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    El Criollo Bar & Grill

    4.0 (349 reviews)
    Closed • Closed

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    EL CRIOLLO BAR & GRILL ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Live music
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for dancing

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    Pescado Sudado
    David P.

    Amazing lunch today! The Pescado Sudado was wonderful. Great happy hour drinks from opening time!

    Rabo Encendido
    Alejandra G.

    La comida esta, deliciosa! The food here is sooooo delicious! Great service, very friendly, family owned business. The lady who cooks there is amazing, the food tastes like authentic homemade cuban food. I feel the same way I felt as a kid when my mom or grandma would cook homemade Honduran food, except its Cuban, I felt all warm and fuzzy inside. My husband and his sister are Cuban and they brought me here to celebrate my getting a new job I wanted, I like the set up inside, very spacious and a nice bar area. The mojito was so tasty and good too! Also the bread, omg the bread, it was fresh and soft and just so yummy. I highly recommend this place! Gracias a la cocinera por la comida, me encanto! I'm absolutely elated

    Vegetariano Frito plate at El Criollo Bar and Grill
    Rocky B.

    Absolutely loved El Criollo! We went on Saturday just as it opened and were greeted by this older woman who I believe might have been one of the owners. Her energy made me feel like I was visiting one of my Tia's. Okay so for food I ordered the Vegetariano Frito which was white rice, beans, yucca and plátano. I also ordered a Mojito. First off..I have not had a Mojito that good in years! So good I ordered a second. My entree was delicious...I mean everything on that place was yummy. The beans were perfectly seasoned. The fried yucca and plantains were crispy but not super greasy. Writing this makes me want to go back right now. It's not a Vegan restaurant but they have Vegan and Vegetarian options so it's a great place that will have something for everyone. Ambiance was nice. I guess they have dancing at night? Might have to come back for that to get my cha cha on. The restaurant is located in a strip mall so it's easy parking.

    Pechuga de Pollo Empanizada
    Daniel L.

    I'm born and raised in Miami, grew up eating a LOT of homemade Cuban food from several families. This restaurant immediately took me back to those authentic meals I grew up with. The service was excellent and the owners did so much to make sure we were taken care of. Best Cuban food in LA hands down.

    Rita H.

    I ordered to go because I was running late for another appointment but the proprietor is the sweetest. The bar has a nice variety and the food looks fresh and delicious. It's in a small space in a strip mall,so it's a little hidden. I love that they bring out tostadas (toasted French bread) and whipped butter. Reminded me of Miami.

    Ropa Vieja
    Angelina S.

    Delicious!! Amazing staff fantastic service and the best flavor! 10/10 La comida fue una delicia el servicio más amigable me sentí como en casa!

    Fricase Pollo and Pollo Criollo with the most amazing Plantains!
    Trina E.

    It was my turn to pick dinner for date night and I picked this place. We both wanted chicken and something not fried or unhealthy and to be honest, I am tired of salads! I had the Fricase de Pollo and bf had the Pollo Criollo. Both plates were delicious and the portions so generous and we needed to go boxes! The chicken on both plates was juicy and very flavorful. This was very good comfort food and we plan on going back soon. Did not have any alcoholic beverages but perhaps some day we will have to try. I almost forgot, the plantains were delicious!!! Our server Alberto was very nice and the service was good. This is not fast food. We will definitely go back here and enjoy another very good Cuban meal. :-)

    Ropa Vieja Old Clothes
    Dilenia A.

    So happy to have found this little gem close to home! Goodbye Porto's, hello to this hidden gem in a strip mall, 10 minutes from home! Have to go and try their Ropa Vieja (traditional Cuban meal) and Moro yum and their croquetas as an appetizer, omg, too good to pass up! And the prices are spot on! Such a cute "momandpop" home restaurant with the traditional food with their cafe con leche, THE BEST!!! Found my home away from home restaurant, can't wait to go back and try the rest of the meals! I'm going to be such a regular there!!!

