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Interior - Lula Cocina, Santa Monica, CA

Lula Cocina

4.5 (245)
$30 and under
Mexican
2720 Main St., Santa Monica, CA 90405

Make a booking

A photo of Lula Cocina restaurant

Lula Cocina

4.5
$30 and under
Mexican
Santa Monica

Make a booking

2 people
9:30 pm
Booked 7 times today

About this restaurant

  • Good for groups
  • Great for creative cocktails
  • Great for happy hour
Our story begins over 30 years ago in Mexico City and Lula has been a Santa Monica institution ever since. We serve potent cocktails and fare inspired by various regions of Mexico. Check out the outdoor patio - perfect for lunch and dinner or for private events. We have all day Taco Tuesday and Happy Hour 3 to 6pm Tuesday through Sunday.

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Mexican, Bar / Lounge / Bottle Service, Beer Garden
  • Hours of Operation
    Tue, Wed, Sun 15:00–21:00 Thu 15:00–22:00 Fri, Sat 11:30–23:00 Sun 11:30–21:00
  • Phone number
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive Chef
    Geraldine Gilliland
  • Catering
    Full service catering, either out house or yours. Every aspect of your event will be handled by our professional and experienced Event planner & service staff.
  • Private party facilities
    We offer an out door patio that can seat 50 comfortably, a dining room that seats 60, and a bar that seats 20 We are also proud to offer Chef Geraldine Gilliland's estate in Malibu for Catered events. www.ranchochiquita.com
  • Area
    Santa Monica
  • Cross street
    hill & ashland
  • Parking Details
    Metered parking offered by the City of Santa Monica directly behind the Restaurant for your convenience. #DontGetATicket!
  • Public transport
    Expo line is now open!
  • Entertainment
    Modern Latin Rock, Pop, Funk, & Salsa
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar Dining, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Offers

  • Happy Hour 3-6pm daily at our bar

    1 - 8 people

    Multiple dates available
    Sun - 11:30 am - 8:30 pm,Tue - Wed - 3:00 pm - 8:30 pm,Fri - Sat - 11:30 am - 10:00 pm
    Featuring food and drink specials ~ First come, first served

    Happy Hour 3-6pm daily at our bar photo

Concierge
AI Beta

Our AI assistant, Concierge, is here to answer your questions about this restaurant.

Reviews

OpenTable reviews from verified diners

Reviews from people who have dined at Lula Cocina.

4.5

4.5
(245)
  • 4.7Food
  • 4.5Service
  • 4.4Ambience
  • 4.3Value

Noise • Moderate

245 Reviews
  1. Jeff Gold

    Los Angeles77 reviews

    2.0

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 2
    Waiter took order promptly. About 35 minutes to get food for a party of 2. Ordered salmon special but fish was past its use by date & was super fishy. Shrimp fajitas were just ok. Restaurant was not busy but kitchen wasn't efficient. It used to be solid. Drinks still potent.

    Is this helpful?

  2. charles Gold

    New York City9 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Great food and drinks with a lively atmosphere to boot. There’s a reason it’s been here 30+ years.

    Is this helpful?

  3. Jeanne

    New Orleans / Louisiana24 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on 15 August 2026

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 3
    Staff was great. Food was good and came out very fast. Inside is great but it got loud and lively quick.

    Is this helpful?

  4. Michael

    Los Angeles5 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on 13 July 2026

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    we got some guac that one of our party found too spicy. the waiter's response was that "it's pre-made" so he couldn't take it back. I feel like some kind of adjustment should have at least been offered. Waitstaff here usually very friendly and accomodating. this time, not so much.

    1 person found this helpful

  5. kathy

    Los Angeles1 review

    5.0

    Dined on 2 July 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We have been eating at the restaurant for over 35 years!

    Is this helpful?

  6. Tracy Gold

    San Francisco Bay Area12 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 20 June 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Love this place. Old school, welcoming, Mexican restaurant that will always have the game on in the bar. Friendly servers too

    Is this helpful?

