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    Kuduowl

    4.9 (93 reviews)
    ModerateCocktail Bars
    Closed Closed
    Updated 3 weeks ago

    Kuduowl Reservations

    Kuduowl Photos

    KUDUOWL ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    DJ
    Live music
    Classy

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    Recommended Reviews - Kuduowl

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    Lounge area
    Annette D.

    Celebrated my 55th birthday here! Had an amazing experience. The drinks were tasty, the service was A1. We danced the night away. Great food , music, and atmosphere as well as the entertainment. Seen my first Burlesque show too. 10/10 would recommend to all! We will be back as much as possible.

    This is one of the best cocktail lounges in the entire Southland. Decor & overall ambiance is a work of brilliance. Came in at opening & they were ready to go. Bad Birdy was there and working the bar. The lineup is full of amazing original creations & adaptations by Bad Birdy herself. Cocktail after cocktail was so delicious & each completely unique. I will be back over & over and if you want a incredible cocktail experience you will head to Kuduowl as soon as possible

    From our reserved space at Kuduowl. Loved the decor, music, and vibe before it turned into Beso.
    Marcela O.

    I really liked the ambience and atmosphere of Kuduowl. I wasn't sure what to expect since it was my first time but I was surprised to see how large and spacious the bar/lounge was. I really loved the music they were playing as our group walked in (90's hip hop/r&b) and it wasn't extremely loud enough where my friends and I could still enjoy conversations without shouting over each other. That changed as it turned into the club Beso later and the crowd got a little more rowdy but overall it was a great time and I really enjoyed the ambiance and music (prior to Beso) that will be a separate review.

    Lounge seating area, or "The Library" as I heard one staff member call it.
    Mike W.

    First visit and had a decent time. We found out about Kuduowl from our waiter at Mandala Bar. This speakeasy is accessible from that restaurant through a "secret" door, which was very cool. There is an elevator, so you can avoid the long staircase, which was good because we had my 91yo mother-in-law with us. She enjoys bars, but not stairs. Parking is on street or there's a small lot across the street at the US Bank building, that we used in the evening, after the bank closed. We sat in the lounge area, rather than at the bar. Sadie waited on us, and the service was excellent. There was another staff member that also chatted us up after Sadie left for the evening, and even escorted us down in the elevator and out into the alley where I could pick up my mother-in-law, so she could avoid walking to the car. My wife and I both tried the Short Stack ($18), a blueberry and banana infused Evan Williams Bourbon, maple syrup, Angostura bitters, and Nutella bitters. Like an Old Fashioned, but different enough to set it apart. It was well made, had an incredible nose, but not to our taste and probably wouldn't order it again. The craft cocktails are unique, but they can also make whatever you fancy. They have a short beer and wine list as well as non-alcoholic beverages. You can order some small bites, salads, meat, seafood, and skewers which come from the Mandala Bar kitchen downstairs. It was interesting enough to return. Would definitely try some different cocktails, along with some food on our next visit.

    Delicious Niña Fresa
    Rosey G.

    I'd been wanting to visit Kuduowl for some time, and it did not disappoint! My husband had an old fashioned and I had a Julius and two Niña Fresas, and let me tell you, I was feeling very good by the end of the first drink We arrived as the bar was opening for the night, and I was so happy to see Amanda aka Bad Birdy, who whipped up our drinks (I could literally watch this all day long - Amanda is amazing!)..the music and overall ambiance was great and the bartenders did not disappoint. We will definitely be back for more!

    Luis showing off some snazzy clear ice with the Kuduowl stamp
    The House Mouse C.

    Kuduowl is your hometown bar inside a nightclub. Belly up to the bar, and you'll be treated like family. Not sure what to order? No problem. Luis, Mike, Cody, and Bad Birdy herself can help guide you in the right direction. Love this place and cannot wait to go back.

    Julius & Limpia
    Larry H.

    Great drinks. Ordered a Julius and a Limpia. 10/10 presentation & balance. Bartender even lit the sage and the vibe went up on another level!

    Fortune cookie  was unexpected and delicious!
    Noemi Z.

