The Mission Cantina

5946 West Sunset Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90028-6521
(323) 469-3130

www.themissioncantina.com
twitter.com/georgenyla


Parking: Valet available, and nearby (free) street parking, just read the signs, yo
Monday - Friday, 5-8pm, $3 off all specialty drinks, complimentary chips & salsa w/ beverage purchase. Tuesday is $1 Taco Night (yo)
First off, don’t call the Mission’s Happy Hour a Happy Hour. It’s actually called “It’s 5 O’Clock Somewhere,” thank you very much. And that’s correct, it is 5 o’clock somewhere. As I write this entry, it is just after 5pm in Halifax, Nova Scotia. That’s kinda beside the point, because even though the Mission doesn’t offer a Happy Hour called Happy Hour, their “It’s 5 O’clock Somewhere” deal is pretty sweet – $3 off all specialty cocktails from 5-8pm Monday-Friday.

Being a girl on a budget, I went for the Mission Margarita for $4 (normally $7), though I’d love to try “A Coyote Named Georgia” with El Jimador Resposado, agave nectar, peaches, & lime juice for $7 (normally $10) or “That Night in Cabo” with Coconut Rum, Tuaca, pineapple juice, and a Chamboard float for $6 (normally $9). I don’t know if it was just because I was hungry and thirsty, but my margarita was tasty, so tasty I had to have another and could have had another after that (but refrained)! Also delicious were the chips & salsa (complimentary with beverage purchase during Happy Hour It’s 5 O’Clock Somewhere). Both seemed fresh and homemade and I really dug the chunky chipotle salsa and the crispy, yet still greasy(!) chips.


The law offices of "It's 5 O'Clock Somewhere"
No other food options on happy hour or whatever you call it, but the food prices are still mucho bueno, so I ordered the two taco plate w/ rice and beans ($8.95). Obvs, Vegetarian me went for the veggie options – the Verduras (corn, zucchini, poblano, & red peppers) and the Papas (potatoes). The Verduras taco didn’t have much flavor and the Papas taco, well, I had imagined it might come with grilled/skillet fried potatoes, but the potatoes were actually mashed up and it sort of tasted like I was eating potato salad on a corn tortilla. And that’s just weird. I’m really interested to hear if the meat tacos fare better… Anyone? Anyone?
So yay on the drink deals, nay on the vegetarian tacos = even so far. Luckily, the vibe of the spot is fantastic and adds several points to the Mission’s favor. It’s done up like an old school mission, painted blue inside with stained glass windows. The outside patio is nice to escape the loud music pumping inside. While the music is loud, it’s also kind of the best music mix you’ve ever heard at a bar – everything from modern rock, jazz, blues, and … the Wu-Tang Clan. And the crowd was great; I arrived around 7pm (5pm somewhere over the Pacific) and there were a good number of chill peeps enjoying themselves and their friends. You gotta love a deal that runs until 8 pm on weeknights. For that, I can almost look past no weekend specials!
PS – It’s now 5 pm in New York City, Savannah, and Havana. In one hour, it will be “3 O’Clock Somewhere,” which means time for Happy Hour at Hollywood’s Kung Pao Kitty (review to come).
--JB
Rating: 4 Martinis