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Uh, no. The food is pretty much mediocre institutional old-school Mexican, and there are lots of better places around to find that. (El Cholo comes to mind)

I last ate at El Coyote in 2006 and found their food to be quite good, although it is, indeed, old-school Mexican. However, the food at El Tepeyac or Ciro's in Boyle Heights is better.

The El Cholo in La Habra, with which I am most familiar, serves good cousine, although it is somewhat bland, perhaps so as to conform to the tastes of the gabachos from the surrounding community that comprise most of its customers. I've been eating there occasionally since shortly after it opened in 1966.

Another Los Angeles Mexican eatery that I remember as having good food is Lucy's El Adobe, where Governor Moonbeam used to hang out. When I went there, Democratic Party fliers were available in the lobby. I asked if this restaurant was related to the El Adobe in San Juan Capistrano--President Nixon's favorite Mexican eatery--and the lady at the cash register rather curtly told me, "no."

Personally, I like Casa Vega in Sherman Oaks, which is closer to my neck of the woods these days. La Cabana in Venice is good, too, although I haven't been there in a while. Mexico City on Hillhurst in Los Feliz is good if you want to hang with the hipster set. My favorite non-old school Mexican is Border Grill in Santa Monica, which is more a fine dining joint with a Mexican jumping-off point. There's also a stand on Sunset that does great, and cheap, ceviche, and Yuca, a tiny stand in the parking lot of a liquor store that does amazing cochinita pibil burritos, although I always regret that one the next day. Lucy's IS good. Nice atmosphere, good art on the walls, plus pretty good food. Jerry Brown wasn't wrong about everything.

Funny you should mention the El Adobe in Capistrano--I just ate there a couple of months ago, stopping for a late lunch on the way to San Diego. It's okay. Great antique mall across the street, though.

Try El Ranchito in Long Beach.

And since I am one of those gabachos you refer to...one who frequently had the menudo-in-a-pail-on-Saturday-morning duties as a kid; what pet name should we use for you?