El Carmen

100

198

2 years ago

Authentic Mexican food and great service ! Located in a great area with lots to do after dinner. Though the portions are smaller the flavors are definitely there - quality not quantity & I'm a fan of that. Despite the location I'd say that the ambiance is not classy or upscale yet a casual night out for some relaxed vibes accompanied with great food and drinks! read more

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Emily I.

Elite 22

838

507

2314

4 years ago

If you are looking for a cozy vibe with great Mexican food & music, look no further! Perfect first date vibes or drinks with friends. It's dark compared to most restaurants, but I thought it was a vla touch. La seductora (tequila, watermelon juice, lemon) was a solid drink with a classic combo of flavors. Elote was one of the best I've had. Out of all the tacos I tried, I liked the carnitas & pescado the best. I didn't try but gf said the papas is a MUST. Asada was dry & the camaron was decent, but lacking flavor. FYI happy hour 5p-7p mon-fri & late night happy hour 10:30p-2a sun-thurs read more

El Carmen - Hongo & papas tacos combination - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

El Carmen - Dia de los muertos - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

El Carmen - Asada tacos combination - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

El Carmen - Carnitas & pescado tacos - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

El Carmen - Elote - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

El Carmen - Camaron taco - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Jeaulamie W.

2 years ago

My husband and I went here for late night happy hour. I love that they don't stop serving food till 1:30am. Chips, guacamole, and salsa were good. The chips came out warm, the salsa could have used a little spiciness though. I had the flautas, I got one carnitas one chicken. I definitely preferred the chicken more but when I ordered they said they only had 1 chicken left so I had to mix it with something else. The plate came with rice and beans, sour cream, and salsa and it was delicious. I will say the portions are small though. On the regular menu you pay an extra $3 to add a flavor to your margarita but they won't allow you to do that with the happy hour one, you have to get it plain which made me a little disappointed because I wanted to flavor it but it was still a good margarita for $7. Inside is themed and has low lighting. read more

El Carmen - Combination de Flautas, margarita, chips and guacamole/salsa - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Marc R.

Elite 24

459

146

2 years ago

This is a really nice causal bar with reasonably priced drinks and cheap apps! I must say the espresso martini I ordered had the best flavors I've ever had in that kind of drink - albeit it was pretty small for portion sizing. The price was average. The service was great. Speedy! And staff were friendly too. The interior is a lot of fun and the music is not too loud so you can have a conversation! Chips and salsa were very good and well priced. I will be back! read more

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Natalie K.

1 year ago

Good food and lots of great tequilas! The servers were also great and knew their tequilas!

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Alexes P.

2 years ago

The most amazing taco and tequila bar. You walk in and it's like walking into a Luchador Subway that has the best lighting for not using your phone! The chips and salsa smack and the manager is great! He helped us so much even though he was recently hired. read more

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Melissa P.

Elite 24

106

2 years ago

Great cozy spot! The staff was wonderful, special shout out to Emily, the bartender, who was fantastic and super friendly! read more

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John B.

675

1 year ago

It's a great place, but the SERVICE FUCKING SUCKS! They make great food and drinks but the SERVICE FUCKING SUCKS! When you come here, prepare your brain to get your own everything, ask for something and they may or may not acknowledge your existence. But it's a vibe... except the SERVICE AND THE ATTITUDES HERE FUCKING SUUUUUUCCCCKKK! read more

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Josh N.

2 years ago

The best spicy passionfruit margarita I've had in LA. Highly recommend it. The food was good and the service was great as well. Next time I'll try to make it to the their happy hour as they have great deals on the menu. read more

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Seth B.

585

176

223

4 years ago

I can't say enough great things about this place!! The first visit was six months ago! I had the grilled snapper tacos and they left me thinking about them! I had it again yesterday and remain as great as I remember! I also had the sangria which was quite great! The scene may be loud but the restaurant screams festive! I recommend it shoe heartedly! read more

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Sadie K.

793

4 years ago

This place is absolutely uniquely delicious Mexican food. A touch of fire roasted with a twist of lime. The dishes are smaller than your normal Mexican la food spot but you'll be more than satisfied by the rich unexpected flavors- trust. The guacamole is delicious but over priced for seven bucks for a tiny cup. The enchiladas are green chili madness! The taco platter although ridiculous priced an extra $1 & $2 for fish or steak are small but flavor bombs. It's the coolest little spot decorated absolutely perfect- it's like Casablanca meets Mexican wrestling with a twist of upscale dive bar. Here's the only BUT... it's a big one... the service is not so great. Like 20 minutes to your first drink, mix up of the order, sides come after your meal is almost complete. We will be back but not with empty stomachs. read more

El Carmen - Great (flattering) lighting - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

El Carmen - Delicious guacamole - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

El Carmen - Super cute date place - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Ginece L.

2 years ago

Food and drinks was really delicious, the service was good. The restaurant just felt very small and cramped. read more

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Adele R.

3 years ago

My bf & I just randomly stumbled upon this place to check it out one day and now it's become our new favorite spot. The drinks and food are soooo good. It's a hidden gem! Not to mention the decorations are so unique & cute with how they decorated with the lucha libre. The bartender told us he makes the seasonal drink menu. My boyfriend is also a bartender and he said it was the best mezcal drinks he ever had. They put the craft in craft cocktails. The flavors just complimented each other so beautifully. We can't wait to be back! read more

El Carmen - Esquites & Ceviche - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

El Carmen - Mezcal margarita & pineapple margarita - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

El Carmen - Decor - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Niecy S.

