I've been eating here with friends regularly for years before sporting events. sadly the food quality has drastically declined. I had the filet mignon tacos which used to be very good big chunks of flavorful steak is now average at best. I would have been better off eating street tacos. The best thing on the menu and consistently good is the table side guacamole. Everything else is meh and a gamble at this point. The 3 stars is for ambiance and convenience to crypto. read more

The atmosphere is fantastic, the restaurant is comfortable and warm. The service was amazing, the food was fresh. They serve bottomless chips on the house with salsa. Everyone gets their own dish of salsa. The drinks are huge and you really get 2 margaritas theres so much in the bottle. The fajitas come out sizzling and everything they come with is phenomenal. The soup is perfect, we got tortilla soup and the carmen nachos both were very very good. The enchiladas are also to die for. Lastly the flan we got before we left was absolutely perfect. This was probably the best restaurant we went to in the whole city. You need to check this place out. read more

El Cholo - Steak fajitas, the chips we started with, and the sides for the fajitas - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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El cholos used to be the go-to place for Mexican Cuisine and a nice, friendly, and authentic atmosphere. Although the service was courteous, the food was way below the reputation it had decades ago. I sent back my drink, a virgin strawberry margarita, and discarded my doggy bag when I got home. I would not recommend it. read more

Sadly I would have to say that after eating here several times in a span of several years and had not been her for about four years the food was not good not tasty the salsa had no taste it did have sugar they no longer have homemade tortillas and I can see why the food is no longer authentic. I am sure they are trying to cater to their surroundings, but they have to understand that in Los Angeles we are used to Mexican Food and we're all critics because we actually know when Mexicans food should taste like and sadly this is not it. I hate to put this review since I used to love this place. This is so. read more

Amazing food! Would totally recommend and would go back. Friendly staff, great margarita's as well

I booked my daughter's birthday here which was perfect because she goes to school nearby at USC. We needed a place that was close to campus, easy to get into and could accommodate a big group of her friends. Wow, Big Joe made our night. He didn't miss a beat, service was very timely and he even helped cut our huge cake. Big Joe says yes to everything and makes dining as a big group a pleasure. Everything was perfect and we really appreciated how delicious the food was. Very generous portions, and everyone was stuffed. My daughter thanked me over and over. read more

The food is always spot on as well as the service! I got the tamales for Christmas, they gave us chips and salsa! Ya'll know how it is to find a restaurant that has everything, and it's not that expensive at all. read more

El Cholo on Flower in DTLA. My first time here at this location. Have been a regular at the Western Ave from USC days pre and post football games. Also fined numerous times at the Wilshire Bl one in Santa Monica, because it's closer to where I primarily reside in BH. Retrospective: Today, I was doing my Mexican theme run and trying the local mex restaurants that make the next dishes I grew up on and loved. Was raised by my late Mexican godmother, who prepared and cooked every dish from scratch based on her morning grocery shopping. She spent hours in the kitchen laboring and making sure the meal was perfect. As a child I was thrilled to help chopped and dice veggies and it was fun but a lot of work that paid off because every dish she cooked was delicious. Except for the ones that use weird meat and stuff I still find inedible for me and my tummy. I'm guilty of being squeamish. Which is why Cooking is NOT my forte, would rather eat out. One of my fav mex cuisine is Chile colorado con res o pollo. And El Cholo at the Santa Monica locale made it pretty darn good. I would order that and other stuff:Chile relleno, crab enchiladas, sweet corn tamales, if available nopales con camaron and take it to go. Today, I just had chips and guac and wanted to see the interior of this restaurant. It's decor Is similar to the others with old black and white photos of LA and of many regular customers, and the founding original owners. Service is warm cordial and nice. I probably will return here it's the closest to me when I'm in DTLA. When I want to totally sit and eat a ton of this delicious mexican food. read more

Theres no shortage of Mexican food options in DTLA, including some bomb taco trucks but El Cholo is an LA staple and the 3.5 rating does not represent the food and experience IMO. Every time I travel to LA and stay in downtown, I try and hit it up. This trip was no different and I was not disappointed. Pro Tip: Order the Classic Enchiladas with the fried egg on top. Beyond delicious. Fresh ingredients, tons of chicken, well-seasoned and the sauce is amazing. Wash them down with a Modello and you will not be disappointed. read more

Just visited the El Cholo in DTLA for the first time. It's a block from my place, so I had to jump in for some enchiladas and a marg. El Cholo is an LA institution. The location on Western has been around for 99 years. My mom recalls visiting that location in the 70's when she first arrived in LA. The location in DTLA is cute, consistent and super friendly. I'd recommend it to anyone. read more

