- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
El Cholo
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 11 am - 10 pm
Fri-Sat 11 am - 11 pm
Sun 11 am - 9 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Valet
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
586 reviews for El Cholo
Review Highlights
"Nom Nom Nom gotta lovee their green corn tamales."
(in 51 reviews)
"I only dock one star for the chips and salsa."
(in 64 reviews)
"However, I love the Sonora-style enchilada there."
(in 6 reviews)
Loading...
586 reviews in English
-
Review from Jason K.
1/25/2012
This place was really good. Came here in a group of 4 on a Saturday evening, around 7 PM. (primetime baby) My friend lives close by so we just walked here. I did notice a valet lot for the restaurant which would come in useful, as anyone who lives or frequents the downtown area knows about the agony inducing parking situation. We were told that the wait would be 20 minutes, but were pleasantly surprised when they called us in five minutes later. The inside of the place is very nice and has several different rooms to dine in, the one we were in seemed like the largest room, I think it was an open air room as there were heat lamps all around. I'm just going to comment on the things I ordered.
Carmen's original nachos-Had no idea what these were, but they were chips with cheese and a couple of jalapenos. Delicious appetizer-a mixture of cheese fully covered almost every chip and was baked to perfection.
A Taste of History-Black Creek Cheddar Cheese Enchilada, Rolled Beef Taco, Chile Relleno & Roasted Pork Tamale. Everything on this plate was good, but the cheese enchilada was my favorite.
Free chips and salsa-Great spicy salsa and hot chips, refilled often.
Water with lemon-no taste, which is always a plus.
Even though it was very busy, the waitress was on top of things, refilling our water multiple times and our salsa and chips as well. She went above and beyond to make sure that we were serviced properly.
If you are in the area and enjoy Mexican food, do not hesitate to give this place a shot! -
Review from Sandy R.
Los Angeles, CA
1/23/2012 1 Check-in Here
I had company in town this week, and they wanted a sit down Mexican place to eat at, so my friend who grew up in LA mentioned El Cholo.
We arrive at 8pm, and the man writing down names, and giving out those buzzers was not smiley, and didn't say how long we'd be waiting. I then overheard him tell the next people to come in that it would be 45mins...
We were a party of 6, and they had more people... they got seated first. I keep looking at the clock, and after 45mins, I went up there to ask about us.
I'm not a confrontational person, and so I'm normally quiet, but we had seen other people come in and get seated already. So I was frustrated...
So finally we are shown are seats... No waiter for almost 10mins...
Then he arrives. He does not introduce himself, nor look pleasant.
By the time he came, we were ready to order, because we had sat there and looked over the menu. He was getting drink orders... and didn't even ask my boyfriend what he wanted to drink.
My boyfriend is lactose-intolerant, and when we started to order his meal, he was telling him that. The waiter turned around and started talking to a co-worker during this... It was kinda rude.
Drinks didn't come for awhile. I had only ordered water!!
So our waiter was in a white button down shirt, and in the restaurant there were several other waiters?? But in all black.
We had this older guy that was coming to our table. He was refilling our drinks, getting us food, he actually was doing everything. He asked how we were doing and everything... He was great.
The main waiter I witnessed going to another table close by and hand delivering their drinks and whatnot. He came over to us once... to see how we were - after... the older waiter in black had already done everything.
I tried to give the older waiter in black some money as a tip - just for him, but he wouldn't take it. He said that they are all friends.
I felt bad because we didn't want to tip the main waiter because he was rude, and disregarded us.
SO... we're done eating and it's time to pay. I said outloud to everyone at the table - that because the main waiter was never around and didn't really seem to know what was going on with us - that we should just put our total on one card, and give cash to that person. That's how we did it, because I found him incompatible.
When we were leaving the table, he didn't say goodbye, or thanks, or anything.
My friends liked the food, and were happy about that aspect...
But the service was the worst I've seen in a very long time.
I don't feel like recommending this place to anyone.
2 stars only because some of the wait staff are really great, and the food was yummy.
