Insider Pages Reviews for El Compadre

5 Stars: from good... to bad... to GREAT! (by absolutefoody)

absolutefoody — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 09:00:00 GMT

I've been coming to el compadre for 4 years,

the salsa and food was very delicious 4 years ago. Then they started going downhill, salsa started to taste worse and worse, food was not tasting as good ect. some days the salsa was disgusting. so I stopped going their entirely.

A year later I come with my girlfriend because nothing else was open that late.... OMG... the salsa was SPOT ON! it was so freakin good I was shocked! I heard they got "new people". anyways, they restored me back to "regular status". amazing what new management can do.

1 Stars: extra charges on credit card, had to contact card fraud dept (by bmcccalifornia)

bmcccalifornia — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 09:00:00 GMT

When confronted with extra charges on a lost credit card, the day and night managers (yes, I had to speak to both, one of them several times) were polite, but completely unhelpful. I had my original receipt for the correct amount, $30.40, with a $5 tip, ($35.40 total) and pointed out specifically they overcharged me a couple of bucks, $37.40. But what was really over the top is that they had also charged an additional $109.22 as separately!. The receipt had the server's ID (14), the date (7/11/09), the time(7:52pm), a batch # 774, and some reference # (079), and instead of searching their receipts, they claimed they needed me to come down to bring a bank statement with the charges. I don't have a printer to print my statement and I did not feel like I should have to hop in the car to help them fix their mistake. It was easier to just call the fraud department of my credit card company and let them sort it out. Sad.

5 Stars: Love this place "it's my new home (by CSMobileUser)

CSMobileUser — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 09:00:00 GMT

I love this place get good food, meet good peeps, get a mag that hot, go and see what I'm talking about, and that have good music all night the open till 2am thay open at 11am kool right, it's a must go and see in my book, trust me!

5 Stars: Great Food and Booze (by troywarkentin)

troywarkentin — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 09:00:00 GMT

Like everything about this place except the wait on the weekends. The entire menu is full of great stuff.

5 Stars: Authentic Experience (by lindseyerin22)

lindseyerin22 — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 09:00:00 GMT

The band the plays in the background ads to the wonderful experience of eating at this wonderfully decorated authentic mexican restaurant. They take a complimentary picture of you and your party at the table, which is a great little souvenier. The service is very good, they are constantly waiting on you..my boyfriend noted that their soda was especially yummy..hmm interesting. Great for family and romantic dates. HIghly recommend!

4 Stars: El Compadre (by TrealTalk)

TrealTalk — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 09:00:00 GMT

El Compadre would be a great place if it wasnt so dang expensive...Everything here is good but i can only afford it once in a while.

3 Stars: yummy mexican (by hellojennifer)

hellojennifer — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 09:00:00 GMT

this place makes you feel like you are in mexico but the service sure could be better! try the cheese enchiladas and you cant go wrong!!

4 Stars: yummy, yummy... (by starseed9)

starseed9 — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 09:00:00 GMT

what is up with all of the haters?! by virtue of the fact that they "love" taco bell, tells me to exclude any seriousness from their review.

i've eaten here once. my sister brought me a couple of months ago and i absolutely loved the food. very "old school". the waiter was friendly, the drinks were strong and the plates were hot and yummy. i think i had shrimp or crab enchiladas and they were bomb!

in fact, the reason i'm writing this review is because i'm about to leave work and out of the blue i found myself craving the food but forgot the name, so i googled it. i get here and read such abrasive, inaccurate reviews by posters who obviously don't know good food (ie. taco bell). wanted to counter their hateration and tell y'all to get on down to el compadre and try it for yourself. if you like old school mexican food, you'll be impressed...very nostalgic ambience and satisfying food.

oh...and they stay open pretty LATE.

1 Stars: Pretty BLAND (by juicyjanet)

juicyjanet — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 09:00:00 GMT

I've actually been here a few times.. My bf seemed to think it was the only mexican place in LA that was decent LOL.. The service is SLOWWWWW! We waiting in the front to be seated at least 8 min.. Then we sat without drinks for another 10 min!! The food took forever and it isn't even good! It tastes watered down. The Salsa is yucky.. like tomato water.. I had A burrito with chicken.. do not order chicken here it had BONES in it!! Right off the bat I was disgusted and couldnt eat anymore.. it tasted like soup chicken.. like boiled.. hard to explain but it was BLAND!
I think taco bell is amazing!! LOL... I wish I could find a decent mexican place in LA. I wont be going back.. neither should you.
Service sucked BIG TIME. and the parking lot is a pain.. its soo small

1 Stars: Why the good reviews for this lousy place? (by Virgie90232)

Virgie90232 — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 09:00:00 GMT

This has got to be the worse Mexican food place in the entire SW. The service was lousy and not friendly at all. We had to wait and wait for something to drink. My husband had carnitas and it was extremely dry and crispy. I ordered Chile Colorado and regretted it. 1 out 3 pieces of meat were nothing but chunks of fat and the sauce was too water and tasted terrible. My husband and I had eaten at several Mexican restaurants and this is by far the worse. For the next two days my husband and I had upset stomachs. This place should be closed down before someone gets real sick by eating there.

