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Border Grill
Category: Restaurants Mexican Mexican [Edit]
445 S Figueroa StLos Angeles, CA 90071
Neighborhood: Downtown
(213) 486-5171
- Hours:
Mon-Tue 11:30 am - 9 pm
Wed-Thu 11:30 am - 10 pm
Fri 11:30 am - 11 pm
Sat 5 pm - 11 pm
Sun 5 pm - 9 pm
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Garage
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Trendy
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
273 reviews for Border Grill
Review Highlights
-
"The restaurant has happy hour every day." In 53 reviews -
"GREEN CORN TAMALES: Careful with these." In 18 reviews -
"The yucatan pork was soo tender and savory." In 17 reviews
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272 reviews in English
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Review from Lucy C.
Los Angeles, CA
Updated - 5/17/2012
It's interesting to note, that like people and animals, restaurants can have a bad day [or possibly it was ME having a bad day last time I went]. A good friend and I gave Border Grill another shot this evening, and it blew me away. First off, all their staff was so darn friendly! Everyone was so nice and inviting, including their fantastic management team of Douglas and Jane. I also liked that while we had one great server, Felix (go see him for fantastic service), even the bussers and the food runners weren't afraid to ask if we needed anything else throughout our meal.
Our server Felix really walked us through the menu, and with his help on several things, we settled upon the corn tamales, ceviche trio, gazpacho that was on special, and Yucatan Pork. The tamales were so wonderful and sweet, possibly the best tamales I have ever had. The ceviche trio was so fresh and amazing, all of the fish was excellent, and beautifully plated, but I enjoyed the Peruvian ceviche the best. The gazpacho special was out of this world, with an amazing goat cheese crouton that really made the dish extra special. Felix additionally helped with drinks, he steered me towards the cucumber elderflower margarita, which was just fantastic, I really really loved it.
For desert we had the lemon cheesecake (suprise, Felix's recommendation), and it was AMAZING. The strawberries on the side were sweetened and just fantastic. That, plus a fresh cup of Lamille coffee really hit the shot.
All in all, I can't believe I judged Border Grill too harshly before. Everything was just fantastic, start to finish. And I was completely won over by the helpful and knowledgeable staff. In short, I cannot wait to return.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/15/2012
Awful. Just awful.
Actually, not awful as much as terribly mediocre and SO OVERPRICED. My god are… Read more »
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Review from Bob T.
West Hills, CA
5/4/2012
What a perfect pre-game venue! Located at 445 S Fig, they offer a free shuttle to and from Staples. In addition to the creative menu, The Border Grill offers what could be the tastiest happy hour food in LA. We study happy hours at http://www.winefoodjav...
Feast on $3.00 Ceviche Tostaditas like Peruvian Ceviche lime and Baja Ceviche shrimp. Try the green corn tamales or the $3.00 Border Tacos - three for $8.00. Drink specials are numerous including wine by the glass for $4.50.
We pounded Carne Asada Border Tacos with freshly made corn tortillas and carried in a bottle of Lalande Malbec Reserva 08 from Bevmo. Great value - under $30 - holds up nicely with a spicy dish. -
Review from Katie S.
Bakersfield, CA
4/30/2012
I purchased a Groupon deal for $70 for $35 from a special menu. For what would have been over $100 without the deal, we ordered 1 appetizer, 2 entrees, 2 drinks, and 1 dessert. Without the Groupon deal, I probably wouldn't come here (somewhat pricey), unless for a special occasion or someone visiting from out of town. And I wouldn't have gotten both a dessert and an appetizer (way too much food for two people).
The deal allowed us to order either the plantain empanadas or the quinoa fritters. Both sounded delicious, so we just randomly picked the quinoa fritters. Really delicious in my opinion. I loved the addition of the aji amarillo.
For the entrees, my boyfriend ordered the pollo ciudad and raved about it. It had a great cilantro-herb crust, and it was perfectly cooked - moist and flavorful. I ordered the carnitas, a huge portion of meat with corn grits and a black bean salsa. It came with homemade tortillas, pico de gallo, and guacamole on the side. Amazing! All the flavors worked wonderfully together.
Because we had already had an appetizer and we still had dessert left, I didn't finish all my carnitas - definitely would have just ordered this if I would've known! Anyways, they were perfect leftover though.
For dessert, we ordered the walnut brownie with ice cream. The brownie was okay, but I think I've made better myself.
For drinks, I ordered a mojito - I wasn't too impressed. Immediately when I got it, I thought I should've ordered a margarita.
Without the Groupon deal, it actually wouldn't be too bad if you just got an entree, especially because the portions are fairly large. My boyfriend and I definitely didn't need the appetizer or the dessert to satisfy our hunger.
Oh...one more thing - definitely think the patio out front would be fun on a nice sunny afternoon! -
Review from Kelly M.
Los Angeles, CA
4/22/2012
When I choose a restaurant, I don't typically- well ever- choose a mexican restaurant. I'll go sometimes, but will always get the same thing- a taco salad.
