This is, by far, my best find of the last year! I knew this was the last remaining location of a onetime chain, but had never gotten around to checking it out. Fast forward to an event where a fellow Yelper told me how this was one of his favorite places. Done, I'm going! As high as my expectations were, The Original Red Onion beat them by a mile. Let's talk atmosphere. The restaurant interior is completely decorated; it's a theme park for the senses - absolutely beautiful. The service? Friendly and efficient. Chips and salsa come out quickly, as do your drinks and your meal. Speaking of food, a wide variety of delicious choices. One can keep it basic, or be adventurous. It was my first visit, but I still chose to do the latter - roast beef enchiladas with mole. Mole can take some getting used to, but I managed to get used to it right away - my meal was delicious! I'll get adventurous again on my next visit. (One can get the basics almost anywhere.) Also, a good choice of sides - more than just the typical refried beans and rice. (And, a serious salsa!) The Original Red Onion makes going out to restaurants fun again. Forget take-out, forget delivery services; get out there and dine again! read more

Came here on a Friday night for dinner because I've had tons of friends say this place is the best. Well it did not disappoint! I made a reservation online before because other reviews recommended it and I'm glad I did. There was a wait when we arrived around 6pm. The staff were very welcoming when we arrived. I ordered a double skinny margarita and it was very good. Maybe one of the best margs I've had in a while. My friend and I split the combination fajitas for two and it didn't disappoint. It comes with chicken, steak and shrimp. There was a ton of flavor. We both got a side of rice and beans which was a bonus. It is a lot of food so you definitely get your bang for your buck. Highly recommend. There is a free parking lot that wraps around the building and there's free street parking. The overall vibe was great and I definitely will be coming back very soon! read more

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An absolute staple in the area! I hadn't been back here in over a decade since I moved out of the area, but I recently had the pleasure of dining here again and it's just as good as I remember! We tried the combination appetizer that came with several different tasty options! Definitely recommend getting that if you're with a few people and all want to try several different items. For my main I tried the shredded beef enchiladas and they were amazing!! Loaded with cheese and sauce and goodness, these guys know what they're doing! Everyone loved their meals and I can absolutely understand why:) Great spot all around, highly recommend!! read more

An AMAZING restaurant that is extremely cool, busy, nice and air conditioned with sooo much to look at with extremely good service and good food! The food, there were 6 of us and it wasn't a problem for them at all to get us right in! They had just about anything and everything on the menu! I myself had a Strawberry Margarita with sugar on the rim. It was strong but tasty and sweet!!! The presentation was also beautiful!! We also got a bunch of drinks and shots and appetizers but I just got two chicken tacos cheese and sour cream and YUM these tacos were huge with the delicious rice. Usually shredded chicken is a hit or miss because it can be flavorless but NOT this place it was delightfully flavorful so I was pleased! The ambience was casual but because it's Los Angeles almost every restaurant is a little upscale so that was the theme they had going on with walls and walls of decorations everywhere you look that are sooo cool! Apparently this restaurant has been open since 1949 so that was super cool to me!! The service was lovely! They handled our big party like PROS. Extremely friendly hostesses and servers who also really knew their stuff about the menu. I couldn't help but notice how busy it was on a Monday. Which means they're doing very well and for good reason. We will absolutely be returning and I cannot wait for those yummy tacos I'm already craving!!! read more

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The Original Red Onion has been on our to try list for quite some time now. While vacationing at Terranea, we decided to give Red Onion a try. It was very easy to make a reservation on their website. They follow up and send reminders, which is comforting. The restaurant is large and very warm and welcoming. Parking can be difficult as it is a popular place. Our waiter was wonderful! He answered all our questions, gave us plenty of time to choose our meals, and had a great sense of humor. The Azul margarita was perfect and the spicy skinny margarita also hit the spot. Between the four of us, we had a great assortment. The chicken flautas appetizer were filled with lots of tasty chicken. I cannot express how tender the Carne Asada was. In fact our waiter came back with a steak knife, and we never needed it. The steak could be cut with a butter knife, melted in our mouths and was perfectly flavored. Apparently all their Carne Asada plates come with a small tamale that has so much filling and flavor we were so pleasantly surprised with the opportunity to try their tamale. The cheese enchilada with Verde sauce was a huge portion and very tasty. You have many choices of sides, one of which is Mexican zucchini which is full of flavor, not to mention a healthy choice, And lastly, their Chile Relleno was full of flavor, full of cheese, covered in wonderful sauce. We can't express enough what a wonderful experience we had. Thank you Original Red Onion! read more

