Free music is what brought me to the Escondite. I've gone twice now to see my favorite local band Blackwater Jukebox play on their patio. The fried pickles w/ ranch are SO GOOD. the vibes are great. And it's a chicago bar where you can get a chicago style dog, malört, etc. There are several dishes that can be modified to be vegetarian and there are bbq jackfruit tacos on the menu as a vegan option. Not the most vegan friendly place as there is quite a bit of taxidermy as decor, just putting that out there incase that's not your jam. Oh, one more positive comment - the views from the patio and outdoor area is an amazing view of the DTLA skyline. I'll be returning again for sure. read more

When my friend lived in downtown LA, I used to come here all the time, even on holidays like St. Patrick's Day. After he left, I've gone by a few times, but it usually takes a while for me to register that this place is in downtown. While I was driving around the other day thinking of where to eat, I pulled up Yelp while I was in downtown. This place appeared on the second page and I got excited. I haven't been here in so long, but once I got there, I was so excited their kitchen was still open, late on a Saturday night. I ordered their breakfast burger and their buffalo mushrooms. I love their buffalo mushrooms because they are deep fried and then coated in buffalo sauce. Their mushrooms are so juicy too. There is so much flavor in these mushrooms. The burger is amazing too and actually, all their burgers are. The captain kangaroo breakfast burger one comes with a hash brown, egg, cheddar, bacon and gravy. It's definitely a treat, but all their burgers are. You get a great view when you are outside. Most nights, they have live music if you are into rock and metal, and the ambiance here is just really chill. Make sure to check this place out! read more

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Live music and the sound is dialed in. No draft beer but a good and unique selection of canned and bottled beer. Tried the buffalo mushrooms and definitely recommend. Bartender was attentive, friendly, and efficient. Chicago flags and signs around the bar, adjacent gated parking lot, stickers on the bathroom walls, and overall a fun spot. read more

Came here for a show for a band my friend is in and it was fun! What I liked about this place was that they have a parking lot onsite and someone is guarding it. Cause LA is kinda sketch... They had heaters and a mini fireplace were we kept warm as the show was outside. Overall had a great time, it's a bar so who doesn't enjoy that. read more

The Escondite - American Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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When I entered with my buddies we were all confused. Where do we sit , where do we order, how does this place work. We sat for about 20 mins after which we saw the bartender come out after which we had to walk up and ask her how this works etc. The bartender couldn't make the entire order of cocktails because they were out of stock. Pretty was pretty good for the price you pay - generous portions. The ambience was the pretty good. They had live music but unfortunately the sound was too loud. We could barely listen to the singer or ourselves. read more

The Escondite - American Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I am so confused. I was in town for work, had a night alone, and from the pics and reviews, this looked like the perfect little punky dive bar to grab a burger and beer. When I arrived, despite saying open everywhere online, it was completely dark and felt very unsafe. I rarely feel unsafe in big cities. There were homeless encampments everywhere, and a homeless guy peeing up against a wall looking addicted, like beyond hope cracked out junkie addicted. I've interacted positively with our homeless friends in various cities, but these were next level. The Lyft guy tried to let me out and I had him double back to the hotel. So, what I want to know is WTF? Did it close recently and not update its status online? I also tried to hit Pattern Bar and it was shut tight, despite saying open. Any info would be appreciated, as I can't find an answer online. read more

The Escondite is a curated dive, if there is such a thing. It has a Midwestern beer bar vibe with rustic wood, mounted deer heads, flowing Pabst. But instead of cornfields, out the front windows and across the parking lot, there's a gorgeous L.A. skyline view. The food is amazing. All burgers we've tried have been bomb, but the fries are extraordinary. Thick, crispy, flavourful. If you bemoan In N Out fries, you'll probably love these. It's worth braving the area (Skid Row) to enjoy a rare-to-find beer and a basket of these glorious spuds. read more

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What a cool spot! Great live music, nice people, friendly bartenders, weird decor. Free parking (what??????), extremely reasonable drink prices, and a very sociable outdoor section. I always knew the day would come when I'd eventually try Malört, and this seemed like the perfect place to do it. 10/10, it was just as awful as the legends say. I wasn't even able to finish the shot. Task failed successfully, bucket list item checked off. read more

