La Serenata

Leila Springer

Still the Best Choice for Mexican on the Westside ... There's a reason La Serenata de Garibaldi continues to thrive when so many restaurants have come and gone. The place is authentically both adorable and sophisticated, with Mexican art and design that make me feel like I'm back in Mexico City. The service somehow feels like you've been invited to your abuelita's for dinner and your cousins are helping out. Can't explain why, but it does! You'll see. But what's really important is the FOOD and that continues to be consistently delicious. We still love, love, love and husband can't resist the siren song of the Shrimp Empanadas, even though we've moved a bit out from the Westside. And the margaritas are delicious ... they manage to hit both the classic expectations but have a unique little twist. Keep thinking Ima sit at the bar one day and watch them ... in the interest of science, of course. Just a word though ... read the street parking signs. This is, after all, the Westside. During the day there's also a little parking in the back off the alley. With so many choices for Mexican in Los Angeles, it can be overwhelming, but La Serenata di Garibaldi makes it easy; it's great for both your consistently delicious go-to and for out-of-town visitors. My husband is from Texas and loves his Mexican and La Serenata de Garibaldi is top of his list. I've spent enough time in Mexico I'm picky about Mexican and it's top of mine, too. Vamos!

esmeralda trocadero

This restaurant was recommended to us by a friend and we absolutely loved it. When we came it wasn’t crowded at all, I hope they get more business because the service was amazing and the food was probably the best I’ve had in a Mexican restaurant. We had the shrimp enchiladas, plaintain empanadas, the shrimp Al mojo de ajo, guacamole and chips with molcajete sauce. The salsa was really good and different than I’ve had at other Mexican restaurants. Everything we ate was flavorful. Definitely worth a try! Prices are very reasonable too which is nice post pandemic where everything has gone up significantly in price.

eriko p

Fabulous tasty Mexican food, beautifully presented, spiced well. Marco the owner was very nice. Full bar. I had a cucumber , cilantro jalapeno margarita! It was the best margarita over ever had. Lots Vegan and vegetarian options. Wheelchair accessible . A few parking spots in the back of the restaurant, accessed through the alley.

Perach

Though the restaurant is in an area where retail is dying, this Mexican restaurant has some if the most authentic food I’ve eaten since being in Mexico.

German Jimenez

The food was amazing! I ❤️ the hardshell chicken tacos with the rice and beans on the side. The new bar is very nice with that Juicy IPA on tap 👍🏼👍🏼 I will definite be coming back for more. Thank you Irma for the great service.

Nicole Robert

I thought this place was delicious. Service was a bit slow which was weird because we were the only ones in there( we came at an early dinner time.) I’m sure it gets more lively at night since there is a great bar area and outdoor seating. I would definitely come back and eat here again. We got the Barbacoa quesadilla and the potato tacos.

Great authentic and delicious Mexican food. Local owner, great service and very welcoming atmosphere. Place is historic and a neighborhood staple. Definitely recommend for scratching the Mexican food itch.

We love it here! The food is always fresh, delicious, and reasonably priced. Plenty of parking in the back. We order takeout here at least once a week, and it never disappoints. On weekends we like to come in for dinner and margaritas and they always make us feel at home! I have a gluten allergy and it’s never been an issue and they are always sweet about it!

This is my favorite local restaurant. The food and staff are incredible. And $5 Margarita Mondays? The best. Their fish dishes are always on point. Please support this wonderful family-run spot. They truly deserve it.

The food was amazing, especially the eggs in the huevos con chorizo with rice, tortillas, and beans. That was all cooked masterfully well. The service staff were so nice and friendly which I greatly appreciate. They brought food and drinks out fairly quickly so their timing was near impeccable. Finally the atmosphere as great. It was so chill, calm, casual. It didn’t feel like you were being rushed or anything which in my opinion is always a good sign. 10/10 would be extremely happy to go there again

When La Serenata first opened, there was a line to get in. With the closure of Westside Pavilion---especially the Landmark Theaters---there is less foot traffic and no theater traffic. As a result, their business has fallen off, but the quality has not. The cuisine is even better than before. An advantage for customers (but not for the owners) is that the restaurant is quiet. Please eat there and keep them in business!

