Made a reservation for a Friday night at 8 for 3 of us but could have easily walked in. Fu gwaa falsetto was perfect. Also really liked the High plains drifter! read more

See all

Street parking, so good luck depending on day and time! Also the area isn't the cleanest and keep your wits about you! Now the restaurant: A fully gluten free restaurant and bar is pretty cool! Very bar vibes. Everything is very flavorful, maybe too flavorful for me, lol. The fried chicken biscuit was so good (highly recommend), I got the hot sauce on the side and I'm glad I did so I could control how much of the flavor per bite. The biscuit was soft and bouncy and the chicken was cooked to perfection. The fries are salted and peppered, and I think the coleslaw is too. They had a special and the steak was also good. They charge $1 for ranch on the side I'm guessing they have a rotating coverage because we talked to three different server, two were way nicer and helpful than the other one. But overall they did a good job and helped explain things and make accommodations. I'll definitely be back next time I'm seeing a play at the Ahmanson. (about a 3 minute drive minus the crazy parking situations) read more

We came here on a Sunday night to meet up with a few friends for dinner before heading to the Ahmanson. Patio seating was vibey and cute. I loved the atmosphere. Street parking was a little hard to find but not too bad and it was free (although the neighborhood is a bit rough). The chicken thigh was very tasty and everyone seemed happy with their meal. We also got the chicken biscuit and streak frites. I thought the steak was ok but the fries were delicious. They have solid ranch here. The hot sauce wasn't my thing but my friends liked it. Service was mixed for us. We had three different people helping us and sometimes communication was missed between them and the kitchen. There was slight push back for sensory requests with separating food until my friend made it clear she was autistic. The servers were all really nice and helpful. The dessert took a very long time and so we cancelled it but then it finally came out, but it was not in a to-go container as requested previously. They were kind enough to give us a refund as we had to run. Table was wonky and we had a bit of a spill and had to wedge the leg for more stability ourselves. Little things but enough of them to get the idea that there was something off. Overall, we had a lovely experience and would come again. Definitely recommend better communication between staff (possibly owner helping) if multiple people are handling the same table. read more

Thunderbolt - Chicken thigh - Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

There's plenty of sports bars around and this is NOT one of them. The location, like anywhere around here, has no parking and you're more than likely going to have to park on a residential street. Perfect spot for a nightcap. The drinks have unique tasting profiles. I'd skip on any food here as this is really a cocktail spot. I only wish they had more vodka drinks. read more

Thunderbolt - Menu with cool sticker. - Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Stopped in after dinner in the area and easy enough the find parking in surrounding streets. Sat down at the bar, bartender was friendly and explained their menu. We decided on the koji killer and the barcelonette. Both delicious well crafted cocktails and honestly everything on the menu sounded so good. Great little spot and super lively with lots of people constantly coming in but never too busy or loud. Cool spot to check out! read more

See all

This is my favorite bar! Great decor, chill vibes, amazing music being played, plentiful seating options- outside, booths and bar stools. The food is also delicious - perfect to share with friends. The bartenders are friendly and always down to recommend the right drink. read more

See all

Once here, I always have a great time exploring the incredibly curated cocktail menu. Everything is so unique and gastronomy driven. Bartenders are always nice and seem to genuinely enjoy the craft. If you come on a weekend evening, the place is buzzing with a younger crowd dressed like they're about to hit a club and if you're like my husband and I, may feel a bit out of place dropping in after a Kings' game. The only downside is parking. It's rough; street only. There is valet available, but I refuse to resort to valet. lol Be warned: one time we were going to come here with friends from south OC and they closed last minute for a private party who bought them out for the night. Be sure to check their socials for any last minute closures. read more

