Came here for my friend's birthday dinner, and it ended up being such a fun spot for my group. The…read moreatmosphere was probably my favorite part--dim lighting, beautiful decor, and it definitely has that trendy vibe that's perfect for celebrating or catching up with friends. We ordered a variety of dishes to share, and everything was presented really well. The enchiladas were flavorful, the grilled fish was cooked perfectly, and the tortillas with the short rib were a table favorite. Portions were great for sharing, and the sauces really tied everything together. Service was friendly and our server checked in on us throughout the night without making us feel rushed. It did get a little busy, so there were a few waits between courses, but nothing that took away from the experience. Overall Great atmosphere, solid food, and a fun place for birthdays or date nights. I'd definitely come back!!

Such a cute restaurant! The inside is absolutely beautiful and really gives you that feeling like…read moreyou're in Mexico. The drinks were good, and the food was delicious! Food portion is really small compared to the price, definitely more expensive, so I expected a little more. Service was okay, nothing bad, but nothing that really stood out either. Overall, I enjoyed my experience and would come back, but next time I'd probably just sit at the bar for drinks! Definitely worth checking out for the ambiance!

Absolutely incredible. I had the steak burrito and the chicken quesadilla with everything, and…read morewow... just wow. The flavors were unreal. The steak burrito was perfectly balanced, packed with flavor, and every bite was outstanding. But the chicken quesadilla completely surprised me. It has this amazing fire-grilled flavor that makes it incredibly unique and takes it to another level. That smoky, grilled taste makes everything feel extra special. Without a doubt, one of the best meals I've had in Downtown LA. I can't wait to come back and hope they open stores in San Diego.

Came on a Saturday around 12 pm. Line wasn't too bad and the employees were friendly and helpful…read more There are a few seats both inside and outside, but parking is tough. Mostly crowded streets with metered parking. I got the chicken burrito. The tortilla was definitely the highlight and what really makes the burrito. Fresh, flavorful, and great texture. The filling itself tasted more like a standard burrito otherwise. Also tried the avocado sauce, which costs extra but was really good and worth adding. Overall solid spot. I'd come back to try the beef burrito and the chivichanga next time.

I LOVE DAMA. If I could give this place more than five stars, I absolutely would. I've been coming…read morehere for the past six years, and it has truly become my favorite restaurant. From the exceptional food and drinks to the warm hospitality and beautiful location, every visit is a wonderful experience. the service is always welcoming and attentive. I've recommended DAMA to so many friends over the years, and it has become a favorite for them as well. It's rare to find a restaurant that maintains such a high standard year after year, but DAMA does exactly that. I truly love this place and can't recommend it enough. I have several favorite dishes and celebrated many birthdays here. Thank you for six incredible years--I look forward to many more.

Was brought here by a friend as they knew I was a foodie and wanted to show me their favorite tapas…read morespot Downtown in the Fashion Distric for an early birthday celebration. Cute building with lovely patio seating: from the trailing hanging pothos plants, Spanish tiles, to relaxing latin-house music the vibes were welcoming. I'm not much of a drinker though, when asked if I wanted to make my pina colada a "float" I thought incorrectly about ice cream. It was graciously explained that you take an additional shot of rum and float it on top of the drink or mix in to make it extra boozy. The pina colada is top notch they hollow out a real pineapple to make the drink and it's the size of your face! The watermelon cocktail was delicious and there is also a mezcal option. Tasted like if a watermelon aqua Fresca was combined with a margarita, there is a hint of salt that brings out the fruit sweetness. We special ordered a bunch of different proteins and vegetables at half portions to make a feast: Aguachile- Light refreshing starter, kanpachi perfectly marinated and great for the summer heat. Crispy potato- Phenomenally done fingerling potatoes. Whipped beans- Carnitas on top made this dish. Fried chicken tacos- Found the chicken slightly on the dry side, if there was a creamy/thicker sauce would be even better... nothing wrong with flavor, good mild heat. I did enjoy the fresh shredded cabbage and carrots, reminded me of bahn mi. Empanadas- Loved the acidity of the sauce that cut through the fattiness of the ground meat. Light shell. Crispy Squash flower- Delicate crunch, like an angelic version of a jalapeno popper. Lamb chops- Definition of "treat-yourself" luxurious meat lollipops. Celery salad- Simple dish but the lemon flavor and tartness really helped break up the richness of other dishes. Churros- Light crunch and small, petite dessert. The thin caramel sauce is addicting. Fine dining, for those special occasions or if you just want to splurge for a morale boost highly recommend this restaurant. Valet parking or park across the street or around the corner in a lot for $5-10.

