I Love the food, drinks and the service is exceptional! [[HIGHLIGHT]]The restaurant is well decored, makes you feel at home.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I recommend the pescado zarandeado and the lavender paloma! read more

Elizabeth was the best waiter I have ever had, shout out to her for working very hard and helping out my family.

The food and margaritas were exceptionally amazing. The empanadas are absolutely delicious. [[HIGHLIGHT]]I love the ambiance and fiendly customer service from Sergio.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The cucumber water feels like a spa experience. I really recommend Xecora for a brunch, lunch and dinner with friends and family. I will definitely be back and I will be going to the different locations. read more

After almost a year-long hiatus from Yelp, I'm finally back. Since my return, I've met some genuinely supportive people through Yelp. I have an amazing Yelp Community Manager, TD, who is incredibly understanding and supportive. And for the first time in a long while, I'm opening myself up to people again and writing reviews. Now... onto Xecora. This wasn't my first visit, but it had been quite a while since I'd been back. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The space is roomy with plenty of seating. The colorful hand-painted chairs give the dining room a fun personality. The lighting is dim enough to create a relaxed atmosphere, and the beautiful full bar keeps the place feeling lively. It's the kind of restaurant where you can come for tacos, happy hour, dri[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]n[[HIGHLIGHT]]ks with friends, or just unwind after work. For drinks I ordered: - Coke in a bottle ($?) - One peach mimosa ($10).[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] My server was Devin. He was funny, attentive, and chill. The guy just had good energy. He checked on me throughout the meal without hovering. Devin asked if I wanted a mimosa flight. It's three mimosas, one orange, one peach, and one strawberry, for $14. I asked him if 3 mimosas would hit me, as I was a light drinker. He replied, "Yes." Sold. I immediately accepted defeat and ordered just one. Good thing I did. One tiny peach mimosa in a little champagne glass had me looking like a ripe tomato. I haven't had a drink in over a year, and apparently my alcohol tolerance packed its bags and left. Then again, that's just an excuse. I have that damn Asian glow. One sip and I as red as Snow White's red apple. Devin also brought out complimentary chips and salsa, which were fresh and addicting. For my entrée, I ordered the Taco Trio ($20) with rice and beans. It came with: - Kesabirria taco - Shrimp Gobernador taco - Al Pastor taco The Shrimp Gobernador was my favorite of the three. When I went to pay, Devin apologized and said, "Sorry, I didn't stop by more. I was a little occupied earlier." He's the best! I think he picked up on the fact that I wanted a quiet meal and gave me my space. Ironically, I wouldn't have minded if he had stopped by more because he brought such a positive vibe. I even asked for his work schedule so I could come back on the days he's working. So Devin, don't hide when I show up. Total (including tax & tip): $46.02 Note: They also offer Bottomless Mimosa: $25 per person (90 minutes) only during Breakfast/Brunch. Good food. Positive vibes. A welcoming atmosphere. Sometimes that's all it takes to turn the day around. read more

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Pretty yummy! I've been to a few ceviche places now and my favorite is Xecora! Everything tastes so much fresher here and I never feel any fear that I'm going to get food poisoning. Servers here are super nice and they will come check in on you frequently! The free chips and salsa also are always a hit. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Music can be a bit loud sometimes[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

Loved this place! [[HIGHLIGHT]]The vibe, the space, the decor[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Service was great! we got in at the start of lunch and people started coming in as we were leaving. Food - so yummy! fragrant and flavorful. We got the mango/passion fruit ceviche, The grilled octopus entree. and Kesebirria tacos. I'll be coming back for the drinks and try other food options. read more

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They're understaffed. One bartender and one server. Both were doing their best during happy hour. Food is always on point and freshly made. read more

Xecora Gastronomia Urbana - Happy Hour it's 2 tacos per order $8 - Mexican Near Me - El Monte, California

