The Unique Restaurant In Southern California Where Every Order Comes With Free Pecan Pralines
By Natasha Kayes|Published February 13, 2023
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Natasha Kayes
Author
I was born and raised in sunny Southern California and will never tire of the West Coast, although I spent several years living in Southeast Asia, about as far from California as you can get. Wherever I am in the world, I love straying from the beaten path, experiencing local life, and discovering hidden gems - camera in hand. The beach is my happy place and when I am not there (or writing), you will usually find me baking, watching movies, and cuddling my pugs. I have traveled around the country and around the world, and it never, ever gets old. Being able to combine my passion for travel and my love of writing is nothing short of a dream.
The Southern California food scene is pretty epic. There is no end to unique eateries, from tiny to expansive and traditional to innovative. They each have something that makes them special, and we love the little surprises that make our favorite spots stand out among the rest. It is hard to pick just one reason to keep going back to this unique Mexican restaurant in Southern California, but the special treat that comes with every meal is one for sure.
In the heart of L.A. sits El Cholo, a popular family-run Mexican restaurant with a long history in Southern California. Many regulars remember being brought to El Cholo as children and now bring their own families.
El Cholo got its official start in 1923 in a converted house on Western Avenue, just across from its current location. The original building only had three booths, eight bar stools, and a flat-top stove. Tortillas were heated on top and cheese was melted over enchiladas underneath.
Over the years, El Cholo’s authentic flavors, traditional recipes, and wonderful service boosted the restaurant’s success so much that it led to the opening of six additional locations, all in the Los Angeles area.
You won’t be surprised to know that every meal begins with chips and salsa. The chips are fresh and crispy, and the salsa is made in house, so you will love them, but they are not surprising.
What is a surprise, and a very pleasant one, is that, unlike handing out some sort of mint or hard candy, El Cholo provides pecan praline candies at the end of every meal.
These melt-in-your-mouth pecan pralines are hand-made daily at El Cholo using an old family recipe, and you may just end up coming back just for these candies.
Of course, pralines are only one thing that make this historic restaurant unique. Recipes brought from Sonora, Mexico, long before the restaurant opened are still used to serve up mouth-watering favorites like enchiladas and green corn tamales.
The tamales are seasonal, generally available May through October and are not actually green. They got their name because they are steamed in the fresh green husks that the corn was taken from, and they are amazing.
We also recommend the L.A. Lemonade, just one of the fantastic signature margaritas on the menu. Other popular options are the Coconut Margarita, with toasted coconut on the rim of the glass, and the 1967 El Cholo Margarita.
You might be interested to know that the 1967 margarita is also available to go in a variety of sizes - individual, quart, half gallon, and full gallon. What better way to level up your next dinner party?
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While the free pralines are sweet enough to make a satisfying ending to any meal, the desserts - which blend traditional flavors with modern flair - are as enticing as anything else on the menu.
Among many quotes that the restaurant has chosen to put on its cocktail napkins is a bit of true historical humor, which makes this place that much more endearing.
We hope El Cholo Restaurant never stops serving free pralines with every meal. Have you been to El Cholo? We would love to hear your thoughts in the comments. You can learn the entire history of this great restaurant on its website or follow it on Facebook to keep up with seasonal items and news.
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