Thunderbolt

"Practically tucked below the 101, Thunderbolt is a neighborhood bar that also serves fantastic Southern food. The cocktail menu is divided into sections to guide ordering including flavor concentration, culinary adjacent, texture, and more. Order a fried chicken biscuit or just the mac ‘n cheese and find a seat at a booth or the bar, there’s not really a way to go wrong here." - Rebecca Roland

"A bar in Los Angeles, California, known for its inventive drink menu and relaxed vibe." - Rebecca Roland

"Thunderbolt in Historic Filipinotown offers cocktails and late-night snacks, such as Mama Leah’s chicken drumettes, which have a crisp, sugary outside and juicy meat, paired with drinks like the icy La Frutera #3." - Eater Staff

"This unassuming Historic Filipinotown/Echo Park cocktail bar has been racking up accolades since opening in 2019. Thunderbolt has been recognized by StarChefs and even captured the No. 8 spot, up from No. 10 in 2023, on North America’s Best Bars list as well as the Best Bar in the West USA award. Bartender/co-owner Mike Capoferri’s innovative drinks include a HiFi-inspired Old Fashioned with coconut-washed rye, a nonalcoholic lychee daiquiri, and a canned pina colada-inspired soda. There’s even a bottle shop where one can pick up natural wine or whiskey to take home." - Caroline Pardilla

"Run by the team at The Park’s Finest next door, Thunderbolt is a neighborhood cocktail bar that does it all—incredible drinks, Southern snacks, and a solid collection of wine and beer you can sip on a comfy couch.. They’re known for their Madeira wine collection but also serve fun, inventive cocktails made with everything from mango to tamarind to cocoa nib bourbon. Our tip is to order a few snacks from next door, like buttermilk biscuits dipped in pimento cheese, skillet cornbread slathered in honey butter, or, if you’re lucky, a seasonal cobbler." - brant cox