The receipt says our waiter's name was Antonio...
I just sent a copy of this message to their website... also stating that this Yelp review is the longest, and worst one I have ever written.
1-25-2012 UPDATE - Dawn from El Cholo called me today, and was so very nice, and kind, and listened to my story about our experience and made me feel better about going here in the future. She is also sending me a giftcard which is very nice. Thank you Dawn!
Upgraded to 3 stars :) -
Review from Bin H.
Manhattan, NY
1/21/2012 1 Check-in Here
Incredible sit-down Mexican restaurant!
I absolutely LOVE Mexican food, and El Cholo never disappoints. I've been here several times with co-workers or friends, and have always received excellent service with quality food. There's a great variety of dishes to choose from, and their complimentary Chips & Salsa are always warm and chunky! I love ordering Shirley Temples here.. don't know if it goes well with Mexican food, but it's a bit different and I always get extra cherries in my refills for some reason, so that's always a plus :)
If you're too lazy to find street parking, valet is always available at $4.50. -
Review from Katie S.
Los Angeles, CA
2/6/2012
Ate here last night. Incredible steak and shrimp enchiladas!
-
Review from Alexis B.
1/19/2012 3 Check-ins Here
Authentic mexican cuisine. None of that "fusion" bologna, but real, fresh salsa, crispy fresh chips and HOMEMADE TORTILLAS.
The best dish I've had here thus far is the Sonora-Style Enchilada. Simply said, I want to call it a mexican lasagna. Layers of corn tortillas, homemade broth, juicy chicken and a gooey, runny fried egg on top. You can give me almost anything with a fried egg on top and I'll demolish it. Something about this dish really brought home to the table, and I hope you try it!
The homemade tortillas are always a must for me. I'm a sucker for anything thats dough, bread, pastry - you name it, carbs. Throw a pat or two of butter and a sprinkle of salt, and I'm set. Instantly, I dunk the tortilla in their homemade salsa and scarf it so fast, you would think it tried to escape my mouth. Do yourself a favor, and order just one. These are burrito size, so they are bigger than the average pack you buy at the local grocery store. Enjoy! -
Review from Sonal P.
Los Angeles, CA
1/11/2012
I came here last week for dinner with a group of 4. The place was packed!
We sat at the bar and couldn't help but stare are the giant fish in the fish tank behind the bar. We ordered a margarita each, to only find out after a few sips you can order a pitcher. Kinda which the bartender told us that ahead of time! The margaritas are yum -- I had the Cadillac Margarita, which was super potent, but so gooodddd!!
So they way I like to judge a Mexican restaurant is how good their salsa is...if the salsa sucks, 97% of the time, so does their food. Well, the salsa rocks! The chips are a little hard but mmm salsa!!
I ordered the chicken fajitas for dinner. I've never seen fajitas come with carrots, zucchini and other veggies, other than the standard bell peppers and onions, but it wasnt bad. Everything tasted great and everyone else seemed to enjoy their food as well. My friends ordered the enchiladas, one got the Crabmeat one which he said he loved; my boyfriend and his brother are both veg and ordered some enchiladas...cant recall which one, but they literally inhaled their food.
Up until now Javiers in the OC was the only Mexican place I really loved, but I think it's about to share a top spot with this place! Great food, wonderful service and a cool ambiance. I will definitely be back here again. -
Review from Christine N.
Los Angeles, CA
Valet parking and street.
Their chips and salsa are too good. The chips always come out warm and crispy. The salsa is sweet and I love the consistency. Not pureed but not chunky, a nice middle ground.
Ordered the guacamole for appetizer. About 2 avocados with red onion, chopped jalapeno and cilantro as mix-ins. Opted for mild heat and no cilantro. The chopped red onion were marinated in something, maybe vinegar and added nice flavor to the guacamole. The waiter made it fresh at our table. SO...DAMN...GOOD.
