El Cartel

4.4 ( 309 reviews )
Checking... 11:00 AM - 9:00 PM See Hours
$10–20
5515 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036, United States
+1 323-931-1281
El Cartel, located at 5515 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, is a vibrant Mexican restaurant known for its flavorful offerings and warm, welcoming atmosphere. Touted for its diverse selection of empanadas and street tacos, El Cartel offers dishes like the BBQ Pork Pineapple CheddarJack Empanada and the authentic Carne Asada Street Taco, each priced affordably around $3.25 to $3.75. Reviewers consistently highlight the freshness and quality of the ingredients, with many appreciating the generous portions. Patrons like Ink Song commend the restaurant for its thorough attention to detailed requests, while Haileigh Tomlinson notes the impressive range of vegetarian options and the friendly service. The ambiance is described as chill, making it an ideal spot for a quick bite or a more relaxed dining experience. The Carne Asada burrito and the flavorful birria stand out among the menu offerings, as noted in D Rojas’s glowing review, affirming El Cartel's commitment to delicious, well-seasoned food. Overall, El Cartel emerges as a highly recommended destination for any lover of Mexican cuisine, combining delightful dishes with affordable prices in a cozy setting.

Amenities and More

  • Accessibility
    • Has wheelchair-accessible entrance
    • Has wheelchair-accessible seating
  • Service options
    • Has outdoor seating
    • Has no-contact delivery
    • Offers delivery
    • Offers takeaway
    • Serves dine-in
  • Highlights
    • Has fast service
  • Popular for
    • Popular for lunch
    • Popular for dinner
    • Good for solo dining
  • Offerings
    • Serves comfort food
    • Serves food
    • Serves late-night food
    • Quick bite
    • Serves small plates
  • Dining options
    • Serves lunch
    • Serves dinner
    • Has catering
    • Serves dessert
    • Has seating
  • Amenities
    • No toilet
  • Atmosphere
    • Casual
    • Cosy
    • Trendy
  • Crowd
    • Popular with tourists
    • Popular with university students
  • Planning
    • Doesn't accept reservations
  • Payments
    • Accepts credit cards
    • Accepts debit cards
    • Accepts NFC mobile payments
    • Credit cards
  • Pets
    • Dogs allowed outside

Reviews For El Cartel

Ink Song
May 31,2025
so good every time. one of the biggest reasons i’m not moving away from this neighborhood!!! detailed requests are always thoroughly executed highly recommended
Haileigh Tomlinson
May 27,2025
Have always passed by this place and finally went in. Plenty of vegetarian options which is a plus(: The person taking our order was so nice and the food was quick and fresh! Also extremely affordable prices!
tania bueno
May 19,2025
Came in based on good reviews and did not dissapoint!!! Had the emoanada de chorizo and burria tacos!! Soooo good!!! Will def be back!!
Rogerio Ventura
Mar 16,2025
Great food, well seasoned and fresh ingredients. Had the El Cartel burritos and the shrimp salad, great cost benefit. Staff is polite and the shop is very chill, even if a bit small. Overall, highly recommend, especially if you have around half an hour to eat in location.
D Rojas
Mar 1,2025
Carne asada burrito, birria torta, and carne asada bowl... super delicious! Highly recommend! I don't know how they prep the carne asada but it's very flavorful. And the birria is very good as well.
Natalie M
Feb 19,2025
Absolutely love it here I’m usually the person that sticks to eating one item, so I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE their loaded fries They have tacos, burritos, loaded fries, empanadas, nachos, tostada salads, bowls and quesadillas. Restaurant is small but CLEAN and very nice atmosphere I’m big on customer service and I would give them an extra 5 stars if I could And their churros with nutella are
AJ
Feb 13,2025
I made a stop here before a show at El Rey and got the BBQ short rib nachos. Although the BBQ short rib wasn’t my favorite the nachos were still really good. The chips and toppings were fresh and the meat was tender. As far as I can tell the rest of the food here is pretty good too. 4.5/5.
username
Feb 7,2025
Been coming here once in a blue moon since about 2018 and it's always good. Love the salsas which is probably my favorite thing about Mexican food. The meats are really well made and flavorful. The dining area is pretty small and no restroom but I wouldn't demerit them for this at all.

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