(Dined/Drank 06/15/26 MO @ 4:00pm): El sol brillaba intensamente sobre este restaurante familiar! An old friend from elementary school reached out to me out of the blue and invited me to El Sol Family Restaurant to catch up and to also see other longtime friends and former colleagues over happy hour. Apparently, my friend and other mutual colleagues/friends still kept in touch with each other on a regular basis (I wasn't good about that) and met here fairly often on Mondays. My schedule was always difficult, but on this fateful date, I was available and geeked to hang out with people I haven't seen in over a decade easily. Having served Montrose since 2002, they have since become a pillar of the community with their family recipes and fresh homemade cuisine. I was surprised I'd never heard of this place since I grew up in the area and still relatively frequented it. Would my first time at the sun be my last, or would the family feel (and happy hour!) bring me back!? PURCHASE(S) Chips & Salsa (COMP): Both homemade, the chips were crispy and warm while the salsas were spicy and warm - arriba! Blended Mango Margarita Blended ($7.00 HH): Mango flavor throughout with enough tequila, this was a nice way to start my imbibing on this hot day! Asada Street Tacos 2pc ($5.00 HH): Marinated tender beef with diced white onion, this was simplicity at its best! Carnitas Street Tacos 2pc ($5.00 HH): Same as the asada tacos but chicken! Strawberry Margarita On The Rocks ($7.00 HH): Fruity and sweet with just enough tequila but more ice than I liked. Bean & Cheese Nachos ($5.00 HH): Hot beans and melty cheese, this was very basic but served its purpose. Peach Margarita On The Rocks ($7.00 HH): Refreshing but same as the strawberry version. Cheese Quesadilla + Chicken ($5.00 + $1.00 HH): Another dish that helped to absorb the alcohol with a decent amount of chicken. Bohemia Pilsner Beer 4.7% ABV 12floz Bottle ($5.00 HH): Bright amber color, malty aroma, light body, malty sweet warm watery flavor, crisp finish, and light malty sweet watery aftertaste. A slightly elevated Mexican cerveza - salud! Pacifico Clara Lager Beer 4.5% ABV 12floz Bottle ($5.00 HH): Bright amber color, malty salty aroma, light body, malty warm watery flavor, clean finish, and light malty watery aftertaste. An easy-breezy beer! SERVICE Warmly greeted by a young gentleman who ended up also being our server. I was the first to arrive, and when I mentioned my friends' names, he took me to their standard booth, gave me a menu, a glass of water, and complimentary chips and salsa. He returned moments later, took my first of many orders, and as our ever-growing party kept showing up, he was on us with such ease while he kept his head on a swivel as orders came from all directions. He was the bomb - muchas gracias! PARKING (FREE): They shared parking within a small strip mall that featured a handful of other businesses such a laundromat, a liquor store, and more. Otherwise, there were many spots along the main drag of Honolulu Ave. - 'nuff said. ATMOSPHERE, DÉCOR, AMBIENCE A casual clean somewhat packed floor plan with two dining areas (the main front and the side) filled with a mix of booths and partitioned tables, I didn't notice an actual bar, and minimal cultural decorations added some splash along with some 2026 World Cup fever. Plenty of natural lighting entered through the front doors and windows while an assortment of electric ceiling lights would've covered the rest as it got darker. There were several low-volume TVs throughout while I couldn't recall any background music. ATTIRE Totally casual, so I would normally be in a t-shirt, boardshorts, and flip-flops. OVERALL I had a fun time at El Sol Family Restaurant mainly because I caught up with so many people I haven't seen in so many years and to be introduced to a new business to me with a very good happy hour. I hoped to join them for more happy hours and actually try their full menu. The food was yummy, the prices very affordable, the menu was rather sizable, and the service was awesome. Plus, I preferred to support small mom & pop businesses whenever possible. I found complete value based on the prices, service, and experience noted above (TOTAL paid experience was around $60.00 BEFORE any discounts, points usage, and/or tip). And, they accepted my credit card of choice... AMEX! 5.0 STARS read more

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Ate here 8.13 2026 Shrimp Diablo platter. Ate ALL of it i was starving I did notice that the shrimp were not cooked.All the way - the hot sauce on top was covering it Super sick soon after. I missed my flight this morning as I was worried, I would continue to be sick on the plane. I will post a copy of my receipt showing what I ate. I can't imagine what else it could have been because I only had rice and beans and a side of lettuce. read more

