Ortega 120

Best Mexican food outside of Mexico! Honestly the best Mexican I’ve had in LA in years! Super friendly service, and fantastic margaritas - we had pomegranate & ginger. And the best salsa, spicy and rich.

The food is fantastic, and the waiters are very polite, friendly, and incredibly patient (we had a table with a few food restrictions, and a whole lotta questions)! They were very accommodating, and all of our meals were made perfectly. The decor is authentic and beautifully done; none of the pieces felt cheesy or shoehorned in for the sake of pandering. I had a great time, and will definitely be visiting again!

Omg! The food here is excellent! Portions were generous. Everything was very tasty. The beans were the best. We had short ribs carnitas,shrimp tacos, it was all good. Service was prompt,not slow. Staff was friendly. We parked in parking structure next door. It is an easy spot to drive past/ miss. Bathrooms were well maintained. Great spot to eat good food. Next time,I am trying the mole enchiladas or ribs.

What a let down!! We used to love to come here. They no longer have a special vegan/vegetarian menu. NO vegan options unless you special order and just a couple options for vegetarians. I asked if they could customize my salad to have romaine instead. The waiter said yes but it arrived with mixed greens which I would not have ordered. Almost no toppings. Menu said corn but none on mine. A different waiter delivered our orders. I told him I asked for Romaine in my salad. No apology. No offer to replace, no discount or no free item. Nothing. As a vegetarian it’s always a worry that I will “wreck everyone else’s evening” So I kept my mouth shut. I ate the avocado off the top and the rest went uneaten. I Left hungry. I didn’t want this to ruin our bday lunch celebration. But I will NEVER go back. And never again recommend Ortega 120 to anyone. The music was VERY loud. We asked them to turn it down, but the volume went back up soon after. It made it difficult to have a conversation. Everyone else’s meal was basic. Okay. Nothing special. Too bad because we used to love this place 👎🏻

Something happened. It's not open anymore. 🙅‍♂️ 🚫🚫🚫🚫🚫🚫🚫🚫🚫🚫🚫🚫🚫🚫🚫🚫🚫 A rated restaurants. Face masks required😷. Friendly, clean and good food. Indoor dining is open. It doesn't feel the same as before because of covid-19😔. It's fully open now🤙. Plenty of parking space. Garage parking (📍free and no valet) so rain or shine the vehicle will be out of the elements☀️🌡🌩🌨. And if it's your🎂🎉 birthday they do sing👨‍🎤👩‍🎤🧑‍🎤 and give you ice cream vanilla🍧 and two churros. Free to the B-day person🥳. They do serve drinks🥤🧋🍹🍸 with a paper straw. I remove the paper straw. For me it makes my drink taste weird😒. I just keep forgetting to ask them no straw🤦‍♂️. That's on me not on them. Still the food is great. And the bar is open. 😁 (Old Review)👇 they have kids meals for the kids. I'm a big horchata fan. I give it a 5 out of 10. it was good but it was too watery down. Employees very friendly and smiling. The chicken strips kids meal super delicious. The cheese quesadilla kids meal was good too. FYI the kids got their meals first. They have wooden chairs with no cushion. Presentation of the food was beautiful and delicious. My burrito was just a plate and a burrito. they need to work on the presentation on that one. Anyways free parking inside the garage next to the restaurant. when you see the restaurant and a traffic light turn right inside it's free no valet. One important thing. Your cell phone signal will be one bar or none this garage is very big inside. So cell phone signals will be none.

Ortega 120 has the BEST taco Tuesday! There is convenient parking in the structure right behind the restaurant. The beautiful Spanish styled restaurant is very welcoming. They freshly cook their tortillas in the front of the restaurant so it is always smelling so wonderful. Their drinks, especially the margaritas, are delicious. There was no wait when we arrived and the service was great.

