Guelaguetza Restaurante

My first time here, it was an overall good experience. I came at a good time around 6:30 and there was ample parking and seating available. This night there was a band performing music in Spanish and who were absolutely awesome.
The food took longer than it should have been, but it was delicious! Definitely order an horchata it’s so delicious here. This restaurant would have been a 5 but the service was a bit too slow for the price.
Valet is 3.50 which is absurdly cheap considering its Ktown.

Amazing Mole. Great Drinks. Fun Atmosphere and Music. Olé!

Lets start off with the wait. If there is a wait, most likely I’m compelled to try it out. My friends recommended this place during my visit and I can see why. The wait was longer than estimated, but it wasn’t too bad. Took that time to navigate around the menu.
This is definitely not a place you would take a date. The live music is so loud that my friend and I ended up shouting at each other and concluded that it wouldn’t be a very vocal dinner since we could barely hear each other then. She had mentioned that she’d resorted to texting the person she came with last time because they absolutely could not hear each other.

I get lamb cravings if I go too long in between Guelaguetza visits.
Great place to bring out of town visitors.
Typical for K-​town, parking is a nightmare. And reservations are difficult. But if you can find a spot to park, and a spot at the bar, you’re good.
Food is authentic and awesome. Have never had a problem with service. Fun atmosphere.
My recommendations: Quesillo Fundido (melted Oaxacan white cheese), Barbacoa de Borrego (lamb in a red mole), and Guelaguetza (desert sampler).

While visiting my sons in LA, i had gone armed with a list of «must do/​must go». This was not on that list. My son, however was insistent that we come here for dinner.
He had been often and declared that they had the best mole in the country. While i am not sure how he would know this — and i am not a fan of mole — we went.
My sons split a large order of (4) different mole’s and i had something from the chef special side of the menu — with grilled meat.
My sons were very happy with the dinner and i too thought that ti was good, the service was impeccable, the live music was entertaining and what i enjoyed most is that it seems to have attracted mostly locals. It’s like when you walk into a Chinese restaurant and it is filled with Chinese — you know you are where you should be. And that was what i experienced here.
My son explained that Jonathan Gold rated this in the top 101 of LA, and it was actually his top Oaxaca, and in his words — «the best place to get your mole on».
My favorite thing? The horchata! Where has this been my entire life? This was the best thing i have ever drank!

La peor comida sin sabor … y alto costo para su sabor sin sal y sin condimentos. un arroz crudo y mal cocinado

This place is simply the best mexican food. I ordered pollo mole which as exquisit and the best mole ive tried in a while. I also had micheladas (beer with spices) and it was so good! There is live music on the weekend which gets to be fun and its the perfect place for a family lunch! There is normally a line outside but its just because of the lack of waiting room inside and also it moves pretty fast.

I never write Unilocal reviews, but I was compelled to do so due to false advertising. The website and the menu say «bottomless Michelada brunch 9am-​2pm.» 1. It’s customary that brunch includes breakfast and lunch menu items, we were told that they do not serve breakfast after 12, and their regular menu was our only option for ordering. 2. We were told that the bottomless Michelada was only until 1pm, though their menus and website states 2pm. When we tried to order them, at 12:25pm the waiter had to check to see if we would still be able to order them. So don’t waste your time coming here after 12pm.
Parking and Valet is a nightmare. The valet attendance seemed careless with the vehicles and were driving like they were participants in a game of GTA, but you don’t have a choice to park elsewhere given the area so just hope they don’t wreck your car!

This place is the bomb! Food is amazing and 100% authentic Mexican. We waited about 75 minutes on a saturday night in June… I would say not bad for busy graduation season.
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So please Don’t let the crowd of people waiting outside the restaurant dissuade you from sticking around, you will not regret it. Once inside, all goes smooth and quick. If I could give ALL of the dedicated staff members who I encountered a 10, I would. They were all attentive and friendly. We ordered the chile rellenos, pollo enchipotlado, caldo de mariscos, enchiladas de mole rojo de queso, cocktail de camaron, our kids had the quesadillas, which came with sopa de fidello and fries, and another kids order of black bean tostadas with cheese, sopa and fries…
Everything was amazingly tasty, even the sopa de fidello was delicious. Oh wait did I mention the drinks? The Horchata… ummm so good oh and the mojito… was perfect!
The prices are reasonable considering the explosions of flavors we experienced with ever bite, sip and taste… oh and again the proud individuals who are employed here deserve the best tips as they made sure we were fully satisfied.
Thank you for making my nieces graduation celebration more memorable! We will be back for many more tasty, fun filled celebrations.