1 Stars: if you like top shelf tequila dont come here (by biobreezie)

biobreezie — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 09:00:00 GMT

El Compadre is right around the street from me and the first few times I went with friends I enjoyed it there. After all $9 margaritas you'd say is a great price for being in Hollywood. Well if you are someone who is enjoys real tequila (not patron) then this is not the place for you. THey fill the top shelf tequilas with cheap bottom shelf brands. We went in one day as usual and this time we ordered the Don Julio 1942 which is $18 a shot, but I didnt care because it is my FAVORITE tequila of all. When we got our shots first of all they werent even the same color as anejo they were blanco and they tasted exactly like patron!!! We will NEVER go back there again. THey rip you off and you dont even know it. I would rather drive clear across town for Malo because they serve the tequila you actually ordered, not some other low grade brand. *tsk tsk* on El Compadre. And dont forget to notice the B rating for food....eeww!! I guess we do "get what we pay for" when it comes to this restaurant

4 Stars: Flamming Margaritas (by xoxosaovanyxoxo)

xoxosaovanyxoxo — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 09:00:00 GMT

The margaritas there are a must try for drinks. The food comes in a big portions so if you don't eat much you can share the plate with someone. I got there Steak Fajitas plate, it was pretty good. The place is really romantic I'll have to say. I really had a good experience there with my friends. Their service was a little slow but very good service. I wouldn't mind going back there again.

5 Stars: Packed and the best Margaritas in town! (by smithy11)

smithy11 — Fri, 30 May 2008 09:00:00 GMT

El Compadre is a Los Angeles Legend! This is the best place to people watch and have margaritas. Yes, you have to get your table early and yes, the food can be improved but it's not about that. It's about the band, the drinks and the awesome atmosphere. It's the perfect Hollywood hotspot and it's open for lunch and dinner so you can party all day long. The service is great and so are the bartenders! I love the tacos and chicken enchiladas-they are a perfect compliment to the strawberry margarita!

3 Stars: great margaritas (by Janell W.)

Janell W. — Thu, 01 May 2008 10:48:00 GMT

Great margaritas! The atmosphere was so nice and the bartender was great! I got two KILLER margaritas (flaming ofcourse) and some chips, salsa and beautiful, fresh guacamole! I'll DEFINITELY go back to El Compadre!

1 Stars: bad!!!!!!!!! do not waste your time or Dollars!! (by palmtreegeek)

palmtreegeek — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 09:00:00 GMT

BAD!!BAD!!BAD!! I RATHER GO TO TACO BELL, THEN BACK HERE!! THE OWNER AND OR 10 YEAR OLD CO OWNER Need to re-evaluate!!!! BAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

3 Stars: Tasty Mexican but really more about the ambiance.. (by Laura C.)

Laura C. — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 14:34:00 GMT

If you are looking for that Mexican restaurant with the band playing and crowded upbeat vibe, el Compadre won't disappoint. I'd say the food is a bit better than average but drinks are strong so it ends up being a good time! Great location on Sunset puts you in the middle of everything when you are ready to hit the town.

3 Stars: Late Nite (by Paul C.)

Paul C. — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 08:20:00 GMT

I thought the food was pretty good-- mostly just satisfactory. But it "hit the spot" with a late nite craving. But with the musicians, the back patio, the dark setting and the great margaritas, I would always consider this place again.

4 Stars: Strong margaritas... (by Trey N.)

Trey N. — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 17:35:00 GMT

This place is a 'must visit' if you're from out of town. The food is great and the drinks are stiff. Most nights they have a really good mariachi band that plays.

It does get crowded on the weekends, so unless you have a reservation, be prepared to wait for a little while. But like I said, the bar is great and you can enjoy the band.

The food is pretty authentic and the service is good. Try it out sometime!

5 Stars: KILLER MARGARITAS!! (by MarshieMarsh)

MarshieMarsh — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 09:00:00 GMT

All I wanted was some great margaritas before my trip to the LA area ended. My friend took me to El Compadre because he'd eaten there before. I was so glad he did! The atmosphere was so nice and the bartender was great!
I got two KILLER margaritas (flaming ofcourse) and some chips, salsa and beautiful, fresh guacamole!
I'll DEFINITELY go back to El Compadre on my next trip!
WOOOOOOOOH!

