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

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

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I've been coming to Thunderbolt for a while now with my boyfriend and our friends, and it's usually one of our go-to spots to recommend to people visiting the area. Unfortunately, last Wednesday's visit was a pretty disappointing exception, and it came down entirely to our server, Adi. From the start, she was dismissive and short with us. When my boyfriend asked a few questions about the food menu, her tone was flippant, like the questions were an inconvenience. Later, when part of our group started talking a little louder (we'd already placed our orders and were just catching up), she snapped at us with a curt "can you guys be quiet," her tone more rude than the moment really called for. It set an uncomfortable tone for the rest of the night, which was especially unfortunate since we were there celebrating a friend's birthday. The moment that really stuck with me was when she cut me off after only two drinks, commenting that my eyes "looked different" than when I came in. I felt a little tipsy, sure, but I wasn't acting out of order or being sloppy in any way, the room was dim to begin with, and the rest of my group was ordering third drinks without issue. It didn't feel like a standard judgment call so much as being singled out, especially paired with everything else that had happened that night. I want to be clear that this review is about one server's attitude, not the bar itself. We've had great experiences here before, and I know the owners take pride in the place. But this was disappointing enough that I'm hesitant to keep recommending it to friends and newcomers the way we normally do, at least until I know service like this isn't the norm. 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 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

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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

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

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

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

This place was amazing for my Celiac kids (note they are 21 and over after 9 PM). The kitchen is dedicated gluten-free, the staff and management were friendly and accommodating, and the food was so delicious. Favorites were the drummettes and fried green tomatoes. We came from Venice and will be back, but hoping they consider opening a Westside location! We need more great gluten-free dining options over here. read more

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

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

I was enticed to come here after seeing this spot as the only LA establishment on North America's Best Bars (by World's Best) at #10. Is this LA's top cocktail bar? Maybe. Is it good? Hell yeah. Loves: + Amazing cocktails. Something to remind you of a guava-cheese danish? They've got it. Carbonated canned cocktails? Yes. + Amazing service + Amazing patrons, where a cool place attracts cool people? My friend dropped something from their wallet upon leaving and some kind soul ran outside to give it to us after we left. What a human x3 + More spacious than it looks on the outside + Menu while limited is all gluten-free + Menu is fun and well-designed My only wish is this bar were closer to me! For now it will be a good pull for me to visit LA. Much love to you Thunderbolt and I can't wait to be back! :) read more

Thunderbolt - Echo Park Trash Can #2 ($18) - Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

It's unfortunate to have to write this. As someone with celiac disease, this is one of the only late night spots I can eat at. Tonight, I rushed to their location from Hollywood to hopefully get something safe to eat. I called several times, and the phone just rang and rang and rang. We wanted to make sure the kitchen was still open. But no one answered and there was still an hour before they closed. We scoured the website and there was no mention of the kitchen closing - it only stated the bar closes at 1am. So while calling, non stop, we took an Uber to Thunderbolt. When we got there, the lady bartender told us the kitchen was closed. No care that we just spent $100 to uber here for celiac safe food. To the owner who reads this - you understand how hard it is to live with celiac disease. The least you can do is have staff that answers the company phone when someone calls. When we were there, they were not too busy to answer a phone. read more

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

the ambience is always well put-together and relaxed as so the drinks. every visit, all the staff are attentive and kindly make sure we have plenty of water. one night we had the pleasure of Tom himself (head bartender) making our cocktails and he's nothing short of hospitable. the menu and whole concept is a nice experience and there's options for everyone. read more

Thunderbolt - Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Am in town for the weekend and this bar was on the list to check out. Hoping to try their normal menu cocktails. However last night they had a pop up special with new drinks. I thought the menu was fun and clever. The service was great, the ambience was fun casual with loud music and its spacious. This is a fun place to meet up friends and or go on a fun date. As for the drinks, they were just ok for me. The taste didn't blend well together, with so much strong flavors overpowering each other. I could see the intention of what the mixologist was going for but perhaps not executed properly. I definitely do want to go back and try their normal menu when I get back in town again. read more

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This bar has been on my radar for a while, but the location makes it fairly inaccessible especially during the nighttime as it is not the safest area. However, I finally made a journey to go here, braving parking (which is extremely tough, street parking is limited - I parked over the bridge), which fortunately a handful is within a 5 minute walk to the bar. This bar is rated in the Top 100 in the Top 50 Best Bars list, so I have high expectations. Despite the clout, on a Friday evening, it was not busy at all. Once they check your ID, you grab a menu and sit anywhere you like, so I still opted to sit at the bar since I was going solo and that is where the action is. I started with the bittermelon drink - fu gwaa falsetto, which is one of their signature drinks. The bitterness is very potent, but fortunately, unlike the real deal, the bitterness did not linger that long. They do add loads of ice, but that is because the drink itself is extremely concentrated, so you are meant to sip slowly instead of drinking quickly. For $15, this is a very good price for a very unique drink. My second round is the Woodwide Web, which has shiitake mushroom, brown butter, peppercorn, to name a few. This one was made fairly quickly and had a strong mushroom aftertaste, but also does not linger long. I love food-based cocktails, so both of these drinks hit the spot for me. Service is also fairly good, as water refills are frequent to make sure you stay hydrated as you consume the cocktails. Overall, this is a fairly solid bar, though I would not say the best in the area. read more