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My first time here period the ambiance was excellent period old school nice lighting period to help staff and wait staff were friendly period especially Emilio my server period he steered me in the right direction for the perfect meal period because of him and the fine food I will be back period read more

My friend from high school and I have been getting together for the past few years to celebrate our birthdays. This was his turn for a belated gathering with our wives so he selected the Red Onion for his celebration. Back in the day, many of our friends used to have lunch after church at the Red Onion on Hawthorne Blvd in Torrance when it was still in operation. That location was pretty amazing. The chimichanga was out of this world and their salsa was pretty incredible as well. Fast forward to present day and the Palos Verdes location seems to be the only remaining Red O. It's not as good as the other location was but it's still nostalgic and fun to visit now and then. My wife is a big fan of their special chile relleno stuffed with roast beef so that's her go to order. I don't have any particular attachment to anything on their menu so I order whatever strikes my fancy on a particular day. Today, it happened to be the combination with a regular chile relleno and chicken tamale. The chile relleno was pretty good but the chicken in the tamale was rather dry and disappointing. Considering this is advertised as a homemade tamale, it didn't impress me as anything particularly special. The rice and beans were great but I didn't feel like they needed to cover the rice with salsa even though I do like it. Prices are reasonable for what you get. Service is acceptable although it didn't seem like our server really checked on us to ensure everything was copacetic. Not exceptionally friendly either. There is a reasonable amount of parking although it seems it could be a tad problematic during peak hours. If you have mobility issues, be aware that you will need to navigate stairs if you enter/exit from the parking lot side behind the restaurant and may need to go around to the front entrance if this is an issue. All in all, I'd say the Red Onion is a decent restaurant located in a very nice neighborhood but there are other superior alternatives down the hill at a better price point. So, not bad but nothing that's going to knock your socks off. read more

The Original Red Onion - The roast beef chile relleno. Seems to be a favorite of many diners here. - Mexican Near Me - Rolling Hills Estates, California

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I never tire of updating my reviews of the RO....because they consistently provide such a great experience, service and food. There is nothing they do wrong here, nothing. Last Friday, the wife and I were able to grab a date lunch and shared the Chicken Fajitas (trying to be healthier...lol) and they were so darn good. I ate the leftovers on Tuesday and the flavors of all the plentiful onions, peppers and mushrooms and whatever they cook it all in along with the chicken were amazing. Really, so very, very good! What made it even better was that we had our favorite waiter, Carlos, serving us. Carlos has been around forever and always knows exactly what we like to drink. TWO SKINNY CADILLAC MARGARITAS STRAIGHT UP....that's the drink to get. No ice, no nonsense, all yummy margarita and strong. Thank you, RED ONION, for being the longest standing restaurant on The Hill and for good reason! ALWAYS HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend for a great time, great decor, great food and drinks and great service! read more

The Original Red Onion - Chicken fajitas! Yum! - Mexican Near Me - Rolling Hills Estates, California

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The Red Onion is the best Mexican restaurant in the South Bay. The pricing is fair, service is always great, food is first rate the interior is upscale, the bar is lively and there's lots of parking. What else could you want. Over the years we've tried almost everything on the menu, pick one, you can't go wrong. Reservations are a must as it is a staple on the. "Hill." read more

The Original Red Onion - The Combination Plate - Mexican Near Me - Rolling Hills Estates, California

