I can't believe I haven't reviewed Bar Ama before. I've eaten there before the pandemic, and then I've dined outdoors and taken out during it. To be honest, bad chain restaurant memories of Tex-Mex kept me from eating that food again for a long time (like eating bad East Coast strip mall Chinese). However, I'm a huge fan of Orsa & Winston, and so eventually I overcame my Tex-Mex fears and ate at its sister restaurant. Most recently, I discovered the breakfast burrito, which is a small log of eggy, cheesy, bacon-filled goodness. It comes with a delicious salsa and is probably the height of comfort food. By itself, it's worth a trip to downtown from Hollywood (I know, because I made that trip this past Sunday). Speaking of comfort, the nachos here--I'm talking the chips themselves--are literally the best I've had anywhere. Before restaurants closed to outdoor dining--they shared a thoughtfully converted alley/breezeway with Orsa & Winston--I was able to pop in for a meal with my friend. Highlights included the guacamole, a fresh salad with fruit and their habanero green goddess dressing (which I LOVE), a killer broccolini dish (they always do great things with veggies here), as well as fantastic enchiladas. Of course, the margaritas here are what you'd expect--yummy, and available in several variations (though we stuck with the basic ones). They were just getting back to table service when we went for our last outdoor dining foray, and servers were friendly and properly protected, and tables were well spaced. Prices are higher than one might pay at a conventional Mexican restaurant, but that's to be expected--and reasonable--when you're talking about responsible sourcing of high-quality produce. I look forward to being able to eat here again (rather than just taking out) once LA County gets COVID under control. read more

See all

First time trying this place and I loved it! The service was amazing and the food was delicious. My friend and I got the nachos and tacos. Will be back for more! The interior is also super cute. We came early and got window seating. read more

See all

I found BAR ama on Open Table when looking for a Friday night reservation for 4. It was a good choice because the check in process is clear/straightforward and they have made the alley on the side of the restaurant a nice outdoor patio area. If it's a cold day in LA (I.e the highest temperature is 70 degrees) and you go at night, west warm clothes. They have heaters but I was wearing a dress above the knee with a heavy Jean jacket and was freezing by the time we left about 2 hours later. Surprisingly, parking was not an issue. We were able to find street parking a few steps away from the restaurant on a Friday night and there were still other spots available. Our table got a margarita pitcher to carry us through dinner. Flavor wise, it wasn't spectacular but you definitely taste the alcohol, so that's a plus if that's your goal when drinking. I wouldn't get it again. The food is great. You should definitely order the chips and guacamole because the guacamole has great flavor and the chips have a good texture and size. It comes with a deceivingly large amount of guacamole that would requires multiple baskets of chips to get though. I had a carne gustada puffy taco as an appetizer and enjoyed it. It did become a bit soggy a after few minutes of being on the table so try to eat it right away. For the main entre, I got the conchinita quesadillas and definitely liked the addition of the pineapple. read more

See all

This is my go to spot in Downtown for Quality food & drink. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The attention to detail of plates, atmosphere & music is comforting, welcoming, a true gem that feels like home.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We sat at the bar with Alex for Happy Hour. Everything was great. The service is on point and the food is lick your plate good. Got the Super Nachos. Margaritas, beer & shrimp tacos. The caramel custard desert empanadas is a must. We left feeling Happy & good. Looking forward to our next visit. read more

We came during happy hour time around 5:15PM, so there weren't a lot of patrons present at the time and the staff were attentive. BAR Ama is a tex-mex style cuisine. The happy hour menu itself is small and menu is refined so you can choose a bit of each category and share. We ordered the loaded nachos, a michelada, Ama's margarita, and a secret menu item, the puffy taco (which we found on Yelp!). The michelada was pretty good and $7, I believe for happy hour price. The Ama's marg was a strong one! The loaded nachos had thicker chips which were crispy and a light blend of cheese that didn't have a ton of flavor and left a lot to be desired. The cheese is placed on the bottom and the top of a tower of fries. It was my first time trying a puffy taco and I liked the crunch and the cabbage was a nice touch. I ordered it with the guisado meat which are more like beef chunks. The beef was tender, but for a taco I was looking for the salsas and the dimensions in flavors, sweet, spicy, cirtusy. We did ask for the hot sauce and it was delicious! The star of the meal for me! Everything else was just OK, hence the 3 stars. read more

