JC Fandango

So I see there’s some hating going on for this little cave. To be honest, what the other reviewers say is true. The place is small, it can have a bit of a stench some times, it’s super hot inside, crowded, overpriced drinks if you can make it to the bar and get the bartenders attention.
But, I have also been witness to some of the best concerts EVER. I got to see, among others, Manu Chao, Enrique Bunbury (twice), Maldita Vecindad (twice), Café Tacuba, and a slew of others. I can put up with heat for a while and a bunch of people stepping on me if the concert is worth and this place is small enough to make it worth it.
PS I will never forget the crowd screaming CULERO at the top of their lungs while Rocco from Maldita took his hat off in acknowledgment of their blessing.

It’s overpriced and the music is awful. I went on a Saturday night, maybe it was the off night, but at $ 20 for cover, it’s unlikely that it is ever worth it. The drinks are overpriced and watered down. My suggestion is save your money, not worth it at all.

I will never go back to this place again. First of all, the cover charge is excessive for what you are getting. You can choose to eat at the restaurant to avoid this fee which we did. However, the food selections are limited, pricey and the food is nothing to rave about. The service was slow and not very attentive and this is with only a 10% capacity! And for good reason. The drinks are water downed and overpriced. The new location is spacious and pretty but if I wanted to admire a pretty building Id go to an art museum.

I go there for the Latin dances — Salsa, Cumbia, Merengue, Bachata… etc. People that go there for reggaeton/​hip hop/​rock en espanol may have different experience.
I went to JC Fandango again recently. The crowd is better. The song selections are so-​so. Looks like they got their act together, so it is more fun, but the people that run the place are still less-​than-​desirable.
The valet used to lie to you about parking, but I didn’t see them out there, so maybe they’re not around anymore. Basically you CAN park at the hotel park lot. Unless the hotel has some sort of event going on, if you wait till after midnight, the parking people leave and you won’t have to pay. Someone told me JC Fandango will validate parking now, but I don’t know if that’s true.
When they have a «guest list», you were supposed to get in for free, but this is what they do:
1) They set the clock fast. So if they say get in 10:30 for free, make sure you’re there before.
2) Around the «cut off» time, they hold up the line to make you miss their alternate reality clock.
3) Sometimes they will «accidentally» forget to put you on their guest list. Even if you show them proof (my friend printed out the email because apparently this isn’t uncommon), they’ll charge you anyway.
4) Even after you get through all that, they will stare at you like you’re a cheap bastard before finally letting you in.
I haven’t seen this happen for salsa, because salsa people tend to be dance nerds — they just go to dance. So bouncers are really not necessary. But for their other nights, the bouncers are aggressive and would pick fights with the customers.
Good place for salsa, since there isn’t a lot on Friday nights in the OC, the people that go are pretty cool, but unfortunately I don’t have anything good to say about the people that work there.

geeze, there is such a trend in over rated LA hot spots
I saw a band here about 4 or 5 years ago, the venue sucks acoustically, the house speakers are a piece of crap and this place is literally located in a strip mall ?
I got crushed because they obviously sold tickets above it’s capacity, total fire hazard

This place rocks for live music and dancing. The drinks suck though. There is a large dance floor with live Latin American music and another dance floor in the second room with a more modern flare. I personally like the salsa music. Don’t come alone, most people have partners already. They also have classes on Fridays. Make sure you plan ahead, some times they have concerts instead of regular club nights. I got to see JD Natasha live (great singer btw). There is usually a $ 15 – 20 cover charge… pretty pricey for not being in L.A. Come early because parking sucks. Check out their website at