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Thu-Fri. 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 a.m.
Sat. 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 a.m.
Sun. 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
"If you're thinking about going...Don't think. Just plan a visit with your friends and GO! I love this place! The atmosphere is definitely…" read more »
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On my last visit to Hollywood, I decided to skip the tourist traps and search for Mexican restaurants. At the last minute, when both hope and patience were wearing thin, I found a review of Loteria Grill. It seemed legit, with a popular location in Fairfax, but I still had my doubts. Has anyone ever done "upscale" Mexican correctly? Usually, the more you pay for flap steak and chicharrones, the bigger the jackass you are.
Amazingly, this was not the case. From the moment our chicharron de queso appeared on the table, I realized this is not a conventional tourist ripoff. The cheese was presented like a dosa, along with a bowl of salsa verde and corn tortillas. Even the house salsa--a dense, murky chipotle blend--was delicious and flavorful, leaving a lingering burn in the throat. Feeling adventurous, I ordered the twelve taco sampler, consisting of a mini version of every taco on the menu!
The tacos were simply delightful--with one caveat. If you're not prepared to literally "wolf" them down, they will get cold. But I was feeling no pain after two michelada clasicas with Pacifico. My favorites (not to sound cliché) were the chicharrones, napoles and shredded beef. I'm not much of a chicken man, although the sweet molé was rendered nicely. The carnitas, while flavorful and well-prepared, were a bit "soft" for my taste--meaning they didn't quite flisten with far and have that slight crunch I crave.
Kim K., on the other hand, ordered everything "mild," which will no doubt appeal to thouse of you who appreciate flavor without profuse sweating (I consider tears, sweat and mucus the sign of authenticity). She was pleasantly surprised the kitched staff actually respected her wishes. From her persepctive, the chicken molé and zucchini tacos were ideal. Oerhaos I'll give them a closer look on my next visit? Bravo, Jimmy Shaw!
I'm torn. Part of me really wants to go all out and give this 4 stars, but I think I was just extra happy when I was there because I was on a mid-week mini vacation. So, I shall stick with 3.....
We were hot. We were sweaty. We were ready for a refreshing cocktail and some good Mexican grub. We spotted this place while we were walking up and down Hollywood Blvd on an impulsive shopping excursion.
We entered and it was cool - both in ambiance and temperature. This was welcome on an otherwise sweltering day. We were seated fairly quickly and my man got his margarita in a flash. The menu is pretty extensive - and, since we'd never been here before we needed a few momentitos. So, our server said...."take as much time as you need" - which apparently was code for, "I'll be back in 15 minutes".
Oh well, not annoyed so much because of the vacation buzz. When she finally did return, I got some shrimp tacos on special and he got 2 chicken a la carte tacos. I also opted for a margarita fresa (strawberry puree) and it was refreshing! So, the prices were pretty steep. But, we were in that the-sky-is-the-limit mod, so it wasn't a big deal.
When our food arrived. I was wondering if Loteria translated into "tiny taco" cause these babies were small. But, they were packed with flavor and satisfying. In fact, they were pretty perfect for a light lunch.
On our way out, I did eyeball a guy eating a MAMMOTH burrito, so you can get large Mexican cuisine here as well. It's probably a $20.00 burrito, but it's also probably good.
Evan Kleinman of KCRW's "Good Food" held an event at Loteria last night for KCRW contributors. Thank you Evan. Thank's Jimmy Shaw. Thank you wonderful and gracious serving staff.
The Good:
I really enjoyed getting together with the variety of people who showed up. Most of us arrived as individuals, but bonded quickly and easily as we shared tables and food. Many people were terrific, foraging for food and bringing it back for the whole table to share.
