El Compadre Restaurant
7408 W Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90046 (323) 874-7924
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 11:00 a.m.-2:00 a.m. - Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: No
- Takes Reservations: Yes
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: Yes
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: Yes
- Good for: Dinner
- Alcohol: Full Bar
162 reviews
Los Angeles, CA
"So killer. Repeat So Killer Sonora style enchiladas-chicken encholdas with several different types of sauce, and fried egg on top. The…" read more »
116 Reviews for El Compadre Restaurant
I'm a huge fan of their flaming margaritas!!! They are awesome! I've been here many times bringing visitors here to experience the margaritas. The food is all right.... not the healthiest choice, that's for sure =)
it's rather dimly lit and borders on being too dark..it's generally not a good sign when you have to hold the menu 2-3 inches in front of your face in order to read it. however all was forgiven once our server brought out the margaritas and the darkness definitely made more sense...they bring 'em out flaming! ole!
3 flamers in and i was done. (did i really just say that?) the food is a sloppy mess but i don't think you're really supposed to come here for the food. i appreciated the drinks, red-vinyl booths and tacky mexican decorations more than anything.
on our way out i kinda felt like a vampire being exposed to sunlight...but it was well worth it thanks to mi..or should i say, "el" compadre. salud.
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What the hell is all of the hype about? Service was horrible (asked for no cheese on the beans and on 2 different orders placed at 2 different times, guess what....cheese on both.)
Now, I am not some big cry baby but when you ask for that, then you ask for no slat on the marg and you get it, there is a problem.
The rice was mushy, barely warm and just gross. We had to ask for everything twice!
The place was packed and it was 11:00 on a Thursday.
The margarits had to be the most limey, gross things I had ever had. We had to 'pound' about half it it and fill it up with water just to dilute it.
I know I am the 1 in a million but if the place is that great, it should be great all of the time. All hype, plenty of bull.
I see a lot of reviews stating this isn't authentic Mexican food... I have to argue with that statement a little... The Mexican food here isn't good, but it is about what you 'd get at a dive in TJ or Nogales.. which scares me a little.
Surprisingly enough, finding good authentic Mexican food in Socal is really tough... being from AZ and living in a border town for a decade or so... I grew up on the stuff...but out here it's like they gringofy it all... sup with that?
This is one of the first places I've been that I think may use lard.... ha ha.. they also serve flamboyant margaritas~yup, real flamers~ I guess that may not be authentic ...but they are pretty good.
So, again, with that said, the food is Mexican all right, but it's just not very good Mexican... then again it's really cheap. I don't think you come so much for the food, but for the spot on ambiance.
It 's dark and quaint, with cozy booths and lots of rojo accents.. sometimes they even have a Mariachi band..
As for the service....Well, first off the place is always packed, so there's always a wait, and it's always loud... so does the service suffer? Yes, it does.
The service sucks. Besides my Brooklyn waitress calling me "sweety", which I can't stand unless I know the person or they are a senior citizen... the food will usually take forever and it coming out cold is pretty much the norm..
Will I come here anyway?
Yes, I will, though the food isn't great and the service sucks, it's tolerable, and the atmosphere brings me back to good times.... oh, and I can gorge on the free chips and salsa and order ala carte! F-yeah!
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Great, one of a kind Hard Tacos.... Definitely order some up if you get the chance.
Other than that I think it is just par for the rest of the menu. LA just has one too many Mexican options to give this place anything more.
+ wait staff is really nice and fast.
"All of your reviews are for 4 or 5 stars. Isn't there anyplace that you don't love?" I was asked recently.
"Well, I don't like reviewing places that I don't like." I explained. "I feel better about sharing a place I love." Not the opposite. Sharing a place I hate puts me at the same level of those mindless blogs that just rant and rave at the rate of gasoline or those troll-full threads about how McCain is old and Obama too young.
"Besides, wouldn't you rather read about a place that is nice than a place that isn't?" I challenged.