    2 Pieces Empanadas, pretty petite but really yummy!

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    23 days ago

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    10 months ago

    The best empanadas and cortadito ever. The sauce that comes with the empanadas are amazing

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    4 months ago

    I had a delightful lunch here. The ropa vieja was so yummy. Prices are good. If you're craving Cuban food, this spot is perfect.

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    10 months ago

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    10 months ago

    Great food authentic Cuban food reminds me when I was growing up definitely recommended it

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    2 years ago

    Excellent food; excellent handmade margaritas; great latin music at a reasonable listening level.

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    Page 1 of 9

    El Criollo Bar & Grill Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - El Criollo Bar & Grill

    Is this the criollo that used to be in Van Nuys?

    Same owners, but this is a full bar place

    What days do they have a live band, do they still have it?

    Thank You...very much appreciated..!!!! , are used to go to the original one I believe which was at the intersection of Van Nuys Blvd...but I haven't been to this new spot in Burbank since they've been there, hopefully the food is still just as… 

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    The Green Room - Cocktail lounge hidden inside Castaway with stunning views

    The Green Room

    4.6(698 reviews)
    1.8 mi
    •$$$

    This place is a must visit!!!! How did I not hear about…read morethis place before? Booked a reservation easily for a Friday evening, there's not really a bad seat in the entire place. Cute cocktail bar with a view, The view is incredible at sunset on the outdoor patio. We enjoyed cocktails, beer, and the filet mignon sammie. The food was SO good. Perfect for cocktail hour, but they also serve the full menu from castaway here so you could even order dinner if you wanted. Really beautiful presentation for the cocktails, reminds me of Barton G before it closed. They have a buzz button cocktail which was super tasty! Service was extreme friendly,and accommodating. Everyone was making sure we were satisfied throughout out time there. I will for sure be back, and if you're looking for a cute date night spot this it! I will be back to try more of the tapas!

    The Green Room... I am not sure why service gets such a bad rating- never had any issues with that…read more I like their signature cocktails and food options... l am giving them 4 stars only because of the most recent experience that I had... I checked the hours, and it said this place closes at 11. My friend and I came at 9... and guess what... the place was closed. Why? I don't know. We were just told that they'd decided to close early that day. Mind you, Castaway was still open that night. Why would a bar close before its posted hours? ‍

    Photos
    The Green Room - Three Wishes Cocktail

    Three Wishes Cocktail

    The Green Room - Parmesan Proscuitto Croquette

    Parmesan Proscuitto Croquette

    The Green Room - TGR Patio

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    TGR Patio

    Inkwell Tavern - Roasted Brie Wheel

    Inkwell Tavern

    4.8(335 reviews)
    1.4 mi
    •$$

    Inkwell has been our favorite restaurant in the neighborhood since we moved nearby nearly two years…read moreago. The cocktails are all top notch and the food is incredible, especially the smashburger and the Peruvian steak stir fry. Also really enjoy coming for the Tuesday night pop culture trivia. But this past weekend I also had the pleasure of hosting an event (for work) at Inkwell for the first time and I could not recommend them highly enough. The staff, especially Victoria, were all very attentive and easy to work with. Victoria even came up with a special cocktail for us. They were affordable and very flexible to our evolving needs. Definitely hope to host an event here again soon but will be visiting plenty in the meantime!

    Went here for a date. I've lived in Burbank 8 yrs and never knew about this place. My only regret…read moreis not coming here sooner. We only partook in drinks but they were great, as was the service and the vibe. A lot of people around us were getting food and it looked and smell delicious. I'm definitely headed back to try the menu. I dint recall the evening we were there but they were getting ready for karaoke and the next night was trivia night. So,... great place for a date (even if you don't want to go on a 2nd with them) you might want to come back with or without them. Parking can be a challenge. Street parking or you can park in the lots close by of Walgreens or Ralph's and walk over. There are signs stating towing but I don't think it would likely happen.

