Daily Inspiration: Meet Carlos Haro

Today we’d like to introduce you to Carlos Haro.

Hi Carlos, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
A deep love for Hollywood movies and Mexican food inspired Carlos Haro, Sr. to open Casablanca in 1980. Casablanca became the world’s first movie-themed restaurant, combining fine Mexican cuisine with the 1943 Academy Award-winning film Casablanca, featuring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman.

The next generation, Carlos Haro, Jr., continues the tradition by providing excellent cuisine while introducing unique and innovative entrées. Committed to offering each customer a memorable dining experience, Carlos Haro, Jr. is also sharing his passion for novels, which incorporate Mexican folklore, cuisine, and music.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has been a 45-year journey filled with ups and downs in Venice, California — from gang wars and the early 1990s recession to the Los Angeles Riots, COVID, and fires. Throughout all these challenges, Casablanca has continued to be a mainstay in the Venice community.
Anyone who has been in the restaurant business for this many years will tell you: the road is never smooth, but it is always exciting.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I have written three books—Cocula, Tequila, and Veracruza. I’ve been featured in the documentary Of All the Gin Joints and in several magazines. But what I’m most proud of is that my family is still at the heart of the restaurant. My daughter and son have both graduated from college and returned to become the third generation of Casablanca.

What sets Casablanca apart from other Mexican restaurants in Los Angeles is that we are a theme restaurant. While our cuisine is rooted in Mexican tradition, our atmosphere is inspired by the classic film Casablanca.

We make all our tortillas fresh daily, by hand. Our tortilla artists work right in the middle of the dining room, where guests can see the magic happen.

We were also pioneers in tequila and margarita service. In 1985, we introduced the first margarita cart, which continues to roam the restaurant making tableside margaritas.

One of our signature dishes is the calamari steak—prepared unlike anywhere else in the world. It’s become a favorite among food lovers who travel from around the globe to taste it.

Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
My greatest influence and mentor is my father, Carlos Haro, Sr. His immigrant story is much like mine, but what set him apart was that he never let his creative spirit fade. He was an innovator, a creator, and one of the best storytellers I’ve ever known.

Over the past 45 years, both my immediate family and my dedicated staff have kept me motivated and grounded. But the person who rarely gets the recognition she deserves for Casablanca’s success is my wife of over 51 years, Ivonne Haro. She is the pillar of both our family and the restaurant.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.casablancarestaurant.net/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialcasablancavenice/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CasablancaRestaurantCA
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Casablancainvenice