This review is long overdue - El Compadre is a Hollywood classic with great food and an authentic atmosphere! I ordered the vegetarian version of the Two Crispy Tacos, with potato filling, chopped lettuce, Monterey Jack cheese, and mild salsa. They were absolutely delicious--the flavors were superb, and everything tasted fresh and satisfying. The restaurant is extremely busy, but the service is still fast and friendly. El Compadre has a lively, old-school, authentic Mexican atmosphere that makes the whole experience fun. Street parking (on Sunset Blvd) is good for Hollywood, which is another plus. I'll definitely be back! Be A Proud American peace/love read more

Undeniably one of the best home style Mexican restaurants in LA. It's fun. It's lively. It's delicious. The margaritas are potent. The chips, salsa, and guacamole are their own food groups. What more are you looking for? Every person I've brought here has walked away saying not only was it hidden along Sunset but that it was yummy and such a vibe. This is one of those places that has stood the test of time. Get here early or be prepared for a wait. There will be a wait. Trust me. Once you experience El Compadre, you'll be a true Angeleno! read more

Lively Mexican restaurant with a big menu, reasonable prices, great drinks and music. I haven't visited in a while and it was a friends suggestion to meet here and everything was great, from the service to the food, drink and vibe. It was overall so great I feel like I've been missing out all this time. We didn't have a reservation and there was a wait for a table except for the one in front of the band. We enjoyed the music but it was a little too loud for conversation. Next time we'll make a reservation and sit a little further away. There are two rooms of old school booths in addition to a bar and outdoor patio in back. All spots had a great vibe and it was a lively mixed crowd that looked like mostly regulars. Service was attentive. One in our party arrived later and there was no pressure to order and meanwhile the chips and salsa kept flowing. Waiters keep it traditional in their all black uniforms. Food arrived timely and portions were good and we enjoyed everything. The margaritas arrive flaming, something they're known for. They pack a punch but go down easy. We went for dinner before the parking opened up on Sunset but were able to easily find parking on side streets. This overdue visit was one to keep me coming back. read more

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Excellent authentic Mexican food! I judge Mexican restaurants by their beans and rice, and this was perfect! I had a shrimp cocktail that was loaded with shrimp. I need to go back soon! read more

This might be my new favorite place. My friend brought me here for an early weeknight dinner. First of all, the flaming margaritas are so fun. They have a lot of flavors and you can choose if you want it frozen or on the rocks. Both come on fire!! You can easily blow it out like a birthday candle. Get your cameras ready. I had the veggie enchiladas which were perfect. It says sour cream on the side but I don't like sour cream at all so I told them to hold it and it appeared without sour cream. Perfect. Rice and beans came with the enchiladas and the plate was a good blend of everything. I loved the atmosphere from the moment we walked in. Our eyes had to adjust to how dark it was compared to the sun outside. They had live mariachi. There is a sign that says they don't allow the check to be split so be prepared for that. read more

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This is the second time I've been there. And the food was the same quality as the first time. Excellent excellent excellent! It's really hard to find a Mexican restaurant in Los Angeles. NOT! If you trip, you will fall over an excellent Mexican restaurant without trying. So for me to give a Mexican restaurant this mini stars means that it's exceptional. And I can tell you that when I walked in at 3:30 the place was packed. There were no inside tables at all we were relegated to the patio because that's the only place to sit. Even the bar was full. El compadre reminds me of an old Vegas casino. When you walk in, you have no idea what time of day it is. It is a classic dark, red booth environment that only a good restaurant can get away with. Most of the patrons look like they've been coming there forever, which tells you that it's a favorite for people in the neighborhood. But the reason they keep coming back is because of the food and the service. The minute you sit down, they bring you a bowl full of chips and salsa. You have to try one of their flaming margaritas which they're known for. How I judge every single Mexican restaurant is by their fajitas. And not just any fajitas shrimp fajitas. That is my favorite dish. In order for me to give a restaurant five stars the shrimp has to be fresh with that snap that only good fresh shrimp has. The vegetables have to be firm but flavorful and the meal has to come piping hot. El compadre scored well on all of those points. If you order the shrimp cocktail, you need to understand that that will be your meal. Because they're huge. Chalk full of avocado and shrimp. It's more like a ceviche than a shrimp cocktail. It's delicious. The staff is wonderful and very attentive. I cannot encourage you enough to go there. It's wonderful. read more

