Casa La Golondrina Mexican Cafe

Mexican restaurant · Historic Core

Casa La Golondrina Mexican Cafe

Mexican restaurant · Historic Core

W-17 Olvera St, Los Angeles, CA 90012

Highlights

Nestled in the lively Olvera Street, this historic Mexican eatery serves up delicious tacos, hearty burritos, and unforgettable margaritas since 1924.

W-17 Olvera St, Los Angeles, CA 90012 Get directions

@lagolondrina

$20–30 · Menu

@eater

"The future of the historic restaurant La Golondrina remains in jeopardy. As of Thursday, the city commission that oversees Olvera Street — El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument — ordered the owners to pay over $242,000 in back rent and fees in the next 30 days or vacate the property. Consuelo Castillo de Bonzo opened La Golondrina in 1930 but her granddaughter Vivien Bonzo closed the business in March 2020. The Los Angeles Times reports mother and son team Bertha and David Gomez took over the restaurant in 2021. The Times story outlines a number of issues throughout the process. Bonzo transferred the business to the Gomez family, who also has a long history on Olvera Street. The Gomezes and Bonzo claimed the city stalled the ownership transfer on more than one occasion, experienced a labor dispute, and saw a major plumbing problem that the city said it was not responsible for. The building that houses La Golondrina was built in 1857." - Mona Holmes

Olvera Street’s Oldest Mexican Restaurant Ordered to Pay $242K in Back Rent or Leave - Eater LA

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@eater

"With news that longstanding La Golondrina is facing eviction, take the Metro or drive to this joyful cobblestoned stretch of LA and order from Cielito Lindo. The beef taquitos with avocado sauce have kept the humble restaurant in business since 1934, but the burritos with beef chile Colorado, chile relleno, or chile verde pork are also worth ordering with wonderful beans and cheese." - Eater Staff

4 Restaurants to Try This Weekend in Los Angeles - Eater LA

View Postcard for Casa La Golondrina Mexican Cafe

@eater

"Part of the Latino Restaurant Association’s Dine Latino Restaurant Week, offering a prix fixe meal at a reasonable price to drive awareness and customers toward Latino-owned businesses." - Mona Holmes

LA’s Newest Restaurant Week Features Latino-Owned Businesses - Eater LA

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@eater

"Opened in 1924 and relocated in 1930, this restaurant is known for celebrating the city's Mexican roots." - Farley Elliott

Why LA’s Oldest Mexican Restaurants Labeled Themselves ‘Spanish’ - Eater LA

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Jose Calderon

Google

Location is the best part of this Mexican cantina. Prices are expensive for a Mexican restaurant. Portions are big, with great flavors. Over $10 for a Margarita and around $15 a plate but you will end taking food home. The area is great for shopping Mexican items. Guacamole is delicious, but our order had big chunks of avocado which I would normally prefer smashed.

Colby Wakeman

Google

Great little restaurant in the middle of Olivera Street! We stopped in for a nice family lunch after going to the California Science Center. The food was good and the margaritas were tasty. There was a mariachi band that walked around and serenaded us while eating.

The Popescus

Google

Delicious Mexican Restaurant on Olvera Street with authentic Mexican food at very reasonable prices we shared an Appetizer Plate and it was plenty of food for the two of us. Gustavo was our server and he did a fabulous job. The restaurant is usually very busy ( at least on weekends), so expect a wait at peak times. The ambience is lively, with wait staff wearing traditional Mexican colorful clothes- all adding to the fun. Mariachi players are frequently there, and are happy to play some delightful tunes for a tip. There are both outside and inside tables, and it's common to see people waiting 45 minutes for a table. The staff are all effecient- there are just A LOT of customers waiting. The food is always delicious and definitely worth a visit!

Jackie Mendez

Google

The staff is awesome! The food was delicious ! Got 3 tacos, shrimp al mojo, Pollo de mole, and carnitas with beans. I wasn't expecting them to be so filling I couldn't eat them all. I gave it 4 stars because we got sat outside on a hot day and there was hardly a breeze. Other than that have to go back. My micheladas were awesome as well😍

william alsobrook

Google

Was such a big meal, seasoned very well. But the steak was unevenly cooked but still tasty and tender. Good chips

Lauren Rogers

Google

Established in 1924 as the first Mexican restaurant in Los Angeles, this family-owned cafe and cantina serves an array of timeless, authentic Mexican dishes ranging from tacos to margaritas. The crispy tortilla chips and medium salsa verde are delicious, as well as the juicy chicken enchiladas with mild salsa verde, which are complemented by refried beans and zesty Spanish rice. The staff are helpful and the building itself is strikingly historical; it even has a fireplace! I highly recommend La Golondrina the next time you visit Olvera Street.

Don Frasco

Google

One of the Best Mexican restaurants in Downtown LA. Award winning margaritas with authentic Mexican cuisine. Must try their beef taquitos!

karl flores

Google

This is more for ambience than for their food. I've been coming here for over 50 years. Today was strictly for nostalgia. I ordered the machaca and also the chorizo and eggs breakfast. Both made you wonder "where's the beef"?! I guess with the increased rent, labor coats, taxes and cost of doing business in LA, they had to cut back somewhere. Which I suppose is why the place was so empty on a Sunday morning. But it did leave room to go out and get a couple of cookies and a snack on the way out. But i am spoiled with great places to eat in san Diego which has the best Mexican food on the planet. Word to the wise, stop in for a house margarita and maybe chips or nachos then head over to Cielito Lindo for some rolled tacos rice and beans cause you only get on at this place.