Elena’s is the rare Big Night Out restaurant in West Portal. This upscale Mexican spot is meant for sexy outfits and sipping on spicy margaritas under live trees and candlelight. Every night, big groups gather in large leather booths and belt out laughs that mingle with a soundtrack of Juanes, Olivia Rodrigo, and Peso Pluma—it’s a vibrant, rowdy dinner party you’ll want to stay at until they kick you out. But first, you’ll either have to fight off hordes to get a reservation, or put yourself through a two-hour-long wait (even on random Tuesdays). Luckily, the food is just as good as the scene, and more than worth the time spent in line. The pozole is rich thanks to the addition of pork trotters, the esquites arrive with bright kicks of lime, and the melty gobernador tacos are covered in a tangy green salsa that we’d love to pour on every dish—just be careful not to spill it on your going-out shirt when you’re a few drinks in.