Do not miss out on this amazing Jem!!! Service and food was incredible! Get as many dishes as possible and share. read more

See all

Outstanding food. It's not often you can get 1 star Michelin guide food at an affordable price, but this is the real deal. Great flavor, presentation and texture. Brilliant stuff. read more

Bar Ama is new to me... but not to my frequent friends. To sum Bar Ama up in "Do's" and "Don'ts" would be the best for me to explain this very quaint bistro of a restaurant/ bar... as seating is limited and the menu isn't as dietary need(s) navigable as it once was... Do go with friends! Do go for super nacho hour :) Do have drinks at the bar! Do make reservations in advance... Do ask about vegan options as they have more than two and things can be customized. The Cashew Cheese is to die for... the Guac is rather chunky (mega avocado pieces)... the Cauliflower is 100% crispy and veggie. Do hang your coat on the wall hooks on pillars that must people aren't aware of... believe their may be some hooks under the bar as well for bags and purses. Do share food! Don't expect not to wait for a table or seat at the bar. Don't drive if you can metro or Uber... closes lots are $10 and up especially on nights and weekends. Don't forget to have your entire party with you to be seated at a table. Restrooms are in the far back... limited seating at the bar... security outside so bring your ID not matter your age. Attentive bartenders, servers, staff and hosts. The food is food... sort of mild, but you can make the best of a few compilations... read more

See all

The Tex-mex here is solid for LA so I'm giving some stars for that! But the place quietly charges you an 18 percent surcharge on top of your bill, which I understand is common if you're a large party but we were just a party of two. No one mentioned the surcharge they slipped into the bill so my friend and I tipped on top of that, meaning we overpaid. This feels like a shady practice especially since they don't tell this to patrons. I support surcharges that give staff a living wage but people should be informed up front otherwise it feels dishonest. Given all the reviews here mentioning the same, a lot of other people were taken aback as well! Also the waitress with tattoos all over and dark hair was super rude. She could benefit from customer service training or maybe even a career switch. She told us to finish up and leave since they were closing for the night even though there were two large parties right next to us that she didn't say anything to and whom were all still there, idly chatting, after she rushed us out. When I came to Yelp I noticed other complaints about this woman as well so I'm not alone. read more

Made reservations for Friday evening. We sat outside in the alley. The alley was pretty. The lights and decorations made it feel very special. And there was a lot of space between tables. We got the guacamole, cauliflower and the vegan short rib fajitas. The menu is a funny mix of plant based and meat. The guacamole was very good. Just the right amount of chunky. The cauliflower was ok. It was good but I feel like it was missing something. It was better when I ate it with the guacamole. The waitress recommended brussel sprouts so maybe I'll try that next time. The vegan short ribs was very good! I could definitely feel the texture difference although my friend said he couldn't tell the difference. It was really spiced up! The bulbs of onion was pretty cool. I usually don't sour cream but the spices on the "meat" went really well with the creamy sour cream. Got the margarita, which was very tasty. A bit overpriced but it's downtown LA so it was expected. read more

I don't really get the hype. Food: ordered enchiladas and birra. Birra was sent back right away. Just couldn't eat it at all. Enchiladas... eh, not bad but nothing special. Mediocre at best. Japanese sweet potato... weird. Didn't really fit the menu and nothing special. Dessert: pistachio cheesecake was good. Panna cotta had literally no flavor whatsoever. Service: everyone was very welcoming and attentive. Be warned.... THEY CHARGED AN18% SERVICE FEE WHICH IS NOT THE GRATUITY! Ended up spending roughly $170 on 2 margaritas, 1 starter, 1 entree (they did not bill us for the birra), and 2 desserts. Not too bad if the food is good but I was really disappointed. read more

I was going to a show with a couple of girlfriends and we went here at their suggestion. The interior was nice, very modern and inviting. We arrived just before 5 and were told that the main dining room doesn't open until 5. Luckily, we were able to grab a seat at the bar. I ordered the Mom's Green Enchiladas with addedd chIcken and a side of beans with a margarita. We also got a side of Fried Brussels which was heavenly. I loved my meal, flavorful, came out in a timely manner, and was a decent portion. My only complaint was the price, it's a really expensive meal for just enchiladas. I think you just need to remind yourself that you are going girl over a few more bucks jusT because it's Downtown. Either way, I was impressed with my meal and I would visit again. read more

