First off, Amanda provided great service. She was friendly and welcoming. Being that we came for the R&B brunch, we weren't expecting the food to be so good. We ordered the brunch wood platter since it was 4 of us and we got a little tase of everything. It came with chilaquiles, steak, eggs, potatoes, quesabirria tacos, chicken and waffles, and avocado toast and let me tell you...everything was on point. Delicious! I would recommend Mandala to my friends and family and will absolutely be back! I ordered the sierra norte mezcal drink and it was perfect. read more

Mandala Cantina - Brunch wood platter - Latin American Near Me - Downey, California

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I had a blast at Loteria night Good energy, good Dj and great drinks ! The black paloma was fire read more

Watching Alex work is impressive. He balances the relentless pace of service tickets with a genuine focus on his guests at the bar top. It's rare to see that kind of efficiency paired with such consistent hospitality. read more

In order to honor Cinco De Mayo, with festivities that were okay for me, I went to Mandala Cantina for Latino beats and Loteria--- otherwise known as Mexican Bingo, which kind of takes the red, white and green flavor of the game. But quick understanding the term suffices. As I entered Mandala Cantina, I knew that I had stepped inside a vibe of Latin frenzy and buck--- it was replete with a sophisticated backyard boggie energy. Or in other words, the carne asada barbecue had adopted an elegant, glamorous and modern Talum motif that hit with bright mellow lights, beige beauty all around and a good time fueled by tequila shots and cocktails. I was sat at the bar, but I was warned that my sit would be bellow the regular bar line. So I sat alone, and I could look up at everyone else sat from by de-elevated sit. I was ok, I had arrived late, I was by myself with no reservation and on a whim, so I took my corner seat and did my best to forget that I sat below everyone's eye level. The party vibe was strong and palpable all across the bar. In fact, I have been to very few bars where the move was to sit, yet, the music and crowd almost demanded that we acted like we were on a club, but sitting down. More clearly, I wanted to move and dance but since there was no space, and we were playing Mexican bingo, we were implicitly required to sit and dance. For those who did not, the party still pulsed. There was this huge Cantaro (Mexican clay cup or vase) with six straws. So like a fishbowl drink that is commong in Tiki or Island theme bars, but in a large Mexican mug. This guy was moving it around while he was filmed in a way where he showed the drink for six like Mufasa showed Simba to the residents of Pride rock. So I am basically saying that all the people in the bar and crowd found a way to honor the old school hits of Reggaton and Banda that dominated the airwaves of the spot. I could not help but beat my head back and forth when Oye Mi Canto played and the lasers of the spot moved around wildly. In short, it was an experience that can be described as lit. The experience of game play was also electric. As soon as you entered, you were asked to pick a card from a large stack. You were also required to get some frijolitos-- small beans, that did not jump. I put all my beans into my card and removed them as my cards were called. I came close to winning, and maybe I did, but it was hard to focus amidst the noise and bop, so maybe I did win and did not register that one of my cards had been called so its frijolito remain on top of that square. Regardless, of the lack of victory I expeirenced I was still very happen I went here to celebrate Cinco De Mayo with appropriate festivities. After I soon sat, some tacos were placed in front of me. They were for my neigbor. I was honest and made them aware that they were not for me. After all a Mexico Hero-- Benito Juariez reminds us that respeto a lo ajeno es la paz. Or in other ways, respecting what is not yours equals peace. read more

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Came here for a work event thinking it would be a fun night of lotería, food, and drinks... yeah, no. First off, why are we standing in a line outside like it's a nightclub? It's not that kind of place, so that already set the tone. The food? Overpriced and honestly mediocre at best. Nothing memorable except the disappointment when the bill came. The service was just as underwhelming--slow, inattentive, and not worth what they're charging. And the seating... picnic tables and chairs? Super uncomfortable and definitely not what you expect when you're paying those prices. Overall, it feels like they're trying to create a "vibe" but completely missed the mark. Save your money and go somewhere that actually delivers on both food and experience. read more