  7. Meriel Gold

    Hawaii1 review

    1.0

    Dined on 6 May 2026

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 5
    I used to love going here as a kid, but the food was below average and the service wasn’t great

    Is this helpful?

  8. Victoria

    Los Angeles5 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 24 April 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The Margaritas are exceptional and strong! Super friendly place and all the Happy Hour food offerings were delicious!

    Is this helpful?

  9. Danilo

    San Diego1 review

    3.0

    Dined on 21 March 2026

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 3
    Only happy hour menú was being served. Then in the middle if service all of a sudden the regular menú was available. I was looking forward to a full meal but it was too late we already ordered from their happy hour menú.

    Is this helpful?

  10. Juli-anne

    Los Angeles1 review

    1.0

    Dined on 21 March 2026

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 4
    Arrived for our reservation at 4pm, waited several minutes to be addressed/acknowledged. We were told that they only had a very limited ‘happy hour’ menu. When we asked why it wasn’t a mentioned to us when we made the reservation we were told that management had made a last minute decision! (?) The menu only had a choice of nachos, sopas and a burger. We had been looking forward to our lunch date all day, and were very disappointed with the lack of service and very limited menu. We ultimately decided to go elsewhere.

    1 person found this helpful

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Mexican, Bar / Lounge / Bottle Service, Beer Garden
  • Hours of Operation
    Tue, Wed, Sun 15:00–21:00 Thu 15:00–22:00 Fri, Sat 11:30–23:00 Sun 11:30–21:00
  • Phone number
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive Chef
    Geraldine Gilliland
  • Catering
    Full service catering, either out house or yours. Every aspect of your event will be handled by our professional and experienced Event planner & service staff.
  • Private party facilities
    We offer an out door patio that can seat 50 comfortably, a dining room that seats 60, and a bar that seats 20 We are also proud to offer Chef Geraldine Gilliland's estate in Malibu for Catered events. www.ranchochiquita.com
  • Area
    Santa Monica
  • Cross street
    hill & ashland
  • Parking Details
    Metered parking offered by the City of Santa Monica directly behind the Restaurant for your convenience. #DontGetATicket!
  • Public transport
    Expo line is now open!
  • Entertainment
    Modern Latin Rock, Pop, Funk, & Salsa
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar Dining, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

FAQs

Casual dress is the guide, comfortable, informal clothing is appropriate for dining at Lula Cocina.

Portions at Lula Cocina are commonly described as generous and many dishes are shareable, guests frequently note large, hearty plates and oversized appetizers like the nachos.

Expect Lula Cocina to be at its busiest during happy hour and on festive nights, reviewers describe a lively, crowded mood, while non‑peak hours with many tables open feel noticeably calmer.

Lula Cocina feels colorful and festive, reviewers note vibrant murals, open windows, and a welcoming, upbeat vibe that suits casual meals and nights with live music.

Yes, Lula Cocina can be a lovely date-night spot: guests describe it as perfect for a quiet date night and recount memorable dinners with partners.

For great deals and a festive vibe, visit Lula Cocina on Taco Tuesday or during happy hour, Taco Tuesday is a guest favorite and happy hour runs 3–6pm Tuesday through Sunday.

Yes, Lula Cocina is family-friendly, with attentive staff who frequently help families and patiently answer questions for picky eaters.

Yes, the outdoor patio welcomes diners with dogs and is mentioned repeatedly by guests as a dog-friendly spot.

Yes, Lula Cocina has an outdoor patio for lunch and dinner, and many guests mention sitting on the patio for a sunny, open‑air meal.

Dogs are welcome on Lula Cocina's patio, multiple guests mention dining outside with their dogs and enjoying the dog‑friendly patio.

Lula Cocina offers indoor dining and a lively bar, plus an outdoor patio that’s highlighted as a perfect spot for lunch and dinner.

How FAQ content is generated

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. Los Angeles
  4. Westside
  5. Santa Monica

Make a booking

A photo of Lula Cocina restaurant

Lula Cocina

4.5
$30 and under
Mexican
Santa Monica

Make a booking

2 people
9:30 pm
Booked 7 times today
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