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Rodeo Mexican Grill
Categories: Restaurants Mexican Restaurants American (Traditional) Mexican, American (Traditional) [Edit]
1721 W Sunset BlvdLos Angeles, CA 90026
Neighborhood: Echo Park
(213) 483-8311
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 7 am - 11 pm
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Dogs Allowed:
- Yes
Ken L. said: "Nice atmosphere, friendly waitresses. Ordered 3 mole sampler: Mole de los Dioses (ancho peppers, cuitlacoche, spices and cheese), Mole Oaxaqueno (31 ingredients, medium spicy), and Pipian Rojo (pumpkin seeds, peanuts, guajillo…" read more »
87 reviews for Rodeo Mexican Grill
Review Highlights
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"I had the Carne Asada plate and it was PERFECT." In 7 reviews -
"GLORIOUS salsa bar with several different kinds of fresh..." In 13 reviews -
"I like their tortas and their huevos rancheros." In 7 reviews
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87 reviews in English
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Review from Robert L.
Solvang, CA
4/8/2012
Great food and they always get it right!
I'd say that 20% of the takeout experience is ordering, and they make it seamlessly easy!
The food is delicious. Try the fillet de pescado al ajo (garlic fillet) or the pollo asado. A great go-to for a good -
Review from Jason W.
West Covina, CA
4/22/2012
In an area surrounded by food businesses this place seems to maintain a busy reputation. I was a little suprised that they had those devices that beep when your order was ready.
Not being from this area I thought I'd try a couple of things, I ordered off there lunch special which has like 4 choices costing about $4 each. I ordered the Taco special and the Quesadilla Special. They have a pretty large menu, service was a little on the slow side but they were pretty busy so I won't complain too much. They also have a salsa bar which is always nice.
Other than the pinto beans which seemed overcooked to the point of tasting more like a sauce, the food was good and went down a treat.
If you're in this area and on a budget I would recommend this place. I tried other places in the area which are better but be prepared to pay at least $10 for lunch. -
Review from Jon H.
West Hollywood, CA
5/7/2012 1 Check-in Here
Good food!
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Review from Jeannette G.
Los Angeles, CA
4/14/2012 1 Check-in Here
The food is OK, but a bit pricy considering that its sister restaurant a block north has the a very similar menu with more reasonable prices. However, their burrito mojado is really good. For about $8 you get a succulent 2lb burrito in a red or green chili sauce that is to die for. It is best when topped with their salsa from the salsa bar.
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Review from Liana L.
Los Angeles, CA
3/19/2012
Living in Chinatown, this is probably the only place around that delivers. However, that comes with a cost of not really getting great service. Delivery orders take well over an hour, when they finally arrive, the orders are wrong and the soda (if you are lucky enough to get it) are flat. Their food is decent but a little pricy. I won't be ordering from here anymore.
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Review from Miguel R.
11/23/2011
Good food, cool area and great hours!!!! I love this place!!!!
I chose the enchilada platter and horchata. The enchiladas are good. The sauce is obviously from the can but I still enjoyed them. The chicken inside was tasty and soft. The rice was pretty good and the beans were good too. The horchata was good as well.
The ladies that serve and take your order are all very nice and enthusiastic. We actually got to see how they celebrate birthdays here. Some of the ladies come out and sing their version of Happy Birthday and put sombreros onto the party's heads. They also give you a piece of cake.
I've also had huevos rancheros here and they are quite tasty. They have great freshly squeezed juices here as well!!!!
There is a visual menu to your right when you enter and it's right by the register which is cool since I like to know what they add to the platters. The place is not very interesting in terms of decor but it still looks very nice. There is a cool outdoor seating area along the sidewalk where you can people watch or play "count the hipsters" games as they walk by.
The prices are not bad at all given the quality of the food. This place is a relatively cheap alternative to many of the pricey restaurants in the area.
Another plus is that this place is not full of hipsters as at Barragan's haha!!!!
Parking has never been a problem for us. There is a small lot close by and at certain hours it is free.Listed in: Best Mexican Food in Los…, Magical Echo Park
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Review from Woger W.