Came here to watch the World Cup game and it was a VIBBBBBBE…read more Great accommodating staff, they really were on top of cleaning up the tables and filling up our drinks The food was AMAZING! I recently visited Oaxaca & this is exactly like their mole. So. Good. Can't recommend this place MORE. Take your friends, family, coworkers they have large party friendly seating Definitely will be coming here again!

If you're looking for authentic Oaxacan cuisine in Los Angeles, Guelaguetza Oaxacan Restaurant is a…read moremust-visit. Located between Koreatown and Pico-Union, this restaurant delivers an outstanding dining experience from the moment you're seated. My wife and I both ordered the Mole Coloradito with chicken, and it was absolutely delicious. One detail we really appreciated was being able to choose between white meat or dark meat--a thoughtful touch that lets you customize your meal to your preference. The mole was rich, complex, and full of flavor, exactly what you would hope for from a restaurant known for its Oaxacan specialties. As a welcome appetizer, they bring fresh chips and salsa to the table, but what really impressed us was when they replaced the salsa with their incredible mole sauce. It was so good we found ourselves dipping everything into it. Both meals were served with rice that was perfectly cooked with a great consistency and flavor. For those feeling adventurous, give the Chapulines (grasshoppers) a try. They may sound intimidating, but they were surprisingly enjoyable and added to the authentic experience. The staff was exceptionally friendly, attentive, and patient with those of us who are not fluent in Spanish. Their hospitality made us feel comfortable and welcomed throughout our visit. Great food, authentic flavors, and wonderful service make Guelaguetza a restaurant we'll definitely be returning to. Highly recommended!

El Compadre is an LA staple, we've been coming here for years. The dim lighting, cozy vibe, and…read morelayout make it feel intimate, even though it's bigger than it looks. The bar sits right in the middle and is truly the star of the show. Service, drinks, and food are consistently great and clearly made with love. The margaritas and micheladas are easily some of the best in LA, hands down. This time I went with the chicken and shrimp fajitas and they did not disappoint. And the guacamole? It tastes like your grandmother made it. Portions are huge, so definitely come hungry. From the parking attendant to the servers, bartenders, and bussers, everyone delivers amazing service, it genuinely feels like family every time. Perfect spot for any occasion, or even just to chill and enjoy some authentic Mexican food.

Located on Sunset Blvd with Valet parking since street parking is often difficult…read more Busy restaurant with a great fun vibe. Good sized menu with lots of classic mexican plates. Their house margarita is delicious! Can get busy, we ate at the bar. It was a Friday night and they had live music plus tvs around with sporting events. Service was excellent- checking on us and refilling our chips and salsa

Instructions: 1. Somehow find parking. I guess…read more 2. Enter the restaurant. From the back or from the front - who knows! 3. Marvel at the massive, architectural wonder of the restaurant. 4. Sit down, look at the small but fancy menu, confused. 5. Just order things. 6. Smile. Notable Mentions: 1. The restaurant really is that massive. It's pretty, I'm pretty sure it has multiple bars, and it's multi-storied. Well-designed. Well-done. I didn't think you could just have something like this in LA. 2. The drinks, oh, the drinks. I know a lot of people come here just for this, but they really are tasty, inventive, unique. And the garnishes might just surprise you! (look carefully at the pictures) 3. The food is also just great. This was for dinner. 10/10 would return.

