El Cocinero is magic. Plant based, mouthwatering, food coma portions MAGIC. You're gonna want to go…read moreagain and again so you can try everything! I still have so much to try. Been blown away by everything. My bf who has been scarred by some 100% vegan restaurants in the past tried a bite of my bowl and went back for at least 10 more bites. The true test.

There is a term you say in Hawai'i that when something is good, it "broke da mouth." AND THIS…read moreVEGAN Mexican dinner by El Cocinero BROKE MY MOUTH! I recently tried out El Cocinero's food at an event that they catered to. As a person who eats meat and is not restricted, I would come here for the good food. The vegan al pastor had chunks of pineapple and it is seasoned and cooked to taste just like the meat version. The texture is just a little bit different but it does resemble a lot like meat. The vegan pastor also tastes just like the meat version, just less "smoky" and the texture is softer. The rice is flavorful and fluffy. The beans are seasoned just enough to have flavor but not compete with the other dishes. The creamy chipotle sauce was perfect topping the rice and beans. I do like vegan food but the only reference I had with Mexican vegan are places that try to add fake cheese and lean heavily on beans and rice. This business shows that you can still have all the flavors and not rely on cheese and meat. They focus on the flavors and not what would make non-vegans feel comfortable. Initially, I was going to give this first time experience a 4 star review so that it encourages me to go check out the restaurant so I can add the service and the ambiance. However, I was lucky enough to bring home leftovers and as I was eating it, the food tastes better. Had to add the extra star!

Food was great! Service was Excellent! Rosa was very attentive and provided superb service!read more

I rarely ever remember to leave Yelp reviews, but this restaurant was EVERYTHING. The place was…read moresuper clean with such a cute aesthetic. The waitresses were so pleasant and attentive the entire time. Now let's talk about the food... 10/10. We ordered aguachiles, mango shrimp ceviche, tacos gobernador, camarones rancheros, and enchiladas. Every single dish was well seasoned, juicy, fresh, and the presentation was beautiful. Definitely worth coming back for.

My wife and I were (once again) in the mood for a breakfast burrito while we were in the van Nuys…read morearea this morning. I was put in charge to find a place close. I stumbled upon Monarca on Yelp and we decided to try it out! We arrive and are nicely greeted by one of the employees at the counter. The inside was clean and well kept which we love. My wife and I ordered 2 breakfast burritos and the green chilaquiles. She got the Deluxe burrito and I got the chorizo. We bring them home and open up the bag and these things are MASSIVE! In the best way! We begin taking bites and are both amazed. Me a little bit more. I really really enjoyed this burrito. Maybe because it has rice instead of potatoes, I'm not sure, but it was delicious. My wife also really enjoyed hers; she gave it a 7.5 out of 10. I give my burrito a 9/10. Our chilaquiles were a whole other story and flavor profile. The carne asada that came with it was life changing. Whatever seasoning they used on tha carne asada is perfect. My wife was deeply impressed. The sauce, the chips, the eggs, beans and rice were all very very good as well. All complimented each other very well. If you're ever in the van Nuys area, please stop here for breakfast, you won't regret it!

Food: 4/5 Service: 4/5…read moreAmbiance: 4/5 Pretty solid place to have decent burrito with restaurant setting instead of food truck. Carne asada was decent come with chip and salsa which is a plus. Parking is easy and food came out fast.

Lovely spot for Mexican food with fun vibes!…read more I came for Sunday brunch/lunch with some friends. I made a reservation through Yelp a couple days beforehand and there was plenty of availability. The restaurant is located right off Ventura Blvd and has an attached parking garage in the basement which can be accessed via the parking lot behind the restaurant. There were plenty of spots available Sunday afternoon when I came. It's a bit hidden, but there is an elevator from the garage to the top level where the restaurant is located as well. We had two babies in strollers with us, so I requested a table with plenty of space nearby for the strollers. They seated us outside on their covered patio, and indeed, we had plenty of space. I peeked inside and there's also a nice lounge area with a beautiful flower wall as well as a proper dining area. When we arrived, there was a live DJ spinning tunes. I assume he's there during brunch hours, as he left around 3 pm when brunch ended. I started with a frozen lime margarita ($12). It was okay; it felt like it was only half frozen as the ice wasn't blended that well. For my main, I got the famous Anejo carne asada and shrimp plate for $40. Yes it was pricy, but the portion size was also huge! I was starving and somehow managed to finish the plate, but it'd be a great dish to share for two people with small appetites. I really enjoyed it as well. I asked for the steak to be cooked rare, and they didn't overcook it. Each bite was super tender and flavorful and paired well with the rice. Everyone else also enjoyed their dish. One friend got the wet chicken burrito for $15 and it was massive! Another got the veggie fajitas with steak added and really enjoyed her dish as well. Solid food all around. I would love to come back on a weekday and try their happy hour! Sipping on $5 margaritas and $6 sangrias sounds like my idea of a great time!

