SOL Cocina – Playa Vista

Went there for the 1^st time last night. We really enjoyed our night but the service still needs some review
The good:
Strong margaritas. We had the house margarita and they were very good. Bar seating was crowded but didn’t mind
Food. I like all the food we ordered. Started with guacamole/​goat cheese which was excellent. The chips were very good. The black bean dip starter was excellent. I had the fish tacos (grilled version). Very tasty. Maybe a little too much sauce. Wife had a steak/​shrimp taco which was average. The house corn on the cob was delicious. We both really liked
Needs improvement:
Room– we say in the large dungeon like room to the right when you enter. Didn’t like. Felt claustrophobic. Management should think about opening that room up. Closed off from rest of restaurant
Service– maybe it was the room but we felt forgotten. Took a few asks just to get water. Server was nice but away too long at times
We will be back but will try to sit on patio or bar

Way. Too. Loud.
Food was so-​so. The steak was really good, but only cause it super tasted like salt. I didn’t dig the tostada chips they served, and the naked guacamole was also pretty whatever.
I got the Vampiro and Bufalada tacos for my entre. Both were good, but nothing special.
Lame that you can’t order their «standard» tacos a la carte (on the menu it’s in plates of 3 with 2 sides, so you can’t mix and match easily…).
Our server was really nice… I think. It was hard to hear her because, again:
Way. Too. Loud.

Ill Sum it Up with four stars, but I wish I could give three and a half. The restaurant vibe was super cool drinks were AMAZING! That was the best part of my meal. The chips were also very good, kind of large but tasty.
I ordered shrimp tacos, the food wasn’t bad but it wasn’t amazing either. «Fake fancy» is a good way to sum it up a lot of flair but not a lot of taste.
I’m open to trying again maybe I didn’t order the right dish.

wonderful place, super delicious food and very nice bar keepers and waiters there! a friend invited my to SOl and I fell in love right away. I will definitely go there more often! great job

We’ve been here 3 times in total. The food has always been not so great. For example we ordered the viper tacos and carne asada tacos and they have been extremely greasy so much so that we’d pick up a taco and it’d rip apart from grease on the first lift/​bite.
This most recent time we asked the waiter to tell the cook to go very easy on the grease and my fiancée really loved it this time which was a change. That being said the really bad thing about this place now is they have high mark ups on their food but they recently got scored a B by health inspection. So be warned, if the prices were much lower the B may be acceptable but they’re still pretty high.
Some good things to mention here, there is never usually a wait, I’m sure that will change as soon as Playa Vista fully finished constructions.
Additionally, their drinks are always super strong, which is great and super cheap ($ 12 for a bull dog marg the size of my head). So if you want to pre-​game before a movie this is the place for you!

Great find! So glad we popped in after seeing a movie.
Great happy hour!
Reasonable prices
Excellent margaritas
Delicious food
Lovely atmosphere, great décor
Bartender –Gabriel aka Gammit — super great. Other bartenders are cool too
Stayed on the happy hour which had plenty to choose from…
So far have tried and thoroughly enjoyed:
The complimentary chips and salsa and bean dip
Ceviche hot and raw — comes with bomb sweet potato chops and beet chips !! Loved! — get the heat on the side if you wish…
Chicken street tacos
Pork carnitas
Queso com mushrooms — get the chorizo for an extra $ 2, it’s worth it!
Naked guacamole
As for the HH drinks: get the margarita for two. It’s the best bang for your buck
Restrooms are notably fabulous! The stalls are rooms. And they really payed attention to detail.
Don’t forget to validate with the hostess!

I’m usually not much for Mexican food, but I’ve been here a few times and have genuinely enjoyed myself. I order the quesadillas, and they’re very flavorful. When I came for lunch with a large group from my office, I wound up taking leftovers home, and the quesadillas reheated very well the next day.
The restaurant itself is pretty nice, although it can get crowded. Parking is also a bit of an issue, but I’ve gotten lucky the few times I’ve been here. SOL is a fun place, and I’m a fan.

I have been to the other SOL location in Newport Beach for lunch and sat in the outdoor area with the view of the harbor. The boyfriend suggested to go here for dinner last weekend and I couldn’t say no.
We were seated in the outdoor area which was really nice. I had the blackberry ginger margarita and it was delicious! BF ordered the quesadillas and I had the garlic mezcal tacos. Would recommend to anyone in the area. 5 stars.

Fantastic Bar! I thoroughly enjoyed a couple Margis when I was here.
They also have Mexican street corn, I know only Watergrill calls it that on their menu but that’s what I call it too lol.
Definitely recommend!