So when my boyfriend asked if mexican food sounded good, I shrugged a "sure" out. Hey, a relationship is give some take some. Off we go, downtown (I actually really enjoy going downtown cause there's never anyone around, haha) and we park in this extremely empty to the point of nearly creepy but still really nice, parking garage. Walk up thru a lobby thing and in to Border Grill, seated promptly by friendly hostess.. The place was dead around 7pm on a sunday.
I scan menu for taco salad. Shit. Mi amigo was no where to be seen. I turn the page and examine the entrees. I decide on the Skirt Steak. I love Skirt Steak, hoping this would be tasty. It was too good. I was obsessed with it. Ordered Med Rare and came out perfectly, charred slightly on top, huge portion too- in which I polished off- flying my fat kid flag. Also accompanying my steak was a homemade flour tortilla, grilled corn mixture, tomato avocado and onion salad, and black beans. I didn't make a taco or whatever- I just ate all of it separately in true white girl fashion.
The hunny got the Yucatan pork and it basically melted in ones mouth. Which is good for a person like myself because I usually don't chew anything anyways, always way too greedy and hungry. He really loved the pork and was pleased.
5 stars means we will go back very soon. Sorry taco salad. You just got benched. -
Review from Patrick S.
Studio City, CA
4/24/2012
My review is based solely on happy hour:
$3 Tacos - Half the size if your typical taco stand or truck taco. The smallest tacos I have ever seen. Made me feel like I had HUGE HANDS! If they tasted amazing I would have figured it's a high quality "appetizer" and I would have thrown up a few more stars for being delicious and cute. Unfortunately both my al pastor and beef tacos were lukewarm and just tasted like salt.
Salsa was too watery for my taste; Chips were cold and bland.
I'll also mention that I got initially charged for an extra 2 drinks but the busy bar staff corrected it quickly but without apology.
I'll likely come back again one day to give BG another chance, it may have just been a rough night for the staff & kitchen. -
Review from Nancy L.
Los Angeles, CA
4/22/2012
I was not impressed by Border Grill.
I ordered the Peruvian ceviche, and it was okay. The fried plantain chips were a cool idea to scoop the ceviche, but they also made the dish a little oily. My friend ordered the sauteed shrimp, which she really liked. It was pretty good when I tried it, but it also cost $24.50. Holy mackerel. It better taste good with that price!
For drinks, I ordered a glass of red sangria. I can make better for much cheaper.
The best thing about the Border Grill was the tortilla chips and salsa. The 3 salsa dips were all tasty and complemented the freshly fried tortilla chips well.
Okay food. Overpriced.
I would only come back here to try their happy hour, which you can only get at the bar. -
Review from Karina T.
Los Angeles, CA
This place is located along a bunch of other restaurants that are more...fast food ish I would say. The atmosphere is very nice and moody unlike other Mexican places I've been to.
Okay, so let's get down to business and talk about their service and food.
SERVICE - pretty fast and attentive, so I would say the service is pretty good! The manager looking guy even came around asking how our dining experience was. They seemed very friendly!
FOOD - I ordered the Yucatan pork and it wasn't like anything I've had before. Hmm, the pork seemed to have been marinated in something and was pretty tasty and soft. BUT it wasn't marinated too well like those meats you'll find in korean places. It also had this orange mashed potato looking thing that tasted sweet. I wonder what that was but it was a very interesting experience. What struck out to me the most was the banana peels that stood in the middle of the plate. This was a first time experience. Overall, I would say the taste was OK but not something exquisite. I might be biased just because this was something I've never had before. OH they serve chips and salsa (3 kinds but they were all meh) for their complimentary thing. -
Review from Lisa B.
Los Angeles, CA
4/25/2012 2 Check-ins Here
My favorite spot for happy hour!
They have the freshest and tangiest ceviche (baja) that I've every eaten. Wash it down with a few margaritas and it's like dining in a Mexican paradise. -
Review from Rick W.
Incline Village, NV
4/18/2012
Steak & Stars!
Great service, a creative menu and quality ingredients resulted in a wonderful dinning experience. I will certainly be back during my next trip to Los Angeles. -
Review from Chris R.
Los Angeles, CA
3/16/2012
We came here recently for a birthday party with a party of 10.
1. The service was horrible and we had to wait 30to minutes for a table even though we had a reservation
2. Way over priced for what it is. You're much better off going somewhere else.
3. If I had to say one good thing, the salsa was good. -
Review from howard s.
Beverly Hills, CA
5/21/2012
Not so good. Had dinner their last night with my family. The appetizers tasted like old grease and as if they had just been warmed up. Not fresh tasting by any means. The Grilled mole chicken had no mole. The shrimp was under cooked. The carnitas had no flavor. The Fresh veracruz was tasty. Not so good overall.
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Review from Cassie R.
Los Angeles, CA
5/8/2012
Love this place for happy hour. Great friendly service, even when crowded, got our drinks fast and food fast, and the bartenders even gave us advice on tequila. The chips and salsa are endless, and the quesadilla I got was to die for. If you're hungry and want to feast while getting your buzz on, this is the right spot!
