El Compadre is an LA staple, we've been coming here for years. The dim lighting, cozy vibe, and layout make it feel intimate, even though it's bigger than it looks. The bar sits right in the middle and is truly the star of the show. Service, drinks, and food are consistently great and clearly made with love. The margaritas and micheladas are easily some of the best in LA, hands down. This time I went with the chicken and shrimp fajitas and they did not disappoint. And the guacamole? It tastes like your grandmother made it. Portions are huge, so definitely come hungry. From the parking attendant to the servers, bartenders, and bussers, everyone delivers amazing service, it genuinely feels like family every time. Perfect spot for any occasion, or even just to chill and enjoy some authentic Mexican food. read more

El Compadre - Margarita - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Good food. Fat taco size of my palm, enchilada, rice, beans, chips, salsa, and sour cream for 22 bucks. Bag felt heavy. Service was mediocre and no utensils provided for my togo order as I drove back to OC. read more

Stopped by after a Dodgers game with a friend and her mom (she's the one who recommended it). The interior has that classic older hacienda-style kitchen feel, and there was a trio playing traditional songs while we ate. The space is pretty small, so the music ended up being a bit too loud for easy conversation, which was the only downside. Food-wise everything was good. Chips and guac were a good start. I had the chicken enchiladas and my husband got the shrimp enchiladas, both were pretty good. My mango margarita was also nice and came with a fun, unexpected presentation for a simple drink. read more

El Compadre - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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When you are craving a solid sit down Mexican restaurant and a margarita this is the place. I loved it, the flaming margarita is a great touch and they have so many flavors of margaritas. Service was great, the potato taco was solid and the plate my husband and I split was massive for $25. A great deal all around. read more

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I tried this place with some friends while in Los Angeles doing a weekend acting study at Howard Fine studio next-door. Such a great place for us all to grab lunch and have a few drinks after class. It's a very cozy dark atmosphere. The service was also great. read more

El Compadre - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I absolutely love the vibe here! The chips and salsa are addictive, just the right tickle of heat. The flaming margaritas are a must and I love the crispy tacos, the chicken is my favorite. The beans and rice are also delicious, everything is always served fresh and piping hot. Service is wonderful and the prices are very fair. Excellent option if you are looking for a fun night out and delicious Mexican food! read more

This place has really gone downhill! Where do I start? The parking was a nightmare. Really small lot in the back. There is NO valet like advertised. The hostess stand is in the middle of the restaurant. She was the only person who half smiled at us and made eye contact. The place was super crowded and loud! That's to be expected on a Saturday night. A bus boy came by and gave us STALE and chewy chips and placed water on our table. He never once said hello or made eye contact. He didn't even look to see what he was doing. He actually placed the water on the corner of my menu which caused my water to spill when I moved my menu. The water went all over the table and into the chips. We sat there with water all over our table for 10 minutes before the waiter noticed. The waiter looked annoyed and notified the bus boy who rolled his eyes at me when I looked at him and said I'm sorry. I have never felt more guilty for spilling water at a restaurant than I did last night. The waiter finally came to our table to take our order after what seemed like an eternity. Again no smile or friendliness, he looked annoyed. He was like this with all the tables. We ordered very basic food, tacos, and enchilada combinations. The beef tacos were un edible. The meat was flavorless and gray. The enchilada sauce tasted like jarred spaghetti sauce, and the beans were borderline Rosarita canned beans. So incredibly disappointed at the food I can't understand why it was so packed. Food did not taste authentic. I would definitely never recommend this place to anyone and will not be back. read more

We always passed by but never stopped Valet is $10. And if you want walk to the game and leave your car $30. I parked my own car it was $10. But I kept my keys too It was busy and dark inside El Compadre has been here since 1975. And the same owners too. We were greeted by waitress she was very very nice. Great too Server's came with waters and drinks for 7 of us 3 beers 2 ice tea 2 Coke's I had 2 beef tacos loaded with cheese and beef Lettuce and tomato &. Salsa was good 1 Chimichanga Chicken it was loaded with chicken too w rice and beans on the side Everyone has a great lunch From shrimp tacos To seafood plate To steak and beans rice I loved to here this is a great place to come Enjoy great good It was early and all the dodgers fans where here Margaritas flowing & beers read more

