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...

Yum.. 1/19/2008

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Yum.. 1/19/2008

eviep Provided by Partner
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Authentic and fun atmosphere, great drinks 10/11/2007

I definitely like this location over the other one in santa monica. It feels more authentic in that particular neighborhood, but of course all the waiters are in their formal mexican ware no matter what. Its a fun, relaxed atmosphere, the food is great but the drinks are excellent. Many would agree they are so good, on my way out of the restaurant I saw an older lady about 60 or so laying on the walkway (just a little too many drinks for her). So needless to say, they have tasty and strong margaritas. Pros: atmosphere, booths, drinks Cons: valet more
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I love EVERYTHING. The green corn tamales are fantastic ... 7/25/2007

I love EVERYTHING. The green corn tamales are fantastic & it's sad that they're seasonal. The aged cheese... more
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I love EVERYTHING. The green corn tamales are fantastic ... 7/25/2007

resolvedfreedom Provided by Partner
I love EVERYTHING. The green corn tamales are fantastic & it's sad that they're seasonal. The aged cheese quesadilla also comes with this fantast... more
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Good food. Beautiful restaurant. 7/17/2007

A really fun place to go!! I loved the decor. Service was good. I liked my fajitas & My margarita was just fine. Food could've been more authentic for my taste, maybe more spices. But this place is a good bet :) I enjoyed it. You're much better off coming to this location than any of the other ones. Pros: nice atmosphere Cons: can't complain more
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nice place 7/9/2007

El Cholo is a nice place to go, I didn't feel the service was up to par, Food was ok, needed more to choose from. felt like the same old thing. I was expected to be wowed & it didn't happen. I would go again if I was in the area. Pros: beautiful, colorful Cons: just an ok place. more
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Great Traditional Mexican Food 7/5/2007

This is the place you must go if you want authentic LA mexican food. The setting is amazing, the history is wonderful, and the food is great! Not the same feeling at the other locations, you must go to the original El Cholo! more
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Green corn tamales and Pina Coladas 6/14/2007

I love this place because they have the best pina coladas! and it is a great place for groups. I like to go during the summer because it is the only time of the year that they serve green corn tamales, which are amazing. Also, make sure that you get the guacamole. They make it fresh at your table! Pros: Great drinks and food, good service Cons: Only valet or street parking is available more
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great burritto, wow 6/6/2007

Margaritas with lots of booze, too fun. Enjoy the generous helpings of everything, but take some breath mints... more
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So much potential to improve its fare 4/5/2007

I visited the restaurant today in a big group and was so dissapointed with the overall food. The salsa that they serve along with the chips came straight from a can or a supermart carton. Infact the tomato sauce on my Chile Relleno as well was sour and tasted so out of the bottle. The greens on the side were wilted and the side of refired beans was ordinary. Pros: Ambience Cons: Food more
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DO NOT VALET HERE! 12/20/2006

I had a fun time at happy hour last Friday, 12/15. Hanging out with a few people I met from jury duty. The margaritas were good, not strong. The appetizers were awesome. Chips and salsa baby! However, my experience with the valet service sucked donkey s**t! I hate valeting, but there were no parking around the area. For some odd reason, I had a feeling that this experience would be bad. Sure enough, when I got into my car and drove out of the driveway, I noticed a dollar bill on floor of my passenger side. I knew exactly what happened. I immediately checked my ashtray to see if my dollar bills were there. Not to my surprise, it was not. I normally keep around 4 singles in the ashtray. They were there when i valeted, but they were gone when I left the restaurant. Well, they managed to goof the hijack when they dropped one single. I can't believe that load of crock. I didn't bother to go back because it's my words against theirs. So, screw it. I'm not coming back for sure. So, a lesson was learned. DO NOT VALET HERE!!! THEY'LL JACK WHATEVER CHANGE YOU HAVE IN YOUR CAR! Pros: Chips and salsa, margaritas Cons: Valet service more
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Best Appetizers and Food 11/25/2006

El Cholo has the best appetizers and staff ever! I'm not a huge fan of Mexican food, but this place is really good, and I'm always looking forward to going there every month with my friends. They also are very involved in the community by helping out with a nonprofit for kids that we work with. Great food, great staff! Pros: Food, Staff, Service, Decor more
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I Don't Care If It's Not Authentic -- It's Delicious 11/4/2006

Regardless of the fight over its authenticity, all I know is that El Cholo's food is always fresh, savory and delicious. Their free starter of freshly fried tortilla chips and slightly spicy salsa will leave a film of oil along the roof of your mouth -- but you'll keep eating, it's that good. The guacamole is yummy, as are the cheese enchiladas, flautas, fajitas. I love the melted cheese over my refried beans and rice sides! People go crazy for the tamales they only have for a limited time one season of the year, but I'm not really a fan. Regardless...the best margaritas I've ever tried. And of course, this is THE place to go if you're a USC student with ID: Half off entrees M-Th after 4 p.m. more
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Average Mexican food 11/2/2006

This places serves average mexican food. Great if you are in a group or need an easy place to go, but there are better places for real mexican food. more
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Best Green Corn Tamales 10/6/2006

I am from Arizona and have grown up eating green corn tamales and El Cholo's Arizona style green corn tamales are better than my nana's! If you go to El Cholo and the GC tamales are in season, please do yourself a favor and try one. more
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Green Corn Tamales to die for! 9/13/2006

The food here is consistently excellent. The green corn tamales are so delicious. You can tell that they are made out of fresh corn. They are definitely worth a try. THe drinks are strong. I especially like their strawberry margarita. I have only been disappointed once (with the sangria). Also, I am not a fan of the valet parking but you really have no other choice. Pros: green corn tamales, food, drinks Cons: valet, service is sometimes slow, sangria more
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Consistently excellent and worth the wait 9/4/2006

I've been here several times in the last few years, and every time its the same story. The waits are SO long that by the time I am seated I question whether or not ANY meal is worth it. But, without fail, the food is sensational and scrumptious and never disappoints. The prices are somewhat high considering the going rate for tacos in Los Angeles, but the portion size plus the careful attention to details and flavors make it worth the time and money. Pros: Authentic cuisine and consistent quality Cons: Long waits, slow service more
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best nights r Friday and Monday 8/9/2006

my first real job in the restaurant business more
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My favorite Mexican restaurant in L.A. 8/6/2006

I live near this El Cholo location, and I eat here a few times a month. I think their margaritas are the best. I love their chips and salsa. I've had things on the menu that I didn't care for, but I love the shrimp fajitas. All of their enchiladas are the bomb. I think it is way better than all the other Mexican food I've eaten in L.A. I always bring friends visiting from out of town. I don't know anyone that likes Mexican food that doesn't love El Cholo. Pros: Margaritas, chips and salsa Cons: wish they were open later 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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