I wanted to share one of the most wonderful dining experiences I've had in Los Angeles. If you're…read morelooking for an exceptional steakhouse with soul, warmth, and outstanding food, I cannot recommend Carlitos Gardel Argentine Steakhouse highly enough. This Classic Hollywood hotspot has earned its reputation as the number one steak in Los Angeles. What makes it even more special is its story: this year they are celebrating their 30th anniversary. What began as a heartfelt family business -- a true love letter to Buenos Aires -- has grown into a beloved Los Angeles institution. Chef Gerard's passion shines through in every detail. From the moment you walk in, you're greeted with a warm smile by Max, the brother and sommelier and immediately presented with a basket of fresh bread accompanied by chimichurri sauce -- quite possibly the best I've ever tasted. The cocktail list features creative specialties with their own unique flair, and the wine menu is impressive, offering perfect pairings for every course. The star of the evening was the ribeye: tender, juicy, bursting with flavor, and finished with a beautiful crisp edge. Paired with their Papas Fritas -- golden fries tossed with garlic and parsley -- it was the ideal accompaniment. Every bite felt like a celebration. When you think the meal couldn't get any better, the dessert arrives and completely blows you away. I'll leave that as a delightful surprise for you to discover. Whether you're celebrating a special occasion, or simply craving an unforgettable steak dinner, Carlitos Gardel delivers an experience that feels both elegant and deeply personal. Buen Provecho!

Carlitos has been one of my bookmarks for the longest time and I'm happy we finally had a chance to…read moretry it. It's not a restaurant you're going to go to all the time but rather for a special occasion. It's on the pricier side, so with drinks and dessert, it adds up. They have a covered patio and it's important to know you have to enter from the back alley and ring the bell. Service was exceptional, always checking on you with the owners being present as well. There is more of a serious vibe in the room, not somewhere I would take children. The menu consists primarily of meat but they also have chicken and pasta as well. Everything is ala cart so getting some sides is a must. I would recommend the mashed potatoes, mushrooms were ok, needed a little bit more flavor. For dessert the crepes were probably the best, the dolce de leche filling was perfect with a burnt caramelization on top.

Nice first visit for me and an old friend of mine Sheri. Sheri is a meat and potatoes, kind of gal…read moreand so this place fit the bill. We both had the ribeye steak, Sheri had to Costillo and I had the Gaucho. We both loved our steak as they were both tender and flavorful. For the Gaucho, I really enjoyed the Anaheim pepper and other accoutrements and we'll get this the next time as well. The meal includes two sides. We both had mashed potatoes and I had a salad and she had asparagus. We had a server in training who was very attentive as well as the supervising server. We sat in the patio, which was nice. There was plenty of room very nice ambience. Relatively easy street parking. It was a nice visit for both of us. We will be back for sure.

LALAs had us fooled at first bite and the service quickly followed…read more.. The very first thing our server asked wasn't what we wanted to drink or if we'd ever been there before--it was, "Are you guys here to watch the game?" We immediately told him, "No, we're here for the food." Looking back, that should've been the first warning sign. They brought out fresh bread with chimichurri, and honestly, it was delicious. It got us excited because we thought- maybe this place really did deserve the hype. That excitement lasted about five minutes. We asked our server what everyone comes here for, and without hesitation he said the skirt steak. Since we wanted to try their specialty- meats, we ordered the Plato Mixto, one of their premium platters. It came with skirt steak, New York steak, Argentine "Italian" sausage, half a chicken, and sweetbreads. It's already one of the most expensive items on the menu, yet they still upcharge an extra $4 per side, if you want one of the "premium" sides. At that price, you'd expect everything to be included and quality to be exceptional. For the sides, we chose the grilled veggies, which the server said included eggplant, zucchini, tomato, onions, mushrooms - basic veggie mix and LALAs Potatoes, described as "Mashed Potatoes & Carrots." We figured that meant mashed potatoes served with carrots, or maybe mashed potatoes with pieces of carrot mixed in. Instead, it was one orange puree--mashed potatoes blended together with carrots. No flavor. If that's what you're serving, just describe it that way. The menu there was very misleading. Then came the sweetbreads. We had to ask our server twice what they actually were because he couldn't explain it clearly. Eventually he described them as "lymph nodes." Whether that's technically accurate or not, that's probably not what anyone expects to hear after taking a bite. Then we actually started eating. The Argentine sausage had a strange, almost spoiled flavor. When we mentioned it, instead of acknowledging our concern, our server doubled down and told us it was supposed to taste "rancid." I've eaten authentic Argentine food before. This wasn't it. It tasted like bad meat. The steaks were no better. We ordered medium rare, but the skirt steak was practically purple raw in the middle. Beyond that, both steaks were unbelievably tough. Every bite was a workout. For a restaurant that's supposed to specialize in grilled meats, that's inexcusable. Very low quality red meat. The chicken didn't save the meal either. I've had incredible pollo a la brasa and grilled chicken from plenty of places. This wasn't even close. It was bland, dry, and completely forgettable. When our server came back and asked how everything was, we were honest. We told him we really weren't enjoying the food. Instead of apologizing, offering another option, or trying to make things right, he doubled down again. "That's my favorite thing on the menu." Okay...and? Then he told us to squeeze a bunch of lemon over everything and brought us what felt like half a bottle of Tabasco. Think about that for a second. If the solution to your signature meats is to drown them in lemon and hot sauce just to make them edible, that's not a customer problem--that's a kitchen problem. By that point, it all clicked. The first thing he cared about was whether we were there to watch the game. We told him we came for the food, but the entire experience felt like the food was an afterthought. The service wasn't interested in listening to our concerns, only defending them. This place may be great if you're looking for drinks, sports on TV, and somewhere to hang out. But if you're coming because you've heard this is the place for authentic Argentine meats, prepare to be disappointed. The meats were tough. The sausage tasted off. The menu descriptions were misleading. The service felt more like a used car salesman trying to convince us our experience was wrong than someone who genuinely cared whether we enjoyed our meal. I don't write reviews to tear places down. I write them to help other people spend their money wisely. In this case...save yours. There's far better places to try authentic Argentine cuisine, this is not it, would not return.

