Mercado is one of The 15 Best Places for Queso in Santa Monica.

1. Mercado

8.6
1416 4th St (at Santa Monica Blvd), Santa Monica, CA
Mexican Restaurant · Downtown Santa Monica · 82 tips and reviews

Lisa C.Lisa Cousins: The guacamole and queso dips are orgasmic...hands down the best ever. Don't ask questions, just order it.

Gail H.Gail H: Get the queso dip w mushrooms and chiles etc. Rich but oh so good as a starter.

Lauren M.Lauren Melcher: Cucumber jalapeño margarita goes down like juice. Carnitas taco plate and queso + chips are delicious.

La Monarca Bakery is one of The 15 Best Places for Queso in Santa Monica.

2. La Monarca Bakery

8.4
1300 Wilshire Blvd (at Euclid St), Santa Monica, CA
Bakery · 37 tips and reviews

Samantha R.Samantha Rogel: Cafe guaymas and a queso & Guava croissant is the best!

AskMenAskMen: Make your morning that much more memorable with a visit to the new location in Santa Monica for a selection of baked breads -- sweet and savory -- and organic Oaxacan coffee to kick-start your day. Read more.

Rob B.Rob Blasko: Wifi password is "aaeeiipp" - which I assume is the spanish word for "hell yeah, let's get our wifi on!"

Tocaya Organica is one of The 15 Best Places for Queso in Santa Monica.

3. Tocaya Organica

8.9
507 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA
Mexican Restaurant · Wilshire-Montana · 8 tips and reviews

Melanie M.Melanie Martin: Cali Green taco and barrio style tacos just the way the chef suggests. Yum!

Chantel S.Chantel Sanchez: Try the Barrio Taco Chef’s recommendation. It’s so good! Also the prickly pear margarita!

Elika T.Elika Tasker: Great healthy Mexican bowls

Blue Plate Taco is one of The 15 Best Places for Queso in Santa Monica.

4. Blue Plate Taco

8.3
1515 Ocean Ave, Santa Monica, CA
Mexican Restaurant · Downtown Santa Monica · 137 tips and reviews

Christina Z.Christina Zau: Get the appetisers, tacos maybe overrated? But corn and queso fundido 🔥

AmayaAmaya: Crispy fish tacos or crispy chicken tacos. Either way get a margarita pitcher. All flavors are amazing and strong so pace yourself.

Dress for the DateDress for the Date: All tacos on the menu are also offered Flaco Taco style in lettuce cups.

Ingo's Tasty Diner is one of The 15 Best Places for Queso in Santa Monica.

5. Ingo's Tasty Diner

8.2
1213 Wilshire Blvd (12th Street), Santa Monica, CA
Diner · Wilshire-Montana · 17 tips and reviews

Patricia Y.Patricia Yang: One of the best spicy bloody mary!! And do ask for the crispy prosciutto 💗💗

RonRon: Good food and cocktails, more affordable than other newish restaurants on Wilshire. Excellent seafood and market vegetables.

Staci R.Staci Rubin: Brunch! Get the hash browns they come in a skillet and are the best ever!

Manchego is one of The 15 Best Places for Queso in Santa Monica.

6. Manchego

8.4
2518 Main St, Santa Monica, CA
Tapas Restaurant · Ocean Park · 35 tips and reviews

Renee T.Renee Tringali: Melted Brie and fig tapas.... Delicious!!!! Bring your own bottle (s) of wine :) no cork fee!

Jasmeet G.Jasmeet Gill: Amazing food, BYOB. Get anything that combines meat and cheese. No corkage fee!! Oh the meatballs are amazing

Meg F.Meg Farmer: BYOB tapas. Do the bacon wrapped dates for sure. Super intimate, great date spot.

Lobby Lounge is one of The 15 Best Places for Queso in Santa Monica.

7. Lobby Lounge

7.7
101 Wilshire Blvd (at Fairmont Miramar), Santa Monica, CA
Hotel Bar · Wilshire-Montana · 9 tips and reviews

Morgan N.Morgan N: Sitting by the koi pond is enjoyable (not to mention distracting) for the dogs. Carnivore flatbread and meatballs are a must. Delicious burger, great food altogether.

Tom H.Tom Hall: Great Hang. Beautiful outdoor area. Expensive. Worth it.

Antonius M.Antonius Maximus: The outside seating is the best. Sit by the water and watch the koi and turtles.

Perry's Cafe is one of The 15 Best Places for Queso in Santa Monica.

8. Perry's Cafe

7.7
1200 Palisades Beach Rd, Santa Monica, CA
American Restaurant · Downtown Santa Monica · 11 tips and reviews

Clean Bay R.Clean Bay Restaurant Program: Perry's is a certified restaurant of the Clean Bay Restaurant Program, helping to reduce stormwater pollution in Santa Monica Bay! Learn about or find more certified restaurants at Read more.