"Yes, but I'd also like to know if a place is below par. So I know not to go." This person soundly rebutted.
"Fine. I'll write one for you." One that's not 4 or 5 stars.
El Compadre
by Duffy D
"Oh wow! Look! It's so cute in here! Little Mariachi band playing! Oh, neat, the Margaritas are on fire - that's weird and intriguing - gotta order one of those! Kinda cramped in here, but that's ok, I guess. Let's have a look at the menu. Moderately priced, ok, that's fine. Where's the waiter, I've been here for like, 15 minutes. There he is! Hello senior, can I get the Steak Burrito? Oh, and a Margarita with salt on the rim? Ok, the waiter was kinda rude, no harm. Ah! Here's my margie! Gotta love the novelty of it on fire. And it's kinda good! Alright! Food is (finally) here! Hmmmm .... it's ok. Nothing to write home about. Check please! Thanks (20 minutes later)! Time to leave ... lovely, that scary looking dude just gave me the stink eye for no apparent reason and the back patio is full of douchey-looking 'I just moved to Hollywood to pursue a career in being an asshole' guys.
"And the parking sucks."
There, friend. (You know who you are.) A review that's not 4 or 5 stars:
3 stars. One for the band, one for the food being decent and one for lighting my drink on fire and not tasting like .... fire.
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In the City of Angels, the influence of Mexican culture and food is evident. One might gauge a restaurant's quality based on it's authenticity, considering all the options out there.
Well, I'm not Mexican and can't really comment on authenticity, but I can comment on low prices, huge portions, delicious food, and flaming drinks (yes, FLAMING, and I don't mean WeHo style!)
I find myself choosing this restaurant time after time to meet up with friends after work for some cheap yummy Mexican and washing it down with ice cold margaritas. Although there are many choices out there, El Compadre is usually mine!
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Grade: B
Reason: The waiters and waitresses that I have always had have told me that there is no citrus in the kitchen. I find it suspicious, all things considered, but I have not had a single allergic reaction from their food.
I go here for the drinks and the crowd more than the food. But I want to comment that the chips come out hot and are amazing. All three stars are for those warm tortilla chips.
Not as good as the lines suggest. You can get flaming margaritas, which is OK I guess, but the food isn't any better than say Acapulco, where you can get $2 margaritas.
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I love this place! Sure there is always a wait and the margaritas are over priced but it's got a great vibe! Dark booths and great salas. One of my favorite places to splurge.
FLAMING MARGARITAS!!! delicious and strong, too. I had the steak quesadilla and it was a large serving with rice and beans. very delicious. it's very dark inside so be careful if you are walking in from the sunny street. yums.
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Ok, so here's the deal: as soon as you get the menu, flip to the back page and check out the things they serve a la carte. The tamales are huge and delicious and you can get two of them for a little bit more than 6 dollars as I recall. The flaming margaritas are delicious and tacky. This place isn't for everyone, but its good for a weeknight if you're craving Mexican.
HORRIBLE! oh my god. when i read decent reviews with words like "authentic" i actually scrolled up to see if i had the right page! i'm such an easy reviewer too! i barely have taste buds -- i consider practically anything as having flavor! dear god!
okay here's the scoop:
went here with a date, wanted to grab some mexican ... looked like a fun hidden place when we walked inside. it was a loud, exciting atmosphere with nice hosts who sat us right away. good sign! we got ordered diet coke -- neither of drink so i can't rave about the flaming margaritas unfortunately! -- and they were flat. always a bust. eventually someone took our order. eventually being the operative word. i order chicken fajitas and he orders a fatty burrito. my fajitas came with soup.
sooo the soup never came. the fajitas did though. they had so, so little flavor and they tasted overly salted so make up for it. my date's burrito wasn't too fabulous either. so we thought we'd ask for the soup and see if it was any better. they accused us of already receiving it! we said there was no cup on the table, we had never gotten it, what were they talking about?? anyway, they brought it a bit later and it was cold. like not luke warm but totally cold. i didn't even care. i was fully over the whole scene.
