A classic take on Cuban food, this place is a time warp. It's literally the same since I was a kid... gotta love the nostalgia and the kick ass food the kitchen puts out. The palomilla empanizada and their beans. Their beans are legendary Soo full of taste and decadence. Yassss! read more

Food was fresh and delicious. Service was great and ambiance was perfect for our business meeting. No frills just good food in a quiet relaxing environment. read more

ox tails are on point the black beans and fresh white rice goes really good together, goes perfect with a warm Cuban sandwich with fresh bread. customer service is always great here. read more

They're open until 8 pm and starting next Sunday they'll have live music every I Sunday! Close to Dodgers stadium! After winning opening day game, we went over to El Colmao Cuban restaurant! We loved everything we ordered from the palmomilla empanizada (breaded Sirloin steak) and Masitas de puerco, even the Lengua slow cooked in Cuban creole sauce! Black beans and rice tasted homemade! Crispy tostones! Fresh warm Cuban rolls too! Maribel the waitress was friendly and efficient! She made great recommendations too! We will definitely be back to this old favorite Cuban restaurant! Don't miss El Colmao for their delicious Cuban food and friendly service!!! read more

Been coming here for over 40 years. I cannot find a Cuban restaurant in Los Angeles, where they make the empanizado the same as el Colmao. The service is awesome and food is great. I've been to Miami many times and neither can find an empanizado de palomillo like el colmao. I truly appreciate this restaurant and believe to be the staple of Cuban food in Los Angeles.. read more

Service was good, Prices are a bit much, quality of food was good, Portions are Ok. Ambiance is a bit loud and lots of movement

One of our old favorites since i was a kid. It's always good and so nostalgic. Traditional cuban food.

Been coming here for 10 years, my family and I make the hour drive once a month. So delicious and the waiters are so kind. Best Cuban food ever read more

I absolutely love this place. Been coming here for years. It's some of the best Cuban food in town. The service is fantastic and the prices are very reasonable. My favorite is the roasted chicken with rice and beans. If you are in the Pico Union area, I highly recommend this place for lunch or dinner. You will not be disappointed. read more

I've been going there for 30yrs and I just love it! I've tried other places and this for me is a great place.

The menu overwhelmed me! I didn't know what to choose I wouldn't come here ever again! The avocado "salad" isn't a salad! They took my menu without asking me if I was done with the menu!!!! read more

El Colmao - Front of the restaurant - Cuban Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Food that tastes like it's made at home! The outside not much to look at but what matters is the food! The staff and servers very nice. The dish, El Pollo Al Jerez and the Combinacion Vegetariana "El Colmao " are the two I recommend from the menu. I'm sure there are plenty of other delicious dishes that people should try. read more

I've been dining at El Colmao since 1981. By far the best Cuban food in LA. The chuletas are amazing. (C3 on the menu!) And ask for garlic paste (ajo) for the tostones. I eat here as often as possible since the food is consistently excellent. The staff is always pleasant and attentive. read more

My parents used to frequent this place in the 80s, back when this was an actual Cuban restaurant. Unfortunately, today, (May 1st, 2021), we are sad to say that El Colmao is no longer what it used to be (this also means that it isn't authentic Cuban food)! Perhaps the ownership has changed? Anyway, here's why my family and I agrees on this: 1. BLAND food [Cuban food has Flavor!]; 2. Why do they offer "salsa"? Cubans don't eat spicy things like that. 3. The complementary bread sure as heck ain't the traditional Cuban bread. It's such a shame. Truly. If you want to eat authentic Cuban food in Los Angeles go to Versailles or El Cochinito. Please don't waste your time, hopes, dream, money and taste buds. Go elsewhere. read more

It was tasteless. Cooked well but needed more seasoning. For being a Cuban place it was questionable.

Food was good. Service was good. Just a little overpriced for the area. Restaurant needs an update. Also located in a bad area but other than that it was OK. read more

This location is such a gem. Been coming here since I was five years old with my parents. Growing up with a Cuban parent we were always accustomed to eating Cuban dishes and this place brings back my fathers roots when he was a child. The food here is very authentic this sweet little old lady who serves very friendly. Feels like a home cooked meal. In the heart of downtown LA. The food was amazing. read more

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Nothing like it was when the original owners were in charge. The service was mediocre. My meal came in separate plates. Presentation was bad. The congri was not good. The chicken al jerez wasn't too tasty. We told the waitress we didn't like it and she didn't offer something else or some compensation. The batido was good. We drove an hour to have dinner and left disappointed. Not the same Colmao we grew up with. read more

We came in for dinner on a Thursday night. The server was friendly and helpful as it was our first time. Started out with the Papa Rellena de Carne Molida on the server's recommendation and they did not disappoint. The Ropa Vieja was good and the fried plantains were the best I've had. We will be back. read more