Been coming here for years now and I like the whole patio dining with the birds landing while we're eating. Food could be better, but the drinks make up for it. read more

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First time trying el Cholo restaurant. After a Clippers game we decided to stop by the Mexican restaurant and give it a try being that is so close to Criptógrafo Arena. The food was decent with a simple menu that dates back to when the restaurant first opened. The atmosphere feels very much comfortable and great for everyone, I ordered a the Sonora chicken enchilada and is served with black beans, cheese, vegetables, the enchilada is served stacked and the rice is on the side. We also ordered the chicken fajitas and they were served with vegetables, hand made tortillas. read more

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Good service horrible white wash food they forgot it's Mexican food sad happens all the time salsa horrible more like tomato's and chips disrespectful to the true roots of there family's food they should just close down make it a good Taco Bell or del taco stars are only there for the server he was cool read more

I can see why the restaurant has the reputation it has. Margarita good. Pork tamale good. Cheese enchilada good. I enjoyed the place.

El Cholo is conveniently located a block from Staples and LA Live. On most weekday nights there usually is no problem getting a table before an event, however, Friday and Saturday evenings can be quite busy. I've been coming here for years and will just comment on some miscellaneous food items that I've had in the last few weeks. Corn tortilla chips are brought out as an appetizer. Two salsas are provided, one mild and the other spicier. To my taste the spicier one isn't all that spicy but some of my table mates with sensitive palettes have found it plenty spicy. The Albondigas Soup also comes from 1923 (the menu shows the year each item was first added) and contains several meatballs. There are not as many vegetables as I'm used to seeing in an albondigas soup but it still comes out well. The Tortilla Soup contains chicken, corn tortilla strips, melted cheese on top, roasted poblano chili, and chunks of avocado. This items seems to always come out perfectly. Felix's Caesar Salad is simple. The lettuce is very fresh. There is crumbled cheese, croutons, and a very light dressing. Very good. The Burrito Dorado is a large sized burrito, with chili con carne, beans, rice, cheese, and salsa. There is guacamole, sour cream, and a little bit of cabbage salad on the side. This is one of the more filling items on the menu. The Chicken Chimichanga contains chicken and chilis in a deep fried flour tortilla roll. The rolled-up tortilla is cut at a diagonal which displays the chimichanga contents and makes this very easy to eat. There are refried beans, guacamole, and Spanish rice on the side. The chimichangas are sized about the same as a large egg roll, making them easy to eat. The Chili Con Carne has been on the menu since 1923. The beef is in a dark chili sauce, and topped with a red onion slivers and crumbled cheese. Simple, but good. On the side is Spanish rice, refried beans, and guacamole in a small corn tortilla cup. The Filet Mignon Tacos are cooked to your specification, I usually just order them medium. There are three tacos, topped with a molcajete salsa. On the side are some items that you can add to the tacos, or eat separately, green cilantro rice, red onion slices, more salsa, lime slices, and some lettuce. There also are some black beans in a small tortilla cup. I've probably ordered this item more than any other and enjoy it every time. The Blue Corn Chicken Enchiladas are a little on the sweet side, but good. On the side is some sour cream, guacamole, green salsa, Spanish rice, and black beans. The Southwest Chicken Tostada is evidently one of the more popular items on the menu. Lots of color. Blackened chicken, lettuce, tortilla strips, black beans, avocado chunks, a mild cilantro vinaigrette dressing, and a corn tortilla underneath. There is only one desert item and that is the house Flan. It comes out decorated rather fancily, with whipped cream on top, some cinnamon flavored corn strips sticking out the top, and circled by small slices of strawberry, blueberries, raspberries, and a small amount of fruit sauce dribble. One other item well worth ordering are the Green Corn Tamales. However, these are a seasonal item and only available from May to October. read more

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food, service, and ambiance is so cute! love the fireplace. one time i forgot a book here and they took such good care of it for me until i was able to pick it up. they're amazing read more

Terrible all the way around! There was literally no one at the door when we were leaving. Of course we already paid and left a hefty tip. Oh there's no parking so an additional $20 is just not worth it. read more

This was amazing! Totally authentic and would highly reccomend. Lugo, Angie and Paola for their outstanding customer service for there outstanding customer service and hospitality. They are simply the best and because of them we will come back and become their ambassadors domestic and international. read more

The food was ok, not the best nor the worst. The service was fantastic but very busy. The desert was awesome read more

El Cholo - Great environment and LA spiced nachos - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Friendly environment, excellent service and delicious food. The price is just right for a family night out.