Split and entree of chicken/shrimp fajita mix with my co-worker and ordered it with flour tortillas. The fajitas come with guacamole, cheese, sour cream and pico de gallo on the side. The shrimp was succulent and juicy. Chicken was also tender. The best part was the veggies! No clue how they were seasoned but they were served a little charred from the hot plate and SO DELICIOUS. Came with onions, bell peppers and I think some squash. Such great flavor, as flavorful as it was colorful. Beans and cheese were also served on the hot plate.
Friend ordered blue corn enchiladas. Devoured them so quickly, must have been good. The tortillas had a nice midnight blue coloring. Loved the color contrast between the blue corn tortillas, beans, cheese and rice.
If you bring your USC ID, you get 50% off your entree Monday-Thursday (not 100% which days it's valid for).
Sitting in the booths will help you with your posture. -
Review from Janet P.
Los Angeles, CA
1/13/2012 3 Check-ins Here
Whenever my office goes out for an office lunch, this is the spot.
This location is surprisingly large, with various rooms branching off from the main lobby and bar area. It actually is a bit chilly inside, so if you're the type that gets cold easily, you might want to bring a sweater.
I love the complimentary chips and salsa they bring. They have their standard salsa that they bring out, but once we were served some "spicy" salsa as well. If you like that extra kick (like me), then be sure to request some from your server!
My usual dish here is the chicken chimichangas. You get a generous portion of rice, beans, guac, and of course the chimichanags. I'm never able to finish a whole plate, so either end up sharing or taking it to go. They also have (as a special), a chimichanga that has poblanos (I think).
One of their main dishes is the blue corn enchiladas. Absolutely amazing. Its stuffed full of chicken, smothered with a tomatillo sauce, and topped with a bit of cheese.
Their fajitas are also really good. Once again, its a generous portion that I can never finish.
There is a valet lot next to the restaurant, or you can look for meter parking along Western. Most of the meters are broken, however. -
Review from Priscilla G.
Los Angeles, CA
1/7/2012 1 Check-in Here
I saw no cholos when I ate lunch here yesterday! I felt mislead.
The first thing I did see, however, was a 6-man Tommy Bahama shirt reunion. I knew this place wasn't going to be great. I'm one of those people that judges a place by it's patrons. When I go to KBBQ, I want everyone in there to only speak Korean! A difficulty level: Chuck Norris workout class? It needs to be full of sexy bods! A Mexican restaurant? I better feel like I'm visiting "el D.F."!
The service here is alright. No further comment.
The booths are a tight squeeze. If your BMI is 21 and over and/or you're over 5'5", it might be a little uncomfortable.
There are no aguas frescas? No horchata? Seriously? QUE?!
Chips and salsa = yum. The chips were thin and fresh. The salsa was really good too. Not too chunky, not too runny, and just enough spice.
I went with the Taste of History for $12.95:
Enchilada - the best tasting item of the four. I should have just gotten enchiladas!
Taco - went with the shredded beef. Tasty.
Chile relleno - I saved this for my mom, since chile rellenos are probably in her top 10 of foods. I did give it a try and all I got was egg. Sad face.
Pork tamale - thick, big pieces of pork. Lots of masa. Not my favorite.
Rice - ehh.
Beans - meh.
I thought the price was right. The portions are huge...you should have seen my friend's burrito!
Overall, this place is good, not great. Would I come back? Yes.
Next time I'll be sure to bring my own cholo, Lil' Pelon Pelo Rico. -
Review from Michael F.
Los Angeles, CA
12/11/2011
Three wise men once said "Never trust a big butt and a smile!"
After eating at El Cholo this past Saturday I'm going to have to disagree with them. Rachel Ray said that El Cholo's Filet Mignon tacos are the "Best in the West", and I have to admit that they are pretty darn spectacular.
I had eaten at this, and the Santa Monica, location several times, and have always thought of it as overrated, mediocre Mexican food. This time was different though. I ordered their Filet Mignon Taco plate for the first time, and I enjoyed every part of the meal. The tacos were some of the best I have ever had. The cilantro rice and black beans that came as part of my order were also superb and complemented the tacos very well.