And now the ordinary:
We were served a generous assortment of empanadas, and mini burritos with varied fillings. Then came soft tacos, also with assorted fillings. I thought everything was quite ok, but hardly exciting. I did eat plenty. I would be lying if I said I didn't. I think I'm alone in my assessment that most stuff was satisfying, but ordinary. Other people at my table were mmmming and ohhhhing as if this was the best food they'd ever eaten. The truth is, if I were paying, I'd much rather go to an excellent taco stand like Yucca's or Cactus.
Some of the stuff I thought way better than ordinary. I very much liked everything with either guacamole or tomatillo on it.
Evan Kleinman had her own little section of special dishes that people nibbled at briskly. Among the things she served were a good and unusual squash lasanga, and gnochi.
Desserts: Quite an assortment. They were brought in separately by Miss Kleinman's many baking colleagues. Some were rather excellent. There was a micro-chocolate cupcake that packed quite a punch. Nothing pouffy about it. It was totally dense with different chocolates. There was a triangularly cut layered pastry (not baklava) that I think may have owned it's roots to the Mediterranean. That was delicious. I went back for more to share with the table. There was a highly unusual sticky flattish 'lollipop' that wasn't really a lollipop at all. I thought it was packed with fresh ginger, others said chili. Anyway my conversation with newly made friends slowed after that as my molars began to adhere to one another. Could've used a rich cup of coffee, but there was none available.
The ambiance: Open, clean, unimaginative, functional. Loteria sits sandwiched between Geisha House and Mood, both of which took enormous pains with original decor when they opened several years ago. Kress is right nearby and is also painstakingly decorated, so Loteria is not exactly going to wow anyone from the architecture and design crowd.
I hope I'm not sounding ungrateful, because I had a truly lovely evening with interesting new people, and ate a variety of foods. The bottom line is that becoming a repeat customer wouldn't be about the party, it would be about Loteria's daily menu. Why am I walking away feeling I can do as well at many of So Cal's ugly but tasty taco stands?
The jalapeno margarita was interesting to try. But the tacos fell short at this place. Too pricey for the portions and I wasn't impressed with the flavors for the most part. I would go back for a drink with friends maybe.
I avoid this place from several visits that have less than impressed me. From a report a couple of friends recently gave me, Loteria is still a place to continue avoiding. Terrible service, small portions and overpriced. So many better places to eat Mexican in this town.
With so many poor reviews, how does the Hollywood Loteria still get 3 1/2 stars? Hoping it would… Read more »
Mr. Jimmy Shaw -
It was my 2nd time here - my bad for going on a Sunday I guess. Loved it the first time - months ago.
Please monitor your staff. The hostess - bitchy and cold, plus shes doing ballet moves at the host stand??? just say, "hi, or welcome, or good evening". You're a hostess, so - fucking host. I didn't even get an "enjoy your meal" when she seated us. If I wanted a serving of "bitch face", I would've called up my old boss. The bartender - c'mon dude. A dead fish has more personality. The waiter - much of the same.
Anyhoo - your food is tasty, margaritas tooo expensive. $12!! for a jalapeno margarita... James please. How's your 401k doing?
I dig the food, but I'm not sure I'd trek back to Hollywood blvd - the tourist mecca for the Midwestern - new- Reebok- wearing family of four. Simply put, I don't want to start my dining experience by be greeted or rather "not greeted" by some bitchy dancer chick that may have me confused with the director of "Wicked" who passed on her.
One of the biggest frustrations for me in LA is the lack of open air seating for Margarita drinking. This place solves the problem and allows patrons to watch the weirdness of Hollywood blvd also.
The food is great. I am so pleased to find a place that doesn't simply douse everything in sauce and cheese and call it done. They have unusual and very tasty mixtures that I am very excited about. I especially love the cactus salad and the mushroom mixture (I'm not a meat eater, so though many of the other options seems to attract crowds- I'm very pleased with their non-meat selections). The open space of the restaurant is welcoming and helps alleviate some of the claustrophobia I feel on the Boulevard. They also have a full bar.
