El Cholo Restaurant

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1121 S Western Ave (at West 11th Street)
Los Angeles, CA 90006

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(323) 734-2773
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El Cholo Restaurant - Los Angeles, CA
El Cholo Restaurant - Los Angeles, CA
El Cholo Restaurant - Los Angeles, CA
El Cholo Restaurant - Los Angeles, CA
El Cholo Restaurant - Los Angeles, CA
El Cholo Restaurant - Los Angeles, CA
El Cholo Restaurant - Los Angeles, CA
El Cholo Restaurant - Los Angeles, CA
El Cholo Restaurant - Los Angeles, CA
El Cholo Restaurant - Los Angeles, CA
El Cholo Restaurant - Los Angeles, CA
El Cholo Restaurant - Los Angeles, CA
El Cholo Restaurant - Los Angeles, CA
El Cholo Restaurant - Los Angeles, CA
El Cholo Restaurant - Los Angeles, CA
El Cholo Restaurant - Los Angeles, CA
El Cholo Restaurant - Los Angeles, CA
El Cholo Restaurant - Los Angeles, CA
El Cholo Restaurant - Los Angeles, CA
El Cholo Restaurant - Los Angeles, CA
El Cholo Restaurant - Los Angeles, CA
El Cholo Restaurant - Los Angeles, CA
El Cholo Restaurant - Los Angeles, CA
El Cholo Restaurant - Los Angeles, CA
El Cholo Restaurant - Los Angeles, CA
El Cholo Restaurant - Los Angeles, CA
El Cholo Restaurant - Los Angeles, CA
El Cholo Restaurant - Los Angeles, CA
Reviews
( 28 )
( 66 )
( 18 )
( 20 )
( 7 )

Best

if the mood strikes for some mexican food,,, then this is the spot to go... great prices, good portions, satisfying taste.

Worst

although the building may be historic, the food is horribly bland. Nachos? Chips with melted cheese on top. dishes come with generic ""spanish"" rice and flavorless refried bea...

Editorial review from Citysearch 10/16/2012

After work party brought me here. Really friendly bartender made outstanding drinks. more
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Green Corn? 11/21/2011

I got three words for you: ""Green Corn Tamale."" The fact that these are served for only a limited time makes me want them more. Yum. In the off season, your place is still awesome. Love the drinks and the chill atmosphere! more
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the place to eat 4/7/2011

if the mood strikes for some mexican food,,, then this is the spot to go... great prices, good portions, satisfying taste. more
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Breaking all the foodie rules... and loving every minute 1/31/2010

I should be ashamed. Should hide it from my foodie friends who live by taco trucks and authentic Mexican eateries that don't have carrots in their chicken fajitas. I shouldn't like it, or the distinct ""gringo"" vibe that permeates the premises of the original El Cholo near USC. But I do. The food isn't anything that will change my life, but when I dine there, I'm not looking for the ultimate epicurean experience. I dine at El Cholo for a perfectly respectable plate of chicken chimichangas, the strong margaritas that make me forget I only drink wine, and for the fun atmosphere that says, ""Hey, it's okay to be just above average."" Pros: Chicken chimichangas, strong margaritas, fun ambiance more
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Huge portions 12/17/2009

Great place for lunch or for a casual dinner with family or with a group. Food was great, portions huge! And margaritas taste as they should.... Mmm! Service was a little slow, but friendly. And once we ordered, the food did come quickly... I recommend the Blue corn enchiladas. Little pricier than some other mexican restaurants, about $15 a plate for lunch, but the portions are more than fair for what you pay. I could not finish my meal, though trust me, I tried! Pros: Good Mexican food, relaxed atmosphere Cons: somewhat slow on the service more
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El Cholo Restaurant is wonderful for Mexican Food! 7/29/2009

Nachos, boy are they great. Margaritas are tasty!! It's a charming place to have really good Mexican food. Excellent service, never a problem. Great take out too! more
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YUM-O- But Crazy A Loud Place 4 Sure! 5/28/2009

Awesome place on a Friday night! Food was really good. Took a while to get in. The Enchiladas and Chips and Salsa Rocked My World! Great Tequilas selection and great mix of people! It definitely seemed like a youthful spot. I would recommend but wear your earplugs if you don't like the noise and stay away if you can't take a frisky drunk crowd. more
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The Original 2/2/2009

I have been going here for over 40 years. The menu has changed little. The courtyard atmosphere is great as is the food. In a busy area - plenty of parking available. more
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Best TexMex in LA 1/19/2009

love to go there with friends and family. they have excellent texmex and service is good. love the margarita especial and sonoma nachos are fabulous. they have a great patio and there is lots lots lots of space. Pros: Thumbs up more
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Best Margarita! 10/14/2008

