Tried this for the first time today with my best friend before heading to a nearby park, and we experienced the best customer service we've ever experienced! I ordered a bowl with shrimp which was absolutely delectable and fresh, and he ordered the loaded fries with asada which was pretty good too! The avocado cilantro salsa was also a nice addition! Towards the end, our food was packaged for us and we were given more salsa, yaaay! They were so kind and treated us like family. This is one of those places to come back to again and again! read more

Meh. They're open because they're the F&B of the theater next door. The meats for the tacos are dry and hard to chew and prices are way too high. The venue itself is tiny which would be fine if the food was better. Order Taco Bell instead. read more

Food was ehh. A little disappointing since the photos looked really good. I got the chicken burrito and a short rib taco. Short rib taco wasn't bad. It need something but in general, it was fine. It included a good amount of meat! I did not finish the Chicken burrito. It was made well but something was off. I think it was the chicken. It had a taste like it was old or sitting out for awhile. Unfortunately, I did not finish it. read more

They have a BBQ Short Rib Burrito. Nuff said. Okay, maybe not. But it is super good, and what I always get when I go. It's especially good with some added avocado and some sour cream. I always take it home and put it on a plate because, thanks to short rib, it can get a little loose and fall apart towars the end. Not that you'll care; you'll just grab a fork and keep going. Oh, it's also a nice sized burrito. Not too big, not too small, good on its own. As for the place itself, it's small, only has a couple seats inside, and a couple more outside (though you're right on the sidewalk of Wilshire, so...) The staff are nice, and it never takes long to get your food, even when there's a line. Which there always is when someone is playing the El Rey right next door, so plan accordingly. As for parking, it's Wilshire, so it can be a little trick at night, but it's easier during the day when you can park on a side street. read more

I went to get food here right before a concert and it absolutely hit. The restraunt is super cute, staff is friendly, and the carne asada fries were awesome! read more

Was around the area as I've gotten off work. Was craving something different so I looked up for mexican food (I'm a sucker for mexican food and spicy food) this spot caught my attention so I've decided to stop by. I'm Was a small location small venue abd and it was great the cashier was nice attentive greet it us, i ask him what he recommends us gave me some options went with torta de carnitas and burrito de asada simple options they didn't disappoint it was delicious had 4 salsa to try them out really good 2 thumbs up. Highly recommend it would definitely come back this time to try out the nachos. read more

See all

Love El Cartel tacos! Tacos 1986 can suck it. I can eat at el cartel and still afford to go to a show next door at the el Rey. The people running this shop are super cool too. They have tables and chairs outside so you can enjoy your tacos on a nice cool day. Support your local taco dealer at El Cartel, it's good! read more

Super cute spot right next to El Rey! - Short Rib Burrito: Big enough to fill you up! Meat was tender and abundant. At no point did I need to pause to pull fat from the burrito, that's a win in my book. I almost wish the short rib flavor wasn't so prominent.. it's all I tasted besides the contrast of the very tart pico de gallo. The short rib has a slight sweet BBQ flavor. I wish it didn't... only because that's what my palette was prepped for when ordering Mexican food. I've had it other places where it's seasoned to compliment the rest of the ingredients. - salsas: avocado cilantro (creamy) and verde. You can tell they're home made! Love that. I will say the avocado cilantro one was lacking flavor. They have a lot of menu options and a lot of protein options. They also have some vegetarian options! I would definitely come back to try more! read more

Staff is very nice at this family owned casual eatery. Prices and portions are fair. Metered parking on the street which can get tricky depending on the time of day. Some indoor and some outdoor seating but it's more of the type of place where you pick up and go. Food was solid. 3.5 star rounded up. read more