5 Stars: yummo! (by downey1991)

downey1991 — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 09:00:00 GMT

My wife Lindzee absolutely loves this place... We live in Seattle and have difficulty finding authentic Mexican.. thank god for El Compadre...

4 Stars: Best maragrita in town! (by beerdrinker53)

beerdrinker53 — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 09:00:00 GMT

I know it's been said to death, but it's true! If not a bit pricey for the flame, it's still worth it. Also, the deep fried burrito, is the BOMB! Love the mariachi band, and the old school red booths. I always take my visiting friends there.

1 Stars: Horrible Food, Horrible Service (by beachcruiser)

beachcruiser — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 09:00:00 GMT

HA! Just read the review from "palooza" - and I had the EXACT same experience! Not only did our waiter appear to be on "a white, illegal substance", but he completely disappeared. We waited 45 minutes for enchiladas. ENCHIL-FREAKING-LADAS! Obviously he never actually placed our order. When we asked him why it was taking so long he gave us a completely incomprehensible response. We tried to order drinks but they never arrived. I don't know how this place makes any money - they seem unwilling or unable to perform basic restaurant tasks. When the food finally arrived it was ICE COLD with hard, coagulated cheese on top. We were so hungry and angry we ate it anyway. Of course, we couldn't complain because our waiter was back snorting rails again. STAY AWAY! And as a thank you from El Compadre, I was greeted with a case of irritable bowel the following day.

4 Stars: What's with the bad reviews? This place rocks. (by daogre)

daogre — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 09:00:00 GMT

I went here for lunch and it was awesome. The waiter was funny and the margaritas were excellent and VERY STRONG. The food itself was good, I got carnitas in verde sauce and was blown away, it was a lot better than I expected it to be, and the ambiance is fun too, it has a down home feeling to the place. I'd definitely recommend it, and plan on going back again, it was a little pricey, but for Hollywood it wasn't surprisingly so.

3 Stars: El Comcockroach (by westhollywoodgirl22)

westhollywoodgirl22 — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 09:00:00 GMT

after enjoying this place and their flaming margaritas for a couple months, from initial discovery until ... el comcockroach. that's all.

5 Stars: ONE OF MY FAVORITES IN L.A.! (by sallypancake)

sallypancake — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 09:00:00 GMT

anyone who has negative things to say about this restaurant is crazy. yes, you will probably have to wait a bit on busy nights...but that just speaks to how good this place is! but the food is DELICIOUS, and the drinks are always strong and good. by far one of my favorite restaurants in l.a. affordable, delicious and fun. what more could you want?

4 Stars: Cool Place (by rtnla)

rtnla — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 09:00:00 GMT

Decent food, nice dark atmosphere and strong drinks. Cool bartender and attentive waiters make this place a pleasure. Check it out.

5 Stars: Best Mexican restaurant ever! (by pigiulina)

pigiulina — Sat, 20 Oct 2007 09:00:00 GMT

the food is so good that I can't wait to go back, I go there twice a week they're always packed... try the double margarita the best ever in La, last time i went was my friend's birthday the band sung the song for us they were so nice and the waiter was always very attentive in everything. Love it!

2 Stars: Good food, terrible service (by suz727)

suz727 — Sat, 22 Sep 2007 09:00:00 GMT

I read the reviews but didn't listen! I thought, 'it can't be that bad." It was. We stood in the middle of the restaurant for 5 minutes before someone showed us a table. At first all seemed good, we got our drinks and our food within 20 minutes. My husband asked for another beer that never showed up. We asked for our check and when it arrived there was a charge for the 2nd beer that we never received! Luckily we had cash so we just deducated the charge ourselves and paid the difference with a small tip. We weren't about to wait around for them to bring us a new bill. It's unfortunate that the service is so bad because the food was decent and the marg was great. We will not go back.

1 Stars: Is this a RESTAURANT, or a CLUB? (by sweetlittlerocker)

sweetlittlerocker — Sat, 01 Sep 2007 09:00:00 GMT

OK, I think the previous 3 glowing reviews were written by friends of the owner, that is pretty obvious. Now how about the TRUTH?

This is a place to stop by the bar for a margarita, chat up cute drunk guys, but that is IT. If you try to actually EAT in this RESTAURANT, you are OUTTA LUCK. Myself, and several people I know have been seated to eat on different times and days, and NEVER GOT FOOD and got severe runaround from the wait staff! The service is consistently AWFUL, waiters actually run from the kitchen when they get a plate of food cause they know the hungry diners might grab the plate from them!

There are many other good Mexican food places in LA to go where the kitchen makes FOOD, and the wait staff actually brings FOOD to people, where table service comes with a smile and some charm, where you can have a good overall experience. I think the manager needs to decide if he is running a restaurant or a club...TO DAVID: if you think you are a club with VIP areas and velvet ropes, you want kiss booties of celebs, then be a CLUB already. If you claim to run a RESTAURANT, then get your act together and give these hungry people some enchilladas! A restaurant with no food is WEIRD, comprende?