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The food is AMAZING, staff are great and the prices are good too. Incredible ambience really recommend it here read more

so worth it! Food was delicious, very authentic. Service Excellent and the vibe really made me feel like I was in Mexico. read more

El Compadre - Left ( chicken mole enchiladas) with real chicken! Por k chille tomatillo sauce and a cucumber margarita, - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Located on Sunset Blvd with Valet parking since street parking is often difficult. Busy restaurant with a great fun vibe. Good sized menu with lots of classic mexican plates. Their house margarita is delicious! Can get busy, we ate at the bar. It was a Friday night and they had live music plus tvs around with sporting events. Service was excellent- checking on us and refilling our chips and salsa read more

Ever has a fishy shrimp cocktail? Well, not here. The shrimp cocktail was so good that I was drinking out of the cup. Overall great service and Robert at the bar was the bomb. Totally attentive and always made sure that my party was good. Definitely coming back for the service, music, and atmosphere. read more

Recently visited with my family and I was pleasantly surprised. I'd never been to this L.A. classic before and immediately saw what everyone was talking about. Classic L.A. Mexican restaurant with excellent food, strong margaritas and great ambience. The food was served piping hot. Delicious and fresh guac made to order. Crispy beef tacos that were delectable. No complaints whatsoever. Definitely making this apart of my routine when I want Mexican food. read more

El Compadre - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I love this place! Old school Mexican restaurant atmosphere. Staff is friendly and attentive. It was crazy busy bc of the Dodger game. It was PACKED, bar and restaurant. Their margaritas are awesome, and they are known for their famous flaming margaritas. It's a good margarita too. You have your pick of several flavors. I love their crispy chicken taco plate! We also tried the shredded beef crispy taco was also so good! And their guacamole is excellent!! Quintessential LA, a must! read more

As soon as you walk in, the vibe is amazing--live music and that classic old-school Mexican restaurant atmosphere. The only thing I'd mention is that parking is in the back, but the host stand is in the front, so it felt a little awkward walking through the restaurant to check in. The margaritas were on fire--literally! One of the staff members (I wish I remembered his name--it started with a D) was super energetic and checked in on us every 30 minutes. The waitress was also super friendly and positive. The whole staff had such great energy--it was truly a vibe. The food was good! The chips and salsa were so good, I think I filled up just on those. I loved everything about this place. I'll be back! It's right next to Dodger Stadium, so it's the perfect pre-game stop for a drink. I also really appreciated the family-owned feel. read more

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We go there quite a bit. The food is wonderful, but we had the worst experience. The waiter was very overwhelmed. They were shorthanded and it just seemed like everything I ordered. They forgot I was the last one to get my drink, which was only an iced tea we had to ask four different times and then when he finally bring it, it was with attitude until we brought it to his attention and he seemed to act a little better the ambience there is fairly good being that it's a big dodger hangout especially before games and things it's always very loud. It's not somewhere you could have a nice quiet meal, but I do recommend the place. read more

This place has been a solid place of great memories for me. Recently visited to have a drink , a flaming margarita (the best) and we were greeted by the friendly staff. Bartender was great, I have had their food before and honestly everything has been good, from the enchilada plate, the carnitas plates, and the asada burrito. This a well known gem in Echo Park and even though I'm not always in the area, I always stop in when I am. Ambiance of this place is great for date night or drinks with some friends. Dark with nice soft lighting, and a large TV at the bar for sports watching. Definitely recommend this place if you've never tried it and like Mexican food and margaritas. read more

Was here last week with a friend, nice little spot pretty busy. It was really loud as they had a group singing and playing instruments so you are pretty much yelling so you can hear when speaking. The drinks were really good and the food was okay. Parking is $5 bucks Ill probably be back For the vibes and drinks maybe not for food. Shou out to our server really nice and attentive Santiago read more

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HORRIBLE service, mediocre food, and LOUD music. If you want to be able to talk to your party, don't come when they have live music. It was like a joke. read more

I love El Compadre! Good food and great service. Recently I went with my mother who needed assistance getting down the small set of stairs, and Rob from the bar was so attentive. He came from behind the bar and helped my mom, so thoughtful and kind. It's acts like this that keep us coming back and make us loyal customers, the staff is outstanding. read more