El Compadre Restaurant of Hollywood - Jumbo Shrimp Fajitas - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Classic, popular, buzzingly noisy Hollywood restaurant. Food is terrific. Staff looks very rushed and afraid of their boss. We were there on a crowded Monday night without a reservation and the hostess was able to accommodate us within 10 minutes. But everyone working there looks so stressed and afraid that you'd have to be a sociopath not to let it affect your meal. I tried to talk to the waiter and the hostess and they did not engage at all. This is a management problem. The staff are all top notch. Whoever is managing needs to give them grace and allow them to relax enough to engage with customers. 5 stars for food, 3 for service (not the staff's fault). read more

Average experience for lunch; not the best and not the worst. Service was fine and our waiter checked on us often. I ordered the two crispy taco combo and my husband ordered their chicken burrito. We enjoyed our food, but it just felt very average. Their chips and salsa are good as is their guacamole. I'm happy to have them in the neighborhood, but I don't see the value in coming back again anytime soon. read more

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Food Service Atmosphere Rough night and all I could think about was a bomb Albóndigas soup. This spot never disappoints. The soup tasted a little different this time (almost like a minestrone vibe), but still bmb. Shoutout to the bartender; super friendly, easy on the eyes, and great service. I originally tried to order takeout online but the soup wasn't listed, so I just went in. Sat at the bar, ordered my food, had a recommended tequila, and it completely fixed my day. Saludos read more

El Compadre Restaurant of Hollywood - Street view near restaurant entrance - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Both the food and service were equally bad. Our waiter mentioned multiple times that he was counting down the minutes until closing, which made us feel unwelcome throughout the meal. Unfortunately, the food didn't make up for the experience. The chips arrived cold and stale, and the entrees were cold and lacking any flavor or authenticity. The restaurant has a cool atmosphere, but beyond the vibe, the experience fell short. Luckily LA has plenty of other great Mexican restaurants. read more

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Est. 1975- What is there for me to say - everything that can be said about El Compadre, has been said. For 50 years, It has been one LA's favorite Mexican restaurants. A favorite for its design, its location, its clientele and its food. If it's good enough for Bosch, it's good enough for me. El Compadre's 'Old World Hacienda' feel is a major part of its charm. The lively atmosphere, often includes live music. It's an easy spot to drink too much, stuff yourself with chips & salsa, and lose hours of the afternoon and evening. What's not to like! On this particular visit, we had the Chili Colorado, the #18 (Beef Tamale and Beef Enchilada), a couple of Crunchy Tacos, Bloody Mary's, and some flaming Margaritas. It's all good. El Compadre is not just about the menu, it's about the experience. I hope this family owned and operated Hollywood Gem, never looses its charm. If you haven't been to El Compadre, then you haven't fully experienced LA restaurant culture. read more

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Chaz was a doll! Very tentative, intentional, and a very clean type of person. Hot sauce was mf fire! Tortilla soup was the BEST soup I have ever ate! 10 of 10! Hope this tender of the bar gets a raise! I wish you all the health and the wealth! Love from San Diego! -Richelle read more

I watched the USA vs Turkey game here and it was very lively. Lots of space and TVs. My friend and I had dinner as well. We're a big fan of the free chips and salsa. Service was attentive and the food came out within a reasonable amount of time. I need to come back and try the fajitas but they smelled and looked divine from what I could tell. read more

Stopped in to snack on appetizers with a large group of colleagues after a weekend workshop nearby. It took a while for them to open the outdoor back patio for us, but the atmosphere was nice, especially as the sun started to set and the string lights turned on. The food and service was mediocre unfortunately: servers are overworked and plates are greasy with too much cheese on everything, but you may spot a celebrity or two sneak in through the back door like we did during our visit. I was told the cocktails were nicely balanced and not too strong. *Delayed post from May '25 read more

