Best Live Music Showtime Restaurants in Chinatown
2 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: February 2026
Our Top Pick
El Paseo Inn
LA's oldest Mexican restaurant, serving on historic Olvera Street since the 1930s with live mariachi and a sprawling open-air patio.
Worthy Picks
#1
El Paseo Inn
7.9
A sprawling open-air Mexican cantina on historic Olvera Street that leans into the full festive experience—tableside guacamole, mariachi on Sundays, and a patio that fills up with multi-generational tables sharing enchiladas and margaritas. Operating since the 1930s, it draws on atmosphere and tradition more than culinary precision, making it the right call when the occasion matters as much as the meal.
Must-Try Dishes:
Cadillac Margarita, Chicken Enchiladas De Mole, Tableside Guacamole
What Makes it Special: LA's oldest Mexican restaurant, serving on historic Olvera Street since the 1930s with live mariachi and a sprawling open-air patio.
Southern-Mexico-focused cooking in a full-service, margarita-friendly setup on the plaza. The menu goes beyond basics with moles, cochinita pibil, and occasional live-music energy.
Must-Try Dishes:
Cochinita pibil taco, Mole sampler, Ceviche especial
What Makes it Special: Plaza cantina highlighting Southern Mexican flavors and moles.