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    Tempo Cantina - Downey

    4.0 (3.5k reviews)

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    TEMPO CANTINA - DOWNEY ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Dogs allowed
    Happy hour specials
    Good for groups
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Tempo Cantina - Downey

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    Sitting area
    Eric G.

    This place is a pretty cool vibe during lunchtime not much of a crowd but good music was efficient. I will say when it comes to the wings I would probably dismiss them because they're not worth $10 for four wings but overall a really good deal for happy hour and the margaritas two for one for $14 was definitely a hit thanks Jay the sweet bartender for the service

    Kamillah V.

    It's very fun in here the music is a bit loud but we did have a party of 11 on a Saturday night ! I've only been to the Brea location before so it was my first time coming to this one. The parking is valet only unless you find street parking or maybe the other lots nearby don't care ? Not sure but it was $8! We had reservations so we got seated immediately. Staff is really friendly and the food was good just a little expensive. The bone marrow tacos are my favorite !

    Tariq A.

    This place was recommended by a friend, and I'm so glad we came--Tempo Cantina was an experience from start to finish. The atmosphere, the energy, and the overall vibe made it such a fun and memorable dinner. I didn't remember the name of the dish at first, but based on what we ordered and how it was served, I'm pretty sure I had the bone marrow. It was absolutely delicious--rich, flavorful, and beautifully presented, served with tortillas and fresh toppings that balanced everything perfectly. Definitely one of those dishes that stands out and makes you want to come back again. We also celebrated a friend's birthday, and the staff made it extra special by bringing out ice cream with candles, which was such a thoughtful and fun touch. Little moments like that really elevate the experience. Between the food, the ambiance, and the great service, this place checks all the boxes. We loved spending our evening here and will absolutely be back. Highly recommend for a night out, celebrations, or just a great dinner.

    Carne Asada
    Jaime R.

    Not worth the drive, time, or price. Tempo Cantina serves up mediocre Mexican food at premium prices--$24 for queso fundido and $34 for a carne asada plate you can get better (and cheaper) elsewhere. I paid less for two people at Holbox the next day than I did for myself here. The vibe tries to be Baja cantina but ends up all show, no substance. Service was spotty, they couldn't handle splitting a large party, and valet is $8--seriously? You'd have a better meal (and time) at Shakey's Pizza Parlour next door or your local taco stand.

    Menu
    Danny V.

    This is a great place to come have a celebratory event, whether it's a birthday, anniversary, night out with the boys or just looking for a place with a cool vibe. Great tasty food options and service with a smile. Parking is very limited unless you valet.

    Wings
    Tracy E.

    Hey tried this place near my job! Heard it was fun & had pretty good deals for happy hour. Well hey it's a ok place. Only valet parking at $8! Not cool. Found street parking 2 blocks away with my handicap mom. That was strike 1! Ok mom likes to walk and do we did. Got there sat in the dining area with friends. Bar was pretty loud. It's only 4:30pm. So we ordered off the happy hour menu. All items each $10. Kinda pricey for happy hour so I thought until I saw the dinner menu. It's pretty pricey for Mexican food. We ordered about 5-6 different things. Hot Wings there were only 5 pieces in our order. Taquitos only 6 1/2 pieces. A scoop of guac & chips, shrimp ceviche with 2 broken up tostada shells - size of a small soup bowl. Then we ordered the 3 street tacos. Now those were amazing. Great fresh salsa Great flavor hands down. Food was ok but the size for $10 each ‍. Our server now she was great. She recommended some drinks and those did not disappoint! It was a fun evening but as for return visit. Well probably not anytime soon.

    Margarita Flight
    Alex M. ..

    Definitely a spot just for drinks and to look cool and then head home. Don't get trapped into buying food. This flight was decent and I particularly liked the Mango and Cucumber. Cheese fries came out cold after a while and the tacos were soggy. How you mess up tacos at a Mexican spot lol. Servers are nice at least.

    Chilaquiles
    Brenda R.

    We went early when they opened! The service was slow. For a Mexican restaurant you don't even get chips and salsa. We ordered chips and salsa and we're charged extra for another cup of salsa! We got the 13.00 lunch specials that rang up at 15.00?? For 2 people 2 lunch specials and a bottle of coke came to 50.00. Oh the chips. And...I didn't eat my food...was not good!! I do not recommend on the food alone. There are alot of Mexican restaurants in Downey. The place is cute but food is bad...and we eat out very often #downeynative

    Tinga Taquitos
    Mich W.

