Excellent experience from start to finish. As soon as we walked in, we were greeted and made to…read morefeel welcome. The staff kept us updated on the wait time and communicated throughout the process, which was greatly appreciated. The customer service was outstanding--friendly, professional, and attentive. It's clear they value their customers and go the extra mile to make everyone feel comfortable. I'll definitely be coming back and would highly recommend this barbershop to anyone looking for great service and a welcoming atmosphere.

Nephew gets his hair cut by Mark. Always does a great job with him. Place is chill, clean always a…read moregood vibe. No complaints here. Great spot if looking for a barber. High quality work every time.

I made an appointment for my dad a few months ago and Mari did an amazing job. My dad's hair and…read morebeard was out of control and Mari offered a senior discount. Thank you so much I'll continue bringing my dad back for his grooming.

Hair was done by Gloria, the work at The Cream Shop is always 10/10! You're in good hands with them…read morefor sure every-time you book an appointment or walk-in! Definitely would recommend getting your hair bleached and dyed here because it always turns out amazing! The atmosphere of the shop is amazing too!! It's so goth/rockabilly style and they make you feel like home! Also make sure to stop by the fish tank, there's so many!!!! ^o^ Thank you so much for letting me be a loyal customer!!!

Luis gave me a fire mullet last week super satisfied had to tip the man good, definitely will be…read moreback in a month

I found this shop to have very rude staff. Dismissive and condescending. I hope they turn it around…read morefor their own sake.

Great service and super friendly and my boys haircuts were fresh. Definitely would recommend this…read moreplace.

I had a very disappointing experience here. When we walked in, no one acknowledged us. After we…read moreasked about getting a haircut, we were simply pointed toward the walk-in sign-in machine without any greeting or explanation. We waited for about 30 minutes while three barbers appeared to be standing around and not cutting anyone's hair. They may have been waiting for appointments, and that's completely understandable, but the least they could have done was acknowledge us, let us know what the wait would be, or explain the situation. Instead, the atmosphere felt unwelcoming, and it seemed like they had a chip on their shoulder. Basic courtesy and communication go a long way, and unfortunately, the customer service was very poor. I won't be returning.

Here is what you need to know about thick Asian hair: it does not cooperate. It does not lie flat…read morebecause you asked nicely. It does not taper because some guy with a certificate from a six-week barber program waved clippers in its general direction. It grows outward with a kind of structural defiance, perpendicular to your skull, and it has humiliated more barbers than you'd think possible given that roughly two billion people on earth are walking around with some version of it. You have two options: you find someone who understands the architecture of the problem, or you pay eighty-five dollars at some place in Silver Lake with exposed brick and a cocktail menu and hope that the price tag correlates to competence. Often it does not. Tony at Checkmate Barbershop charges forty dollars. The shop is in Montebello, which means it is not trying to be anything other than a barbershop. No reservations. No app. No hot towel upsell. You walk in, and if Tony's chair is open, you sit in it, and he does the thing that a surprising number of expensive barbers cannot do, which is cut your hair correctly. A one on the sides, tapered up, trim the top -- the kind of straightforward men's cut that sounds simple until you're the person holding the clippers and staring at hair that wants to project horizontally from the fade line like it's staging a protest. Tony navigated it with the quiet precision of someone who has solved this problem a thousand times and doesn't need to narrate the process. The taper was seamless. The top was shaped without being overthought. The cut looked right the day of and -- the real test -- still looked right a week later, which is when most mediocre haircuts reveal themselves for what they are. The shop itself is contemporary and clean, the kind of place where the design suggests someone cares but not so much that you feel like you're being charged for the aesthetic. The music was excellent and omnivorous in a way that told you something about the people running the place: The Specials drifted into Mungo Jerry drifted into something from the mid-eighties, the kind of rotation that makes you want to sit in the chair a little longer even after the cut is done. The vibe is friendly without being performative. Nobody tried to become my best friend. Nobody ignored me either. It was the Goldilocks zone of barbershop social interaction, which if you've ever sat through a forty-five-minute cut with a barber who won't stop talking about crypto, you know is not a trivial thing. Forty dollars. Walk-in. In Montebello. For a precision fade on difficult hair that holds up better than cuts I've paid nearly three times as much for. The math is so simple it's almost embarrassing that it took me this long to find it.

Mario hooked me up with one of the best cuts I've had in a long time. Super professional, easy to…read moretalk to, and skilled with the clippers. The cut came out clean and fresh, and the whole process was smooth from start to finish. The shop is clean and a chill vibe. Highly recommend checking him out at Checkmate Barbershop.

Donovan did an amazing job with my indecisive 15 year old! I was very happy to see the smile on my…read morekiddos face! Thank you Donavan!!

Dope shop... everyone was super nice and greeted me when I entered as well as when I left…read more Decided to take a chance on Brenda based on all her good reviews. She was super cool (was like catching up with an ol' friend)... her cut was fast and my hair came out good.

Been going to see Arnold. Appointments are easy online. He lots of appointments during the day…read more Accepts credit card. His rate is on the lower side but his quality of work is just as good. Great for Asian hair like mine. Middle fade with a taper and trim on top. Shampoo and wash is available before and after your cut

I love the haircut I got from Christine! She did an amazing job and took her time to carefully cut…read moremy hair which I really appreciated. She gave me useful tips for maintaining the hair shape. Booking was very easy and flexible via the website. The salon itself is nice and clean. I like that the shampoo service is included with haircut. Easy street parking out front.

I had a great experience getting my haircut here, thanks to Tommy. From the moment I walked in, he…read morewas incredibly friendly and welcoming, which made the whole visit feel comfortable right away. I asked for a mid fade with a trim on top, and he absolutely delivered. The fade was clean, blended perfectly, and the top was shaped just right--exactly what I was hoping for. You can tell he really pays attention to detail and takes pride in his work. On top of that, Tommy made the whole experience enjoyable with his positive attitude and easygoing personality. It didn't feel rushed at all, and he made sure everything looked right before I left. Definitely one of the better haircut experiences I've had. I'll be coming back for sure.

Been coming back here every time I get a haircut. Always satisfied and love now my hair looks. My…read morego-to guy is Kevin O. Here! Highly recommend for fresh cuts!

I've been coming to real cuts for over ten years, I have always cut my hair with Chris. I have also…read morecut my hair with others and my haircuts have always been fresh. I recently moved farther away and still make sure I come get my haircut at real cuts. Highly recommend the vibe is great he even kept me looking good for my wedding day this is the only barber shop I will ever come to.

Been coming here for 10 years never been disappointed in my haircut. Shoutout Chris for always…read moretaking care of me and being punctual for my appointments

Great experience here! Shoutout to Erick! He went out of his way to help me get the Suavecita…read moreproduct I needed and some new ones to try. They're dedicated to taking care of their clients --not just giving a haircut, but making sure the whole family leaves fully set up. That level of service means a lot. Definitely recommend them for the great haircuts and great service! Thank you!

I love this place! I recently moved into the area and was looking for a new barber on a holiday…read moreweekend. Thankfully, Anthony decided to take a few appointments that day and I have had several haircuts with him since then. I really appreciate how he cuts my hair and he does a good job of articulating what I'm looking for. He is very down to earth and I enjoy our chats while I get my haircut. He also does a great job with children's haircuts. My 4 year old son enjoys getting his haircut with Anthony and playing with the pool table while he waits for his haircut. I appreciate the vintage aesthetic of the barbershop and the customer service. They have water and coffee available and that's always nice during an early morning haircut on the weekends. I highly recommend this location to anyone looking for a barbershop.