So glad they opened a SOL Cocina in LA! I first tried them in Newport Beach and was immediately a fan. Definitely «upscale» mexican cuisine. This location is pretty large. Nice bar area with a TV. Amazing patio area with a fire pit and more TVs… perfect for an intimate dinner or just a late night drink with friends. Plenty of private rooms that you can reserve for events or private parties. They also take reservations for the «regular» tables. Semi-​open kitchen where you can watch the magic happen. Great ambiance overall. I have been to this location 3 times now, and all of the servers I have had have been excellent. Great customer service.
They have a large variety of tacos that are served a la carte or as a combination plate. Other options like enchiladas and carnitas plate are there for you as well, but the emphasis is on the tacos. And let me put it out there right now — BLACK BEAN AND SWEET POTATO TACOS! My favorite favorite. I have tried other things on the menu, but I had to really force myself. Otherwise, I would order these tacos every single time. So so good — such an interesting yet perfect combination for a taco. I have also loved the goat cheese enchiladas — super filling. The drinks are nice… always love a spicy margarita option. Mimosas for brunch if you go on the weekend.
I have to eat gluten free (Celiac), so I wanted to share my experience for those of you who are also in my shoes! The first two times I went I had to navigate my way through the menu by asking questions, etc… all the servers seemed pretty knowledgeable and asked the chef questions as needed. One server told me that the tostadas that are brought to each table were cooked in separate oil, but then the second server I had said this wasn’t true. The third time I went I wanted to clarify it all… This server told me they actually had a gluten free menu (hello!?) that she brought out to me. She asked the chef to clarify about the tostadas… They are in fact fried in the same oil as other breaded items; however, she said that because the temperature of the oil is so so hot that it’s impossible to get contaminated because the oil basically disintegrates the gluten. Considering, I had «accidentally» eaten them on my first visit here (after I thought they were good to go), and I didn’t get sick, I think she might be right! I would say that they are definitely safe. I have gotten sick immediately on other chips that were fried in shared oil that I was not told about. Definitely ask for the gluten free menu when you go and continue to ask questions as the gluten free menu is super helpful but not always clear.
Bottom line — love this place!

Solid spot to try in Playa Vista!
Parking is available on the street or in the garage. The restaurant does not validate for parking, so definitely keep that in mind.
The interior and exterior is nice, clean, modern looking. Service was great. Very friendly. Our order got mixed up, but everything got corrected promptly, which was appreciated. The food was good. Tried several of the dishes, and was pleasantly surprised by all of them. A little pricey, but not terrible.
Overall, highly recommend this place!

We came here for a team lunch and we suggested Sol Cocina because it was close by and we really wanted to try it but I was unsure about spending $ 7-​$ 10 on each of their gourmet fancy tacos. =P. However their tacos were amazing and well worth the splurge. I had the vampiro taco and beer battered shrimp taco. The tortillas were soft and pliable and the fillings were tasty and generous. Beware, the vampiro is almost like a quesadilla wrapped like a taco, but in between tortillas, there’s green chilis that are super spicy.
We also had the spicy ceviche– it was pricy spicy, but it didn’t come with enough fish as I wanted. I got alot of pieces of mango and tomato.
The guacamole was pretty standard, I’m not sure if it was worth the $ 9 price point. Between the 7 of us, it disappeared in 5 minutes.
They also have happy hour from 3 – 6:30pm and it looked like their tasty cocktails were only $ 7 – 8 dollars with some small bar bites too. Their bar area looked pretty big with a few tables and high tops.
So I would definitely recommend, but just expect to pay alot more than you expect for Mexican food, but it’s so good!

Sol is consistent and a good addition to the area when we have a guac craving and can simply walk across the street. The team is consistent and we enjoy the atmosphere.
My only feedback to the management team is that for some reason they always close the outside screens which then makes the restaurant extremely stuffy. It could be cool if instead of the screens being closed, they turned up the heat lamps so that the breeze could continue to circulate throughout if you are sitting at the bar. Not sure if there is a noise ordinance in place which is why they do this … ??

I am not SOLd entirely by SOL. The hype up-​from-​the south — like in The OC, or its inspiration up-​from The Baja Peninsula — it leaves something South-​of-​the-​Border. Service.
And brings too much across an impressive tequila-​bar, Agave nectar. The margaritas here are sickeningly sweet — and smackingly sour due their prepackaged mix. It may be the agave nectar replacing the triple sec, I prefer the only agave in my margaritas come from tequila — which SOL has a wide-​ranging selection.
Management won me over quickly, the petite and tenacious Ally — was lugging barstools together, creating seating-​around-​the-​surround, inside-​outside-​bar, while our group waited out our
reservation.
We were told thirty-​five minutes on an early #Sunday Funday evening. Ally was eager to please — and accommodating — she was a pleasant marvel to watch work, while we waited, and waited. We dined at the bar after fifty-​minutes.
John, the Michigan native, with an incredible smile — placed that smile to service and turned around a cold-​reception at the bar, to a warm-​welcome to new friends. He and she, are the soul of SOL.
John recommended we try their Antojito of Coconut Calamari ($ 12.50), not rings of calamari but rather Squid Chunks that are tender-​breaded appetizers. They paired well using a lemon-​mezxal sauce but were accompanied with a dry orange-​peel and spice sauce.
The Grilled Sweet Corn ($ 4.50) was a treat — as it is prepared table-​side or over-​the-​bar by the gregarious John, the ear was razor-​cut Van Gogh style, and mixed with butter, lime, chile, cotixa and chipotle. It isn’t something one would want to eat repeatedly upon visiting — considering the calories and well, its maize not amazing.
SOL’s Specialty Taco of Short Rib ($ 10.50 ala carte) was perfect — ordered without cheese, it was the red chile salsa combining with the light-​smokiness of the pork, that kicked this taco to the Sol. The rock salt chips and salsa-​duo are sensational too.
Ally. John. Short Rib Taco. Rock Salt Chips & Salsa. To summarize.

