This spacious Downtown-adjacent Echo Park restaurant has become a neighborhood favorite, with hipsters mingling with cops and families amid the charming rodeo-themed decor.
Operated by friendly owners Happy Rodeo Inc., Rodeo takes simple American and Mexican classics to a new level with fresh ingredients, super low prices and some of the best service you’ll find anywhere in the city.
Though the 70-item wall menu may seem daunting at first, you’ll be well rewarded when you finally make a selection. Breakfast is a busy affair, with all your morning favorites flying off the grill from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Start the day with a nice strong cup of coffee, which you can refill to your heart’s content, or a glass of the freshly squeezed juice (they also blend natural juices like the carrot-apple-orange version).
Where else can you find delicious huevos rancheros for $5.59? The popular dish comes with two over easy, red-sauce slathered eggs atop a crisp corn tortilla, with fluffy rice and fresh beans on the side, and some foil-wrapped soft tortillas with which to sop up the tasty remnants. Rodeo’s other top breakfast seller is the huevos la rodeo – eggs served on a corn tortilla with tender steak, salsa and creamy avocado for $7.99.
Don’t forget the basics like French toast or pancake combos with thick strips of bacon or sausage as well as breakfast burritos and omelets big enough for two to share. Plus, there are free chips and a salsa bar where you can load up on all your spicy favorites. All this and you can read your morning paper in the casual homey restaurant with plenty of money left over to buy lunch.
Speaking of which, orders are served up at lightning speed, leaving you plenty of time to enjoy your meal and still get back to work. Entrées run from $2 to under $10, with plates usually accompanied by a small green salad, beans and rice. The savory sauces are first class at this casual eatery, like the chicken enchiladas with green chili sauce or the grilled fish with succulent garlic sauce. The plump chile relleno oozing cheese is a tempting treat, while the steak and shrimp fajitas can carry you into dinner with a full stomach.
Burritos nearly as big as your forearm come stuffed with meat, rice beans and all the fixings, while a half grilled chicken plate satisfies with French fries, salad and tortillas. American combo plates are steal, like the double cheeseburger combo with fries and a medium drink for just over $5. A quarter-pound hamburger is just $2.99.
Many of the same menu items (and low prices) are available just west on Sunset at Happy Tom’s – the owners’ third restaurant. There’s also another Rodeo on Olympic Boulevard.
In a neighborhood filled with Mexican restaurants and fast-food options, Rodeo stands out from the pack.
Rodeo is at 1721 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 738-5252; 1721 W. Sunset Blvd., (213) 483-8311; and Happy Tom’s is at 1807 W. Sunset Blvd., (213) 483-7077.
Cuisine: Mexican/American. All major credit cards accepted. $