the bill came ages later. like i'm not trying to be a bitch about it. it took forever and i ended up snuggling into his arm and asking, "do you think we'll ever get out of here?" he was busy with some other party behind us, apparently.
sooo lousy, man. and if the food had been good, i wouldn't have cared about the service. i really wouldn't have. but everything from the old old rice and beans to the stale chips just sucked.
i'm seriously never going back. even though it is open late. and i'm always trying to find more late night eateries aside from freds and swingers and crap. such a goddamn disappointment.
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Not the best mexican food I have ever had, but not the worst. Excellent chips and salsa (little spicy) Atmosphere isn't bad if your looking for another dark L.A. restaurant filled with want to be actors, directors and producers.
Loser Of The Year Award: goes to the hostess who answers the phone and takes the go orders. Not only is she one of the rudest people I have ever spoke to, but her I.Q. is not much higher then your basic turtle's. Multiple times has she screwed up my order even after repeating it back to me, and the last time I ordered she even over charged me.
I have continued to go back because of convience, but is the abuse worth it? You decide.
P.S. The parking sucks.
I have been to el compadre quite a few times and am definitely a fan! the atmosphere is better than the food, but its still great! Almost every night there is a live mariachi band playing some great tunes, always a good crowd and never deserted. The drinks are great! Very strong and the flaming margarita is definitely worth it! Very awesome! It's a good place to go out with friends or on a date, or with a big group. It is very good at catering to all sorts of outings!
Definitely a fan!
we live in CALIFORNIA!!! COME ON people there is really authentic mexicanfood and this is not it! I will admit I liked it at first due to the drink prices and the chips and salsa fill you up so you dont usually taste the mediocre food. Well here comes my big issue with the place. I am a tequila drinker and I dont count Patron. I like expensive, top shelf tequilas. SO I order my alltime fave of Don Julio 1942 for $18 a shot. THe priceis standard for the quality of the drink. Well I must find the places that water their alcos down but this wasnt even the same tewuila. It was a blanco/silver color when supposed to be anejo and it was horrid. I couldnt even drink it and they wouldnt give me my money back. So NEVER againwill we go there. We would rather drive to the other side of town to Malo and have REAL AUTHENTIC mexican food than come to El Compadre a block away from my house. And anyone who lives in HOllywood knows what I mean by that comment too. Mexican places are abundant so I will skip that place no prob...oh and isnt their rating a B?????
Typical divey Mexican experience that is oh-so-LA. I think the flaming margaritas are a nice touch (and a good reason to charge $9 for crap tequila). My beer drinking friend insisted that they deliver his Tecate on fire. They were happy to oblige. When the check came, we were all a little too inebriated to notice if they charged extra for the fiery accoutrement. Food was tolerable, but I must point out that I enjoyed how my fajitas came out on a plate rather than a sizzling cast iron platter, thus eliminating the need for a future wardrobe change. Excellent. Live music heightened my dislike for the Mexican Mariachi genre. Interesting crowd.
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One word: AWESOME.
Where else can you get a flaming margarita!? Don't answer that.
El Compadre is awesome...and not just for their flaming margarita. The food is solid...whether you order guacamole, nachos, enchiladas, burrito or their crazy dessert with ice cream and kahlua served in a sugary-cinnamony tostada-like shell (whoa) - you won't be disappointed.
On top of that...you have a kick a$$ mariachi band that plays all your favorites. What Mexican restaurant can you walk into and hear the ENTIRE crowd singing along to "La Bamba"?? I dare you to answer that one.
Nuff said.