    Photos
    Inkwell Tavern - Interior

    Interior

    Inkwell Tavern - Peruvian Steak Stir Fry

    Peruvian Steak Stir Fry

    Inkwell Tavern - My Whodunnit Mocktail - lime, ginger, spicy agave, and soda - spicy and refreshing!

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    My Whodunnit Mocktail - lime, ginger, spicy agave, and soda - spicy and refreshing!

    Broken Compass Tiki - Poke nachos

    Broken Compass Tiki

    4.2(670 reviews)
    0.6 mi•Northwest District
    •$$

    My girl friend lives in Burbank so this is frequently part of our rotation. The ambiance and…read moretheming is fun, the tropical drinks are great, and they have a pretty substantial food menu compared to other tiki bars I've been to. I generally gravitate towards the fish tacos and either get tots or onion rings. Their ranch is amazing - really creamy and herby. And I always start with a mai tai before moving onto something stronger like a Zombie. The last time we went it was so packed we had to sit at the low-top part of the bar which was kind of like being at the kids table when everyone else is towering around you, but we didn't mind. I wish I could remember our bartender's name, but he was really attentive. The service there, in my experience, has always been good. Anyway - I've been here many, many times over the years but have never left a review, so I decided I needed to change that. I'm glad this place continues to do well (it's almost always busy when I'm there) - I will continue to spread the good word and bring new people there. :)

    The place looks fund, but the food was mostly just okay, and the prices made the experience harder…read moreto appreciate. Our bill came to around $230 for a table of five. To be fair, that was the total for the group, so the number alone isn't what bothered me. What bothered me was looking at the food, the portions, and how much we actually enjoyed everything, then feeling like the value wasn't there. The chips and guacamole were probably the clearest example. For $15, the amount of guacamole looked like roughly three tablespoons, and it had a dark greenish-brown appearance that wasn't particularly appetizing. I'm not going to make assumptions about how it was prepared or how long it had been sitting, but the presentation and portion were disappointing. At that price, I expected something more generous and appealing. The pu pu platter was $35 and came with an assortment of items, but the portion looked appropriate for about two people. A platter doesn't necessarily have to feed an entire table of five, but even with that in mind, it didn't feel like a particularly good value. The $15 buffalo cauliflower also failed to impress. There just wasn't enough about it to make me feel that it justified the price. The Caesar salad was probably the best thing I tasted, although I only had a couple of bites. That says quite a bit about how underwhelming the rest of the food felt. There was one positive comment from our table about the Kalua pork tacos, so I want to give those some credit, but I didn't personally try them. They were $18 for two tacos à la carte, which still struck me as a fairly steep price. After reading other diners' reviews, I noticed some similar reactions: people who enjoyed parts of the experience but felt the food was only okay, or that the prices added up quickly. Experiences clearly vary, and some customers really enjoy the food here, but the comments questioning the value made sense to me after our meal. I don't expect every restaurant to be inexpensive, and I'm happy to pay more when the quality and portions make it feel worthwhile. Here, too many items landed in the "fine, but nothing special" category while being priced high enough to create bigger expectations. Three stars feels fair because there were a few things to enjoy, but the food and overall value left me wanting more. At these prices, I'd need a more consistently satisfying meal to feel excited about coming back.

    Photos
    Broken Compass Tiki - Big Toe mug release

    Big Toe mug release

    Broken Compass Tiki - Fish tacos with fries

    Fish tacos with fries

    Broken Compass Tiki - Pupu platter for 2

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    Pupu platter for 2

    Magnolia Corner - Cobb Salad with grilled chicken - excellent

    Magnolia Corner

    4.4(148 reviews)
    1.2 mi•Northwest District
    •$$

    I had an amazing experience at Magnolia Corner with friends! We enjoyed their signature cocktails,…read more"Whiskey Glasses" and "You & Tequila," along with the delicious grilled chicken sandwiches. Everything was excellent! The atmosphere was fantastic, with a beautiful interior, great vibe, and wonderful service. It's the perfect spot to enjoy good food, drinks, and great company. Highly recommended to anyone, any day. Definitely a five-star experience!

