Tired of the same bland, sugary margarita at your local watering hole? Spice up the end of your summer with a zesty version at El Carmen, the Dom of tequila institutions. The restaurant keeps it simple, knows how to pack in that extra punch and gives you your money's worth in sweet agave.

Walk into the thick, red velvet curtain entrance and become immersed in funky, eclectic Mexican style. Bull heads line the walls accompanied by black and white posters of vintage Mexican wrestlers. Festive Christmas – style lights set the dusky ambience, while completely random music beats out of the juke box. El Carmen is home to over 300 different kinds of tequila, which line the walls in antiquated bottles.

El Carmen prides itself on tequila knowledge, not just serving up every cocktail with the average, everyday Jose Cuervo. Speaking with a couple of bartenders, I came to understand that most people could care less about the type of tequila they drink, as long as it does the job. So if you've never heard of Don Julio or Casa Noble and don't know the difference between anejo and reposado, this is the place to play "20 Questions" with your bartender, who can guide you through the pages upon pages of tequilas.

The bar intentionally gravitates towards introducing clientele to new and different types of tequila when serving their margaritas. Even the waitresses know more about tequila than anyone could imagine. I sat down comfortably in a row of black tables, amidst a sea of bar goers sipping away at a variety of tequila potions and managed to squeeze out the recipes for not one, but two knockout margaritas.

Drink number 1: The Perfect Margarita
Herradura tequila (oh so smooth), Margarita mix (aka lime juice, sweet & sour mix), Fresh lime

Drink number 2 : The Spicy Margarita
2 generously-sized shots of tequila (I prefer Patron Silver), One part margarita mix, Fresh lime, A handful of crushed jalepenos (hence, spicy)

Both of my drinks were made clean and uncomplicated, but with massive amounts of taste without the need for an oversized glass or bright garnish. El Carmen packs in the punch without the cheesy Mexican extravagance. Don’t come in too late or you won’t be able to find a seat after one too many shots of Jose.

THE DETAILS: El Carmen
8138 West 3rd Street
Los Angeles, CA 90048
323.852.1552

Story by Gena Oppenheim.