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    El Grullense

    4.5 (122 reviews)
    InexpensiveMexican
    Open • 7:00 am - 9:00 pm

    El Grullense Photos

    EL GRULLENSE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids

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    The outside street view
    Franco L.

    This little place is AMAZING every single time. I've been fortunate to have been returning here for almost 20 years. The food here is consistent. The burritos and tacos along with the meats inside are all tender and tasty. But get this, they also serve crazy good soups/ caldos. Beef or chicken depending on what day of the week. Their salsas are a completely satisfying addition to the meals. The salsa are tasty and spicy in that order. They are perfect for all they have to offer from burritos to sopes to quesadillas. If your in mid town LA, slightly west of downtown, don't hesitate to stop at this authentic eatery. Parking is on the street or in the lot on the east side of the building. Yes, the music comes on a little loud about every five minutes but that's part of the authenticity. Thank you Grullense for the years of more than satisfying food. I'll be returning for years more.

    three tacos on a paper plate
    Ray G.

    I found this place by search for great tacos on Yelp. I got a few carne asada tacos and a pastor taco. They were quite reasonably priced at $2.50 each. The flavors of both meats were delicious. However, the asada was super dry and grainy. The pastor was fine.

    Chicken taco with all the extras
    Kyla H.

    Love this place hands-down one of the best authentic Mexican restaurants in Los Angeles right across from where I get my nails done I'm hooked. They also serve bomb burritos and tasty tortas too! But for me tacos are my fave

    Carney asada tacos
    Cheryl C.

    Oh my god!!! I ordered the carne asada tacos for 1.50 each and they were aaaamazing! The place looks a little sketchy, but you will not regret it! Lots of tender juicy beef, no fat, cilantro, onions, and red sauce. Better than king taco by yards.They also give you pickled carrots and peppers. I want some more now.

    Menu
    Noah I.

    I happened upon El Grullense somewhat by chance, and I'm extremely happy I did. It's one of my favorite Mexican restaurants in Los Angeles, hands down. I only had one item here, but it's absolutely amazing here: the carne asada tacos. It came with the classic fixings of onion, cilantro, and two choices of salsa (a red which was spicy and a green which was medium). The meat was the perfect consistency and flavorful as can be; it ranks among the best carne asada tacos I've ever had. The prices are also phenomenal, with each taco resting at $1.50. The indoor area is small, but there's enough seating available to snag a seat. You can also order at the outside takeout window for quicker ordering. Again, I'd just like to reiterate that if you're reading this, you should get up and go to El Grullense immediately.

    Llasmin H.

    I absolutely love this place it is my #1 taco spot in Los Angeles! I have been coming to this location for years thanks to an Ex-boyfriend shout to you lol! Anyways, these taco's right here are BOMB.com and not to mention that special red sauce that is spicy and just freaking amazing!!! I can literally have one sauce for each taco.They give you a good amount of meat every single time and the taste has never changed so far throughout the 7 years I have came to this place. Love their onions and carrots too! This place is not for the faint hearted nor for everyone. It is a hole in the wall for a reason so don't expect no 5 star service or top notch hygiene, but that's because tacos are just tacos and what I mean by that is, I do not believe that Mexico uses gloves for tacos?! Not sure , but don't quote me on it either. All I want to review is how I love this place and hope that fellow taco fan eaters love it too!

    Not the greatest presentation, hard carots
    Dulce C.

    Its ok when there is no other place available. Carrots are enormous but hard jalapeños look old. Takos are just om. The place needs some TLC, seems to be neglected. Will i go back again? I dont think so. Ponganse las pilas paisas!!

    Pancho V.