Comment from Douglas W. of Border Grill 5/16/2012
Thanks Cassie so much for your fun review! See you at HAPPY… More » -
Review from Jeanette H.
South Gate, CA
3/23/2012 2 Check-ins Here
Great food, great ambiance, excellent service!
We decided to try this out (twice in same week) due to a @livingsocial deal and I'm glad we did. We loved it! The food is delicious! We tried a few dishes in our visits and were impressed. I recommend you try the "The Ultimate Border Grill Experience" for $36 a person if you can because you get to sample a lot of their dishes at once. If not do what we did by getting the appetizer platter, the "The Border Classics" which include 3 of their diff appetizers. Great way to sample!
We sampled a few of their dinners, so far loved their traditional Chile Relleno and their shrimp meal. Their guacamole is really good too! However, dishes are kind of in the expensive side, and they are not generous with portions. So don't come here expecting a heaping serving of anything! Dishes start about $18 - $20 a plate. Not cheap! Thanks to Living Social we got to try it out without breaking the bank :)
Fyi, you can get reservations on http://opentable.com. Makes things so much faster! Good if you go during peak time. -
Review from Tony M.
Arcadia, CA
4/12/2012 1 Check-in Here
Food was mediocre at best, service sucks as usual for the last 3 times I went there..
A 4th time...most likely NOT! -
Review from Niousha M.
San Diego, CA
4/6/2012
Seriously one of my favorite places!
Pros
-great food, please try the PERUVIAN CEVICHE and the Dulce de Leche Churros and Mexican Chopped Salad and Tortilla Soup ....everything is great here!
-great service, super kind, respectful, attentive, no snooty people, loved it !
-great atmosphere and setting, I'd say its a great neat place for a date too or friends get together to happy hour
Cons
- Just FYI due to limited street parking in Downtown LA, do park for 5 dollar parking in unionbank parking but I think the food makes any price worth it. Parking is validated and self-park -
Review from E. S.
Shadow Hills, CA
5/19/2012
This was my first visit to B G. I had been curious about this place ever since I was introduced to the two "hot tamales" on TVFN. I was meeting two girlfriends and one of them suggested it so I was curious as I have often read great reviews about Border Grill. Please note that I love all types of food. I am someone who truly enjoys food. I often must take a moment to commune with what I have just tasted and take pause to quietly hold a parade in honor of the person who has created what I am savoring. I have eaten at some upscale places but also enjoy the casual hole in the wall. Lenchita's in Van Nuys is awesome! Mi India Bonita in East L.A. is a gem. When people say things like, "oh, wow, it is THE BEST Mexican food in town," my ears instantly pipe up and I say to myself, well have you been to Lenchita's or Mi India Bonita??????
After years of reviews in Los Angles Magazine and after having watched Mary Sue on Top Chef, my expectations were high going into this place. What with those two hot tamales constantly talking about manchego this and passilla and poblano that.......I was ready to be wowed by Border Grill.
As I approached I'm thinking here we go. Border Grill, we finally get to meet. And....as I enter, I could hear the Debbie Downer jingle in my head....waaa, waaa, waaa.... There was no wow factor. It seemed like a place that had seen better days. I was greeted by the host and told him I would be having a drink while I waited for my two friends. I ordered a glass of chardonnay ($4.50) off of their happy hour menu. It was awful, so dry. I asked the bartender if it was actually chardonnay. I thought he might have poured sauvignon blanc or pinot grigio. The bartender confirmed it was and didn't offer to replace it. Another came over and said it indeed was chardonnay and offered that most chardonnay is very dry. I said, that actually, there are some chardonnays that are very smooth and buttery. Then I caught myself, and dropped it. My inner dialogue said, " What the hell do you want for $4.50 you cheap bitch!" I thanked the nice bartender and said it was fine. One nice touch is that the bartenders did come by often to ask if I needed anything else. One gentleman who was starting his shift came over to each customer to make sure things were o.k. Very nice customer service!
But then I looked around and thought, I am sorry, Mary Sue and Robin, but this place is outdated and in need of some serious T.L.C. Clean is a big deal for restaurants , I think, and the counter bar needed some cleaning, nothing major just a great wipe down of that easy to clean aluminum counter, the bathrooms are in need of a paint job and just seem ignored. When I arrived, the place had about ten customers and the bathrooms already looked unattended. Everywhere you looked, it just seems like people are not paying attention to the physical appearance of the restaurant.