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Lilikoi ceviche is the best ceviche Ive everrrr had, im not kidding. Sometimes ceviche can be too acidic or barely have any fish, but this dish surpassed my expectations. I wanted to try something new and different from typical Mexican dishes. I believe this ceviche has passion fruit juice, mango and cucumber, super fresh. Although it might not look so flashy or filling, the ceviche paired with tostadas was so satisfying. If you love seafood you must try their ceviche selections! [[HIGHLIGHT]]The vibes of the place is real cool but when I went i thought the music was a bit too loud.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] It was hard to hear my friend talking lol. But the people were real nice and friendly. I would love to come back again. read more

Xecora Gastronomia Urbana - LILIKOI - Mexican Near Me - El Monte, California

I've had this bookmarked for so long and it really did not disappoint! I'm so glad because I picked this spot to have an early dinner with a friend and neither of us had been here! Shared parking lot and the ambiance inside is so fun! Devin was so friendly and welcoming! He really added to our experience and I appreciated his energy on top of being super attentive! We ordered the lilikoi ceviche and it was delicious! The shrimp was fresh and it really had the perfect amount of acidity! My friend ordered the grilled octopus and I made him share with me; it was soooooo good! I've never had octopus that was so well seasoned and cooked. It was tender, like not rubbery or chewy. So good I want to learn how to make it and definitely something I'd order again! I got the taco trip which came with the shrimp taco, birria taco, and al pastor taco. The shrimp taco was so fresh and definitely something I'd recommend. The birria taco didn't come with consume since I ordered the trio and the al pastor taco didn't come with any pineapple - I would say that was the only thing I can complain about. Devin was my hero tho, he brought me some pineapple and didn't make me feel like a burden. This spot can be so easy to miss since it's tucked away next to a gas station but it is such a gem! Highly recommend!! read more

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Absolutely love Xecora on Azusa Rd. Tonight we had a late dinner and everything was amazing. But I ready wanted to shoutout Elizabeth our food server. She was super professional and nice. Took our orders and planed them out accordingly, came back to check in on us to see if we need anything, with intention. She made our experience even extra. Thank you Elizabeth read more

Xecora Gastronomia Urbana - Recipe - Mexican Near Me - El Monte, California

Went in for lunch . Had a great experience. Great food. Had the Shrimp tacos Al Gobernador. They were delicious. My server was Elisabeth. Very attentive great service. I recommend this place. I will definitely return. Great atmosphere place was clean. read more

Communication is key. From the beginning and the idea of using this place the person in charge of catering was on point. I arrived early, my tables were set and the buffet style was a hit. Everything was self service and that was great. [[HIGHLIGHT]]They allowed me to decorate and have space that was private.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We had two types of proteins and vegetarian dish and fruits, eggs and tortillas, rice and beans and one type of beverage cold and one hot. Cost was great. The staff were amazing, especially Devin! [[HIGHLIGHT]]Clean restrooms, private parking lot.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] They allowed us to bring in treats. I didn't have open bar and those folks could grab and get their own tabs. Side feedback: some salsa had too much salt but that is an easy fix. Also the beans were a bit spicy for those that don't eat hot and spicy foods. I will do this again. read more

I took my friend out for their birthday because we both love ceviche and this restaurant was amazing. I got the La Negra and my friend got the Lilikoi and both of our ceviches were incredible. I also got the tortilla soup and I rarely ever encounter tortilla soups that are vegetarian! I really appreciated that this restaurant has so many vegetarian and vegan options! read more

Xecora Gastronomia Urbana - LA NEGRA - Mexican Near Me - El Monte, California

I took my parents to urgent care which is located cross street and I deciden to come here since they are from Nayarit and I think I made a good choice. The service was great and the food tasty, [[HIGHLIGHT]]the place looks like we were in Nayarit because the ambiance ande decoration, we really liked it.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

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I ordered the oysters and as you can see in the photo these are all the shards I pulled out of my mouth as I ate them. The largest one cut my tongue. I've eaten oysters at many places and have never had this experience. A shard here and there, ok, it happens but this many and this big ?! They need a professional shucker. Though they were fresh and tasty it's too bad because I could not enjoy these at all. Bad experience and will not order again. read more

