Eating the leftovers right now. Still so good. Going back soon. My girlfriend loved the enchiladas. Get the guacamole! read more

I am a fan of this restaurant and I make no bones about it. We are blessed to have many solid Mexican dining options and El Cholo is old school Los Angeles to me. I feel obligated to let everyone in on a little secret - El Cholo has simplified their menu, lowered prices and if you want a solid meal in a fun setting, grab a seat at the bar. Margaritas are now $7. Yep. $7. Tasty, but even more so for $7. Grab a seat, order a couple of carne asada street tacos and an order of their insanely good chipotle glazed chicken wings (three per order) and a house El Cholo margarita. The tacos and the wings are $5 per order and for less than $20, you have a great deal on some tasty food. Don't worry, they'll bring chips and salsa, too - as is customary and free. Yes, these deals are only for folks at the bar, but it's a nice place to be. In a crowded, competitive dining environment and with costs to run a restaurant rising all the time, it's nice to see El Cholo try to put butts in seats via a decent bargain. It's your fault if you don't take advantage. Did I mention the $7 margarita? See you at the bar, amigos! read more

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This is a sentimental place for us. Our first date was at El Cholo in another state. We have been to the relatively new Salt Lake location, and tonight we brought family. The environment is bright, inviting and not too noisy. We booked a table but some of our party was late. No one minded, and several of us enjoyed some fresh guacamole prepared tableside while we waited. Everything we ordered was well made and presented. Portions large enough that leftovers were inevitable. Quedadillas. Chile Colorado, Mole Chicken Enchiladas, and Burritos Dorados, which have Chile Colorado inside. Everyone enjoyed their meal, with one exception that one of us didn't like the Burrito Dorado (someone else enjoyed theirs, just a matter of personal taste). Their entree was replaced with another, with no fuss. I had the mole chicken, the first time I've had it here, as Chile Colorado is my favorite. The mole chicken turned out to be one of those dishes that you take the first bite and you are stunned. You look around to see if anyone is watching your reaction It was truly amazing. Service was very attentive and helpful, not hovering or rushed. They took a family picture for us on our way out. Looking forward to our next visit. Parking can be a challenge. There is a small lot. After 5:30 there is a neighboring office that permits Parking for El Cholo guests. read more

Good was really good and the portions were on point. The price point was a little high for Mexican. They do seem to be a little upscale, but the food looked like your typical Mexican restaurant, not one that is trying to be elevated. read more

El Cholo - Mexican Near Me - Salt Lake City, Utah

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Sadly the menu isn't good. The menu is really small and nobody at my table of 8 liked what they got. It's also too pricy for the amount of protein . The service and interior design were great. Our waiter was attentive and friendly and we really liked him. I hope they change their suppliers/menu/something cause the location and vibe of the restaurant make me want to give it another try but the menus got to be revamped before I come back. The cheese enchiladas were not your typical enchiladas and they weren't good. The wedge salad was good but the bacon bits they use were cheap or old or something. read more

Wow! I have been a fan of El Cholo in LA For years and this was my first time getting to the Salt Lake City location in Sugar House. The food, the environment, and the service were a 10/10. They have some great deals on the food out here that would make me want to come back every day if I lived in Utah. I got a $7 margarita that made me buy 2 more!! What a deal, love this place. Thanks for the experience! read more

El Cholo - Mexican Near Me - Salt Lake City, Utah

My wife and I checked this place out this place for the first time and were most impressed. Without question THE BEST Mexican food I've ever had!! I guess this restaurant started in LA over 100 years ago and in 2023, they opened up a location in Utah for the centennial. The look and feel is upscale and classy mixed with old school. And I guess Jack Nicholson has been eating at the LA location regularly since the early 60s. Our server was this guy who had a little Nacho Libre look going on and was great. I got the Taste of History sampler platter and it had major portions. My wife got the Tres Tacos Al Carbon. Both were delicious and incredible!!! You MUST go to El Cholo! read more