Excellent service at this location. Our server Will definitely made our Sunday brunch a great one. He was polite, patient, and timely taking our orders and expediting our delicious food. The location itself is a gem. Lots of cool stuff to look at. They also had the Dodgers game on the big projector and TVs around the entire spot. I do recommend and will return when possible. Thank you Will and Ortega's Staff. Great job.

5 De Mayo with the Wife Was Great. Great Atmosphere, Excellent Service provided by Eric. Ordered The Sole Trio. Delicious. The Drinks were spot On. Had the Impala.💯👀✅💯👀. I highly recommend this establishment for Great Service, Great Food, and Great Atmosphere. Thank You Ortega 120

I haven't written a review in awhile, but Ortega always deserves a review. So here goes...EXCELLENT! Ortega 120 continues to be one of the premier Mexican restaurants in Los Angeles...they have changed their menu over the years but the food selection and flavors remain top notch. The server Gabriel is always excellent and friendly and if you go there more than once he will remember you. All the servers are on point but we like Gabriel especially. It is dark inside with a day-of-the-dead motif, which we like and seems to add to the experience. I miss the old movies they used to project on the wall, but it's really all about the food. I forgot to mention...best margaritas ever. Maybe somewhere in the world there is one similar but if there is I am I am unaware. They have a special way of preparing it at Ortega. Ask them about it sometime.

This place isn't what it used to be. I recall Ortega being a nice Mexican restaurant with an elevated feel but when I recently went it was lacking that. The service was good, so I will not knock that. It started with the paper menus, those give off cheap vibes to me, especially considering the cost of the food. We were seated right away as I had reservations. They have both indoor and outdoor aerating and outdoor is heated. I can't recall of the chips and salsa were free but I do recall no refills and they give the full tostadas. The salsa was spicy! Flavor wasn't bad but needed some salt. My sister ordered a soda and it was completely flat and the server told us they haven't changed out their machines... gross! I ordered a wet burrito (no meat) and my sisters got a carne asada burrito wet and my mother the carnitas plate. The burritos weren't bad but weren't nothing to rave home about. The carnitas were lacking flavor overall.

Its been years (c. 2019) since I have been to Ortega 120. See previous review. The venue has...changed. Before, you were greeted with beautiful Mexican artwork on the walls. While they are still there, they are no longer at the forefront. Instead, the alters are hidden near the bathroom and the artworks appear to be shuffled in such a way that you have to look around to find it. I scrolled through the reviews and noticed that they may have changed owners. I also noticed that business was a lot slower than it used to be. This place used to be vibrant with a 20 minute waitlist, even on a Sunday afternoon. We sat down and ordered the following: Horchata: Still amazing as always Skinny margarita: this one had less sugar than other typical margaritas. It had a wonderful balance of sweetness and alcohol Enchiladas with mole and - chicken (tinga) this one was very flavorful, it wasn't too spicy - Carne azada steak: my dad didnt enjoy it, he felt there wasnt enough meat and didn't feel fresh. Note, he still finished it Salmon plate : my mom tried this and she loved the dressing but felt the fish wasnt the best. Churros: this was 8/10. The churros were perfectly cooked, and the vanilla ice cream that went with it was amazing. The only downside was the chocolate syrup. We felt that this should have been drizzled on and not a pool at the bottom. We also felt that there should have been an edible mint as a garnish. I also noticed that they no longer make tortillas. And what was once the star side dish - Mexican rice. It was drier than normal. The service was stellar, they told the chef about my shellfish allergy and the staff was very nice and attentive. Overall, we still want to come back for lunch. The price tag is a little too high for what they are offering. However the dessert is perfect for sharing, and the drinks are spot on. I hope that the owners take into account all these reviews and suggestions, because this restaurant was/is amazing and i hope it bounces back up again.

I LOVE this restaurant. The attentive servers, the vibe, the cocktails and especially the food are all 10/10. They have the best Al Pastor tacos! The pomegranate ginger cocktail is also amazing. There is a happy hour at 3:00 pm which includes $4.50 tacos and discounted margarita pitchers and drinks. Parking here is great too. There is a free parking lot behind the restaurant. I will definitely be back here soon!