BAR Ama - Tex-Mex Near Me - Los Angeles, California

See all

I recently stumbled to this place with my friend and I have no regrets. The staff was kind and attentive. The host had walked us outside since we were a bit confused on the outside seating and it was perfect. Fortunately, we had the outside seating to ourselves and the plants by the table added a nice touch. I had the guac and squash, I've never had a squash prepared like this. It was both savory and sweet, a commingling of flavors that brought delight to my tongue. The guac was fresh, light and delicious. Just as a guac should be. I will definitely come here again and I will definitely bring my family along this time. read more

BAR Ama - Butternut Squash - Tex-Mex Near Me - Los Angeles, California

See all

10/10 experience at Bar Ama. I was recently in LA for a wedding and stayed near Bar Ama, so we went for dinner. Needless to say, everything was amazing! Starting with the service and ending with the food and the margs! We were able to dine outdoors and the set up was so lovely and equipped with heating lamps since it was the evening. The margaritas were so good and the guacamole and queso is a MUST. Can't wait to visit again! read more

See all

The place is cute and the cocktails are good. I ordered the Vegan Mushroom Birria. It was amazing!! I will definitely be going back for that. The only thing I wish I knew that wasn't in the description is that they put chopped red onions on top of the Birria and Guacamole . I really don't like raw onions so I had to remove them all which was kind of tedious. If it had been in the description I would have just asked that they not add it. read more

BAR Ama - King & Hen of the Wood Mushroom Birria - Tex-Mex Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I'm a big fan of Josef Centeno's other restaurant, Baco Mercat, so I was excited to try BAR Ama. Unfortunately, I didn't like BAR Ama as much. Overall, I thought the food was pretty standard Tex-Mex and prices were a bit high for the amount. Between the two of us, we ordered: Guac - Kinda pricey for the amount, but the guac was perfectly seasoned and fresh! The chips were a bit too salty for my taste, but this was a great shared appetizer. Jicama Salad - Very refreshing dish that featured cucumber, papaya, and mango. Thought the fish sauce was a little pungent for my taste though. Mom's Green Enchiladas - Also pricey for vegetarian enchiladas ($12) and we added chicken for an additional $3, so the chicken enchiladas were $15 in total for a smallish portion. We did really enjoy the Margaritas, which were very strong! read more

BAR Ama - Guac and Margaritas - Tex-Mex Near Me - Los Angeles, California

My dear friend and I decided to go to Bar Ama yesterday. The service and food were absolutely fantastic! We both felt like we were treated like royalty- I mean we really did! Travis and Alex are the epitome of excellent service to their customers. It's become a dying art but Travis & Alex brought it back. Oh and the Puffy tacos were delicious, as well as the lobster ravioli in green sauce!! Xoxo read more

Bar Ama was a blast! I had a wonderful and delicious lunch here! I was walking around downtown and came upon this place, and I decided to stop by since I had heard good things about it previously! I was promptly seated and engaged with very responsive and friendly waiters. The interior is very contemporary and aesthetic in its design, and the sign for the outdoor entrance is beautiful! Guacamole and other sauces for chips are extra, but I was able to get a complimentary basket of chips as well as a jug of water. I ordered the Mom's Green Enchiladas, and one of the rum sangria's. The enchiladas were some of the favorite enchiladas that I have ever had. It came in a very aesthetic skillet with a small oven mitt attached to it, and had cream and cheese all over the top, as well as the chicken I had ordered as a topping for it! Cutting into it with the fork, was a pleasure, watching it all melt together. It tasted absolutely incredible! Rich, thick, creamy deliciousness! I was very pleased. I also loved my rum sangria! It was a very unique but intriguing and exciting flavor! I had a wonderful lunchtime experience at Bar Ama. The staff were prompt, friendly and responsive, and the food tasted absolutely sublime. It was some of the best Tex-Mex that I've had. The prices were quite reasonable for DTLA as well. I'd love to come back! read more

