Holbox

everything was good- nothing blew my mind 😩 i think a huge reason of that was because the staff didn’t tell us about their hot sauces they had in another area and we discovered them only whenever we had finished all of our food. this food was probably designed for a more delicate palate than mine- i missed the bold spicy flavors that the hot sauces would have provided for the food. everything was a little bland for me, even if the fish quality was excellent. could have used more limes for everything- so if you’re getting ceviche or any of the tostadas or the tacos, try asking for more limes, and UTILIZE THEIR HOT SAUCES!! tortillas are excellent. churros are also a must get. all in all, not a bad experience, just wish we had known about the hot sauces so we could have elevated our dining experience.

Place had a long line that it deserved. We had the branzino and cooked octopus for seniors...both loved them. Good serving size. Sauce on cooked octopus was yummy. Myself inhad the crevice del pulpo...it was just okay. Wasn't the best octopus I've had. But what I did love was the scallop inside our sea urchin- that was a burst of happiness inside my mouth. Would love to come back to try their scallop ceviche next time. The cooked scallop taco was alright and the octopus taco was alright. We also got thr aguachile with scallop and shrimp...boys liked it; I wasn't a huge fan. Also had the sopa del marisco...has a kick to it. Some of us liked it and some weren't huge fans. See photos attached.

All the seafood = super fresh. I don't even like mussels much but the ones they used in the seafood soup were great. We all loved the tacos, tostadas, and ceviche. The scallop aquachile was excellent as well. Would definitely come back again. I recommend you visit on a weekday rather than a weekend.

Incredible meal all around!! Everything was extremely fresh. Tuna ceviche was nice and bright, and scallops were very sweet and in a delicious spicy lime broth. Branzino was grilled nicely and stuffed with onions and lemons. The rice and beans on the side were also great and came with warm blue corn tortillas, which made for some great tacos. Octopus tacos were the standout of the meal. The meat was extremely tender and on a bed of tomatoes and grilled onions, which were very sweet and smoky. I probably could’ve had five more of those. There are four self-serve salsas, which were all very good. The white one is delicious but sooooo spicy!!! We got there around 10:45 AM on a Saturday and were maybe the 15th party in line. Would recommend getting there pretty early, as the line started picking up around 11 and wrapped around the corner. Holbox is located inside a food hall, so there is lots of seating (outdoor seating as well), and service is fast.

A long wait, but well worth the price. This spot has to be one of the best spots in LA. Their tacos were so so good. We tried all of them and all of them were fantastic. We also got their ceviche and it was even better. Really enjoyed the different hot salsa options as well. The tostada was a great crunch and another great option. Def a must try! The line goes by at a good pace.

This was definitely an experience. As someone not from the West Coast, driving into the area felt a little unexpected for a Michelin-recognized spot. It’s tucked inside a food hall with minimal signage, so just look for the line on the right when you walk in. I went on a weekday about an hour before closing, so the wait was pretty minimal. The menu is so good it’s hard to choose, so I didn’t. I ordered one of each type of dish. Tacos (the kanpachi taco was the standout), tuna tostada, scallop aguachile, yellowtail ceviche, coctel de camarón, and sea urchin. The uni wasn’t for me, and just a heads up, it’s served very fresh, like still moving when it hits the table. Everything tasted incredibly fresh and well executed. It felt authentic without trying too hard, which I appreciated. The staff was friendly and the whole process ran smoothly, even in a busy food hall setting.

★★★★☆ Holbox delivers exceptional seafood, and the food is unquestionably the reason to come. The grilled lobster was the highlight - incredibly fresh, tender, sweet, and perfectly cooked. Dipped in warm butter with grilled lemon, it was outstanding. The black beans, rice, avocado, and accompaniments complemented the seafood perfectly. The quality and freshness of the ingredients really stand out. The preparation lets the seafood speak for itself without unnecessary sauces or overcomplication. Food is an easy 5/5. Where the experience fell short was the service. At 3/5, it didn’t match the level of the food. The atmosphere is casual, lively, and unpretentious inside Mercado La Paloma. It’s enjoyable, but definitely more about the food than the overall dining environment. Food: 5/5 Service: 3/5 Atmosphere: 4/5 Overall: 4/5 Holbox is absolutely worth visiting if you love fresh seafood. The kitchen is producing something special, and the lobster alone is worth the trip. With stronger service, this could easily have been a five-star overall experience.

TL;DR: Worth the hype, the line, and possibly a small emotional commitment. We finally made it to Holbox this past weekend, and wow—consider us officially late to the party and very glad we showed up. We rolled up to Mercado La Paloma around 6:30 pm on a Friday, mentally preparing for a “stand here and question your life choices” kind of line… but plot twist: it moved fast! We were inside in about 15 minutes, which was just enough time to stare intensely at the menu and pretend we’re decisive people. We went all in and ordered Scallop Aguachile, Bluefin Tuna Tostadas, Baja Fish Tacos, Grilled Branzino, and Grilled Octopus. Everything was fantastic. If I had to crown a winner (and I do), it’s the Grilled Octopus with Almond Pipian sauce. It was so good I briefly considered ordering a second one “for research.” The market vibe is super chill—casual, lively, and just chaotic enough to be fun. The staff from all restaurants, not just Holbox, do a great job clearing tables, so finding a place to sit wasn’t an issue. We never had to awkwardly hover behind diners, making intense eye contact and willing them to leave. Bonus perk of the food hall situation: snack diversification. We grabbed a couple of aguas frescas from Oaxacalifornia because hydration is important when you’re this committed to eating everything in sight. Service was friendly and efficient, with staff constantly circulating, making it easy to ask questions and—most importantly—secure dessert. Speaking of which: chocolate and churros were ordered with zero hesitation, plus two more orders to go! Final verdict: We will definitely be back to try more of Holbox’s menu!

Incredible experience, will totally repeat! Everything was great but I have to say the hot food was clearly better than the cold one IMO. The tacos and octopus and churros (hot) were A++, pure perfection. The ceviche and sea urchin with scallops were very fresh, but on the soft/mild side. Too subtle, lacking a sharp note, or some depth or complexity. Still VERY good food.