Anybody remember La Cantina in Santa Monica? (restaurant, best)

[bacano]

La Cantina (I believe that is the right name) was my mom's favorite mexican rest. We went to look for it but we couldn't find it. I'm trying to find out some info...did it close? did it move? are they still around.

It was located on Pico east of Bundy. Anybody remember it?

[BRinSM]

the santa monica border is actually at centinela, so this la cantina restaurant would have been in west LA. there's a couple of mexican places in that area though, don antonio's is one of the better ones.

[rereisme]

La Cantina was a family favorite and we were so sad when it closed years ago. The gentleman that owned the business became very old and was not prepared to sell to his staff. It was a cash only business and I am sure hard to keep going once he was in his late 80's or 90's. I took some photo's before it was gone and I will post them when I have them available. Their salad with a simple dressing was delicious. Cotton seed oil, apple cider vinegar and cloves of garlic would marinate for a few days with salt and pepper. It was a head of lettuce and nothing more. Taco's and enchiladas were amazing and when I hit 21, we'd sit in the bar and we could not get a better margarita. Those were the days. It was said he or the staff would try and open a new place, but we never located it. Darn!!!!!!!

[starrgate]

I really miss that place. I've been looking for over 40 years for their salsa recipe. Anyone know it? If so, please email me [email]starrgate@aol.com[/email]

[jm1982]

Another good one on the westside was Tijuana's it had been there many years , they had ladies in the front making handmade tortillas.
It was redeveloped into a Trader Joes

[Exitus Acta Probat]

Originally Posted by jm1982

Another good one on the westside was Tijuana's it had been there many years , they had ladies in the front making handmade tortillas.
It was redeveloped into a Trader Joes

Is that the Trader Joe's on Olympic?

[jm1982]

Originally Posted by Exitus Acta Probat

Is that the Trader Joe's on Olympic?

Yes it was on Olympic Blvd .

https://www.chowhound.com/post/ackkk...taurant-530065

[BayAreaHillbilly]

Originally Posted by rereisme

La Cantina was a family favorite and we were so sad when it closed years ago. The gentleman that owned the business became very old and was not prepared to sell to his staff. It was a cash only business and I am sure hard to keep going once he was in his late 80's or 90's. I took some photo's before it was gone and I will post them when I have them available. Their salad with a simple dressing was delicious. Cotton seed oil, apple cider vinegar and cloves of garlic would marinate for a few days with salt and pepper. It was a head of lettuce and nothing more. Taco's and enchiladas were amazing and when I hit 21, we'd sit in the bar and we could not get a better margarita. Those were the days. It was said he or the staff would try and open a new place, but we never located it. Darn!!!!!!!

Gone but definitely not forgotten.

[michaelknauer22]

La Cantina was the best EVER no doubt our whole family loved that place especially those Tacos OMG to die for. Till this day there is no one that compares. Wish I had the recipe for those taco and the enchiladas were amazing. Bean salsa chips wow sure do miss that place. Years after they closed one on the old cooks from there opened up a tiny Tacos place on pico across the street for the original so for a short time we had those tacos back. I still remember the red booth and tables

[ima30something]

Don Antonio’s is over there and is awesome