Esperanza Cocina de la Playa - Mexican restaurant in Manhattan Beach - 309 Manhattan Beach Blvd, USA

Loved the atmosphere, charming, vibrant and romantic! Came for an afternoon drink right before sunset. They serve complementary tortillas with salsa etc., would’ve been better if it’s tortilla chips instead of tortillas, but nonetheless it’s for free! Their drinks are strong, ordered one with passion fruit but couldn’t taste the passion fruit much. Enjoyed their raspberry mojito tho! Their food looked good, if we’re ever in the neighborhood again, will come to try some of their dishes.

I love everything we’d ordered and what’s with the honey butter!!! Absolutely nuts in the most positive way. We are a bunch of geris so missed half the conversation as the acoustics not great otherwise, fantastic night out

Stunning drinks prepared beautifully using delicious ingredients. Our server was very sweet and professional. The atmosphere and music were both great too.

I met a few friends here for a late lunch on a Saturday. We made reservations, so there was no wait, although it appeared that walk-ins didn't have to wait too long. I loved the open atmosphere. It's along the main drag toward the beach, so if you get a seat near the front, it's great for people watching during the summer. Parking in the summer can be a bit problematic, but there are a few public lots nearby. FOOD: The food was amazing! From the appetizers to the main course! You won't be disappointed. You must try the shrimp enchiladas. (Thank me later.) DRINKS: Everyone of them were good. Although one person in our group received a watered down drink on her second round, we think that had more to do with the bartender at the time - it got pretty busy at one point, but that was the only hiccup. The Sangria Blanca was really good & so was the specialty Coconut Pineapple margarita where the glass was rimmed with toasted coconut!! SERVICE: The waiters were fantastic, helpful & friendly. They definitely added to the vibe and made sure that we were taken care of. I would recommend this place for lunch or dinner.

Upon visiting Esperanza Cocina restaurant in Manhattan Beach, I was immediately drawn to the fun and lively ambience that filled the air. The bustling atmosphere and energetic vibes created an exciting backdrop for the dining experience. However, I must admit that my excitement waned when I perused the menu and discovered the prices to be quite steep. The food and drinks seemed to be on the higher end of the spectrum, and it gave me some pause. As I settled into my seat and awaited the arrival of our order, I couldn't help but notice that the service didn't quite match the spirited atmosphere. The staff appeared to be somewhat distant and preoccupied, which unfortunately affected the overall dining experience. While the restaurant's ambiance was certainly enjoyable and added a certain level of charm to the evening, the combination of pricey offerings and lackluster service left me feeling a tad disappointed. Esperanza Cocina has the potential to be a fantastic spot, but I hope they address these aspects to ensure a more memorable and satisfying dining experience for their patrons.

The vibes here are amazing, its a gorgeous restaurant in manhattan beach and the energy is high. It is somewhat hard to hear in there given the amount of people and the talking so you will be raising your voice across the table a bit! The drinks were delicious - we got a variety and everyone's tasted great! You get a few free flour tortillas with salsa/crema for the table (everyone gets about 1 each). We ordered guac it was $14 and was a really small portion in a large bowl, it definitely went quick! The entrees were OK in flavor, they tasted like any family mexican restaurant near me with a higher price tag. Some items had very thick thick layers of cheese. It was definitely large filling portions, however the quality was not where I thought it would be. Service was really friendly and they don't rush you out of the restaurant!

We stopped in for a quick lunch on a Saturday. Really good atmosphere and food. My wife and I had the Caesar salad. It had some spice to it but it was light and packed with flavor. The salmon seasoning was amazing and paired well with the salad. Great spot to come in for food and drinks. You can park on 12th garage which has an all day option if you want to make a day of it.

I had to give three stars because the server was incredible. He was working alone and they got slammed with only one bartender. I got there earlier around 11:30 am and it was empty. I ordered the "La Asada Con Salsa." It's normally my favorite with the chimichurri on the side- rice and beans. The carne asada quality was ATROCIOUS. I ordered it medium like he recommended, and it was so chewy I couldn't even eat it. It was like trying to eat gelatinous flubber. It's a shame too because I had told my girlfriend to come down from LA who works for an esteemed food critic columnist in LA. She wasn't impressed with what she ordered either. The queso lacked flavor and depth. The chefs need to step it up like when they first opened. The food quality has gotten scary. Also, chimichurri should be fresh cilantro and bright vibrant green- not the pureed green powder mix that came to the table. I had to ask the food runner if he was joking that it was actually chimichurri?!