Los Angeles, CA
2/23/2012
Solid but average food, nice salsa bar, sometimes loud inside with families and kids, best deals are the $3.99 specials, sorry I only have been the once and didn't get the hours the specials are good for. 3.5 stars
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Review from Iris Z.
Los Angeles, CA
1/2/2012 4 Check-ins Here
I've been coming here for years, since it opened back in the 90's. The funky cowboys wall paper is long gone! The place has definitely changed for the better. The remodeling suits the ambiance now. The menu is just your typical mexican dishes. The service is always great. I can never complain. They also have a vegetarian menu, you must ask for. If you park in their back lot and the sign says "door is locked go around" it usually isn't.. just be careful on your way down the stairs. Also, if you check in they give you 10% OFF your order for using Yelp.
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Review from Lana M.
Los Angeles, CA
9/10/2011
I came here on friday for lunch after finding out its neighbor, Pescado Mojado, was closed. (Hopefully only for renovations?!)?!
It was friday, I had a long morning, and I wanted Pescado Mojado. Craving their yellow rice and fish. Came out with my coworkers, we found parking and then found out that it wasn't open! Looking around, we saw Rodeo, so we just figured we'd go there. Been to Rodeo multiple times on Olympic, but never the one on Sunset. I really wanted something with fish, so i ordered their tilapia served with rice and beans. So i get my order...fish, hot beans and COLD RICE. WTH?
Definitely more overpriced than Pescado Mojado. Fish was okay, beans were okay. But COLD RICE?? Ah Rodeo on Sunset...my heart and stomach were not satisfied...I do not heart you... -
Review from Pancho V.
Los Angeles, CA
5/16/2011 10 photos
So my wife want's to surprise me as to where we're going to eat dinner, just telling me drive this way turn here etc... as were headed down Sunset passing Alvarado I'm just thing PLEASE not Barragan's.........
As we park she tells me right here, Rodeo Mexican Grill, well it's definitely not a place I'd come to on my own for several reasons.
As you walk in the door you're immediately in a line to place your order off a large picture menu on the wall, I wasn't going to bother with tacos here I thought I'd be disappointed so I ordered the Carnitas plate and my wife had the Carne Asada plate and a Pina Colada, Ahhh so that's why we came here, so after you order and pay they give you a number and you seat yourself and they'll bring your food to you.
Pina Colada - http://www.yelp.com/bi... I'm not sure what they put in this as it has a yellow color, most places it's white, but flavor wise it's much better than others unfortunately alcohol wise it's on the weak side.
Carnitas Plate - http://www.yelp.com/bi... I'm not a big rice eater but this rice was surprisingly good and the beans were OK, but the Carnitas was real good, I love how they give you pieces that are slightly crunchy along with the moist and flavorful large pieces of http://www.yelp.com/bi... Oh how I love me some good PIGGY. *(toss the pice de gallo they serve on the plate)
* Go to the salsa bar they have some good Red and Green salsa!.....
Salsa RED - http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Salsa Green - http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Not a place I'd come for tacos but definitely would come back for a dinner plate....... -
Review from Karlyn F.
Los Angeles, CA
1/28/2012
We eat here all the time. it's pretty solid , simple food at a good price. My husband doesn't recommend the carne asada, though. I've enjoyed everything I've had here and now they Deliver, which is great!
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Review from Charles R.
Los Angeles, CA
5/15/2011
I had high hopes upon entering this place when greeted with a wall of Mexican food entree photos. #28 looked just right --a burrito with side rice and beans.
#28 was disappointing. :(
The rice was okay, but the runny beans looked and tasted like something reheated out of a cheap brand of canned beans. The burrito was just stuffed full of the same rice and what seemed like chunks of frozen chicken warmed up.
You can do so much better in Los Angeles for Mexican food. The horchata wasn't even fresh.
My friend liked his carne asada tacos, so maybe there are some gems on the menu here, but the chicken burrito plate sure wasn't one.
The place is clean and service is friendly enough, but ehhh...that's not enough to bring me back. -
Review from Steph C.
Los Angeles, CA
3/11/2012
good drinks and decent food, just parking little tough
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Review from Julio M.