This restaurant is big airy and breezy. Came with a friend. We had three a la carte tacos, some guacamole and one non alcoholic beverage. The guacamole was guacamole, just okay, not bad but not the stuff of dreams either. I had some kind of double stuffed spicy taco with meat and a beer battered shrimp one. Again, both were okay. My friend had a shrimp taco that was, you guessed it, okay but nothing to write home about.
The place is gourmet Baja California-​style food, and I guess we were expecting a lot more in the gourmet department. I will say the tortillas were easily the best part of the meal. Texture was phenomenal. Otherwise, it was just kind of there.
The bill came to thirty six dollars, which means the tacos averaged around eight or nine bucks a pop and the guac most have been around the same. Seemed steep for what it was, to be honest.

We had a group of 6 without a reservation on a Saturday night & were seated right away! We thought it would be a 30 minute wait, at least.
We ordered:
Seasoned chips & salsa
Mango frozen margarita
Horchata martini
Bulldog
I ordered:
Poblano, mushroom, & corn taco w/​epazote & garlic, queso fresco, cotixa, & salsa quemada — so good, add some of the salsa & chile de arbol
Spice-​roasted butternut squash taco w/​crispy onions, roasted green chili salsa, & red pepper salsa — so good, add some of the salsa & chile de arbol
Vegetarian burrito: FYI this has tons of mushrooms in it, but if you love mushrooms this is your dish!
Some other meat eaters ordered:
Viper taco
Baja-​style corn chowder w/​crab
The service was great!
Parking: there’s a garage right around the corner w/​ample parking

Shrimp chile relleno was good.
My friend who is a avid foodie wanted to check this spot out because its new and we love Mexican. as far as authenticity goes, i’ve had alot better for their price.
The food was good.
Great customer service.
Good drinks.
its dark and quiet inside with good décor and ambiance.
I just think they are too pricey for the quality.

Our sever Marco was such a sweetie, he gave us sweet corn (a must try) on the house. We had the naked guac, shrimp al mojo de ajo, taco vampiro, taco gobernador, sweet potato taco, and the elote (sweet corn sliced table side). I totally loved the atmosphere, and I just got back from Quintana Roo, Mexico, so you could say I’ve been suffering from withdrawals.
We let Marco know we were missing the «authentic» vibe and he told us some good stories about his own experiences.
For dessert we had the bread pudding and the pink guava crème brûlée. I am a crème brûlée freak, so I think I have the credentials to say this was one of the best fruit style crème brûlées I’ve ever had. Wonderful!

Great food and wonderful drinks. Everything is well prepared and the best time to eat is at night for the atmosphere.
You will enjoy the variety of the menu and the drink menu!

First, my disclaimer. I’m not a fan of this area and the insular nature of this new «community.» We only came because we know someone who lives nearby and it is not far from work. We wouldn’t go out of our way to come here.
Good, now unto the restaurant review (just reviewing the restaurant as it is).
The menu is initially odd. They get fancy and expensive for no reason BUT flip to the «Plates» section and all is good. Recognizable dishes pop up and seem appetizing. All 3 of us liked our food. They start you with complimentary tostadas and sauces (not salsa. Pretty cool). The black bean spread was nice. They refill your tostadas frequently.
I liked the grilled chicken burrito served wet and topped with cheese (it could use more guacamole on the side). It was filling. The Mexican Shrimp al mojo de ajo was enjoyed by a member of our party. The Garlic Mezcal Chicken Street Tacos were too but they need to double the tortillas because they fall apart.
We had the watermelon margarita, ginger margarita, and the regular margarita. Each of us picked one and then we tasted each. All tasted good.
They were out of fresh fish (the restaurant is located close enough to the ocean to get an ocean breeze) and something else. How are you a chain and brand new and be out of something already? Not a good look, Sol.
Real talk: This is not authentic Mexican food. They spin it with a bougie, healthy, and corporate flair. I thought it was good for what it was. I’d consider a work happy hour here but I think there are better Mexican food options out there. I think it might really be a 3.5, but that’s not an option and we had a good experience (so it’s not a 3). The other 2 members of our party liked it, so hence the 4 rating.