Came here for lunch on a weekday so it wasn’t busy and no music. Ordered the Champurrado and Verde mole with chicken thighs. Good amount of food. Everything taste great. Complimentary chips with mole and cheese– super delicious (i usually don’t eat chips). I took the train so I didn’t have to worry about parking. But certainly there wasn’t any street parking so you got to do valet.

Visited this place 6÷3÷16 with the hubby. We really enjoyed the food. Hubby and I shared the Mole Negro, oaxacan black mole served over chicken was so delicious! We also ordered an appetizer of the Molotes, fried corn dough stuffed with potatoes and chorizo served with the creamiest, tastiest guacamole. Flavor was so good! I’d love to go back and try more.
Valet was $ 3.50 which isn’t bad for parking in LA.
Live music makes the dining experience more enjoyable. At least for me. Loved this place!

Muy buena comida y bebidas esperamos 1 hora para ser atendidos pero es entendible era domingo la chica que nos llevó asta la mesa muy amable también pero el que fue nuestro mesero fue el que arruinó todo no nos tomó la orden rápido era muy irrespetuoso ya cuando trajeron la comida tardo mucho en regresar a ver si necesitábamos algo más y cuando al fin regreso le pregunto a mi esposo «otra cerveza wey» ni siquiera lo conozco para que hable así ok ignoramos ese comentario y yo pedí una mangoneada antes de acabar la comida y no me la trajo asta después de 15 min ya que estábamos listos para irnos.
Si regresaré al lugar pero para la próxima pediré que no me pongan en la mesa que atiende el joven

Okay so when I first moved to bright and sunny Southern California (from the cold and often unexpected downpours of New York City) my friends asked ‘Jen! what’s the absolute very first thing you want to do more than anything else in this moment?!“
I knew exactly what I wanted — Authentic Mexican!!! So from there we searched for a few spots looking for a menu with a nice variety… It is impossible to get my friends to share anything because ones on a strict diet, ones vegan, another is training for a swimsuit competition.
To my surprise, but only from having had so many delicious Mexican dishes from all over, especially in Mexico, the food was so spot on. Didn’t miss a flavor, the portion put a big old grin on my face and I can only repeat over and over how lucky I feel to have come across this restaurants.
…lets put it this way: I try (very hard) to go dine in/​order take out from here less than 4 times a week.
Ya can’t put a price on food made with perfection

This place is worth trying if you are in the area. The meat sampler was very good! Their chorizo was amazing. Black beans and rice full of flavor. They give you chips with mole which was good. Had to try the crickets. In my opinion crickets had sour taste and there legs got stuck in between my teeth. They do not have a nutty taste as described on internet. Also ordered mole sampler. Mole good but not something I crave. Their tamales very moist with banana leaf flavor. They have live music after 7pm which I missed but would have enjoyed while eating. Their cheeses soooooo good. Overall great place, if in the area I would return.

Came here for my brother’s Birthday and really enjoyed the food & drinks. I will definitely come back!!!

It’s ambiance, the people and the food.
Place: has been well maintained, it might need just a bit up keep. Overall the motive is good works, the restaurant is nestle in outskirts of koreatown.
Cust. Serv: from the valet parking, the hostess, to the bar tender and the waiter, the service was excellent. The valet told us the wait time, the bartender was surprisingly attentive breaking the customary unstoppable call and hand gestures to get a couple of drinks. Our waiter was attentive, courteous and prompt.
Food: chips with mole topped with cheese, queso fundido, choriso and champiños. Tlayudas, giant tortilla w/​black bean spread, top with oaxacan cheese and anything else your hearr desires (chorizo, cecina, etc.), kick it up a notch salsa verde (for the spicy challenged the salsa isn’t spicy at all, I should know, I am one of you) it brings all this flavors to another level. Great I say… Toss in a couple of mix drinks or the old Don Julio 1942 and you can call a night.
The bar is small with plenty of tequila and mezcal, the bartenders are prompt and friendly, a plus. The down side, there’s only one small tv, but then again is a family restaurant and the giant screen is in the main dinning room