A pitcher of spicy Margs and the Mixto Ceviche is all you're gonna need. Tacos Tuesday the damn thang

Chef Cris Brown, thank you for coming out to meet up, kudos to this restaurant for giving you a chance to show your art with food We will be back again and again

Really great food, service, and ambiance! Walking in we immediately loved the setup, great lighting and decor that feels homey. I was craving some mole enchiladas and they did not disappoint! Large portions and super delicious. My husband got the birria tacos and said they weren't anything to rave about but still good. We ordered a kids plate for our 10 month old and they made sure it wasnt too hot and there was plenty of food to take home as well. The servers were all super sweet and friendly. Thank you for the wonderful meal

Very disappointed on my recent visit. Seems like the food quality took a big hit. Started off with margaritas. And had the happy hour guacamole. That must have been a bad omen first off. The worst guacamole I've ever had. It was flavorless. Where was the fresh garlic, salt, lime? Not even pouring the salsa over it could save it. My friend and I both had the Tacos Del Barrio (3 taco plate), which comes with a side of rice and beans. I had the short rib, carne asada and the pollo. The short rib was bland and tasteless. The carne asada was overly salted....needed the salt in the guacamole! The chicken was better. I was surprised that the restaurant wasn't crowded on a Saturday evening. Or has Ortega lost their mo jo?

Nachos were delicious and big enough to share. Nice place to hangout or go out on a date, our server was hospitable and made us feel welcomed. We will definitely be back again for more horchata martinis!

Several years ago, this was a dope Mexican spot; but not any more. The food was so terrible, and un-mexican, that we laughed about it. We were a table of five guests, and there was not one hint of cilantro, fresh onions, or lime. I mean, I had a "carne asada" plate with brussel sprouts.. The food was seasoned with water. I'd rather have some Rachael Ray pozole. The appropriation of the wonderfully curated decor is a real crime with the food they are serving. Quite infuriating. Employees and service were fine. Sheesh...

I love this place! Came here to celebrate a family member's birthday and at first I wasn't too sure about this place because I seen some negative reviews on here that turned me off but my sister convinced me to give it a try and I'm glad I did. The food, drinks, service, and the atmosphere was phenomenal! If you're looking for a place that makes strong margaritas, this is the spot! I ordered a michelada and mango margarita...LETHAL! The Fish tacos tasted great but it wasn't a "wow" for me. I loved the flavor but the only thing that turned me off about it was the micro greens. I would've enjoyed cilantro and onions in lime juice on top of it rather than the micro greens. I know I'm an adult but I just never been a big fan of micro greens. My sister ordered a Chicken Enchilada in Verde sauce and had the opportunity to taste her plate. I think I should've ordered that instead because it was probably the best enchilada I tried in LA. If you ever get stuck on what to order, order this in Verde Sauce. I promise you, you will not regret it. It's that good. The service was phenomenal. The waiter was very friendly, attentive, and informative. He described the menu very well. For Indians that have 50% knowledge of Mexican cuisine, he did a pretty good job at informing us about the different flavors of Mexico. He even knew when we needed assistance and without asking, things would magically appear. Very superb service. Full 5 stars from me. Would definitely recommend.

I've had many great memories and delicious food at Ortega 120. The food was seasoned well, and the staff were very attentive. The ambiance is dark and intimate. It was a great place for happy hour or dinner with friends. It's temporarily closed, and I'm hoping it can make a comeback, but with the rent at this location being so high, who knows.

WORST dining experience I've had in LA in 18 years. I can deal with waiting 30 minutes for our waiter to come to our table. I can deal with the same waiter then returning 15 minutes later with the wrong order. I can deal with stale chips. I can deal with being charged for salsa we didn't ask for. I cannot deal with a horrifically rude manager who shows no care for our concerns and says "that's how it is when it's busy." This spot used to be my GO TO! The decor has been cheapened (as you'll see in the greasy, plastic menus) and the management is absolute garbage. BY THE WAY... The manager's parting words as we explained our frustration in waiting on service with 2 hungry kids under 2 was "you can leave or I'll call the police." He wouldn't give his name but I'll look forward to karma doing its thing.

