Border Grill - Downtown LADelicious!Great Service! Great small plates/tapas style meal. Went on a Sunday when they do the $25 unlimited plates and 5$ margaritas. We were stuffed and had 3 drinks each and it was under 100$ for a great quality meal. Only thing I'd say is if you're looking for more of a "scene" this downtown location was very quiet and closes at 9 so it may not be the best party spot. Looked more like a business lunch/after work drinks kind of place for the downtown crowd. Still the food was awesome. Tamales were amazing. Empanadas to die for. Shrimp and grits was phenomenal. Hubby loved the pork shoulder. Churros for dessert were the bomb. Everything was truly great. Those were just the stand outs.6/16/2013 12:00:00 AMBorder Grill is a winner!A delicious take on Mexican classics, and excellent drinks. Queso fundido, quinoa fritters, vegetable chilaquiles, and cucumber/jalapeno margaritas - all terrific! The chipotle salsa was a smoky delight as well.6/14/2013 12:00:00 AMFun Lunch HourA very nice get away for a real lunch break. Wonderful variety of food whether you're super hungry or not. I love the tortilla chips which are addictive.6/11/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat meal. Great time.I ordered the Chile Relleno. It was excellent. I love this place. Great guacamole, great drinks, excellent and attentive service.6/5/2013 12:00:00 AMCelebrationWe were a party of 12 celebrating our
friend who was sworn in As new American
Citizen
The service was terrific
Something for everyone even the little ones
Our reservation was at 2:00pm
Not crowded
The food was very good5/23/2013 12:00:00 AMFood bursting with flavorWith food this wonderful, why do there need to be conversation-inhibiting sound levels? My best friend of many years and I are miles apart (Long Beach and Ventura County) and we meet in LA so we can enjoy the great food at Border Grill, and then we end up feeling like we're at a noisy cocktail party. Our server was apologetic and the food was, as always, superb. The ball's in Border Grill's court!5/23/2013 12:00:00 AMLove the Guacamole!!!Believe it or not, I'm a fanatic about the amazing guacamole. Second only to the guacamole, I love the Citrus Chicken Quesadia. I enjoy those two dishes so much that I look for every opportunity to treat people to lunch -- there! While I've enjoyed a few of the other offerings, I always return to my two loves.5/22/2013 12:00:00 AMDelicious!Fantastic food. Great margaritas. Friendly service. The location itself is nothing special - in a bank bldg in an area of downtown that is not especially scenic - but the restaurant is worth the trip.5/17/2013 12:00:00 AMGood visitHad some great Fish Tacos but more importantly, I had a very nice visit with anold friend. My resevations put me indoors for lunch which made the visit more comfortable in a more quiet environment.5/15/2013 12:00:00 AMbrunch spotwe went for mother's day brunch and it was great. they do small plate brunch every sunday and we'll go back and do it again.5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMWe had wonderful food andWe had wonderful food and great, friendly service. Reasonably priced, too.5/10/2013 12:00:00 AMWonderful food, excellent serviceI made a reservation only about 30 minutes in advance on a weeknight for a group of hungry convention wery friends. We arrived on time and the table was already for our group. The service was excellent, and the food made everyone in our group more than delighted. I would recommend the Border Grill to anyone that wants some of, if not the best Mexican food in L.A.5/8/2013 12:00:00 AMGourmet approach to MexicanI love mexican food and I love the approach to elevate it beyond my expectations that you get with Border Grill. I'm thrilled to say it's one of my favorite restaurants and look forward to trying all its unique dishes. I brought a crowd of 10 which quickly turned into 16. The waiter didn't object and accommodated my last-minute additions. I will go back next time I'm in L.A.5/6/2013 12:00:00 AMCharacter in every detail!I'd been wanting to check out the famous Two Hot Tamale's restaurant forever.
Finally, my hubby & I made a point to go there last Sat for our date night.
The place has such colourful character. The staff greeted us with warm smiles and
great service.
Drinks were great - My hubby had the delish passionfruit margarita and I had the cucumber mojito.
The food was lovely, so unique. We shared the Baja ceviche, I had the Enchiladas de Costillas and my hubby had the very interesting Pescado Veracruzano. Then we finished with the coconut ice cream w yummy plantains & Kahlua!
We stuffed ourselves.
My only disappointment was that I didn't get to meet the chef.
Guess who's going back?! :)5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMThe Sunday dinner menu, withThe Sunday dinner menu, with the small plates, was such a taste treat. The wait staff was very knowlegdable and tireless in their efforts to bring you as many as you could possibly order. Each little entree came hot and in a timely manner--they made it seem effortless4/28/2013 12:00:00 AMEnjoyableWe met friends here for a delicious dinner before a show at the music center. Very friendly service by all staff plus a free shuttle to the Ahmanson and validated parking underground. Great food and sumptuous cocktails.4/27/2013 12:00:00 AMThe food was very good andThe food was very good and the service was outstanding. Our server was knowledgable, friendly and helpful.4/27/2013 12:00:00 AMWe had an amazing experienceWe had an amazing experience at Border Grill. Our server, Izzy, could not have been more helpful. We had two visitors from out of town, and she had great recommendations of what they should try. Susan was at the restaurant that night, and Izzy had her come by the table, which was a thrill for everyone in the party. We will definitely be back!
