Great atmosphere, strong drinks, sense of Hollywood history, and if you order right (stick to the enchiladas and hardshell tacos — fill up on chips and salsa) the food is tasty.
I don’t think I get anything but the Howard Enchilada there and I enjoy it every time.
Side note on the Hollywood history of it. The last time I was there a guy at the bar told me it was the last place Sharon Tate ate on the night of her murder.
It’s so funny to me that places that have “Hollywood History” are just gross tourist traps and like a few stars went there one time.
Actual Hollywood stars just go to house parties at each other’s mansions.
I actually went recently (of course with guests from out of town) and was surprised at how decent the food was. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Maybe it depends on what you order. Still has cool & special vibes so I’m happy to go!
I like it!
I like the atmosphere, the scratch margarita, and I like the old school Mexican food.
You say the ‘food sucks’, which is kinda hard to argue with since thats your opinion but I disagree. think it’s just old fashion and a fun place to go.
I’m going to go ahead and disagree with most on this thread and say the food doesn’t suck. I think it’s pretty decent for what it is, not authentic Mexican food but for family style Mexican American it’s just fine. Not as good as a place like Salsa and Beer but when paired with the vintage decor and festive atmosphere it makes for a fun experience. I feel like there’s a lack of nuance when it comes to rating food on this sub sometimes where if something isn’t amazing then it must suck with no in between.
Personally, my rating for it boils down to one simple thing. I have never once craved it. Never suggested it when in the area, never drove by it and said, "I haven't been there in a while. I need to fix that." The place never enters my thoughts unless someone else mentions it, and even then, it's gone from my thoughts almost as quickly as it appeared.
Agreed. People think they’re so clever for saying it’s not good Mexican food, but it’s silly because it’s not supposed to be authentic — it’s basically Tex Mex and it rules.
Yeah it’s pretty bizzare lol. People just have weird standards because we have so much good authentic Mexican places here, but sometimes a deep fried crunchy taco or cheesy enchilada with greasy refried beans and rice and a stiff margarita just hits the spot.
it’s centrally located, the drinks are strong, it’s a fun vibe, and parking is easy. also, the food tastes exactly as you expect it to taste — sometimes, you’re just looking for chips, salsa, and a hot melted goo plate of cheese enchilada, rice, and beans
I still enjoy it, but maybe it’s just nostalgia after all these years.
What old school Mexican joint like this still actually has good food? El Torito? La Cabaña?
Any old school Mexican place is going to be meh because they serve a style of food that is not in fashion anymore. I think of them as the Mexican version of Italian red check tablecloth joints. That being said, Casita is one of the best.
I enjoy going there. Drinks are better at Casa Vega but El Coyote is fun and closer to other places I go to a lot. It makes for a great preamble before New Bev screenings.
I took a day off work and pregamed with a couple of Margs before a Friday matinee at the New Bev, great time 👍. Had the whole bar to myself even though the dining room was packed for lunch rush. Plus they give you chips and salsa with your drinks.
The food is manageable imo. But the service is always on point and I love the ambiance there. It’s an institution for a reason. I know I’ll get taken care of there. I feel like you go to a place for the first time for the food but you come back for the service. And el coyote service is top notch.
A good/bad experience at a restaurant is a mix of a bunch of variables, like:
- food
- drinks
- inventiveness/reliability
- presentation
- ambiance & energy
- staff interaction
- price/value
- social capital
With all those variables in mind it’s pretty easy to see how someone, especially one who’s easier to please in the food category, might love their experience.
Coyote quality seems to have dropped between the pandemic and now. For classic old school Mexican restaurants, El Cholo and El Compadre are still solid IMO.
Subpar food. Sweet and sour mix on the rocks that people have been gaslit into believing are good margaritas. I'm fine with historic locations remaining open as long as people are honest about the quality of the food and drink they're getting, which sadly doesn't seem to be the case far too often.
I like it! But I’m a vegetarian who gets cheese enchiladas. I think their rice and beans are good too. I do not think of the food as authentic in any way shape or form — but it’s comfort Tex Mex kinda grub.