Favorite place to eat some Mexican style food by the beach the staff is always amazing (Jose) and always go above and beyond to make every time a great time. The food always comes out hot and packed with flavor !!!! Sad to hear they are close Wednesday and Thursday now...my partner and I have probably ate here over 50+ times and it never disappoints!!! The food is so yummy and the margarita pitchers will do it for you!!!

Upon walking in very empty at 12:00 noon on a Sunday. We ordered the queso fundido and the taquito rolls for starters a Man blended Margarita without tajin and a daquiri Music ****(4) Atmosphere ****(4) Location ***(you can miss it if you aren't paying attention) Decoré *****(5) Customer Service *****(5) *Gabriel i believe was our waiter We will be back

Food was so delicious, especially the potato taquitos!! I thoroughly enjoyed all of it. The place was very nice and well decorated. The service was very friendly and accommodating.

Been wanting to come here for awhile after one of my daughters recommended it to me. My wife and I started our dinner with the Calamari a la Diabla. The chipotle sauce, onions, and red peppers that they're cooked with gave this dish a completely different flavor than the usual calamari you find on most menus. My wife got the hand rolled Taquitos filled with the Chicken Tinga. You get five per order are they are stuffed full with meat. They came topped with avocado salsa, pickled red onions, and cojita cheese. I tried one and it was really good. For my entrée I got the short rib enchiladas with green sauce. The shredded meat was very tasty and the two enchiladas were filled with it. The green sauce added to the flavor. Our two dishes came with beans and rice, and both were good. After all that our waiter Rodolfo brought us a complimentary dessert of churros and vanilla ice as my wife and I were celebrating a milestone tonight. Thank you Rodolfo. Lastly the staff were all friendly and efficient and kept everything very clean which we both appreciated during this time with everything that is going on.

This used to be our go to spot for a nice dinner, birthday celebration or date night before kids so I decided to take my husband here for a special birthday dinner. Oh man has the quality really taken a nosedive! The Ortega we knew and loved is long gone ... from the salsa to the rice and beans, everything tastes like it's from a can or jar now. Reading through the reviews it looks like the place is under new ownership. So many good memories here but we won't be back. Spend your money on one of the many other good Mexican spots in the area

Great ambiance, mediocre food. Tried the street tacos and the tres sopes in addition to their non-complimentary chips and salsa (costs $2). Overall the food tasted like an overly Americanized Mexican fare that would remind you of El Torito or Chevys (although I'm balance Chevys tastes better). Service was fine. Value was okay (we spent about $50 for two for weekday lunch). Would not come back. You're better off going down the street to Vida in Riviera Village for about the same price but much better tacos.

Among a plethora of Mexican restaurant, Ortega120 stands out. Chef Chris Brown is classically trained and has appeared on various Food Network shows. im not a foodie in any way, but I know what I like and I liked this.

I've been coming for years and am sad that the quality has gone down. I'll try again in a few months and am hoping it was an isolated visit.

Went in for a family members birthday party and everyone's food was amazing. I tried the chipotle Salmon and it was delicious I'd definitely get it again. Our serviced was polite and took great care of us. I noticed business is a little slow so hope they don't close.

Service was nice.. ambience is also nice.. the food is not great. They charge for the chips and salsa which you don't ask for but they give it to you like most Mexican spots but they charge. They charge for spicy salsa for the chips as well. 10 dollar guacamole not worth it. Not a fan.

