Lula Cocina

Always love it? :)

Nice family atmosphere and quite colorful with a large back patio. Menu is quite large and we enjoyed our dishes. The chips and salsa were first rate as was service. My only complaint is that I thought the margaritas were wayyyyyyy too expensive.

Not very good food

Excellent mix of typical Mexican food, but upscale, ancient dishes from southern Mexico, and contemporary takes on old dishes. “Green corn” tamales are superb. So are the Moles. We had a 2:30 Sunday reservation, only to find that the City had closed off the street for a street festival. I found parking 7 blocks away; we were all late to our reservation, but Lula’s held our table. They were so kind when we were all frazzled.
I’m of Mexican descent. I rarely take my parents to Mexican restaurants because my mother feels she can out cook most restaurants. And she can. I took my parents to Lula’s for my mother’s birthday and she looooved Lula’s and flipped for the food. The crepes de camarón are my favorite appetizer. Save room for dessert. I recommend the flan sampler.

Celebrating a UCLA graduation, we had a large group of folks that really couldn’t make up their mind. Reservations were a breeze to make and the restaurant had both an indoor and outdoor area available to us, and were very accommodating in letting us switch from outside to inside for the older folks in our party who were too chilly on the patio.
The service was GREAT - water, chips & salsa, and guacamole were served within just a few short minutes of being seated. The drinks were tasty - specialty margs and sangria were delicious and our server was quick with our seconds. The food was delicious, good portions for the price. Easily shareable plates and food came out quick. Would definitely recommend and will definitely be back!

The drinks were great. I thought $10 for a small side of guac a bit over the top (it was a simple guac). Chips were stale. The enchilada was good, as was the sampler. But the burrito...meh...more like a wrap, very dry. The service was great. The noise and the giant mess left by the family at the large table next to us was a bit of a turn off and not the restaurant's fault....would never let my kids leave such a mess.

Great consustent for good quality approachable Mexican food. The green corn tamales are frankly the best I have had in LA over the span of 13 plus years of sampling. And parking isn't too tough on main street area of SM.

Good food and staff very friendly.

Overrated
Waiter asks me, Guacamole?
Comes back with small dish. &9.75
Wow

Lula Cocina was incredible. Had visitors from Massachusetts and wanted them to taste great Mexican food and margaritas, we were not disappointed. I am not familiar with Santa Monica restaurants, so their website got me interested along with the chef 's experience from Rick Bayless and others. Yum Yum Yum. Definitely a place to go.

Fun place, great vibe and the food was good. The prices were a little high, but you have to expect that when you're in Santa Monica.

Brunch items on website were not available at restaurant. When I asked for a brunch menu, they only had their main menu that did not list any breakfast items like the website, in fact it didn't list any at all, the waiter only mentioned a few items available. Very disappointed that I was mislead but for what they had, food and service was good overall.

Great for kids

Delicious! Wish server would have offered others tequila options. Flan was also incredible!

We’ve been fans of Lula’s for many years!! It’s our neighborhood favorite!

I've been a regular at Lula's since it opened. The food is really good, the margarita is my favorite. The menu and has changed, my favorite dish removed, it seems less vegan options, and the prices are too high. I had a spinach enchilada for I think $18 or $19. I requested the small bowl of marinated carrots, which has always been complimentary, it's now $5. ...for carrots. I'm not sure I will go there for a meal again. Maybe just a drink and chips.

Great food and great atmosphere except for the barking dog a patron had brought in and seated 3 tables Away. I didn’t realize dogs were allowed in restaurants.

No other place was so appropriate for a kick off Bon Voyage for my dear friends who will be enjoying South America during the first month of their year-long voyage across the globe. Chuck Craig the manager gave us a wonderful send-off complete with delectable dishes and made us feel like we were Spanish royalty with his suggestions on appetizers, entrees and desserts, but made me and my friends feel like part of the Lula family!! Oh my God, my friend is on a sugar fasting diet before she leaves for Peru, but she and I could NOT stop eating the chocolate mousse berry house dessert and chocolate-espresso-caramel leche flan trio. And the sweet and savory shrimp chipotle patty is otherworldly, something I’ve never tasted before, I might as well call it the best mini tortilla pancake I’ve ever had in my life. And a Mexican pizza? No, call it a huge heavenly flatbread. I’ve never experienced such textures and evolutions in Latino cuisine (and I’ve eaten at many chains, mom and pops, and fine dining Mexican restaurants before). And you feel like you’re in the center of the world in Santa Monica with smiles on everyone’s faces. You must experience Lula’s.

Chipotle shrimp flatbread was amazing!

Large portions. Awesome (strong) margaritas.

The waitstaff are fantastic - very service oriented - friendly and professional. the house margaritas are the best in LA - not a weak hipster style drink. The food is good. If Broken Spanish is 5 star and Mercado is 4 star then Lula is a very good strong 3 star. But the staff and the drinks make the place.

Food at Lula’s is always delicious

Brunch menu on line but no brunch menu exists.
Some food was cold or cooked wrong.
Was decent. Not great

The food is always good. The ambiance is beautiful.

Top notch!

Great as usual!

I love this restaurant, and have since I was about 5 years old. It’s a community space, with great food, amazing service and energetic ambiance!

Queso fundito with homemade tortillas was a really good start. Then terrible. Tamale was a mushy mess, Tostito was inedible. Burrito had so much bean juice in it you couldn’t pick it up. Fajitas were all onions. Rellenos has gloppy cheese filling. Just awful.

Walked right in, we were seated and staff took our orders. Our entire party enjoyed their meals.

Good food and adequate service. Priced high for what you get.

we have eaten there many times. This time Sunday so noisy with kids yelling and parents not taking control and respecting other diners . They need to go to Chucky Cheese ! Kids need to learn manners and I am not sure if I will go back just because of the kid factor.

From the Margaritas to the appetizers to the solo guitarist and service - very nicely done! Great date spot!

Yummy home style Mexican food. Ceviche tostadas were excellent. Lobster enchiladas were tasty, kind of small. We were still hungry. Bomb margaritas.

I have lived in the area for years and come to Lula from time to time. While we were initially shown to a terrible table in the noisy back bar area, but after I hesitated we were offered a comfortable booth by the windows which was much better for conversation! I brought my two twenty-something nephews who are vegans, and they really enjoyed the vegan options. I had a light ceviche-style dish and a great margarita. Feels very neighborhood-y and I really need to go back more often. Service was friendly and professional.

I have been going to Lula's for years. Always good food... Service is great and the margaritas are the best. I highly recommend Lula's.

Service was terrible, our server was rude to not just us, but other tables. The food was fantastic, however, and everyone else that worked there was great. I hope the guy cheers up or stops working there, because he was a bummer

One of our favorite neighborhood spots!!! We know every waiter by name. It’s perfect every time.

it took FOREVER to get our food and it wasn’t even that full. i keep trying to like that place but its so freaking slow to get the food out.

Went because they advertise vegan options. The vegan food tasted awful. The non vegan meal my husband had was below average the guacamole tasted like it was bought and not freshly made.

We went for dinner on a Saturday around 6:30PM. Had a good flow of people, but wasn't too busy. The margaritas were great and so was the meal! Would definitely go back for casual dining.