Lucky Star Cafe

I was in search of a sit down Mexican restaurant in the area so I last minute chose this place. I…read morethought it was odd they close at 6pm being a place that serves buckets of beer. The vibe was really off. The place is nice and clean and appealing but there was no music playing. They had on naked and afraid and some news on their TVs. We were the only people there so the place was so quiet and boring. The lady was very polite, but it just wasn't a "fun environment". The food came out at all different times which was weird because we were the only ones there. I'm always trying to find somewhere close to go hang out and invite friends to have drinks and eat but it was just so off I wouldn't want to go back with friends. Food- I had the fish taco which was good, the calamari was very chewy and not that good, and the enchiladas were decent Service - Service was good (flys were coming in tho so I think they should keep the door closed) Ambiance- lacking. They need some fun music and give me a reason to order some beer and hangout more. I don't really see this as anything other than a takeout place unless they extend their hours and improve the vibe.

I love this cute hidden gem in carson. It's hard to find a good shrimp cocktail these days! Plus…read morethey serve incredible MIcheladas and have big TV's to watch games. The menudo was out of this world! Not to mention the incredible portions. The owner came to our table to talk to us and share about himself and family. We will be coming here weekly for our dose of good Authentic food and good vibes.

Two taco special.

Delicious chile relleno

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On a rainy night

Top Shelf Tacos

4.3(1.3k reviews)

4.5 mi

This review is mostly based on customer service. Service to me is almost always more important than…read morethe food itself. Haven't been here in a while. They had a food truck parked out front. We asked if they had any plant-based or vegan options. They only sold burgers however the lady that helped us was very sweet, polite, and kind. She told what they had and what we could order inside instead. We walked in and the gentleman named Oscar G. cashed us out. He was also very friendly! Very professional and knowledgeable about the menu and non-dairy items. Provided us with what we needed right away, the container for the salsa and brought out fresh ones for me. Very nice guy. The food came out right away. The portions were big in my opinion. The prices were decent, the portion was great, and best of all the service was good. Their self-serve condiments was a PLUS! I've been to a lot of taco spots and these were by far the freshest and crispiest cucumbers, fresh cold salsa, onions and cilantro was also fresh. The food was good and filled us up. It was simple but fulfilling. Will definitely be back and highly recommend it. There are plenty of indoor and outdoor seats as well.

I stopped by Top Shelf Tacos in Carson on Taco Tuesday, where tacos were only $2 each. At that…read moreprice, it was easy to try a little bit of everything. I ordered the asada, carnitas, al pastor, tripas, cabeza, and lengua. The asada was tender with a nice grilled flavor, but my favorites were definitely the tripas and cabeza. Both were a little greasy, but in a good way--they had a lot of flavor and were probably the standouts of the meal for me. One thing I liked was the condiment bar. You can load up your tacos with as much onion and cilantro as you want, plus they have radishes and lime wedges available. They also offer two salsas, a red and a green. Both tasted good and had solid flavor, although I was hoping for a little more heat. Overall, it's a solid taco spot, especially on Taco Tuesday. Good variety of meats, reasonable prices, and plenty of toppings to customize your tacos. I'll definitely be back when I'm in the area and craving some tacos.

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Loaded nachos! Yuma!

La Cocina Mexicana

3.6(148 reviews)

3.8 mi

I recently had lunch at La Cocina Mexicana, and had the chile relleno plato. It was delicious…read more Service was good, and they have homemade tortillas. I will definitely go back.

We came on a Friday evening and luckily there was parking and it wasn't packed. We were seated…read moreimmediately - chips and salsa 10/10, chips taste homemade. The menu has something for everyone - I got the chile relleno plate and to my surprise this came with 2 which was a lot, so I had some to go. Pricing is fair as my dish was $24 and smaller plates than this are far more expensive. The horchata is also delicious. Service was ok - the server didn't check up on us, he was only ever present when taking our order and dropping off food.

Festive bar

Authentic Mexican Food!!

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Madre

3.8(1.9k reviews)

4.7 mi

I go to the happy hour here on occasion. They make a good spicy margarita and the Mexican lager is…read more$7 They also have discounted bar food from 3 to 6 pm. That said, the food is not bad, but a better Oaxacan option is El Jacalito in Lomita. It is just a step up in terms of taste and quality. Madre has 100+ mezcal varieties, but if you want mole or tlayuda or another Oaxacan staple. El Jacalito is the place.

Madre is a 3.5 all the way but can't put it on a 4. Couple things were great, rest was a pass…read more The ribeye taco is FANTASTIC. Wow. Shrimp, gringa were good. Pork not. Also had enchiladas which were fine. Both cocktails we got, frankly, were bad. Low in alcohol, overdone on sharp Overall it felt like Madre was going more for presentation than quality. Every dish was so instagramable. Truly beautiful, but then the taste did not match. One great taco if I had 3 of them it would've been excellent I do highly recommend that one!