This restaurant was located next to our hotel in Redondo Beach. Honestly if you blinked you would miss it and did on the first night. I noticed it the second night and looked it up as a option for a group lunch on the weekend. Randomly mentioned it to a coworker that lives in LAX and surprisingly they knew of the place and it was there go to anniv, b day place for the last couple years! Mentioned it to someone else and they said the same thing lol. So figured we should try it out. Managed to convince 5 of the other managers I was in town with to head over for lunch Sat. Chips and salsa and water were brought out as soon as we sat down and we were asked if we wanted any drinks. We started with tequila shots and margaritas, the tequila list is EXTENSIVE! 2 of us knew Jack squat about tequila (I am a whiskey girl and so was he so we already cringing at the thought of tequila lol but hey when in Rome...). The waiter realized we didn't want gut rot but something semi good and brought us 2 shots of silver something then some fancy named tequila for the rest. The chips and salsa went quick and they refilled them fast. Both were great and had great flavor with a nice little kick to the salsa. The chips were whole rounds and just freshly made. We decided on getting appetizers and me being the only non pork non beef eater I let them have at it. They ordered the Asada Fries, Queso Fundido, Guacamole and 2 of us ordered Street Corn Esquites. The fries they went ham on! Everyone said they were good and we're tempted to order another. The Guacamole was actually really good too! I don't do guac unless there is a ton of other things in it and has some kick. Otherwise to me it taste like baby food -___- This has a ton of tomatoes onions and topped with cotija cheese. And you get a very large portion! The Queso Fundido... This held some contention at the table. All liked it but one who more then once stated the texture was off. To him it was good but gritty and too liquidly. He wanted it thicker and more gooey. The others thought he was off his rocker and said it was great. Funny thing is he ate like half of it all the while saying the texture man the texture. For my entree I had the Chilaquiles con Huevos with chicken added. Overall good flavor on the actual Chilaquiles but the beans were a bit bland and slightly bitter. Was not a fan of them but thankfully they give you a decent size of the Chilaquiles and with the added chicken I was more than full after the appetizers. Two of the guys got the pig tacos and said they were really good, one got the carnitas and said they were good as well, another got a quesadilla and said was it good as well and was very large, one got the kids fried chicken (go figure, there is always one lol) and he said it was ok. I mean its fried chicken at a Mexican restaurant so was not expecting much. Overall the food and experience were good! Service was fast and the wait staff were pleasant. The host at the front though looked like he wanted to be anywhere other than there. Couldn't crack a smile to save his life and mumbled how many people and here are your menus so low we barely heard him . Now I was with 2 people from Texas and 3 from the Midwest all loud with big personalities and not a single reaction from him. Maybe he was having a bad day, who knows, but if you are greeting people at a restaurant at least you know fake a smile :c/ Would deff come back here again when I am in town!

Ortega 120 used to be one of our absolute favorite restaurants. When we lived in the area, we would eat here at least twice a month & it was easily the best Mexican food in the area. We were in the area last month traveling through LAX and decided we would stop by for dinner before our flight. I was so so sad to see how much the restaurant had changed. I'm not sure when this happened or why, but it's definitely not the same. The food and drinks were horrible. The service was slow, but the staff were as friendly as I remember them! Really sad to see easily the best restaurant in the South Bay become one of the worst. We will not be back.

I had a girls date happy hour here with South Bay friends and we had a great time! For a Tuesday evening the place was empty, but we thoroughly enjoyed pitchers of margaritas and tacos in both hands.

Been dining her for the past 8 years and still love the food and staff! One of our favorite local places to dine.

Best place to come in for an appetizer or a margarita. The bartenders and waiters here have become like friends. They make all of my visits so enjoyable! The drinks are strong and the prices are fair. The decor is super fun - there's so much to look at. They have a big lot with free, covered parking. Come give them a try!

I've been coming here for years with my family and it just doesn't quite hit the same as it used to.

