EL CHOLO Logo
logo
Specialty Tequilas in los angeles
the best happy hour in los angeles
Best Mexican Lunch Restaurant
Best Mexican Lunch Restaurant

Taste Our Rich History

1922
1922
1922
1922
1922

6 Generations of El Cholo

1922

1922

Alejandro Borquez pushes back from the dinner table and says to his beautiful young bride, Rosa,” You are such a good cook we should open up a restaurant” and one year later open The Sonora Cafe in a small storefront on Broadway and Santa Barbara Avenue (near the Coliseum).

1925

1925

A guest wanders in for dinner and while he is waiting for his dinner draws a figure of a man on the menu and calls him “EL CHOLO”. (In those days the name was given their field hands by the Spanish settlers in California). History is made when Alejandro likes the man and the name and immediately changes SONORA CAFE to EL CHOLO CAFE.

1926

1926

George Salisbury is eating dinner at EL CHOLO and meets the Borquez’s daughter, Aurelia. They court, decide to marry and open their own EL CHOLO.

1927

1927

In a storefront at 11th and Western, they open EL CHOLO with 8 stools, 3 booths and a hot top stove on which they heat the tortillas on the top, melt the cheese enchiladas underneath. That stove is still on display in our lobby.

1932

1932

Joe Reina comes to work as a dishwasher. Shortly thereafter becomes head chef -a job that is to last 54 years and forever influence the Mexican restaurant industry.

1959

1959

Carmen Rocha joins EL CHOLO. She starts making a dish called “nachos” that she made in her hometown of San Antonio. Again History is made.

1962

1962

Aurelia and George’s son, Ron, opens our La Habra location making El Cholo a 3rd generation, family-owned restaurant.

1967

1967

A longtime guest one night says “let me show you how to make a great margarita.” Again history is made. Eventually, EL CHOLO becomes the world’s largest user of Cuervo 1800 Tequila and the first to introduce premium ingredients in a margarita. George Salisbury transfers ownership to his son Ron.

1995

1995

4th and 5th generation now working at the restaurants!

1997

1997

El Cholo Santa Monica opens with the original neon sign hanging in the dining room.

2010

2010

El Cholo opens in Downtown Los Angeles across from Staples center & Nokia / LA Live. Our Filet Mignon Tacos are awarded Best Taco.

2013

2013

We open our 5th location in Anaheim Hills and celebrate 90 years!

2015

2015

Another El Cholo at the beach on PCH in Corona del Mar!!

@elcholo1923

Follow us on social media