Vladimir S.Vladimir Serrano Becerra: French fries Perry's delicious

Elan L.Elan Lee: Piña colada and a veggie burrito!

Café Bolívar is one of The 15 Best Places for Queso in Santa Monica.

9. Café Bolívar

8.2
1741 Ocean Park Blvd (at 18th St), Santa Monica, CA
South American Restaurant · 44 tips and reviews

KelseyKelsey: The mango, avocado and mozzarella arepa is one of the best things I've ever put in my mouth

Gosha Z.Gosha Zapadny: Wifi pass: bcafe90405

Alex G.Alex Grossman: try the pacifico arepas.

FIG Santa Monica is one of The 15 Best Places for Queso in Santa Monica.

10. FIG Santa Monica

8.6
101 Wilshire Blvd (at Fairmont Miramar Hotel), Santa Monica, CA
Mediterranean Restaurant · Wilshire-Montana · 80 tips and reviews

Los Angeles TimesLos Angeles Times: Fig is a comfortable, airy farmers market-driven restaurant that never takes its diners too far from a comfort zone of baby kale salad, spinach-leaf lasagna, and red quinoa with chard and apples. Read more.

AskMenAskMen: The fact that 90% of the produce FIG uses is locally & organically grown can’t be ignored. Give it up for Chef Ray Garcia’s emphasis on keeping things fresh. Read more.

LA WeeklyLA Weekly: Featured in LA Weekly's 99 Essential Restaurants!

Casa Martin is one of The 15 Best Places for Queso in Santa Monica.

11. Casa Martin

7.4
1654 Ocean Ave, Santa Monica, CA
Mexican Restaurant · Downtown Santa Monica · 18 tips and reviews

Suzette K.Suzette Komiyama: Homemade corn tortillas and an amazing mixologist without the ego

Johnnie B.Johnnie Bud: Unbelievable find in near the pier! Shrimp Tacos are the best!

Aaron G.Aaron G: Guacamole is very good and service is great, waiters are always very nice

Upper West is one of The 15 Best Places for Queso in Santa Monica.

12. Upper West

8.5
3321 Pico Blvd, Santa Monica, CA
American Restaurant · 87 tips and reviews

Gail H.Gail H: Cucumber martini, lamb & apple Vietnamese meatballs - perfect meal

Mindy J.Mindy Johnson: No Wi-Fi. Veggie burger is pretty good.

Showtime NetworkShowtime Network: A delicious American bistro tucked away on the Westside. Bacon and blue cheese shoestring fries – need we say more? -Kacy & Cori, The Real L Word

Back on the Beach Cafe is one of The 15 Best Places for Queso in Santa Monica.

13. Back on the Beach Cafe

7.8
445 Palisades Beach Rd, Santa Monica, CA
Breakfast Spot · North of Montana · 42 tips and reviews

Alex H.Alex Hyman: Huevos Rancheros are delicious. And they've got great sweet potato fries. Terrific spot for relaxing breakfast on the beach.

AD N.AD Nys: Coffee, good muffins + espresso to go

DoraDora: This is an official Nickelodeon Parents' Picks Award Nominee!Powered by ParentsConnect.com

Veggie Grill is one of The 15 Best Places for Queso in Santa Monica.

14. Veggie Grill

8.5
2025 Wilshire Blvd (at 21st St), Santa Monica, CA
Vegan and Vegetarian Restaurant · Wilshire-Montana · 87 tips and reviews

Clint F.Clint Fisher: This is the best tasting Veggie Grill I've been to yet. Thumbs up. Bayou Chikn Kale Style w/side of Buffalo Sauce.

Us WeeklyUs Weekly: Reese Witherspoon is a fan of the food and cold drinks at this healthy spot! Read more.

Carolina V.Carolina Vázquez: Not too bad for no meat or animal products...

The Ivy at the Shore is one of The 15 Best Places for Queso in Santa Monica.

15. The Ivy at the Shore

8.2
1535 Ocean Ave (Broadway), Santa Monica, CA
American Restaurant · Downtown Santa Monica · 85 tips and reviews

Paul G.Paul Gregory: Where to start! The blackened prime rib is to die for! The crab cakes, tuna tartar , and grilled veggie salad with scallops.. Mmm but save room for the apple tart tartin.. Heaven!

DaliaDalia: Really bad service comparing to the one in robertson.

Justine  E.Justine  Ezarik: Used to be good.. I think. Super overrated. Never get the fish and chips - it was a fried massacre of random seafood that all tasted like fried nothing.