By far, the best Mexican restaurant in L.A. Food is superb,nice size portions,served by the greatest staff of male waiters. Bartender is on point. Drinks are perfect! We went on Mothers Day and had the best Mariachi band performing during dinner. The entire staff are very welcoming,very good at their job! A must try for lunch or dinner. You will love it!! read more

I've been coming here for years and absolutely love each visit. Many memories made here in those big comfortable red tufted booths! The staff are friendly and make you feel like family. The food is delicious! Tasty chips and salsa, legendary margaritas (on fire), and a huge menu that's sure to please everyone. My favorite dish is the lobster enchiladas. El Compadre is a Los Angeles gem. read more

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The diner of mexican restaurants. Delish! Consistently amazing, whichever location you go to! I love the quesadilla's here - basic I know, but they do it right!!! read more

We have been coming to the wonderful establishment for about 20 years now! And it is hands down our favorite restaurant of all time!!! The place has a home feel, the service is on point, always making sure you have fresh chips n salsa or refilling your cup with water or soda. The alcoholic drinks are top notch especially there flaming margaritas. And the food is just like mom or grandma use to make. You cant go wrong with whatever you choose to eat? The Pollo ala plancha is a always a good go 2! or the shrimp cocktail, steak salad or my favorite? Then padrino It comes with a steak an enchilada,hard shell taco, with rice and beans. The price for everything is responsible, not expensive at all. Come on down for some of the best authentic Mexican food echo park had to offer. read more

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Great time! Great food! The drinker we were with did not want to leave! There was a great vibe watching the game, everyone was super nice Valet was great to. read more

Stopped in here with the Ladyfriend after making an escape from a work related get together. You know the kind, one doesn't want to appear antisocial, but you play the game and say that "We'll stop by for a little bit". Translation, stay for an hour or so then make your way to an exit. Which led us to this location. We've been to their location in Hollywood, always delicious, and the service is always excellent. Perhaps it is the Ladyfriend and her charisma? Dunno, but it was busy, but we were able to get seated fairly quickly. Charisma? Some might point to the low cut top she was wearing. Anyhow the drinks weren't watered down, nor overpriced, at least to us. Our carne asada was delicious. Our waitress, Margie was great. We'll definitely be back. read more

Excellent customer service , food was delicious, waiters were the best, friendly outgoing environment

If you're going to be a server, you've got to have the right attitude. Why? Because it matters. El Compadre has very good Mexican food. I've been a fan for years. Their flaming margarita never disappoints. It's a nice looking Mexican Restaurant. It's a a vibe, it's the right ambiance. But never tell a customer with a "snippy" attitude that the reason your food is cold, late, forgotten, or other, that it's not your fault and it's because you are short staffed on a Sunday night, during the holiday season and roll your eyes. No one wants to hear this. At least no one I know. My spouse gave her very specific order and word per word our server took the order. It came out and it was wrong. I sent it back because El Compadre does not give food for free. The server got bothered as if he was the one paying for it and immediately walked away from our table mumbling: I'll get the boss! With the worst attitude. Needless to say that Jessie didn't get a tip. In fact, he forgot all about us after we sent this meal back. He showed up later with boxes to go. Thank goodness for Cesar. In the food, beverage and hospitality industry; attitude matters. It makes a difference. I don't have an issue if my meal is overcooked or undercooked. Anyone can fix this. I have an issue with poor people's attitude. No one can fix this but the person it self. Will I be back? Yes, not anytime soon. Why? Because of Cesar and the flaming (literally on fire) Margaritas. Happy holidays everyone! read more

We came across El Compadre during the recent World Series games near Dodger Stadium. This popular restaurant has charm and ambience that echos to something out of a vintage movie. The leather seats in the booths and the brick enclosed corner booths with the metal chandeliers are a highlight. We ordered Cadillac Margarita's, guacamole, and Steak Picado. The drinks were by far the best; powerful! The guacamole was fresh and the steak was well proportioned. Enjoy this vintage restaurant in a group or on a date night. Valet parking available or limited street parking. Enjoy your visit! read more

Went to El Compadre after taking a tour of Dodgers stadium. The restaurant has an old time feel to it. The lighting was very dim and hard to see menu. But the staff was very friendly and brought our drinks along with salsa and chips right away. I ordered the "El Padrino" combo. It came with a grilled steak, crunchy beef taco, cheese enchilada, rice ,beans , and guacamole. The food was really good and recommend you stop by if you're in the area. It has a small parking lot in the back. Luckily it wasn't busy when we went. read more

