La Flama

La Flama is actually more of a market indoors, despite its appearance as a restaurant on the outside, and the patio with nice seating. Yet, despite operating as a market in its interior, the service is incredibly friendly and just delightful. And there are also a few tables inside at the front of the store, for those not wishing to dine in the covered patio.

I ordered their tlayuda, which is a very generous size and comes with one container of milder green tomatillo salsa and a hotter red salsa. More than just the one lonely slice of tomato in the center would have made the dish a more ideal variety of juicy textures with each bite, but as a whole, it was nonetheless still good, with the tortilla base being the most expertly executed part.

I'm always on the hunt for good hole in the wall spots and this delivered! Love walking into places where you know the food has been prepared with love and homeliness.

We got the 3 meat platter and were so full! I liked the chicken and chorizo the best, found the carnitas a little dry. The tortillas were soft and warm, and the beans and rice delicious! Salsa were flavorful and I blame my own spice tolerance for finding them slightly hot. More of this menu to eat, and definitely more of the groceries in this store to explore.

Decided to go to the Flama for breakfast. As you walk in there are tables and it's dark like a bar setting. You have to walk all the way into an area that has additional tables and Mexican products like a store. The person in the front asked us to look at the menu and then place order and pay. This place is super fast food casual with yummy food. The portions were big and the service was good. I did see that they sell alcohol beverages too.

By far a great place to go on the go. Been here once and definitely super authentic Oaxaca food, super friendly staff with a perfectly clean seating area good music and they had some copal burning which just perfect for a peaceful environment for a quick meal. Not to forget about the little store inside where you can get plenty of Mexican traditional ingredients.

Enjoy the food as well as the merchandise. However the cup material must be upgrade my co-workers and neighbors had the same issue . And is really hot!!!!

The environment is awesome friendly staff. Food is really good. I really enjoy going to that restaurant

La Flama is a family-owned market and restaurant specializing in traditional Oaxacan handcrafted items and homemade food.

During the pandemic this place added special touches to keep their customers healthy, such as large dispensers of complimentary hand sanitizer on the tables, inside and outside on the cute front patio.

The restaurant offers takeout and delivery options both directly, and through your favorite delivery service. There's an extensive breakfast, lunch and dinner menu, which ranges from traditional Oaxacan plates to American-influenced salads, sandwiches and pizza.

Between you and me, I'll bet the savory stewed mole chivo, (goat stew) weekend-only soups like menudo, and Oaxacan tamales with black beans and rice is better than the pizza here.

The market is filled with handmade and imported treasures like hand-embroidered quilts, blouses and linens, rattan baskets, clay pottery and old-world culinary items to help you make your own from-scratch food. If you grind your own spices with a mortar and pestle, this place is for you!

The fresh fruits, herbs, and vegetables have that fresh-from-the vine appeal. Hand cut meats are bargain priced, marinated or non marinated and very fresh.

Real world travelers will love perusing the hard-to-find imported groceries from around the world, such as beloved spicy chilled grasshoppers, rare meats and offal. I love that stuff too!

Mermelada de fresa con mezcal (homemade strawberry marmalade with mezcal, salsa chamula (extra spicy!) gelatia de mosaic de vanilla, or smoked tea gelatin with nance, melon and red grapes. Handmade sopes. Fresh chocolate mole, handmade flan, five stars, five , five !

Everyone who works here is super nice. Newcomers will be given a warm welcome.

Breakfast is served all day. I love the Huevos Rancheros. Savory stewed tomatoes, sweet onions and chilies on top of over easy eggs, served with creamy black beans, rice and corn tortillas.

Anything you order with mole Will be good. Choose a unique fruit drink or real-sugar cane soda, from the cooler, or order a fresh fruit drink from the register.

One of my favorite things about this market is the tiny single serving-sized handmade Mexican desserts. I left a few in a friend's fridge. They were gone quick! Delighting a senior citizen pal with easy to eat sweets, and an easy clean up, makes me smile.:)

Hidden gem doesn't cut it. This place is better than that. I hope you come here with an open heart ready to find something special, and leave with a new reason to smile!

Oaxacan food is a must and if you want to try it come here! This place is great! It's like being transported to Oaxaca for real. All the authentic dishes and even doing straight up OG California classic breakfast burritos and taking it to the next level! I don't want to sound like a sellout but the burritos are a must here!!

I recommend this location. Very unique than any other Mexican restaurant. Inside includes a small store where you can buy fresh produce, coke drinks, small selection of fresh meat, and small selection of canned food, chips, housecleaning supplies and treats.

Staff is great and friendly. Good is amazing. I LOVE THE Tlayuda plate. I recommend asking for extra cheese and all the meats. So yummy! I recommend it to share with two people.

This is my to go place for anything. From food to any quick household items!

La Flama! I thought this was like a taco shop lol. Turns out it's much, much more! It's sort of like a Oaxacan bodega vibe? Like they very much serve food, but you can also shop at the grocery, buy tamales to take home, get some paletas, etc.

Very cool to check out, especially in the middle of Culver City I think this place is an overlooked gem. It is super hard to park right next to La Flama because it's right off Venice which is a crazy busy street and the side street is always full, but you could possibly try parking across the street in the shopping center? I haven't risked it, though. BUT WHEN YOU DO GET PARKING COME TRY IT OUT.

I got a chicken torta and horchata - both were very solid! The salsas that came with the torta were insanely spicy, so I didn't use them but that's good to know for those of you spice fiends out there. I would love to come back and try more of their food. Highly recommend!