LALA'S Argentine Grill Downtown Los Angeles

I was happy to come across this place in downtown while doing some errands...food was alright, I can't say it was my best Argentinian food as I travel a lot and enjoy meat. It was my first time therefore I need to come back and try it again but other dishes. I feel like it was locking a little flavor even the chimichurri for the bread yet it was nice to sit and have authentic Argentinian. For sure its like a comfort food place and I will go back and try it again.

Delicious. AMAZING quality & customer service. Very filling portions. A MUST TRY! The flan was the BEST I ever had. & I had flan in dozens of places. The steak with mushroom sauce will melt in your mouth. Can’t Waite to go back & try more items. The mashed potatoes, TO DIE FOR. This restaurant is a must TRY!! Both the waiter & the Restaurant manager were super attentive with EVERYONE! & welcoming.

I’ve lived next to Lala’s DTLA for years and it’s always been one of my favorite neighborhood spots but the service has gone so bad that I can no longer support them. My last two pickup orders were wrong - both times the sides they make you pay extra for were either missing or wrong, which meant going all the way back and waiting again. Today was the final straw. I ordered a medium steak and they gave me rare. When I brought it back, instead of making a new one, they took the same steak, burnt it to well done+, and handed it back to me like I was a dog. At that point, I put it in the garbage where it belongs and decided to write this review. I’m sure someone in management cares, because whoever was working on October 9th around 4pm is destroying what used to be a great local restaurant

The picture might look good. But I truly felt too oily of the food. The fries suck too. The only thing that I like is the chimichurri sauce. It is the best to go with bread.

The energy of everyone here is so authentic and relaxed. Food is amazing and the serving size also. This is a rare type of restaurant where you get what you pay for and more.

This place completely ruined my last two days. I visited the restaurant yesterday right at 4 PM. I ordered a ribeye steak cooked medium, along with a beer and chimichurri sauce. The bread that came out was plain and nothing special, though the beer was quite good. However, things quickly went downhill. When my steak arrived, I cut into it in front of the server and saw that it was well-done, not medium. The server took it back immediately and returned with another steak—this time it was medium-rare. I was very hungry and didn’t want to make a fuss, so I just ate it as is. Throughout the meal, I felt extremely uncomfortable. I was seated by the window near the front desk, and both the owner and staff kept staring directly at me. Even when our eyes met, they didn’t look away. I’m an Asian man dining alone—maybe that was unusual to them—but it did not feel like a friendly gaze. When I received the bill, I noticed that the beer was not charged at the happy hour price, even though the menu clearly stated that beer is happy hour all day. This wasn’t just a mistake—it felt intentional. I pointed it out, paid, and left. As for the food itself—honestly, it’s not worth returning for. The steak had an odd texture: soft on the outside, mushy inside, and full of fat. It didn’t taste or feel like a proper ribeye, more like something you’d get from a discount grocery store. But the worst part came after I got home. I started experiencing intense stomach pain. I usually have a strong stomach, but this time the discomfort was immediate and severe. I ended up spending the night in pain and had diarrhea early in the morning. I was sick for two days and couldn’t work. My wife even called the restaurant that night to let them know, but they denied there was anything wrong with the meat. I ate nothing else that day—only the meal I had at this restaurant. Not only was the food disappointing, but the lack of accountability from the restaurant made everything worse. It’s upsetting that a local spot just across the street could leave such a bad impression. I will never be returning. Every word in this review is true. I’m willing to take legal responsibility if any part of it is false.

We got the tabla de carnes, and it was amazing. The steak was cooked to a perfect medium rare, and the filet mignon was the highlight. Friendly service, and decent prices.

Lala’s has been my go to spot for over 5 years now. I have had some successful business meetings at this location. I know that they have 2 other locations but this is my favorite one to go to as well. I have build a great relationship with their staff and owners. They also have the best sangrias in LA as it’s made fresh every day. The team is also reliable in making food in an adequate time. So it doesn’t take too long. When you are picking up order you have to park on the side as the parking is limited that’s why it’s perfect you can order online before you show up and they are fast with it too. They have a strong selection of many wines if you are into that.

Food was a little on the pricey side, but considering the portion size and quality of it I'd willingly pay for it. Tables for 2 come quick but don't have much space to move stuff around, but the food is so good that you'll only really need space for that. There are other larger tables but only a few, so I would assume availability gets scarce when it's packed. The host was quick and even the owner came and assisted us from the get-go, asking us if we wanted the curtains adjusted for shade. All in all, perfect place for a quick date, or even just a Sunday lunch. Will definitely come back again (and again, and again...)