    Came here cause I was in the area and luckily it was happy hour on a Saturday until 6 pm. Parking can be difficult, but you can find some in the nearby residential or it's $8 for valet. Very loud music and dark interior, service was fast though. Food was only okay, drink was decent for the price. Probably wouldn't come back though, was very average

    Michelle V.

    The law enforcement discount has unfortunately been discontinued, according to the manager at this location. However, the hospitality was excellent. We had the pleasure of being served by Johan--he was hilarious and made our evening smooth and enjoyable.

    Taj Y.

    As my first time I wanted to strongly give 5 stars but due to our waitress forgetting about us as soon as we ordered it's hard to give a 5 star or even anything over a 1 because we literally had to call for help each and every time Mind you we didn't receive our drinks until MID entree...almost when we were done eating...and it wasn't even that busy... Food definitely authentic with great taste.. and cooked to perfection....and the ambience is hella dope but customer service SUCKS ASS !! The manager should NOT be doing it all (while pregnant) it's a TEAM guys get it right to match the awesomeness you guys have.. I'll try again soon..

    Meg D.

    Didn't have reservations but good thing we cane in early. Took out of towners in this place to experience SoCal's tacos. The food & drinks were bomb! You cannot go wrong with anything you order. Place looked really cool, we sat outside and it was cool during that day. There is valet parking in case you cannot find street parking.

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    6 months ago

    Food was really good. The drinks were really good and the environment was great and it's highly recommended it.

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    7 months ago

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    1 year ago

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    5 months ago

    So happy to learn this place has closed... big win to the neighborhood that endured the loud noise and disruption coming from this place

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    2 months ago

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    2 years ago

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    7 months ago

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    1 year ago

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    Valerie G.

    Thank you so much for your kind review!

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    7 months ago

    Eat here a lot. Good food. Great music and vibe. Love it! Service is good. Will always come back here.

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    Thank you for your kind review! Glad you liked the cuisine.

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    Page 1 of 89

    Tempo Cantina - Downey Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Tempo Cantina - Downey

    Are there bottomless mimosas on Sunday brunch?

    Yes, they are

    Do we need reservations for a party of possibly 15?

    It would best to reserve ahead of time. They're always busy.. if you show up specially on a weekend you will most likely wait for a while. Reservations are done online .

    Are we able to split the tabs?

    Yes

    Are kids allowed?

    Hi Ezequiel, there were 3 kids under 7 at the table next to me (one was an infant). I also saw tweens/teens with parents. Safe to say kids are allowed.

    Do you have carnitas?

    I believe so

    Is there live music on weekends?

    They normally have a DJ either live or virtual on the TV screens.

    Is this just a restaurant or lounge as well?

    It's a restaurant and bar. Great drinks!

    Is there still a time limit for tables?

    Yes it is now 120 minutes on weekends

    Do they have a time limit on tables for large parties?

    Yes. Last time I was there it was for about 3 hours

    What time is happy hour? :)

    They do have Happy Hour! I believe it was from 3 to 5 and then 9 to when they close! 😊

    Do they serve brunch on Friday's?

    Just the weekend.

    How long is the wait right now?

    Are the items under your "Wanabe vegan" section actually vegan or are they vegetarian? They list cheese and normally I'd asume vegan cheese but given the title of the section I'm not quite sure.

    More like vegetarian. You are right there is no "Vegan Cheese".

    Do they have happy hour on saturdays?

    Yes 2pm-6pm, 9pm-close

    Are kids allowed?

    i saw a few kinds inside :)

    Is this the same owner and restaurant as tempo urban kitchen in brea?

    Yes it is!

    What are their happy hour hours? Does it include Saturday?

    Do u hav 2 sho vaccination card?

    We did not have to show our cards. We did however walk in with masks.

    Are you requiring proof of vaccine?

    No.

    Hi what would be the best time to go for a walk in party of 10+?

    Make reservations on Open Table during happy hour.

