El Cholo Reviews

Sorry to say, my server was ambivalent between the chicken fajitas and the blackened chicken salad. Both were very good he said. What he didn't say was the blackened chicken was probably cooked yesterday judging by its dryness and cool temperature. Who would recommend yesterday's chicken over piping hot chicken fajitas? Beware.

I love good mexican food. Even just a margarita and chips and salsa- I'm happy. El Cholo is a great quick spot to grab either of those things- their fajitas and tamales are amazing and so is there service. The manager is always friendly and so is the waitstaff. I make sure to swing by anytime I'm downtown. Yum! Ps- they'll make you a skinny margarita-just ask!

L cholo is as authentic as a Los Angeles Mexican food gets! I believe this restaurant was established in the 1920s and is still a mainstay for downtown Los Angeles today. It is located near LA live and is great for any event you were attending there. The food is always fresh and the beers and margaritas always cold. They have a cool outdoor patio with a fire place that was very enjoyable on a stormy day we were there.

A couple of caveats to the above title, firstly I am pretty well versed in authentic Mexican cuisine from chile Poblano to cabrito al pastor, and secondly, there are not many options for moderately priced Mexican food if you are in the Convention Center area. Will start with the pro's excellent service, Ruben was attentive, very helpful, and fairly quick, freshly made guacamole, great tortilla chips, and salsa, also the venue was clean (including the washroom). The cons, well my main dish, which was the special of the day "camarones a la diabla" well, tasted nothing like camarones a la diabla, other than it had camarones (shrimp). I have had some fine camarones a la diabla in the Mexican Pacific coast, and again this tasted like an americanized version of the intended dish, not that it's bad, it's just not the real MacCoy. Perhaps if had never eaten in Mexico I would have rated it better.

El Cholo is my son's and my FAVORITE Mexican food restaurant. Period! First of all, their Cadillac Margaritas are a religious experience...and I can say that because I'm a minister! They are Heaven-ly. This will instantly allow you to relax and decompress from the world outside. We've tried almost everything on the menu and you just can't go wrong. The portions are plentiful and the servers are incredibly warm and friendly. This has been a Los Angeles tradition for generations. Find out why and you'll be glad you did.

I ordered a Mexican salad while others (7 of us) had different Mexican dishes. All enjoyed their meals. Service was very good and everyone had a good meal. I would highly recommend!

Lunched here several times ~ enjoyed both indoor and outdoor areas. Everything is great but, I really enjoy their enchilada plates, and salsa. Nice atmosphere for large or small groups.

Went with my family while at the convention center for a conference. The indoor courtyard seating was lovely. The food was good, portions generous, kids menu sufficiently boring, prices reasonable. I got the seafood enchiladas recommended by the waitress and mentioned in other reviews. It was very good. My kids got chicken nuggets and fries, which they enjoyed. Pralines after dinner were yummy. Bill for 2 adults, 2 kids was like $56. Can't beat it.

I am a great lover of down and "dirty" (metaphorically of course) Mexican restaurants. I wasnt in love with my meal, the chips or the salsa. The waitstaff is very nice and really helpful.

This is a long-established Mexican restaurant in downtown, just a few blocks away from the Staples Center and the LA Convention Center. We were a group of thirteen coming from the Convention Center with a reservation to enjoy a leisurely lunch. Very friendly and attentive service offering great value for downtown. We thought the prices were very reasonable and the food very tasty. There is both indoor and outdoor dining. The interior is very attractive with exposed brick and wood.

Dropped in on a Friday night, no reservations, no wait. Quick delicious meal, very reasonably priced.

Let me start by saying that I have really enjoyed El Cholo in the past. The wait staff is attentive and the atmosphere is friendly and fun. The food was awful and over-salted. What a damn shame!

The food is not pretentious, prepared well. The drinks are so good, some claim the best margaritas in LA are served here. I don't disagree, it is definitely one of the best. This is also a good place to try tamales, they are a masterpiece. It has some vegetarian choices too.

Went to El Chollo on high expectations, what I found was average Mexican Cusine at above average prices. The place is definitely making you pay a premium for past performance. All I can say is meh.

The Cilantro Rice is out of this world!!! This is a staple of LA Mexican the original location opened in like 1923 I believe, and the food is absolutely amazing. The craft cocktails are great. The El Cholo Margarita is one of the best i've ever had. Served in a Martini glass with homemade mix, definitely a must have.

The service and food were good. The drinks are good but expensive, and happy hour is only from the bar for some reason, not at the restaurant tables. It was busy but the waits were short.

The drinks were delicious! Food was great. Had a platter with chimichangas and nachos. I had the coconut margarita and my friends had the zapatas margarita (very strong!). Cute restaurant!