295

3 years ago

Small spot with great drinks and food. Enjoy just sitting listening to music, eating with great company. You get a menu when you walk in and order your food and drinks at the bar. When your order is ready they bring it to your table. It was a diverse crowd which I really enjoyed . The staff was kind and greeted us from the moment we walked in the door. The bartenders were awesome and make some great drinks. I will definitely be going back to try happy hour. We got asada tacos ,chips and salsa which were fresh and hot upon arrival at our table. But those tacos were perfection I could have eaten them again and again. The drinks were good down to the last drop. read more

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Kirk L.

3 years ago

Food was top notch, exactly what we ordered and better than we expected. Drinks: muah! Service: impeccable. Atmosphere: Birthday perfect. Can't recommend enough! We'll be back again and again....(!) read more

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Alec K.

178

181

3 years ago

Don't let the bar feel off the establishment fool ya. The food here is pretty good, the potato tacos are amazing n the ceviche was refreshing n delicious!!!! It's right next door to one of the best bbq places I've been to. The food n service is what would make me come back to try other things on the menu, came for happy hour n I left happy!!! read more

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Christopher V.

3 years ago

If you want a place for fast service and good drinks come here. We got their margaritas and they have a huge selection of tequila. We ordered tacos and in 10 mins we already had our food. Definitely a cute place to meet up after work for their happy hour or on a date as well. read more

El Carmen - Bar area - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Robert M.

Elite 23

252

3 years ago

I went for an after drink and their selection of Mezcal didn't disappoint. I got a mezcal margarita that had magnum fortified wine added and it was amazing. Really enjoyed the flavor profile of the mezcal (del maguey classico). Can't wait to go back though. read more

El Carmen - Mezcal selection. - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Taylor J.

Elite 26 All-Star

251

397

1375

7 years ago

I never thought I'd be dancing with the devil on a Monday night, but here I was, engulfed in the red lighting of El Carmen, drinking a lovely cocktail, and ready to sell my soul. To be honest, I had chicken in the fridge, but after a full day at work (I am so keen on making excuses) I wanted to have a nice dinner. So, I looked at my bookmarked restaurants via Yelp and decided Mexican food was exactly what I wanted & within a few moments, I knew El Carmen was exactly the place. Arrived here around 7:15 (Luckily we found some great street parking. It was MLK day, so no promises on always finding such a magical spot). I noticed that they do offer valet parking at the Little Door (next door) for 10 bucks a pop. Pshh that's drinking money, but the option is there and probably needed on Friday or Saturday night. We walked in, were immediately seated and got one of the coveted corner spots (they at least told us it was coveted, I like feeling special). After looking over the menu I realized that this was first and foremost a bar. What was my proof, you ask? The fact that there was one solid page of food followed by 3 (count em' 3) pages of cocktails and Tequila. Being a lover of tequila, I was not the most upset about this, but just a heads up. If you're expecting plates upon plates of different kinds of Mexican dishes. This is not the place. But, If you want to have a nice drink (and a rousing list of tequilas to choose from) this, my friend, is a winner. We got a few tacos and some drinks. The food was...alright. Nothing special, but what really sold me was the decor. I am a freakazoid for ambiance and this place has it all. Red lighting, paintings of Lucha Libre fighters, a decorated bull head and vintage Mexican movie posters. I loved it; very cool, very sexy, slightly satanic. I definitely felt as if I was traveling between the 6th and 7th circles of Dante's Inferno. But, If this is what hell looks like, sign me up. I'm ready to go...and DON'T FORGET THAT TEQUILA LIST!! The customer service was top notch! They only had a few people working the floor, but our food and drinks came out mighty fast. Everyone was incredibly nice and they made sure we were comfortable. El Carmen was great! I'm a huge sucker for decor and great customer service. This is the kind of place I would put on my "impress my friends with knowledge of cool restaurants in LA" list. I can't wait to come back and do just that. read more

El Carmen - Rosa Maria - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Steve P.

277

142

3 years ago

Awesome vibe. Incredible selection of tequila and mezcal. Quality stuff here... not just bottles of trendy "celebrity owned tequila" but really great bottles. We ordered the flight to sample some new labels and the bartender really knows his tequila. Also their food was simple and yummy. read more

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James S.

2 years ago

Bomb. Food is incredible. Simple and perfect. Tons of flavor. Gonna be hanging there a lot more now I know what's up. read more

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Ariel H.

4 years ago

Tables are a bit tight and small to fit all your food but once inside you are transported to a different land of good food, great drinks and even better customer service. Vegan here, so I ordered the potato tacos, guacamole and nachos; Yes all for me, I love to eat. Sponsor me :) Potato tacos were good. I used salsa and hot sauce to add a bit more flavor. Guacamole was incredible. Chipotle used to do it for me but this place takes the cake. The nachos were really good. I added rice! read more

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Ronie S.

115

2 years ago

Absolutely love this little hole in the wall. The atmosphere is amazing, the people are friendly, the potato tacos are amazing as is the rest of the food and the drinks are always good. Would definitely recommend read more

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Ron U.