Three stars because two people in my party seemed happy with their food. Another in the party thought their CAB burger was flavorless and a IQF product. My Milenesa Sandwich was a mistake to order. Mass produced baguette, more like a bad chickened fried steak thing. Iceburg lettuce, flavorless tomato, and mayo. I don't know why I thought it would be good. I will not go back.

Used to visit the melrose location a lot but the downtown location is closer to me. Dined in tonight with friends for a special occasion and had to send back my steak, when I got the re cooked steak back it was tough and chewy. Not the quality I'm used to. Not to mention the quality of the provoleta and mollejas was off. Disappointed about the quality and probably won't visit again. Not sure if there's new ownership but definitely disappointing and a waste of money.

First time here and I had a fantastic time at this restaurant. As we entered we were greeted immediately by the owner. The steaks and empanadas were perfectly cooked and the staff provided excellent service. Highly recommend!

We had a large party. Most of is ordered some version of steak. Everyones steak was way over cooked. I personally ordered medium rare and asked for it to be more toward rare than medium. It came out well done. Most of us just decided not to eat our dinners. It was company sponsored so we all could live with it but there is no way I'd want to waste hard earned money on the food at this place.

I really wanted to love this place but it fell short. Pros: Reasonably priced Nice staff No wait on a Saturday night Close to the Orpheum theatre Chimichurri sauce Clean appearance Clean bathroom Cons: Mediocre food Under seasoned mashed potatoes Overcooked chicken We saw a concert last night at the Orpheum and needed a place to eat. This place was close and we were able to walk in and be seated within 5 minutes. The waitress gave recommendations when asked but the kitchen definitely underdelivered. I ordered their citrus marinated half chicken or shall I say it was supposed to be citrus marinated. Neither myself nor hubby could taste any hint of a marinade. It was also very dry. I dunked my second bite in the chimichurri sauce, that came with the bread, and it definitely helped the situation but could not salvage the meal. I chose mashed potatoes for my side and they were ok. I would have preferred them served hot instead of room temperature and without the parsley garnish. They tasted much better after I added some salt and butter. My husband had the steak and fries. His steak was cooked as requested. The meat was ok albeit a tad tough. A little more seasoning would have helped. I convinced my husband to swap part of his steak for my chicken. The lady eating next to me, who had flown into town to see Van Morrison as well, didn't care for her chicken and mushrooms. She did enjoy their crepes with caramel sauce though. Another couple, also there for the concert, said the empanadas were the best thing they had. Perhaps the kitchen staff were possibly preoccupied with the baseball game and weren't paying as much attention to the food. I don't really know but I'd like to think it was just an off night. That being said, maybe give them a try but order the empanadas and a glass of wine

If you've worked or been to the Fashion District-- this spot is a staple. Been around for at least 15 years to my knowledge! Anywho, haven't been here in years and a coworker treated me to lunch here today. SO DELICIOUS!!! We both got the 3x empanada lunch special. Price and portions on point! I loved the beef and chicken curry flavors especially. The salad was also night and light. I now have a zit from eating too much chimichurri hahaha Warm, friendly, attentive service from the moment we arrived until departure. Thank you! Until next time!

We went to Dine LA for lunch last Friday. For $25, it was a great deal. The portions were large, and the steak was delicious. The salmon was also big, with a mushroom cream sauce that tasted very Argentinian. The salad, although a half portion, was still very generous. The service was excellent. Overall, it was a great experience, and I really liked it. The price was very good. I'll try the dinner menu if I get the chance.

Came here for lunch during dineLA and truly enjoyed myself. I ordered the chicken curry empanada (AMAZING!!) for a starter. My friend ordered the beef. I tasted it and it was good but not as great as the chicken curry. We ordered the sangria (it was separate) super tasty. As we waited for our food, our waiter brought us bread with chimichurri. For my main dish, I ordered NY champigon with the creamy mushroom sauce on the side (get the steak!) I don't really care for mushrooms but the sauce was tasty. My friend ordered the salmon dijon & informed me that she enjoyed it. For dessert, I got the flan (def amazing) & my friend got the vanilla ice cream. I would def come back another day

This restaurant is located on a trendy corner in the middle of Downtown LA. It's not a very big restaurant but luckily it was pretty empty which normally would be a red flag. However it was early lunch and I imagine this type of place gets busier in the evening. We tried the Provoleta and Empanadas to start. Both were very good. I am picky about empanadas so I was pretty happy. The crust was on the thinner side and nice and crisp - just how I like. Both steak dishes were tasty and tender. The best part was that chimichurri sauce. Yum. For dessert we had the flan with Dulce de leche which was a pretty tasty as well. The custard was light in texture which seems to be standard for South American flan but I prefer my custard more dense. The alfajores were okay. They were small but you get 4.

