LA Ballona Inn

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3843 Main St, Culver City, CA 90232-2619
Culver City, CA 90232

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(310) 558-9336
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Restaurants

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Mexican Restaurants

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LA Ballona Inn - Culver City, CA
LA Ballona Inn - Culver City, CA
LA Ballona Inn - Culver City, CA
LA Ballona Inn - Culver City, CA
LA Ballona Inn - Culver City, CA
LA Ballona Inn - Culver City, CA
LA Ballona Inn - Culver City, CA
LA Ballona Inn - Culver City, CA
LA Ballona Inn - Culver City, CA
LA Ballona Inn - Culver City, CA
LA Ballona Inn - Culver City, CA
Reviews
( 14 )
( 4 )
( 0 )
( 0 )
( 6 )

Best

It is too bad. You missed it. They're gone now. We mourn the loss of this great place. CONGRATULATIONS to all the staff!

Worst

My husband and I are new to the area and were craving mexican food on a Friday night. The only Mexican food place around Culver City, where we live and that looks decent seems to...

CLOSED-outof business-CLOSED 12/24/2010

GaryGary Provided by Partner
It is too bad. You missed it. They're gone now. We mourn the loss of this great place. CONGRATULATIONS to all the staff! more
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Great food and service at a reasonable price 6/27/2009

I have eaten here on and off for 17 years, I live in NY and whenever I'm in LA I make a point of eating here. It feels like being part of the family in this family run restaurant. The food is consistently good and the drinks terrific. Pros: Friendly service, authentic food Cons: Can be slow when they're busy more
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Worst Margarita ever! 9/28/2008

My husband and I are new to the area and were craving mexican food on a Friday night. The only Mexican food place around Culver City, where we live and that looks decent seems to be LA Ballona. After waiting for a very long time for service, we finally ordered our drinks and food. The margarita that I had been craving since Thursday, arrived w/ 7 melted ice cubes and tasted of sugar water. Since the tequila seemed to have been missing from the drink, I brought this to the attention of my waiter, who then went to the bar and poured a shot on top of the drink with out bothering to mix it up. He should have remade the drink. I couldn't even choke it down. The food was not good. I think our server is an owner or the son of the owner...He is very preoccupied, not professional. Don't go there. more
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CLOSED-out of business CLOSED 9/14/2008

This place is family owned for over 50 years and the two charming blonde Spanish sisters serving here have been here the whole time. Service is warm, friendly, and inviting. The margaritas are tasty and strong the way I like them. The food is fresh and delicious. I have only found one thing on the menu that was not delicious and that was because the highest price thing on the menu, the bacon wrapped fillet mignon, is very salty. The chips are usually great, sometimes not so great. Tacos are always excellent and irresistible. Very reliable tasty food and excellent appreciative staff. Kitchen staff must be fantasic because this place is shiney clean and the food is consistantly delicious. Pros: Tacos, carnitas, maragaritas always great. Friendly Service! Cons: Parking can be tricky when movie theaters are busy. more
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Flavorless, serviceless, awful 9/3/2008

Seriously: the worst service, worst guacamole, worst salsa and even more awful attitude towards customers. The mole is good, and the decor is nice. It can easily be a great restaurant because of its phenomenal location if they just start to accept that they are not doing the guest a favor by putting food on the table -- they do get paid for it. And, seriously, if you can't even make decent guacamole with some flavor to it -- should you really even be allowed to open a Mexican restaurant???? Pros: decor, mole Cons: no flavor, no service more
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Wait, are you sure this is a Mexican food restaurant? 7/17/2008

I think that this is by far the worst Mexican restaurant in Southern California. Unfortunately, there's nowhere else to go close by downtown Culver City. The food is bland and tasteless, I literally had to pour the salsa from the chips and salsa in my food so that it would have some sort of flavor. Their menu is short and all their sauces have a weird taste. They don't even have green enchiladas which pretty much you can get at any Mexican place. They add too much frozen lettuce and cheese to things. Service is slow and sloppy. This shouldn't be labeled as Mexican food...trust me, I am from Mexico City and I have never tasted something as bland, tasteless and far away from Mexican cuisine. Cons: Service is slow, food is terrible. There's no other Mexican place in culver city more
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Best Mexican Food...Ever!!! 7/1/2008

My family has been eating at La Ballona's for over 30 years! I grew up on it, and no other Mexican Food can ever compare!!!!! Their chips, salsa, & ground beef tacos are the best. I love their dinner salad, with house dressing, but the albondigas soup is yummy too!!! Someone previously mentioned that their food is frozen or out of a can. Definately not true. Their food is always fresh and deliciously greasy! This is what True Mexican food is. I will agree that the service can be slow at times, but the ladies will be friendly and try to help you as much as possible. Pros: THE FOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!! Cons: Service can be slow at times more
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Locals Mexican Food Paradise 6/26/2008

If you've never been to La Ballona you have to try it. The food is EXTREMELY reasonable and the Margaritas are fantastic! Just be careful before you drive they are stiff. I've tried nearly everything on the menu but I highly reccomend the shreded beef tacos, they are AMAZING. Pros: Margaritas & Shredded Beef Tacos more
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Wonderful Margaritas and food 5/12/2008

I don't get the other bad reviews. Juan and the ladies do work very hard to keep everyone happy. If you are impatient and rude they may sense that, but if you come in with a smile and 'hello', you'll be well taken care of. This isn't fast food, it's a dining room, giving you time to actually have a conversation with your dinner companion-which I think busy people forget to do. The food is great - we get Machaca, and Mole Enchilada's - YUM! Free parking in the structure right behind it, so enjoy your meal! more
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Bad Service... Rip Off! 2/21/2008