The interior of Mirate is gorgeous with lots of interesting artifacts and pieces. While you wait…read morefor your table, can have access to a few lounges and the bar. The restaurant layout is indoor/outdoor can get pretty dark when dining at night. Parking: we found street parking but valet is available. Despite the nice ambience, the food was very mid considering the price. I was not aware that there was a rotating menu and was looking forwards to trying the carne asada y papas but it wasn't on the menu. I opted for carne à la parilla and it was as 12oz new york strip cooked and seasoned nicely. It was good but nothing special. The Aguchilies de cameron and branzino was again good but overpriced. The horchata came in a small 8oz cup and was also nothing special. Overall, the nice ambience was the highlight of the restaurant.

Truly one of my fave spots. I always bring my mom when she's in town and we get the marg flight!…read moreIt's the best :)

I've been to Tu Madre before for lunch, but this time we came during Happy Hour and decided to…read morefocus more on the tacos and try a few different things. I'd heard great things about the Los Feliz location, especially the outdoor patio, and I can see why. There's a huge tree with hanging lights all around it, and the whole patio has such a cool neighborhood vibe. We came while it was still light out, but I can only imagine how pretty it must be at night. The inside and outside have completely different atmospheres--the inside is darker and more lively, while outside feels relaxed and casual. We also saw several people hanging out on the patio with their dogs, and it seemed like there were quite a few local regulars. The cocktails here are really well made. Since we were celebrating my birthday, we ordered the Margarita Flight and it came out with a sparkler, which made it extra fun! The margaritas tasted great, and the portions were actually pretty generous for a flight. We tried several tacos, and the Crispy Shrimp Taco was easily the biggest hit with my kids. We ended up ordering it THREE times . At $8 for one taco, it's definitely a little pricey, but the shrimp were big, crispy, and really good. We also enjoyed the Korean BBQ Taco. The Mexican Hot Chicken Tenders had good flavor, but they were definitely spicy. My kids couldn't handle the heat, so I'd recommend them more for adults or anyone who enjoys spicy food. We also tried the Banh Mi bowl. It wasn't the traditional banh mi flavor I had pictured from the name, so it wasn't my favorite, but it was an interesting fusion take. For dessert, we had the Red Velvet Churros. I'm usually not a big churro fan, but these were surprisingly good! They came with plenty of cream cheese frosting for dipping, which made them even better. My kids were unsure at first too, but after trying them, they ended up really liking them. Overall, we had such a fun birthday meal here. Good cocktails, creative fusion tacos, Happy Hour, and a really cool neighborhood atmosphere. I'd especially come back for the Margarita Flight, Crispy Shrimp Tacos, and that beautiful patio. Next time, I'd love to come at night and see all those hanging lights lit up!

Smiling that the burrito tasted homemade and hearty!…read more El Tepeyac Cafe had a small line but it moved fast. If it is just you, grab the counter. The Hollenbeck de Pollo had a huge filling of guacamole, and chicken!!! Mini $12.99. What a great deal in this economy. The portions were large and the wet burrito just had so much flavor. I loved how everything came together. Ordered the half basket of chips and boy was it worth! Thanks Eric for the recommendation and tips!! Will be back if in the area!! And there was a line when I left! The guy behind the counter was great!

All the Instagram glazers, LA staple they say, sick of seeing these hyped up spots for mexislop…read morethat I can get anywhere. Anyway I got the 2 taco plate with some beans and rice. The rice was a little on the dry side, decent Mexican rice flavor, pretty typical and overall not the best. The beans were also very mid, like if they were straight out of a can, no distinct flavors or hints of beauty. I have been craving these old school hard shell tacos for a while, they had a nice crunch to them, the beef was pretty good, added some juice to the bite. The tacos were probably the only thing above mediocre on this plate. Overall I would never come back again because I can literally go to any other Mexican restaurant and get the same quality. Tacos: 7.9 Rice: 6.5 Beans: 6.5