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Loteria Grill
Category: Restaurants Mexican Mexican [Edit]
6333 W 3rd StLos Angeles, CA 90036
Neighborhood: Mid-City West
(323) 930-2211
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 9 am - 9 pm
Sat 9 am - 8 pm
Sun 9 am - 7 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Validated, Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
389 reviews for Loteria Grill
Review Highlights
"Taco sampler is great to share w/ friends or a date."
(in 34 reviews)
"I went with the carnitas en salsa morita taco."
(in 9 reviews)
"The black beans were wonderful."
(in 49 reviews)
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389 reviews in English
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Review from Chris B.
1/31/2012
"Foodlatio" (140 character reviews blog):
If a legit Highland Park taco hut won the lotto this would be the result. Slightly higher prices, décor, & gringo friendly. Mole, mole, mole. -
Review from Michelle M.
Lake Forest, CA
2/6/2012 1 Check-in Here
I honestly was expecting more of this place based on all the high reviews from fellow Yelpers. Maybe I went on their off day. Or maybe it was what I ordered. Or maybe it was the kind of higher price tag that threw me off. Whatever it was, Loteria Grill was just A-OK for me.
Located in the awesome Farmer's Market and amid all the chaos lies Loteria Grill. On Saturday around 2pm, there was a huge line for this place. Since I'm a Mexican food fanatic, I decided to give it a whirl. While waiting in line, I overlooked the menu. I ended up ordering two Chicken Mole Tacos and a side of chips and guacamole. For $10 and some change total, I thought the food better be good.
When I finally got my food and started eating, I was instantly disappointed. The tacos didn't have as much flavor as I would have liked and the filling seemed to have a mushy and watery taste to it. No bueno. If I decide to give this place a try, I wouldn't get the tacos again. The chips and guac were wonderful though. The guac was perfect and I loved it!
All in all, not the best place I've been to, but not the worse. I'll have to give them a second try to see if they'll win me over that time.
Cheers!Listed in: My inner love for Mexican food…
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Review from Paul M.
Los Angeles, CA
1/28/2012
My favorite go-to Mexican restaurant in LA.
Great to sit outside in the Farmer's Market with a cold beer and people watch too. -
Review from Mooie G.
Manhattan, NY
2/9/2012 1 Check-in Here
Stand in the farmer's market with good mexican food at a good price.
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Review from Stephanie B.
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
2/1/2012
For gourmet Mexican food, Loteria is a bargain. Great, haute Mexican cuisine at near street food prices. I love the nopalitos (fresh cactus salad), the calabacitas (Zucchini and Roasted Corn Succotash Served with Salsa Verde, Finely Chopped Onion and Cilantro, and Queso Fresco) and the chicken sope (tender cornmeal cake topped with chicken and yumminess). Servers are friendly, and there are usually tables open in this area of the Farmer's Market. Highly recommend it!
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Review from Jeff H.
Los Angeles, CA
1/17/2012
5 street sized tacos for $16. Expensive for a light snack not quite a meal.
I had the Tinga and Mole, good taste and wonderfully prepared. But at $3/each... you'd think this would be at a trendy fusion eatery with a scene, ambiance, and a bar.
Maybe a burrito or the nachos would have been a more satisfying choice! -
Review from Chili B.
Los Angeles, CA
1/18/2012
Mole is so good here.
Tried the mole taco and burrito. Both are great. The burrito is just chicken mole, rice and beans. With some mole sauce on the side. Simple but good.
I think anything would be good with the chicken mole.
The chips here are fried fresh and are great. Be sure to get some of their hot sauce - it's killer. -
Review from Jacques C.
Los Angeles, CA
2/9/2012
I brought a good amount of family here and we were all disappointed. Watered down, cheap version of Mexican food. Come on LA, you can do better.
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Review from Alessandra S.
South Pasadena, CA
1/8/2012
I was in the mood for Mexican food and decided to try the Loteria Grill at Farmers Market at the Grove.
I decided to order the Suiza cheese enchilads and a jamaica beverage. My total was under $12.00. The cashier told me it would take about 10 minutes and they would call my name once my order was ready.
The enchiladas were okay and the rice and beans were nothing to write home about.
