Blue Plate Taco

Name: Blue Plate Taco
Address: 1515 Ocean Ave. Suite A, Santa Monica, CA, United States, 90401
Telephone: (310) 458-2985
Price range: $30 and under
Rating: 4.5

4.5

895 Reviews

$30 and under

Mexican

Top Tags:

Blue Plate Taco is a coastal Baja-meets-Santa Monica destination on Ocean Ave. We are dedicates to creating all our food from scratch including the agua frescas and margaritas from the bar, the tortillas are made by hand fresh all day, and our salsas are made daily. The entire menu is fresh, light and delicious.

We hold most of our tables for walk-ins so if you don't see any reservations, don't fret! We'll get you seated after a short wait while you're admiring the Pacific and taking in the famous Santa Monica pier.

Reservations are limited to 90 minutes, we hold reservations for 10 minutes.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Dec 8, 2023

7:00 PM

Booked 16 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
Mexican, Latin American, American
Hours of operation
Lunch & Dinner Mon–Fri 12:00 pm–10:00 pm Sat, Sun 11:00 am–10:00 pm
Phone number
(310) 458-2985
Website
http://blueplatetaco.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Casual Dress
Owned/operated by
Women
Executive chef
Jonathan Juarez
Catering
We have menu options for all of your catering needs. We can provide food and staff for your parties.
Private party facilities
We have a large patio that can accommodate up to 60 people and we are available for private parties.

Location
1515 Ocean Ave. Suite A, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Neighborhood
Santa Monica
Cross street
Broadway
Parking details
Street parking, lots and valet available after 5pm
Public transit
There is bus stop across the street within the same block.
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Delivery, Dog Friendly, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Vegan, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Featured in

Women-Owned and -Operated Restaurants to Support in LA

Popular dishes

Baja Chopped Salad$16.00
shredded iceberg, castelvetrano olives, jicama, avocado, cucumber, pomegranate seeds, jack cheese, champagne vinaigrette, tortilla strips
Baja Chopped Ceviche Salad$19.00
our fabulous Baja chopped with calamari, shrimp, lobster, mixto dressing with fried tortilla strips
Baja Caesar$13.00
chopped little gem, housemade caesar dressing, corn, avocado, cotija, tortilla strips
Guacamole & Chips$13.00
housemade chips served with pico de gallo & house ranchero
- Half$7.00
Quesadillas$10.00
- Cheese$10.00
- Farmers Market Veggie$12.00
- Chicken$14.00
- Steak or Shrimp$17.00
Farmers Market Nachos$13.00
SM farmers market veggies, jack cheese, guacamole, pico, radish, fresno
Ceviche Mixto$16.00
lobster, shrimp, calamari, pomegranate seeds
Taquitos Deliciosos$14.00
3 crispy hand rolled tortillas with chicken, mushroom, corn, queso fresco

Tacos

Three Tacos - Flour or Fresh Corn Tortillas, Served with Rice & Beans (or sub slaw). Fresh hand pressed corn tortillas. Get your taco Flaco Style in a lettuce cup

Veggie Tacos$15.00
roasted corn, mushrooms, leeks, kale, goat cheese, cotija, truffle oil
Taco del Dia$0.00
seasonally rotating, see server
- MP$0.00
Steak Tacos$17.00
tomatillo salsa, red onion, cilantro
Fish Tacos$16.00
a la plancha or Baja style, cabbage & chipotle aioli
Pork Belly Tacos$17.00
pineapple, spicy escabeche, guajillo salsa, cilantro
Shrimp Tacos$17.00
pumpkin seed pesto, jicama & cilantro
Lobster Tacos$24.00
Maine lobster, jack cheese, truffle oil, crispy shell
Chicken Tacos$16.00
melted jack, guajillo salsa, avocado, queso fresco & lettuce

Sizzling Fajitas

Sautéed Peppers, Onions & Poblanos, Served with Salsa & Guacamole

Mary's Chicken$27.00
Steak$28.00
Shrimp$28.00
Farmers Market Veggie$19.00
Combo$30.00
pick two

Salsas

$3 ea / Flight of Three $6. All of our salsas are made in house fresh daily and use a variety of chiles to reflect different regions in Mexico

Ranchera
roasted tomato salsa with a hint of garlic and serrano
Tomatillo
green, mild, creamy salsa with avocado, hints of lime and cilantro
Pico de Gallo
classic medley of fresh tomatoes, onion and cilantro
Guajillo
red salsa that is smoky and mild
Mojo de Ajo
our secret weapon made of sweet roasted garlic and chili arbol
Tropical
roasted pineapple, garlic, chili de arbol
Habanero
Green and spicy!