    All the aromatic compounds that were put into each and every thing we order was an amazing experience. The staff is one of a kind to execute top level service. To start we had the marinated olives that whipped feta tho?! Lamb riblet, tender had a rub that made you want more. Bone marrow is out of this world perfectly cooked And lastly the Bay Scallops, the marinated juice was mouthwatering of flavors. Highly recommended this place the people that brought all this together food, drinks, and ambiance gets a 5+ Cheers Kuduowl

    This Oaxacan old-fashioned is on point.
    Kenn W.

    This place takes their mixology seriously. Even their Mai Tai respects the original creation of Trader Vics, with just a little twist. Their Oaxacan Old Fashioned is on point. Please do not disrespect this establishment by asking for a Jack and coke. Just don't. Have a Sazerac instead. You won't be disappointed. The ambiance is very upscale. Dress accordingly.

    Vespa and  Merlot listening to jazz on a Wednesday and Downey it's a thing
    Crystal G.

    I was really just trying to show my step dad beso the nightclub that is the back of the former Avenue movie theater. Trying to show him the new changed Downey and all the improvements Then we ran into a doorman right next-door. He says come over here. This is open. I said oh yeah what is it ? It's Jazz night on Wednesdays. Couldn't have been more perfect If I tried! We walked up some stairs to the most beautiful lounge . Jazz band, banging away some of the most awesome jazz music . My stepdad being a huge jazz fan was so happy ! We sat down and were able to order some pizza from downstairs . Right underneath it is the new pizza spot formally the Avenue movie theater. So let's put it all together. The old Avenue movie theater is now one pizza place one lounge and one nightclub all done so beautifully. The lounge is kind of shaped like U! Where you can look down into the nightclub Beso . Quite unique. It's a new day in Downey. I tell you ! Wednesday night not only can you do karaoke on the next street over but you can sit and listen to jazz from 8 to 11. I can't wait to see what they do with the rest of the nights. Don't worry about the stairs because there's also an elevator, definitely coming back! Five stars

    Me and my boy Wences
    Manuel S.

    Place is LEGIT! Private options and super dope ambiance. Wednesday is jazz night. Only thing from 5 stars was food MID

    Dos Banderas

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    2 years ago

    Great service!! Will definitely come back! The servers are very attentive! I love how it overlooks Beso.

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    Amanda C.

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    2 years ago

    I love my bottle girl Jackie!! I will come to beso for her any day. Place is def lit Fri/sat nights

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    Amanda C.

    Thank you so much Lilian! We will see you again soon!

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    1 year ago

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    6 months ago

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    Amanda C.

    Thank you for the kind words Constance we appreciate your visit!

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    2 years ago

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    Amanda C.

    Thank you, Alfredo for joining us! We are proud to be in Downey!

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    2 years ago

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    9 months ago

    Amanda it's a Star ! Love the place especially her drinks, always attentive and friendly!

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    Amanda C.

    Thank you Gaston! We can’t wait to have you again soon

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    2 years ago

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    1 year ago

    This place had great drinks. Staff was friendly and the bar turned into a club later in the night.

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    1 year ago

    If you are into fresh ingredients and have a palate for top notch drinks then this is the place for you. Super cute place with a great vibe

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    Amanda C.

    Thank you for the amazing review! We hope to see you again soon!

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    11 months ago

    Best cocktail ever an amazing ambience. Great place to hang out. Will recommend 101%.

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    Page 1 of 3

    Ask the Community - Kuduowl

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    3.9(50 reviews)
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    I love this place if you can't tell! Epic live or lounge whatever you wanna call it. The Name was…read morechanged on an episode of bar rescue. My favorite nights are Thursday and Sunday for karaoke but lately they've been having actual karaoke contest on Saturday night. Last contest was $500 in prizes. Next week, $1000 in prizes. If you're secretly a rockstar now, is your chance to shine! This is not only for perfect singers. Karaoke is for everybody that has the balls to grab that microphone and sing your life. Epic is a safe place that wants you to have a good time. I absolutely love everybody that works here. The place is a total vibe! Great place to have a midweek birthday party who doesn't love a karaoke birthday party! The space is also available for private events. #5StarsEveryTime.

