Casita Del Campo celebrates 60 years in Silver Lake with original recipes, creative margaritas, and the Cavern Club Theatre. Join the May 15 celebration.
When a restaurant survives six decades in Los Angeles—a city where dining trends change faster than traffic lights—you know it’s doing something extraordinary. Casita Del Campo, the beloved Silver Lake institution founded by West Side Story dancer Rudy Martin Del Campo on May 15, 1962, is throwing a major 60th anniversary celebration that honors not just longevity, but legacy.
This isn’t your typical Mexican restaurant success story. Casita Del Campo was conceived as both a business and a creative haven—a gathering place where artists, performers, and the LGBTQ community could enjoy exceptional food, killer margaritas, and unforgettable entertainment in a space built with genuine love.
On Sunday, May 15, 2022, the Del Campo family invites everyone to celebrate this milestone with live entertainment, special guests, anniversary cocktails, and the same warm hospitality that’s made regulars feel like family for generations.
For foodies and culture lovers from West Hollywood to Culver City who appreciate restaurants with soul and staying power, Casita Del Campo represents everything that makes LA’s dining scene magical.
A Rare Silverlake Institution Built on Love and Creativity
In LA’s ever-evolving, trendy neighborhoods, restaurants come and go like seasonal fashion. Casita Del Campo has maintained its charm, originality, and creativity since opening day in 1962—a rarity that deserves serious appreciation.
Founder Rudy Martin Del Campo, an artist and dancer who appeared in the original West Side Story film, envisioned more than just a restaurant. He wanted to create a haven for his creative community, a unique and thoughtful space where artists could gather, enjoy exceptional Mexican food, and experience live entertainment. Of Mexican descent, Rudy and his beautiful wife Nina Del Campo (of Colombian descent) ran the restaurant their entire adult lives, expanding by buying neighboring properties and continuously seeking ways to make the business more successful.
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They were married for 40 years, completely involved in daily operations, and were avid supporters of the LGBTQ community and the surrounding Silver Lake neighborhood. That inclusivity and warmth still defines Casita Del Campo today.
After both Rudy and Nina passed away, their son Robert Martin Del Campo continues the legacy. As Robert puts it: “This place was made with love and that is the most important ingredient of how it still runs to this day.”
His creative passion for the arts is evident in pieces throughout each room. His wife, Gina Martin Del Campo—an artist who studied at UCLA—is the mastermind behind the incredible stained-glass patio tables that guests specifically request while enjoying Southern California’s perfect weather.
For upscale diners and cocktail enthusiasts who value authenticity, this family story matters. According to the National Restaurant Association, fewer than 20% of restaurants make it past their first year. Reaching 60 years requires more than good food—it demands vision, adaptability, and genuine connection with community.
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The Food: Original Recipes That Haven’t Changed in 60 Years
Here’s what makes Casita Del Campo special for serious food lovers: the original recipes and cooking practices have remained consistent since opening day. In an era when “elevated” and “reimagined” dominate restaurant marketing, Casita Del Campo proudly serves the same sizzling, delicious food that built its reputation six decades ago.
Every morning, fresh vegetables are chopped for salsa and dishes. The guacamole and chips are made fresh daily, along with home-style soups passed down from Grandma’s recipes. This isn’t convenience cooking—it’s the kind of patient, from-scratch preparation that modern diners claim to want but rarely find.
The 60th Anniversary Menu showcases favorites that have created loyal fans for generations. The Casitas Special is a shareable appetizer served with six mini tortillas topped with chicken or beef, accompanied by sour cream, guacamole, pico de gallo, and beans—perfect for groups exploring the menu together.
The Sizzling Fajitas deliver fun and flavor, arriving at your table with that theatrical sizzle that never gets old. The Carnitas are tender and packed with authentic taste. The Enchiladas are an absolute must-order, wrapped and sauced with care.
And no meal should end without Casita Del Campo’s homemade Flan—sweet, sweet perfection that embodies comfort dessert at its finest. For chefs and foodies who appreciate consistency and traditional techniques, this menu represents culinary integrity in a world obsessed with constant reinvention.
Anniversary Cocktails and Legendary Margaritas
The bar at Casita Del Campo, led by Antonio Cruz, has created special Anniversary Cocktails that showcase creativity and flavor profiles LA cocktail enthusiasts expect.
