A Monterrey-style steakhouse, MXO, has shut down at 826 North La Cienega Boulevard, ceasing operations this summer after less than a year. The permanent closure was announced on July 21, 2025, by a restaurant representative, overturning an earlier temporary closure claim, according to Eater LA. MXO, launched in September 2024 by chef Wes Avila, Giancarlo Pagani, and Sam Nazarian’s SBE, has not issued further statements, though Instagram comments from disappointed reservation holders suggest a sudden end. The restaurant’s last Instagram post was on June 9, 2025.
Avila, currently at Ka’Teen in Hollywood and previously behind Guerrilla Tacos and Angry Egret Dinette, offered an upscale Mexican menu in a space designed by Jae Omar of Jae Omar Design. Highlights included dry-aged porterhouse and rib-eye steaks, chile Colorado short ribs with frijoles and tortillas, and a standout birria beef martillo—a braised wagyu shank with consommé. Tacos with fish, chicken, and rib-eye, plus starters like oysters and queso fundido, rounded out the offerings. “LA needs a Mexican steakhouse,” Avila told Eater LA at the opening.
With MXO closed, Avila’s Los Angeles presence is now limited to Ka’Teen, alongside Piopiko in Kyoto, Japan. The future of the renovated space near Nobu remains uncertain.
Some may remember it used to be Mexican restaurant Cugat’s (though band leader Xavier Cugot was Spanish) and who cares if we define “West Hollywood” to include neighborhoods outside the strict city boundaries, as we all (or almost all) do?
This is like saying the Empire State Building is in Brooklyn.
MXO is in Los Angeles. Why are you writing about L.A. closures in a weho site? Very misleading.
we have a section called around the town and we post things going on around the city outside of our borders.