1 year ago

Amazing food (fish & shrimp taco, fresh and tasty), La Lumbre cocktail (with jalapeño), wonderful, lively experience! I was here 18 years ago with friends who opened an art gallery on Melrose and we celebrated here at El Carman. I remember the ceiling fans and photos of wrestlers on the walls but thought it was on Melrose. Highly recommend. read more

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Amandeep K.

276

111

1229

7 years ago

Our first stop on our visit in LA! We wanted to go to a "poppin" place with good Mexican food since California is known to have that, and found this place through Yelp! It's a cute place in Hollywood, definitely busy and hip. It's a little small but with a huge bar and selective seating against the wall. Lots of choices for drinks (especially tequila) and food. Their margaritas are super popular as well. I got the chicken enchiladas with mole sauce and it was amazing - hands down the BEST mole sauce I've ever had! The portion size is a little small but it's enough for you to finish your meal, which I liked. I also got the fresh fruit margarita with strawberry flavor and it was delicious! I'm not a big margarita fan but this one was really good. The atmost here is fun, but very loud (the bar is right there) so it was quite hard to hear each other over the noise. I would definitely come back if ever in the area! read more

El Carmen - Strawberry Fresh Fruit Margarita - strawberry :) - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

El Carmen - Enchiladas de mole - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Lia A.

3 years ago

Cool hidden gem, small but food was great! Drink was good... came in on a Friday evening.. so very busy crowded bar . I was pleasantly surprised at the food considering it's more of a bat vibe... Service was great! Ambiance is very loud, if you don't mind loud... read more

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Robert G.

150

3 years ago

Had only drinks at the bar but service and atmosphere was great definitely will be back! read more

El Carmen - Cadillacs!! - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Marlen B.

No answers yet. Be the first to answer.

129

5 years ago

My boyfriend told me to try this place out and so I decided to show up with my best friend. The setting is super cute and I love the red light effect. The bar is huge with so many choices of tequilas to try. My favorite part is the seating against the wall because it's not only chairs it's like a booth type and it's comfortable. The drinks were delicious. I definitely recommend "La Seductora" (not the one in the picture) the salsa that goes along with the chips was BOOOOMB! The only down side I must say is the choice in music that is played bc it is Mexican and I didn't hear any Spanish songs play. But then again it is Hollywood so there's that. Overall, I will for sure be coming back! read more

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Marchia S.

107

3 years ago

Cute little taco and tequila bar. My husband and I went during happy hour and it did not disappoint. I ordered two chicken tacos and one potato taco. Both were delicious. The classic margarita on the happy hour menu was also really good. My husband ordered the chicken enchilada plate and really enjoyed it. The service was also good. We'd definitely come back. read more

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Teri B.

4 years ago

Love this little hidden gem! Been going here my whole life. Good food and great tequila bar. Love the vibe and the velvet paintings on the tiled walls. Polite service too. read more

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I'yuana P.

Elite 22

327

4 years ago

Great service. Got a tequila flight and michilada. But damn the bathroom really smells like so much poop. I almost threw up. I don't know how a bathroom can smell so badly. Like it's not normal or unbearable. Please fix. read more

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Paulette C.

4 years ago

First and foremost Alex Tino And the incredible Daisy! Beyond proud Beyond grateful Delicious Joy Consistent Always here always good Always make me happy Thank you read more

Business owner information

Stacy C.

Paulette!…

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Lisa M.

952

2 years ago

Drinks and atmosphere, ambiance And waitress' dresses are unsurpassed. Food:- fish tacos. Amongst the worst I have ever had. Drinks. 5 stars Service 3 stars Thank you! Interesting and fun time. read more

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Page 3 of 30

8138 W 3rd St
Los Angeles, CA 90048
Beverly Grove
Directions
(323) 852-1552
Call Now
Visit Website
http://elcarmenla.com

Full menu

Hours

What time does El Carmen open?

El Carmen opens at 5:00 PM on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.El Carmen opens at 6:00 PM on Saturday and Sunday.

What time does El Carmen close?

El Carmen closes at 2:00 AM (Next day) on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Mon-Fri 5:00 PM - 2:00 AM (Next day)Sat-Sun 6:00 PM - 2:00 AM (Next day)

Payment methods

Does El Carmen take Bitcoin?

No, El Carmen does not take Bitcoin.

Does El Carmen take credit cards?

Yes, El Carmen takes credit cards.

Food & Alcohol

Does El Carmen have catering options?

No, El Carmen does not have catering options.

Does El Carmen have a drive thru?

No, El Carmen does not have a drive thru.

Does El Carmen have a happy hour?

Yes, El Carmen has a happy hour.

Does El Carmen serve alcohol?

Yes, El Carmen serves alcohol. Full Bar

Services

Is El Carmen by appointment only?

No, El Carmen is not by appointment only.

Indoor Amenities

Does El Carmen allow dogs?

No, El Carmen does not allow dogs.

Does El Carmen have TVs?

No, El Carmen does not have TVs.

Outdoor Amenities

Does El Carmen have bike parking?

Yes, El Carmen has bike parking.

Does El Carmen have outdoor seating?

Yes, El Carmen has outdoor seating options.

Does El Carmen have parking?

Yes, El Carmen has parking options. Street Parking, Valet Parking

Other Amenities

Is El Carmen wheelchair accessible?

Yes, El Carmen is wheelchair accessible.

Does El Carmen allow outdoor smoking?

No, El Carmen does not allow outdoor smoking.

