Guelaguetza Restaurante

(213) 427-0608

3014 W Olympic Blvd (Normandie Ave)
Los Angeles, CA 90006 34.0578 -118.3012

Get Map & Directions »

Neighborhoods: Wilshire Center / Koreatown, Central LA

guelaguetzarestaurante.com

Hours:

Mon-Thu 9am-10 pm

Fri: 9am-11pm

Sat: 8am-11pm

Sun: 8am-10pm

Last updated 5.08.12

Category:

Restaurants, Catering

Payment Methods:

Visa, MasterCard

Catering Services:

Banquets

Restaurant Special Features:

Margaritas, Family-Friendly Dining, Breakfast, Group Dining, Live Music, Bar Menu

Cuisine:

Mexican

Special Offers

Editor's Tips

What People Are Saying About Guelaguetza Restaurante

Featured Review

Contributor

Contributor

The Scene – Hidden away on a busy Koreatown street, this gastronomic gem boasts a mostly Mexican clientele, but Guelaguetza's legendary mole also draws culinary pilgrims from all over the city. The dining room is a sparkling-clean, no-frills space with storefront windows looking out onto the street. – – The Food – It's famous for spectacular mole sauces, Oaxacan concoctions made from complex blends of nuts, herbs, chilies and ground seeds. Start with clayuda, a pizza-sized disc of crisp tortilla slathered with bean paste and crumbled queso fresco. Minty verde de…

