Great atmosphere and delicious food. I definitely plan to return. The service was excellent! read more

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I took my partner for his birthday. We both loved the food it was delicious specifically the ribeye steak. We also loved our service by far the best service we've ever received. All thanks so much to our server Cristian and our cook Francisco! read more

This restaurant is amazing the was great food and the service was outstanding. I will definitely be back

Decanso Restaurant, specializing in the foods of Michoacan, had already caught my attention for what I refer to as their Benihana-like ("plancha dining") offering. Sit in a certain section of the restaurant and you'll be entertained by the food being prepared at the grill right in front of you. This looked like a lot of fun but on the evening I visited a private party occupied the space. Punt to the attractive bar holding center stage in the restaurant. Descanso is pretty from both the outside and in. I've often found that restaurants specializing in Michocoan fare deliver more upscale offerings than your neighborhood taqueria and Descanso is no exception. The bottle display above the bar area is stunning. After ordering cocktails, and the standard chips and salsa ($4) I looked at the menus I'd been given. One was their standard menu but the other was their LA Restaurant Week menu endorsed by the bartender as "the best deal". Elote Asado was my choice of starters followed by Alambre and finished with Tres Leches de Coco. All were excellent but it was the main course, Alambre, where the kitchen really sparkled: Savory steak was served alongside vegetables, salsas, and fresh tortillas, all but the latter sitting beneath a "hat" (my term) of soft but crispy cheese. The photo I took hid what was beneath that cheese but there was no hiding the flavor delight this entree packed. I ate about half, savoring the rest the following morning. A short walk away from LACMA, if viewing art all day has made you hungry, Descanso is a wonderful place to follow up with. read more

We made a reservation here for my mom's birthday and were really excited about the experience. Unfortunately, the experience didn't live up to our expectations. Our reservation was at 1:45 PM, and nowhere during the reservation process did it clearly state that we would be limited to the brunch menu. Even their website wasn't specific about the brunch hours. When we brought this up, the manager came over to look at our reservation, but his reaction made us feel more like we were bothering them than like they were trying to help resolve the issue. My mom really wanted the salmon, and they did make an exception and prepare it for her, which we appreciated. However, the overall interaction still felt uncomfortable, especially since this was supposed to be a special birthday experience for her. We also drove all the way from Santa Clarita for this experience. With the prices being as high as they are, we expected a lot more. To put it into perspective, $40 for two tacos is pretty mind-blowing. At these prices, the experience and food need to justify the cost. I'm not trying to hate on this restaurant or take anything away from the chef or our waitress. In fact, I actually feel bad for the chef and waitress because they were put in an awkward situation. But when you're spending this much money and making a special trip for a birthday, you expect the experience to feel special. If you're thinking this is going to be comparable to Benihana, it's not even close in terms of the overall experience. Unfortunately, for us, the price simply did not match the experience, and I don't feel it was worth the drive or the money. Again nothing against the chef and the waiter. read more

Everything about this place was just ok. Nothing great nothing bad just right in the middle. I don't know what it is about dine LA that has changed so much over the years but since the beginning of 2025 every time DineLA rolls around, we try a new place and everywhere is playing hide the menu. I have been going to die in LA for well over a decade and places used to just give you the menu and be excited you were there to try, now every single time we have to ask for it and it seems like restaurants hate it. It always baffles us because why are you participating in DineLA if you want to hide the menu and don't want people there for it. Anyway this brings up our only real issue that would lean towards not great side, service was extremely slow and I mean extremely. When we sat down and were given menus its took a good 5-10 minutes for someone to come around. Since we'd realized the DineLA menu was not in there we asked for it. In about 5 minutes guy comes back with menu...wrong menu, brunch menu. We then wait another 5 minutes for someone to come back around just to ask for right menu and then it took ANOTHER 5 minutes for that. Then when they brought out my pozole there was no spoon. I sat and sat. I am not one who can hide my face, so I was looking very confused and unhappy. My partner and I started laughing at one point bc it felt like a prank, soup no spoon. Rent em spoons come to life! Then someone who was not our server sees my unhappy face and tries to snatch the pozole and says "oh not hot enough" thankfully Im more swift and stopped him and was just like I just need a spoon. The place was not that busy for all this. I had my back turned so I couldn't see my partner commented more than once how there were a lot of workers so this slow service just didn't make sense I liked the pozole missed the fresh crunch of cold cabbage but it was tasty. The elote (off the cob) dont know whats its called was our favorite dish. I dont remember the names of the entrees we got but we ended up switching bc neither of us cared for ours and liked the other persons better. We both decided we probably wouldn't return, but we got great memories! As natives, when we both walked up, and said Marie Callender's! I went & found one that still existed and got a pie so for that alone and this place leading me back..that was great! read more