Does El Carmen have free WiFi?

No, El Carmen does not have free WiFi.

From the Business

Specialties

El Carmen is known for its vast collection of Tequilas and Mezcals, carrying over 300 labels from over 175 producers. The original 1927 neon sign distinguishes the exterior of a bustling 3rd St. Step through the thick red curtain, and you feel as if you had walked into an intimate bar in Mexico that never existed. But El Carmen is more than just ambiance. Under an intricately mosaic-barreled ceiling, guests nosh on tacos, elote, and nachos. The margaritas flow, and the specialty cocktails offer a balance of mezcal and tequila concoctions that include award-winning margaritas. El Carmen is a destination for locals, first dates, new friends, old friends, and celebrations.

History

Established in 1994.

El Carmen was first opened in 1927 by Encarnacion Elias Gomez and was passed through the family for generations until she sold in 1994 to Sean. MacPherson. Growing up, Sean spent the summers with his grandmother in Guadalajara working at her school for blind girls. Sean's connection to his heritage, the history of El Carmen, with an elusive story, was a perfect match. El Carmen holds the one common denominator among MacPherson's restaurants & bars by evoking a sense of place and connection. El Carmen will celebrate 26 years May 6 2023.

Meet the Business Owner: Supernormal P.

Smacsmac Jones, Bar Lubitsch, Roger Room

More Info

Health Score

El Carmen Reviews in Other Languages

Spanish
1 Review

Ask the Community - El Carmen

Any non-alcoholic drinks?

What time do you serve food until every night?

Mon. - Sat. last call is 1:30, unless it’s totally dead, then the manager might do last call at 1:15 am.…

Are they going to reopen this month?

We reopened July 7, 2021. Enjoy the best happy hours in town, Monday through Friday 5-7pm. $5 award winning margaritas with great food specials!

Are they currently open as of May 2021?

nope ! just wasted a bunch of time to find that it was closed on a saturday night ...

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What kind of music Saturday nights? Any room for dancing?

No dancing room that I could see.

Do they have valet or parking?

No, it's just street parking, I believe.

Do they serve wine and are there taco Tuesday specials?

We have a very limited selection of wine. We are primarily a tequila and mezcal bar. Monday - Friday between 5-7 we have taco and margarita specials. So yes, we do have Taco Tuesday specials!

Do you take reservations?

Yes, we take reservations. Call us during business hours at (323) 852-1552 to set up a reservation.

What time is Happy Hour?

5-7pm

View 1 more answer

Are the tortillas corn/gluten free?

Yes, we have corn tortillas that are gluten-free. Almost our entire menu is gluten-free.

What days and times are happy hour?

5 to 7

View 1 more answer

How late is food served till?

We (I work there) serve food until 1:30am....but last call for food is at 1:15am

View 2 more answers

Does this place have Taco Tuesday specials? And what time does happy hour end?

Yes!! Probably one of the best HH that I've been to, i believe it's from 5-7 pm, I had a combination plate for $7.00 !!

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Melrose Umbrella

Pulled up for happy hour after work yesterday. Found this spot on Yelp. Found a parking spot around…read morethe corner in the residential neighborhood. The restaurant is beautiful and reminds me of being in Mexico. A Spanish theme and style. A lot of seating and it's also spacious with an outdoor patio that is open to the customers and also widely used for many event. Everything was clean from what I noticed. The music volume was tolerable as well as the selection of choice. Felt like I was on vacation for a min. A great spot to have drinks. A great to spot to meet up or even come for a date. The Melrose Mule was cool. Very refreshing like the bartender mentioned. It was different than the usual mules I get. And the Improved Whiskey was like having an Old Fashion and Whiskey Sour together. It did not disappoint. I also had an attentive bartender who had a good attitude. Didn't take long for him to make my drinks nor put in an order for a smash burger. The smash burger was acceptable. It was good, however, I was expecting something a little bit bigger in size. I like the presentation with it being wrapped in foil. It was cooked perfectly, it was hot and flavorful. No complaints other than the size. I wouldn't mind pulling back up for another happy hour when I'm back in the area. They have some more drinks I would love to try.

I've always had an amazing time here but last night our waiter was so pretentious and rude…read more He had a terrible attitude all night and you can tell he was not in a good mood. Though it's okay to have off days, it is not okay to be annoyed at customers. I promise you we were not difficult at all and placed easy orders. It was only two of us. A bit disappointed in last nights experience as this was my go to place around home

My favorite rosé and the beautiful ambiance.

Inside

Fish & chips.

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Her Little Bar

4.2

(40 reviews)

1.5 mi

Cute place to go when all seasons is too crowded and you want a more chill vibe. Staff and…read morebartenders are awesome, they have treats for dogs, you can queue up music, just a nice small bar that I hope is open for many years to come. Has a classic feel to it

Came here for the World Cup final, the bar is small and intimate and the drinks are cheap, so…read morepoints for that. However, I had a pretty awful experience with their red headed bartender, the one with the long beard. I waited at the bar for 10mins and watched him take several drink orders from people who arrived after me. I put my hand up to try and get his attention, only to hear him shout "YOU DONT NEED TO WAVE AT ME, I CAN SEE YOU!", all while not looking at me and continuing to serve everyone but me. Eventually one of the other bartenders came out from the back and helped me. Definitely put a damper on my afternoon. Why work in customer service if you're going to hate customers for no reason?

