Stop by this place with my husband. We've been looking for a new Cuban place and went by this place and decided to check it out. I'll start with the Mojito which was fantastic! Everything you want in a Mojito, fresh mint taste and not drowning in sugar. We had both chicken dishes. While they were both tasty, they weren't what we're used to for Cuban dishes. Would we good again? Yes, if I'm in the area I'd stop by. But we wouldn't make a special trip just to have it. Now the service was wonderful. They made sure we had everything we needed at all times. The location was very nice and well maintained. You can see that it would be a perfect place to enjoy some Mojitos and music at night. read more

El Criollo Bar & Grill - Pollo Asado - Cuban Near Me - Burbank, California

La comida esta, deliciosa! The food here is sooooo delicious! Great service, very friendly, family owned business. The lady who cooks there is amazing, the food tastes like authentic homemade cuban food. I feel the same way I felt as a kid when my mom or grandma would cook homemade Honduran food, except its Cuban, I felt all warm and fuzzy inside. My husband and his sister are Cuban and they brought me here to celebrate my getting a new job I wanted, I like the set up inside, very spacious and a nice bar area. The mojito was so tasty and good too! Also the bread, omg the bread, it was fresh and soft and just so yummy. I highly recommend this place! Gracias a la cocinera por la comida, me encanto! I'm absolutely elated read more

El Criollo Bar & Grill - Rabo Encendido - Cuban Near Me - Burbank, California

Absolutely loved El Criollo! We went on Saturday just as it opened and were greeted by this older woman who I believe might have been one of the owners. Her energy made me feel like I was visiting one of my Tia's. Okay so for food I ordered the Vegetariano Frito which was white rice, beans, yucca and plátano. I also ordered a Mojito. First off..I have not had a Mojito that good in years! So good I ordered a second. My entree was delicious...I mean everything on that place was yummy. The beans were perfectly seasoned. The fried yucca and plantains were crispy but not super greasy. Writing this makes me want to go back right now. It's not a Vegan restaurant but they have Vegan and Vegetarian options so it's a great place that will have something for everyone. Ambiance was nice. I guess they have dancing at night? Might have to come back for that to get my cha cha on. The restaurant is located in a strip mall so it's easy parking. read more

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Amazing lunch today! The Pescado Sudado was wonderful. Great happy hour drinks from opening time! read more

El Criollo Bar & Grill - Pescado Sudado - Cuban Near Me - Burbank, California

Ordered DoorDash and my Dasher was there for more than 40 minutes. I understand that there are busy times, but turn your online ordering off! Food was good. read more

Excellent food and chill spot! The guy at the bar is very welcoming and hospitable. My favorite dish is definitely the Bistec de Palomilla! My wife loves that dish as well! My opinion this is the BEST CUBAN FOOD in the area, hands down!! See you soon my Cuban homies! read more

I'm born and raised in Miami, grew up eating a LOT of homemade Cuban food from several families. This restaurant immediately took me back to those authentic meals I grew up with. The service was excellent and the owners did so much to make sure we were taken care of. Best Cuban food in LA hands down. read more

El Criollo Bar & Grill - Pechuga de Pollo Empanizada - Cuban Near Me - Burbank, California

Great food authentic Cuban food reminds me when I was growing up definitely recommended it

I ordered to go because I was running late for another appointment but the proprietor is the sweetest. The bar has a nice variety and the food looks fresh and delicious. It's in a small space in a strip mall,so it's a little hidden. I love that they bring out tostadas (toasted French bread) and whipped butter. Reminded me of Miami. read more

El Criollo Bar & Grill - Cuban Near Me - Burbank, California

One of the best Ropa Vieja I ever tried, Lomo Saltado is great. We order from Uber and we eat there when we get a chance. They treat you like family everytime we go. We been going to their restaurants 20 plus years. Great Place to eat traditional Cuban. read more

Delicious!! Amazing staff fantastic service and the best flavor! 10/10 La comida fue una delicia el servicio más amigable me sentí como en casa! read more

El Criollo Bar & Grill - Ropa Vieja - Cuban Near Me - Burbank, California

The best empanadas and cortadito ever. The sauce that comes with the empanadas are amazing

In our quest to try as many different restaurants as we can in our area, El Criollo will make the "go back to" list for sure. I had the lechon asado and it was outstanding. So flavorful! The black rice and plantains are killer!! My honey had the Pollo a la Mostaza and was very pleased. Portions are generous and our mojitos were good and strong. If you are in a hurry, this may not be the spot for you. read more

¡Rabo Encendido was F I R E ! I would go back to eat that again. My wife, father-in-law, and I shared some fried plantains. So good! My father-in-law enjoyed the fried tilapia, and my wife enjoyed a chicken plate. Gimme that tail! Oxtail, that is. read more

This place is so real and authentic! From William and his wife to their sons, it is such a family affair. This includes the recipes from Cuban that reminded us of the food our grandmother used to make in Puerto Rico. Martha said yum! Marilyn said deliciouso. Marizol and Donny said a treat for the taste buds! Muy buen comida! read more

