Churros Calientes opened at the end of September. The Spanish churros joint is the brainchild of Chef Eric Bonillo, formerly with Drago Centro, and a Venezuelan actor. Unlike the Mexican churros you may be familiar with, the churros at Churros Calientes are thin and delicate. The short menu also includes sandwiches (either paninis or bocadillos), salads and soups, as well as a variety of coffees and teas.
I recently visited to check out their churros and ordered the signature churros con chocolate. The chocolate is both a dipping sauce and a drink and is thick, with a consistency similar to a milkshake but hot, smoother and more syrupy. The churros are made to order so they are served piping hot and are delicious.
The hot chocolate served with them is also quite good and an essential component. You can order the dish without the hot chocolate but that would be a poor decision. The churros are a small snack and are not inexpensive, so they may be a questionable value proposition for some people.
I also tried the tortilla espanola bocadillo sandwich which was pretty mediocre. This dish is not recommended as it didn't have a lot of flavor. I lived in Spain for six months and had tortilla dozens of times and this was a subpar version of the dish that would be disappointing even as a free tapa.
Overall Churros Calientes is a great spot to grab a coffee or to get their signature churros con chocolate ($5), but unfortunately its not a place I can recommend for a quick meal, even though its practically next door to a movie theater. Stick to the dessert and you will be a happy camper.
Churros Calientes: 11521 Santa Monica Blvd (between Barrington & Sawtelle). West LA. Phone: (424) 248-3890. Website: www.churroscalientes.com