Other than the occasional margarita after shopping at Guitar Center, me and my band won't be dropping by El Compadre anytime soon. At least not to EAT.

5 Stars: Great Food (by llewelyn_1)

llewelyn_1 — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 09:00:00 GMT

The food is very good, worth the wait on crowded nights. The bar is also a good place to sit (if not too crowded) while you wait for your table.

5 Stars: Now i know what tears of joy are. (by good_review_guy)

good_review_guy — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 09:00:00 GMT

El Compadre, where David Castro, the co owner and hands on manager worked over 12 years ago, is situated at sunset blvd across from the world famous guitar center. It had a VIP enclave overlooking the mariachi band and a restaurant frequented by the likes of Freddie Mercury, Lemmy from Motorhead, Bruce Dickinson and N.E.R.D., oh and Dan Hankin. How do I know all this, well at the time I was a barman, who had to serve the hundreds of flaming margaritas often ordered soo much that we couldent keep up. Today El Compadre has refined decor with leather covered high backed chairs and curtained tables. The bar area is actually part of the dining area and looks onto the beautifully decorated atmosphere.The whole dish that I had was an amazing balance of delicate flavours and textures, the only complaint being; there wasn?t enough! My "botana el compadre especial" was excellent. Shrimp can often be overcooked or over dressed, but the subtlety of the citrus flavours with the perfectly cooked asparagus was a pleasure.
The main course couldn?t arrive quickly enough, as by now I was in sensory heaven enjoying a bottle of Chablis well chosen by David Castro, the very professional Restaurant Manager.The dessert was definitely necessary, roasted pineapple with a banana pancetta and fried caramel ice cream was amazing, but a little too sweet for my taste buds. So I opted instead for the freshly baked cherry filled empanada with an outstanding rum glaze. And apart from a solitary cherry stone that sneaked in it was a treat to gorge myself on a very generous fruity offering.As the night grows older, the people grow younger and the music gets louder and at the entrance, clifford is deciding on who the lucky VIPs will be. But if you book for dinner entrance is guaranteed and for free, now that?s worth the price of a meal any day.If you want the best mexican food you every tasted, Go to El Compadre. But, be warned, once you go, you won?t want to eat at any other mexican restaurant.

5 Stars: there ain't enough f***ing stars to express how good that sh*t was (by the_dude_abides)

the_dude_abides — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 09:00:00 GMT

I woke up one morning and had the worst day ever.it all started then i was going to work.i wasnt paying attention and crashed into the car infront of me.the only thing that i was worried about was the cost of damage.now i was running late for work.i slamed my foot on the gas and a few miles down the road i saw the flashing red and blue lights in the rearview mirror.The pig got me for speeding and also for an expired tag.I was p issed. I finally got to work late when the boss called me up to his office after counting up how many times i was late and he told me that i was fired.this was the worst day ever.later on that night some friends convinced me to go out to a resturant with them and have a few drinks after they found out how bad my day was. i was already in a very bad mood when we pulled up to the small building that looked like a hole in the wall. I thought it was going to be c rap.the first thing i saw was an awsome picture of a margarita with fire comming out of it. the place was packed and there was a cool mariachi band playing. we were greated by a beautiful hostess that sat us down right away, not a minute later someone came by to take our drink orders. i ordered that flaming margarita. after our drink orders i looked across the room and saw Quentin Tarantino and the RZA from wu-tang, i went over there and introduced myself, got a few pictures and an autograph. when i got back to my table our drinks were there and the waiter was ready to take our order. i found the "botana el compadre especial". it sounded good. while we were waiting, i was already getting drunk by my second flaming margarita that was soo good, i wanted to s lap the sh*t out of the cute little bartender for making me c um in my pants. there was only enough time to take a p iss and wash my hands when the waiter came with our orders. words cant describe how good the food was, how fast the service was, how professional the staff was and how much i want to cut the people who wrote bad reviews

5 Stars: BEST MEXICAN PLACE IN HOLLYWOOD (by letseatnow)

letseatnow — Wed, 23 May 2007 09:00:00 GMT

This place is so good! From the food to the drinks! Its true that it might get busy and takes a while to be seated but its worth it! or just get there early, every night i go its packed! so there doing something right! They have live music and good for large groups. Btw, there salsa and chips THE BEST!

5 Stars: Cute BarTender (by stacystar)

stacystar — Fri, 18 May 2007 09:00:00 GMT

The staff is friendly. Great Guacamole. Not a long wait time (I went on a Sunday night). Cute italian Bar Tender! Enchiladas were good!