I have always been intrigued by this place from the outside and after years of walking by, finally went! It was a little more casual inside than I expected, but homey and comfortable. We were seated upstairs in a cove like part and it felt really private. I had a veggie burrito and it was the size of my head and really good!!! I think it's a great value for the money. Also, the margaritas are some of the best I've ever had!!! Pros: Great service and food...and Margaritas!! Cons: I'd find street parking and skip the valet. more
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Grab some friends a couch and a party platter! 6/1/2008

Although the gorgeous waitresses sport some of the most UNflattering ruffles, the atmosphere, service, cuisine, and size will provide for you and your party the perfect watering hole complete with comfy couches, pomegranete margaritas, and a sampler platter that you can grub on with at least 3 others and still feel full. Stop in after work and meet some co-workers or old friends and yeah, you can catch the game if that is what you're into. more
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Better than I thought 5/22/2008

I'm not a huge fan of Mexican food, but I enjoyed my trip to El Cholo. The restaurant is homey and comfortable. The tables are private and the restaurant is very well decorated. The food was really good and our waitress was very nice! Pros: Food, decor, service more
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Best Margaritas In Town 5/7/2008

El Cholo has been around for years and with so much competition, it is not hard to figure out why it is still one of the best in L.A. I love its select menu, but the Margaritas are the bomb!\r \r I also love their melt in your mouth tamales. It is still one of my favorites for family gathering. more
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Consistently good food and drink at a fair price 5/1/2008

Okay, I've read some of the reviews here -- several made me angry -- so I'm throwing in my '2 cents': Pros: Good food, good drinks, location, service, parking Cons: Cantina can be crowded and noisy at times more
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HORRENDOUS FOOD 5/1/2008

The food is horrendous! I am Mexican and I love our food; everyone talks about this place but the food is awful. It is tasteless, no zest! It is nowhere in being authentic. I had a TACO and I hated it that I ordered the burrito and that was worse. I packed away both items and threw them out when I got home. The drinks are another thing though, they were great, but in that case just stay at the bar, drinking and eating chips and if you drink enough then order their watery guacamole. DO not go to this place, stay home and save money unless you want a good drink. Pros: drinks Cons: food more
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Mexican food traditions with an LA Twist 4/28/2008

The food at El Chollo is awesome. It's an old school authentic look with the staff dressed accordingly. Noisy and fun. The Margaritas are signature and the bar area is usually happening during Hapy Hour. Fall in and grab the 7-Layer dip, you'll be pleased that you did! more
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It's very interesting ....... 4/20/2008

how or why people rated this place high. Yeah the guacamole was tasty and so was every thing else....... but..... to me and my wife, we thought this place and the food was pretty much standard ordinary, and yes, we've had better. Nothing here at El Chollo really jumped out at us. The decor looked like any other mexican restaurant we've been to. In a nutshell, this place was O.K., nothing spectacular. And quite frankly, we don't critique restaurants by their Margaritas. We had beers, basically because I saw others with their Margaritas and they looked a little puny. I like things that are BIG & BOLD! So needless to say, we'll continue on our trek for the ultimate mexican restaurant. Please remember, all these remarks are only our honest opinions...... Cheers! Pros: Guac was good Cons: service a little slow, but O.K. more
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Mexican Restaurant 2/21/2008

El Cholo was a destination of a company dinner. We had a great time and everyone, I think over 20 of us had great food. There were no complaints and it was quiet when the food came, which means everyone is eating and happy. Of course the drinks were just as good. more
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Dependable, great for a family dinner 2/5/2008

I have been going to El Cholo for over 20 years. The atmosphere is pleasant and the staff is very friendly. You're not going to find unique Mexican food here (i.e. menudo) but you will find Gringo-friendly Mexican food - something the whole family can enjoy without heartburn. There is valet parking, but that fills up fast. This is a perfect place to bring out of town guests. Try the margaritas! If you need a little more spice, ask for a side of jalapenos! more
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El Roa.cholo 1/20/2008

I did not order a side of r o a c h, but a r o a c h leg appeared on my plate! Who knows where the rest of the r o a c h was. Needless to say, I will not be returning to El Cholo. Too bad, because the margaritas were great! Pros: margaritas Cons: found r o a c h leg in food, parking more
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Menu for El Cholo Restaurant


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Hungry hordes line up at this L.A. institution for potent margaritas and famous green-corn tamales.

Owner Message

  • "...this 'true institution' continues to produce 'green corn tamales straight from heaven' and the 'best, strongest margaritas in LA' after over 75 years 'these guys have got it down!'...."
    - Zagat Restaurant Guide

Editorial

  • In Short
    Low ceilings and exposed wood beams crown this venerable family-owned restaurant, with vintage photos of L.A. and memorabilia lining the colorful walls. High-back booths fill the...

  • 5/2/2008 Provided by Citysearch
Additional information
  • Hours: Monday - Thursday: 11:00am - 10:00pm Friday - Saturday: 11:00am - 11:00pm Sunday: 11:00am ??? 9:00pm
  • Payments: Diner's Club, Visa, American Express, Master Card, Discover
  • Neighborhoods: Central LA, Mid City
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