    If you're squeamish about sketchy neighborhoods, worry about the ambiance of a restaurant more than the taste of the food...... this ain't your place! If it's all about the food? come check these guys out and have a few tacos! along with some live entertainment http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/Xi_Vy7o_zixMFb21vH0tDw?select=6ewBcn0FQ_fiTDOiW0Jknw Nothing like eating some good tacos and listening to Ramon Ayala Live http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWVf_850_Wo clavado en este rincon como tu clavastes a mi corazon estos tragos que tomo yo son pura tristeza y son mi dolor te fuiste no se por que yo se que me querias y se que me adorabas por si acaso quieres regresar te voy a esperar te voy a esperar tragos de amargo licor que no me hacen olvidar y me siento como un cobarde que hasta me pongo a llorar te fuiste no se por que yo se que me querias y se que me adorabas por si acaso quieres regresar te voy a esperar te voy a esperar tragos de amargo licor que no me hacen olvidar y me siento como un cobarde que hasta me pongo a llorar So yeah now about the tacos, I ordered four different (close ups came out too dark to post) Tacos - http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/Xi_Vy7o_zixMFb21vH0tDw?select=HBLUXjrBU4gfUYlXqf22pQ Carne Asada, Al Pastor, Carnitas y Chorizo Carne Asada - Tender and very flavorful, tortillas and salsa were good 4.5-Star Al Pastor - While I see no trompo here, the meat was cooked nicely and had a slight pineapple flavor, they must use pineapple juice in the marinade. 4-Stars Carnitas - Yeah this little piggy was full of flavor! 5-Stars Chorizo - (pork) Cooked wonderfully and lots of flavor. 5-Stars This place is legit, come check them out!.....

    JAN2014

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    2 years ago

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    10 months ago

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    9 months ago

    Been going here for 13 years or longer best tacos hands down ! I love a carnitas and my wife favors the pastor

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    1 year ago

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    3 years ago

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    1 year ago

    Best Taqueria in LA hands down!!! This is a LA classic that is my secret spot for the top tacos in town.

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    4 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Best taco and burrito fair prices and good taste. Adrian the cook and everyone else very friendly.

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    5 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    10 years ago

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    3 years ago

    I love it here all the workers are so kind and it's so quick to get food I love them and food is so fresh

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    15 years ago

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    12 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    5 years ago

    Very small place but their food is amazing!!!! Meat just melt in your mouth. And prices are good. I love it

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    6 years ago

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    7 years ago

    I love this place! I've been a customer for 32 years. The food is delicious. And the menudo perfect for a hangover.

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    4 years ago

    I just love the food,and noticed not many people leaving a review,so yea.. It's the bomb.

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    12 years ago

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    13 years ago

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    Mi Corazon - carne tacos

    Mi Corazon

    3.8(772 reviews)
    4.1 mi•Los Feliz
    •$$

    This bar is fantastic! A large space with lots of options for seating inside and out. Very chill…read morevibe. We had intended to go to the bar next door, but one look at the crowd there and the loud throbbing music turned us off. I had wanted to go to Mi Corazon anyway, and was glad the group agreed. Lots of great mezcal and tequila options, as well as a well-stocked bar with wine, beer and cocktails. And the food menu looks great, but we didn't try it. Next time! The bartender was great and served us at our table. Brought us chips and a delicious homemade spicy salsa. The atmosphere was perfect for conversation, with good indie music playing at the right level. I will be back.

    1 Star -- Extremely disappointing experience…read more Unfortunately, our experience at this restaurant was horrible from the moment we arrived. When I first arrived, I gave them the name of our reservation, and the staff had no idea what I was talking about. We were a party of 6, yet they seated us at a tiny table that was clearly not appropriate for our group. When it was time to order, my husband very clearly told the waiter which pasta he wanted and even showed him a picture of the item on the menu. The waiter looked at it and agreed. My food came out, but my husband's food never did. We eventually found out that his order was never even put in. What made it worse was when the waiter came out saying, "Oh my God, I thought you said you didn't want it." Everyone at the table looked at him completely confused because my husband had literally told him what he wanted and showed him the menu item. Instead of simply acknowledging the mistake and fixing it, we were left waiting. On top of that, trying to get anyone's attention was nearly impossible. We had to repeatedly try to get someone's attention just to get basic service. Then there was another issue with the entrance fee. My sister-in-law had messages showing that we were told that if we ate at the restaurant, we would no longer have to pay the entrance fee. We showed those messages to the woman handling the wristbands, but instead of looking into it or speaking to someone who could clarify the situation, she simply said, "I don't know, you have to pay." No attempt was made to investigate or resolve the issue. After everything that happened, they still added a tip to the bill, despite the extremely poor service we received. Overall, this was one of the most frustrating restaurant experiences I've had. Poor communication, poor service, lack of organization, and no effort to make things right. I definitely will not be recommending this place to anyone, and we will not be returning.