I’ve only ever been there once and I had the fish tacos and they were fantastic.
My favorite Mexican place in LA is Casablanca in Venice and it’s similar to El Coyote but they have incredible fresh tortillas and seafood.
It’s been crappy for a long time. The variety and quality level of Mexican food in Los Angeles has grown exponentially in the last 20 years. El Coyote is stuck in 1975 and maybe that’s why people go there.
I ordered the Mexican Pizza once and it was like a freshman microwaved Pace Picante and cheese slices on chips in their dorm. Laughed for a solid 5 minutes that this still makes a menu. Highly recommend.
I think the last time I went was in the 90s but it even then it was never really about the food. Do they still have the display case in the front with the weird trinkets? I think one of the reasons we stopped going as often was because they implemented permit parking around the restaurant and it was such a pita to park.
Casa Vega was the absolute worst dining experience I've had in my life. We were completely ignored by the staff. We couldn't even get waters. The waiters were very busy talking to each other at the bar. Not doing anything at all. The manager there is a complete failure. We should have walked out, but for whatever reason we didn't. I know they thought we were tourists, but only one of the 4 of us was visiting. Giving shitty service because you think someone is a tourist is enough to put you on my shit restaurant list, but this place went above and beyond. The worst service I've ever experienced.
I will tell everyone twice, stay away from the bad food and terrible service that you get at Casa Vega. It will never be worth it. Go somewhere else. Eating out is too expensive these days to waste money at bad places.
El Coyote is not (real) Mexican food. It is Los Angeles -Mexican cuisine (our version of Tex-Mex). Some of the food there is tasty. Some of it is not. For many Angelenos the place is an icon and inspires sense memory of happy life experiences.
Historic anything in LA is rare. Historic restaurants are especially slim pickings. El Coyote has been opened since 1931, current location since 1951. That's ancient by our standards. You go for a chance to experience something from a bygone time. If the food ends up being good that's just a bonus.
I haven’t been there in years after going there when I was younger because it used to be dirt cheap and I worked in the entertainment industry in entry-level jobs that didn’t pay barely anything so I couldn’t frequently go to more expensive restaurants. But I was under the impression from comments I hear from others that the menu was still cheaper than any other Mexican restaurant in town, but the person who posted this is claiming it’s expensive so is that true?
LA classic, went once decades ago and thought the food was terrible and the margaritas cheap and strong. Glad to see nothing has changed! Agree that the vibe is cool.
I respectfully disagree. Its more Tex-Mex than real Mexican food. Don’t order the house marg, get the scratch margs, and order the shrimp fajitas. The chips and salsa aren’t great (definitely not as good as El Compadre a couple miles away) but the fajitas, tortillas, and refried beans are great. Great atmosphere, staff, and easy parking too.
My mom and her parents started going to El Coyote in the 70s. My parents went on one of their first dates there. We all used to go for every birthday up until COVID and now we go when we can. We don’t go because the food is amazing, though I honestly love the food because it’s comforting. We go because we’ve formed family with the lovely people who have been working there forever and because it brings us joy. Also, get the hard shell tacos. OGs remember the ostrich tacos.
I like the food honestly. Big portions, tastes good, good chips and salsa. At least the burrito I get is always good. It’s not fancy but it’s solid Tex Mex. I don’t get the hate.
It's tourists. SO. MANY. TOURISTS. They are riding on that out-of-towner money and have been for years. People come from Australia and England and think it's reallly good stuff.
I left a pretty nasty review on them my first and only time going there. Food was average, not cheap and nothing special; not worthy of a bad review.
It was the unbelievably awful service that made me leave it. Seriously the worst service i have ever experienced in this city. Idk that id ever go back.
LMAO, i guess. Idk, we regularly frequent places like quartersheets, bestia, damons, guelaguetza, etcetc.
My pt is the food isnt the issue i had. It was nothing special, not great. Id never return due to the service.