Oh my... 5-STAR. Hidden gem in the Miracle Mile. Fantastic Street Tacos. They have a small menu and I love that. Still offer all the good stuff - burritos, tacos, tostadas, and a few other interesting tid bits. Service is exceptional but I'm really taking about the chatter with the gents behind the grill, it's not a restaurant, more like a truck permanently located... Sauces are fresh homemade. My favorite is the habanero - Wowzer. Hot - hot - hot and it's a white sauce. They add cream to cool the heat. Give it to me!!!! LOL. I love this place. if you're on Wilshire around lunchtime passing through, jamb on the brakes and put a quarter in the meter. Worth the visit! Located next to the El Rey... read more

El Cartel - Front door... - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

This place was so good! I was skeptical at first because I always prefer my Mexican food to be from a truck in LA and you can never tell by the look of a restaurant if it will be good but this place was delicious. I ordered me a torta and it was so good. I went back a week later to get another torta and some nachos. Food is consistently good and the nachos were also great. Nice friendly staff and I enjoyed eating outside on one of the small tables. I am definitely going to be returning. read more

Tues, Mar 11, '25 I've been scoping out places to eat close to the office. I love Mexican food and convenience. El Cartel fit the bill for a place that I needed to try. From the reviews I read, I decided to prepare an online order for pick up. The Yelp page also describes El Cartel with standout shrimp tacos and empanadas... They got me with the shrimp!!! Scouring online for the best offer, I found that as a Prime member, using the GrubHub app I was able to pay for my order with my Amazon Card and get 5% off. I believe there were other offers if this was a driver-delivered order but I work close and was picking it up on my way home. I ordered the asada tostada salad in a fried tortilla bowl. It's described as having the fried flour tortilla shell, rice, beans, lettuce, pico, pickled onions, queso fresco, avocado, jalapeno, and protein of choice. I only had a few bites of the salad when I noticed the rice and beans as I was expecting only salad with out the carby rice and beans. I also got a shrimp burrito (no description on Yelp page), and sheppard pie empanada (no description on Yelp page). So the pick up time was scheduled between 5-515 pm. I didn't expect to get there so quickly. I made the turn onto Burnside and dared not park in the private parking lot for His and Hers. Luckily there was a metered parking spot right there immediately. I parked and put in a quarter into to meter. That got me 15 minutes to go and return to the car. I looked at my watch, only 5:05 pm, it's starting to rain so I hurry. It's the first time using GrubHub and there was no notification at 5:00, the tracker showed the order was ready. (The notification came at the end of the pick up range at 515 pm) So, great service... Nice presentation, the order was completed on time and packaged neatly in a large paper bag. The food was packaged in nice paper boxes. The napkins, fork, and salsas and dressing were packaged in a small white bag. When I got home I unpacked the contents and photographed them. I tasted their sauces. There's a white sauce or dressing??? Man, did it have a spicy kick!!! It can't be salad dressing, lol. There was also salsa verde and rojo. The spice levels on these were nice too. However, I'm not tasting much salt. Is the chef light handed on the salt/seasoning??? Oh no... All I can say it that the food was lacking in seasoning in my opinion. It did not knock my socks off. It's just okay and as someone else said in their review, it's bland. The shrimp burrito was typically sized but filled with rice and beans. There's no over abundance of shrimp, maybe just the right amount in this economy. I can say I did get a few nice bites of shrimp done well. They were fresh and not rubbery. The empanada looked like it was made hours ago, old unappealing looking. I wouldn't buy it again. If the flavor is not on point, your service isn't going to overcome this. It needs more improvement to sway me. I'm not impressed. Sorry, step it up El Cartel. Service - good Packing - good Food Presentation - acceptable (empanada hurt the score) Flavor - bland Salsas - spicy yes but no seasoning??? Price - average read more

We ate here last month during a visit to Los Angeles to watch some baseball. Discovered it on our walk to The Grove. We were very impressed and really enjoyed our lunch. We had a mixture of the different street tacos, including Carne Asada, carnitas, and the BBQ short ribs, all outstanding. We had to order the nachos and we were not disappointed. Not only was the food outstanding, but the staff was very friendly and very helpful. Felt like a welcoming family restaurant. Just an overall great vibe. Highly recommend El Cartel and we will be back! read more