    Photos
    Mi Corazon - The veggie burrito diet works!

    The veggie burrito diet works!

    Mi Corazon
    Mi Corazon - The Shinning Star (Paper Art Sacred Heart Collection)

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    The Shinning Star (Paper Art Sacred Heart Collection)

    Ka'teen

    Ka'teen

    4.1(1.1k reviews)
    4.5 mi•Hollywood
    Outdoor seating
    Private events

    I chose to go here on my birthday with a reservation but was kinda disappointed that for it being a…read morepricey place they don't offer something for your birthday. Again it is a little pricey but the food was really good I'm not going to lie I really did enjoy the flavors. The drinks were pretty great too, good amount of alcohol not too sweet. The Ambiance is beautiful which is one of the main reasons I wanted to go there so I could also get my birthday photos and that I did because it was super pretty. I am going to say if you have a hard time seeing it is a little dark so be prepared to get that flashlight ready. Service was pretty good, we were running a bit late and they accommodated to that and everything came out at a pretty good pace.

    came back to Ka'teen to finally try the Dine LA menu, and I'm so glad we did. This easily made my…read moretop 3 Dine LA experiences. The service was impeccable--everyone was attentive, friendly, and made the whole experience feel special. We had to get the Michelada Oysters again because I had been craving them since our last visit. They were just as amazing as I remembered--fresh, perfectly seasoned, and seriously addicting. For Dine LA, I started with the Tostada Campechana, which was like an elevated ceviche with scallops, tuna, yellowtail, avocado, and a citrus sesame sauce. Everything tasted super fresh and the citrus gave it the perfect balance. The Bone Marrow Mole was rich, flavorful, and came with a generous portion and toast. For my main course, I had the skirt steak, which was cooked perfectly--tender, well-seasoned, and delicious with the green sauce. The homemade tortillas were amazing too. We ended with the Dulce de Leche Panna Cotta, and it was the perfect finish--creamy, smooth, not overly sweet, and so good we practically cleaned the plate. Amazing food, great portions, beautiful atmosphere, and excellent service. Ka'teen definitely delivered. I would absolutely come back again.

    Photos
    Ka'teen
    Ka'teen
    Ka'teen

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    Guelaguetza Restaurante - Complimentary Chips and Mole.

    Guelaguetza Restaurante

    3.9(3.3k reviews)
    0.9 mi•Harvard Heights
    •$$
    Family-owned & operated

    My parents were visiting from Florida for their annual family trip, and I wanted to treat them to a…read moremeal and introduce them to the diverse food scene in Los Angeles. Since they live in an area with limited Mexican cuisine, I chose Guelaguetza, a James Beard Award-winning restaurant with authentic Oaxacan recipes, something completely new to them. They were excited to try something different, as they don't have many Mexican food options where they live, and I wanted to expand their culinary horizons. We were greeted with complimentary chips - some were drizzled with mole and Oaxacan cheese, which we requested refills of, and others were served with red and green salsas. The green salsa had a nice kick to it. For our meal, we shared two large dishes: the Festival de Moles ($53.00) and the Tlayuda Guelaguetza ($27.50). The Tlayuda Guelaguetza, which is also called a Mexican pizza, was layered with bean and chicharron spread, queso fresco, cabbage, quesillo, beef tasajo, pork Cecina, and pork chorizo. While I've always wanted to try Tlayuda, this one wasn't good, and I wouldn't recommend it. The pork chorizo was particularly unappetizing, and neither my parents nor I enjoyed the dish, feeling it was a waste of money. The Festival de Moles ($53.00) featured four individual moles - negro, rojo, coloradito, and estofado - with a choice of shredded chicken breast or pork spare ribs. We opted for a mix of both and found this dish to be excellent, and we would definitely order it again. They were very impressed with the moles, and enjoyed them for the first time. The only minor complaint was a lack of tortillas to dip with the mole, though they did provide some rice. We ordered several drinks, which significantly increased the bill. I was surprised we spent $200 on lunch for three people with only two meals. I started with the Pasion De Oaxaca ($16.00), a mezcal, tequila, passion fruit, grapefruit juice, and tajin cocktail that was excellent, perfectly balanced, strong, but not too sweet. For my second drink, I had the refreshing Aquas Frescas - Jamaica ($6), which was perfect after my meal. I even took it to go, and they kindly provided a cup. My dad ended up taking it, as he needed it with his medication (they're old!). My parents, who were trying mole for the first time, were very impressed and really enjoyed it. Our only minor complaint was the lack of tortillas to dip in the mole, although they did provide some rice. The food took a little longer to come out, even though the restaurant wasn't busy. I imagine this type of cuisine is labor-intensive, and you can't rush the cooking time for mole. You just have to trust the process! We thoroughly enjoyed our experience at Guelaguetza Restaurante and will definitely be back. I can see why they're a James Beard Award-winning restaurant; you can get authentic Oaxacan flavors in LA! We're lucky to live here.

