Good food, pricey drinks at the bar, but otherwise, pretty rad atmosphere here. The band played a birthday song for my friend lacey while we were there too. I liked the places overall vibe, but our waiter was pretty non committed to helping out our somewhat large group, though reservations had been made well in advance. We had a group of about 15 people, which is definitely manageable, but we didnt get much of an effort as far as service goes. The band was more helpful to me than our waiter was. I will say though that their flaming margarita, although good and presented well, seemed to barely have any of one of its key ingredients: tequila. I definitely would have rather had it be a stronger drink. read more

One of the Hidden Gems in Hollywood. Its a Hidden Cantina in hollywood on sunset It has huge portions for the price, i came here with girlfriend and the corn tortilla soup is amazing, we were able to split a plate of carnitas. We are foodies and it was enough =D Nice ambiance in the actual restaurant because it makes it seem like you are sitting in a small hutt read more

LOVE LOVE LOVE this place, great food, Flaming margaritas, and Celebs? how can u go wrong?? This is a place i have plenty of great memories attached to. you should to. read more

Definitely one of the best spots around town! I just wish it were closer to me, but it's DEFF worth the drive! It's a go to spot whenever my friends & I are looking for something FUN to do!! Always a good time here! Im usually not into margaritas BUT they are know for their famous flaming margaritas which are heaven to your mouth! The best I've ever had! There chips & salsa are also amazing! & my all time favorite is their delicious shrimp quesadilla! I'm always craving it & can never get enough of it! I usually always get the same thing but I have tried food off of friends plates & it's always been great! Kind of hidden location but that makes it even that much better! It's a very well know spot especially for celebs! I've seen someone famous here almost every time I've gone! They also have a long list of regulars! Everyone here is attractive & very friendly! Great atmosphere makes you feel at home, like your hanging with pals! I highly recommend this place to all my friends! Once you go you will be hooked! ;) read more

If you're looking for great Mexican food - don't miss El Compadre on Sunset! Every time I eat here I go home happy. Recommended to me by locals, I now bring all of my out of town friends. Good place for groups, a romantic night out, or a late night drink. There's a bar in the front of the restaurant, small tables, or larger booths. Some nights they have a mariachi band. It can get a little loud, but normally you have no problem hearing conversation. Prices are pretty reasonable. And believe me, you get your bang for your buck. Serving sizes are very nice. The carne con chile verde is delicious. As is the arroz con pollo a la mexicana. The homemade chips are great! You can't go wrong with anything on the menu. Everyone raves about the Flaming Margarita. The drink is good. The flame is a splash of 151 on a lime that gets lit on fire. It's neat to see, but the margarita is not anything special. El Compadre does have a good selection of mixed drinks, beers, and hard alcohol. The best part, it's open late! After a good night of drinking, enchiladas, chips, and maybe another tequila shot taste quite satisfying! Parking- there is a lot behind the restaurant. After 6pm the meters outside are free. This place fills up pretty quickly, so get there early to enjoy a delicious night out! read more

Go to dinner at El Compadre for the fun environment and FLAMING margaritas! They have an extensive food menu with all of your classic Mexican dishes, but the star of the menu is definitely the choice of margaritas. They have different flavors, blended or on the rocks and then there's the flaming margs! Be careful though -- there are two sizes of margaritas: regular and large. My friends and I decided to go big and get a round of the large margaritas. They had the perfect bite of tequila, but I'm embarrassed to say that I struggled to finish it. Sure, the glass isn't THAT huge, but after all of the chips + dinner, my margarita sipping slowed down. I'd recommend making a reservation since Friday and Saturday nights can get a bit hectic. I had a reservation for a Friday night around 8:30/9 and it saved us! The party behind us did not have a reservation and was given a 40 minute wait. read more

El Compadre is BY FAR the BEST MEXICAN food restaurant in Los Angeles. The ambiance is so wonderful, the band is fun, and the flaming margaritas are to die for! I come to El Comp once a week at minimum since I moved to LA in February and normally order the same thing because the taste is amazing (carne asada plate)! Each plate is enough to share for two if you are not that hungry. I started venturing out of my food zone and every single thing that I have ordered so far is so wonderful (Arroz Con Pollo, Tamale, tacos, etc) This is one of the places that is not very greasy; I compare it to El Coyote. I am always happy with the service, the food comes out SO FAST, and it is officially my spot. Thank goodness this place is here! My colleagues took me here for my birthday lunch because I told them it is the best and each one agreed! Glad I could spread the cheers of El Comp! Love it! read more

