Reviews & Ratings for El Cholo Restaurant

11/21/11

Green Corn?

by JasonTheMan

I got three words for you: "Green Corn Tamale."

The fact that these are served for only a limited time makes me want them more. Yum.

In the off season, your place is still awesome. Love the drinks and the chill atmosphere!

04/07/11

the place to eat

by claritaharing

if the mood strikes for some mexican food,,, then this is the spot to go... great prices, good portions, satisfying taste.

01/31/10

Breaking all the foodie rules... and loving every minute

by DianaTakesaBite

I should be ashamed. Should hide it from my foodie friends who live by taco trucks and authentic Mexican eateries that don't have carrots in their chicken fajitas. I shouldn't like it, or the distinct "gringo" vibe that permeates the premises of the original El Cholo near USC. But I do. The food isn't anything that will change my life, but when I dine there, I'm not looking for the ultimate epicurean experience. I dine at El Cholo for a perfectly respectable plate of chicken chimichangas, the strong margaritas that make me forget I only drink wine, and for the fun atmosphere that says, "Hey, it's okay to be just above average."

• Pros: Chicken chimichangas, strong margaritas, fun ambiance

12/17/09

Huge portions

by travelbugg1980

Great place for lunch or for a casual dinner with family or with a group. Food was great, portions huge! And margaritas taste as they should.... Mmm! Service was a little slow, but friendly. And once we ordered, the food did come quickly... I recommend the Blue corn enchiladas. Little pricier than some other mexican restaurants, about $15 a plate for lunch, but the portions are more than fair for what you pay. I could not finish my meal, though trust me, I tried!

• Pros: Good Mexican food, relaxed atmosphere
• Cons: somewhat slow on the service

01/19/09

Best TexMex in LA

by legacy2012

love to go there with friends and family. they have excellent texmex and service is good. love the margarita especial and sonoma nachos are fabulous. they have a great patio and there is lots lots lots of space.

• Pros: Thumbs up
• Cons: none

10/14/08

Best Margarita!

by peacefaery

I have always been intrigued by this place from the outside and after years of walking by, finally went! It was a little more casual inside than I expected, but homey and comfortable. We were seated upstairs in a cove like part and it felt really private. I had a veggie burrito and it was the size of my head and really good!!! I think it's a great value for the money. Also, the margaritas are some of the best I've ever had!!!

• Pros: Great service and food...and Margaritas!!
• Cons: I'd find street parking and skip the valet.

05/22/08

Better than I thought

by foodie114

I'm not a huge fan of Mexican food, but I enjoyed my trip to El Cholo. The restaurant is homey and comfortable. The tables are private and the restaurant is very well decorated. The food was really good and our waitress was very nice!

• Pros: Food, decor, service

05/02/08

Hungry hordes line up at this L.A. institution for potent margaritas and famous green-corn tamales.

by Contributor

In Short
Low ceilings and exposed wood beams crown this venerable family-owned restaurant, with vintage photos of L.A. and memorabilia lining the colorful walls. High-back booths fill the dining rooms, and comfy sofas are strewn throughout the spacious bar. Gas-lit fireplaces add cozy ambiance while servers in traditional Mexican garb treat devoted customers like family. This Mexican fare has changed little since 1927. To start, a bowl brimming of freshly made guacamole is best with the obligatory warm chips. On the lighter side, the tostadita features a mound of shredded lettuce, black beans, fresh peas, avocado and tender, grilled chicken pouring out of a crispy flour shell. Otherwise, food is hearty and heavy: Bacon adds smoky flavor to grilled sirloin tacos, and chicken-filled blue corn enchiladas are doused in thick tomatillo sauce. The Taste of History combo tours house favorites like cheese enchiladas with slightly spicy red sauce and the ultra-puffy chili relleno.

05/01/08

Consistently good food and drink at a fair price

by MXC

Okay, I've read some of the reviews here -- several made me angry -- so I'm throwing in my '2 cents':

I have to laugh at people who trash El Cholo after apparently just one visit. This means that they

completely discount the place based on one item on the menu that they hated. Now, I've been going

to El Cholo restaurants for years at several locations: Santa Monica, L.A., Whittier, and one or two

that no longer exists -- one being The South of Santa Fe down in Orange County somewhere, which was part of the El Cholo famly chain and pretty much served the same menu. I've sampled a variety of items on their menu -- very consistent in taste from location to location -- and some are fantastic and others are so-so. In other words, it's like every other restaurant that ever served up a meal. Sure, if you're from Mexico, I doubt very much that the food will remind you of your homeland, and you can probably buy a more accurate representation of a taco or burrito from your local taco truck, but I really don't think that is what El Cholo is all about. It's good to great food with a Anglo/Mex theme. Nice decor with friendly people working there, a great cantina with great drinks and fair prices that won't break you at the bank. The only criticism that I have to offer is that their margaritas are not as good as they once were -- which makes me believe that they might be cutting corners where the actual alcoholic content is concerned. Still good, but they were once the best; no more. They also used to have a 'bottomless margarita Sunday brunch' which was absolutely amazing. A ton of food -- all you can eat including huge shrimp -- and as much margarita that you could stagger away with; all for about $11.95 ! Those days are gone forever, unfortunately.

• Pros: Good food, good drinks, location, service, parking
• Cons: Cantina can be crowded and noisy at times

05/01/08

HORRENDOUS FOOD

by nena5941

The food is horrendous! I am Mexican and I love our food; everyone talks about this place but the food is awful. It is tasteless, no zest! It is nowhere in being authentic. I had a TACO and I hated it that I ordered the burrito and that was worse. I packed away both items and threw them out when I got home. The drinks are another thing though, they were great, but in that case just stay at the bar, drinking and eating chips and if you drink enough then order their watery guacamole. DO not go to this place, stay home and save money unless you want a good drink.

• Pros: drinks
• Cons: food