The food is okay, I’ve only been here like twice. The service is not that great. Last time I went there I was throwing up the entire rest of my day. Might have been a coincidence, might have have not. One thing’s for sure, I’m not going back.
Vincent B.
Rating des Ortes: 2 Arleta, CA
1 Star for the tortillas and 1 more for the Margaritas other than that it was pretty bad waited 45 minutes expecting authentic Mexican food, it was quite the opposite, the food was so plain and unflavorful My wife and I were so disappointed.
Richard L.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Los Angeles, CA
It LOUD in here but that is part of this place. The Margaritas are good and will knock you on your butt. We were told it was a 45 minute wait and it took over an hour but since I was not feeling a whole lot of pain from the Margaritas it made the time go by faster(: When were were finally seated the Calamari with Shrimp, Crab and Garlic was tender and excellent. Their homemade tortillas are very addicting and great with their homemade salsa and butter.
Jen L.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Agoura Hills, CA
Parking lot is small but love this place. Cozy family place with a Casablanca theme. As soon as you sit down you see the tortilla goddess at work. She makes the most delicious flour tortillas!!! They come piping hot with a yummy green salsa with chunks of cheese to dip in or butter to spread. Way better than chips. I got pollo Alex which was so good. The sauce was a gravy thick chipotle almond sauce. Good flavor and not really spicy. Love their fluffy rice. They drizzle some cheese on top. Friends got cheese enchiladas. Both enjoyed it. Next time we will have to come for margaritas table side. Also they split the check in a different way so be prepared to write the total amount you want charged include tip.
Leah E.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Honolulu, HI
Last time I came to LA, I googled Mexican food and hundreds of locations popped up. I knew it was going to be a wonderful trip! We came here on New Years Eve to start the New Year by eating our body weight in fresh homemade flour tortillas and turn up with margarita cart service. I ordered a combo plate that I devoured despite having eaten so many tortillas. For $ 12 I got a side salad with avocado dressing, a chicken taco and chile relleno. My favorite part was the cheese that’s cooked into(under) and sprinkled over the rice. The Cadillac margarita cart was amazing! Many options of tequila made just the way you like it. Fresh squeezed limes right in front of your face. The food was my favorite way to ring in the New Year. Wish I could spend every NYE stuffing my face with homemade tortillas!
Jared G.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Rockwall, TX
Looking for good Mexican food? Check out this place in Venice a short drive from the Santa Monica Boardwalk. My wife and I are from Texas, so we know the cuisine very well, but we were surprised to see the place actually considers itself«Moroccan» food. That is technically north western Africa, but in person was a little more like Spanish/Salvadoran mix to me. Relax, the food is not that exotic, lol. The«big feature» of this place is the tortillas, which really should be world famous. A coal oven is in the center of the dining room with a little old lady making massive chipotle burrito sized flour tortillas. They are hands down, the greatest tortillas I have ever had. I mean that. You can bet on that. Its worth the visit just to put one in your mouth, I swear to you. I had the Carne Asada with a cheese enchilada(not on the menu) and it was awesome. The steak was perfectly seasoned and cooked. The rice was sweet, not tangy. The prices are cheap, especially for LA… nearly every item on the menu was under $ 10. That is a huge plus. Overall, I have to say this was a fun, dark, romantic stop off the beaten path and just out of the reach of tourists. Parking here could be a pain, so take an über if you can and enjoy a drink. Chips and Salsa are not on the menu but can be had by request. Enjoy!
Derek T.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Los Angeles, CA
The BEST home-made harina(flour) tortilla I have ever encountered! I sometimes come here for a stellar margarita and just tortillas. Good dishes, but I mainly come for the tortillas. Margarita cart during dinner time is always nice. A bartender makes them fresh table-side and will educate you on their current tequila rotation; there is a new rotation everyday. There are more tequilas than you would ever need; ask the bartender for a recommendation. There’s usually a musician who comes in to play during dinner. Did I mention the tortillas?
Veronica S.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Marina del Rey, CA
Everything about this place was amazing! The Cadillac margaritas were delicious and extremely strong!!! I ordered the one cheese enchiladas and one chicken… I would highly Recommend just getting two cheese enchiladas. Chicken was a little dry for me, but still tasty! Our service was excellent considering it was busy! the homemade tortillas was to die for! Only downfall would be the parking. There’s not much room and you park in an alley that can be a little sketch… But other than that everything was great!