See all

Fun Tex Mex spot downtown. It was really crowded on a Monday night, which was cool to see. We had a great server, Adin/Adeen(I hope I spelled it right). Small place but can fit a good amount of people inside. Bar area as well as restaurant/table area. It seems small but yet spacious at the same time. We had the guacamole to start, followed by the cauliflower. The guacamole was okay--fresh, but missing a little seasoning for me. The cauliflower was excellent. I had Mom's green enchiladas--I loved it! So spicy and I loved the tomatillo. I had chorizo in it and this chorizo was perfectly seasoned and spicy. My friend had the quesadilla and my other friend had the meatballs. Everyone loved their entrees. Cool vibe here. They have a taco hour/happy hour at the bar from 10-11pm so I definitely want to come back for that. read more

See all

Came here on Halloween with some friends and we had a great experience! I walked in around 6:30pm to check and see if they could seat our party and the hostess said she would try. And she really came thru! We got seated within 15 mins which was really cool and we ordered the queso + chips for the table. It was so delish and smooooth! We just kept going in! We ordered our main courses. I got the Chile relleno with chicken and it was super flavorful!! I was definitely very full by the end of dinner so I wasn't able to try the rice pudding but I guess I'll have to come back again to try it! read more

BAR Ama - Queso Fundido and Chips - Tex-Mex Near Me - Los Angeles, California

See all

Cool little spot in downtown LA. Ordered a Michelada and tried the Snake's blood cocktail (whiskey girl here) and it did not disappoint. We ordered chicken, shrimp and potato tacos that came in a puffed corn tortilla. It was different, seasoned and cooked well and definitely delicious. Topped that with shredded habaneros and washed it down with Snake's blood. Very trendy with extensive bar menu. It's a cool spot and a must try. Let's just say, we're going back. read more

BAR Ama - Tex-Mex Near Me - Los Angeles, California

See all

Bar Ama is a very pleasant surprise. TBH, I have never heard of it, but one of my co workers wanted to go. So lets get down to it... I have never been a been queso fan, but the queso appetizer is fantastic! I wouldnt say the califlower was disappointing, but I was expecting more since everyone reviewed it. I also had the enchiladas which were good but very very heavy and have a TON of cheese. Lastly the corn...it was good, salty and very heavy. Also, the churros were delicious, but the texture was SLIGHTLY off ( I would still order it again) Overall, good food, but SUPER unhealthy. Just know going into it that it will be cheat meal and enjoy it! read more

Easy to walk to in DTLA. There are two sections to the restaurant. Dine-in and the bar. The dine-in area is cute, but I rarely go to that section. Recommend to put in a reservation. The bar area is where it is at; awesome for happy hour. So many good options on menu for food and drinks. It can get very busy during some weeknights so be prepared to fight for seats. Since prices are reasonable, try the entire menu, especially during happy hour! read more

Bar Ama is super adorable and I love the decor. It's very intimate and quaint but not too loud and they decorate the tables with succulents and candles. Definitely more casual and has a nice atmosphere. The plates are designed to be shared but they are big enough for one person to enjoy as well. We ordered: Guacamole and Chips Sweet Potato Mole Enchiladas Shrimp Aguachiles Koehneh "Orange Wine" 2019 I definitely will be back! read more

I was surprised to see this place has 4 stars after my coworker selected it as our dinner spot. The service was good, but it was about the only thing that was on point about this restaurant. The food was fine (aka no glaring health concerns or other issues), but definitely overpriced for the quantity and quality. We ordered a margarita pitcher for the table, but it smelled like cheap tequila and most of my coworkers did not enjoy it. My glass of it tasted watery and most strongly of tequila, the flavors hiding nowhere to be found. The ambience is okay, but it definitely looks a little sketchy from the outside and the inside and it's very dark. I was hoping for better things. Tldr; this place is fine - good, not great. read more