Editor's Tips

Save Money:
There's no alcohol, but you can bring your own wine. No corkage fee.
The Extras:
Before you leave, browse the little market at the front of the restaurant. It sells chilies, Oaxacan chocolate, red and black mole pastes, pottery and a few other Mexican mercado trinkets.
ambiance
95.2400016784668% positive
  1. “The place is very clean and the atmosphere is fairly casual (the picture above is accurate depiction).”
  2. “Awesome ambiance, excellent live music and dancing, and just great authentic Mexican food.”
  3. “Very Delicious Food, excellent service, great location, lovely music and atmosphere, pricing is down to earth and overall, a great place to dine, whether breakfast, lunch, dinner, or a quick snack.”
  4. “can see how other reviewers might not love the decor, but it reminded me of a little Italian trattoria in the sense that the service was extremely friendly and wait staff highly knowledgeable (dare I say passionate!”
  5. “" The friendly restaurant staff and hearty atmosphere accompanied along with the rich aroma of authentic Oaxacan cuisine, this "diamond in the rough" is not to be missed.”
  6. “It has a pretty low-key atmosphere, and there is a store at the front of the restaurant that sells chiles, sauces, and other interesting food.”
  7. “Great food, decent ambience”
drinks
50.0% positive
  1. “The drinks should be consumed with caution---they are very, very sweet but a unique experience if you've never had authentic Mexican drinks.”
food quality
87.5% positive
  1. “This place had really interesting food, I've never been anywhere quite like it!”
  2. “The horchata is the best I've ever had; bits of cactus, fruit and nuts are mixed in for an absolutely delicious result.”
  3. “read the reviews and thought I'd be in for a good meal.”
  4. “Awesome ambiance, excellent live music and dancing, and just great authentic Mexican food.”
  5. “The food was good, but the staff was horrible.”
  6. “with black mole was extraordinary, the horchata was great (with little bits of nut and fruit in it), and even the chips and salsa with cheese and red mole was the best free appetizer I've had in LA!”
  7. “Exceptional authentic food.”
  8. “Being a Latina, I am a devout crusader of authentic Mexican food and this place has garnered my highest praise for the best mole outside of Oaxaca.”
  9. “Enjoy your meal here, I know I do.”
  10. “the chicken in red mole is excellent.”
  11. “They don't speak any English,but, the food is that good.”
  12. “It has a pretty low-key atmosphere, and there is a store at the front of the restaurant that sells chiles, sauces, and other interesting food.”
  13. “Huge portions so if you are not starving, find a pal to go and get your fingers dirty with and share a dish with extra tortillas on the side.”
  14. “come here often with friends, toting an igloo full of sangria (BYOB) and we always leave with a blissed out expression of utter appreciation and gratitude for yet another amazing meal.”
  15. “The drinks should be consumed with caution---they are very, very sweet but a unique experience if you've never had authentic Mexican drinks.”
  16. “The mole is quite good here but I don't think it's worth the drive to K town for the food.”
  17. “Again, very delicious.”
  18. “The sauce is fabulous--you'll want to take it home and the meat is slow-cooked and tender.”
  19. “Truly authentic flavors.”
  20. “Great place to get a belly-full of wonderful food!”
  21. “The chicken in mole coloradito is my absolute favorite.”
  22. “Great food, decent ambience”
  23. “This is a place to sit down, RELAX , and TRULY enjoy your meal.”
  24. “Great regional food at a decent price.”
  25. “love Oaxacan food and Guelaguetza does not dissappoint.”
  26. “Don't go expecting more than just a great meal.”
  27. “love the food here.”
  28. “" The friendly restaurant staff and hearty atmosphere accompanied along with the rich aroma of authentic Oaxacan cuisine, this "diamond in the rough" is not to be missed.”
menu variety
100.0% positive
  1. “sunny room, friendly staff, and a menu that clearly describes the various foods that are specialties of Oaxaca.”
  2. “highly recommend the tamales, and any of the other menu items that involve their spectacular mole sauces.”
  3. “definitely have to go back to try some other items on the menu, and I highly recommend the BYOB - no corkage fees, are you kidding?”
overall
100.0% positive
  1. “This is a great place to go if you want to try something new and different on the cheap!”
  2. “What a nice place!”
  3. “It's great if you have a huge crowd coming into town but that is the only time I would recommend this restaurant.”
  4. “I've had many kinds of restaurant mole before and I've had the best home-made mole, but this place's mole rocks!”
  5. “Very Delicious Food, excellent service, great location, lovely music and atmosphere, pricing is down to earth and overall, a great place to dine, whether breakfast, lunch, dinner, or a quick snack.”
return potential
100.0% positive
  1. “definitely have to go back to try some other items on the menu, and I highly recommend the BYOB - no corkage fees, are you kidding?”
service
88.10000419616699% positive
  1. “The food was good, but the staff was horrible.”
  2. “The service is excellent and you really only need a months worth of HS Spanish to get by.”
  3. “" The friendly restaurant staff and hearty atmosphere accompanied along with the rich aroma of authentic Oaxacan cuisine, this "diamond in the rough" is not to be missed.”
  4. “can see how other reviewers might not love the decor, but it reminded me of a little Italian trattoria in the sense that the service was extremely friendly and wait staff highly knowledgeable (dare I say passionate!”
  5. “Speaking Spanish doesn't hurt, but the staff is so friendly and helpful that you'll manage if you don't speak it.”
  6. “sunny room, friendly staff, and a menu that clearly describes the various foods that are specialties of Oaxaca.”
  7. “Very Delicious Food, excellent service, great location, lovely music and atmosphere, pricing is down to earth and overall, a great place to dine, whether breakfast, lunch, dinner, or a quick snack.”
value
100.0% positive
  1. “It's great if you have a huge crowd coming into town but that is the only time I would recommend this restaurant.”
  2. “Great regional food at a decent price.”
  3. “Huge portions so if you are not starving, find a pal to go and get your fingers dirty with and share a dish with extra tortillas on the side.”
  4. “This is a great place to go if you want to try something new and different on the cheap!”
  5. “Very Delicious Food, excellent service, great location, lovely music and atmosphere, pricing is down to earth and overall, a great place to dine, whether breakfast, lunch, dinner, or a quick snack.”
  6. “The tamal in banana leaf (about $5.50 when I went - great value!)”
  7. “The only part I didn't like was that the utensils were a bit old (my fork was badly bent, but was easily bent back), but you can't expect expensive silverware in such a casual place.”
  8. “The mole is quite good here but I don't think it's worth the drive to K town for the food.”
  9. “The service is excellent and you really only need a months worth of HS Spanish to get by.”
wait time
100.0% positive
  1. “The sauce is fabulous--you'll want to take it home and the meat is slow-cooked and tender.”
  2. “Very Delicious Food, excellent service, great location, lovely music and atmosphere, pricing is down to earth and overall, a great place to dine, whether breakfast, lunch, dinner, or a quick snack.”
4 Star Rating: Recommended

05/14/12

Authentic Oaxacan food. A variety of

by adriannaa

Authentic Oaxacan food. A variety of delicious moles on the menu; if you're feeling adventurous be sure to order the grasshoppers.

