Pleasant surprise that a friend showed me. Right around the corner from JW Marriott and The Ritz. Plenty of great options and the bar is fully stocked and they make a top notch margarita. I would definitely make a stop here. read more

El Cholo - Carne Asada burrito but dry - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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We can all agree it has been very hot these last couple of weeks and humid. It did not escape the Patio of El cholo.... They do try, however, to use all their high-powered fans however, that back patio can get brutally muggy. The service is always so wonderful. And the fresh guacamole made at the table is what brings us back. Always made to order. They do have a parking lot, which is nice. I only wish it was a little cooler on that back patio read more

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Flautas (lunch special which came with everything you see on the plate including, beans, guacamole, and rice) -- 9.5/10: flautas were perfectly crisp and the meat was super tender and flavorful! Chips and Salsa: 9/10 -- very fresh! i forget if it was complimentary but they did bring it out as soon as we sat down and refilled chips as needed. The first mexican restaurant in LA! I loved the rich heritage and back story of this spot. it was very cool to read their story and see pictures and tokens of their history in the decor. Parking was kind of rough as with any major city so we opted for a garage nearby and walked. Friendly service and great food. I'd definitely come back! read more

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Visited downtown LA for business and wanted to try a New Mexican food spot. The interior was rustic and the roof opened up like a sun roof which was cool. The service and drinks were great but the food was not very good. We had the combination plates with the beef rolled taco, cheese enchiladas and tamale, and the tacos al carbon with steak. The food was bland and the salsa was not spicy. Also, the tortillas for the tacos were too oily so it took away from the flavor of the tacos. Unfortunately, I wouldn't come back if I was in town. read more

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I've never been to this one before. Great lil restaurant downtown. Great food Great service Clean bathrooms My only group is there's no parking. And my son ate all my beans. My secret mother got the Paloma marg and she said it was pretty good. It makes me think how many things in my life. I say pretty good. Maybe I got it from her cause most things are pretty good.. Thank you. read more

El Cholo - Magic Beans - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

You go to El Cholo for the ambiance and great service. The waiter even substituted the Caesar salad dressing with a delicious pepita-cilantro vinaigrette. The food is good, but they have a lot more competition these days. Their chile relleno cheese enchilada was tasty, but for the same price, I can get incredible fresh queso from Mexico at Enrique's Restaurant in Long Beach. I personally prefer the Whittier location, but the LA location is right across from the movie theater and L.A. Live, so it's definitely worth a stop before a movie or a WNBA game, since you can't afford a Lakers game! read more

I went in cause people hyped it up a lot and it was a hit and miss. The hostess was really sweet and kind walked to a part of the restaurant where the fan and AC hit you and that was a nice gesture. It came down to order my food the bus boy brought me chips and water very kind gentleman but my initial waiter ignored me for 55 minutes of the 1 hour i was there! I ordered the Chile con Carne and I can say it was ok the meat was tender the rice and beans were good but the tortillas were microwaved and wrapped in foil and that was a heart breaker. I also tried their flan and it wasn't sweet at all with all the caramel drizzle on it. The restaurant is beautiful tho very nice and clean and tidy. I'd probably try again but waiters pay attention to your customers read more

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I've had El Cholo bookmarked for the longest time, but not this location (the one on Western in Koreatown, which is apparently the original). Since wifey and I just got out of a L.A. Kings game at the Crypto.com Arena (such a stupid name btw - Staples for life!), we saw El Cholo just across the street from L.A. Live and decided to give it a shot. This location is on Flower St between Olympic Blvd & 11th St. Since it's so close to L.A. Live, it seems like it's a good spot for anything pre/post-game or shows if you're in the area. We were seated right away in the back area of the restaurant. It's surprisingly quite spacious, so if the front is full don't worry about it. They also have bar seating if you're not looking for anything fancy. We didn't know what to order so we opted to share their A Taste of History (1996) platter, which comes with a cheese enchilada, a rolled beef taco, a chile relleno, a pork tamale, and rice & beans. They also serve complimentary chips and salsa for the table while you wait. Our waitress was attentive and kept checking up on us (always a plus). El Cholo is credited with having the first restaurant-style burritos in the U.S. and in 1959 they introduced nachos to L.A. While the history is nothing to sneeze at (along with celebrating over 100 years in business since 1923), El Cholo has also had a reputation of just not being that great when it comes to the food. I knew of their rep and can confirm that it's true. The food is pretty whitewashed/Tex-Mex, so it's disappointing if you've ever had the real deal Holyfield when it comes to Mexican food. My better half said that El Torito is sadly more authentic. Everything is on the blander side so no spice or anything tasty jumps out at you. The beef was dry and still a little bit cold. Of the platter, the only thing I liked was the pork tamale. Overall I'm glad I got to try El Cholo and strike it off the list, but this location (opened in 2010) just isn't it. Maybe the original location is better? Much respect to the history, just wish the food was better (but if you know, you know). read more