Inside

Fried Quesadilla

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Squash Blossoms

Blue Burro Burritos & Cantina

4.1(369 reviews)

5.1 mi•Harbor Gateway

Food is great! Would recommend the burrito, also the customer service is fantastic! Would…read moredefinitely recommend anyone to come for a great time and delicious food or any special event.

Food is amazing! Would recommend the burritos, also the customer service is fantastic! Would…read moredefinitely recommend anyone who's looking for a great time and delicious food for any event.

Rolled tacos.

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Adobada Fries

La Capilla Mexican Restaurant

3.4(1k reviews)

4.7 mi

I haven't been back in a few years but it felt comfortable walking into La Capilla once again. They…read morehave a birthday special on the day of a birthday where you can choose from one of four 1 item combos and get a free meal and dessert by presenting your ID. They used to let you pick from more choices years ago but free is free right? I chose the number 4 which is a tamale with beans and rice. My wife ordered their chicken tortilla soup which has been a longtime favorite. The size of the bowl has diminished about 30% from what I remember but that's been a common theme the past few years in many places so oh well. We also ordered a side of chicken taquitos which came with a generous amount of sour cream and guacamole. The food was very good overall although the chunks of beef in my tamale were dry. I prefer chicken but unfortunately they were out. I should have asked for pork but didn't think about it till later. Our server was very helpful and just a sweet, thoughtful young lady. The gentleman bussing tables was also friendly and considerate. Prices have definitely gone up but those are the times in which we live. There is street parking and an underground parking garage a short distance away. There are quite a few restaurants in the area so parking can be a little challenging. With so many new restaurants in downtown Torrance, La Capilla may no longer be at the pinnacle of food choices but for longtime South Bay residents, it would be sad to see it go. It's nice to have places that bring back memories of wonderful times gone by.

Man, La Capilla you're one of the family spots we all grew up going to with our families for…read moredinner. Birthdays always included flan, and being called Panchito. However I think what kept everyone there was the pitchers of margaritas, and the specials on the wall to the left when you walked in. My dad lived for those. LETS TALK ABOUT NOW': HORRIBLE DOESN'T DO JUSTICE. The chicken taco fell completely apart, and was freezing cold. The burrito had no flavor, there was none in the sauce or the meat or anything. The rice made you want to gag, I don't think a stray dog would eat it. Lastly my meal, enchiladas. I mean, come on how do you eff that up?! The cheese wasn't melted, the tortilla was raw and needed to be heated (or fried) Either way save your money, and take the drive up to another well known spot.

Getting my free birthday promo

Chile Verde to go, comes with chips and salsa

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La Gordita Restaurant

4.4(189 reviews)

5.2 mi•Harbor City

Excelente staff very loving and welcoming and there food is the best there tacos burritos…read moreeverything is very good!!

La Gordita is a small restaurant with a few tables for dining in or take out…read more An older gentleman and his sweet wife prepare, cook and serve absolutely delicious Mexican food that is ALWAYS fresh and flavorful. The meat is always moist and tender. The tortillas are grilled to perfection with crispy edges. The gentleman is always friendly, polite and happy to serve you. The portions are generous and prepared with care and the prices are definitely reasonable. My family and I enjoy visiting La Gordita often ( and you should too) !

Definitely an old school mom and pop shop.

Carne asada wet burrito

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Miches de la Baja

3.6(451 reviews)

4.0 mi

Friend of mine went here last holiday as we were craving for tacos. Been ordering delivery but…read morenever tried to sit and eat inside. Early evening maybe busy depending on the day. Place has a daily deal which looks good and priced reasonably. We ordered the fish chicharones which is really good; loved the crunchiness and addicting. Then we had the beach box with combination of OG fish and grilled shrimp. Loaded with tomatoes onions, seemed like it drowned the fish and the shrimp. Taste wise, its good. The birria was just okay for me. This place is worth coming back for sure. Service was ok, could clean up the trash bins more frequently would be nice.

This place is so colorful and fun! The inside is so unique! All the blue and green is so fun and I…read morereally appreciate when a restaurant has interesting decor! The ambiance was great! Very social! There were several groups of men there eating lunch, so I can tell it's a place where people regularly go for lunch The service was great! I got some recommendations, and ended up going with the shrimp tacos, which were absolutely delicious! My ONLY complaint is that they may have been friend a little too hard. I felt like I was tasting more of the batter than the shrimp, but still, it tasted very good. I feel like I would return here for lunch again. Cool vibes, good food, kind workers, and lively atmosphere. That's a win to me! Plenty of parking available!

