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...

Worst Mexican food place ever 7/18/2006

This is the worst mexican food restaurant i've ever been to. The food is extremely salty, the customer service is awful and the menu is very limited. I was served cold food on several occasions and all their items are overpriced. If you want to go to a restaurant just to sit and have a beer, this is the place to go... they can't mess up that order. Everything else is awful. Pros: The place is clean. Cons: The food is awful and too expensive. more
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Fake Wannabe Mexican Food 7/11/2006

I went to El Cholo because all of my friends had good things to say about their food. I was extremely disappointed to find that their food tastes like four day old wannabe Mexican food. Noting beats the mom and pop real Mexican restaurants where everything tastes fresh. I wouldnt recommend El Cholo to anyone who wants to eat real Mexican food. I dont see what all the fuss is about. The only thing thats good is their alcoholic beverages. Pros: alcoholic drinks are great, friendly atmosphere; great place to meet friends for drinks Cons: Food tastes like it's four days old and not authentic Mexican recipes more
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best mexican 5/10/2006

the location is not the best, but the food is pretty damn good- the service is ok but for the price very good more
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Margaritas are Great 3/10/2006

The food is bland compared to authentic Mexican food. The Enchiladas, tacos and burritos are all average. The history and the ambience is probably the best this about this location. Try other restaurants if you want Mexican. Pros: Anbience, Margaritas, History Cons: Bland , No Variety, Basic menu more
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Good Food - Great Margaritas 11/16/2005

Their food is traditional Mexican food - better than any other place around. But you don't have to go to LA to experience El Cholo. Being born and raised in So. Cal. I have been eating at El Cholo in La Habra on Whittier Blvd. since I was little. I suggest the traditional rolled Tacos. They are the best. And the Margaritas ain't bad either! Pros: Tacos, Margaritas, More than 1 location Cons: Parking not great more
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Great Authentic Mexican Food! 11/8/2005

Great Margaritas! One of the top 5 Mexican restaurants in Los Angeles. Great Service! Good All-Around! more
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Nice place 6/29/2005

The foof in this restaurant is really good. The price is a bit high, but its ok. The parking is a bit of a problem when the restaurant is too crowded. more
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I love El Cholo! 4/27/2005

El Cholo is my absolute favorite restaurant in El Cholo. Not only is the food rediculously good (I wait all year for it to turn May 1 so I can order the green corn tamales) but the margaritas are wonderful and strong. I try to come here at least once a month. Yes, the only downside is that the booths are kinda stiff, so I usually sit on the patio. Pros: GREEN CORN TAMALES, Margaritas, Value Cons: Stiff booths more
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asd 4/12/2005

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Authentic Mexican Fare 3/13/2005

For those times when I want the real thing, I travel to El Cholo of Hollywood, far and away my favorite Mexican restaurant in Los Angeles. Even though there are branches in Pasadena and Santa Monica, it just doesn't seem as tasty or authentic as in the original location. The bar is always hopping with margaritas that always get raves. The fajitas are outstanding and come sizzling enough to fog up your glasses. The chips and salsa served prior to the meal are extremely addicting, beware! But far and away, my favorite is the green corn tamale, served seasonal in midyear. I always go in the summer for my birthday and am never disappointed at these sweet treats which I douse with sour cream. Yum. And just when you're so full you think you can't eat anything else, a sinful praline comes along with your check (maybe they want you sugared out before you see the bill which isn't necessarily cheap -- but worth it). I always take out of towners to El Cholo and they always come back wa more
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ok 2/24/2005

Their food is not bad. However, I don't undertand why it has such high ratings. It's not extraordianry food. It's just ok. Not authentic either. more
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If you like to chat after you eat... 1/31/2005

If you like long chats after you eat, nursing your favorite beverage, then El Cholo is the spot! They don't pressure you, or make you adhere to the unspoken 45 minutes from seating to clearing the plates away thing. One of my companions said it reminded her of being in France, where a meal is an experience of conversation and cuisine. I had Annie's Early California Enchilada: a tasty veggie medley of spinach, onions and zucchini smothered in a lovely corn sauce and Jack Cheese. The black beans and Spanish rice were nice too. Recommendation: Females well endowed with ""bodily accessories,"" SHOULD NOT GET A BOOTH. They are most unforgiving, and very uncomfortable. Lastly, the valet parking was not free for us between 11 and 3. Maybe it's because we ended up staying for 4 hours, talking and laughing as servers carrying sizzling hot plates of fajitas whizzed by Pros: Nice Servers, Long Chats OK, VALUE Cons: SNUG BOOTHS more
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Terrible Food. 7/3/2004

I went to dinner at El Cholo, after somebody raved to me about it and I was very dissapointed with the food. It had no tase at all. I don't understand how it can be considered an institution, since it has been open for so long. As A mexican, I am embarrassed that people are being told that this is good mexican food. And, its amazing that the restaurant was pretty full at lunchtime. I guess the margaritas are good and the waiters are nice but that's about it. more
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El Cholo 6/21/2004

I've been twice so far to the El Cholo on Western and both times I've been very pleased with my food. I've had the enhilada/relleno combo and the fajitas and they were both very good and came in generous sized portions. Also, my family is vegetarian and El Cholo has a good selection beyond just the cheese enchilada/chile relleno. The margaritas were good & strong too. The only questionable aspect might be the service. It wasn't blatantly horrible but sometimes you do find yourself craning your neck looking for your waiter/-ess. more
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El cholo 3/17/2004

Very bland food, nice atmosphere, and so-so service did not make a good dining experience. Pros: good margarita Cons: , mediocre service, too long a wait more
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at last... 2/15/2004

I have been going to the original location since it was so small my mom would stand us in line to wait to get in on the street! When I finally was old enough to get a Margarita I knew it had all been worth waiting for. The beef tacos, the green corn tamales! Wow! Pros: Ambience & space, Good variety of dishe, Good food, drinks Cons: , Too much ice!!, Kids can be loud! more
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Authentic food, great flavors 2/8/2004

I've been to El Cholo a couple of times, and I have also had their famous green corn tamales. They were great, a little heavy on the cheese, but the flavors were still very robust and authentic. This restaurant is an example of how simple mexican food can be very good. I don't want to overrate it though, it's not ""a must"" if you're in LA- but somewhere to check out. Ambience is great to: live band that walks around the restaurant playing requests, great decor, and authentic wall designs. Pros: Good food, Good atmosphere more
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Excellent Restuarant 2/6/2004

This is one of my favorite restuarants. They have excellent authentic style mexican food and the best Margaritas ever. Pros: Good Food, Great Prices, Excellent Margaritas more
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HMMMMM HMMMMM HMMMMM 9/5/2003

El Cholo's offers a flavor and environment that no other mexican restaurant in L.A. has. The food is seasoned to perfection and they have the BEST margaritas ever!! more
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El Cholo 9/5/2003

Everyone chose El Cholo on Western Ave, now that is the Original El Cholo full of all the history.I want people to experience El Cholo, Pasadena. I truly believe that what Blair Sailsbery has done for the El Cholo, Pasadena is fantastic! Once you have experienced the Pasadena El Cholo the original will be a memory. the ambience that is created in the Pasadena location always has you coming back for more. When you can go to a restaurant and feel so welcomed you know you will be a repeat customer. Pros: Original Restaurant, great Margaritas Cons: bad parking, older building 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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