La Barca Reviews

Get the big burrito. It is more than enough to share between two people. They even cut it in half for you if you tell them that you are sharing

Doesn’t look promising from the outside, but very busy inside, and no wonder why - food is amazing, so is the service. I am happy we went there!

Great food and cheap margaritAs. Come here to mingle with residents and college students. Always a great atmosphere.

Definitely one of my favorite restaurants in L.A. This place is a local USC favorite, a bit out of the way for most people though, located just south of the 10 freeway on Vermont Ave (a few blocks north of the USC campus). Go there on Tuesday nights for $2.50 margaritas that are strong and taste pretty darn good. The food is pretty great too, but the real draw of this place is the ambiance; a very loud and packed restaurant that doesn't look like much from the outside, it gets rowdy and everyone has a smile on their face inside. The interior design is one of my favorites of any mexican restaurant I've ever been to, it recreates a Spanish-style courtyard with booths seated under a faux-roof and the ceiling painted with blue sky and clouds. Long lines on most evenings are the only drawback to the experience. Most people don't realize you can actually call ahead and speed up your wait by 10-15 minutes or so (but they don't take reservations).

great food! good for sharing...

Went with family and friends Nice dinner Good service and ambience Scope for improvement Worth a visit

Loved this place but it was in the ghetto. Parking is in the back and I wouldnt walk alone. It was hard to see from the street but once we fond it we were pleasantly suprised! The inside was cute and charming. The service was gerat and the chips kept coming. The salsa was amazing with a kick. The three of us ordered diffrent and all was good. I will definatly come back if in LA again.

After mourning the closing of beloved EL JARITO during the 2006 World Cup, we were all looking for a joint with similar, homemade mexican food - So that leaves EL CHOLO out .. .. Behold, we found heaven again nearby on Vermont .. .. LA BARCA is located on Vermont just north of Adams, but there is a small parking lot in back .. .. Great place for my enchiladas and I imagine everything else is great too .. .. I remember going here during my USC days and the place is now beautiful .. .. Hi-Def TVs everywhere and a favorite with the LAPD - a good sign .. .. Gracias para todos La Barca - My new kitchen in the city!!

Hidden gem by USC. I was addicted to their Caldo de Camaron in undergrad.

This place is hopping! Busy Busy and you know why... Tasty Food! Wednesday night around 9:30 and this place is pretty much full. Couple blocks from USC, around the corner from my son's place, this restaurant is the local favorite. I'm glad my son took me here. The waiter was very nice and quick with a refill. There is free parking in back with a security guard walking around. Margaritas tasted good. I had the combination beef Enchilada, chicken Tostada, and Tamale. The only draw back was my rice was on the cold side. My son had the Pollo Ala Plancha. We were both very satisfied and happy with our dinner. My son dines here weekly because it is "soooo gooood"...

Fun atmosphere, good selection (including sea food), generous portions and rather authentic taste!

We waited about 10-15 minutes for a table mid-afternoon. Parking out front at metered spots but also large, free lot in the back. Pretty interior where you feel like you're in Mexico. Service was attentive but not friendly. Margarita was strong but missing lime taste. Guacamole was plentiful but very flat tasting -- needed spices. We ended up adding salsa to it. Chicken enchiladas were large and very good. Chicken fajita was enormous with tons of sides. But had to ask for tortillas for it. Food was good but could have used some more spices and flavor. Prices were reasonable for portion size.

Terrific Mexican food. Nice atmosphere, and even at 1:30, there was a nice crowd here (so you know it's a popular place among the locals). I'll be coming back to this restaurant every time I travel to Los Angeles for work.

Great lunch! Food was wonderful- Awesome service-- Very friendly staff and truly authentic Mexican cuisine! Very comfortable inside with a nice old fashioned atmosphere. Parking no charge in the back of the building which is great! It is the place to go for truly good food and enjoyable staff!

My lady was craving a margarita and my friend suggested this old school (1974?) restaurant that was a short drive away from Exposition Park. The building doesn't look to appealing outside but once we walked in the dark old school interior gave out a cool vibe. It was busy but we were seated immediately in a booth. The margarita my lady ordered was so strong she didn't want to finish it, so I drank it. The enchilada and taco combo plate we ordered was delicious and so were the nachos.

The front exterior looks like an off license or something. Really not appealing. You cant see through the windows and it looks a bit run down.......but when the door opens, the atmosphere is popping! Very busy and people were very happy and eating. So I arrived at 5pm and I am glad, because when I left at 6:30/45 there was a long queue. I went for a starter and a main and when the portions came out I was scared because I couldn't see how I was going to finish all that food. Thank god for take out boxes. I had the Botana which was pretty big. The pork was very succulent and tasty. Shrimp fajitas for my main. Again really nice, sizzling and filling. Chips and Salsa, sodas all on free refill. There was a brown out during the meal service. That didn't stop anything tho, people got out their phones for light and continued to eat!

