The iconic Mexican churreria El Moro, founded in Mexico City in 1935, is making its highly anticipated Los Angeles debut in Echo Park. The new flagship store is slated to open in mid-September 2025 and is already generating buzz.
Highlights:
The Echo Park location occupies the former Patra Burgers site on Sunset Boulevard and will mark El Moro’s second Southern California outpost (the first being in Costa Mesa). Owner Santiago Iriarte, grandson of the original founder, said Los Angeles “felt like the closest to Mexico that LA will ever be.”
The space has been designed by renowned international designer Nacho Cadena, featuring a creamy white exterior, blue neon signage, bold artwork and outdoor seating — giving the classic brand a modern West-Coast flair.
The menu will include classic churros with chocolate dips, champurrado, horchata lattes, churro ice-cream sandwiches and savory items like tortas and mole.
The opening reflects a broader trend: Los Angeles continues to be a destination for culturally rich, Mexican-rooted dining experiences that blend heritage and innovation.
Why it stands out: This story is more than a new restaurant — it’s a marker of how regional food culture evolves. A nearly century-old Mexican brand entering Los Angeles underscores the city’s continued role as a bridge between Mexico and the U.S., and how food can be a vessel for history, identity and place-making.
