I've had many great memories and delicious food at Ortega 120. The food was seasoned well, and the staff were very attentive. The ambiance is dark and intimate. It was a great place for happy hour or dinner with friends. It's temporarily closed, and I'm hoping it can make a comeback, but with the rent at this location being so high, who knows.
Audrey T.
Been dining her for the past 8 years and still love the food and staff! One of our favorite local places to dine.
Brandon H.
Several years ago, this was a dope Mexican spot; but not any more. The food was so terrible, and un-mexican, that we laughed about it. We were a table of five guests, and there was not one hint of cilantro, fresh onions, or lime. I mean, I had a "carne asada" plate with brussel sprouts.. The food was seasoned with water. I'd rather have some Rachael Ray pozole. The appropriation of the wonderfully curated decor is a real crime with the food they are serving. Quite infuriating. Employees and service were fine. Sheesh...
Kahiry C.
Unfortunate. That's my overarching review. Ortega 120 was a South Bay gem and it's obviously resting on it's old reputation. The feeling of being deceived creeps up on you. The chips and salsa are NOT FREE. They approach the table and ask if you want chips and salsa, then they refill them mid meal and at the end of the meal you find out it's $2 each time. The whole tostadas are not salted. Actually, nothing was salted or seasoned for that matter. You received a paper menu in a plastic, wrinkled up, tacky sleeve. You have your first appetizer and realize whole flavor profiles are missing. Why is the ceviche appetizer slimy and lacks the keynote ceviche flavors of lime, salt or any fresh ingredients. Wow, we were in for a rough meal. Two carne asada plates: Unflavored, chopped up with Brussels sprouts (make it make sense), red rice greasy with frozen veggies. My daughter's beans tasted like nothing I have ever tasted. We tried it and immediately took it away. It's like "bean flavored" goo. The flour tortillas are no longer hand made. The service was very kind and validated our concerns about the food stating "Yeah, it's changed." Never would I ever recommend this fake Mexican food to anyone I actually like. Unfortunate.
Megan J.
This used to be our go to spot for a nice dinner, birthday celebration or date night before kids so I decided to take my husband here for a special birthday dinner. Oh man has the quality really taken a nosedive! The Ortega we knew and loved is long gone ... from the salsa to the rice and beans, everything tastes like it's from a can or jar now. Reading through the reviews it looks like the place is under new ownership. So many good memories here but we won't be back. Spend your money on one of the many other good Mexican spots in the area
Steven Hornbek
My favorite mexican food place ever. At this point i would show up just to see Jesus at the bar. That guy mixes the best drinks, and gets my fiance laughing everytime we show up.I would follow that guy wherever he works!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Juan Montalvo
I love this place because they're menu has great items made ideally. That means they aren't 100% traditional but they are
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
H C.
Nachos were delicious and big enough to share. Nice place to hangout or go out on a date, our server was hospitable and made us feel welcomed. We will definitely be back again for more horchata martinis!
Michelle A.
This used to be my go to restaurant for date night, however times have changed. The service is still good , but the food is lacking. The beans and rice were served family style , no complaints there , but there was no flavor. My husband ordered the pig tacos , which were recommended by the server. He was very disappointed to say the least. I ordered the chicken tortilla soup, it was okay, but I remembered it much better. They redecorated, which I liked. There was no wait for a party of 9 , which says a lot for a Saturday night in a beach town .I'm sad to say , we won't be back.
Alicia M.
I had a girls date happy hour here with South Bay friends and we had a great time! For a Tuesday evening the place was empty, but we thoroughly enjoyed pitchers of margaritas and tacos in both hands.
Wonderfully courteous staff who clearly care about making customers feel welcomed. Decor is so much fun -- colorful walls, crosses in all shapes and sizes, Dias de los Muertos dioramas, cacti -- very Oaxacan! The menu has something for everyone. Don't miss the homemade chips and salsa -- these chips and salsa are NOT like the usual hit-or-miss ones. We ordered the carnitas quesadilla (didn't know tortillas were as large as platters!) with the guac (yum!), and three tacos (carnitas, al pastor, and something else -- all good). Came with homemade beans and rice--again, totally different style from The Usual SoCal Mexcian. Portions are enormous. We took over half home for the next day's lunch. And the margarita menu...very good. I'm partial to the Paloma but others like the margs. The Jamaica juice drink is good, too. The only things we disliked were that 1) the food was very salty, and 2) the noise level was too loud for us. However, the next time I am in Redondo Beach, I will plan on a Paloma or a margarita plus something to go. It's worth a visit because it is very good.
Gregg Carroll
Could be great! But always Inconsistent. Servers are always pleasant, but the kitchen needs help understanding that cooked items need to served “hot”. Been served warm and or cold food more than once.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 3
Duck EDM
I worked here when it first opened and manager refused to put me in the system. After a month or so, she had a friend tell me on my day off, that I wasn't needed anymore. Then I never got paid. My fault for not seeing the red flags but I was young.
Dulce Gonzalez
The smell of the chips lured me in. Upon entering, there was a very nice lady making fresh tortillas. Since I was in a rush, I just wanted chips and salsa to try them. The lady making tortillas offered me to try it. OMG, so good, totally transported me back to Mexico. The chips are delicious and the salsa...best I've had in a while. The employees are very nice. Can't wait to go back and dine in.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chips
Alec Kang
Food quality has gone down tremendously since the last time I ate here. Went for taco Tuesday, waited kept messing up our order, first batch of chips were burnt, salsa is not that good, shrimp taco was bland, short rib taco salty n they charge you for chips n salsa. I won't be coming back just for that!!!! The gauc was pretty good n my wife liked their al pastor...... oh yeah. My michelada was the worse I ever had!!!!! I will not be coming back...... sorry
I've had many great memories and delicious food at Ortega 120. The food was seasoned well, and the staff were very attentive. The ambiance is dark and intimate. It was a great place for happy hour or dinner with friends. It's temporarily closed, and I'm hoping it can make a comeback, but with the rent at this location being so high, who knows.