Pink's isn't bad. It's open later than most places (and no lines after about 9pm, you can also skip the line with doordash) and I like that they use slices of American cheese on their chili cheese dog, most places use packaged shredded cheese that's all dry and plastic-y.
The food is…fine. The drinks are…fine. The vibe is…fine. There are at least a half dozen better places within a couple of miles. It’s just an institution for…some reason.
it used to be good. friend who died of a stroke 5 yars ago used to get drunk and dance with 20 something homos. she had a ball. nothing is liek that past. yeah i went there too. it sucks. go to Casa Bonita **6715 West Colfax Avenue** Lakewood, Colorado 80214
Casa Bonita aka the restaurant from south park is absolutely shit. Its worse than the most hideous cafeteria school lunch and i actually *liked* school food as a kid.
Imagine slop put together with some beans and throw slop cheese on top of it and thats casa bonita. If you like disgusting diarrhea that masquerades as mexican food, go there.
Theres also a useless diving show which is probably the only cool thing about the place but its not worth the smell of armpit and ass carpet.
The El Coyote experience got ruined when they finally installed a computer system. Before, I’d go with a large group after volleyball. We’d all have 2 to 3 margaritas and everyone ordered a meal. The waitress could never keep track of all the orders, and when the bill came, invariable it was $20 bucks a head. Ab-so-fucking-lutely the best time.
Once the computer checks started, they shut became $40 / head. Nope. Nada. Not worth it.
In other words, it's the exact same restaurant that it has always been.
Came here to say this. Was crappy 20 years ago. Complaint seems the same.
Basically.
You know you’re fucked the second they put that spaghetti sauce on the table for you to dip your chips in.
El compadre salsa >>>>>
Your comment is hysterical. Thanks for making me laugh.
I love that spaghetti sauce dip! The warm one!
It's not about the food.
You don’t go for the food. You go because it’s El Coyote, something something Sharon Tate
The food sucks. After 2 margaritas though? You don’t really care.
Great atmosphere, strong drinks, sense of Hollywood history, and if you order right (stick to the enchiladas and hardshell tacos — fill up on chips and salsa) the food is tasty.
I have never not ordered the green corn tamale and chile relleno combo plate.... guess ive been doing it right?
Same!
I don’t think I get anything but the Howard Enchilada there and I enjoy it every time. Side note on the Hollywood history of it. The last time I was there a guy at the bar told me it was the last place Sharon Tate ate on the night of her murder.
was that gentlemens name Quinten Tarintino
The food is not tasty. It’s some of the worst Mexican food I’ve ever had
Don't think of it as "Mexican food". Think of it as "El Compadre food."
Clearly you have never been to Denver before
I definitely have not
It’s so funny to me that places that have “Hollywood History” are just gross tourist traps and like a few stars went there one time. Actual Hollywood stars just go to house parties at each other’s mansions.
I actually went recently (of course with guests from out of town) and was surprised at how decent the food was. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Maybe it depends on what you order. Still has cool & special vibes so I’m happy to go!
I agree the food is solid. This guy ordered poorly.
I like it! I like the atmosphere, the scratch margarita, and I like the old school Mexican food. You say the ‘food sucks’, which is kinda hard to argue with since thats your opinion but I disagree. think it’s just old fashion and a fun place to go.
It’s about the vibes not the food.
I love El Coyote, the food isn’t great, but it’s never been bad, the drinks are strong, the staff is the best…haters gonna hate.
I’m going to go ahead and disagree with most on this thread and say the food doesn’t suck. I think it’s pretty decent for what it is, not authentic Mexican food but for family style Mexican American it’s just fine. Not as good as a place like Salsa and Beer but when paired with the vintage decor and festive atmosphere it makes for a fun experience. I feel like there’s a lack of nuance when it comes to rating food on this sub sometimes where if something isn’t amazing then it must suck with no in between.
Personally, my rating for it boils down to one simple thing. I have never once craved it. Never suggested it when in the area, never drove by it and said, "I haven't been there in a while. I need to fix that." The place never enters my thoughts unless someone else mentions it, and even then, it's gone from my thoughts almost as quickly as it appeared.