My husband and I had dinner there last night first the first time after living in Mar Vista for over 35 years! We were blown away at the quality of the food and the personalized service! We met Marco the owner, who delighted us with some family stories and the history of this amazing Westside spot. Unfortunately, it wasn't busy at all for a Saturday night and Marco said that he hoped they would be able to remain open, but sadly he wasn't sure as they recently have suffered some financial difficulties. After having an incredible meal, we told him we would post reviews for the restaurant on as many sites as we could! We intend to make this one of our frequent dine out spots and hope that they will be around for a long time. Please support this neighborhood gem!!!

I absolutely love this restaurant! The atmosphere is warm and inviting, with stylish, colorful decor that creates a lively yet comfortable setting. The food is incredibly fresh and flavorful — both authentic and health-conscious. I especially enjoyed the shrimp enchiladas, which were exceptional. The drinks are expertly crafted, and the housemade desserts are amazing — a perfect finish to the meal. I’ve also been here for a birthday celebration with a group of ten, and it was a fantastic experience. The staff handled everything smoothly, and the energy made it a really fun and memorable night. I’ll definitely be returning often!

Uniquely delicious Oaxacan Mexican food. The mole with its complex flavors of spices, nuts, seeds and chocolate really elevated our dishes. We had a several dishes including yellowtail fish, vegetarian and chicken, which we also at times made tacos with the accompanying warm tortillas. All in all an outstanding meal.

The food is very tasty, the restaurant is stylish, and the prices are fair. But the highlight of my visit was Marco! He was very attentive and he makes the BEST Key Lime Pie in Los Angeles!

Sarena

The food is very tasty, the restaurant is stylish, and the prices are fair. But the highlight of my visit was Marco! He was very attentive and he makes the BEST Key Lime Pie in Los Angeles!

Tess Cutler

This is my favorite local restaurant. The food and staff are incredible. And $5 Margarita Mondays? The best. Their fish dishes are always on point. Please support this wonderful family-run spot. They truly deserve it.

Matt Lopez

Great authentic and delicious Mexican food. Local owner, great service and very welcoming atmosphere. Place is historic and a neighborhood staple. Definitely recommend for scratching the Mexican food itch.

Jan Gabrielson

When La Serenata first opened, there was a line to get in. With the closure of Westside Pavilion---especially the Landmark Theaters---there is less foot traffic and no theater traffic. As a result, their business has fallen off, but the quality has not. The cuisine is even better than before. An advantage for customers (but not for the owners) is that the restaurant is quiet. Please eat there and keep them in business!

Claire McKenny

We love it here! The food is always fresh, delicious, and reasonably priced. Plenty of parking in the back. We order takeout here at least once a week, and it never disappoints. On weekends we like to come in for dinner and margaritas and they always make us feel at home! I have a gluten allergy and it’s never been an issue and they are always sweet about it!

Walt Shaw

Uniquely delicious Oaxacan Mexican food. The mole with its complex flavors of spices, nuts, seeds and chocolate really elevated our dishes. We had a several dishes including yellowtail fish, vegetarian and chicken, which we also at times made tacos with the accompanying warm tortillas. All in all an outstanding meal.

Denise Scher

My husband and I had dinner there last night first the first time after living in Mar Vista for over 35 years! We were blown away at the quality of the food and the personalized service! We met Marco the owner, who delighted us with some family stories and the history of this amazing Westside spot. Unfortunately, it wasn't busy at all for a Saturday night and Marco said that he hoped they would be able to remain open, but sadly he wasn't sure as they recently have suffered some financial difficulties. After having an incredible meal, we told him we would post reviews for the restaurant on as many sites as we could! We intend to make this one of our frequent dine out spots and hope that they will be around for a long time. Please support this neighborhood gem!!!

Juliana Marmentini

My boyfriend and I loved everything we ordered. The nachos were my favorite. My boyfriend enjoyed his tacos and chile relleno. Ended our meal with their aaamazing key lime pie! This is an LA treasure and I can’t wait to come again.