The iconic mermaid and my beer

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Her Little bar Bartender Vinny was great host and he was attentive and great service. This place is an amazing dive bar.

Juniper Lounge and Garden

4.1

(75 reviews)

1.6 mi

Love the vibes and atmosphere here. My husband and I like to go work in the lounge area and grab a…read morecoffee while we're there. It's nice being surrounded by like minded people, as so many go there to work or study. We like to take a break and enjoy lunch while we're there and the food does not disappoint. It's absolutely delicious and so well prepared. We tried the bone marrow burger and chicken skewers yesterday. 10/10 for both! The sauces are incredible even the waffle fries were fantastic. The service is great and our server was awesome. She knew when we needed something and would check in but not pushy or annoying. Definitely recommend grab a bite to eat here or just hanging out with friends.

food was great but crazy over priced. I spent almost $200 on two drink, bread, skirt steak, and…read moreBrussel sprouts. would have been worth it for a fine dining experience but kinda disappointing to spend that much to sit in a hotel lobby and practically have to beg the server to notice us. The pinot noir was incredible . The vibes were good.

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The Lucky Tiki

4.6

(223 reviews)

1.3 mi

Hell Yeah! The…read moresecret speakeasy, "The Lucky Tiki", was a fun time and great atmosphere, good beverages; and not stupidly overpriced. Such an interesting spot to tuck it, above the Tail O' the Pup, and the building where the 'Doors' recorded their last studio album (LA Lady). Make your reservation online and don't be late because the clock starts at the time you chose and you will be informed when you get there late that that will be subtracted from your time at the end. They are obviously popular due to social media and it's not a huge place so they have to move people in and out, so just don't be late. The staff was uber-pleasant and personable, yet professional and expeditious. I didn't try any food, but the drinks were very tasty. They also have a small outside veranda if you prefer to sit out there. I was very pleased by my experience at the Lucky Tiki!

Such a fun place to get tiki drinks!! Speakeasy vibes, you enter through the opening a small door…read moreon the barrel inside Tail of the Pup, ring the bell, and they buzz the door to let you in. You have to let your eyes adjust because it's quite dim inside, but adorned with lots of colorful lighting. It's usually reservation only but I called ahead to see if they had availability for us to pop in and luckily they had room for us. Everyone here is so friendly and seems to love what they do. Our bartender was Shane and he was wonderful and really made our experience memorable. Zeke was the other bartender who was great as well. We ordered a Painkiller and a Captain's Inner Circle. Each drink comes in its own unique cup/glass and has such a fun presentation. The painkiller was presented to us with some fire elements and the captain's inner circle was hilarious - they ring a bell and all the workers join in on saying you're a part of the inner circle. Now the taste. Both of the drinks were delicious! We love a painkiller and this one definitely didn't disappoint, it totally hit the spot. I also loved the inner circle drink, it was coconutty and had fruity elements like apricot in it. There are so many drinks on their menu, we wish we could try them all! We'll have to come back next time to try more. They also have food but we didn't have time to try any dishes this time.

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Met Him At A Bar

Met Him At A Bar absolutely delivered. From the moment we walked in, the immaculate decor and…read moreadorable patio created such a warm, inviting atmosphere that made us want to stay awhile. The food was just as memorable. The chicken Parmesan was everything you want it to be: crispy, flavorful, and topped with a rich, perfectly balanced marinara and plenty of melted cheese. The Rigatoni Vodka (we added a meatball) was equally impressive. The vodka sauce was creamy without being overly heavy, and the meatball was tender, well seasoned, and packed with flavor. One thing to know before you go: parking can be a nightmare. There is valet in front, or you can opt for parking in the surrounding neighborhood. You're better off grabbing a rideshare if you can. It makes the experience much easier, especially if you plan on enjoying a few drinks. Between the beautiful ambiance, generous portions, and delicious food, this is an easy recommendation. We'll definitely be back.

As we are Italian Americans, Italian food, pasta specifically is a rather delicate matter in which…read morewe may or may not enjoy there fourth the pasta From Met Him At A Bar is no other. As we walked in, nothing caught our attention more than the brilliant lively atmosphere. As we took our seats we awaited what would surely be a culinary journey. We ordered the margarita pizza, the calamari, the meatballs, garlic bread, and the pasta pomodoro. Fortunately and unfortunately, our first dish of the night happened to be the garlic bread. The bread locked. It's garlic butter flavor, or that of flavor at all. if it was all we had ordered, Met Him At A Bar would surely be given one star, but thankfully they had more to offer. The meatballs for one held our attention much longer than that of the garlic bread. The flavoring in the meatballs themselves brought us straight back to our childhood straight back to our roots, as the creamy marinara sauce brought the dish to life. A simple yet elegant dish truly. For us, the calamari was simply there. It's maintained everything you want in a calamari yet added nothing new. It stood out to us not in a world of flavor, texture, and culinary experiences. The Margarita Pizza, however it was quite small. What it lacked in size was made up for in flavor. The melted mozzarella mixed with pizza sauce on the pizza to create a pool of flavor, lingering in the middle of the pizza until one slice is picked up and eaten. Lastly, the pasta Pomodoro. The sauce was thin, the pasta was overcooked instead of al dente. In the singular basil leaf stood atop the pasta, not for flavor, but to save the appearance of a disgraceful pomodoro. It's safe to say, Met Him At A bar may or may not be "Meating" us again... Most Sincerely, yours truly: Henry Pollock & Hayden Kalebic

Bright and airy. Perfect for brunch.