I've been wanting to try Red Onion forever as I know it's a popular place in PV and part of their history. As a big fan of family style Mexican restaurants, Red Onion was exactly what I wanted it to be. The fresh chips and salsa that come out when you're seated were yummy. The chips were fresh and the salsa had a nice kick to it. We also ordered the guacamole and it was surprisingly good, super fresh and flavorful. We also got double margaritas and they definitely didn't skimp out on the tequila. The waiters were very friendly as well and the restaurant was bigger than I expected. I ordered the burrito combination with carne asada with the meat and potatoes and refried beans as the side. For the price it's a killer deal and was easily two hearty meals for me. The burrito was so good, the enchilada sauce was incredible and the meat and filling were great. The sides were also delicious. We all really loved our food and the ambiance of the restaurant reminded us all of the early 2000's nostalgia which I loved. The prices were reasonable for the portions and I look forward to coming back! read more

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Such an interesting place with a unique vibe! Reality exceeded all expectations. The only funny part was trying to find the women's restroom - even with my glasses on, I felt like Harry Potter searching for the Chamber of Secrets Now, the most important - the food: was absolutely amazing! Everything was perfectly balanced. We ordered several dishes for four people and left feeling very full, while the prices were surprisingly reasonable. We had the Combination Fajitas for Two, Enchilada, Taco and Tamale, and salads - everything was delicious. The sauces were incredible too! And the churros with ice cream for dessert completely stole our hearts On top of that, the atmosphere, service, and overall feeling of the place were all outstanding. Overall, it was an incredibly delicious and memorable dining experience! read more

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Been coming for years. Always great food, huge menu, nice staff, and great margaritas

This is my family's go-to spot for decades. The food is always good, service top notch and the drinks are heavy. A place to gather and be merry. Thanks for all the years of serving the community. read more

Ordered takeout. The was very easy and the person on the phone was very friendly. The restaurant looked very nice and clean from what I could see. I ordered combo #1; enchilada and taco. Got the shredded beef enchilada. It was okay. Plenty of meat but not enough sauce. The chicken taco was the same, lots of chicken but was a bit bland. The rice and beans were fine. My issues I had were the food wasn't hot; more lukewarm. And I was given chips and had a taco but no hot sauce/salsa for either. read more

The Original Red Onion - Sign - Mexican Near Me - Rolling Hills Estates, California

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I've tried this place a few times now and I really want to like every time I come in and I just can't. The service is good. Nothing really stands out though it is pretty quick service. The food is where they loose me. Everytime I come I try to find something else to see if I'll like it. Nope. Nothing has ever been good to me. The only thing that is actually good is the salsa for the chips. The chips even had some soggy ones in the basket. The chicken fajitas were probably the best entrée I tasted. The guac is good too. My personal preference, but they put too much cheese on the beans and I hate that they put sauce on top of the rice. Pretty crazy they only give one albondiga too. I got a burrito and made it deluxe bc for two dollars more you get guac or you can pay $7 for a side of guac which is insane. But on the menu it's not clear that when you get deluxe it would be a wet burrito. I do appreciate that they were quick to help me out and change it. They don't put a lot of meat in it. They put a lot beans with small bits of meat every other bite. It was a pretty sad burrito. I never come here willingly and it will probably stay like that. Unfortunately just not a fan. read more

The Original Red Onion - Chicken fajitas - Mexican Near Me - Rolling Hills Estates, California

Was in the area so I decided to stop for a little nostalgia. The restaurant itself is very lovely and clean with a modern vibe and staff were very friendly. Considering the area, prices were very reasonable. I ordered a strawberry margarita which was brought out promptly and was pretty good. I decided on a combo plate with Chile relleno, sope, rice and beans. It was pretty underwhelming for a Mexican restaurant. Chile was nearly battered and had very little cheese. It was smothered in a red sauce. Sope was a little bit better but a bit tough around the edges like it had been sitting out for a while. Overall presentation was pretty sloppy. However, price was reasonable so you get what you pay for. My total was under $30. It's ok to stop in for a drink and to enjoy the nostalgic vibe but I'd skip the food read more