See all

I've been to Thunderbolt three times now. I once sat indoors on a busy Friday night, once outdoors on a more chilled Saturday night, and most recently last night on a slower Sunday night. My first two visits were great. Service was warm, I was impressed by the creative cocktails, and it offered a fun, relaxed vibe. I enjoyed the Fu Gwaa Falsetto, La Frutera and The P-Town Boxing Club "Ode to an Old Fashioned", which became one of my favorites during my last visit almost a year ago. It had a noticeable pleasant pandan note, and was perfectly balanced. This most recent visit, however, was disappointing. I ordered the P-town Boxing Club and it tasted completely different. Basically like straight whiskey. The pandan was barely there, and the drink felt under-diluted, drinking more like a chilled neat pour than a drink inspired by an Old Fashioned. When I mentioned this to the bartender, he dismissed my feedback, telling me that it was "impossible" for it to taste different because everything is batched and none of the recipes have changed. I didn't even realize Thunderbolt's drinks were batched until that moment. As someone who's been a bartender for several years, I understand that batching can save time and ensure consistency, but it can also affect flavor if not handled properly. Things like dilution, storage time, and technique absolutely make a difference. The way my feedback was brushed off felt condescending rather than curious or respectful. Later, he did offer to replace the drink, but by then the gesture didn't feel genuine and I felt uncomfortable accepting. He did end up covering a snack my group ordered and I appreciated that gesture. Overall, I've had better experiences at Thunderbolt in the past, which is why this one was so disappointing. I still think the bar has a lot going for it. Unique drinks, great food, good energy, and a strong concept, but the hospitality and consistency fell short this time. read more

Thunderbolt - Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I was drawn to this place due to the fact it was on the NA Top 100 Bars list. Tl;dr: do I think it's Top 100? No. Do I think it was a good experience? Yeah Drinks - we only came here for drinks. I ordered the Barcelonnette as I prefer fruity cocktails. I was pleased with the taste of it and would order it again. My other family members got other drinks and they also liked their drinks (emphasize like and not love). Service and vibes - the reason why this place doesn't get a 5 star rating was because the service and experience aspect. It took 20+ minutes to get our initial order in from getting a table and another 30 to get all of our drinks. In addition, we were in the corner of the bar area and we were prone to our neighbors always bumping into us. With LA's diverse bar scene, I wouldn't be rushing to go back to this place, but I would be open to going to this place again. read more

See all

The drinks are unique and pretty spectacular! We live in East LA and were looking for a new date night spot, and we found it! Unpretentious and laid back. The food we tried was tasty too. We will be back. read more

This place caught my eye a few years back when I was perusing TimeOut LA. It was named one of the best cocktail bars in North America and top in the world. So let's get into it. Cuisine: 4/5. Go for the Fried Chicken Biscuit, if you're down with meat. If you're like any of my Vegan home girls (yawn), then there's also vegan options on the menu. The Mac n Cheese actually slaps. Beverages: 5/5. P-Town Boxing Club comes CORRECT! Serio, if you have a thing for Old Fashions, but rarely order em because many places make whack versions, do yourself a favor and order a P-Town. The P-Town redeemed all the whack old fashions I've had over the years, giving me a solid two piece to my taste buds. 5/5: Barcelonnette & Pastelito. I love Mezcal and Tequila, even more so when it's "thoughtfully" integrated into a fine cocktail. I say thoughtfully because many establishments seem to have hopped on the Mezcal bandwagon and now make whack drinks. These two offerings prove that cocktails with Mezcal and Tequila, when made with care, are works of art. Negroni Nourmand: 4/5. I love Negronis. The first time I sampled this cocktail was memorable, the second time felt a bit off, hence the 4/5. That said, it's still solid. Service: 5/5. Solid, despite one off night. Respect to bro behind the bar playing that head knocking real Hip Hop. Ambiance: 5/5. Coo. Even with all the hipsters, it's still a solid vibe. Enjoy. read more

Thunderbolt - P-Town Boxing Club - Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

See all

I came with a group of 14 (w/ a reservation) on a Saturday night to celebrate a friend's birthday. Even though we were a larger group, the bar itself did not feel crowded. There is plenty of seating indoors, in addition to an outside patio. Street parking & valet are both available. Their cocktails are fun & unique! I got the Fu Gwaa Falsetto because of the li hing mui & it was delicious. Fries were also yummy. Music was great & they played a lot of 2000s R&B. The bartenders are also very nice & came around often to check in. One of the things that really stood out was that they were CONSTANTLY refilling our waters, which I haven't really experienced at any other cocktail bars, but it was nice because it helped with not having a hangover the next day. read more