I've been to a lot of whole in the wall restaurants In los Angeles on Vermont, but I could say that this one is the worse. Talk about smelling like urine before going inside hoping inside would have good service. But the waiters were not Attentive to us at all. The gratitude is included in the bill therefore the waiters probably didn't think they had to take good care of us.

La Barca is less than a mile walk from the USC Campus on Vermont. Its where all of the students and their family go to eat. The food is inexpensive and absolutely delicious. Don't let the entrance fool you. Its a diamond in the rough you will be glad you ate here.

I've been coming here for years. their food is very good, and there service extremely friendly. It is a bit noisy. especially during basketball season. It's a popular hangout for USC students. You do have to be prepared to wait though. they dont take reservations, and there is alway a long wait out the door to be seated, but once you sit down, the food and drinks dont dissappoint.

Good-looking menu, decent food, very popular local place, service needs some work... also needs a new bathroom or a real good cleaning!

This is an amazing cantina. Neighbourhood is a little sketchy but they have a guarded parking lot. Nothing fancy but how can you complain with three dollar margaritas and beers. Unlimited chips and salsa continue until your food arrives. The salsa is delicious. The mains are large and simply delicious. I had two chilie rellenos which came with rice beans and salad for $12.50. They are hard to finish and they will pack up what you can’t eat. The prices are cheap and dinner for four of us with lots of drinks and tip was under $100. My favourite in LA.

Been going since 1983. I live in Atlanta now but I go here every chance I get. Always a pleasure. Still not brave enough to try the Colossal Burrito!

The people at the car rental counter (thank you David) couldn't stress enough how delicious the food was here - and they was so right! I walked right by it - it's hidden - look for the green door. I was flying solo so the hostess offered me a seat that can seat the tv. Service was great. Food came out fast and hot. I ordered a combination steak taco, chicken enchilada, and chille stuffed with friends onions, mesa and cheese and rice and beans. My taste buds are so happy! My stomach is so full (big portions) and the price is right. I drove twenty minutes out of my way and it was totally worth it. I'll definitely come back, and this time bring someone so i can try their margaritas! Ps seems family friendly too

This restaurant has some of the best tasting Mexican food I've had. Cooked really well, and properly spiced. Usually you have to drown Mexican food in the US in hot sauce, but not here! The service was excellent and quick, and the atmosphere inside was buzzing and lively. Have to comment on the area though. I went with people who know the area, and we were seated quickly so didn't spend much time outside. There were a lot of "characters" hanging around outside on the sidewalk, which could make some people feel uncomfortable especially if they don't know the area. I'd strongly recommend a visit because the did and atmosphere is really worth it. But I'd strongly recommend you book so you can go straight in, and probably best to go earlier in the evening

You can tell the quality of La Barca since it is frequented by the police. The food and atmosphere are great.

La Barca was recommended by a barback at the Surly Goat in West Hollywood. The area doesn't look great, but I felt safe. La Barca was clean and open, and the staff was very nice. I ordered a margarita which consisted of liquor mixed with ice and a straw. It could've used a bit more lime juice, but for $3.50 during happy hour I didn't complain. The food arrived quickly, and tasted good and was plentiful. After walking out of there with a buzz and a full belly, I'd say it was worth every penny of the $18 I spent (including tip).

Huge baskets of fresh fried chips with large bowls of fresh spicy salsa arrive at you table as soon as you sit down and the keep both full throughout dinner. Delicious and high quality margaritas served either on ice or mixed for $3.50! There menu is comprehensive and offers all the Mexican dishes. I had chilli rellanos served with salad, rice and beans. It was so large that half way through I was full. My wife had the chicken fajita served with homemade tortillas (either corn or flour) rice, beans, guacamole, salad and two salsas. She couldn't eat half. All for $30. Service is fast and attentive. The place was packed with locals and the waiting room was full. This is the best Mexican I have had in Los Angeles. It's in South LA two blocks off the I-10. Excellent food and outstanding value.

They always have a great service, even thought its a small building, and it takes a long time to get a seat when its crowded, its worth waiting for. when I am craving Camarones a la plancha con salsa Diabla, this is where I go.

A very scary neighborhood and the inside is tired and dark. Service is super quick and friendly; looks like a popular place with locals. Huge, I mean huge portions. Food is ok, but a bit heavy on the fried and fatty.