Went here for in-laws bday. It came highly recommended from a friend. I must add that my wife's aunt and family are from England and have never had true authentic Mexican food. I was not let down! The 8 of us enjoyed baskets (plural) of chips and salsa along with some darn good guacamole. We all ordered combination platters and walked out at the end o the night completely satisfied. I hinted about a birthday in the group and we got a full on concert by our table. So awesome! Last thing, when you are ordering a cocktail, gotta get the Flaming Margarita. Only reason this isn't a 5 star is because one of the orders was forgotten (or so it seemed). Someone in the group had to wait about 5 minutes while we all scarfed down the food. Will def be back. read more

FAVORITE MEXICAN RESTAURANT!!!!!!!!!!!! This place is amazing. From the moment you walk in the atmosphere is filled with great decor, a mariachi band, flaming margaritas and a smell that immediately makes you hungrier. We sat in the front bar area behind the band and it was so nice. The drinks are strong and delicious and the food is wonderful. All of the staff were helpful and made us exactly what we wanted without an additional charge. This is a great spot any night of the week and we can't wait to go back! read more

I went here with my friends family while moving to this location, and it's not half bad Mexican food. I got the "Chipotle Bistec De Res" and it was really good. The Flour tortilla chips are amazing, and if you're going to get a drink go for the "Flaming Strawberry Margaritas". I would say this food is not the best Mexican food I've ever had, but if you're in the area and want some it's not half bad. A side note, it's very very dark in there, and don't ever order a Mojito from here. read more

Food was really average and the margarita was way overpriced. This place is basically a generic run of the mill Mexican restaurant that you would find in any major city around the US, nothing special. The carne asada was rubber, and the chimichanga was disgusting mess of fried crap. The chips and salsa was par, but the rest was very bland and not something I'd ever recommend to anyone, especially in LA where there is awesome Mexican food everywhere. read more

El Compadre - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Definitely the best Mexican food I have had in a very long time. My girlfriend and I like it so much that we even came back the day after our first visit. I had the carnitas plate both times with a few Mango Margaritas on the rocks. My girlfriend has the nachos the first night and a taco salad the next day. The chips were hot, fresh, and crispy. The salsa had a fiery, perfectly spicy, crisp taste. The plates we had were all delicious. The margaritas I had were super strong and super delicious; just the way I like them. I was so amazed too that the owner came up to our table in the middle of the meal to see how everything was going and to make sure we are satisfied. I know that this may be common practice in larger restaurants for a manager to come by, but I NEVER expected the owner to stop by given that the restaurant was jam packed and seemed to busy and running very smoothly. It was awesome to see that the management of the restaurant truly were dedicated to creating an amazing experience for their customers. The location is pretty convenient also right on Sunset Blvd. with valet parking available in the back with street parking also available in the front. The restaurant is dim and has a very romantic Mexican feel. Totally would recommend this restaurant and cannot wait to go back again. p.s. Try the carnitas if you are a fan of carnitas. They were out of this world. read more

Came here on my first visit to LA. I was really looking forward to my first Mexican dish in California because I've heard it's as good as it gets without crossing the border and this did not disappoint!! Must try the chicken tamales!!!!! You will be upset if you don't :) read more

El Compadre - Margaritas on fire!! - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

This is our new favorite Mexican place! They have great margaritas, live mariachis, and they were even able to make me veggie tacos to accommodate vegan options!!! The guac was perfectly seasoned and everything was just fantastic. Not to mention how absolutely beautiful it is inside. read more

El Compadre - It's beautiful in here! There are live mariachis, amazing margaritas, and they were even able to accommodate for vegan options! - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Good Mexican food and drinks. The guacamole is very good. If you want a Mexican breakfast try the chorizo plate. Enchiladas, chicken or beef, tamales, beef taco, all good good good read more

Literally one of my favorite (if not my favorite) Mexican restaurant in the Los Angeles area. Wonderful staff, good food, and not overly expensive for a good amount of food. Parking can be tricky. It's in Hollywood and the back parking fills up quickly during dinner time and the street parking fills very quickly around the area. Chips and salsa are my FAVORITE there!!! Would highly recommend to try. read more

Love this place, a must go every time I'm in the area. Simple Mexican Done RIGHT!!! =) read more

Will someone answer the phone so I can make a reservation already? This is horrible disastrous customer service

This is THE BEST, most authentic, delicious Mexican food in LA. Way better than El Cholo. The only problem is that there are always too many people there on weekends. Parking can be tough. There's a small lot in the back & valet parking.... but it's worth it! read more

Flaming Margaritas,live music and decent food, comfy booth , what else do you need?