I don't think I would order that meal again but would consider trying something else. -
Review from Joleen Q.
12/20/2011
Bright colors on the stand and a long line attract you to this Mexican eatery. The cilantro rice is amazing and so is the mole chicken. I had the beef and chicken enchiladas with the green sauce and they were small but amazing. The small guac is just a tiny little cup so get the bigger one!
The nachos looked superb... I will get those next time! -
Review from Rachel W.
West Hollywood, CA
12/29/2011
Really good really traditional, but definitely overpriced. I would give 5 stars, but I think it is too expensive.
Their mole is amazing. And their aguas frescas are really great. But the portions are small, especially if you order the tacos. So tiny! -
Review from Eunice K.
One of the few Mexican options @ the Grove's Farmer's Market. Came here for brunch w/DD - because we simply cannot resist Mexican food!
DD got a Beef Burrito ($8.50) - and it was DELICIOUS! Huge burrito filled with tender, juicy, flavorful, slow cooked beef + rice + beans. We were both pleasantly surprised!
I was more in the mood for breakfast so I ordered "Scrambled with.." ($9) which was basically 3 eggs scrambled with a protein choice (mine was chicken) served with black beans, papa con rajas, and corn/flour tortillas. Truthfully.. my dish was mediocre. The scrambled eggs weren't seasoned very well and everything just tasted heavy and greasy.
For the price, I was not impressed. You can definitely get better Mexican food elsewhere. But my love for Mexican food will most likely bring me back... PLUS their Horchata ($3) which was off the hook! -
Review from carlos c.
12/1/2011
I do love me the Loteria Grill at Farmer's Market.
Always go for their Conchita Pibil plate in a burrito. Amazing slow roasted pork in a ocean of amazing spices, wrapped in a tortilla and consumed by me.
Not to mention their Papas y Rajas, the Chicken in the Pumpkin sauce, and their amazing Taquitos.
This place just absolutely owns at the Grove. -
Review from Kim S.
Los Angeles, CA
One word: Chilaquiles.
Four more words: Fried egg on top.
A bunch more words: Loteria at the Farmers Market always pops into my head after a really long night of drinking for two reasons: first, because chilaquiles is the BEST hangover food. Second, when I'm drunk I can forget how busy and full of tourists the place is and think only about how delicious tortilla chips smothered in salsa, cheese, crema, onions and cilantro are (and it comes with a side of black beans).
I know what you're thinking. "This girl is drunk right NOW because she just made up another more complicated word for nachos." No, I'm not and no, I didn't. It's different, I swear.
Okay, moving on. I prefer the verde sauce but you can choose verde, rojas or mole. Whichever sauce you choose, make sure to add the fried eggs on top. Why? Because EVERYTHING is better with a fried eggs on top. Did you really have to ask? -
Review from Lisa T.
12/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
Really outstanding tacos. Pricey but worth it. Great for kids too.
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Review from Marilynn L.
Los Angeles, CA
1/13/2012
My favorite Mexican in town. Period. The tortilla soup, enchiladas, nachos, burritos. All taste very clean and flavorful and have this perfect balance of authentic Mexican grub and gourmet chef input.
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Review from Pamela K.
Chicago, IL
A hole in the wall, mom-pop kinda place that delights your palate with simple, yet tasty tacos. Located in the Farmer's Market, the beef tacos here are my favorite. Tostadas seem to be popular here too. Tender beef topped with homemade guacamole and onions and wrapped in corn tortillas, you will be surprised how much they more than satisfy. Loteria Grill also makes their own tortilla chips! Yum.
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Review from Jason M.
Los Angeles, CA
9/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
Cool mexican place in located in the heart of Farmers Market.
Usually quite busy.
Food is okay...nothing spectacular.
Spending $29- for two plates is a little extreme in pricing.
The chips I received had no salt on them at all.
The good thing is that there is a bar right next door ....get a pitcher and wash down your food. -
Review from Kali M.
9/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
Mushroom tacos? Zucchini tacos?! Yes-please-and-thank-you.
The minty green rice is delish. -
Review from Aileen L.