So I wanted something that was a good experience for my little sister who just turned 21. The experience was bitter sweet to for us. So the Sunday we went was an r&b brunch. Are table to eat was incredibly small; no where to really put my handbag, the concept of a brunch the day club is really cool, but you have to pay a pretty steep price for it. I think it's a cool experience for a celebration but not just a random day. The food & drinks were expensive but good $14 dollars for 2 tacos is kind of wild. A bottle of champagne and 3 mini fruit purées was about 50 dollars which I think was probably to best deal out of it all. The vibes is kind of cool but it felt money grabbish. Like when you go somewhere and that take a small initiative and then charge you like triple. But with summer coming up I would kind of like to come back with all my girlfriends and experience the day club. read more

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Brunch, but make it a full-blown R&B sing-along! We came to the Sunday R&B brunch at Mandala Cantina to celebrate a friend's birthday after seeing a few posts on IG and I'm so glad we decided to check it out. The vibe is the perfect mix of day club energy and brunch. Fun, lively, and just the right amount of hype for a Sunday afternoon. I haven't stepped foot in a club in ages, but this felt like the grown-up version of that energy and it made the whole experience even more fun. Service was fantastic from the start. Our server was incredibly sweet and set us up with the perfect table outside where we could catch both the indoor and the outdoor brunch crowd. Prime people-watching and great energy all around. Now for the food. We ordered the Mandala Wood Brunch Platter to share along with two bowls of the pozole. The platter is a great option for the table, but the pozole absolutely stole the show--perfectly cooked, rich, and packed with flavor. I also asked for both their spicy salsa and green salsa and we happily devoured both. We also went with the mimosa package which came with pineapple, lychee, and guava juices. Such a fun twist on the typical brunch lineup and honestly so delicious. Between the music, the great service, and the lively atmosphere, this is easily one of the most fun brunch experiences I've had in a long time. Safe to say this is officially going into our Sunday brunch rotation! read more

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Came here for Loteria night. It's a cool concept and the ambiance was different and amazing. Staff were friendly and on top of things. The down side, it was insanely loud in there. I came to play Loteria, chat with my friend, have some drinks and have fun but i was literally screaming every word to her. If i was dancing the volume would have made sense but i wasn't. Also food was subpar. We got guacamole with steak and at first glance i thought my friend ordered chicharron. It was so dry and crunchy like it had been in an air fryer to long. all that i could deal with if i could have heard my friend. If not for the volume of the music i would have come back. read more

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Unfortunate experience. Made a reservation for Mother's Day, showed up on time only for the host to act like they weren't expecting a party of 2. We were seated in the back corner with very unsafe, wobbly/loose chairs with loose screws and a small round table where you basically have very limited space to work with when food and drinks arrive. I spoke to two different employees looking to be seated elsewhere as they had at least 3 empty tables, their logic: "it's the way the hostess sets things up. We have bigger parties coming", the whole time we were there, those tables were empty. Food was edible but that's about it. Only person that was friendly and helpful was the security guard. Seems to be a running theme here. read more

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This was my first time here and I actually came for Lotería Night which was a lot of fun. Mandala is not a very large restaurant but it's open and clean and has a fun vibe to it. Most of the tables are high tops with hard stools (not comfy) but there are some lower tables. They seem to only be occupied by parties over 4 people. If you have back issues or anything that would be impacted by a small hard stools, request a table. The service was friendly and we had no trouble getting anyone's attention despite how busy it was. My party ordered their special guacamole with ribeye chicharrón which was really good. The chicharrón was crispy and charred and the guacamole was super creamy. The chips it came with were crunchy and thick which I like. We also had the Al pastor tacos which were pretty good. I appreciate that it wasn't greasy and that the salsa had a nice kick. Lastly we ordered the corn (I forgot what it was called). For me it was okay but I also don't eat a lot of corn in general. However my friend really liked it. The highlight was the Black Paloma. It was so sexy and delicious. I did also enjoy the Japanese old fashioned. (Photos are awful because it was dark - sorry!) There is street parking and a structure nearby. read more