Everything was delicious, but the quinoa fritters, the wild mushroom quesadilla, the tacos de alambre, and the apple walnut capirotada were standouts.4/24/2013 12:00:00 AMRecently went to Border GrillRecently went to Border Grill for a business lunch. We shared the Peruvian Ceviche as a starter. It was delicious, and had a nice kick to it. The carnitas and pork rib tacos were very tender and flavorful. Black beans were creamy, rice was a little dry. The service was excellent - our waiter was very attentive, did a nice job making recommendations, and kept our water and iced tea refilled. It wasn't too crowded, so perfect for a quick business lunch.4/22/2013 12:00:00 AMOverall, another good experienceOverall, another good experience at Border Grill. Food has improved after a rather uneven start a couple years back when it was just rebranded from the former Ciudad. Service, though uneven, was friendly and accommodating.4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMWe had a pre-theatre mealWe had a pre-theatre meal at Border Grill, good experience overall, and the shuttle service to/from the Music Center and reasonable parking were a huge plus.4/19/2013 12:00:00 AMHad a good, high-quality lunch.Had a good, high-quality lunch. Even the chips and salsas were above average.4/16/2013 12:00:00 AMDisappointed with the drinks.Disappointed with the drinks. Food was good. Friendly staff. Fun Atmosphere.4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMWe went to Border Grill LosWe went to Border Grill Los Angeles for lunch for a friend's birthday. We were seated right away and brough a basket of hot tortilla chips and a trio of salsas. I really liked the green salsa. The chips were good too (and I ate way too many). I had the grilled mahi mahi tacos and they were tasty. The jalapeno aioli was good, not too spicy and so was the cucumber slaw on top. The rice and beans are "ok". This is certainly not your "authentic" grandmother's type of food but still tasty nonetheless. The service was really good. Our waitress was attentive and helpful and very friendly. We would go back again since it's close to work.4/9/2013 12:00:00 AMVery good for pre-theaterVery good modern Mexican food in a fun setting. My entrée was seafood paella a special of the day, and it was very good though it reminded me of a moqueca which they used to have on the menu, when the restaurant was Ciudad. The expresso tres leche cake was disappointing compared to the prior tres leche cake that was on the menu. Friendly efficient server.4/6/2013 12:00:00 AMWe had an amazing evening!We had an amazing evening! The food was excellent!! Definitely going back!4/6/2013 12:00:00 AMDelectable dishes! WonderfulDelectable dishes! Wonderful and pleasantly blended flavors!
Great prices on Happy Hour appetizers and drinks!
Have returned many times to this lively restaurant.4/4/2013 12:00:00 AMI love the Border Grill andI love the Border Grill and usually dine in the Santa Monica location and have always found the food to be excellent. The downtown L.A. location is good and convenient as a place to dine prior to an event at the Disney Concert Hall. On the night we were there, the guacamole was fresh as always but a bit bland. My mom and I had the Poblano Chicken enchiladas and we both agreed they were the best enchiladas we've had anywhere. My dad had the chile relleno which he loved and my husband had beef enchiladas which he said were okay (but he's super picky). We loved the jalapeno margaritas and the service was excellent!4/3/2013 12:00:00 AMThe entire staff could notThe entire staff could not have been more helpful and well informed. We will return soon--our meals were excellent and everyone was supportive when, partway through lunch, I had to leave to move my car, which took an infuriating 20 minutes. Love the spicing/flavoring of the dishes.4/3/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat food and perfect locationGreat food and perfect location near the music center with a free shuttle. I enjoyed the new sopas even though I missed the spinach and mushroom empanadas and hope they are not lost forever...3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMS. Seakan, Relationship ManagerI had invited 4 of my clients to join me and a co-worker for a business luncheon. The host sat us toward the back which was very nice and allowed us to discuss business with less noise from other patrons. The food was awesome and everyone enjoyed it very much. This is not the first time at this establishment and very pleased each time I return with clients. Our server was attentive and did not interupt while we were in discussions. I already have another scheduled luncheon at this restaurant for next week. Also a plus, is that they validate for parking.3/29/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat food. We had a largeGreat food. We had a large group and the service was still quite good.3/19/2013 12:00:00 AMWent on Sunday night for unlimitedWent on Sunday night for unlimited small plates. It was great!3/17/2013 12:00:00 AMFantastic food & service!A very active scene: bar crowd are professionals from the downtown area because this is located in the middle of downtown L.A. A tad on the energetic noise level but not unbearable. Just ask for a quiet spot and they are more than happy to accommodate you.
I'm a repeat guest because their food is exquisite! The herbs & spices used are traditional and, also, unexpected. Great blends & sauces! Fantastic presentation but the most important part is the flavors. A bit pricey but well worth it.
Service is impeccable! Fast, friendly and there when you need them!
Parking is great - giant underground garage. Ask for validation at the restaurant. I forgot to ask so they asked ME if I needed validation.
Overall a great establishment.3/12/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat variety of modern MexicanGreat variety of modern Mexican cuisine and the best margaritas. You must try the cucumber jalapeño margarita - truly outstanding!
I have to mention that the service was excellent as well. We will definitely be back!3/10/2013 12:00:00 AMOutstanding new items on theOutstanding new items on the menu, try them all! A great and easy lunch spot--exceptional food, terrific service, and a nice setting. For a downtown lunch, really an amazing spot.2/20/2013 12:00:00 AMGood choice for pre-theaterGood choice for pre-theater dinner; their appetizers and soups are fine. I had Mahi Mahi this time for dinner and it was very good. The Tres Leches cake for dessert is excellent. Very good service generally. It can get noisy as dinner progresses, but it's a lively, fun restaurant.1/12/2013 12:00:00 AM