Mauricio is the best Great hospitality!!! Very tentative 10/10 The vibes are right Great atmosphere read more

First off, Amanda provided great service. She was friendly and welcoming. Being that we came for the R&B brunch, we weren't expecting the food to be so good. We ordered the brunch wood platter since it was 4 of us and we got a little tase of everything. It came with chilaquiles, steak, eggs, potatoes, quesabirria tacos, chicken and waffles, and avocado toast and let me tell you...everything was on point. Delicious! I would recommend Mandala to my friends and family and will absolutely be back! I ordered the sierra norte mezcal drink and it was perfect. read more

Mandala Cantina - Brunch wood platter - Latin American Near Me - Downey, California

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Made reservations to the RNB Brunch / Day club. Reservations were open for 2pm-4pm, however they said we cannot be seated in the club area like everyone else because they stop serving food at 3 and make everyone leave their table. Our host only spoke Spanish, however I do not, had to wait for another server to translate for our party that we were not able to be seated where our reservations were for. No where does it say anything about a time frame on where food is stopped being served or we would've made our reservations sooner. At the table, no utensils, no napkins. When asked for utensils and napkins after our food had already arrived and just sitting there, we were met with attitude from one of the female servers. All in all, not worth the price for attitude and horrible service. Choose somewhere else tbh. read more

Gabby was the best! Attentive & on it with the drink recommendation. Would def recommend. read more

Came here with my girl on a reservation at 5 PM before we went to a Cardi B concert. I was wondering why the latest reservation they had was at 5 PM. Apparently we came on a date that was themed R&B vibes. The kitchen closed at 6 PM and the restaurant closes at the same time. Apparently they have a lounge attached to this very small restaurant that turns into a club after words. I wasn't aware of this so we ordered our food and enjoyed the good music. Apparently, if you eat at the restaurant and then go to the lounge, you pay $10 if you show them your receipt. We just spent $80. Why would I pay another $10 to go to the lounge. I believe it should be free if I'm spending that much money at your establishment anyway. Service was decent. Aesthetics are really cool. We loved the vibe there as well. We just wish that we didn't have to feel rushed because they completely shut off the music at a certain point so that patrons can leave. read more

Mandala Cantina - Get the carnita tacos! So good! - Latin American Near Me - Downey, California

Service was great! Our server Valentina was the best!! I would definitely come back and ask for her to be our server!!

It was fun, amazing DJ! I took my mom and my sister for Lotería night. The reason I knocked out two stars was one because the red chairs are extremely uncomfortable I ended up standing up when I asked if I could move to table that was not being used the waiter said no, and the other was because my mom ordered a soda and the waiter forgot and tried to give it to us at the end of the night. We refused the drink and they took it off the bill thankfully, but that did make it a little odd. The drinks are very delicious and not too expensive. I just wish the service was better and they were more accommodating. read more

Mandala Cantina - Lotería night - Latin American Near Me - Downey, California

Tried this place today for the first time. Came in with a party of 9. Right off the bat, let me start by addressing the security guard. I wasn't sure if he was security or just a gangster about to rob us on the way in! This guy had neck, face, and head gang tattoos, clearly just got out of prison like yesterday! Our experience started off well. We were brought water and we placed drink orders. Upon receiving our drinks we asked the server if there were any way turn the music down a bit as we were screaming out of our lungs just to communicate amongst us. His snobby response was that, "it was their ambiance"and swiftly turned and left. After that we ordered our food. Our food showed up 15-20 minutes later. Not bad at all however we never saw the server again for over an hour. Not sure if went to lunch because he completely disappeared. In between that time a young lady came and offered us more water I told her we were ok but we needed drinks. She smiled left and never came back! The server finally shows up after an hour later and asked if we needed anything. We mentioned that we had been needing drinks for over an hour. Again very snobbishly he is all of sudden rushing us to give him our new drinks order. Half of us no longer wanted to be there and declined drinks. He brings the drinks of the only 2 that decided to order and tells us that "it was last call" and we needed to leave as they were closing. Mind you I had no idea that they closed the bar area at 5 pm. They offered us to go into their night club area for the very low price of $400. Nonetheless we didn't want anything to do with this place. We took our party of 9 down the street to a different venue. read more

We came here for brunch on a Saturday We had a reservation- place is small but had good ambiance- The food was ok but the service was very slow- despite the fact that they were busy our server took forever to take our order and come back to see if we needed other drinks or refills. They need for help with the amount of people they have during their brunch hours .... read more

