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    El Carmen

    4.1 (1.2k reviews)
    Open 5:00 pm - 2:00 am (Next day)

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    El Carmen Reservations

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    EL CARMEN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Happy hour specials

    Recommended Reviews - El Carmen

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    Reviews With Photos

    Anthony K.

    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.

    Catrina R.

    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.

    Linda C.

    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.

    Watermelon Margarita!
    Tony C.

    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!!

    Drinks
    Kandece B.

    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.

    From the back
    Carlo B.

    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

    Tacos
    Harry W.

    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.

    Nachos with chicken
    Lisa C.

    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!

    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.

    View of the space with ceiling.
    Petet V.

    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!

    Alex's OG
    Becca D.

    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.

    Margarita
    Deni B.

    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.

    POV from entrance
    Leti M.

    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.

    Cheese enchiladas

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    4 months ago

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

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    2 months ago

    It's great for everything: food, service and has a cool interior featuring Latin Wrestlers. We definitely recommend.

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    Business owner information

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    Page 1 of 30

    El Carmen Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - El Carmen

    What time do you serve food until every night?

    Mon. - Sat. last call is 1:30, unless it’s totally dead, then the manager might do last call at 1:15 am.… Read more

    Are they going to reopen this month?

    We reopened July 7, 2021. Enjoy the best happy hours in town, Monday through Friday 5-7pm. $5 award winning margaritas with great food specials!

    Are they currently open as of May 2021?

    nope ! just wasted a bunch of time to find that it was closed on a saturday night ...

    What kind of music Saturday nights? Any room for dancing?

    No dancing room that I could see.

    Do they have valet or parking?

    No, it's just street parking, I believe.

    Do they serve wine and are there taco Tuesday specials?

    We have a very limited selection of wine. We are primarily a tequila and mezcal bar. Monday - Friday between 5-7 we have taco and margarita specials. So yes, we do have Taco Tuesday specials!

    Do you take reservations?

    Yes, we take reservations. Call us during business hours at (323) 852-1552 to set up a reservation.

    What time is Happy Hour?

    5-7pm

    Are the tortillas corn/gluten free?

    Yes, we have corn tortillas that are gluten-free. Almost our entire menu is gluten-free.

    What days and times are happy hour?

    5 to 7

    How late is food served till?

    We (I work there) serve food until 1:30am....but last call for food is at 1:15am

    Does this place have Taco Tuesday specials? And what time does happy hour end?

    Yes!! Probably one of the best HH that I've been to, i believe it's from 5-7 pm, I had a combination plate for $7.00 !!

    View All 18 Questions

    Melrose Umbrella - Grilled chicken sandwich & sweet potato fries.

    Melrose Umbrella

    4.2(704 reviews)
    1.2 miFairfax
    $$

    Pulled up for happy hour after work yesterday. Found this spot on Yelp. Found a parking spot around…read morethe corner in the residential neighborhood. The restaurant is beautiful and reminds me of being in Mexico. A Spanish theme and style. A lot of seating and it's also spacious with an outdoor patio that is open to the customers and also widely used for many event. Everything was clean from what I noticed. The music volume was tolerable as well as the selection of choice. Felt like I was on vacation for a min. A great spot to have drinks. A great to spot to meet up or even come for a date. The Melrose Mule was cool. Very refreshing like the bartender mentioned. It was different than the usual mules I get. And the Improved Whiskey was like having an Old Fashion and Whiskey Sour together. It did not disappoint. I also had an attentive bartender who had a good attitude. Didn't take long for him to make my drinks nor put in an order for a smash burger. The smash burger was acceptable. It was good, however, I was expecting something a little bit bigger in size. I like the presentation with it being wrapped in foil. It was cooked perfectly, it was hot and flavorful. No complaints other than the size. I wouldn't mind pulling back up for another happy hour when I'm back in the area. They have some more drinks I would love to try.

    I've always had an amazing time here but last night our waiter was so pretentious and rude…read more He had a terrible attitude all night and you can tell he was not in a good mood. Though it's okay to have off days, it is not okay to be annoyed at customers. I promise you we were not difficult at all and placed easy orders. It was only two of us. A bit disappointed in last nights experience as this was my go to place around home

    Photos
    Melrose Umbrella - Inside

    Inside

    Melrose Umbrella - Fish & chips.

    Fish & chips.

    Melrose Umbrella - My favorite rosé and the beautiful ambiance.

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    My favorite rosé and the beautiful ambiance.

    Her Little Bar - Cool bar top!

