El Colmao — Restaurant in Los Angeles

Where is the passion, the flavor? I feel like this place has lost its touch. My first time here i ordered the paella. It took over 30min to prepare, but it was worth it. I'm cuban so I know what the food should taste like. I came back for lunch and decided to order the Bistec Empanizado con platanos maduros y moros y Cristianos.

Let's start with the beans. They tasted like they came from a can and we're heated up. No flavor was developed at all. you should pay special attention to black beans let them simmer. They should be infused with the taste of bell pepper, garlin, cumin, oregano, onion. Geez come on guys!

The white rice was cooked fine, but it's difficult to mess that up.

The breaded steak tasted bland. It was underseasoned.

The plantains were soft and sweet, but we're plated poorly, all stuck together with burnt pieces that should've never left the kitchen let alone arrive at my table.

The only thing I enjoyed was the espresso, and the music which is why they get two...

Wife and I had some business in downtown Los Angeles, called an old friend to have lunch, he recommended this great family restaurant. Not gonna lie the area interesting, but what I will say it was so worth it. The food was amazing we or they ordered for us 5 different dishes and there was not one that didn't have your mouth watering for more. I had the deep fried snapped deep fried and served over veggies. Wife had a breaded steak, also ordered was a fried rice so tasty, deep fried breaded chicken in garlic, a breaded chicken. They called it a salad, but it was onions tomato and avocado drenched in vinegar pepper and lemons juice, fresh lemons provided. The service was excellent. Bring your bottle of wine to dine with. Yes we will be back...

El Colmao is Cuban food like your mother would make it. That is, if she were Cuban and a really good cook. It's been in its tucked away, middle of nowhere lower Koreatown Pico and Vermont location for decades, serving solid, dependable, tasty Cuban cuisine. Its friendly and clean, and there are some dishes served not beaten anywhere outside of Havana (or MIami, more likely, where there are more great Cuban cooks). (I'm from Miami, and I've been to Havana, so I have as much right to make that statement as anyone.)) It's a pity that there is no traditional lechon, but the pollo El Colmao and oxtail are without peer, as are the traditional staples: beans, rice, avocado and onion salad, picadillo, and... Coffee. The...