El Sol Family Restaurant - 10/10. - Mexican Near Me - Glendale, California

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Just Great! I had the perfect Happy Hour (3-6 or 7, M-F ) margarita (there are several flavor choices) accompanied by their super salsa with an extra little warm bean dip .. then although the H. Hour food choices all were yummy I ordered off their regular menu : the El Sol Tostada but I wanted chile verde substituted for their other meat choices .. Manny accommodated me and it was superb! All the while catching a little of the Dodgers game on the bar TV El Sol is a treasure. This area is so lucky to have this family owned and operated restaurant right here in our neighborhood for so many years!! And I hope many more to come KK read more

There are plenty of restaurants you can enjoy once, but El Sol is the kind of place you look forward to returning to. The Albondigas alone are worth the visit! Absolutely one of my favorites. Highly recommend El Sol! read more

We had such a lovely meal with a large group (8) in the front window area. The food was good, I had a cheese enchilada and shared a carnitas platter. Friends had piping hot tacos, a burrito, and enchiladas Suizas. The chips and beans and salsa were really tasty and the tortilla seemed homemade! The staff were attentive on drink refills and checking with us, but not solicitous, which I prefer. Plenty of parking! I'm not sure which region of Mexico they represent, but this was a bit different (refreshingly so) from the standard American/Mexican and I'm looking forward to trying their queso next time read more

Outstanding food! The chicken taquitos were fried the exact way they need to be. My husband loved his chili relleno and my boys said their food was just as delicious. The salsa and chips were fantastic. We live out of town, otherwise we would frequent this restaurant! read more

Now, normally i am happy with the service and food. They do have yummy stuff and the staff are very friendly. But tell me why, you would put shredded cheese in your nachos and microwave it? Why not just use regular melty nacho cheese? And then charge me $16 for something a 10 year old could've done at home?!?! whhhyyyy???? USE NACHO CHEESE ON YOUR NACHOS!!! read more

I'm a regular customer, and this place never disappoints! Run by an amazing family, the food is great quality, service is quick. The only negative part is I am beginning to be embarrassed. Going there two or three times a week! But that's my problem! Highly recommend! read more

As always, El Sol never disappoints. I had their Southwestern Chicken salad and it was Amazingly delicious. read more

El Sol Family Restaurant - Today, I had their Southwestern Chicken salad, and it was amazing. El Sol is always consistent with their food. - Mexican Near Me - Glendale, California

Love the intimate and friendly vibe. The food is good, the service above par and the margaritas - Forget about it!! This place beats the others in town, hands down! read more

A great little neighborhood Mexican restaurant Tasty margaritas and chips/salsa Personable and helpful service I especially recommend the Cocido soup - flavorful beef and nice selection of veggies- broth could be drank as a rich cocktail. Perfect on a chilly winter day. read more

I have not written a review in quite some time and this is absolutely insane.. This is considered fraud. The photo posted is his online pricing .. my husband ordered two soups and somehow just spent $53.. We called to inquire because we did not get a receipt. I have been eating at this restaurant for years and the owner. Manuel was speaking to me on the phone and decided to lie to me and tell me that he would tell the owner that his pricing is wrong.. if you are not willing to sell your food at the advertised prices online then don't sell it at all. While, I completely understand supporting small businesses overcharging us over $20 is not OK. I will be calling the credit card company to report fraud . read more

El Sol Family Restaurant - Mexican Near Me - Glendale, California

They have the best guacamole hands down . The food is always fresh and delicious. Great , family run, restaurant.

Family restaurant catered my wedding last month.everyone loved the food, the family was wonderful and gave what I asked for. Manuel and his son were very accommodating to my needs.Food was very fresh and was done on time!! I would recommend them with the highest level possible!! Denise read more

Best Mexican food anywhere! Great, fluffy chile rellenos and peach margaritas! Service is outstanding. The best part of the food is that it is not salty - it is just flavorful on its own. Takeout is just as good. It is not in one container smooshed together, but in separate compartments and is hot! read more

Good quality food. Take out, price & service was excellent. Place is clean & cozy. read more

Food is always great here. The owner is super nice and always accommodating. We have been coming here for years.