Xecora Gastronomia Urbana - Oysters - Mexican Near Me - El Monte, California

Getting here can be a bit tricky especially if you have to make a left turn into the parking lot. The cross street intersection doesn't allow U-turns. There's some parking spaces for this location but should be manageable. The inside is quite spacious and there's lots of seating. The staff were fine and nice. I got the al pastor tacos. The menu mentions getting 3 tacos comes with rice but we didn't receive that so I'm a bit confused. Maybe it's for certain dishes. The tacos were good. It does come with a single pineapple chunk but it kept falling out. I'd wish it were in smaller bits to get the taste throughout the whole taco. I tried the quesabirria and it was decent. The consommé was okay, I wish it were more rich because it was kinda watery. The chips and salsa was pretty good! The salsa had a good kick but not overly spicy. read more

Xecora Gastronomia Urbana - Al pastor tacos - Mexican Near Me - El Monte, California

I bought a group of family here since it seems it has great review on Yelp.. Unfortunately it did not deliver.. We had the famous grilled octopus but it was bland even with the sauce. My husband had fried fish skin which were soooo dry that the dish were sooo small... Other dishes were carne asada and seafood soup, they were decent but portion is still small. Very overpriced overall and there are lots of cheaper options around with better food. read more

[[HIGHLIGHT]]Great atmosphere and friendly service.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]Place is beautifully decorated and very clean.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Great bar with a ton of drink choices. I even highly recommend the horchata. Very unique dishes to choose from. Lots of seafood options. The shrimp ceviche is very good. Carne Asada is very tender. read more

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This Mexican-themed trendy gastropub has a cool, vibrant look and a full bar, and at first glance it feels like one of those fun, hole-in-the-wall spots with potential. Unfortunately, my experience was pretty disappointing overall. The food was overpriced for the value. The ceviche barely had any shrimp or octopus--I had to dig through cucumbers to find the seafood. The shrimp taco also had very little shrimp, and while the fried octopus taco was intentionally dry (chicharrón-style), it still didn't make up for the lack of substance. Ironically, the best part of the meal was the salsa that came with the complimentary chips--that was genuinely really good. The service was the biggest issue. I was told the ceviche could be customized, but it came out with onions anyway. When I politely mentioned it, the response felt annoyed and inconvenienced. The shrimp taco also came with onions, and given that I had already said I don't like onions, it would've been nice to get a heads-up. I asked the bartender for more salsa and he completely forgot--until about 20 minutes later when he happened to see me again. No one checked in on me, and I had to flag someone down just to get service. To top it off, another staff member brought out the bill before my last item even arrived. When I finally shared that it was my first time and that the service hadn't been great, the response was pretty indifferent. The ambiance is actually nice--beautiful, colorful Mexican decor, fun furniture, and murals. The music is loud, giving it more of a sports bar vibe. The place definitely has potential, but between the small portions, high prices, and poor service, it just wasn't worth it for me. I'd much rather go somewhere with better portions and, honestly, much better service read more

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Ambiance: A lovely bar feel with tons of space and seating Service: Incredibly friendly and helpful Food: I loved their chips and salsa that they provided at the front. It's just the chips had the right saltiness and the salsa had terrific flavors. I found the ceviche to be a bit salty. But loved the choice of ingredients. Incredibly well balanced. The octopus was the most unique dish. It was tender and u can taste the grill flavor well. The presentation of each dish left was beautiful as well. I really enjoyed my time here read more

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Elizabeth and Devin were AMAZING! Very helpful and social. Amazing drinks, great service and good atmosphere. Food and drinks were 10/10. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Vibes were beyond great.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Both were very lively, fun, and respectful. Will definitely come again read more

Love the food, service and our server Elizbath from Sinaloa. Ordered the Zarandeado and the Tuna Águila.

