked barely any apology no type of anything offered for the inconvenience. read more

Nice location right at ocean ave. Good food, nice drinks helpful servers. We had our NYE dinner there and enjoyed it. The only bummer was the patio was leaking when it was pouring outside , so we had to change tables. read more

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Disappointed to say we didn't even get to try it. Made a Mother's Day reservation only to find out that they took our res while they were knowingly closed for health code violations. I understand wishful thinking and hoping youd reopen in time, but Management never even called to cancel. Leaving us and God knows how many other people screwed for Mother's day. I only found when seeing another reviewer's post and checking the Health dept website myself. I'm shocked by their lack of professionalism especially for a holiday. read more

Being the night before Thanksgiving and having walked about 10 miles, we needed dinner and margaritas to end the night. Our server Jenny was great. We had seats semi inside and out but it was perfect weather for alfresco dining. Really great interior decor. Perfect place to share food with family. Definitely enjoyed the molcajete and the queso fundido. The guacamole with plantain chips was a nice remix. Tried a bite of the fish tacos and wouldn't order it again. The tortillas here are very tasty so we made our own style tacos with the meats from the molcajete. I would indeed come back if in the area. read more

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This this location is directly across from the lobster and Santa Monica Pier entrance . Reservations are not required unless you have a group . Service is good and food is Delicious. The drinks are good too ! They have a tequila bar that comes to your table if your into that . They have huge windows so you can see outside and get a glimpse of the Ferris wheel if you're in the right seat . There is a parking lot a few buildings over . Price wise they are more of a special occasion type place than just an average dinner but worth every dollar in my opinion. Service is impeccable here . read more

RED O - Cheers time for a cocktail - Mexican Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Completely different menu from the other Red O locations . Food was unfortunately not the best. Was cold when arriving to table as well as flavorless Diablo shrimp tasted raw and sauce was not spicey at all and rice tasted like it had been left out for a while Molcajete was a big let down as well. The drinks were good. However both espresso martinis I ordered came with no chocolate rim or coffee beans like it said on the menu Service however was nice. Host and server were both very friendly and welcoming read more

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Was at Santa Monica pier and decided to stop here for some Mexican food with the wife & daughter. One thing you need to know is, if you are here before 6pm, ask for the lunch special menu & the happy hour menu. They are two separate menus. We were only given the normal menu, but my daughter had looked online and saw they had lunch specials and happy hour too. So we asked for the happy hour menus. Our waitress brought us the lunch special menu, but no happy hour menu. Again, luckily my daughter was researching. When waitress came back we asked for the happy hour menu again. Then she brought it... All these menus should have been given, but they don't give them hoping customers aren't informed and pay more. Big deals on there. From $26 for 2 tacos with beans and rice, to $10 for two tacos without beans and rice. Yeah, you can keep the beans and rice. $10 is still a lot for two tacos, but they were tasty. Queso fundido, which I got, dropped from $16 to $10 for happy hour. We also got taquitos for $10. And beer $2 off, I got a Pacifico for $6. Our total bill was about $50. If we had ordered off the normal menu, it would have been over $100. And all we didn't get was rice and beans. Overall the food was good. My wife liked the tacos, she actually got a 2nd plate with 2 more. My daughter, for some reason, wasn't a fan of the food. I thought my queso fundido was good. But overall, 2 stars for the shady business practices. read more

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Four solid stars for my visit to this Mexican restaurant that I would describe as a great place for people watching if you are seated inside near the sidewalk area or directly outside on the sidewalk area which diagonally faces the start of the Santa Monica pier. Pictured is the Crispy Short Rib Tacos Dorado and the Carne Asada Taco. Good size portions as the tacos are slightly larger than a street taco along with the rice and pinto beans which I substituted for the refried beans which are made with lard. Will definitely return the next time I'm in town. read more

RED O - Crispy Short Rib Taco Dorados and a Carne Asada taco. - Mexican Near Me - Santa Monica, California

the location and the inkind app brought us here. we were a party of 7 for brunch/lunch. total amount came about $250 including tip. i was only one who got the bottomless mimosa which were good but i wish they had more juice choices. one person didnt get her food i think he didnt put it in but they rushed it out quickly so it was fine. parking garage is closed by but it is $35 (40 for us being a van) but all day parking. so great for us to walk to pier after our lunch. read more