I would typically give El Cholo a three star review based on their food, but this past visit was the most tasty experience I have had here. I continue to believe that El Cholo is one of the most overrated restaurants in LA, but I now know of a meal that makes it worth visiting again...and again. -
Review from Jen D.
Brighton, MA
12/28/2011
I love me some El Cholo! I did my undergraduate work at USC (Fight on!) and used to come to El Cholo all the time while a student. I hadn't been back to LA in 7 years and just had to get some good Mexican (seriously there's NO Mexican food worth eating in Boston). I was so happy that next to nothing has changed about El Cholo. The food was delicious, the service was wonderful, and the margaritas were damn good. The blue agave margarita is strong yet delicious. I had a coconut margarita too and it wasn't exactly how I remembered it. They used to put toasted coconut around the rim of the glass, but that's such a small complaint that wouldn't stop me from going here. Everyone who works there is so friendly and nice and the service is prompt. I've gone twice while in town and both times were great.
Another bonus: USC students get 50% off their entrees on Mon-Thursday and they even gave me (an alumnae) the discount. They have a happy hour as well (4-7 I believe),
This is a must stop for anyone craving Mexican and margaritas. -
Review from Chris M.
Los Angeles, CA
2/6/2012
Salsa- average
Blue Corn Chicken Enchiladas- average
Let me start by saying that a place with average food can really make up for it if the service is excellent, which was not the case. My fiance's uncle has been raving about this place for a while now but it was always because of the portions which in my opinion is not what you should base a restaurant on but that's just me.. Anyways, we finally joined her uncle for lunch here and WOW. The service was haggard, to be fair the tables around us with a different server looked like they were doing well but our waitress was unfriendly and honestly should get out of the service industry.. We waited about 10 minutes before she took our drink orders, she brought a table of 6 one basket of chips and salsa, rushed us to eat our food, never gave us one drink refill not one. At the end she took my girls uncles plate while he was talking and clearly not finished eating it and dropped off the bill. The bill was around 80 bucks and she received a tip of 25$ which blew my mind but I just kept smiling because no one else seemed to be bothered by what had been happening. We sat there conversing for another 20 minutes after we paid and she was tipped and she still never came back to give us a refill... I thought I was going crazy but as soon as we were in the car and away from the uncle my girls mom blew a gasket.. She went off about how terrible the service was and I'M glad because at least I know it wasn't just my imagination.. never again -
Review from Aaron B.
Los Angeles, CA
1/5/2012 2 Check-ins Here
Let me preface this by stating that if I could healthily eat Mexican food every day for the rest of my life, I would happily do so. However, since melty cheese is not conducive to a flat abdomen, I really relish my Mexican when I choose to indulge.
I've been to El Cholo a few times, and I come back, primarily, because the food is amazing, but also because everyone that works there is really friendly. I love the traditional Mexican folk dresses, the fun music - there were some Top 40's hits in Spanish that I tried to sing along to after a couple margaritas - and the fact that my waitress usually has a Mexican accent. It's almost always better when it's not a white girl serving your tacos.
Speaking of tacos, the fish tacos blew my mind. Also, their margaritas are wonderful, but the LA Lemonade is really spectacular. One of my favorite big-kid drinks of all time. -
Review from Jenn G.
After Reading to Kids volunteering, El Cholo gives free appetizer platters to the volunteers. Volunteers get to hang out here, mix, mingle, network and talk about their volunteering day (Reading to Kids yelp review here: http://www.yelp.com/bi...).
The place has a nice, home like feel. There are comfortable couches and seats, interesting pictures on the wall of local sports teams and small TVs in a lounge like area near the bar. This is where the volunteers socialize and eat the yummy platters.
The appetizer platter has taquitos, nachos, quesadillas, chimichangas, guacamole and sour cream. I really like the chimichangas. Crispy and yummy, it is one great appetizer. The waiters are really generous with the platters and they will ask the volunteers if they want more.
