Multiple locationsSonora natives Alejandro Borquez and wife Rosa opened the first El Cholo in 1923, originally billing it as a “Spanish café.” These days, their grandson Ron Salisbury carries on family traditions at six outposts in LA and OC, where dependably delicious menu items—like the much-lauded Green Corn Tamales and Enchiladas Suiza—appear alongside their years of introduction. To this day, the restaurant’s committed to Rosa and Alejandro’s method of buying 60-pound cheese wheels and aging them for at least a year—ensuring the best-tasting, highly meltable cheese.How to book: Walk-ins accepted or call any location to make a reservation.

The city’s longest running Mexican restaurant just turned 100 years old—and while the cuisine may not exactly be cutting edge, the comforting mix of enchiladas, fajitas and other classic Mexican American fare is downright iconic. D<span>espite the “Spanish Cafe” part of its marquee, the menu here isn’t at all Iberian; that’s a holdover from the more racist times of yesteryear. </span>Visit the Western Avenue flagship to bask in the Mission Revival interiors and soak up some L.A.

El Cholo has locations all over LA, but the one you need to concern yourself with is the original in Koreatown. Established in 1923, this sprawling restaurant on Western Ave. feels like a miniature city, except instead of traffic and skyrocketing rent, there are giant enchilada combo platters, a friendly waitstaff and potent margaritas. They’ve been serving the classic El Cholo margarita since 1967 and it’s smoky, tart, and delicious.

Mexican-American restaurant model: black and white photographs tracing its history and significance, moody lighting from hanging lanterns, upholstered booths and heavy wooden furniture. While you could get a sprightly ceviche or a fish taco, this place earned its reputation in the mid-century on albondigas soup, tableside guacamole, chimichangas, and enchiladas, so keep your order old school and respect the soul of the operation.

The Hollywood sign isn’t the only Los Angeles establishment celebrating its 100th anniversary this year—El Cholo is also ringing its centennial this year too. Founded in 1923 by Alejandro and Rosa Borquez, El Cholo was one of the first Mexican restaurants in the city and is still family-owned.

Considered by many as the granddaddy of nachos, the historic El Cholo, which first opened in 1923, claims to have introduced Los Angeles to nachos back in 1959. The story goes that longtime waitress Carmen Rocha, who passed away in 2009, brought an old recipe for the now-ubiquitous dish from her hometown of San Antonio, Texas. "Carmen's Original Nachos (1959)" features tortilla chips doused with plenty of melted, shredded cheese, and topped with jalapeños and the optional—but encouraged—house salsa and sour cream.

Considered by many as the granddaddy of nachos, the historic El Cholo, which first opened in 1923, claims to have introduced Los Angeles to nachos back in 1959. The story goes that longtime waitress Carmen Rocha, who passed away in 2009, brought an old recipe for the now-ubiquitous dish from her hometown of San Antonio, Texas. “Carmen’s Original Nachos (1959)” features tortilla chips doused with plenty of melted, shredded cheese, and topped with jalapeños and the optional—but encouraged—house salsa and sour cream.

Billing itself as LA's very first Mexican restaurant, El Cholo was founded in 1923 as the Sonora Cafe. In 1925, a customer doodled a cartoon character he called "El Cholo," and the proprietors liked it so much that they changed the restaurant's name and adopted the doodle as its mascot. The little restaurant has grown from a one-room enchilada shop to something of a mini-empire in the last 99 years, with six locations in California and one slated to open in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Let’s talk Mexican food, but more specifically, let’s talk about the Mexican restaurant that’s been open since 1923. One of L.A.'s first Mexican restaurants, El Cholo, is rooted in rich history as it has been passed down through the generations all to end up where it is today, in the hands of Ron Salisburg. This menu has everything from house guacamole to handmade flour tortillas, and let’s not forget about the house favorite, green corn tamales.

— or in the country, frankly — would be complete without El Cholo. Opened in 1923 as the Sonora Cafe by Alejandro and Rosa Borquez, El Cholo became a favorite destination for sports stars, politicians and Hollywood types — you can get lost gazing at all the signed headshots on the walls. Try the signature green corn tamales, twin bricks of sweet, slightly cakey corn tamales with a pleasing chewiness from the addition of cheddar cheese.

Four years after Musso & Frank debuted, Alejandro and Rosa Boquez opened a little café they would eventually name El Cholo (a Mexican farmhand). By 1927 the place still had just eight stools, three booths and a stovetop; tamales cost 25 cents for two. But by the 1930s, when a former dishwasher turned cook named Joe Reina added many Mexican dishes to the menu, El Cholo came to typify the Mexican-American restaurant in Los Angeles.