Located in downtown Downey, right next to Besos night club. My friends and I wanted to try this place after seeing so many good reviews, but it was a miss for us. For a Friday, it was not packed at all, maybe because it was new? Appetizers and drinks were good. We got calamari, ceviche, and beef tongue yakitori. Beef tongue yakitori were the best. Ceviche was not what we expected, it was more of creamy sauce and not lemon juice and the overall taste was weird. We were not a fan. Drinks were delicious with interesting concept, this restaurant is known for tequila so we got drinks with tequila. Main entrees we got pork belly, carne asada, and seafood rice. Pork belly was deep fried pork belly and was pretty greasy with the mayo sauce on top. I suggested changing it to roasted pork belly with some elements to cut down the fat. Overall we left a bit disappointed and felt like the prices didn't reflect the quality. If you are looking for small plates and drinks, i would suggest Mandala, but not for entree :) read more

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Came here for a work event thinking it would be a fun night of lotería, food, and drinks... yeah, no. First off, why are we standing in a line outside like it's a nightclub? It's not that kind of place, so that already set the tone. The food? Overpriced and honestly mediocre at best. Nothing memorable except the disappointment when the bill came. The service was just as underwhelming--slow, inattentive, and not worth what they're charging. And the seating... picnic tables and chairs? Super uncomfortable and definitely not what you expect when you're paying those prices. Overall, it feels like they're trying to create a "vibe" but completely missed the mark. Save your money and go somewhere that actually delivers on both food and experience. read more

The atmosphere, the people, are every 90's r&b lovers VIBE. Get plenty of rest before you arrive especially your voice. Get WILD! That's why you're here. Order the carne asada plate and the buy you a drank. Sing your heart out baby girl!!!! read more

First off, happy to say their team contacted me immediately after my first review/ experience and invited me back to make things right so thank you Max and to the manager! :) The food and drinks here are solid! Highly recommend pairing their chile with food, has excellent flavor. Happy hour deals are worth it for sure. read more

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My new favorite spot! Bartenders Eazy and Alexis were awesome--they made some of the best drinks in town, all served with a smile. The food was just as impressive; the fish tacos and asada tacos were delicious, and the enchiladas hit the spot. Our server Zoe was amazing--super friendly and attentive, checking on us often to make sure everything was perfect. Great vibes, excellent service, and delicious food. I'll definitely be coming back soon. Love a place that delivers both quality and hospitality! read more

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My friend and I were really excited about going to brunch to this place based on the videos and pictures on IG. Let me tell you this place is really nice inside and out and the music is the best part. However the service is the worst!!! First they tried to sit us in the back room, where it was dead. I quickly asked why we were getting seated there and the host try to say that they were saving the front area for big parties only. So my response was, NO I made reservations specifically for the front area so I expect for you to accommodate us. So of course they find a table and sit us. Well after that things went downhill. We got a nice table, however waited about 20 minutes for anyone to acknowledge us and take our drink order. Of course our drinks took another 20 minutes to arrive. Following another 30minutes to place our food order. We waited a good 35 minutes for food to arrive. Only to have one plate arrive, the other they either forgot or was still cooking. That took another 15 minutes. At this point we lost our appetite and were very disappointed with the service. All we wanted was to get the check, but the waitress disappeared. Not sure why they would only have two waitresses for the entire dining area on a Sunday during brunch. What really put us over the top was when my friend was denied a water refill by one of the bus boys. She had to say something a second time for him to refill her water. It's unfortunate that this place has poor customer service, because it has so much potential. read more

My server Valentina was amazing 10/10!! Will be returning back to lotería night !! My mom loved it here! It's a must with friends/family!!

Had the best time! Mauricio was our server and was on point! We had a group of three girls with bottle service and the music vibes and service did not disappoint! Will definitely be back! read more

Mandala Cantina - Sunday brunch - Latin American Near Me - Downey, California

R&B Brunch was LIT ! Such a fun vibe from start to finish! The music was on point all day, nothing but hits. Good food, good drinks, and even better energy. Definitely the perfect mix of brunch + party. Can't wait for the next one! read more

Mandala Cantina - Latin American Near Me - Downey, California

ZERO STARS!!!!!!!! I don't know what is worst the attitude, professionalism or the racism Went to check in with 3 people and the host GRACIELLA proceeded to make a funny face at me and then after us after waiting 10 Minutes she was letting people in ahead of us and then came back and said that we couldn't sit because we didn't speak Spanish. read more

Great atmosphere, delicious food, and excellent service definitely a place I'll be coming back to. Highly recommend! read more

Mandala Cantina - Chilaquiles plate - Latin American Near Me - Downey, California