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Located near Los Angeles County Museum of Art this restaurant is set in a beautiful restaurant dining room with an amazing wraparound bar and cozy dining areas for meeting friends or family over a nice meal. Classify the food as upscale Mexican in the vein of Javier's their menu has a broad selection of delicious items prepared by the in-house chef. The service was excellent and I enjoyed my visit. I would recommend this place if you're visiting LACMA read more

We needed a restaurant close to the museums and Descanso was within a short walking distance. Ambiance was very nice. The entryway is impressive, and makes you feel welcome. The staff was friendly and found a table for 8 straight away. Great sertvce from beginning to end. Menu was limited but they did have some brunch items too. We started with chips and salsa. They were excellent, the salsa is great and they sell it by the pint for like $5. We got 3 pints to go too. I decided on the quesadilla plate with beans and rice. Delicious, fancy, and recommended. I added chicken to it so it was like $24 good value. Not like any other quesadilla I have ever tried before. I also had the off menu churro cheesecake. I am not sure what the price was but it was delicious as well. It came with a caramel drizzle and a few berries on the plate. Highly recommend. Someone in the group had a birthday so they brought out a bowl of ice cream with some cinnamon chips and a giant sparkler. That was fun. The ice cream was good, but with the cinnamon chips, it was a nice dessert. Enjoy the photos. read more

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Just arrived here to eat after a visit to LACMA museum. Adolfo our waiter greeted us very nicely and took our orders. Ordered the salad with salmon and enchiladas in green sauce rice and beans and shrimp taquitos. Everything we ate was delicious. I recommend everyone if your in the area, stop by and enjoy there food. The inside is beautifully decorated. You'll be amazed:) read more

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Came here with a friend for their happy hour to get a bit tipsy before going to a screening at SAG! They are conveniently located on Wilshire Blvd with a giant lot you can access from the side, with complimentary validated parking! Once I parked, I walked right across and my friend and I entered from the back. We were greeted by the host and taken to the bar and presented with the menus. Their happy hour is a great deal and my friend and I each got a margarita. I got the mango margarita while my friend opted for the strawberry margarita. I cannot believe they are only $9! They were not my very refreshing for the brutally hot day it was outside but had just the right amount of tequila to be well balanced and leave us with a nice buzz. The fruity flavors also came through nicely and weren't overly sweet. I didn't get any food items but my friend got the nachos and loved how hearty and well spiced it was. The ambiance was lovely and had a classy and luxury feel to it. The seating was comfortable and I felt very relaxed and at ease being there. I loved the decor, which felt very traditional Hollywood! The service was also friendly, prompt and helpful! I would definitely return, especially during happy hour! read more

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Breakfast burritos are a great size and very tasty! There was plenty of everything and not too little of anything inside which I'm very pleased with. Even the meatless were good for those looking for a vegetarian option. I can't say much else since I was able to try them at a special event but I would definitely like to check out the restaurant one day! read more

Descanso Restaurant - Breakfast Burrito - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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My wife and I came in for dinner the other day. We were disappointed the old Marie Calendars was replaced with their beautiful bar but wanted to give this place a shot. Service was fine, but the food was terrible. We both felt sick after our meals. The pozole was so under seasoned, the empinadas are ok. But the Caesar salad with chicken and the cheese enchilada was some of the worst food weve had in a very long time. read more

