When you can choose to go anywhere in LA for a dining experience, consider Loreto as one of your culinary stops. This is a seafood lovers dream, especially for those who love a bit of spice, creativity, and some south of the border flare. The ambiance is welcoming with touches of greenery, succulents, and cacti beautifully situated throughout the inside and outside dining areas. The patio is stunning, snag a table here if able. The service is friendly from the bar to tableside, with everyone pitching in to make your service and experience exceptional. You can sense a feeling of pride in the food that is being presented as it arrives to your table. Nothing was rushed, just how we like it. Our mezcal margaritas were delicious. You are able to customize it to your likings with additional flavors for no extra charge. You know we all like SWAG! Our server Alexa was an angel in human form. From the moment she greeted us, we knew we were in for an amazing experience. Thank you Alexa for giving us time to visit with one another and for delivering service with such a friendly and kind presence. Blah Blah Blah.... let's get to the meat and potatoes of this review or should I say, the ceviche and pulpo... For starters: Seafood Tower, also known as the Toda la Bahía. Pretty much a sampler of the most enticing raw seafood on the left side of the menu. Do not miss this. It was beautiful to admire and delicious to devour. We could have been completely satisfied with this and just enjoyed sipping our wine and laughing the night away. But NOOOOO... so here goes. Next up: Atún Picante: raw tuna served on top of crispy epazote rice, with just the right amount of spice from the salsa negra. Delicious. Get this. Pasta Agnolotti: Delicious tortellini-ish pasta filled with squash and lobster, topped with pepitas and salsa macha. Under the heading of Zarandeados (I had no idea it came with rice, black beans, salsas, tortillas, and quesadillas) we opted for the Pulpo. This is a whole octopus (without the head, mind you), grilled and served with accompanying salsas and all the sides. We were full but did our best to carry on. This was a beautifully presented dish but would opt for the Branzino next time. The pulpo was just a bit chewy and perhaps could have been charred a bit more. But who am I? Not a chef, but an Elite Yelper of 14 years who has had a fair share of pulpo. We were served a slice of the strawberry meringue dessert, apologies as I don't recall the proper name for this. It was fantastic. Light and refreshing. Having the Red Dining Book is a fun way to explore restaurants that you haven't tried before. I'm not sure that I would have known about Loreto if it weren't for this book. So grateful. This experience was so special and I will certainly come back with family. Thank you for this amazing memory and culinary delight. To my friends that treated me to my birthday dinner. I LOVE YOU. read more

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Overall, it feels overpriced for what is ultimately a very average meal. - Halibut Sashimi: sauce is good, but the texture was off - Papaya ceviche: leaned for too heavily into both spice and acidity - Cauliflower: overwhelmingly sour, lacking balance - Pulpo: very disappointing. Poorly excited with uneven cooking. Parts were overcooked, while center was undercooked. Service matched the food, nothing terrible, but nothing memorable either. read more

Such a cute spot! This place was spacious and had a huge outdoor patio area. Cons: the host not looking at me when I approached him to check-in for our reservation or when I asked him a question about seating. That was annoying and snobby of him. We also had to wait almost 30 minutes past our reservation time. A few groups (with the same party size as us = 2 people) that arrived after us were seated before us. Hmm.. Pro: our waitress made up for the cons, was really sweet and genuine (you can't get a lot of that in these parts of LA), and made our whole dining experience better! Bummed I forgot her name to give her the shout out she deserves The food was amazing! We ordered the aguachile negro, atun picante, jurel ceviche, CDMX tostadas, and shrimp taco to share. The portion was perfect. The dishes tasted very fresh and enjoyed how they played with the flavors for each dish. We knew we had to come back from our first bite! read more

Loreto - Seafood Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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I went to dinner with my girlfriend to Loreto on a Friday night and it was AMAZING!!! We had the following: - agua chile negro: 5/5 - Shrimp Tacos: 5/5 - Pulpo Zarandeado: 5/5 - Carajillo: 4.5/5 All the seafood plates were fresh and VERY good! I recommend all three plates we had and even the dessert was really good!! The service was also great, we will definitely be coming back to this place! read more