Very disappointing restaurant. The service was MEH!!!!! The food was so so not so great. Menu not so diverse. The filet mignon tasted old. I do not recommend. Ambiance the place was empty. I should have known. That was a red flag. read more

We arrived around 4:30 on a Saturday and found a table right away in the bar, where a lot of Kings fans were getting ready for the game. We started with margaritas. The El Cholo wasn't too strong and Zapata's widow was "sneaky" according to my hubby. For the main course we got the steak fajitas, which were HOT but the steak was a little chewy, and the Caesar salad, which had a disappointing salad dressing that lacked flavor. The servers were attentive and the fire place was decorated for the holidays and was on, which added nice charm to the room ambiance. There were a few TVs showing various games. read more

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First time going to this chain. This place is large so good for large groups! We had an after work event and they were able to accommodate our group of 10. The menu seems authentic like you will find at many Mexican sit down restaurants and they show the year they first made that particular item. Guacamole is prepared table-side. I got the 1923 Sonora style enchilada which was different than the usual "wrapped" type of enchiladas. The fried egg on top was a neat addition to the red and green sauces. Restrooms are nice and if you still need more drinks they have a bar to hang out at for a night cap. read more

El Cholo - Exterior - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I've wanted to try El Cholo for years, and found it the perfect place to eat after leaving a bonkers Kings game at Crypto Arena on Mexican Heritage Night. Might as well milk the $40 parking fee! Is it the best Mexican food ever? No! Is it good? Yes! The chips are freshly fried and the salsa is simple and perfect for dipping my warm chips into. Sometimes I want uncomplicated, and that is the perfect mentality to have for dining at El Cholo, where the drinks are strong and the large plates of hot mush are easy to digest and enjoy. This location is enormous so even at dinnertime right after a packed game I was not worried about having to wait too long, if at all, for a table. Great for large groups! Service is very fast and efficient because they have a lot of staff. read more

Looking for a place to we saw El Cholo and bingo we chose correctly. You walk in and at first it doesn't look like much but then you go into a area of the restaurant that has open ceiling, very cool. I don't drink but my wife and her friend & husband ordered drinks and within 2-3 minutes they arrived ... Not bad. We ordered and the food also probably took we 15-20 minutes . Ok the food is not as authentic as what I normally eat but hey it was tasty ... To me it tasted like those Mexican restaurants from 80s 90s ... Kinda like el torito but good . Overall I give this place 4 stars. Yes we will be back. read more

STEPH JUDGEMENT: A great pregame option by Crypto arena if you're not feeling the usual suspects at LA Live. We happened to be walking by on our way to a Kings game when we spotted this place and the sandwich board outside mentioning their happy hour. We've only eaten here once before and liked it, but never thought to come here before a game since it's not right near the arena. But since we've been venturing farther afield to places like Pine & Crane, this place was actually very close. Best of all, there were no crazy crowds like at yard house, etc, and their happy hour deals were quite good. We bellied up to the bar and got some margaritas to start, and got some of their happy hour food, like a salad and quesadilla. The food and drinks were good, and the service at the bar top-notch. Would definitely try again! read more

