Lares is a mexican restaurant in Pico, Santa Monica.
Editorially verified August 18, 2026 by Lewis Vaughan, TableJourney editor. Source.
Must order: Mole plates from the southern-dishes side of the menu
Tip: Ask about mariachi nights before you book a quiet dinner; breakfast from 08:00 is the sleeper move.
Address: 2909 Pico Boulevard, Santa Monica, CA 90405
Z Garden plates certified halal Middle Eastern food on Pico Boulevard in Santa Monica, Muslim-owned and generous with kebab plates, hummus and saffron rice.
Order: Mixed grill over saffron rice with garlic sauce
Tip: Portions run huge; a single mixed grill plate with extra garlic sauce covers two people at lunch.
Benny's Tacos brines its rotisserie chicken for 24 hours in citrus and garlic on Wilshire in Santa Monica, with churros piped full of Bavarian cream.
Order: Rotisserie chicken plate and a Bavarian cream churro
Tip: The rotisserie chicken plate feeds two; finish with the cream-filled churros even if you think you will not.
Sweetfin builds chef-driven poke bowls on Broadway in Santa Monica, an entirely gluten-free kitchen of bamboo rice, kale noodles and citrus ponzu fish.
Order: Spicy tuna bowl on bamboo rice
Tip: Every bowl base swaps free, so try the kale noodle base; the whole menu is gluten-free by default.
Sunny Blue wraps made-to-order omusubi on Main Street in Santa Monica, miso beef and curry rice balls pressed warm behind a six-seat counter.
Order: Miso beef omusubi, plus a spicy salmon to go
Tip: Miso mushroom is vegetarian and gluten-free; get one spicy salmon for the walk down to the beach.
Pita House grills certified halal Mediterranean plates on Lincoln Boulevard in Santa Monica, shawarma, falafel and kebabs late into the evening.
Order: Mixed shawarma plate with garlic sauce
Tip: Everything on the menu is certified halal and there is no alcohol; the mixed shawarma plate feeds two.
Z Garden plates certified halal Middle Eastern food on Pico Boulevard in Santa Monica, Muslim-owned and generous with kebab plates, hummus and saffron rice.
Order: Mixed grill over saffron rice with garlic sauce
Tip: Portions run huge; a single mixed grill plate with extra garlic sauce covers two people at lunch.
Satdha Plant Based Thai Kitchen has cooked gourmet vegan Thai food on Lincoln Boulevard in Santa Monica since 2013, no fake meats, just vegetable craft.
Order: Khao soi and the lion's mane mushroom fried chicken
Tip: Chef Gunn Pankum's lion's mane mushroom fried chicken converts sceptics; the khao soi is the quiet best dish.