El Compadre - El Padrino combo - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

We went at lunch. The food was great, the wait staff was on top of it with refills of our water and soda. Ambiance was exactly what you'd want for a great restaurant. Food, of course, was excellent. I had a hard taco and enchilada. I think it was the #6. The $16 dollars was a little high for me, but it's on Sunset, in LA. I understand the economics of that price point. I'd go back. read more

Great food, great drinks, great service. Margaritas were excellent. Service was A+ by Jovanny and his co-workers. Food tasted authentic and was full of flavor. Tamarindo Margarita and spicy Margarita were great. There was also live music. Highly recommend before a Dodger game. read more

El Compadre - Came to try the famous Marg's! - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I'd say this Mexican restaurant is just okay. It definitely has that old-school LA feel, and it works as a solid starting point before a Dodger game. The atmosphere is nostalgic, like stepping into a longtime neighborhood spot. That said, $11 for a domestic bottled beer? That's Vegas pricing, or worse, inside-the-stadium pricing. Honestly, even Vegas charges less (around $9). On the plus side, the breakfast plate I had for $13 was solid, good flavor and portion. I'd come back here to eat, but I'd skip hanging around for drinks. Just not worth it. Overall, Decent spot with old-school LA vibes, but overpriced drinks read more

Went here after a dodger game got here at about 8pm it was lively with a DJ and the dodger game on tvs. Bar was very lively with great service. Food was amazing and margaritas were even better read more

El Compadre - Seating - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

This place is rather bizarre. I asked my friend why is the rating so low, since she said the food is pretty decent, and then I realized what the issues are. We came to the restaurant on Wednesday at exactly 9:20 PM and the lady who approached us didn't even say hi, just (kind of rude) - "Kitchen is closing in 5 minutes so order everything at once". We started laughing because the approach looked like a prank, rather than a welcome to the restaurant. And she didn't provide us with menus, just went to the back and sat down with friends or/and coworkers. Bartender also didn't pay attention that we don't have the menus until we flagged him down. He was relatively decent, at least he didn't give us an attitude. Smile here and there. He did mess up our tips and put them all on my friend's card. I guess it happens. Both my friend and I work in hospitality industry, therefore I rarely leave negative reviews (if ever), but this was just ridiculous. I understand the restaurant was closing soon, and we wouldn't stay long anyways, nor would we sit endlessly at the bar. Trust me we didn't plan on being "those" people. You guys really need to step up the game. Just because you get certain volume doesn't mean that you can treat customers crappy. We almost felt guilty for even asking for menus. Two stars just so I don't feel like a horrible person, but managers (and owners) should pay attention to this. read more

We love coming here. This restaurant is a go to for Dodger games. Their food and margaritas are delicious here. The service here is great. Plus it's a block from Dodger Stadium. Would definitely come back here read more

El Compadre - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Food and drinks were excellent! Such a cozy atmosphere with great vibes and great service. Would definitely come again! read more

El Compadre - Margarita - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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$10 cover cause of the World Series are u kidding me!!! That's just being greedy!! You guys should be ashamed of yourselves. It's $20 to park then another $20 to get in? read more

The food was amazing . Service was outstanding. The ambiance of the place couldn't have been any better. I ordered a steak with a cheese enchilada and rice and beans , it was hella good !! lol read more

I was genuinely surprised by how much I loved this spot. The food was fresh and everything from the chips and salsa to the tacos tasted like it was made with care. The drinks were also a hit! flavorful, refreshing, and strong (in the best way). It was fun that you could combine two flavors in your margarita, and they were definitely generous with the pour. The vibe was cozy but still lively. They had two TVs playing the Lakers playoff game, which added a fun energy without being overwhelming. However, it did get loud, not just because of the game but the music as well. There's bar seating if you're just grabbing drinks or want to watch the game, and the overall atmosphere felt relaxed and inviting. I left feeling full, happy, and already wanting to come back. The only downside is the parking--street parking on Sunset is rough, and valet is $5 cash only, so come prepared. That said, it's totally worth it for the food, drinks, and solid vibes. read more

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