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First time here. Walking in it is dark coming in from the bright sunlight. One my eyed adjusted, it was a nice hacienda decor. We quickly ordered. I got theeEl Grande combo. It came out fairly quickly. All was fine except the taco was cold. Not just the lettuce, but also the meat! My friends was the same. We told the waiter and he promptly got it corrected. The food itself was a notch above what I was expecting. I was expecting average but it was good. The portions were generous as well. I'll probably cone back again one day. I hope next time it will impress me more. read more

El Compadre Restaurant of Hollywood - El Grande Combo - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Man... it's with a heavy heart and that I have to say I will never step foot in El Compadre ever again. I grew up going there and have always loved it. Today when I stopped in for an early dinner with my son, we were being given dirty looks and smack talked by two drunk men at the table next to us. They must hafe expected I wouldn't say anything. But I did and caused a bit of a scene. We asked to be moved and the nice female manager who was the only professional there moved us and offered to comp our meal. But they let the men stay too. I no longer feel like that restaurant is a safe place form women and children if they are ok with allowing day-drinking drunk men to make a single mom with her son feel so uncomfortable they had to be moved. They clearly valued them more than us. read more

A Fiery, Flavorful Time at El Compadre! We had such a great time again at El Compadre Hollywood! The food lineup was amazing--starting with the Chicken Quesadilla Guacamole (yes, it's as good as it sounds), followed by Enchiladas de Mole, Enchiladas Verdes de Pollo, Two Crispy Tacos, and Enchiladas de Queso. Every bite hit the spot. The real showstopper? The flaming margaritas! Literally on fire--and totally unforgettable. We love that this place sticks to its roots with authentic Mexican dishes (not Tex-Mex!), which we've really been craving. It's been around since 1975 and has such a cool, old-school vibe--plus it's just 10 minutes from the Walk of Fame. We even made the trip from Newport just to mix things up--and it was so worth it. Highly recommend for anyone looking for solid food, a bit of history, and a fiery drink or two! IG: @thefoodie.99 El Compadre Hollywood 7408 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90046 (323) 874-7924 read more

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In the conversation for best 'wet burrito' . À very good deal at $17 in 2026z here is what you receive: Side grilled tortilla chips, salsa and small serve Guac . I ordered the steak wet burrito soaked in both red and green sauce. Might be viewed as atypical, but the river of flavors blended quite well. The green river had a more citrus taste, while the red was more tomato spiced. Floating in the river I believe were pieces of queso fresco Mexican cheese. À nice touch that really worked. The we burrito itself was hearty , the meat spiced and almost cut thick like stew shaped. Wasn't expecting that. Burrito held all the contents incredibly well. Slathering the red/green sauce energized my taste buds and I enjoyed this meal a lot. Woukd definitely come back to try the chicken fajitas when my appetite is larger ! read more

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Great authentic. Mexican food. The albondigas soup tastes like your grandmas homemade recipe. Andrew the server was friendly, helpful and cordial. Had a great smile, attitude and we appreciated his outstanding service. The margaritas were great also. read more

El Compadre Restaurant of Hollywood - Flamin margarita - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

My husband and I love the food here. We've never had a bad dish. With that being said...I would have loved to give 5 stars, however each time we have eaten here the food always comes out luke warm. Delicious but not hot. The service is always 10/10! In fact, when we mentioned that the food wasn't hot our server happily took it back to heat it up. Next time we'll just ask to make sure the food comes out hot. The ambiance is classic old school Mexican Restaurant. Super dark inside. Parking as mentioned in all the other posts are either the street or a couple in the back. read more

El Compadre Restaurant of Hollywood - Shrimp soft taco a la carte with flour tortillas. - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Everything about this restaurant feels magnetic. top-tier. The ambience and overall atmosphere, the food is outstanding and the service is five star. What a great Mexican restaurants very authentic and very beautiful such a great time and delightful experience.. read more