CALAMARI, BRUSSELS SPROUTS

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AVOCADO TOAST

Cold Shoulder Bar

4.1

(61 reviews)

0.3 mi

Amazing cocktails with a fun, date-y ambiance…read more Went for after-dinner drinks on the weekend. Was able to get a table along the wall and was served pretty quickly with menus and water. The ambiance is pretty cool - sort of reminded me of the Portrait Bar in NYC with the paintings (albeit upside down). The lighting was the right amount of dim but not dark, and the acoustics were great - you can hear across the table. Ordered 5 different drinks between the two of us (no clue what the names are, sorry!): - a strawberry martini type drink - cocktail with fresh peaches - a tropical rum drink - a smoky whisky cocktail - a coconut rum drink Everything was on point delicious, nothing too sweet or boozy - thing the fresh fruit and herbs help quite a bit in not making something too sugary. Would definitely recommend!

The cutest hole in the wall bar that I have found. Stumbled upon it by accident and fell in love…read morewith the ambiance. It's dark but has warm lighting and really cool decor such as upside down stools and fireplaces on the ceiling. My bartenders Matt & Kelsey were super friendly & made some fire drinks. The menus are aesthetic to look at because drinks are categorized by type of liquor, each drink described in detail and each description is accompanied by a picture of what the drink is supposed to look like. However, there is no food menu just alcoholic drinks. I found parking across the street where the CVS & WholeFoods are located. I didn't have any issues, but I only parked there for about 2 hours. Right before I left, the bartenders helped me discover a secret entrance to the bar next door. When you walk in you'll notice a bookshelf, if you slide that bookshelf to the right, you'll open the entrance to the bar next door. Pretty cool! Will definitely come back again.

Upside down bookcase entrance from next door's Blue Collar bar.

Upside down bar!

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Blue Collar

I love a damn dealer's choice. But even with that said, the craftful cocktails at this spot…read moreexceeded every single one of my expectations. I never knew what I was gonna get but I always got exactly what I wanted. Added bonus was meeting Sven Yamaha!

Impressive cocktails without giving you a menu. It's order what you want type of bar. So all you…read morehave to do is give the bartender a base and what you taste you typically like. The vibes are a little confusing and divey on a Saturday night but plenty of high top tables and seating options. It's a great place to catch up with friends or go on a date night if you want to cool/casual vibes.

Recommended tequila

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The Aviator

4.4

(56 reviews)

1.2 mi

We were walking by going somewhere and happened to pass by here and this place is cool!!! The…read moreambiance is fun and the owners are sooo nice and accommodating! The drinks were really yummy too and they were strong! They were so passionate about their bar and really leaned into it for the bit. If you want a fun night out or get a casual drink, definitely recommend checking them out !!

"Please fasten your seat belts and place your trays in the upright position as we prepare to land."…read more Yep, The Aviator is the closest thing you will get to being on an airplane! The place is so cool and oh, so fun! The Aviator is a magnificently decorated and themed airplane bar which has a first class and coach section seats that are exactly like being on a real airplane along with seat belts, trays and movable arm chairs and a Flight Attendant bell to request service! Food: we were treated to fries which were delicious! The Aviator offers a nice appetizer menu along with specialty drinks themed to the bar. We ordered Aperol Spritzes and they were delicious and refreshing! All reasonably priced too, yay! They have "cart" service too which added to the airplane themed experience! Service: Splendid! The Bartender and Flight Attendant were attentive and friendly! My friend and I had a blast of fun and plan to visit again soon! If you haven't been to The Aviator yet, plan to do so! You'll be glad you did!

They even have oxygen masks!

Chicken bites, amazing

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Entrance

La Bohème

Located in the heart of West Hollywood area, this spot is definitely worth a visit. Lots of bar you…read morecan go to after dinner to check out. Parking can be a little challenging, but valet service is available if you prefer the convenience. The seating is outdoors, so I'd recommend bringing a jacket or sweater, especially in the evening. The ambiance is perfect for a first date or a romantic date night with your significant other. If you can make it Monday through Thursday, don't miss their happy hour--it's one of the best deals in town. Everything we ordered, from the appetizers and entrées to the desserts, was absolutely delicious. You can tell the chef takes great pride in every dish. Overall, I give this place 5 stars. Great atmosphere, amazing food, and a wonderful dining experience. I'll definitely be coming back!

This restaurant is very dear to me, I celebrated my 70th birthday here with 25 of my closest…read morefriends and family. I had lunch last week with a friend and was so disappointed!. The outdoor space is still beautiful, but , unfortunately the LOUD music ruins the ambiance. People have to scream to hear their table mates. So we asked to be transferred indoors. Music still loud but less people screaming. the indoor space has been poorly maintained, floors are worn out, everything looks, well, old. Food: fried calamari... well cooked, tender, totally flavorless. Caesar Salad with chicken... VERY little dressing (we had to request more as well as salt and pepper, the chicken... dry as cardboard. The only good thing about this experience was the attentive waitress, unfortunately I didn't ask her name. What a disappointment!