Captain G.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Venice, CA
Wonderful wonderful hidden gem with the magic feel of old glamorous Venice during film noir days. The food is authentic, fresh, and clean. The portions are huge, the price is higher for a lot of Mexican, but still not bad. The service is so friendly, I’ve never not felt completely welcomed here. The margarita cart is fun and delicious. You can choose from so many different tequilas. I prefer a skinny margarita. My only note is a few times when I have come, they have run out of tortillas by the time I get my food. I always order shrimp fajitas and sometimes while the rest of my party is eating and my foot gets colds, I’ll have to wait an extra ten minutes for tortillas. Still, i love this place. Always a spicy Casablanca night here.
Jessica R.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Culver City, CA
This review is strictly for the catering take out. My mom recommend their catering and I hate to admit that I’ve never actually visited this place. Needless to say, I was reluctant, but the price was right. I ordered the chicken fajitas and it was so good! This came with hand made tortillas which were a hit! Everyone commented on how much they enjoyed the food. I’m going to have to stop by for drinks and food in the restaurant to get a better idea. I’ll update the review once I do. But until then, the catering is highly recommended.
Lynda N.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Los Angeles, CA
Suuuuper great place for affordable and fantastic Sunday brunch! It’s $ 14.99 for bottomless mimosas, champagne, or sangria, an entrée, and the choice between churro or flan. Whaaaaatttt. The mimosas were really good and the servers were so quick to refill them all the time. It turned into a boozy brunch pretty fast haha. They give you tortillas as a gratis with butter and some kind of thin salsa-like sauce with cheese. I’m not sure what it was but it was really good. The tortillas are made fresh and you can see a lady in the middle of the restaurant making them! I got the Chorizo omelette which was super flavorful. It came with Mexican rice and salad. SO much cheese! And that’s a good thing. By the time dessert came, I was too drunk and bloated to eat it but I had a bite and it wasn’t bad haha. Ambiance is really chill. When I went there was a guy playing soft music on his guitar and it was great. Highly recommend to go with your friends! The Sunday brunch goes on till 3PM.
William H.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Santa Monica, CA
I love this fantastic, old school, Mexican restaurant. It’s a lot of fun with reasonably priced delicious food, live music nightly, fresh tortillas made in-house, freshly made, table-side guacamole and a tequila cart! I hosted a large birthday dinner(14 people) and service was good, quick and friendly. We were seated next to the boisterous, bustling bar, so it was very loud on a Friday night. It attracts an eclectic crowd, and I’ve noticed that it is gaining popularity among the younger, hipster crowd. It offers huge portions at an incredible value. I love their complimentary chips and salsa, which is loaded with a unique mix of spicy avocado infused salsa with chunks of yummy cheese. By far, my favorite Mexican restaurant on the westside!
Rahm T.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Venice, CA
Dimly lit, mellow atmosphere. Sometimes they have live music(but still mellow, not loud). Margaritas made right at your table. Tortillas… OMG, the tortillas are heavenly.(Because they are made with lard… shhhhh!) Their tortillas are seriously amazing. Salsa with chunks of cheese and avocado. This is the place to go when you want to chill. The food is… ok. I think their fancy Mexican dishes reach too high and kinda disappoint. Did I say the tortillas and salsa are amazing? Seriously, get a margarita, keep asking for more tortillas, roll them with salsa and after a few you’ll be full and will just want some tasty tortilla soup. Would be 5 stars if I craved their full menu.
Annie P.
Rating des Ortes: 5 St Paul, MN
Seriously some of the best Mexican food and Margaritas I’ve ever had! Started off in the bar with a couple of killer great margs. I had mine made with fresh squeezed limes because I never trust a restaurants sugary mix. Although, my husband had the Cadillac and I will say their mix is quite refreshing. They have over 450 tequilas to choose from. Bartender was very helpful and gave us quite the education on tequila. Moved to a super comfy large booth in the restaurant. They don’t serve chips and salsa but you won’t care once you try their handmade flour tortillas and salsa verde. Addicting to say the least. For dinner I had Camarones Mojo de Ajo; Shrimp sautéed in butter, lemon, garlic, shallots and white wine. My husband had the Make your own Steak Tacos; Charbroiled steak or chicken strips served on a bed of Queso Fundido(melted cheese) with guacamole, pico de gallo, tortillas, a chipotle salsa, rice and refried beans. The rice was like none other he’s ever had before — the cheese on top was relish, steak was tender and tasty. They have table-side margaritas perfectly blended by Chip. Trust me on this; do not have more than 2 or 3. They’re are so good that in the moment you will want more but switch too beer or water! These babies are perfection and strong! So strong we drove with our lights off on the way home /: They had a live musician come in and strum her guitar playing Spanish background music that really set the mood. I feel bad for not leaving a tip because she was wonderful. I was little high on tequila and afraid of bumping into the tables near her if I tried. The theme here is after the movie. When it was recommended at our hotel I was afraid it may be cheesy, but it works. Easy parking too.