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Went on a Tuesday afternoon about 5pm before an event at Crypto. Super convenient to Pico Station Metro. The building's exterior stands out as it's an old style Spanish building amidst high rises. Initial reaction is "oh". But once inside the ambiance is wonderful. Open roof in some portions of the restaurant (in the back where most customers are seated) provide lots of daylight. Warm "casa" vibes. Immediately "thanked" by 'management' for coming as we were seated by a hostess. At 5pm, the place was moderately full, by 6pm it was very full. Happy Hour runs 3-6 and is even happier on a Tuesday as the El Chollo Margarita prices are lower by $2 more! We did 3 between the two of us! Service is good and we quickly received our margaritas, complimentary chips and salsa (salsa so so but I won't quibble since few freebies these days). I ordered the Cheese Quesadilla from the Happy Hour Menu without any extra protein and it was delicious. It was made from a large flour tortilla and presented in 4 slices with a small, but adequate portion of guacamole. It was really good - melted, decent quality - actually high quality cheddar! My dining companion got a combo plate - taco, enchilada, rice and beans. He was happy with his decision albeit doesn't like refried beans. Not sure if he could have swapped out. He forgot his jacket but our efficient server caught up to us as we hit the restroom before departing the restaurant. We would both easily go back! read more

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The place is unique, the ambience is very nice and cozy! This is my second time visiting this restaurant and as always the food i is delicious Perfect place to eat before going to a concert at Crypto Arena! Definitely recommend to everyone! read more

It's a place that I been wanting to try to scratch it from my list. FYI this is my personal experience! I encourage you to try it for yourself My food had no flavor, food was cold, and definitely not for me Service it's poor the only good thing it's the ambience Other than that that's it I would never go back again, I don't think the price matches the quality at all Surprised that it's being around for a minute I wonder if it was just a bad day? read more

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The food here is pretty good, but the service is even better! Shout out to the service people. Nice airflow and what not. One suggestion, the battery packs in the tree lights are visible. Maybe tuck those away. Me gusta El Cholo! read more

El Cholo - Chicken Fajitas - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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I have been to the original el cholo in koreatown a few times but this was my first time visiting the downtown location. First off, chimichangas that are the shape and size of egg rolls? What is not to love? The blue corn enchiladas were good too, very tender chicken under a thick blue corn tortilla. Quick service too even though my non-sporty husband and I had the misfortune of visiting just as a hockey game was letting out. Still, no wait for a table for two! read more

After a day of shopping on the DTLA garment district, we needed a margarita and some delicious Mexican food so we ended up at the famous El Cholo. The drinks and lunch did not disappoint at all! Stellar customer service and friendly team of people, the restaurant was clean and the surroundings pleasant and upbeat. It was a joy and a pleasure for an impromptu lunch. read more

El Cholo - Cadillac margarita with tajin a rim. Yum!! - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

The service was not a problem but the food was just ok. Also, walking by the bathrooms there was a horrible smell. Unfortunately, I had to use the restroom and the odor in there was terrible. We had a big party and it was like pulling teeth to get them to do two separate bills. Probably won't be returning. Not a great experience! read more

Didn't realize how close the restaurant is to USC! Came to eat with a coworker during site work, I loved the food and the portion. As a non-Hispanic, I definitely found the plate to be interesting but my Hispanic coworker found it just okay. One thing I don't like is how they treated us versus the next table filled with gentlemen in suits. Service for us was different and worse, they did not offer us drinks or options, which was very unfortunate. Otherwise location and ambiance were amazing. read more

El Cholo - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Customer service was okay, they only came to us once and that was to take our order, they also forgot something we ordered and had us waiting for it knowing it wasn't gonna come. The place is nice and neat, feels very authentic and the bathrooms are nice as well. As for the food, the rice was very hard and flavorless, I've had many Mexican rice and none have tasted this hard or dry. The beans did not taste fresh or made properly. The rolled tacos were okay, maybe a bit too over fried. The chile relleno was good. way too expensive, could get the same thing at another restaurant for half the price have it taste better. read more