1 Stars: The worst (by dlaine23)

dlaine23 — Tue, 15 May 2007 09:00:00 GMT

To sum it up, we were seated for 30 mins before we were given water, 45 before we were offered to order margaritas, an hour until we actually received them, 15 more mins until we were allowed to order food, and another 30 mins until we received our lukewarm food drowned in coagulated cheese. I gave up on eating my cold food long before it came and only desired another margarita. After an hour and 3 orders for one margarita, I finally received one which the waiter informed me was on the house but was a virgin. How is that helpful or desired? I told him he could keep it. After the bill was already brought and paid he produced an actual margarita, an hour after I originally ordered it. So for my 2 1/2 hrs there and $25 spent I ate no food and had 1 margarita. I would have been better served at Baja Fresh or the 7-11. Avoid this place at all costs.

1 Stars: Only go here if you want the sh*ts all day (by peachblsm3)

peachblsm3 — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 09:00:00 GMT

I hate to write a scathing review about El Compadre because I really used to like it. But when we waited an hour and forty five minutes for a table that was only the begining. After having a decent meal I thought I was in the clear...until the next morning... turns out there was something that didn't agree with me in the food. And I wasn't alone. 3 out of the 4 people that I went with that night were hovering near a toilet for 24 hours. I would not recommend this place at all. Slow seating, slow service and to top it off the sh*ts.

1 Stars: Horrible (by dhandez)

dhandez — Fri, 30 Mar 2007 09:00:00 GMT

Thursday night. Waiting for a table. They told us half-an-hour. Watched about 5 groups of people steal tables by bypassing the hostess and hovering over tables until people got up. The hostess was off in the corner flirting with some drunk dude who was probably just flirting to get seated faster.

An hour later, we got a table, ordered three tacos a la carte, and waited. We spent 45 foodless minutes waiting, watching people around us get seated, get their food delivered, eat their food, pay their bills, and leave.

We sat, waiting for our three tacos, for over 45 minutes.

The waiter said the tacos were coming out in "30 seconds." After another 10 minutes of waiting, we walked out.

Rude, unprofessional, embarassing service. The hostess should quit her job.

3 Stars: Good, but not great (by jmpj)

jmpj — Sat, 10 Mar 2007 09:00:00 GMT

As many of the reviews have stated, the wait for a table is long (went on a Wednesday). The kind wait staff helps, but the wait for the food was long as well. It might be different if the food made up for it, but I have had better Mexican food in LA.

5 Stars: old school cool (by izzylarge1)

izzylarge1 — Sun, 05 Nov 2006 09:00:00 GMT

great band,great service when the brothers who own the joint are present.food is generally good ,great drinks.
one of the best late night spots in los angeles.

1 Stars: Try the "De Nada Plato"...it's NOTHING, and great for those on a diet... (by squidink)

squidink — Wed, 18 Oct 2006 09:00:00 GMT

That's right, TWICE now, I have been to this place with a friend and NEVER GOT FOOD. Once on a busy Saturday night, once on a slow Sunday afternoon. Both times we waited over 90 minutes after giving our order, and were never served the simple enchiladas we ordered. At least the first time the busboy was on top of things and kept refilling the chips. But the waiters hide from you and act like you aren't there - you have to tackle them to get them to stop by the table unless they are bringing more margaritas. And then, they still have NO IDEA where your food is - a shoulder shrug is the response - total lack of concern. A restaurant that doesn't serve FOOD and has LOUSY service, how do they stay in business? We tried to complain, but there is "no manager on duty", according to the staff. It is too bad, since the atmosphere is so cool, but sitting captive and starving at your booth just ruins the experience. We ate in the bar for lunch once, and had good service, so I guess that is the key to this place. Not that I will be returning anytime soon. Adios el compadre.

1 Stars: Avoid it . . . unless you like to wait . . . or just want to drink (by foto_mark)

foto_mark — Sat, 16 Sep 2006 09:00:00 GMT

a friend and I were looking to try a new Mexican haunt in the city and picked this place. On a friday it was WAY crowded. the hostesses there are the pits . A 30 minute wait will be an hour that is if they make any effort to find you when your table is ready. To have three people doing this and to do the job that they do is inexcusable. It REALLY set the tome for our overall experience.

the waitstaff and bartenders were hard working and freindly unlike the hostesses.

as for the food itself it was mediocre at best. the milanesa I ordered was tough.

the other thing I will say it does seem to be a great place to grab a drink after work.

as a bar I wouldn't mind going back , as restauarnt its nothing special

5 Stars: Greatest Place for Fun! (by steely1)

steely1 — Mon, 04 Sep 2006 09:00:00 GMT

El Compadre is the most fun for birthdays! I had my 30th here with about 20 guests and it was a blast. The live band makes it. We all got our food on time.The staff is so friendly and the margaritas are the best in town. The food tastes authentic and the servings are huge. The guacamole could be improved but the chips come out hot and the salsa which comes spicy or mild is very, very tastey!!!!