What a great place to celebrate just about anything. If it’s your birthday or any special occassion, this would be a very fun place for a group outing. I’m sure they take reservations for big groups.
Me, on the otherhand walked in on a Friday night with a friend with no reservations. We got lucky, I think we waited about 30 minutes at the bar… but we got to enjoy a delicious margarita over great conversation. When I was done with my drink, the bartender gave me a small sample of a fruity cocktail that I will definitely order next time. Great bar!
Side note: they gave us free chips with some sort of sauce (maybe mole. but it wasn’t too sweet). Whatever the case, it was addicting and I couldn’t stop eating it.
Once seated for dinner, we opted to share an appetizer and an entrée. The appetizer was Molotes (stuffed potato balls) and for our meal we had the Especial de Carne plate which could easily be shared by several people. Everything was tasty and even the beans/​rice were awesome.
Don’t let the website address fool you. I think mole is a specialty for Oaxacan region, so if you are a fan, awesome! But if you are like me and not so fond of the sweet mole flavor, fear not! The dishes I ate had no mole sauce on it.
Service was just right… they left us alone but was around so that we can flag them down. This was important because there was live music going on and the last thing I want is unnecessary interruptions. The live music seemed to be a lot of american cover songs sung in spanish, it was so much fun to listen to. One song they sang/​translated was Pearl Jams Last Kiss… it sounded amazing in spanish. The energy was so great I’m really looking forward to going back. I honestly can’t believe I’ve never been there.
A second side note, there is artwork on the side of the building where you can take a picture with angel wings… I know there are a few places around LA you can do this at, but ktown has their own angel-​picture taking spot.

I started with their atole. Amazing. It is not sweet at all, so if you are expecting something sweet you might want to try their sweet version. I also had the salsa verde plate and I have to say that it was on point! highly recommend this plate.

We had to wait a while before the server took our order. Seemed low on staff. Food was excellent and reasonably priced.

Review in #Haiku:
Local landmark here
Caldo Pollo is da bomb
Interior meh…

YESSSSSSSSSSS
MOLE!!!
So so fun.
Crowded, so come early.
$ 2.50 valet parking.
Margaritas are sub par… But MOLE!!!
Guacamole is good too!
Oh and live band.

My friends and I came here after seeing it on the famous Jonathan Gold’s list of the top 101 restaurants in LA. We had never had mole before and were super excited to give it a try.
Upon entry, the place has major cool vibes. There was a live band giving it an extremely authentic feel.
They bring you free chips and red mole right away — pretty cool but at this point, I think we all realized we prefer salsa over mole.
As a group, we ordered the fried grasshoppers as an appetizer, horchata, and a few different enchiladas with mole.
Most of the group wasn’t eating the grasshoppers, but they were very well seasoned and perfectly crispy. It’s mind over matter on this one. Very well prepared. ⁵⁄₅ for the grasshoppers.
I’d also give the horchata a ⁵⁄₅. The best I’ve ever had actually.
Now for the most important part of the meal… the entrée… the enchiladas with mole. Out of the group of 6 people, nobody was a fan of these. I don’t think it was a problem with Guelaguetza’s mole specifically, the group just wasn’t into mole in general. It’s just to sweet and rich to have it smothered all over your entire entrée in my opinion. It’s unfortunate, and I wish this wasn’t the case, but it is what it is.
Overall, this was a good experience and I’m glad I tried it but I probably won’t be coming back.

It’s a spacious place with live music on the weekends. The food and prices were good, but the service was EXCEPTIONAL! We had a big party and the service was great!
1. The table reservation was on time
2. Our server was great accommodating in taking food orders as ge party arrived
3. All the food came out at once
4. Took a bday cake for the celebration and they were nice about bringing out plates to serve

La Guelaguetza easily makes it into my top 5 restaurants in LA. The food is incredibly authentic and the atmosphere at night is always buzzing with excitement for the wonders to come.
Molotes — Must have appetizer. Basically fried dough stuffed with chorizo and potato paired with a spicy guacamole. Incredible – just try not to get too full for the main event!
Tlayuda Guelaguetza — The real star. A pizza-​sized crisp tortilla topped with their famous black mole, three different meats and Oaxacan cheese (aka long stringy pieces of heaven).

Nicuatole — Jello-​like dessert made from ground maize with a hint of cinnamon. It’s super simple, but oddly addictive. I take one home every time I stop by here.
Margaritas — Can’t go wrong here – both the tequila and mescal-​based cocktails are amazing!
Horchata — Best I’ve ever had. Traditional flavors but topped with fresh melon and nuts.
Basically when it comes to La Guelaguetza, I’m that girl. That girl that won’t stop gushing about the cute new guy she’s seeing. Except our tenth anniversary is coming up soon and I’m still as in love as I ever was. If you don’t feel like hopping on a plan to Oaxaca, Mexico, drive on over here and experience it through the flavors and music for yourself!