They also have a great Shirley Temple drink here. A refreshing nonalcoholic drink that goes great with the appetizer platter. They even put two big cherries in there.
Good food, good place to hang out! Yay El Cholo! Thanks for giving us Reading to Kids volunteers such tasty, free treats!
P.S. My only wish is that parking would be easier. They have valet parking for the restaurant or you can try and park on the street in front. -
Review from Croix R.
Los Angeles, CA
1/19/2012
amazing sit-down mexican food. the shrimp fajita dish is my personal favorite and the blue corn-tortilla enchilada and santa barbara are tied for second.
good/comfortable vibe with a southwest mission theme going on.
downside: valet parking at $4 and rail transit isn't close enough. wilshire/western station is north about 3/4 of a mile and there's not much to see on the way.. but i don't think i can blame the restaurant for that :-) -
Review from Greg W.
Los Angeles, CA
1/19/2012
Simply amazing! I love El Cholo so much! The food is great and the service is always exceptional. There is even the "World Famous Nacho Table" where you get free nachos! Parking is valet and it is pretty cheap (4.50 I think?). The margaritas are great too!
-
Review from Bonita A.
NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA
Great food, large sides, healthy alternatives, plenty of guacamole & salsa. Delicious!
-
Review from Rachel R.
Pomona, CA
1/11/2012
Long time love...
-
Review from Jeff S.
Redondo Beach, CA
11/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
One of my co-workers told me she didn't like El Cholo and I almost stomped her out "cholo" style for being so ridiculous holmes!
If you read my reviews, you'll see I have a hankering for Mexican food and this place definitely stacks up to some of the best I've had!
I usually order the same thing: Tres Tacos El Carbon - always beautifully seasoned carne asada with pico, cheese, and bacon on homemade corn tortillas. And, Yes, I said it....BACON baby! The tacos come with crispy bacon and believe me - it adds a nice layer of smokey-tasty-gluteness flavor to the meal.
UNO-DOS-TRES --- the tacos are gone and I'm still the heavyweight champ!
The plate comes with black beans covered in tomatoes and cheese as well as some rice but I'm usually pretty stuffed after powering the tacos down.
They also dress your plate with a scoop of guacamole and a cactus, peppers and jalapenos medley (I like to put a little of each on my tacos - boom - fantastic)!
People that say it's whack or overrated are either from the midwest and have no clue or they prefer choking down some horse-meat off of a roach coach for $2 bucks versus coming out of pocket for a legit meal. Haha. Believe it! -
Review from Monique G.
Los Angeles, CA
12/9/2011
I love this place when its not too busy......... I love the bar, watching those huge fish swim around while sippin on a magarita- eating chips and salsa is sooooooooo me. Five stars for making bomb ass margaritas woot!
El Cholo, you guys should serve Ice cream for the kids....FYI! -
Review from C Y.
Hermosa Beach, CA
11/30/2011
Drinks good, food, nothing special at all. I would say if your in the area ok, other than that don't make a special trip. I'm sure in your neighborhood you have food just as good or better.
Plus it gets straight up ghetto in this place on a Saturday night. -
Review from Mac P.
12/21/2011
Best margarita in Los Angeles. Period. I've come here for 15 years, and the place hasn't changed a bit. The staff is friendly and the food is extremely consistent. I've tried a lot over the years but have settled on the chicken enchilada as a consistent repeat.
-
Review from Albert H.
CA
1/9/2012
you have to come here if you're REALLY hungry.
ordered: Beef fajitas (came on a hot sizzling pan with refried beans) and the enchilada (shrimp and some kind of combo)
the portion sizes are large and very filling. The food was delicious though. Service was good. If I really wanted some authentic mexican food, I'd come here. I'm glad they open so late. I've gotta try their margaritas next time.
I'd come here again. -
Review from Julie E.
Los Angeles, CA
Updated - 10/4/2011
Perhaps living in LA a few more years has refined my Mexican palate...
El Cholo rules.
The warm, perfectly crispy, thin but not too thin chips.
