El Chavo

08/19/09

The best Mexican food around

by Peterhudson at Citysearch

What a great place, was here last night, beautiful. Im not from this country but wow, i felt at home, great service great food. Bartenders where great with the drinks, everything tasted supper. I would highlly recommend to anyone.

• Pros: Great team.
• Cons: To bright, a little darker no.?

08/18/09

Manager Called Police.

by paynie at Citysearch

Chips were stale. Margs were poor. Salad was terrible. We asked politely to speak to the manager. He was a rude idiot. Refused to knock ANYTHING off the bill and called the police. We walked out and he followed us back to our car. If he had taken $10 of the bill, we'd have been happy, but he got nothing. The place will close within a year and that's a shame, because I've been there 50+ times and always liked it .... until last night.

• Pros: None
• Cons: Awful new management.

06/06/09

EL CHAVO WTF HAPPEN>> ?!? I LOVE IT..!!

by mariebitch at Citysearch

Got to give it up for El Chavo, still the best place in town. If you want to bring a date, nice and dark, very romantic. Super cheap, with 3 dollar margaritas. 3 dollar tacos, way better then the tacos at Yuca's. Best mexican food over all. The restaurant has been there for over 40 years. Obviously there doing something right. Give El Chavo a try you wount be disappointed. Ive been going to El Chavo, for over 20 years. The guy's that work there make you feel like family.. Got to love that..

• Pros: Best margaritas in town.
• Cons: You'll keep coming back.

06/05/09

El Chavo - WTF happened?!

by RandyCandy at Citysearch

Sheesh! I go away for a while and they totally ruin the place. I was a loyal patron for years, enjoying many dates and drinks at El Chavo before heading to the legendary Tiki Ti next door. Never ever again.

Dropped in Friday at 6:30, had a margarita/rocks with the Señor combo... one of the WORST meals I've ever had. I guess they bring the tongue-scorching dip and chips first so you can't taste anything else. Add a stale, toxic margarita from Chemlab 101 and you're ready for your Superfund cleanup. Dinner had all the flavor of scorched microwaved maxi-pads; even the Spanish rice hurt. The only recognizable item was the chile relleno, marked only by its grease. Jarring acoustics, awful drinks and a charred tongue... El Chavo's NOT for dates, unless you're a sadist or breaking up. Instant headache.

The new owner also "created" the Edendale Grill on Rowena, whose sole contribution to local culture is a serious traffic hazard due to its valet parking kiosk on a blind curve (!). Now he's gutted El Chavo, ruined the menu and SUCKED ALL THE FUN OUT. Cheap metal chairs scraping on a cement floor, crappy dance muzak and stark bare walls does NOT equal "atmosphere". Every group at every table was straining to hear over the echoing sludge of the dining room. Get a clue: dining out should be comfortable. If diners can't even hear their date, you've screwed up the ambience big time. And if you gut the entire place to its bare ceiling ducts (too much HGTV, eh?), please put in some acoustic panels or booths to soak up the noise. At least hang up some serapes, for chrissakes.

The worst? Mr Edendale took down El Chavo's giant glowing blood-red Aztec warrior icon which covered the entire back wall, shrunk him down and hid him in the corner next to a hideous cantina bar thing. What a travesty. In the past, his fearsome visage weeded out Westside yuppies and neurotic vegans, and he was a true compadre after many margarita marathons. Alas, said the raven...

For those of us fleeing the house/DJ/karaoke hell of Acapulco's, El Chavo is a pathetic shell of its former glory, another disaster from the "restaurateur" crowd destroying this city's cafes like George W. Bushes of cuisine. Now we're left with a noisy, stinking cavern with all the charm of a Nogales bus depot cafeteria during a brownout. Two regular couples I know came in and walked out while I was waiting for my menu... that was an omen.

My advice? Get tacos at Yuca's, drop in at El Chavo to check out the bar, then WALK RIGHT OUT. Head to the Tiki Ti for drinks. Don't give these clods ANY of your money. But if you like chemical-tasting drinks, searing mouth pain and over-priced mexi-food resembling scorched snot, head to El Chavo. There'll be plenty of room, because it SUX.

