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.

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!

Quick bite to eat. Ordered a chicken taco. It was good but a few tortilla chips thrown in the bag…read morewould have been nice. Ok, bye.

5/19/26 Attentive service, delicious & authentic Mexican fare in a sit down setting, hole in the…read morewall. Flavorful!!! Hubby & I were famished and it was his pick, something hearty. Our server was amiable ' hospitable. Hubby ordered Machaca with rice & beans and I was in the mood for fish tacos. It is Taco Tuesday after all. The complimentary chips & salsa were decent, pretty good actually. My tacos were accompanied with soup (albondigas), rice & beans. Both Hubby & I were so impressed at how delicious everything tasted. He guessed the food was cooked in lard-- at least the beans were. I may have filled up on chips & salsa coz I only ate one of my two tacos. As I mentioned earlier, It's more like a hole in a wall, indoor seating only, booths, tables & chairs. One stall restroom (there were no toilet seat protectors) fairly clean but in need of remodel. The urinal was out of order. The food really speaks for itself that I look past the other things that I would normally stress over (as my OCD might go on over drive lol) No frills, just really great Mexican food. Street Parking only

Me and my good friend came in on a Monday because I wanted some elote! It happened to be happy hour…read moreso why not! The food is so good! The chips and salsa, the elote, the ceviche were spectacular! The salsas are so tasty! The elote hit the spot! And the ceviche was a large portion which was perfect to share! The tacos were very good! One thing I would change is their tortilla, but the carne asada was tender and well flavored! The fish taco could've used some crema. The service here is some of the best I've experienced. As someone in hospitality, Arturo deserves all the flowers! So kind and friendly! On point! The space has a nice outdoor patio that has covering for shade. We will definitely come back!

Second time back within two months. Pictures aren't the best…read more What an incredible local find. The food is spot on, the margaritas are delicious and flowing, and the service is top-notch. While the ambiance isn't over-the-top, it's clean, comfortable, and inviting definitely grab a table on the patio if you can. Parking: They have a dedicated lot on-site. It's a bit tight, but having dedicated parking is still a huge plus. To Start: They kick off the meal with complimentary chips paired with three distinct salsas: a rich red salsa with a good kick, a bright salsa verde, and a fresh pico de gallo. Every single one was full of flavor. The Main Course: Veracruz Fish: Hands down the star of the night. The white fish was cooked to absolute perfection and paired seamlessly with sautéed vegetables, rice, and beans. A must-order, Chicken Enchiladas: Exceptionally flavorful with well-seasoned, juicy chicken. A special shoutout goes to the rice and beans--they easily hold their own as standalone stars on the plate. Chile Relleno: Well-prepared and tasty. While it wasn't my personal favorite of the night, it's a solid choice if you love traditional rellenos. Shrimp Cocktail: Generously portioned with plenty of fresh shrimp and avocado, though the sauce base wasn't quite to my personal taste. All in all, Maderos is a true gem delivering vibrant, authentic Mexican cuisine. We will definitely be back!

The food is great, but El Jacalito is also a great place to watch a World Cup game. With some…read moreelimination games starting at noon, they were timed perfect for my lunch break from work. I watched the first half of Spain/Belgium in the quarterfinals and Argentina/England in the semifinals. There are TV's where every table can see. Usually they will have a mix of movie, a novela, or a Liga MX game on. With the World Cup, they have the game on all TVs and the sound on too. The lunch crowds were larger than normal for the two games. Most of us had finished our food and were waiting for half time before we left. It isn't a bar, but for noon time futbol, it is a great atmosphere.

I arrived here a broken man, suffering greatly from a lack of chilaquiles…read more These kind, skilled people prepared me a plate of the red variety -- they also have green. With eggs scrambled, please; I'm not too much of a runny-yolk guy: a personal failing I've been told. In this sacred space these chilaquiles renewed my vigor & will to live. I emerged refreshed, once again ready to be a contributing member of society.