Sides

Elote$7.00
grilled street style corn with cotija
BPT Rice$4.00
brown rice with cilantro
Beans$4.00
stewed pinto
Mexican Slaw$5.00
with vinaigrette
Farmers Market Veggie$8.00
SM farmers market

Dessert

BPT Baja Cheesecake & Choice of Gelato$9.00
Grateful Spoon Gelato$7.00
raspberry (vegan) or vanilla
- Custom Crafted$7.00
- For 2$11.00

What 895 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.5

4.5 based on recent ratings

4.5Food
4.5Service
4.4Ambience
4.2Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

Westside
Mexican

895 Reviews

OT
OpenTable Diner
Los Angeles
1 review
vip
2.0
1 review
Dined on November 29, 2023
Overall2Food3Service3Ambience1
When our group of 4 went on Nov 28th, it was not a pleasant experience or worth the cost. The inside of their restaurant was closed due to a kitchen renovation, but there was nothing mentioned on their site or on the booking platform when reserving a table. Everyone was seated outside, food and drinks were served from a food truck, you were charged $5 for water because that’s all they had (still or sparkling). We spent $55 per person with 20% tip for a mediocre meal and experience. Our margaritas were served in a plastic solo cup, chips were served in a small food truck plate so we had to keep asking for more chips. And they had a limited menu of 5 options. If we were aware of the above situation due to renovation, we never would’ve drove an hour to meet with some friends for a nice dinner who we haven’t seen for the experience we had. Oh, and the cesar salad that was ordered by my vegan girlfriend, never came out so she just ate rice and beans because that’s the only vegan options that were available on that limited menu. She would’ve mentioned it to the server, but she was not around and we were all pretty much finished our meals. A waste of money. Will not return.
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h
happydiner
Minneapolis
10 reviews
3.0
10 reviews
Dined on November 28, 2023
Overall3Food4Service4Ambience3
We arrived to find out that the kitchen is being remodeled this week and that they were serving from a very limited menu out of a food truck parked next to hastily arranged outdoor seating (at the edge of the street!). The day manager heard my questions and immediately came over to assist. She apologized profusely for the fact that their webpage had not been updated to let customers know about the remodeling project. I was on the website on Monday 11/27 when I made the reservation - NO MENTION of any change to their offerings. Because the manager was so gracious and we didn't want to walk anymore, we took a table and were served by a very friendly and helpful waiter. The food was delicious and we enjoyed conversation with our friends. The project is scheduled for completion by Sat, Dec 2nd, so we just happened to get caught in the middle. Based on very limited experience with their food, we would try them again.
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M
Mary
New Orleans
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on November 19, 2023
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
Delicious and incredible food and drinks :). Loved the vibe here!!
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BS
BrianS
London
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on November 11, 2023
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
Great Margaritas and Fajitas and service. Thanks a lot
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SG
StevenG
Los Angeles
22 reviews
vip
5.0
22 reviews
Dined on November 5, 2023
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
Great shrimp- great margarita great company Love this place
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OT
OpenTable Diner
New York Area
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 4, 2023
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
Good food, staff friendly and efficient, thank you
Is this helpful?
S
Sandi
Los Angeles
38 reviews
vip
2.0
38 reviews
Dined on November 4, 2023
Overall2Food2Service4Ambience1
I thought this restaurant was mediocre at best. Food came out in 2 seconds, so I got the feeling everything was just already cooked ages ago and sitting around and just spooned on the plate. Food was kind of tasteless. Our server was very good. Noise level was awful. Bottom line is I won’t be going back. I frequently go to Blue Plate Oysterette and absolutely love that place. No comparison whatsoever to the taco joint!!
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MW
MaryW
Los Angeles
2 reviews
vip
4.0
2 reviews
Dined on October 31, 2023
Overall4Food4Service4Ambience3
Lunch was great, service was friendly, and food was quick and yummy. We were able to get a table during lunch, which was nice, but most of the tables were out in the sun, which was not ideal. also one alcohol drink is as much as your plate. Lunch was great, service was friendly, and food was quick and yummy.
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R
Rita
Los Angeles
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on October 22, 2023
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
I've been to this restaurant twice, and had a great experience both times. Yummy food and drinks, and the location is great!
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G
Greg
Los Angeles
19 reviews
vip
5.0
19 reviews
Dined on October 21, 2023
Overall5Food5Service4Ambience5