Once we were seated, the waitress was very nice and even offered to bring a taste of the syrah on the menu after I asked about what type of syrah was on the menu (their menu simply lists wine as: chardonnay, merlot, syrah). When she brought it over she mentioned it had just been opened and that it probably needed to open up a bit. Nice touch and the first sense I am getting that someone here might know what they are serving. The food was just o.k. I had the skirt steak which was just o.k. In need of some seasoning. When my friends asked me about my dish I simply said it was fine. I hadn't seen these girls in a while and I did not want to damper the evening by complaining about my food which was passable. My friend had a stuffed pepper and enjoyed it. My other friend had the shrimp and mentioned it was really fishy. This sounds stupid, I know but I tasted it and it was POTENT. Maybe it was bad. In any case, I wouldn't have eaten it. She didn't say anything about it and we DID tip the waitress generously. The issues with this restaurant are not her fault.
This place is pricey and does not live up to the hype. I know I am paying for a lot more than food when I come to these places but there seems to be a great lack of attention to detail here. I would not return and if somebody suggested it and asked about my experience I would be honest and not recommend Border Grill. -
Review from Sam C.
Monterey Park, CA
2/18/2012
3.5 stars...came here with a groupon on a sunday night dinner...the server was polite and attentitive and didnt frown at us being a coupon user!!!! =) .....
7/10 For appetizer we got the corn tamale....it was sweet and creamy...good texture....tasted more like a dessert...still, enjoyable
7/10 Yucatan Pork....interesting dish...a carnitas dish with homemade corn tortilas
6/10 Chicken Pablano Enchilidas...looks better than it tasted...if it was a choiced items on a mixed choice platter like at El Torito then I would have rated it higher as oppposed to it being its own specialty dish..
8/10 Grilled Skirt Steak....i had least expectation about the steak b/c i thought it would just taste like the fajita beef but i was shocked....very tender nicely cooked medium rare....even asked for extra flour tortilias w/ no extra charge..
they added a more comtemporary flair so they dont taste like the typical el torito or el cholo so i was happy to check out this place..... -
Review from Jerry G.
Santa Clarita, CA
4/29/2012
Great meal & service last night. Carnitas were wonderful. The ceviche incredible but the ginger hibiscus margaritas were my favorite. Keep up the good work
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Review from Jonathan C.
Monterey Park, CA
Looking for something to do over the break, I decide to go eat. Go figure right!? Making my way through some of Jonathan Gold's 99 LA essentials list. this entry hit a couple sweet spots for me.
1) Mexican Food
2) Classically Trained Chefs - Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger of Top Chef Masters
3) Fresh ingredients
4) A good tamale (or so I assumed since it was the image attached to J Gold's review)
5) They have Avocado Tacos on their menu (http://www.yelp.com/bi...) that wasn't just a slice of Avocado in a shell.
Nestled in the middle of Downtown LA, I got here about 30mins before they were about to close for lunch. The place was empty with the exception of one table (bear in mind it was a rainy day and LA drivers don't know how to deal with rain... come on admit it, you don't). I was a little turned off by the lack of people but we stayed through and it I'm glad we did.
THE FOOD:
GREEN CORN TAMALES - http://www.yelp.com/bi... - Open these bad boys up and what a joy. http://www.yelp.com/bi... Moist and succulent, served with sour cream but there's really no need for it... the way a good tamale should be.
MARKET VEGETABLE QUESADILLA (AKA Best Quesadilla I've ever had!)-
http://www.yelp.com/bi... - Reading another reviewer rave about the mushroom quesadilla I was a little perplex I couldn't find it on the menu. The server assured me this was what they must have been referring to. AMAZING... the best quesadilla I've had. Made with 3 cheese, which our server swore he'd have to kill me if he told me (btw... it's manchengo, panela and cojita... I'm so gonna make this at home), and savory grilled veggies this ooey gooey treat was made PERFECT... almost pizza-ish in nature but less greasy and more smokey. Even filled with veggies it was not soggy at all, crisp on the outside, I drool just thinking about it. Plus 1 star for this dish alone.
YUCATAN PORK -
http://www.yelp.com/bi... My friend go this dish, smelled great and is good deal of food.
TACO PLATE A LA CARTE (grilled fish, avocado, crispy potato) http://www.yelp.com/bi... I went with 3 tacos a la carte.. which was too much food considering the two appetizers and all the CHIPS & SALSA http://www.yelp.com/bi..., I had already ingested. All good, but I'd have to say the grilled fish was probably the best. The avocado was crusted with lots of cool stuff like black sesame and red quinoa and while it looked great, it just didn't lend much to the flavor. Kind of a let down for me.
Overall, the food was great. It is on the pricier side but I would love to come back at night and try the Quinoa fried balls. Our server was great and he gave us cards for free tacos for their food truck.
NOTE: The 15% off check in offer on yelp is actually only for after you come once and join their email list... but is applicable to all future visits.
Also, as with most places in DTLA... gotta pay for that parking. $5 with validation I believe... sorry don't remember the details.. just what I eat :P -
Review from C. A.
Hollywood Hills, CA
2/4/2012 1 Check-in Here
I know Yelpers have posted many a positive comment, but my two experiences have been somewhat negative. Here is my summary of the evening lowlights at this much-hyped but ill-deserving restaurant:
- Quinoa fritters - tiny, greasy
- Green corn tamales - tasted of condensed milk
- Mex chopped salad / bowl of mayo
- Guacamole good
- Chips dripping in oil
- Service -- what service?