Bruce E.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Agoura Hills, CA
I used to be a regular at Casablanca for years when I lived on the Westside. It is a very unique Mariscos(Seafood) restaurant namesake and replicated after the famous movie classic… I had a friend in town for the weekend and we got together for dinner and settled one night on Casablanca as she had never been. OMG it was so good and brought back great gastronomic memories. TORTILLASANDSALSA, TORTILLASANDSALSA… Let me begin by saying the basket of homemade fresh Tortillas made in front of you(Yes made from scratch by the famous Tortilla lady in the center of the restaurant on a hot griddle) and delivered hot to your table with an incredible homemade Tomatillo cheese avocado salsa is simply the best there is. TRULYINCREDIBLEDECADENTANDADDICTING. The food at Casablanca is good not great. The Calamari Mariscos topped with shrimp, crab and garlic butter sauce is rich and good. Unfortunately the shrimp topping wasn’t very good as it was frozen and limp. The Snapper Vera Cruz was a better option. I’m not much of a drinker but The Margarita cart made tableside is a big hit and I’m told incredibly good as evidenced by the throng of enthusiastic and inebriated patrons. The star is and remains the Tortillas, Salsa and the space which is really a first class replica, with a welcoming vibe to transform you back in time to have dinner in Morocco with Humphrey Bogart. Let me repeat if you haven’t been to Casablanca yet. Run, drive as fast as you can, take an Über or beg a friend, even an ex boyfriend/girlfriend or ex spouse for gods sake to join you and Indulge. Come Hungry and savor the culinary nirvana which is the Tortillas, addicting salsa and great space /atmosphere…
Sherlyn S.
Rating des Ortes: 4 West Los Angeles, CA
Randomly came here because we were craving margaritas after hiking in Malibu. Dukes had an hour wait, the Reel in was a clusterf*ck and traffic was horrid to get back to Manhattan Beach so we decided to stop here. The outside sign said«It’s tequila time», we were sold. The décor on the inside transported us back to the 70’s, think of your grandmother’s house, with a mixture of old relics as décor in glass cases. The restaurant also had a very random clown doll sitting at the top of a lamp near the ceiling. A little weird but it was eclectic, I dug it. It had a very It happened to still be brunch. I thought about ordering a bloody mary but the waitor straight up said the sangria was better — A+ for his honesty. We had bottomless mimosas/sangrias and warm tortillas made right in front of us while we waited for our food. I could come to this place just for their tortillas. It’s that good. There was someone serenading us on a guitar while the announcer had everyone in the restaurant sing happy birthday to a nice little lady who was turning 96. This was place that obviously had a lot of regulars. It was charming. I had the squid steak. It was delicious! Not chewy, tender, perfectly salty and crispy on the outside but tender. It comes with a side of rice and vegetables. It wasn’t the best mexican food I had but it was satisfying. The chicken and steak fajitas were yummy too(I stole some from my friends). Brunch came with a choice of desert but we were stuffed. Recap… bottomless drinks, handmade FRESH tortillas, an entrée, desert. all for $ 15! unbelievable! so glad we stumbled upon this place. I would come back for dinner to try other things on the menu. Bueno!
Lisa W.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Los Angeles, CA
A classic, just like the movie. It’s taken a few years and several pitchers of margarita, but Casablanca has really grown on me. I enjoy everything about this quaint Mexican restaurant: the food, the moody lighting, the mysterious atmosphere, the margarita man and the plethoric amount of Casablanca(the movie) memorabilia decorating the walls. There is nothing like Casablanca(the restaurant) in the entire city of Los Angeles and it has been one of my husband’s and my favorite dining spots for the past few years. It has become a classic meeting spot with friends during graduate school and continues to be in the present. My favorite thing about Casablanca is the home-made, unlimited flour tortillas. As a rule, I generally hate flour tortillas. But at Casablanca, they are made fresh before your eyes in the dining area by the tortilla lady, who prides herself on shaping and grilling each tortilla with delicate expertisse. I love that warm tortillas are served instead of chips, and the accompanying tomatillo cheese salsa is unlike anything I’ve had elsewhere. I could make a meal out of the complimentary tortillas, butter and salsa alone. My second favorite thing about Casablanca is the margarita man who pushes his cart from table to table during dinner service. The house margaritas are expertly crafted before your eyes, and my husband and I usually order it by the pitcher when we’re with our friends. My favorite dishes are the shrimp fajitas and oddly enough, the chicken quesadilla. The fajitas are fresh, bursting with flavor, and a beautiful deep golden red hue due to the achiote. The chicken quesadilla is no ordinary quesadilla. It is heaping and stuffed generously with jack cheese, salsa and fresh shredded chicken. What puts it over the top is the fresh, delicate, home-made tortilla and side of guac. I passed judgement on my husband the first time he ordered this, berating him for choosing such a simple dish at a restaurant. But I quickly reneged my statement when I saw the resplendent quesadilla in true form, basking in its delicious glory. It was even good cold the next day. Dinner tends to be crowded and service can be a little slow during the rush. They have a private parking lot which fills up quickly, as well as limited street parking.