The perfect hybrid of liquid/chunky salsa.
The fresh, made-to-order guac.
The filet mignon tacos with freshly made corn tortillas, thick enough to hold the black beans and green rice.
Nothing we had was greasy. At all. To me, the downfall of Mexican food is when it gets too greasy and all the flavors blend together. Not so at El Cholo.
Love the old school vibe too. Great for parties or a date.
So, so delicious!1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
9/6/2007
Been here a few times after USC football games. It's crowded. It's pricey. It's pretty good Mexican.… Read more »
-
-
Review from Elaine H.
Los Angeles, CA
1/8/2012
Great Mexican food! I love their crabmeat enchilada. If you're in the mood for anything and everything, get the fiesta platter.
-
Review from j b.
Santa Monica, CA
11/9/2011
There's something fundamentally strange about a place that's been serving Tex-Mex to Californians for over 80 years, as if it's somehow reached the point of being authentically inauthentic. The interior reflects this as well, from the ornately carved faux-Hacienda balconies to the electric-powered fountain, to the pink neon-lit sign on the wall proclaiming El Cholo, and which is evidently the "original" neon sign. In a sense, this place epitomizes California and its attempt to create a heritage out of neon and shaped plastic, not to mention overstuffed burritos and overworked Mexicans. It would also be wrong to call this place a tourist trap, in the same way it be wrong to called the Mirage or MGM Grand "tacky". That's exactly the point, and it's almost become enshrined in our heritage. I wonder if Joan Didion's been here.
To be honest, the food here is probably overpriced and underspiced, to the extent a gringo like myself can judge Mexican food, but "Anne's Enchilada," which was vegetarian and topped with pecans, was surprisingly delicious, albeit small. The Model Dark was an excellent draught, and the waiters were extremely attentive, not to mention outfitted in what looked like Flamenco-wear.
All in all, if this place has survived as a Mexican restaurant in California for 80 years, it must be doing something right. Comparable food is now served from trucks. At least this place has tequila. I hope it survives. -
Review from Beverly G.
Los Angeles, CA
11/12/2011
Yes, El Cholo's is more than a little pricey, but the food is still great. I've been to the downtown El Cholo, but like the original best.
The Green Corn Tamales are wonderful (only available from May-October): masa, cheddar cheese, and ortega chile with rice & beans. Guacamole is made table side.
It's been around since 1927, is in an historic building, and is part of L.A.'s rich heritage that has existed for centuries and has a unique style of Mexican food.
I've been to a lot of Mexican restaurants in my time of all types--Baja, Tex-Mex, Veracruz, Sonora , etc.--and still enjoy El Cholo. Contrary to some reviews, El Cholo is not Tex Mex.
And, yes, their margaritas are killer. -
Review from Yoliee h.
Los Angeles, CA
1/2/2012
just came from Mexico and was craving a Chile Relleno. I was apalled by this establishment and its review as having great Chile Rellenos. It was horrible there i sat looking at this big glob of egg and the chile was half of one. This was more like a omlette. you want real good Mexican food go to a family local restarurant near you.
-
Review from Aryf H.
9/27/2011
I wish they were open later and yes, parking isn't always easy.
But.....I've always enjoyed it, both the food and atmosphere at this location.
We usually order 'A Taste of History'. I think it's meant to commemorate the El Cholo history. Anyway, it's like their flagship platter, full of a Black Creek Cheddar Cheese Enchilada, Rolled Beef Taco, Chile Relleno and even a Roasted Pork Tamale. YEAH !
Their Enchilada Suiza (i.e. w/Swiss cheese) is very good also.
Service is warm and friendly. -
Review from Sweetpea P.
West Covina, CA
11/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
Expensive!!
Went last weekend and although i didn't eat anything other then the chips and salsa i have eaten there before and the food is to be expected like any other Mexican place would have.... nothing memorable.
With that said i did drink some margaritas (Cadillac margaritas) and they were good but honestly not for that price!
Kinda overrated..... -
Review from Erika M.