Desayunamos Chilaquiles con chorizo y tasajo, tomamos agua de horchata y para cerrar una crema de mezcal y todo estuvo muy bueno! Incluyendo el servicio.

I first discovered this place as a preteen in the early 2000s and am happy it’s still going strong. One of my middle school friends was in a dance group that performed at Guelaguetza several times a week and I loved coming here to watch her perform. The live performances and music are part of what make it so magical. With all the gentrification going on, not many of the authentic restaurants I grew up with are still around. I’m grateful Guelaguetza is still here.
The food is authentic Oaxacan food and the portions are generous. They have something for carnivores and vegetarians. You can make their vegetarian options vegan by asking them to hold the cheese. Today I had the vegetarian Tlayuda with no cheese. I highly recommend it to vegans, vegetarians, and meat-​eaters too!
The drinks are also delicious, from aguas frescas to cocktails.

Absolutely loved Guelaguetza! Total throwback to my recent trip to Mexico.
Authentic food, fantastic staff, fun environment, the perfect happy hour and live music… what more can one ask for?
Food:
Between the two of us, we ended up only sharing the Festival de Moles platter. Our initial plan was to use that to see which we liked best and then each getting an entrée after. However we took our time getting through that platter and with our drinks and the sides that came with the platter, we were too full to get anything else! The platter ($ 22.50) itself came with 4 of the house moles, rice, 1 giant handmade tortilla, and a basket of corn tortilla. Each ramekin of mole had chicken strips that had been stewed with the mole so they were super tender and flavorful. The mole rojo has got to be my favorite. The negro was definitely bold and had a drier, deeper spice to it that I’ve never had before. The other two are much lighter and more like great braising sauces.
Drink:
Turns out Wednesdays and Fridays are Happy Hour! I believe the time is 6−11pm and margaritas are 2-​for-​1 (2 for $ 8.95). Flavors include traditional, strawberry, mango, and passionfruit. We got the former and the latter ones to share and they hit the spot. Not super strong but not super sweet, either. Per usual we got them on the rocks and if they’re made the same as the non-​happy hour margs, then I’m not sure I’d pay $ 9 for a single one… probably would go with a kind of cocktail at that point instead.
Environment/​Ambiance:
Large, open-​space dining area was lively and a fiesta all around. The live music started around 7:15 and up’d the mood even more. People were lively, and the demographics of the customers ranged the spectrum completely
Service:
Very friendly, accommodating staff all around. We had reservations for 6:30 and were seated immediately when we arrived shortly before. By the time we left around 7:30, there was a large line and group waiting so we definitely did it right!
Can’t wait to come back and try the rest of the menu

Sooo if you love mole, you’ll love this place a lot.
A quick note: Don’t come expecting your typical taco, enchilada Mexican fare. Everything at Guelaguetza is either unique Oaxacan meats or mole-​infused takes on the classics. So if you don’t like either, you may not love it. But for what it is, my boyfriend and I were definitely fans.
He’s originally from Oaxaca and kept commenting how so many menu items were things he hadn’t seen in YEARS. They had green mole — not just red or brown — and so many Oaxacan specialty drinks both hot and cold. If you’re missing a particular food from Oaxaca or just really really like this cuisine, this is without-​a-​doubt the place to go.
We ordered both the horchata and a chilacayota water (a drink that kind of reminded me of applesauce). Although others raved about the horchata, neither of us really liked it. The red mole was far better than the green mole, and the chips drizzled with red mole that were served at the beginning were really good! As far as the main course, I’m afraid we didn’t order the right things. The «empanada» was more like a giant quesadilla but stuffed with mole and chicken instead of cheese. I was expecting the small fried little empanadas, but even beyond that, this dish was still a disappointment. The red mole chicken enchiladas were good, but not amazing. We also took an order of the grasshoppers to-​go, and my boyfriend brought them back on the plane to his mother in Chicago (who I think was pretty excited!).
So while we were mixed on the food, Guelaguetza was definitely an experience. The little shop inside the restaurant and the culture that’s practically oozing out of this place at its seams only adds to the experience. Come and try it once, and if you really like mole or Oaxacan food, come back again and again.

