Cole's French Dip image

Cole's French Dip

Restaurant Bar

Landmark saloon known for French dip sandwiches & classic cocktails, plus hidden speakeasy in back. People often mention good, French, drinks, great, sandwich, time, spicy, staff, service, fries,


Address

118 E 6th St, Los Angeles, CA 90014

Website

colesfrenchdip.com

Price rating

$$ $$

Rating on Google Maps

4.50 (1.3K reviews)

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Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: good (22) French (21) drinks (13) great (13) sandwich (12) time (10) spicy (10) staff (9) service (9) fries (8)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 1/5 Stephanie R. 1 year ago on Google
    Used to love coming here for the food. This was my first stop as soon as I got in. We ordered our food and drinks. Waited an hour for our food as we watched everyone around us get served. All who came after us too. We’d check in continuously and the staff would just say “they’re working on it” for an hour?! We ordered the same thing as everyone else so why would ours not be ready? We ended up closing our tab and leaving. The staff could care less and made no effort in getting us our order.
    5 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Corazon P. 1 year ago on Google
    The food and drinks were so good, I had the grilled cheese w/ tomato soup. First timer, even though I grew up here (LA). Only neg, the bartender was snarky and short not very welcoming. I would go back for food and drinks. Hey ppl have bad days or whateva!
    4 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Rosemari M. 11 months ago on Google
    Food was delicious and that's a compliment from someone who hates pastrami usually. Sauce is perfect and not too over powering. Only downside is it felt like a female staff member wanted us to leave instead of ordering grub (maybe they were understaffed and didn't want to wait on a other table?) So it was unwelcoming initially.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Maribel 5 months ago on Google
    the French dip was fantastic and great! The hostess was nice and food was good simple menu and good drinks. I read that this place has been in the original spot forever! I highly must see place and eat food if you’re in downtown LA.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Glenn D. 1 year ago on Google
    This place was very cool. It's an old bar from the early 1900's and is worth a stop in. The place is super vintage and reminds me of a few watering holes when i was younger. Of course, I needed to try the French Dip and it didn't disappoint. Washed that down with one of their Old Fashioned drinks. There are some old photos on the wall that are worth a look and a couple of billiards tables if you play. Give it a shot if you're downtown, but check the schedule for hours.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Karl A. 2 years ago on Google
    A simple menu but can't really go wrong with 100+ year the French dip recipe and side dishes. Make sure to also have the flavorful garlic fries to go with your drinks. The staff is very friendly and accommodating. The music playlist was awesome -- 80s new wave / alternative.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Kay Jay (. 2 years ago on Google
    I can remember eating here as far back as when I could even begin eating solid foods. Hasn't changed much since. Of course the dip is what's known for and it didn't let me down.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 2/5 Brian S. 2 years ago on Google
    Sad to leave a negative review since the food is pretty great. The service was not though. Half our tables orders weren’t out so they waited to eat and our food was cold by the time we ate. Still tasted good. But could have been better hot if it wasn’t forgotten about. Sadly the “bouncer” at the front wouldn’t allow a service animal to come in and fought too hard to tell us no even though the service animal has all the correct paperwork and credentials. He told us the “manager” said we can eat outside only and when I asked to speak with them he finally allowed me and the service animal in. THIS IS AGAINST THE LAW…PERIOD. ADA compliance isn’t a choice. Think twice before going to an establishment regardless of their history when they can’t seem to wrap their brain around the fact that service matters first.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Dylan L. 1 year ago on Google
    The food was fantastic! The fries we're crispy and tasty, and the pastrami with the dip was out of this world! Some of the best I've had and I'm from NYC originally. The Happy hour drink menu was great too! Just make sure you have a solid plan for getting in and out if you plan to come here after dark and you're not familiar with the area.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Quinn L. 1 year ago on Google
    Excellent restaurant! We came here on a Saturday evening without reservation but a staff could find us a place because there was a couple did’d come. We had a good time. Staffs were friendly and helpful.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Brad F. 1 year ago on Google
    After 14 years of living in LA in embarrassed to say it was my first time to try Cole's. I've always instinctively just come down on the Phillipe's side of the "best French dip" argument. But this was great. It's a totally different experience. The ambience is amazing. It's a beautiful venue. Our bartender was excellent. There was a good selection of beer and classic cocktails, and the negroni I had was memorably good. I love the menu. Small, but on point. I'd maybe dock points on the margins for a weirdly flabby pickle with hard skin, and good but not great spicy fries. But the sandwiches were great. Maybe the meat wasn't as good as Phillipe's but the jus was arguably just as good, and the bread was definitely better. We can debate the cheese selection, but as long as you stick with Swiss you're fine.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 David 11 months ago on Google