RED O - Mexican Near Me - Santa Monica, California

What's an amazing restaurant with beautiful decor and coastal views. Superb dining and ambient atmosphere. We were happily greeted and seated.Friendly professional service with a smile. We loved their Spanish decor and lively bar. We chose to sit in the patio. Perfect location to people watch and catch the sunset. For starters we shared chips and salsa. Not too spicy and full of flavors. Also tried their red sangria which is strong and not too sweet. Highly recommended by the way. A pleasant surprise was their wagyu smashed burger. Super juicy and delicious. My wife loved her steak wet burrito. Decent size with the right mix of meat and rice. My kids shared a kids cheese quesadilla and chicken tacos. I sampled them and was surprised how good they tasted. This restaurant is a must try if ever in Santa Monica. read more

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After a great day hiking and exploring the area we walked into RedO and happy we did. We ordered the chips/salsa and guacamole and then split the veggie enchiladas with a side order of veggies. Everything was great and a special note about the side of veggies -- they were freshly prepared (not frozen) and delicious - I was impressed with the quality of the food. read more

I really wanted to enjoy this spot, but my experience was a bit disappointing. I ordered the Molcajete, which came with only a few small pieces of steak and chicken -- the portion felt pretty limited. The Ceviche Negro had a nice flavor profile but could've used a bit more salt to really bring it together. The Mangonada mostly tasted like mango juice mixed with liquor and ice -- not quite the rich, balanced flavor I expected. Also, the pork rinds were extremely hard to chew, which made that part of the dish unpleasant. The restaurant has a great atmosphere and presentation, but I hope the kitchen pays more attention to texture, portion size, and consistency -- there's definitely potential for improvement. read more

RED O - Mexican Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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Great place, friendly staff. Food was a bit pricey but it was delicious. Ambience was great. Love the atmosphere. Big selection of tequila and some mezcal. read more

RED O - Shrimp Diablo - Mexican Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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I came here to eat dinner yesterday and our waiter his name is Jaime, he just took our order after that he didn't stop by once to ask if we needed anything else. He was helping every table, but mine. We kept waving at him bc he needed more water and he didn't come up to us until a couple of minutes, even then he said he would be back with water and he never came. Another person had to help us. Not to mention, he didn't bring us chips, he took some to every table that got there after us, except us. Also they don't have horchata... read more

The only thing stopping me from giving this place 5 stars was the photographer walking around pressuring you while you eat to purchase one of their pictures you take. Aside from that experience the food was amazing! We ordered the tomahawk special to share between my girlfriend and I. It was cooked perfectly median to our liking. I would definitely revisit however choose to stay away from the photographers taking pictures in the restaurant cause it feels like a car sales when you're trying to enjoy your food. read more

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Express Lunch - We were walking by trying to figure what to eat for lunch and saw a sign in front of Red O with their express weekday lunch for $16, this included a soft drink so it was a great deal for being in a touristy area. I was also pleased that their portions were decent - I had the lunch taco combo and everything tasted very good. Their outdoor seating had a nice view of the pier but surprised it was so empty. The only down side of my experience was the service. They call it "express" lunch but there was nothing quick about any of it. There was only 3-4 tables with patrons and everything from the drinks to the food to getting the check was super slow. Once they finally dropped off the check,then we had to wait again, after 15 minutes there was nobody in site - we got up to find someone and a group of workers were chit chatting around the host area. There was also an error on the check we had to get fixed which also took 10 minutes so it was a bit frustrating. When we were seated, the person mentioned they were short staffed but i saw 5-6 people working... 2 runners, bartender, manager and at least 2 servers for an almost empty restaurant. If I only had an hour lunch, this isn't the place but if you have a day off and want a slow, leisurely lunch - this place is fine - the food is good! Parking in this area is never easy - you can get 90 min parking for free at the mall or it's a 5 minute walk from the metro stop. read more