COVID-19: Social distancing is not enforced at this establishment. Some of the staff wears a mask. All customers are not expected to wear a mask. It's optional now. The staff also wears gloves when handling food. There are no hand sanitizers available for customers to use. This place is available for take outs and has some indoor seating available with no limited capacity. They are not sanitizing in between customers. I mention these things in my reviews for the sake of protecting immunocompromised people like the elderly and people sick with cancer and other illnesses. COVID-19 Vaccination Proof: This establishment currently does not require proof of vaccination. While I was grabbing my food from this establishment several days ago, I asked if they had any special offers and they weren't offering any at the moment. They currently do have happy hour. They also do not allow pets in their establishment UNLESS it's a service animal. Parking: The parking lot for this establishment is pretty big. It is shared with other establishments too though. Spots are pretty wide. Ambiance: The vibe was very chill and laidback. Food and Drinks: We were served homemade, hot, and fresh tortilla chips with salsa. The salsa had a mild, sweet, and spicy kick to it. So perfect for the tortilla chips. My friends and I ordered the margarita flights (classic, tamarind, and hibiscus), shrimp creamy pasta, ceviche trio (la negra, travolta, and nayarita), and taco trio (Kesabira taco, shrimp gobernador and al pastor). My friends and I really enjoyed the margarita flights. They were very fruity and filled with alcohol. Some places water down their margaritas for happy hour, which really sucks. But this place is legit. They do not water down their drinks especially during happy hour. The drinks packed a punch. Also, their water is so incredibly refreshing because they put cucumbers into the water. My friends and I shared the shrimp creamy pasta, ceviche trio (la negra, travolta, and nayarita), and taco trio (Kesabira taco, shrimp gobernador and al pastor). The portion for the shrimp creamy pasta was pretty huge for happy hour prices. Like damn! The pasta noodles were cooked al dente, which was perfect for all of us. The shrimps were very big, juicy, generous, and fresh. Also, they included several pieces of golden brown and crispy garlic bread. Soooooo fricken delicious! This dish was extremely creamy, rich, flavorful, and tasty. Highly recommend! Next, we all tried the ceviche trio (la negra, travolta, and nayarita). The tostada that came with the ceviches were hot, crunchy, fresh, and homemade. Each ceviche dish was packed full of flavors and made fresh. I enjoyed all 3 of them. Next, we all tried the taco trio (Kesabira taco, shrimp gobernador and al pastor). All taco shells were very crunchy and tasty. I enjoyed the Kesabira taco. It had marinated beef with cheese, onion, and cilantro. The beef just melted in my mouth. Soooo yummy! The shrimp gobernador had shrimp, cheese, cabbage, and pico de gallo. Also very delicious. The Al pastor taco is a classic. You can't go wrong with it. Marinated pork with pineapple, onion, cilantro, and avocado. Extremely delicious. This was actually my favorite taco. Sergio, the owner, also let us try the Mama Lila's Garden for desserts. It's a very yummy dulce de leche. So sweet, creamy, and caramely. What a perfect way to end the night. Thank you, Sergio! Staff: The staff here are very friendly, warm, welcoming, attentive, and kind. Again, shout out to Sergio, the owner, who so graciously let us try the Mama Lila's Garden. Our server Rosa was very attentive and friendly. They accept both cash and credit cards. There is no credit card minimum. read more

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Pricey but everything we ordered was a hit. Even the complimentary chips and salsa was really good. Chips were thin and crispy. Salsa was flavorful. - Lilikoi ceviche was good. Small order is enough for at least four people to share - Pulpo Zarandeado was the charbroiled octopus. Octopus was well cooked and not chewy but portion for the price seemed small. - Carne Asada house special is also really good. Steak was tender and the marinade was a bit sweet. I enjoyed building my taco. read more

[[HIGHLIGHT]]When visiting this establishment one will notice the room is bit dark and the bar is centrally located giving the place's ambience a metro bar vibe.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Servers were attentive , bi-lingual and helpful with answering questions about the menu. Complimentary chips and salsa brought to our table. Guac appetizer delicious and not too spicy. I enjoyed the prime rib sandwich with sautéed onions . read more

