top 10

El Cholo Restaurant

Claim
marker

1025 Wilshire Blvd
Santa Monica, CA 90401

marker
(310) 899-1106
Incorrect info? Correct your listing
Photos
El Cholo Restaurant - Santa Monica, CA
El Cholo Restaurant - Santa Monica, CA
El Cholo Restaurant - Santa Monica, CA
El Cholo Restaurant - Santa Monica, CA
El Cholo Restaurant - Santa Monica, CA
El Cholo Restaurant - Santa Monica, CA
El Cholo Restaurant - Santa Monica, CA
El Cholo Restaurant - Santa Monica, CA
El Cholo Restaurant - Santa Monica, CA
El Cholo Restaurant - Santa Monica, CA
El Cholo Restaurant - Santa Monica, CA
El Cholo Restaurant - Santa Monica, CA
Reviews
( 15 )
( 21 )
( 2 )
( 6 )
( 6 )

Best

Our food came out on time and was prepared just right. I would recommend this place to a hungry person the portions are huge! Service as ok but the food made up for it! I

Worst

Did you ever go someplace everyone raved about and wonder what the furor was all about? Welcome to the paradox of El Cholo. The place was crammed with people, and the food was...

Awesome Food 7/13/2011

Our food came out on time and was prepared just right. I would recommend this place to a hungry person the portions are huge! Service as ok but the food made up for it! I more

It'll do... 10/25/2010

You know what you're getting when you visit El Cholo. Unauthentic food and ambiance, waiters that want to be elsewhere, and so-so margaritas. That said, Mexican food in general in Santa Monica is awful, and El Cholo is actually better than most. more

American Styled Mexican Food 10/3/2010

The restaurant is very nice to dine in, which is kind of unusual for Mexican food in LA. But the waitress kept trying to get us to purchase more food and suggesting drinks, guacamole, dessert, etc to increase the bill instead of providing better service. I had to ask for water several times and the restaurant wasn't even 1/4th full. It's loud, so I have a friend that always brings her kids, and the food is just so-so. If you like real authentic mexican food, don't bother. This last time I was with a bunch of elderly women so the constant push for margaritas was kind of odd. more

SMELLY 2/14/2009

Uncomforting comfort food cooked with no love, served in a smelly dining room by waitresses with ridiculous costumes. Regulars to this place must be easy to please. more

Half autentico + half trendico = all fantastico! 2/4/2009

I've been to El Cholo twice - once on a date, and once for after work drinks with a big crowd. What I... more

Half autentico + half trendico = all fantastico! 2/4/2009

Stacey Provided by Partner
I've been to El Cholo twice - once on a date, and once for after work drinks with a big crowd. What I remember about the date experience was tha... more

Half autentico + half trendico = all fantastico! 2/4/2009

Stacey Provided by Partner
I've been to El Cholo twice - once on a date, and once for after work drinks with a big crowd. What I remember about the date experience was tha... more

Best Mexican in LA/Santa Monica 1/29/2009

I'm a huge mexican food fan and have tried almost all mexican restaurants in la & santa monica. This is by far my favorite spot. Great margaritas (and variety), great food (my fave is the fajitas) and love the down to earth & traditional atmosphere. \r \r Also, cheap valet ...but it does get full fast ... Pros: Great food, great margaritas, great spot Cons: valet gets filled up fast... come early more

Love the salsa! 11/17/2008

This place is my home away from home. Great food, great service and great cocktails.\r I love sitting outside on their small patio and in their huge bar lounge area. Great for a fun date or bring the whole family. Mixed crowd. MUST try their fresh lime margaritas.\r All natural and better calories for you.\r Pros: Fresh lime margaritas, great lounge area, parking Cons: Small out-side patio more

The most amazing tamales I've ever had 11/3/2008

I have always heard about this place, but have never went. I am glad I did. They had the best tamales I've ever had. Unfortunately they only had them May-October, so now I have to wait six months to try them again. The other food was delicious as well, try the enchiladas. The margaritas had no tequila though. more