I'm an idiot for falling in love with Loteria Grill. I'm in Chicago and Loteria is in Los Angeles. Long distance does NOT make the heart grow fonder. :(
My LA friends highly recommended Loteria and took me here for dinner on my first night in town. I was blown away by every. single. thing. that we ordered. From Jalapeno Margaritas to the FRESHEST and best guacamole/chips to rice and tacos. All the ingredients they used were incredibly fresh and definitely local. I ordered the Pollo en Pipian Rojo Chicken Tacos and they were perfectly seasoned and tasted phenomenal. It is not your every day Mexican. Loteria used unique flavors in their tacos and rice. I'm salivating just thinking of it. My friends have also ordered the Probaditas - Sampler (all 12 of their tacos served on mini handmade tortillas) and said it was bomb. Next time, I'm in.
Maybe I can do long distance after all... flying into LA once a month for Loteria? At least I know that she puts out.... I'll definitely get bang for my buck.
I was contemplating giving this restaurant 5 stars but the service was ridiculously slow. I also took off a star because the restaurant is insanely loud. If you don't mind sitting around shouting at people while you wait for your food, then this is the place to be.
The fried cheese appetizer is amazing. Fried cheesy goodness. YUM!! The taquitos are awesome, too. And be sure to try the carnitas tacos and enchiladas with mole sauce. I really enjoyed the food here especially since my meal didn't seem to be as greasy as what they serve at the Farmer's Market.
If only they had better service, better soundproofing, and better parking... sigh...
I ran into my friend Jan this weekend, who had the misfortune of enduring this place with me. She told me she keeps a printout of my review pinned to her wall at work. It reminds her, no matter how bad her day has been, it'll NEVER be as bad as our Loteria Grill experience.
Seriously one of the worst Dining disasters known to man, woman, and tranny alike.
We waited an hour…
Read more »
Hands down some of the tastiest tacos I have ever indulged in. I always eat the Carne deshebrada - Shredded Beef Served with Fresh Guacamole, Salsa Chipotle, and Finely Chopped Onion and Cilantro. The other great taco is Carnitas en salsa Morita - In a Spicy Chile Morita Sauce Served with slices of Fresh Avocado and Finely Chopped Onion and Cilantro. I also tried the chilaquiles but they were soaked in sauce and a bit soggy.
Walking into this restaurant, I was instantly impressed with the decor and the energy of the place. It was clean and contemporary, and everything was laid out in a really open floorplan that made good use of space.
I really liked the chips and salsa, the smoky chipotle flavor was quite nice and definitely made me hungrier for the meal to come.
I think I may have ordered wrong, because everyone else's meals looked a little better than mine. It was good, but it didn't knock my socks off. It was a chicken burrito with a pumpkin sauce. Sounded intriguing on paper, but in reality it was tasty but a bit too dry. Doubling the sauce would have immensely improved the dish.
Upshot: Best salsa in LA at a restaurant. Chips are good, too. ONLY corn tortillas! Great shrimp taco appetizer (we toast and do them like a welcome shot).
Is it a food truck or hole-in-the-wall where you order in Spanish? No. But it is also not so over-the-top that it turns me off. The negatives are the neighborhood---it is the most touristy strip of Hollywood Blvd---and the noise level. I don't love the design either. What I go back for is the salsa, the tacos, the mint rice on the side, the tortilla or pork-hominy soups, and the cheese chicharrones (brilliant). Drinks look good but I have not tried them.
This place is just ok! Its overpriced for the portions you get. Its a great trendy spot. If you are in Hollywood and willing to fork over ridiculous money for Mexican food that is not to flavorful then go ahead. The food needs flavor, its too "gringo style" for me. What I mean by this is that the taste is chilled out to compensate for the bland taste buds of some "americans." So I will not return here because there are better spots to hit up for great mexican food. However, if you have no choice then ok eat here. I had the soup (calbaza...bland) and my husband had a skirt steak that he described as "rubbery." The Margarita is overpriced for what you get. We spent $56.00 dollars and it was not worth it.