My god do I love this place. If you like Oaxacan mole, this place has them all. The tour de mole is awesome, it is 5 small servings of different types of mole, which will help you give you a taste of the variety of moles form this region of Mexico. The tlayudas are like Mexican pizzas, that’s all I have to say about that.
Go for dinner and with an empty stomach, cause you will do a lot of eating here.
I would recommend sitting in the back area of the restaurant if you intend on having a conversation with your party, since they do have a live band play there on the weekend and it can get a bit loud.

this is not a good place to visit. All the food is extra greasy, the ambiance is ridiculous and the service is horrible.
I was there yesterday, the staff made us wait about 2 hrs before we were seated when at the moment we got there they said we would be seated in 30 min. The Valet parking is set up so ridiculous, you have to pull into a alley (hence only one car fits at a time) then you get off, and the valet attendant goes in reverse to go park at a parking lot right next door. while the street is crowded with other cars wanting to pass by. it’ is just so unsafe. all the people waiting outside with kids and the attendants driving away as if they were on the highway. Awful experience. Do not waste your time and money for this location.

***Amazing atmosphere and food***
Went yesterday to celebrate my mother in laws birthday. We ordered the seafood pineapple, chiles rellenos, guachinando, guacamole, queso fundido, patitas de puerco en vinagre, and their typical plate (forgot the name). Everyone left very fulfilled and happy. The marimba played nice Mexican music which made me feel like I was transported to a little Mexican pueblito. Had a very enjoyable time at a reasonable price. Not cheap but not expensive but totally worth it. There was 4 adults one child and the bill came to $ 127.00.

Mole. Black. Red. Coloradito. Need I say more?
Everytime I visit Los Angeles, I stop by La Guelaguetza. And, I bring all my friends.
Excellent. Everytime.
I usually get mole plates but this time I tried the queso salsa and the seafood pineapple boat. I even had a cup of champurrado. All fantastic (my only complaint is that the portions are too big).
This remains my go-​to spot in LA. Love it. And recently ordered their mole online in order to try it at home in NYC.

Craving oaxacan food? You’ve come to the right place. I got to try their three different moles and they where each uniquely delicious. The mole negro is very rich and complex. The mole rojo was also a good choice for enchiladas. The horchata with tunas and nuez was very good and sweet. We got a tlayuda Guelaguetza and it was divine. With triple meat of tasejo, asada, and chorizo. Their chorizo would have to be my favorite with so much flavor. The bean paste is very creamy and delicious topped with stringy melting oaxacan cheese and chopped cabbage. A must have here. I ordered the enmoladas with the mole negro and it was a great meal. To top it all off we got the triple dessert tray consisting of flan, fried bananas topped with strawberries and whipped cream, as well as gelatina de elote. All three were good but the flan was the best. Overall an amazing experience. Would love to come back and try more.

Calle de pollo wowww it’s really good. I was Unilocaling for chicken soup and found this place.
Nice huge serving and taste perfect after I topped it off with cilantro, onions and a squeeze of lemon.
Very delicious and will come back to try different foods for sure.

This place was really good, I love the mole enchiladas I got. We also got the Cheese fondue that had chorizo and mushrooms in it and it was delicious! Our waiter was really nice and our food came out quickly. Only reason I took off a star is because how dark it was where we got seated. I literally couldn’t see my food. Also, PARKING IS HORRIBLE!
MAKE SURE YOU MAKE A RESERVATION! otherwise you will be waiting forever. I am so glad I made reservations because it was mad crazy on a Saturday night.

Cool ambiance. Live music good drinks and the food is good! I had mole enchiladas. Best mole I’ve had at a restaurant. The queso fundio was delicious with mushroom and chorizo. I tried the fried crickets! That was an experience ! The drink was the house margarita wow very strong! Make reservations it’s packed on the weekend! 4 stars because the parking is crazy!

OMG!!! I have always tried to stay away from Hispanic food because my mom is the greatest cook ever. Until I came here, I have absolutely NO complaints! Drove 2 hrs to eat here and will do it again in a heart beat. Food, was delicious, even the Mexican style grasshoppers. The margarita with cucumber and mescal was… no words can describe. Just come and eat some great food

The first thing that threw me off was the strong smell of cheap cleaning products that impregnated the entire place. It was emanating from the table cover. The same smell was in the restroom. Not good.
I tried to enjoy the complimentary tortilla chips with mole but the strong chemical smell is all I could taste.
I ordered for my niece from the kids menu and it was $ 8.50 for a small quesadilla, fries and a cup of broth. Completely overpriced.
My partner had the chicken roja mole plate and it didn’t taste like authentic Oaxacan mole that I’m accustomed to.
I had the pork ribs in red sauce. The sauce didn’t taste like it was freshly made.
The ribs were very fatty. The side of beans and rice were okay. Nothing exceptional.
The total for our bill was $ 58 without tip. I didn’t feel it was worth it. Mediocre food.
Maybe I didn’t order the right thing? Next time I’ll have mezcal.