I’m really excited about the newest addition to my neighborhood so I really want them to be great. I went during their first month of opening so I’ll have to update my review again in a few months.
The prices are high but I expected that. But the menu has several options and the corn off the cob was amazing. I can’t wait for their happy hours and brunch to get going. The parking can be tough given all the new businesses that have popped up.
Stay tuned for more.

I love the food and the atmosphere is nice… but $ 10 for a taco is a bit much.
Our lovely rep took us here for a dinner which was wonderful because it took cost out of the equation allowing me to just concentrate on the food.
Guacamole– loved the cheese one.
Civiche– Good but not amazing. They have an interesting sweet/​hot taste going.
Short rib taco– pretty good but not worth the $ 10 price.
Grilled fish taco– so so
Grilled corn– very good. Simplicity breeds elegance.

Get the Hot and Row Ceviche plus any specialty tacos: gobernador, vampiro, bufalada. All of them are amazing.
Andres was really nice to us, my wife and I are definitely coming back.

Came here after dinner to have a few drinks. Started off with the house margaritas. First one was with Patron tequila but later used the Gerber/​Clooney Casamigos tequila. Very tasty and the chili & salt rims were a nice touch. Both bartenders were very friendly.
Mexican corn was tasty (great combination of sweet and spicy) and the fresh corn tortilla chips were good options to absorb the alcohol. The server even cut the corn off the cob for us.
The décor is very nice and the bar has a television to watch sports. It was pretty crowded for a Saturday night but device was excellent. Good little spot to have a drink after work.

Decided to check out this new Playa complex and watched a movie and stumbled this wonderful restaurant. At 7pm it was completely packed and we were able to score seats at the bar.
Great menu that offers a variety of foods for all types of diets. We ordered the guac, wet carne asada w/​cheese and the poblano, mushroom, corn taco and all three were delicious.
The service was friendly, efficient and our food came up pretty fast despite how busy they were.
Looking forward to going back and trying more items on their menu.

Great spot in the new plaza off of Jefferson! Lovely crowd even for a week night. You could dress up or down, but you’d blend right in.
To drink– the blackberry ginger margarita is so good! I probably could have had a couple more if it wasn’t a week night. It comes in two sizes, but go for the grande :)
To eat– the vampiro taco was the taco that was recommended because they won best taco in California and it did not disappoint! Carne Asada was super tender!
The shrimp taco dorado is also a must try! I don’t usually like hard tacos but this was an exception–
Also, try the corn! They cut off the stem in front of you and it’s awesome on the tacos or you could it by itself and its just as good!
Definitely will be coming back soon!

Marco Guzmán nos atendió muy bien, la comida es fantástica, gran combinación de sabores, pero lo más delicioso para mí fue la sopa de tortilla es la mejor que he comido en 5 años

Great food and vibe prevail in this urban inspired eatery tucked away in the new Playa Del Rey. I had the shrimp chile rellenos while seated at the bar and, from what could see all the food should be as good as it is artfully reinvented. The bar staff is at the top of their game and gracious despite the busy pace. This place has only been open a short while but Gambit mixes a great range of house specialty drinks like he’s been behind the bar for years. Sol is indeed good for the soul.

After reading the reviews and reading the menu, had to go especially after seeing Street Corn on the menu. Went there on Sunday for lunch. Walking up saw a nice looking place. Notice they had the football playoff game on. That was a plus… Then when we got to the front desk they ask if we had reservations… Looking into the restaurant notice it wasn’t crowded. Not even close. We said no, then they proceeded to tell us they were closed for family and friends. Wish they would have place that on their website so we wouldn’t have wasted our time. But I really wanted the street Corn, so we went back for dinner. The place was packed. Sat at the bar to have drinks, and ending up having dinner
Dinner was OK. The guys at the bar was really cool. They explained the menu and how things work. Wife had ribeye steak, OK pretty thin piece of steak hers came with street Corn. I had a steak quesadilla, this was good and a side of street Corn. When they brought the corn out they sliced it off the cob… the street corn needed some salt and pepper. Didn’t see any pepper on the table, but they did place a small plate with lime, chili, and sea salt.