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Let me put you on to this hidden gem--Loreto's is a seafood-centric Mexican spot that is definitely worth checking out. When you pull in, there's valet available for $14, which makes things easy. The vibe is so cute--it honestly gave me Tulum, Mexico energy with lots of greenery, an open-face kitchen, a long bar for dining, a few indoor tables, and a spacious outdoor seating area. Our server, Loren, was very sweet and welcoming. She brought out our waters and menus right away and made us feel taken care of throughout. We started with the Toda la Bahía tower, and WOW--10/10. It came with a little bit of everything: plain and prepared oysters, Mazatlán shrimp, yellowtail sashimi, ceviche, aguachile, scallops, and more. Super fresh and perfect for sharing. We followed that with: * Empanadas de Camarón (shrimp and sea bass with cilantro crema and cabbage) * Soft Shell Crab (with avocado, salsa macha, chimichurri, and cured onions) * Atún Picante (tuna with crispy epazote rice, salsa negra, and avocado) Everything was delicious and beautifully presented. I was personally hoping for a bit more heat/spice, but overall the flavors were still on point.If you're into fresh seafood and a vibey atmosphere, this is definitely your spot. I'll absolutely be coming back. read more

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Was looking forward to my Friday 8:15p resy for Loreto. Arrived shortly after 8:15p and checked in with the host who wasn't friendly nor engaging and asked us to wait by the bar until our table was ready. We waited a good 20 mins before a friendly hostess took us to our table. The restaurant was extremely lively, swanky, hipster, and alive. Absolutely loved the environment and vibe. We ordered an aguachile negro, jurel, CDMX tostada, atún picante, and shrimp taco. My top was the jurel - my my I'd go back just for the jurel ceviche. The aguachile negro had a flavor that didn't tickle my fancy and quickly because my least favorite. The shrimp tacos and CDMX tostada were good! I had hoped for more with the atún picante. The tostada shells themselves were delish. The fish was fresh and I really enjoyed the flavor profiles of the fish and their pairings. Our server was soft spoken, helpful, and nice. She delivered with the service. Though it started a bit bumpy, overall really enjoyed our time at Loreto and even had a celebrity sighting. read more

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Had a great dinner at Loreto. Everything we ordered was really good. We tried the prepared oysters, shrimp ceviche, soft shell crab tacos, and the chorizo pasta, and every dish was flavorful and well executed. The ceviche was especially fresh and bright, and the tacos had a great crunch and balance of toppings. The drinks were also excellent and the service was very attentive without being overbearing. The atmosphere hits a really nice middle ground. It's casual enough for a relaxed dinner after work but still cozy and nice enough for a date night. Definitely recommend checking this place out if you're in LA. read more

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We started with the shrimp croquetas and they were really good -- crispy on the outside, flavorful and perfectly cooked inside. The aguachile rojo was hands down the best thing we had. It had a really nice kick to it -- definitely spicy but in the best way. So fresh and full of flavor. We also tried the aguachile negro, which was good, but not our favorite compared to the rojo. If you're choosing between the two, I'd say go rojo for sure. For our main, we had the pulpo zarandeado. The octopus itself nicely charred. It comes with sides like rice, beans, and salsas, but honestly those were pretty mid and basic. Parking is $15 valet since it's in a residential area, but you might be able to find street parking nearby with a short walk. I definitely recommend making a reservation before going. read more

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Came here for a date and I really loved it. It was the day before Valentine's Day and it was really crowded. Even with reservation there was a wait. So we went to the outdoor bar(that's how crowded it was) for about 5-10 minutes until our table was ready. At the bar we ordered the todos santos milk punch, aguachile sour, and the Rosarito tiki 3.0 Our entrees included the oysters , verde aguachile, shrimp tacos, and the agnolotti pasta. We finished off with the merengue which was a nice soft dessert. Overall my favorite was the tostada and the shrimp taco. Tostada for flavor but the taco guy the flavor and texture read more

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Had a reservation at 9:00pm and we weren't seated yet and had to wait at the bar for them to clean up our table. We only waited about 10 minutes. Our waiter wasn't particularly the best we felt. It wasn't like we were expecting her to suck up to us, but at least show a little interest. We were so excited to try this place but it felt like she didn't want to be there and that kind of turn off our excitement for the restaurant. And at the end, I know they were closing but it felt like we were being kicked out so abruptly. Waiters and bussers came and started clearing everything so fast although we were still eating. I have no complaints about the food as it was delicious and exceeded all our expectations. However, I wish the customer service was a little better considering the price we were paying. read more

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On a lazy weekend afternoon, Loreto popped up as a recommendation on my feed and the beautifully decorated picture of the Branzino caught my eye. Dinner plan got hitched and I was excited to try this modern Mexican Latin fusion restaurant. Ambience feels like a craftsman house converted into a restaurant - it's nicely done but found it a bit too dark to my liking. Menu is not very extensive - We were there by 7 pm and they were already sold out of Fillet Mignon which was disappointing ! Drinks menu was well laid out. Mezcal based cocktail hit the spot ! I let the server pick top 5 recommendations for us. She got us the empanadas (Good), Cripsy Tuna (good) , Ceviche (Not bad), Soft Shell Crab (V Good !) and Branzino as the main entree (the highlight). Overall a good dining experience for a date night but I am not sure if I would want to visit again. read more