Definitely not the place for good Mexican food. I was very surprised to get the poor service I did on top of the food that is definitely different from the Los Angeles/Western location. Need to improve!

The worst thing about El Cholo is its location and parking. It's in downtown Los Angeles. Travelers beware: Downtown LA is a terrible place to stay or dine. The area consists of one-way streets, traffic, street-closures, and a lot of police activity. The parking for the restaurant is terrible. They don't offer complimentary parking. There is no free street parking,. Actually, on many streets, you are not allowed to park at all. The parking lots are overpriced, in my opinion. Let's move to the food at El Cholo. They offer complimentary salsa and chips -- a big plus. The portions are large. Otherwise, the food is just OK. I found the beans in the burrito to be subpar. The service was friendly and fast. The bottom line is that I cannot recommend this location of El Cholo.

Grabbed lunch while in DTLA for work. Friendly service, fun vibe and plentiful chips. Good price and nice selection, don’t miss the tamale — it is their speciality and it is awesome.

Visiting for business and stopped by for an early dinner. Absolutely delish!!! Wish we had one back home.

This was my first time to this classic LA restaurant. I shouldn't have waited so long. What a treat! The food was surprisingly good. I can't remember having a tastier cheese enchilada with red sauce. Very authentic! A nice touch is that each person gets their own salsa cup, so you can double dip to your heart's content. And you may want to, because the only down side was that the chips were very average. The salsa, however, was great. Don't be shy about asking for the spicier version either.

During my stay in LA I was jonesing for Mexican food. Walked like 9 blocks to find this place and it was worth every step. The chimichanga was perfect, chips and salsa were just what I expected and the beans and rice were spot on. The service was outstanding and the restaurant has a nice ambience. I will go there every time I'm in LA for sure.

OMG!!!! El Cholo has been around since 1923. It's a very popular restaurant with a tasty menu and stays busy!!! So that in itself is a testament to its longevity. It came highly recommended to go there and it was well worth the praise!!!! My meal was absolutely delicious!!!! The margaritas are absolutely delicious!!! Great service & welcoming atmosphere!!!! The background music was nice and had me shaking my shoulders & swaying my glass to the beat...I almost missed the March 28th earthquake because it was also quaking to a bachata beat, until my sister said, "WE ARE HAVING AN EARTHQUAKE, RIGHT NOW!!!" I stopped my table dance and felt the last second of the quake. Then, the whole restaurant erupted into cheers and applause!!!! What an experience!!! GO TO EL CHOLO...YOU WILL LOVE IT!!!! GREAT FOOD, GREAT TIMES!!!!!

Walked in and were immediately greeted. We indicated we made a reservation, seating host looks at a piece of paper after asking our name and responds with a drawn out “no”. It wasn’t busy so a reservation wasn’t needed, but that wasn’t necessarily stepping off on the right foot (at least look in your computer for our recently made reservation, versus an outdated paper). Service was fine, food however left a lot to be desired. Tortilla chips weren’t fresh, salsa was bland, items on food not described in menu. Margaritas were overpriced (the entire bill for two was $100, and all we had were two entrees and a pitcher of margaritas). So, we won’t be back.

The food is good. The portions are not oversized and the overall price was $ 120 for 4 persons having a main course an margaritas!

Worth coming back just for the burrito, but I still have to test the rest of the menu first. Generous serving, great ingredients and really good flavour.

I travel a lot and Mexican food is my go to favorite. I met Cleveland colleagues/ friends for dinner and it was good for that ... but the food was just average. It's close in to downtown and it might be great as a lunch business meeting. I agree with all that the staff was great, friendly and helpful. One other thing, no horchata!

Excellent Mexican food yet with a modern twist of fusion Good selection of Mexican beers Enchiladas with crabmeat are excellent But Enchiladas de mariscos are superb Price is just fine and the service is ok The only negative aspect for me was the rush... Nachos with salsa were served immediately and together with the order of appetisers, both tasty and of generous size Just 2 min later main courses came in And about 3 min later, the bill... So that you feel a bit under pressure to finish and leave, which is a pity since we would have enjoyed more

El Cholo meets or exceeds every expectation I have for Mexican restaurants. I like the atmosphere at the Santa Monica location a little more, but their chips and salsa are delicious and so are their margaritas! What more could you want!? Will definitely go back.

Our group went here for a preconcert meal and we were not disappointed. The drinks were good-margaritas, daiquiris, and beers-and reasonably priced. Our meals were huge. I had enchiladas with verde sauce which was quite tasty. My companions had enchiladas suizas and a burrito and both assured me their meals were excellent. I appreciated the black beans rather than refried beans, too. While I cannot say this was the best Mexican food I've ever had, it was very good and I'd return.