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Came in this past weekend and the place was lively. Great music and positive vibes. We didn't eat but we did enjoy mimosas and margaritas. Perfectly balanced margaritas made with high quality tequila. So worth it. Super friendly and attentive staff. We were surprised the manager Mauricio recognized us from our prior visit. We felt special and appreciated. My wife and I really enjoyed our experience. Can't wait to come back. read more

Mandala Cantina - Shots - Latin American Near Me - Downey, California

We were really excited to visit for the R&B brunch. The vibe was great, the food was good, and the music was fun and upbeat. The overall energy was fun and lively. Unfortunately, there was a very serious issue that completely changed the experience. The water pitcher brought to our table had visible mold on it. For a water pitcher to develop mold suggests significant neglect in cleaning and sanitation. I am immunocompromised, and something like this is not just unpleasant it can be detrimental to my health. Situations like this are not minor oversights. They carry real risk, especially for guests with compromised immune systems. I truly hope management takes this seriously and addresses their sanitation practices immediately. The atmosphere has so much potential, but cleanliness and safety must always come first. read more

Mandala Cantina - Latin American Near Me - Downey, California

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Cute location, fun atmosphere, beautiful decor, friendly staff, good food and drinks! We came on a Sunday brunch and it was a vibe. Live DJ playing 90s R&B jams, which is always a good time. It's very busy so make sure you have a reservation. Do note that it's a 2-hour max, so make sure your party is all present prior to being seated. Denise provided great service and was super friendly. The drinks are excellent. Loved the jamaica margarita and passion fruit spritz. Shout out to Denise for offering to go lighter on the sweetness of the drinks. Guacamole with chicharones and tortilla chips were my fave. The empanada is delicious as well. Carne asada steak was perfectly seasoned and cooked. The rice was good and the beans were creamy. For dessert, we got the tiramisu which was good and the flan which was creamy and not eggy, which I prefer. I'm a fan of Mandala and will definitely be coming back. read more

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Husband and I stopped by yesterday night, kind of early-ish. We started here but went to scope it out from the outside first, then to every spot in the surrounding area. We just wanted to sit at the bar, have a few drinks and maybe an appetizer. Everything was full everywhere else, so we mosied over to this first spot again being the only place to have available bar setting. The interior was very nice. We were immediately helped by the bartender. Unfortunately I didn't catch his name. He had wavy hair, shaved sides, and glasses. He was phenomenal! The drinks he prepped for us were SO good. We hung out there for a while and enjoyed the ambience and music. read more

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Food was actually really delicious for a brunch. Ambiance was good too! Drinks were decent but very pricey. We did a tequila brunch, not the mimosas. Service was good but we spent a lot of money in the front and then went to your back where they made us buy a bottle but the ppl next to us didn't have to buy one so we ended up paying even more. The stars is because they sold someone a bottle then told them they had 20 minutes to finish it. I didn't think that was cool or professional. They should've told them that first, instead they charged them $500+ than said you need to be out in 20 minutes. That was awful. read more

Mauricio is the best Great hospitality!!! Very tentative 10/10 The vibes are right Great atmosphere read more

I came here for a watch party that was advertised by the restaurant. For that some tvs didn't work and the seating was not placed in a way that some could see the remaining screens. The food was only ok. read more

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First time here, Denise was super welcoming and recommended to visit the lounge speakeasy on their 2nd floor and mentioned also the Beso nightclub. Food was good definitely a surprise with their molcajete and the ceviche not bad at all for the pricing. We did not get photo of our drinks or molcajete, darn it! Such a rookie move lol But overall again it was a good spot for dinner and just enjoy the night. read more

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Had high expectations based on the star reviews. Was highly disappointed. Good menu was very small. Just a few appetizers, tacos, and a couple entrees. Ordered the molcajete and it was smaller than I've gotten anywhere else. The amount of meat in it was very minimal. Tiny cup or rice and tiny cup of beans. Not worth the $48. Service was okay. Can't complain. Ambiance was nice. However, the open concept is only good in the winter if you have heaters, which they did not. Won't be going back based on the food selection. read more