Echo Park, Los Angeles, CA
6/29/2011 1 Check-in Here
-A bit on the expensive side for Mexican food.
-But, it's good if your craving Mexican food and you're a group of around 4.
-You order at the cashier and then sit down i.e. no waiting around for wait staff :)
-Good beans and rice.
-Very small parking lot.
-Food prepared fairly quickly for a sit-down place. -
Review from Ray G.
Los Angeles, CA
5/21/2011 10 Check-ins Here
'Yay! I'm a fan.'
I've been here more than once...so here i go...
I hesitated to eat here because they either bought out or are the previous owners of my childhood hamburger joint in lincoln heights...Taco Bravo (R.I.P.) =*( ....and now it's Rodeo Mexican Grill Express...but they have Nachos Machos here too (from Taco Bravo) the best nachos topped with meat, beans, REAL nacho cheese, sour cream, guacamole and jalapenos.
But let's move on. I'm going to be lame with my review, but it's a good restaurant so I'm sure you'll want me to get right to what's good and what's not in case you're debating on what to eat and picture menu is of NO HELP!...at least that's why i look at reviews.
I usually get the Carne Asada plate which is strips of grilled meat cooked to your preference and it's really good.
I've also had their burger, enchiladas, sopes, burrito in red sauce, grilled chicken and nachos machos and they're all really good and I recommend them all.
They've recently added a good selection of cocktails including micheladas, margaritas but I've only tried the mimosas, for which they give you fresh squeezed orange juice.
Which is another great thing if your big on breakfast, you can have your fresh orange juice but i recommend an orange and carrot juice and bonus! the breakfast is served all day.
They also have a pretty nice salsa bar!
On a bad note...on my last couple of visits the service has been pretty slow, about a 15 minute wait (at least) but it's not the worst thing in the world...the food IS worth the wait -
Review from Alana K.
Los Angeles, CA
11/5/2011
I'm torn between 2 and 3 stars. The food's really just alright, and a little on the expensive side for what you get. I recently went with the veggie burrito which had peas and carrots in it. I found this strange. Pretty sure they were of the frozen rather than fresh variety, too (read: pale and bland). You order from picture menus on the wall when you walk in. They have a suggested menu for vegetarians posted, but if you read the small print up top they basically tell you that what you're prepared is probably not vegetarian. Not for the super strict, I guess. Things I do like: their guacamole and being able to have a beer out on their patio. Few places in Echo Park afford this luxury. And my sister said the tacos al pastor were a great pick.
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Review from Barbara M.
Los Angeles, CA
11/5/2011 1 Check-in Here
Best Camarones a la diabla i've had in LA yet !!!
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Review from Laura M.
Los Angeles, CA
2/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
Not a fan. Its a nice place, but I can't bring my hardcore Mexican crazy parents here.
Its pretty Tex-Mex style food. I like my Mexican food spicy and with tons of flavor. I didn't find that here. I had the torta, and I'd rather go here.
http://www.yelp.com/bi... -
Review from Krystjan J.
Westlake Village, CA
10/23/2010
MIMOSAS AND MEXICAN FOOD
The food is good, carnitas were juicy but not so greasy and carne asada was flavorful and juicy. In addition, they asked how we would like it cooked (try medium or medium rare!). Salsa bar is great, featuring not only the usual tomato and chile chop ups, but also fresh radishes and pickled jalapeños. Delicious onion rings came in a tower.
Best of all, we asked for a small bottle of champagne and their extremely fresh orange juice and had mimosas ... for dinner. I would give them a 4, but the decor was lacking and the lighting was bright and harsh.
Prices are very reasonable. If Masa is full across the street, come here. -
Review from Jonathan P.
Los Angeles, CA
1/3/2011 1 Check-in Here
The food here is pretty good. I just wish they would just get it right.
We come here for the breakfast, I had the steak with huevos rancheros.
The problem is, if you are going to ask how do you want your eggs and steak, there should be an attempt to get it right.
Here's why I feel that attempt wasn't made.
