I will definitely be coming here again for the late night happy hour, which is Sunday through Thursday 10:30 PM to 2 AM. The food is solid and the drinks are great. You order yourself at the bar and service is quick. Came here at 10:30 on a Thursday and I'm so glad I came. The bar was almost full but still quick service. Definitely going to be adding this spot to my happy hour rotation. read more

El Carmen - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Came here with a group of friends. Made a reservation and were seated right away. The chips and guacamole were really good. I ordered the guava margarita and it was just okay. I should've stuck with a strawberry margarita, you really can't go wrong there. For dinner, I had the chicken flautas. They were alright. The chicken lacked flavor, which made the dish a bit bland overall. The beans were seasoned well and the rice was good too, but the portion was pretty small. The ambiance was nice! Dimly lit and a bit on the smaller side, but it filled up quickly on a Saturday night. It definitely has a fun, lively vibe and the music was great. I'd come back and give it another try. read more

El Carmen - Menu - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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I went to El Carmen recently and asked the bartender to make me something hella sweet and mad spicy. I honestly do not know what the drink was but it was really good and strong enough to get the job done. I would definitely suggest asking the bartender to do the same. I give the drink an 8. The carne asada quesadilla was mouth watering and the meat was seasoned perfectly. That was easily an 8.5 for me. I also had a shrimp taco which was good overall. I did not really like the sauce on it but that is just personal preference because I am not really into that type of sauce. The taco itself was still solid so I give it an 8. The ambiance was a little different than what I expected from the Yelp photos. It had more of a Mexican wrestling mask and skull style vibe with dim lighting. Some people will probably really enjoy that atmosphere but it was not exactly the vibe I thought I was walking into. Because of that I give the ambiance a 6. Overall I give the place a 7.5 read more

El Carmen - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Still one of the best places for yummy nachos and fish tacos! My margarita was tasty as well. We came in around 8:45 on a Friday night and had to order from the bar and wait for food to be brought to our table. The manager was so kind and treated us to an apple fritter. Delicious food and great service will keep us coming back! read more

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El Carmen Walk through the curtain and you're instantly in a whole different vibe. Low lit, tequila heavy, and just fun. Great tacos & margaritas. They don't play around. It's not trying to be fancy, just consistently solid food and drinks with good energy all around. Great spot to post up with friends or keep it casual on a night out. read more

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Came here for happy hour for work drinks and what a pleasant time! The happy hour specials were fantastic and the portions were big. Their beer selections were plentiful as were their cocktails. Started off with their nachos and their carnitas and potato tacos. All were fantastic! Highly recommend their tacos. Service was phenomenal - shout out to Dominic who was constantly checking on us and the surrounding tables to ensure we had everything we needed and that we were having a good time. Vibe wise this is a dark but cool place with luchadores on the walls. Perfect for work drinks or date night! They have valet parking but I parked street. Come a bit early if you're trying to find street. read more

El Carmen - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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This is my first time here it's pretty cool Services pretty quick vibe is local fun in a vibe. Only spot late night seems like locals only and I love it. read more

El Carmen - Bar - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

We took a post-KazuNori stroll and stumbled onto this fun spot. El Carmen is a Lucha Libre-themed bar with amazing decor, make sure to look around, and definitely look up because the ceiling is the best part!! Didn't try the food so I can't comment on that, but the drinks were excellent. We ordered 4 different cocktails and all of them were delicious. I hate an overly sweet drink and prefer things on the tart side and this place does that just right. Great vibe, unique theme, friendly bartenders, and solid drinks. Will definitely be back, especially love that it's walking distance from KazuNori. read more

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The is a good spot to enjoy some great tasting margaritas!! I recommend the watermelon margaritas!!! Those were very refreshing!! The service is very decent! You do have to wait to be seated! Theme here is the Luchadores!! If you're familiar with these Mexican wrestler icons, then you'll enjoy this place! Even the wall paper inside has a lot of historical movie icons...I spotted Cantiflas and a few others!! read more

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Went on a taco Tuesday with a local and was introduced to a random bar on the West side. Their happy hour started at 1030 and we got there about 930, so we sat for a whole hour just to partake! We sipped on beers, mexican only, no IPAs. They had a small menu that was tacos and snacks and a shot with a beer special. We ordered tacos and shot and beer and margarita, they provided chips. The server was nice, asked for our order but you would traditionally order at the bar. The tequila they used was strong and not tasty lol Tacos were dry, the meat was hit or miss. The ambiance was legit a Mexican dive bar with many people walking around buzzed or hanging with their friends engulfed in chats. read more