My first experience instantly became «one of my favorite» restaurants, it’s that great. The food was delicious, the service was exceptional and the atmosphere was lively and fun!
My friends and I had an amazing time! Can’t wait to go back.
Tip: try the grasshoppers, you won’t regret it!
Enjoy!

Ayer a las 4:30 fui a almorzar con mi esposo, abuela y dos niños. Ordenamos Chile relleno de pollo, mojarra frita al mojo de ajo y costillas de puerco en Salsa roja. La mojarra estaba seca y no tenía sabor más q a ajo. Pero ese no fue el problema. Cuando llegamos a la casa empese a sentirme mal. No le puse atención, pero mi esposo y la abuela los dos se sintieron igual. Para las 10pm los 3 teníamos diarrea, vomito y malestar en el estomago. No se exactamente q nos causó esto pero ya son las 9:30 am y seguimos con él mismos malestar. Por lo q veo no voy a regresar a este lugar.

La comida muy buena pero uno d Los muchachos del ballet parking fue tan sangron q la verdad no me quedaron ganas d volver!!!

Holy Mole! Found this place by accident while visiting the area for Korean sauna. We were lured in by Unilocal reviews and pure curiosity, not to mention hunger.
Immediately we fell in love with the vibe, big open space with what I called a Mexican klezmer band whooping it up in the front dining room.
We went with the Oaxacan specialty theme and ordered the hot chocolate, a tamale appetizer, vegetarian pizza thing and the Fiestas de Mole all the moles with chicken. Over ordered? You bet! It’s the only way to figure it out.
The chips with Coloradito mole were fantastic. After eating all of them, Coloradito was our fave.
The tamale doused in the dark black mole was amazing. The masa was so fresh and it soaked up the mole perfectly.
I would pass on the vegetarian entrée. Aside from the avocado, nothing to report here.
The flight of mole entrée was a perfect way for 3 – 4 people to sample the flavored. Highly recommended on a first visit.
I live way out in the middle of the ocean or I’d be back here weekly to make my way thru the menu!
Truly an awesome surprising find!

I helped organize my Manfriend’s holiday party.
So I picked this place because it’s easy, approachable and it has a lively ambiance.
I worked with Angelica to help set this up.
Angelica was so nice and accommodating.
The night of the holiday party was a success and everyone was so happy.
Will be back for next years holiday party! :)

***Huge portions, decent service***
Wow. The portions here are HUGE. I would highly recommend coming here if you’re in the area. There is parking on the street or you can pay for valet. I would also recommend making a reservation because when we came there was at least an hour plus wait. Overall, very delicious food!

So many mole options, it’s hard to choose. The menu is quite extensive.
They bring you chips and mole which is quite tasty.
I ordered the enchiladas with the «coloradito» mole. Very good and good size portions. The Horchata with tunas (cactus fruit) was ok. The rice they served was undercooked but it had good flavor.
My husband ordered the chilaquiles with the house mole and that was good but too sweet for my taste. Next time I will order the especial de carnes.

I’ve been to Oaxaca, and love Oaxacan food. When I found out there was a place that served Oaxacan food in LA, I had to go!!! Oaxaca is famous for their Mole, Chapulines (grasshoppers), and Tlayuda (pizza type dish but instead of red sauce, the sauce is made out of beans). This restaurant serves all the above :)
This is a wide, open restaurant with an unofficial dance floor, complete with a LIVE band!!! I love the live music. It can be very loud though, and in this case it’s not really ideal for a romantic date, or a large group (if you’re trying to catch up with them).
I love the Tlayuda (pizza thing), but I would recommend getting any of them besides the 3-​meat one. I can’t remember what it was called exactly, but there was a picture on the menu with a Tlayuda + 3 types of meats. It wasn’t that the meats weren’t good, but they just kind of plopped it on top. Think of putting a giant piece of salami, still 1 whole piece, on top of a pizza, instead of slicing it up. Not proportional. But my friends had other Tlayudas, which were proportional and tasty!
Can’t go wrong with the mole either. I also like getting their simple meat dishes, like Salsa de Carne Frita — fried pork ribs with salsa, rice and beans. They also have chicken options too which I liked.
I went on a Friday once, and they had a buy 1 margarita, get 1 free. The margaritas were pretty cheap too, like $ 7 for a GIANT one, and to get another one for free was awesome!!!
This place is definitely great if you’re craving Oaxacan food. If you’ve never had it before, try this out if you want Mexican food, but something different.