    We've gotten takeout from here a few times - I'm a sucker for Cobb salads - but this time we…read moredecided to come in and eat there. For a Sunday, it was pretty mellow, which I love. Our waitress was nice and attentive at the right time. We got a Cobb salad and a chicken plate. Their chicken quality is soooo good. The Cobb salad has all the right amount of toppings and they mix in the dressing, much appreciated! Every bite has the dressing on it. I sub for blue cheese dressing, and it has a hint of mint that is perfect to balance out the heaviness of the egg, bacon and cheese crumbles. I also add crispy chicken. The chicken plate with hummus and pita is also really good. It's a thin slice of chicken, cooked just right. Their fries are crispy and flavorful. Their portions are big, so it's good to share. They have a ni outdoor patio too. Music they were playing was a good mix and not too loud. Enough to be able to hear it, but still have a conversation. Overall, recommend this place for lunch!

    Photos
    Magnolia Corner - Bar

    Bar

    Magnolia Corner - Flatbread - so good!

    Flatbread - so good!

    Magnolia Corner - I Got A Feeling (left), Drunk on You (m), Bottoms Up (right)

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    I Got A Feeling (left), Drunk on You (m), Bottoms Up (right)

    GuildHall - Smash burger with house chips and side of burger sauce (seriously the best food item here) IG: @ammysalamii

    GuildHall

    4.6(341 reviews)
    1.6 mi•Northwest District
    •$$

    Guildhall is my Cheers. Absolute favorite bar in all of Los Angeles, hands down. It can be a bit…read morepricey - dinner and two drinks can easily run $50 - but the quality is well worth it to me. I don't think I've ever had a bad meal here, and staff is excellent with recommendations and food and drink modifications if need be. I also generally go home with leftovers, which also helps make it well worth it. This is the sort of bar where you can come with a full party, a few friends, or just sit by yourself at the bar, and you'll have a good time no matter what. Patrons are friendly, ambiance is peak, front and back patios provide additional outdoor seating (which is great for me, as I still prefer to mask while indoors), staff are phenomenal, and the place is overall fantastic. This is where I bring people who've never been to my neck of the woods before to show them the highlights. Street parking only - the KFC next door will get Upset if you park in their lot - but street parking is rarely hard to find. Come to Guildhall and treat yourself.

    We came here on a Friday night when they were doing a Dungeon Crawler Carl collaboration. So they…read morehad themed drinks. I really enjoyed this bar in terms of the aesthetics with streams on TVs, design, and just the overall vibe. They have LOADS of games for people to play. I loved the diversity in the games from mindless/humor games (think cards against humanity), to deck building, to more complex board games. They served food, alcoholic (ofc) drinks, and mocktails! They all came out really quick.

    Photos
    GuildHall - Game Shelf

    Game Shelf

    GuildHall - Sweet Potato Tater Tots (super spicy sauce) IG: @ammysalamii

    Sweet Potato Tater Tots (super spicy sauce) IG: @ammysalamii

    GuildHall - Animal Crossing themed collab IG: @ammysalamii

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    Animal Crossing themed collab IG: @ammysalamii

    The Rendition Room - Left: Magic Carpet Rye Right: Marilyn

    The Rendition Room

    4.7(688 reviews)
    4.0 mi•Studio City
    •$$

    5 stars. Took my boyfriend here for his birthday and the night couldn't have gone better…read more We started with the meatball appetizer, then the caprese salad, the crab cake, and the branzino with almond crust for the main. Every single plate was on point. The branzino was the standout -- crispy almond crust, fish cooked perfectly, not a dry bite on the plate. The crab cake was all crab, no filler, and the caprese was fresh and simple the way it should be. The real star of the night was Scott, the bartender/owner. He took care of us from the second we sat down, recommended everything we ate, and went out of his way to make Edward's birthday feel special. You can tell he actually cares about the people in his room, not just turning tables. That kind of hospitality is rare. And the drinks -- a dirty martini, a Manhattan, and hands down the best whiskey sour I've ever tasted in my life. The Rendition Room is a whole experience: hidden speakeasy, great food, great drinks, and Scott running the show. If you're celebrating something, this is where you go.