Thunderbolt - Fu Gwaa Falsetto - Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Really fun bar that gives "see-and-be-seen" vibes but executes on innovative cocktails and tasty bar food! Fair warning, this place gets crowded and there ends up being a line, but once you get in there's plenty of places to stand or sit with your party. Some stand outs were the Fu Gwaa Falsetto and P-town Boxing Club! In terms of food, the fries are a must! So crispy and flavorful! Even with how crowded the place was, the staff was very friendly and attentive with filling up our waters. Definitely a place to check out if you're looking for a cocktail bar in the Echo Park area. read more

Thunderbolt - Fu Gwaa Falsetto - Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Every time I come here, I love the drinks! The environment is great and the flavors are always unique and delicious. Highly recommend coming here to unique and flavorful takes on classic drinks. read more

Great drinks, even better service, yummy food! We loved the mezcal cocktails, and the chicken wings. Nikki was amazing!!! Will come back.

Had a great time! Music was great! Staff was very attentive and handled a big crowd with grace. My only complaint is no parking, so unfortunately I don't plan to go back. read more

Perfect neighborhood bar! Quite busy for a Sunday evening. We sat outside and it was beautiful. They have some finger food which we had to go along with our beverages. The fried pimento cheese balls we're mouthwatering delicious! Our drinks were also made well! Lots of flavor in every sip. The hardest thing was fining parking but after a few minutes we found one! This place is a sister bar to Night on Earth, which is the polar opposite. Here you have dim lighting but bright in a way and everything feels as if they're inviting you in with a hug! read more

See all

Cute little neighborhood bar with fast, friendly service, good food (for a late night bite) and a cool, laid back vibe. Not the best neighborhood, but I lucked out with street parking close by. 4.5 stars. read more

Thunderbolt - Fried Chicken Biscuit - Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

See all

I went barhopping a couple months ago and this bar was my favorite place of the night. It is a rather chill and more quiet place which I prefer and you can sip your drink with friends and have good conversations. Service was great. We went on a Thursday night and it wasn't crowded at all, but the weekend would probably be busier. I do think the drinks are pretty strong here however! We ordered the jackfruit thunderbolt, la frutera, and pastelito. The former were the stronger drinks and pastelito, which I got, was pretty sweet. read more

Thunderbolt - jackfruit thunderbolt, la frutera, pastelito - Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

ugh I luvvvvv this bar!!! it's always lively but never too loud, their food is excellent and GLUTEN FREE!!! gluten free fried chicken biscuit? hell yes. shrimp toast??? yum. but their DRINKS! the drinks are the star. this place cares about the technique behind making a fantastic cocktail, and they don't shy away from interesting experimentations. I love their echo park trash can and if that can design was on a shirt i'd wear it everywhere lol. their pastelito drink is also soooo yummy. everyone is kind and attentive and will check up on you to make sure you're doing well. love love love this place. the only thing is that parking is kinda hit or miss, but they do have a valet now. read more

See all

Was on the way home the other night, and had been planning to go here and check it out, so no time better then the present. It was fully packed, but there were a couple seats at the bar (literally two), so we were seated and got Diego to business. Obviously, being a bar, drinks first. And, bring ranked the #24 bar in North America, expectations were higher than with most places. We tried the Barcelonnette and the Koji Killer. Barcelonnette missed a nice mezcal tequila with suze, passion fruit and lime. It looks like a whiskey sour, minus the egg. Flavor wise, there is a nice frothyness on top, then the mezcal and suze hits your palate with the lime and a slight passion fruit flavor following. It's a nice, refreshing drink. The Koji Killer is a premade blended drink with rum, orange, pineapple, coconut and shio Koji. I feel this would be great on a hot LA night sitting by the pool or on the beach. Obviously has to smoke the food also. We tried the mac n cheese which sounded delightful with a cheddar and blue cheese mixture. The but cheese felt hidden and was hard to make out it's flavor profile. The Mac was also more on the moist end, not like your expect Mac n cheese these days. Can't say I would get it again, to be honest. We also got the drumettes, which were basically chicken wings with a tamari glaze. They were cooked well, nice and crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, with a nice flavor on the crust with that glaze. Overall, great bar with friendly staff and patrons, solid drinks and bar food. Definitely go for the drinks, and, if you're hungry, grab some drumettes. read more