Pros: * Great DineLA lunch deal ($25 for an appetizer, main entree, and dessert) * Food came out really fast * Waitress had good recommendations * Complimentary bread and chimichurri sauce * Beef empanada was good, but the ham and cheese empanada was even better * Flan! Cons: * Hard to park (I'd recommend parking in a nearby lot) * Service was slow in the beginning * Mashed potatoes tasted like they were fake, zucchini was not good, and the steak was not impressive

Great food and service. Lively atmosphere, if a little loud. Before 6pm on Saturday wasn't a very long wait, but I think it can be much longer.

05.17.2024 We parked at the California Mart Center (CMC) and walked one block to find this place. My friend and I ate here before we walked over to The Orpheum Theatre and watched the Bored Teachers Comedy Show. We went in to check it out and were greeted right away. The place was busy and had a fun vibe. The servers were friendly and on the move. We ended up getting seated right away even though it was already pretty busy. PLUS! The menu was a QR code. As we searched the menu to find what we wanted, the servers were quick to bring us our drinks and some soft French bread and chimichurri sauce with olive oil. Their menu was extensive but everything looked good as we looked at what everyone was eating. The appetizer combo plate was great! The empanadas were cooked well. The outside was light and crispy. The fillings were tasty and packed in there. My favorite was the spinach. But both the chicken and beef were tasty. The flavors were good and I loved that they weren't greasy. The sausage was pretty yummy and was not heavy or greasy. It went well with the tortilla de papa. Think quiche but light cornbread texture with potatoes. We missed out on trying the panqueque con dulce de leche because they ran out in a matter of 30 minutes, from when we sat down to when we finished eating. I guess I'll have to come back and try more of their delicious food (or come back for more empanadas ) so we can try their dessert - the panqueques.

I've always been a fan of their steaks and used to go to the Melrose location often. However, it's been quite a while since they melrose location closed, and I hadn't been there for some time. When I heard they opened a downtown location, I visited twice for lunch. The steaks are still delicious, and other menu items like empanadas and calamari are also tasty. The place is relatively small and the interior isn't fancy, but it's a great spot to satisfy that steak craving during lunch breaks while working downtown.

I love LaLas! Was so sad when Melrose closed due to a fire. Was a frequent visitor. Stoked my friend suggested we go to DTLA location today. It's a very bright open cafe. And the food was great and reasonably priced as usual. Love the soft bread with chimichurri dipping sauce to start. They have really good lunch specials so I had to get the salmon. Delicious! Fluffy tasty rice. Excellent piece of fish. The service was great. I'd go back anytime when in DTLA.

Love the food the chicken with mushrooms and white sauce was delicious. Their steak is fire and their chimichurri too.

I had a fantastic time at this restaurant! The steaks were perfectly cooked, and the attentive waitstaff provided excellent service throughout the meal. I must say, the Sangria they serve is hands down the best in all of Downtown LA. I couldn't get enough of their delicious empanadas and flavorful chimichurri. I highly recommend this restaurant if you ever find yourself in downtown LA. Also, there's a public parking lot conveniently located just across the street on Main, and it only costs $10.

Great food. Very nice service. Great location for the Orpheum theater .... Lovely meal. Brought to our table- Bread and chimichurri Appetizer-Shrimp Patagonia-delicious and light. Garlic, butter, parsley Main course-Filet mignon and mashed potatoes. Cooked perfectly. (3 medallions, great portions) Also, the Milanesa Napolitana w/ fries was delicious. Sangria was liked well by the wife .... Very affordable.

We ordered takeout from Lala's this past weekend...it was pretty terrible. 1. Packaging was terrible and some of the food was stuck to the paper towels (yes paper towels). 2. Food had zero taste without the chimichurri (which was the only decent thing). 3. Quantity was truly laughable. This restaurant has really gone downhill and we won't be returning.

Unimaginative space with decent service to get an up-priced piece of choice meat and indifferent sides. Empanadas were dry and the beef tough on the Gaucho (tasty seasoning). The pricy sandwiches look like a better deal. Nothing much for the vegetarian in our group. The Porotos salad was mostly just canned beans thrown on bagged greens, $15 for $1 worth of ingredients and 30 seconds time by a kitchen assistant. With so many better options in the area I recommend this spot only for the happy hour.