As William Hurt's character says in A History of Violence, "HOW DO YOU F*CK THAT UP?!" How, indeed? Some L.A. treasures need to be left alone, dammit. Walking outside with mouth charred and nerves shot, I was gonna call on the Aztec lords of the underworld to put a curse on El Chavo. But there's no point — the new owner already beat them to it.

• Pros: Trippy bar, next to Tiki Ti, good for break-ups
• Cons: Toxic margaritas, scorched snot-like food, noise noise noise

04/28/09

Best mexican food around...!!!!!

by mariebash12 at Citysearch

I just started going to this new place and WOW, amazing!!! From the moment you arrive there to the moment you leave, I was treated like royalty. Got to say the staff there takes care of there guest. I also heared that Dolly visits the place. I am very impress the drinks were great and so was the food. I definetly recommend this place to everyone..

There's also happy hour on the Chavito side from 7-9pm $3 Margaritas and $3 all well drinks.... With live DJ Sundays and Monday's Yummy...!!!

• Pros: The best bartenders around
• Cons: none

04/27/09

el chavo has a new sister and brother....

by freedom11 at Citysearch

El Chavo's been around for a while... for good reason! They specialize in some amazing traditional Mexican food. My favs are the complimentary soup, arroz con pollo, green corn tamales and the Don Julio Margarita. I hear there going to start having a El Chavo Taco Cart outside for lunch starting in June. There's also a pretty cool lounge next door (Chavito) and a new Inn upstairs on the 2nd floor.... gotta love it! I noticed some of the old artwork is adorning the walls as well... Looking good!!!

• Pros: fantastic tamales, don julio mararitas get a thumbs up....
• Cons: ?!?!

03/29/09

ding dong the mean old man is gone!

by lalover13 at Citysearch

Thank god that old mean owner is gone, he was so abusive and would throw people out. Now the new owner has cleaned the place up, kept the same employees, the food is amazing and the new Inn upstairs is incredible. I know in cleaning it up, some of the old charm has been taken away, but honestly all they need to do is dim the lights and you have the same atmosphere... it's so much better now and the food is some of the best mexican food I've ever eaten. Beware of the hot salsa, if your a wimp like me, ask for the mild stuff.... I love this place and so glad it's still around and improved. The new owner deserves an award for all the amazing changes that have been made. I'm a fan!!!!!

• Pros: cleaned up, servers, bartenders, new owner, DJ's, The Inn
• Cons: bring back the dark lighting?

11/18/08

BEST MEXICAN FOOD IN THE WORLD....!!

by adamvercetti at Citysearch

El Chavo Restaurant is the best out there. I was there on friday a couple of weeks ago and the service food and DRINKS were fantastic...! I didn't even know you could eat at the bar, best food, and margaritas out there. They have the smoothes bartender that can make you a margarita in less then 10 seconds... Wow, thats what Im talking about... My new spot for sure, Im there once a week...

Just ask for Chris.........!!!!!!

• Pros: YOUR GOING TO HAVE A GREAT TIME
• Cons: YOUR GOING TO HAVE A HANG OVER

09/16/08

Another one bites the dust

by coocs at Citysearch

We've been going to El Chavo for 20 years, and the new management has completely destroyed the ambience of the old place. Its like sitting in an airport restaurant or a cheap chain mexican restaurant now. I dont know why people feel they have to improve on a place that has done great business for years. Fridays and Saturdays used to be three deep at the bar, now theres hardly anyone there. Contrary to what the others have said, the drinks and food have suffered as well. Too bad gentrification had to rear its ugly head at El Chavo. Why cant people leave well enough alone? Bad taste, greed, who knows.

08/04/08

I was not impressed

by MrWinkness at Citysearch

The margaritas here were so bad it tasted like the Cuervo Mix that you get from a bottle at the liquor store. We didn't stay for the food so I cannot comment on that. Only that the margaritas were not good, very sour, very bad.

• Pros: Location
• Cons: Margaritas