The food was okay... service was horrible! The old ladies messed up my check and ended up paying three times for the same bill! They told me they'd void the transactions, but instead charged me once again! I had to dispute the charges with my bank. Will NEVER go back! Cons: Service is horrible! more
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Best Margaritaz EVER!!!!! 2/5/2008

The food is pretty good too, by the time you get finish with the drink the food is amazing, I go here whenever I have a friend or date from out of town or they just want a great drink Pros: Everything Cons: Nothing more
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Great Mexican right in downtown Culver City. 12/8/2007

La Ballona has really good food for really good prices. The lunch special is the best deal (2 tacos or enchiladas or one of each and rice or beans), but their entrees are what really make the place. They have an amazing stew-like chicken in chipotle with potatoes that is smokey and flavorful and I think it just might cure the common cold. Service is always friendly, if a little slow. I go back again and again and again. Pros: Great food, friendly servers, great prices Cons: Can be a little slow more
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THE ABSOLUTE BEST 11/28/2007

Mexican Restaurant on the Westside and possibly L.A. I have been going to La Ballona's for almost 18 years and have NEVER been disappointed. The food is excellent, and the drinks - WOW - especially when you ask for a JUAN's special margarita!!! (Cadillac - Juan style). The people are just wonderful (2 Aunts from Spain, a Nephew and Juan) and the service has always been great. This restaurant is so popular that you may have to wait a little extra (sometimes) but the wait is worthwhile. Their guacamole is the best and their specials are delicious, however, my personal favorite is La Ballona Burrito - Chicken!!! They have been here for over 30 years, so trust me, restaurants don't last this length of time without being really good. Their tensure speaks for itself. more
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La Ballona - Culver City's best Mexican Food 2/15/2007

These other reviews that talk about bad service, I don't get it! Just walk in with a smile, and know that these folks put in ridiculous hours. I go there a few times a month on my way home, order a Margarita, and place an order to go...the food comes up promptly (too quick sometimes, I have to slam the remaining drink). The carnitas chimichunga and carne asada quesadilla are my favorite. Salsa (just enough to get your attention, but not stupid hot) and chips are an added bonus! Lunch or Dinner, Sit down, inside or out, or take home, great food! more
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Ballona Rocks for Lunch! 2/8/2007

I go to La Ballona probably once every other week for lunch with a group of co-workers. They are always accomodating for large groups (and small alike) and the two men and women that run the joint pretty much work thier butts off - in fact I have never not seen them working and I've been there tons of times. They recognize my friends and me, which I think is cool because they like us and keep us pretty happy. People in LA are impatient (I should know - I was born and raised here) and expect everything on demand - *this is not one of those places. I expect that it isn't going to be a quick, in and out experience. Go to Titos if you want quicky service/cheapy food. I don't think that anything is frozen or pre-made - it is pretty traditional northern/coastal Mexican - not generic, just more traditional. I do debate about the guac. I think it is fresh (it isn't chunky), and my friends think it is like a puree or something. I don't care, because it doesn't stop me from eating it! My favorite menu item has to be the carnitas soft tacos and the chips and salsa. A lot of thier items have garnish on the side, so you can dress your tacos/food as needed. Prices are good, margaritas are awesome, and I can't wait to go there tomorrow for lunch. Pros: margaritas, good prices, delicious food Cons: service can be a tad slow more
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Decent mexican sit-down place 11/22/2006

When you don't want to walk up the street for some dive food, this is a kinder, gentler, place to sit down and not feel weird if you happen to be dressed nice. My chicken enchilada was good and their tacos are excellent. Pros: parking lot nearby more
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Awesome drinks, good food 10/4/2006

This is my absolute favorite place for margaritas. If you split a (very reasonably priced) pitcher with a buddy you're pretty much guaranteed to walk out on an excellent buzz which is more than I can say for a lot of the restaurants in LA that get voted 'best margarita'. It's a nice place to go for a couple hours to catch up with a friend over drinks and dinner. The food is good - it's not insanely good, it's not bad, it's just decent Mexican food. I believe it's run by one or two husband-wife teams, and I concur with the last reviewer that one of those men is not very customer-oriented - otherwise I have always been fine with the service. Pros: Great drinks, ambience, location Cons: Manager's attitude more
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Worst Service Possible 8/20/2006

Walked in on an unbusy Monday night for dinner. Literally just stood at the door for 10 minutes waiting to be seated while the owner walked around the restaurant blatantly ignoring us. Finally decided to sit at an empty table close to the door where we waited another 5 mintues before I got up to the cashier and asked that we recieve a couple of menus. Not only was the owner again rude by giving me a dirty look and brushing me off, he never came to serve us. Will never go back again. Cons: Service more
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Delicious 8/3/2006

Fantastic food, more authentic than most other restaurants! Delicious real rice, very filling. I'll come back for sure. more
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Great food, friendly service, reasonable prices 11/9/2005

I was pleasantly surprised with this place. I live down the street and just recently noticed it and took the family there and we all greatly enjoyed it. I had cheese enchiladas and they were fantastic. I'm a wimp so the spicy salsa killed me, but i'm sure if you like spicy you'd love it. more
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Menu for LA Ballona Inn


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Additional information
  • Hours: Mon, 11am - 2pm, 5pm - 9pm; Tue - Sat, 11am - 9pm; Sun, closed
  • Neighborhoods: Downtown
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