After moving back to L.A. from Tucson and looking for good Mexican food, I was recommended El Compadre by a friend a few years back. If I had been yelping back then I would have given the place 5 stars regardless of the long wait for tables and difficult parking. The never ending chips and salsa were tops and the food compared well with some of the authentic Mexican food in Tucson. However, it seems that that quality of the food has slipped recently. I just ate there a few days ago and had the Vagabundo which is a plate consisting of a taco, enchilada with a side of rice and a side of beans. How disappointing. The enchilada was barely warm and the taco shell was nearly soggy and the rice was so salty that I couldn't bring myself to eat it. Plus it took such a long time for the food to come, but being that my enchilada wasn't piping hot, I can only deduce that it was probably sitting around waiting to be brought to the table. I'm not sure what's going on but when our party of 8 was done with dinner and started to file out just before 10pm on Friday, there were empty spots all over the joint with the large table in the front room empty and and an open parking space in the tiny lot out back. Is the economy that bad or is the quality of food and service slipping causing people to stay away? Before, getting a table on a Friday night after 8pm use to be a true exercise in patience. I don't know if it's the case anymore but if you come in with a big party say 6 people or more, you would typically get seated much faster. Looks like that tip isn't valuable anymore given the plethora of open seats I saw available as I left.
The only thing i think is great about this place are the flaming house margaritas that make me feel giggly instead of that im wasted and woozy feeling. The people across from me had to bust out flashlights to read the menu because its soo dim. The service was not too great, the food was eh not great but not bad (except the chips were greasy) but the prices were good. i was surprised to see a group of friends when i walked in (seriously out of all places).
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El Compadre has been my go-to restaurant for all things Mexican since about 1 week after I moved to LA.
I can only give it 4 out of 5 stars, sadly, because I can't eat their chicken. It seems the grease they cook it in does not agree with me, and unfortunately, I must keep it to fish or vegetarian dishes. However! It is always satisfying and tasty. I love their margaritas, but they're a bit overpriced. I love the mariachi band, just not when I'm sitting right next to them. I love the bar, but it gets crowded. Most importantly, I love the chips and salsa. Unbeatable.
Flaming margaritas. I like fire- but not when its burning up my precious alcohol!! Come on!! let's think about this. NO!~
That said, the margaritas are darned tasty.
The food is TURBO grease. Tasty, but greasy to the point of ouch. The chips and salsa are far better than most of the other restaurants in town. Don't get huevos rancheros unless you like very runny eggs.
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Food - Great; Authentic
Service - Superb!
Price - It's not cheap, but it's worth the asking rate
Parking - Sucks
Decor - Beautiful
Mariachi - A little too formal for me... but great that they have live music
The Wait - Don't go without making a reservation, dinner time that is. I made the mistake of going there for my first time around 6:00 and 2/3 of the tables were empty but the hostess stated there was a 15 min. wait. I'm looking around and I'm thinking, "uhhhhhhh????" Anyhoo, it was because it was all reserved. Come 7:00PM, that place was PACKED!
And what is this I see the server bringing up to the group sitting next to me? Flaming Drinks? I can't say that I tried it because I don't do tequila which crosses out margarita's... I'm more of a whiskey-gal =)
The most amazing salsa is found here, and that's about it. If you go for dinner, the place will be packed with people drinking their flaming margaritas. I kept my meal very simple... quesadilla with carnitas and boatloads of that magnificent salsa. Bring me a straw, no chips for the salsa. Damn good.
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My former clients (representing a major fast-food Mexican chain) loved to come here after shoots. With strong margaritas, tasty Mexican food (especially after several pitchers) and a low-key Mariachi-filled atmosphere, it was always a good time.
Once we ordered the spaghetti on the menu, just because. It came with a brown sauce. I wouldn't recommend. The chips and salsa, on the other hand, are crunchy and delicious. And did I mention the margaritas? They don't go easy on the tequila, that's for certain.
I'm adding an additional star here due to a truly awesome celebrity siting: Dylan McKay. That's right, Mr. Luke Perry of 90210 himself was hangin' at the bar, putting out the vibe.