El Cholo - combo #5 - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Great place for a big group. We were able to make a reservation for 12 without too much trouble and only a couple of days in advance. The margaritas were obviously delicious. I got the flaca (skinny) and it was very tasty, tart, and strong. I also had the Mexican chopped salad and it was absolutely delicious, with lots of fresh avocado and veggies, and a great vinaigrette. Service was quick. My only complaint is that the guacamole that they said was hot was mild tasting. It was still tasty though, and the accompanying chips were fresh and crunchy. read more

El Cholo - Mexican Chopped Vegetable Salad - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Good luck finding cheap street parking Huge lot south of restaurant Spacious size interior Lots of tables, cozy vibes & bar area is also cozy Clean spacious bathrooms Medium sized menu, predictable dishes , please don't come here expecting a revolution of Mexican food. Acknowledge that most chain LA Mex food is a standard offering. Is it tasty though ??? Yummy , & tasty, but not mind blowing, average price . I ordered cheese & chicken quesadilla, satisfying, Tortilla soup was off the chains ! Cadillac casamigos margarita superb Top notch hospitality staff Will return for sure & recommend. read more

El Cholo - Tortilla soup delicious - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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For what's considered a Los Angeles staple, I'm not sure as to why. Maybe we dined at the wrong time or maybe this place has gone downhill over its 100+ years, but after our first time dining here, I'm not interested in returning. To start, we had cold, slightly stale chips with no salt. Luckily they provide salt on the table so I was able to make them a little more edible. The salsa was pretty average, decent amount of cilantro though which I always enjoy. Coming from Texas, I've had far better Mexican food at half the price. $30 for Steak fajitas with no rice and a total of 4 tortillas is criminal. The tortillas weren't even in a tortilla warmer. We received a mountain of sautéed veggies with the tiniest slivers of steak I've ever seen buried underneath. At least they were sizzling. read more

El Cholo - Steak Fajitas (Mountain of Sautéed Veggies) - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

A friend wanted to come here to enjoy dinner and a margarita. Unfortunately, they don't have any margaritas on the menu. Hummm... :( Ambiance: I observed that it seems they segregate here, seating minorities away from the Caucasian area outside (all outside were white). Hmm... :( Its a beautiful restaurant, celebrating Mexican culture with color, plants, and decor. Food: Salsa gets 2 out of 5 stars. Didn't taste authentic. I ordered the beef taquitos with a side of beans. The taquitos were small for the price and mostly stuffed with potato, not beef. I kept thinking, where is the beef??? I did not sign up for this. Also the guacamole tasted watered down and flavorless. I thought, oh well, maybe I'll fill up with the beans...nope. They were salty so I only ate a little. Booo!!! Service: Service was okay. Our waitress was attentive, but a little clumsy and bummed my friend's glass as she was drinking, caushing her to hit her teeth with the glass. The waitress apologized, stating she was having and "off day." :( Overall: Beautiful restaurant, terrible overpriced food that lacks authenticity. Wont be back. read more

Possibly the worst Mexican food I have ever tasted... The service was great, but can't say the same about the food. The seafood enchilada was horrendous... I almost gagged when I took my first bite. It was fishy, the texture was gummy and overall just revolting. I am absolutely sure the "seafood" in it was from a old bag of frozen combination seafood in the back of the freezer... The chicken taquitos.... Where do I even begin.... It felt like it was fried in really really old oil and the chicken was so tough I couldn't even swallow it... absolutely horrible. The only thing I was able to somewhat keep down was chicken tortilla soup... How is this establishment still open? Horrible horrible horrible food read more

Came to El Cholo DTLA before a show at the Novo Theater (5-minute walk to LA Live). Great food that is much better and cheaper than a nearby fancy Mexican restaurant that starts with a J. The Mahi Mahi tacos with Modelo n lime is the perfect match! They were hot and tasty. Ivan was our server and he was great! Fast, courteous, and spot on. He was juggling several tables but didn't skip a beat. We sat in the back room near the bar to watch our Dodgers beat the Padres before the show, which was great. The roof opens up a bit, so it was perfect. Will definitely be coming back since the other restaurants at LA Live get crowded before an event. read more

El Cholo - Perfect brew! - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

The staff is always very nice here and the location has some historical value. My problem is, historical value is the only value you'll find. The prices seem expensive for what you receive. You're playing for the name/reputation, but better Mexican food can be found for a better price nearby. read more

