Everything at Monte Alban is $6.99 During Lunch

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When I first moved to L.A. last year Monte Alban popped up on a bunch of “food suggestion” emails I got from friends. Opinions about the place vary, and it often gets overshadowed by the far more popular Guelagetza in Koreatown, but most people agree that if you want anything resembling Oaxacan food on the Westside it’s pretty much your only option. Mole and clayudas are their specialties, and the best part is you can order anything off the regular menu for just $7 and it comes with a soda (seafood dishes are excluded.)

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There is no way to make this look tasty… but it is!

Los Angeles Magazine swears by their menudo, but sadly it’s only available on the weekends… so the safest bet is their “house specialty” mole negro.  It’s also the most expensive thing on the menu ($10.75), making it the best deal during lunch.  It comes poured over a bone in chicken breast, but you can ask for it boneless (or ask for dark meat, in which case they will give you the leg and thigh.)  As tempting as it sounded, I couldn’t resist getting the mole burrito instead.  The better than average (and fairly large) burrito comes stuffed with chicken breast, rice, black beans, lettuce, tomato, onions, cilantro, avocado, and sour cream and topped with the mole- which they advertise as being made from “up to 30 spices, dry chiles, seeds, herbs and chocolate” but mostly it was just sweet.  In other words if you’re expecting a thick sludge of nuanced flavors, you might be disappointed by this sweet and borderline watery mole. That being said, if you like your mole sweet this one is definitely a crowd pleaser perched firmly in the “great for the westside” category.

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If black mole isn’t your thing, there’s red, yellow, and green moles available as well.  The green mole with pork sounded great (and it was the waitress’s favorite), but we ended up settling on the cumin spiked yellow, which had a nice little kick, although by no means will it blow you away.  Just like the black it was pretty solid, but not spectacular.

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Not into mole?  You can also get a clayuda (think: Mexican pizza) for just $6.99, featuring your choice of one meat- or the “mixed”, which comes with dried beef and strips of pork cutlet. The mixed is more expensive, making it the natural choice during lunch since everything is $6.99.  Topped with black beans, Oaxacan string cheese, avocado and tomato, the thing is huge, and quite the steal for only $7.  (The mixed at Pal Cabron is $12.50.)

Is Monte Alban the best Mexican restaurant on the Westside?  I don’t know… for me it’s still Mariscos Chente. But it’s definitely the best Mexican lunch special west of La Cienega. And if you live or work on the westside, and you’re in the mood for Oaxacan mole or clayudas, it’s a no brainer.

THE + (What somebody who likes this place would say)

  • So many different moles!  And it’s on the westside… so great.
  • Their black mole is so sweet and delicious
  • Quality, sit down Oaxacan food for $7?  It can’t be beat. (At least not on the Westside.)

THE – (What somebody who doesn’t like this place would say)

  • The mole negro is way too sweet for me
  • I like my moles a bit thicker
  • You can’t get horchata with the lunch special!? (Their horchata is sooo good)
  • Guelaguetza (and Pal Cabron) is better
  • There’s no good Mexican on the Westside… stop looking.

Monte Alban, 11927 Santa Monica Boulevard (just East of Bundy), 310-444-7736

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3 Comments

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    “most people agree that if you want anything resembling Oaxacan food on the Westside it’s pretty much your only option.”

    I don’t agree. I love Monte Alban, but Juquila is my spot! Pilis not so much, but it’s full of Oaxacan dishes. Also, Sazon Oaxaquena in Mar Vista is awesome (not Sazon Latin Fusion). El Agave has its moments.

    Nice tip on Monte Alban’s lunch! Love their chile relleno picadillo!

  • Their rice comes in the shape of Monte Alban? That’s pretty cool.

  • You should really try the green mole with chicken. It is my favorite item there and really worth checking out. Delicious. I prefer it to the chocolate black moles.

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