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This is going to be a long review so brace yourselves. I booked for a party of 12 specifically for the RnB brunch for 7/19 at 2pm way in advanced. They even called me the night before to confirm. So the plan was my party of 12 were to eat and at 3pm enjoy the day party which I told other ppl to come join my party for the day party at 3pm and after. So my party of 12 show up at 2pm and it turns out the restaurant was showing the World Cup game! We were not accommodated to sit and there was no RnB brunch going on when it had been advertised from 11am-3pm brunch and day party 3pm-7pm. I of course complained because people in my group flew in from Vegas and Chicago to CELEBRATE MY BIRTHDAY with me at this place I unfortunately raved and overhyped to them about!!. The security were rude as hell singling out people in my group as they were colored in my opinion. We finally were "allowed" to sit inside upstairs while the game was still going at it was already 3pm and we spent $120 on drinks. When the World Cup ended we were finally sat where the RnB brunch was supposed to be. Mind you again I had told other people to join us for the day party that started at 3 so now others are trickling in confused as hell. My party of 12 were STARVING and to make matters worse, the rnb brunch menu wasn't being honored it was a different World Cup menu and we were served on paper plates with plastic silverware which totaled up close to $600! SO NOW we get taken to the day party part where I was told I can have a section for my group if $300 were spent on drinks so I said ok. We get to the section and the rude ass bottle girls kept pushing my party to buy 2 bottles and then eventually told that we wouldn't be able to sit in the section unless we did. SUPPOSEDLY their cheapest bottles were sold out and what we had already paid in the restaurant, and what we paid upstairs during the game didn't matter apparently so here we go coughing up another $600!!!! I am so upset and disappointed I want to dispute the charge! The place the management the promoter the bottle girls ALL TRASH. I will NOT be returning and this was such a terrible experience for my group that flew out from different places to celebrate me! I knew I should have stuck with Toast in Downey for their Rnb Brunch but who even knows if my friends will trust me again when I decide on a place all thanks to this experience read more

If you're looking for a brunch spot that actually hits, this place is it. From the moment we walked in, the atmosphere was vibrant, welcoming, and full of that perfect weekend energy. The DJ was popping with all the R&B hits. This place was AMAZING Now let's START with the food--because WOW. Every dish that came out was not only beautifully plated but packed with flavor. The portions were generous, and you can tell everything is made fresh. My friends and I got the platter, and it was enough for all five of us. The chilaquiles were perfectly balanced, the eggs and steak were cooked just right, the waffles were to die for, and the drinks? Let's just say their brunch cocktails do not disappoint. The besame was my favorite and my friends got the buy me a drink and kiss me through the phone it was amazing! You could not go wrong with the classic margarita. What really stood out to me was the consistency in quality--from the food to the service to the ambiance. The servers were so attentive: It's the kind of place you come to once and immediately start planning your next visit. I already said I want to come back next weekend. 10/10 recommend if you want good vibes, great music, amazing food, and a brunch experience that actually feels worth it. read more

1.5 Stars - Sunday R&B Brunch (February 1, 2026) Mandala Cantina in Downey looks like it should be a vibe. The building is attractive inside and out, and the throwback R&B music was solid. The acoustics are actually very good--the sound fills the entire room evenly, which is not easy to pull off. That part alone earns the ambiance a solid 4 stars. Unfortunately, everything else went downhill from there. We were seated at a table that was barely larger than a personal TV tray. There was hardly enough space for a simple mimosa mixer bottle and a couple of flutes. The chairs were metal and extremely uncomfortable. To make matters worse, our table was positioned near the restrooms--which should never be a thing, period. When the food arrived, it became a full-on game of Tetris. There was no room for plates, drinks, or anything else, and despite the staff clearly seeing the situation, no help was offered. No attempt to rearrange, no extra table, no assistance at all--just blind service. Now to the main reason for the 1.5-star rating: the food. We ordered the chilaquiles and the chicken and waffles. The chilaquiles were very basic--edible, but lacking flavor, creativity, and presentation. They could absolutely use more seasoning and attention. The so-called chicken and waffles were flat-out trash. It consisted of three small pieces of battered chicken that felt like something you'd get at a fairground. The "waffle" wasn't even a traditional waffle--it was more like a sugary bread-like slab. It came with a scoop of whipped cream, a few blueberries, and one sad sliver of strawberry. Completely underwhelming and not worth the price. At the end of the day, the only things this restaurant has going for it are: * The location * The nice building * The full, room-filling music acoustics This place is clearly relying on the music to do all the work. Unfortunately, horrible food, uncomfortable and poorly thought-out seating, and inattentive service are not going to keep people coming back--or spreading good word of mouth. For comparison, TOAST Kitchen & Bar (also in Downey) actually delivers on food quality. Their downside is that the music doesn't carry throughout the space since it's mostly confined to a smaller patio area. Mandala Cantina has the opposite problem: great sound, but everything else falls short. Music alone can't save a brunch. read more