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Having heard a lot of great things about Loreto, my partner and I had our valentines dinner here! I was pleased with our experience, but there are some things that could have been better. Ambiance: Pretty interior, nice mood lighting, tables are not overly cramped. Definitely a date night spot! Food & Drinks: Pretty good! My favorite drink was the Loreto sour, but all the ones we tried were great. For food, we had the croquetas (5) aguachile negro (5), pasta (5) and the branzino zaraneado which was unfortunately a 1. Really disappointing as it was our most expensive item and it took a LONG time to come out. My critiques - the beans and rice were so bland. The salsas were so mild, the salsa verde was almost sweet and the salsa roja was more like a pico de gallo. The quesadillas were cold. This dish felt like a watered down version not meant for the Mexican palate. Service: Good - employees came to check on us many times, especially since the Branzino took so long. Our waiter came to us twice to say the kitchen was backed up. We overheard our waiter tell our next door table their appetizer was comped because their main took so long, but when we got our tab, we didn't get the same courtesy when our main took just as long. I found that interesting. I don't plan to return as I can find similar quality, more authentic Mexican food for a better price point all over LA. I'm glad I got to try this spot and form my own opinion of their meals and service, though! read more

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Upscale mariscos restaurant located in the Frogtown/ Glassell Park area. I believe they are the evening/dinner service counterpart of Za Za Za Mariscos (I've had a meal from Za^3 and you sit/dine in the courtyard area of the same building/property) From the ingredients to the ambiance to just the general feel, this place is elevated Mexican seafood and a wonderful dining experience My friends and I didn't have a reservation so we opted to at the bar and was able to get seated within 15 minutes. We ordered everything to be shareable, and we ended up getting some aguachile, a tostada, a crudo or sashimi, croquetas, and the main event - zarandeados - branzino, which came with a whole grilled fish and all the fixins. This place is just a really sleek and joyful place to grab a meal. Perfect if you wanna go a little upscale, but not too crazy. We all enjoyed our meal here, especially with the fun cocktails they had. There's valet parking or you can find street parking nearby. Although, it's pretty tough to find spots in this neighborhood unless you are willing to possible walk a few blocks. read more

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A restaurant nestled in a quaint neighborhood. Honestly you really would miss this restaurant and is a bit camouflaged with in walls. Past the walls, the red orange exterior brings me back to Baja California beach vibes and it reflected the menu which focused on seafood. Inside is cozy but I actually like the bar set up. Did the last of the 1 week seasonal omakase for $150. They are planning to do the omakase more often like on Wednesdays. It was 10 dishes including 2 desserts to finish off your meal. It was a great way to try multiple items and I left full and satisfied. My favorites were the ceviches (all were fresh and bright in flavors), ankimo, and the dessert which was a sorbet first which is a great palate cleanser but the cajeta concoction. So creamy and not super sweet! For my drink I had the milk punch which was delicious also and very girly. Parking- valet $15. There is some street parking but once again it's residential. The omakase was a great introductory to what they offer and definitely will love to come back again to try their restaurant. read more

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Kind servers and a beautiful setting (especially the outdoor patio area). My favorite dish of the night would be the Magdalena ceviche. Well seasoned and refreshing. The cilantro made it a perfect bite and the serving size is quite decent. The server recommended the negro aguachiles. It was good but as someone who prefers the verde sauce, the onion ash was a bit too smoky for my liking. The rock fish tostada was delicious but a but mayonnaise forward and a little salty. I would just order an extra tostada for the heavier topping. Overall, solid seafood with great flavors and a nice ambiance. read more

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It's bold of me to say, but this is probably one of my new favorite restaurants. From the second we walked in. I fell in love with not only the interior, but also their backyard patio outdoor seating area. Absolutely love the pink exterior and all the beautiful planters and big trees around. Our server was Jeffrey, who was absolutely lovely. It had been such a long time since we had somebody that was so attentive and just friendly with us. He really felt like a friend recommending dishes to us. I love the Loreto sour cocktail. It was so fresh and delicious. The aguachille with some of the best I've ever had. It was so fresh and that Negro salsa was everything. The Atun picante left me speechless. It was so delicious. The tuna on top was great The 7 mares en croute stole the show. Just picture a broth loaded with lobster, shrimp, clam and veggies all wrapped with a croissant baked on top of it to soak up all that goodness. They actually had to cut the croissant which was so flaky and crispy. I absolutely love this dish. And lastly, we got the bread hole Bronzino, which came with different kinds of salsa, rice beans, and quesadillas to make our own little tacos with it. It was fantastic. Highly recommend this place.! read more