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Stopped in for dinner on a Friday and our surprise. The restaurant wasn't super busy. We opted to try a prickly pair margarita, which was very yummy. Had a great flavor! For an appetizer we opted for the nachos. Personally, I didn't really see the hype, but my friend did enjoy them. I just thought that the melted cheese wasn't really good. The mole enchiladas were one of the highlights. The mole it was thick and had a really nice flavor/smell. The cheese enchilada tasted great. Personally, I felt like the tamale fell short. The meat inside was very dry and too large for the tamale. The black beans and brown beans were delicious along with the rice. The service was quick and efficient. We will definitely be back. read more

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Brought my friend here for a girls lunch out!! We had the best time!! Service was amazing as always! My friend loved the music and thought the place looked amazing!! Glad I could share my favorite Mexican restaurant with her! We both got beers, Dos XX for her and Modelo for me! She got the fish tacos and I went with the cheese quesadillas on the appetizer menu! Everything was delicious!! I love how crispy the chips are! Hits the spot every time and they went really well with my quesadillas! The little dessert cookies they bring with the check are simply divine!! read more

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Amazing service. Staff was so friendly and attentive. I loved the guac, queso, and the Blue Corn Suiza Enchiladas! The design of the building is also so unique and beautiful. Will definitely be back read more

El Cholo - Blue Corn Suiza Enchiladas - Mexican Near Me - Salt Lake City, Utah

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Coming from CA and growing up in LA County I knew about El Cholo. While I had never actually been, I heard nothing but good things. I found this news article about the SLC location shortly after moving to Utah and knew I had to try it out. It's a cute little place! Not your typical Mexican restaurant, but a more contemporary vibe but with a homey feel. It's two stories and while I didn't check out upstairs they had tons of pictures of the original LA locations, news articles and signed celebrity photographs downstairs that explain the history of the original locations and give it that nostalgic feel. Everyone was incredibly friendly and helpful. The menus state when an item was brought into the menu rotation at the original LA locations. Although I'm sure they are presented much more beautifully today than they were in the 20's, 30's & 40's etc. The chips were warm but not sure if they were fresh. The salsa was ok but I'm guessing not fresh. We didn't even desire to order a second round, one because they weren't overly amazing, but two because our food came pretty quickly. My husband and I both ordered the lunch chimichangas. I was curious why plural, but they cut it up into pieces making it multiple I guess? Anyway, It was actually delightful! The beans were really good too. I didn't try or eat the rice. Im not sure why?!?! But the plate was very filling! I had a hard time getting through it, but I did. We tried the Gran Tradicional Margarita, it was meh. My husband ordered the Cali Squeeze draft beer as a second drink. My daughter had the chicken nuggets and fries and she commented the fries were actually really good, and my husband agreed. She ate all her chicken nuggets and there was way more than we would have ever cooked for her! The fried ice cream was oh so yummy! The three of us shared one. It was good sized! Prices are quite expensive for Utah. I read the reviews prior and I was nervous about it. My husband thinks portion sizes were small for the price. I definitely think $20 for a burrito is a bit much but since I don't live nearby it's not like I'll be eating here weekly. I'd definitely come back again tho. It felt way closer to authentic Mexican food that I've had since I left CA. read more

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I was so excited to eat here and it was a great experience! The food was delicious and the service was amazing! Highly recommend read more

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The food was delicious. Fran was our server. We had a large group. She was very attentive and such a wonderful server. I loved the atmosphere. Clean restaurant and it was a great experience read more

Being a southern California native. I miss having Mexican restaurants like El cholo. I grew up eating at this place with my family and was so ecstatic when I noticed that there is one in Salt Lake City. The food is so good so fresh and so tasty. Reminds me like being back in SoCal. The customer service is so good. The chips and salsa still how I remember it. Tonight I decided to try the Sonora enchilada. Make sure to leave room for it after the chips because it is huge and so filling and so tasty. The chicken was done perfectly, not dry for being chicken breast, but very moist and smothered with red and green sauce on top of a corn tortilla. The Sonora enchilada plate with a fried Sunny side up egg on top. It was so delicious. Make sure if you don't like your eggs ready to let the waitress or waiter know so they can accommodate how you like your eggs or ask for it on the side. My best friend had the seafood fajitas and she devoured the entire thing without touching the side of rice and beans or tortillas that it came with. The food is so good! She is born and raised in Utah, and she could not stop eating her food and said now this is good Mexican food. May not be traditional like other mom and pop restaurants . But for being a chain and the only one in Utah. It's high up there in recommendations. If you're going to go and you have more than two people in your party, make sure to make a reservation for larger groups. It is a two story facility and parking is very hard as it's a small lot with street parking nearby. Very affordable and family friendly if you decide to go out or make it a date night with best friends or significant others, you will not be disappointed. read more