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I genuinely enjoy this restaurant. It's fun low-key dimly lit. Service can be a little slow specially during happy hour. Bathrooms have a weird smell and I throws me off at any restaurant, but it is kind of diverse so to be expected. Food is pretty good as well! Even on the happy hour menu. I don't drink so I haven't had any of the drinks there, but my girlfriend said their margaritas are very spicy so if you think you like spicy margarita, but I haven't really had spice don't get it. lol read more

Such a cute bar on 3rd street with the PERFECT music and cool people around Paris makes delicious cocktails and she has the best attitude:) so helpful!! Love the Ceviche and Guacamole I will recommend to all my friends read more

El Carmen - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

This is my favorite taco spot in Los Angeles -- hands down. More specifically, the grilled fish tacos are the best fish tacos I've ever had in my life! When you walk in you feel like you've immersed yourself into a luchadores themed speakeasy lol my favorite part about this place is the happy hour (M-Th 5-7 pm & 10:30 - close). The AMAZING margaritas are like $8, potato tacos (for my vegetarians/vegans ) & street tacos are $3, chips and salsa are also like $3 (I think). The bartenders are very kind, and won't ignore you -- even when it's packed (which is often). You have to order at the bar and they provide you with a number, and the food comes out quick. If you're visiting Los Angeles, and looking for a non pretentious time, I highly recommend El Carmen. one of my top 3 recommendations hands down read more

Excellent food and service!!! Very cute and fun vibe, great bar. Very delicious veg/vegan taco options, and the chicken tacos are some of the best I have had. And of course amazing Margaritas. It can be loud (duh its a bar) so not so great for a quiet conversation but wonderful for a relaxing fun night. read more

This is hands down my favorite neighborhood spot - I always bring friends here for happy hour, and they end up loving it just as much. It does get packed during happy hour because the deals are so good, but it's definitely worth it. They've got a dark, cozy, and unpretentious vibe with great decor, good music, and fantastic tacos - especially the carnitas and carne asada. I've consistently had great experiences with both the host and the servers. Overall delicious, affordable, and enjoyable! read more

Great atmosphere and the service is quick and fun. Food was good - had chicken quesadilla, shrimp taco and fish taco. All were very good. Skinny marg was good and the desssert was ok. Either way, good little date spot .. parking is a b*tch though read more

El Carmen - From the back - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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In the mood for Mexican food, ran into El Carmen, located near the Grove in Los Angeles, a Taqueria and Tequila bar that has been open since 1929, walking through red velvet curtains covering the entrance, walked into a very lively long dining room with tables along one side and a bar on the other. Promptly greeted by the host . The server, very friendly, attentive and knowledgeable about the history of one of the oldest Mexican restaurants in Los Angeles. Ordered two asada tacos and one carnitas, the savory meat sat on top of double warm tacos straight out of the kitchen. Delicious tacos and a terrific classic margarita. read more

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Yummy Mexican food and fun bar in the Beverly Grove area in central LA. Loved my nachos and margaritas and the fun atmosphere! El Carmen is next to two other restaurants and down the street from The Grove. Found this place on a fluke when The Grove was too packed to grab dinner with family. We decided to choose El Carmen because we were in the mood for Mexican food. Our servers were attentive and kept our drinks and water flowing. The walls are adorned with Mexican comic book illustrations and were fun to admire. Our food was fresh, delicious and spicy. The others restaurants next to El Carmen all share the same valet parking area. There is metered parking in the surrounding neighborhood areas but a short walk to the restaurant. Will definitely come back for happy hour to try more yummy food next time I'm in LA. Heard El Carmen's happy hour is a vibe. Enjoy! read more

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One of my favorite happy hours in this part of town (5p - 7p). Love the margaritas. The food is good (but there are better taco spots in the area). It's dark, and loud, and a vibe, and the staff is very friendly and attentive. Parking in the area can be tricky, so give yourself time! read more

The star of the LA bar scene! An institution that if you try once will have you keep coming back. Great drinks, knowledgeable and kind staff, and good food! read more