Ordered:
Steak - medium rare
Eggs - over-medium
Received:
Steak - well done
Eggs - over-easy (runny whites)
If this is something you do everyday, which you do, it should be done right. In fact, it's probably one of the most ordered items on the menu.
I'd give 4 stars easily if they just cared a little more to get it right.
Also, the beans were runny. Yeah, I know that sounds odd, but it was was almost watery.
It was an adequate portioned breakfast, but for the price -around $9.50 after tax, it should have been better and portioned a little larger. -
Review from Brian S.
Los Angeles, CA
6/24/2010
The food here isn't very special to me. My best homie claims they make his favoritest burrito evaarrr. It kinda tastes like a burrito from anywhere in the Mission in SF. My favorite burrito EVER is Mariela's carne asada burrito.
They have a hamburger! Which I love! Mexican places have the yummiest hamburgers. Their hamburger is actually way better than Mariela's. And you can add bacon to Rodeo's hamburger. Otherwise the rest of the food has never impressed me.
It's not a bad place to come eat and chill out. Prices have gotten way higher since I first started coming here in 2004.
Come here for the plates, rather than the burritos. -
Review from Jackie P.
Arcadia, CA
5/17/2011
I believe in writing a review for an eating place only after eating there MORE THAN ONCE, people. How can you honestly rate a place after eating there once like a lot of these reviewers? Seriously? I could see rating a doctor, dentist, car shop, or some other place like that where your visits are infrequent, but eating places should be left to foodies.
That said, a co-worker suggested this place since we work in downtown LA. I have eaten several items on the menu (Sunset location only), and they deliver now. (Yay!) Have never been disappointed with the food. Eaten there about 10 times already and tried lots of items. Never bad food. Lots of people order the carne asada plate (#40 on the menu). I didn't even know you could tell them how you want your meat done since carne asada is carne asada when it comes to Mexican food, right hermanos?
Our section usually gets the order together and we call it in. I have never heard anyone complain about the food 15 or so people can't be wrong, right? Rice, beans, salad (w/ dressing), tortillas, meat, salsas--all good. They could give you a bit more salsa. I mean, we always have at least 6 people ordering when we phone it once a week and they get a little cheap with the salsa and chips, you know?
FYI-The co-worker that suggested this place used to live in the neighborhood and he said they always screwed up his order but we solved the problem by having a female always call in the order. Never screwed our orders up yet. The order-taker is female. Maybe we just have a nicer tone on the phone? -
Review from Danny m.
Los Angeles, CA
10/14/2011
I like being able to sit at sidewalk cafe's and watch the traffic go by. Food here is o.k, not spectacular..
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Review from Padme C.
Pasadena, CA
1/27/2008
I'm dissappointed in you guys!
My boyfriend and I woke up at 1pm today...he went straight to the computer looking for a mexican breakfast spot. Among the restaurants close by with good ratings was Rodeo. Being a breakfast lover, I was hyped up.
Just as we were leaving the house, we get a call from my guy's friend and he said that he had been there and the place was only HIPSTER good...urrr wtf does that mean???
I finally got it when I took my first bite. My huevos rancheros wasn't that good! Eggs were whatever. The beans were bland. The rice was ok. I finally made the meal decent by adding some salsa. -
Review from Roni R.
Los Angeles, CA
12/1/2008
Good food. Good service. Quick. Cheap. Need I say more?
You'll def get your taco fix. -
Review from Yvette L.
Burbank, CA
11/30/2006
The moment I walked into this place for the first time I felt like I was in a boy's bedroom circa 1955. The wallpaper on the walls of this place is awesome (it's Rodeo themed, of course!) Anywho, I was happy to find a spot that served up good Mexican breakfast for great prices. They also have lunch as well.
The restaurant is clean as a whistle and the staff is super courteous.
I got huevos rancheros with beans and rice and chips for about 6.50. Washed that down with freshly squeezed OJ and picked up some salsa from the dope ass salsa bar and proceeded to sit and feast. The food has a good taste, not ridiculously spicy, or greasy and not bland at all.
I have now been back here about 5 or 6 times and I will be back many more.
Giddy up beeyotch. -
Review from Celeste M.