Came with my parents and we all loved everything. My dad loved the bread... I had the lomo saltado,,yummy! I'd recommend this spot. Friendly atmosphere. Great food! read more

It was my turn to pick dinner for date night and I picked this place. We both wanted chicken and something not fried or unhealthy and to be honest, I am tired of salads! I had the Fricase de Pollo and bf had the Pollo Criollo. Both plates were delicious and the portions so generous and we needed to go boxes! The chicken on both plates was juicy and very flavorful. This was very good comfort food and we plan on going back soon. Did not have any alcoholic beverages but perhaps some day we will have to try. I almost forgot, the plantains were delicious!!! Our server Alberto was very nice and the service was good. This is not fast food. We will definitely go back here and enjoy another very good Cuban meal. :-) read more

El Criollo Bar & Grill - Fricase Pollo and Pollo Criollo with the most amazing Plantains! - Cuban Near Me - Burbank, California

Our family gathering of seven guests enjoyed our Saturday evening dinner of delectable and authentic Cuban food. The portions were just the right size, and the flavors and spices were on point - my family is half Cuban and they don't give their seal of approval to just anybody. We are grateful for the ambience that allowed our family to celebrate a couple of birthdays and enjoy each other's company. Albert contributed to the special moment through his attentiveness and care in serving us fresh, quality meals. Thank you El Criollo Bar & Grill! read more

Excellent food; excellent handmade margaritas; great latin music at a reasonable listening level.

My gf and I came across this place the other day and we HAD to give it a try! We ordered the 1/4 garlic chicken, rice, beans, plantains. The food was amazing! Everything had great taste and the star of the show to me was the chicken, it was cooked perfectly! The customer service was very helpful, and patient. Upon ordering, I accidentally ordered the wrong meal and had to get it replaced and the man who helped was not bothered by it all, he was extremely understanding and was prompt fixing the issue for me! The inside of the place is a very nice and chill spot. Good for dinner parties or just casual dine in setting! Overall, my experience was wonderful, i enjoyed the food, service was great, my gf and I will be back again! read more

Unfortunately, the one thing I came here for, the Lechon Asado, was horrible. The service was equally challenged. No idea how to run a restaurant. No wonder it was completely empty at lunch time. read more

Criollo restaurant. Great ‼ great Cuban Food and friendly owners. Thank you. In Burbank. CA. read more

I've been coming to this place for years. Food is amazing and the staff are lovely. The Lomo Saltado and Ropa Vieja are my favorite. Highly recommend this place. Recently celebrated a birthday here and hope to do it again soon. I don't understand how someone can leave bad reviews for this family owned restaurant. They must be bitter. This is a great place for dinner dates. read more

So happy to have found this little gem close to home! Goodbye Porto's, hello to this hidden gem in a strip mall, 10 minutes from home! Have to go and try their Ropa Vieja (traditional Cuban meal) and Moro yum and their croquetas as an appetizer, omg, too good to pass up! And the prices are spot on! Such a cute "momandpop" home restaurant with the traditional food with their cafe con leche, THE BEST!!! Found my home away from home restaurant, can't wait to go back and try the rest of the meals! I'm going to be such a regular there!!! read more

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I was at the shopping center and in the mood for something really flavorful so I found this little place right here on Yelp. It's a nondescript kind of a little strip mall where you wouldn't expect to find food of this quality, but I'll tell you. I am so glad that I was in the mood for an adventure and found it. I walked in on a Saturday during that time of day between lunch and dinner, so I was excited to get seated right away. The server was extremely friendly and happy to help me with menu choices, and recommendations. I had the empanadas and the oxtails. The empanadas were really tasty and fresh. My only wish is that when they were a little bit larger or they were more of them in an order. I could tell they were made with a lot of love and care. The oxtails were sublimely perfect. Don't tell my mom, but they were probably the best I've ever had. There was just enough of the gravy to spoon over the rice. I had every intention on taking some home for leftovers, but it was so good that ended up finishing the entire order! My only suggestion would be since the plantains are a side order choice - there should be more than 3 pieces. I ordered a side because I really love them and I expected a bit more as a side with my meal. I was a little disappointed that they were a not ripe enough for my personal taste. I enjoy them sliced a bit thicker and much more ripe so when they're fried, they caramelize and get crispy around the edges, but are soft in the center. Overall, it was a really good experience. The food quality was very very high like someone was making the food for their family at home. I just wish this place was closer to home and I'll be there every weekend! read more

El Criollo Bar & Grill - 2 Pieces Empanadas, pretty petite but really yummy! - Cuban Near Me - Burbank, California

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I live in Echo Park but I will make the drive for the Tostones. My folks say it's the best cuban cuisine they've ever had next to homemade (I hope my neighbor margarita doesn't see this post cuz these are fightin' words) . It's never overly crowded and when you order take out it's always ready just as you arrive. Best Cuban Ever!! read more