Karna R

I absolutely love this restaurant! The atmosphere is warm and inviting, with stylish, colorful decor that creates a lively yet comfortable setting. The food is incredibly fresh and flavorful — both authentic and health-conscious. I especially enjoyed the shrimp enchiladas, which were exceptional. The drinks are expertly crafted, and the housemade desserts are amazing — a perfect finish to the meal. I’ve also been here for a birthday celebration with a group of ten, and it was a fantastic experience. The staff handled everything smoothly, and the energy made it a really fun and memorable night. I’ll definitely be returning often!

jedi journal

The food was amazing, especially the eggs in the huevos con chorizo with rice, tortillas, and beans. That was all cooked masterfully well. The service staff were so nice and friendly which I greatly appreciate. They brought food and drinks out fairly quickly so their timing was near impeccable. Finally the atmosphere as great. It was so chill, calm, casual. It didn’t feel like you were being rushed or anything which in my opinion is always a good sign. 10/10 would be extremely happy to go there again

Stopped by for a late lunch at this Mexican food restaurant. The menu seemed plentiful and they even have a separate to lunch portion menu, if you want a smaller portion mid-day. I opted to order steak and chicken fajitas off of their full menu. The fatijas came out sizzling hot. Served with freshly made, hand made, corn tortillas which were excellent. The black beans served were frijoles borrachos made with Modelo beer. Delicious! The steak and chicken were tender, and the bell peppers were cooked perfectly with a slight crunch. Just the way they should be The service was friendly and informative. I learned about the family history of the restaurant and the previous multiple locations that the family owned. They are now down to just this one location and still run by the same family. Overall, a great experience, good food and a nice find!

**Attention** NO Parking, No Parking between 4pm and 7pm you must park across the street and it's a little touch and go... and apparently there's limited parking in the rear. Mojitos are very good and refreshing, margarita's too... Food was good, servers were very attentive, wait time on food could improve, great little spot to stop in and enjoy a tasty mexican food dish.

We had really hopes for this place. It is so pretty inside and the place is spotless. The service is excellent and parking is pretty easy on the street. We looked at the menu and everything looked good. We were waited on right away and again, the servers were super. Sadly the food and prices were lacking. My grandson loves guacamole and we always order that straight away. We always get a large size. It came and was so small for the very high price. It had some tomatoes etc. on the size and they were good. The guacamole was very good. We had to order a second order because there was so little to be had. My grandson wanted a third, but at the prices I said no. We then had enchiladas served with white rice. Mine was not eatable. It had so much sauce and was so very spicy. I did not order spicy and I am not talking about gee that has a kick, I am talking about so hot there should be a warning next to it like there is on a few other things. The rice was dry and ever so bland. My grandson had ordered the same thing. It also came with beans that were no more than average. I asked my grandson if he wanted my food and he said no, his was too hot and he could not eat it. A few bites were taken and we asked for the check and left. We won't be back. And that is sad. They could make better food, they could warn of super hot and they could notice was no food is being eaten. It is a cute place.

Floren P

**Attention** NO Parking, No Parking between 4pm and 7pm you must park across the street and it's a little touch and go... and apparently there's limited parking in the rear. Mojitos are very good and refreshing, margarita's too... Food was good, servers were very attentive, wait time on food could improve, great little spot to stop in and enjoy a tasty mexican food dish.

Elizabeth Lascheid

We had really hopes for this place. It is so pretty inside and the place is spotless. The service is excellent and parking is pretty easy on the street. We looked at the menu and everything looked good. We were waited on right away and again, the servers were super. Sadly the food and prices were lacking. My grandson loves guacamole and we always order that straight away. We always get a large size. It came and was so small for the very high price. It had some tomatoes etc. on the size and they were good. The guacamole was very good. We had to order a second order because there was so little to be had. My grandson wanted a third, but at the prices I said no. We then had enchiladas served with white rice. Mine was not eatable. It had so much sauce and was so very spicy. I did not order spicy and I am not talking about gee that has a kick, I am talking about so hot there should be a warning next to it like there is on a few other things. The rice was dry and ever so bland. My grandson had ordered the same thing. It also came with beans that were no more than average. I asked my grandson if he wanted my food and he said no, his was too hot and he could not eat it. A few bites were taken and we asked for the check and left. We won't be back. And that is sad. They could make better food, they could warn of super hot and they could notice was no food is being eaten. It is a cute place.