BAR Ama is something special *insert heart eye emoji* great vibes instantly upon entering - the staff that greeted us were also immediately warm and inviting. When the vibe is great and the staff is great, my gut usually tells me the food is going to be great too... my gut was not wrong! Our server Zoe was also awesome. I made a reservation online even though it was for an early dinner (just in case!) which was super easy. Chose to sit inside - ambiance was just too beautiful inside to pass up, but outside seating is also available too. Well ventilated space which is great as we are still in the covid times! We really enjoyed everything we ordered as well as the cocktails. Standouts for me were the peel and eat shrimp, and the sriracha chicken- did I mention the house made flour tortillas...so. good. Will be back for sure! read more

BAR Ama - Tex-Mex Near Me - Los Angeles, California

See all

I honestly don't even know where to begin with my review as everything from beginning to end was AMAZING. I live for great food, great service and decor. BAR Ama delivered. I'm starting with the customer service- We arrived 30min early to sit at the bar and enjoy drinks but UNFORTUNATELY the bar was CLOSED (thanks covid). So no bar folks =/ But the staff was very apologetic and let us sit at the bar while we waited for our table. Everyone kept checking in on us and giving us updates on our table. Got seated but asked to move as the kitchen was behind us and of course they moved us over to the center of the restaurant. Food + Drinks- House Margarita with Anejo tequila was a proper smooth pour with salt on the rim. Guacamole & Chips- hot, fresh, made in house chips with the tasty guac was a great appetizer to start. Puffy Taco with carne guisada- I WILL DREAM OF YOU FOREVER puffy taco. Airy/puffy masa topped with carne guisada that was oh soo soo tender, lettuce, salsa and queso. Typing this out is making my stomach growl. Shrimp Aguachile- My husband is from Mazatlan Sinaloa and this dish gets 10 STARS. Shrimp cooked in lime juice, spicy salsa, purple onions and cucumbers. Moms Green Chicken Enchiladas- This dish feeds 2, pipping hot, gooing in cheese and green salsa. I could do without these next time to be honest. I found the cheese to be very overwhelming but I'm also not a fan of american cheese in enchiladas. I highly recommend BAR Ama for girls night or date night. Customer service was phenomenal, food was delicious and drinks hit the spot. read more

See all

Came for Super Nacho Hour and boy do they really stick to that "hour," as we came about 10 mins early and we we not allowed to order until after the clock struck 10pm. I wish our bartender was a stickler for the margaritas too, as we ended up paying $8 more for 2... I would have gladly waited 10 mins for those as well. Super Nachos: Delicious! And they were very generous with the toppings. No chip was left bare. I'll definitely come back for those alone. Short Rib Taquitos: Very average, nothing special and smaller than their regular non Super Nacho Hour counterparts, that we had previously been eyeing as we waited to order. Mama's Green Enchiladas: I liked them, yet my boyfriend wasn't impressed. I have to say that ours didn't look anything like the pictures I've seen on Yelp and I believe that they may have been left under a heat lamp a little too long, because the cheese was very burnt and hard and the enchiladas themselves could have used more sauce (aka dry). Margaritas: Pretty good, but came served in a tiny glass and the tajin-like rim had an off putting smell that overpowered the drink. All in all, I'd go back for the Super Nachos and a margarita sans rim. read more

BAR Ama - Super Nachos, worthy of its name! - Tex-Mex Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Wow, this place surprised me with how delicious it was. The fried shrimp baco, fish taco, and rice pudding dessert were my 3 favorite things. I still think about it now and would recommend anyone in downtown in LA to come try it. The shrimp was seasoned and fried so perfectly, the fish taco had delicious pickled carrots inside with a super soft tortilla and fresh tartar sauce. Lastly the rice pudding is now one of my favorite desserts, so simple yet comforting. The caramel sauce and crispy toppings (which taste like biscotti cookies) balanced the pudding texture out so well. I look forward in coming back! read more

See all

Updating my review to remove a star. Went for dinner last night, and 90% of the food was fantastic. Highly recommend the sriracha chicken and the brussel sprouts! However, we were really disappointed by our service. Our server was the lady with black hair and tattoos (saw a few other reviews mention her). She started off pretty rude, and when she would check on us, she would just look at the table and walk away. We had more communication with the seating host. We'll be back for the great food and ambiance, but I feel that her customer service needs to improve. read more

See all

Really cool vibe! The food is unique and Iy taste buds were in love! I say at the bar and Jon was friendly and personable. I will definitely go back! read more