I have been to the melrose location of Lala's a few times and this location is no different…read more Authentic Argentine bbq and flavors all throughout. We walked in on Saturday around 6pm and were seated right away. The restaurant was about half full with TV's playing the World Cup game (VAMOS ARGENTINA!). Fairly small dining room with a bar section. I liked that the restaurant was on the corner of the street filled with windows. We ordered the shrimp Patagonia, ravioli with pink sauce, and Plato mixto which consisted of skirt steak, NY steak, chorizo, mollejas, and chicken. Everything came out very quick was absolutely delicious! We made sure to save room at the end for their flan with dulce de leche. Our server was attentive and checked on us quite a bit. Overall great experience and quality food.

We came to Lala's Argentine Grill in Downtown LA to celebrate my mother-in-law's birthday. She had…read moreseen the restaurant featured on TV and wanted to try it, so this was our first visit. We made a reservation online for a party of six, and the process was easy. Our table was ready when we arrived, and we were seated promptly. Since it was our first time, we ordered a little bit of everything to share. We had the calamari, empanadas, Full Rugola Salad, Cabello de Angel, Penne Salsa Blanca, Gaucho, Entraña al Ajo, and Entraña al Champignon. Everything was good, and we had no complaints. The steaks were cooked perfectly, and the pasta was also cooked just right. My daughter especially loved the Penne Salsa Blanca. They also serve complimentary bread with chimichurri, and I really liked their chimichurri sauce. Service was friendly and attentive. Staff regularly came by to clear plates and refill our drinks. The restaurant itself is fairly small, and the sound carries. There was a group nearby having a girls' night out, and they were clearly enjoying the food and drinks, but they became pretty loud. Because the restaurant echoes, it made it difficult for us to have the intimate family dinner we had hoped for. We had to raise our voices just to hear one another. This may not bother everyone, but it is something to keep in mind if you are looking for a quiet meal. For dessert, my mother-in-law ordered the flan, which was also good, and the staff sang happy birthday to her. It was a nice touch and made the celebration feel special. The Downtown LA area isn't the greatest, but that is unfortunately common in that part of the city. There is a parking lot across the street, and if you show the restaurant your parking stub, they take $5 off your check, which was appreciated. Overall, Lala's is definitely an above-average restaurant with good food, friendly service, and an easy reservation system. We enjoyed our meal and would return, though I would keep the noise level in mind for a more intimate dinner.

Mercado Buenos Aires was a pleasant surprise and definitely lived up to the positive reviews. The…read morerestaurant is spacious, clean, and has plenty of seating, making it a comfortable place to enjoy a meal. My server, Luis, was outstanding throughout the visit... friendly, attentive, and always making sure I had everything I needed. His excellent service really elevated the overall experience. The highlight of my meal was easily the breakfast steak and eggs with potatoes. The steak was flavorful, prepped well, and paired perfectly with the eggs and crispy potatoes. The coffee was also very good and complemented the breakfast nicely. Before the meal, I was served a sweet bread with cream and berry topping, which was a nice touch and a tasty way to start. I also tried the skirt steak with a side salad on a different day. While the steak had some flavor, it was much heavier than expected, and unfortunately the same can be said of the side salad. The silver lining in this instance was the french baguette, which was fresh enough but nothing particularly memorable. As far as desserts, I had the tiramisu, and it was fantastic. It was light, creamy, and the perfect ending to the meal (steak and eggs). Even though not every dish was a home run. the phenomenal breakfast, excellent tiramisu, very good coffee, welcoming atmosphere, and exceptional service from Luis made this an easy place to recommend. I'll definitely be back, especially for breakfast.