While staying at JW Marriott LA Live, my wife and I walked to El Cholo for dinner. The walk was ok, a bit dark due to lack of street lights on Flower St. Food and service was excellent. Our waiter was engaging and provided recommendations. Helped us pick out dishes that were more signature for El Cholo. It was excellent. Both my wife and I loved our food. Price was very reasonable.

Popped in without a reservation but were quickly shown a table. Nice restaurant with a lively crowd. Good size meals which were tasty.Complimentary corn chips to nibble on while we waited.

Their food is great and the ambiance is even better. Not to mention their margaritas. It has been there for many years and has always been great. Parking is limited and it's very popular so get there early and park on a side street or going for lunch during the week.

This El Cholo does not have quite the ambiance or energy of the original unit, which is located on Western Blvd. The food is heavily oriented to Baja-Mex cuisine, which means a lot of seafood dishes and enhancements. If you are looking for Baja Mex food within the downtown LA area, or if you are at an event at Staples Center, Nokia Theater or the Convention Center, and don't want to eat at LA Live, then walk one block east to El Cholo. Parking is somewhat of an issue, depending on the time of day that you come and on the day of the week. This is a free-standing restaurant, not part of a large office building.

Kind of homely modern day restaurant serving tasty mexican, texmex dishes. i really enjoyed my meal here. the service was quick. the server was polite . the food was very tasty.

We were at the LA Convention center and saw that El Cholo was only just a few blocks away. We were a group of 4 and once we got parked we went in to the restaurant. We were seated quickly and though it was noisy we were still able to talk. (Kings fans having dinner before the game.) We each had something different and enjoyed every bit of it. I had the Carnitas plate, very tasty, and T had the seafood enchiladas. She said they were delicious. Service was very good as none of our drink glasses went empty.

My wife and I have dined at El Cholo a half-dozen times in the past year, typically before a Los Angeles Lakers game. The restaurant is within a 5 minute walk of Staples center and convenient pay parking is adjacent to the restaurant. The food at El Choli is really good! I have tried a number of dishes and all have been excellent. My wife seems to be stuck on the Cevichi Tostada and my favorite is the Blue Corn Chicken Enchiladas. The margaritas are large and really good. Service has always been friendly and good. We will...go back!

Order the food, drinks maybe not. Enchiladas are the best we have had, not too spicy, not too bland. Burritos are large, beans and rice taste fresh made. Even the chips are good. Drinks, specifically the margarita, leaves a bit to be desired. They really need to add some nice lime juice to the margaritas, not so hard to really make those worth $12.

I have to admit, I was disappointed by my dining experience at El Cholo on Flower Street. My time in Los Angeles (for a conference) was limited, and a former Angelino picked this restaurant for our group dinner, as she was familiar with the original. There were twelve of us in the party, though two of us had to arrive late due to a previous obligation. Ten walked from the hotel and arrived on time; the two of us arrived about 40 minutes later, as everyone excpected, and we'd told them to go ahead and order without us. When we arrived, we asked the hostess about our group. She was busy Windexing her hostess stand and refused to take us to the table, and kept pointing in the direction we should walk, just saying, "Go there." Eventually, we found the appropriate room, but joked that obviously the Windex fumes had eroded her enthusiasm for customer service. When we arrived, the other ten had received their meals, and we were advised the food had come quickly, so I was eager to order. I had to ask twice to place my beverage order, twice more for silverware and a napkin. I asked brief questions about my meal choices to make sure I'd have adequate food. I ordered a *cheese* quesadilla with rice and beans, and a small side of guacamole. My food actually came quickly; it was hot. However, it was a cheese *enchilada*. Shrug. I asked my companions if I'd erred, or if I'd forgotten my order. Nope, they agreed I didn't get what I ordered. I elected to keep what I was served so as not to wait, and the dinner was fine. Hot, cheesy, and entirely unremarkable. The chips and salsa were also unremarkable; not bad, not exceptional. Average. Honestly, between my meal and the chips and salsa, I could have been at a mall restaurant in Iowa and not in a major city known for this Baja-Mex dining. In the 2 1/2 hours we were there, I never received the glass of water I repeatedly requested, and I never got a refill (or opportunity to refill) my beverage. The atmosphere on a Thursday night was cheerful; it wasn't overly crowded or noisy. However, we were apparently in a patio room with garage-door type walls, and near the end of our evening, a skunk (yes, in the city) sprayed it's malodorous scent and it wafted into the room. The major annoyance was our attempt to pay. When we arrived, we were told they could not do separate checks. With 12 people, we were not surprised, and figured they'd allow each of the three tables (pushed together) to pay separately. Nope. But they would let us PAY separately. We each had to figure everything on the bill that was our own and then calculate tax and tip and provide her with a list of the amount to charge, our names and our cards. One of our party made a tidy, masterful list suitable for an IRS audit. By this point, the restaurant was almost empty, but the server took 47 minutes to process our bills. We watched her. She stood at the register for 47 minutes, processing one at a time. Had we actually been three separate tables of people unknown to one another, they would have allowed us to pay for each table separately; nobody shared anything, so there was no reason to process the whole party as one, and if they must, they should have a way to take less that over three-quarters of an hour to pay. I don't need much from a restaurant, but I do need good food and accurate, minimally attentive service. The food was fine, if not thrilling, but the service would keep me from going again. I had high hopes, and maybe I was there on a bad night, but I wasn't impressed.