- Noise level is unbearable
- Aesthetics - think of a concrete bunker with a few applied on graphics
You've been warned! -
Review from Sandra K.
Los Angeles, CA
2/10/2012 2 Check-ins Here
This establishment looks good (love the interior decor) and sounds great on paper but the food was honestly just plain average and the service was... for lack of a better word, annoying.
Both times I've dined here, the hostess has been nice and quick with our seating accommodations (once with and once without a reservation) but that's where the attentiveness stops.Once our order was taken, we were never given another moment of attention until we had to flag down the waiter for every/anything we needed. Be it refills for drinks or checking the status on our food (which took over 45 minutes) and do I really need to get up and grab the waiter to ask for our check? I can't hold it against them that they were out of a certain item on the menu, that can happen and is no big deal but telling us way after our order was already taken seemed a bit displeasing. And plus, they brought us the wrong order as well.
Apparently they have all the regular diners in the front and reserve the back for larger parties or for any loud event. It's been hard to have a nice meal here with such loud chatter coming from back of the room like unsupervised children running around, or when those parties take up all the competent staff members and none are left for you or anyone else in the front.
I wish the food made up for the lack of everything else but it's really sub par. Granted, it's supposed to be all local or sustainable ingredients but it doesn't make up for a really underwhelming meal with a heftier price tag than your typical sit down place.
Third time won't be the charm. -
Review from Ryan R.
South Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
2/13/2012
Came here with a friend after hearing many good things about the restaurant. Started off with the trio of salsas and chips that comes ad you are seated. All of the salsas are delicious, especially the chipotle one. They lack spiciness so if that's what you are looking for, then you may be disappointed but otherwise they were great.
I ordered the pork dish that came with rice, beans, tortillas, and plantains. It was very good and the meat was super tender. The homemade corn tortillas are also good, I just wish that they gave you a couple more to use with all the meat. My friend ordered the fish dish which that night was mahi mahi, which was poached in some sort of soupy liquid and it was extremely moist and flavorful.
Overall, the food was really good, but just a little bit overvalued I think. I also wish they would reorganize the back of the restaurant because I think that it is a bit bunched up and crowded. So if you want a nice night out on the town and don't mind paying a little more for it, then this spot is a good option. -
Review from Aaron C.
Watertown, MA
4/25/2012
This place has ruined Mexican food for me. It will be very difficult for me to find another restaurant that can serve Mexican food this well.
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Review from Chloe C.
Altadena, CA
4/3/2012
2 stars might be a little harsh, but... basically we just had a horrible experience here. I was looking for somewhere nice to take my brother and sister-in-law who were visiting from out of town and thought of Ciudad. Of course, Ciudad is closed, but we thought Border Grill might fit the bill. In retrospect I should have perhaps been suspicious that when I made a res online on Saturday evening FOR Saturday evening there were available tables from 7-10 pm.
Anyway when we walked my heart sank. Something about the ambiance was just totally off. It was half-deserted, but overly loud. There were florescent lights on that made the restaurant seem cavernous and uninviting - it was like emergency lighting or something. We had to either wince under the glare of garish emergency lights or move (as we asked to) and sit under a single candle that made it impossible to see each other or the food. Like literally when the food came I couldn't make out anything more than different blotches of color on the plate. It wasn't until half way through the meal that we were informed that the lights were out for Earth Hour. I mean, responsible ecology all the way but jeez, a little warning, maybe??
As my brother said, even with the lights on the decor and ambiance was unappealing to the max - it was like eating in an airport. With better food. And oh yes, the food. It was pretty tasty but about four times too expensive. Service was bad too, the waiter was never there when we wanted her and overly attentive when we didn't need her. -
Review from Stephanie B.
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
1/31/2012 1 Check-in Here
I met my girlfriend for dinner to take advantage of the dineLA celebration at Border Grill. Having been here in the past, I was looking forward to a prix fixe way to try some more of the great dishes here in smaller portions. I also did the dia de los muertos cooking class here in the fall, which was awesome.
First, I think that gourmet Mexican cooking gets a bum rap in Los Angeles, because we have so much delicious, homey Mexican food available at bargain basement prices. I don't think of Border Grill as a taqueria. Go to your hole in the wall for that. You come here for something like yucatan pork or braised turkey. Different dishes made from quality ingredients.
In my opinion, Border Grill always looks the same, so I do not come here for ambience. The dining room has high ceilings and is a bit cold with hard, uncovered tables and chairs. There is lots of metal, black and oranges and greens with painted faces. The staff is very friendly and attentive.
Now for the food...Border Grill has some of the best chips in the world. Seriously...warm, fresh, salty, crunchy chip perfection from fresh tortillas that are even better than the chips that I make at home from store-bought tortillas (and are seriouslly the only ones that I have had better than those made in mi casa). The accompanying salsas are also dreamy...the roja is a little dull but the verde is awesome and the roasted ancho (I think, based on flavor) and tomato will ROCK your world. Awesome...
