Cinco

Great food a short car ride from LAX! Covered outdoor seating available. Great cocktails and delicious food! Nice happy hour. A definite Cinco estrellas!

Big portions and great service but not so authentic Mexican food.

Rode my bike🚲 to Cinco and made it for happy hour just in time. I was not greeted by a hostess for a few minutes so I approached a worker about seating. I was told they were at capacity. The restaurant didn't look full (I was confused by that comment ) but I asked if I could just sit at the bar. Found a seat at the bar and Ordered street tacos and a drink. The bartender was nice and the tacos tasted great. Probably wouldn't visit again but the couple sitting next to me seemed to enjoy their time. Outdoor seating area looked nice.

Cinco Restaurant is a vibrant and welcoming dining destination known for its innovative fusion of flavors and exceptional culinary experiences. With a menu that blends modern twists on traditional dishes, Cinco caters to food lovers seeking unique and memorable meals. The restaurant boasts a warm, contemporary ambiance, making it an ideal spot for everything from casual lunches to celebratory dinners. Guests rave about its commitment to using fresh, locally-sourced ingredients and its creative approach to presenting dishes. Whether indulging in its signature cocktails or savoring a flavorful entrée, Cinco Restaurant delivers a delightful culinary journey that keeps patrons coming back for more.

Got a tip to check this place out. We opted for outdoor seating which is under a massive tent. Lots of seats outside which was attractive for groups with kiddos, dogs or both. The indoor area had a mix of booth, tables and bar seating. We were hoping to start with nachos but it came with our meal. It was massive. Since it was happy hour, the tacos and Palomas were on special. We were hoping for something mellower so this was a bit much. However, it would have been good if we were with a group and wanted a night out.

The food was super good!! And the service really kind. And the margarita was super strong. lol

We stopped in to kill some time on the way to LAX had drinks and queso flamiado, everything was excellent. We were off hours so parking wasn't a problem I'm not sure how it would be during a busy period of time.

Seated immediately in a booth. Made it in time for Happy hour, till 7 pm, prices on drinks and food specials. The 4 street tacos were packed with meat. Choice of chicken, carnitas, al pastor , barbacoa. Their chips are freshly made and served hot. Extra $ with guacamole and salsa. We refills on the chips not automatic but we asked and rec'd. I ordered the 1/2 chicken mole, comes with white rice. The mole was thick, fair, but strong on the red Chile powder (?). Chicken tender. Pricey-$25. Flan very good. We split it between the 4 . Service good, we had 2 different servers.

I've been to Cinco a few times now, all during lunchtime, and my experience has been fantastic. It's not usually crowded, and there's plenty of tables and booths as well as a large bar counter. Service is attentive and they check on patrons pretty frequently. What I really love about this place is that they offer Tlayuda, which is not commonly served at Mexican restaurants in So Cal. Tlayuda is a large, super thin, crispy tortilla topped with bean spread, meat, lettuce or cabbage, asiento and Oaxacan cheese. I've only had it in Mexico City with chapulines (grasshoppers) as a topping. That'd be cool if they served that option here too. :) Besides the Tlayuda, they have a decent selection of appetizers, soups, salads, entrees and taqueria items. Other dishes I've tried here and found delicious were the Oaxacan wings, Aguachile, Shrimp Tostada Salad, and Pork Shank in mole sauce. Portions are generous and everything I tried were cooked and seasoned just right. Seems they have a great happy hour and full bar I'd like to try! There's also a parking lot in the back.

Great food, but way too loud inside. Hard to speak to people at your table. How dumb is it that Yelp requires 85 characters in your review?

I mostly love Cinco. This place gets pretty packed and loud during happy hour M-F (3-7pm I think) so plan accordingly if all you want to do is sit down and eat. There are booths, high top seating, bar or at the covered and heated patio. Cinco has you covered. I find the service to be friendly and always on time with an order. Top notch staff! There are a few big screen TVs with various sports going on too. I recommend beer, chips and salsa for this activity at the bar. Hows the food and drinks? I'll speak up for the Fish Tacos. Im usually down to get the Grilled Mahi tacos that are full of flavor and served up with a side of beans in cup (can be substituted with rice). I find this plate to be 10 out of 10! Another honorable mention goes to the Pollo en Mole Negro. Holy Crap! It too captures an authentic taste and will leave you wanting it again on the next visit. The drinks (beer aside) are well crafted and some do pack a punch! Im a fan of the Skinny Margarita and yep...they offer a great Old Fashioned here too. Both highly recommended. I suppose the one thing I cant get over and its probably something I could ask the server for is SPICIER SALSA! No manchen amigos...para eso es la salsa! Yes I want my salsa burning holes in my gut! So maybe its on me to ask? OVERALL: You'll find me here maybe 2-3 times a month on a Friday night and I like to make a reservation for a booth so if thats your thing too, its recommended. Say hello if you see your homie at Cinco! ¡SALUD!