    View All 92 Questions

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    I ordered the chicken salad. The staff offered me a choice of ranch, Italian, or thousand island…read morefor dressing. I chose Italian, however she said they were out of it when she brought me my salad. I like that the salad came with avocado but the chicken was dry. The mariachi playing right in front of my table created a very lively ambiance. The restroom door distinguishes the gender. An Aztec woman was carved on the woman's room.

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    Tortilla station
    Tortilla station
    Complimentary chips and salsa
    Complimentary chips and salsa
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    Rocio's Mexican Kitchen

    Rocio's Mexican Kitchen

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    If you're looking for an authentic hidden gem, this little hole-in-the-wall restaurant is…read moreabsolutely worth the visit. They serve some of the best mole I've had in a long time! The meal started with complimentary chips served alongside both a sweet mole and a savory, tangy mole sauce. It was something I'd never experienced before, and it was incredibly delicious. I ordered the chicken enmoladas, and they were generously stuffed with chicken and smothered in rich, flavorful mole. Every bite tasted authentic, comforting, and incredibly satisfying. For dessert, our waiter recommended the plantains in tequila sauce paired with a café de olla. They were so amazing that we completely devoured the dessert before I even remembered to take a picture! As first-time visitors, my guests and I were genuinely impressed by the quality of the food, the authentic flavors, and the warm service. We'll definitely be back, and I highly recommend giving this place a try if you're craving authentic Mexican cuisine.

    8/5/26 Read the reviews and it looked promising. This is a hole-in-a-wall mom n pop type of eatery…read morein the heart of Bell Gardens, home of La Diosa del Molé. Service is attentive, the food has its charm with in-house made tortillas. It really was a hard review to write because all the elements of a great restaurant is embodied in this hidden gem. I chalk it up to ordering the wrong items. The flavors did not pop for me. Hubby opted for the chorizo and he said it was decent and he described it as "diet chorizo"--that he'd probably needed to go back to Sinaloa to capture the true essence of "real" chorizo, the way it's meant to be. The star of his meal was the in-house made flour tortillas-now that's authentic! This is/was the reason that it leaned towards a 4 star. These looked and tasted phenomenal. The aroma took me back to the times when we visited Rosarito's Puerto Nuevo, as the lady made the tortillas by hand & pressed them in the comal, ahh, good times. I ordered the vegetarian omelette with beans & potatoes. The omelette was decent with fresh bell peppers & onions but the seasoning was so mild that I requested for salt & pepper. The potatoes appeared well seasoned in color but lacked that oomph that salt & pepper couldn't fix. My apple pancakes were average. While I appreciated the strawberry compote, there was no apple or apple taste in them. To wash everything down, I had cafe de olla, that was good. The aroma of the brown sugar & cinnamon was ever present. Estrella, our server was very welcoming, attentive and friendly, she gets 5 stars for her service with a smile & hospitality. Their lunch & dinner menu looked very appealing but we wanted breakfast items. We wish we were both molé enthusiasts then perhaps we would've better appreciated & enjoyed those offerings. Both indoor & outdoor seating (front & rear), parking is free & shared with their liquor store at this corner small plaza. Beware, no restrooms available. I'm glad we gave this little shop a try.

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    This ac doesn't work don't come in the summer
    This ac doesn't work don't come in the summer
    Chicken Empanadas
    Chicken Empanadas
    Front of restaurant

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    La Barca Restaurantes

    La Barca Restaurantes

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    I am confused with these reviews. Like I always say, a bad experience is a bad experience and…read morevalid, but overall this place is solid. I have been eating at La Barca since before they expanded to Downey and Bell Gardens location. The south gate little og location, the one on Montebello, all yummy. Legit never had a bad experience, always consistent. Molcajete is my go to. And tbh you get more for your buck than other place like Los Compadres. Goat Birria plate is a must, and safe for the non-mexican pallet meaning not intense or gamey. The carne asada plate and Tampiqueña(skirt steak) is also a solid choice. Like I said always consistent during my visits. This newer location in downey is very nice. I usually bring my family from out of town for dinner. Very clean, aesthetic, and service usually always friendly.