My friend raved about Guelaguetza so I decided to finally try it out, planning to meet some greater LA area friends here. I made the drive up from Orange County around 4PM to try and make it in time for our 6PM reservation given weekday traffic, and actually made it to the restaurant at around 5:20PM. I opted for valet parking ($ 3) after not finding much street parking nearby.
Although I was super early, I decided to wait indoors since it was chilly outside. During the wait for the rest of my party, I studied the menu extensively and familiarized myself with Oaxacan food. The employee at the front register was also very patient with me and willing to answer my many questions about Oaxacan food, as a relative Oaxacan newbie.
The restaurant itself is quite large and has several seating areas as well as on open grill area (so you can see and smell deliciousness as it is being prepared). We had made a reservation for our group of three, but it probably isn’t really necessary on a weeknight. The restaurant did fill up a bit though, since it seems to be a popular place.
There ended up being live music starting around 7PM, which really added to the ambiance of the place. It was very pleasant background music; not too loud, and no lyrics, just instrumental. It added to the comfortable atmosphere while still allowing for conversation.
The table we were seated at was a little dark, which made taking photos of our food more difficult. But our server was very friendly and had an endearing accent plus eyebrow piercing.
You are served complimentary tortilla chips drizzled with mole and cheese upon seating. I ordered a melon drink that was great and reminded me of Chinese wintermelon tea (冬瓜茶).
I decided that we at least had to try some prototypical Oaxacan dishes, so we ordered chapulines (grasshoppers), Festival de mole (a sampler of four kinds of mole), and Tlayuda Guelaguetza (a tlayuda is kind of like a pizza on a big flat crispy tortilla). We also ordered a seafood soup and cactus salad. Everything was AMAZING, and we definitely had a lot of food leftover. The moles were all great (although sweet, so not as great if you aren’t a sweet & savory fan). The tlayuda a treat, with all three kinds of meat (chorizo, beef, and pork) plus Oaxacan cheese. The chapulines weren’t too crazy for me; I thought they tasted like small dried Chinese shrimp, although the grasshoppers were not all that popular with the rest of my party. The cactus salad was refreshing although a little gooey (think okra). And the seafood soup was quite a large bowl with plenty of quality seafood including shrimp, a single jumbo clam, scallops, and half a crab with lots of leg meat.
Prices were reasonable, especially given the portion sizes, maybe $ 10-​$ 20 per dish. We had a group of 4 so we shared a lot to try more dishes, and had leftovers.
Between the live music, cool atmosphere, friendly service, and amazing food, I definitely thoroughly enjoyed dining at Guelaguetza, a hidden Mexican (specifically Oaxacan) gem in the middle of Koreatown!

WoooooWWWW holy Mole!!!
I’ve been here multiple times and i just keep coming back for more.
the ambiance is pretty average however every time I come they always have some sort of band playing and they’re usually pretty talented.
This place is as authentic as it gets, some of the entrees may be just average or above average, however this place get 5 stars just based on the AMAZING authentic oaxacan mole.
It’s as authentic as it gets without going to oaxaca mexico.
if its your first time going to this place you must try the fiestival de mole that they have which includes 4 different types of mole, mole negro, mole rojo, estofado and coloradido, each single one of those moles are amazing. definitely tops ANY mole I have ever had, granted I haven’t been to oaxaca, the dish also comes with rice and hand made tortillas, it’s definitely enough for two people.
This place is a must for everyone, don’t get fooled by the location, it doesn’t get any better than this.

If you need a large space for a big group, I highly recommend Guelaguetza! Even though I’ve driven by here a countless number of times, I had never been inside. After visiting The Broad museum with a huge group of 25 people, I made reservations at Guelaguetza. They have a live music schedule on their website so be sure to check it out! Since my group wanted to chitchat, I opted for seating towards the back where it’s quieter, and the reservations were easily made over the phone!
The interior is clean and well-​kept, and the place itself is huge. They also are generous with the free chips and mole and they refilled without us having to even ask! They were also so accommodating to our large party. One thing I really loved was that they split the bill for every 4 people so that it was easier to order and pay. My group of four ordered the Botana Oaxaquena, but the half order was more than enough for us.
The BOTANA OAXAQUENA is described as an assorted tasting plate. Includes 8 memelas (handmade thick tortillas), oaxacan string cheese, chorizo, tasajo and cecina, a fresh stuffed chile with picadillo, fried pork ribs, guacamole, and beans. All the meat, cheese, and cactus comes on a hot iron skillet platter.
I really loved the handmade memelas, but when we asked for more tortilla, I later discovered they’re $ 2.50/tortilla. Kinda pricey even if it’s handmade.
I also got the HORCHATA CON TUNA Y NUEZ: Sweet rice water drink, topped with cantaloupe, chopped nuts, and cactus fruit. Very different horchata from what I’m used to, but it was fun to try. I liked having the cantaloupe pieces to scoop out with the spoon that they give you.
Overall, I’m really happy to have tried this place. If you need a location for a huge group, you can trust Guelaguetza for their great service and solid food.

