Karyn Koenig

Classic Mexican restaurant. Red booths. Great interior kind of dark and cozy. I came with high expectations and it did not disappoint. Will definitely be back

Nathan Ball

On my first trip to LA, I wanted to experience some authentic Mexican food. I wasn't disappointed. The food was really tasty and good value compared to a lot of places within the vicinity of Hollywood and the refried beans were the best I've ever had. Service was great, the music gave a good vibe and I would definitely return.

Steph Moss

Incredible Mexican food and ambience. I had the arroz con pollo, chicken was very tender and flavorful. Loved the flaming margarita!

Michelle Shao

We were not blown away by the quality of their food but got completely blown away by their potion. The ambiance was 10/10. Edit: we managed to get back another day and we were seated outside (covered and heated), it’s a good spot if you wanna avoid the noise inside. The fish and shrimp tacos were good.

+2

Steve Reed

I have been going to El Compadre since the late 80s. It never disappoints. The food is amazing. The flaming margaritas a must. The service friendly and perfect. I haven’t been in several years but was glad I happened to be nearby at dinner time. Will definitely be back!

+2

terrell

The experience began with a frustrating start when our reservation was pushed back on arrival to accommodate the owner giving away our table to their own guests. However, the food was delicious and the waiter was friendly. Annoying situation but overall nice for a casual Monday night dining experience with the family.

Frank Bocchino

It's the definition of "old school Mexican restaurant" and probably looks the same as it did years ago. It's loud, crowded, with red leather booths and chunky dark wood table and chairs. I had fish tacos and a peach margarita to mix it up, but most of the huge menu has all your traditional Mexican American meals.

Arthur Trusov

El Compadre is where you go when you want to feel like you’re in a Quentin Tarantino film—but with flaming margaritas and a mariachi soundtrack. The atmosphere is dark, cozy, and just the right amount of dramatic. If you’re not seated next to a velvet painting or a giant cactus, are you even at El Compadre? Now, the flaming margaritas? Dangerous in the best way. One sip and you’re texting your ex or buying a cowboy hat on Amazon. The food was solid too—enchiladas were cheesy, the rice had that comforting, home-cooked vibe, and the chips came out warm (a personal victory). Service was friendly, though a little slow—probably because everyone’s busy lighting things on fire. Prices are a bit on the high side, but you’re paying for the vibes, the fire, and the feeling that you’ve somehow wandered into a 1970s tequila-fueled fever dream. Would I come back? Absolutely. Just maybe not with my accountant. ALSO THE PORTIONS ARE SO HUGE!

+3

Paul Mark Morris

Old-School Vibes, Great Service, Food Just OK—but Still Worth a Visit El Compadre in Hollywood delivers on atmosphere. The decor is vintage Mexican classic: dim lighting, leather booths, candles, and mariachi flair. It’s got that timeless, slightly kitschy charm that feels both authentic and iconic—a real slice of LA history. The service was excellent—friendly, attentive, and fast. From the moment we walked in, we felt taken care of. The flaming margaritas are a must—more for the show than the flavor, but totally worth it. Now, the food… it’s fine. Totally serviceable, nothing memorable. You’re not here for culinary fireworks; you’re here because this place has soul. It’s loud, fun, a little nostalgic, and somehow just feels good to be in. Overall, I’d highly recommend it for the experience, the drinks, and the ambiance. Just set your food expectations accordingly, and you’ll leave happy. Solid 4 stars.

+5

SCOTT CHAPMAN

I was in town for business and looking for a quick Thai joint for takeout, as I normally do when away from home. Upon walking in, I was quickly greeted and seated at the bar to place my take-out order. Had great conversations with both servers and were incredibly approachable and helpful. The food was done before I could drink my water. Overall the entire experience was great until I got back to my room to eat. I simply ordered the Toi Special Rice which was incredibly hot and fresh although the taste was, for lack of better terms "Meh..." It may depend on your expectations but I have honestly had better and more flavorful Thai food. I would recommend totally recommend for the experience and service, but certainly not the food alone.

