El Carmen - PlaceBee :

Address: 8138 W. Third St.
Zipcode: 90048
Phone Number: 323-852-1552

“One tequila, two tequila, three tequila, floor!” How about 300 different types of tequila? That’s what you’ll find at El Carmen, a fun, funky, shabby-chic Mexican bar and restaurant on West Third Street. The endless, usually crowded bar (and soft red seats alongside it) seems to take up the majority of the room, and the velvet paintings of Mexican bullfighters lend the place a dim, dive-y, south-of-the-border, Hemingway vibe. Even if you sit in someone’s lap in a tiny booth you won’t hear anything your friend or hook-up has to say; it’s that loud, all the time. Embrace this and focus instead on what to drink. At El Carmen, snobby connoisseurs and their mojito-addicted companions with fruit fetishes (pineapple tequila, anyone?) are treated equally well. Standard margaritas cost $14, and the really good stuff, like Patron, will hurt your wallet quite a bit, but you’ll feel so buzzed and happy you really won’t care (at least, not until the next morning). Nibble on tapas or tasty chips and guac, but don’t expect to get full; the portions are pretty small and the food is meant for snacking, not feasting. Secure a designated driver and prepare to hit the floor.