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What a great place. You should go. The construction is not THAT bad! This place is authentic LA area Mexican food. No Tex Mex here. It's a tad on the pricey side for me but it is worth it and they do have lunch specials. Our waiter was so cool. He was the bartender too and our drinks were yum. I didn't catch his name but we went there on Friday at noon and he is from LA. We tried the enchiladas, taco, tortilla soup and rice and beans. The rice was green and damn good. Really great photos on the wall. You must check it out. Great fun. read more

El Cholo has been around for a long time. They put lots of memorabilia around the restaurant which gives it a homey feel. I got the tostada, which was delicious! The chips and salsa were good too. The service was great, very attentive and nice. read more

El Cholo - Mexican Near Me - Salt Lake City, Utah

We only ordered the enchiladas suizas and the mole enchiladas. Both of them were delicious! Horchata was really good too!! We will be coming back to enjoy more menu items. Service was super nice and the ambiance is so cute and relaxing. read more

El Cholo - enchiladas suizas y mole enchiladas. - Mexican Near Me - Salt Lake City, Utah

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Food taste was a very pleasant surprise, great service. Will gladly return. Margarita was also pretty good

I really like El Cholo. It is our favorite restaurant. The restauant itself has a wonderful interior and is super comfortable. You will definitly like the restaurant and staff. The food is very good and I recommend you try the Blue Corn Enchiladas Suizas. It is very good. The filet migon fajitas are also very good. Endless chips and salsa and 7 dollar magaritas make it all worth it and very affordable. I want to give a shout out to Jade our bartender and server. He was really great and enhanced the experience we had. If you want to enjoy a fun night out give El Cholo a try. read more

Food quality: 4/5 Service: 5/5 Cleanliness: 5/5 Value: 4/5 Tried out El Cholo for the first time last week and overall, the experience was good. The staff was nice and welcoming - also very accommodating since we had one person from group run bit late. The restaurant was clean and the food came out pretty quickly once we ordered. I ordered the Taste of History, which gave me a good variety of everything. The portion size was huge and I ended up having to take leftovers back home. The food tasted fine, but nothing too out of the ordinary. They definitely ended up paying more attention to the quantity vs. quality of the food. There was one small cheese enchilada, chile relleno, pork tamale (mostly maza), and rice and beans. It's a little pricey for what the food actually contains ($25.95), as I know there are many other places that have a similar type of dish for less. Others in my party ordered the enchiladas and carne asada. Enchiladas were fine, again, nothing out of the ordinary. The Carne Asada came with a full piece of steak that was not very springy to the touch and firm - not the best quality. Overall, good experience, but probably won't be back as there are other places with better quality. read more

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This is my family's favorite Mexican restaurant ever. My mom has being going to El Cholo since she was a young girl in Southern California and I grew up going to their many Southern California restaurants while vacationing there. So glad to have this gem in Salt Lake City! Green corn tamales are my favorite!!! read more

I am Mexican so I understand that this review is heavily influenced by an entire life of delicious authentic Mexican food, if that is what you're looking for, this place is not it. First the good, the guacamole was great but I'm going to give credit to the perfectly ripe avocados. I ordered the Sonora enchiladas, the chicken inside was completely bland and flavorless. To top it off they put black olives on top, from a can, they had no place on this dish and it further ruined it for me. To charge $22 for this dish when it tasted no better than Taco Bell is crazy. The rice, oh my goodness, the lack of flavor was astounding, I couldn't eat it. The albóndigas, I'm almost certain that they put ketchup in this, it should be a crime to call this albóndigas. To sum it up, we spent $200+ on a dinner that tasted like we paid $35. We will not be back and i will be calling my tias to come set up shop across the street. Crazy read more