Los Angeles, CA
12/29/2011 1 Check-in Here
Hubby and I were doing some last minute Christmas shopping around the area and decided to eat at Farmer's Market and most of the restaurants were closing at 9:00pm. So we rounded a bend and found Loteria Grill. I ordered cheese enchiladas and I loooooooved them! They had a cup of rice and black beans on the side and I'm not a black bean fan but boy the way it was cooked was good. Can't wait to try their other foods ;)
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Review from Amy U.
9/19/2011
This place is delicious! I love how the flavors pack a punch and everything is well proportioned.
Would of given it 5 stars had the service been friendlier... oh and if you ask for your food to be spicy - be warned that its super spicy! -
Review from Charles O.
Los Angeles, CA
9/25/2011
Creative mexican food. I loved their Chocolate Mole. (Yes, chocolate!!!).Very good. I was a little dissapointed by the taco sampler, only becuase a few of them tasted like they've been sitting for a while.
Have also tried their Chilaquiles (Think Mexican breakfast nachos) with the upgraded mole sauce and upgraded chicken. Good stuff. This mole sauce was seen on the show "Best thing I ever ate" because the sauce is that good.
Must get an horchata here too to wash down the food and keep the spicy food less spicy. Very Good food. -
Review from Kerry K.
San Francisco, CA
12/15/2011
I come to this place on my lunch break during the work week and I'm obsessed with their chicken tinga tacos. Their chicken is really moist and their tortillas are handmade. They are so delicious! Their chips and salsa are also addicting. The only bad thing about this place is that it's in the Farmers Market at The Grove and parking there can be a pain. It's totally worth it to brave the lot for these tacos though!
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Review from kerry s.
Costa Mesa, CA
10/28/2011
WOW great food great service
the guys behind the counter were really friendly and suggested some wonderful items. Carnitas plate, chicken nachos, potato tacos. The Nachos were TASTY the aqua frescas' so refreshing and flavorful too . I must add this not our first time here it was the 4th nice to have consistently good grub at the market.
not cheap but good -
Review from Atul T.
Buena Park, CA
1/22/2012
My wife and I went to the Loteria Grill at the LA Farmer's Market and really enjoyed it. So we decided to try the full restaurant. We had high expectations, but the experience ended up being a mixed one.
What we liked was the food. The potato taquitos are excellent, the tinga de pollo is very good (albeit a bit salty). The vegetable tacos (all varieties) are very good as well, which is something we particular liked about Loteria since my wife is vegetarian and most other Mexican places only give her the option of getting a cheese enchilada.
What we did not like were three things:
1. The kid's menu is garbage. They charged us $5.25 for a kid's quesadilla that was so small that my 3 year old needed a second order. So we ended up spending more on his food than we did on our own! An appetizer quesadilla was $8, and in retrospect, that probably would have been a better option.
2. While the vegetable tacos are an excellent option for vegetarians, it turns out they are the only option. Even the rice and beans here are not vegetarian. None of the enchilada sauces were either. So if you are vegetarian, you probably won't be coming back very often unless you want to eat the same thing over and over again.
3. The service was very sporadic. The entire waitstaff was very nice and addressed all of our requests promptly. The problem was that we hardly saw them. We were there for two hours and not once was our water refilled. When we told the waitress we needed a few more minutes before we were ready to order, we couldn't find her for another 20+ minutes after that.
In summary, Loteria has great food. But the limited options for veggies and the sporadic service makes me hesitate on whether we would come back. We might just go back to the Farmer's Market location instead - whenever my wife is ready to eat vegetable tacos again. -
Review from Emily M.
Arcadia, CA
8/22/2011
I am loyal to King Taco... but I may have to cheat on King Taco with Loteria. This is a strong statement to make because I love the king of tacos, but Loteria is http://bomb.com!
You can really taste the freshness of the ingredients! The tortillas for instance, although are a bit smaller than normal are handmade and super soft. I like that they offer different types of seasoning and cooking techniques for each of the meats. I got a carnitas taco as well as a chicken one (tinga) and both were amazing! But I would definitely say that the carnitas taco is my favorite. Add a watermelon fresca and you have a compelete meal! The watermelon juice is light and refreshing and balances out the savory and spicy flavors of the taco. -
Review from Rachel M.