Lives up to the HYPE!!! I’ve always said there’s no such thing as «upscale» Mexican food and I’m shocked to say that Sol proved me wrong! Impeccable service — very attentive even though the restaurant was jam packed, our waiter Jorge was so knowledgable about the dishes and drinks and was so friendly. Every single dish was uh-​mazingggg. Chips were freshly fried and perfectly seasoned (for tortilla chips???), fresh/​spicy salsa, guac on point, special ceviche was so fresh and mind-​blowing. Street corn is succulent and they cut it for you at the table. THEY CUT YOUR EFFIN DERICIOUS CORN!!! Short ribs, bufalada taco, fish tacos are all mouth wateringly well-​seasoned and perfectly cooked. Even the black beans and rice are amazing, I mean how do you even knock such menial things out of the park? I can’t believe I’m saying this, but it was well worth the hour-​long wait. Fancy Mexican, you exist, and you’re fucking amazing.

We where very exited to try this new place .
It was a Sunday night 9:00pm.
The Host sat us down.
We waited and we didn’t know who was our waiter was. It took 25 mins for anyone to bring us water because I had to ask. Mind you it’s not even packed all you see all these waiters walking around doing nothing and taking to them selfs .
I’m sitting here burning up because the salsa was beyond spicy. I asked the bus boy if he can PLEASE get me a glass of water. He asked who is your waiter. I said we don’t know. Still no waiter. After 30 mins water .
Waiter finally came. I did see him a couple of times walking around and talking Up a storm with his only two tables.
Our drink order is taken. I saw my drinks at the bar for another 25 mins. I told my husband. Im just going to go get them. Waiter comes and asked can I take your order now. We said yes. Can we please get our drinks ?! Our food came and all they did was drop it off. Not once did we see the waiter come and ask if we needed refills or salsa or maybe a napkins. That would of really helped.
Finally waiter came by. He smelled like he was smoking. Eww. It literately took 2 ½ hrs for everything. So if you dont have anything to do and are willing to spend $ 15.00 for ONLY one small taco À la cart or $ 30.00 for ONLY 8 small pieces steak. Please come here. The food and drinks were not bad. My review is about the service .The Service is horrible, I don’t think we will be coming back. It is really pricey. We rather go some where else. Sorry Sol but you really dropped the ball bad!!!

SOL could be the most exciting new restaurant to open in Playa Vista/​Fox Hills/​Westchester in a long time. After my wife and I ate there, we both agreed that this was a rare 5* Unilocal restaurant and that we’d be back often.
For some reason, I thought SOL would be more of a fancy quick serve or Lemonade style place, but it’s actually a full blown restaurant that is 100% date worthy. The ambiance is really nice with a lot of character and a just-​cool-​enough vibe that keeps everyone feeling comfortable. We were really impressed with the space as soon as we walked in.
In addition to having the free chips (full on chipified tostadas) & salsa/​dips that could go head to head with the best in any restaurant in LA, the food is also really fresh, colorful, and flavorful.
We had the Hot & Raw Tropical ceviche, SOL salad, and the sweet potato and bean taco combination. In the best way, the ceviche reminded us of one of our favorite hole-​in-​the-​wall spots in Cabo, but cleaner, brighter, and better. It comes with sweet potato chips (pretty sure they’re made in house — they weren’t the terra chips), which is pretty neat! If you like ceviche, make sure you order it. The salad was fresh and good and the sweet potato tacos were legitimately the best vegetarian tacos we’ve ever had in our lives.
Once everyone moves in to Playa Vista and people discover SOL, I have no doubt that this place will have 90 minute wait times. Go while you still can!

Oh my goodness! BEST. MEXICAN. FOOD. EVER.
Everything from the ceviche appetizer to the specialty tacos to the dessert were all exceptional!!! The service was also amazing, our server Rosie recommended some dishes and all the ones she recommended were our tables absolute favorites! She was very sweet and quick with everything as well :) This place is AMAZING! They have earned a customer in us for life !!! Love. Love. Love.

I’ve been super excited to hear about the opening of this restaurant and was so excited to try it out. There was not much of a wait mid-​Saturday and we easily got a patio table.
Service was excellent from the hostess to the waiters. The margaritas were delicious and you can definitely taste the fresh juice and drinks were reasonably priced. Would definitely return for the drinks!
The food on the other hand was average. It wasn’t heavy or greasy; we got the Cobb salad and the fish tacos with a side of spicy slaw and quinoa salad. It wasn’t particularly memorable and not something i would return for.
Overall, above average and probably one of the better restaurants in the new Runway shopping center of Playa Vista.