Came here for happy hour with my cohort and professor so we had a huge group. We let them know beforehand and luckily were able to be seated at their long high top, although we were a bit squished. Unfortunately there was a party That reserved the outside area so it was our only option but it worked! Our server tried to take everyone's orders at once and bring out all our drinks, everyone seemed to like their cocktails. Some friends also ordered food and said it was pretty good. Especially since the happy hour pricing makes it more reasonable we were glad we all came at that time. It's a cute restaurant with good food and drinks and seemed to be pretty packed!

My friend went today fir happy hour everything was ok with the 1st server she was nice and very friendly but after she left no one else was paying any attention to us we got totally ignored they were paying attention to other people not to us at all.

We were staying nearby so my family and I decided to come in for dinner. It feels a lot like a neighborhood bar. Not all that busy but lots of groups of people chatting and having a good time. They do have large TVs for the games. We shared chips and guacamole and salsa which was delicious! My mom and aunt decided to try the mahi mahi tacos which they enjoyed. My sisters got chicken enchiladas while I got chicken tacos. The chicken wasn't dry!! Woohoo! My older sister tried the horchata which tasted like it was missing cinnamon while my mom and other sis shared Mexican coke. It's not a bad restaurant. I liked the vibe. It was kinda dark in there, so my aunt had to use her phone's flashlight to see the menu. LOL but the waiter did turn on the light right by our table which helped a bit. The staff was nice and food didn't take long. There's a small parking lot next to it but you can also find street parking.

Delicious Mexican food served in a casual dining-hall atmosphere. Service is prompt and friendly. The menu has plenty of choices for vegetarians and pescatarians in addition to the usual meat options. The esquite is divine -- just the right combination of smoky sweetness from the roasted corn to ho with the tang of the chipotle mayo and the tamarind salsa. The tacos borrachos with fried shrimp are flavorful and immensely satisfying.

I decided to walk over on a Saturday evening, all staff were very kind, the music and dim lighting makes for a lively ambiance. I ordered the Pozole rojo and it was very good. Big portion size and tasted authentic with plenty flavor. I especially appreciated the large portion of beer on tap served in a big glass. I would be happy to return.

Stopped in for a late night meal around 9:40 and had a fantastic dinner and margarita! Servers were attentive, food came out very quickly and it was delicious. The Tlayuda was so big, the 2 of us couldn't finish it in one sitting. Only thing I would change is putting more tomatoes on top, preferably diced or better yet, full pico de gallo, because every bite was very heavy with meat and it needed to be lightened up. Honestly shredded lettuce would have done the trick too. The ambiance was really good as well, with modern Mexican music blasting in the background. The booths were cozy and I loved the giant lightbulbs that emitted the same yellow glow as the candles on the table.

I love Cinco because it is so close to LMU where I work, but also because their variety of food, drinks and flavors are amazing! I have come here for work events, and gatherings with friends. I have come for happy hour and taco Tuesdays. Everything is delicious, the service is always super friendly, and the prices are reasonable. My favorite, besides, the mushroom on polenta, which I think was a seasonal thing, is the veggie burrito. It is huge and the salsa choices offer just the right amount of heat. This place also actually turned me onto gin drinks with their army navy cocktail. But the last time I went, I sipped on their seasonal Blitzen cocktail which tasted amazing, and felt so elegant!

Cinco is a cool Mexican sports bar near LMU and it has a nice vibe. I liked that they offer tamales, and though they were good, but I was hoping for more out of the Paco's Punch & the horchata. They were average at best. Brought my mom and the little one to cheer on the Braves from the west coast and though a disappointing outcome, I will say, it was pretty vibrant for a Tuesday night. Moms had tacos and the little one had a cheese quesadilla. Again, though good, I would not compare this to your abuela's. The esquite had a nice kick and was a good appetizer. Definitely come if you want to watch a sporting event & have a drink but I wouldn't make this a place to have a nice dinner or lunch.