The food at Descanso was okay, but honestly, it wasn't anything special. The alambre definitely needed more spice and some salsa because it was pretty bland. The pozole was another issue--it should be served hot, not lukewarm. I feel like soup should never arrive at the table barely warm. The best part of the meal was definitely the tres leches cake. But honestly, you can't go too wrong with a sponge cake completely drenched in milk. That was the one dish that really stood out. But the worst part of dinner was the service. It took forever for them to bring one dish after another. It's not like these dishes are super complicated to prepare, and it wasn't even a busy night. There were plenty of empty tables, so I really don't understand why the food was coming out at a snail's pace. Overall, the food was just okay, but the slow service really made the experience less enjoyable. I'd probably come back for the tres leches... but I'm not sure I have the patience to wait for it. read more

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Tasty food and good portions with a nice layout and comfortable booth seating. I had the open-faced quesadillas with carnitas and it was delicious and very filling. The salsa served with the chips was smokier and thicker than the usual tomato salsa which I really enjoyed. Service was pleasant and fast. And all in all less expensive than I expected given its proximity to LACMA. read more

Descanso Restaurant - Plato de Quesadillas (with added carnitas) - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

This is a really nice remodel... you would have NO idea this used to be a Marie Callender's - albeit a more stylish one. They've done a fantastic job and I'm eager to visit again. I came for brunch and while it was good, I wasn't blown away - but I ordered wrong so that was my fault. We sat on the patio and it was lovely. Chips and salsa aren't free so if you can't do Mexican without them, plan to pay. Our server was charming and helpful... so much so that I let him lead me to order something I never would have - the carnitas hash. Forgetting for a moment that I don't care for carnitas. But still the eggs and potatoes were good. My friend had the burrito and it was HUGE, but good. We shared the Birria Empanadas appetizer and these were terrific. I definitely want to go back and try their regular menu and their happy hour - this looks to be a great place to meet and grab a drink and a light meal after work. They have the Plancha dining option too, which I'm really eager to try someday. Haven't seen this before! read more

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Great service, great food with lots of flavors. The place looks so pretty family friendly and large group friendly. Also make you try the pancakes to die for. I had crab cake la Benedict words can't express how delicious it was must have. The waitress Rebecca was great she made us feel cared for and she was very attentive. They validate parking enough parking spots. read more

Descanso Restaurant - Crab cake Crab Cakes À La Benedict - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Decided to stop by here on Cinco de Mayo because why wouldn't I? Have to go somewhere and Descanso had plenty of festivities to go along with food and drinks. So made a reservation and headed over for dinner. The restaurant is a good size with seating in the front and back along with around the bar. We started with cocktails, the Pasion y Plata and the Mango Pelar. The Pasion y Plata is basically a passion fruit margarita with real passion fruit puree. Pretty tasty. The Mango Pelar was another tequila based cocktail with orange and mango flavors. Very refreshing. For food, we started with the oysters and the Taquitos de Camarón. The oysters were very small, be warned. I didn't know if they are always this small or it was just this batch or what species of oyster they were, but here we were. They were ok overall, really didn't stand out. The Taquitos de Camarón, on the other hand, were very tasty. They come with marinated Mexican shrimp, blue corn tortillas, mango-habanero aalsa and morita aioli. They weren't very spicy but had good flavor, great amount of shrimp meat and the blue tortillas hit. Definitely would get again. We also got a side Volcano taco to try. It is a surf and turf taco with steak and shrimp, plenty of cheese, habanero pickled red onions, serrano peppers and more, served in a flour tortilla with a blue corn tortilla on the outside. Just a great bite For entrees we did the quesadilla plate and the carne asada. The quesadilla plate comes with two open face quesadillas with different types of cheese. It's actually a fun play on the quesadilla, probably better adding some protein to them, but still tasty. The carne asada was delicious, cooked perfectly, juicy and flavorful. Overall, very nice restaurant with plenty of options for food and drinks and most of the items worked. Would definitely recommend the volcano taco and the Taquitos de Camarón. Skip the oysters. read more

