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Qué Bárbaro - Steakhouse in Los Angeles, California

Qué Bárbaro

4.0 (54 reviews)

1254 S Figueroa St 8th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90015

South American restaurant
Argentinian restaurant
Brazilian restaurant
Latin American restaurant
Steak house

About Qué Bárbaro - steak house in Los Angeles, California

Customer Review Summary

Qué Bárbaro receives mixed reviews from diners. Many praise the food, particularly dishes like the steak and empanadas, while others criticize the presentation and portion sizes. The atmosphere is often described as inviting with unique decor, but some find it too quirky or loud due to its location near a club. Service experiences vary; some guests appreciate attentive servers, while others mention inattentiveness or delays in addressing issues. Cocktails receive negative feedback for being made in batches, with calls for better quality given the price point. Overall, while the food is highlighted positively, inconsistencies in service, portion sizes, and drink quality impact the overall dining experience.

Key Features

Service options

  • Outdoor seating
  • Dine-in

Highlights

  • Great cocktails
  • Live music
  • Rooftop seating

Popular for

  • Lunch
  • Dinner
  • Solo dining

Accessibility

  • Wheelchair accessible entrance
  • Wheelchair accessible parking lot
  • Wheelchair accessible restroom
  • Wheelchair accessible seating

Offerings

  • Alcohol
  • Beer
  • Cocktails
  • Coffee
  • Small plates
  • Wine

Dining options

  • Lunch
  • Dinner
  • Dessert
  • Seating

Amenities

  • Bar onsite
  • Restroom

Atmosphere

  • Cozy
  • Trendy

Crowd

  • Groups
  • Tourists

Planning

  • Reservations required
  • Dinner reservations recommended
  • Accepts reservations

Payments

  • Credit cards
  • Debit cards

Parking

  • Paid parking lot
  • Valet parking

Customer Reviews

Rating Distribution

4.0 out of 5
5
28
4
8
3
10
2
5
1
3
Based on 54 reviews

Krystine B

1 month ago

Sad I waited so long to come here! Visited on a weeknight and were seated promptly, the decor is lovely and inviting. Our server Kyle was extremely attentive and good at his job. We did the Dine LA préfixe menu which had great options and portions. The short rib polenta was very heavy, but SO good. My only real critiques are about the cocktails are the plating. The cocktails are made by the batch, which at this price point is a shame. My partner didn't enjoy his drink, but I enjoyed my off-menu kiwi drink. The food is truly delicious, but I felt the presentation didn't measure up, the salmon had a delicious black sauce hidden underneath that wasn't discovered until later and my polenta was so good but didn't look appetizing, with more thought out plating and drinks, this place could really shine. Would return for the food and vibes though! 4.2/5.

Vinh Du

2 weeks ago

**Disappointing Experience at Que Barbaro** I recently dined at Que Barbaro, and unfortunately, it fell far short of my expectations. While the restaurant has a unique vibe, it was a bit too quirky for my taste, and the location next to a club made it incredibly loud, which detracted from the dining experience. The food looked absolutely stunning in the photos, which raised my expectations. I ordered *El Asado*, which was advertised as a dish for 2-3 people. However, when it arrived, the portion was surprisingly small—definitely not enough for two hungry adults. The meat was just okay; nothing special, especially considering the price point. After splitting the dish, my friend and I were still hungry, which was frustrating given the cost. Speaking of cost, we ended up spending over $200, and leaving unsatisfied was a huge letdown. The presentation in the photos was far more impressive than the actual food, which felt like a bait-and-switch. For a meal at this price, I expected not only quality but also quantity—enough to leave feeling satisfied. Overall, I wouldn’t recommend Que Barbaro, and I certainly won’t be returning. If I’m going to spend over $200 on a meal, I expect it to be both delicious and filling, and unfortunately, this was neither.

Director Isa

2 months ago

Visited this restaurant for my girl’s birthday after discovering it on TikTok. We arrived at 5:00 PM as the first guests and requested a table with a view, but were initially seated near the bathroom. After a polite request, the hostess kindly moved us to a different table. While the ambiance is pleasant, the drinks, priced at $22 each, were underwhelming for the quality. When I inquired about the Mezcal used, the bartender seemed unsure, which led me to believe a lower-grade Mezcal was used. For our meal, we ordered Salmon and Pulpo. The presentation was nice but minimal (especially in portion) and the salmon was undercooked. Despite attempting to get the attention of our server, who appeared busy with her phone, it took at least 10 minutes for issue addressed. Our server was simply too busy, and in the end, it was a busboy who took the place back. When the dish returned, it was unfortunately overcooked… BURT and EXTRA CRISP is more like it. I do appreciate the thoughtful gesture of the tres leches cake for our special occasion. However, given the final bill of $289.17, which included food, drinks (2 in the restaurant and 4 at the exterior bar) and tips, the experience did not meet expectations in terms of quality and service. While we likely won't return for dinner, we would consider enjoying drinks at the outdoor bar, which had a better atmosphere and drink quality.