8/13/2011
I don't frequently dine at the Farmer's Market because there are so many choices that I manage to pick something both disappointing and overpriced. I really wanted to try Pampas Grill, but the line was so long. So Loteria Grill was my second choice.
The food was okay. It was what I expected and nothing more. I ordered the one carnitas taco (3 stars) and one chicken mole taco (3 stars). It was the first time I had chicken mole, and it didn't make me a believer. I order a side of guacamole and chips (4 stars). They were good but you can't really mess that up. The watermelon juice (4 stars) refreshing on a summer day. For $13, I don't think I got my money's worth nor did I get full.
Next time, I would like to try the mini taco sampler, which looks like a fun dish for sharing.Listed in: The Grove/Farmer's Market, 3rd St Stops
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Review from Eric L.
Monterey Park, CA
10/5/2011
This place is right in the middle of the Famers Market. They probably have some of the best enchiladas I've ever had in Los Angeles. I usually get the chicken mole enchiladas. You get two enchiladas, beans, and rice. With this particular rice, you get this green rice that has mint in it. It's so good!
The downside to this place is that the price is kinda high for what you get. -
Review from Eric M.
Corona, CA
12/22/2011
Its expensive as hell and the food is not all that great. I would call that white washed mexican food. I would not recommend this place to no one. I felt robbed when i finished my meal.
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Review from Angela h.
Los Angeles, CA
11/21/2011
want to know where to find the best mexican food in the city?
look no further, because it's right here.
if i could give this place 1,000 stars, I would: for service, for experience, for taste, for quality. This place gets my vote for best mexican food ... um, probably ever.
nuff said.
the place will speak for itself.
my word vocabulary cannot even begin to assess the deliciousness that will start at your taste buds and end with a joyous laughter of all things good.
make sure you try the salsa. it will blow your socks off. -
Review from Irene B.
8/16/2011
I had Loteria once last year, and it was a pretty forgettable experience. Since then, from time to time I would hear how awesome it is, so I started to doubt my initial visit and decided to give it another try. Nope, still forgettable.
I ordered the following:
1) Carnitas Tostada - good, but nothing special
2) Carne deshebrada (shredded beef) taco - good, but again nothing special
3) Pollo en Pipian Rojo (chicken in spicy pumpkin-seed and peanut sauce) taco - not tasty, reeeeally nothing special - could not taste the "spicy" pumpkin or any flavor period
Loteria is definitely at the bottom of my list when I want Mexican, and with those hefty pricetags, I'll just stick to Pampas Grill while I'm at the Farmer's Market , and my beloved El Taurino al pastor tostada when I want Mexican. Hollaaaa. -
Review from MIN I.
Beverly Hills, CA
9/25/2011
Their chicken mole is super yummy. Pass on the shredded beef tacos (they were bland). Chicken nachos were $17 but very tasty! They're very generous with the cheese on the nachos... lots of flavor going on in their salsa verde & pico de gallo.
Definitely coming back sometime soon. The wait for our food was only 5-10 minutes and we grabbed a drink from the bar next door. Very laid back. -
Review from Mark D.
7/27/2011 1 photo
In the previous times that I've visited the Farmer's Market in Los Angeles, I wanted to visit Loteria. Each time, I had waited 20 minutes inline and seemingly was not closer to ordering. It also appeared that it was taking at least 20 minutes for folks to get their food.
Since these are business trips and I had work to complete, I simply could not wait it out.
However, tonight, the line was shorter. So, I gave it a shot and ordered some carry out.
I would say the staff is professional. They may even border on cordial but certainly not friendly. They seemed quite put off when folks would ask them questions or ask for something special. They flat out refused one patrons request for something a la carte.
The line to order was only about ten minutes and the food seemed to be rolling out. I ordered the Carnitas en salsa Morita plate for carry-out.
It took ten to fifteen minutes for my food to come out. They neatly packed it in a tightly sealed container and bag. I headed back to my hotel.
The meat had a very nice taste. It was tender. The season was a very tasty mix. The black beans were wonderful. The seasoning for these was great. However, there were not that many beans. Lots of soup but it was light on beans. The rice was also very good. There were also some nice slices of avocado. It was a nice meal.
http://tinyurl.com/3hm...