Have been going to this restaurant since I can remember...never gets too old. The food is delicious, the service is great, and the prices, well even better! You all have to try the buffalo wings...I think they are WAY better than the other chain wing restaurants...simply delicious. But my favorite dish, Enchiladas Suizas...no beans, extra rice! Oh yes... The only thing, if you are visiting on the weekend, be prepared to at least wait 20 minutes for a table. La Barca does not take reservations, so it can take a little long. But I assure you, the wait is worth while.

We with a few friends prior to a concert and we had excellent service and food. It was very busy for a Saturday night and waited a little bit. Prices are excellent for the amount of food you receive. Do not wear red to this restaurant. Just sayin. This isn't a place for snobs. Foodies, but not snobs. Parking is behind and around the block or street parking on side streets.

Really good hole in the wall Mexican restaurant. Very good food, generous portions, excellent, attentive service. Arrive early as it gets crowded.

When I was living in the area for about five years, I was a frequent visitor at La Barca. When I would take people there, everyone would wonder why because the food, while good, is nothing spectacular. However, I raved about La Barca. And here's why: The interior of the restaurant is clean and well-decorated. It's clear that the owners invested time and money into making their restaurant visually appealing. The entry and waiting area is small, sometimes causing people to have to wait outside on busier nights, but the seating - while designed to make use of all available space - is still comfortable. When the food is good, it is very good. The problem is that the food isn't always great, but I found that it revolves more around what you order than when you visit, so at least you can choose the right things with some consistently. The chips and salsa are tasty; the salsa has the extra kick to it that you won't find at more Americanized Mexican restaurants. Also, unlike similar restaurants, they don't get stingier with the chips and salsa as time goes on. I would usually start out with an order of the queso fundido (melted cheese with chorizo...mmmm) or the guacamole. From there, anything with chicken or pork is pretty safe. The ground beef is also fairly consistent, but the steak dishes tended to be pretty fatty. This bugged me as I have a strong gag reflex and fatty meats and I don't agree. The portions on all the food are large, certainly enough for leftovers, and the quality of the food averages out at decent. I'll take a small paragraph to talk about La Barca's margaritas. They are wonderful. They are generous with the tequila and always manage to combine the sweetness of the fruit (if you order a fruit margarita) with the kick of the tequila. The drinks are sizable and, if you order during happy hour, cost about $3 each. Great deal on the margaritas. I've heard complaints about the service here before, but the service makes the restaurant for me. I always found the servers and staff at La Barca to be pleasant, helpful, and fun. They seem to enjoy their work and interacting with customers. I think it helped that my friends and I visited often enough to know everyone's name (and have them know ours...which probably helped when they made our margaritas, too!), but even people on their first visit have been surprised by the quality of the service. If you're in the area, La Barca is a nice place to grab some good Mexican food. If you're planning on staying in the area, get to know the staff and they will take great care of you.

I've enjoyed La Barca on at least 6 separate occasions, the most recent was no exception. In the past I've gone later and the crowd can get noisy, there is good energy in the place and I am told the margartitas are big. This visit my son and I enjoyed Pollo A La Plancha and it was amazing...I've found my new favorite! You can spend a lot more and get a lot less in a Mexican restaurant in Los Angeles, the La Barca Grill is a great value and the food is good. I am told there are times when there is a line waiting to get in...never had that experience. The booths can be tight.

Love the margaritas and the colosul burrito...it feeds about 4 and is delicious!

This is a true gem of a Mexican restaurant filled with all the wonderful types of people LA has to offer. However, the staff and employees are remarkable and treat everyone so well. The warm chips and salsa around. But the burritos are incredible. And the prices are very fair. Treat yourself and enjoy La Barca!!!

I always order this fish. It is the best fish in all the Mexican food restaurants. Fresh chips salsa and "just fried nachos".

You would never guess that there is great food inside this somewhat hidden door on a busy Vermont Ave. Don't try to park in the street - large lot in the back with security. That was our first hint at the popularity. Margaritas were awesome. We all had fajitas which were pretty standard but tasty. Service was ok. Sometimes hard to get waiters attention.

For an out-of-town gringo, the neighborhood and security bars on the windows and doors might be intimidating. But get past that and you'll find great food at reasonable prices. I had a wonderful pork taco and tamale for $3.95 each. Paired up with frozen margaritas for $3.50 each and free chips and salsa, it was a great evening. The place is old and crowded. Off-street parking is out back. My friend recommends Steak Encebollado, a hearty platter for $13.95. Attentive service, not overbearing. Worth waiting for a table.