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We learned this is not a Mexican fusion of teppanyaki, it's an elevated plancha experience. Do not go expecting a Benihana's type dinner and show. What you will get instead is a delicious meal cooked by someone like Dante who will occasionally treat you to a huge flame display for fun. The chefs working the plancha are friendly and are chosen because they 1) can cook like the best of the best, and 2) they can do it while conversing with guests. I had a wonderful conversation on Maillard reactions, seasonings, how the grill works, and how to cook a carne asada vs a rib eye. Feel like we happily got a cooking lesson from a cordon bleu chef, and he was so game to answer questions. The carne asada was incredibly delicious, but know it takes longer than some other meet. He's able to do it all on the plancha. The plating was beautiful on top of roasted potatoes with an onion pepper mix that wasn't fajitas vegetables (no, really). We also had a delicious Peruvian fried rice and home made blue corn tortillas that were amazing and cooked on the plancha. Best thing though wasn't even the food from the plancha, which was excellent. I might have had the best tropical ceviche I will ever have. Going back to regular ceviche will be hard. read more

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We loved this place! Such good vibes, amazing service by Christian. Our glasses were never empty, and our belly's full thanks to our "private" chef Francisco. He was awesome! Such good conversation and the food was amazing. Will always ask for him. read more

Descanso Restaurant - Carne Asada Plate - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Came here on a Sunday. Strangely you have to decide where you want to sit ahead of time as they offer completely different menus for sitting at the table vs the grill. Half of us wanted food from the grill but you cannot order off the regular menu there. We were seated at a table. It is very nice inside. High ceilings and decorated nicely. We ordered a fish, 2 quesabirria tacos, posole and a steak. Food arrived. Portionings were very small for the price. Okay. Maybe it's good food.... Where's my fish, oh it's like a Tamale. First bites hmmmm. Probably one of the worst fish I've had just about anywhere. Seemed undercooked as well. Posole from a can perhaps? Any whole in the wall has better posole. Birria tacos as $15 each is insane and the tortillas were tough. The steak, also extremely tough. $5 chips and salsa was a fail with there bad salsa. The best thing this place has going for it is the place itself. The food is just not good. read more

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This review is long overdue. I had the chance to try their plancha experience for brunch. The portion was huge. The person cooking for us was so sweet. I ordered the nachos, and those alone were HUGE and could've been enough for my meal, however I didn't know how big it was. I ordered the rib eye for my main meal on the plancha. It was delicious and I definitely had leftovers to take home. This restaurant is ginormous. It's a nice restaurant to enjoy for anyone exploring either the tar pits, Academy museum, or even LACMA. read more

Descanso Restaurant - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Visiting the museums, this place is the perfect amount of upscale and laid back. Have the salmon salad - it's fantastic as it looks! (I added sliced Serrano peppers and it was the perfect blend of sweet and heat!) Great vibe, great service, great food! read more

Descanso Restaurant - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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After spending some time at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, my family and I came here for happy hour. We were waiting for traffic to die down a bit. We walked in, and the restaurant wasn't too busy, so we got seated right away. We ordered a few items from their happy hour menu, including a guava margarita. Everything was delicious. I especially enjoyed their ceviche; it was very tasty. Everything was delicious, and I would really love to go back to try more of their dishes. Our waiter, Christian, was so helpful. He let us know that their menu consisted mainly of dishes from Michoacán. They import a lot of their ingredients from Mexico. Some dishes took a little longer than others because everything is made from scratch. We loved everything here, the restaurant is beautiful! Hopefully, we can return soon. read more

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Food was fresh and flavorful. I got the $22 lunch special. The ambiance was beautiful and elegant. They have spaces for large parties. The server had good energy, but she was busy during the lunch rush. We ordered a spicy salsa for our meal and we had to ask twice. It's extra for the good stuff, but the tapatio is free. We didn't get charged. They have Loteria brunch on Sundays. Coming back for that! read more