Came by sunday aug 10/25 Bar was slow at 5pm still took 20 min to get a drink. Perhaps me and my guest looked destitute. Ordered fries and margaritas + shots all well drinks. Spent over 120bucks Vibe is off with the bartending staff. Perhaps its because of all the skidrow zombies. 7 years visiting this bar off and on , food changed and the bar side service is less to be desired. read more

It gets really busy when Chicago teams are playing so plan at least an hour and a half ahead. Food was good. Service was great and ample parking. read more

I came here for one of the music nights. I asked for a non alcoholic beer (I don't drink) and they served me a stout 8% beer. Did not realize and I drank it. The bartender then avoided me the entire 20 minutes we were waiting to close out and talk about what happened. Another bartender came and apologized, said he didn't have his glasses but if he's working maybe he should. Cool place. Crappy experience. read more

Great spot for all Chicago sports. Bartenders there are friendly and service is great. Food and drink selection is also good. Definitely recommend read more

My #1 favorite bar in LA. Has that rustic dive bar feel with really good bar food, great music when no live bands are playing, live music all through the week, rad bar tenders, outdoor seating, killer view of the DTLA skyline, Buckhunter. 10/10 read more

Reminds me a those "off the beaten tracks" bars you would find in DTLA 30 years ago. Good drinks & beers, plus live music on some nights. Usually ample parking in their own lot. read more

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Food was great I had a fish taco it was really good, The service wasn't the greatest and it wasn't busy to say they were super busy. Loved the music and the atmosphere. read more

This place was absolutely amazing! The food was delicious, and the owner was super friendly and welcoming. I had such a great experience here and will definitely be coming back. Thank you for the excellent service and wonderful food! read more

I'm not from the LA area, nor am I familiar with much of the area. I came out to check out a monthly music event at this location and it did not disappoint. If you know some of my likes, you'll know I love me a good local watering hole, and this was that. Bonus that they offer a decent menu with options for those who lean more veggie, than others. Unfortunately, I did not partake in the jackfruit offering that sounded delightful. I did however do as I do and belly up to the bar. The server was attentive and came my way nearly immediately. He returned with the most delicious Shirley temple, grateful it lacked any sight of maraschino cherries, thank you Mr. Bartender. Anyhow, they had something playing on the television which was perfect for me, a solo attendee hoping for something to stare at while indulging in the music. A few Djs spun keeping it lively until the live performance. It was an evening of literal music to my ears and a super chill vibe. From the staff to the patrons everyone was pleasant and having a good time. If I lived in the area, this would definitely be a favorite spot to visit. I will mention, because I was unable to find the answer before arriving, they do have a private parking lot, the evening I went, it was attended. However, it certainly isn't a parking garage and I was glad to have gotten there early enough to get a spot. I would absolutely recommend this place. I will also absolutely return at some point just to give the menu a try. read more

Nice bar, great prices! Drama Dolls are great entertainment..excellent service... I love the outside patio read more

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We come here for the delicious food but the bartenders just make the experience better.. I want to give a big thank you to our Bartender today Sarah! Thank you for amazing read more

I go for the drinks, then the music, then the food. Bartenders are always on point with my drinks.

Got a last minute call to fill in as a bass player for my buddies band! Didn't know where the show was but it ended up at The Escondite!! Wife and I checked reviews and saw the food looked pretty good! We got there early and I ordered the escondite sandwich, it's a Chicago style sandwich, it was ok. The smash burgers look amazing and my friends who had one said they loved theirs! The places is decorated super awesome, I felt like I was in a cabin in the woods haha we got on stage around 930. The inside stage is small so we played outside in the "barn" and its was awesome! LA skyline in beautiful, private parking for all guest! I love this place! Wish I lived closer I would make it a regular spot for me and my friends. read more

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Great dive bar! Awesome food and true happy hour prices. Near DTLA and perfect location. Lastly, awesome bands and typically no cover charge read more

The Escondite - St Padsy's!!! - American Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Great little hidden spot with its own parking lot. Mannaimal is a bomb ass bartender. Yes that's his nick name that he likes. He makes gr8 drinks and never lets you go dry, that's a good bartender. Great atmosphere and you meet all kinds or different people from different walks of live in there. They have great food options as well. They do live music, I believe it's on the weekends at night and when they don't have live music they play pandora but keep it fresh. It has indoor and outdoor seating. read more

The Escondite - American Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Place is a great laid back atmosphere. Perfect place to catch a game or just hang out with friends ... best hot wings and french fries like the best of all time..yeah yeah read more

The Escondite - Scene from patio area. - American Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Best bar in Skidroyko! Free parking, outside area, and amazing decor. Will definitely be coming back.