Wonderfully courteous staff who clearly care about making customers feel welcomed. Decor is so much fun -- colorful walls, crosses in all shapes and sizes, Dias de los Muertos dioramas, cacti -- very Oaxacan! The menu has something for everyone. Don't miss the homemade chips and salsa -- these chips and salsa are NOT like the usual hit-or-miss ones. We ordered the carnitas quesadilla (didn't know tortillas were as large as platters!) with the guac (yum!), and three tacos (carnitas, al pastor, and something else -- all good). Came with homemade beans and rice--again, totally different style from The Usual SoCal Mexcian. Portions are enormous. We took over half home for the next day's lunch. And the margarita menu...very good. I'm partial to the Paloma but others like the margs. The Jamaica juice drink is good, too. The only things we disliked were that 1) the food was very salty, and 2) the noise level was too loud for us. However, the next time I am in Redondo Beach, I will plan on a Paloma or a margarita plus something to go. It's worth a visit because it is very good.

Super service on the patio and great to get out of the house and enjoy al fresco dining. Happy to support the local restaurants I want to see succeed. We have always loved Ortega 120, the margaritas are some of the best around. I can't remember a visit where we didn't order at least 1 pitcher as we were seated and before we even perused the menu. Fresh guacamole and crispy chips accompanied with the delicious salsa, they're the perfect start to the meal. The Elote was so delicious - fresh summer corn and all the cheesy, mayo goodness with a perfect sprinkling of chopped cilantro. This girl can never have too much cilantro, I couldn't stop shoveling spoonfuls of Elote into my mouth. We shared a couple of mains: the fried fish tacos, they seem small but 3 are plenty for a meal and delicious too. Also the Relleno Duo, one cheese and the other short rib...perfectly prepared, I order these every time I visit. I always look forward to our visits...can't wait until next time!

This place serves delicious traditional Mexican dishes. The portions are tremendously big and the price is reasonable for the size of the meal. The mole enchilada, which is what I ordered, was probably one of the best moles I have ever had. It comes with rice and beans. But trust me, you would want to eat it all and will end up stuffed. The service is amazing. It wasn't too crowded so we didn't have to wait too long for our food or to get the server. Will absolutely come back.

I use to work at a hotel within walking distance from this restaurant. I would always tell people to go to this place without knowing if their food was even worth it. Every time we would send someone there I would get mixed reviews from the guest. Some would say it is amazing and they had a delightful time others would say it was awful. So i figured I would try it myself. I went to the bar to be served. The gentleman that worked the bar that day had a heavy hand. I had a strawberry margarita, you could taste the tequila in this drink. I say it was good because I like knowing that my alcohol isn't being skimped out on. I ordered off the happy hour menu for 3 carnitas taco. I was not impressed. The corn tortillas were the only thing that tasted fresh. The carnitas itself was rather gritty, which I found strange considering that there wasn't anyone there. The only reason why I am giving it 3 stars instead of 4 or 5 stars is because despite my food being bad the margaritas were good and the bartender was extremely attentive. He offered to get me something else but because I had to leave for work soon I could not wait. So i just paid and left.

I've been here twice and each time I felt like I was having a very special fancy Mexican meal. I see people bring their families and celebrate occasions as well as just going out for a plain nice dinner with friends or visitors. When you drive by, there's not much that looks very impressive, but when you walk in, it's a relaxing, golden-colored and darkly lit, it has a very nice ambience that makes it feel comfortable. The dishes we had were delicious as well, and the service was excellent.

Well let me tell you one thing! As a lover of all things tequila Ortega 120 has one of the very best margarita I've tasted. Now you might say "aren't all margaritas kinda the same?" Absolutely not! Any margarita drinker knows the first one goes down smoothly but most of the time they're too sweet to enjoy more than two. O120 has a wonderful margarita that's more refreshing and dare I say tart that's not sugary. Margarita gets a 5star rating. Other than margaritas shared the taco sampler which was quite flavorful. 5 different tacos all with a unique flavor. As a taco enthusiast I'm gravitate to the traditional recipes. Don't get me wrong you can't go wrong with this taco sampler they're just more "gourmet" than traditional in my book. GO to O120. You won't be disappointed. You and your taste buds will thank me later.