First thing first, I felt like I came into someone's home, it was so welcoming and such a cute spot. hands down was the best service I have ever received since being here on vacation! The chips and salsa and the bean dip so freaking delicious! The margaritas for happy hour also really good, the food was also really good and so authentic! I can only say good things about this place. It was my first time coming and I can't wait to come back to visit when in the area! We are deeply grateful for everyone who served us keep up the good work! Happy new year- from San Francisco family read more

Best carnitas ever! The carnitas burrito special is a legendary dish in the foothills for a reason, people.

Tonight was the first night I've had the opportunity to order frajitas with mahi mahi as the protien. Quite tasty indeed. We sat in the booth by the front window and I was glad to be watching the light rain come down from inside El Sol enjoying the relaxed ambience. The rest of the group were happy with their food and drinks too. read more

I've always driven by this place and was curious to finally try it. They have indoor and outdoor dining. Their outdoor space caught my eye since they've built a structure in the parking lot as a result of covid. Anyhoo, the wait for outdoor seating was insane, so we decided to sit indoors. Every table and booth was packed with people and it wasn't even 6pm yet! Service was friendly when you could get a waiter, but that was incredibly few and far between. It was nearly impossible to get a refill on water. I have to say the food was pretty mediocre, but we also probably got non-traditional things? Maybe...? - Buffalo Wings - I don't really know why they have buffalo wings at a Mexican restaurant... If you're on the fence about them, 100% do NOT get them. The buffalo wings came out soggy and wet. Hard pass. They didn't even come out with any sauce (like ranch dressing or anything) and we couldn't get a waiter to ask if sauce even came out with it. - Chicken and Bean tostada: this was just okay. It's pretty weak and was kind of watery. (Compare... I love Joselitio's tostadas bc they're really big and filling.) - Menudo soup: There was a ton of hominy in the soup. The soup itself was a little lacking in flavor and was very mild in taste. Maybe that's a good thing for people who don't like dank menudo, but we love authentic menudo. This kind of missed the mark. :( Overall, we'll probably never come back. We'll just stick with Joselito's in the future. read more

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This place is really REALLY expensive. They charged me $4 for a glass of soda water. Most restaurants it's free. The staff is nice and the food is good but prices are high. read more

We started with 2 margaritas and a guacamole . The drink was good and strong. The guac was good too . They bring chips with salsa and warm bean dip complimentary . The food came out and it was all tasty. Now the short comings. Their Yelp listing had menus from 6 years ago . That really gets me to start with . The menu they give you has many white out changes . But the bill came out higher than the printed prices. Not by much, but still higher . I use cash . But if you choose to use credit. There is a 3.99 % up charge . Nobody pays that much for card processing . Get with the times . These are easy things to change to improve your business . The service was really attentive . I will return. read more

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MY FAMILY LOVED DINNER ======================= Years ago before I was married and I lived in Tujunga I always loved going to El Sol. It was my favorite Mexican restaurant. My husband can be kind of hard to please when it comes to Mexican food, so for whatever reason I never took him there. If he doesn't like a restaurant then that is the kiss of death. Fast forward a couple of decades and my son suggested we get take-out during the Covid pandemic and I was ecstatic. Who knows why I never went on my own or with girlfriends. That remains a mystery, but my husband and son loved our dinner which was shocking. Everything is great, especially their margaritas to-go. I loved the chicken enchiladas verdes. If you want chicken and not cheese don't forget to tell them. My husband loves the beef fajitas. My son really liked the ropa vieja and and chile Colorado. If my picky husband likes it then anyone will like it. read more

El Sol Family Restaurant - Cheese enchilada verde - Mexican Near Me - Glendale, California

Outdoor is really spacious and dog friendly. The inside was packed and very humid. Food is very authentic and if you like spicy or habanero sauce, ask for el yucateco! Chips and salsa are freshly made and taste really good as well. read more

El Sol Family Restaurant - Enchiladas Mexicana but with chicken instead of two cheeses - Mexican Near Me - Glendale, California

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Great food . Great margaritas. Family owned . Say hi to Crystal. Chili Rellenos great .