Tacos were great. Service was friendly; they just brought the appetizer too late so it didn't come until after we got the tacos. (They took it off the bill when we sent it back.) Drinks were solid. We really like this place.
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D
Diner
Chicago
2 reviews
vip
4.0
2 reviews
Dined on October 20, 2023
Overall4Food5Service5Ambience4
Our second time dining here, the food is amazing!
Is this helpful?
JN
JaNayHonest
Los Angeles
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on October 18, 2023
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
I absolutely LOVE blue plate taco! My favorite taco spot in Santa Monica
Is this helpful?
HR
HRich
Washington DC
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on October 17, 2023
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
Everything we tried was fabulous! Excellent apps and entrees.
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l
liveforfood
Philadelphia
5 reviews
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on October 15, 2023
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
Good food with a great location. Love their guacamole:-)
Is this helpful?
N
Nagman1679
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on October 14, 2023
Overall5Food4Service5Ambience5
The Food was delicious and great service was received from the restaurant.
Is this helpful?
D
Dave
Los Angeles
16 reviews
2.0
16 reviews
Dined on October 14, 2023
Overall2Food1Service4Ambience4
Good location. Service is good Food is very poor quality I ordered chicken Tacos Tortillas were stale Chicken was dry and leathery.
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V
foodieV
Los Angeles
67 reviews
vip
4.0
67 reviews
Dined on October 13, 2023
Overall4Food5Service5Ambience4
For a restaurant located in a heavily touristy area, the food here is very consistent and good. We had excellent shrimp fajitas which I have to say had a good portion of shrimp and not the usual piling on of peppers and onions and very little of the main ingredient that many Mexican restaurants do. It's quite noisy though and with music so depending on where you are seated, an intimate conversation may be best had somewhere else. Can't beat the location and outdoor ambience though. It has a fun vibe.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Cincinnati
2 reviews
vip
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on October 8, 2023
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
I go to Blue Plate Taco at least once a month, and I always have a great time. The staff, the food, the drinks and the atmosphere are always on point!
Is this helpful?
M
Michelle
Los Angeles
27 reviews
vip
4.0
27 reviews
Dined on October 8, 2023
Overall4Food4Service5Ambience5
Lovely evening with food food and great service. Brisket tacos were a favorite Ali g with the streak Fijiatas
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JM
JoeM
Washington DC
4 reviews
3.0
4 reviews
Dined on October 8, 2023
Overall3Food3Service2Ambience4
The food was fine but not as good as advertised. One hostess made us feel Awful and pressured us to move to a worse table. Also our waitress never offered us chips and salsa or any other appetizer (to buy) and also never asked us if we wanted dessert. We were so rushed and felt undervalued. I Guess they wanted our table back asap
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JI
JeffreyI
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on October 5, 2023
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
Took a couple of coworkers here for lunch. The food quality is very good, I didn't hear a single negative comment about anything. We got guacamole and it was freshly made and very good. We each ordered a taco platter. It was a perfect amount of food for me, they each had enough leftovers to eat the next day. It's a bit pricey, but you can see the ocean and people-watch, so the value is good.
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SP
SharonP
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on September 27, 2023
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
Nice experience and great food. Love the outdoors looking at the sunset
Is this helpful?
T
Thomas
Los Angeles
11 reviews
3.0
11 reviews
Dined on September 25, 2023
Overall3Food3Service4Ambience3
Very limited (almost only mini tacos) menu, and so-so- quality. Good location right on Ocean Ave but, there are 10 other restaurants within a 5-minute walk that are far better with the same location.
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MJ
MichaelJ
London
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on September 25, 2023
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
Excellent food and great service. Would recommend if you want to eat brilliant food over looking the sea and beach with the sunset
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C
Celeste
Los Angeles
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on September 24, 2023
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
Our consistently favorite spot in Santa Monica. NEVERE disappoints. Delicious margaritas, elote, and carne asada.
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ID
IzzyD
Los Angeles
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on September 16, 2023
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
This place has Great food, friendly service, and a nice ambiance
