Fiesta Martins Van Ness — Restaurant in Inglewood

Taco Tuesday at Fiesta Martin Mexican Grill has been open at this location for a few months. Traveling down this street for over 30 plus years and watching all the Black owners are now no longer here. Every Tuesday since the creation of ‘Taco Tuesday’ we decided to check this location. Parking was not easy upon arrival street parking was full no handicap spaces on VanNess Ave had to circle the block then someone was departing front door space. Easy entry for cane walkers and wheelchair slight jump butt acccessible. At the host desk for checking table for 2. There is a bar with stools for the ‘happy hour patrons. An enclosed patio with a greenish leaves covering We were escorted to the back of the restaurant with a direct view of the kitchen entrance views of plastic bags full of chips to munch on with the salas. Noticed that we were seated among only 21 - 30 year olds young people a flat screen television showing a baseball game that group was celebrating birthday normal chatting nothing unusual. As we were coming into the door 4 Spanish lady greeted us smiles and hellos. We ordered our drinks and chips and salsa was placed on the table Our waiter was friendly very courteous. The arrival was hot and looked very good we were seated in the rear of the building only view was the television; and a green wall of grass or whatever that decor was. The bill was electronically printed out and presented to us. I started to hand him my credit/ATM cards but changed my mind and handed him a single bill for 2 dinners 1 tea 1 special non-alcoholic beverage and 1 tea the waiter return with my cash but no change of 7 cents. A cash tip of over 10% of the actual bill. When I questioned Our waiter where was my change he patted himself down then waved his hands into the air I don’t have it. To me that’s theft I wanted my change to be correct. The waiter really wasn’t alarmed nor was he understood what was happening. I said get me my 7 cents now, the hostess came over and asked what’s wrong I explained that I paid my bill and he didn’t give my my change which was on the dital printed paper, she reached into her apron pocket and handed me a quarter 25 cents. This is a red flag for me as a paying customer. We will not return to Fiesta Martin Mexican restaurant on VanNess Ave That’s my truth the food for my sister was also to salty when asked for the manager...

I can't say I had the greatest experience here...

Lets start with the venue. Good amount of seating, but parking is a bit challenging. The vibe is definitely that of a Fiesta, fairly loud with a good amount of people celebrating something. Shots and drinks everywhere.

The food was actually good, however my mate and I thought service was lacking. We weren't all that hungry, but did want to grab a bite to eat, so we were debating between sharing an appetizer and a smaller entree or just getting a really big entree. We felt like the staff were pushy and tried to up sell everything...drinks, "Guacamole for the table" etc. Um...we weren't famished. I ordered CEVICHE PICANTE TOSTADA, which is a smaller appetizer, but instead our waiter brought me the TOSTADA MIXTA instead, which was more than twice the price and size of the dish I wanted...

#FiestaMishaps: ~ Chips & Salsa - 3/5 Complimentary Chips & Salsa. Nothing special, but definitely edible.

~ TOUR OF MEXICO - 3.5/5 Good value: you get a plate of 10 Street Tacos which you can mix and match. We got 2 Al Pastor 2 Carnitas, 2 Chicken and 4 Carne Asada Tacos. The tacos were good, some of them didn't hold up or stay intact..they fell apart and we had to eat them with a fork.

~ TOSTADA MIXTA - 4/5 A pile of heaping Fresh Seafood flanked by a pair of crackers (still wrapped in plastic) and two cucumbers dipped in spices...Tajín I presume. I could do without the large sticks of Imitation Crab...no longer a fan, after learning how Imitation Crab is made.

I'm not one to send dishes back to the kitchen, so here I was stuck with good amount of seafood that I didn't have an appetite for...

Then came the wait... I asked a waiter for a container to pack up the rest of the ceviche, he said okay but never brought it. I waited about 10 minutes until I flagged down the young lad that's the busboy, and he got me a container within 10 seconds... SMH. Then I had to flag the waiter down for the bill. Also forgot to mention, he never checked up us if we needed anything after he took our order.

Not a fan of the...

Welcome to the highly anticipated Fiesta Martin Restaurant, which officially opened today, March 3, 2025, in the revitalized Inglewood area. The restaurant embodies an authentic Fiesta spirit, featuring bright, well-lit, Spanish-inspired decor. With a lively Mexican sports bar atmosphere and wide flat-screen monitors, it offers a vibrant setting for guests.

Update: On March 4, 2025, I took my sons to Fiesta Martin around 4:30 PM. We chose a booth in the back near the restrooms. We requested hot water but received three cups of ice water instead. After receiving a bowl of chips and salsa, we demolished them while waiting over 15 minutes for our server to return. Eventually, we had to flag down someone to take our orders. We placed our orders and requested another bowl of chips and salsa, which we were told would be coming, but our food arrived before the chips did. The food was delicious—definitely deserving of five stars. However, the service was below average. When we asked for the check, it arrived with lightning speed.

Fiesta Martin also features outdoor seating and ample parking. The restaurant continues its reputation for high-quality, flavorful, and authentic Mexican cuisine at reasonable prices. The staff's joyful service adds to the overall experience. They also serve a fantastic Jamaica drink. Be sure to stop by and welcome Fiesta Martin; don’t forget to mention that your neighbor,...