Café Tondo — Restaurant in Los Angeles

If you live in LA or plan a visit you absolutely must go to Cafè Tondo! We were in town visiting family for a long weekend and went for dinner and breakfast! Start your day with breakfast and make sure you order the chilaquiles!! They are the best ones I have ever had - even when in Mexico! The eggs were the right amount of runny and firm and the green salsa verde was excellent. Be sure to get a Latte and some pastry! We also loved the pancakes and Carmel sauce!! We went for dinner on a Sunday night for some live jazz and it did not disappoint! The vibe outside with the jazz playing made for a great August night. From the moment we were greeted at the door to the moment we paid our bill, the staff was excellent and made me feel like they were family! We tried the Gilda’s and chips to start the evening along with the Chelada! I was blown away by the refreshing drink for a warm evening! The salsa and chips and the Gildas were nice light start! We then ordered both Empanadas and I have to say I have been craving the cheese Empanadas ever since! Plan to order two of those - they are addicting! We includes an order of the Milanese and Steak Frites! The Milanese was crunchy on the outside and tender on the inside! The arugula salad on the side was an excellent pairing! I can’t say enough good things about the Steak Frites!! I am not a big steak gal, but this plate had me at the first tender bite! It literally melted in my mouth and was prepared to perfection! And as for the frites..I mean who doesn’t love a crispy fry that is done to perfection? For dessert we had the affogato and it was the fairy tale ending to an exceptional dinner! You must order that! Everything from the decor to the food was well thought out, had personal touches to the building’s past and literally looks amazingly warm in the morning and seductive and inviting at night! The seating inside was comfortable and made me feel like I was at a friends...

I had been looking forward to visiting Café Tondo in Chinatown, mainly drawn in by the imagery and the promise of Mexico City inspiration. And the inspiration is there. The space has a vibe. Unfortunately, the staff killed it.

I arrived around 9 AM on a Saturday. Parking was manageable, but walking in was awkward. There’s no clear signage or greeting, so you’re left guessing where to go order. Naturally, I went up to the bar, but the three staff members had their backs turned. One briefly said, “be right there,” and then all three walked away and never came back. After waiting five to ten minutes, I finally noticed another staff member near a digital screen and asked if I ordered there. His response: “Yeah.”

I ordered café de olla, pan de elote, and chilaquiles. Instead of letting me finish my order, he rushed to give me the total, making it feel transactional rather than welcoming.

The food didn’t redeem the experience. • Chilaquiles: stale chips, bland green sauce with no kick, and a sad-looking egg. • Pan de elote: moist and reasonably priced, but the exterior lacked the crust that makes it satisfying. • Café de olla: tasted burnt, certainly not authentic café de olla.

Overall, the food tasted like it was made by people who don’t have a connection to the culture they’re pulling from. The flavors were flat, the execution uninspired, and the experience left me with the impression that the aesthetic and decor were borrowed, not lived.

Café Tondo markets itself as being inspired by Mexico City, but it feels more like appropriation than homage. If you’re going to represent a culture, the flavors need to honor it too.

Maybe the nighttime scene is better, but after experiencing inattentive service and disappointing food in the morning, I don’t feel confident returning...

I visited this place for the first time, excited to not only try the food but also experience the space and atmosphere. When we arrived, the bartender was engaged in conversation with a friend, offering little attention to us until her friend left. While she was friendly, I found it odd that she prioritized chatting with her friend over attending to new customers waiting to order.

I decided to try their bean and cheese burrito and was honestly disappointed. At $9 for just the burrito, and an additional $3 for meat, I expected more. The burrito was notably smaller than a typical size. It was more like a skinny, room-temperature wrap. The flavor was bland, and the only redeeming factor was the salsa. The beans were room-temp, there was hardly any cheese, and the small amount of meat was barely warm. For the price, the quality didn’t add up.

While I’m sure other menu items might be better, I’d have concerns about the overall consistency. If the food isn’t being served hot and fresh, it raises questions about the preparation of other dishes.

The prices are too high for the small portions and limited selection of dishes available.

On a positive note, the space and overall ambiance were lovely. The attention to detail in curating the environment was great, and the staff were friendly.

Overall, if you’re going for the drinks or for strictly vibes, you might have a good time. But if you’re in the mood for satisfying food, I’d recommend...