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Loreto was not on my radar but due to the Chase dining credit, I recently went to Loreto because they had last minute reservations and it was close to me on Saturday night. The parking is expensive here at valet only for $15. But if you don't mind a little bit of a walk there is street parking available. I can see it being hard to find when going during peak time. I did request being sat inside but since it was so busy, I got a covered patio seat. But there was plenty of heat lamps so I didn't feel too chilly. Service was a little spotty as it was busy even at the latter end of the night. But, it was not overly noticeable. I wanted to try several things so ordered a couple of appetizer and the octopus as my main. For appetizers, I ordered the yellowtail, which ended up being my favorite appetizer of the night. The crab tostada, while good was pretty expensive for what it was and tuna was also decent but pretty pricey. That being said, my favorite dish of the night was the octopus, the portion was huge and all the sides complimented the octopus. I ended up with plenty of leftovers which I ate the next day. Delicious! Next time, I might skip the appetizers and go straight for the main dish. Definitively will be back here to try some more things. read more

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Had a great time here at Loreto. You walk in to a beautiful open bar that kind of wows you. Plenty of seating inside and out. And definitely a place for groups, dates, and casual dining. It's dimly lit and intimate. I came to celebrate a friend's birthday and had a prefix menu. All the items were amazing! Stand out for sure were the aguachile verde and juriel ceviche. Their food tasted very fresh and clean. Our server did an amazing job accommodating a group of 16 of us. 4 stars because our drink orders kept getting mixed up, but I have to give to the staff for showing us a good time. Definitely want to come back to try the full menu! Parking is sparse but they have valet read more

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允許一切的發生，得失從來不在一時的惆悵，允許禍福相依相伴，所有的經歷，不論好壞，其實都在教會我們成長～ 好一陣子沒有進城到L A 去了，會來這家餐廳是因為chase 信用卡，半年有150 元credit 可以使用， 一直到我弟弟妹妹今年感恩節來過節時，我才知道原來繳費的信用卡有這麼多好康的，信用卡公司綁的餐廳都不便宜，$150其實也吃不了什麼東西，更慘的是都在LA , 幾乎都只開晚上，不進城也不行，這家墨西哥餐廳，環境非常的漂亮， 但是態度不是太好， 我忘了是5:00 還是5:30，反正看著他們開門，是第一個進餐廳的， 但還是把我們安排在外面的位置，不肯換桌，理由是， 裡面都訂滿了， 但到我們吃完飯為止， 還是有一半的位置是空著的, 這是服務的部分， 食物就非常好吃，不過都是小小盤小小盤， 第一道上來的yellowtail sashimi, 剛開始看到盤子時，我跟朋友都以為是放哇沙比的小盤子，結果居然是我們的魚片，我們對看了一眼，兩個人都笑出來，害我們一開始就很擔心會不會花很多錢還吃不飽，還好後來漸入佳境， 東西有越來越大盤的趨勢，主菜Branzino就很大盤，魚很大一隻，烤的很多汁，嫩， 味道也很棒，貴一點點，70 元一隻， 如果不是死活不讓我們坐裡面， 其實是一家環境浪漫又好吃的餐廳， 女生一定會喜歡來的地方，不過幾乎都是海鮮，喜歡吃肉的則可以跳過了！歐還有，要注意，附近只有這家餐廳漂亮， 旁邊看起來就都髒髒亂亂的地方！ 最後一定要解釋，會給三顆星，是因為他們的服務，帶位的小姐態度實在太差了，食物的部分是值得4.5～ 5 顆星的 read more

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Unfortunately, life happened and we arrived late to our reservation, so we missed it. The host let us know they could still seat us, but there would be a wait which was completely understandable. We grabbed a drink at the bar and waited for seats to open up, and thankfully the wait wasn't too long. Our table ended up being by the door, which was a bit uncomfortable since it was windy and cold and the heaters didn't quite reach us. Alexa was our waitress at first and was very attentive and kind before her shift ended, and the next waitress who stepped in was just as great. We ordered the yellowtail ceviche, CDMX tostada, soft shell crab taco, and atun picante as an appetizer. Everything tasted fresh and delicious. The Loreto Sour was my favorite drink. Unfortunately, the Paloma was a bit too sour for my liking. They do offer valet and it seems like street parking would be a hassle since the streets are narrow and very limited parking. read more