Seating 06-17-2026

Birria tacos plate

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Signage 04-15-2026

Los Compadres

4.2(880 reviews)

7.3 mi

Everything here is super delicious. I would recommend you to go have lunch or dinner The drinks…read more are worth trying out. Everyone here is super nice, helpful & super friendly. The plates start from $20 & up and I would say it's worth paying for it. They also have parking! Best part is that they just made a bar 2 months, you can feel the good vibes since you walk inside the restaurant. The atmosphere is 100% recommend. Just gotta keep in mind they do close early.

I bring my wife to Los compadres on pine st,Long Beach Ca. The service not to good…read moreMy wife order Red enchiladas of the house They were a disaster made with tomatoe Sauce and cover with cabbage the waiters take to long to take our order and l order one chicken enchilada with one Chile relleno my enchilada was a cheese and not chicken and when l order a beer we finish our food ant the waiters forget our beer and to pay we espend More time waiting for our bill you should train your girls to so how a good customer service

Front seat at the bar

Birria Tacos, not pictured, a jar of Horchata

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Menú price

Flores Cafe

3.8(199 reviews)

3.1 mi

Excellent Taquitos, beans and rice! My husband had tacos and…read morefinished them before I can finished my review! He loved them! I highly recommend a visit.

I work right across the street from this place and had not yet tried it so I decided today's that…read moreday. I went early enough (11:15ish) prior to the lunch crowd and was the 2nd customer in the restaurant. I was immediately greeted by a server whom quickly took my order and brought chips and salsa to my table. I ended up ordering the two hard shell taco combo with rice and beans and a fountain soda. The food was ok (not the worst); however, very pricey: 16.99 for the taco plate and 4.99 for my fountain drink! With tax and before tip it came to 24 bucks! I definitely won't be eating here again. Service was great and the servers were friendly enough and very efficient but overall not worth the price. Side note: this is a great place for large parties. Parking is tight except around the side of the bldg. Decor is dark inside almost like Dia de Los Muertos type!

TACOS SAMPLER

Fish taco Platter

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Picture of the front of the restaurant, taken from the parking lot.

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15 reviews that are not currently recommended

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John P.

Elite 21

219

216

175

3 years ago

**One Star Review: Lucky Star Café** My visit to Lucky Star Café on a Saturday morning left much to be desired. Excited to try their renowned chicken and waffles, I placed an order through Uber Eats, also adding a chicken breast with eggs. However, what should have been a delightful experience turned into a nightmare of poor service and incompetence. Upon receiving my order, I was shocked to find that I had been given someone else's meal of tacos, burger, and fries. This mistake was not only a reflection of their lack of attention to detail but also a clear sign of their disregard for customer satisfaction. Despite confirming my order on the app, the staff failed to double-check before giving it to me, demonstrating a level of carelessness that is unacceptable in the service industry. The attitude of the staff further added to the unpleasant experience, with their demeanor bordering on rude and unhelpful. I had always wanted to try this place out, but after this experience, I left feeling deeply disappointed and with no intention of returning. The manager should take responsibility for the poorly run establishment and ensure that such incidents do not happen again. read more

Angie M.

4 months ago

The fries were over cooked. The burger was small with a large bun and wilted lettuce. The burrito order was wrong. We ordered a carne Asad burrito dry with green sauce on the side. We got a wet burrito with red sauce. We asked for little bean and rice with extra meat. The burrito was loaded with rice and beans. As for taste, horrible. The burger meat tasted like freezer burn. We nibbled then threw it all away. Overall, worse experience ever. Thank you for forcing us to continue to cook at home. read more

Supajok C.

182

128

2 months ago

It looks like the vast majority of negative reviews are from Black people, and the positive ones are from Latinos. The fact that they would cross contaminate a reported allergy is shocking. Are they "trying to get sued?" I kid you not. Read the reviews that chased us away from this place. Thank you YELP! read more

Vannessa C.

11 years ago

I use to love this place but it's not the same. The Carne asada burritos use to be so bomb. One day my mom brought home some carne asada burritos and the meat was nasty and fatty. If and when I do decide to come here all I get is a breakfast burrito. read more

Jasper p.

15 years ago

Great food, huge menu so you have a lot to choose from, and it's reasonably priced. I eat here once a week. The food is fresh they have a friendly staff and they have an A letter grade. They recently just added a lot of new healthy menu Items. read more

Alberto G.

3 years ago

Today on april 26th 2023 ordered a carne asada burrito and it came with corn peas and carrots inside. Needless to say I'm pretty upset. I would tell anyone considering eating here to go anywhere else. read more

Sandi J.

9 years ago

We eat her often because the food is delicious. It's cooked to order, so everything is always fresh. Best of all, the prices are very reasonable. read more

Elizabeth E.

