Gem. This place is a TRUE gem! It's in the very busy area of Japan Town but so worth driving around and finding parking for. First of all, let's start with the decor- SO CUTE! I abso loved the relaxed coastal design of the interior, very chill, boho chic, just my style! Literally fell in love with the smooth wood and earthy textures from the floors to the walls the moment I walked in. There's 2 bar areas, and interior section to dine and a DJ booth tucked away in the corner. Even the bathroom was cool, super clean and all tiled with square cut-outs in the wall with a beautiful tiny stained glass window (see photos). I was there during the afternoon, luckily it wasn't very busy but I was told they get REALLY slammed during certain hours. They have 4 (YES FOUR!) different places to dine outside. During busy hours are when you'll find all 4 open however during slower hours, only the 2 front patios, as well as interior are open. They allow doggies on the patio, where quite a few peeps had their furry friends with them (I brought my pooch too). Our waiter Jose was awesome, suuuuuuper friendly, very chill and was really sweet for offering to bring my little dog a bowl of water. Thanks Jose! They don't have paper menus, you simply order by scanning the QR code on the drink coaster on the table. It opens up on your phone and viola! Zee menu! We ordered Chicken Wings, Fish Taco, Chicken Taco (not the "official names" on the menu) as well as a watermelon, passion fruit, vodka drink - SOOOO GOOD! As well as a bourbon drink of some sort, I didn't try it but my friend really liked it so, I'll just assume it was fab :) The chicken wings were in a citrus, garlic sauce that was tart with a hint of sweetness and a bit of garlic and spice. Super yummy! Both the fish tacos and the chicken tacos had such distinct delicious flavor, I could have eaten 5 of each. Literally. I don't play when I eat- I can put it down and gladly would have, both tacos were definitely the bomb.com. Since I like my food spicy, I asked for extra fuego and the sauce Jose brought was FIRE. Literally had my nose running. Not cute but, facts, lol. It's officially my new fav hot sauce (see photos), and this place is one of my new fav neighborhood joints. I will defffffffinitely be back during busy hour to check the vibe. Great food, great service, welcoming decor, I love this place! read more

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I love their Japanese whiskey and chicken tacos ! Nice and very chill vibes they also deep fried their tacos it seems like, and it's just so good. I was so full and had to bring it home . I forgot which drink I got but their Japanese whiskey citrusy is really good and strong, highly recommend read more

Hermanito - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Second time in the same week that I'm here, so that should tell you enough. The vibes and decor are great, and the drinks and food is seriously really tasty. We had the sashimi, avocado fries, chips and guacamole, flautas, carne asada tacos (favorite), birria tacos, poblano tacos, and we got a pitcher of margarita. All of the food was delicious and I can't wait to go back to taste other things on the menu. Staff was also super friendly and attentive. read more

Hermanito - Margarita (pitcher) - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

A gem of a find! Mexican-Japanese fusion is deliciously and beautifully served on each plate to please. Simple clean decor and open-air seating with an aeroponic vertical herbal garden to create an ecosphere, fully embellishing a complete gastronomical experience. Reasonably priced for the quality of ingredients, complexity of flavors, and variety of creative menu options. The Hamachi sushi was perfectly balanced with yuzu, onion chips, Serrano chili, and avocados. The mushroom mulita were rich with texture, umami, and layering of tortilla, cheese, mushrooms, and avocado. The black cod tempura with squid inch was flakey, fresh, and beautifully dressed with sides of potato. I highly recommend the salmon tacos; tangy, sweet, and seasoned to perfection to fulfill the pleasure of all tastebuds. I will be back soon! read more

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It was been so long since a restaurants flavors really struck me as unique. Something not only good, but like nothing else I can get any place else... but HERMANITO, wow! I split the lobster aguachile, cauliflower and sweet potatoes with a friend and everything was fantastic and full of flavor (Including my mezcal marg) From the outside it may look unassuming but it has a lot more space inside than I was expecting, including a large side patio. Can't wait to get back to try more! read more