The Mexican Mule features Don Julio Tequila, ginger beer, a splash of soda water, fresh lime juice, and mint—a fun-loving twist on the classic Moscow Mule that plays to tequila’s strengths.
The Blackberry Margarita, refreshing and popular, combines Don Julio Tequila with muddled blackberries and raspberries, agave, and fresh lime juice. It’s Instagram-worthy and genuinely delicious, a combination every upscale bar in West Hollywood and Beverly Hills chases.
Obviously, you can never go wrong with the Classic Casita Margarita made with tequila, freshly made lime juice, and a little triple sec. But for those seeking adventure, the original creative margarita flavors include Pomegonate, Guava, Ginger, Strawberry, Mango, Melon, Watermelon, Peach, and for guests who like a little kick, Jalapeño.
The bar is fully stocked, and although tequila is the main star, every cocktail is a winner. For wine collectors and spirits enthusiasts throughout Los Angeles, Casita Del Campo offers that rare combination: serious drinks served in a genuinely welcoming atmosphere.
The Cavern Club Theatre: Comedy and Entertainment Downstairs
Here’s something most LA diners don’t expect: a full comedy and entertainment venue beneath the restaurant. The Cavern Club Theatre downstairs hosts a wide array of comedy, drag shows, and holiday performances that bring people from across the city, including celebrities who appreciate a good laugh in an intimate setting.
It’s an experience unique to Casita Del Campo. You grab your anniversary cocktail, head downstairs, and enjoy some of the best laughs you’ll have anywhere in LA. The theatre is run by Mr. Dan, who’s been part of the family for over 30 years, bringing new customers and faces to the restaurant with every show. The Del Campo family is deeply appreciative of his contributions to something so unique and embraced in LA’s entertainment landscape.
This combination—exceptional food, creative cocktails, and live entertainment under one roof—makes Casita Del Campo more than a restaurant. It’s a complete cultural experience, reflecting founder Rudy Del Campo’s original vision of creating a haven for creative community.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What are Casita Del Campo’s hours and when is the 60th anniversary celebration?
A: Casita Del Campo is open Monday-Thursday from 11:00 am to 10:00 pm, Friday-Saturday from 11:00 am to midnight, and Sunday from 11:00 am to 10:00 pm. The 60th anniversary celebration happens Sunday, May 15, 2022, from noon to closing with live entertainment, special guests, margaritas, and lots of smiles. Daily Happy Hour runs 3:00-6:00 pm.
Q: What menus does Casita Del Campo offer?
A: The special 60th Anniversary Menu is offered daily from 4:00 pm to closing. A Lunch Menu runs Monday-Friday from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm. Brunch Menu is available Saturday-Sunday from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm. The restaurant also accommodates private parties and celebrations in special rooms.
Q: What makes Casita Del Campo different from other Mexican restaurants in LA?
A: Casita Del Campo maintains original recipes and cooking practices from 1962, makes everything fresh daily from scratch, operates the unique Cavern Club Theatre for live entertainment, and was founded as a creative haven for artists and the LGBTQ community. The family ownership, stained-glass artwork, and genuine sense of community create an atmosphere you won’t find elsewhere in Los Angeles.
Join the Celebration: 60 Years of Love, Passion, and Community
To celebrate 60 years is to celebrate something many restaurant business owners never experience—and that means the world to the Del Campo family. They’ve celebrated special occasions, momentous moments, and created life memories here, and they wouldn’t choose any other place to be.
Clients who pour in, both regulars and newcomers alike, call this place a second home. It’s an oasis in the center of the city where many seek solace, share laughs, and enjoy one of life’s great pleasures: a solid margarita. Throughout recent years of hardship, it’s truly a testament to the power of community that Casita Del Campo continues to stand tall, proud, bright, and bold.
The passion, love, and attention to detail is obvious in every corner of the large space. Everyone who walks into Casita Del Campo becomes a member of this joyous, creative, and fun-loving family—and you better believe they’ll be back.
Life’s worries stay at the door once you arrive, have a seat at an incredible mosaic patio table by the fountain, enjoy an Anniversary cocktail and a smile from the staff. Because if nothing else, Casita Del Campo is here for you and is here to stay.
For more information, visit casitadelcampo.net or call 323.662.4255. The address is 1920 Hyperion Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90027. Come celebrate 60 years of life, love, passion, art, good food, and drink—and a lifetime to go.