The papas (potato) tacos are amazing, thanks for the reco fellow yelpers! I also had the zucchini and corn taco... eh, not to my liking. I wanted grilled zucchini and the one in the taco is raw.
Their rice and beans are surprisingly delicious... not sure what they do to them... maybe lard? That's my best guess, because when I make them at home it doesn't taste anywhere near this good!
The nachos, and guac are delish too!
Valet to park is $6.
Sometimes, the mark of a great restaurant is how they handle curve balls. Loteria knocked it out of the park. I went there for lunch on a Friday with a friend and there were multiple large parties around us. The waiter got my order wrong in the ensuing madness but the owner was right on the case and made everything right in short order.
Here's the bottom line, I'm not a big Mexican food fan: I think most of it is bland, boring and really cheap crappy meat, poorly seasoned and doused with hot sauce to try and hide the fact that it is really just unflavorful shit wrapped in disgusting starchy corn torillas that give one nothing other than a big fat ass. I hate Mexican "food". Hate it. I really can't consider it food, it is just the stuff left over from real food,
That being said, Loteria served up some of the best food I have ever eaten. It was fresh, tasty and well-balanced, The meat was was lean and perfectly prepared.
Oh, and the Margaritas were sublime,
A strange review I know, But Loteria has shown me what I never thought I would see, not only is there such a thing as Mexican "food", there is such a thing as excellent Mexican food.
Food here is not bad but nothing stellar. What is great is the fact that they do not simmer down the spice profile but instead turn up the heat. So if you like Mexican food that pops this place is a good place to try it. When you order things spicy, they really give it to you.
This venue is a lot nicer than the Grove location but the food isn't as good for sure. Maybe it is because of the decor or the fact that it is more restaurant food than just grub. I really can't put my finger on why the food is not the same really, it just is. I do like the fact that they have a robust bar of tequilas and offer a wide variety of Mexican cocktails.
recommendations: the tamales and taco sampler were both nice to try and fun.
I've been to the Farmers Market location on Fairfax and loved it so had to try the restaurant.
Look for the yellow door to get you into the restaurant. You totally forget you are in the busy heart of Hollywood when you walk in. The staff is friendly and the service is great.
We had the queso fundido to start. They brought us mini tortillas wrapped in tissue paper to eat with it. They were so soft and fresh!! The serve Michelada's which are beer mixed with hot sauce, worchestire and lime. I had the classico and it didn't pack as much of a punch as I expected but it was very refreshing.
If you love spicy I would definitely recommend the carnitas. They use this chile sauce that will knock you on your a$$. You will keep eating even if you are in pain it is that good. They don't overdo the portion sizes either.
A plus is that they offer valet for $7 ifyou don't want to deal with the crappy Hollywood parking.
Ultra, Serious, 100% Meh. This is not Mexican food, it's a waste of time. I actually had to recheck J Gold's 99 restaurants in LA because I was in shock that Loteria Grill managed to make it. We had carnitas tacos, a chicken tinga burrito, and an enchiladas rojas plate. Lame. Boring, bland, and lame. Twice during the meal it was compared to a trendy chevy's. I have no idea how in a city like LA, where trucks roam around like banditos serving unforgettable tacos, a place like Loteria Grill can get by serving embarrassing Mexican Food. Oh and service is spotty at best.
Food is tasty and creative, but not life-changing. Drinks are yummy but too expensive to order more than one. (Margaritas are $12 to start with, and micheladas, which are cheap beer and spices, are $9 - ouch). For brunch, their Mexican bloody mary is very tasty, and spicy (though you can ask for it mild).
Your best bargain is the $8 burrito. It is MASSIVE. Both tostada and sope are tiny, so don't let the price suggest size to you. Tacos are a good deal at $3 a pop - lettuce cup available instead of tortilla.
If you are a loteria rookie - I do recommend the sampler. It is one bite size taco of all their yummy fillings.