For a starter, I had the Plantain Empanada and Green Corn Tamale. The shell of the empanada is made from roasted plantains which is filled with black beans and poblano chile and topped with cotija cheese (there may be some inside too) and crema with a tamale made from sweet corn served with sour cream and salsa fresca. The tamale is quality, but it is a little dull (it's plain corn), so I eat it with the salsa to get some sweet tang. The empanada is tasty...on the sweet side from the plaintains with the meaty flavor of the beans.
For an entree, I had the Short Ribs Barbacoa. The plate comes with a base of something white, which did not taste like potatoes (maybe cooked jicama), topped with a garbanzo bean stew, roasted brussel sprouts and fried epazote. The short rib crowns the dish - HUGE, meaty, and generally tender, albeit dry in parts. I could have eaten an entire bowl of the base. As it was, I only ate half of the ginormous short rib.
My friend had the Yucatan Pork, which was served with mashed yams and roasted brussel sprouts. The pork was AWESOME - the pork had tons of onion, orange, and cinnamon in its tomato/pepper braising liquid. Very tender and lean. Yummy.
For dessert, we each had the churro tots, which are fresh (slightly undercooked inside, so not like your typical dry churro) morsels of cinnamon heaven, served with a bit of whipped cream with chocolate sauce (the advertised caramel sauce was not delivered).
If you just had chips/salsa, a margarita, the Yucatan Pork and the tots with caramel sauce, this would have been a 5 star meals. The inconsistency in the short rib, the one-dimensionality of the app and the missing caramel sauce knocked a star for me, but I have and will be back. Oh, those freaking awesome chips haunt me! -
Review from M A.
Los Angeles, CA
2/15/2012
This place is a classic hit or miss. One day the food is amazing and the service even better, the next, the food is too salty and the waiter sucks.
Please get your act together! I want to be a fan so bad!! -
Review from LB C.
Long Beach, CA
2/29/2012
4 stars for drinks and appetizers.
2 stars for the overcooked fish entree and outside heaters that kept turning off.
The sweet tamales, plantain empanadas, and quinoa cake were my favorite.
Our server warrants 3.5 stars.
I much prefer Susan Feniger's Street restaurant. -
Review from Craig S.
Diamond Bar, CA
1/21/2012
Just had dinner there.This place is living proof that people go by the hype more than the reality. I'm sure the owners can cook well based on their t.v. exploits, but when it comes to serving up satisfying food at a fair price, not so much.
First they brought out the chips and salsa, but this was so bizarre, the three types of salsa were in tiny little round tin dishes about 3 inches wide with about a half inch of salsa in each. You couldn't even fit a chip into the little dish.
The micro portion approach continued when they brought out the tortilla soup that barely filled the bottom third of a normal sized bowl. It was basically a cup of soup, and they are charging like 8 bucks or something for this? Very average soup as well. My local strip mall Mexican place does much better.
Then I had the fancy 21 buck pork cooked in leaves and it tasted like any regular old pork dish I get a my local joint, except as usual, the portions were micro sized.
When we paid, we gave them our parking ticket to get it validated. They said it was done, but when we left, the parking attendant said they hadn't validated, so we had to pay 5 bucks!
Lastly, as others have said, it is impossible to hear what anyone at your table is saying because this place is an echo chamber.
I'd never go back here again. For those of you who think this place has great food, you need to eat out more and be impressed by t.v. chefs less. Or at least don't come here when you're hungry or need to hear what the people at your table are saying.
Oh, almost forgot. My Dad hated the guacamole and it was also micro sized....I thought it was ok, what there was of it.
Update: I got a nice note from the restaurant saying how sorry they were and explaining that there was a misunderstanding about the parking validation. It is 5 dollars if they validate and 15 if they don't. I guess they need to either train their servers to mention this to customers so they know, or train the parking attendants to explain. He also said my review would be passed on to the owners and staff. -
Review from Karen T.
2/7/2012
Five stars for the Border margarita. I'm not big on margaritas to start, but I could easily drink a pitcher's worth here. Maybe not, because my ability to intake liquid isn't so great, especially of the alcoholic variety. But you know what I mean.
Four and a half stars for the helpful (and cute) waiter that was attentive and pleasant when answering my annoying questions.
Three stars for the food itself. Nothing terribly exciting or particularly delicious. But overall, it's pretty solid, albeit kind of pricey. Which is why I'll probably return exclusively for happy hour. -
Review from Sharon G.
4/3/2012
I had some really delicious baja ceviche and smoky salsa here. I think it's the best ceviche I've ever had! And a nice breezy place for the early evening! I apologize to this place for thinking it looked kind of ho-hum from the outside. I'd certainly heard of it and am excited to try out some more of their food.
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Review from Elysha B.
Los Angeles, CA
1/21/2012 6 photos
Came here last night for happy hour with a friend. $3 tacos and $5 margaritas? Count me in!