Been dining her for the past 8 years and still love the food and staff! One of our favorite local places to dine.
Several years ago, this was a dope Mexican spot; but not any more. The food was so terrible, and un-mexican, that we laughed about it. We were a table of five guests, and there was not one hint of cilantro, fresh onions, or lime. I mean, I had a "carne asada" plate with brussel sprouts.. The food was seasoned with water. I'd rather have some Rachael Ray pozole. The appropriation of the wonderfully curated decor is a real crime with the food they are serving. Quite infuriating. Employees and service were fine. Sheesh...
Unfortunate. That's my overarching review. Ortega 120 was a South Bay gem and it's obviously resting on it's old reputation. The feeling of being deceived creeps up on you. The chips and salsa are NOT FREE. They approach the table and ask if you want chips and salsa, then they refill them mid meal and at the end of the meal you find out it's $2 each time. The whole tostadas are not salted. Actually, nothing was salted or seasoned for that matter. You received a paper menu in a plastic, wrinkled up, tacky sleeve. You have your first appetizer and realize whole flavor profiles are missing. Why is the ceviche appetizer slimy and lacks the keynote ceviche flavors of lime, salt or any fresh ingredients. Wow, we were in for a rough meal. Two carne asada plates: Unflavored, chopped up with Brussels sprouts (make it make sense), red rice greasy with frozen veggies. My daughter's beans tasted like nothing I have ever tasted. We tried it and immediately took it away. It's like "bean flavored" goo. The flour tortillas are no longer hand made. The service was very kind and validated our concerns about the food stating "Yeah, it's changed." Never would I ever recommend this fake Mexican food to anyone I actually like. Unfortunate.
This used to be our go to spot for a nice dinner, birthday celebration or date night before kids so I decided to take my husband here for a special birthday dinner. Oh man has the quality really taken a nosedive! The Ortega we knew and loved is long gone ... from the salsa to the rice and beans, everything tastes like it's from a can or jar now. Reading through the reviews it looks like the place is under new ownership. So many good memories here but we won't be back. Spend your money on one of the many other good Mexican spots in the area
My favorite mexican food place ever. At this point i would show up just to see Jesus at the bar. That guy mixes the best drinks, and gets my fiance laughing everytime we show up.I would follow that guy wherever he works!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I love this place because they're menu has great items made ideally. That means they aren't 100% traditional but they are
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Nachos were delicious and big enough to share. Nice place to hangout or go out on a date, our server was hospitable and made us feel welcomed. We will definitely be back again for more horchata martinis!
This used to be my go to restaurant for date night, however times have changed. The service is still good , but the food is lacking. The beans and rice were served family style , no complaints there , but there was no flavor. My husband ordered the pig tacos , which were recommended by the server. He was very disappointed to say the least. I ordered the chicken tortilla soup, it was okay, but I remembered it much better. They redecorated, which I liked. There was no wait for a party of 9 , which says a lot for a Saturday night in a beach town .I'm sad to say , we won't be back.
I had a girls date happy hour here with South Bay friends and we had a great time! For a Tuesday evening the place was empty, but we thoroughly enjoyed pitchers of margaritas and tacos in both hands.
Restaurantji Recommends
Wonderfully courteous staff who clearly care about making customers feel welcomed. Decor is so much fun -- colorful walls, crosses in all shapes and sizes, Dias de los Muertos dioramas, cacti -- very Oaxacan! The menu has something for everyone. Don't miss the homemade chips and salsa -- these chips and salsa are NOT like the usual hit-or-miss ones. We ordered the carnitas quesadilla (didn't know tortillas were as large as platters!) with the guac (yum!), and three tacos (carnitas, al pastor, and something else -- all good). Came with homemade beans and rice--again, totally different style from The Usual SoCal Mexcian. Portions are enormous. We took over half home for the next day's lunch. And the margarita menu...very good. I'm partial to the Paloma but others like the margs. The Jamaica juice drink is good, too. The only things we disliked were that 1) the food was very salty, and 2) the noise level was too loud for us. However, the next time I am in Redondo Beach, I will plan on a Paloma or a margarita plus something to go. It's worth a visit because it is very good.
Could be great! But always Inconsistent. Servers are always pleasant, but the kitchen needs help understanding that cooked items need to served “hot”. Been served warm and or cold food more than once.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 3
I worked here when it first opened and manager refused to put me in the system. After a month or so, she had a friend tell me on my day off, that I wasn't needed anymore. Then I never got paid. My fault for not seeing the red flags but I was young.
The smell of the chips lured me in. Upon entering, there was a very nice lady making fresh tortillas. Since I was in a rush, I just wanted chips and salsa to try them. The lady making tortillas offered me to try it. OMG, so good, totally transported me back to Mexico. The chips are delicious and the salsa...best I've had in a while. The employees are very nice. Can't wait to go back and dine in.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chips
Food quality has gone down tremendously since the last time I ate here. Went for taco Tuesday, waited kept messing up our order, first batch of chips were burnt, salsa is not that good, shrimp taco was bland, short rib taco salty n they charge you for chips n salsa. I won't be coming back just for that!!!! The gauc was pretty good n my wife liked their al pastor...... oh yeah. My michelada was the worse I ever had!!!!! I will not be coming back...... sorry
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Chips