See all

Would not recommend. One and done. Drinks are on tap and not good. Will not be back. Confused at how this place is highly rated? Service is friendly and great. read more

Ranked top 24 from North America's best50 bars in 2025, Thunderbolt released the newest menu from featuring academic explanation on the modern mixology techniques. The carbonation, temperature control, plant based foaming agent and milk washing in combination show the strong message towards sustainability. These techniques also support speed and consistency, showing both science and craft. My favorite is Hops Don't Lie, a highball with dominant citrus flavor from hops and bergamot, supported by slight bitterness from grapefruit, super drinkable and delicious. read more

See all

We stopped by Thunderbolt for drinks before dinner. Inside? Great vibes, lively, sexy lighting, solid service as I could see the waiters going around table to table. Outside? Totally different story. We must've had on our invisibility cloaks because no one seemed to notice us. I tried the Echo Park Trash Can which comes in a can (cute idea) but it was super sweet. Not my thing. I also tried the other cocktails my friends ordered, and theirs were much better. People keep saying this place is amazing, so maybe I just caught it on an off night which happens no matter how good an establishment is. I totally get that. Hope next time will be better :( But honestly? Didn't love it this visit. Stick to sitting inside if you go. read more

This is a vibes heavy spot whether you're meeting a group or grabbing a seat at the bar solo. The food is what originally kept me coming back, I really appreciate that the menu is entirely gluten-free. I've tried a handful of cocktails and they tend to lean a little sweet for my taste, but I do like that they usually offer a red, orange, and white natural wine by the glass. That said, the very things that drew me in have made my visits less frequent lately. The recent wine selections have skewed extremely funky and vinegary, which can happen with natural wines however it's felt consistent rather than occasional. Being told "well, it's natural wine" when a glass feels borderline undrinkable is annoying. Many bar restaurants in the neighborhood also focus on natural wine, and I've found myself choosing others that curate bottles for 'by the glass' options with a bit more balance. On the food side, many of my go-to favorites have disappeared. I loved the warm collard greens, the gluten-free mac and cheese, and the cheese poppers. On my last visit, with most of my favorites gone, I ordered the drumettes and they came out lukewarm (they usually come out piping hot) I didn't send them back, but it was disappointing. I'll definitely be back to Thunderbolt and would still recommend it as a great place to gather for drinks. The food just isn't something I'd go out of my way for at this point. I'm curious to see how the menu and wine selections evolve with future changes. read more

I liked their P-town boxing club (old fashioned) It was a nice spin on it with the notes of pandan. The vibe is great too. I can see why it won such accolades. Their sister bar (Night on Earth) is also great, so you should try it too if you get the chance! read more

Small but cool bar. Nice decor. Clean bathrooms are a plus. Service was kind of slow and our waitress not super friendly, but other servers seemed pretty nice. My only real complaint is it is extremely dark inside. Hard to even read the menu. Drinks were pretty good. they had a burger special when we came, but the burger was just okay. read more

Thunderbolt - Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

The best friggin gluten-free meal I've had in my life. Every single thing that grace, my lips was delicious, from the buttermilk chicken biscuit sandwich, to the Hoppin, John's rolls, to the Cajun fries. And oh my God, don't let me get started about dessert. That butterscotch apple pie tart with ice cream was to die for. I truly cannot think of when I've had a better meal, period. I will be fantasizing about it until I'm able to go again. Ps. The bar is also very cute with a great cocktail menu and attentive service to boot. read more