Los Angeles, CA
10/26/2011
So I've been here a couple of times now & have been wonderfully impressed. The first time, I had their guacamole app (so fresh & tasty) with chips and a strawberry margarita AND found out they have a [free] nacho table-- apparently you get a free order of nachos when you sit at a particular table --something about the table being near the kitchen & there being a lot of foot traffic. Guess you have to ask for that table? I don't know.
The second time, I was entinced with a free entree (yay for being an educator!), on my bday no less. Decided to take them up on it thinking their entrees would be sampler sized. Boy was my face red! Got a full-sized chimichanga entree. Sooo good. 4 chimichangas with rice, beans, and gucamole - enough for a satisfying dinner AND lunch the next day. For freeeee?! I'm sold! Paired it with a blended mango margarita --delish!
P.S. USC students also receive some sort of discount off their entree.
Thanks for the wonderful experience El Cholo & for being such an amazing part of the comunity. I will most definitely be coming back :) -
Review from C R.
Los Angeles, CA
11/1/2011 1 Check-in Here
This spot has been a favorite for some time now. Its nothing grand but the enchiladas are good and the green corn tamales are amazing! I wish they had more salsas than just the basic house salsa and this other tomato salsa which is a bit spicier but not much more. Also, the margaritas are well done. The 4th star is for the green corn tamales which are seasonal (may-oct).
As for the service, I've never had a problem. Sure, at peak hours, the wait might be a little longer but never too long. -
Review from Mr 'n Mrs Rawhide W.
Los Angeles, CA
10/30/2011
Definitely put this on your restaurant list for Los Angeles.
Particularly this location. Very good and consistent.
Great menu selection. They carry the typical items but have
some custom items, such as Filet Mignon tacos, etc.
Don't leave LA without tasting this place. -
Review from Vanessa H.
Aliso Viejo, CA
8/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
I don't know if this was the one I came to, but exactly 10 years ago I was a brand new student at USC and my first outing to an "LA institution" was to El Cholo. Ever since then, I've made the occasional trip back to appreciate the history and charm of this place.
El Cholo is to LA what El Ranchito is to Orange County, but with 50 more years of history and better food (El Cholo also surprisingly owns The Cannery in NB!). This location alone was established in 1926, and you can't help but notice the nostalgic decor on the walls, and wonder if the ceilings were built when people were a bit shorter.
The food here is very good - not stellar, but hearty and yummy. The portions are not huge, but the prices are appropriate. My Enchilada Suiza came with a single fat enchilada, which was perfect for my appetite at the time, but were I famished it probably would not have been enough. Thankfully El Cholo is priced accordingly, and a meal for two came out to be about $26 including tax & tip.
Valet only at this spot, and on a Wednesday night it was $4.50. You might cringe a little to drive behind the restaurant and see how much parking they have in their valet. It's a surprising amount of space that could easily be a self-parking lot. -
Review from Courtney T.
Los Angeles, CA
10/30/2011
After skimming the reviews posted for this place, I feel the need to chime in and say that El Cholo, is, in my humble and perhaps overly-critical opinion, nothing more than mediocre.
There is a good variety of both classic Mexican, a little Tex-Mex flair, and some interesting spins on the traditional. The menu is fine. The food is the same: fine. I've been there twice, which MIGHT have something to do with the fact that it is less than 5 minutes from my house, and both times failed to have me talking about the food once I left. I felt full. Period.
The service, however, has always exceeded "fine," with the servers being extremely kind and attentive during both of my experiences.
All in all, El Cholo fails to impress with lackluster flavors and higher prices. -
Review from Rd C.
Los Angeles, CA
12/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
Home of the "Nachos" (and several other notable "common" items found on many Mexican restaurant menus). Good food, good service, and lots of local history. I'm there about 6 times a year....always fun. You gotta try it, Also, the bar area is very relaxing, and an easy place to carry on a conversation. Try their "Scratch margarita!" It's one of the few places I've ever been that knows how to make them (correctly).
-
Review from Craig R.