Brian (the owner), if you're reading this, if your bartenders are stealing from me, they're stealing from you. You have a thief in your staff and apparently nobody there - including you - cares about customers being ripped off. We were there last Sunday, 8/6, from 1-3pm. 3 beers and two glasses of white wine were $43. I tipped 25% in cash. Two days later, I see that I was charged another $50. A day after that, another $50 for a total of $143, so I canceled my card. Brian is apparently seldom there or doesn't get messages or return calls. I've asked for managers and left my number three times, but they're apparently also never there and don't return calls either. One of the bartenders I talked to on the phone (who I'm pretty sure was the bartender who ripped me off) told me to "come in and wait for a manager to come in." Yeah, right. There are a thousand better choices for dive bars in Los Angeles - that won't rip you off. read more

The Escondite's happy hour is fantastic! The BBQ burger was juicy and delicious. Found this spot through a Teazy.co text, and I'm glad I checked it out. read more

Three only because they were giving us a hard time on a couple who bumped into us there and we said hi. According to them they couldn't be close to us ??They said they would have to be moved to the other side of the place and they did. Five minutes later a random couple sat in the same place dumb if you ask... If they would of never said hi it wouldn't have been a problem. But rules are rules I guess. Other than that drinks were good and our server was really nice. read more

Como se dice "escondite"? Is it The Escondīte, or The Escondeeté? Potatoe/poetāto. The staff here is much friendlier than most watering holes, and you do have your choice when being watered, so choose nice, warm, or choose you, who am I to say? I will say that I've played two shows here so far, one in the early days, before the plague, and one very recently, in this brave new age where up is now down, downtown is now Boyle Heights, twitter is now X, and Belgians wear frowns. We're indignant, for the first time since the Middle Ages. We're having trouble digesting our fermented pop, we're fomenting fizz, why do we do thiz? God only knows. If I had a line to Brian Wilson, I'd use it (I want to be a millionaire). So back in the day, there was one tiny stage beyond the bar, and we did our thing (for the life of me I cannot remember which project it was), but now, there are two stages, and we made use of them both! That was an experience. It's the small things in life: dividing to conquer, seeing greatness in another night out. The sound man was no exception in terms of the staff being friendly, even the other acts were varied and enjoyable. It was a Friday night, and one to write to Yelp about. The turnstile was humming, people coming and going, I wasn't hungry, but I had a couple pizza ports that were great. I highly, highly recommend this lovely place. read more

The Escondite - :) - American Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Cool ambience. Seriously great work with the lasers, view of la, hanging Edison lights, and old classic pickup trucks made as tables. Weird tho...when i asked what scotch they had, no one knew. I asked 3 times. Literally went into the bar and got yelled at for asking and talked down to. I said no need to be rude. They told me i was being rude. I said for asking what kind of whiskey you have? Then it came down to that they only have Johnny walker. I asked for black on the rocks. It came out neat. I asked for rocks. They condescendingly asked me how many. Just poor manners here unfortunately :( Then there was a bar fight right after that with some guy making fun of someone's sexuality. Not cool. Idk. Just a weird vibe. Cool place. Weird people. Not cool. But cool ambiance. read more

The Escondite - the outside of a restaurant - American Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Very cool place. I live on the opposite side of downtown (Westlake) so I've heard of this place but hadn't visited before. Great service and good drink prices. The food was yummy (I asked the bartender to recommend something -- I forget what it was but it was good). read more

Burgers are good, fries were salty AF. Average service in the restaurant area. Very loud on a weekend night. Only recommend if you wanna eat at a bar type environment. Don't recommend for kids. Overall an okay experience, but wouldn't come back. read more

Yummmmm~ came on a week night with my dog. Was able to grab a seat outside (One extra star for that). Friendly and attentive service. Loved both the burger and sandwich as well as sides. Hearty and meaty, exactly what I was looking for that night. Will be back to try more! read more

Cool Bar, Hottest Open Mic in Los Angeles! Massive audience for Open Mic Great, Supportive People. DO NOT MISS THIS MIC!

