Socalo Brings the Too Hot Tamales Back to the Westside

Chefs Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger are back in Santa Monica with their new all-day California canteen and Mexican pub Socalo.

The Too Hot Tamales team have been gone too long from the Westside and Socalo, housed in the Gateway Hotel, brings back their breakfast, lunch and dinner dishes with Mexican flare.

Inspired by the Mexican word Zocalo, meaning a central gathering space in Mexican cities, and the restaurant’s home in SoCal, Socalo offers small plates, a raw bar, tacos and larger plates for sharing.

Inside, guests can sit at one of the long communal tables, booths or dine al fresco on the patio. The décor is modern with tall ring lights, exposed pipe ceiling and a view of the kitchen from every seat.

Traditional Mexican dishes include guacamole with chips and macha and quemada salsas; a vegetable smoky guajillo soup with avocado and queso fresco; chicken chicharrones; garlic grilled skirt steak; Baja seabass with farro; braised lamb shoulder and grilled chicken.

There’s also a raw bar with tuna poke, mixed fish ceviche, shrimp cocktail and a Baja seafood platter. Tacos also fill the menu with a steak and shrimp; fish and jalapeno mint aioli; cheese, kale and shishito pepper; jackfruit tinga; carne asada and chicken options.

Sides include smashed fingerling potatoes and chimichurri, smoky roasted cauliflower, shishito peppers and corn with chipotle aioli.

Socalo also offers great mescal and tequila cocktails and a nice selection of Mexican wines and beers.

With great food, custom cocktails and SoCal’s favorite female chef duo, the only challenge with dining at Socalo is finding an empty seat.

Socalo is located at 1920 Santa Monica Boulevard, reservations at 310.451.1655.

Photos courtesy of Anne Fishbein, Luke Gibson and Socalo.