Descanso Restaurant - Elote Asado - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Came here on Saturday night for dinner and this place is huge! Parking was in the back which was an added plus (they validate) and was greeted right away. I ordered 2 tacos which were a bit pricey and my wife ordered the Hangar steak. We also got chips and salsa ($5 is a steal). My birria taco and relleno taco were both amazing. My wife's steak was cooked very well, and seasoned perfectly. I'd say I think this place is worth it if you want an upscaled Mexican dining experience. read more

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I went in this place when it was Mary Callender. The building is so charming! Now it is a fine Mexican restaurant with a good price. They accept dogs in the patio. The service is excellent, efficient and kind. The food is delicious. We hit a salad that was spicy. But, the waitress told they cook with Mojita chili. It was my first time trying it. Good place after you have fun visiting museums. There is a metro station close there. read more

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Sunday brunch here is a whole vibe. I can't express how gorgeous this restaurant is-- colorful, vibrant, and filled with so many captivating details. The ambiance alone makes the experience feel special. Also... have you ever seen a Spanish hibachi-style restaurant before? No? Me either! Such a unique concept! Now let's talk food. I'm a dessert-first kind of girl, and although I saved it for last, the Tres Leches completely stole the show. You genuinely cannot get one like this anywhere else. It was soft, ultra-moist, and full of coconut goodness. I would absolutely come back just for that dessert alone. We also ordered the Huevos con Bistec, Carnitas Hash, and Ceviche Campechano. The steak in the Huevos con Bistec was cooked perfectly -- tender, flavorful, and seasoned just right. The crispy bite-sized potatoes paired with it were perfection. I also appreciated that they accommodated my request for egg whites. Everything we tried was delicious, and my boyfriend thoroughly enjoyed his meal too. Did I mention they do bottomless mimosas eyyyy! My boyfriend's favorite part of any brunch. Shoutout to our server, Ashley, for taking care of us. She was very patient, attentive, and kind. Honestly, we had a wonderful Sunday at Descanso. I absolutely recommend checking them out! read more

Bartender lied and said beans didn't have meat in it. Even after biting into 3 chunks of meat. Had horrible stomach problems all night and morning. Haven't ate meat in over 9 years. Sucked because I was enjoying my experience there before the incident. And only came because of DineLA. read more

The reservations here are sort of strict, we couldn't get seated without the whole party present, although that's understandable, seeing that the grill seating was still not taken after being seated at a table was a bummer, either way, the food made up for that, very tasty, delicious, addictive smoked salsa and flavorful pollito I had with the nice mole, it was all delicious. Very fresh feeling seating area, still enjoyed it here and will try the plancha some other time. read more

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The food was really good. The building is beautiful. It's a great addition to a day at the museums. read more

Had brunch out in the patio this afternoon. We split the chips and salsa and the carnitas hash. Our server, Adolfo (spelling?) was absolutely wonderful. Food was great, too. The one thing that threw me off was that the carnitas hash we ordered said on the menu that it came with a fried egg, however, the egg was sunny side up. I detest sunny side up eggs. He made it right and brought me a new egg, but that's an opportunity for the management to make sure the menu is accurate with the correct descriptions. Despite that one slight hiccup,, the experience was great. This is my second time here. Will continue to patronize this place. read more

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Beautiful and spacious dining room with high ceilings and brick columns. This trendy Mexican restaurant has a large drink menu and a good variety of what I call "modern" Mexican cuisine. They have a great selection of tacos from the traditional chicken, fish, beef, to contemporary flavors, such as pork belly, octopus, and lobster. Tacos are sold à la carte, with each costing around $10 - 18. I think the pork belly taco is their best! Certainly the most filling! Service is fast and super friendly, we came on a Sunday night and it was moderately busy, but we were very well taken care of. Also recommend their ceviche, nicely done with tender pieces of fish and citrus/mango sauce. read more

Descanso Restaurant - Tacos - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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The food here is amazing. The service is five star and the ambience is perfect for any gathering. I will definitely be back. read more