I ordered the carne asada quesadilla, sweet corn tamale, fish taco, and plantain empanadas.
The plantain empanadas are hands down my favorite thing on the menu, but everything else was delicious. Drinks were also good. Had a mojito & tres leches dessert martini (ah-mah-zing)
Finished with a molten chocolate cake & espresso ice cream. Good but tiny for the price.
Staff was incredibly friendly! -
Review from Ms M.
Los Angeles, CA
1/1/2012
Great food.... but so LOUD! I am talking Neil Hamburger shouting down a drunk heckler- loud.
Let me give you some TIPS to help you manage to dodge the loud parties of conventioneers, drunken cackling hen-fests and shouting enthusiasts and SLOW service that can plague the Border Grill.
*Weather permitting, request a table outside. I know, that sounds so counter intuitive, doesn't it? But sitting above raging rush hour traffic on Figueroa is much, much calmer than being pinned in a back corner with a group of pharmacutical reps boasting about whatever it is they like to boast about after several rounds of drinks.
*If that al fresco option is not viable, ask to be seated at the bar. Food appears almost instantly, you get the best drinks and holy balls... could that be a drink on the house that was just placed in front of you?
*Oh and do come early if you are catching a show down town. ( Happy hour prices sweeten the sting of the bill) They get you out in lightening speed in time for the curtain, as long as you tell them BEFORE you place your order.
Infact, may I suggest that you tell them this whether or not you are attending a performance.... because goddamn, the service here is glacial...even by LA standards!
* Peruvian Ceviche- a people pleaser- order it. -
Review from Vani H.
Los Angeles, CA
Updated - 5/10/2012
I checked out Border Grill for Happy Hour and it's definitely the time to go! Their Cantina is perfect for a little after-work unwinding and they have good deals on their drinks and cantina bites. I've tried just about everything on their happy hour menu, and you really can't go wrong. I usually gorge on the chips & salsa and get the 3 tacos for $8. I'm definitely going to have to come here more often on Fridays, especially if Alexander, thier expert mixologist, is working the bar. He's a real pro and can mix up any tasty drink your heart desires.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/26/2012
The food is good, but not really worth the inflated prices. I had the Seasonal Veggie Enchiladas,… Read more »
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Review from Ignacio V.
Los Angeles, CA
12/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
Hello Steve!!
The numerous of times that I've been here, Steve has been my waiter.
Happy hour, Happy hour, Happy hour....!!!! You can't go wrong in this place!
Their food is always fresh and full of flavor. I always try to get a diverse of food when I come here, I don't know if it's annoying for the chefs but boy is it delicious. Thanks to that technique I've tasted a good pallet of items, let me try to list them all: fish tacos, carnitas tacos, asada tacos, al pastor tacos, Baja ceviche tostada, Peruvian Ceviche tostadas, Quesadillas Poblanas, chicken quesadillas, along with many other items.
Second half of 2011 will definitely be remembered for me as the year of the pork (and here I am trying to move away from meat). I've introduced pork back into my diet ever since I got food poisoning from eating carnitas in Mexico. Fast forward 15 years later and I've been reading that pork has made a comeback, no longer is it dirty as it was portrayed back in it's infamous years. Knowing that (who knows if it's true), I've been eating Border Grills Carnita tacos nonstop, seriously even Steve made a comment the last time I went on how the chefs forgot to sprinkle carnitas on our dessert.
So definitely their carnitas tacos is a must try along with the Peruvian tostada (One of Nacho's official summer food).
Drinks of choice that I get: Pomegranate Margarita, house margarita, and their mojitos, delicious, the only type of mix drinks that my body can absorb.
Staff is awesome, we get Steve most of the times, but we have gotten two other waitresses, and they always deserve a nice tip. They're always helpful, and really relaxed with us. I must say though, when the restaurant is full, service tends to be really slow, but that's understandable I guess.
The only issue that I have with this restaurant is the location, I don't know, it feels strip mallish for some reason. However I will say that I enjoy looking at the Library Building (US Bank Tower) every time I get out of the restaurant.
The END, long overdue review! -
Review from Mitra K.
Los Angeles, CA
Updated - 3/23/2012 1 Check-in Here
I am updating my review - because nothing gets me like great customer service - while the staff may not have been great, the manager Marc, quickly responded to me and assured me he would address the situation so YAY for Marc and his desire to keep the BG name unmarked (no pun intended). =)
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/19/2012
How sad I am to write this review. I love Border Grill (the food, that is AND the Santa Monica… Read more »
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Review from Val M.
1/8/2012 1 Check-in Here
Disclosure: This review is for the cantina menu only, not the full service restaurant.
I LOVE Border Grill! I LOVE the Border Grill Cantina. The Happy Hour menu is so reasonable and the quality is great! The staff is friendly and the ambiance is relaxed and festive. $4.5 margaritas, mojitos and sangria and $3 tacos.Tamales, ceviche, taquitos oh my! My favorite is the carne asada quesadilla. It is juicy and has great flavor. I haven't eaten in the actual restaurant because the cantina menu is such a great option. If you are in downtown LA after 4pm and are looking for a bite to eat or a lil' sumthin sumthin to drink, I recommend border grill. -
Review from Elaine M.
