
CineOpera
About CineOpera
A set of stairs leads up to CineOpera, a Mexican restaurant on E 3rd St in Los Angeles built around a garden terrace filled with greenery, with its own bar and blankets on hand for cold evenings. The kitchen works in small and large plates meant for sharing, so larger parties order mains for the table, and the 16 dishes run through guacamole with chips, melted cheese, and fish, chicken and meat mains. Freshly made churros arrive with a selection of dips. Cocktails carry a good share of the menu, including a Mexican Martini. Breakfast and brunch options also appear. Reservations are taken, and a party is seated once everyone in the group has arrived. The restaurant opens Wednesday through Sunday in the evenings and closes Mondays and Tuesdays. Dogs are welcome on the terrace, where music plays through service, and portions come large.
Good to know
- ReservationsAccepts reservations
- ParkingPaid parking lot · Paid street parking · Valet parking
- AccessibilityHas wheelchair-accessible seating · Has wheelchair-accessible toilet
- Good for kidsGood for kids · High chairs available
- DietaryServes vegan dishes · Serves vegetarian dishes
Menu & Prices
16 dishes · mains $8–21- STEAK FOCCACIA$15.00
- MILANESA FOCCACIA$21.00
- CAESAR$10.00
- PANZANELLA$16.00
- CAVOLO NERO$16.00
- RIGATONI POMODORO$17.00
Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention outdoor garden terrace, shared plates for groups, valet or street parking and freshly made churros.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention outdoor garden terrace, shared plates for groups, valet or street parking and freshly made churros.
Customer Review Summary
The garden terrace is the draw reviewers return to again and again, described as spacious, full of greenery, and lively enough that one group asked to be moved from a quieter section into the main outdoor space. Several call the atmosphere the highlight outright, with one saying they would come back more for the ambiance than the food. Food impressions split: fans single out the freshly made churros with their selection of dips, the fish, and large shareable portions, while others find the dishes average, note that a melted cheese plate did not resemble its Mexican counterpart, and say the guacamole and chips, though fresh, came in a portion that felt small for the cost. One diner skipped recommending the Mexican Martini, and another traced a wrongly served main to a server memorizing orders instead of writing them down. Evenings turn chilly, and reviewers suggest an extra layer, though several mention blankets being offered.
Customer Review Summary
The garden terrace is the draw reviewers return to again and again, described as spacious, full of greenery, and lively enough that one group asked to be moved from a quieter section into the main outdoor space. Several call the atmosphere the highlight outright, with one saying they would come back more for the ambiance than the food. Food impressions split: fans single out the freshly made churros with their selection of dips, the fish, and large shareable portions, while others find the dishes average, note that a melted cheese plate did not resemble its Mexican counterpart, and say the guacamole and chips, though fresh, came in a portion that felt small for the cost. One diner skipped recommending the Mexican Martini, and another traced a wrongly served main to a server memorizing orders instead of writing them down. Evenings turn chilly, and reviewers suggest an extra layer, though several mention blankets being offered.
Featured reviews
- Shawn Sheng
“Had the opportunity to try this place during Dine LA, and it is definitely one of the best restaurants I have ever been to. The food was absolutely delicious and the portions were huge. 4 course meal for only $45, and we had to get to go …”
- Serge C
“Decided to venture downtown for dinner with friends this past week after hearing good things about La Cha Cha Cha, especially its outdoor atmosphere. We booked for 7:30 PM on a Saturday. When we arrived, we weren’t seated right away because our entire party wasn’t there yet (even though most of us had arrived). At first, we were placed away from the main outdoor space, which felt quiet and a bit underwhelming. Luckily, we convinced the host to move us to the main outdoor area — much livelier, and honestly the main reason we chose this spot. Overall, the food and drinks were solid. Most dishes weren’t overly spicy, so they worked well for everyone. The cocktails were enjoyable, but I’d skip the Mexican Martini — interesting concept, but it didn’t quite land. They also had limited juice options (only pineapple and cranberry). Our server was friendly, but I wish he had written down our order instead of trying to memorize it — one of our mains was served incorrectly. The menu is best enjoyed tapas-style, with small and large plates to share. Expect to spend around $100 per person if you’re sharing dishes and having a couple of cocktails. Parking can be tricky if you’re hoping for free street parking, but valet and nearby lots are available. We ended up having a good time, and I’d recommend this spot for a sunset catch-up with friends over drinks. Just note: it gets chilly in the evenings, so bring an extra layer. Enjoy!”
- Mr. Chez
“Excellent restaurant with a great vibe. The service has been amazing. Juan was our waiter and very attentive to our needs. We tried a whole bunch of different appetizers and they were all great. Our main entrée was the fish which is also great.”
- Alan Guillen
“Took ma lady (and myself) out to a lunch meal here. The weather was quite brisk so we asked to be seated inside which they accommodated. We had a rezzzz for the exterior patio, which is the best part of the restaurant, as there isn't much …”
- eustachio vincenzo gravela
“Food is almost Mexican. Wonderful, if you are big parties, order to share the mains. Staff is friendly and helpful. Nice for a night out feeling you are in Mexico City! Churros are freshly made and with a great selection of dips. Melted cheese dish was not reflecting what you get in Mexico. Fish, chicken and meat were great.”
Hours
- Monday
- Closed
- Tuesday
- Closed
- Wednesday
- Thursday
- Friday
- Saturday
- Sunday
Highlights
“Stylish restaurant with a terrace serving modern Mexican cuisine, tacos & cocktails.”
- Has rooftop seating
Amenities
- Has Wi-Fi
- Has wheelchair-accessible seating
- Paid parking lot
- Accepts reservations
- Has outdoor seating
- Dogs allowed
Show more amenities
- Offers delivery
- Serves dine-in
- Good for kids
- Serves vegan dishes
- Has bar on site
- On-site services available
- Offerings· 9
- Serves alcohol
- Serves beer
- Serves cocktails
- Serves coffee
- Serves comfort food
- Serves small plates
- Serves spirits
- Serves vegetarian dishes
- Serves wine
- Dining options· 6
- Serves lunch
- Serves dinner
- Has counter service
- Serves dessert
- Has seating
- Has table service
- Pet-friendly· 1
- Dogs allowed outside
- Highlights· 1
- Has rooftop seating
- Facilities· 1
- Has toilet
- Accessibility· 1
- Has wheelchair-accessible toilet
- Parking· 2
- Paid street parking
- Valet parking
- Family-friendly· 1
- High chairs available
Location
Restaurants near CineOpera
- Redbird4.61,8240.6 mi$30–60Good for kidsReservations
open roof dining room, grilled branzino, grilled prawns
- Eggslut4.44,6900.8 mi$10–20Good for kids
fairfax sandwich, the slut coddled egg, truffle hash browns
- Perch4.47,5790.9 mi$50–100Good for kidsReservations
rooftop skyline views, live music, steak dishes
| Place | Rating | Distance | Price | Mentioned in reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CineOperaGood for kids · Reservations | 4.2512 | — | $50–100 | outdoor garden terrace, shared plates for groups, valet or street parking |
| RedbirdGood for kids · Reservations | 4.61,824 | 0.6 mi | $30–60 | open roof dining room, grilled branzino, grilled prawns |
| EggslutGood for kids | 4.44,690 | 0.8 mi | $10–20 | fairfax sandwich, the slut coddled egg, truffle hash browns |
| PerchGood for kids · Reservations | 4.47,579 | 0.9 mi | $50–100 | rooftop skyline views, live music, steak dishes |
The 3 nearest restaurants by distance. Ratings, hours and review terms come from public business profiles.
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