Los Angeles, CA
5/20/2009
Clean, family-type restaurant. You get a plastic number you insert into a machine at your table, and they bring the food to you.
I craved fish, but didn't want to pay a hefty price.
#48: Filete de pescado al Ajo.
Rice, refried beans, small salad, and a nice slice of fish with garlic.
All for less than $8.
Decent, fairly healthy meal at a fast-food price. Score! -
Review from Randy M.
Los Angeles, CA
10/11/2006
With friends or just on our own, Rodeo quickly became our neighborhood of choice for many reasons. I'll attempt to list them all here.
1. The food- quite delicious and in good portions to fill you up without there being left-overs or wanting more.
2. The price- quite cheap. In five years, they've raised their prices twice, but only in accordance with the economy, and always keeping in mind their main customers- blue collar workers who live in the neighborhood in need of a cheap meal.
3. The consistancy: Breakfast, lunch or dinner, you can expect the meal to be good.
3. The variety- for the most part, the menu is typical Mexican fast-food variety. but they do have other choices (hamburgers, fries, etc).
Sometimes, usually on the weekends, it can be crowded (especially after church lets out), and/or the outside area can be taken-over by hipsters who won't vacate long after their meals are done. Parking can sometimes be a bitch as well (on busy days, expect to do the parking-vulture circle for up to a half-hour). However, these are minor annoyances.
If you're looking for a good CalMex meal, you cannot go wrong going here. -
Review from Ryan M.
Los Angeles, CA
7/26/2009
Thumbs Up!
I vouch for the numero cuarenta, aka carne asada plate. -
Review from Jess R.
8/11/2010 1 Check-in Here
Rodeo Mexican Grill, for me, has a specific purpose.
It's cheap food, it's good, there are a lot of options (and an entire Vegetarian menu), it's not pretentious, and it's magic for hangovers.
It is always quite crowded. While waiting in line to order, you can gaze at all of the color photos of their dishes. I ended up grabbing a paper menu to see what was actually *IN* the dishes.
My card was accidentally ran twice when I checked out. Boo. Anyhow, I got a Spanish Omelette w/o ham and a Horchata for about $10. I was given a weird little keycard to take back to my table.
You slip your number in and out of a machine that apparently tells servers where to bring the plates, although our third plate somehow got lost in space.
Yeah, the food doesn't really have that extra sparkle, but it isn't really bad either. It's a good low-key place with good food. I like it, and I'm sure I'll return. -
Review from Christopher S.
Los Angeles, CA
8/17/2010
My first experience here was not great. I had the Carnitas plate and my carnitas was dry as a bone. Ok, it has happened at some of my favorite Mexican places, so I gave it another shot because it had some things going for it:
- Large, well lit, clean joint
- Huge menu, including burgers and breakfast served all day
- GLORIOUS salsa bar with several different kinds of fresh made salsa
So the second trip I had the Carne Asada plate and I was asked "How would you like it cooked?"
This kind of threw me for a loop as I've never been given the option. So I asked for it "medium". Not only did it come with a little stick in it that said "medium", but every single piece was perfectly slightly pink in the middle. It was a glorious feast of steak, beans, rice, 4 corn tortillas, and the best tasting chips with pico de gallo I've had just about anywhere. I could hardly finish this and it cost me about 8 bucks.
I am thrilled to try more of their menu. -
Review from Claire H.
5/15/2008
What's GREAT at Rodeo: Their salsas, burritos, shrimp and fish filet plates with rice and beans are great. Their guacamole is damn tasty. They set out a salsa bar and even have pickled jalapenos and carrots. The people who work here are always super sweet. Everything tastes quite fresh, and is incredibly inexpensive, and their front patio offers prime people-watching.
Rodeo Grill is almost kind of like a sedentary taco stand in that you sort of get what you pay for. Their prices are inexpensive, but they don't give you a lot of beans or rice or frills. I never have leftovers, which is rare for me. This isn't a bad thing, though, just something noteworthy. -
Review from Kristina M.
Los Angeles, CA
3/27/2010 1 photo
When I first tried Rodeo, I didn't like it that much. My friend ordered me some food. Chicken, I believe. Maybe it just wasn't the type of foods I'm into because subsequent visits made me love this place! The food is cheap and delicious! I think this place is just the ideal restaurant for breakfast, brunch, or lunch. The breakfast burrito is good.