The best Mexican food i have ever tasted, and i grew up in Southern California!!
Great ambience and better food!!
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I love going to El Compadre with friends for dinner and drinks.
It's a cool hang out. The prices are reasonable
Two words, Flaming Margaritas. No joke, these things are huge and tasty, with a little flare.
The food is pretty good too, but I'd say it's less authentic than many other places. It's not as Americanized as El Torrito, or a place like that, but it's not fantastically authentic either.
Service is good, the place is busy and friendly, and we had a lot of fun when we went to this place.
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This is my favorite Mexican restaurant in town. The food is great (I've never had the problems mentioned by others) the chips and salsa are amazing and they make a mean margarita. I never trust Mexican food that isn't at least a little messy on the plate. If you agree with that statement, try the El Compadre.
The staff is friendly, even when the place is jam packed.
Advice. Make a reservation for anytime after 6pm, especially if you have more than 4 people.
It's on Sunset Blvd. Don't bitch about parking. It's a city. If you want to pull into a parking lot and walk in the door without dealing with a valet or street parking, go to Applebee's in Simi Valley, not a restaurant in Hollywood.
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OK, I'm going out on a limb here and guessing you like Margaritas. Strawberry, lime, mango, peach, whatever... if so, it is a requirement to visit this dining establishment pronto! I have had margaritas all across this great state of ours, and personally, in price, taste, and the pure spectacle of its flammability, I have found nothing that can top the blended margarita they serve here!
Never mind the fact that the service is atrocious. Call ahead and make a reservation. It will be lost, and when you arrive, they won't know who you are, but it makes an entertaining game to sit back and count how long it takes them to realize they lost your reservation, as you consume numerous tasty flaming beverages.
I know it sounds like I'm exaggerating, but I swear I;m not. I don't think I have EVER had this place remember a reservation I've made, and I've been here many, many times. But I still go, so that goes to show you. On one busy night, our obviously flustered waitress once advised us that "Sure, we could order food... but it will probably come out cold." We stared at her for second, then began cracking up! I mean... what kind of waitress says that!?!
But, the food is great, not expensive, the place has a great bar and great people watching... and of course... the one, the only, flaming margaritas! In the end... what else matters?
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Love how tucked away it is, and the mellow atmosphere, but the margaritas were just alright, and the tortilla soup tasted like someone drained some Campbell's minestrone in a bowl and tossed a couple tortilla chips on top. The fish tacos were really good, though.
Ate here a few times and the food is pretty good and average just watch them maragratias.. those Cadillac's can be lethal on an empty stomach ahah..
The atmosphere is friendly and always consistent. I will definitely be back when I feel in the mood for a good semi dive mexican restaurant with margaritas to make Betty Ford cry!
Please to see my review for Casa Vega as these places are pretty much identical twins.
If I am craving the "CV" experience but I am not in the valley I come here, the flaming margaritas are fabulous and you can get them in pretty much any flavor.
This of course being Hollywood though, I did get a good celeb sighting last time I was here - Christina Aguilera with her now-hubby and posse were dining in a booth in the corner. I wish she would've gotten up and sang with the roaming mariachi band, now that would've been an experience.
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I guess my restaurant karma has run out. After a slew of all three-plus-star reviews, I've finally found a stinker. El Compadre's food wasn't all that bad (it wasn't all that good either), but the experience surrounding the food left much to be desired.
Let's take parking, for instance. I don't care how long you've been in a location or how pretentious you don't want to seem, but if I can't find parking in five minutes, I'm not going. The only reason I deigned to circle that part of Sunset for so long was because a very good out-of-town friend was waiting inside. Otherwise, I would have just told him to high-tail it to another frijole slinger that knows what convenience means. Hell, every Baja Fresh I've ever visited does better than this. Total search time: 20 minutes (not counting the five-minute walk from found spot to restaurant).