If you want the freshest best tasting Mexican food in Los Angeles you found the place! Came here with my girlfriend and her parents on a Friday night and we all Loved the food! We sat outside on the patio with a beautiful view of the restaurant and a gorgeous fire place out on the patio. We were greeted by a nice dashing young man named Ricky who was very friendly and funny. He told us the history about the restaurant and was very informative about the food and drinks giving great recommendations on what we should order. The chips, salsa and bean dip were the best I’ve had In awhile. So fresh and tasty! The coolest most interesting appetizer (recommended by Ricky) was their table side guacamole. Not only was it fresh but the Ingredients that were mixed in were out of this world and a must have before dinner.
I had a cucumber jalapeño margarita which was so awesome and has ruined all other Margaritas from anywhere else for me. Also some of the best selection of tequilas around if you’re looking for something unique or trying to impress a date. The bar atmosphere almost felt like you were at a fancy Baja beachside lounge. I want to go back just to get some drinks and hang out all night.
Dinner was a real treat as I had fresh duck tacos which were very unique for a Mexican restaurant. Usually only get Duck at Thai/​Asian food restaurants, plus with the salsa, beans and rice still came off like I was eating Mexican food.
Yes the prices are a bit high for Mexican food but for the freshest, tastiest, and most unique dishes you won’t find anywhere else it’s worth it. Plus the portion sizes are decent as well! You won’t regret coming to SOL!
Enjoy!

Excellent food all around! The Tropical Ceviche (which was recommended by our waiter) was extraordinarily good, the fish was very fresh and it came with beet and sweet potato chips which were tasty on their own. Our waiter, Andres, was super friendly and very helpful.
My husband had the Carne Asada taco combo, the meat was cooked perfectly and was seasoned very well. The rice and beans were good too (although I did feel the beans needed a little more salt, but that could just be me). I had the shrimp burrito and thought it was good, the shrimp were seasoned nicely. I also had a cucumber jalapeño margarita, it was delicious and refreshing with a light spice to it. We shared the Guava Crème brûlée and thought it was delicious.
Overall, it was an excellent experience! I feel the tropical ceviche and the cucumber margarita are a must try! I’m looking forward to going back.

Rejoice Playa! The neighborhood is here!
Woooo! Par-​Tay! Literally! The bar area is so friendly here! I got the margarita and pomegranate sparking drink They were both good. Margarita was stronger.
We shared the tacos. They were good but honestly the chips were the killer here. My friends steak burrito was really good. She complained of too many beans but I liked it.
Guacamole was good. The chips are made fresh. Next time I’m just grubbing on guac and salsa here
Service was on point. There was a 45 min wait Friday night but our party of four was able to snag a self seating table in bar area that was cleaning up. Score!

**Good food elevated by great service.**
Playa Vista is in the midst of a serious evolutionary phase. Housing, shops, and restaurants are popping up left and right. Sol is a seriously awesome addition to a rapidly expanding neighborhood. I was fortunate enough to attend a dinner during their soft opening.
AMBIANCE. Parking was a bit odd — Mostly street parking, which was limited, but available if you didn’t mind walking a tad bit. The restaurant was large, bustling, with a southwestern décor and dim lighting. The music was a bit too loud, which forced an already packed restaurant to yell, increasing the volume in the room to something I can only say would not serve anyone on a first date. I’m sure they’ll work that kink out, though.
FOOD.
— Tostada-​style Tortilla Chips: I think these were batch-​cooked and left out for a tad bit too long. They were slightly stale when they reached our table.
— Cadillac Margherita: Hit the freakin’ spot. Served ice cold, with fresh citrus notes… Just get one and save yourself the trouble of wondering which drink to start with.
— Guacamole: Very good start to the meal. The chips were fresher than the basket of tostada-​style chips. They left a nice amount of chunkiness to the guac, which made me this fella very happy. Fresh, bright flavors.
— Calamari: Jesus Black Baby Christ. This was a revelation. A couple large legs… Thick. Like octopus thick. If I didn’t order calamari, I’d SWEAR they were octopus legs, but at any rate, WOW they were good. Tender as all get out. Like a soft ham. Beautiful. Garnished with toasted sesame seeds, orange, lemon, cilantro and a tartar’esque dipping sauce. This was so good, I could have stopped here… But I didn’t
— Fried Shrimp Tacos: When we ordered the grilled shrimp tacos, we were told they were not available, so we ended up with the fried shrimp tacos, which did not disappoint.
— Fried Shrimp Burrito: Giant fucking burrito, batman! Holy smokes. Delicious to the last bite.
— Chicken Burrito Mojado: Nothing extraordinary, but that’s what my gf gets for ordering chicken. :) They could have added a bit more enchilada sauce, too.
— Tortilla Soup: EXCELLENT. Filled with chicken, veggies, avocado, cheese, tortilla strips, in a chicken-​based stock. More than enough to make a meal out of, or good for sharing.
— Steak Burrito: I felt the burrito was a bit dry, but the steak… WOW! They are using some no-​nonsense, high-​quality steak here. So tender that it almost melted in my mouth. If they are using skirt steak, it MUST be prime, because I’ve never had steak that tender in any burrito I’ve ever had. Wow. Just wow.
— Drunken Beans: Very good. Take your typical black beans and elevate them to a «soup nazi» level. These were so flavorful that I enjoyed every bite of them… It helped that they topped them with a touch of queso fresco.
— Rice: Completely standard. Nothing new, but certainly hit the spot. Mixed with some of those beans… Fuh’get about it!
SERVICE. During the meal, Eric and Ricky both took time to come by, individually, and introduce themselves. They asked about our experience and took a true interest in maximizing our enjoyment. It was so nice to see such personalized service in such a large restaurant.
When management found out that we didn’t get the grilled shrimp we were hoping to get, they sent us a round of free drinks. That’s all I have to say, right?!?
To see Eric and Ricky care SO much about their clientele… I dunno… It was mind-​blowing. Good service is hard to come by. Great service is almost non-​existent, these days. But the service I experienced at SOL Mexican Cocina exemplified professional courtesy. I will be back… And I’m bringing friends. And, yes, I’m getting more calamari.
OVERALL. Forking awesome spot. Great for anything from after-​work drinks to a nice evening out with the family. They have private dining rooms with closing doors, so you can have a party and get away from the bustle of the crowds. A seriously kick-​ass addition to Playa Vista. My hat goes off to Eric, Ricky, and everyone else over at SOL who helped make our dining experience one that we will not soon forget.