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a trendy spot known for its inventive cocktails, flavorful Southern-inspired snacks, and consistently great service--the staff is friendly, knowledgeable, and makes you feel welcome from the moment you walk in. The cozy atmosphere and attention to detail make it a go-to for date nights or casual hangouts, though it can get busy on weekends. read more

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Drinks were good the service was horrible! I asked for recommendation and all I got was everything is good. I asked what was the most popular drink and got a responds "it depends what you like" I would think if you are working for tips you would Atlease be helpful . read more

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

Days after my first visit, I can't stop thinking about the P-Town Boxing Club cocktail. It's a Filipino style old fashioned. The flavors of coconut and pandan linger in your mouth after each sip. The cocktails here are nothing short of exquisite. They have great southern-style food. I don't know how they make the outside of the pimento cheese poppers so crispy and keep the inside so soft! I probably wouldn't go back for dinner. Their food menu is very much bar food. But the cocktails are enough of a draw. The bartenders are incredibly knowledgeable and very attentive (we were there pretty early, mind you). They make great recommendations based on what you like. We'll be back for sure. read more

Thunderbolt - P-Town Boxing Club (already a few sips in) - it's an old fashioned made with Filipino flavors. Exquisite - Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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

Love the local cocktail bar vibe. It's clean and neat with a large bar that gets busy starting around 8:30pm on a Thursday. You grab a menu and seat yourself and the server would come by wherever you are. The drink selection is awesome and has something for everyone. Cocktails are unique without any frills. I especially loved the Paselito, which tasted like a milk punch. Our server was great! She let us know that one of the drinks we were choosing (Fu Gwaa Falsetto) was quite bitter for some people but we found it easily palatable, especially with the Li Hing on top. Parking is difficult as there are no parking lots nearby; it's all street parking. There is food there but it's a small selection. read more

Thunderbolt - La frutera #3 and pastelito - Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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in my opinion, thunderbolt has all the components of a well rounded bar: creative drinks, ambiance, efficient + friendly service, and indoor/outdoor seating options. my only gripe is how difficult parking can be - we had to park a couple blocks away as they do not have their own lot. at least the walk will sober you up after! they have both PAPER + digital menus available, which i feel like is so rare for bars nowadays. I loved how their drinks were organized into sections based on flavor profiles. we would definitely order the Koji Killer, and Pastelito (a guava cheese pastry inspired drink!) again. besides being a cocktail bar, they are a wine shop and do offer a food menu as well. we would definitely come back to try their other interesting concoctions! read more

I came here because I heard it was ranked as the number 8 bar in North America, and I'm glad I did! The drink menu is diverse, offering a wide range of options. My group and I ordered several drinks to try different ones, and my personal favorite was the lychee daiquiri. The food was impressive too. We ordered the cheeseballs and chicken drumsticks, which were perfect late-night bites and paired well with our drinks. The service was excellent. The staff were attentive and super friendly. When I visited on a Thursday night, it was busy but not overly crowded, so I mainly focused on chatting with my friends. All in all, it's a great spot, and I'd definitely come back to try more drinks if I'm in the area. read more

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I like the vibes, good drinks, friendly bartender. I would return, also went with serval other people and we had no complaints

Their drinks are probably some of the most innovative around. They tend to use a lot of acids, they clarify things, and extract flavors and juices in interesting ways. Most of the drinks are lovely. I do find some of their clarified cocktails very similar to one another. Sometimes old-fashioned juice, syrups and liqueurs make for a more satisfying cocktail. But I do appreciate the imagination! If you've never been, you must experience it. read more

I really liked this place. Innovative menu and the koji killer was a must try. We also got the pimento poppers, the drumettes, and the fried green tomatoes. I really have nothing to say other than I really enjoyed my experience I went on a Saturday night and it was busy so maybe consider going a less busy day if you want to be able to grab a seat read more

Thunderbolt - Koji painkiller - Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Had to go back to one of my fav bars in LA. The drinks are always a hit and the bar is stocked with everything you'll need! Tom, our bartender, was super friendly and knowledgeable and made one of the best daiquiri and jungle bird I've had in a while. The biscuits are also great! Homemade jam is fantastic. Ambiance is great, it's chill but also nice enough for a date night. I recommend sitting at the bar. Like I've said before, their bar program is top notch and their bartenders know what they're doing. Don't miss out on this bar!! read more