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The waiter David! never came back to see how we were doing didn't offer if we'd like refills! the chips were tasteless! the Guacamole was runny the food WAS AWFUL. We thought we'd at least have dessert. We were informed the Chocolate Cake was still FROZEN! and not ready to be served! adding insult to injury. It was an excellent Restaurant for decades coming here since the 1960's was always a wonderful experience! sadly no longer the same place.... read more

The menu has a great deal of Mexican fare to offer with a selection of combo plates. The salsa is quite good with endless bowls of tortilla chips. The margaritas are delicious with a good pour. Service is always spot on. The wait staff always makes sure your water glass is full. Ambiance is tastefully done with lots of comfortable seating, including in the bar area. read more

The Original Red Onion did a great job hosting my fiancé's bridal shower. It was buffet style and in a room in the back of the restaurant secluded from eveymrything else. I highly recommend this place for hosting and enjoying their delicious food. read more

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Always good food, excellent service, friendly and attentive staff, reasonable prices. Lots of parking. Have been back multiple times since our first visit. Highly recommended family owned restaurant. read more

The Original Red Onion - Carnitas Chimicunga - Mexican Near Me - Rolling Hills Estates, California

So my experience here on a Friday night was nothing but outstanding. First of all it was slammed, so reservations are a must for the walk ins, the wait was an hour. The ambience superb I felt right at home immediately. I loved it. The service was impeccable the food outstanding delicious everyone cleared the plates the cocktails delicious, and best of all everything was fair priced we left their full, happy and not thinking about what we just spent but about what a delightful evening it was. We tried the margaritas, the Oaxacan lady and some tequila neat. Heavy pours all around equal happy table. We tried the carne Ortega, which 3 of us ordered cooked to perfection. The carne asada burrito which was good. No complaints just a table ready to return! Highly recommend, if service and quality is this good I don't see why you wouldn't stop in. read more

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Everyone in Palos Verdes loves the original red onion. I just don't get it, but it is close to home and very convenient. So with that in mind, we went the other night as my brother was in town and tried it again. The atmosphere is lovely. There's a lot of history on the walls and sports memorabilia. But the food is just OK, so I'm gonna give The Original Red Onion three stars. Plenty of parking all around the property and lots and lots of seating. read more

I finally made it to this long standing establishment and I enjoyed my experience. Food was very good. I ordered the trio of à la carte tacos and added rice and beans. The tacos I chose were carnitas, carne asada, and shrimp. Surprisingly, whenever I order carnitas, it's dry but not this time. The meat was moist and had so much flavor. The complimentary salsa had a kick to it but was so good that I kept dipping my chips in it. I'm so glad I got to finally come here and I hope to make it back soon. Ambiance was clean and nicely decorated. Thank you to our server, Meneses for your service! read more

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We are newer to the area so we were so excited to find the spot. We love that it was decorated for the holidays and it was packed! We prefer to sit in the bar, and luckily the Weat to sit in the car was not too long. Our food was very good and our servers were great. We will be back. read more

The Original Red Onion - Mexican Near Me - Rolling Hills Estates, California

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I took my coworkers for lunch after work . We sat in he bar . The atmosphere is less formal , while retaining the warm hacienda feeling. The bar staff did an excellent job with drink orders and the food Tacos and enchiladas. Was delicious. read more

Great beef fajitas and margs and finally authentic salsa, and i looved the old school booths and ambiance! read more

today i enjoyed a lovely and filling buffet. the salad of fruit and vegetables. the toasted tacos, overstuffed enchiladas, rice and beans are what's pictured. a churro à la mode with caramel sauce was a perfect finisher. a walk around the interior is historic and humble. perfect service!!! read more

The Original Red Onion - Mexican Near Me - Rolling Hills Estates, California

Don't even get me started on this place. I've been coming here 2-3 times a week for over five years, and it has never disappointed. The food is absolutely generational, the service is generational, and it's truly a staple of the Rolling Hills community. If you're looking for authentic, delicious Mexican food that's consistently done right, this is the place to go. I'll never stop recommending it. read more

