Our Story

1922

Alejandro Borquez pushes back from the dinner table and says to his beautiful young bride, Rosa,”You are such a good cook we should open up a restaurant”

1923

The Borquezes open the Sonora Cafe in a small storefront on Broadway and Santa Barbara Avenue (near the Coliseum).

1925

A guest wanders in for dinner and while he is waiting for his dinner draws a figure of a man on the menu and calls him “EL CHOLO”.  (In those days the name given their field hands by the Spanish settlers in California). History is made when Alejandro likes the man and the name and immediately changes SONORA CAFE to EL CHOLO CAFE.

1926

George Salisbury is eating dinner at EL CHOLO and meets the Borquez’s daughter, Aurelia. They court, decide to marry and open their own EL CHOLO.

1927

In a storefront at 11th and Western they open EL CHOLO with 8 stools, 3 booths and a hot top stove on which they heat the tortillas on the top, melt the cheese enchiladas underneath. That stove is still on display in our lobby.

1932

Joe Reina comes to work as a dishwasher. Shortly thereafter becomes head chef -a job that is to last 54 years and forever influence the Mexican restaurant industry.

1959

Carmen Rocha joins EL CHOLO. She starts making a dish called “nachos” that she made in her hometown of San Antonio. Again History is made.

1962

Aurelia and George’s son, Ron, opens our La Habra location making El Cholo a 3rd generation, family-owned restaurant.

1967

A longtime guest one night says “let me show you how to make a great margarita.” Again history is made. Eventually EL CHOLO becomes the world’s largest user of Cuervo 1800 Tequila and the first to introduce premium ingredients in a margarita.

George Salisbury transfers ownership to his son Ron.

1995

4th and 5th generation now working at the restaurants!

1997

El Cholo Santa Monica opens with the original neon sign hangining in the dining room.

2010

El Cholo opens in Downtown Los Angeles across from Staples center & Nokia / LA Live.  Our Filet Mignon Tacos are awarded Best Taco.

2013

We open our 6th location in Anaheim Hills and celebrate 90 years!

2015

The former Irvine location reopens in Corona del Mar.

EL Cholo. Est. 1923
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All of the El Cholo® restaurants feature authentic and traditional Mexican dishes, many of which have come from family recipes dating back to 1923. Our distinctive menu offers classics such as our famous green corn tamales, enchiladas, irresistible nachos and sizzling fajitas. Our famous El Cholo® Margarita Recipe has become a “must taste” for visitors to Southern California. MORE
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