Thunderbolt - 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

So I really wanted to like this place; I must say that Echo Park has some amazing bars, amazing restaurants, and amazing spaces to gather with this NOT being at the top of the list (Especially in the summer). If you want to give yourself a preview of what it's like here, navigate their menu online! It is doing the absolute most for no reason. Why is there a table of contents and why is it 16 pages long? Trust me, nothing on the menu is worthy of all the flare the menu is putting in. There's also no Air-conditioning (it is SO STUFFY here) and there is simply not enough lighting. It's a dark, humid, overpriced, mediocre experience at best. I will say that the staff is generally pleasant, nothing to write home about. In conclusion, my personal recommendation is to find another cool bar (figuratively and literally) there is no shortage in the area. read more

Thunderbolt - "Barcelonnette" -citrusy, delicate, and mostly foam - Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Incredible drinks/cocktails, cool & chill environment, a place that values taste & quality above all else - try the Mac & cheese and Tropipop (a carbonated pina colada they make in house!) you won't regret it! Almost no parking so give yourself some time to find space somewhere. read more

Thunderbolt - Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I've always been a fan of Park's Finest. It's cool to learn that they have a bar now! Here was my experience. AMBIANCE: Parking: Street parking and neighborhood parking. It can get pretty busy here so keep your eyes open. Seating: Inside and patio seating. Room for about 50 people. Great for groups, individuals, or pairs. Feels: It's not exactly Downtown but you're in the proximity of all the good stuff from Echo Park, Grand Park, etc. The place itself is nothing flashy, it's the grit and grind of LA but there's still a sense of community. I dig the spacious eclectic vibes as it kinda had a homey feel to it. They had a DJ playing chill and vibeable hip-hop & R&B music. Great place to catch up with a friend, jive, or go on a date night. FOOD: Highball (Recommend) A special drink that changes flavors on a monthly basis and goes towards a different local cause. This one had a sweet yet sour lemon kick with a nice bite. CUSTOMER SERVICE: Awesome! Friendly people and quick with the service. TL; DR OVERALL: 4.5 Stars. Awesome! Great selections, reasonable prices, and pleasant vibes. I enjoyed my time here and would return more often if I were in the area. There is much more to explore here from the people who come here, to the food menu, and their drinks. Till next time, Thunderbolt! #FilipinoFoodMovement TIPS: * Check out their restaurant Park's Finest right next door! * Check their website for events read more

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

Dude! This place is amazing. Tom and the other staff are amazing at concocting fantastic libations. Super creative with a plethora of wonderful and often complex flavor combinations. Favorites include: Pastelito, Liquid Picnic, Tropipop, Pride of Oxnard. Fries and cheese poppers are also awesome. Parking will be tricky, but SO worth it. read more

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Great cocktails! The ambiance is good and thier cocktails are always very inventive and delicious. They also run a bit strong, which is nice. The servers are great and super knowledgeable about the drinks. I have 1 complaint, parking is a nightmare, even for la. I have lost track how many times I've tried coming to the bar only to turn around because I couldn't find parking nearby. I know it's not thunderbolt's fault, but be weary when you come by car. Maybe the bar can petition to get some parking for their customers. read more

I will say this has become one of my favorite bars in all of Los Angeles. The vibes are fantastic, the ambiance, the MUSIC(!!!). And the staff is just incredibly sweet. Everyone was so kind but Nina especially was such a vibe and made the whole experience fun. We tried a few different cocktails which were all delicious particularly ptown boxing club and the fugwaa. The fried chicken was also so perfectly made (and I'm originally from Kentucky so I'd like to consider myself having some credit). I can't wait to be back! read more

Thunderbolt - Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

First of all, not these are the nicest bartenders ever! I came here solo and I felt so comfortable as soon as I stepped foot in the door. Music was tea, vibes were chill but animated, everyone was friendly. Like....dont make me fall in love. And then the DRINKS WERE STUPID GOOD. Every single drink they have and they have something for everybody. Even the canned drinks are GOOD AF. Food was fire, I only had the cheese poppers but she did what she needed to do. And all the mean reviews on here, shame on you ...you literally have to be an asshole to hate this place I don't care. So don't listen to them yall, come here, 10 out of 10 on all levels. read more

Great staff - very quick and knowledgeable...Their drinks are great. Very different concepts, so you will definitely be sampling things outside of the box. This has been a repeat place for me. Had the food only once or twice so can't comment too much on that. Music is on point, the vibe is right, and there's a friendly atmosphere all around. Nice little outside patio too. read more

I've only been to Thunderbolt twice, but I think it may be my favorite bar of all time. A big reason is that they have a completely gluten free menu. I will never forget that moment when I sunk my teeth into a deep fried chicken sandwich after many times going to bars, eating veggie sticks, and watching everyone around me dig into yummy hot foods I couldn't eat. The food menu is a huge win for Silly Yaks. The other reason is because it's a top tier bar, duh! They're serving up fun, creative drinks with something for everyone. The cocktail menu is interesting and exciting. They have an envious back bar along with a "just as pretty" variety of non-distilled options. They host events, popups, and classes. My second visit was actually to attend a class. Yay learning! I love the non-intimidating and completely unpretentious atmosphere. Thunderbolt is just out here doing dope things. Favorite Drink: Fu Gwaa Falsetto read more

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