4 Star Rating: Recommended

11/30/11

www.vogue7.us

by gegede

( ==== www.vogue7.us/ ==== )

Online Store,Get Name Brand Fashion From 12USD Now!Lv,Gucci,Prada,Coach,Chanel Women sandal is $30 Brand Hand-bag price is $35

Polo,Locaste,Levis,EdHardy, Tshirt price is $12Jeans price is $34 Sunglasses (Dior, Oakey,.....)$16

Accept Credit card payment , Western Union and electronic bank transferFree shipping.Door to Door services!5 days arrive your home or you

ur friends’ adress by EMS,DHL,UPs ( ==== www.vogue7.us/ ==== )

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

10/19/11

ghfghfghgh

by fjdgjkfkjkfgj

====( clothes6.us )=====

online store wholesale sneakers,Jerseys, jewelry, glasses, shirt, sports,handbags,clothes ,news, vogue,jeryse at ugg boots,luxury fashion ysl women boots, christian louboutin boots,ed hardy clothes, jordan shoes,nike shoes,hoodies,t-shirts,nfl jerseys,mlb jerseys,nhl jerseys,coach handbags,handbags,wholesale, retail, sunglasses,belts, caps, ed hardy caps,suit,fashion good,newest style goods All the products are free shipping,

====( clothes6.us )=====

free shipping

competitive price

any size available

accept the paypal

jordan shoes $32

nike shox $32

MBT shoes 48

NFL jersys 24

NBA jersys 24

Timberland boots 45

Christan Audigier bikini $20

Ed Hardy Bikini $23

Smful short_t-shirt_woman $14

ed hardy short_tank_woman $15

Sandal $26

christian louboutin $60

Sunglass $14

COACH_Necklace $18

handbag $33

AF tank woman $16

====( clothes6.us )=====

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

08/11/08

The Best Mole enchilladas!

by tchurch1981

I love this place! I had never had Oxaquena style Mexican food before, but now I crave it. There mole is addictive. I also love the enchilladas with their string cheese, this is so interesting and good! I am going tonight to go and get some, yum!

  • Pros: Everything
  • Cons: Don't get to go enough
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

10/09/07

Great regional food at a decent price.

by hh3stuff

This restaurant features food/flavor from Mexico's Oaxca region - famous for their chocolate infused Mole. The place is very clean and the atmosphere is fairly casual (the picture above is accurate depiction). The only part I didn't like was that the utensils were a bit old (my fork was badly bent, but was easily bent back), but you can't expect expensive silverware in such a casual place... so I highly recommended it.

The Details on Guelaguetza Restaurante

Place Categories:

  • great regional food
  • great place
  • friendly restaurant staff
  • great horchata
  • excellent service
  • best homemade mole
  • authentic flavors
  • too loud entertainment
  • never really interesting food
  • recommend restaurant
  • authentic mexican food
  • never authentic mexican drinks
  • best mole outside
  • awesome ambiance
  • huge crowd
  • not expensive silverware
  • huge portions
  • highly recommend any
  • very rich taste
  • very delicious again
  • highly recommend tamales
  • horrible staff
  • great meal
  • favorite chicken
  • authentic oaxacan cuisine

As Seen In…

Best of Citysearch

Los Angeles

Advertisement

Featured In

Recent Reviews In Los Angeles

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

Kravings Fusion

18663 Ventura Blvd #100, Tarzana, CA

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

Natalee Thai Cuisine

10101 Venice Blvd, Los Angeles, CA

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

Natalee Thai Cuisine

998 S. Robertson Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

Tawanna Thai

6236 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA

Advertisement