Delicious empanadas tacos really yummy great place next to el Rey theatre! Nice guys and gets crowded but worth a try! chicken empanadas were delicious!! read more

Food is amazing. Asada Nachos a must have. Excellent customer service. Also, they have empanadas which are pretty good my favorite is chicken read more

The burrito was not bad. They put sour cream and cheese in there with pico de gallo in it. It didn't hit though because I was craving a more traditional burrito. Staff was super nice and chill though (: read more

El Cartel - Carne Asada Burrito - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

The food is delicious here. I tried the birria quesadilla and it was 10/10. The birria was cut up well and not chunky. I also had a side of french fries and they were fresh and crispy. This is a quick eats type of place. The service was fast and everything was made fresh. This is a hole in the wall but worth visiting if you're in the area. The shop is small. There's limited seating. We ate outside but there's only a couple tables. This seems more like a place to pick up food and go. read more

I really do love this place, but they never include any salsa or sauce on the side. I'm ordering a tostada salad--of course I need some kind of dressing or sauce with it. And when they do send something, it's always the hottest option, like their white habanero sauce, which doesn't make sense on a salad. It's frustrating. I'll update this review if that ever changes, but for now, it's been a consistent issue. read more

If you're looking for fantastic Mexican food, El Cartel is the place to go. I can't wait to come back and try more of their menu! I just had an amazing meal at El Cartel! The flavors were incredible and tasted so authentic -- you can tell they use fresh, high-quality ingredients. The tacos were perfectly prepared, with tender meats and bold seasonings, and the guacamole was hands down the best I've had in a while. read more

Service was good, food was delicious it was all good vibes All the food coming out looked great will definitely come back for more all they're missing is some aguas frescas read more

El Cartel - Tacos de carne asada - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

See all

Right on Wilshire! Comes recommended by the ticket taker at the Page Museum! Am iconic little place with fab guacamole and chips. The empanadas! Hot and tasty. I had the shepherds pie and the chicken. I dipped them both in the house hot sauce and couldn't have been happier. My friends were also charmed be the casual mid city sidewalk tables. They got the food out fast, and friendly. I recommend it! read more

Such a hidden gem in Miracle Mile! The food is fresh, resturant is clean and service is great. Daniel is friendly and patient! read more

If I could give this place zero stars I would. I came here expecting something ok given the reviews but was sooooo wrong . Stay away from this place. The people handling the food and the Front register didn't wash in between. I had to tell them to wash and put on gloves. Their pots were dirty and already used. You can see how they prepare and cook because it's all out in the open. I said I had pork allergies and I was shocked that they were mixing with the meats. The worker in the front didn't even know that Al pastor is pork.They were also very rude when I asked them to not mix because of my allergies. Will never come here or recommend this restaurant again. read more

Chefs do not wash their hands in between dealing with food and cash. The same pots are used for all the meat. The meat even after cooked tastes very old and it doesn't help that the staff especially the woman working the register is very rude. read more

Food was amazingly delicious! El Cartel burrito w/chicken, bean & cheese burrito, chicken & cheese empanada, banana & Nutella empanada.... Everything was perfection! Service was excellent, ambiance casual (we sat outside). Great lunch option if you're visiting the museums down the street -took us less than 10 minutes to get here from LACMA. We can't wait to come back. read more

3.75-4 stars for me. I had the Baja fish tacos, short rib taco and corn, kale and queso empanada. The short rib was great, as was the empanada. Unfortunately the fish taco fell short. It was bland and there was a bone in the fish. Also, nearly every Baja fish taco I've ordered from other places the fish is battered and fried, which is what I thought I was getting but instead it was grilled and it came with lettuce which was weird too. No indication anywhere on their menu of this. Some hits, and some misses. Definitely get yourself an empanada. read more

El Cartel - Apparently this is 2 Baja Fish Tacos - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

The quesadillas and empanadas are pretty good here and pretty much everything here is under $10. So price wise it's pretty great. read more