It's Hollywood - there's no parking. Maybe five spaces in the back, but I couldn't tell. We got stuck between a car backing up towards us and a car blocking the alley in front of us. Recommend using public parking nearby if you can find it. We were fairly early on a Saturday (5:30) and it was fairly busy. We were seated pretty quickly though. Corner booth in the very back of the restaurant. Service was horrible. Unacceptably bad. But several of my friends had been here before and said it hadn't happened before. The food was decent. The flaming drinks are fun. read more

El Compadre Restaurant of Hollywood - Flaming something or other - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

A fun good old fashioned Mexican restaurant with large flaming margaritas. I got the steak picado, a classic favorite of mine, and it was done really well with lots of flavor to the sauce. Will definitely be stopping in again. read more

El Compadre Restaurant of Hollywood - Steak Picado Michoacan Style - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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The food had good flavor but was cold. The chips and salsa were the best part of the meal. The service was great but the restaurant was so load it was hard to even have a conversation at our table. read more

El Compadre Restaurant of Hollywood - Fajitas - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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My bf and I go to El Compadre several times a month and love it. I always order the Enchiladas verde. Their chips and salsa are on point too. Margaritas were phenomenal. The staff honestly feel like family. They're super friendly and consistent. The ambience is cute and great for dates. They have a live mariachi band that plays sometimes, which is amazing. Parking is not great (but this is Hollywood, so what do you expect) so you'll probably want to get a rideshare or something. read more

Across the street from The Guitar Store on Sunset. A few handicapped and a few spots behind the building, otherwise all street parking. We had a party of 15. The server was not happy with the large party. That was a downer. The flaming margarita was cool visual. It's the lemon that's on fire. The drink was good. I had a virgin margarita and it was very refreshing. Very impressed the food came out so fast for our party of 15. The beef tongue was super tender, not gamy, very flavorful. Some of the food was a bit overpriced. Beautiful space, I think I even saw an CW actor. read more

El Compadre Restaurant of Hollywood - Beef tongue in Spanish sauce - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I love El Compadre! Family was in town and the first night they got in we went here as a "Welcome to LA" dinner to set the vibe for the trip. It was amazing. Service is great, margaritas are amazing, the booth for 7 people was such a nice experience and the food was really delicious - it's always consistent. We went on Sunday when they have mariachis, extra fun. They're there at least twice a week. Chips and salsa come for free and it's one of my favorite salsas in town. Plus, the guac and queso were amazing. The portions they serve are really big, so some people shared a dish, but most just had great leftovers. Everyone loved the ambiance, music, food, service. It's a great place to celebrate. read more

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Didn't take pics because I was here with clients. They requested classic Mexican food. The food was amazing! I got the steak flautas delish! We also had the guacamole (spicy), steak fajita & the enchiladas. Everything was great. We were sat right in front of the entertainment, they had a 3 person band, not loud at all it was a great vibe. But the service was impecable! Our server Jose & Mario our busser were tentative & checked in to make sure everything was going well. read more

A Hollywood classic!! If you like authentic Mexican food, great ambiance, and good margaritas, you have to try El Compadre Hollywood! It's our favorite spot to meet for dinner. I am high maintenance lol, so I order my margaritas with grey goose vodka instead of tequila. Our server didn't even flinch, just kept taking our orders. He was great! The food was delicious as always. I had two beef tamales with rice and beans, amazing. They have even added a little patio in the back. I will continue to come here every time I'm in LA! read more

El Compadre Restaurant of Hollywood - Here we all are, after enjoying our delicious meal! We love it here so much. - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Delicious food! Favorites are their enchiladas, quesadillas, and tacos. Friendly and great service, highly recommend!