El Colmao is the Cuban restaurant you've been looking for. It looks like it's been here for decades which is probably a testament to the excellence of its dishes. I had a fabulous smoked pork chop, perfectly cooked, flavorful all the way through, and pretty darn big. It was served with great white rice and flavorful black beans. Bread arrived warmed and with butter right after I ordered. Dessert was a guava compote served with "crema" which in this case was much thicker than Mexican "crema", more like cream cheese which complimented the sweetness of the guava very well. Ambiance is well-preserved late-sixties/early-seventies. Parking is fabulous: the restaurant is in a strip mall with more parking than average. read more

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I've been coming here for over 20yrs . Never a bad experience! Love the food and the service .

I visited this place for a private event a few months back and the dishes I tried were el rabo and lengua asada and that "creole" sauce tasted like nothing but canned tomatoes to me. The "creole" completely took flavor away like if it was covering for something that doesn't taste good, yet that didn't even help. I am a huge fan of beef tongue but this tongue in my opinion was not tender enough. The oxtails dish, I can't remember anything that differentiated from eating the tongue other than the texture. Servers were very attentive so this place earns two stars but I wouldn't recommend this place for a real foodie nor would I ever come back, not even if meal was free again. Hence, this is not the first Cuban restaurant that I've tried out. read more

Good here is usually good. I almost always get the same dish...fried pork with black beans and white rice. Sometimes though the fried pork has too much fat. They have a small outdoor dining section which takes up part of the parking lot. They provide a tent for cover but the sun can still be hot and bright. Support your local businesses during Covid. This is a mom and pop restaurant. read more

Good stuff!! Service is great. Food is awesome. Sangria which I tasted was mm had better. I ordered C-5 which was breaded steak. It was a good portion of food. Cooked just right and breaded that didn't break when you cut it. The hubby had C-2 which kinda similar but not breaded. It tasted to me like a Filipino dish called tapa (beef steak which has onions in it) Yucca was delish oh I love me some fried yucca. The avocado onion salad was good. He said it was a must have Cuban dish. Not sure if he was up selling. I would come back. Service good! Food good! Parking good! read more

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I haven't been to El Colmao Cuban Restaurant since the 80's because I moved to Northern California, but it was just the most authentic Cuban restaurant around. I knew the owners which I'm sure are no longer available. I knew Cándida and her sweet father. I loved the food especially the Cuban sandwic, the Media Noche sandwich and the café cubano. I always remember the bisté encebollado, tostones, rice and black beans. I loved the camaraderie con la familia and I didn't realize what a blessing they were. I miss them. I'm 78 now and rarely come to Los Ángeles but maybe I will get a chance to visit one day. If Cándida sees this, maybe she'll remember me, Esther Santiago de Alamar. read more

My family and I have been coming to this restaurant for years now- since the early 00's. They have such homey Cuban food. My family is Cuban and eating here feels like home. I ordered the tortilla de papa this time with some rice, and of course, the black beans! (The beans are my favorite, they're so flavorful). I definitely recommend the tortilla. It's basically an big omelette with potatoes. They're sangria is also . If you want some good hearty Cuban food, you've come to the right place here! *the last picture is my dads fried rice. He gobbled that sh*t down! read more

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I love the pollo jerez, chicken half roasted with a Spanish sherry sauce with black beans and rice. The vintage interior is a nice contrast to all the hip new places. Easy parking in front. read more

Was in LA working with a gent actual an ex pat from Cuba. Considering he would know solid authentic Cuban restaurant not to far from where we were working would be a plus. He said he forgot about this place, but remembered eating here growing up and said it's the real deal. He was correct! Got there early enough before lunch time crowd to score the last parking spot. I let my biz associate pick for me. He picked the chicken while he got pork. We shared yucca and sweet plantains along with black beans and rice. The Cubano cuisine I've tasted was never really spicy. This was on point with a killer homemade salsa I sprinkled on liberally to help the subtle flavors of citrus shine through in the chicken. The plantains were really well done, sweet and savory without being mushy or tough. The yucca was no biggie, kind of bland and fibrous. But I tried it. My partner poured his black beans over his rice, as there were served separately. So I did as well adding some salsa for kick. We chatted about work and next thing I know I had finished the chicken carefully dissecting it from the bone with knife and fork and smearing it in with the beans and rice as it unconsciously entered my pie hole. I took another piece of that soft bread served with the meal complimentary and sooped up what was left. Most excellent way to enjoy LA, while taking work break! read more

El Colmao - Authentic! - Cuban Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Family owned Cuban restaurant. Been a favorite of mine for over 3 years. My fav is the bistec empanado with black beans and rice but you must order fried plantains too. read more

Classic Cuban food. I was immediately served fresh bread and it was tasty and fluffy. The appetizer: tostones, mariquitas, garlic yuca soooo good. I loved the pescado of the day delicious! The service was excellent. read more

I wanted to try local (near downtown) a Cuban meal & found this gem. The food was fresh @ truly authentic. Seems like a neighborhood fav!!