    Back in the day, this restaurant chain was the spot! So after years of kind of forgetting about…read morethem I decided to try their newer Downey location with my family. Maybe I just ordered the wrong thing but the chicken flautas lacked flavor and were super basic to me. Definitely not worth the price. I tried my dad's chilaquiles and they were good, but nothing special. Not to mention the service being really slow here. Not sure if it's not enough workers or accepting too many people but they should really improve the servers situation. Also, be prepared to wait at least 30min on weekends.

    Photos
    Dining area
    Dining area
    La Barca Restaurantes
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    Entrance
    Guacamaya Oasis

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    I loved this all-vegan mexican restaurant so much. The interior is clean and adorably decorated. It…read morelooked a bit like Rainforest Cafe-- so fun to take a few pics with the backdrops! I've been craving breakfast food for a while so I got the breakfast burrito to try. It definitely hit the spot for me, and it was so big I ended up splitting it with 2 other people. My friend got the breakfast bowl and I tried some. It was basically the same as the burrito but just deconstructed with quinoa as a base. It was all great! I love that Guacamaya serves breakfast all day for late risers like me. I really wanted to try the coconut Tres leches that was on display as well, but I think they said it was like $12. That was way too steep for me for a single slice.

    Finding a good plant-based restaurant or grocery store in my area proved a bit challenging, but I…read morestumbled upon a gem in Downey! I decided to treat my best friend to dinner and drinks. The restaurant was fairly empty when we arrived. We ordered gorditas, guacamole, and nachos. I had a margarita, and my friend enjoyed her nachos with a refreshing cucumber drink. We also purchased a cup of *Champurado* to go, after sampling it - and it's truly exceptional. My gorditas featured a delicious mushroom "meat" and soy chorizo. The chorizo had a delightful kick - a pleasant spice, not overpowering. The mushroom "meat" was fantastic! The guacamole was perfect, and I appreciated the NO tomatoes. I didn't try the nachos, but my friend seemed to thoroughly enjoy the diverse ingredients. We had a wonderful time and I'll definitely be returning. I highly recommend the *Champurrado*, the gorditas (especially the mushroom one!), and the guacamole. The soy chorizo was also excellent.

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    Guacamaya Oasis
    Guacamaya Oasis
    Kale Caesar Salad with chicken and mango juice

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    Kale Caesar Salad with chicken and mango juice
    El Cafetalito

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    4.7
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    So underrated! Delicious Salvadorean and Mexican food!!…read more They first served chips with salsa, which was good and not too spicy. Later they also brought big fluffy tortillas, which I believe are the Salvadorean style tortillas. They are super soft, so fresh and fluffy. Pupusas They were huge!!! So flavorful and tasty. I tried the revueltas (cheese, fried pork, and beans) and the queso con jalapeno (cheese with jalapeno). Everything just melted in my mouth. I didn't expect the jalapeno one to have so much flavor too. The pupusas are my favorites out of everything I tried. Beef taco I tried this à la carte with the crunchy taco shell and shredded beef. There is a lot of filling (lettuce, tomato, and cheese) and the beef is tender. Not too greasy, not too dry. Love the crunchiness of the taco shell. The tacos are usually sold in twos with rice and beans. Carne Asada Plate The carne asada was very tender. Also comes with beans, simple salad, rice, and lemon wedge. There was no wait to get seated. Lots of seats and tables. They also have a TV with a movie playing. Service was good! Glad the server also has a sense of humor haha. The food took 15-20 minutes, which isn't too bad. The interior has a traditional Mexican aesthetic. Feels homey. The parking lot is not super big, but I had no problems parking on a Sunday. I would come back and recommend!

    Came to this restaurant me and the family were craving pupusa, found this little restaurant on yelp…read morenot too far from home went to check it out drove up. There is parking space in front not a lot. It is kind of tough to get to since it's in a main street area, but there is parking inside restaurant is really comfortable very clean. Customer service was amazingly friendly helpful. Patient order some pupusa's to go. The food was really great. Very delicious. You can tell they take their time making their food. Will definitely come back and try something else next time if you're in town or looking for some good pupusa, I would recommend this place.

    Photos
    Inside Restaurant- 2026
    Inside Restaurant- 2026
    PUPUSAS SO GOOD IT'S GONEEE
    PUPUSAS SO GOOD IT'S GONEEE
    Front of restaurant -2026

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    Front of restaurant -2026

    Tempo Cantina - Downey - mexican - Updated August 2026

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