5 STARS JUST FOR THEIR HOT & RAW CEVICHE.
Review over.
Haha jk. But seriously honestly truthfully genuinely absolutely get the ceviche. The only better ceviche I’ve had was from Miami. Even the guy who was plating it for us told us it blew his mind. It cooould use a tiny bit more fish and fruit (but I’m biased about mango and pineapple) and slightly less tomato, BUT THE FLAVOR IS DELICIOUS regardless. YUM. And those sweet potato chips are pretty delicious, too. Maybe a bit oily, but fun to munch on.
The Pineapple Serrano margarita was a bit of a letdown. I didn’t taste any pineapple. It tasted like sweet & sour. :(The Cucumber Jalapeño margarita was pretty good though. 2.7 stars for the margaritas…
For the entrée, I got the Shortrib Barbacoa. It was good. The sauce was super salty, so I just didn’t drown my meat in it. It came with some tacos and guacamole. I had also ordered the rice and spicy slaw sides, so it made these amazing tacos! 4 stars because of the surprise guacamole and tacos.
I was considering the Wild Fish dish. It was seabass last night, which would have been AMAZING, but it cost $ 38. With our bill already climbing, I decided to try the short ribs. Maybe for a big celebration I will get the fish and forego the margarita…
My husband got the Chipotle Garlic Ribeye. The steak was seasoned great and very tasty. It was sort of a fatty piece, but that’s ribeye, right? All of the flavors were great, but I think next time we’d ask for the creamy green chili cheese sauce on the side. Yummy but a little too creamy for us. 3.5 stars
We had great service, and the waitress seemed excited for the upcoming additions to the menu. They’ve only been open for a week, so I can see this place really blowing up with more seafood items, a happy hour, and taco Tuesdays.
We’ll definitely be back to try more! I just gotta save up first… lol.

Absolutely 5 stars!
Really GOOD place to eat!
Next time we will try Hot and Raw Tropical Ceviche.
Nice interior Design!

My wife and I tried the new place Sunday night and couldn’t be more happier about SOL’s offerings. The food and drinks were amazing along with the service.
We started off with the Ceviche SOL which was perfectly served with avocado and pico and serrano peppers. I forgot which fish it was last night but was it very fresh.
I had the carnitas street tacos plate and I can’t stop thinking about it. It’s been many years since I’ve had amazing carnitas and SOL delivered! This alone is going to bring me back here regularly. The meat was tender and well seasoned.
My wife had the carne asada street tacos and those were also really good. The beef was cooked perfectly juicy and went well with the avocado sauce and pico. Another winner here.
I also ordered the blackberry ginger margarita from the bar which used Partida Blanco Tequila, fresh lime juice, and agave which combined with the blackberry and ginger to give a nice sweet and tart drink. Can’t wait to try all the other margaritas and the 60+ tequilas they have behind the bar.
Thanks for moving into the neighborhood and bringing along amazing food and drinks. The place was packed right when doors opened for dinner. We brought along our 7 month old daughter and the environment wasn’t too loud for her. In fact, every other table had young kids so this place is also very kid friendly which is important for a community like Playa Vista. Also a bonus? The bar closes at midnight so we definitely will be back!