I'd passed by Hermanito in the evening and it'd been super packed & lively, so we came back to try it for Friday lunch! No wait time, seated immediately in an adorable outdoor patio area. camerones tacos 3.5/5 ($19): marinated shrimp, papaya-jicama relish, pickled cabbage & chipotle salsa. Decent, but the tortilla was a bit limp and cold and the shrimp had a bit of that gritty aftertaste that the sauce couldn't quite cover. burrito ($15) 3.5/5: chipotle grilled chicken, black beans, avocado, cilantro-lime brown rice, pico de gallo & salsa mocajete. Also decent! That said, the table next to us ordered chips & guac , pescado tacos, and the salad, all of which looked yummy. So maybe we just didn't order their best stuff? All the dishes are so beautifully plated though and the aesthetic of the bar is the perfect light & breezy atmosphere in the day, and fun vibes at night I'd still totally come back to try other dishes for weekend brunch or dinner & drinks :) read more

Hermanito - (IG: @eat.sar) Outdoor patio - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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I ventured a wee bit north on Sawtelle and decided to have lunch here. It looked really nice and the Mexican/Asian influences seemed interesting. After eating here, I'd come back to try their happy hour (ends at 5pm)! Food (4/5) Lemon grass chicken wings - So spicy from the garlic. I liked the super plump chicken! Not sure if they were just really heavy handed with the garlic here, but a tad less would do the trick. Fish stix - I didn't know fried smelt could be so fun and crispy. I really liked the dipping sauce! Karage taco - The tortilla was so crispy and delicious. I want to eat this some more. I dream about it. But the chicken karage was a bit hard and dry. As for drinks, I wanted to try a drink but the colada wasn't ready for another hour or so. It's on my to-try list for next time! Service (5/5) I wish they would seat parties a bit farther from each other, but they seemed happy to accommodate our request for this anyways. The servers were really nice and cleaned up our plates (all disposable) very quickly. Vibes (5/5) There is so much outdoor dining space, all very nicely decorated. The hydroponic herb gardens were very cool to see. Parking (3/5) -Street parking's kind of hard to find, but it's Sawtelle. Safety (5/5) -The outdoor area is surprisingly ginormous. There is literally so much outdoor dining space and it's nicely fenced off with a lot of decor. Overall: 4.4 read more

Hermanito - fish stix - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Wow. Most amazing experience EVER. We hadn't made reservations and decided to go to Hermanito pretty last minute on a Thursday evening to celebrate my cousin's engagement. They kindly accepted my request to sit on the patio and we got a nice corner spot. The servers noticed and proceeded to showered us with the most amazing service and experience. Huge shoutout to Jose and the server who helped us before Jose too! Will definitely visit again for the service alone! read more

We just happened upon this place. Amazing food. Really great cocktails. I had the fish tacos, and they were come of the best I have had. The whole place is really decorated well, and they have a cute little outdoor seating area. We sat at the bar, and the service was really lovely. We will definitely be back. read more

This place had great ambiance and good vibes. Theres a great drink menu that I didnt get to try out this time. The food had variety and on the more expensive side. Everything was cooked well and taste decent but not outstanding as none of them felt really memorable. The service was friendly and I would go back to hang out with friends for drinks and to share food. read more

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I had high hopes for Hermanito based on all the good reviews, but my experience was just so-so. The atmosphere is casual with a small indoor seating area and 3 different outdoor areas. The outdoor areas have many heat lamps for chilly nights. Our server was good and came back several times to check on us. I made some tweaks to the mixed drink I ordered and he was very accommodating. The disappointing part was the food. We started with the Camarones Salad. It came with 2 jumbo sized shrimp and had an in seating mix of greens, mint and a sweet-ish dressing similar to Thai food. The flavors were fine but the shrimp were very fishy tasting and hard (maybe over cooked). Next up was the chicken tacos which were our favorite dish. The chicken was moist and flavorful and the tortillas were slightly crisped. Last, we ordered the black cod with miso. This was the most disappointing. It came out room temperature and the miso had a lighter flavor to any I've had before. Hopefully this was just an off night for the kitchen and I'll give it another try. read more