El Cholo - Sonora Enchiladas - Mexican Near Me - Salt Lake City, Utah

Food was ok, but average. $25.00 for a burrito? Ambiance & service was good but $25.00 for a simple burrito? Serving sizes were small. They pull off looking upscale but $25.00 for a plain burrito? read more

Consistently good food, consistently great service. Beautiful ambiance.. We just had back luck with the kitchen tonight, I guess. ? We started off with the complimentary chips n salsa and a bunch of margaritas for the table, all were very tasty! Three out of the five dinners quickly arrived all together at the table, so then we eagerly watched the kitchen door for the remaining two plates. Two of us sat for roughly twenty minutes, so I finally got up and asked a lady if she was the manager and if she could help us? I felt so awkward asking for assistance, but I didn't know what else to do. The manager was apologetic, and dashed away to the kitchen. She had the rest of our food brought out within minutes, and it was delicious. The waitstaff sang happy birthday en español and they treated our table to a birthday flan. The dear manager handed me a gift card to come back and use next time, which I greatly appreciated. El Cholo has very good food, and we will definitely be back. We've never had a single other hiccup before, so I do think it was just an unfortunate oversight in the kitchen. read more

First time but we will be returning- Great experience from being seated to leaving after an excellent meal. The food came out so fast, we were still enjoying the table side Guacamole. Very traditional / new versions of old school dishes..... enjoyed every bite. Thank you for an excellent experience! read more

The service and ambiance of El Cholo are great. It is a place with a great vibe. The food we have had each time we have been (3 times now) has been solidly "fine". We don't know if we are missing something but the flavor just isn't there for us. I would recommend going in without expectations and deciding for yourself- some people really seem to love this food. read more

The service was really great and greeted right away and sat quickly. The parking situation is a bit of a nightmare though. The restaurant itself is clean and well decorated and provides an excellent atmosphere. The food was really good, portion sizes were large, and I would say it had good flavor without overwhelming heat. The cheese on the outside of the kids burrito, made it difficult to eat. Overall, a solid dining experience. read more

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Unfortunately, this placed is not a good fit for my tastebuds. While the service and ambiance are good, the food was lacking severely. I had Combo #2, which comes with a beef taquito and a cheese enchilada. The beef taquito was dry and was unremarkable. The cheese enchilada tasted like something I could whip up at home. I usually love rice and beans! I am always tempted to take some home with me. However, their rice and beans were decent, but I didn't crave more once I finished them. The price of my dish was outrageously expensive for the quantity. I received two items for almost $20. If the food had been bursting with flavor, then I could justify the price. As it stands right now, the portions and the price do not match up. Their chips and salsa is good, but the nachos were completely flavorless. The cheese was too mellow for nachos, and the beans did not add anything to it. If I were to go here again, I would add meat to the nachos in hopes that the taste would improve. Additionally, the price of the nachos does not match the portion size. The price is too expensive for what you get. read more

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This is a big restaurant with a large upstairs seating area. The music was very old school Mexican. Personally I would have preferred a bit more modern Latino vibe. We went at 7pm and it was definitely more of a family friendly atmosphere. Maybe later it's more fun and lively? I got the burrito dorado and it had delicious big tender chunks of beef. Husband got the fish tacos and I thought the fish was a little dry. We got the albondigas soup to start, I took a photo, it was so delicious. Such a great broth and tender meatballs. We don't get dessert but we did try two different margaritas, the gran traditional and the la lemonade. Both were yummy, but I liked the la lemonade a little more, it was less sweet. And you can get any of their margs spicy, which I did, and it was the perfect spiciness. The portions are generous and we had leftovers to enjoy later! read more