Family owned El Cholo is one of L.A.'s finest Mexican restaurants and they've been around since 1923. They are offering all the Mexican classic dishes that made them a resounding success. You will notice the dates on the menu when a dish was first served. Friendly and Warm staff greeted us when we walked in. The atmosphere was very casual, ambience was relax. The decor was authentic. Very soothing and culturally rich with its rustic tiles and colorful walls. We were served with warm chips and salsa right away. The chips was crisp and fresh. Salsa was very good. Be sure to ask for the spicier version if you like yours with a little bit of a kick. The food was just as good and satisfied our cravings. The Carne Asada Plate was huge, all generous servings. The Carne Asada was flavorful, perfectly seasoned and grilled to perfection. It comes with fresh guacamole and pico de gallo. Chili Con Carne was very tender, full of flavor. Simple but good. Chicken Enchilada and Chile Relleno was exceptional. All comes with a side of Spanish Rice, refried beans and a guacamole. The drinks are Amazing! You can tell they use the freshest ingredients and top shelf tequila. Service was prompt and attentive. The staff anticipated our every needs before we even asked and always willing to make the adjustments. The restaurant is a perfect place to grab a meal before a game or a show at a nearby Staples Center. On most nights there is usually no problem getting a table before an even, however, Friday and Saturday evenings can be quite busy. The price is average for a Downtown Los Angeles restaurant. The only downside I will say is parking, but that's Los Angeles for you. If you are lucky, you cannoark at the metered street parking nearby or there is a paid parking lot adjacent to the restaurant.

Enchilada Maroscado was excellent seafood. My son Had the taste of History dish. It is a lot of food!!! My teenage son who is always hungry said he was full and took half home. Restaurant serves chips with several types of salsa. Chips are very good and crisp. The menu has a price range of 14-22 per person. Tip: parking is very expensive in the area. Parking at a meter is cheaper but it costs $.25 for 5 minutes. Service was excellent! Overall, including tip for four the bill was $85.00. A little expensive for a lunch but very tasty.

This is classic old time mexican, You feel like you are in CABO. The margaritas are perfect, however it is you like them, and they are strong. The food is delicious, A great place for dinner prior to a game or show at Staples

This is a great lunch spot. Quick, easy ordering and fast service. Nachos are a must have and the margaritas get it done. Lots of working people come to this spot during lunch.

This little hacienda is close to Staples Center, LA Live, LA Convention Center. The menu is authentic old Mexico and the service is very welcoming.

I came here again with a group of people and I had something different since I didn't enjoy the tamale last visit. I had the Sonora Style Enchilada which comes with red and green sauce and topped with egg. This was the first enchilada that was served at El Cholo and it's what to get here; the enchiladas. This dish tasted so good and it was very filling. I also had guacamole which was fresh. They can make this to your desired spice level. As always, the staff is friendly. Cheapest parking is $10 if you can't find street parking.

This gem is just across from the hustle of LA Live. There is a reason why they have been open since 1923. The food and atmosphere is amazing. Staff are really friendly and helpful. I am so happy our group decided to cross the street.

Took a friend for an early dinner. The food is ok but nothing special. It's been Americanized so don't expect anything exceptional. It's a very popular place and can be very crowded so expect to wait for a table if you go during dinner time or on the weekend.

I had been to the location in La Habra but it was pleasant to find one so close to Staples center. The happy hour was amazing. $4 tap beers (includes Victoria, corona, dos XX, et), $5 appetizers. The taquitos and nachos were excellent. The tableside guacamole was excellent. Happy hours goes from 3-6:30.

I really like this little chain.the food is really good and it is always a friendly place to visit even when it is busy.Good beer and wine list and good cocktails.i have had several dishes here and they have all been really good.beware the large potions when ordering

This is a nice choice near LA Live. The food was very good and the vibe is fun, though the service was a little off (no silverware, empty water classes, confused hostess). Try the steak tacos and the made-in-front-of-you guacamole.