Have to be honest, this place isn't good at all. The food and service were awful. First impression was great the hostess was super sweet. We sat near the bar with a big group. Some of us ordered from the bar, the bartender had a bad attitude, and acted as if we didn't exist. Why would you treat a big group like that, don't you want to make money. No wonder the place was kind of empty. The food came out pretty quickly. We got nachos and a torta. The torta had a weird after taste kind of like it wasn't fresh and the nachos also had the same taste. Will never be returning to this place and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.

Always will come here for the Cincos margarita, but the food is mid. Chips and guac are okay but the prices are extremely high for the food. Happy hour is the best time to come for the tacos deal. Service is normally pretty slow... But it's good to grab a couple drinks with friends.

Awesome drinks-delicious food! Always consistent with quality ingredients. pretty legit and authentic

Great food and menu! We got wings to start and a corn entree. We also ordered street tacos and a steak meal.

Long over due review. Cincos has definitely changed over the years for the better. I decided to give it a try again during covid & now I'm a regular. Our favorites are the chicken street tacos, ceviche, queso dip, aquachile, Paloma, & corn. Glad I decided to go back.

Hadn't been back to Cinco in a few years. Was always a good spot to get drinks but thought their food was a little lacking. Decided to try it again and the food quality definitely increased. Was a little more expensive than I remember but worth the increase for the better food. Drinks were still great too! Lighting was a little dark and sat in a corner which was nice for being quieter but also darker. Server was knowledgeable of the food and friendly. Will definitely go back before a few years pass.

Beautiful restaurant, food was presentable, micheladas were fantastic. However, it is severely over priced, potions are small, and the customer service was unacceptable. The poor lady was servicing about 10 tables while the bartender stood behind the bar. A nice young man came To bring us our food, but the waitress didn't have anytime to bring us the items we asked for. And then!! The waitress added gratuity for our party when there were only 5 of us. The menu clearly states " gratuity is added for parties 6 or more" she got a $35 tip for pretty much taking out orders. And the horchata sucks. Beware

I have dined at Cinco a few times now (all for happy hour) and have enjoyed my experiences each and every time. Most recently (tonight) I accompanied two friends for dinner and ordered the Las Palmas (Zero Proof) cocktail (pineapple, ginger, coconut cream, and lime) as well as the chips, salsa, and guacamole and the Carnitas burrito off the happy hour menu. Service was great as Abel M. was attentive and accommodating. It was relatively quiet inside the restaurant on this Thursday evening but not empty by any means. There is indoor and outdoor seating and happy hour is Monday-Saturday from 3pm to 7pm (dine in only) although they also have $5 tamale on Tuesdays and Mescal specials on Mondays! Great spot in a decent location (Playa Del Rey, kind of near LMU) with street parking as well as a private lot with some free parking spots. Wish the happy hour menu included a little bit more but nonetheless, it's worth checking out!

Great Happy Hour Menu. My kids are kind of picky and Cinco doesn't trip if anything is special ordered or off menu. The service is great. There's always a beautiful Hispanic lady that waits on us and there's always plenty of room inside or out when we arrive in the late afternoon. 5 stars for Cinco!

This place is so hit or miss. Service is usually my biggest complaint. I've had good meals here and others not so good. Fun place for drinks and apps, or maybe happy hour, but we skip this one for better places for special occasions or date nights.

Came for Happy hour after a flight and forgot to take a picture of my tacos but they were pretty fang good. Remembered to take one of the Flan which was creamy and decadent def splittable. Had a beer and four tacos for 8 bucks really hard ti beat my faves were the al pastor and the barbacoa. My mother got a tamale for tamale Tuesday and she thought it was okay nothing to write home about. I would stick to the tacos. More bang for your buck. Service was bland and forgettable. Asked for water three times to finally get it and it wasn't that busy.

Ok I rate this a dive bar. It's VERY minimalist (sorta dreary). It was a cold day and very cold inside. There are two entry doors, one on each wall perpendicular to each other, so people kept coming in and the freezing air blew right over the table. I left without trying the food and talked my group into going elsewhere.

I have gone here a lot for many years and eaten inside. I had to take a visitor from Europe recently who wanted to be outside. I was shocked at how ugly the patio was. It is clearly their parking lot but there were not trees, no decor, nothing but tables and chairs.It was so off putting when so many other places have tried to make their patios pretty, or bearable or not so grim. This was beyond grim. I felt embarrassed to take anyone here. Our food was also the worst experience i've had there. Cold, gross soy tacos, a lame burrito and overpriced fish dish that was not very good. The stand out was the queso dish. Maybe we caught them on a bad night. The menu item we loved has been removed. I just wish they would invest in some sort of effort for their sad parking lot patio area.