One of my favorite, Mexican restaurants 5/27/2008

In a city filled with Mexican restaurants, this is one of the best in my opinion. Their margaritas are thick and flavorful. The guacamole tastes tantalizingly fresh, which is good since the wait staff makes sure to keeping filling up your tortilla chip basket. The meat and shrimp for the fajitas has never come overcooked for me, and the enchiladas are deliciously creamy. Make sure you bring a big appetite as the portion sizes here are huge. The inside of the restaurant decorated to look like Mexican kitchen is a festive place to eat, though sometimes noisy. The outdoor patio on a warm night, which is sectioned off from the roadway, is perhaps the more intimate area of the restaurant to dine. Prices are average for what you pay at a higher-end, sit-down Mexican restaurant around L.A.-area. El Cholo fills up fast, so be sure to make a reservation. Pros: Food, drinks, atmosphere, dining room decoration Cons: Noisy at times, wait can be long without reservation more

El Cholo = El Terrible! 2/11/2008

I went with a friend for the first time and didn't have a good experience. Ordered salad in a tostada shell and sent it back because it was so greasy. Ordered chicken enchiladas instead because I thought it was a safe choice. Not the case. Food was extremely salty, and slathered in cheese and sour cream. By that time I was starving so I ate most of it. Really seemed like they use prepackaged frozen foods and ingredients. So overpriced! I prefer Taco Bell to El Cholo. \r \r To their credit, the salsa was decent. The service was decent as well. \r \r That night, I also ordered a plate of enchilada suizas to go for my boyfriend. Didn't say anything about my experience with the food in case he liked it. It turns out he didn't like his food either. Same reasons: salty, cheap ingredients, soaked in grease. Neither one of us would recommend El Cholo. Pros: Great setting Cons: The only good thing about El Cholo is their facility more

never again! 2/7/2008

awfulk service! I came down here on a saturday night and damn....just plain awful. I had the enchiladas and my friend had the steak fajitas. Lets say Pepto is a must after dinner. I had to flag down our witress servral times andi guess they dont give refills cause I sure didnt on either my cke or water......awful place..... Pros: none! Cons: service, food...bring pepto! more

Good Food, Good Drinks, Good Times 1/9/2008

The margaritas are strong. The food is delicious. The prices are reasonable. El Cholo is definitely a good find for mexican food in LA. Pros: Food, Drinks, Service Cons: Valet Only more

This is Mexican Food? 12/16/2007

I live a block away, and I really wish that this food was even AVERAGE. Unfortunely, this is the worst mexican food that I have ever had. Such a shame, location is A+, bar and restaurant design is A, food is a strong F. Everthing is over-creamy, over cheesy, overly gimmicky, and just plain bad. I wish that the owners of Lares, Tacos Por Favor, or Serenata could save up money and replace this sham. As a side note, please stop torturing your waitresses witht those garbage-bag outfits. Poor gals. Pros: Great facility Cons: Aweful. More than Aweful. An anglo version of mexican food. more

Tasty Margaritas 8/12/2007

I'm not big on mexican food, but those I was with love this place. They accomodated a large group and served us well. The margaritas were tasty and it was greatly priced. The bill for nearly 12 people was SO CHEAP. We got here later on in the night and it was packed, so make a reservation. Pros: Prices and Margaritas more

fiesta at el cholo! 7/4/2007

if you want to down tasty margaritas with your equally tasty mexican food in a Spanish hacienda-style... more

fiesta at el cholo! 7/4/2007

Soo Provided by Partner
if you want to down tasty margaritas with your equally tasty mexican food in a Spanish hacienda-style restaurant, then head on over to el cholo. t... more

fiesta at el cholo! 7/4/2007

Soo Provided by Partner
if you want to down tasty margaritas with your equally tasty mexican food in a Spanish hacienda-style restaurant, then head on over to el cholo. t... more

Just great 11/20/2006

Love this place. Some of the best tortilla soup in town. I can make a whole meal out of a margarita, chips and their soup. more
< Previous 1 2 3 Next >
Menu for El Cholo Restaurant


Summer SALE!!!:
15% OFF all yearly plans
Use year15 at checkout. Expires 1/1/2021
Editorial
  • The Scene
    A faux roof made of tile, decoratively carved wood booths, and crookedly hung pictures of the owners' family make it apparent that minimalism is not the theme here. ...

  • 10/16/2006 Provided by Citysearch
Additional information
  • Hours: Mon - Thu, 11am - 10pm; Fri, Sat, 11am - 11pm; Sun, 11am - 9pm
  • Payments: American Express, Visa, Master Card
  • Neighborhoods: West LA, Wilshire Montana
badge