Visit was 7/22/22: The family came from the funeral viewing across the street from this place. Everyone was holding it together as it was such an emotional week. We travelled from the Bay Area and were so tired too. Our emotional day had a rather pleasant happy ending thanks to the great food and awesome staff. We took most of the tables in the patio area. The food was amazing. I got the el sol burrito and it LITERALLY was the size of my arm, and I'm no Barbie doll. I shared my food with my cousin and we only finished half! But don't worry it didn't go to waste as it was breakfast in our air bnb the next day. They also gave us free shots! My mom took a shot for the first time ever, in memory of my cousin who just passed away. Thanks El Sol for the comfort of food and company during such a difficult time. read more

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Food was authentic mexican, I really liked the pozole.. and the service was eccelent, everyone was very friendly.. I must say it was a bit expensive but worth it. read more

Come get some delicious authentic Mexican cuisine. They do not skimp on the seasonings. Everything is seasoned to perfection. Great happy hour too. read more

It's great! Came highly recommended by my companions. Small restaurant with good food, ample parking , and full liquor license. read more

A friend and I decided to try out someplace other than our usual for Mexican food and margs. El Sol was recommended to us by a few people, and the yelp reviews are overall favorable, so we were looking forward to our visit. Small strip mall restaurant with ample covered outdoor seating. Inside the mood was festive with dim lighting and colorful decor. They don't accept reservations over the weekend, and the place was pretty full at 7pm on a Friday, but luckily there was one table open and ready for us. There's no separation between the entry and the dining room, so waiting parties after us had to mill about awkwardly in the restaurant until a table opened up. I didn't feel awkward as a diner but know I would feel self-conscious looming over others who were enjoying their meals. That's really neither here nor there. You could wait outside if you wanted to. Anyway, our waiter was friendly and offered some vegetarian alternatives to their otherwise traditional and meaty menu. I had vegetable enchiladas. They were alright. The margs were good. All in all fine, but not as good as our usual go-to, so I don't see us heading back over to El Sol any time soon. read more

Food was fine, but I paid $17 for just a shredded chicken burrito. No sides came with it...nothing, no sour cream, 2 thin slices of avo, but that's it. $17 bf tip. I can't believe it. read more

Kind of a stereotypical Mexican restaurant with good quality and good food. However, the prices were a little bit high for the size of the portions. They don't give very much salsa to go. Also, even though we ate the food pretty much immediately after getting home, the food was not as warm as i would have liked. It was packaged very well, and traveled fine. Just wasn't too warm. I had a the Enchilada del sol. It was very well flavored and came with rice and beans. The taste was good, but it just wasn't too big. When I get Mexican food, I like to feel pretty stuffed. Obviously, not healthy food, but I like to just stuff myself with it. For this meal, I was actually still a little big hungry so had more chips. I just wish that there was more salsa to eat with the chips! I'm a toss up between El Sol and La Cabinita if I am looking for a Mexican food restaurant. I happily will return, but maybe next time I'll dine in so that food is warmer and I can have more salsa! read more

Ate here the other day it was ammaaazzinng!!! I had the tacos and rice with beans and a horchata .m mmmm mm

I am so disappointed with this restaurant. I'd give them zero stars if I could. I spoke to them multiple times about a catering order and I had it in writing through text. We agreed on the time of pick up I show up nobody's there it took 20 minutes for the manager to finally get a hold of me and tell me that there was a personal situation that came up and he was sorry. He had nobody obviously cover for this big catering order. He couldn't tell me that something came up? No one was there already making our order? Sounds like we were forgotten. So all of the sixth grade students who are graduating today do not have food for their event!!!Never again will they get business from us. read more

The staff were so friendly and cared about my gluten allergy I had enchiladas and tacos all gluten free it tasted amazing and had a great overall experience. read more

Love El Sol. Great service, great owners and great food. This will be a staple for us in great Mexican dining. read more

Food is great and the new outdoor patio/deck that they built for COVID in Awesome!!! We came for Valentines lunch and everything was great. Important note: combination plates are on the back page of the menu. Great local business to support!!! read more

El Sol Family Restaurant - New outdoor patio/deck they built for COVID!!! - Mexican Near Me - Glendale, California

Ate dinner here last night. Food is good, margaritas are better and Mexican coffee is best. Easy parking reasonable and Manual is cordial. Recommended for comfortable family like place to eat. read more

Always great food and service. My favorite Mexican food in LA and I have live here for 66 years!!! Chile Verde is what you want. Trust me. read more