Really wanted to like this place but ultimately it was just okay. Service was friendly. They have a great cocktail list and a good happy hour. But the food was lacking. The tortilla soup was very watery and the tortilla chips inside were so soggy, it was if they dumped all the garnishes in the pot rather than placing them on top before serving. You also have to pay for chips & salsa. Too many good Mexican places nearby where I probably won't come back. But if you just want to come just for drinks you'll probably like it.

I hear happy hour is good. Regular hours are RIDICULOUSLY priced for Mexican food in this neighborhood. If it were somehow 'gourmet' or had a view of the ocean MAYBE? But it has neither. Crazy prices for average food and drinks (btw I typically do not complain about prices. $16 for more salsa and chips than you need is just silly)

Food is great had a few business meetings and are attentive and friendly! Loud and celebrated environment good vibes!

Cinco was excellent! The place had very chill feel to it and the crowd was a mix of all ages. The server was very tentative and kept checking on us for drinks, water and food. Food was very flavorful and had good presentation, the ceviche is a must and so is the chicken enchiladas. Prices are very reasonable and I would go back.

Quick and easy lunch spot. Esquites were really good, an elevated version of the kind you'd get from an elotero. Shredded beef and al pastor tacos also needed a lime wedge but the salsa was smoky and flavorful. They're hearty tacos with a generous portion of meat. Service is friendly and attentive.

A chill spot that I'd highly recommend for anyone seeking to enjoy a Mexican / Latin inspired feast or delicious cocktails TL;DR Version: - Amazing drinks! - Great food - Chill atmosphere

Definitely Cinco about grabbing some tacos here! Tuesdays are 4 for 8 and I... ate for four. Tried one of every kind, and not one of them made me say Cinc-no. Washed it down with a brewski (of which they have 50 on tap) and a house resposado. Friendliest staff that money can buy as they honored the happy hour that ended at 7:00 with us arriving as 6:59. Definitely worth the visit, and bonus? They won't woof about you bringing your dog!

Can't say that I love this place. I want to, I really do - but I don't. I've tried it twice. I really like the interior. The space is comfortable and the staff is great. The food is a bit disappointing though.

We went here for the first time today because my friend had heard about it and wanted to try it. We went at about 5 o'clock and it was happy hour. There is not much ambience it's just a local bar. The parking lot is small so you may have to find street parking. They do have an outside patio with plenty of seating. The inside looks very industrial and that's all I can say as far as ambience goes. It was not crowded so we were immediately seated. Our waitress greeted us when we sat, but we did have to flag her down to order. I had the tacos on the happy hour menu two Al pastor, one Carnitas ,and one Barbacoa. They were okay, nothing to write home about. My friend had the fish tacos and they were okay too. He gave them a 7/10. He had a beer and I had a mixed drink. You can't go wrong with a beer and my drink was good. Not too weak and not too strong, just right. The servers were very friendly and attentive. Prices are good and vibe is super layer back. If you just want a quick bite and a drink after work it's cool if you live in the area. I thought it was just okay so I am not eager to go back. Overall it was just okay . They do also have 5 TVs so it would be good to watch a game and have a beer if you didn't feel like sitting at home. Just a chill local neighborhood bar.

Yeah I know cliche go to Cinco on Cinco De Mayo! Why not I say Quaint restaurant with outside seating, ample menu with primary Oaxacan influences but also American standards like wings! Ordered the tostada bowl with shrimp, tlayuda and pozole plus a margarita and paloma Food solid 4.5 stars Service solid 4.5 Only issue was our Paloma glass had a crack in it which is no bueno Overall a solid place with good quality food and also check out their happy hour !!

Uno: rowdy tequila selection Dos: wicked nachos Tres: baha fish tacos from the heavens Quatro: easy AF parking CINCO: where to get your mexican on

The drinks and atmosphere was good service was good. Went out and had drinks and little dark but still kool sat at the bar

Came here because it was recommended by my daughter . Was just ok . Burritos were small we never got chips and salsa . Probably have to pay for them here . Margarita not anything special. Kinda on the weak side .

You must order the micheladas! I am by my immigrant friends, "Cinco" means five in Spanish. I give this place Cinco stars.