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Dropped by over the weekend to try a new place. Made a reservation thankfully as it was packed for Downey pride. We had the sopes, enchiladas and mole de pollo. All the food was delicious, for the restaurant it is, it deserves to have better tortillas though. Definitely can taste the Guerrero lol. Can't complain because it was still delicious. Loud music, vibe was great and service was awesome as well. Loved how we were asked if we been helped and checked in on. Definitely will come back for the happy hour menu and try brunch soon! read more

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Gabby was the best! Attentive & on it with the drink recommendation. Would def recommend. read more

Brunch was good. The Carne asada was cooked well. The waitstaff was very attentive. Music and overall vibe was great.

It was fun, amazing DJ! I took my mom and my sister for Lotería night. The reason I knocked out two stars was one because the red chairs are extremely uncomfortable I ended up standing up when I asked if I could move to table that was not being used the waiter said no, and the other was because my mom ordered a soda and the waiter forgot and tried to give it to us at the end of the night. We refused the drink and they took it off the bill thankfully, but that did make it a little odd. The drinks are very delicious and not too expensive. I just wish the service was better and they were more accommodating. read more

Mandala Cantina - Lotería night - Latin American Near Me - Downey, California

Had the best time! Mauricio was our server and was on point! We had a group of three girls with bottle service and the music vibes and service did not disappoint! Will definitely be back! read more

Mandala Cantina - Sunday brunch - Latin American Near Me - Downey, California

Honestly 1 star is being generous. A quaint little restaurant the staff are nice but still the whole experience was a complete cluster fuck. Party of 10... half the group felt sick (3 even left almost shitting their pants), my fundido was straight oil so the server swapped it for ceviche and STILL charged me for both. The ceviche (see pic) was bland and had not been left in lime juice etc long enough as it was more like warm sashimi / super raw. Guac was super bland too. One girls leche margarita took 90... NINTEY minutes to arrive. The real kicker... we were the second table seated from opening (7pm).... And still didn't have our food by 845.... Furthermore it was salsa night.... @9pm... so they were rushing everyone asking everyone to hurry up and leave. Highly recommend you choose somewhere else around here NOT this restaurant. read more

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Came here with my girl on a reservation at 5 PM before we went to a Cardi B concert. I was wondering why the latest reservation they had was at 5 PM. Apparently we came on a date that was themed R&B vibes. The kitchen closed at 6 PM and the restaurant closes at the same time. Apparently they have a lounge attached to this very small restaurant that turns into a club after words. I wasn't aware of this so we ordered our food and enjoyed the good music. Apparently, if you eat at the restaurant and then go to the lounge, you pay $10 if you show them your receipt. We just spent $80. Why would I pay another $10 to go to the lounge. I believe it should be free if I'm spending that much money at your establishment anyway. Service was decent. Aesthetics are really cool. We loved the vibe there as well. We just wish that we didn't have to feel rushed because they completely shut off the music at a certain point so that patrons can leave. read more

Mandala Cantina - Get the carnita tacos! So good! - Latin American Near Me - Downey, California

If you're looking for a brunch spot that actually hits, this place is it. From the moment we walked in, the atmosphere was vibrant, welcoming, and full of that perfect weekend energy. The DJ was popping with all the R&B hits. This place was AMAZING Now let's START with the food--because WOW. Every dish that came out was not only beautifully plated but packed with flavor. The portions were generous, and you can tell everything is made fresh. My friends and I got the platter, and it was enough for all five of us. The chilaquiles were perfectly balanced, the eggs and steak were cooked just right, the waffles were to die for, and the drinks? Let's just say their brunch cocktails do not disappoint. The besame was my favorite and my friends got the buy me a drink and kiss me through the phone it was amazing! You could not go wrong with the classic margarita. What really stood out to me was the consistency in quality--from the food to the service to the ambiance. The servers were so attentive: It's the kind of place you come to once and immediately start planning your next visit. I already said I want to come back next weekend. 10/10 recommend if you want good vibes, great music, amazing food, and a brunch experience that actually feels worth it. read more