The ambiance and the service were good, but not great! The drinks were done right and were really good! However, the food was not the best!! I had the chicken molé with rice and beans! I was not impressed! The beans tasted like they were really processed, the rice was too bland without any flavor! They missed the mark here! read more

Came in on a weeknight and waited around 10 minutes for a table. Servers were nice and friendly and attentive as well. The decor inside is really nice and there's quite a lot of space inside. Their menu is huge so there's lots of options to choose from. The tacos and enchiladas were really tasty. The portions are pretty big too so I'd say the prices are very reasonable. Good options for drinks as well. read more

El Compadre Restaurant of Hollywood - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Yesterday, I had the privilege of lunching at this location while watching the Mexico/UK soccer match. The drinks were fun and the food was fantastic. I love their ceviche especially. We had a wonderful experience on the back patio where the service was exceptional. The ambiance was classic Mexican read more

The service couldn't have been worse. Not only were the drinks disgusting but the server got 2/2 orders wrong. No comp, no apology, nothing. I understand there's a lot of moving parts in a restaurant setting, however, our server ALSO NEVER checked on us. We had to flag someone down for the check and a box. Based of the that, I will absolutely never return nor recommend this establishment. read more

Our server Jacob was amazing! Very friendly and kind! Very quick, and efficient! Definitely will be coming back here again.

Unfortunately, I have to write this review as this is the last time I will be frequenting this establishment. After almost 10 years of coming here and getting the same entree. I've always gotten the burrito with chicken and steak. I was informed by the waiter that they could not do a chicken and steak burrito. The irony of this is that I recently came and got my exact order with no problems. I literally had to remind the waiter (Andrew) about customer service and that as a server they should ask these questions to management before responding No. Especially if it is an entree that I in fact have gotten for almost 10 years here at their establishment. First it went from they don't offer that and then the story changed to the new Chef won't allow that. Pick a story! Every other Mexican restaurant, Javier's, El Coyote and even CHIPOTLE can prepare a chicken and steak burrito! I asked him to speak with his manager. The GM, Violet, came to my table and said they can't prepare a burrito with both and that i should never compare restaurants. I kindly reminded her that she doesn't get to tell me what sentiments I get to express. Terrible service and I'll make sure that me and ALL of my colleagues (American Medical Association) never frequent this place AGAIN! I'd give 0 stars to this place if I could. This place has gone to trash. BEWARE and STAY AWAY-- spend your money at places that actually want to cater to customers. Too bad your restaurant is culinarily incompetent and remedial and can't make one of the most basic Mexican dish requests. EVERYONE DONT GO TO THIS RESTAURANT. Go to a better restaurant. At this point even Chipotle is more superior to El Compadre! read more

El Compadre Restaurant of Hollywood - THIS IS WHAT A CHICKEN AND STEAK BURRITO LOOKS LIKE FROM JAVIERS. - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Service. Phucking. SUCKS. Very rude waiter - I went with my wife and the waiter tried rushing us out after an hour, came by several times requesting payment, and literally tapped the receipt on the table saying that theres tables waiting. WILL NEVER RETURN HERE. not an isolated incident either as the first time we went we waited 20 minutes before the waiter returned to take our order. PHUCK THIS PLACE. read more

So disappointed. Food cold and tasteless and wait time to have a waiter to even take our drink order was ridiculous. We usually love this place but will not be returning anytime soon. The only thing that was decent was the churros with ice cream! Too many other great Mexican restaurants that have great food!!! read more

As a native that used to come to this restaurant with my WHITE-mother...I'm done. This establishment has too many racist employees and I don't even have the energy or wherewithal to reiterate the traumatic experience from last night and their clueless and rude host & waiters. This is Los Angeles and there are too many OTHER MEXICAN SPOTS to keep giving El Compadre my money. Adios management here couldn't care less and I should've been done a long time ago. LAUGHABLE read more

Stopped by pretty late on a Monday and was still able to get a seat, which was nice. They had live music going, though it ended shortly after I arrived. The staff was friendly and attentive--they even let me sample the mole before I ordered. This isn't your traditional Mexican cuisine; it leans more toward Tex-Mex, or what I like to call "sloppy Mexican." The food overall had great flavor, though I wouldn't recommend the mole--it tasted a bit watered down. Aside from that, it's a solid spot, and I'll definitely be back. read more

El Compadre Restaurant of Hollywood - 2 3. Enchiladas Verdes de Pollo - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California