    one of the 2 main places in Los Angeles that lay claim to having invented French dip sandwiches! ( You can see my reviews for the other one!) This is Coles French dip sandwich restaurant In the downtown LA area. The main difference between Coles and other places that serve French dips Is that Coles uses prime beef for their dips, And that makes a big difference how the sandwich tastes overall. I would give the sandwich an 8.5 on a 10 scale, It's very tasty and has good flavor, One of the better ones I've had. The inside of this Place has a bar and some restaurant seating, But the overall vibe is a neighborhood bar feel. It was not too crowded when I went around 5 PM on Thursday. It's worth it to go there to try the French dip at least once. Biggest challenge for this area is finding parking, But there are several paylots here and there. Also there's Homeless in the area, But leave them alone and they'll leave you alone, I parked in a secure lot walked to the restaurant,ate, walked back to my car and left with no problems.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Cristine 10 months ago on Google
    Located in a sketchy part of town, but this place is amazing! Step in the doors and you traveled to another place and time. Cozy and warm with stained glass windows and the cutest decor. The food here is amazing! Got the half pastrami French dip and the half prime roast beef French dip, both were delicious though prefer the pastrami one! The fries and tots were the best I've ever had. The spicy garlic tots were even better! The Atomic Pickle had a great kick to it and a great Old Fashioned was a wonderful compliment to complete the meal. I can see why this place has been around since 1908! It is simply phenomenal!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Gerardo G. 8 months ago on Google
    Old time bar feel. Classic drinks and a few beers on tap. Old fashioned made with Evan Williams muddled sugar not simple syrup ask for a fat ice cube they might grab it for you. Beef dip is why you’re here but grab the pastrami. Garlic tots are good enough for a second order.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Matthew G. 1 year ago on Google
    Best French dip sandwiches ever! By the way I don't hardly give anyone 5 stars!!! Fallow me for more good spots
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 K H. 1 year ago on Google
    A delicious trip back in time. Pay this place a visit, whether it's for a bite to eat or a quick little nightcap — you won't regret it. We are both vegetarians, but trust me—we were not deprived. A three-cheese grilled cheese on sourdough with homemade tomato soup and splitting a mac & cheese was more than enough for the two of us. Bonus: there is a little Speakeasy hidden in the back.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 Noah J. 1 year ago on Google
    I arrived at Cole's expecting to enjoy a meal at a charming old LA establishment. However, I walked away feeling like I was the only one that was interested. The decor, lighting and old pictures allude to a Cole's that was, but the staff couldn't be bothered. The food and cocktails were good, but they were delivered to our booth without acknowledgment. Even the patrons seemed to care more about the speakeasy in the back, than the restaurant/saloon itself.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Jess M. 2 years ago on Google
    Recommended by an LA native, wasn’t far from our hotel. Good service, good drinks, a little pricey but it’s downtown. Thanks again
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 Steven O. 7 months ago on Google
    Pitiful, atrocious, and downright bland. Lest you become beholden to other reviewers with a taste pallet as diverse as the racial makeup of Aspen, Colorado, one should seek other businesses that don’t spit upon the legacy of Los Angeles’ humble greasy spoon delicacy. Between the bouncer and bartenders, I have never met such a miserable assemblage of petty swindlers that take offense to the most of basic human interactions. Snark and indifference permeated the beautiful and ornate indoor decor; if manners had a smell it’d peel the wallpaper off. Author Alfred Henry Lewis once said mankind is 9 meals away from anarchy— Cole’s portion sizes somehow brought the number down significantly. Half a sandwich for the price and taste of a Great Depression orphan is hilarious at best and depressing at worst; never have I tasted meat that made me pray for an animal for succumbing to such a miserable fate. The menu’s descriptors for “half-dip” and “full-dip” shouldn’t rely on cringy quips. Despite me and my party’s efforts to determine whether quantities referred to the amount of sauce or sandwich provided (we wouldn’t dare bother to the staff), we incorrectly chose to believe the former. One would think making half a sandwich in any circumstance would be more inconvenient and costly? Unfortunately, Phillipe’s isn’t any better nor any other staple in the downtrodden city. Best to venture into the IE to savor the sole authentic and affordable vestige of great LA French Dip: Vince’s Spaghetti on Holt Ave.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 James G. 6 months ago on Google
    Great french dip. Amazing spicy garlic fries, do not get regular! Two Pool tables are available, but the pool cues are damaged. Only one decent one out of the bunch. Cool speakeasy bar in the back of the restaurant. Flip the switch to get in
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Teresa T. 6 months ago on Google
    Classic classic place and a don’t miss for foodies and history seekers andddd the speakeasy Varnish is located here! The best beef dip and supposedly original 😻
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Shane David S. 2 years ago on Google
    Amazing vintage dive bar look with amazing food, drinks and service.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Vanessa M. 8 months ago on Google
    Pastrami french dip w/ four cheese Mac n cheese YUM!! Check out The Varnish in the back.

