Barrio — Restaurant in East Los Angeles

Let's just say... I most definitely will be coming back.

Went out this past Friday night to kick off my birthday weekend with best friend after expressing to her that I was in the mood for Italian. I originally wanted to go to the San Antonio Winery but they close at 6pm. 6pm?! On a Friday night? Whatevs. Still in mood for Italian, I did a quick Google search and found this place only 10 minutes away from the Winery.

A short drive later, my best friend and I found a row of small and initimate stores and among them Barrio. There was parking across the street, free, which is always nice. The restaurant looked especially cute from the outside and was just as pleasant when we entered. There were a few tables reserved for other guests so we sat the bar and had an appetitizer and drinks until a table opened up. Very cozy set up but seemed to be very bustling as well. Parties as large as 6 to even a solo diner made up the atmosphere.

We started off with two appetitizers, a non-alcoholic beverage (they don't have their liquor license yet) and the stars of the show...Vodka Rigatoni with Shrimp (best friend) and the Panchetta Mushroom Carbonera (me). De-lish! Each of ours orders were an healthy serving prompting us to take a to-go box home. The waitress, Debra, super attentive and helpful. Just...everything was enjoyable. ...

Had been trying to make it out here for months but it was a bit of a trek from the westside... finally did it yesterday. In short - totally worth it.

Food first: The Pasta Al Limone was delicious. Creamy and lemon forward sauce generously portioned over house cut noodles. Recommend.

The Vodka Rigatoni was a standout as well. Could really taste the parmesan after each bite. Again, house made rigatoni. Probably my favorite part of the meal.

The Guanciale was also great. They mentioned the boar is slow cooked for 14 hours and the texture proves it.

Beyond just the food, Barrio is a great place for a meal. Really feels like a neighborhood anchor in City Terrace, and the owner Carlos is a great and friendly host. He helped walk us through the menu - it is clear he intentionally sources ingredients locally. We ended up chatting for a while about his story, the neighborhood, and more.

In summary, Barrio is an awesome spot, affordably priced, great atmosphere, and has the sort of "if you know, you know" feeling that will...

My wife and I celebrated our 22nd wedding anniversary at Barrio in City Terrace last night, and it was nothing short of amazing! From the moment we walked in, the atmosphere was warm and inviting, setting the perfect mood for a special evening.

The food was absolutely incredible—each dish was crafted with care, full of rich flavors, and beautifully presented. Every bite was a delight, and you could truly taste the passion behind the cooking.

The service was outstanding—attentive, friendly, and made us feel like valued guests. The staff went above and beyond to ensure we had a memorable experience.

We will definitely be back and highly recommend Barrio to anyone looking for top-notch Italian cuisine in a cozy, welcoming setting. Thank you for making our...