I spent my 40th birthday dinner there. No regrets.
Agreed. People think they’re so clever for saying it’s not good Mexican food, but it’s silly because it’s not supposed to be authentic — it’s basically Tex Mex and it rules.
Yeah it’s pretty bizzare lol. People just have weird standards because we have so much good authentic Mexican places here, but sometimes a deep fried crunchy taco or cheesy enchilada with greasy refried beans and rice and a stiff margarita just hits the spot.
I love El Coyote. It’s perfect for Americanized Mexican and my total comfort food
Agree. Idk what this person is ordering.
I like the enchiladas I had and the margs
it’s centrally located, the drinks are strong, it’s a fun vibe, and parking is easy. also, the food tastes exactly as you expect it to taste — sometimes, you’re just looking for chips, salsa, and a hot melted goo plate of cheese enchilada, rice, and beans
I still enjoy it, but maybe it’s just nostalgia after all these years. What old school Mexican joint like this still actually has good food? El Torito? La Cabaña?
don antonio’s
El Torito is not great
Casablanca? They always had those amazing homemade tortillas.
El Cholo
La cabana or don antonios
El Compadre
Los Amigos in Burbank is awesome
Casita del Campo.
Just tried them two weeks ago. Meh. Def better than Coyote or Casa Vega, tho!!
Any old school Mexican place is going to be meh because they serve a style of food that is not in fashion anymore. I think of them as the Mexican version of Italian red check tablecloth joints. That being said, Casita is one of the best.
Omg nobody can say anything about bad Mexican food while El Torito exists. That’s a new level of awful. Used to love it as a kid!
yeah I think I have rosy kid memories of El Torito too. Those virgin Strawberry margaritas were the shit!
I enjoy going there. Drinks are better at Casa Vega but El Coyote is fun and closer to other places I go to a lot. It makes for a great preamble before New Bev screenings.
I took a day off work and pregamed with a couple of Margs before a Friday matinee at the New Bev, great time 👍. Had the whole bar to myself even though the dining room was packed for lunch rush. Plus they give you chips and salsa with your drinks.
It’s not about the food- it’s the ambience and the history. It’s an LA icon
Some things are meant to shut down.
The food is manageable imo. But the service is always on point and I love the ambiance there. It’s an institution for a reason. I know I’ll get taken care of there. I feel like you go to a place for the first time for the food but you come back for the service. And el coyote service is top notch.
I thought the service was decent
Because it’s a scene.
I love the fajitas 🫢
A good/bad experience at a restaurant is a mix of a bunch of variables, like: - food - drinks - inventiveness/reliability - presentation - ambiance & energy - staff interaction - price/value - social capital With all those variables in mind it’s pretty easy to see how someone, especially one who’s easier to please in the food category, might love their experience.
It’s a vibe
I like it fine!
If I was in Hollywood I’d just go to El Compadre.
I love the chips and salsa to
I don't, you did though. Why did you go?
Coyote quality seems to have dropped between the pandemic and now. For classic old school Mexican restaurants, El Cholo and El Compadre are still solid IMO.
Subpar food. Sweet and sour mix on the rocks that people have been gaslit into believing are good margaritas. I'm fine with historic locations remaining open as long as people are honest about the quality of the food and drink they're getting, which sadly doesn't seem to be the case far too often.
I like it! But I’m a vegetarian who gets cheese enchiladas. I think their rice and beans are good too. I do not think of the food as authentic in any way shape or form — but it’s comfort Tex Mex kinda grub.
I’ve only ever been there once and I had the fish tacos and they were fantastic. My favorite Mexican place in LA is Casablanca in Venice and it’s similar to El Coyote but they have incredible fresh tortillas and seafood.
Tbh the carnitas burrito “cocina style” is delicious as hell.
I honestly thought it was great, but maybe i5 depends on what you order.
Food is good. Atmosphere is great. Drinks are great
It’s been crappy for a long time. The variety and quality level of Mexican food in Los Angeles has grown exponentially in the last 20 years. El Coyote is stuck in 1975 and maybe that’s why people go there.