This is a very popular Mexican restaurant in Hollywood so be prepared to wait. The best tip I can give is try to get an open table on the back patio. It is first come, first serve and a great way to skip the wait if you don't mind sitting in outside. I love getting the chicken tacos here with the hard shell tacos. On the weekends they have a live band in the front which is great, but can be noisey. read more

Great place .. they service this always fast and the waiters are very hospitable.. I go there as often as I can and never had a bad experience! All around a good place I def recommend ! read more

Great food and wonderful service! Special mention for Fermin. Please ask for him to serve you, he goes out of his way to make your meal even greater! Must try Fajita and Tostada Ceviche! Margaritas were great too. read more

Great service and food! Upbeat energy and good vibes. Will be coming back! Loved the decor and ambiance. Full service bar and in a great location. read more

Over-priced food. Stay away from the tamales. They barely have any meat in them, unless you like eating masa. Friendly wait staff does not compensate for the price and quality of the food. read more

This place ain't worth going too. I got enchilada plate and the food had a hair or two.

I always get the enchiladas mole combination plate and it's always great. The flaming margaritas are fun but honestly I go for the food. Its a fun atmosphere with the band playing and is always crowded, if you just walk in it can take awhile to get a table so plan ahead at night, if not hanging out at the bar for a drink first is cool. If you do decide on take out I suggest avoiding the tortilla soup, the first time I did it they put the tortilla strips on the side so they wouldn't get soggy, not the last two times, and the last time they gave me a large soup even though I had ordered a small and when I asked the woman why she told me they don't do small for take out. read more

My first visit to LA, and a group of us decided to meet here at 7:30 one night. I show up with a friend, and tell them we have a reservation for 7. The hostess tells us they don't have record of our reservation. Ok, so we put it in, and head to the bar to wait. After waiting for about 20 minutes, and a $9 margarita (which I took about 2 sips of), we realize we aren't at the right place. WHY didn't the hostess mention there are 2 of the SAME restaurants on the SAME street when our reservation wasn't on their record??? Come on... The food was ok. The salsa was good, but the chips were pretty greasy. I had enchiladas, and they were pretty bland. A friend also said the Shrimp enchilada was a bit bland. The 4 year old with us did give rave reviews on the cheese quesadilla, but not sure how you could mess that up!! The atmosphere was great, the mariachi band was awesome, but the food was just ok. read more

I went here last night to celebrate my birthday (on valentine's day) and it was a riot! the place was packed but in a way that added to the excitement of the night. we had a very in-your-face kind of server, but she was awesome. all business, knowledgeable and paid just the right amount of attention to the table. everyone in our group indulged in a flaming margarita...every flavor from original to raspberry to banana and cadillac were yummy AND strong! the food was good. nothing extraordinary, but it was exactly what we all had our mouths fixed for when we decided to go mexican. definitely a fun place! dont even think about going without a reservation ( although i believe you can only make a reservation for a group of 5 or more...) read more

Cons: Expensive margaritas which are too sweet Chile relleno sucks Chicken enchilada was good...would've been better if it came out hot Pros: Nice service Salsa good but chips were not warm Would not return. Seems more of a touristy restaurant. Packed and long wait. read more

Good food , not great but nice people.Ilove the dark atmosphere but bring flash light to read menu or smartphone . Some one in the group ordered a Drink that was served flaming (very cool) read more

I've eaten here twice in the past month, had a combo plate and then the entree #1, a steak dish. Both were good. Great service, good drinks, really spicy salsa, and good food. The atmosphere doesn't feel fake like Rosa Mexicano, and the live mariachi band on friday night was fun. The house margaritas come with a flaming lemon in them which is sorta fun. Most recently I was there on a crowded friday night and the wait was only 10 minutes. Also, it's right across from the greatest store on earth, Guitar Center, so there's another reason to visit. read more