Thunderbolt - Butterscotch Apple Pie Tart - Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Thunderbolt is on Sunset overhanging the Freeway on a nondescript street with some interesting street art and graffiti. For my birthday we went to Echo Park Lake, then this hip bar gluten free restaurant before going to the Hollywood Bowl to see Khruangbin, a duo from Texas I knew nothing about. However, everything worked beautifully. Thunderbolt has a fascinating menu of cocktails and we each had one from the cocktail menu that provoked a lot of questions but offered mixes I had never experienced. Since I'm Celiac it is rare indeed when I can share every dish on the menu and I love to share plates whether I am supposed to or not. I try not to do this from other diners but my habit or vice was curtailed and y'all were safe when I was diagnosed 25 years ago with Celiac. For the first 15 or so years I was relegated to the proverbial sit in the corner and eat my gluten free nonsense behind those horrible partitions they put up in some offices. Now there are some all GF restaurants like 401k in Venice where I can graze once again. Excitedly in this low key cool environment with cool music and vibes where I definitely increased the age curve (which doesn't faze me a bit due to my immaturity), we ordered the following somewhat offbeat GF comfort food: MOMMA LEAH'S CHICKEN DRUMETTES Tamari Glaze (gf, df) MAC 'N CHEESE Cheddar & Bleu Cheese, Bread Crumbs, Fried Shallot, Chives (gf, v) LITTLE GEM WEDGE Cherry Tomato, Breakfast Radish, Chive, Biscuit Crouton, Herbed Ranch (gf, v, vgo) FRIED CHICKEN BISCUIT Duke's Mayo, Lettuce, Pickled Green Tomato, TB Hot Sauce, Buttermilk Biscuit (gf) Turns out I had to take the Mac N Cheese to the Bowl as the food was plentiful and delicious. You don't have to be a hipster to try this bar and food that is now recognized for its innovative bar that comes with some darn good eatings. The Chicken drumettes were super tangy, wedge salad was crispy and unique. I couldn't get my mouth on half of the fried chicken biscuit and the Mac had great flavor. You don't have to be hip to enjoy this interesting joint but don't blink or you will pass right by. read more

See all

This place is a vibe. Like cheersy but also just cool. The bartenders know their drinks but also look out for you when people maybe overstaying their welcome. For sure coming back! read more

Thunderbolt - Welcome! - Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

See all

A recent friend meetup gave me the opportunity to revisit Thunderbolt after a lengthy absence. I've always been intrigued by their drink descriptions and how they describe the unique composition and ingredients that are involved in making their cocktails. I also like that they offer both indoor and outdoor seating with ample space at the bar. I enjoyed the drinks I tried. The Barcelonnette had a wonderful tartness from the lime and passion fruit, and the Koji Killer reminded me of a pińa colada with a savory edge. The service was friendly but somewhat mixed; we had various people stop by to take orders and check in during the evening but there would also be long gaps between when they would come to our table. read more

I came across thunderbolt on the top bars of North America list and I can see why this place earned it's right to be on the list. The cocktail ingredients are made in house and unique to other bars I've been to in terms flavor profile. For example, I had mushroom infused Manhattan. A very unique flavor profile of earthy and boozy. The P-Town boxing club was my favorite cocktail I had, a Filipino spin on an old fashion with coconut infused whiskey. The food served here is southern comfort, emphasis on comfort. The staff is friendly, attentive, and willingly to craft cocktails to your taste bud desires. The vibe gives neighborhood dive bar with a hipster spin. Parking may be difficult to find, valet is available if you can't find parking. Recommend this spot for a cocktail adventure. read more

See all

This review is only for drinks. All of the food smelled SO good though. WHAT A VIBE THIS PLACE! Absolutely awesome drinks. Koji Killer - Our friend usually doesn't like rum but this coconutty drink was awesome for her! Woodwide Web - It was so interesting because it smelled like the rehydrated shiitake mushroom I cooked last week but it's strong and buttery. Fu Gwa - I had to get this because growing up my mom would always cook Fu Gwa. It works! The bitterness then the sweetness at the end. 5/5 Service is super fast and there's music BUMPIN. Unisex Bathrooms are very cool too as they're all individual and super clean. I loved all of the information in the menu as I'm a big reader. They have a huge selection of natural wines too! It's very cool they have vegan Overall, it was a fantastic experience and I'd love to come back to try the other carefully curated unique drinks they have. Music is gud. Drinks are gud. Vibes are gud. Life is gud. Parking might be a little tough though but worth it. read more