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I have been eyeing this place for a while because of how cute this place is on the outside. I finally got to try it with a coworker during our lunch and the tacos did not disappoint! I got the taco plate that comes with two tacos of your choice and a side. I got the El Toro and chicharron fish taco with a side of fruit with tajin. The toro was loaded with steak and seasoned well. The chicharron fish taco is now my go to item due to its generous serving of delectable fried fish. The chips and guac are a must!! Their guac had good amount of spice and incredibly refreshing. Great for sharing - I even had some leftover to take home. The ambiance looks like it would thrive in nightlife since the bar looks fully stocked and the restaurant is quite big with lots of open space. During lunch it is a bit dim and lends itself as an intimate atmosphere. The service was good! Because we went during lunch we were a bit rushed to leave so we did have to flag down the check, but other than that the service was friendly. This place may only have street parking. read more

Descanso Restaurant - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Loved the place.Cool brick features.food was very good.Loved the fresh salads.All the food is made from scratch in that kitchen.Service was good.Need to try the hibachi area. read more

Descanso Restaurant - Alambre came with warmest tortillas freshly made. Yum - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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I really wanted to like Descanso, but the food was disappointing. The birria empanadas lacked flavor, and the meat tasted cold and undercooked. The shrimp taquitos had potential, but the shrimp was noticeably overcooked. Overall, the execution was off and it wasn't worth the price for me. read more

Descanso Restaurant - Birria Empanadas - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Superb cuisine. Beautiful atmosphere. Friendly service. Prices not bad. Highly recommend! read more

Descanso Restaurant - Bar area - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Noon, Thursday, October 09, 2025 My colleague and I arrived at Descanso for lunch. It's a great spot and convenient to the businesses at Wilshire Courtyard across the street. We were seated quickly. It wasn't busy. We chose to eat inside and seated at a booth with plenty of room to spare for another two persons. It's always a cool vibe inside, kind of dimly lit with sunshine peering through the storefront windows. I had a nice conversation, able to hear our conversation well. Service was fantastic. We started of with the usual chips and guacamole. Perfect appetizer with restaurant style tortilla chips and zesty guacamole. I reordered one of my favorite salads. I had the chipotle salmon salad with arugula greens. It was so good but a bit over dressed. Perhaps next time I'll ask for the dressing on the side. Our ice waters were promptly refilled and the busser cleared our table of finished plates. The server was fantastic and on point. Descanso is an easy choice for a business lunch. read more

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Visited here for happy hour, I was intrigued by the menu so I Visited. Although there were many items that were attractive, i had a taste for nachos. They were on the happy hour and a nice portion were i felt full after. The waiter was friendly and gave good suggestions. I didn't have to wait long so that was a plus. The ambiance was quiet, I sat at a table but there were a few people at the bar. A really pretty restaurant that is hidden right on wilshire directly across from labrea tar bits and lacma read more

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Had walked by Descanso (located on Wilshire between the La Brea Tar Pits and the SAG AFTRA building) and looked at the restaurant when it first opened during the summer but didn't have the time to dine there, made it a point to go when we were in the area again. The dining area is expansive and very impressive, lots of brick and stone, nice lighting with a beautiful bar with a tower of liquors in the center, an open kitchen, ceilings decorated with Mexican movie posters. We were greeted warmly by the host and seated in a comfortable banquette. Ordered the duck mole negro and it was delicious with layers of flavor followed by a soft heat from the peppers in the mole. The leg quarter under the mole was perfectly cooked, tender and moist. The other entree we ordered was the hanger steak cut in a square strip like a tenderloin which was an imaginative take on that cut of meat. The meat was cooked medium rare and served on s bed of grilled vegetables and a light cream sauce. When we asked the waiter about the entree sizes, he mentioned that they were good portions. Very happy that we had room for dessert. Finished with the flan and very surprised with the generous portion which was equal to two orders from most restaurants. Will definitely return to try the different tacos and other entrees from the extensive menu. read more

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