El mole esta delicioso, el agua de tuna pues no sabe a tuna y las carnes mmm para mi gusto les falta un poquito doraditas…

Mi esposo y yo hemos visitado este lugar varias veces y la verdad seguimos regresando por la comida pero honestamente el servicio no es muy bueno. Espesando con la hostess! Llegamos al restaurante y nadie nos dio la bienvenida, mi esposo se acercó a apuntarnos en la lista lo cual la hostess jamás nos dijo hola ni nada! Desde ai empieza la mala experiencia! Sentó a tres parejas que llegaron después que nosotros y tuvimos que decirle que que estaba pasando (no le importo) asta que al fin nos dieron una mesa esperamos más de 20 min a ser atendidos, ordenamos y nuestra comida tardo 40 min. Ya estábamos muy desesperados y tuvimos que pedirle al mesero que checara nuestra comida! No culpamos al mesero porque entiendo que estaba muy ocupado pero nuestro dinero vale y merecemos tener un buen servicio y hacernos sentir confortables en un lugar! La comida honestamente es muy rica y las bebidas igual! Pero pensaríamos dos veces antes de regresar a este restaurante!

Can’t help but love this place. Such a great place to have a fun, delicious meal with a group!
I recommend starting with the mole sampler. That way you can see which one (s) you like before you order your entrée. I liked trying them all but ended was ordering the chile relleno which was DELICIOUS. I can’t remember the name of the drink I ordered but it had sauna and mezcal and some kind of juice and it was incredible!
The band was loud and played great music. Already can’t wait to go back!

Es uno de mis lugares favoritos! Me encanta la comida, es un lugar muy ocupado pero con buen servicio. Excelente para ir a festejar cualquier celebración, además de q cuenta con música en vivo.

la comida buena! el servicio/​la atenencion de muy mala calidad!!! La espera para entrar fue de 45 min depues para tomar la orden 20 min mas. Se tiro de accidente un agua en la mesa llego el mesero con la comida le pedi de favor q limpiara llego otro mas y tambien le dije q si de favor limpiara y al fin terminamos cenando con la mesa llena de agua y sin alguien q remplazara el agua q se habia tirado!

Hermoso lugar todo muy bueno la cerveza delicioso el mezcal y de comer la cecina tal y como la comia en mi lindo oaxaca.. Muy buen hambiente y el personal muy amable.. Todo muy bueno. y arriba oaxaca…

la verdad estoy muy desepcionado era uno de mis restaurant preferido pero despues de hoy, yo vivo en North Hollywood un poco retirado se me antojo un tamal oaxaqueño
que me gusta muchisimo
hable y ordene dos, hice mas de 45 minutos para ir a recojerlos y cual fue mi respuesta despues de que hice otros 30 min de regreso a casa
que se les olvido ponerles el mole se sentian viejos y muy secos, en fin hable para reclamarles y la person aque contesto el telefono despues de decirle lo que havia pasado simplemente no me dijo nada y me colgo el telefono.

Tine sabor auténtico de la región de oaxaca un amplio menú las enchiladas de mole negro son una delicia y el grupo mucical con un amplio repertorio ideal para todo tipo de celebracion. Me encanta ya probamos todo el menu¡! :-)

English: I was brought here by my Oaxacan boyfriend. This was 3 years ago! This place is our to go place every time we come to LA! By far the best authentic Oaxacan Restaurant. I honestly fell in love when they dropped off my Horchata! It is amazing! The only downfall for this little gem is the parking. Parking is a little bit of a down side, but it’s worth it.
Español: Mi novio de Oaxaca me trajo aquí por primera vez hace 3 años cuando venimos a California. Este es el restaurante donde nos encanta ir cada vez que visitamos California. No nolo podemos perder. Hasta ahora, no hemos podido encontrar un restaurante con comida tan auténtica Oaxaquena. El único problemita con el restaurante es el parqueadero. Pero aparte de eso, me enamore de este lugar en cuanto me sirvieron my Horchata deliciosa.