7 years ago

Kicks Homeless people out ! A homeless man came in to eat and they told him he had to take his food outside to eat it. read more

Cesar T.

4 years ago

Great food and service great atmosphere to dine in or take out love this place never disappoints!!!!

Lara B.

Elite 24

6 years ago

Had the shrimp soup and it was full of shrimp. Large menu to choose from so it was hard to decide.

Eduardo F.

4 months ago

Learn how to keep track of the food tickets. How long does it take to make a hamburger with cheese?

M. C.

11 years ago

Didn't liked the service, the price of the food or the food. No wonder is always empty.

Nain D.

15 years ago

love the burger specials.. oh and a beer..!

Betty M.

14 years ago

Chili Cheese Omelete

Steve J.

15 years ago

yummy!

Lucky Star Cafe - mexican - Updated October 2026

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The food was good…read more Came here to get breakfast burrito with some o so delicious chorizo. This places breakfast burrito is good, hits the spot. They give you free chips and salsa, love that spice from the salsa. Come check out if you are here

I genuinely wanted to give this neighborhood restaurant a positive review. It has been here for…read morethree years, and as an Executive Leadership Consultant, I understand how important community support is to the growth of a small business. When I arrived, however, the restaurant was almost completely empty, with only one customer dining inside. That surprised me because, given its location in a busy industrial area, I expected it to be much busier. This was my second visit. The carne asada burrito I ordered the first time was fairly good, and since the restaurant is right down the street from my home, I decided to give it another try. Unfortunately, my second experience was worse. The tortilla was burned, so I cut away that portion. Then I discovered that the meat was burned as well. At $17 for a burrito, I expected better quality and more care in the preparation. I truly want to see neighborhood businesses succeed, but the food must give customers a reason to return. Sadly, based on this experience, I cannot recommend it.

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Came across El Taco Charro in Carson, kinda tucked in a strip mall but definitely worth stopping…read moreby. Place is clean and the service was super friendly -- no complaints at all. I tried the chicharrón, cabeza, and chili verde tacos. All were really good, but the chicharrón was the standout for me. That crunch was next level great texture and flavor. Simple spot, good food, nice people... I'd definitely come back for those tacos again.

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Last visit 04-15-26. It's been a while since I had went to Louis Burgers and the reason for my…read morerecent visit was because too many ppl been telling me they have the best chili cheese fries. So I had to see for myself. Of course it was a long line in the drive thru when I got there lol. Don't know what the vibe was like on the inside of the restaurant. It's best to pull in off of Rosecrans being that it's more convenient to swoop in the drive thru lane. It probably took 15 mins though to order and then receive my food at the window. The service was quicker than I anticipated. I ordered the chili cheese pastrami fries. Fire !!! Out of all of the spots I've been getting chili cheese fries or any pastrami, theirs so far is the best. Still had some left over the next day. Fries were cold. Didn't wanna warm it up in the microwave. So I just finished the rest off being room temperature. Still was good.

Man I haven't been here in like 2 years cuz they had fell off....stopped by today and got a…read morecheeseburger with no onion and fries crispy...kept it simple lol...it's came up to $9.99 im just not gonna talk about that!...anyway this burger and fries took me back to the 90's....it was hot n fresh...tasted like the meat had been kissed by a flame...a burger and fries couldn't have been more perfect!

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Visited this restaurant because I read that these Tacos tasted like the old Tito's Tacos in Culver…read moreCity. Far from the truth! Not even close to Tito's tacos from today or years ago. It was just okay in my opinion. The service took awhile because of a long line of patrons. I tried the beef and chicken taco. They were good but not great.

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This is ridiculous there portion of their food is a joke. You have to do better. Quality is ok.read more

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I visited this restaurant this week because my friend mentioned something about a ceviche. First of…read moreall is super big. It has three different areas where you can order different food when you arrive. You will see the food truck. Go there and order any soup, ceviche tostada, any heavy food. I order ceviche and oh boy! this is the best ceviche I have ever tried for 2026!! The price was another thing that really surprised me since when you bought a bigger size of ceviche can go up to more than $60 to my surprise this place give me a very good deal which I do appreciate. This place has been in my head the whole week, servers are very kind patience and give you a lot of options so you can get what you want, after ordering my ceviche I went inside the restaurant now which is the building and they have one section of only ice cream lollipops oh my God they have three times more options than any other places. If you go around where the tables are outside, you will see a little window where you can order any kind of Agua fresca and other snack snack. please go and visit this restaurant. This is a very unique Mexican flavor restaurant You will be amazed by the variety and the taste of the food. they have plenty of parking lot, but I've heard that they can run out of parking lot since a lot of people can come in and out but most people do order and takeout since this Restaurant do not have an AC.

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