  • 5/5 Jamison W. 8 months ago on Google
    The food is incredible! Especially the Prime Beef Dip and spicy garlic fries! My partner loved the grilled cheese and tomato soup! Byron was really kind and attentive. Even on a busy night, he made sure we felt welcome! Can't wait to come back next time we are in town!

  • 3/5 Alex D. 4 months ago on Google
    If you are going to this bar then the French dip sandwich is nice, but for the price it is completely not worth coming here just for the sandwich. We tried all three and the pastrami was the best, the beef we got with cheddar which was very tasty, the pork reminded me of a cuban sandwich. The menu would be a lot better if they didn't focus on making everything spicy.

  • 4/5 Natalie M. 3 months ago on Google New
    This environment is super chill and the food is comforting and delicious. I would eat here often and hang for a great chill vibe. I did not have any drinks here but they had a good options at their bar for whiskey. Highly recommend this place, especially if you like French dip!

  • 2/5 Ding D. 4 months ago on Google
    This place has the history. They opened in 1908 just thinking about all the history that has happened in the building. It is so awesome. I do like the fact that the French dips are made on sourdough rolls.

  • 4/5 Athanasios R. 10 months ago on Google
    The French Dip is excellent. Don’t get me wrong, and I doubt that it’s the original. The bartender was very cool, and everyone there was very cool. It’s kind of divey. The prices are more than fair, and there’s every reason in the world to stop at Cole’s. Maybe they were the original once upon a time, but there are variations on the French Dip today that I am not sure are the classic/original versions. I could be wrong. The location is amazing. I expect Starsky and Hutch to walk in at any moment. It’s classic Los Angeles, and the place is much smaller than it looks in the photos. It’s worth stopping in to have a drink and a sandwich. I’ll probably go again someday, but I wouldn’t say it’s the best French dip I’ve ever had. The bartender was very cool, and everyone there was very cool. Everyone should visit Cole’s at least once.

  • 4/5 Kathryn M. 1 year ago on Google
    Good service, good drinks. I didn't have a French dip here, I'm mostly vegetarian; my date however swears these are the best french doors you can get. Good atmosphere, and it's not so loud that you have to yell

  • 3/5 Maggie S. 1 year ago on Google
    The spicy garlic fries are so good and were the best thing about this place when I was there. French dip was pretty tasty, but the atmosphere was pretty full. I was there on a Wednesday at 430, maybe that's why. Seems like it would be a fun place later in the evening. 2 pool tables, full bar, big comfy booths. Shirley Temple, just don't do it.

  • 5/5 Violetti V. 1 year ago on Google
    French dip started here! This is a big deal!!! My favorite sandwich was started at this place! And they’re great! I loved it and I was honored to dine at a historical restaurant/bar. Thank you for being around for over 100 years! I’ll come back again again!

  • 4/5 Rodrigo 1 year ago on Google
    Excellent bar that has a “Cheers” feel. The food seems like the main draw but as a downtown LA bar it’s pretty great. The servers are awesome and the drinks are on point. It’s very low key and a good spot after a good night of partying but ending before midnight.

  • 1/5 Cynthia G. 2 years ago on Google
    I was at Coles tonight and although we purchased drinks were sitting at a table. My group of people of color(Black and Latinx) having great conversation about race and culture was singled out by the bar staff to be told to leave by the doorman. Other tables with white people were not being pushed out even though it was 1:58AM when I check the time in the bar. Entirely white male bar staff tonight. Don’t bother with this place. I used to come to this bar years ago, but over time each of my experiences had been more and more negative.

  • 3/5 Max Pietsch (. 2 years ago on Google
    Pretty mild of the road beef french dip. Not the best or worst I’ve had. Seems like a nice place to grab a drink.

  • 5/5 Josue Manuel Cordova J. 2 years ago on Google
    Great old fashioned place, really good cocktails

  • 5/5 Hugo A. 2 years ago on Google
    This is my favorite place to come to in Los Angeles. I've been going here since my grad school days for some rest and busy days for the atmosphere, the food, and their exquisite old-fashioneds.i ordered the braised pork half dip with spicy garlic fries which(not as good as the tots), but still delicious. The au juis was savory for the bread. Their old-fashioneds were a home run- if possible ask for two cherries instead of one. I'll be back! Oh, did I mention affordable?

  • 4/5 Harold B. 2 years ago on Google
    We placed our orders and were happy with how attentive and quick the service was. We ordered three meats: the lamb, brisket and spicy chicken (delicious & very spicy - you can also order it not spicy). For our small side tapas we ordered Jalapeño Cornbread, Chickpea Croquettes, Cauliflower and Plantains. Followed by an amazing desert of a hot brownie and chocolate ice cream.

  • 4/5 michael f. 2 years ago on Google
    A little salty but tasty sandwich. Good cocktails


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Amenities


  • Payments
    • ✓️ Debit cards
    • ✓️ Credit cards
  • Offerings
    • ✓️ Beer
    • ✓️ Wine
    • ✓️ Coffee
    • ✓️ Alcohol
    • ✓️ Cocktails
    • ✓️ Quick bite
    • ✓️ Hard liquor
    • ✓️ Comfort food
    • ✓️ Small plates
    • ✓️ Happy hour food
    • ✓️ Late-night food
    • ✓️ Happy hour drinks
  • Popular for
    • ✓️ Lunch
    • ✓️ Dinner
    • ✓️ Solo dining
  • Accessibility
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible seating
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible entrance
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible restroom
  • Dining options
    • ✓️ Lunch
    • ✓️ Dinner
    • ✓️ Dessert
    • ✓️ Seating
  • Service options
    • ✓️ Dine-in
    • ✓️ Takeout
    • ✗ Delivery
    • ✓️ Outdoor seating

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