Josh B's fave fillings:
Papas (Basically coarsely mashed potatoes w mild spices)
Champiniones (Mushrooms - the best vegetarian option, I say)
Pollo en Mole Poblano (Chicken in smoky, spicy and sweet red sauce)
Carnitas (Pork in the only truly spicy sauce on the menu)
Albondigas - Mexican meatballs in tomato sauce.
Mostly excellent service (They had one rude young lady, but they seem to have gotten rid of her) and at dinner, the owner/head chef patrolls and is very helpful if you are in any way dissatisfied. Dinner menu costs the same as lunch, so you sober types can make out with a $10 delicious dinner.
Today we got to go back to Loteria and I was happy happy happy! We sat at the bar and watched the other patrons (lots of tourists in town), the kitchen action and our gorgeously helpful bartender Noel. I got my "Michelada Clasica"! I love this "cocktail"! Super refreshing with just enough heat! It sounds weird to put beer over ice and mix it with other goodies, but it works.
Anyway, just wanted to compliment the bartender and the chef for my perfectly cooked Huevos con mushrooms. I also love the black beans! And those smashy potatoes on the plate have the cactus in them and are perfect! The shrimp tacos are now on a special smaller menu that also features fish dishes that sounded amazing! We're going back to the Farmers Market, so we'll hit Loteria up everytime! Thank you guys!
Did I mention they have MATCHES!! oh yeah!
WOW!!! All I can say is wow! I remember blogging about this experience, but I guess I never yelped… Read more »
WORST RESTAURANT EVER!
I hope that regardless of whether or not anyone chooses to read past the above public service announcement that it at least serves to prevent people from going to this awful restaurant.
We were starving and had been walking along Hollywood Blvd. for a while, so we decided to give in and try it out. I had my misgivings before we even walked in, but hunger won the battle and and we asked for a table.
Unfortunately, I was right about Loteria and I became full with regret, rather than tasty food.
Loteria is overpriced (especially in the drinks department). We were overcharged for guacamole (which was not that good at all), the salsa was a disturbing--non-spicy!--sauce. We ordered nachos because we thought that was safe...it was a mound of cheese, not much else. We also ordered an entree sized salad...which was WAY too complicated and did not blend tastes well.
Oh we had to ask for chips and salsa by the way...and they spilled water on my dining partner--THREE TIMES!! (yes, actually three times)
No, no, no, no, no, no, no.
The chipotle salsa, like everyone has been saying, is wonderful!
But, I had a really unremarkable meal here. How could it be that their beans (black and pinto) and rice are all meaty? I had a rather sad serving of chilaquiles (I came between morning and noon); the taste was close to what you could put together at a Baja Fresh salsa bar. I like my tomatillo tangy, not a funky sweet. Eggs are an extra 2.50 and meat is 3.00 more. I'd rather have chilaquiles in TJ, even if there's a drug war.
Additionally, I saw a beetle wandering around inside whilst eating the dark-hued salsa. Put two and two together. Yum!
If you're a veg person, for some godawful reason away from the east side, go for the potato burrito. It's better. And for goodness sakes, STAY AWAY FROM HOLLYWOOD.
So I finally tried Loteria today and I cannot believe I waited this long for such a treat!!!! I was thrilled fir my DH that not only do the have Mcheladas, they offer four different versions!!! I had a very good very strong Sunday afternoon margarita, made to my own picky specs.
For food, everything I put in my mouth as delicious, startring with the dark brown chipotle salsa. I ate it with a spoon. We tried the tortilla soup. This was an unusual prep, with the tortilla pureed into the broth, making itthick but not creamy. I had queso & crema on top, avocado & sun dried tomato slivers. It's really filling.
We shared the dozen taco sampler. This was adorable. 12 teeny tiny one bite (2 bites for me) tacos, one of every kind they make in tiny lite hand made tortillas about the size of a silver dollar. The veggie ones were delicious, with the mushroom one being my favorite. The chicken & pork were all good took. Great way to try for a first timer.