    This review is about Karaoke night on Saturday 9/21. The staff is amazing. Except for one dude…read more I've been to a myriad of different karaoke bars throughout LA and SoCal in general and never have I been treated as poorly as I was by the dude running karaoke tonight. Let me preface by saying I believe the point of karaoke is to simply have fun and enjoy singing. But, you should also be treated with RESPECT. Whoever this dude was when I asked him if he could pitch my song up or down said he didn't have time for this and proceeded to just pick a random video off his youtube app. Honestly, singer or not, I find this to be incredibly disrespectful. You should be trying to make your clients have a good time and make them feel special. Otherwise, you're just a dude playing youtube videos off your phone. If you want good Karaoke, go to Same Ol Saloon. They'll treat you with respect.

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    The Vandalist - Craft gin cocktail

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    4.3(157 reviews)
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    Had a great time!…read more From the greeter at the door to the bartender, we had an awesome time. Didn't get any food - we were stuffed - but the food sounded inviting. Nice atmosphere for talking and enjoying drinks.

    I'm new to Whittier and still getting a feel for the area, and wow... I'm so glad my friends put me…read moreon to The Vandalist. This place instantly became one of my favorites after just one visit. From the moment you walk in, the whole vibe hits you--the moody, neon-lit ambiance sets the tone perfectly. It feels elevated, a little edgy, and honestly just the kind of spot you want to spend your night at. The music is curated so well. Not too loud, not too mellow--just the right balance where you can vibe, have a conversation, and still feel the energy of the room. You can tell they actually care about the experience, not just throwing a playlist together. Now let's talk about the drinks... because that's really where they shine. Every cocktail feels intentional and crafted with care. You can taste the quality immediately--nothing watered down, nothing basic. They have a really cool mix of classic cocktails and modern twists, and even the familiar drinks feel elevated. It's the kind of place where you want to try something new every round because you trust the bartenders know exactly what they're doing. Service was on point too. Friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable. They took the time to explain drinks and made great recommendations, which made the whole experience even better. I came in not knowing what to expect, and left already planning my next visit. If you're in Uptown Whittier and looking for a spot with great energy, amazing cocktails, and a full vibe--The Vandalist is it. Thank me later

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    OLA Restobar - Bourbon Burger

    OLA Restobar

    3.2(607 reviews)
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    I went to Ola Restorbar in Downey on Thursday with my sister and nephew for his birthday. First…read moreimpression? Big and shiny; very lively atmosphere with great music. Definitely a 10/10 for the music alone. I asked the host for his name but I unfortunately forgot it; he was very nice and attentive. Our waiter was also friendly and attentive, and overall the service was really good. The place actually gave me nightclub vibes with all the lighting and energy. I'll definitely have to come back another time at night to get the full experience. I ordered a basic breakfast plate with pancakes, eggs, sausage, etc. My sister ordered something different and after trying hers, I kind of wished I had gone with another option because hers was really good. My meal was still good overall, but the pancakes were a bit dry, so that's probably one dish I wouldn't order again.

