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    El Zarape

    4.2 (965 reviews)
    ModerateMexican
    Open • 8:00 am - 12:00 AM (Next day)
    Updated over 3 months ago
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    Business Info

    EL ZARAPE ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Recommended Reviews - El Zarape

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    Terry J.

    I started following this guy on TikTok who travels all throughout the US trying these amazing hole in the wall gems. El Zarape caught my attention because the food looked absolutely mouthwatering. Nik Metcalfe this was absolutely delicious. Well worth the drive from Long Beach to Los Angeles. To start the chips and salsa was fresh and tasty. The sweet lady at the counter guided us along as We explained that we were in town from Dallas and had this scheduled for a week. The salsa, one a little spicy and the other a verde like sauce was delicious. Thoroughly enjoyed both. The crunchy Tacos dipped in Birria juices were soooo good. The tacos had a bay leaf inside it and super seasoned with all the right spices. The flavors were out of this world. What an awesome lunch. Ps...The weather...the best in the country.

    The Zárate on fountain ave , I will never visit again very bad experience on service .
    Alice W.

    I always come here food is good I leace around the corner ,but I won't eat here no more I really upset I went today Wednesday August 19 like at 6:45 pm two people were there ,the cooker and other woman ,I'm pretty sure the cooker saw me but he decided to leave ignore me ;I wait there for a minute but nothing so I decide to leave and I say thank you very much he don't even look at me ,besides prices are ridiculous, never ever ever spending my money here .

    Taquitos Dorados
    Francesca L.

    Needed to grab something to eat before seeing Poetry for the People at the Fountain Theater and El Zarape's patio turned out to a great choice on a warm day. There was a bit of people watching too.. maybe because of the liquor shop next door. Easy ordering at the window, there were printed pamphlet menus, a posted menu, and some specials - so be sure to look through it all. J ordered a bacon breakfast burrito and a cafe de olla (in case of mild food coma ha) and I ordered taquitos dorados with chicken. Everything was served fresh and hot, but the service is not quick. The food was served with care, on lovely plates and with garnishes. Although we were on a slight time crunch, the presentation even being just a patio spot was so nice the we had to sit and enjoy it. With the taquitos I especially loved that you could taste the oregano in the chicken and the fresh lettuce to cool everything down. I had a couple bites of the breakfast burrito and the salsa verde added some nice tangy light spice on the savory bacon, potatoes, and eggs. We enjoyed our quick lunch!

    Surf & Turf Burrito
    Abeeha H.

    A cute authentic Mex food place tucked east past downtown! I used to come here more when I lived here, but was glad food was still really good and the people here were awesome still! Carne asada here is so so so good and is definitely the main thing to recommend when eating here. Small touches like the colorful chips, cute menu, art on the building walls all make the experience more fun. Would be a good idea for a casual date on a day with good weather.

    Refried beans
    Claudia S.

    This is a decent late night taco shop that hits the spot!!! I like their tacos and their nachos are the best. I like adding their authentic guacamole. All the nacho toppings go well with any protein of your choice. Rice and beans also really good and authentic. Definitely my late night Mexican restaurant of choice when I DoorDash. Highly recommend!!!

    Rice and beans
    Sofya P.

    I will always rave about this spot. Everything we have had so far is a hit. Chicken enchiladas was a new try. Very good!!! Salsa verde had a nice kick and chicken was very tender.

    I noticed that the menu lists chips and guacamole under "Sides," so I ordered just the guacamole. However, when I went to pick it up, the cashier denied me the chips. I wasn't asking for free chips; I simply expected them to come with my order as indicated. It's quite disappointing, and I doubt the restaurant would suffer financially by including a few chips with the guacamole.

    Steak & Eggs for the WIN!
    Skye W.

    The tacos are pretty basic compared to the taco trucks that a near by, but I got the steak & eggs once & was SOLD! It was so good! Well seasoned & well cooked. Overall super happy with that meal:)

    Specials and happy hour menu
    Quynh D.

    I forgot how good this spot is! Craving Mexican food and decided to stop by. This checked all the boxes because it's quick and no frills with great service. The quality is also there.. you get what you pay for. I had shrimp tacos and carnitas tacos and it was definitely filling. I also got a horchata which wasn't great- tasted watered down. Difficult to find parking, and it's in a sketch area of town. Outside seating only and it's limited to a small area with a few tables. Worth it though! I want to come back already and try all the other options. They have plates and happy hour menu (although limited)

    Molcajete

    Love the molcajete, however the tacos were not impressive. Only one small thin tortilla. I understand is only tacos, but I expected more, compared with me other previous experiences at this place.

    Birria De Res Plate

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    4 months ago

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    4 months ago

    I've had El Zarape several more times, and it's been consistently delicious. Al pastor, taquitos, rice, beans, salsa - all excellent.

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    2 months ago

    Best Mexican in LA. Entire menu is amazing. The chipotle sauce is like crack. Authentic mole is out of this world. Highly recommended

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    2 years ago

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    3 months ago

    I had birria tacos and got food poisoning. So bad I had diarrhea and sharp stomach pains with vomiting.

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    3 months ago

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    4 months ago

    Waited over 20 minutes for 2 overpriced bean and cheese burritos that were 95% thick cheese and 5 percent beans. Very disappointing

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    10 months ago

    Our company orders tamales every year for holiday party every year an El Zarape never fails! The burritos are amazing as well!

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    2 years ago

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    11 months ago

    I ordered a chicken quesadilla and while I was eating it I felt two small pieces of chicken bone

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    Page 1 of 25

    El Zarape Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - El Zarape

    Hello, are the beans and rice vegan or are they cooked with chicken broth or lard? Thank you

    no

    Any Taco Tuesday specials as of 2022?

    Yes we have an 18 taco tray for 38.00 it also includes chips and salsa.

    Is the chicken tinga made with chicken breast?

    When are you open?

    They close at midnight daily but I'm not sure when they open!

    View All 5 Questions

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    Mi Corazon - carne tacos

    Mi Corazon

    3.8(772 reviews)
    1.8 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.

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    The veggie burrito diet works!

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    Ka'teen

    Ka'teen

    4.1(1.1k reviews)
    1.7 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.

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    Ka'teen
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    Guelaguetza Restaurante - Complimentary Chips and Mole.

    Guelaguetza Restaurante

    3.9(3.3k reviews)
    3.0 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.

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    Mirate - bar downstairs

    Mirate

    4.1(1.2k reviews)
    0.8 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.

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    Mirate - Brunch

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    El Zarape - mexican - Updated October 2026

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