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    Escala

    3.9 (1.7k reviews)
    Open 11:30 am - 1:00 AM (Next day)
    Updated over 3 months ago

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    ESCALA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Loud
    Casual
    Trendy
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Escala

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    Ashli A.

    I came here for a lunch date and was pleasantly surprised by the food. I wish I found this place sooner. The ambiance felt pretty social, not necessarily romantic, but chill. The service was great, and I think either the owner or lead manager attended to us. Great recommendations, and very patient with me (I had many questions about the menu). I ended up getting a fish plate as well as a full meat plate. I don't remember the names of the dishes, but they were AMAZING! The meat plate was particularly delicious. There was a little bit of everything on it! The location is pretty central and there are plenty of other food spots there, including a boba spot, korean bbq, fried chicken, and more! I definitely see myself coming back! There's also PLENTY of parking in the plaza. It is not free, however.

    Sweet and spicy wings
    Gerisa A.

    Ambiance was cool. Definitely more of a spot to celebrate because the music is very loud in there, so don't expect a quiet meal lol. Flavor was alright, best dish were the wings. Crunchy and flavorful. The bandeja k town was just ok, nothing memorable and could use a bit more flavor. Our server was friendly and helpful with recs. Really wish the food was hot and not just warm. $10 parking in the back for 2 hours because that's LA for ya.

    Empanadas, street corn
    Marina R.

    Love, love this restaurant. Although I live far, whenever I'm in LA I try to stop by. Yesterday we had reservations and by coincidence the Colombian sele was playing against Portugal. What a game and with great food. Atmosphere was off the hook.

    Complementary mini buñuelos, beef empanadas, and bandeja K-Town
    Andrea M.

    Good service, delicious food with a fun fusion of Colombian and Korean items, and amazing late night music. The classic Colombian salsa hits were *chef's kiss* Definitely will return in the future.

    Michael B.

    Consistently good food and drinks. Very solid 90s hip hop vibe. Brunch pops off on the weekends

    Kaelene M.

    The food was delicious, however the service wasn't the best. I came in around 2 PM on a Sunday and the place was bussling. I was seated immediately. After placing my order, I waited about 40 minutes until I received my food. They forgot about the drinks and after reminding them, they immediately gave me a watered down espresso martini. I had to send it back! On another note, the chicken wings and chicharron were delicious. Although I wouldn't come back to dine here again after the atrocious service.

    Roni V.

    Such fun vibes, great live DJ music and crazy to the max decor including an indoor fountain, flower tree, and awesome lighting fixtures. The staff was awesome, helpful with describing the food options and super friendly. We were curious about the Colombian-Asian fusion so we ordered a variety of dishes, including oxtail, porkbelly, empanadas, Town Bandeja, Ceviche, guava gyozas, and Colombian drinks. All the food and limited variety of drinks were good, empanadas and gyoza were just ok, but nothing stood out. There's limited but convenient pay parking in the back with access to many other restaurants. Would return for the fun vibes.

    Mallory C.

    Went here with a friend on a Friday night and parking was chaotic in the lot, but we felt lucky to get a spot! We were seated right away at Escala, but it took a while for the servers to take our order and then it took a really long time to get our food. I had ordered the Bandeja K-Town, a Colombian platter with Korean BBQ Short Ribs. The short ribs themselves were super dry and inedible. I was never given the choice between the kimchi and the salad. I did like the plantains in the dish, though. Also, it can be super loud in here; not a great place if you want to have a conversation with someone. Very underwhelmed and disappointed by the experience.

    Janira R.

    Walked in and sat at the bar . Immediately greeted by the bar manager Leo who was not only juggling around 16 hats from confirming food was out on time , people seated and greeted immediately, to making sure your drink was nothing less than delicious! He not once made us feel as though he was not there to service us . I had " La Mula" delicious and refreshing vodka drink . We had the beef empanadas as an appetizer and shared the " Bandeja Paisa" plate. We could never go wrong with this plate nor this place! We have been here multiple times as the service, ambiance (Hip Hop) music, decor and food is great ! It's a Colombian-Korean Fusion type restaurant with a perfect blend !! High

    Sancocho (colombian Stew)
    Michelle X.