Thank you El Compadre for making my 30th a memorable one!

3 Stars: Mediocre food, nothing special (by julesf402)

julesf402 — Mon, 07 Aug 2006 09:00:00 GMT

I went here at 10 on a Sunday night. There was a 30 minute wait. The hostess with shorter blonde hair was really rude and snotty. We sat outside where there is no wait, but it is where people go to smoke and the occasional vagrant wanders in. They were out of the usual chips before your meal. We finally received them about the same time as our food, but he forgot to bring the salsa until even later. The food wasn't horrible, but it wasn't great either especially for the price. It seemed everything there was pretty overpriced. It was fine for a last minute impulse late night meal. But I probably won't ever go back.

1 Stars: Food's OK, if it ever arrives (by mnnyl)

mnnyl — Sun, 23 Jul 2006 09:00:00 GMT

I'm sad to be writing a bad review because I've had good meals here, but...here goes anyway. There is an appealing retro cheeziness to the decor, and when you can actually get your food, and it's actually what you ordered, the food is generally good (though not great) in an old-school dive-y greasy spoon Mexican resturant way. Unfortunately, getting food at all can be a problem, and getting what you ordered is an even bigger problem. They frequently screw up one order per table--generally you will get the wrong meat, or get meat when you didn't want it (and get charged for it on the bill, even if the order is corrected). My last two experiences were finally the end of my patience with this. The time before last, we got a bill for a totally different (and more expensive) set of meals than we ordered. The last time (and I mean THE last time I'll be going here), first, it took 15 minutes to get drinks in a not-very-busy resturant. Then it took over 45 minutes to get food, and when the food finally came, it wasn't especially hot, and neither order was right.
This became totally unforgivable for a few reasons: 1. the table that came in at the same time we did were finishing their meal as we got our food, 2. the guys who came in after us and were seated across from our table with the same waitress got their margaritas and appetizer in about 5 minutes after they ordered while we were still waiting for food, 3. even though it took 45 minutes to get the first meal, it took under 5 minutes to get the one meal we had corrected brought out--in fact, I figured out mine was also screwed up while the new meal was coming out. I just sent mine back entirely at that point, since I was SO PO'd I didn't want to eat, and 4. the waitress wasn't particularly apologetic
I've noticed the biggest problems come on weekends, so if for some reason you must go, you'll want to take your chances during the week, but I will be staying far away.

5 Stars: Great Place for Lunch (by jasmyna)

jasmyna — Wed, 24 May 2006 09:00:00 GMT

I eat lunch here at least once a month. They have great service and there is hardly ever a wait. The margarita's are just as great as in the evening but for some reason they leave out the flame, which is alright by me! One of my favorites for great food and great service!

5 Stars: LOVE IT (by msmota)

msmota — Thu, 11 May 2006 09:00:00 GMT

WELL I WAS THERE THIS PASS 5 DE MAYO! AND I HAVENT BEEN THERE SINCE LIKE JULY 2002 AND LET ME TELL YOU YES IT IS CROWDED AND TALK ABOUT THE WAIT. BUT I THINK ITS THE BEST ITS LIKE ONCE U SIT DOWN U START UNDERSTANDING WHY THE WAIT WAS SO LONG. ITS SO COMFERTIBLE. LOVE THE SALSA WITH THE NACHO CHIPS... U GOT TO LOVE THEM THE DRINK MY FAVORITE PINA COLADAS FLAMING MARGARITA AND OF COUSE STRAWBERRY LEMONADE.. CANT WAIT TO GO BACK. SO IF U PLAN ON GOING JUST BE PREPARED FOR THE WAIT. ITS WORTH IT.

1 Stars: Awful, Awful, Awful (by trojan_kim)

trojan_kim — Sat, 06 May 2006 09:00:00 GMT

Went there on Cinco de Mayo at 6pm. Was told that the wait would be an hour for a table for 3 we were there until 10pm and still did not get a table. The hostess is the worst. After waiting for 1 hour, we were told 30 more minutes, then 20 more, then finally an I don't know. The hostess somehow had no idea how many people were before us. However, I noticed that she was letting is "regulars" or people who knew her or the servers. There must have been at least 50 people crushed in next to us waiting for a table. Other people were waiting for their table for just as long as we were. Some had made reservations 2 weeks ahead of time and never got their table. I will never go back here again.

5 Stars: BEST EVER!!!! (by tinyriot)

tinyriot — Fri, 05 May 2006 09:00:00 GMT

Oh my god! If I wasn't hiking up Runyon 5 days a week to get in shape I would eat here more. The vibe is great...totally old Hollywood style with red vinyl booths and all. The Salsa is amazing and the sauces are wonderful. I reccommend a chicken enchilada and a carne asada taco ala cart. The rice and beans are what put you over the edge, forget em.
Sure the margarita are expensive and there is one female server who is horrible but everything else is an A+++ in my book. My mouth is watering thinking about it now. TRY IT!!