The restaurant is very nice loved the ambiance and vibe and that's about it. My food came out cold... I had to send it back. When it came back it was hot but it just wasn't good. I got the combination plate and subbed chicken for the beef and pork. It all just lacked flavor and the chicken tasted like it came out of the cans you buy at Costco without being cooked or seasoned... I mean not even onions. I was VERY disappointed because I really wanted to love this place. My cousin talks about it all the time and says it's her favorite place and it was recommended by another friend as well. But it was a huge FAIL... neither my husband or me finished or meals and ended up going somewhere else since we were still hungry read more

This place has the authentic Mexican vibe. I would recommend the Coconut Margarita and the Steak Fajitas. read more

Not sure why this place has gotten such low ratings. The food was pretty great in my opinion. We also had an incredible waiter who made awesome recommendations on all our meals. So we were all pretty pleased with what we ordered. The meals are all a healthy portion, well spiced, and delivered without much waiting. Really cool interior. They have a retractable roof on the back patio! So cool. I'll definitely bring friends back here. read more

HORRIBLE HORRIBLE HORRIBLE....ordered nachos and after about 20 they came out and were cold...sent back only for them to bring them back reheated, nope, don't won't em...put in another whole order and did I say HORRIBLE? The manager didn't even seem surprised nor offered a discount far less for free, i had to ask for the complimentary pralines that were a bit on the stale side.. Oh yea, they don't have WiFi.. HORRIBLE! read more

I had harvested from the frozen Meals on Wheels trays being delivered during the pandemic the makings of a taco salad. But I lack chips. El Cholo is not just venerable but also excellent when have eaten at it. It struck my an order of nachos could be the foundation of a meal. In fact I decided to omit the lettuce and just adorn the chips and melted cheese with my intended salad mixture as a topping. Add a chicken chimichanga appetizer and now it was going to be a feast. The chimichanga came with excellent salsas for dipping and a side of guacamole plus a bag of chips (which I saved for later since I had some already as part of the nachos). OMG! The flavor! The crunch! Tasty diced chicken! The generous portion could easily be shared by two. You can feel the wide grin on your face forming as you dip one into the salsa, put some guacamole on the end and bite into it. Pure joy! The size of the order of nachos surprised me. You get a lot for $7: a layer of excellent chips covered by melted cheese and topped by jalapeños. I slathered my topper on it plus salsa and dug in. The jalapeños are very spicy, at least for me. In retrospect I should have removed them as their heat tended to overwhelm the taste buds forcing you to drink copious amounts of liquid to revive them. The homemade chips with melted cheese atop them are a chewy delight. The house salsa is excellent but not a flamethrower the way the jalapeños are. I should have saved some for another meal but both were so delicious I gobbled them up. What a treat! You can bet I intend to order from here again in the near future, especially the fantastic chimichangas! Vaya con dios! read more

El Cholo - Nachos come with tons of melted cheese and a kick from jalapeños. Generous portion for $7. - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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I had the chicken fajitas and they were amazing. My party also shared the taquitos and an order of guacamole. Everything was amazing. Service could have been slightly faster but we were in a large party so with that considered it was good service. The seating area was spacious and quiet with a few TVs as well. Highly recommend for a Mexican restaurant in DTLA. read more

El Cholo - Chicken fajitas - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Ack. I'm all for preserving landmarks. I assume this place has been around forever and that's why it's still here...because it's certainly not for the food. The chips are stale and the oil tasted rancid. The salsa was flavorless and tasted like canned tomato sauce with nothing added. Don't get me started on how bad the enchilada suiza was...I had to drench in lemon and table salt to give it any flavor whatsoever. I also ordered a side of cilantro and several leaves were totally rotten (which makes me think there's carelessness in the kitchen). Oh, the interior is so charming. Minus the mini flies buzzing around us (even they wouldn't land on the food for a taste). This place needs an overhaul. Needless to say, we will never go back. read more

Food was cold and service was extremely slow at 3pm. It's gone downhill over the years and we likely won't return.