We also shared the chile rellenos which were unusual and unusually delicious. One was not fried, in a dark pepper with black beans & chorizo with a little crema on top. Smoky deliciousness. The other was in a green chile, battered and fried with cheese & plantains on the inside, sweetly wonderful.
Th interior is beautiful with gigantic loteria cards, an open kitchen, giant sky lights and patio seating. They also offer lots of non-alcoholic drinks like Mexican coke & aguas frescas.
Loves.
Loteria Grill...
Because sometimes, while I'd like to bemoan that Los Angeles needs more chef-driven Mexican joints, we already have one, and it's always a treat to say the least.
_C$
I really didn't think this place could get much better, but then I had the taquitos.
Pretty sure God created Loteria's potato taquitos. All the Erin H. staples (avocado, cheese, potato, fat) in one delicious, hot, crispy little food package. Holy F.
And that salsa is still the best I've ever had.
The only way I could have enjoyed my tacos more is if I hadn't filled up on the oh-so-delicious… Read more »
I like the energy and the vibe of this place, granted I've only been once - used to get tacos from their stand at the farmers market. My group thought the food was pretty good - not the most amazing but certainly you could do worse add in the nice atmosph. and you get a pretty good night out.
Mexican food for gueros.And when the owner(guero) comes over and asks if you want another drink-its on him.I dont need free drinks,I'm a high roller,but when HE offers one,they shouldnt charge you for it.
Oh Yeah Hollywood Baby! Yeah! (FART NOISE)
Overpriced, and trying to be ultra Hollywood chic. Food that fails to impress and the service is not the best. Finally, I don't care where you are located, $6 for a Tecate?
C'mon!
Not on my watch beotch!
A nice place for cheap food.
Service was very slow but the prices were very fair. Was the food good? Not really. I was really looking forward to eating here too.
After a friends screening, we went to Loteria. I loved that place after being there several times before and enjoying it. I live in the neighborhood so it was nice to walk there. After the screening I was starving. I couldn't wait to eat.
We have a party of 7 and the waitress could have not been any more rude. She talked about how she thought the food stunk and couldn't recommend anything. A friend ordered a burrito and I asked if I could have the burrito with no tortilla. She said fine and walked off. Since were were a party of 7, she got the tip no matter what so she was a total bitch.
So she forgot my food and finally brought it and did apologize (but a backhanded apology, sooo sorry I knew you were so hungry!) but when the bill came my food was 15.00 and the burrito was only 8:50. I asked her why it was so much different in price. She told me that since i got the plate it's more food and more expensive. I should have been told that, it wasn't on the menu. Double the price for the same amount of food. Then she told me she would take a few dollars off the bill but was very combative. When we got the bill it read in bold, "CUSTOMER COMPLAINT" -4.00. I found this rather insulting and called the manager.
The manager was the worst! We had already payed the bill when he finally came to our table 30 minutes later (we were the only table left) Then he told me it was pretty stupid of us to pay the bill before we talked to him. I told him I lived in the neighborhood and that I had been at the place about 8 times before. He was all, well I've never seen you in here. Well, maybe he's always in his office?!Then he proceeded to pull out three dollars from his pocket and try to hand it to me! He told me, well, ask for me the next time you come in I guess I can get you a drink or something. I will never go there again. I was so insulted by his brash actions and utter disrespect to me. I will never eat there again.
If you want assholes with a bitchy Mexican waitress, go there. I would go to l'scorpion hollywood. the people are nicer, the food is great, better tequila selection and it's two blocks from Loteria (and no I don't work at l'scorpion, here is the yelp link,
http://www.yelp.com/bi...).
It's Cinco de Mayo, and I can't think of a better time to review one of the city's finer Mexican establishments. I was just here for dinner with a small group on Friday night and we all left fat, buzzed, and happy.
