El Cholo is a go-to restaurant for firsts. It was here that nachos were invented. Yes, I know what you are saying: “Doesn’t every Mexican restaurant stake their claim on the nachos and margaritas?†Well, here it happens to be true.
In 1959, staff member Carmen Rocha joined the El Cholo team and brought with her, from her hometown in San Antonio, the dish she named “nachos.†They also have a claim to margaritas. Not the actual invention of, but the world’s largest user of Cuervo 1800 Tequila, so they say.
The restaurant set down roots as far back as 1922 but it has been at its present location in an old California bungalow since 1932, when it was frequented by the likes of Gary Cooper, Harold Lloyd, Bing Crosby and Loretta Young. Today El Choloserves adiverse crowd such as Jack Nicholson, Warren Beatty, Madonna, and Tom Hanks. Last night they served little old me.
Open the front doors and you are in for a surprise. What looks to be a small restaurant from the outside, from the inside, seems to stretch into eternity when I passed room after room to be seated in one of the booths. The seating around the bar was jammed to the rafters. One might expect tackiness from a restaurant which makes claims to food inventions but I found the interior and atmosphere to be more family style and olde world than modern. I loved the black and white photographs of old Hollywood and Mexico which filled the walls and I loved the quick and friendly service.
I ordered Carmon’s Original Nachos, dated 1959. All the dishes have a date of introduction to the restaurant. I also ordered the El Choro Margarita -with no date. The cheese on the nachos could have had a bit more bite to it and so could the Margarita. But for my main course I ordered the Burrito Dorado (1977). This was actually delicious. Huge chunks of meat –chilli con carne, beans, rice, covered with aged cheddar cheese and served with tomato sauce, sour cream, and guacamole. Priced at $10.75, it’s not the cheapest burrito around town but it sure is the best home style Mexican restaurant to eat it in.
I felt at home with the pictures on the wall, the bright colors, and flowery carpet. I recommend El Cholo to any friend or family member who is visiting Los Angeles. Whey you run out of conversation you can always refer to the history of nachos and margaritas, printed on the back of the menus.I dined at the original El Cholo in Los Angeles but there are also restaurants in Santa Monica, La Habra, and Irvine.
Opening Hours:
M-Sat: 11.00am – 10.00pm.
Sun: 11.00am -9.00pm.
Sunday Brunch served from 10.00am – 1.00pm.
El Cholo
1121 S Western Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90006
(323) 734-2773
Photo by debaird
1 response so far ↓
1 Erika // Aug 18, 2008 at 11:15 pm
“I ordered Carmon’s Original Nachos, dated 1959. All the dishes have a date of introduction to the restaurant. I also ordered the El Choro Margarita -with no date”
Someone needs to edit this…El Choro translates into “diarrhea”
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