    Escala's one of those places where there are an infinite number of things you could stare at, from the unique art on the wall to the chandeliers to the old wooden pews to the open window concept. The kind of place where a flash mob could start anytime musical-style. Is the food a bit pricey? Yeah, but also my soup/stew was delicious and full of colorful spices.

    Pisco
    Alexis G.

    It feels like you're eating at a backyard in Colombia. This Korean and Colombian fusion restaurant had some good food. Although the drinks had great presentation, I give them a 4/10. If you focus on the food, this place is worth a try.

    Yuri P.

    I've been to Escala in Koreatown a few times before, but this visit meant so much more because I brought my aunt, kids, and family to celebrate my aunt's birthday. We're all Colombian, and while we absolutely love our food, I really wanted them to experience Korean cuisine -- and Escala did not disappoint. The food was incredible, full of flavor, and honestly felt so homey and comforting. Everyone at the table loved what they ordered. Even my toddler and her cousins had the best time -- the music and atmosphere made it such a fun space where they could enjoy themselves without feeling stuck at the table. My aunt's dish did come out later than the rest of ours, but we truly didn't mind because the place was busy and everything we had tasted so amazing. What really stood out, though, was the level of care and service we received. On my way to the bathroom, I recognized the owner and chef from social media and stopped to share how much I loved the food and the vibe. They were so warm and even asked if we were Colombian, which made the experience feel instantly more personal. The highlight of the night was the chef -- she went out of her way to come to our table, introduce herself, and genuinely connect with us. When she found out about my aunt's delayed plate, she immediately took care of it and didn't charge us, which we didn't expect at all. It was such a kind gesture and showed how much pride and love she puts into what she does -- truly taking care of people like family. As we were leaving, she even came to find us to say goodbye. That level of attention and heart is something you don't see everywhere. Escala isn't just amazing food -- it's an experience filled with warmth, culture, and genuine hospitality. We felt like family, and I will absolutely keep coming back.

    Catrina R.

    This is a great place to grab a drink, some food, and watch a game. I think on weekends it's a drink brunch place with a dj. Had a few items but I'll just talk to you about our favorites: Yucca fries and the beef empanadas. I highly recommend just getting those two and going ham on them. The fries are crispy and tasty and the beef empanadas were so flavorful and cooked to perfection. Also it was a solid amount of food for the price so that's fantastic. Also service was fast and friendly. Lots of seating inside. There is parking in the lot it's attached to for 4 dollars (5 if with card) for two hours. Otherwise street.

    Whole Chicken Wings

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    13 days ago

    Amazing service! Jose is the best waiter. The vibes were great, and the food was delicious! Would come again!

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    9 months ago

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    2 months ago

    Yummy! What a great find for a happy hour! Plenty of space, excellent service and tasty food and drinks! The HH menu is so good!

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    13 days ago

    The food was delicious. Drinks and arepas were good. Jose was great! Great service and atmosphere.

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    18 days ago

    Great food, great music , great service specially our waiter Jose the best great service

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    Escala Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Escala

    Is this a place for teens/ under age? ? Or adults only?

    You can bring your family!

    What are the vegan options? I saw the menu but only saw vegetarian options.

    They have some veg items. That said, nothing about this place seems Vegan.

    Can i watch the rams v bangels game here today?

    There are a few small televisions there. Don't think they were great enough to watch the game. Nevertheless, it would be ok.

    Parking? Where? How much? How long?

    Small valet parking for the entire plaza. Street parking is a pain. Better off just paying the 15 bucks for the parking structures across the street.

    Are bottomless mimosas still available for weekend brunch?

    Yes they are! Brunch is out back in the parking lot now.

    Are they currently open during the pandemic and is there still a DJ for brunch on Saturday and Sundays?

    Yes they are still open with limited seating along the outside of the restaurant and in the back courtyard in the parking lot where the majority of their tables are. Haven't been there on a weekend but the two times I've gone they've had a DJ. Went… Read more

    Is there still music for outdoor patio like after 4? And does one have to be 21+ to go in for dinner?

    I'm not sure about music after 4, but they do have it for brunch. And no age restrictions here.

    Is there a DJ on Saturday nights?

    Yes there's a DJ on the weekends in the daytime and nighttime. It's a very fun atmosphere if you want to have your own table I would strongly suggest putting a reservation in now.