    We've been coming to The Rendition Room for years, whether for work events or date nights, and…read morebecoming members nearly three years ago was one of the easiest decisions we've made. It's become so much more than just one of our favorite bars and every visit reminds us why we keep coming back. The biggest reason, though, is the people. Hospitality is something that's hard to fake, and the team here does it effortlessly. From the moment you walk through the door, you're greeted like an old friend. Over the years, the staff has created an environment that feels welcoming, comfortable, and genuinely personal, and that's something that's become increasingly rare. Matt, Sabrina, and the entire team are all such gems. Scott also deserves special recognition. He's a huge part of what makes The Rendition Room such a special place. Whether he's introducing a new cocktail, sharing the story behind a spirit, or simply taking the time to check in, his passion and care for every guest shine through. It's people like Scott who transform a great bar into a place you truly feel connected to. On our most recent visit, we tried the new Decade & Debauchery cocktail, celebrating The Rendition Room's 10 year anniversary, and it's phenomenal. Balanced, and beautifully executed. In a city full of great bars, they have managed to create something much harder to find, a sense of community. After all these years, it still feels just as special as the first time we walked in.

    Photos
    The Rendition Room - The Room 1

    The Room 1

    The Rendition Room - The beautiful bar. A work of art

    The beautiful bar. A work of art

    The Rendition Room - The bar

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    The bar

    Kalaveras

    Kalaveras

    3.9(432 reviews)
    0.7 mi
    •$$

    My boyfriend and I came here to watch a World Cup match and were some of the first customers…read moreinside! We were immediately struck by how cool the decor is! Employees were super friendly and we were excited that they were showing the telemundo World Cup coverage. The menu was great. We split the carnitas plate and got Long Island iced tea. The brought out complimentary chips and salsa as well. The salsa was so good! The carnitas plate was awesome. It came with rice and beans and plantains. It was perfect for us to split. If we were still hungry, we already had planned on ordering à la carte tacos, but the plate was perfect. We were pleased. The menu was great, food was good, drink was good, and we had a nice time! I'll definitely come back!

    WARNING: Not all Kalavera's are the same! I've been to many locations from silver lake, Santa…read moreMonica, marina, puente hills, and this location is the worst by far. Completely different menu. Food was beyond sub par you can make the food at home and would taste better! Save your money. Everything we had from two orders of "taquitos", "esquite", quesadillas and a blood orange mojito. The only thing with a bit of flavor was the esquite, but again to pay for roasted corn on the cob with just mayo and cheese? For $13 ? NEVER AGAIN. I have a problem with the way they name their items which is a bit misleading. For example, they have an item called taquitos, meaning you would expect a rolled fried taquitos. What came was tacos dorados so why is it named taquitos? They DID write on the menu that it's fried tacos..but again why are they not just calling it TACOS DORADOS? Same with esquite typically esquites are corn off the cob but this was on the COBB and yes it was described on the menu as on the Cobb but again why not call it ELOTE instead of esquite. Clearly this is semantics but just frustrating. If you want authentic Mexican food there is a Don Cuco's around the block that is WAY better than this place. They are at a different tier than this Kalavera's location. If you're a drinker perhaps that would make the food taste better...so disappointed and a waste of money!

    Photos
    Kalaveras - Inside of the restaurant

    Inside of the restaurant

    Kalaveras
    Kalaveras - This is what I believe is called "the flight". It is a Margarita sampler.

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    This is what I believe is called "the flight". It is a Margarita sampler.

    El Criollo Bar & Grill - cuban - Updated October 2026

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