LA Cha Cha Cha

A neon green sign in the shape of a lime draws diners to this expansive, 11,600-square foot rooftop oasis that acts as a sister restaurant to the popular Mexico City terrazza by the same name. Executive Chef Francisco Moran has created a menu of classic Mexican dishes that also draw from LA sensibilities, which means dishes like Pescado Cha Cha Chá, a charcoal-grilled huachinango with charred lettuce. With cozy booth seating and fanned palms that act as barriers between tables, it’s easy to feel like you’ve been treated to a private dining experience at a stylish Baja resort.

Another LA sibling to a Mexico City original, this expansive rooftop spot’s menu is centered around classic Mexican staples as well as chef Paco Moran’s family recipes, with added influence from the California coast. Tostadas feature fresh seafood like Baja California-sourced bluefin tuna and Mayan octopus, while a ceviche showcases cured shrimp plated with refreshing cucumber and bright beets. Notable mains include the Pescado Cha Cha Cha, with charcoal-grilled Huanchinango, and a vegetarian Pipian Rojo Con Col with a red pipian sauce, red cabbage, and epazote rice. On the interior, you’ll find the lively La Barra, a late-night option with an expanded list of cocktails and a truncated food menu.

Mexico City’s favorite terrace restaurant recently launched its DTLA iteration, complete with an 11,600-square-foot-rooftop that features cacti, palm trees, and moody string lights that make the surrounding Arts District feel like a tropical beach destination. The food menu features Mexican favorites—tacos, tostadas, ceviche, carnitas, and more—while the cocktail list peppers classic drinks with mezcal and tequila, resulting in unique concoctions like the Oaxacan Zombie, with mezcal, aged and overproof tequila, falernum, grenadine, and mint.

This expansive downtown rooftop has some serious Mexico City inspiration—but with a sister restaurant in CDMX, how could it not? The lush plants and Instagram-worthy decor of this restaurant would be worth a visit alone. Add to-die-for ceviche and cocktails like the mezcal-based Oaxacan Zombie and you’ve got the kind of place it’s worth putting in the extra work for one of their highly-in-demand tables. As if that wasn’t enough, Cha Cha Cha recently opened the speakeasy-inspired La Barra, an interior bar with extended hours, a separate alleyway entrance (look for the illuminated lime), and different drink and food menus.
How to book: Reservations recommended. Book here.