The entrance of iconic Los Angeles Mexican restaurant El Coyote is plastered with signed celebrity headshots representing a who’s-who of generations of Hollywood stars. 1960s British singer Engelbert Humperdinck, actor Brian Dennehy, the late comedian Bob Saget and original child star Shirley Temple all make appearances. Tucked away at the top of one wall, there’s even a signed pic from of-the-moment pop princess Sabrina Carpenter.
“I don’t know who any of the younger people are,” said second-generation owner Margie Christoffersen of Carpenter and her ilk, noting that recent notable visitors have included gravelly voiced, perennial tough guy Sam Elliott and music power couple Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton.
Christoffersen’s aunt Blanche and uncle George opened El Coyote nearby on La Brea Avenue in 1931. The restaurant — known for its signature red-and-white neon sign, kitschy decor like strung multicolored Christmas lights, big platters of cheesy enchiladas and stiff margaritas — recently celebrated its 95th birthday, making it the second-oldest Mexican restaurant in LA, just a few years behind El Cholo.
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The signature red-and-white neon signs and awnings at El Coyote in Los Angeles.
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The ceiling of the entrance at El Coyote in Los Angeles showcases numerous photos of celebrities that have visited the restaurant over the years.
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Margie Christoffersen, the second-generation owner of El Coyote, poses for a portrait at the restaurant in Los Angeles on May 15, 2026.
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El Coyote’s roots in Hollywood lore run much deeper than they first appear. According to Christoffersen, the restaurant’s original location near Old Hollywood movie studios made it a favorite for stars like Western legend John Wayne, who would bring other celebrities to dine there. (It moved to its current location on Beverly Boulevard in 1951.)
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“There are so many, but a few highlights include Princess Grace and Prince Rainier, and Drew Barrymore grew up running around here,” Christoffersen said. She took over operations in 1991, after Blanche died and ownership of the restaurant went to her father.
Then, of course, there is the tragic story of actress Sharon Tate, who famously had dinner at El Coyote with her friends Jay Sebring, Voytek Frykowski and Abigail Folger during a night in August 1969; the group was later murdered by the Manson Family in the Benedict Canyon home that Tate shared with her husband, director Roman Polanski.
“People still come and ask to see ‘the booth’ and take pictures,” Christoffersen said.
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It’s a scene that Quentin Tarantino captured in his 2019 film “Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood,” a retelling of the Manson murders. But unbeknownst to many, he shot the scene of Tate, played by Margot Robbie, and her friends in a different booth than the one the group actually dined at.
The colorful dining room at El Coyote in Los Angeles features booths and strung Christmas lights.
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El Coyote owner Margie Christoffersen interacts with customers in Los Angeles on May 15, 2026.
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“People who know El Coyote know that it’s not the right booth, but it was our three minutes of fame, and I’ll tell you, it was huge,” Christoffersen said, adding with a laugh, “Quentin can have anything he wants here, anytime.”
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Over the decades, El Coyote has had its share of challenges: In 1991, after Blanche’s death, the restaurant closed for seven weeks to complete construction to bring it back up to code. Despite not making an announcement — this was obviously well before modern websites or social media — diners flocked to the restaurant when it reopened.
“We had a two-hour wait by five o’clock,” Christoffersen said. “The next day, we ran out of margarita mix.”
These days, Christoffersen can regularly be seen greeting guests and chatting with tables. On a recent Friday around midday, couples and families were seated in curved red booths under the restaurant’s mosaics and seashell-framed mirrors (many of them made by Blanche March herself), digging into standards like house-made chunky guacamole, sweet corn tamales stuffed with green chiles, and sizzling platters of fajitas served with shrimp, chicken or steak. A woman sporting El Coyote gear celebrated her 88th birthday in the bar area; the entryway saw a steady stream of people waiting for tables in El Coyote’s several compact dining areas, each with its own colorful, ramshackle charm.
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Christoffersen and her team are looking to big events like the upcoming World Cup to shine a light on Los Angeles — and on El Coyote. She plans to install TVs on the restaurant’s outdoor patio so that avid fans can watch matches.
The bar area at El Coyote in Los Angeles is outfitted with neon signs and hanging glass lamps.
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A spread of dishes and drinks at El Coyote in Los Angeles on May 15, 2026.
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A stained-glass window at the bar at El Coyote in Los Angeles.
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“When you come to LA, you have to come to the Coyote,” Christoffersen said. “We are Los Angeles. We’re a mix of different things, just like LA.”
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She credits multigenerational diners for keeping the restaurant afloat after the difficulties of pandemic closures and entertainment strikes in the past several years, noting that El Coyote used to be open seven days a week but had to reduce to five after the pandemic.
“We do have some centenarians that come in. People come here to celebrate, they come here to mourn,” she said. “They come here for the memories.”
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She added: “How many restaurants do you see where people are hugging each other? No offense to Disneyland, because I do love Disneyland, but they’re the second-happiest place on earth. We’re the first.”
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When asked what else she’s looking forward to, Christoffersen’s answer was simple: “The 100th anniversary.”
El Coyote, 7312 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles. Open Sunday, Wednesday and Thursday, noon-9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, noon-10 p.m.; closed Monday through Tuesday.