If you are a Messi fan then his pictures are everywhere here. Argentinan restaurants are hard to…read morefind so thank you for serving the community. Story began with Paul Rodriguez serving meat at the small market. Business kept growing so they expanded to meat market/ bakery/sit down restaurant. Now there are 2 locations in the local area which is Van Nuys and Granda Hills. All I know is everything is good here and taste great. All made in house with so much love and made from scratch daily. They take the time to marinate and triple whip pasties. You can taste the difference. They must buy ingredients/ food from a high end distributor. You can do all your market shopping here, meats, spices, etc too. Market/restaurant (mercado) is your one stop shop for Argentina goods. Btw- there is vegan dishes/burger here too. Breakfast opens at 7:30am. They are a large kitchen inside. Pastries facturas are cute and deliciously fresh. I recommend 3 and coffee if you are on the run. If you have time choose some omelettes which are all under $15. I will need to try breakfast sandwiches one day. Lunch: Handmade empanadas if you are on the run. They are only $2.80 for baked or fried with meat inside. Chimichurri sauce with (crispy baked) bread is a must if you are dining in. Spices in the sauce is sooo amazing. Again I must try the lunch sandwiches one day. Dinner: I have tried spaghetti and steak which has all the right spices that does not resemble Italian. Sauce has a meaty beef stew thickness. I also like the steaks that are certified angus choice skirt steak, bone-in short rib flanks with homemade Argentine sausages. Buenos Aires burger is quite delish too unlike your normal American burger. It has chimichurri sauce inside. I must try the seafood soon because I see everyone else ordering it. Sugar time: Flan that is has vanilla custard with dulce de leche from Argentina. All desserts are good and I yes I have tried them all. Cakes super moist to flaky cakes and specials not on the menu. Improvements: alcoholic drinks would be so much more popular if they are perfect this department. It is def not my fav. I like a good mix from a bartender. The basic wine/beer is fine. Hidden gem with the friendliest staff. Muchas gracias Mercado Buenos Aires!

I dined here with my family and our server, Joey was PHENOMENAL! He took care out all of our family…read moremembers and explained exactly what to do with the food we ordered. He was kind and patient and overall an amazing server, food was amazing and everything was seasoned and cooked to perfection.

Juliana was great, food was excellent. They accommodated the cake we brought for a birthday readily.read more

Good store Usually just come for their marinated meats. I've…read moretried their carne asada, pork ribs, and chicken. All very good and good prices too. Workers are helpful and store is clean. Will keep coming back.

I've been coming to El Gaucho Meat Market for over 20 years, and it's still one of my favorite…read morespots. The quality has always been consistent, and you can tell they really take pride in what they do. The empanadas are hands down my favorite--always fresh, flavorful, and perfectly made. It's one of those places you keep coming back to because you know exactly what you're going to get every time.

A hidden gem in Eagle Rock. This cozy restaurant restaurant…read moreis elegantly decorated and the servers are amazing! I can't remember our server's name, but he was so helpful deciding on a wine and entree dishes. The portions are generous and the options are many. We ordered some wine, calamari appetizer, and shared the entraña al Malbec. For dessert we had some Gelato and coffee. Everything was delicious and the service was amazing. We will definitely be back to try the milanesa!

My wife gave it 1 star I give it 3 but 2 stars is accurate for value. The we got the assortment of…read moremeats on a hot dish. Flavor was ok, but the meat was tough to eat. The restaurant was 20% full and it took 27 min. to get served. For $120 w/ tip, terrible value, will not return. A much better option is Mercado Buenos Aires is a long-standing (since 1989) Argentine restaurant, bakery, and market with locations in Van Nuys and Granada Hills, CA. It specializes in authentic cuisine, including grass-fed Angus beef, empanadas, and chimichurri, alongside a market offering imported groceries. Good price, great food!

A-Lala-lalalonglong oh yeah! and still the best Argentine Food in LA-la's! Excellent service with…read morea smile with our Stanley Tucci look-alike server and friendly staff! Took a gamble and tried the Costilla (Ribeye) instead of my usual Pollo la Brasa and was super stoked with the fatty flavor! Also tried the Creamed Corn Empanadas which is my new fav! Wifey said the Pechuga Napolitana was eeeeelite! The fries too tho! Better than McDees haha!

We had such a great dinner at Lala's in Studio City! The atmosphere is lively and welcoming, and…read morethe service was friendly, attentive, and made the whole experience even better. The mushroom appetizer was one of the best we've ever had--absolutely incredible. We're already trying to recreate it at home because it was that good! The mashed potatoes were another standout: rich, creamy, and packed with flavor. Everything we had was delicious, and we'll definitely be back to try more of the menu. If you're looking for great food, excellent service, and a fun atmosphere, Lala's is well worth a visit!