Sorry Ortega, you have gone downhill. Came for taco Tuesday n the tacos were bland to say the least..... that was just another issue along with others. Their salsas ( regular n extra spicy ) were not very good, not a lot of flavor in both the short rib n shrimp tacos, got burnt chips to go with subpar salsas n got charged for it, waiter got our order messed up 3 times or forgot something n the place wasn't even busy..... but my wife enjoyed her al pastor taco n the gauc was solid. Sorry, there's wayyyyyy too many other places that blows this place out of the water nearby.... will not be back.....adios Ortega!!!!

First timer. Hot day excessively humid inside not sure if the ac was out but uncomfortably hot. Ordered a cocktail and it was oddly salty. Came with husband and toddler it was going well other than the heat inside. We received our food quickly and we started eating and our food was dripping in oil!! My lips and husbands lips were filled with oil. Not a great experience. Food lacked flavor won't be coming again. If you're thinking of coming here thinly again.

A nasty mess. I have never experienced a Carne Asada plate like this. When have you ever left tacos, guacamole and Paella on the table? The beans taste sweet, the rice is hard and the drinks are weak. Don't come here!! *Ishmael was amazing though. Very patient. He should go to Javier's or El Cholli, hell Taco Bell because this is not a good idea. ‍

There's no way this place is still in business. Lol ain't no way. Selling ground beef as carne asada. Told me I'm tripping and started sliding Spanish like I didn't habla español to that illiterate uneducated bum. I wanted to BUY and PAY for another burrito JUST to prove it to him. Talked alone, without anyone around. Told me I'm causing a problem. Cause he's choking on his own shit. He offered my money back so I said run that bitch hoe. Thanks for the free meal. Empty seats and tables and said it's busy. Nothing what this place was. Sad to see this place go to shit when I grew up eating it.

Our go to sit down Mexican restaurant - almost once a week! We love this place, even if they do charge for chips and salsa now. So many good things here but we can't stop ordering the nachos and something else. Sometimes it's birria tacos, sometimes it's fish tacos, and sometimes it's taquitos. It's hard to go wrong and the kids love ordering from the kids menu too. Whatever you get, you'll be sure to be stuffed by the end. So come give it a try. There's nothing like the smell of fresh tortillas being made to make you hungry.

Came on holiday was not too busy, service was fast, food was decent, not the best Mexican food in LA. Many other choices out there, will not return. Hominey risotto is bland and not as exciting as it sounds. Al pastor taco was by far the best!

Everything changed for the worse. Quality of the food is not worth the price. The food was basic, and small portion size. We came to celebrate Cinco de Mayo, it was busy 40 minute wait which we were ok with. For the price of the food, I expected the same quality I had in previous visit. That was not the case everything changed and it didn't feel special. Ortega 120 and Madre were my got to artisan Mexican restaurants. Now Ortega 120 is similar to getting food at frozen section and warming it up at home. The service was ok, order was taken via memory and it was correct however I had to wait to get my water filled up few times. Also they charged incorrect amount even though it was few cents no opportunity to write the tip and had to give cash. It was confusing and it took me 5 mins to find the waiter to ask. Guacamole was not good it was missing something and it cost $9.50 for small small cup. The chips and salsa cost $2.00 which I was ok with however the guacamole was not worth the price. Save your time, money and try another place. Maybe they will be able to hire the cooks back once everything opens up. For context, I came here multiple time before the pandemic for work and with family. They used to have hand made tortillas at the front once you walk in you can smell the happiness. It was great tasty food and good atmosphere.

Great food, drinks atmosphere! Love the Beria tacos!!! Never rushed or feel pressed to get out.