I didn’t know that Mexican food could be so good and I’ve lived in Southern California for 30+ years. They better open a San Diego location!
Great atmosphere and a gorgeous bar.
The food had so many subtle flavors. They have a big wood fire grill. It’s surprising how much flavor can be added by this method of cooking. Even the corn tastes better off the grill.
I’m not typically a fan of Margarita’s as I don’t like sweet drinks, but I had to try the Cucumber Jalapeño Margarita because it sounded so interesting. The cucumber and jalapeño were the perfect ratio, not overpowering and although the drink was true to the margarita theme, it didn’t taste syrupy sweet like they so often are. It was delicious.
The table ordered the Hot & Raw Tropical Ceviche so I gave it a try. I’m a person that eats Chicken Teriyaki at a Sushi restaurant. This was outstanding. All the flavors were so well balanced with just the right amount of citrus and it wasn’t fishy at all.
We also had the Chorizo & Mushrooms con Queso. I must admit that I am a cheese lover in all of it’s forms, so it was going to be tough for me not to like it, but like everything on the menu, there is so much going on under the hood. You can taste the hint of the peppers and the scallions, the mix of cheeses was perfect. They tried to take the plate away and I almost bit the server (kidding). I knew I could scrape a bit more off that plate and I did.
I highly recommend the duck and short-​rib tacos. I’m out of adjectives.
Bottom line, everything on the menu had multiple subtle flavors that when combined make it far superior to any Mexican dining experience I have had in the past. This isn’t meat with salsa on a tortilla. Every single thing that we ordered had so much going on, but in the perfect proportions.
The only disappointment I experienced was that I got full so fast. :-) I wanted to try a dozen of their specialty tacos. I’m also wondering how I am suppose to go back to my «regular» mexican place after having this culinary experience. I’ll have to wait a few months before going back to my local place so that my taste buds forget. Its going to take a long time.

Selfish plug for locals: daily specials like Taco Tuesday or a loyalty program would get to come back more often. Prices are a little high for me to be a true regular but specials would help.
Food:
There are quite a few vegetarian/​pescatarian options on the menu. The mushroom and corn quesadilla was decent and a really good portion (enough for lunch the next day). I can’t wait to try the shrimp chile relleno and the shrimp tacos next time. Brunch also looks promising!
Tropical Ceviche: wayyy to many raw onions and the fish to salad ratio is a little low. Has the potential to be a great dish!
Atmosphere:
Great atmosphere and one of the only true bars in Playa Vista. Great margaritas outside my front door will be dangerous to say the least! I used to frequent the Newport Beach location which was more trendy/​snobby and was pleasantly surprised by the friendly staff in Playa Vista. Keep up the good work!

Dined here the other night with a party of 4. We were specifically there celebrating my birthday and the experience was off the charts! I was told «Happy Birthday» by both the host and the server upon arrival which I though was a great touch! Once we sat we were welcomed with a delicious display of chips (fried round tortillas with a salty/​spicy seasoning), fresh bean dip and a yummy salsa. We all tried different variations of their margaritas — my favorite was definitely the jalapeño marg! Don’t leave without trying one!
Then we had the tasty beet salad & hot and raw ceviche to start. O.M.G. that ceviche!!! So fresh, colorful and plentiful! For entrees we all shared tacos — my two favorites were the black bean and sweet potato and the vampiro. I expected smaller street tacos but these medium sized and were packed to the brim with fillings and left us all extremely stuffed!
For dessert, we received the tres leches cake — another win for SOL — as well as a round of coffee. I heard they will soon be offering a mexican hot chocolate coffee (or something like that) and I cannot wait to come back and try it!
Seriously from start to finish the night was perfection made possible by our amazing server, Raul who thoughtfully described every item for us and offered great suggestions when we were trying to make up our mind on different items.
I can’t wait to go back!

Absolutely 5 Stars! Unbelievably gorgeous décor and atmosphere! Delicious food and OUTSTANDING service. These guys really pay attention to each and every detail and it shows. I’m really shocked that someone gave these guys a 2 star review when everyone else is raving about the food but perhaps their taste buds are suited to that «moist tender food» from Taco Bell!
Put this on your list and try it out. You will have a great experience! Welcome to our neighborhood! What a FANTASTIC ADDITION!

I had dinner with my wife here the other night and everything was outstanding. I was greeted by the hostess and was sat promptly. We were given a black bean dip and salsa that were both delicious. Our
Server was really professional and knew his menu like the palm of his hands. We try the goat cheese for an app and for our main courses the wifey had carnitas yummmmm the best carnitas ever. I had the chile relleno with shrimp. really really good. Almost forgot the margaritas the best margaritas we ever had, cucumber Margarita and mango delicious. Overall experience a 5 star.

The moment you walk in, you’re greeted immediately with friendly hosts and welcomed into a beautiful restaurant.
Baja inspired Mexican food, with new twists and exciting flavors. There’s plenty of spice, in the drinks, food and sauces.
We had the guacamole, which was extra creamy and had mango for some tang. The chicken tacos and carnitas were both delicious, with the help of the salsa de árbol to complement the savory.
The blackberry ginger, watermelon, pineapple Serrano and cucumber jalapeño margaritas were all delicious, with enough sweet and sour to complement the the food.
The service was spectacular, really friendly and not at all hesitant to explain anything or answer any questions.
Can’t wait to come back and try the desserts. The nachos dulces are calling us!