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this place is always so good! amazing birria tacos and the poke was incredible. they have a great happy hour deal as well. they have a small selection of sakes but they are all tasty and reasonably priced. read more

Hermanito - Birria Tacos - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Japanese Old Fashioned 4/5 Lychee Gin Fix 4/5 Esquites 5/5 Avocado fries 4/5 Birria Tacos 5/5 Bao Bun 5/5 Horchata Ice Cream 5/5 Service 5/5 Atmosphere 5/5 Overall 5/5 Bar Hermanito is a Mexican restaurant in Sawtelle. They have amazing Mexican food inspired by the neighborhood's Japanese heritage. The restaurant itself has great ambience with both beautifully decor indoor and and outdoor. Bar Hermanito is perfect for both date night or catching up with friends! Our favorites were the Esquites, Birria Tacos, and Bao Bun. The Esquites at Hermanito has the traditional cotija cheese and lime with the added Japanese togarashi. We ate all that corn quick! The Birria Tacos were traditionally prepared, savory and succulent. The Bao Bun was filled with Al pastor pork belly and was refreshing take on an Al pastor taco. We can't wait to come back! read more

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Hermanito is the little brother you always wanted. Cozy and feels like home, this restaurant has cool chill vibes. Fun music (live DJ at nights), tasty cocktails (offshore is good!!), and an interesting array of menu items. The tacos were good, not great, but the service is absolutely fantastic. read more

Hermanito - Chips n HH Guacamole - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

We absolutely love coming to Hermanito for their happy hour. Their nachos and tacos are super delicious, and their drinks pack a real punch. The menu does change every so often, however, which keeps things interesting, but at the same time if you find something you love, it may not be there the next time you go. read more

Tried this place the first time the other night (Friday) as I was sooo hungry and it was packed. When we arrived, there were 2 tables available.. 1 outdoors or/and 1 indoors. We definitely chose indoors since it was a very freezing cold night. Great that we got our seats right away. Sat down and We immediately ordered our drinks. His old fashion and my fav lychee mocktail. Both looked good and yummy. We had the very yummy (he surprised me hehe) appetizer. Idk what it was called. Lol All I know it was really good. So good that I should've ordered another just like it, even not knowing what it was called. Haha Our main dishes.. His great chicken tacos and my frisée salad. Looking at their yelp pics, I was craving eggs and greens but had no idea that their frisée salad was a bitter salad. Oops. So I didn't really enjoy it as much as I wanted to. :( I had to add a lot of water to lessen the bitterness and had to request to add whatever sweeter dressing they had available. I couldn't finish my salad. Just not a fan. We would've ordered more other yummier food since I was still hungry but decided to pay and leave. Their server service here is attentive, quick, helpful, and moderately friendly. That was good. The ambience in here was nice. The mix of mexican and japanese concept is great. Would've given them a 4 stars but since I know what it feels like with restaurants myself, I am generously giving them a 5 stars. Best regards. read more

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hermanito has an incredible ambiance for evening drinks. we really enjoyed getting pitchers of specialty cocktails--you will particularly like them if you're a fan of mezcal and tequila. I have only had brunch food and did not find it to be that great of Mexican or of Japanese, especially when you have such amazing Japanese food on Sawtelle and Mexican food in LA. basically, go for the drinks and sit on the patio! they accommodated our group of 14 and it was amazing vibes read more

I fell in love with this restaurant when I walked in one night. Hermanito gives you a modern, upscale vibe with a unique fusion of Mexican and Japanese cuisine. My friend and I sat at the bar to grab drinks and the bartender was so nice and approachable. He was super busy, but he made each drink with precision and they were all delicious. He even made one for me off the menu! We didn't eat dinner here, but the shrimp appetizer we got was out of this world. The shrimp was fat and juicy, and flavorful. Next time I will sit in the outdoor patio, they have a beautiful set up and it looks so cozy how they decorated it. This spot is perfect for dates, intimate group hangouts, or even to just go alone to enjoy the experience yourself! read more