So, if you're hanging out near the Staples center, chances are you already spending some big bucks watching a game or an artist. You're probably planning on buying some merch, maybe some snacks, a drink or two. Now you kind of want to get a meal too. But, with what money? A good place to have a great meal that's pretty affordable (relative to the other restaurants there) is El Cholo! I was informed that this was actually the original location and that there's a couple scattered in OC/LA area. Walking in, very authentic. Rustic, tiles, and colorful walls. Now, it's a big place but it does get pretty busy (so I've read) so maybe make a reservation. We were immediately served chips and two types of salsa and they were so attentive to refilling it for us. I agree it was hard to wave down the servers, but come on people, a little patience never hurt anybody. Anyways, our waitress was the sweetest person, so friendly and helpful when my friend and I were trying to make it our meals vegan. I got the Veggies Enchilada (~$15): No cheese, instead of rice (had chicken broth) got it with sauteed vegetables. It was served with black beans and this cheese substitute that was made of corn. The serving size was huge. It was so delicious. Lots of flavor in the tortillas and the veggies came out pipin' hot. Really really enjoyed it. I thought that the pecans would throw the flavor off but it added a sweetness and a texture that wasn't overpowering. I don't really remember what my friends got but they did enjoy it as there was nothing to take home after. It was just a great experience and I will definitely check out their other locations! read more

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Today was delicious and all thanks to El Cholo. The service was great even though they had a large party during our time there. Everything on my plate was very good and I'll be back for sure. I would have indulged in a margarita but I had to go back to work. Maybe next time. read more

Wednesday late lunch @ 3:30 pm, the party of 3 - Fiesta platter (1995) for 4 - with crab and beef taquitos, nachos, quesadillas chimichangas, guacamole and sour cream, gran tradicional margarita with salt rock Service: on point and fast Price: reasonable Ambiance: casual, it has a lot of history and tradition. The restaurant is split into 2 sections, an indoor front dining room, and the back patio seatings, the back side space was large, it's great for groups. We got chips and salsa to start. The food taste and portion were ok and well balanced. The margarita's size was huge and very generous in alcohol. We all had a great time. read more

El Cholo - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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The food takes a lot to serve. Customer service is the worse. We were 4 people in the table they serve only 2 glasses of water. I have to cancel the order after 1 hour my food wasn't ready. Another couple arrived after us but they had their food before us. Very poor service read more

This is the best El Cholos. The food is cooked perfectly and very fresh. The Beef Enchiladas never disappoints, it's definitely my first choice. read more

I had an amazing time sitting at the bar. We had and amazing experience with Alex the bartender. So attentive and courteous. Such a great experience. read more

Horrible disgusting cold food. Plastic utensils and watered down margaritas. This used to be a nice restaurant but not anymore. Go elsewhere. read more

Service was slow from the very beginning. It was a challenge to order. Waiter did not write it down and kept asking to repeat the order. He first referenced my meal by a combo number. I hadn't noticed they were numbers awkwardly by the description. He stepped away to retrieve drinks and had forgotten the order. Don't count on refills. It was a weekend and semi busy. Dessert was super late and only one drink with dinner. Taste of food is to be desired. I don't recommend it if you are looking for authentic Mexican food. read more

El Cholo - Entrance - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Great atmosphere for this iconic LA restaurant. Very good food for a reasonable price. Not all the food arrived warm. Great drinks good service. read more

Delicious Food. Courteous Service. Love those seasonal green tamales (May-October) read more

I came here last weekend with a group of friends for some food and drinks and I was really happy with my overall experience here. The food was good and the drinks were pretty stiff, I assume most people would like that, LOL. The service was good and the restaurant wasn't too busy at this time. This was right before the dinner rush on a Saturday night. Although, I prefer the original location in K-town, this one wasn't too bad and I would come back soon! read more

I went to El Cholo with a large party of 20 people on a weekday for lunch. We were seated in the back of the restaurant in an open patio. Upon seating, we received complimentary salsa and chips. The menu consisted of entrees ranging from $15-$20 a person. During the weekday lunch hour, they do offer a lunch special that ranges from $10-$15. I ordered the shrimp and chorizo quesadilla that was shy of $12. My food came within 15 minutes and the portions were tiny!! It consisted of 3 small pieces of the quesadilla with salsa and guacamole. It would've been nice if they included rice and beans or a side for that price tag. Unfortunately, I was left hungry and had to snack on the chips and salsa to fill me up. Customer service: For a party of 20 people, I was disappointed in the lack of customer service. The patio are that we were seated in wasn't even busy. Our drinks were never refilled. The servers were hardly around only to drop off our entrees. If anything was needed, we had to flag down the servers. Overall, the quality of food is a step up from El Torito. Based on my experience here, I won't be coming again. Parking: With all the construction going around in the area, expect to pay $$ in nearby parking lots or limited metered street parking. read more

El Cholo - Shrimp and chorizo quesadilla lunch special $11.85 - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California