I spent the ride over (and the rather painful search for parking) fantasizing about the queso fundido. But we decided to try only new dishes on this visit, and went with the server's recommendation of chicharron de queso.
It's basically a dusting of cheese the size of a manhole cover that's fried until crispy and then folded into the shape of a giant hat. You break off a couple of pieces, and roll them up in a warm, house-made corn tortilla with guacamole and salsa verde. It's the perfect cocktail food; get an order for the whole table to nibble on while you sip one of the many tequilas, mescals, margaritas, or micheladas.
The rest of the meal was fantastic as always. There are a couple of tasty specials that aren't on the menu at the Grove location that, along with the first-rate drinks, will keep me coming back for more. But it's that chicharron de queso that I can't stop thinking about. Maybe next year for Cinco de Mayo I'll wear it out as an edible hat.
Wow... I'm surprised by all the negative reviews. I love Loteria! JImmy Shaw (the owner) is a Mexico City native whose dishes are creative, fresh and quite authentic -- he knows his stuff. My guess is that the folks who rated it poorly are more used the "El Lay" version of Mexican food like the stuff served at El Compadre -- heaps fried and heavy fare you stuff down to cure hangovers.
My reasons for loving Loteria:
1. Freakin' good food. Period.
2. Lots of vegetarian options.
3. The atmosphere - I had my birthday party there and they reserved a large space for us on the patio -- the patio is great for soaking up the energy of Hollywood. It somehow manages to feel like you're in the midst the boulevard without it feeling chaotic. It's festive, too -- I love the oversized loteria cards that frame the perimeter.
Next time I go, I'm gonna dive into a tall, cool glass of freshly-made aguas frescas. See you there.
It's been nearly a year since I stepped foot in this place, but my memory of it is so intense, a review is surely due.
My friend and I decided to meet here for an overdue "catch up" - but since she was still at work and I had some reading to do, I decided to look for a coffee shop nearby to study. As often as I've sauntered down Hollywood Blvd, I had no clue there wasn't a Starbucks or Coffee Bean for blocks. After walking past Loteria, I noticed that the bar was relatively well lit. So I walked in, ordered a glass of wine and cracked open my book.
Next thing I knew, I had a sample of Mezcal in front of me, a refill on my wine and I was practically best friends with the bartender, server, owner and the random man sitting next to me. It was like I had been inducted into this familia de Loteria.
I texted my friend and told her to hurry up. I was talking to strangers! This is very out of the ordinary for me. I can be gregarious, but most of the time, especially when I'm alone, I tend to keep to myself. And as worried as I felt about this, I was having a BLAST. These people were amazing! The Mezcal was delicious! I had never had some before, so they insisted that I try it.
Obviously, by this point, my book is closed and my mind reeling from all the savory booze (and an empty stomach), my friend arrives and we ask to be seated. As I walk to the table, everyone waves to me and I feel like a rockstar! Soon, we're served some really amazing tacos. Granted, my tastebuds may have been deceived by the intoxication, but YUM. It was beautifully plated, cooked well. Not dripping in grease (although sometimes the greasy mexican meal is thoroughly satisfying as well). It felt like a very healthy meal and it helped me sober up.
Because my friend found it entertaining that I drunkenly befriended everyone, we went back to the bar to sample some more drinks. It was a perfect cap to a fun and delicious evening.
Haters, step off.
This place is phenomenal. They make good food, they
have great drinks and the staff is knowledgeable and cool.
The Chicharron de Queso is worth the POA alone.
The salsa. Check
The Carnitas. Check
The Michelada. Sublime.
Clean. Inside/outside seating. Great food.
The end.
Super cute restaurant. Not very crowded on a Monday night, which was nice. Our waiter's drink recommendation - the jalapeno margarita - was awesome! Not mouth-numbingly spicy like a real jalapeno can be, it just adds a little kick to an already yummy margarita. My friend had a michelada, which I thought sounded blech because I don't like beer, but I tried it and was shocked at how awesome it was, beer and all!