Hermanito - Paloma & Secret Handshake - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

My friend and I came here for dinner on a Wednesday night a few weeks ago. I only made a reservation the day before coming. We had an early dinner, at about 5:45. We were seated immediately upon arriving. The interior of the restaurant is trendy and dim-lit. It feels like a beachside place in Santa Monica or Venice, despite being in Sawtelle. We each got a taco dish. I ordered the shrimp tacos, while my friend got the veggie tacos. I found it a little annoying that you could only get the tacos as a group of three. The tacos were presented within 25 minutes. I requested hot sauce, which our waiter brought out promptly. The tacos were good, but nothing amazing. I didn't like that they put radish on the tacos. The service and ambience are definitely the pros of this place. I don't think I would come back to try the food again. read more

Hermanito - Shrimp tacos - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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A couple of years ago, we hit up this spot for our holiday office party, and it was a blast! Eight of us rolled in for the 5 PM happy hour, ready to enjoy some drinks and food. Tucked away on Sawtelle Blvd--what I like to call the heart of "Little Shibuya" (with maybe a dash of Ginza)--this place offers a delightful fusion of Japanese and Mexican cuisine. The mixed drinks were fantastic, and the cozy, charming back patio added a perfect touch to our evening. With great music and service that was both friendly and speedy, we couldn't have asked for a better experience. We all had a great time and left with smiles on our faces. read more

Wish I stayed for dinner here because this place was popping! Came here one a weekday night time and you almost had to have a reservation to be there. They have a patio facing the street (not as cute) and a back patio (way cuter). Inside was intimate and dark. The mezcal watermelon margarita was extremely tasty and had the perfect balance of sweet and smoky. Guacamole was good. Didn't love that the chips were minimal and were in bags but this may have been because of Covid. Staff was extremely friendly and service was great. Wish I could order everything on the menu! read more

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Everything was five stars! I'll definitely come back. I loved the modern Mexican food offered on the menu and the cocktails were unique and deliciously crafted! read more

.The restaurant is really cute and cozy, especially by the fire outside, and the food and cocktails are good, but it is a bit pricey for what you get. I am excited to check out the new location in Santa Monica soon! read more

Great food and great customer service . Would have gave it a 5 star but our food took a little longer than expected.

I love Hermanitos! Every aspect of the restaurant ticks all the boxes: food, drinks, staff, and atmosphere are all so good! I have been twice now and each time I have thoroughly enjoyed my experience. The wings are delicious and I am very fond of the avocado fries. Food comes out in a timely manner and I have yet to have any complaints. I've also tried the Lychee fix. I do think the earl grey component could be stronger in the drink but the lychee flavor is solid. Hermanitos is super cute and such a great place to grab drinks with friends. They have plenty of seating both indoors and outdoors with pleasant outdoor heating. Lastly, the staff are amazing and make your time there so fun! Shout out to Holden for holdin' it down and Elias for great recommendations. read more

To me, first and foremost in any business is safety. And my niece was rushed to the ER this weekend because the staff here was completely negligent. Her and 18 friends were celebrating her birthday and repeatedly told all servers that she had a severe peanut allergy. They were assured over and over that nothing contained peanuts and there was no chance of cross contamination because the kitchen was/is peanut free. Within a minute of eating the cauliflower, she was vomiting and the staff still insisted it could not be peanuts. She was smart enough to rush to the ER knowing her own body. After my sister called to ask them to please review every ingredient in the cauliflower they informed her there had been a mistake and that the dish did in fact have a sauce that contained peanuts. Why am i writing this review? Because after my sister left messages for the owner to please call her, no one has done so. read more

Delicious food, great vegetarian options. My friend and I split 3 plates. The veggie tacos were top notch and I loved the street corn. Got the house cocktail too. Definitely on the pricey side, but we had a good time. The side patio seating is nice and helps make it an intimate dining area. Heaters help keep it toasty even on a chilly evening. The waiter was very helpful describing the dishes and service was prompt. There is street parking with meters all around. We didn't have an issue on a Monday night, but be prepared to circle on a weekend. read more