Not wanting to rain on anyone’s parade but this is not a Mexican restaurant. I am a Mexican from Mexico and can tell you without a doubt that what they serve is not even close. Having said that, this place is not Tex-Mex (a lot of people love Tex-Mex food), it is more like a California version of Mexican food with a little New Mexico embedded within. But if your general idea is to eat authentic Mexican food... this place is not that. I am not saying that the food is entirely bad but just be mindful of what you are getting. The waiters and other personnel are very friendly and helpful. The wait for food is not long. There are many other places throughout Los Angeles that will serve you close to authentic Mexican food (from chains like Castañeda’s to street trucks and stands). El Cholo might have been in business 97 years but you know my opinion of their fare. So, three points mostly because of the welcoming and friendliness of their employees.

We were looking for Mexican food and we found it. Large portions and friendly helpful service. Felt like a small family restaurant, though we know they have several locations. Teen daughters very satisfied.

It’s been around forever and I have always heard the name....but I didn’t care for it. I asked for a steak recommendation and the waiter immediately said ‘Tacos Al Carbon.’ Being that it’s not even one of the more expensive items on the menu I felt like he was giving his honest opinion. What came was a HUGE platter. It *looked* great. But for me, the flavors weren’t there. The steak was hardly flavorful. The bacon inside was tough, as was the tomatillos. The beans and rice were okay. The best thing was the salsa. Smoky and slightly sweet. Overall, it’s a big menu and maybe there’s something better on there, but with all of the Mexican options in LA I don’t see a reason to return.

I had a difficult time choosing what to order but I decided on the Carnitas. They were the best carnitas I’ve had in my life (and I’ve eaten a lot of Mexican food). Hidden gem in downtown!!!

I have eaten at the original as well as the one in Pasadena. Very good. Well I ordered a quesadilla w pork and I didn’t want the aged cheese I wanted regular cheese. Well there was practically no cheese and it was cold. I hate to complain about food we were having a good time so I just dealt with it. After reflection, I should have sent it back. I eat out 4-5 time’s a week and bad food is inexcusable.

Ver generous portions of authentic Mexican dishes. Impossible to finish the meal but the food was good, not great, but good.

My L.A friends tend to go where the crowds go, and El Cholo is no exception. This location has quite a homey decor in the Spanish flavor, but I felt like I was cheating on my favorite Mexican restaurant, Gilbert's El Indio in Santa Monica. We only went for a late dinner, following late lunches in our individual cases, but El Cholo drowned the enchiladas in mole, which masked the other flavors, leaving the rice to absorb the mole. The rice was good, could've been a little more tomato-y, but the spices used, cumin, made the side dish more flavorful than most places prepare it. I must say, the margarita was yummy and the glass it was served in very cool. It was a slow night, at least it looked that way, so I am sure the staff was ready to go home. I'd eat there again with my friends if they are not keen on Gilbert's, but I always know where I can go for *my* favorite Mexican food.

There are several in this chain across LA. Have the lemonade margarita! Really good. Good Tex Mex! We went on the weekend and did not have to wait.

This isn't the original (that's on Western), but it's easier to get to and park (as long as there isn't an event at Staples. The same family has owned them all since the 20's. When they're in season, the sweet corn tamales are the way to go. And the blue corn chicken enchiladas are right all year long.

Good authentic Mexican food and excellent margaritas. Went with a group of co-workers and had a great meal with attentive service.

It is difficult for me to review Mexican restaurants...I frequent them too often, so typical any decent service becomes expected and rarely exceeds my expectations. Enter El Cholo. The hostess and waitstaff warmly greet you and then...wait for it....the exceptional service never stops! Even the bartender, Jose, stops to confirm the quality of margaritas (excellent 100% agave tequila...even happy hour!) and offers me a taste of an unknown tequila brand. Yes...the food is exceptional...at a fare price....but folks...the service makes El Cholo stand out as a winner in Los Angeles!

love the food at El Cholo, but the parking situation is more than disappointing. the last time we ate there they validated for the parking lot right next to them. you had to pay upfront, but got back some of your money with validation. now they direct you across the street to $10 valet parking. the lot next to them was charging $8 for self-parking, so assumed we'd get something back. the restaurant validates but it means nothing! you don't get any of your money back. why bother validating?!?!?! not sure we'll return.....it just seems like a rip off.....

Really good food! The chips and salsa were excellent---warm chips without too much salt and nicely flavored salsa. The guacamole is also excellent. I had enchiladas on both visits and they were quite tasty. Once I had the blue corn chicken enchilada and it was great. The second time I had a traditional one and love it too. I do not care much for LA but if I have to go there again I will certainly eat here.

Love the grilled chicken burrito!!! Service has always been great Don't even know you are in LA it's so nice

really good food, helpful waitress, more authentic than the run of the mill franchise mexican restaurants. Great drinks.