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OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
1.0
1 review
Dined on September 11, 2023
Overall1Food1Service1Ambience3
Service was very slow and inattentive. Had to ask 3 times for the cheque and flag down the waiter every time we wanted a fresh drink etc. The food was really inconsistent 3 of the same Tacos on a plate 2 VeRY spicy and 1 mild. Otherwise a bit meh - not authentic Mexican. Ambience was fine, in the beech area. Value for money was ok, but not given the quality. I guess based on its location it’s a place people only go once so they don’t care if the food is meh and service poor.
1 person found this helpful
RS
ReynaldoS
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on September 8, 2023
Overall5Food4Service5Ambience5
Food was good, authentic, and fairly priced. Scenery was nice as the sun sets in front of the restaurant. Attendants were very polite and accommodating. Location is near Santa Monica boardwalk.
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c
carlw
Los Angeles
3 reviews
3.0
3 reviews
Dined on September 7, 2023
Overall3Food4Service2Ambience3
Food was good, waitress was very pleasant. However, I didn’t see much of her. The speaker playing the music was too loud. Besides that overall good experience.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Los Angeles
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on September 3, 2023
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
Such a fun place. Really good food and great service. Perfect spot to people watch.
Is this helpful?
OT
OpenTable Diner
New York Area
3 reviews
vip
3.0
3 reviews
Dined on August 31, 2023
Overall3Food2Service3Ambience5
It was overpriced and my fish tacos were very fishy. Food was mediocre but views, vibe and obeisance was A+
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Los Angeles
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on August 30, 2023
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
Fun and festive venue with excellent food and friendly service!
Is this helpful?
RA
RAinSF
San Francisco
240 reviews
vip
5.0
240 reviews
Dined on August 24, 2023
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
Great meal last night. Service was great. Sat outside. Chips/salsa were delish. We had the 3 steak tacos in lettuce. The lettuce kept its shape and wasn't wimpy. Very good. We also had a caesar salad with salmon on top. Wonderful. Great flavors. We had tasty margs and ended the night with a flavorful tres leches cake. We'll definitely return!
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M
Markw
Los Angeles
5 reviews
vip
3.0
5 reviews
Dined on August 23, 2023
Overall3Food2Service3Ambience2
Very touristy. Nice staff. They were pricing steak tacos at market price. Seriously only have seen that on fish or lobster before. Mexican style menu. No chips and salsa on the table. And no refried beans. Probably not going back.
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K
Kathy
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on August 16, 2023
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
The staff here are really warm and welcoming, the food is perfect and the price is reasonable.
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EL
ErikaL
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on August 15, 2023
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
Mi kiddos and I really enjoyed this restaurant, it was excellent 👌
Is this helpful?
OT
OpenTable Diner
New York Area
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on August 11, 2023
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
The food and service were amazing!!!! Loved the outdoor space.
Is this helpful?
OT
OpenTable Diner
Central Coast
4 reviews
vip
2.0
4 reviews
Dined on August 3, 2023
Overall2Food1Service3Ambience4
All started very well until the server was slammed. She never checked with us how our food was. She forgot little fixes like water and napkins. We didn’t have a chance to let her know that the steak quesadilla was tough to chew. She did well during order taking and she totally forgot about us. She did not come to our table not even once. The host and hostess were doing a great job turning tables although I rather have my server bring my check then the host.
1 person found this helpful
M
Mmhmmmm
Los Angeles
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on July 29, 2023
Overall3Food4Service2Ambience3
All was ok except for the service. Servers were all nice enough but our female server was inattentive and totally unprofessional. At the end of a subpar service when the check came, she literally looked over the shoulder of the person paying and commented on the tip. He was about to tip her 20% but made a mistake on the machine. As he was about to correct it she made a comment. So freaking unprofessional and just left a really bad impression. He took off a few percentages. Also, chairs were pretty uncomfortable and noise level was to the point you definitely had to raise your voice for anyone at the table to hear anything. Otherwise, food was decent although beer was warm.
2 people found this helpful
OT
OpenTable Diner
Los Angeles
1 review
2.0
1 review
Dined on July 27, 2023
Overall2Food2Service3Ambience2
The outdoor patio is on the sidewalk, right on the road. Not terrible but not amazing.
1 person found this helpful