Simply put, our Friday date night quickly became one of the best meals we've had in a while! A modern Mexican restaurant & bar nestled in the heart of Sawtelle Japantown, my wife and I were seated comfortably in the outdoor dining area that spanned a front enclosure and the alleyway down the side. To begin, our seabass ceviche was most fresh and its incorporation of thai basil oil (among other ingredients I'm sure) into the leche de tigre gave it a delightful curry-esque flavor profile. On the other end of the thermometer, the salsa macha chicken wings were seriously outstanding - the light frying sans batter crisped the outside beautifully and sealed all the juices within...think finely done Korean fried chicken, but lighter and less sweet. These paired perfectly with the accompanying avocado salsa. Our main course was compromised of not one or two, but all three of the taco offerings - camarones, al pastor, and BIRRIA QUESO. If you're unsure on which to try, our only advice is to GET THEM ALL! From the exquisite char on the grilled baja shrimp to the crispy, fatty chunks of al pastor accented by cooling flavors from that avocado salsa...it was a multifaceted party in our mouthes. We agreed that the housemade Sonoran-style flour tortillas had excellent texture and prepared in a way that gave them such a pleasant softness that we couldn't find even at Sonoratown! Lastly, the birria queso tacos were done beautifully and we especially appreciated its robustly savory notes without the excess grease that we've found at birria taco trucks in the past. For libations, the traditional margarita is a must-try - firm tequila presence with impeccable balance, honestly the best one I've had yet. Negroni fans will likely appreciate the rum-based twist that is the watermelon negroni. To round everything out, service was incredibly welcoming, helpful, and attentive. We can't wait until our next meal here! read more

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Came here with a group of friends and it was great! Plenty of outdoor seating for larger groups and dogs. The outdoor space setup was cute also. To start, we had the guac and chips and the octopus. The chips were well seasoned with a hint of lime and very crunchy, so I enjoyed eating the chips all on their own. The guacamole and pico de gallo were well seasoned and acidic. I liked that the guac was so smooth and contrasted well with the crunchy onions. The serving size was a little small, so maybe get two if you have a large group. The octopus dish came with a tostada, which was a bit dry, and some delicious veggies/salsa. But the octopus was fresh and had a nice bite to it. We got the camarones, al pastor, and birria queso tacos and the ponzu sprouts. The camarones were my favorite! The shrimp were huge, very fresh, and well seasoned, and the aioli gave a nice creaminess as a complement. The al pastor tacos were also delicious - sweet, pineapple-y, and savory altogether. The pork was so tender and juicy, not dry at all. The birria queso taco was kind of like a taco sized quesadilla. The beef was generous but a bit dry, definitely could have used more cheese, and definitely needed the consommé to add some juiciness. The brussel sprouts were well browned and had a nice spicy soy flavor. Definitely one of the favorites. All the drinks were decent as well. read more

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Stopped by for a drink. It was a cool little escape at the bar and the bartender was very knowledgeable! I had a delicious obscure mezcal and will definitely come back to try more :) read more

This place is amazing ! Power went out and they continued to give the best service and made our friends bday brunch special. Margarita pitchers are a win as well. read more

I went to Hermanito with my husband and some friends yesterday for happy hour. It was so nice grabbing a cocktail and some appetizers outside, and the restaurant is very cute. I ordered a margarita and we had guacamole and chips, fish sticks, and the chicken taco to split. The margarita was good! Definitely yummy, but not out of this world. The chicken tacos were probably my favorite, but we were surprised because the image online made it look like there would be 3 tacos when in reality it was just 2. The guacamole was also delicious but it was such a small bowl that it was pretty disappointing. Our least favorite were the fish sticks. They looked like they would be much larger and more "fish stick-esque" online, but in reality they were just fried sardines. We were very surprised and none of us enjoyed them - they were incredibly fishy and salty, and the sauce that was served with them made for a very strange combination. I appreciated that when my friend ordered what he thought was a cocktail but turned out to be just straight mezcal, the waiter offered to create the cocktail instead. I would definitely return for dinner or drinks again, but I'll be sure to ask ahead of time what the food is like and I will not be ordering the dish sticks again! read more