See all

Have always found this to be the best pizza anywhere in S. Cal. Yesterday I decided to venture out and try the Italian sub; best sub ever. Jay, the owner, has outdone himself. Now I have a go-forward dilemma: Pizza or sub, a can't lose proposition! read more

I was there on a Sunday night and 2 of us managed to get seats at the bar right away. The place has a low-key and casual vibe that I like a lot. We already had some drinks in another bar and weren't too hungry, but glad that we got the chicken drumettes which are really delicious and are some of the best food to go with drinks. I started with Liquid Picnic - I always love clarified tomato in cocktails and this one is one of the best, tastes just like a refreshing yet flavorful and concentrated salad. I next got the Fu Gwaa Falseto which is the first cocktail I ever have with bittermelon in it - love how the bitter comes out refreshing and go so well with the booze and the li hing plum powder on top. Extra point is that the head bartender speaks cantonese ;) read more

See all

Amazing unique drinks presented well. Bartenders are all very knowledgeable and make good recommendations as well

Used to be one of my favorite neighborhood bars. Now that I don't live near by it is still one of my favorite bars and always worth the trip. The food and drinks are incredible and the staff is always so friendly, especially love Jonathen (frank is alright). read more

This is a place I WISH I liked the drinks more, but maybe got the wrong thing. Vibe was vibin' (lol, I know)-- somehow they made the ambiance cozy and moody, yet good for a casual night. Went with a friend on a Sunday night and it was the perfect place. SEATING: they have a patio (5-6 tables), a bar area with 10-15 seats, a few standing tables for something more fluid, and then about 8 booth table seats (like 2-3 big booths then 2-4 tables in those "sections"), so plenty of room MUSIC: somehow the music is loud but not penetrating into the conversation - makes for a great mood. Great sound system placement. DRINKS: got 3 different ones between the 2 of us - La Frutera, Pastelito, and the canned sarsaparilla drink. -- my friend did not like the La Frutera (my drink) and I did not like the sarsaparilla drink (probably just preference, for sure). -- I think they try to be super creative with their drinks, which is super fun... but the 3 we tried I felt lacked a punch to it. FOOD: we did share an order of chicken wings - I think it could have used more flavor/sauce. Felt air-fried, good crisp but lacked sauce flavoring. All that being said, 100% would come back and try this place again. Parking is a bit sketch - street parking, in a gentrifying area... so just be cautious when parking and walking to your car. Great spot - had to give it a 4 because I couldn't get behind the drinks we got and that's the reason we came. Maybe I would try the negroni spin next time. Service is great. read more

See all

Was reading through the James Beard nominees, and happened upon this place being nominated and definitely had to try. Thunderbolt is a very unassuming bar in the echo park neighborhood, if you blink you might pass it on your way in. Parking situation is tough, as it is all street parking, but once you step in, it is a beautiful, sleek and modern bar. Bar is first come, first serve, luckily we sat down as soon as we got there. Service is quick, and everyone there is so nice and attentive. Drinks: (was here with my wife and so we shared a few of these) 1. Koji Killer - sweet, well balanced frozen cocktail, gave me a Caribbean vibe, with a little something extra 2. Liquid picnic - savory take on a gin martini, great aromatics, smelled like Christmas, little bit spicy, very delicious 3. P-town boxing club - very nice take on an old fashioned, really delicious 4. La Frutera #3 - fresh, deliciously fruity cocktail. Food: wish we tried more of their food since the fries were so delicious and the pimento cheese bites were absolutely delicious and the ranch really went well with it. Would absolutely recommend trying this place out, just expect yourself to look for parking for a bit, and would absolutely recommend also trying out the food. Really nice cocktail bar! read more

Came here expecting flavorful, complex drinks after seeing that this bar was listed on North America's 50 best bars list. I made a reservation and we were seated promptly. Customer service was amazing. Music was a little too loud, but more importantly the drinks were underwhelming the P-Town boxing club was said to be a staple beverage but my husband said the drink had hardly any pandan notes and tasted like straight up whiskey. This drink should not be compared to an old fashioned. the Fu Gwaa Falsetto, Pastelito, and the Koji Killer were nice drinks but not enough to warrant a second visit. read more