Doesn't Recommend

dna99

Joined 5 years ago

HORRIBLE FOOD AND SERVICE. Absolutely Terrible!.. Went went here for a birthday party thinking it would be a fun place to be with margaritas and mariachis. The flaming margaritas didn't flame in two drinks, the service was about the worse I have ever experienced and the food was AWFUL(cold and the cheese in the enchilada wasn't even melted). On top of it all we were seated next to four girls that were only drinking and screamed and yelled with every song. The management did nothing about it except to say that perhaps they would be leaving soon. We asked politely if they could tone it down so we could try and enjoy our party a little, and they started hurling insults at us. When the mariachis came over to sing happy birthday they started yelling at us that we were being too loud. We brought a cake and it took the waiter three trips to bring 8 forks. We had to get up and go find the waiter on 3 different occasions.

Recommends

Weho949

Joined 5 years ago

Best chips and salsa. I love love love mexican food and this was the first restaurant I was introduced to when I came to LA from Santa Barbara 4 years ago. I fell in love with the chips and salsa. Major turn-on. Its spicy, so if you don't like that ask for an alternative or do what we do, ask for a side of sour cream which you probably won't be charged for.

That said, I come here probably once a week and have turned all of my friends on to it. The margaritas are to die for. I've read about the poor service, I've sat at the bar, at a booth, outside, etc. I've waited an hour for a table and the hostess felt bad and gave us a shot on the house. I love this place and this is a place you should experience yourself. The mariachi band is a plus.

I think this place deserves better reviews.

Recommends

loveitorleaveit08

Joined 5 years ago

BIG DRINKS! BIG FOODS! THANKYOUS!. me sooooooooo happy with el compadreeeeeeeeeee. yummiii. i so like drink margarita coconuts!!! my husband no like friendly man who bring big big burrito. i like man who rough with coconut. mean like meanbull. hot like fire. drink like cowboys. me go many futures times for drink and big big fatie food. next time take cab.

Doesn't Recommend

EST2287

Joined 5 years ago

Not what you expect..too dark to trust, no rating in sight... I went to this place based on other reviews. Noone mentioned how dark it is in there or the fact that the entrance places you at the bar and there is a ramp that I am sure someone has fell on. The host desk is in the middle of the place (in case you go). This place is too dark to see how clean or dirty it is. The inside of the enchilada was cold, the order should have read rice and "cheese" on the side based on the amount of cheese they placed on the beans. We sat in a corner booth and the silk flowers they had as decor were dirty and you could tell noone had cle3aned the corners in months (I ran a tissue and noted the dirt). The water smelled of chlorine. I ordered the famous fire margarita, and that was creative as to how they keep the fire flaming in the drink. The service was good, but overall the place needs to be cleaned.

Recommends

jlachic

Joined 5 years ago

Best Margarita, Love the Enchiladas Verdes and Live Mariachi. This has become the spot to go to. It can get super packed on the weekends, but its worth the wait. I always order the Enchiladas Verdes and Strawberry Margarita and my husband gets the El Padrino, which is amazing! I always have to have a bite of the steak that comes with it. I love that the margaritas come on fire!! They're delicious. The Mariachi is great and the service is friendly and fast. I love the chips and salsa too!! YUMMY! I just went again for Valentines and it was awesome! Don't listen to the few people who say not to go here. They are crazy! Totally recommend you try it for yourself. Why would it have 4 and a half stars!! There are no reservations but if you call 30 min. before you get there in advance sometimes they will put you on the list so by the time you get in you can be seated or at least not have to wait as long to be seated.

Doesn't Recommend

brantritter

Joined 6 years ago

Worst service....EVER! One Gringo special coming up.. I used to frequent El Compadre at least once a month. Decent food, good margarita.

The last 2 times I went I sat at the bar and waited at least 5 minutes before the bartender bothered to ask me if I wanted a drink. Not a big deal on a Fri or Sat nite but this was Monday and there were 10 people in the whole place.

The old bartender was more interested in talking to his pals.

There are far too many other mexi places in LA to frequent one that doesn't give a cr*p about it customers.

Doesn't Recommend

zeepi222

Joined 6 years ago

I don't understand all the hype. I walked over to El Compadre last week and I still have a bitter taste in my mouth from the experience. The food was bland and the drinks were way too sour. The staff just as sour. I cannot understand the attraction to this place.

There are many other Mexican restaurants in Los Angeles where I would rather spend my money.

Never again.

Recommends

cdoubleyew

Joined 6 years ago

Great Mexican Food. I love El Compadres. Their salsa has something in it that makes the company I usually eat with giddy and the drinks are certainly heavy on the liquor. Great Margaritas, Love the Chicken Chimichanga!!!! The Ambiance is nice, dark and private. The Band is wonderful. Can get a little out of control. I once had to wait over an hour to get my food and it was the wrong order/ However that was an isolated incident. I have been many times and always leave full and tipsy.

Recommends

patbubo

Joined 9 years ago

Great margaritas, good food, great ambience and music. I visited this place because it was within walking distance of my brother's place, and he likes to go there. The margaritas were great -- and not just because of the gimmick of the flame on them... I thought they were flavorful and really packed a wallop. The food was good... we all had chicken dishes. No complaints. The guac was also pretty good, though it has shredded lettuce in it, which I found a little strange. In the end what I really liked about this place is the ambience -- I always fall for a dark restaurant that you can spread out in with your friends and laugh and talk while still enjoying some good music (that isn't so loud you can't hear yourselves.) Great place to hang. I've read the complaints about the service, too, but ours was very attentive throughout the night.

Doesn't Recommend

mhb1954

Joined 8 years ago

"!Hola... and Adios, Amigos!". I just moved here from NoCal and wanted some good Mex. The first few times we went here in Aug-Oct of this year, it was pretty good. But tonight was our last. The food was mediocre at best: crab enchiladas with no flavor and chicken mole enchiladas that had lousy mole sauce. And there's nothing worse than lousy mole sauce--except for never being asked how you thought your food was. We wanted to comment on the lackluster performance by the chef, but after being served, no one came to our table... we had to ask for our check and it came from another server... El Compadre is probably a decent place for a magarita, but that's about it.