Had a great time at Hermanito! Super cool area with plenty of parking and really cool shops. The tacos & drinks were fantastic (had the fried chicken tacos); asked the bartender for a whiskey mule - didn't have that, but what they fixed that was comparable was delicious! Kind staff & very interesting dishes. A little too expensive in my opinion, but it would make for a great date spot. read more

Hermanito - Bunuelos - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Super cute date vibes place! Made reservations for a few days before, but you did not need them at 630pm (on a weekday for drinks/app before Japanese food). Service was pretty slow in terms of getting our order in, but think there was 1 guy waiting on both inside/outside. What we got: Oaxacan Coast, Medicina Latina, Hibiki on the rocks, Hamachi Sashimi, Guacamole - I liked the Medicina Latina of the 2 drinks the most :) - Hamachi Sashimi was the better of the 2, but not sure if it was worth $24 Would come back - cute little place on Sawtelle. Would def come back to check out the off-hour though it's rather early read more

Ambiance was top tier. The food selection was limited. I got chicken tacos and didn't like them that much but my friend got the salmon tacos and she liked them. We also got the guacamole which was a tiny portion for $18. We sat outside and I thought it was going to be cold but they had heaters that made it cozy. We sat outside in the little alley way. The tables are super close together and since I was sitting on the inside, my chair kept getting kicked everytime someone walked by. It was a Friday night at 7pm so that was every few minutes. But it was cute and we had fun. read more

Awesome place for a date and/or to catch up with a friend! My friend reserved a table for two for 7:15 p on a Friday evening. Right when we arrived, we checked in with the hostess, and were seated in a really aesthetically cute outdoor patio/back area! LOTS of heat lamps so we were NOT cold at all (and this was a chilly 47 F degree evening!) I eventually got so warm and comfy that I actually took off my jacket (which is so rare, for a cold-blooded person like me who is always freezing!) Our waiter was awesome- unfortunately didn't get his name, but excellent service- perfect timing on it all actually- from ordering to our food arriving, and even when we finished, we never felt rushed to leave. Had a pleasant experience overall! The food was SO delicious! Definitely high-quality taste. Definitely will be returning again! read more

I just left a review of my experience last night hailing all the wonderful aspects of Hermanito, including our waiter .... Whose name I neglected to include. Jose!! He certainly contributed to our delightful evening. read more

Came for happy hour and was not disappointed! When I arrived I was greeted and asked to sit outside, it's a big space with inside and outside seating. The decor is so cute. It's clean, sat outside and ordered happy hour margarita, potato taquitos, and the buns. Good was delicious, great portions. Service was really good, will be back! read more

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Dog / perro friendly!! Beautiful back patio they have really outdone themselves with- fake grass and overhang. Definitely Come here for BRUNCH! Their coffees are delicious (esp the Spanish latte made with oat milk). One of the best avocado toasts around at a decent price. And this place is in the middle of Japan towns sawtelle! Plenty of free neighborhood parking or walk over from the structure at Marshall's. DINNER: I do NOT recommend... tacos were small and while they were decent, portions were small and it was pricey $$. The baos were also too dry and disappointing. You are better off getting your tacos from Bennys- Their fish tacos are THE best in WLA I've had. read more

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My girlfriend and I came to Hermanito on a casual Wednesday date. Food was what made this a 3-star experience. It wasn't bad; it just wasn't exceptional either. The most delicious item we ordered was a roasted potatoes appetizer - delicious, but potatoes (hard to go wrong). Octopus - average. Birria tacos - below average especially for nearly $30. You can get much better birria tacos elsewhere in LA for half the cost. Pollo chicharrón - terrible. They took it off our bill which was very appreciated. Service and ambience were great overall. Cool spot for a casual date or meet up with friends over drinks and snacks. If you're looking for a delicious dinner, it's LA - there are better options! read more

Hermanito - Octopus Yakitori - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California