Rebecca Themelis

4 months ago

One of the best meals I've had in LA. The steak was perfect, Brussel sprouts were the right crispness, squash appetizer was a delicious and desert was a great way to end the meal. Our server was attentive without being pushy and we were seated promptly.

Rina Risper

11 months ago

Even though I was seated, the person at the front desk was not very friendly. It is very small but doable. At least two people that walk by hit my bag and there was not a hook where they put the “single” folks. I have attached the menu. I had swordfish and lobster. The bartender did not offer a side option so I had to look around to try and figure out what others were eating. My swordfish and lobster were amazing. And I ordered some amazing broccolini after I had eaten half the food. The lobster was three bites. The couple next to me ordered me an express martini. It was delicious. It was sort of overshadowed by the cook who was pulling out boxes and putting food on the grill. Boxes? It took away from the ambiance for sure. Overall, it was a decent time but I had to keep checking my watch to make sure I was not embarrassed by the woman who checked me in a told me I had about two hours to eat. It was about $130 after tip.

Rodrigo “funning”

1 year ago

“Level 8” opened up recently and this was one of the spots I wanted to try because I heard the steak was phenomenal from other patrons. This spot is the restaurant before the “Golden Hour” bar/pool. Solid atmosphere with a kitchen setting & the bar area is great. For food I ordered the empanadas, a mushroom dish, batata al rescoldo, & the picanha. The empanadas were delicious, the filling was flavorful along with the amazing chimichuri sauce. The mushroom dish which I forgot the name for was a solid replacement for a non meat dish(presentation needs work but it was delicious). It was definitely one of the more surprise dishes because the Langostinos were all out. The batata Al rescoldo was good & different but the picanha was the showstopper. Solid flavor, cooked perfectly and it was a phenomenal dish overall. Unfortunately the Langostinos was sold out and the dish I was looking forward to. I’d definitely try their other menu items next time. Shoutout to our server Mariano, who was excellent and made sure we got everything in order. Compliments to Chef Brian & Chef Omar along with manager Olivia. Solid dining experience and customer service that was top notch. As for parking is limited to valet or limited street parking. ***update*** Recently tried their 50 oz Tomahawk and it was one of the best cuts I’ve ever had. The meat was cooked perfectly and seasoned perfectly. The fat pieces were delicious too. I’d say it’s for three people & their branzino was also good but just the fillet & not the whole fish.

Ilaria

8 months ago

Located at the Level 8 of the Moxy hotel in DTLA, Que Barbaro has a fancy art Deco and modern style. You can sit at the tables or at the bar for a chef experience, watching the chef grilling in front of you. It offers South American flavors. Chimichurri, plantains, alioli.. paired with great wooden-grilled seafood or meat. The meat is tender, cooked medium-rare at it should be served, accompanied by salt flakes, bread grains and chimichurri obviously! The prawns are tasteful, spicy and sweet. The empanadas are made with a delicious, crunchy and sweet dough and the leche the tigre is an explosion of taste and heat. The chimichurri is very sour and has a pungent flavour, it could easily overpower the other flavors. There is an excessive amount of garlic in the dishes which leaves a bit too much of aftertaste. Overall is a good experience. The staff is staff, doesn't leave a mark. The prices are definitely excessive compared to similar spots.

Hana C

1 year ago

We recently went to Que Barbaro for a friend’s birthday. We have a pre-set dinner as we are a party of 10. Food was amazing. Each dish brings you to a different place and strives to introduce various South American delicacies. We started with empanada and to be honest we want to end the night with more empanadas. The ceviche is so good and fresh. Each dish is struly remarkable and I love that they serve chimichurri on the side. We paid around 300 per person and for me it was worth it. My only constructive criticisim is the server did not let us know that we still have money left from our drink consumables. I think it is ethical to inform the group or just give a heads up that we can still order drinks for something we have paid for. An honest service is always appeeciated by customers. The server checked us out when we have still around 160 worth of drinks that we have paid for. We had to ask a couple of times and was not offered to get more drinks. The point is- we do not and should not even have to ask.

Location

Contact Information

Hours of Operation

Friday 6–11 PM
Monday Closed
Saturday 6–11 PM
Sunday 6–10 PM
Thursday 6–10 PM
Tuesday Closed
Wednesday 6–10 PM

Price Range

$100+