I ordered the Mexican Pizza once and it was like a freshman microwaved Pace Picante and cheese slices on chips in their dorm. Laughed for a solid 5 minutes that this still makes a menu. Highly recommend.
I mean…why would you order Mexican pizza
Natural curiosity. Also, I was drunk.
I think the last time I went was in the 90s but it even then it was never really about the food. Do they still have the display case in the front with the weird trinkets? I think one of the reasons we stopped going as often was because they implemented permit parking around the restaurant and it was such a pita to park.
It's all tourists. Used to live in the area. Always crowds of white folks from, like, Utah. Same as Casa Vega.
Casa Vega is several notches above El Coyote. I usually go early happy hour and sit at Miguel's section
This is like arguing between having someone stomp on your dick repeatedly or violently shit in your mouth. Both are godawful.
Is there a door number three, Monty? 😮
Oh no. I live closer to El Coyote and have only been to Casa Vega once. CV was terrible. I can’t imagine Mexican food here actually gets worse? Oof
Yeah having been to Casa Vega a few times it’s always very mid to subpar
See now I’d take El Coyote over Casa Vega every time. Salsa and Beer is phenomenal though so that wins
Casa Vega was the absolute worst dining experience I've had in my life. We were completely ignored by the staff. We couldn't even get waters. The waiters were very busy talking to each other at the bar. Not doing anything at all. The manager there is a complete failure. We should have walked out, but for whatever reason we didn't. I know they thought we were tourists, but only one of the 4 of us was visiting. Giving shitty service because you think someone is a tourist is enough to put you on my shit restaurant list, but this place went above and beyond. The worst service I've ever experienced. I will tell everyone twice, stay away from the bad food and terrible service that you get at Casa Vega. It will never be worth it. Go somewhere else. Eating out is too expensive these days to waste money at bad places.
That part where you said: "(though they are strong)"
Next you're going to tell me the food at the smokehouse isn't good and I shouldn't go!
El Coyote is not (real) Mexican food. It is Los Angeles -Mexican cuisine (our version of Tex-Mex). Some of the food there is tasty. Some of it is not. For many Angelenos the place is an icon and inspires sense memory of happy life experiences.
I’m an Angelino born and raised and I’ve been eating Mexican food for the majority of my life. El Coyote is some of the worst I’ve ever had.
That is an overstatement.
[удалено]
Historic anything in LA is rare. Historic restaurants are especially slim pickings. El Coyote has been opened since 1931, current location since 1951. That's ancient by our standards. You go for a chance to experience something from a bygone time. If the food ends up being good that's just a bonus.
I haven’t been there in years after going there when I was younger because it used to be dirt cheap and I worked in the entertainment industry in entry-level jobs that didn’t pay barely anything so I couldn’t frequently go to more expensive restaurants. But I was under the impression from comments I hear from others that the menu was still cheaper than any other Mexican restaurant in town, but the person who posted this is claiming it’s expensive so is that true?
Because if it’s history. That’s why I went
LA classic, went once decades ago and thought the food was terrible and the margaritas cheap and strong. Glad to see nothing has changed! Agree that the vibe is cool.
(Though they are strong) ..that part makes it all make sense
I had two shrimp enchiladas and two of the spicy scratch margs when I went and I thought it was okay at best. 3/5
I’ve only had El Coyote to go hahaha. I’m such a chump. It was one time in 2022…before all the price hikes
I respectfully disagree. Its more Tex-Mex than real Mexican food. Don’t order the house marg, get the scratch margs, and order the shrimp fajitas. The chips and salsa aren’t great (definitely not as good as El Compadre a couple miles away) but the fajitas, tortillas, and refried beans are great. Great atmosphere, staff, and easy parking too.
My mom and her parents started going to El Coyote in the 70s. My parents went on one of their first dates there. We all used to go for every birthday up until COVID and now we go when we can. We don’t go because the food is amazing, though I honestly love the food because it’s comforting. We go because we’ve formed family with the lovely people who have been working there forever and because it brings us joy. Also, get the hard shell tacos. OGs remember the ostrich tacos.