5 Stars: OLE'! (by vindictivevixen)

vindictivevixen — Wed, 05 Apr 2006 09:00:00 GMT

Whenever I wanna get a good home meal I enjoy going to this spot. They have subtly strong flaming margaritas and thee best chile rellenos, carnitas, and delicious fish! This can be a diverse setting depending on what you want; An intimate first date, meeting friends for drinks & appetizers, a family dinner, or maybe just mixing and mingling at the bar, etc. They have mariach's on the weekends so that's a nice treat.

1 Stars: Use to be great, but not anymore (by judieangl)

judieangl — Sun, 12 Mar 2006 09:00:00 GMT

Use to go alot. But last nights dinner was aweful. We had to go find our waiter after waiting forever to order. The drink order was never right, not once. Once our food finally did arrive we had to wait almost 10 minutes for silverware. The tortilla's for the fajitas didn't show up until half way through the meal. Were offered a side of guacamole only to find out when the bill arrived it was an additional $6.50! The service was attrocious, probably the worst I've ever experienced anywhere. With all the great Mexican restaurants in town there's no reason to deal with this for just a mediocre meal. Also, what restaurant in L.A. doesn't have valet parking when it's impossible to park in the area!

3 Stars: Check your bill!!! (by typefish)

typefish — Tue, 29 Nov 2005 09:00:00 GMT

We used to go here often. But last time a bar tender asked us for (much) higher prices than usual. When we called him on it he explained the higher price was because he had to open up a new bottle ... and... he did NOT correct his 'mistake'. Make sure you check the prices/bill. Being lied to ánd overcharged spoils all your dinner fun.

5 Stars: Flaming Margaritas! (by cezonfire)

cezonfire — Wed, 09 Nov 2005 09:00:00 GMT

Great Authentic Mexican Food! Awesome Flaming Margaritas! Great Place to have drinks with friends. For fridays and saturdays, try to arrive early around 6pm or 7pm , unless you want wait a while.

5 Stars: Tried it once, hooked for life! (by ctovar)

ctovar — Sat, 07 May 2005 09:00:00 GMT

This is the best restaurant in town! Although it is located in Hollywood and full of celebrities and Hollywood types, it always stays true to its authentic Mexican theme. Their live music and flaming margaritas are excellent, and the romantically dim ambience makes you feel as famous as the person sitting next to you. For those of you who are turned off by the long weekend wait, call ahead for reservations! They just opened a new location in Los Angeles.

5 Stars: Best Margaritas and atmosphere (by lbennett)

lbennett — Tue, 03 May 2005 09:00:00 GMT

I go to this place everytime I visit LA (which is very often). Good with a big group or with a few close friends. Margaritas are a must! I love the booth in the back dark corner. The service is slow and the wait is often long (this may be because we always go on a Friday or Saturday night), but it is well worth it!!

5 Stars: TRUE TEX-MEX (by mulready)

mulready — Mon, 16 Feb 2004 09:00:00 GMT

In 12 years in LA, I've eaten at Compadre's over 150 times! (I even bought an apron off one of the waiter's once!). Best dishes: chicken with molé sauce, any of their enchiladas, and their fajitas! Their salsa is high on cilantro!

The waiters barely speak English which smacks of authenticity, plus they are workhorses! Some of the best service I've ever had in LA...very old-world style!

I've seen everyone from Lenny kravitz to Sherman Helmsley to Jim Brown there, plus lotsa green-haired punks and cops (especially in the afternoons).

It's great for romantic dinners, parties, mid-afternoon lunch---everything. I love it!

4 Stars: try it! (by monkeyluvin)

monkeyluvin — Tue, 04 Nov 2003 09:00:00 GMT

I thought the place was awesome. the food is good, the service was great, and the best part were the drinks!! they were reallllly great. its a great place to go if u want to get romantic cause they have live music on the weekends. and the best part is that you see celebs there. I have seen fred durst their twice already.

3 Stars: no go. (by sallyallenmat)

sallyallenmat — Sat, 23 Aug 2003 09:00:00 GMT

This place was over-rated and service was slow. Food was ok, better than El Cholo for sure, but not anything special

5 Stars: Atmosphere (by backbiter)

backbiter — Sat, 12 Jul 2003 09:00:00 GMT

The atmosphere and the drinks are definitely the draw here. Great place for a first date, birthday party, family outing. The food is predictable Mexican/American. Nothing wrong with that! Great shrimp dishes, spicy salsa, taquitos, refried beans, and guacamole. It can get very crowded at times.

