365 Places to Eat

Flaming Margarita (photo via El Compadre site)

“Waiter! My margarita is on fire!”

“Not to worry sir, you are just dining at El Compadre…”

El Compadre has every cliche going for it. Dark lighting with adobe decor, a mariachi band playing, located just east of the Sunset Strip, Americanized comfort Mexican food, and yes, FLAMING margaritas.

You would think that these are all reasons to avoid El Compadre, but for some reason, they manage to pull it off.

The decor is comforting and the dim lighting enhancing the fireballs coming from the bar.

The band is talented and it’s not so bad waiting for your table while listening to them.

The location seems to draw more locals than tourists and college students, although on a few occasions I have done from star spotting in the booths.

The food is fairly standard, but the menu is well executed when you want cheesy dishes with rice and beans on the side.

And then there are the drinks.

A flaming drink can often be the sign that the enjoyment ends when the fire dies out and the glass hits your lips. On the contrary, El Compadre’s margaritas are tasty and can pack a punch. It’s not the actual margarita on fire, but a small float of high potency liquor that feeds the flame.

The downsides of El Compadre are long waits and tight parking. We have been able to call ahead a couple times, but it didn’t really seem to help. The place gets packed, especially on weekend nights. It’s tough to seat larger parties, but it is fun to go with a lot of people because of the atmosphere.

El Compadre
7408 W Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90046
(323) 874-7924

I have been going to Luna Park since shortly after the Los Angeles location opened on La Brea.

There is a lot to enjoy about Luna Park. The food is creative and comfortable, the drinks are crafted with care, the desserts are decadent and the prices wont decimate your wallet.

For those looking for a quiet and spacious dining experience though, this isn’t the place. The tables are packed in tight and the music can be loud, although the play list is usually quite enjoyable.

I have noticed that the Luna Park menu has evolved over time and seasonally. I haven’t seen one of my favorites, the risotto with tomatillo sauce and scallops in a while. Right now, in the winter, the risotto is butternut squash with wild mushrooms. The chicken has gone through a few iterations as well, and I recently enjoyed a half chicken braised with bacon. Like I said, comfort and creativity.

The mixed drinks are a treat, try the Chappaquiddick - Pomegranate Vodka Muddled with Orange, Lime and Cranberries and Topped with a Splash of Sparkling Wine. There’s even some good choices if you’re the designated driver - a rumless mojito and pomegranate cooler to name a couple. The friendly (sometimes) bartenders can help you out with your custom orders, although when one customer asked the man behind the bar what was in the Coconut Kiss, his reply was “I don’t know. You wouldn’t like it.” Could be true, but funny to hear.

We used to stop by Luna Park just for desserts. Their cobbler was one of the best around, but isn’t on the menu right now. The make your own smores are clever, but more gimmick than good. The fried apple pies are good though, served with a side of ice cream.

Luna Park is reasonable, particularly when the quality of the food is considered. Entrees are under $20 and are more than enough food to fill your belly.

One note on parking. We regularly get a spot on La Brea. Read the signs carefully to make sure that you wont get a ticket, but you can avoid the valet charge most of the time.

Other Luna Park Write Ups

• Delicious Life
• Famished LA
• L.A. is My Beat
• Rate a Restaurant

Luna Park
672 S. La Brea (near Wilshire)
Los Angeles, CA 90036
phone: 323.934.2110
hello@lunaparkla.com