I love dining at El Cholo and I make sure I visit this restaurant in my hometown every time I’m back for a visit. I prepare myself to gain at least three pounds because I’ll eat a ton of chips and salsa, order a two-item combination plate and order a margarita, of course. The classic El Cholo Margarita is always a hit, but so are all the others, so it makes it a little hard to decide on just one.

A Los Angeles institution since 1923, El Cholo is one of the city’s oldest Mexican restaurants. Located on Western Avenue, this family-run spot is famous for its classic enchiladas, tamales, and tableside guacamole. The restaurant’s vintage charm is complemented by a welcoming atmosphere, making it a great spot for family dinners or casual nights out.

El Cholo started in 1922, founded by Alejandro Borquez and his wife who has great skills in preparing outstanding meals. They started as a small cafe and in 1925, the name of “El Cholo” emerges from a guest who has dined in their cafe. In 1926, the daughter of Borquez met George Salisbury, they courted and apparently married at the right time.

A guest wanders in for dinner and while he is waiting for his dinner draws a figure of a man on the menu and calls him “EL CHOLO”. (In those days the name was given their field hands by the Spanish settlers in California). History is made when Alejandro likes the man and the name and immediately changes SONORA CAFE to EL CHOLO CAFE.

With locations in neighborhoods like Koreatown, Downtown and Santa Monica, El Cholo has been a classic destination for Mexican food in Los Angeles since they opened more than a century ago in 1923. They don’t list pricing for their Taco Tuesday specials, but it includes filet mignon, mahi mahi, and sirloin tacos al carbon.

Providing Los Angeles with the best tacos for the last 100 years, for real. Regarded as the birthplace of Mexican cuisine in the city, this restaurant takes you back in time with their black and white photos that showcase a piece of the city’s history. Dive into their Sonoran enchiladas, crowned with a golden fried egg.

With locations throughout Los Angeles, El Cholo is practically an institution in L.A. Serving terrific Mexican food in an authentic setting, rest assured that their margaritas are just as delicious as their food. In fact, there is a menu dedicated just for margaritas with a variety of options to choose from.

Since first opening their doors in 1923, El Cholo has operated as a family-owned business serving delicious Mexican food. On the adult's menu, you can find Enchiladas, Burritos, Tacos, Carne Asada, and much more. The kid's menu features Burrito, Taquitos, Cheese Enchilada, Taco, Nachos, and Chicken Nuggets.

They changed the name to El Cholo in 1925 after a patron drew a sketch of a man with those words while waiting for his food. By 1927 they opened the most famed location on Western Avenue and they now have six locations in total in California. What to order: The #1 enchilada combination.

Chiles rellenos are my benchmark for measuring the worth of a Mexican restaurant, and El Cholo’s plump, greaseless version is among the best I’ve had this side of the border. Since the original restaurant opened as the Sonora Cafe in 1923, it has served authentic Mexican food while…

El Cholo is another staple of LA’s Mexican food scene and recently celebrated 96 years of business. Stop by during happy hour and enjoy an order of Carmen’s Original Nachos for under $4. At a great price and even better taste, who can resist a cheese-pull like that?

The oldest surviving Mexican restaurant to have stayed located in the same location in Los Angeles. It was first opened on Broadway in downtown L.A. by Alejandro and Rosa Borquez in 1923 as the Sonora Cafe and the name was changed to El Cholo in 1925.

The one thing you can say about El Cholo is that they know their Mexican food. There aren't many restaurants in LA, let alone Mexican restaurants, that have stood the test of time since 1923. But, El Cholo is one of those.

- Rating: 4.0 / 5 (324 reviews)- Detailed ratings: Food (4.0/5), Service (4.0/5), Value (4.0/5), Atmosphere (4.0/5)- Price: $$ - $$$- Address: 1121 S Western Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90006-2314- Read more on Tripadvisor

It is described as being one of LA’s first Mexican restaurants. El Cholo has been in its current location since the early 1930s. Today there are six locations including the Original located on Western Avenue.

Have you ever wondered where the first U.S. burritos originated?. Well, legend has it that burritos were fashioned at El Cholo. El Cholo was founded in 1923 and has since expanded across California.

1121 S Western AveLos Angeles, CA 90006(323) 734-2773 Visit Website See Menu Open in Google Maps. El Cholo is a family-owned and operated restaurant, serving authentic Mexican cuisine since 1923.

Nachos were said to be invented at El Cholo, Los Angeles, and they're still made in the classic style; each item on the historic menu is notated with the date it was first added to the roster.