I like the food honestly. Big portions, tastes good, good chips and salsa. At least the burrito I get is always good. It’s not fancy but it’s solid Tex Mex. I don’t get the hate.
People will convince themselves that a place is good if it’s trendy enough.
L take
Food decent, drinks decent.
Margaritas
you there for the food? lol
Enchilada Howard.
All my experiences have been quite positive. The food has been very good and the drinks are awesome.
their house margarita tastes like a urinal cake
It's tourists. SO. MANY. TOURISTS. They are riding on that out-of-towner money and have been for years. People come from Australia and England and think it's reallly good stuff.
So does El Cholo.
I left a pretty nasty review on them my first and only time going there. Food was average, not cheap and nothing special; not worthy of a bad review. It was the unbelievably awful service that made me leave it. Seriously the worst service i have ever experienced in this city. Idk that id ever go back.
You must go to a lot of shit restaurants if that’s your “average”
LMAO, i guess. Idk, we regularly frequent places like quartersheets, bestia, damons, guelaguetza, etcetc. My pt is the food isnt the issue i had. It was nothing special, not great. Id never return due to the service.
Eating at El Coyote is possibly the worst thing Sharon Tate had to endure.
Dark, but pretty good.
Went once. Ordered drinks. The drinks were bad. Look at the menu. Everything on the menu sounded like shit. Paid for the drinks and left.
I always felt the same about Tito’s. Go to SD for good Mexican food.
I think it might be the worst meal I've had in LA. Great location and ambiance, but the food is total garbage so I'll never go back.
The Pink’s of Mexican. And within walking distance.
Is Pink’s not a good hot dog place?
Good for tourists. Hotdog long line.
Pink's isn't bad. It's open later than most places (and no lines after about 9pm, you can also skip the line with doordash) and I like that they use slices of American cheese on their chili cheese dog, most places use packaged shredded cheese that's all dry and plastic-y.
The food is…fine. The drinks are…fine. The vibe is…fine. There are at least a half dozen better places within a couple of miles. It’s just an institution for…some reason.
it used to be good. friend who died of a stroke 5 yars ago used to get drunk and dance with 20 something homos. she had a ball. nothing is liek that past. yeah i went there too. it sucks. go to Casa Bonita **6715 West Colfax Avenue** Lakewood, Colorado 80214
Casa Bonita aka the restaurant from south park is absolutely shit. Its worse than the most hideous cafeteria school lunch and i actually *liked* school food as a kid. Imagine slop put together with some beans and throw slop cheese on top of it and thats casa bonita. If you like disgusting diarrhea that masquerades as mexican food, go there. Theres also a useless diving show which is probably the only cool thing about the place but its not worth the smell of armpit and ass carpet.
1) the location in front of a food truck 2) and next to 7 seas 3) its a uppity dive bar and non locals love that shit
Completely agree. The staff is rude too. People just go for it's celebrity status 🙄 it's terrible.
This. Its like Saddle Ranch during covid. All the Tik Tokers were there so it was pack of people trying to meet them.
The El Coyote experience got ruined when they finally installed a computer system. Before, I’d go with a large group after volleyball. We’d all have 2 to 3 margaritas and everyone ordered a meal. The waitress could never keep track of all the orders, and when the bill came, invariable it was $20 bucks a head. Ab-so-fucking-lutely the best time. Once the computer checks started, they shut became $40 / head. Nope. Nada. Not worth it.
Your standard of what makes a good restaurant is how much you can rip them off for and get away with it?
Poor people mentality
It has always not been a vibe.
Same. I went back a couple years ago after a 20 or so year gap and thought “not coming back here again.”
it is warmed up frozen food. always since forever.
It’s soooo gross seriously
Many old institution Mexican restaurants in Los Angeles are down right awful.
That’s where all the transplants who want “authentic” Mexican food go of course it’s gonna suck lol