Casablanca
Mexican restaurant · Venice
220 Lincoln Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90291
Highlights
Fresh tortillas, tequila cart, and live music create unique ambiance
Fresh tortillas, tequila cart, and live music create unique ambiance
"The menu at this old-school Mexican restaurant in Venice hasn’t changed much since the place opened 40 years ago, and we consider that one of its best qualities. The signature dish is the calamari steak, but sometimes we deviate and order either a grande burrito or fajitas. And, aside from the solid food, Casablanca is dependably raucous. Expect live music, a tortilla production zone in the main dining room, and a margarita cart that will roll right up to your table." - sylvio martins, jess basser sanders, brant cox, arden shore
"When the craving for a big margarita and bottomless chips and salsa hits, Venice has a few options that deliver just that. But if we had to choose between Casablanca and other institutions like La Cabaña, we’d go with the former every time (the food is better). The menu at Casablanca has barely changed during 40 years of business. The signature dish is the surprisingly solid calamari steak, but the grande burrito with birria or the build-your-own fish taco situation are the main highlights. Food aside, Casablanca is a dependable good time. There's a tortilla-making station in the middle of the dining room and if you stick around long enough, someone will probably wheel the tequila cart up to your table." - brant cox, sylvio martins, nikko duren
"Since 1980, Casablanca has been serving some of Venice’s most consistent Mexican food in an atmosphere that always seems to be bordering on complete chaos. And if you’re wondering why, look no further than the Tequila Express. It’s basically a roaming tequila cart where one of the margarita specialists* build you an Ultimate Margarita Experience Margaritas right in front of you at the table. Tequila selections change daily, so make sure you come back until you’ve tried them all." - brant cox, sylvio martins
"Here you thought working from home was going to bring about a new sense of intimacy for you and your significant other. Instead, all you have to show for it is five new house plants, late-night Twitter dependency, and a deep disdain for the exact way they naturally breathe. It’s time to call it. Luckily, Casablanca is waiting for you and your impending emotional breakdown. The classic Venice spot is one of our favorite old-school Mexican restaurants in town and a place that feels custom-built to save you from emotional freefall. Tortillas are being cooked-to-order in the main dining room, live music is happening most nights, and there’s even a margarita cart that’ll roll right up to your table." - brant cox
"Casablanca in Venice is a bit of a head-scratcher — in a good way. Located across from a Whole Foods-Chevron complex and kitty-corner to La Cabaña, the restaurant is decorated like the 1942 movie set in Morocco. Expect a roving tequila cart churning tableside margaritas, dexterous older women flipping tortillas on the dining room’s centerpiece comal, and a menu that focuses on grilled seafood dishes, with one section dedicated fully to mammoth grilled calamari steaks." - Rebecca Roland