    Are kids allowed during lunch hours?

    Yes but it's very Loud that's if your little ones are ok with that.

    I've been trying for a week to make rsvps through yelp . Does anyone else have this problem?

    I usually just call them!

    I've tried calling the number to make reservations but no one is answering does anyone know the right number?

    Not sure about their phone number but I made a reservation thru their page on Yelp a few weeks ago without any problem.

    Do they have bottomless mimosas?

    Yes

    Is the DJ playing hip hop and R&B every night?

    I only go On Sundays, I wish I could be more help but it's always happening from what I heard

    What kind of music do they play during Brunch hours on the weekend?

    Hip hop and R&B

    Are there any nights where there's a dj and some dancing going on here? Just curious, thanks!

    YES! Sunday night's starting this Sunday. Look up The Laundromat.

    View All 25 Questions

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    Thirsty Crow

    3.9
    (797 reviews)
    1.9 mi
    $$
    Happy hour specials
    Live music

    4++ Cocktail bar that has been in this space for quite some time now (as of 3/2026). I still…read moreremember coming here 15 years ago. And over time, this place has always had a fun vibe and reasonably priced drinks. The folks here seem to always be friendly as well. Even after all these years, this place could still get pretty crowded (the space isn't huge so that helps). They also have the Dodgers games on when available so that's great if you want to grab a drink in the area and don't want to miss the game. On my most recent trip, I came here after having dinner with a couple of friends in the area for a after dinner drink/ night cap. Ordered the martini and it was good! Just a great place in the area to meet up with friends to grab a cocktail if you wanna low-key place that has reasonable prices for good cocktails.

    After work, we were pretty stressed and just wanted to grab a drink. The front door host, Nate, was…read moreincredibly nice and honestly made our day. He was friendly, welcoming, and gave us a great first impression. However, our experience afterward was disappointing. We waited nearly 20 minutes to be seated and another 20-30 minutes before anyone took our order. I understand that restaurants get busy, and we were trying to be patient because we could see the staff was overwhelmed. When we finally got our beer, I told our server, Noah, that I could pour it myself if that would help. Instead of explaining the situation politely, he responded with attitude and said, "You know I can't serve you guys, right?" I apologized, but then he told us, "Nah, you guys have to leave." This was frustrating after waiting so long just to place an order. We were never rude or disrespectful to the staff, so the interaction felt unprofessional and unnecessary. I completely understand being busy, but customer service should still be respectful. Unfortunately, this experience left a negative impression despite the great welcome we received from Nate.

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    Thirsty Crow
    Thirsty Crow
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    Inside booth seating
    The Semi-Tropic

    The Semi-Tropic

    4.5
    (592 reviews)
    2.4 mi
    $$
    Happy hour specials
    Full bar

    The salad I got was delicious! The tahini dressing was light and had the perfect flavor! I ordered…read morechicken kebab, which was just as good! The salad was amazing except they put a little too much corn. The waitress was very sweet! The ambience is really cute and a great place for a date!

    My boyfriend's cousin and his girlfriend came to LA to visit us so we had a full weekend of fun…read moretaking them around the city. To end the night before we headed off to dinner, we stopped by The Semi- Tropic bar for drinks. The parking situation was difficult to say the least-- there is no street parking or parking lot. And the neighborhood behind the bar is filled with park cars. We were lucky and parked at a parking lot that was for the surrounding business (so sorry to the pizza/ weed shop!). We arrived at around 6:30 PM so it wasn't too busy. We were greeted by one of the servers and she gave us options to either sit at a lounge table area or hightop tables. We opted for the hightop tables because we knew we weren't staying there for long. The server was friendly and patient as we looked over the menu for drinks. I've been sober for about a year so I only had water, my boyfriend ordered a Naoshima Dream, his cousin ordered a Mango Cart, and his cousin's girlfriend ordered a Lemon Drop Martini. The bar was super cute and hipster! I honestly would have loved going to this bar back when I used to drink. It's dimly lit, had a vintage 20's speakeasy feel to it and the music was a vibe. I'd recommend coming here for a little date with your partner or even coming with a group of friends. My boyfriend had been here once before and he said the food was really good and affordable. He had a panini and said for bar food it was a 10/10. We waited maybe like 10 minutes for our drinks to come, we were having such a fun time chatting and enjoying the environment that it didn't feel long at all. My boyfriend, his cousin, and his cousin's girlfriend really enjoyed their drinks. They said the drinks tasted "light" insinuating that there was barely any alcohol in it. Don't let the taste fool you, after finishing half of their drink there were full of smiles, giggles, and had a great buzz going. The prices here were all pretty fair for the cost and quality of the drinks. Would defintely recommend coming here for drinks and dinner for a date night or a night out with friends!