Unfortunate. That's my overarching review. Ortega 120 was a South Bay gem and it's obviously resting on it's old reputation. The feeling of being deceived creeps up on you. The chips and salsa are NOT FREE. They approach the table and ask if you want chips and salsa, then they refill them mid meal and at the end of the meal you find out it's $2 each time. The whole tostadas are not salted. Actually, nothing was salted or seasoned for that matter. You received a paper menu in a plastic, wrinkled up, tacky sleeve. You have your first appetizer and realize whole flavor profiles are missing. Why is the ceviche appetizer slimy and lacks the keynote ceviche flavors of lime, salt or any fresh ingredients. Wow, we were in for a rough meal. Two carne asada plates: Unflavored, chopped up with Brussels sprouts (make it make sense), red rice greasy with frozen veggies. My daughter's beans tasted like nothing I have ever tasted. We tried it and immediately took it away. It's like "bean flavored" goo. The flour tortillas are no longer hand made. The service was very kind and validated our concerns about the food stating "Yeah, it's changed." Never would I ever recommend this fake Mexican food to anyone I actually like. Unfortunate.

Delicious food, amazing drinks, and great staff. The skinny margarita is a must!!! Looking forward to coming back to try the tacos!

I really loved their torta mojada and I'm so sad it's not on the menu anymore! I came here on Saturday and their guac and drinks are just as good as I remember. They have a decent happy hour menu with some popular items - my friend got a sope and she loved it! I had a wet burrito with veggies and it was not my favorite. The veggies included Brussel sprouts, which in my opinion should not be in a burrito because the taste is overpowering. Staff is attentive and the service was great!

First time coming here on Easter, big group of 14 people. The food came out cold for almost everyone in the group. My mom ordered salmon plate and it was so overcooked you can't even tell it's salmon. Carne asada was cold and veggies burnt. Too bad we were excited about the place. The only good thing were the drinks. Will not come back for sure!!

I loved old ortega 120 from 4-5 years ago, had the best birthday party there, amazing margs. I went last night hoping for the same and while the service was so nice and positive the menu had changed, the food was ok but not great and the ambiance was bland? They made fresh corn tortillas which were mild and nothing like the fresh flour tortillas they used to have. I had the fish tacos which the fish was cooked well but the flavor profile was just sweet, it needed a spicy or umami mix in there. The music was bad, they changed the art work, repainted, changed the lighting- too bright-the chairs were bad all rickety and at a slant, not a lot of people for a Friday night. It was just kind of a bummer knowing what it was before to what it is now. I hope they can go back to the way they were some day.

Ortega 120 is one of the most Yelp reviewed Mexican restaurants in the South Bay and recently I came here with my coworkers for a dinner. There's a parking lot right behind the restaurant and service was pretty good. Most of dishes here are inspired by cuisine from Oaxaca and Mexico City with a touch of French influence. The meal came with complimentary chip & salad and personally salsa had a good flavor with a good amount of spiciness (a bit too spicy for my taste). Our group also order a bowl of guacamole and I thought it was fairly decent. I originally wanted to order Chile Braised Short Rib, but I didn't want a heavy meal so I ended up with 6 tacos instead. Any dish you order from the "Platillos Tradicionales" category will also come with rojo rice (red rice) & ranchero beans. *** Tour de Tacos (a tasting of five most popular street style tacos: pastor, carnitas, pollo, carne asada, shrimp with chef paired salsas with a choice of house made corn or flour tortillas - $18.50 + extra $2.50 for short rib taco): I got flour tortillas and honestly I was very disappointed with their flour tortillas. Shrimp taco barely had any fillings. Carne asada had a nice chewy texture and spiciness, but meat tasted somewhat dry. Al pastor was a-okay and tasted a bit spicy. Carnitas had a good flavor, but again meat also tasted a bit dry. I will say that pollo (chicken) was juicy and their short rib taco was such a killer taco - super tender short rib and very juicy. *** In hindsight, I should have order Chile Braised Short Rib instead because their short rib taco was sooooo good. This is probably not the best place to drop $20+ (with tax & tip) on 5 tacos because you can find much better & cheaper tacos options in LA.

Eric was amazing! So polite so sweet! This place is authentic.. fresh... everything is in house made! I will absolutely be back!! Thanks Ortega 120!