Cute family owned business. I've eaten here a few times and the food is consistent and delicious, you can tell it's made with care. I've brought several friends to this restaurant because it's just that good. At night, the lights are low and the place has a nice street light kind of ambiance. Inside, Latin music of all kinds is played. The alcoholic drinks are tasty as well. I will continue to come back and bring more friends in the future. read more

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I had been craving Cuban food for a while now. I used to go to a different place and the food was no longer the same. I decided to try this place for the first time. The place seemed a bit warm, cozy atmosphere since the lights inside were very dimmed. Nice family small business. The food was good and decent. read more

El Criollo Bar & Grill - Bistec Enpanizado con arroz blanco, frijoles negros, y yuca. - Cuban Near Me - Burbank, California

My mom was born in Cuba and she told me this is the most authentic Cuban food. We wish this were closer to home! Delicious ropa vieja like my grandma makes and you have to try the yucca frita! read more

Hidden gem! This place has amazing food. Pollo Saltado was delicious. Service was great. I'll definitely be back. Worth a drive read more

Wild that this place isnt crowded with celebs and tourist lining up to taste a true Gem in Los Angeles. The ultimate family welcoming from the family that runs this place. Intrigued by the menu options and prices, this was a must try as an Angelino of Puerto Rican decent. Right off the bat, I was greeted and shared with personal stories that made me feel like a friend. Back to the menu, every item ordered was spot on and delicious and had me and the wife asking for more than we could handle. Like an out of body experience that had me thinking I had to order for every moment in time that I had the urge for Caribbean food. This was a slap in the face of, welcome home to the dishes mommy would make me as a child. There's nothing like this in Los Angeles and I doubt it can be replicated. Come to this place and get transported into the life of a Caribbean local enjoying the daily eats of what life should be. Friendly tip, place two orders of the croquetas to start. Then you decide if you want to order 4 more to take home! read more

El Criollo Bar & Grill - Cuban Near Me - Burbank, California

Pollo Asado Masitas - appetizer Great service!! Always kind and attentive. Food is ALWAYS AMAZING!!! Chicken was cooked to perfection! Moro absolutely delicious. You gotta have the Maduros!!! read more

El Criollo Bar & Grill - Masitas and maduros - Cuban Near Me - Burbank, California

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Everything on the menu is amazing but our favorite is the ox tail. The meat falls off the bone and the gravy is heaven. Mixing it with their rice and beans is total comfort food. This is authentic slow home cooking made with love that you can taste in every bite. The team is always gracious and last night, we were delighted to see one of the original co-founders. We love family run businesses especially when they're exceptional like this one. I highly recommend this restaurant and hope you'll consider visiting them. read more

Wow where do I even start . Everything was amazing . The service was incredible , friendly and attentive . The spices in the food were so unique and flavorful . I ordered the Oxtail , black beans , white rice and garlic yuka . The oxtail was so tender and the juice of the oxtail was so good I had to suck the bones clean lol . I love listening to the Spanish music while I dined in as well . This place is definitely a vibe . I met one of the Owners, (the son ) Albert . He was very friendly and I learned it's a family business open since 2011. I had a fun self care date with myself. I will be back next time I'm in the area . read more

El Criollo Bar & Grill - Oxtail , Black beans , rice and garlic yuka. - Cuban Near Me - Burbank, California

Great food and service. Definitely some comfort food , most of the dishes are 10/10, I like the green salsa they have.

To frame my review I would say that I'm part Cuban and grew up in Miami so I have very hi standards on Cuban food. I had the bistec empanizado, breaded steak, and it was good. For sides I ordered the black beans and rice and yuca. The yuca with garlic mojo was excellent. The black beans were more Mexican than Cuban. Wife had the masitas, fried pork chunks. It wasn't very good. Think the fryer needs an oil change and not a a lot of seasoning. My son has the lechón and he liked it. Cuban music played and the ambiance was definitely of a Cuban restaurant. Service was prompt. Portions were large. They had some Cuban soft drinks and an extensive bar menu. read more

Initially was looking for Peruvian food but Yelp directed me to this place. We were seated right away and the server was very prompt and kind. She offered her recommendations too. The food is not traditional Peruvian flavor but man it was delicious. It does have a Cuban twist which is just as flavorful. The portions are very generous and the green salsa is amazing. Staff was very nice, will deff be back. read more

El Criollo Bar & Grill - Pollo Saltado - Cuban Near Me - Burbank, California

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I tried their oxtail plate and it was super rich in flavor. The yucca in garlic oil was perfect! Just the right amount of garlic. The service was great. If you're in the mood for some dessert the flan is a must! read more

El Criollo Bar & Grill - Rabo Encendido - Cuban Near Me - Burbank, California

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Ox Tail Stew. Say it with me. Order it every time! I like the Leachon (roast pork leg) with yuca. The food is similar to what my grandmother makes. read more

El Criollo Bar & Grill - Extra Large Mojito - Cuban Near Me - Burbank, California

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El Criollo is my favorite Cuban restaurant. The food is amazing, my favorite are lomo saltado y ropa vieja. The staff and ambiance are great! I just love this place and recommend it 100%! read more