One of the greatest dive bars IN THE WORLD. Free live music, a rarity in Los Angeles, pretty much on the daily. Great food and booze. A must if you're in SkidRoyko... read more

scammy restaurant with parking area - no signs, lets you pay $10 and later on kicks you out

The Escondite would be one of my favorite bars but add on that it's a Chicago bar...Winner!!!! Love the "W," Bears flags, and the awesome Blackhawks logo carved into the round wooden sign. You enter through a side door to the outdoor patio's right with several wooden benches, each with its own outdoor "coffee table." Opposite the benches is a row of round high top tables that sadly overlook the homeless on San Pedro (the homeless situation being sad, not the view). You are greeted inside by a hostess station with the Municipal Flag of Chicago hanging above it. If you turn right, there are a few booths/tables, kitchen, and restrooms. If you turn left, you see several lower booths along the brick west wall and the bar on the east wall. Inside, the lighting is much darker unless the front door and windows are open. The bar itself is tremendous. The back bar stands tall with intricate woodwork along the face and a lion head front and center. It is stunning and complete with mirrors that stand behind several bottle shelves. There are TVs on each edge of the back bar. Under the antler chandeliers rests a shiny, dark wooden bar top with a large rail to rest your elbows. Around 10-12 square wooden bar stools with back support sit against the bar. The food menu is simple but delicious, with a beer and liquor selection that most will find acceptable. I plan to visit The Escondite every time I'm in DTLA. If I'm lucky, it will be during a Cubs, Blackhawks, or Bears game, but regardless if you love Chicago, this is a great place. read more

Very good pub burgers--cooked to order and served with thick-cut fries. Plus, they have a small, but tasty selection of craft beers on draft. We went for lunch and tried the Gavin Macleod and Slim Pickens burgers. We ordered them medium rare and that's the way they were served. The meat was delicious, great toasted buns, good toppings. The staff was very friendly. Will definitely come here again. read more

A Chicago dive bar minus the cold weather during the winter = Chicago beer, burgers, sports, and live music. I'll rep anything Chicago so this was welcoming; not surprised that LA would have something like this here. Beers brewed in Illinois can be found here such as goose island; California brewing such as balaste is also here of course. The chalk board will show the beer specials and they have good ones for a specific day. Now the burgers: it's a staple of America and it's the main attraction here in terms of eats. All kinds of specialty ones can be found here. Mine was the Captain Kangaroo (egg, hash browns, bacon) and the Don Ho (pineapple, jalapeños, teriyaki sauce) is what my bro-in-law ordered. Great concoctions as they use some high quality beef and ingredients. Kick ass all the way! The tv's show whatever games are on as long as it's Chicago teams. All of them are doing well except the Bears so 3 out of 4 isn't bad (sorry White Sox, you don't count). Live music is played every night and they try to get different artists. Most of them play on a weekly basis and they have their own fans that show up so you'll the see same crowd on a certain day of the week. Not a bad way to earn regulars. If I lived here, I would be one of them. read more

The Escondite - Captain Kangaroo; cause it's a boss! - American Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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In the heart of Skidrokyo, the outdoor patio has its benefits: you can watch the beleaguered and downtrodden homeless stagger through the parking lot. That's the "great ambience" mentioned in other reviews. The owner served the drinks and the best I can say is the drinks come fast and he isn't outright rude. The main problem is the gouging prices and a lack of transparency from the menu. The beers are listed and well-priced at $6-8 for a bottle or pint-sized can, but the whisky (not listed on the menu) is served in thimbles which are not even a one-ounce pour. $10 for two sips of Bulleit bourbon. Mixed and specialty drinks have listed prices, shots and drinks served neat or on the rocks are not. But the kicker was I was charged $3 for a six-ounce plastic cup of seltzer water. Don't think I'll be back. read more