Today I excitedly went to El Cholo for the first time and I looked forward to tasting the delicious food and experiencing the excellent service that so many folks write about in their comments. Sadly, I was grossly disappointed in how my partner and I were treated by the hosts. When we arrived, the young woman at the reception counter was too busy on the phone to greet us properly and waved us off to a waiter/host. We were not presented with the option to eat in the main room. Instead we were placed in a large room where no one else was present. Furthermore, we were seated in a far off table facing the kitchen. I informed the waiter/host that this was my first visit and that I wanted to sit in the main room but he declined explaining there were not enough waiters; however, he did agree to seat us in the central area of this empty section of the restaurant. I must say that, at 66 years of age, I have never been treated so shabbily at a restaurant than I was at El Cholo today. As a customer, my preferences were ignored.I was prepared to leave at that moment but my partner wanted to taste the cuisine about which we had read so much. Our meal was tasty but nothing exceptional although our waiter was very attentive. Upon leaving, I voiced my dissatisfaction to the same young woman and a young man at the reception area. The young woman again ignored me and took a phone call, and the young man repeated the excuse that 4-5 pm is a transition period when there are fewer waiters. I reiterated that, as new customers, we had hoped to experience the wonderful atmosphere that we had read about and not be stuck in an empty part of the restaurant facing the kitchen. As I was speaking, his disinterest became evident and, in closing, I commented that, given the success of the restaurant, I was sure that my concerns were of little interest to him and I then left. I am certain that the owners would not be pleased to learn about his employees’ behavior and lack of concern for customers. Quedé muy desilusionada con tan pésimo servicio y falta de cortesía!

Comfortable ambience, with tasty margaritas and well-made food for when you're traveling and don't want to spend tons of hours foraging for food or a fine dining place. Walking distance to Marriott and the Standard (though I wish I weren't at the Standard).

The sides are great. Beans, rice, tortillas, guac, chips and salsa, but I have tried multiple main dishes that were just ‘eh’. I can’t seem to find what has kept this place in business all these years. It’s an ‘okay’ stop at best. Lots better Mexican food in LA.

I live in Santa Barbara and, as a result, have alot of good Mexican restaurants. I love Mexican food. We just finished lunch at El Cholo in downtown Los Angeles and it has got to be the most flavorless Mexican food I have ever had. It was so disappointing. I had the enchilada combination with one cheese and one chicken enchalada with rice and beans. The first warning sign was that it was cold. And this is an empty restaurant so it's not like they were just too busy to get the food out. The beans were awful, the rice was awful and the enchalada's were awful. Do yourself a favor and skip this place.

This is an excellent choice if you're about to go to a concert on Staples Center or Nokia Theater, since the restaurants within are too expensive and crowded (1 hr in line for a table), but El Cholo is very close to there. Mexican drinks and food. Ask for the Special Margarita. One glass and you're done! Delicious but very strong. The place is really nice, waiters and waitresses are very kind and keep serving you. You're budget should be big 'cause for the Margarita is $8 + tax. Parking inside, pay $10 but with validation they refund you $5. Some stars were there, so it is a historic place in Los Angeles.

If you want some good old Mexican good, this place is great. Their dishes are large and could be shared depending on how hungry you are, and the food is actually really good. I usually get the Cheese Enchiladas which are good [ I think cheese is good quality because its not super oily].

We've eaten here several times now, and will always come back when we're in Santa Monica. The restaurant is spacious and nicely decorated, and the staff is attentive without being clingy. But the food.... the food is the reason to come here. Tableside guacamole? yes, please! Cheese enchiladas - yum. Refried beans? Best I've had in awhile. Even the rice is good! And to not have to worry about parking? A godsend.

We dined here twice while in the area. We also took some foreign visitors here who loved the food. Service was good and the price is reasonable.

Nothing fancy and just your average chain Mexican restaurant. Better than Taco Bell and Chipotle but nothing more. Also $40 for a pitcher of weak house Margarita was a buzz kill. Would not recommend. Definitely stick to grand market. This place has joined the LA Live scheme, which has negatively impacted the quality and authenticity. Too bad. The reviews were misleading.

We stopped by for lunch. I had the Sonora Style nachos, which were very delicious with lots of toppings. My wife had their enchilada/rolled beef taco combo, which tasted delicious as well. I hope to come back soon!

The Zagat Restaurant Guide (2001) was right – El Cholo has the best green corn tamales of any place I’ve been. They are seasonal so you have to know that, and on a whim I went with work colleagues for lunch to have just that – the green corn tamales. They are best alone, ala cart. Nothing can be a side to those – nothing. I recommend trying them if you haven’t. The corn chips are also better than most Mexican restaurants so don’t hold back.

We had a large group, and it took quite a while to get seated and order food and drink. The amounts of food were huge, and they were o.k. but not great. The place was very noisy, and we really couldn't hear friends at the other end of the long table.