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Loreto was such a great place to celebrate something special. The atmosphere felt elevated yet welcoming, and the food definitely made the experience memorable. I tried the Mar-Esquites, Aguachiles Verde, and the Branzino Zarandeado. Mar-Esquites: This was incredibly delicious. I had never tried corn paired with shrimp and lobster mayo before, and the flavor was unique, distinct, and so good. A must‑try if you want something different. Aguachiles Verde: These had great flavor, and the heat hits as an aftermath--spicy but still enjoyable. The shrimp was cooked perfectly in the lemon, tender and fresh. Branzino Zarandeado: Really flavorful and satisfying. It came with all the sides--rice, beans, avocado, and tortillas--so you can make your own tacos. I do wish the branzino were grilled, but even as is, it was still delicious. Overall, I definitely recommend trying this place at least once. Great food, great vibes, and perfect for celebrating something special. read more

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We found Loreto through our CSR credit card benefits and decided to give it a try. Don't be fooled by their inconspicuous exterior, Loreto has a beautiful, long, interior bar and a dim intimate atmosphere. Inside is a bit small with a few tables. We sat outside in their patio and were warmed by heat lamps. On the plus side, the small area meant our server had 24/7 attention on your table. We ordered the tower because we wanted to sample everything. If you like zest and refreshing, this tower is for you! All of the items were great, oysters were the perfect sizing. Two of us easily finished the tower, it can be split with 3 if you truly just wanted a taste each. We ordered the Agnolotti to finish. The sauce was so tasty and briney, but was disappointed there was no actual lobster in the pasta. Our cocktails were perfect. Old fashioned that wasn't too sweet and cucumber margarita that was the perfect level of refreshing. read more

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Made reservations on OpenTable but we ran 15 mins late and we brought our dog. Luckily, they were still able to seat us outside on their patio. The patio is very nice with heaters and felt cozy. Service was good. The food overall was good but so overpriced! Prepared oysters $5/piece were fresh with nice sauce. Yellowtail sashimi with just 4 thin pieces was yummy. Yellowtail ceviche with prickly pear sauce was delicious. Soft shell crab tacos were crispy. The scallop tostadas were fishy and not great. We put the prickly pear sauce on it to make it tastier. Saw on the bill that they charge $3.50 fee when you use a credit card. Surprising because this restaurant is part of Chase Sapphire's dining credit. I hope it goes through because the charge on the credit card shows up as Za Za Za. Valet parking is $15. You can try to find residential street parking. read more

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Thoroughly enjoyed my post Christmas evening at Loreto! In LA visiting my son for the holidays and he recommended we go! Location is nestled in between houses in the Frogtown neighborhood and right from the entrance this place gave cool and comfortable vibes! We had no reservations however 2 seats were waiting unoccupied at the bar! We were guided to those seats by the host and the food journey began! Our bartender/server was on point from beginning to end. Always on time but it felt like he wasn't even there! Drinks flowed within 5 minutes of ordering and within minutes food started to arrive! This food has Seasoning, Acid, Luscious, Taste (S.A.L.T.) in every dish bay bee! Will definitely be making a return visit soon! read more

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A beautifully decorated Mexican restaurant! A perfect place for a date night, especially when sitting outside. It was lightly rainy which added to the ambiance. Low, incandescent lighting with warm winter colors! The service was friendly and attentive. The drinks were great with the Loreto Sour being my favorite. My favorite dish of the night was the Aguachiles Negros. Perfectly spicy and acidic with a good amount of shrimp. The tostada and the empanada were also good! The Branzino Zarandeado was well cooked with a great tasting sauce. The sides that come with it could've been better though. The beans were interesting, a bit sweet. I liked them but my girlfriend was not a fan. Overall I liked this place and would come back to try other dishes. read more

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The ambiance and the quality of the seafood is what the stars are for. If I could beak out the ratings- I'd give 5 starts for the quality of the food. But, you know what I'll remember more? The rude and arrogant staff. It hit us as soon as we walked in the door with abruptness from the host (even though we were early for our reservation). The saltiness continued throughout the meal. You'd think that an establishment with such high quality decor and ingredients would demand the same quality of its employees. They have one job- create a memorable experience for those who chose to give you their money. This didn't happen and so, they can keep their attitude and I'll keep my money. read more