El Carmen - View of the space with ceiling. - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Love the vibes in here. Feels like stumbling into a cute dive bar in Mexico in a movie haha. Cocktails are awesome and unique. I really loved the Alex's OG cocktail. The ceviche was sooo yummy too! Salsa served with chips was really flavorful as well. Will definitely return when in the area. read more

El Carmen - Alex's OG - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Love this place. The drinks are excellent, the service is outstanding, and the tacos are consistently on point. The Mexican street corn is a must-try, and the shrimp appetizers are fantastic. 10/10 -- highly recommend. read more

El Carmen - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

My new favorite happy hour spot!!! The staff is so attentive and super kind. Great prices for happy hour and even better food options. This place is not the largest but overall be the best vibes and I can't wait to bring more people back to experience it. I was having such a good time enjoying our food and margaritas that I completely forgot to take any pictures. I will visit again and try to capture a visual representation of my experience here. Why am I just now hearing about this place I'm obsessed!!! read more

El Carmen should definitely be on every list for best happy hours in LA! I stumbled in on a whim today because I walked by during happy hour. Had no intention to eat out, but the margaritas were calling. First of all, we were in and out in less than 45 minutes which was perfect. The menu was great and I couldn't believe the prices honestly. We both got the margarita with tequila which was definitely reliable. Chips and guacamole were great, but I was shocked at how good the salsa was! We were scraping the sides of the bowl. It was the sort of blended salsa that was not watery at all. So flavorful and unique. That plus warm chips could have me happy all night. We also each got a taco and they were overflowing with flavor. The carnitas were soft and tender and juicy. Truly the perfect taco if you ask me. Plus it all came out right after we ordered. Alyssa was a great server! Seriously can't wait to come back with friends. read more

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Straight to the point Review - Parking: Meter and maybe side street parking somewhere around First Impression: This place is chill, low light and with cool Lucha libre decor Seating: There's a big booth, but most of the seating consists of small tables that can be moved around. Happy Hour Experience: I was expecting more from the Happy Hour food and drink items to choose from The happy hour Margarita drink I had was ok. Food: Usually, I'm disappointed when a restaurant charges for chips and salsa, but at El Carmen, the chips were warm & the salsa was just right. We ordered the Enchiladas for $16. Taste-wise, they were good. I got both salsas on the side, and the red one ended up being my favorite. The enchiladas (2 cheese, 1 chicken) were good the rice was perfect. However, the portion plate size was small for the price. I initially ordered one plate to share to try other dishes but ended up getting a second order after realizing the portion wouldn't be enough. Final Thoughts: My husband asked if I'd like to come back or bookmark it as a togo place, and honestly, there wasn't anything that really wowed me enough to plan a return visit. Normally, I'm already planning my next visit mid-bite, but not this time. If you prefer a more American-style Mexican restaurant, this place is for you. They have quesadillas, nachos, great taco options--pretty much friendly US Mexican food choices. The bar area is nice with plenty of drink options, the lucha libre decor is fun, and the staff is attentive. read more

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My husband and I wanted to try a new place for my birthday. We heard this place had great margaritas (my favorite). Little did I know, I would fall in love with this spot. Upon entry you'll notice the Christmas lights strung up and lucha libre theme throughout. Although all the tables were taken, we easily found seats at the bar. The host made sure to find us as soon as our table was ready. Random note, but my husband and I hate when tables at a restaurant are so squished together that a human person cannot fit entering and exiting to get to the booth seat. This place perfectly spaces their tables so getting in and out is easy and there is some level of privacy between tables. The margarita lived up to its legendary status. My husband ordered a different drink that was equally great and refreshing. The chips were piping hot. There were plenty of options for a vegetarian. I picked the cheese enchiladas which were cheesy and delicious. I loved how the menu clearly marked any vegetarian and vegan option. Leave some time to find parking if you aren't valeting or within walking distance. read more

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This place is adorable. While the food and drinks won't win awards, it has wonderful lighting and ambiance, and if you come in a group and reserve early, there's a nice table for you. Tequila flights aren't amazing, but the chips and guac are nice, the service is extremely kind, and it's not too loud. Price is right, too - so all of the advantages of a dive bar without any of the downsides of dive bars. read more

Such a fun place! Stumbled in here with a group of girlfriends while walking around the area. Everything was delicious and the drinks were fresh. I had the watermelon margarita. Staff was nice and on it. Ambiance was fun (but music was really loud if that bothers you). Highly recommend! read more