The price should either be lower than the $13 or the overall portion should be larger. While the food was good, I did not think it was a great value.
Overall, I thought the food was good. The service is functional but do not expect more than that. The value proposition is not the best. On many nights, it will be quite a wait. For me, I certainly would not go out of my way to visit Loteria. But, since my hotel is just across the street from the Farmer's Market, it was worth the one trip. -
Review from Jim A.
Los Angeles, CA
11/25/2011
Eaten here quite a few times. Great food and all. It's in the middle of farmer market so part of the appeal is that you get to people watch as well !
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Review from Carrie h.
10/18/2011
This place is so good, we constantly wonder why we don't trek up here more often for their yummy food! The taco sampler is a fav and the nopalitos are the best I've ever had. Friendly faces behind the counter and reasonable prices for the high quality of the food...definitely a winner!
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Review from Rach K.
Yum!
We were shopping at the Grove when we decided to get a little snack of rice and beans.
Service was nice and friendly and the rice and beans were so good. The beans were so full of flavor and the rice, though they looked plain and white, were actually well-seasoned and delicious. It was the best rice and beans I've ever had! I docked stars though for the wait time for our simple dish and for the price. It was $4 for the tiny portion of rice and beans. There aren't any prices listed anywhere so I suspect they change them on a whim. -
Review from Geoff C.
6/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
In true LA style, I've come to realize this place is superbly over-rated. You can get better carnitas, pastor, or potato tacos from many trucks around town. Perhaps their sitdown location is better, but after being here multiple times, I would say the tacos are actually below average.
I love Jalisco style small tacos (actually my favorite), but their meats & toppings are nothing special.
I assume the same people give this 5 stars, give Pink's and Tito's Tacos 5-stars. -
Review from Lindsay H.
Los Angeles, CA
8/1/2011 1 Check-in Here
Fairly decent Mexican, if you feel like braving the crowds at the Farmer's Market. The prices are "restaurant", while the ambiance is... well, not. Nothing is more annoying than trying to find a table that is at least in a bit of shade, while dodging touristy families and moms with their tots. Now, I knew what I was getting into going to the Grove on a Sunday, but I've been reminded of why I don't eat at the Farmer's Market all that often.
With that being said, I can't complain about the food. I usually get mole something... (enchiladas, burritos, etc), and I've always been happy. The minty verde rice is interesting, and I do have a thing for their salsa. I'll have to go back on a non-weekend day so I can enjoy my food without having to stalk the tables that are almost done with their meals so I can find a place to eat. Just makes me feel creepy... -
Review from Annie H.
7/9/2011
I had not known Mole until Loteria Grill. And now all I can sing is "mole mole mole"! Seriously delicious, we tried both the mole platter and taco, although I have to say it tastes better in plate form than in a taco.
Also tried the 12 mini taco sampler (they're literally bite size tiny), delicious tacos, and a fun way to try a little bit of all their flavors. The papaya drinks was pretty decent too.
Overall, I have to say it's a bit pricey for street food and the small portions. But the taste makes it well worth the trip, if nothing else, for their mole! -
Review from Miyuki H.
Los Angeles, CA
7/28/2011
I have eaten at this wonderful place several times and highly recommend it if you like Mexican food. I ordered 2 soft tacos 1)the Nopalitos (Fresh Cactus Salad) & the 2)Mushrooms with Epazote. The Fresh Cactus Salad was wrapped in a warm, homemade flour tortilla and was served with Salsa Verde and Queso Fresco. It had a bit of a kick to it. The Mushrooms with Epazote was awesome! The mushrooms were finely chopped with cilantro and onions and covered with Salsa Verde. Both tacos were very small, but tasty. My favorite is the Mushrooms with Epazote. Each taco cost less than $3.
I wanted to try the Hibiscus Tea, but they ran out so I ordered the Lime-Ade. This is a refreshing beverage to drink on a hot summer day!
I gave them 4 stars because they messed up my order, but quickly corrected the error.
This is one place you need to check out if your visiting or live in LA.
