El Coyote
Los Angeles, CA 90036
Phone: (323) 939-2255
- Price:
- $
- Cross Street:
- N Pointsettia Place
- Specialties:
- Cheap Eats
- Hours:
- Mon-Fri 11am-10pm, Sat-Sun 11am-11pm
Editorial Review for El Coyote – by Stephanie L. Smith
The Scene
Born of the gringo Mexican craze of the 1930s (which also spawned Olvera Street's tienda look), this joint has all the trimmings: black velvet paintings, Christmas lights galore and waitresses in embroidered folk dresses. Families, college kids and gay dinner dates keep the place packed at all hours.
The Food
The cuisine is firmly grounded in canned beans, salsa roja that resembles stewed tomatoes and limpid pools of cheddar cheese. It's far from authentic Mexican--that's the point. It's big, it's cheap, it's fun and it's there to buffer the effects of damn fine margaritas. Entrees run the gamut from the ridiculous to the sublime. Named after the restaurant's first regular customer, the enchiladas Howard are two burly cheese enchiladas drowned in chunkified chili con carne. Instead, order sweet, buttery green corn tamales that are available year-round and easily give El Cholo a run for its pesos.
Editorial content is independent of paid advertisers. Any expenses are paid for by Citysearch.
Insider Tips
Know Before You GoLines are long on weekends and they don't take reservations. Belly up to the bar and wait it out.
ParkingValet is available, but if it's early enough, you can find a meter on Beverly.
User Reviews for El Coyote
02/25/2008 Posted by nokidding
I'm so sorry that some of you just don't get El Coyote. My dad, originally from West Hollywood, took my mom there when they dated in the early 40s. Subsequently, my brother and I grew up eating at El Coyote through the 50s (added little sis in the 60s!) and we, along with our spouses, STILL crave our El Coyote fixes and drive quite quite for for the great food! The phrase "some things never change" is the great thing about EC! The recipes haven't changed. It's been wonderful to see the maitre 'd from the 50s end up being an owner (Bob!) and see former servers who started out as kids still working there, but in an obvious managerial position now! Sometimes family tradition and Tijuana tackiness are just enough to keep people coming back. It felt like home then and still feels like home now! A great place to people-watch with a Margarita in hand and enjoy some great food and friendly service.
Pros: Food, drink, service
Cons: NONE
02/14/2008 Posted by DJEnrie
The food here is horrible, but I like it just for the fact that Sharon Tate and friends ate their last meal here before they were all murdered by the Manson Family in 1969.
Pros: Cheap
Cons: Bad food
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