BAR Ama - Off menu puffy taco!!! Yum!! - Tex-Mex Near Me - Los Angeles, California

See all

This was pretty yummy! We came here on a whim on a Saturday night and enjoyed ourselves! We ordered: Chips and guac Fried squash blossoms Mushroom tacos Fish tacos Food was good - I especially LOVED the squash blossoms! The creamy avocado, mint, feta, honey filling complimented the chipotle crema perfectly! Vibe was decent. It's a small space, but felt cute and cozy! The bathroom situation was a little bleak as it needed to be cleaned up. Service - I find it a little odd that you're supposed to order all your food at once? Turned out fine in the end. The waitress we had was a little "cool" as far as demeanor, but whatever. Was also annoyed that the restaurant automatically charges 18% "service fee" to give workers a decent wage but you're still expected to tip. Just up the prices to cover costs so it doesn't feel like we're tipping twice? Other wise, good food, nice place! read more

See all

Sweet spot in DTLA. Our bartender/server Camber "Cam" was absolutely lovely. I left my ID and my lady went back a few days later for happy hour and she said she had one of the best tacos of her life (this from a Mexican from east los). Definitely going back to support this great place. read more

I wanted to just like this place but I didn't, not even a little bit. It's a Tex-Mex restaurant, which means what exactly. *they offered breakfast tacos, which were okay but not much flavor. *they offered alcoholic beverages but I didn't taste any alcohol in their specialty margarita drinks. *Omg, and the watery, slop in parchment paper they call guacamole was a nightmare and $15. Yes, I said $15! Where does it say that guacamole has celery in it?... This one does! Yuck! *There salsa lacked seasoning but the chips were nice and crispy. *Please don't get me started on their French toast... It needs so much help... It was a dry, thickly cut bread like the size of a brick. I couldn't believe how much syrup was placed on it and it was still dry. No Bueno! *The music was old school and fun but the food was tasteless and overpriced. read more

See all

Quick recap: - Food: Average at best - Portion size: Average - Service: Nice staff - Environment: Modern / Hypstery - $: Medium-High - Perks: Happy Hour at the Bar More details: Went there for Happy Hour. You have to sit at the bar, not at the restaurant's tables. We ordered from the Happy Hour menu exclusively. Had the guacamole with chips ($7) - average chips, nothing special; the Vegan nachos with cashew cheese ($9) - again average, nothing special here; short rib taquitos ($7) and corn polenta taquitos ($7) - both below average, we didn't even finish them; steak tacos ($5) and chicken tacos ($5) - below average (some chicken pieces had bones in them.....?). And, rounds of margaritas ($8 each) - average at best. Overall? Had heard so much about this place... I did not understand the hipe. The food was average at best, the portions were average and the price are kind of high for the quality. The service was very nice though. read more

See all

So far I have tried their guacamole and Michelada & Moscow mule. All three were Meh. I was greatly disappointed when I found out this place is a Tex mex place. Like for real?? We're in a great city for REAL Mexican food. I am not a fan of Tex mex but perhaps you are. The prices are fair the ambiance is cute. I will be back to try their actual meals because maybe that's where I'm missing out on the good stuff. read more

Fun spot with tasty food. My boyfriend and I shared: + Guacamole + Cauliflower & pesto + Short rib chalupa + Puffy potato taco + Puffy picadillo + Puffy chorizo + Puffy chicken + Puffy shrimp + Puffy conchinita Yes, I accidentally ordered six tacos. Don't ask me how this happened. My favorite dishes were the short rib chalupa and the puffy picadillo taco. read more

See all

Flavorful food and good cocktails. Very reasonable prices for downtown. We have multiple dishes and they were all flavorful and had a nice presentation. They lost a star due to charging for the salsa, salsa is a given, it's not guacamole. read more

BAR Ama - Extra Puffy Bread (one) - Tex-Mex Near Me - Los Angeles, California

See all

Bar Ama's happy hour is a must-visit! Their queso and chips were absolutely delicious. Thanks to Teazy.co for the recommendation, I'll be returning soon. read more

Great service, amazing food, love the ambiance. We went on a Thursday night. Not packed around 7pm but was filling up by the time we left. Coming back here for sure read more