Stable Mexican cuisine front of the Santa Monica beach. This place threw us off a little with their interior choices. As we walked it, the decors scream to look like an Indian restaurant. Parts of the dining rooms were closed for the night... We had to wait over 5 minutes to get check-in when we had a reservation on a slow Sunday. The hostess was very slow, looked like they were under staffed. The music was too loud at certain spots and no music at others... Our servers also spilled our sangria on the menu. The food was decent for the price and location. However, nothing was memorable. The grilled plantain was great. Great presentation for the food, good seasoning and cooked well. It was super difficult to find parking. read more

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Omg, horrible . I have been the one in New Port beach. The one in Santa Monica is horrible. It took them 40 minutes to bring the drinks and appetizers, waited another 25 for main course. Decided to take it to go. read more

We had lunch here today - great service! We loved the enchiladas, shrimp diablo and fish tacos. The carne asade taco tortillas were a bit too soggy so my son didn't like them. Overall a good experience and good food. read more

Very solid option and a stellar blend of quality, flavor, value, and location. Got the wet burrito Xmas style but thought the verde was superior to the rojo. Overall great flavor. Staff is exceptionally friendly and attentive. read more

RED O - Mexican Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Popped in here for a quick drink with some coworkers. Great ambiance inside and I could see it being a cool late night spot too! Loved my margarita and its cute presentation in a skull glass. I'm a spicy margarita lover and his one had a good kick but wasn't too much. I'd definitely come back to get more drinks and try the food when back in the area! It's super close to the pier and easy to walk to. read more

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As it was a hot day, we popped in for a quick drink after walking the pier at Santa Monica. Located on Ocean very close to the pier, you will find this restaurant across the ocean side. As it was 3pm in afternoon on Sunday the restaurant was fairly empty except for the bar where people were chilling with refreshments. Not a super large bar compared to the restaurant size. The bar has all the staple drinks that you will find at a typical Mexican restaurant. Standard drinks like margaritas cost 17 dollars unless you upgrade the tequila. During the week they have happy hour with diacounted drinks and food. I'd you are thirsty, and you seek a solid drink, worth stopping in. read more

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Definitely had high hopes for this place, but I wouldn't try it again. Customer service was non-existent for the girls that worked at the very front. They asked what we were here for so we said "Just two!" and they just stood there and stared at us for a while before telling us (with attitude) that there are two food spots (one Mexican, one Mediterranean) and we had to pick one. Super awkward. We're out of town so we wouldn't really know that, but that being the first interaction was disappointing. The service had already left a sour taste in my mouth, but let me tell you about the first cocktail. Cucumber Margarita (0/5): terribly sour. We did appreciate the fresh cucumber on top, but the drink itself tasted heavily of syrup and straight lime juice. Santa Monica Sunset Margarita (3.8/5): I did like it! I think the sugar on the rim was nice, and you can substitute for salt or tajin depending on your preference. The coconut and pineapple blend together nicely, but I didn't taste much pomegranate! Vegan Tacos (2.5/5): I'm not vegan, but I know a lot of places that make vegan food taste spectacular! Unfortunately, this place is not one of them. Beer battered portobello mushrooms sound like they would have a crunch on the outside (beer batter) but soft on the inside (mushroom). This kinda just had a soggy texture all throughout. I do think the taste of the vegan tacos was there. The guacamole and whatever was added to the bottom was good! The tacos also come with lots of cabbage & pineapple, and a lime on the side. The plate also comes with white rice (doesn't specify on the menu) but I requested Mexican rice instead. The rice was good. Beans were also okay. Asked for the aioli on the side and it wasn't brought out, so we had to ask again. :( I forgot what tacos my boyfriend ordered, but he didn't like his either. On the bright side, our server was super friendly and we loved her! The restaurant is by the pier and has nice big windows to see outside. The lights at night look really nice as well! Would I visit again? Probably not. But it's in a great location and the ambiance is very pretty. read more

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I really enjoyed my time at this place, they had great music all the staff was so attentive and the food was delicious. read more

RED O - Mexican Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Stopped by Sunday. Pretty empty. Waiter was reasonably nice. He recommended a combination plate that was for 3 at $140. Kept trying to upsale. Instead we ordered some taco plates and fajita plate. The food was decent but when asked for spicier salsa, they said that they only had Tapatio or a habanero sauce. They charged us extra $2 for the sauce. Their business practices were a little shady trying to get the most out of you. Be aware. read more

