Tlapazola Grill

A friend and I wanted Oaxacan food for lunch today and after considering going to guelaguetza which has a branch in the same neighborhood, we settled on trying Tlapazola which he heard good things about. Not to be hyperbolic, but really the only good thing that I can say about the place was the agua frescas were nice and refreshing and the wait staff was attentive. The food was not very good at all though. I ordered the carnitas which I have had many, many times over the years and pretty much know what I am getting. Perhaps I am unaware of the style of preparation but when they brought the plate to me the pork was steamed or boiled with very little flavor. I have always known carnitas to be roasted pork with nice caramelization, not steamed. The other problem was that the dish had very little seasoning and little flavor. My friend's dish (a combo plate) was likewise very bland. I very seldom write negative reviews, but my experience was pretty much the complete opposite of most of the people on this site. Perhaps I caught them on an off day or the dishes we ordered were not their best ones, but from this experience I don't think I will be coming back. more

As of today, citysearch says this restaurant is closed. It is not. Perhaps someone else who loves their food as much as I do is perpetuating a lie to try and keep this gem a secret and avoid overcrowding. Excellent service and a great selection of tequila (try Don Eduardo) make this restaurant a place I enjoy visiting whenever I have the chance. Love their bay scallop ceviche! Pros: delicious, perfectly-prepared dishes, fresh ingredients more

Exelent food and great service!! higly recomended.. you should try this place out if you are craving some good food from Oaxaca Pros: Food & service more

I went to Tlapazola for the first time this week even though I've lived 1 block from it for a long time. I am so glad I ventured in - the food is great! I had the chicken with mole and it was excellent (I love mole), and my date had the carne asada (also excellent). The margaritas were also good. The service was excellent and the waitstaff couldn't have been more attentive and friendly. At the end of the meal a waiter brought us free dessert and said the chef sent it since we are neighbors! Two of us had margaritas and entrees for under $50 - awesome. I will definitely be going back to Tlapazola frequently! Pros: Food, service, value Cons: None! more

You won't find burritos enchalada's and tacos here. Catus salad, hierloom tomato salad, scallops with mole... more

Impressed over 2 visits by the food and service, I contacted them to organize a retirement party. The most unsatisfying experience followed. After a 10 minute conversation with the manager,Edwin, in which I conveyed my budget, Edwin promised I'd have an e-mail with a proposal within 2 days. 4 days passed before I got an email on the 5th day. He had gone over my budget by 25%. I accepted his proposal. Since I know an excellent bakery, I asked what the adjustment and what any plating fee would be if I provided a cake for dessert instead of using their cake. At that time, Edwin responded with a very unpleasant e-mail pretty much accusing me of being cheap.\r \r All subsequent e-mails were not responded to. Two days before the event, when I sent me an anticipated count, there was no response. I couldn't be sure if we were actually expected. At that point, I was so unhappy with his response that I would have happily moved the event once the guests arrived to another location had they not been expecting us.\r \r During our event, they asked us to keep down the volume. My guests were not especially loud. If they have a problem with large groups having conversations, they should have declined my business.\r \r They implied that we were taking business away from them even though the restaurant was never full (it was a Wednesday night) with at least 6 2 and 4 tops available throughout the evening.\r \r They charged us for 4 dinners more than we had guests. I estimated 28, 21 showed, they actually only had seating set up for 24.\r \r DO NOT use this place for any large events. Edwin does not understand customer service, let alone regular communication etiquette. I am so disgusted with them, I will not dine there again.\r \r If I love a place, I will recommend them to everyone, like Angelini Osteria, Hide Sushi, and Hop Woo, (Jean-George and Gotham B&G in NYC) in the hopes that they will stay open and thrive. Tlapazola, good food, nightmarish management. Pros: Good food, gracious wait-staff Cons: Terrible rude management more

I didn't love this place. I'd heard a lot about it, but on a recent visit for dinner, I thought it was a little outdated. Other Oaxacan food in LA seems so much more exciting. The appetizer of the Masa pancake was indeed spectacular, but my swordfish was really fishy, the mole sauce wasn't anything to write home about, and my wine was really acidic. Dessert was fine, though, and overall the place is fine, just not spectacular. Pros: Upscale mexican, ambience Cons: Food seems outdated more