Los Angeles, CA
7/1/2011
El Cholo was fun and I had to double workouts for 4 days because of the heavy, cheesy, and greasy food. It still tasted great and I'm not the biggest fan of cheesy Mexican food served in the States. The food is a 3 star quality. The service and fun time made me a fan.
The tacos will fill you. My friend likes the fajitas and I've tried one which was good, too. The chips and salsa/sour cream were something I can't stop eating. Maybe if I stopped drinking the margaritas it would help.
Parking gets tough when it is busy. There was a big crowd from USC there last time I went. For one night, I was a trojan. Fight on. -
Review from Paula L.
8/24/2011 2 Check-ins Here
El Cholo is a LA favorite. Almost everyone knows it and raves about this place.
START WITH:
-Free chips&salsa (Plus a RIDICULOUSLY spicy hot sauce-ish salsa) and a margarita. AVOID THE PEACH MARGARITA!
-A bowl of guacamole that they mash right in front of you ($5.95).
-cup of tortilla soup. It warms your Spanish soul.
ENTREES:
-Judging by the reviews, blue & green corn tamales are SUPER popular.
-Enchiladas are SUPER cheesy and mushy. No chewing required!
-Chimigangas were my favorite of the night. LARGE portions!
This location is HUGEEEE! The bar area is really small with ONE teeeeny tiny tv. Not recommended.
Service was SUPERB. Refilled my water 5 times! Crazy attentive!
The restaurant maybe a little cliche and touristy, but its worth a visit! -
Review from Karl K.
Austin, TX
11/6/2011
Our family has been going to El Cholo since my mother attended USC in the 1950s... Their relleno sauce was like mother's milk to me. Bar none the best things on the menu are their chile rellenos (fluffy, mild and unlike anything you've ever eaten) and their green corn tamales (soft, flavorful and different fro any tamale you've ever tried). Take your previous history of rellenos and tamales and throw it out the door. When you're finished at El Cholos, anything else will be a disappointment. The one thing I miss the most?!?! When we were kids, they had a big bowl full of Mexican jumping beans they'd give out by the register... Bring back that bowl!!!
-
Review from Sean B.
6/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
All the homeys they know what I mean. Baby let me show you how I lean...
Except that I don't think that this place is quite as authentic as Down AKA Kilo. Don't get me wrong, sometimes I dig inauthenticity. Must run in my family... it's how my nephew seems to choose his partners' breasts more often than not. Anyway, LA has a Korean style pizza place that I totally dig. I've had Vietnamese food served by Chinese waiters who don't speak as much Vietnamese as I do. Most of the restaurants in Los Angeles with good food have Mexican chefs, regardless of the country of supposed origin on the food. I get that. Sometimes you just want a quick fix, and whether you think of it as "fusion" or copout, tasty is tasty.
So yeah, El Cholo isn't what I'd really consider hardcore authentic. I've had that at a distressing Birreria in East LA. Again, authenticity can be overrated. But here, the food is a mixed bag. Looking around at the tables with Latinos, whites, Blacks, Asians, all eating the same colorful plates of Americanized Mexican food... I realized that this place wasn't a place that only caters to the 'natives' of its cuisine. It's, by design, a crowd-pleaser.
And in some ways it really was. The tableside guacamole, frankly, is among the best I've had. That was about it for highlights though. The fish tacos I had were expensive, and all I could taste was salt. And I like salt. And it was too much. The beans and rice were very standard fare. The soda was flat. The chips were uninteresting and the salsa a little watery for my taste (I like pico de gallo style more). My DIet Coke was flat, and I only ordered that because the margaritas averaged above $10, which seemed a bit salty (pun intended) for my tastes.
Honestly, I could tear up their homemade guacamole every day and not tire of it, but I'd probably have to go through their menu searching for entrees that blew me away. I sampled my friend's chiles verdes and his friend's carnitas, and both were good, but far from great.
Americanized, a bit pricey, with slow service and average food... and then guacamole that makes up for a lot (not all) of it.