We had a staff dinner at el cholo. The service was fast and excellent. the beef taquito appetizer was awesome

An institution here in Los Angeles, they have made a name in their service of Mexican fare, there are a few locations, one in Santa Monica, and one mid city near Loyola if I remember correctly. The drinks are great the food is always consistent,, the service exceptional. They know what they are doing and will be doing for decades to come..

We choose this restaurant because it near our hotel and did not regret of our decision because this restaurant is clean, friendly staffs and the food was so yummy and affordable besides the restaurant was clean and not noisy,the waitress was efficient

We went for a birthday dinner for daughter. She had a great time and the food was very yummy. The staff was very awesome and very friendly. It was recommended by the staff at the hotel we stayed in and it didn’t disappoint.

This is a pretty good Mexican Restaurant with decent quality food, Nothing special or fancy. Pretty reasonably priced.

I grew up going to El Cholo Restaurant in L.A. My friends and I dined at El Cholo Restaurant in downtown L.A. on Saturday evening, March 21st. We decided on appetizers and drinks, i.e. tortilla soup, abondigas, ceviche and nachos! The food and service was good. Prices are reasonable. If you are looking for a good Mexican Restaurant, then I would recommend a visit to El Cholo Restaurant.

This is my first time in eating Mexican food so I am no expert. All I can say is that the servings were very large and generous and full of carbs. A main meal is about $17 which I think blows the budget for the cheap eats category. Regardless, it was a pleasant way of eating a million calories in one sitting. Apparently they are quite popular in LA .

We came for drinks and a light meal after a hockey at the Staples Center. The restaurant was quite full mid afternoon. We enjoyed our order of a combo plate and the crab enchilada; their margaritas are great! Service was good.

We were walking around downtown LA and it was almost lunchtime. We went to the Grand Central Market but it was very crowded and with no place to seat down. A quick web search for a nice Mexican restaurant and El Cholo showed up. I must say I'm a sucker for long standing establishments, the older a restaurant is, it has more appeal to me. We got to the restaurant and were immediately seated in the rear patio area. We had a long day ahead of us so we decided to skip the Margaritas and ordered soft drinks which arrived with complimentary nachos and a very good salsa. Each menu item has a year next to it denoting when it was introduce in the menu. For starters we ordered the Fiesta Platter for 2. The very nice waitress said it's a small dish. Don't believe her, it's a big plate with 4 kinds of appetizers. For mains, my partner ordered the Chile Con Carne, a large plate with beef and chile sauce with Spanish rice and refried beans served with tortillas and guacamole. I didn't really know what to order so the waitress suggested I order the Taste of History which includes cheese enchilada, rolled beef taco, stuffed chile relleno and pork tamal, served with Spanish rice, refried beans and guacamole. You are correct, it was a very large dish. I couldn't finish it, but it was very good Mexican food. For this excellent meal we paid ~$50. Next time in LA, I will return to El Cholo.

Our stop before games and events at LA Live. Great happy hours, good service and the free chips and Salsa are always welcomed. They have a hot sauce that you need to ask for.

A very authentic Mexican restaurant. A short walk from The Ritz Carlton DTLA. I grew up with these delicious dishes. I haven’t had real authentic Mexican food in over 16 years! I moved from LA to NYC 16 years ago and we really don’t have that here. My husband and I dined at El Cholo the day before my 60th birthday. The first bite brought me right back to my abuela’s kitchen. Everything was delicious! I Inadvertently mentioned my birthday week to the gentleman that made our guacamole at the table, I suggest you order that, who just happened to be the manager but I didnt want to make a fuss about it tho. Nevertheless, a delicious flan with a candle was sent to our table. Muchas Gracias a todos!

This was a wonderful visit with very good food. The prices were low compared to other Mexican restaurants of similar atmosphere. Plenty of room on the day we visited and no waiting to get in.

I'm very picky about Mexican food and when I travel it's hard to find a place that has good, authentic Mexican food. I came across this restaurant while in town for the weekend. Their signature margarita was perfect for the warm day. I ordered the chicken taquitos and not only were they made fresh but very quickly! The portion sizes were pretty good as well! The staff was very friendly. The prices seemed a bit high but given the portion sizes, it wasn't too bad (and it is L.A.).