Loreto - Soft shell crab tacos - Seafood Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Loreto has such a great, open and inviting ambiance. We arrived at 6pm for a 6:15pm reservation and were seated right away which I greatly appreciated. We ordered the negro aguachiles, atún crispy and the Pulpo zarandeado. The atún crispy was nothing out of the ordinary in my opinion but the aguachiles and especially the pulpo entree were incredible. Pulpo can easily turn out to be too tough but this one was cooked to absolute perfection, so tender ands scrumptious. The pulpo dish comes with black beans, mexican rice, quesadillas, tortillas and salsas. It definitely would have been a 5/5 had it not been for the rice. Unfortunately, the rice had no flavor, it tasted exactly like white rice. I tried both the pepinazo and the strawberry basil beverage, the pepinazo is definitely the way to go in my opinion, the strawberry basil wasn't quite as light, it was rather sweet. All in all it was a great experience! read more

Loreto - Negros aguachiles - Seafood Near Me - Los Angeles, California

The space is beautiful and the food was all very good. Service was good as well. The only thing that really irked me about this place was the 3% credit card fee. At a restaurant of this caliber, and in this price range, I was appalled by the credit card charge. We really enjoyed the branzino- it's a large dish worth sharing with others. The quesadillas, salsas and habanero onions that came with the fish were fantastic. I really loved the yellowtail ceviche as well. Cocktails and menu items are innovative, and portions are a good size for sharing. I found the crab tostada a bit too heavy and rich, but all of the other food tasted fresh and light. Parking is pricey at 15 dollars. Overall a nice experience, but the credit card fee situation was a major turn off. read more

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Loreto is a beautiful upscale Mexican seafood restaurant in Frogtown, right by the L.A. River. I went for dinner a few weeks back when my friend Satoko K. was in town from Japan, with a group of old and new friends. We were able to make a same-day reservation for a party of five on a Thursday night. Everyone else was late, but I had a good time waiting at the bar with a drink in hand. The bartender was friendly and lightning fast--I think many of the cocktails are more or less ready to go. I had the Todos Santos Milkpunch, an excellent purple drink made with Jose Cuervo Tradicional, mezcal espadín, butterfly pea flower, passionfruit, and orange liqueur. Silky and sweet, almost too easy to gulp down. I got two more cocktails with dinner, and they were both fantastic. The Aguachile Side was savory and spicy, with mezcal salmiana and espadín, serrano, cucumber, lemon, umami bitters, and cilantro oil. The Spicy Pineapple Mezcalita was exactly as advertised, a bold drink made with mezcal espadín, ají amarillo, pineapple, kummel, and orange liqueur, with a whole lot of spicy salt on the rim. The dining room was fun and lively, and we got great service at our table. We ordered everything family style, and got a nice sampling of the extensive seafood menu. We started with the tower, a great thing to share with a party of five. It came with six plain oysters, six prepared oysters, four poached Mazatlán shrimp, yellowtail sashimi, ceviche jurel, aguachile negro, scallops culichi, salsa negra, and mayonesa Louie, all of it arranged attractively on a metal tower lined with ice. Several tostadas came on the side. Everything was delicious, fresh and vibrant. The ceviche jurel came with yellowtail, prickly pear, red onion, grapes, and Fresno chiles. The aguachile negro brought shrimp, avocado, chile cascabel, and onion ash. And the culichi combined thin sliced scallop with shishito aioli, Asian pear, passionfruit, and kumquat. After the tower, we had mar-esquites, a luxurious corn dish with shrimp, lobster mayo, lemon, and queso fresco. Plus crispy golden croquetas with shrimp, pasilla chile, queso Oaxaca, squid ink aioli, and salsa pimentón. The centerpiece of our meal was the pulpo zarandeado, a spread of whole octopus, black beans, rice, avocado, habanero onions, tortillas, quesadillas, and salsas, served on a sheet pan. This was one of three zarandeados on the menu, and I would strongly suggest getting at least one of them if you're dining at Loreto. The pulpo was outstanding, tender and richly flavorful. It was perfect for making our own tacos with all the other fine components before us. An engaging, communal way to enjoy some deeply delectable cooking. I don't live very close to Frogtown but I'm determined to find my way back to Loreto. I'd eat and drink everything we ordered again, and am also curious about everything we missed. read more

Excellent very unique location and great Mexican seafood. Great presentation excellent indoor out door dining at its best must try thank you for great dining experience Friendly service. Love the place read more