Isabel Yanes

Stopped in to snack on appetizers with a large group of colleagues after a weekend workshop nearby. It took a while for them to open the outdoor back patio for us, but the atmosphere was nice, especially as the sun started to set and the string lights turned on. The food and service was mediocre unfortunately: servers are overworked and plates are greasy with too much cheese on everything, but you may spot a celebrity or two sneak in through the back door like we did during our visit. I was told the cocktails were nicely balanced and not too strong. *Delayed post from May ‘25

Katalina

Great place overall. They offer a lot of drink options and margarita flavors on the rocks or frozen. They also have a ton of menu items. It was very packed for a Saturday night so it felt like a good sign that it was popular. Our servers were super nice and had great customer service. Our drinks were just okay, they did the job and were sweet but not the best. I also thought the food was a little bland and mediocre overall. I felt like seasoning was missing. It didn’t feel as authentic as I thought it was going to be so I was a little disappointed in the food. They play music and the atmosphere is great so I will probably try it again, maybe a different dish would be better. I had the two tamales plate and was not as much of a fan of the tamales but the rice and beans were good. We also got complimentary chips and salsa. The salsa was great, but the chips tasted stale. May give it another chance on our next visit to see if other menu items are better.

First time here, and definitely the last. The host was rude from the start. Although we were eventually seated and given chips, a server came to our table 20 minutes later. Most importantly the restaurant was empty, When the waitress finally arrived, he was rude and inattentive. The food was just as disappointing. The enchilada had large chunks of overcooked meat, and the tamale was not good either. We didn’t even finish our meals and decided to leave.

Carolyn J

I didn't have lunch here with a friend as planned. I was really looking forward enjoying the Mexican food and it would've been my friend's first time visiting El Compadre. The last time I visited this restaurant was years ago but I recall the food being very good, so I wanted to return. Unfortunately, that didn't happen. The area is very rundown. I was unable to open the front door of the restaurant and it appeared to be closed very dirty out front and not kept up. I even tried calling but no one answered. Later in the day I was curious because online showed the restaurant as open. Someone answered and confirmed the restaurant was open. I was told that the front door is very hard to open and most people know to enter from the back. Oh well, I didn't know that, and we ended up having lunch at another nearby restaurant. I was very disappointed, especially since I don't live close to the area. I recommend the owners of this restaurant make this clear to people visiting their restaurant and try cleaning up the storefront.

Lupe

Our first visit to El Compadre this past Wednesday was an absolutely appalling and unacceptable experience due to severe staff misconduct, food quality failure, and preparation issues. ​The visit began poorly; we waited nearly ten minutes for a table despite several empty booths being visible, showing a failure in basic hosting efficiency. We were seated in a quiet area, but the peace was shattered by the bartender. He was constantly unacceptably loud, yelling, and highly disruptive. His demeanor suggested he was intoxicated while on duty, which is entirely unprofessional and ruined the atmosphere. ​While our server was professional, the kitchen failed us spectacularly. We ordered the Pollo Guisado, and the chicken was extremely poorly prepared. It looked like they had simply taken a piece of chicken that was not properly cooked or seasoned and then hastily covered it with a heavy layer of salsa, clearly attempting to mask the dish's deficiencies. Furthermore, I ordered a steak well-done, but it arrived visibly pink in the middle, demonstrating a complete lack of care in preparation. I ate half only out of hunger, but the food quality was unacceptable overall. After leaving, we returned briefly for a cocktail. We were then publicly humiliated by the bartender. With no music playing, the bartender yelled a loud, unnecessary, and embarrassing comment across the room "You're cut off"ensuring every patron could hear. This was a completely unwarranted and hostile act that caused us to walk out in deep embarrassment. ​The conduct of the bar staff, coupled with kitchen errors and blatant failures in food preparation, shows a severe lack of professionalism and management. I do not recommend going to this place.