The food at Xecora is absolutely worth talking about--fresh, bold, and full of personality. But the overall experience fell short due to slow service and an overly loud dining room. We came on a Friday afternoon just after they opened. There was only one server handling the entire restaurant, so service was slow. While our food did arrive hot and fresh, the long wait was hard to overlook. The biggest issue, though, was the music volume. it was incredibly loud and made it tough to have a normal conversation. That said, the food itself was excellent. The lilikoi ceviche was bright and citrusy, a perfect starter. My husband got the enchiladas and couldn't decide between red or green sauce, so got both. The red was tomato based, and the green packed a fresh hot chili punch! We also shared a cheesy shrimp empanada--not your typical flaky crust, more doughy, but still very satisfying. the café de olla was warm and perfectly spiced, and the cucumber agua fresca was refreshing. Xecora has real potential. With a quieter atmosphere and better-paced service, it would definitely be a place I'd introduce to others. read more

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Some of the absolute worst service I've ever received in a long time. Arrived on a Sunday lunch time and was seated promptly, however, the lackluster attentiveness of the staff was apparent by the shear lack of basic prosocial service etiquette. Put ceviche appetizers in and didn't hear from anyone or received dishes in 25+ minutes followed up by waving down a bartender to inform them we were ready to put our entrees in the took nearly another 30 minutes to be put out. All food was lukewarm. Despite the Gastronomia presenting decent morsels (both ceviches were excellent, entrees were palatable but stripped of full marks because of how late and cooled to the touch the dishes were. The birthday girl of the group even had to voice her frustration just to prompt the check to be brought to us. No amount of offering to take a photo for the table reconciled that service received. Rolling eyes and hovering over the touch pad as we tip should have yield an epic 0% tip that I typically never do, but I am sympathetic to those who may be suffering in silence; 10% tip despite disappointing service to a party of 6. Who knows if the staff and waitress just had one bad day or this is the norm for this establishment. Ambiance was fun and lively i will say! Xecora receives my lowest review of the year despite the hype strictly due to service and food being clearly an afterthought for our waitress. read more

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Came to Xécora Gastronomía Urbana for lunch with a friend, and we left seriously impressed. First off, shoutout to our server Lupita--she was warm, attentive, and gave great recommendations. The complimentary chips with roasted salsa were a strong start, but Lupita also brought us a red spicy salsa that packed serious heat in the best way. We started with the ceviche de pescado, and both of us agreed--it's easily one of the best ceviches we've had anywhere. Super fresh, well-balanced, and full of flavor. We also tried the pozole, which was comforting and well-seasoned, but the real standout was the charbroiled octopus. It was grilled perfectly with just the right texture--tender with a bit of crisp char. Absolutely mind-blowing. The space inside is cozy and stylish, with plenty of TVs that make it feel like a great spot for game nights. Bonus: they've got happy hour Monday through Friday from 3-6pm. We're already planning to come back and explore more of the menu. Highly recommend this place. read more

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We were blown away by Xecora! Nayarit inspired cuisine and decor made for a beautiful experience. Came in for dinner on a Saturday night and were seated immediately. Knowledge and helpful staff made for an excellent dinner. What a color place complimented with beautiful art and decor throughout the restaurant. A family friendly environment is always a plus.Their complimentary chips and salsa were great. Not too spicy with perfectly salted chips. Their guava margaritas are solid. Perfectly made and well priced.Has to have a Michelada and no complaints.On to the food.We opted to share a large fish ceviche. Fresh and well prepared. The jalapeños made it spicy but so tasty.our kid's shared creamy pasta and they really enjoyed. I also tried it and loved the sauce. So good and delicious.For our main course we shared a filete zarandeado and we were blown away. Tender and grilled to perfection. Fresh fish complimented with beans and rice. The handmade tortillas made it even better. Definitely one of the best filete zarandeado we've ever had. read more

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Devin!! El mejor servicio, la mejor energia, y las mejores bebidas I loved... y la comida deliciosa read more