Sandra L.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Los Angeles, CA
«He’s looking at you… kid.» Well, I was looking at the parking block that read«Ingrid Bergman» as I pulled into my favorite restaurant for the last 2 decades, with a smile. How many restaurants do you know, in LA, have been around for 35 years and is still shining? Casablanca is truly a legendary landmark of Venice. The black-and-white photos of old Hollywood movie stars, the vintage poster of the eternal Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart, the mellow singer/guitar player, the hand-made tortilla station, the wall paintings… If you have an old soul and taste for authentic Mexican, you’d fall in love with this place and bring back all of your gangs. I remember coming here as a college student, a mother, and with my colleagues and friends. This time I came back for the Sunday Brunch. The menu(set @$ 13.99) offers beverage options from Champagne, bloody marry, to juices and soft drink. Choices for main course range from breakfast omelettes to seafood, chicken, and carne asada. I picked the Calamari steak which was delicious. The champagne wasn’t the best but ok. Desert was a slice of sweet dripping flan. What I like the most was the handmade tortilla that came with tomatillo sauce, so soft, so spongy, and so fresh. I’d also come back and have the regular menu with margarita(I remember that being very satisfying). «It’s still the same story. A fight for love and glory.» The restaurant has been the same glory, for our love of the food, birthdays, graduations, anniversaries, dates, laughters, chitchats, and many more…
Lisa G.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Marina del Rey, CA
The tortillas!!! First, Casablanca is located on Lincoln so traffic can get a little gnarly. Parking here is just as it is almost everywhere in Venice so expect to spend a little time looking for parking. It’s probably best to über over. They have a pretty good selection of tequila so if you have to wait for a seat, just stop by the bar and grab yourself a margarita. Big selection of margaritas and there is even a margarita cart that comes around while you are eating to make sure you’re properly hydrated with enough tequila. The handmade tortillas are amazing. They just ousted my other favorite tortilla spot(Carrillos) in the valley. They make the tortillas by hand right in front of you. Only flour though and they don’t sell them separately so stuff yourself with the maximum amount of tortillas while you are eating. We also had the guac — nice thick consistency and equally satisfying. We had the camarones mojo de ajo and a burrito. Both delicious. Tortillas were definitely the highlight of the meal though!!! Service was great as well. I have a feeling we will be back very soon!!!
Dan B.
Rating des Ortes: 3 Los Angeles, CA
I think it’s important, sometimes, to get the review of a place from the sober guy in the group, and that being me on this trip, I was a hair disappointed. The positives were very apparent: the margaritas a la carte were very cool, if a bit on the pricey side, and the freshly made tortillas were absolutely delicious. But beyond that, my first visit to Casablanca was filled with small complaints. The margarita cart was ready to roll right when we sat down, but no one came to take the poor D.D.‘s drink order for almost 20 minutes. When I turned to one of the waiters standing nearby and rather subtly motioned that we needed assistance, he looked upset and motioned that someone was coming soon. No one showed for another 5 minutes, so I looked at the waiter again, and he again looked annoyed and walked away. We were a party of 6 and they didn’t seem to have a table to accommodate, so they just stuck 2 extra chairs on the ends of a table-for-4, leaving 2 of us blocking walkways, and me seated right next to the piping hot oven where the tortillas were being made. It was a cold night, so it was nice at first, but I was sweating pretty hard by mid-meal. I got the steak fajitas. The meat was decent, the rice and beans were okay, the guacamole was very good. My wife got a filet brasero that she said was outstanding. We were at the restaurant from 7:30 to almost 10pm, partly by choice, but partly just because things move at a slower pace. And here’s my dilemma. Sometimes it’s nice to just relax a little, but not if you’re starving and the guy not drinking. I simply can’t go above 3 stars because of my issues, but I also don’t think I can do below because of the unique atmosphere(Casablanca paintings and fake posters on the walls) and homemade tortillas/drinks.