My partner and I love this place, we've had a hard time finding a Mexican food spot that we both…read morereally enjoy since we moved to the South Bay. We've had tacos, which have been great, and chile relleno which was also really great! They have aguas frescas, their tamarindo is really good. The service both times was excellent, the first time we went was on a taco Tuesday, not realizing that they have a deal that day so it was very busy, but we still had great service. The restaurant itself is really nice and cozy but not too small. It's at a strip mall so there are plenty of parking spaces.

My favorite Mexican joint by far!! Everyone there is so kind and the food always comes out quickly…read more The inside is adorable and would be perfect for a little lunch or dinner date. My go-to item is the carne asada burrito, it is FANTASTIC. Normally, I'd have a picture, but every time I order it I eat it too fast and forget...

Food was so authentic and delicious. We ordered the birria tacos plate; great portions. 3 Tacos…read morewith Cheese, rice and beans. We also ordered the Earthquake Fries; it was loaded with crispy seasoned fries and Shrimp so so scrumptious. Even the Churros were very tasty. For being so non assuming and odd location all items ordered were exceptionally DELICIOUS. I'm not able to give this place 10 stars if not I would!! Definitely will be back soon for seconds!!!

This place is the real deal right in our own backyard. Never knew it even existed until I saw it on…read moresomeone's IG reel. At first we entered the carniceria (will be back to buy some meat to cook next time!) and were instructed to go around the back to order hot food. We got the birria taco plate which was delicious and came with extra sauce, as well as a birria burrito (haven't tried it yet but it was a good size) and chips and salsa. The salsas are spicy but great! They have a cute set up with picnic tables and lots of parking in the back.

Went back one night only to find out they closed over an hour before I got there. The nice owner…read morerefused to let me leave and started up the kitchen to make me her 4 taco special. I felt kind of guilty knowing that based on the price, there can't be much of a profit margin, but she still made me the special with a smile and enthusiasm. Honestly, it made me feel like one of my friend's moms was cooking for me when I was a kid. I dug through my wallet looking for cash but only had a 10. Of course she adamantly refused to take it and almost chased me to try to get me to take the change. I didn't. I actually wanted to leave her a 20. She's got a customer for life. Tip: the sushi spot next door has a really good omakase deal Trivia bit: the movie Friday After Next was filmed almost entirely in this shopping plaza.

Closed, don't even bother going. They have hours saying they're open, I stop by, doors are locked,…read morethough someone is in there. Are you not open on Sundays at 11am?

I love this place. I am a taco fanatic, and this place is legit. I love their taco tripas. I always…read moreorder three of those, extra crispy, with the red hot sauce. So yummy :)

I've eaten here periodically through the years (10+) and always tend to get the asada burrito which…read moreI've always loved but not this time. The asada burrito has gone down in quality. The meat was mid-not that great, the rice was not fresh, and barely any cilantro was added. The service has remained consistently slow as the cashiers seem to not have any motivation to work. The ambiance is good, there is a jukebox machine that seems to work, but I have never seen anyone really use it. Mexican music can be enjoyable while eating your food, and although the quality has gone down, their prices have gone up.

Still delicious after all these year! We stopped by the bakery on Easter Morning. Got a selection…read moreof baked goods and tamales. Employees are helpful. When I was lost and confused since a lot of tags were missing and I didnt recognize all the pastries they helped us identify a bunch of them. Lol, I realized later their website also lists a lot of them. The slice of cheese cake was delicious, great texture and flavor. I also love the mexican biscuits, Bought one to make breakfast sandwiches. It's savory and delicious (also huge). We got mexican tamales but next time I must get the guatemalan ones! Definitely Will be going back for more. Highly recommend La Esperanza.

My go-to spot for conchas in the Torrance area…read more Tucked inside a small strip mall, La Esperanza is one of those hidden gems that's easy to miss but absolutely worth finding. Their conchas are always fresh and consistently well made. I love how balanced the flavor is--not too sweet, with just the right hint of cinnamon that never overpowers the bread. Soft, fluffy, and perfect with a cup of coffee. The parking lot can be a little sketchy , but don't let that stop you. If you're in the South Bay, this place is definitely worth checking out.