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    Carrots, Fries, and Steak
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    Mango cart cocktail with flowers
    Mango cart cocktail with flowers
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    Thunderbolt

    Thunderbolt

    4.4
    (265 reviews)
    2.5 mi
    $$

    Matt B. and I are living with my parents these days, and one of the benefits of this arrangement is…read morethat we can leave the house quite easily after the kids go to bed. We decided to get a drink to celebrate Father's Day, only to strike out at the first two bars we tried--I guess a lot of places are closed at 9:30 on a Sunday. This is how we ended up at Thunderbolt, a buzzy bar in Echo Park, just far enough away that we'd never made our way over. I loved it immediately. Thunderbolt has the friendly, comfortable atmosphere of a neighborhood bar and the hip aesthetic and high-level cocktails of a millennial boozer destination. (Not that young people can't or shouldn't hang out here, but it seems especially geared toward people like us, who drank at Walker Inn a decade ago.) We ended up sitting next to a guy who regularly drives up from Palos Verdes. I guess the place gets pretty busy, but it was ideal on a Sunday night. Happening but not crowded, with just enough space at the bar for us to grab two seats together. The bartender was great, super helpful and welcoming. He also made excellent drinks. Thunderbolt is one of those bars with an encyclopedic illustrated book for a menu. Not a long menu, just a detailed one, with a lot of information available about each drink. We got a Liquid Picnic and a Barcelonnette--just one round to close out the weekend. Both were delicious. The Liquid Picnic was a smooth, savory gin martini made with London dry gin, tomato, citron, vermouth, rosemary, and black pepper. I learned from the book that it used clarified tomato water. (There was also further reading about the clarification process.) The Barcelonnette was a mezcal sour with Suze, passionfruit, and lime, the foam made without egg white through some geeky mixologist process. Thunderbolt is not our neighborhood bar, but we plan to go back when we can to check out the rest of the menu. It's a wonderful place, well worth a jaunt on the freeway.

    Was charged three times, totaling hundreds of dollars, and waiting for the pending transactions to…read moredrop (or stay :/) in 3-5 business days is no fun. We can't all be made of money, but this shouldn't have happened.

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    Thunderbolt
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    Bar Henry

    Bar Henry

    4.4
    (161 reviews)
    2.7 mi
    $$

    Small and cute bar in a completely unexpected place. Good vibes and good drinks. Loved naked &…read morefamous, but also enjoyed the crowd- down to earth and nice. Good little gem in the neighborhood. Something is between upscale and speakeasy dive bar, not too loud, so you can actually enjoy the conversation. Bartenders sweet and cool. Service fast and easy. Would definitely come back to check other drinks on the menu. Also, decent old fashioned.

    Local bar not far from where I live. Hadn't been here yet, not sure why, so was out and about and…read moredecided to pop in on the weekend. Indoor and outdoor seating available, Bar Henry is a cool little for in Echo Park serving up tasty cocktails in a friendly, local feeling environment. We tried a few cocktails when we visited. The Butthole Surfer is their version of a pina colada which, while decent, could have been a little more flavor forward. Feel it is premade in batches as I didn't see it made fresh but was brought getting the back, but still decent. The Lucid Dream had the smokiness from the mezcal posted with the mandarin, but then the rosemary comes in and helps add a little balance to the drink. The Swimsuit Edition was more flavor forward, but the passion fruit didn't necessarily pop in the drink for us. And finally was the Snitches Get Stitches, another mezcal drink with mango and horchats. Interesting was my first thought, then you start getting the nuances of the different interested and it's a respectable cocktail. Overall, good drinks, friendly people, chill atmosphere, and a nice addition to the bar scene in Echo Park

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    Bar Henry
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    Escala - colombian - Updated July 2026

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