El Cartel - Chicken Quesadilla - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Looking for a burrito? This is the place! They even put cheese and sour cream (barely) in them. The sauces here are great too never had a white hot sauce before very interesting. Place is really small and parking can be hassle but the food was good. Fast service. read more

El Cartel - BBQ Short Rib Burrito @hybrideater - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I thought the food was excellent and priced right - can't wait to return! I ordered online and picked it up up on time. Service was friendly and great, too. read more

I saw the menu on yelp, and the food looked really good. I called my order in and it was ready when I arrived. My reason for giving only 2 stars is that #1, I ordered a carnitas burrito, and they gave me shredded beef. #2 the chicken empanada that I ordered was burnt and greasy, and #3, the burrito was had so much liquid in it, that when I took my first bite, it leaked all over my pants. I don't know if it was from the pico de gallo that wasn't drained or the beef from all it's juices, but I like my burritos to be solid, not soggy, when I take a bite. The sauces are really good, and I like that they're pre-packaged for diners. It wouldn't be my first choice, but if I'm in the area, I would be willing to give El Cartel another shot. Just please make sure that I get carnitas instead of the shredded beef. (PS, if this is run by the cartel, someone hacked my account, and I loved the food and the restaurant ;) read more

Great spot. Ample parking, friendly service, clean, plenty of options, amazing food. Was craving Mexican food, so I came here on a whim and ordered the shrimp nachos and they were the best I'd ever had. Tortilla chips were crunchy and premium, with immense flavor. The shrimp was seasoned and cooked to perfection, with a rush of flavor with every bite. Portion size is great and leaves leftovers for another meal if you're eating solo, or shareable with a +1. Side note, they had the Monday night football game on, so if you're a sports fan, you're in luck if you're looking to catch dinner and watch the game. read more

El Cartel - Shrimp Nachos - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Staff was friendly although the young man forgot my order and had to run back to pick up missing items. A decent spot for tacos pretty overpriced for the taste of quality tacos. If you're in Hollywood and it peaks your interest, it is a hit or miss. read more

El Cartel - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Very friendly staff, the food was hot, made to order and very satisfying. And at a good price. I'll be back again.

Food was delicious and the customer service was great!! I will definitely come back and eat here again

Amazing I got the chicken bowl and she got the chicken tacos Everything was so fresh and the chicken was a nice shredded texture. I personally could have used more salt but nothing I couldn't just add myself. Definitely get the sauces they have some great options read more

See all

Some of the street tacos we've tried here, Red Snapper Taco, Carnitas Taco. The Grilled Corn, Crisp Kale & Queso Fresco Empanada was very good, too, all their food is fresh and delicious. We tried the Churros with Nutella and of course, amazing. Great little spot to pick up food or eat outside at one of their small tables. The service is good, too! Love El Cartel. read more

Ordered the shrimp burrito, carda asada, and carnitas tacos To-Go. I enjoyed the steak tacos more than the carnitas because it had great flavor. The house made chips were delicious. Met the owners who were very kind and helpful. I look forward to trying the other items on the menu. read more

See all

Love their burritos and salsas! Highly recommend getting to go to bring to Dodgers Stadium for the game. Delish! read more

El Cartel - Carne Asada Burrito - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I cant even hold you, this was the worst tacos i have had all across los angeles. If you are starving then sure, give it a try. Meat was not seasoned much or cooked all the way. Sooooo much fat on the meat If you are hungry you would be better off making your own tacos. read more

El Cartel is a small place right next to the El Rey Theater in the Wilshire District. We have been there now several times and each time it is great. The service is fast and super friendly. You can eat indoors or out. There is not a ton of seating but we always find a place to sit. You can also order take out or delivery with Door Dash. You can also go back and forth from the El Rey if you are seeing a concert there (which I don't suggest). We love all of their food. They have these empanadas that are just amazing. Get the pork one. Their tacos and burritos are great and my grandson loves their guacamole and rice. It is also located near the La Brea Tar Pits and other areas of interest. Parking is on the street, so mind the signs. Have fun. read more

El Cartel - Exterior - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California