Opened originally in March 1931, The Coyote Cafe moved to its current location (7312 Beverly Boulevard) in 1951. Today, it boasts eight rooms, 375 seats, and a patio where an average of 1,000 meals are served daily. Its margaritas are renowned in the city and have been voted “The Best in L.A.” by Los Angeles Magazine and Los Angeles Times.
It’s almost magical what you can feel the moment you step into this restaurant in West Hollywood. Autographed photographs of Hollywood stars line a wall just inside the entrance. John Wayne, Loretta Young, and Ricardo Montalbán dined there. A young Drew Barrymore spent many nights in the restaurant while family members dined. And one day even royalty called when Princess Grace and Prince Rainier of Monaco walked in unannounced. The Coyote Mexican Cafe in Los Angeles continues to have the reputation of being Hollywood’s favorite traditional Mexican restaurant.
Vividly colored painted walls, adorned with hats and a mix of eclectic art, along with Christmas lights left on year-round, create a relaxing and easy atmosphere with a backdrop of excitement and anticipation. “It’s a healing place,” smiles Margie, who left a long teaching career to keep El Coyote in the family. Slim and with blonde hair, Margie can be seen every night circulating among all the tables with a water pitcher – refilling glasses and visiting with customers – warmly attending to their needs and requests. She feels that her personal connection with the clientele is just as Aunt Blanche would have wanted it. “My aunt would hover,” she laughed. “We care about people. It’s our mission statement. We take care of every customer as if they were family.”
The late actress Sharon Tate, then-wife of, had her last meal here before she was murdered by the Manson family. In the movie ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood‘, Margot Robbie filmed her scenes exactly in the same seats where Tate sat with her friends. Today, ‘El Coyote’ continues to serve Mexican food to hundreds of people daily in its lively atmosphere more than 80 years after it first opened its doors.
