El Conquistador

07/16/2008 Posted by togi55

I love this restaurant -- the service is great and the food is very good. The margaritas are a little on the sweet side, but will knock you out. The decor is fanciful and fun and the crowd is a nice mix of gay and straight -- a nice slice of life in one of L.A.'s most progressive, unpretentious neighborhoods. However, lately, some local parents seem to have confused it with a McDonald's PlayPlace, dragging in their newborns and toddlers who inevitably squawl. I know Denny's, IHOP and all those other "family" restaurants aren't hip, but since when is a 100-proof Mexican restaurant with two bars an appropriate place for little kids and strollers? And why inconvenience and annoy all the other diners?

Pros: great personnel, delicious fare, powerful margaritas

Cons: din can be deafening, too many kiddies of late

05/19/2008 Posted by Goosette

I've been going to El Conquistador for ever! The atmosphere, food (especially the carne asada) as well as the service have always been excellent. My favorite are the BANANA margaritas....I highly recommend them :) they make me go BANANAS after a few!!!

Pros: NONE

Cons: BANANA MARGARITAS

04/22/2008 Posted by kinkfink9

El Conquistador is fantastic! Service is great, food is great, and margaritas are really strong. 2 (with dinner) got me drunk! Not what I was going for, but fun all the same. Friday and Saturday nights are busy, but there's a tiny bar upstair where you can order a drink and eat chips and salsa while waiting for a table. My boyfriend and I ate there twice, and the second time we came back (a week later) the host and waiters remembered us by our names and were very kind. We were also seated promptly. Last time we went I ordered beef tacos and the waiter misunderstood me and brought me chicken. English was not his first language. I asked him to fix it and a new plate was out in literally 5 minutes. He was very kind about it too. Would highly reccomend this place! $50 for dinner for 2 including drinks. Very charming, authentic atmosphere. Great date place, dimly lit, lots of ppl have a great time!

04/17/2008 Posted by Leendah

I love this place! As a first generation Mexican-American, I can tell you I know what traditional, home made cooking is, and this is one of the VERY FEW places Ive gone to where everything is up to par, and doesn't LOOK AND TASTE like Taco Bell. So those of you that LEARNED Mexican cuisine or think Del Taco is it, and wrote a bad review, YOU KNOW NOTHING, silly silly fools. I really Love the ambiance, and the VERY welcoming, upbeat multi-lingual, personable staff! They're so friendly and fun! And yeah, they're running around at times due to how packed it can get, but the moment you tag anyone down, (whether it be your waiter or not), they rush to tend to your need.... Which brings me to the BEST PART!...THE MARGARITAS !! On the rocks, with salt! This is a TRUE Margarita people, and it's packing heat! One will get you forgetting what had you in a tiff earlier, or that diet you were on! So yummy, so boozy, and so worth it! You'll keep em coming! The decor is funky, and Mexi Kitsch yes ...i made up a word, but it works! kitsch and Mexican at the same time, and you can bring the LOUD friends here, no worries, no pretentious folks here....only space for us normal people who tend to laugh a bit louder than most every now and then! ...all in all...its a great spot...for fun, and relaxation, and to forget all the worries in your world! xx Linda

Pros: Margaritas, service, food, ambiance, fun factor

Cons: parking

02/16/2008 Posted by puppie_n_kittie

There's nothing bad about this place. . . nothing, well except watch how many maragita's you have! They really give you your money's worth! The gentlemen who run the establishment are so exciting that they will end up in our movie one day!

Pros: fun, fun, fun they decorate for every holiday!

Cons: none

12/28/2007 Posted by iamcam

I can't say enough about this place! I've been going to El Conquistador for years. Ive had friends throw birthday parties there, Ive taken out-of-towners there, family, friends, you name it. The food is amazing and truly authentic. I dare you to find a better margarita in Los Angeles! The restaurant is adorable and the wait staff is great fun. I absolutely love this place.

Pros: One LA's finest

Cons: Street parking is limited.

09/01/2007 Posted by mexicanfoodguy

Betty Davis one said.."What a dump." Need I say more. Good cocktails but food was lousy and the place looks like the inside of a Pinata. Ticky Tacky border decor with third world food.

Pros: Can't say I do

Cons: All of the above Tacky

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful

07/06/2007 Posted by phylgood

If you love good margaritas, I highly recommend this place. The food is so-so. But there have been times, it was good. The margaritas were well blended. They always used Kosher salt on glasses instead of table salt. The service, especially the host, was always lively, personable and attentive. My friend and I enjoyed it so much, that we made it part of our weekly dining experience on Friday afternoons.

Cons: Parking

04/22/2007 Posted by topazrules

Yes, the atmosphere is tacky but that's part of the charm of this Silverlake hole in the wall. Went for the first time last week and had the best margarita (okay, best two margaritas) of my life. Wish they were less than $9, but they were delicious and potent. The enchilada sauces were unique and delicious. I will be back!

Pros: Margaritas, very good food, friendly service

04/09/2007 Posted by aleahhotlanta

What a dump..bad food and the decor is tacky. looks like the inside of a china cabinet that was run over by a bunch of cows.Nasty stanky hole in the wall

Pros: Glad there is only one place like this on earth

Cons: Nothing this is a dump filled with cheap trinkets and tijuana artifacts