Love Red O!! They have such a wide variety of items to choose from the menu. I've come here on numerous occassions for brunch, lunch and dinner and all times have been fantastic. My go to is the chicken fajitas and the elote, the elote is sooo flavorful. The guacamole is a hard pass it's very basic and not worth the money. I love the ambience of the restaurant and like that you have a view of the Santa Monca beach. This place is great for families, dinner, lunch, brunch with friends, happy hour. As stated above they have a lot to choose from. 4 stars for sure, they are pretty pricey. read more

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Man I know its Santa Monica. But my gawd the prices here are literally for the 1% ers , 20 dollars worth of food for ah hundred bucks ?!?! And a weeekk azz cocktail for 18 bucks no need to say that we won't be coming back here ever again!! First red flag Should have been there was literally not another customer in the joint when we cam in ,... chips were stale 99c Wal-Mart teeth breakers , water tasted dirty , banana chips were horrible, waste of hard earned money if you have no desire to serve good food and drinks at your enormously over priced prices than sell the joint to someone who does !!! Would have been one star but the service was actually good and friendly and the avocados were delightful but thats it ! read more

Came here before Kooza. Love the outdoor seating. Got guac, salad, and a fish dish. The rice was very hard/dried out with our fish so they comped it. Not sure what happened there. Aside from that, the food was really good. Excellent customer service. Parking structure RIGHT next door. Would be happy to come back. read more

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The drinks, food, and ambiance were great! Ashley took some nice photos of our group as well! Will be coming back!!! read more

RED O - Mexican Near Me - Santa Monica, California

This place was terrible. My wife and I were celebrating our anniversary, and despite having a 7:45 reservation, the manager told us we would still have to wait 10 minutes because they were understaffed. To make matters worse, we were served by a busboy who took my order incorrectly and then argued with me about an appetizer. When our main courses arrived, the enchiladas were a huge disappointment. We've eaten at the Newport Beach location many times, and the food there is outstanding--this location doesn't even come close. I've been to Red O numerous times, but after visiting the Newport Fashion Island location, the difference in food quality and service is truly night and day. I will never return to the Santa Monica location. It was a horrible experience. If they are going to carry the Red O name, it needs to meet the same standard as the other locations. Enchiladas were stale Tortillas seemed to be old. The meat on the shortbread enchilada was very chewy. Shrimp was cold this overall and horrible experience. read more

If you're seeking an elevated Mexican dining experience with top-tier service and a prime Santa Monica view, RedO Cantina delivers. I'd rate the service a solid 4.5 out of 5 professional, personable, and perfectly paced. Our server struck a perfect balance: friendly, knowledgeable, and eager to offer recommendations without pushing. They checked in at just the right moments, kept our drinks refreshed, and made us feel genuinely cared for--qualities that fellow diners on TripAdvisor also rave about. The photographer was punctual, prepared, and discreet--capturing special moments without ever feeling intrusive. Very great SERVICE!!! read more

RED O - Outdoor glass shield seating - Mexican Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Good: Food was good. We ordered ceviche, carne asada quesadilla and tortilla soup (tortilla soup didn't make it out) Bad: service was okay for our first drink and then almost non existent after that. I would have ordered a second drink, but by the time we were asked I was done with my food and we were over it. And we were sitting at the bar!! Our bar tender was friendly. I think they were just understaffed, but our experience was still impacted. I've been here a few times. Never been blown away, so will probably not return. read more

I truly appreciated the delicious food and the exceptional service. It made the experience all the more enjoyable. Thank you for creating such a warm and welcoming atmosphere! read more

RED O - Food and family - Mexican Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Jaime was a great and friendly server! We walked in and were sat immediately. On top of it, the food and the margs were fantastic. Highly recommend! read more

We came on Saturday. Food was amazing, enchiladas delicious! Drinks were also great, my husband had a spicy margarita that packed a punch! The host was lovely and our waitress was a delight. Being by the beach and enjoying a date night is always ideal but Red O was perfect. Can't wait to come back! read more