Sonoritas - DTLA — Restaurant in Los Angeles

Henry’s Take, Takes L.A.! Part 4

I must admit that having the benefit of traveling up here from San Diego didn’t prompt me to long for some good Mexican food during this visit. It’s not that I doubted that good places also exist here, it’s just that the San Diego region enjoys an embarrassment of riches when it comes to great Mexican food so I just wasn’t expecting to be uniquely impressed. Having said that, I found myself being truly inspired by Sonoritas - DTLA. Easily walking distance from Crypto Arena, L.A. Live, and the Microsoft Theater, you can enjoy those places AND this one wherever your adventures may take you.

It’s been years since I’ve enjoyed guacamole as good as this! Sure, the guac itself was light, fresh, and loaded with flavor (as it should be), but it was the addition of the pepita seeds (pumpkin) that shifted my world off its axis and onto a new and daring orbit. If you’re also a guac fan then you already know that each exemplary offering deserves a complimentary amigo and with the Tajin adorning their chips they certainly proved to be friends indeed.

After I had determined to sample their taco trio plate, a Review Team Member suggested that I adjust my thinking and sample one of their burritos because of their quality and presentation. I accepted that sage advice and called an audible at the line of scrimmage just prior to placing my order.

Although the menu didn’t state that my “Chicken Burrito” featured marinated chicken, there’s absolutely no way that it wasn’t. It was just too good to be anything less than that. Subscribe to the theory that “less is more?” Well that certainly applies here. No fancy name, no obscure ingredients. Just wholesome goodness that will cause this location to be permanently etched into your mind. No need to remember the GPS coordinates. Your taste buds will find their way back here for a return visit without any technological assistance.

Make no mistake about it, San Diego is still the King, but it’s comforting to learn that a neighboring fiefdom of similar quality exists.

And that’s…Henry’s...

Upon arrival, we were not greeted. That’s usually a sign. Once at our table we ordered drinks and food. We were not offered chips and salsa. When we asked for chips and salsa, they said they had to make more yet they were walking back-and-forth giving chips and salsa to other people. The food was absolutely awful bland with no flavor. The staff was running around, like chickens with their heads cut off. Not knowing what to do. We received our drinks after we finished our dinner. Our drinks were sitting on the counter, and we had to ask for them. Our drinks were sitting on the counter for over 10 minutes. We were finally brought the chips and salsa after we finished our food. We drove from Ventura county. This restaurant is definitely not worth the hype that you see. The food was served cold the fajitas were not even sizzling. The tacos were so cold that the tortillas were like biting into an eraser. The beans and rice have no flavor. The beans were hard.… they either were not cooked long enough or they’re old. The rice taste like it had been steamed over and over and over again. The rice taste like fast food rice that was left in a cup overnight. Apparently, my complaints are similar to many complaints. This restaurant I do not even want to give one star but I have to in order to leave a review. Management obviously does not check in on their staff or care about the rhythm of this restaurant. The only positive thing I have to say is that the drinks were absolutely delicious. Anyone that’s thinking about this restaurant save yourself the money. Go to the taco truck that’s parked on the corner on flower Street…. Then you will still have pocket money to do...

Absolutely horrible service tonight at Sonoritas!!! I am actually stunned by the poor customer service. First, upon arriving, I sat at the bar to order my food and was greeted by the bartender who asked me to “please sit at a table because he is swamp no and I would get faster service there.” This seemed odd to me but I obliged and proceeded to wave down a server to clean off a table for 1 person. Upon being seated, I waited almost 10 minutes before anyone even came to the table (and that was only after me waving down another server - who happened to be my own). The place did not appear incredibly busy so I was super confused as to the lack of attentiveness. I placed my order with my waitress and waited ALMOST AN HOUR for my food. Upon waving down my server again, she told me there was still an order ahead of mine but she had asked the cooks to “rush it” so it could come out. I decided to leave. COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE. I had only ordered water so the unusually long wait for my food was extremely frustrating. I typically order the Mar y Tierra bowl and as a regular customer of Sonoritas, I know for a fact that it NEVER takes that long - even during semi-busy hours. I am not sure why the service was especially bad tonight but it is beyond disappointing. If the dining experience for Sonoritas is declining to the point that bartending staff is not equipped to handle dinner hours at the bar and servers are not the least bit attentive to their guests, I would not recommend this place to anyone. And I would implore you to take your business to other restaurants in the area if the lack of customer service here is going to continue to be this egregious...