El Compadre CIRCUMSTANCES El Compadre was my first LA Mexican Restaurant experience - dating way way back to 1996 - and remains my top fave to this day, holding a special place in my heart So was summer 1996, and my then model actress girlfriend - don't ask me how 22yr old Michigan State University senior bumps into a LA resident in LA, starts dating her and winds up visitor her at her temporary digs in at Hollywood and Franklin /cuz you prolly wouldn't believe it - takes me to lunch and Mexican stop right across from Guitar Center on Sunset Boulevard. It's lunch time, the crowd was very thin (a state unheard of at the nighttime set), but we sit in the super '70s super-awesome bar, guzzle fab-tastic Margaritas (topped with flaming 151) and scarfed my first every Enchiladas Acapulco (shrimp enchiladas). Mmm... I can still taste it. The girl is long gone, but El Compadre is still my fave LA Mexican dinning spot! VIBE & ATMOSPHERE I've already mentioned the Super '70s interior - big splashes of flashy reds, big vinyl bar, big vinyl chairs, deep booths - but throw in a grip of black velvet paintings and Spanish titled canopies built into the dinning, not to mention the Friday & Saturday 3-piece Mariachi band and you've got atmospheric gold! Vibe-wise it can be a bit of a "scene" at times -which is really not my thing - but if you avoid prime time "scene" dinning hours (Friday & Saturday from 8PM on) you're usually OK. MENU & FOOD One of the reason's I loved this spot from my very first visit, is the FOOD! I don't know how authentic their version of Mexican food is or isn't (or what that even means), all I can tell you is the Compadre's food is A-W-E-S-O-M-E! Tacos (fish are the best), burritos, enchiladas and spectacular, and the combinations are always a great choice. The Enchiladas Acapulco (shrimp and cheese) have long been my personal fave and is, in my opinion, the best item on the menu. And not to the important details: The cocktails a superb, too! You can't miss with their margarita's (in all the varieties they offer). And if you're feeling manly enough to step up to a girl drink, their frozen margarita topped with the flaming 150 Rum in the sliced lemon rind is a fun, tasty treat and their signature drink. STAFF & SERVICE The long-time maitre'd, who was always super cool and kinda reminded me of a Latin Godfather, appears to be off the scene these days (hopefully retired or reassigned and not deceased). Beyond that, the staff (mostly young-ish male waiters) has always been very friendly and accommodating. Service can really bog down during prime time "scene" or when an unexpected crowd shows up on an off day or time. But the finished product always proves to be worth the wait. THE RUNDOWN Of course El Compadre scores an A! I mean, I not biased or anything. But seriously, over than the occasional "scene" issue, this joint is TOPS in my book and I can't recommend it enough. read more

This place never fails me. I had some buddies in town and I brought them out to el compadre. None of us were disappointed. Our server hector was on top of things and never had us saying, "where the hell is our server." He knew the menu and was helpful and tentative. We all got a different dish and they were all unique and full of flavor. The vibe in the restaurant makes you feel comfortable, and the place looks authentic. I live in LA, and I'm constantly traveling, so I've had some great Mexican food in my travels, this place is right up there at the top of my list and it's in my own back yard. read more

A friend recommended this place. Service is fast, valet parking available. The inside a bit too dark. While eating there Kat Von D walked in and sat across from us. My wife asked to.take a picture with her and she was get nice. Food was great and the Margaritas were awesome. read more

El Compadre - With Kat Von D how awesome - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

*Amazing service *Amazing live band *Amazing food *Amazing Margaritas Worth the wait time lol read more

Husband went here on a biz meeting and came home raving about it and he was right. Got there a little early on Sunday am around 11ish. We were quickly seated and greeted with chips and salsa and ice water! Great start! We took forever to to make up our minds so ordered the delish guacamole and enjoyed a flaming margarita. Our service was excellent! Food was prompt and served hot! Water, salsa and chips were also refilled constantly! this place was great! Awesome, dark ambiance made you feel like being in the heart of Mexican culture. It was truly fabulous and we will definitely be going back. read more

El Compadre - Flaming Cadillac Margie! - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I dig this local spot. The trio they have playing set a nice ambience and the food rocks. Portions are large so my wife and I always share the Fajitas plate. Fried Kahlua ice cream dessert is on point. And the flaming margaritas are savory. Service is average and parking on the street is best to avoid the valet charge. The crowd is a good medley of locals, hipsters, and the occasional tourist. read more

Really good mexican food with great atmosphere! Super large portions and delicious unlimited chips and salsa. Everything we've tried is super tasty! Usually busy with a wait for dinner, but worth it. Must recommend their tortilla soup and carnitas= delicious!! read more

Very good food. Good service too once you actually get seated and have a table. Love the old school architecture and set up. Patio seating is nice. Drinks were strong and the portions were good. You get a lot of food for your money. The other thing is they have live music and they are open late. So for the part of town it's in it's a much needed business. Grateful for El Compadre. read more