    Amazing food and drinks and there is live music but it is way too loud in there. The place is huge…read moreand gets packed but I think the speakers need to be turned down. Good for big groups but I don't really recommend if you actually want to have conversation. Got the enchiladas campesinas and mango slushy both of my visits there, it's a huge serving so had leftovers for another meal each time.

    Photos
    Guelaguetza Restaurante - Beautifully painted mural outside of Guelaguetza Restaurante

    Beautifully painted mural outside of Guelaguetza Restaurante

    Guelaguetza Restaurante - Delicious chocolate cake.

    Delicious chocolate cake.

    Guelaguetza Restaurante - Chapulines

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    Chapulines

    Mirate - bar downstairs

    Mirate

    4.1(1.2k reviews)
    3.8 mi•Los Feliz
    Private events
    Outdoor seating

    I only came here for the bar so this review is strictly for the drinks. I did not know this place…read morewon Top 50 Bars of America for 3 years in a row, so I was pleasantly surprised to see that sign when we entered. My girls and I were bar hopping in WeHo for our friend's bachelorette and this place was recommended to us for good drinks. We went in with no reservation and the seats downstairs for the open bar area were full, so one of the servers told us we can lounge around at the bar upstairs and grab some chairs until someone kicked us out. Thankfully, we were able to grab a couch and everyone was super friendly and sweet. We ordered some signature cocktails off the menu and as the night went on, we ordered some tequila shots as well. Instead of lime and salt, they gave us our shots with golden berries and salt and wow. I'm definitely going to be taking my tequila shots with this combo! It was sooooo good. The interior of the restaurant is beautiful and very spacious, and the food looked really good too. I'd love to come back with my husband to give them a try!

    I would actually give Mirate a 3.5 because the drinks are phenomenal but the food was a huge let…read moredown. Unfortunately the flavors for the food here fell really flat for us for the most part. We came here for my friend's birthday and her steak was perfectly cooked and delicious. The pulque bread with miso butter and the guac were also delicious appetizers. Those were the 3 best dishes of the night. We also shared the crab bunuelos, the cochinita sopes, and the pulpo tacos. Sopes are my favorite Mexican dish, but these ones were too difficult to cut through/bite through. The pulpo taco, we could mostly taste the tortilla, the pulpo didn't shine through. And the bunuelos were fine, but not something super memorable. One of my friends had the duck emolada, and I had the branzino. As I mentioned, the birthday girl got the steak and that was delicious. But my other friend was really let down by his emolada which he has been wanting to try forever. My branzino was well cooked, the green sauce was pretty good. But the tomatillo greens salad on the dish was possibly one of the worst things I've ever eaten. And I love bitter, and I love greens.... But this was next level where I involuntarily made a sour puss face with each bite. For dessert we had the chocolate cake with cafe de Olla which was moist and good. We also got the pulque with the prickly pear, which was veryyyyyy sweet and none of us cared for that much. (Even tho I usually love prickly pear desserts) The service was nice, no one dropped the ball, but nothing stood out either. The restaurant itself is beautiful but it is open air (with no AC) so it was very hot since we have had so many hot days here in LA. We took a Lyft so we didn't have to worry about parking.

    Photos
    Mirate - Brunch

    Brunch

    Mirate
    Mirate - Brunch

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    Brunch

    El Grullense - mexican - Updated October 2026

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