El Cholo - Albondigo soup - Mexican Near Me - Salt Lake City, Utah

El Cholo was the spot we decided to go to on a Mother's Day weekend (note that we went without our mothers) as we were visiting town for a music festival in May. It was not crowded and we got sat immediately which made me super happy and when we walked in I can see why! This place is huge and can accommodate big and small parties either at tables or in booths. They have a lot of space at the bar too if you want to sit there and maybe catch a game or event on tv. Service was exceptional and we even got a nice picture taken of us AND printed out that was offered for free by our waitress. I think because it was a holiday (Mother's Day) the staff made arrangements to offer this for every table to capture your meal with your company in a cute picture. It definitely was appreciated as now I have a printed memory of our time here. The food was sub par and didn't really wow me and my partner. Full transparency here as my partner and I are born and raised in south Texas. I will acknowledge that LA-style of Mexican food can vary to someone with our taste and upraising with Mexican food in Texas so we might have different expectations for what is considered Mexican food in any state much less Utah. We are super critical about restaurants in our home state too (read my other reviews if you don't believe me). We felt everything was made to order, came out hot, and was fine to satisfy our craving for Mexican food but it just missed the mark with seasonings. Portions were large so I suggest sharing with others if you want are drawn to multiple items or dishes on the menu. I could barely finish a lunch portion size of carne asada plate I ordered. I also ordered a LA Lemonade that was perfectly mixed and tasty with my plate of carne asada. Parking was super easy and the restaurant itself is central to other cool spots (eats and hangs) in the area. read more

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Setting was cool, Food was decent, lacking flavor immensely but portions were good. Server was absolutely obnoxious and annoying & pushy. Ruined the meal and experience. Definitely won't be going back. He was trying to make bets with a person in our party over random stuff, bragging about how much money he has in his bank, interrupted every conversation we had going during the dinner to switch subjects to something he wanted to brag to us about or tell us about. read more

I came to this place to give it a try. I have to say this is not authentic Mexican food; it's more like Tex-Mex. The food quality was not fresh. The food tastes like it was canned. I was really disappointed in the taste, but the portions are good size. The only thing I did like was the hot chocolate. I do have to say the place is really nice and the staff are friendly. read more

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El Cholo SLC: More Flavor Than a Mariachi Band on Tequila El Cholo in Salt Lake City is like a fiesta for your tastebuds. Came hungry, left needing a siesta (and a bigger belt). Their portions are so big, you might need a doggy bag the size of a chihuahua. Chips and salsa are bottomless, and the margaritas are strong enough to make you sing karaoke (with or without talent). Just don't blame me if you end up serenading the staff with "Despacito." read more

El Cholo - Chocolate Mole chicken enchiladas - Mexican Near Me - Salt Lake City, Utah

I really liked El Cholo! Good: - restaurant ambiance/decor/service was excellent. Our server Jordin made good recommendations and was attentive - the seafood enchiladas were very tasty! Not the most authentic dish but who cares. The flavor was there. It is spicier than you would expect but welcomed for my taste buds - The taste of history plate was also great! You get a little of everything and everything was cooked well and tasted good. Good price for all the food you get. My favorite was the Chile relleno, I liked the sauce a lot The bad: - It's hard to know where the main entrance is. The amount of times we saw people walk all around the restaurant before finding the entrance was wild. We didn't see it initially either. - the salsa that comes with the complimentary chips needs some work. It tastes fresh but it needs more spice or deeper flavor development. read more

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Our group of eight adults met to celebrate several birthdays. Californians recommended this restaurant because they had been to other locations. Each employee was friendly and helpful. Maria was a sweetheart of a server. She kept our glasses full and brought takeout boxes without being asked. They comped three flans for the birthday people and sang to them. We ordered the tableside prepared guacamole, Annie's vegetarian enchiladas with cheese sauce and pecans, cheese enchiladas, rolled beef crispy tacos, chicken chimichangas, chicken fajitas, chile rellenos, tamalas, rice, refried beans, and salty thick tortilla chips. Everything was delicious! My only complaint is the tiny parking lot behind the restaurant. read more

El Cholo - Mexican Near Me - Salt Lake City, Utah

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So excited! Grew up in LA going to El Cholo since I was a child. This is a legendary LA eatery. Best authentic Mexican food. You have to go try the new Sugar House location. This is a dream come true having El Cholo in SLC. read more