4 Stars: Yummy margaritas! (by lsh1)

lsh1 — Thu, 05 Jun 2003 09:00:00 GMT

The food is very mediocre. i would suggest only going for the delish margaritas. I am a "margarita expert" and when they came out flaming and I tasted, YUMMY!

1 Stars: Really bad food. (by humara)

humara — Sun, 20 Apr 2003 09:00:00 GMT

The chips are the best thing here. Eat as many as you can. Normally I dont like to fill up on chips before I eat, but when my friends drag me to this place, that's the best thing to do. The salsa is quite a bit spicier than tomato sauce. But not as good. And its free too.
The food is similar to tv dinner style of "mexican" cooking. Taco Bell is probably more authentic. I've eaten at El Compadre several times and each time is as bad as I remember it. I really need to find new friends. And now for these award winning margaritas that people speak so highly about. I guess the "flaming" part blinds people to the fact that they're drinking cheap tequilla in a cheap mix. They're nothing special, but if you drink several of them you may not notice how bad the food is.

5 Stars: THIS PLACE ROCKS!! (by chainadoll)

chainadoll — Thu, 24 Oct 2002 09:00:00 GMT

I am absolutely addicted to the beef tacos done to perfection. I also always get the albondigas soup which is truly amazing, so much flavor. I had my birthday party here and everyone had a jolly good time. They also commented on how great the food was. The prices are also very to my liking.

5 Stars: Great atmosphere! (by sunflowers98)

sunflowers98 — Fri, 18 Oct 2002 09:00:00 GMT

I love this place! The margaritas are fabulous. Their salsa is amazing--very spicy! The place is very dark and the booths are covered by a spanish tile overhang that makes you feel like you are outside on a patio in Mexico. I admit the service can be slow, and I have had to flag down the waiters for water and more salsa almost every time I go, but I like the food,drink and the price!

1 Stars: I won't go back (by mizoka)

mizoka — Sat, 05 Oct 2002 09:00:00 GMT

I went there three times, the second adn third time to give them another chance, but they blew it. I will never go back. The dishes are not made fresh, they are microwaved. The inside of my tamales were fridge cold. That is unacceptable!! Eveything tastes the same. I had a chicken dish and it was made of a lot of canned stuff. I think even the chicken was from a Campbell's can. It was horrible. The flaming margaritas are indeed not a big deal. The live band always annoys me. The service is really bad. You have to wait a lot for your check. They don't pay attention and they don't care. I gave them the extra chance, but I left very dissatisfied, so I know that I will never go back.

5 Stars: Great food! Great service! (by vicdru)

vicdru — Thu, 26 Sep 2002 09:00:00 GMT

The Tortilla Soup was fantastic, the salsa is incredibly tastey and the service was definitely top rate! However, I don't see what the big deal is with the flaming margarita. It was good, but I don't think it's on a par with the "second coming....."

5 Stars: FLAMMING MARGARITAS (by redrum)

redrum — Mon, 26 Aug 2002 09:00:00 GMT

Best margarita I have ever had. I suggest on the rock with salt, they come with fire!

4 Stars: Best Margos in town (by sfeuer)

sfeuer — Fri, 23 Aug 2002 09:00:00 GMT

The "flaming" margaritas are the best I have had in LA. The food sucks, but the atmosphere is the best - they have during the weekends a trio of singers that will get you coming back for more.

4 Stars: Fire Drinks (by KOREN1)

KOREN1 — Thu, 27 Jun 2002 09:00:00 GMT

I love taking friends from out of town, there. I usually get the flamin strawberry margi. If you get there late, they'll put it in a plastic cup - it doesn't taste the same. The food is great and the dark automosphere with the live music has made me come back everytime I'm in & around Hollywood.

5 Stars: High on The cheap Eats List! (by gordo1976)

gordo1976 — Thu, 20 Jun 2002 09:00:00 GMT

El Compadre is great! Be careful walking in during the day,,,it is really dark but you adjust after some chips and a great margherita. The service can be a bit slow but not to the levels of inconvenience.
The dishes are all good, i have been there for lunch about 5 times and every visit has left me knowing that I will return. Try it.

4 Stars: Good food (by melisa)

melisa — Tue, 11 Jun 2002 09:00:00 GMT

Overall I enjoyed this restaruant. The bar area is super small and dark so don't try looking for someone in there! The food was good and the service was quick.

4 Stars: Best Margaritas in LA (by JohnnyUtah)

JohnnyUtah — Fri, 17 May 2002 09:00:00 GMT

By far the best margaritas in LA! Food is better than average, and thank God for the few parking spaces in the back. Great place to start your evening with a little Mexican food and a few margaritas before heading down the Strip. Has live music sometimes, but not sure of the schedule (call first). Fairly dark and private, so not a bad date place.