Definitely seems to cater to a certain demographic. Under 40? Definitely not for middle aged folks. My partner and I went there for happy hour at 5 PM on a Friday. We didn't have reservations, but pre-pandemic no one could make a reservation for happy hour. We left because even though there were 3 empty booths and 5 open tables, we were told that we couldn't be seated because we didn't have reservations. We could sit at the bar, which was completely full. I felt like we were being profiled. What a shame. But the upside is, we found Hacienda Del Rey around the corner Who didn't give us any kind of trouble and we enjoyed a very lovely meal and drinks reasonably priced with a very friendly atmosphere.

Got takeaway from here (burritos) so can't speak to ambiance or service .. nor the drinks which do look tasty. The chicken in one burrito was full of the little fatty bits and the beans tasted (and looked ) like they were from a can. The Al pastor similarly had lots of not choice bits. While packaging and salsas seemed legit the burritos themselves were pretty disappointing and not tasty.

I came here because a friend recommended it. Was so dissapointed. The servers were rude and i found rat droppings at the foot of my seat. STAY AWAY!

I've always been treated well, by the staff at Cinco. The food/drinks are always very good. Thank you.

Food is very bland and disgusting. Please don't waste your time!!! I'm begging you. You will be disappointed. You're better off going down the street to hacienda playa.

Love this place. They're happy hour is great for mescal or margaritas and also I highly recommend the chicken burritos they have shredded chicken in them and I get mine without rice or cheese so I make it a little healthier and it's all shredded chicken almost and it's so good and only eight dollars.

Slightly expensive but tasty Mexican food in a lively sports-bar-esque atmosphere. My chicken taco was delicious and they definitely didn't skimp on the protein. The queso dip, which we shared with the table, was good and the chips were excellent. My friend's quesadilla came with huge portions of guac, pico, and sour cream. Another friend of mine ordered the burrito, which I tried and enjoyed, but personally would have preferred with less rice proportionally. Our server was really nice and accommodating, but it was somewhat difficult to communicate just because things were loud and busy. Prices were reasonable but still somewhat expensive (though maybe not for this part of LA?)--we visited in July 2023, and my taco cost $5; the burrito was $12.

Great ambiance, and food and happy hour and parking. Service is always pleasant and attentivr

Love this place! Great Happy Hour and Great Service. I left a pair of AirPods at the restaurant a few days ago during happy hour. The crew was honest and kind enough to hold on to my AirPods until I was able to get them back. Can't wait to go back!

Ambience and service was good . The have a large patio and a huge bar seating area . The tacos were pretty good . Preferred the barbacoa over the Al pastor . The red salsa was bomb !

I had been wanting to try this spot for happy hour for so long! They have pretty good deals on happy hour menu. We got the happy hour tacos, queso fundido and chips, a burrito, palomas, and margaritas. Outside/Inside: 3.5 out of 5 There is a mini parking lot facing the entrance of the restaurant. The lot is fairly small, so I imagine there being difficulties finding parking during peak hours or events. The ambience inside is that of a typical modern restaurant and bar. The bar and dining area are spacious and allows for adequate distancing. I can definitely see it being a good backdrop to IG posts. The outdoor patio is quite spacious and is carpeted with fake grass (I forgot what it's called, lol). The tables are distanced far apart from each other, so this definitely supports a COVID-safety friendly environment. There is also a big screen, so you catch TV while dining here. Food: 4 out of 5 To start, they offer complementary chips and salsa. We also ordered the happy hour queso fundido for $6 and that is served with more chips. I must say the chips were rather stale and overly salty. The burrito $7 and it was cut in half, which is perfect for sharing between two people. and We chose al pastor for the meat for the burrito. The burrito was medium-sized, but packed with meat. The 4 street tacos were only $6 and we got one al pastor, one barbacoa, one pollo, and one carnitas taco. I'm glad we decided to try one of eat meat. Each meat was good on their own, as well, so you can customize your tacos to fit your liking. The Drinks: 3.5 out of 5 Both palomas and margaritas were $10 each. The drinks lacked flavor, was watered down, and personally not my style, because I prefer sweeter cocktails. Not the best palomas or margaritas I've had, but they're for happy hour and I'm still into it. Service: 2.5 out of 5 We had a doggie friend with us, so we wanted to be seated outdoors. We went to through the front door and restaurant to the back outdoor patio seating. It seemed a little disorganized, because no one was at the front to receive us or give us instructions as to how to go to the patio, especially since we had a doggie friend with us. Servers appeared not attentive throughout our entire dining experience. They even brought us a wrong order, which they didn't notice till we called them and pointed it out to them. I don't think they were overwhelmed, either, because both inside dining and outside patio were pretty empty. That being said, I want to give them the benefit of the doubt. I'd like to think it's an isolated incident.