Next, I'd like the waiter to actually listen to the words coming out of my mouth. When I say "beans instead of meat," I mean I actually want you to take out the damn animal flesh and put some beans in the taco. I did not mean to take out *everything* in the taco and put green peppers and onions. Learn to listen.
I'd next tell el camarero that he should treat all tables equally -- whether or not the tip is already included. We had to wait 15 minutes for him to check on us, during which time one of our party patiently watched her brother slurp down soup while her bowl of incorrect brew grew cold before her. It also took el senor 15 minutes to get another round of drinks. WTF?
My food was eh. Again, Baja Fresh -- or even Tito's crappy Tacos -- is better than this joint. The only reason it got two stars is because the mariachi band was so accommodating, having played every song my friend's mom called out to them. I'd say El Compadre owes its musicians one of its stars.
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This place rocks! Been coming here since the early 90s and the chips and salsa never fail to make my mouth tingle and burn with hotness sensation! The ambiance is dark and the booths are big and obnoxious, but the food is great and you get an occasional celeb sighting or wannabe actors. But I come here strictly for the tasty enchiladas, chimichangas are a lil greasy though! Street parking is kinda hard to find, but if you can score a spot in the front after the no parking rule is over at 6:00pm, you are golden.
Fiesta Fiesta!
Hey y'all, what's doing? Me and my guy were in the mood for a little late night meal so we went to El Compadres. I had never been before but heard they had the best Margaritas in town. Well let me tell you I was not disappointed, the two cadillac margaritas I drank were GOOD they lived up to their reputation.
I also enjoyed my food as well - I had jumbo shrimp stuffed with cheese and crab meat and they were wrapped in bacon. Yes! bacon, different? I'll say but it was good. My guy had shrimp and cheese enchiladas ( I had a taste, it was good too.)
I also enjoyed the atmosphere, the crowd, and the mariachi band. I really like the fact that they are open until 2am, there are tables and parking in the back of the restaurant.
If you like mexican food that's good and if you want some really great margaritas and if you like a lively crowd and you don't mind a late dinner then I highly recommend you pay El Compadres a visit.
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Don't be deceived by the flaming margaritas...one down and halfway through your second you realize that you're wasted...but it makes for a great time! This is coming from a girl who usually just takes shots of patron and drinks a beer....so this is not coming from a lightweight :)
The enchiladas suizas, more commonly know as the #3, is probably the best i have ever had.
Great place to eat and have drinks on the weekend. Very entertaining. A great eclectic crowd is usually filling the bar with friendly conversation.
Also a great place to go after work during the week.
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You know how Chubbs Peterson told Happy Gilmore to 'find his happy place?'" Well, if Happy Gilmore was enthralled by an endless amount of crispy chips 'n' salsa, sumptuous Mexican food and super-strong margaritas with a festive mariachi band playing in the background and a happy-go-lucky vibe, El Compadre would be his 'happy place.'
The last resort...
So there I was. Out on Sunset Blvd. with two girl friends. Neither one of us had cash, but we all had plastic. We tried Little Joy...no luck. Cash only stated the bartender. We walked down the Blvd. and headed to The Short Stop. There was a line...who stands in line to get into a bar? Not I said the three alcoholics.
So we walked a little more and there it was...El Compadre. I wasn't there for the food, but more as a last resort for the alcoholic beverages. The ladies were there for a bite to eat as they were already a little inebriated. Service was good, vibe was cool and drinks were strong. While I didn't have any of the food, I didn't hear any complaints from the girls who woofed it down like they were on a reality show....but then again, alcohol makes everything taste good...right?
So, there you have it...my weakest review yet. If you're on the Blvd. and the options are slim, El Compadre can serve the need of getting you drunk...
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I have tried A LOT of Mexican restaurants since moving here and been disappointed. El Compadre is pretty good! Their margaritas are great and their service was great, too. Definitely recommend.