Where do I even begin with this place? I have been coming to this place since I was in diapers, and nothing changes. The interior decor is super retro as if you're back in the 70s and 80s. They have pictures of all the famous guests they've had throughout the years and it's entertaining to see as you're waiting for your food. The service varies depending on how crowded it is or who is working. They have several new waitresses and some that have been there forever! Still, the service meets the expectation and we've never had an issue. We always order the pitcher of sangria to start with their delicious bread and butter. I've ordered so many different dishes throughout my lifetime and all have been delicious and as close to authentic Cuban food as I've had stateside (yes, I've visited Cuba). My favorite is the breaded chicken, avocado salad, rabo, ropa vieja, and lengua is delicious!!!!! If you're looking for authentic Cuban food with decent prices and good service, please give El Colmao a chance. You will not be disappointed. read more

Wonderful cuban cuisine! I highly reccomend this restaurant. They have been in the business for more than 30 years (I think). And the staff is very professional! One of the ladies who is a server, she has that beautiful attitude to threat with love the customers, I sadly forgot her name. I came all the way with my friends who have been clients for years. My favorite plate is the Palomilla empanizada, with the beans, white rice and that super delicious green sauce! The place is clean and neat. read more

I have not been back here in at least 15 years. This place does not change! Food on the other hand kind of did. Unfortunately. I had the "Palomilla steak" with white rice and black beans. Seriously, it's an A+ for effort but their quality control must be checked. The steak itself did NOT taste fresh, had an old taste to it. My wife had the same dish and hers was way worst. I found myself squeezing lime after lime to cover up the taste and ate more of the onion & cilantro. It barely helped and I should not be doing that to begin with. The marinate of the steak could be part of the issue, it's tasteless! And tasted old. To be fair though, the steak had always been this way (maybe a little better) all those years ago, so it's ok...just had better. Where's that "El Colmao" taste as explained in the menu? Everything else was good. The caldo gallego was delicious. The white rice and black beans was fine. Mixed salad was okay, no avocado in it though. My father had liver and onions and he kind of liked it, but not really. Service was excellent and wait time was not bad at all. Not sure if I'd go back. There are better Cuban restaurants. :( read more

It had been about five years since we've eaten here. This was one of my parents favorite restaurants. I remember eating here with them in the when I was a kid over 40 years ago. It like stepping back in time. The restaurant hasn't changed. This was the main reason I loved eating there. Good Cuban food and a slice of nostalgia. Sadly, this last time we ate here was so disappointing. With the exception of the black beans and rice which were just a delicious as I remembered. Our chicken looked amazing but was so dry! We had to sock it in the beans in order to eat it. The cubano sandwich was small, thin and dry! The cheese tasted like something the government would give out. The fried yucca seemed to refried, rubbery and soaking with oil. The fried plantains were over cooked as well. We had to complain to our server but she didn't ask if we wanted something else or exchange it nor a discount. She just gave rolled her eyes and put down the check. This experience made us sad because El Colmao was one of those restaurants that was always a pleasure to visit. Unfortunately, it is not anymore. Good bye old friend. Thanks for the memories. Good luck. read more

Delicious authentic Cuban food! The service was amazing, we ordered a bottle of wine which was a great deal and delicious Ropa Vieja and appetizers. Finished our meal with a yummy cortadito. Would highly recommend and be back soon! read more

Great food, amazing customer service, good price, and mainly very clean restrooms. Came to this restaurant because someone taught me the food is similar to the one from my country Dominican Republic. The food was great but the flavor is closed to the one of my DR but is not the same. It's is not like my mom's food . Obviously, this is a Cuban restaurant. My husband enjoyed it and he is from the USA . Compare with all the Cuban restaurants this one is great. We will come back again. read more

Hi friends. This place used to be the bomb. Amazing food, great service, home cooked meals every day if the week. Seems like El Colmao lost its touch, seems like they lost touch with their clients. Love this place, too bad quality and service have taken a nosedive. Great food. read more

Delicious. The service was quick and the food is exactly what I wanted. Highly recommend

I wonder if the owners know that the employees close the restaurant early all the time?? I put in three orders in the last month that were picked up at around 7 PM, tonight I called and the person who picked up the phone said that they have been closing at 6 PM for over a year. This would either mean that the restaurant is staying open without the owners knowing or it is closing early without the owners knowing read more