Temple City, CA
1/21/2012
Finally tried a new place to dine at. As soon as I entered, I was greeted and seated. The vibe of this place seems like a chipotle type of establishment, but behind the walls it was classy with a Mexican twist. The waitress was very attentive, and even when I wasn't sure what to order, she helped me out, and I ended up getting the shrimp.
I also ordered a cucumber margarita, WAS NOT IMPRESSED. It tasted of cucumber, but it was a bit warm, and not very refreshing, at least not for 10 bucks.
When my meal came out, it smelled of AWESOMENESS. My mouth instantly watered, the shrimp were so fat, it came with white and red rice that was soaking in a citrus, lemon kind of broth that soaked in the rice so perfectly, I ate the whole damn thing. It cost around 25 bucks, but it was so worth it, I would do it again in a heart beat. even though I wasn't happy with everything, my satisfaction for my meal was the most important.
This is also a nice place for a simple date, or to celebrate a nice birthday or occasion.
Parking is a must in the lot, you won't find street parking so just pay the 5 bucks, they validate but you still have to pay. Whatever it's downtown, you have to pay for everything these days.lol
Ps: whatever you do, don't order the guacamole, it sucks big donkey. Enjoy! -
Review from Marilynn L.
Los Angeles, CA
4/30/2012 1 Check-in Here
2 1/2 stars based on decor (feels like a middle school cafeteria with dim, sketchy lighting), and food (overpriced for what it is). Our server was so friendly and prompt, but really, the only thing I'd go back for here is the chips and salsa. They were good,but they're also free and I can't just come back for them :P Our gaucho steak was not worth the $40 price tag. Perhaps I'm spoiled because I can make the same at home but it really did feel like a simple seared salt and pepper steak. The spinach bed, caramelized onions and garlic it was sitting on were also good but very simple and definitely not very Gourmet Mexican. The skirt steak taco was the same. Beans, one tortilla, and simply seared steak strips. Nothing bad, just nothing great either. This place must be a tourist trap for the guests staying at nearby hotels...don't see how it can survive otherwise (it was 30% full on a Saturday evening at 7).
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Review from Raul N.
12/31/2011 1 Check-in Here
Heading down to LA for a business trip, my coworkers and I were looking for a good spot for dinner near our hotel. On a tip from colleagues down south, we decided to try out the Border Grill--definitely a good recommendation.
We made reservations--a must if dining with a large party. The Border Grill was packed that night, including several other large parties.
A lot of the items on the menu sounded good, but on the advice of our server, I ordered the chicken poblano enchiladas. Unfortunately, there was a bit of a miscommunication and when the food arrived, I wound up with the chile relleno. When I pointed out the mistake, our server apologized and promised to bring me back my enchiladas.
With the dinner rush, it didn't look likely that I'd get my food without a bit of a wait. Thankfully, one of my coworkers also ordered the chicken enchiladas and he split his order with me until mine arrived--I promised to share with him when my order came so we could divide and conquer.
The enchiladas were flavorful--delicate corn tortillas wrapped around a generous helping of chicken. The corn and mushrooms were a nice touch, giving the enchiladas more body and extra flavor. The sauce was a little sweeter than I had hoped--I wish it had had more of the chile spice, but poblanos are a pretty mild chile.
Even a half portion was actually pretty big, and I was getting stuffed after just one enchilada when our second order came along. It was a definitely a filling meal--filling enough for me to forgive the price tag. (At first glance, $23 might seem like a bit much for enchiladas.)
We ordered one of the dessert samplers. The favorites were the tres leches cake and the goat's milk cajeta flan. The tres leches cake was sweet, but not overly so. The flan was my favorite--surprising since I don't generally care for the gelatinous texture of flan. The flan was so rich and creamy, with a touch of caramel.
It was a hectic night with a number of large parties dining at Border Grill, so hiccups with service were to be expected. But the food was tasty enough that I was willing to overlook them. -
Review from William R.
Birmingham, MI
1/16/2012
Border Grill was not bad as far as Mexican food goes but I think I had too high of expectations for this place. My gf and I went here while we were in LA, solely for the fact that it was the restaurant of one of the chefs who won Top Chef "Masters". The decor was really nice and mellow inside with warm, earthy tones everywhere (I am getting out of control with this Yelp stuff......I love it!).
The complimentary chips and salsa were par at best and this is usually an appetizer as to which I am a fan. The chips were actually good but the salsa was just runny and almost flavorless.....not enough spice. I decided to try the special quesadillas that the Top Chef won some sort of challenge with. They were very plain and unremarkable. They didn't taste bad but there just wasn't a lot going on with them that made me love them.
Overall it was a fun experience, the wait staff was very nice and the drinks were fantastic. If you are in the area, it probably is worth checking out.
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