Review: La Popular Restaurant, Hollywood CA
La Popular Restaurant Hollywood opened its doors on September 22, 2025. After all the buzz from the press preview, I was quite exited to review La Popular a week later. Situated in the epicenter of Hollywood’s Walk of Fame, the restaurant has a beautiful interior as well as a relaxed outdoor covered patio with fire-pits. Here you’ll find views of the iconic Hollywood sign. The Mexico City-based hospitality group Grupo Carolo brought the concept to the United States. They have plans for additional locations in the U.S. as well.
La Popular Hollywood
We had a romantic night planned – dinner at La Popular, then we were off to review John Legend just up the street at the Hollywood Bowl. Brenda the hostess greeted us then we were promptly seated. I had the chance to meet Manager David Morales as well as Chef Jhon Arevalo who arrived at our table. They gave us some food suggestions as well as a lovely Mexican wine. The Casa Madera 3v, a red blend, spotlighted dark fruit, specifically a black currant. In addition, I tasted a touch of chocolate as well as oak.
Our server Josephine was both attentive and knowledgeable. She recommended some delicious appetizers and entrees.
Appetizers
To start, the Ahi Tuna Tostadas (crispy leeks, chipotle aioli soy vinaigrette, avocado) were a delight. They were fresh and light, a great beginning to what would become a fabulous meal. I especially liked the crispy leeks on top. They added both texture and spice to the dish. The chipotle aioli soy vinaigrette was right on the money as well.
The Guacamole we selected as our second starter was excellent as well. On the side was a small mound of pico de gallo which was super spicy. It was set on the side, to be added depending on one’s tolerance and preference for spice. This had an immersive flavor palette. I ended up co-mingling it to create a guacamole with a serious kick. I also added it to the tostados and even saved a bit for the entrees as well.
When it was time for a second glass of wine, I decided to try the Sinegal Details Cabernet Sauvignon. It was a bit more full-bodied than the previous Mexican wine. It was excellent and offered dark cherries, cocoa, and oak.
Entrees
For our main dishes we took the staff’s recommendations and chose the Steak and Shrimp Fajitas (charred jalapeños, onions, bell peppers, guacamole, sour cream, rice). It comes with two sides, so we opted for rice and swapped out the beans for plantains. I happen to love fajitas, and I really enjoyed this steak and shrimp pairing. The sides were both excellent. The rice was light and delicately seasoned, while the plantains were sweet and succulent.
Next, Josephine suggested the Combo Plate. This turned out to be an excellent choice. It allowed us to try one of La Popular’s signature Enchiladas as well as 2 different tacos. We chose the Short Rib Enchilada (Colorado sauce, cheese blend, crema, cilantro, red onion) This was truly spectacular. I had to fight my husband for a second taste of this. If you are a meat eater, you will love it. It was super tender and sooo full of flavor. Yum.
As part to the combo, the Mahi Mahi taco (chipotle aioli, pico de gallo, coleslaw, corn tortilla) was a great choice. The combination of flavors with the delicate fish was delicious. The flaky mahi was citrusy with a glorious tang and perfectly balanced with all the ingredients. For the second taco we chose the Creamy Chipolte with Shrimp, (cabbage, salsa verde, flour tortilla); This was equally amazing, but completely different. The creamy sauce was luxurious. It lit up my mouth with pure joy. As you can tell, I like to enjoy a diverse array of flavors all in one meal.
Dessert
After so much great food, I really did not think I could eat anything else. However, how could we skip the desserts? Well, I am so glad we did not. I just love flan, so I had to order that. Josephine recommended the Butter Cake (strawberries, passion fruit custard, vanilla ice cream), so that was Richard’s choice. It was indeed utterly delicious. In fact, both selections turned out to be worth the calories. The butter cake blew me away, because I did not expect that much glorious flavor. It tasted quite light as well. Thank you Josephine for guiding us towards one of the better desserts we have had recently. The flan was a bit more firm than I am used to, but it was still delicate and scrumptious. My husband, who normally will not eat flan due to its gelatinous texture, really liked La Popular’s version.
All I can say is wow. The meal was wonderful. We will definitely be returning to La Popular. It’s a great place to dine before attending a show at the Hollywood Bowl. For cocktail enthusiasts, they offer some really unique and wonderful options. Plus, the restaurant offers two happy hours, 3-6pm and 9pm to close. The restaurant is situated in the Ovation Hollywood Complex with parking directly below it (yes they validate). La Popular, 6801 Hollywood Blvd, LA 90028; https://www.lapopularcdmx.com