    We were there yesterday to celebrate a birthday.... We asked to sit in the patio…read more. The staff were very accommodating, and provided great service. They do need to work on a better system on when they bring out food because they gave a few people the wrong items or items that belong to at another table. Some people would be really pissed and would be sending food back if they saw that their food was placed and left at the table for a while. Just in the time that we were there (2-3hrs) they did it about three times. All the items that we got from the menu were really good and tasty . We ordered the guacamole.... And we got one with little pieces of meat sticking out of it that were crunchy and were delicious. We ordered different cocktails, like the Cantarito, la Chulada, raspberry dreams..... all delicious And they have a very big menu! Mexican food with a twist.... Some classics & classics w/ their own unique take so all of that was fun. What I'm not so OK with is the fact that a lot of the items on the menu did not have prices. I had seen their promotional videos on social media like Instagram and TikTok., and I even went on Yelp to look at their menu ..... some of the prices on the yelp menu do not match the current ones ... and yes, I understand that inflation and all of that happened but all I'm saying is to be aware ! and it was not the first time I was there but the last time I was there, I was there for brunch happy hour and we stayed long so we even got like the next happy hour lol So I had good memories of this place and wanted to take other ladies from my little circle to experience it. So going back to the prices, a lot of the items on the menu didn't have prices so I would say be careful with that! Some of the items that don't have prices for example, the guacamole on yelp I had seen that the guacamole was like 12 inch change & it was delicious but this one was $19.99, I will say it's a fair price because it came with pieces of steak but all of these things will make your bill add up, so be careful and be prepared. The cocktails most of them were between $17.99 and and $19.99 i've seen or had cocktails of this price before, like in fancy restaurants so ok and the size are good and they were tasty, but if you're not going for happy hour, which they do have very good specials for happy hr specials but if you're not going for happy hour, then be careful! The part I did not like was that after we left home, we noticed that they add up all of the items that we consumed and if you have a bigger party, they add the service charge tip 18% and then they add the tax which in Downey is 10.5% so we are essentially paying tax on the tip and from what my understanding is, that is not the way it should be calculated. My mother is a waitress and she has to pay the taxes on that tip that she earned, which is why it's messed up when people don't leave a tip. So this establishment is either paying the tax for their staff, idk ‍ which I wouldn't be so upset about again because my mother is a waitress.... But more than likely what they're doing is that they're keeping that money and that's not OK. When I called to speak to the manager the next day, the person that answered said that the manager was not available that they have nobody on the floor at that time it was about 3 PM. And I said so you have nobody that's in charge of the facility at this time she said no somebody will get here after 5 PM and I said OK can I please have that person's name and she said very quickly oh, I'm not allowed to give that information I said why not that should be public knowledge, and she proceeded to say that she was trained to say that she could not answer those things, so since I felt that I couldn't do anything else at that moment, I told her OK please let your manager know that I will be calling back because I noticed that you guys are charging tax on the bill after adding the tip and that should not be OK and I even proceeded to say that I might call back with my lawyer because honestly by that point I was a little annoyed because she was cutting me off. I did finish off by telling her if you were saying that you're willing to take a message then take the message and don't cut me off. Anyways, like I said food is good. Music is good. I wouldn't sit inside. It's too loud. You can't even have a conversation with the person you're sitting with... outside in the patio, the music is loud but decent and the servers were very nice, the food is good, but I do not like how they handle this bill and what they're charging everybody that goes into their establishment.... So go at your own risk!

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    Beso - Bottle service

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    3.6(133 reviews)
    0.0 mi

    Giselle was amazing! I don't really go out much, so I was a little nervous at first, but she made…read moreme feel so comfortable and welcomed right away. She had such a friendly attitude, checked in on us, and made the whole night feel fun and easy. You can tell she really cares about making sure guests have a good experience. She definitely made the night better, and I would 100% recommend asking for Giselle and book a table if you go to Beso!

    If you're doing the Mandala Cantina Sunday brunch, do yourself a favor and wander through the…read morecorridor into Beso afterward. Trust me... it's the after-party you didn't know you needed. We had brunch at Mandala and accidentally discovered Beso when we followed the music through the hallway. Suddenly we were in a full R&B dance floor situation and it was so much fun. The transition from brunch vibes to day-party energy was seamless and honestly the perfect way to keep the celebration going. Apparently you can also reserve tables inside Beso as part of the R&B brunch experience, which we didn't realize at the time but now that we know, that might be the move next time. The vibes were great, the crowd was fun, and people were definitely ready to dance. My only small note: I wish they had leaned a little harder into classic R&B. Whenever the DJ dropped the throwbacks, the dance floor lit up immediately which makes sense since most of the crowd looked very millennial. Give us the classics! Overall, we had an absolute blast and loved the combo of brunch at Mandala followed by dancing at Beso. It turned a regular brunch into a full Sunday day-party experience. Can't wait to come back and do it again.

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    Kuduowl - cocktailbars - Updated May 2026

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