Food was average, though the ambiance has a great vibe. Unfortunately, the service overshadowed the entire experience. We arrived for a 5 p.m. dinner when the restaurant was still fairly empty and were initially seated outside. When we requested an indoor table -- despite the restaurant being half empty -- it immediately felt like a battle. We were eventually moved inside, but only after being told we had a strict one-hour limit to dine. Throughout the meal, the female manager repeatedly reminded us that our time was almost up, even though multiple tables remained empty and the restaurant never appeared more than 60-70% full. We were told, "people are coming," and no one was waiting outside. At a restaurant with premium pricing, no guest should feel rushed out the door. The customer service, particularly from management, could use significant improvement. read more

My husband and I had a really nice dinner at Loreto. I booked ahead, so we were seated right after check-in. We sat in the garden/patio area with our dog, which was great since the space is beautiful and definitely works for a date night. It's dog-friendly, though we weren't offered water for him, not a huge deal, just something to note. Service started off smoothly, and our waitress came by quickly for drink orders. We skipped cocktails since we had drinks at the nearby brewery, and went with about six small plates to share. Our favorite dish was the scallop tostada, the scallops were incredibly creamy, and the kumquat and passion fruit added a bright, fruity freshness without overpowering anything. Both the aguachile and ceviches were tasty and generously sized. We also enjoyed the soft shell crab tacos; they weren't greasy and were a great portion. The only miss for me was the cauliflower dish. It leaned overly sour with the yuzu and pickled vegetables, which was disappointing because I usually love cauliflower. We finished with the clam chorizo pasta, which was just okay compared to the raw dishes. A couple of the clams were sandy, and when I mentioned it to our waiter he was very kind and took the dish off the bill-something I didn't expect. Service overall was fine, attentive and friendly, but I would've appreciated a fresh plate after all the raw seafood since the sauces pooled on my plate, and I didn't love mixing that with the pasta. Not a big deal, just something they could improve. I'd also love to see a couple more vegetable dishes that aren't sour, since so much of the raw seafood leans heavily on citrus. Overall, we both really enjoyed our meal and will definitely come back. read more

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Three of us came to Loreto in Frogtown with a client and it turned into one of the worst dining experiences I've had in 35 years living in Los Angeles. Despite having a reservation, we were moved three different times before even eating, which felt awkward, rude, and completely disorganized. Manager Anna Marie and several staff members came across as cold, arrogant, and genuinely unwelcoming the entire night. Yes, the restaurant is pretty. But that's where the positives end. The portions were absurdly small and nearly every dish was buried under heat and spice in a way that felt like it was trying to mask the actual food. The chef should be ashamed serving this. There's far more nuance to why the evening felt so uncomfortable, but suffice it to say this place is the worst. Beautiful space. Horrible experience. Unbelievably disappointing. read more

Upscale mariscos restaurant in frogtown. We had reservations at the bar, it took about 15min to seat us. Yellowtail sashimi was fresh and so flavorful. The rojo aguachile definitely had a kick too it and was quite spicy. We also ordered the branzino that came with rice beans tortillas quesadillas red and green salsa and pickled onions. The branzino was cooked well we weren't a big fan of the sides it came with. Service was great and ambiance was lovely. read more

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Cute fun vibey spot with such great sunshine. All the ceviches we had were packed full of flavor. We are also pleasantly surprised with the tostadas. The beverages for nonalcoholic options were both delicious as well. It's meant to be shared, so definitely more of a place to order lots of small bites and sample through the menu. Lots of heat lamps as well if you are dining outdoors. Wish parking was easier! read more

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What a strange location for a restaurant. As many have mentioned, parking is tough in a primarily residential neighborhood that's not well lit and has skinny streets. It's still worth it to avoid a pretty lofty $15 valet fee. Once inside, the place is really sweet! Great vibe and charming outdoor seating. The bulk of the tables are outdoors and we were able to get a heater, but it's worth considering to have proper attire as weather gets chilly. Drinks were good. My wife didn't love her Spicy Pineapple, but my Tijuana Old Fashioned was good. Nice wine selection! Food creative, beautiful and delicious! We loved everything we had, from Civiche to Mar Esquites, to Empanadas de Camaron, to Tagliatelle, all was so good! Setvice, from Nikolai, was excellent. read more