Food amazing. Service on point. Cleaner then I'll get out. If you like authentic Mexican food, warm chips and a beautiful atmosphere and appreciate good history this place is for you read more

Get a reservation! This place is regularly busy - walk in wait is usually quoted as an hour at anytime. Once you're in though, a wonderful experience, delicious food, and great service read more

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This place needs to be cleaned!! The vents were heavily filled with dust. dust was flowing into our drinks Chips and salsa Had to ask to be moved Once we were moved It was a lil better the food was good but I feel like management should have comped the entire bill not just a portion It was my birthday and had bragged about this place so I was embarrassed read more

I grew up on "the hill" and this was my family's go-to restaurant in the seventies. Stopped in for lunch today and everything was exactly the same! From the beautiful vintage decor, to the wonderful service, and the awesome food. And they have the best tacos anywhere! Super reasonable prices. Quite busy at 2pm on a Friday afternoon. read more

The Original Red Onion - Chicken enchilada - Mexican Near Me - Rolling Hills Estates, California

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We had a great experience here, and a big part of that was our server, Emilio. He was friendly, attentive, and made us feel welcome from the moment we sat down. He checked on us at just the right times, made great recommendations, and everything came out exactly as expected. You can tell he genuinely cares about making sure his guests have a good experience. The food was excellent, but great service always makes a meal even better, and he definitely delivered. If you have the chance, ask for Emilio--we'll definitely be back! read more

Tony is a very knowledgeable waiter and he really helped me to go through all the menu and I have to have to say that the steak that came in the fajitas was extremely tender. I am extremely surprised about it because normally it's hard to find good quality of meat, but these people really know about quality thing I highly recommend the place. read more

The Original Red Onion - Fajita - Mexican Near Me - Rolling Hills Estates, California

Like the food, service and ambience. We ordered fajita , it has 4 pcs of large tasty shrimps, chicken and beef is tender as well. read more

Loved it! The interior decor reminded me of our Red Onion in Westchester in the 60's and 70's. The service was exceptional and the food was just like I remembered. I highly recommend going to the Original Red Onion in PV! read more

The food is always great and consistent. Emilio was fantastic. Great service with a smile.

Excellent food, authentic vibe, reasonable prices. We would definitely come again if/when we are in the Palos Verdes area. The chips and salsa are plentiful and servers are great about coming by and refilling as needed. I think our group of four ended up devouring 3 baskets of chips. lol. The salsa had some good heat and was excellent as well. Husband loved his crispy tacos with ground beef. My friend and I ordered the Fajitas for Two for only $40 which came on a sizzling platter heaped with generous servings of steak, chicken, shrimp and vegetables. They also bring out two plates full of pico de gallo, sour cream, beans and rice (one full plate per person). I think this could easily be shared among 3 people. The meat was well seasoned and cooked to perfection. One caveat with this dish is that they do not substitute any meat selections. When we asked to switch out the shrimp for an extra serving of chicken, they said there are no substitutions. We also ordered a side of guacamole which was very good. If they offered a table side guacamole, that would up their game, but the premade guacamole was pretty good. Overall, this is a solid place for authentic Mexican food in a clean and festive environment. read more

This was my favorite Mexican restaurant. Not anymore. We went there last night and I was totally disappointed. Nothing was right. We ordered two margaritas and they got them wrong. My son asked for a shrimp taco combo. They brought him shredded beef. I got a fajita with Flour shells. He brought corn and said he would bring the correct ones. He didn't. The bill was $94.00! That was really over priced for what we got and our incompetent waiter. 9 out of 10 waited are crabby and don't speak very good english. $17.00 for a little margarita? He took forever to bring our food. It wasn't as crowded as it usually is and I see why. I won't be back. Too expensive for such bad service and food. read more

Always a good experience and yummy food, but I really need some explanation on why the "avocado dressing" for my taco salad was neon green read more

The Original Red Onion - Avocado dressing - Mexican Near Me - Rolling Hills Estates, California