Safety precautions

Cleaning & sanitizing
- Surfaces sanitized between seatings
- Digital, disposable or sanitized menu provided
- Common areas deep-cleaned daily
- Sanitizer or wipes provided for customers
- Contactless payment available

Screening
- Sick staff prohibited in the workplace
- Staff is vaccinated

FAQs

You can order delivery directly from Blue Plate Taco using the Order Online button. Blue Plate Taco also offers delivery in partnership with Postmates. Blue Plate Taco also offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (310) 458-2985.

Blue Plate Taco is rated 4.5 stars by 895 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Dec 8, 2023

7:00 PM

Booked 16 times today

Order delivery or takeout

1515 Ocean Ave. Suite A, Santa Monica, CA 90401

Additional information

Cross street
Broadway
Neighborhood
Santa Monica
Hours of operation
Lunch & Dinner Mon–Fri 12:00 pm–10:00 pm Sat, Sun 11:00 am–10:00 pm
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
Mexican, Latin American, American
Dining style
Casual Dining
Dress code
Casual Dress
Parking details
Street parking, lots and valet available after 5pm
Public transit
There is bus stop across the street within the same block.
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Owned/operated by
Women
Executive chef
Jonathan Juarez
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Delivery, Dog Friendly, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Vegan, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
http://blueplatetaco.com/
Phone number
(310) 458-2985
Catering
We have menu options for all of your catering needs. We can provide food and staff for your parties.
Private party facilities
We have a large patio that can accommodate up to 60 people and we are available for private parties.

Featured in

Women-Owned and -Operated Restaurants to Support in LA

Blue Plate Taco

Make a reservation

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

Women-Owned and -Operated Restaurants to Support in LA

Fish Tacos

Steak Fajitas

Veggie Fajitas

Salads and Provisiones

Baja Chopped Salad$16.00

Baja Chopped Ceviche Salad$19.00

Baja Caesar$13.00

Guacamole & Chips$13.00

Quesadillas$10.00

Farmers Market Nachos$13.00

Ceviche Mixto$16.00

Taquitos Deliciosos$14.00

Tacos

Veggie Tacos$15.00

Taco del Dia$0.00

Steak Tacos$17.00

Fish Tacos$16.00

Pork Belly Tacos$17.00

Shrimp Tacos$17.00

Lobster Tacos$24.00

Chicken Tacos$16.00

Sizzling Fajitas

Mary's Chicken$27.00

Steak$28.00

Shrimp$28.00

Farmers Market Veggie$19.00

Combo$30.00

Salsas

Ranchera

Tomatillo

Pico de Gallo

Guajillo

Mojo de Ajo

Tropical

Habanero

Sides

Elote$7.00

BPT Rice$4.00

Beans$4.00

Mexican Slaw$5.00

Farmers Market Veggie$8.00

Dessert

BPT Baja Cheesecake & Choice of Gelato$9.00

Grateful Spoon Gelato$7.00

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

Cleaning & sanitizing

Screening

FAQs

Does Blue Plate Taco offer delivery through OpenTable or takeout?

How is Blue Plate Taco restaurant rated?

Is Blue Plate Taco currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

Featured in

Women-Owned and -Operated Restaurants to Support in LA