Gooseberry

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The Bar at Short Stories Hotel

Went to the bar at Short Stories for Happy Hour and we loved it! Cocktails were delicious!…read more Service was great! The food was also surprisingly really tasty!! Such a relaxing and beautiful outdoor experience that I would highly recommend!! Definitely go check it out if you're looking for a new happy hour spot in the area!

Short Stories. Lasting Libations…read more Need a good hidden gem for Happy Hour? Then why not a bar at this cool hotel in Beverly Grove, directly across from The Grove (LA). Housemade chips and frites? Yes please! The do Short Story Burgers and can make them vegan or vegetarian friendly with impossible. Ask your server about the beer selections of the day, solid house wine for red, white or sparkling (prosecco). Great cocktails on the list as well. For dinner and extended drink offerings they have a larger assortment including appetizers/tapas style, burgers, sandwiches, special cocktails, rosé all day, pasta and entrees. Soft drinks and no alcohol beverages as well. If you like espresso martinis, the Too Much Happiness signature drink here is for you! They have free wi-fi. Valet parking, but have gotten lucky with street as well as metro and/or rideshare.

Excellent happy hour burger

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Manuela

Insanely good apple butter biscuit 10/10. Great service…read moreChilequilee 7/10 mostly just sauce not much else Popover Benedict 8/10 signature good but not my favorite Smoked dipped albacore just albacore 7/10 great presentation but a lil too rich for me Ocean trout tartar 10/10 super good easily one of the best things Steak 7/10 quite small for the price Canadian bacon 8/10 pretty bomb if you like sweet bacon and grits

Wow - I'm impressed with this place! First off, the restaurant environment is beautiful, with…read morecovered outdoor seating and in a building filled with art. But seating is still comfortable and not stuffy / pretentious. The food is truly above average even amongst restaurants of similar caliber. Some stand outs from the appetizers: the biscuits, served warm, so soft and buttery with the perfect spreads. The albacore spread. Their salads are actually great (this is coming from me, usually a salad hater.) The potato appetizers. Now from the entrees: I was pretty shocked by the eggs benedict popover and the bacon steak. Namely because these are generally pretty straightforward brunch dishes, but they were just so much better here than other places I've had them. I don't know what the secret is for the benedict popover - is it something they put in the benedict sauce? The way the ingredients come together? Whatever it is, it's perfect. For the bacon steak - it cut like butter, and wasn't too salty, sweet, or chewy / thick. So good! The service has also been great here each time I've come, both in a large party (10+ people) and in a small group. The food somehow still comes out when you expect it to and the staff is friendly and helpful. Reservations recommended especially for big groups!

Now offering Wine & Beer for takeaway and delivery. Visit our website for more details. manuela-la.com

Cast Iron Cornbread, Steen's Butter

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Black Beans Chilaquiles, Crema, Fried Egg, Radish, Cilantro, Queso FrescoChilaquiles

Fixins Soul Kitchen

been here soooooo many times. love the food, love the vibe. would definitley recommendread more

it was a good experience. there were 5 of us and we ordered the…read morefried green tomatoes, the fried deviled eggs, oxtails, smothered pork chops, and shrimp and grits. It was all good and plenty for the 5 of us. really colorful inside too. The adult Kool-aid Drink was really sweet so beware!

Fun interior and on Friday they had a great DJ

Shrimp and grits

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Side salad

Sonmari

Locally owned & operated

Wheelchair accessible

If you love innovative Korean-inspired dishes, elevated flavors, and extremely high-quality fish,…read moreyou need to add Sonmari to your list. This Korean handroll bar brings a creative twist to sushi while still letting the quality of each ingredient shine. My friend and I came for their lunch special, which includes a flight of handrolls, and I was honestly shocked by how generous the portions were. Each handroll was packed with an insane amount of fish, with a great mix of flavors like yellowtail and spicy tuna. The seaweed was fresh and crisp, and the rice was perfectly cooked. The balance of every bite was so well done. Don't sleep on the miso clam chowder either. It is an absolute must and such a unique dish that perfectly showcases their elevated approach to Korean-inspired flavors. The best part? They have an indoor-style patio where I was able to dine with my dog, making it such a fun and relaxed spot. Whether you're coming for creative cocktails, mocktails, small bites, or a full sushi meal, Sonmari is a place that will impress. Two people getting the lunch special and splitting an appetizer came out to around $105, which felt worth it for the quality, experience, and amount of food we received. Definitely a spot to check out if you're looking for a unique sushi experience with elevated Korean flavors.

Taste: 4 Creativity/Authenticity: 4…read moreAtmosphere: 4 Service: 5 Bang for your buck: 4 Was able to snag a reservation for this place cause I've heard good things. To start not a lot of parking in the area so be prepared to walk but the area is silver lake so hipsters and homeless. So this is a Korean Japanese fusion restaurant very interesting. Came here with a group so we got the spread, all the top handrolls and the favorites. Starting with the uni toast, great texture and interesting combinations but the uni didn't hit, next the Hikari don, amazing can't get any better! Now to the handrolls, banh mi, cut, chili yellowtail, blue crab and wagyu all were amazing but the cut and banh mi take the top. Service here is fast and the staff is very friendly. Overall great spot and when I'm In the area will def try to get a spot.

Chili Yellow tail Seared salmon CUT Bluefin tuna

Sonmari store sign.

