El Cholo — Restaurant in Newport Beach

El Cholo is a true gem in the world of Mexican cuisine, delivering an authentic and traditional dining experience that has stood the test of time since 1923. With multiple locations across Southern California and a newer outpost in Salt Lake City, El Cholo consistently serves up a menu rooted in family recipes from the Mexican state of Sonora. Dishes like the Sonora-style enchiladas, layered with corn tortillas, simmered chicken, salsa roja, salsa verde, and a fried egg, or (my favorite vegetarian) iconic green corn tamales, showcase the rich, authentic flavors that transport you straight to Mexico. Their commitment to fresh ingredients—think handmade tortillas, tableside guacamole, and sizzling fajitas with perfectly seasoned meats—elevates every bite. The warm, inviting atmosphere, paired with their famous margaritas and an impressive selection of over 150 tequilas at some locations, makes El Cholo a go-to for both casual meals and special occasions. From the historic Western Avenue location in Los Angeles to the newer spots like Corona Del Mar, every El Cholo delivers the same high-quality, authentic Mexican experience. Highly recommend for anyone craving a true...

Such a disappointment! We chose this location to host our rehearsal dinner because our family friend and owner of the restaurant, Ron, have been close friends for 50 years. Unfortunately, our event was a complete disaster. The onsite Manager, EDWIN, was deceptive, rude and out right disrespectful to our party adding, "If you don't like it, you can leave!" The food service reflected the the Manager's awful attitude. The servers and Manager loitered outside of our space instead of providing service to our guest. Our drinks were watered down from sitting and our food was cold and sloppy. When guest take time to bring these issues to your attention, they are giving you the opportunity to make it right. The way you respond will have a decisive impact on the outcome. If you are looking to host an event at this location, I would strongly advise you to choose...

This is not our first bad experience, but one that will make us not come back. My mom and I were going for lunch today. We were not communicated with that it's taking the kitchen over 30-45 minutes to get our orders. We waited, but after 40 minutes of no food, we wanted to just leave. Unfortunately, the waiter had our credit card and charged us for the food we didn't want at that point. I asked her just to charge the one drink we ordered (this is before she ran the card) since we hadn't received food but ended up getting our food in to go bags and being charged for the food we asked to remove from our bill. It wasted the only time we had. Extremely bad service has been ongoing here for a few visits, but this one was the worst service I've received in a restaurant. Will not be coming back and will ensure others know not to dine here. Very...