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Really enjoyed Loreto. The indoor dining room has high ceilings and a long bar. It's very open and has a cool, welcoming vibe. Outside dining area looked like a garden oasis. We started with a tasty cocktail. I think it was called the Palmavito (mezcal and grapefruit). It was very refreshing. I'm a big fan of small plates. We selected a nice variety of seafood small plates and ceviche options. Everything we had was delicious. My favs were Atun Picante, soft shell crab tacos and Mar-Esquites. High marks, as well, for the Cavatelli, Negro Aguachiles and Yellowtail sashimi. The Santa Barbara ceviche got mixed reviews from our table. I enjoyed the bit of heat from the chile. But, others were not familiar with rockfish and may have preferred a different choice. There are a lot of other items on the menu that I look forward to trying. In particular the 7 mares en croute looked and smelled wonderful as it was served to someone near us. Will definitely try it next time! We were celebrating a bday. So, we had to have dessert! And, it was delicious! We had the Carajillo - a chocolate cake with ice cream and a delicious licor 43 crème. We can't stop talking about that dessert! I will give two comments - nothing negative, just things to keep in mind. Parking can be tricky. It's a large restaurant with a small valet parking lot. We had an early res. So, we had no trouble. Second, the plate sizes/amount of food vary widely. The yellowtail sashimi (delicious) came in the tiniest plate I've seen. The ceviche, on the other hand, was a very large portion. The cavatelli was a good portion. So, I would recommend keeping a menu, in case you decide you want to order more. Really enjoyed our first experience at Loreto! read more

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We were looking for a new place to try for our date and he suggested this place. I did my research and agreed so he made the reservation. We got there a little before our reservation and was seated right away. We read a few of the reviews who said about getting charged $30 for 2 bottles of water. Someone might have ordered it from their table because it doesnt make sense for a restaurant like this to not serve table water. Anyway our server asked for our drinks immediately to which we said water BUT had to ask if they charge or not. We were told the table water is FREE. We were taking out time betwern orders so we can actually enjoy the food. We ordered: Atun Picante - this translates to tuna rice crispies. We both liked it a lot. There is a little kick to it which I was able to tolerate. Shrimp Tacos - the order comes with 2 soft tacos. This was a little spicy for me. The tortilla they use is handmade which makes it even better. The flavor was there. Tortellini Pasta - you can taste the lobster flavor inside the pasta. I like the sauce that goes with it. Ceviche Magdalena - this was from their anniversary menu. Originally we were supposed to get the "Papaya Ceviche" but my mouth was still burning from our 2 prior orders. We asked the server about the Thai chilies that is in it and was told that it was in the sauce and there was no way to put it on the side. Nonetheless, our other choice was excellent. All our orders were very flavorful and made to perfection. The staff were very attentive. The place was cozy and nice. We will definitely be back read more

Service: Fantastic, they would check in but not so much that it would ruin the flow of your night. Water refills were timed great and when they noticed we were drinking a lot, they started replacing the bottles themselves instead of interrupting our conversation. Food: Magdelana - amazing. Would recommend, acidity was great. Octopus ceviche - too much oil? The acidity didnt really come through so it felt a bit flat. Grilled cauliflower - delicious. So nice to get some bright, fresh vegetable flavors. Tuan crispy rice - like any other place, pretty standard. Nopales cavatelli - forgot to take a picture but it would really good. Excellent chew on the cavatelli. Churros - alright, wasnt as airy as some really good churros but I appreciate that it was in the shape of "LA". Melon ice cream - this was pretty good. It also had frozen cubes of cantaloupe and honeydew which was great texturally but it was so frozen that you couldn't really taste the melon itself. Ambiance: A nice spot, elevated service and would be great for date night. Can be on the pricier side but if you use InKind (tip: get the gift cards from Costco), it can be much more reasonably priced. read more

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Had read and heard about this spot in frogtown and able to get reservations on a weeknight recently. Arrived and was greeted by staff. For those parking, Valet available for about $15..street parking exists but streets not well lit so didnt want to chance it and just valeted. Anyhow, staff were nice and the space itself is warm, dimly lit with cool music playing. We were seated and ordered a round of drinks ( lots of tequila and mezcal options available) which had nice flavor. The Aguachile Side with cilantro oil is not to be missed. Foodwise lots of options, but hit some of the ones mentioned on Yelp! Bang Bang tostada was great with aciditiy, crispiness and a little spice. Papaya ceviche also was good but had a little stronger seafood flavor with scallops. Really found the crsipy rice with tuna unique and enjoyable. But the Branzino...absolute chefs kiss...we ordered with a side of A5 Wagyu which the group loved. The fish was full of flavor and sides were perfect. Overall, a gem of a restaurant which is reasonably priced for the level of food given. Add in great drinks and atmosphere and you ve got a hit! I ll most definitely be back....you should go... read more

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