Thank you Team Mandala Cantina for making this Birthday Celebration for my sister a Memorable and Fun Event Ruth you were excellent much love read more

Mandala Cantina - Happy Birthday KB I love you - Latin American Near Me - Downey, California

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Everything was amazing. Denise was very attentive. She was beautiful very sweet and kind and very patient. I love the service here. The vibe was amazing that DJ was great. Can't wait to come back!! -Darling read more

First off, the ambiance was really nice. The projector/ screen gives it a cool, open feel. They were playing vintage salsa music non -stop. I was seated in a comfortable half-booth, which I loved but I did notice many of the other seats are tall chairs, and those can get uncomfortable after a while. Parking wasn't the easiest, especially with nearby clubs bringing in extra traffic, so I'd recommend planning a little extra time for that. The food was good, and the overall atmosphere made for a fun night out. My only real complaint was that our party of 6 was told they could only split the bill into two checks. I've been to other places that are able to accommodate more flexibility, so that felt a little inconvenient. read more

Excellent, fun, friendly!! Food is the best part!!the food was amazing. Melanie was great

Yesterday was my first time attending Lotería night, and we had a blast. The food and drinks were great, and I really loved that it's all-ages. I was able to bring my 13-year-old to help celebrate my husband's birthday, and we all had a great time. The only issue we had was with service details. We ordered a molcajete meant for sharing, but we weren't given extra plates, utensils, or napkins and had to keep asking. Our server was kind but clearly busy with multiple tables, so we asked other staff as well some forgot, and others brought just one item at a time. At one point, I honestly gave up. Thankfully, one staff member (I didn't catch his name) noticed my child struggling to cut the meat with a fork and brought us a knife without us asking, which I really appreciated. That small gesture made a big difference. Overall, great experience with just a few service hiccups. read more

Weekend brunch was so fun. We didn't know there was a whole "club" in back and had the best time after enjoying our brunch. Their food was very good and surprised us all. Worth noting the service we received was outstanding-our waiter and the waitstaff were very attentive. We had a really good time! read more

Went here for Loteria night and it was horrible. The waitress was so rude. She came to our table and asked if we'd just got there, even though everyone was walking in basically at the same time. Then left because she said she knew other people got there first so she was leaving to them. Like umm why did you even ask then? Then offered us frozen margaritas saying it might be a while.... A whole hour later still not there so we ask why it's still not and she rudely said she told us it was going to be a while. We asked how much longer and she said well the machine is broken so she didn't know. WHY would offer someone a drink that can't possibly exist. In 2 hours we played 3 games. They went through the cards to almost the end every time and never called two of my cards the whole time. Missing cards in their deck I assume. Very messy. Do not recommend. read more

Poor service, we were there for a birthday and we had a reservation, however we were not seated for over an hour and 2 people had to stand the entire time because they gave us a table that didn't have enough room for all of us. I asked to speak to a manager to ask for some kind of discount and all he offered were free well shots. lol Honestly ridiculous, and I will not return. The food was underwhelming to say the least. Don't go here, it's not worth it. read more

Super amazing place !!! Super fun vibes they were very attentive and helpful with all our needs drinks were amazing ! Bésame and the espresso martinis are it here !!! read more

Mandala Cantina - Latin American Near Me - Downey, California

Jenny was the best !!! Definitely coming back , the vibe was great and food on point . Music was great and drinks were delicious

Adjacent to Mandala Restaurant, you'll find the best lounge club in Downey: Beso Los Angeles read more

Mandala Cantina - A flight of mandala tequila shots and a bar in the background - Latin American Near Me - Downey, California

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Food was horrible, camarones mojo de ajo completely dry no flavor with scoop of rice, rest of the party also agreed their plates were no good as well. Drinks were good and hookah was good. read more

Mandala Cantina - Camarones mojo de ajo - Latin American Near Me - Downey, California

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Brunch was good. The Carne asada was cooked well. The waitstaff was very attentive. Music and overall vibe was great.

I got tipsy and had a blast. Attentive customer service. Never had my table empty. I lived the trio salsa option, especially with the chipotle and authentic peanuts sauce. Great DJ and overall vibe. read more

Great food! I love the ceviche and their empanadas!!!!!!!!! Their drinks are amazing!!!! read more

Ebil is always the best security. Mandala is great the line is big but if u make a reso you should be fine.

Alex the bartender was amazing!! so attentive and the drinks were delicious highlighy recommend read more