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Clam chowder

Dunsmoor

I can definitely understand why reservations for this place is needed so far out in advanced. The…read morefood, the location, the venue, everything is absolutely wonderful. From the moment you step in, the hostess and the staff take care of you from start to finish. They have amazing recommendations and you cannot go wrong with any of the options they provide. I had the Baby Albacore and Hokkaido Scallop as appetizers and they were delish. I leaned a bit more towards the Albacore over the scallop, but both great. I also had the Sour Milk Cornbread which was magical and tasted like a cross between cornbread meets bundt cake. The flavor was perfect and was one of the best cornbread I have ever had. The pork chop was immaculate. I have yet to taste a pork chop that was so perfectly cooked from the moistness and the flavor. For dessert, the cobbler was ordered and goodness gracious it was absolutely amazing. If you come here, have all the courses, do not miss any course what so ever.

I had a reservation for Dunsmoor like two months ago, but something came up and I wound up…read morecancelling (in hindsight--dang it I woulda ate here twice!). Made another and was not even remotely disappointed. This was one of my recent favorite meals by far and dunno if I was just starving or what cause it was all hits and no misses. Our server was very sweet and friendly, as were most of the staff here. The inside is cozy, casual, and comfortable with lots of wood and plants. We ordered SO much food, mainly to try more things, and also because my eyes are perpetually bigger than my stomach. That's fine though! Even the leftovers were delicious as heck. - Cornbread--absolutely smothered in butter and honey, crispy on the outside and very moist on the inside with great jalapeño flavor. Saw some lady on social media say this was gross and dry... surely that was rage bait? - Bread--got both the jam and butter which were both amazing as it came with two types of warm bread that was perfectly crusty and soft. However, given the amount of butter overall in this meal, it wouldn't be a loss to skip. - Peaches--came with farmer's cheese, which is like a creamy, drier version of cottage cheese, that paired really well with the sweet juicy peaches, basil, and fresh lemon dressing. Summer on a plate. - Carolina gold rice--never had this dish before, it's like shrimp n grits met porridge, rich snd hearty with plenty of shrimp flavor from the shrimp butter. - Mushroom-crusted pork chop--easily usurped my previous favorite pork chop from Chez Maggy in Denver, and is now my favorite pork chop :) - Ribeye with bone marrow--also one of the best steaks from a restaurant we've had. My husband's gotten to the point where he doesn't like ordering steaks (usually I'm the offender) because they're usually not very good even from "steakhouses", but this ribeye was great. Perfect crust, perfect med-rare cook, lots of flavor, tender and delicious. Bonus was the bone marrow I saved half of for my spoiled dog. - Sticky date pudding--I think I confused this with a sticky toffee pudding although it's very similar and equally tasty as heck. Don't skip this! Typically I have to be borderline blackmailed into eating all my leftovers but there was no arm-twisting for Dunsmoor's. Street parking unless you valet. There's a line by opening for walk-ins, and apparently a separate line for reservations on the other side of the door.

Another view from my seat at the chef's counter

Dressed Lettuces: herbs, vinaigrette | $13

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Edna's Sour-Milk Cornbread: white cheddar, hatch chile, cultured butter, honey | $21

Beethoven Market

Went for brunch........ Great atmosphere, food and service!…read moreTry the lemon ricotta pancakes, crispy polenta and hash browns with poached eggs. Yum!

I absolutely love this place!! Every time, I have had the most excellent service. The outside…read moreseating is so gorgeous, I recommend making a reservation to make sure you can sit outside! The focaccia with whipped ricotta is a must order. Even if you don't like ricotta, you will absolutely love this. The honey has such a rich and complex flavor, it is simply magnificent. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the Agnolotti del Plin. It was sweet and light. I personally would recommend that you share this dish, because the flavor is so unique that I didn't need a lot of bites to feel satisfied. The highlight of the Sausage & Peppers pizza is the crust. It was airy and crunchy and so satisfying. (Next time, I'd order a pizza and keep the extra honey from the focaccia to drizzle on top!!) The hangar steak was a bit of a let down. It tasted a bit "game-y", which was very shocking. I will pass next time. The broccolini was good, but nothing worth raving about. If it were me, id stick with the appetizers, pasta, and pizza!!

12/12/25. IG: @jasfoodchronicles

Roasted potatoes

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Strawberry sundae

Checker Hall

Great Food! Love the hummus and pita! Always Friendly service and good drinks…read more Love the ambiance as well.

I don't feel like this restaurant is talked about enough. This restaurant has great food and great…read morevibes. It also low-key made me feel like I was dying back in New Orleans when I was sitting on the second floor balcony area overlooking the street. The service here is friendly and attentive as well. There's definitely a great sense of hospitality here. A small group of us came here in a week night so we were able to get seated pretty much right away. Well, at least after a little time that we were able to spend at the bar. I started off with a martini. It was delicious as well. And the bar is really nice. When we got seated, we were seated out on the balcony, which I really enjoyed. It felt like I was really dining on one of those balconies in New Orleans. We ordered couple of skewers - beef kofta and maitake. We also got and a couple starters/sides - the whipped feta, vadouvan cauliflower, and sticky Japanese sweet potato. And for a main, we got the chicken schnitzel. Everything was well presented and full of flavor. I don't think I disliked any of the dishes. Maybe I'm easy to please but seriously everything was really good and well prepared. I wanna go back and try some more mains like the branzino. Just a wonderful dining experience overall. And if you're looking for a nice dinner that won't break the bank and has a great vibe, this is the spot.