El Cholo - Fiesta Platter - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

As much as I respect the history of this place. As one can see with their numerous photos of celebrities at their establishment. The food was devasting. Perhaps the best thing I ate here was their soda water. I ordered the blue corn tortilla enchiladas. First off, the texture of the meat is pink and weirdly shredded, it looks like salmon meat. The flavor was bland. It was definitely not authentic mexican food. The rice and beans were okay in taste. The flan was okay and nothing special. This place has the story, location, and "it"factor. Now if they can get the kitchen on board. They should build a whole new menu and fire whoever okayed the enchiladas. The service was good. read more

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Celebrated our daughter's graduation and they were communicative in the process of setting up a large group reservation... to serving a large group of different personalities and doing it with a smile and DELICIOUS food! Thank you!! Will be returning with just the hubby on a nice night out. read more

Food was okay, didn't appreciate the server asking what amount to tip when I gave my card for the tab. Could have just let me write it on receipt instead of forcing a bigger tip amount. read more

This place is deceptively huge. Can't tell from the outside. Decided to come here since it's been around since 1923. Figured it must be good if it's lasted over 100 years. We'll, honestly it was slightly above average. The chips and salsa were fresh and good. The food came out extremely fast. I ordered the taco and chili relleno combo. Taco was fresh and not bad. Chili relleno had a decent flavor, but the sauce was good on it. My girl ordered enchiladas and again the sauce was good and the food was fine. Service was a little lacking especially since they were not busy at the time. At no point were we checked on to see how we were doing and if needed anything. I probably won't be back mainly since this is far from where I live. I'm sure there are better options here. read more

El Cholo - Taco and Relleno Combo - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Such an amazing staple in downtown! Old school charm, warm atmosphere, friendly staff, and delicious food. The menu takes you on a tour of the decades the restaurant has been in business and it's fresh, hot and made with love. Highly recommend the enchiladas and tamales. read more

Best thing is the ambiance. People come here for the ambiance and location not the food. Food tastes like it comes from a can. Not kidding. Service is always friendly but some servers barely know English. I do appreciate they try to speak English. That's all I can ask for is for them to make the effort to assimilate to the USA. read more

Delicious food, great service & cool ambiance!!! Will definitely be back especially pre show Orpheum theater!! Ivan the bartender was professional,friendly & took great care of me!! Angel the Guacamole master was Awesome & so friendly! I'll definitely be back!! read more

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Great vibe , tbe carnita plate with home made tortillas is soo good. I would recommend it read more

El Cholo - Carnita plate with homemade tortillas This wa soo good. I would getting this ita filling amd take a nap after lol El Cholo is a go to - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

My new favorite restaurant in DTLA. You've been here for over 100 years and I'm just finding out about this place?!?!? Everything was so tasty. I had the chicken chimichangas and my partner had the chili con carne... both meals were excellent! I can't wait to bring our families here when they visit Los Angeles. The host was very helpful and our server, Myra was fast and sweet. The ambiance was perfect for date night. We both, really, really loved this place. New fave!!! read more

ATE: Filet minion tacos FOOD: Very tasty and they give you SO much food! VIBE: Laid back at least when we were here! The walls are full of signed pictures of historical LA celebrities from Tommy Lasorda and Jack Nicholson to Michael Jackson, this place has a rich hi SERVICE: Fantastic! We walked in and the first person we saw was warm and genuinely friendly! He said "welcome" and showed us where to sit and not long after we were brought a basket of tortilla chips. The chips come out of the kitchen warm and fresh! I was told you get unlimited chips and salsa! PRICES: There were three of us the bill was $81, not bad at all! PARKING: Parking can be tricky, hard to find or expensive, especially when there's a game or event at Crypto arena. There's metered parking if you can find it, parking which the day we went was going to be $35 (um no) or different paid lots. We got lucky and found a meter but that's the toughest part about this place RECOMMEND: Totally recommend! If you can beat the lunch rush, drop in for happy hour or are just in the neighborhood, this place is just the greatest! read more

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