El Carmen - Margaritas!!! - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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This can easily become a regularly visited spot for me. It's dark and well decorated. I love all of the aged liquor and the prices are reasonable. We sat at the bar due to the lack of available tables, which wasn't a big deal. We were almost immediately greeted by the bartender who was a nice lady and later were asked if we'd like another cocktail by another male bartender so I appreciated their attentiveness. We ordered a cocktail that was very sour but delicious along with tacos and flautas. The food was delicious and the service was fast. I suggest visiting this location we left on a great note and plan to return in the future. read more

Welcoming and friendly staff, and amazing selection of tequila and drinks. I was surprisingly impressed by how good the food was...some of the best tacos I've had. The decor is fun with Luche Libre vibe. Parking is valet. read more

A bit loud but a fun small place. Food was delicious and service was great. Nice selection of alcohol too! Nice ambiance. read more

Came here with a buddy of mine late one night. You walk in and they have you grab a table or spot at the bar. And you order from the bartender. Had a couple modelos michelada style which had I had been craving. Also got a steak quesadilla which was fantastic. Pretty cool decor inside and fun music. Everyone that was inside looked like they were having a great time. The staff was pretty friendly. Looking forward to coming back! read more

El Carmen - Steak quesadilla - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Yes I really like this place, the drinks were so tasty, I really like the service, I would definitely recommend this place to all my friends and family read more

Food, service, and drinks were amazing, really good vibes all around! The mushroom tacos are 10/10

Great place for a short visit to start or end the evening. The fish tacos are about as good as you'll get anywhere (and I've eaten fish tacos at literally over 100 restaurants). The vibe is cool and staff are incredible attentive, nice, and professional. The only knock is they have crammed in more tables than they should and it's almost 100% 2-tops, although you can pull them together for larger parties. Also, the tables are probably about 18 inches wide (maybe 20, but not more than 20) and the tables are so close together that there is barely enough room to squeeze between them. Overall, a pretty good place for a short visit. read more

If sipping an award-winning margarita at happy hour prices so low they feel illegal isn't your vibe, then what are you even doing--paying triple for watered-down drinks at a bar where the bartender treats you like you're lucky they even looked your way ? This place has forever had the best happy hour prices in L.A.--hands down. For the cost of parking anywhere else, you can load up on happy hour-priced guac, tacos, ceviche, and nachos while sipping margaritas so good they'll ruin all other drinks for you. The chips and salsa go perfectly with those tangy margs. The vibe is perfect complete with classic lucha libre-themed decor, vintage-tiled walls, classic multicolor, string lights, and that red-orange glow for an authentic tequila-bar feel. And if you meet a stranger at the bar, don't be surprised if you end up borrowing one of the bar's many decorative Luchador masks and doing some "wrestling" later. read more

El Carmen - The back table at El Carmen, which is perfect for bigger groups and parties. - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

It was fun and good 20 years ago, but now actually great. Great service, atmosphere and drink selection. Maybe the best collection of mezcal and tequila in LA. The food won't win any awards, but it's way above average for a place like this. Highly recommend for 2-4 people. Good times. read more

came to this place for cinco de mayo and honestly once we walked inside it was so cute and festive like the atmosphere was so fun. We got a few items on the happy hour menu and of course on the regular menu. The servers recommended the chips,salsa and guacamole to start off with so of course we did and that's on the happy hour menu. I decided on the enchiladas and got them with just cheese and the green sauce on top which I have to say was so delicious tasting. my friend got 3 tacos from the happy hour menu which were one of each (chicken, carnitas and potato). Those were very tasty as well. They also had entertainment which was so fun. They will come up and ask if you would like to hear something and they play it for you and everyone (staff) was so friendly and honestly I will be back again with more friends. I highly recommended if you are looking for a good Mexican place read more

El Carmen - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Luchador Heaven! Food and cocktails on point. We had spicy margaritas and their chips and salsa- with amazing guacamole and house salsa. Tacos were delicious. It gets busy (for good reason) so coming early to eat/drink is recommended. Owner is awesome and super helpful. read more

Fantastic food- had the chicken taco combo. Super friendly service. This place has such a cool nacho libre feel- it's my new hangout! Will be back! read more