Great Oaxacan with fresh ingredients, good fish, carne asada. Accomodating staff, kid friendly. more

everythings fresh, including the salsa. the food is amazing. the margueritas are bomb also more

I have lived right down the street from this place and had never been there until about two weeks ago. Now it is my favorite place to go. My boyfriend and I have been there 3 times in the last couple weeks. The food is amazing! It is so fresh and innovative for a mexican restaurant. They have great specails. One of my trips there I tried one of the specials which was the lamb. It was delicious! They have a wide variety of entrees of their regular menu. Great dishes such as many fresh fishes, lobster enchilades, the most flavorful guacamole, and other tradional mexican fare. The drinks are really good too. The house margarita is one of the best I have ever had. My boyfriend liked the Belgium beers. I tried a dessert this last time, the tres leche cake and it was so creamy and decadent (obviously homemade). The service is so kind and deligent. My only complaint is why didn't we discover this wonderful place long ago? Pros: Wonderful food, very fresh. Service is great, relaxing atmoshpere Cons: no cons more

This is a great place to take people who ""Don't like Mexican Food"" because it tastes nothing like typical Cali or Tex-mex fare. In addition to Oaxacan favorites like mole, the menu includes dishes which have an International flavor and beat some of the best restaurants in LA. The presentation is amazing, with sauces artistically decorating the plates. It's gourmet food at a reasonable price and the service is great. Pros: Food, Food, Food Cons: Stripmall entrance more

This small gem tucked inside of a shopping center is a must try for those who like sensible mexican food. The appetizers are very good, the masa pancakes with shrimp and the well balanced tortilla soup are two of my favorite. The chile relleno is crispy, the enchiladas with the mole sauce is great. They don't smother the mole sauce onto the entree. The daily specials change but usually you will find lamb with a red mole reduction and fresh seafood. The margaritas are excellant, one of my favorites and the tequila selection is extensive. Make reservations in the weekends because it gets really busy. It's a bargain considering how well the food is prepared. The staff has always been great, friendly and accomodating. One of my favorite aspects of this place is that it is not pretentious and the ambiance is always happy but it does not get overbearingly loud. Give it a try. Pros: The margaritas and the food Cons: Parking more

I was so pleasantly surprised by this place tucked into a mini mall. Being a Weight Watcher, I thought I was going to ruin my daily points on dinner, but when it arived, it was extremely fresh and healthy! Not drowning in cheese and heavy sauces- and yummy! more

Frou frou people hung up on sheik decor beware - this place is for serious eaters. The unadorned dining area is homey, but the menu is inventive. Specials like shrimp and octopus ceviche and two mole sea bass are exquisite. And standard menu items like the lobster enchiladas are also great. Also opt for a top shelf magarita because this place has a tequila list that can't be beat. Go! Pros: Delicious food, friendly service Cons: Smallish more

From the outside, it looks like there should be a man behind a tile counter serving you a burrito wrapped in foil, but quite honestly I didn't understand what Mexican fine dining could be until I came here. Haven't eaten much on the actual menu because the specials are uniformly superb! I recommend any of their seafood and don't overlook any salad featuring jicama. I'm not usually a huge fan of deserts in restaurants, but I never fail to save room when I come here. more

I cannot get enough of this exquisite cuisine. Delicious!!! I can't stop talking about it. have to recommend it to everyone. Cons: Crowded on weekends more

Very good Marg's -you can't go wrong at this restaurant. All the reviews before me are accurate. Excellent food, excellent service. more

This little hole in the wall has AMAZING mexican food, the friendliest staff and fantastic margaritas and great dessert. Although a bit crowded you'll be too busy appreciating all the good things this place has to offfer. Pros: FOOD, service, margaritas more

A genuine find. Outstanding service and the food to match. Creative and original. You want to start at the top of the menu and go right through it. By coincidence going there tomorrow night. more

I found Tlapazola Grill years ago when they were in a hole on Lincoln Blvd. Well, they have only gotten better, and now located in a much nicer location in West LA on Gateway. There is no doubt in my mind that Tlapazola is THE BEST Mexican food in L.A. The food is not your typical greasy Mexican fare. Everything is prepared perfectly and beautifully. The presentation is what you would expect in a four star restaurant - at a fraction of the price. I especially like the fish dishes. They are always fresh, not overcooked and prepared with wonderful sauces that don't overpower the food. Try it - you won't be sorry!!! Pros: Fresh, Good Value more