Food was great. Started with the queso fundido with chorizo. Cheesy and good. I am incredibly indecisive so I had the taco sampler - 12 little bite-sized tacos. The veggie ones were the best, but the chicken and pork ones were great too, the beef were fine. My friend had the giant plate of carnitas. We both loved what we got and had food envy of the other's dish.
Totally recommend this place for friend-time or a date.
Loteria is bliss. From now on, every time I come to Hollywood to see a play or something of that sort I'm eating here, no question about it.
When you walk in it gives off kind of a cool, artsy vibe and the girl at the front couldn't have been friendlier. The artwork on the walls are a very nice touch.
We had a really nice waiter, and all the staff was incredibly attentive and kind. Now to the food, the absolute best part of the experience.
The lemonade and Guacamole are AMAZING. What a way to start off a meal! Little did I know, it was gonna go way up hill.
I ordered a vegetarian tostada (being the healthy eater that I am) and was sooooo impressed. When I tasted it I gasped it was so good. My boyfriend thought that something was wrong and he was going "are you ok?"
Really a great place. I look forward to coming here many more times.
Eager and willing for a night out on the town with my dear, sweet Valentine...the wife and I head out to Hollywood sans daughter....awwww. We manage to drive 21 miles in just under an hour and a half and even make it early for our 7:30pm reservation!! Parking was $20....gasp!....wake up people....it's hollywood.
We are seated VERY promptly despite the place being fairly packed.... in a semi romantic, dim lit setting.....our very kind waitress takes our drink orders and makes some insightful reccomendations....we ignore them.... and the wife downs a strawberry "margie" and I opt for the bohemia with some queso fundido WITH chorizo (the wife is a pork hater) to start....
OK....so the chips are...welll....standard chips but tha muthaf*ckin' salsa is KILLA! For serious....goood stuff my friends....I HAD to get a refill. The queso fundido came (awesome in its own right) but the wife and I kept comin' back to that salsa like a crackhead to the pipe! YES! THAT GOOD!
The entrees come at breakneck speeds....for VDAY....and we dig in to enchiladas suizas which the wife demolishes along with a well deserved second margarita for enjoying that chorizo! yum! my probaditas sampler is delectable! the standouts being the mole chicken, cochinita pibil and the other 2 pork associated mini ass tacos....all too cute...but delicious nonetheless. We put a nail in the coffin with the platanos fritos con crema....that's right my gringo friends...fried plantains with sweet cream.....deeelicious.
All in all, I was pleasantly surprised.....we SHALL return loteria....oh yes....we shall return. =)
Ate here before a 2pm Phantom show at the Pantages. We arrived at 11:30. It wasn't very busy and our party of 10 was promptly seated. All the staff were very nice & attentive and the food was quite tasty as well.
Parking is very limited in Hollywood, but we were able to find some meters (note, they have 1 hr limits).
Only downside was when I checked the receipt later on - if you ask for some pico de gallo salsa...they charge you $1.50 (*tsk tsk).
This place was decent.... Food presentation was pretty nice, though for the price you definitely can get better tasting mexican food.
We ordered some apetizers that came with 12 tiny ilttle soft tacos, it was delicious.
The drinks, ordered a margarita and it came in a cup/glass on the rocks, I assumed it was coming blended. Not a the traditional glass you would expect.
My uncle ordered a Merloit? Wine, and that came in a regular glass not a wine glass.
Overall place was decent. I definitely won't go back, not worth the money for the quality of food.
Celebrate Day of the Dead
Neighborhood: Chinatown
$5 Margartita Recession…
Neighborhood: Hollywood
Neighborhood: Mid-City West
Category: Mexican
Neighborhood: Hollywood
Category: Mexican
Neighborhood: Hollywood
Category: Mexican
Neighborhood: Hollywood
Category: Pizza
Neighborhood: Hollywood
Category: Restaurants
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