    Her Little Bar

    4.3(37 reviews)
    1.5 miMid-Wilshire

    Her Little Bar is a great spot and the vibe is significantly improved under the new ownership. It's…read morealready attracting a fun and friendly mixed crowd of locals as well as people from across the city looking for an agro-free good time. The bar staff know what they are doing and they are welcoming, chatty and chill. It feels like they actually want you there! My wife and I already love to swing by for a couple of post dinner drinks but we'll be back for some game day fun too - they have a bunch of screens. They don't do food BUT the couple who now own Her Little Bar also own a bunch of the restaurants nearby (Her Thai, Met Him At A Bar, and the recently opened The Night We Met). There are other great options too and whatever you go for, you can eat it in the bar. There's a good selection of drinks and the cocktails are solid. We already have a solid pub/microbrewery but this is a great bar with a different vibe. A bar has been in this location for years but we really love this new incarnation. The corridor between Wilshire Blvd and W 9th is becoming a great pocket for food and drink with good people looking for BS free good times and the Her Little Bar crowd, staff and management are a great example that. A welcome addition to the neighborhood.

    I came here with friends on a quiet Wednesday night. There are a lot of good choices for bars in…read morethe area but I am so happy we came here. They had a good selection of beers and my friends got their cocktails done perfectly. There was maybe one to two other people in this bar when we walked in. We had a booth all to ourselves. A good night at a solid bar in the neighborhood. I was a local, I'd be here more often.

    Photos
    Her Little Bar - The iconic mermaid and my beer

    The iconic mermaid and my beer

    Her Little Bar
    Her Little Bar - Her Little bar Bartender Vinny was great host and he was attentive and great service. This place is an amazing dive bar.

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    Her Little bar Bartender Vinny was great host and he was attentive and great service. This place is an amazing dive bar.

    Cold Shoulder Bar - Interior with upside down decor

    Cold Shoulder Bar

    4.0(58 reviews)
    0.3 miBeverly Grove

    The cutest hole in the wall bar that I have found. Stumbled upon it by accident and fell in love…read morewith the ambiance. It's dark but has warm lighting and really cool decor such as upside down stools and fireplaces on the ceiling. My bartenders Matt & Kelsey were super friendly & made some fire drinks. The menus are aesthetic to look at because drinks are categorized by type of liquor, each drink described in detail and each description is accompanied by a picture of what the drink is supposed to look like. However, there is no food menu just alcoholic drinks. I found parking across the street where the CVS & WholeFoods are located. I didn't have any issues, but I only parked there for about 2 hours. Right before I left, the bartenders helped me discover a secret entrance to the bar next door. When you walk in you'll notice a bookshelf, if you slide that bookshelf to the right, you'll open the entrance to the bar next door. Pretty cool! Will definitely come back again.

    Vibe: So cute!!! The decorations are upside down. If I ever…read moreneed to bring friends from out of town somewhere, I would bring them to this place. It's unique and the vibes are chill. it's also not too loud so ya'll can talk. Could be a good spot for a date. Drink: They have a lot of creative and unique drinks on the menu, so it makes me more inclined to come through to try all the different drinks. I happened to visit during the work week, so I couldn't get too crazy. lolol Mr. Roake: 5/5 There's aloe in it!

    Photos
    Cold Shoulder Bar - Upside down bar!

    Upside down bar!

    Cold Shoulder Bar - Upside down bookcase entrance from next door's Blue Collar bar.

    Upside down bookcase entrance from next door's Blue Collar bar.

    Cold Shoulder Bar - This has rosemary, gin & tasted like christmas

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    This has rosemary, gin & tasted like christmas

    The Aviator - PAPER PLANE
Bourbon, Aperol, Amaro, & lemon. Smooth takeoff.

    The Aviator

    4.3(52 reviews)
    1.2 miFairfax

    No food I just stopped by for a drink. The sign outside caught my attention the unique design and…read morelayout on the inside is what drew me in. It's spacious and clean. One of the dopest bars I've seen thus far. Gives you that airport feel. From being in one of the airline's lounges to having a seat while sipping on your flight. The bartender was real cool. A group of 4 others inside and he was attentive to us all. He actually looked bored like he was hoping to get some action lol. I enjoyed my Old Fashioned. It was just right. And so was the flight lol. I came during happy hour but I would love to come back during the evening or late hours to see what the experience is also like.

    "Please fasten your seat belts and place your trays in the upright position as we prepare to land."…read more Yep, The Aviator is the closest thing you will get to being on an airplane! The place is so cool and oh, so fun! The Aviator is a magnificently decorated and themed airplane bar which has a first class and coach section seats that are exactly like being on a real airplane along with seat belts, trays and movable arm chairs and a Flight Attendant bell to request service! Food: we were treated to fries which were delicious! The Aviator offers a nice appetizer menu along with specialty drinks themed to the bar. We ordered Aperol Spritzes and they were delicious and refreshing! All reasonably priced too, yay! They have "cart" service too which added to the airplane themed experience! Service: Splendid! The Bartender and Flight Attendant were attentive and friendly! My friend and I had a blast of fun and plan to visit again soon! If you haven't been to The Aviator yet, plan to do so! You'll be glad you did!

    Photos
    The Aviator - They even have oxygen masks!

    They even have oxygen masks!

    The Aviator - Chicken bites, amazing

    Chicken bites, amazing

    The Aviator - Entrance

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    Entrance

    El Carmen - mexican - Updated May 2026

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