I like how their menu is basically plastered on the walls with large photos of each item. I like knowing how my food will turn out looking like. Consequently, it can work against you and make you want to order a lot of things or feel indecisive because everything looks SO GOOD. You order your food at the front and they bring it to your table.
Rodeo also have waitresses walking around selling desserts. I tried the cheesecake and it was -- hands down -- the best cheesecake I have ever tasted. Yes, better than the ones from the Cheesecake Factory. It's way more affordable too. The top label read that the cheesecake came from Huntington Park. I should visit that bakery someday.
I later learned that Rodeo has several other locations but this location on Sunset is the prime one. I always sit outside to get that cafe feel. Parking is a bit difficult but I would say that everyone should try this place at least once. It's one of the best eats in Echo Park! -
Review from Bryan H.
Malibu, CA
6/19/2009
Ew. Was that chicken I just ate or rubber? Don't order the chicken. It is cubed into little pieces of rubber with horrible texture.
The only reason this place gets two stars is because the interior is clean and the patio is nice but who cares because the food is awful.
Do yourself a favor and wait until Taco Zone is open at night.
I feel sick. -
Review from Jose D.
Pasadena, CA
5/13/2009
The place has undergone some remodeling and it looks cleaner than before albeit less quaint. Not sure if the cleanliness extended to the kitchen.
Good place for a late comfort meal. I am not a fan of mexican food but this place has a good selection of alternatives to taco-truck fare. I like their tortas and their huevos rancheros. Do not bother with the flan/chocolate or anything pre-packaged out of the premises. For dessert though. Decent horchata and salsa bar. -
Review from Keith M.
Los Angeles, CA
7/11/2010
Had the carne asasa plate. The meat was pretty good, beans are okay and the rice is okay, too. Oddly enough, the salad was better. I'm used to having it the other way.
The place was clean and the staff was attentive and helpful. I'll go back. -
Review from James T.
Los Angeles, CA
1/29/2008
You know those restaurants that have food that once you take a bite it takes you back to mom's home cooking (that's if your mom knew how to cook), this is not one of them.
Very generic taste, nothing grabs you and makes you say "Wow." I had the huevos con chorizo and my girlfriend had the huevos ranchero. We were both like... "GET AWAY I SAW THE SALT FIRST." Although good in price, there is a reason. It was very ordinary and bland. I've been to several mom and pop mexican restaurants that are better than this. If this were mom and pop restaurant, pop would have left years ago to find better food. Sorry not sold. -
Review from Hamed M.
4/15/2011 5 Check-ins Here
ok, so i've been here several times, and i keep going back, but it's usually when i'm with others and we can't think of anything else. it's halfway between fast food and a restaurant. you order at the counter and they bring you the food. you can easily spend $15 on a meal and a drink here, so it's not much cheaper than a restaurant with waiter service.
i never have a problem with parking.
i'd opt for a regular, full waiter service mexican restaurant. -
Review from Don Jose F.
Duarte, CA
12/16/2006
I know that prices are going up everywhere. But when I used to go the Rodeo Grill back around 6 years ago, it was like $2.99 for a tilapia plate. Back then, for like a buck more they would prepare it on the grill, flame broiled. They stopped doing the fish like that.... I think It took too long to prepare it like that and it backed up the kitchen or something...
I was there just like a month ago. The food was good, but the prices seemed to change a lot... I like the beans in there... Even the pintos in broth or whatever...They have refried and the soupy ones... they're both good... -
Review from Philip L.
Updated - 11/19/2010 1 Check-in Here
came for lunch today and left full and happy
the prices were above average but the food, service, and quality was well worth it
it was a cold and gloomy day today so i decided to order some soup
it pretty much was a clear broth soup with vegetables and some very tender meat
it came with a side of tortillas and mexican rice which was very good
4 stars!Listed in: mexican joints
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/8/2010
food is good here
the wet burrito is huge and is definitely a filler
authentic mexican cuisine
… Read more »
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