Xecora Gastronomia Urbana - Mexican Near Me - El Monte, California

The salsa, of the chips and salsa, is smoky and of a good spice level. The watermelon agua fresca is definitely sweet--too much for me, not for my partner. I won't comment on the sangria, having driven here, but my partner liked that too. The tacos el gobernador, having marlin as a protein, are quite good. The marlin announces itself with almost a bite in texture, which pairs with the tortilla (flour, heated until very nearly crispy). I'd like, though, more pickled onions. read more

The food here was so memorable that we came back two days in a row. The flavors reminded us of great food we had in Mexico City. The Secretaria taco, a bacon wrapped shrimp taco with cheese and cabbage, was flavorful and satisfying. The Octopus Chicharron taco was amazing, with crunchy, flavorful octopus, cheese, and a dressing on the vegetables that enhanced every bite. Their tacos are served on tortillas that are crunchy yet soft when you bite into them. The queso fundido with chorizo was served with freshly made authentic made tortillas, just like in Mexico. My husband's carne asada burrito also stood out because the sauce was very tasty and different from other Mexican Restaurants around. On our second visit, the grilled octopus was very tender and tasty, the shrimp aguachile was fresh and flavorful with crunchy red onions and cucumbers, and the quesabirria was crispy, juicy served with a rich consommé for dipping. Even the complementary salsas served with chips was amazing. The presentation of the food was meticulous and attractive. Don't forget to order their juice drinks-the flavors are unique, refreshing, and taste like quality-made drinks. Even the michelada stood out, served with real tamarind paste and seeds at the bottom of the refreshing drink. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The servers are friendly, and the whole place felt like a beautiful reminder of Mexico.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

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Devin Da BADDEST is the absolute BEST!!! Love love love! Will be back soon!!! Food and service was the best!!!! read more

Xecora Gastronomia Urbana - Nana enjoying - Mexican Near Me - El Monte, California

Elizabeth was amazing always so professional and friendly. Gracias! See you again soon!

Do not try calling during lunchtime. They left me on hold for 10 minutes and never got back to me. Try calling them back and they never picked up. read more

Xecora Gastronomia Urbana - Being on hold for ten minutes - Mexican Near Me - El Monte, California

Devin! Makes the best agua preparada and is super cool people. Show this place some love cause it honestly deserves it! The food. The people. The service. Decor. The menu. What else is a restaurant to do? THANK YOU, XECORA! read more

Xecora Gastronomia Urbana - Mexican Near Me - El Monte, California

We used to be weekend regulars but this place has fallen off. The first 3 things we ordered were not available - one of them being the Xecora cocktail... of all things to not have, you'd think their SIGNATURE drink might be but I guess not. It came down to me asking the kind waitress "ok what of the menu DO you have?" Needless to say we won't be coming back anytime soon. I know times are hard but for that same reason we agree to pay their exorbitant prices; so long as what we actually ask for is available! For the first 3 things we ask for to be unavailable is just wild. As a business owner myself, I can't imagine customers coming in and asking for 3 different services just for me to tell them all three of them are not available... get it together Xecora! We want you to survive this recession, but so far it's off to a bad start. read more

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Dylan was so sweet! Gina drinks and dropped them out to us as a personal touch. It was very sweet and welcoming! Elizabeth I was very helpful and helping us decide our dishes, and was very informative and kind. Thank you both for such a lovely experience. We will definitely be back! read more

The atmosphere was very calm and nice it felt relaxing in a way. The food was really good I was not expecting it to be this good my fish tacos and ceviche were tasty and I'd definitely come back to try more from they're menu. The aguas frescas were also delicious. read more

Xecora Gastronomia Urbana - Mexican Near Me - El Monte, California

Derlin was the best, all the dishes he recommended was fire. It was one of the best octopus dish I've ever had, super tenderism. Watermelon drink is a must, and tacos omg so good. 10/10. Ceviche was fresh and delicious as well. Super nice and friendly environment. read more

Xecora Gastronomia Urbana - Mexican Near Me - El Monte, California

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