I started coming here in 2015. According to Yelp, I've been here 21 times at the time of writing…read morethis--somehow that surprised me (and means I've basically paid for "long-term testing" at this point, and that has been pretty fun.) Naturally, I've noticed some changes. Over the years, happy hour times have been reduced, prices have crept up to a point where the value doesn't quite match the food, and it definitely feels like the truly vegetarian options have disappeared from the happy hour menu. I eat fish, but I'm often dining with others who are vegetarian only, so this has a bigger impact than it might for most people. The magic that used to bring me back seems to be gone. That said, the patio is a great environment for a family meal, and the staff was genuinely friendly and attentive--so at least the vibes are still doing their job. I ordered a Caesar salad with salmon. The salmon was grilled nicely and tasted good, but it was a little undercooked in the center--like it was still waiting for the rest of the food to catch up. And the salad itself didn't really taste like a Caesar--more like a "Caesar-adjacent" salad... which, honestly, I guess is a thing now. Also, I used to order the cheese enchilada from the happy hour menu, but it's no longer offered. This was a favorite option for me, and at least one person in my party always ordered it. The banquet space remains impressive, and it's a fun, festive environment for large parties--it's great for celebrating after graduation--something we've done more than once!

Just had the best Mexican food in the valley here. Thanks to Cameron the experience was so smooth,…read moreeach suggestion she made was exactly what we were looking for and my goodness did she know what she was talking about! Fantastic service and exceptional food.

Cameron was absolutely amazing! All of the recommendations were top notch and everything came out…read moreeven better than my girlfriend and I anticipated. The atmosphere is beautiful and everyone had a great attitude and personality. 100% recommend checking this place out.

Salsa & Beer is a Valley staple, and for good reason! The food is consistently delicious and…read moreflavorful and the portions are literally humongous. One meal can easily be split between multiple people. My favorites are the green enchiladas and the spicy chipotle burrito, and the rice and beans are just as flavorful and delicious as the main entrees. Upon being seated, you are served a spicy and cheesy bean dip with fresh chips, and there is a salsa bar inside where you can fill up on your choice of salsas. I sat in the outside patio area in my most recent visit, and while the quality of the food didn't change, the service was not the greatest; my table and a couple of other tables had a difficult time flagging anyone down for refills, to go containers, or the bill. There's also a pretty big price difference between paying with card and paying with cash; multiple menu items were at least 3-4 dollars more if you plan to pay with card. Still, the food is good and if you're craving some hearty and comforting Mexican food, S&B is a good option.

Second time trying the food a few points otherwise the STAR would be higher …read more This place is in desperate need of refresh! The tables and chairs ( specifically outside ) are awful and gross . The menus need replacing the laminate is peeling off. The food portion though it was plentiful I do feel like the salsa's that were provided were most hot. You have patrons who can't have hot/spicy. Lastly for a sit down RR if you paid by card they charge extra like for real that is insane .

I had a wonderful experience, and a big part of that was thanks to our server, Yadira. She was…read moreincredibly friendly, attentive, and welcoming throughout our entire meal. She made sure we had everything we needed without ever being overbearing, and her positive attitude really stood out. The food was delicious, the atmosphere was great, and Yadira's excellent service made the experience even better. She truly went above and beyond to make sure we had a great time. I would definitely come back and would be happy to have Yadira as our server again. Highly recommend!

Thank you debany!! Just went in with a small group and had just about the best service possible…read morevery polite and professional. Will be back

Probably 4.5 stars. Nothing fancy here, just great Mexican food!…read more Order at the counter (or online). We tried breakfast burritos, asada burritos, birria tacos and sopes. Everything tasted very good, fresh ingredients and flavors... delicious! Good prices and portions, too! This place is very well-managed. Experienced workers had my large to-go order ready on time and they double-checked it for accuracy. Good amount of parking in back. Highly recommended!

Been hearing about this place for a long time. Finally tried it, and now have good Mexican…read morerestaurant to go to. Parking is small, but there's plenty of parking around and across the street. Went on a Tues around 12 wasn't to busy but I'm sure it's packed on weekends and evenings. Plenty of in door and out door seating. You can call in or order on line and pick up food at the take out window outside. You place your order, find a seat and enjoy. Employees are very nice. Helpful. Great salsa bar. I had 2 sopes , one chicken, the other asada delicious. Rice and beans were good. Also tried a beef hard shell taco. Again delicious. Wife had a chile relleno plate and she loved it. My fried had a huge nacho plate and two tacos. Food is fresh as if you were eating at a family gathering. Restaurant is clean. A few tv s. Didn't get a beer maybe next time, enjoyed a Jamaica. Looking forward to going back!