I have eaten at this location twice now and it does not disappoint. I ordered the same thing both times and it was stellar. Consistency is a big thing for me with restaurants. We ordered the Tabla De Carnes 29oz. It comes with 3 types of steaks (filet mignon, NY strip and ribeye) and 2 sides for $80. It's a great deal! It says 2-3 people and we shared it between 3 and it was perfect. We got the salad which is so refreshing and I could eat a bowl by myself and I'm not big on salad. The fries were served hot and crispy. We had the meat cooked medium which was perfect for Me as I don't like it red. I also got a cappuccino which is honestly one of the best I've had in the US. Another member of the party got a red wine flight which had a Pinot noir, Malbec, Cabernet and Malbec. They have quite a wine selection as well. The service has been great and we have been seated right away both times. It wasn't loud and had nice vibes. The only problem I could see some people having is the meat is quite salty which I like but I know that's not for everyone. Also the surrounding area is kinda sketch with lots of homeless and graffiti but that's downtown LA for you. I will be back again for sure and highly recommended.

These empanadas were delicious, 100% recommended. The service was the best in the world and the atmosphere was elegant and casual. Beautiful!!!

One on the best empanadas I've ever had. Very crispy exterior and flavorful filling. The chicken dish was delicious as well. Will definitely be returning back to try their other offerings.

I saw some great reviews on Google about this spot and I decided to check it out. I ordered their Argentine Costilla Grande, calamar frito & fried shrimp along with their Signature Cab, "Lala." The steak was ok, it wasn't seasoned much and I asked for medium rare and it was past that. I added salt, A1 steak sauce and it did the job. I don't think it was worth $40 for that cut. I've had Argentinian steaks at other spots and for half the price. Their steak wasn't horrible at all but for the price, I was expecting way more & it was ok. I know it's an insult to ask for Bbq sauce at a steak house but I needed some bbq for this one. The calamari & fried shrimp were good but lacked the crisp that I'm used to. It was seasoned, juicy but it was also underwhelming. The highlight of the whole meal was the wine, their Lala Cab was phenomenal & I'll probably get a bottle next time for home. Customer service was cool also. I'd definitely come back again and try this other menu items.

Happy hour 4p-7p Mon- Friday. Parking across the street walking distance is the closest and cheapest $10. Food seas tasty. Mashed potatoes were ok needs a little salt. But otherwise it's a good place to have dinner. Staff were also very nice.

Food was delicious, had the assorted appetizers that let you try the quiche, empanadas, etc all which were amazing. Had the steak and mashed potatoes and really enjoyed the flavor topped with Chimichurri sauce. The service was great and the design of the place felt a mix of South American with industrial design. Would come back again.

When I want to grab a quick and fresh meal this is my spot. I don't ever have to wait, I get the Dijon salmon plate every time.

I love this place! I order it for delivery and I've eaten at the restaurant. It has never disappointed in over five years of my eating here. When I go to the restaurant, the service is always good. The staff is polite and friendly and also help with anything you need. The place was pretty crowded when I went and most times always people waiting. It is nicely decorated with good amount of tables close to each other. I always order the steak and fries. Not once has it been over cooked or undercooked in the time I've been going. Even when I order delivery, it's perfect. I enjoy this place as my regular steak dinner when eating out. I hesitate to order anywhere else because there is no guarantee it will be perfect like this place. Well seasoned, perfect medium color, and the sauce is just perfection! This is also a great date place or place to go for a business meeting or just to hang out for a good meal. I truly recommend having a bite here anytime.

Always a great meal. Service is always is exceptional. Parking sometimes a little difficult

Wonderful restaurant everything taste so delicious. Highly recommend. Enjoyed eating, the Tortilla de papa.

Amazing service, great food. The steak here is the best and there aren't many argentinian places in LA so this one is definitely worth a visit.

I really enjoyed coming here for lunch. The service was very adamant and the food felt very fresh and I really enjoyed the combination plates I had together. I think the ambience during lunch was pretty relaxing didn't feel chaotic in there and they were fully serviced. I will come again for some empanadas soon!

Nice people, good food: Had Salmon that was nice and garlicky, cooked perfectly, topped with tomatoes. The beef empananda is probably the best one I've ever had. Crust was nice and flaky, like a croissant, and the beef was seasoned very flavorfully. They have a nice selection of wines, and the chimichurri sauce is spectaculous. You'll want to lather it on everything. so why not 5 stars? Mashed potato's (although tasty) were a little on the thin side, a texture thing, for me. But....will be back.