Alex the bartender was amazing!! so attentive and the drinks were delicious highlighy recommend read more

The atmosphere, the people, are every 90's r&b lovers VIBE. Get plenty of rest before you arrive especially your voice. Get WILD! That's why you're here. Order the carne asada plate and the buy you a drank. Sing your heart out baby girl!!!! read more

Weekend brunch was so fun. We didn't know there was a whole "club" in back and had the best time after enjoying our brunch. Their food was very good and surprised us all. Worth noting the service we received was outstanding-our waiter and the waitstaff were very attentive. We had a really good time! read more

Great atmosphere, delicious food, and excellent service definitely a place I'll be coming back to. Highly recommend! read more

Mandala Cantina - Chilaquiles plate - Latin American Near Me - Downey, California

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Reservations made for Sunday, R & B Brunch. Staff is accommodating & friendly. Was limited to the brunch menu & some appetizers. Food was ok. Beverages were alright; had the Bloody Mandala. Cousin says the green tea shot was amazing! The music made it worthwhile... Street parking available. Reservations suggested. There's a 2 hour limit on your table. Crowded. read more

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We came here for brunch on a Saturday We had a reservation- place is small but had good ambiance- The food was ok but the service was very slow- despite the fact that they were busy our server took forever to take our order and come back to see if we needed other drinks or refills. They need for help with the amount of people they have during their brunch hours .... read more

Everything was amazing. Denise was very attentive. She was beautiful very sweet and kind and very patient. I love the service here. The vibe was amazing that DJ was great. Can't wait to come back!! -Darling read more

I got tipsy and had a blast. Attentive customer service. Never had my table empty. I lived the trio salsa option, especially with the chipotle and authentic peanuts sauce. Great DJ and overall vibe. read more

First off, the ambiance was really nice. The projector/ screen gives it a cool, open feel. They were playing vintage salsa music non -stop. I was seated in a comfortable half-booth, which I loved but I did notice many of the other seats are tall chairs, and those can get uncomfortable after a while. Parking wasn't the easiest, especially with nearby clubs bringing in extra traffic, so I'd recommend planning a little extra time for that. The food was good, and the overall atmosphere made for a fun night out. My only real complaint was that our party of 6 was told they could only split the bill into two checks. I've been to other places that are able to accommodate more flexibility, so that felt a little inconvenient. read more

R&B Brunch was LIT ! Such a fun vibe from start to finish! The music was on point all day, nothing but hits. Good food, good drinks, and even better energy. Definitely the perfect mix of brunch + party. Can't wait for the next one! read more

Mandala Cantina - Latin American Near Me - Downey, California

My friend and I were really excited about going to brunch to this place based on the videos and pictures on IG. Let me tell you this place is really nice inside and out and the music is the best part. However the service is the worst!!! First they tried to sit us in the back room, where it was dead. I quickly asked why we were getting seated there and the host try to say that they were saving the front area for big parties only. So my response was, NO I made reservations specifically for the front area so I expect for you to accommodate us. So of course they find a table and sit us. Well after that things went downhill. We got a nice table, however waited about 20 minutes for anyone to acknowledge us and take our drink order. Of course our drinks took another 20 minutes to arrive. Following another 30minutes to place our food order. We waited a good 35 minutes for food to arrive. Only to have one plate arrive, the other they either forgot or was still cooking. That took another 15 minutes. At this point we lost our appetite and were very disappointed with the service. All we wanted was to get the check, but the waitress disappeared. Not sure why they would only have two waitresses for the entire dining area on a Sunday during brunch. What really put us over the top was when my friend was denied a water refill by one of the bus boys. She had to say something a second time for him to refill her water. It's unfortunate that this place has poor customer service, because it has so much potential. read more

Ebil is always the best security. Mandala is great the line is big but if u make a reso you should be fine.

Super amazing place !!! Super fun vibes they were very attentive and helpful with all our needs drinks were amazing ! Bésame and the espresso martinis are it here !!! read more

Mandala Cantina - Latin American Near Me - Downey, California