We visited El Cholo in September 2016 for lunch. We had just come back from Chinatown and were hoping to eat there, but couldn't decide on a place. We were staying at the Luxe City Center Hotel (we did a separate review for this hotel) and had heard about El Cholo prior to our trip. Knowing the restaurant was right behind the hotel, and because we were starving, we walked over. We were immediately greeted by a friendly server, who sat us down and gave us menus. We were impressed. The menu has something for everyone, in fact we almost wanted one of everything! The waiter returned very quickly with a basket of complimentary nachos and salsa & ask to take our drink orders, and we ordered lunch at the same time since we had decided. The food came fairly quickly, was hot, and tasted delicious. Everything tasted fresh, and watermelon margarita was very strong but we loved it. We had arrived starving, but after the nachos and our entrees, we had no room for dessert. At about $60 USD for two entrees, a margarita, tax & tip, this isn't the cheapest place in downtown LA. But for amazing Mexican food and fast, very friendly service, this is the place! We would definitely visit again.

I got food here while attending a meeting at the convention center, which is a short walk away. Although there are indoor tables, I preferred carry out. Service was prompt and the burrito that I got was tasty as was the guacamole.

Felt like being in a good restaurant in Mexico, the food was delicious and abundant, we ordered the mix entree for two plus a main and could not finish neither of them, good service and quality to price ratio. Definitely would Return and recommend it for real Mexican food lovers, otherwise stick to the tex-mex imitations. Felicidades Cholo

Opening in 1923 and still operating in the same Hacienda house in downtown L.A., this restaurant is a real gem!!!! I ate the blue corn enchiladas (yummy) and got the famous green corn tamales to go for my red eye flight back to the East Coast. I am a Mexican food snob and this place lives up to the hype! Delicious!!!!

My husband and I ate at El Cholo last night before the Lakers game. We had very prompt and fast service and everything we ordered (crab enchiladas, blue corn chicken enchiladas and margaritas on the rocks) were so good. There are lots of option to eat around the Staples Center, but this place continues to be one of our favorites. It's worth the wait (there usually is at dinner) if it's busy.

I was pleasantly surprised when I went into El Cholo. It has been around for over 75 years. It doesn't look like much from the outside but the inside has a spacious indoor/outdoor dining experience.

Mexican is not normally my first choice, but went while on a business trip with 15 colleagues, had the Number 1, cheese enchilada and rolled beef taco. Service was amazing, and the meal came out hot and quickly for a group that size. Had a 'Classic' margarita that was perfect. Really enjoyed the outside dining. Overall, a very good experience. Relatively easy walk from most downtown hotels.

I ordered the seafood ceviche tonight. Honestly, I've never had anything like that before. It was light and flavorful and very good. The LA margarita was wonderful and the waiter was great. My dinner companion had the fish tacos and he thought they were great. Prices were reasonable and it was a great experience! Chips were good. Salsa was just okay.

El Cholo is famous and deserves it’s excellent reputation. Not resting on the success of it’s a long history, the food is original, served promptly, hot, and tasty. The staff is warm and welcoming the service friendly and efficient. Great for lunch or dinner with friends or families or a casual date or impromptu business meetings. Not resting on the success of it’s long history, the food is original, served promptly, hot, and tasty. The staff is warm and welcoming, the service friendly and efficient. Great for lunch or dinner with friends or families or casual date or impromptu business lunch.

This was my first Mexican in the States and the waiter was very helpful. The Margaritas were delicious and we were there on a Tuesday when drinks are half price all night so it was even more enjoyable. Loads of room. We ate inside in the front as we felt the outside courtyard was a bit noisy.

We love el cholo. Established in LOS Angeles for a long time. We go often before seeing a game at staples center. Last night however we got so wrapped up in margaritas and chips and guacamole we ran out of time for dinner But we all had a great time including the server El Cholo is simple Mexican food. Service. And drinks. You cannot go wrong

This place has amazing food, great taste and fast service. The Guacamole is outstanding. Parking is a challenge like anywhere downtown.

In DTLA, a happening place these days. The restaurant ambience and architect is Spanish. Food quantities are good, quality fair priced high for quality. Salsa and chips are nice and salsa picante delicious. Seating is plenty with indoor or covered courtyard choices. Seafood options are few. Parking can be challenging due to location.

Fine Mexican food dining. Drinks are strong. Awesome atmosphere and great location. Good options for vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike. Plate portions are big. Service is good.

We were looking for an authentic sit-down Mexican restaurant close to our downtown hotel and we found El Cholo via Google. It's safe to say that this place deserves a higher rating than it currently has. The staff were friendly and attentive and the food and drink delicious and reasonably-priced for the area. We both had an El Cholo Margarita (tasty and strong), my wife had the fish tacos and I had the plato de carnitas. The fish tacos were bursting with flavour, yet lighter than a more traditional meat taco. The plato de carnitas was exactly the comfort food I wanted. Delicious and indulgent. We would strongly recommend El Cholo to anyone in the downtown LA area looking for a delicious Mexican meal with a warm welcome.

Best place for Happy Hour before an event at Staples Center. LA Live is over priced...Great Mexican beers on tap and food.