Coming from a born & raised Argentino living in OC --This place has the best chimichurri with the most authentic flavors anywhere between LA to OC. El carne es increíble y el ambiente también. Best service and ambiance anywhere in Dtla. I will be back FOR SURE

Definitely something different I never eat Argentinian food but let me told you I was delicious the meat have really great flavor and cooked almost perfect I tried the costilla was super good my wife order the milanesa witch i was my favor to be honest. so I highly recommend this place lots of options staff was super friendly and fast service you won't regret it

Lalas food is delicious and authentic. Can't go wrong with the NY steak which was medium well and very tender. Mushroom with grilled onions delicious. Mash potatoes a must. I was not a fan of the Cesar salad. Didn't like the flavor. The bread and sauce for the appetizer is delicious.

Last night was my first and last time trying Lala's. I will start by saying the actual food was good. However, it was not worth dealing with their awful service the entire night. It irks me to plan a night out to have a rude server (Belkin) ruin the night. There was a group of us, and we got some meat and chicken empanadas. However, we quickly noticed that two or more of them were cheese (which they sent by mistake because I can't cheese). Mistakes happen all of the time. That is not a big deal. It was how she handled the situation and was rude about it. She continued to have an attitude for the entire dinner. Food allergies are a real thing, and due to their awful service, I will not be returning.

Great food. Cooked to perfection, reasonably priced for the portions. You can buy the chimichurri sauce to go! Lovely place.

Food was good, and fresh. 100% recommend the lobster ravioli with the pink sauce. Almost everything had a good flavor except the mashed potatoes were pretty blan, and the spicy shrimp penne needed just a bit more sauce

When it comes to Argentinian food there is a vast and crowded community of restaurants. LaLa's is possibly in the middle of that stack. The meat is it seasoned as well as it could be, the seating is a bit limited. But the highlight was the service if I was to go back it would be because of that great service that we received not because of the food which is kind of sad. I'm not saying that it's bad but I would definitely say it's not great.

They make a mean and AMAZING Caesar salad! I always like to order the large (: I've only gotten take out from them so I can't speak on service but this place has the best Cesar salad in town at least for now until I find something better lol

Buen servicio buen trato paciencia sonrisa y comida sabrosa volveria a ir , limpio y atentos

Came here for lunch with my co-workers and the food was very good. I ordered the spicy chicken with a salad and mashed potatoes. It was not very spicy. The empanadas and chimichurry sauce were on point! There was no wait for us during lunch. The water was a little rusty which was weird cause no one was waiting, but other than that it was great!

The food was decent, my boyfriend LOVED his steak but my chicken was vastly overcooked to the point I thought I was going to break the plate using the knife as a saw. The fries we're fresh and crispy, especially with the chimichurri sauce! The strawberry lemonade is also a hit; the perfect balance of tart and sweet. Lastly their flan is amazing! I wish the slice was larger but thats me being greedy. The staff is super sweet and the restaurant is a quiet vibe. Cute for date nights and small gatherings.

Now I'm reviewing just takeout but wow! Amazing food...my mother even said there's flavor in every bite! The steaks are cooked perfectly, seasoned perfectly, and even to go somehow served perfectly. The zucchini was amazing! Not sure what they did to the tomatoes that come with it but they were the best I've ever had. The rice was also super flavorful...yes even the rice was worth talking about!! 100% will come back here and probably eat inside next time because it's perfect to go!

This place is a real Argentinian taste, 100% recommend for a real Argentinian. The service was awesome, they were so kind, the ambience make me fell like I was in my country.

Delicious!!! Reasonably priced great food. Such great staff with a good feeling energy. Really really yummy. The skirt steak and filet were seasoned perfectly and cooked to the exact right temperature. The flan was exceptional. They even have cappuccino. The management is super sweet. A real gem.

I LOVE ME SOME LALA'S!!! No matter what I order, it's always a hit! From the creamy mashed potatoes to the chorizo, different cuts of meat, milanesa, empanadas, chimichurri, it is all absolutely delicious. The service is great and swift. The ambiance is very crowded because of how great it is but you'll still be able to hear your conversation. A MUST GO if you're in LA no matter which location you choose because there are several.

Excellent place!!! The food and hospitality was amazing!!! Thank you Hector for making me and my friends feel welcomed. The steak is recommended especially since it's straight from Argentina!!!! This place is a must. The ambiance is sexy.