El Cholo - Sonora style enchilada - Mexican Near Me - Salt Lake City, Utah

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Wow El Cholo, you delivered today for our first time. Came for lunch and sat at the bar. Santiago was our bartender and he was awesome and professional. He's a master at margaritas. The El Cholo and the coconut margaritas were delicious. The coconut is probably more of a dessert margarita but very good. We tried the carne asada tacos and the chicken mole! Sooo good and we were very happy with our service and lunch. There were a few employees that asked us if we were enjoying our meals. They all had smiles when they asked too, which is rare these days most places. Very welcoming place and we are looking forward to coming back and trying more menu items! You should be proud of such a new and great establishment in Sugarhouse! read more

We got to visit Friday night. It was packed so if you go make reservations. The ambience is like a dark and smoldering Mexican Plaza. They have two floors and an elevator. The service is impressive and you have three people waiting on you at any time. I had the Santa Barbara Enchilada. It's smothered in a smooth cream sauce. It was Vegetarian too. My son said they use different sauces on each dish where most other Mexican restaurants use the same sauce on everything. They have two other very famous restaurants in LA. The Manager stopped by to talk to us and told me they looked at four other cities before choosing Salt Lake City. So this is a plea to my fellow Elite Yelpers if you go on the first days of opening be gentle. He told me that two Yelp reviews almost ran them out of business. I appreciate your reviews but I hate to see beautiful new restaurants go out of business too. Anyway go check them out and be taken away to Old Mexico. read more

El Cholo - Santa Barbara Enchilada - Mexican Near Me - Salt Lake City, Utah

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I know the place just opened so I did keep that in mind. The restaurant itself is nicely decorated. It's large. Has two stories. Parking lot is there but fills up quickly and there isn't a ton of space. Our server was kind and kept us informed. She checked in often. No complaints there. The food... this was a let down. I had heard the hype so was pretty excited to try it. The chips and salsa were good. Could use some heat but I get that they have to appeal to the masses. I tried a cheese enchilada and rolled beef taco. The cheese enchilada tasted old. Cheese was congealed together not melted really. It was warm. The sauce was ok but again missing some heat and some flavor. Kind of bland. I enjoyed the rolled taco. It could have used something to dip. I used the salsa. My spouse had the Carne Asada. It was like a cheap New York steak. Surprised it wasn't flank or something similar you normally see with carne Asada. He said it was ok. It took some time to get our food. However our server kept us informed and brought out a free flan at the end. The flan was the best food item of the night. Will definitely try again and update based on next experience. Really hope the food improves. read more

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Based on the more negative reviews both at the new SLC location as well as the California ones, I approached my first trip to El Cholo with extreme trepidation. I am happy to say that my fears were unfounded. Yes, it is different than other Mexican places we have here but I see that as a good thing. El Cholo has its own unique flavors, all of which I enjoyed. Let's start with the margaritas. We tried the coconut and the El Cholo. Both were top notch. I would say that their traditional offering is on par with my personal top 5. It was a nice balance that was neither too boozy nor overly sweet. Moving on to chips and salsa. The chips were good, not great, but no complaints. The salsa didn't have much heat to it but it tasted fresh and flavorful. The undersized salsa cup situation mentioned in other reviews seems to have been remedied. Okay, onto the food: I had the mole chicken enchiladas and SO had the cheese enchiladas and pork tamale combo. Both were very tasty. I especially enjoyed the red sauce that came on the pork tamale. The chicken mole enchiladas were very good and had great flavor. My only complaint is that they were pretty light on the mole sauce and I would have liked a bit more. The complimentary pralines at the end of the meal were delicious and the perfect, small, sugary treat. Service was good. Our chips and salsa were replaced promptly and main dishes were pretty perfectly timed. The atmosphere was fun. I really liked the decor. It was interesting to see how they approached mixing old and new styles. You'll find little touches of their original LA location decor throughout this otherwise modern and fresh space. Let's talk pricing and portions. For us, the portions were perfect as neither of us are big eaters but I can see how others would feel they are a little small. We were both quite full by the end but not overly so, which was nice. It is a little pricey, we paid about $90.00 with tip for two meals and two margaritas. While I do think this is expensive, it isn't that much more than anywhere else decent these days. We will be returning to El Cholo. read more

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