I've been a fan of Mat for sometime so I was excited about getting a piece from him. We went back and forth with ideas about the piece I'd want and decided on a "The Killing Joke" Joker tattoo. My whole experience was amazing and I love the finished product. I'm definitely going to return and get more pieces added from Mat. The whole staff is friendly and answer questions you may have. If you want some quality work I'd definitely recommend Black Anchor. Their work speaks for itself! Read Less

Just reading through some of the reviews, I noticed a striking similarity between bad reviews and bad grammar. I realize it's hard to please everyone and no business in the world can accomplish this; however, if you're going to write a negative review, pick up a composition book or have your smart friend write it for you. Your review will have a lot more merit to it.I have been coming to this shop for a little over a year now. I go at least once a month to get tattooed by Carlos and Nikko (no I'm not rich or famous) and have had nothing but positive experiences. I thoroughly enjoy going to the shop and enjoy my time in the chair. I know all the guys in the shop and I can honestly say they are all super cool. No egos here at all.Addressing some of the comments I have read; I do agree that when you pay this much for tattoos, you want to feel like part of the process and have some of your input in the design. However, using some common sense, I can also see the other side from the artists perspective. They know what will and will not look good as a tattoo. The idea may look amazing in your head, but maybe on flesh it would look like hell. Just be open-minded about the design and if you just cannot come to a conclusion you're happy with, move on and go to another artist. Don't take it personnal. They want to make money too, but they also want everyone to be happy and have a tattoo that looks great. You want people to see it and say "wow that's amazing" right?As for not being able to get ahold of certain artists, I totally understand this. You have guys here that get so many inquiries and nowhere near enough time to get them all done. They have to pick and choose what they want to work on and unfortunately deny the rest. That's life. I can't believe people don't understand this. If you have a good idea and the budget to go with it, there is no reason why you shouldn't be able to get tattooed by the best. Again, I can't say enough good about the shop. If I ever once felt terrible about getting tattooed here I would never come back, but that just simply isn't the case. I got my first tattoo here and more than likely will have my last tattoo done here as well. My requirements for a good shop/artist are: cleanliness, privacy, quality work, close to home, no egos, schedule flexibility, good company. They've met all of those and then some. Keep up the good work guys. Read Less

This shop is great! Mat Hurato is very friendly, professional and does amazing tattoos. We made an appointment and had something come up he allowed us to reschedule for a different day. His tattoo work is totally worth the price. We just finished our third tattoo this year! We will be coming back again. Read Less

Such a well decorated shop! You can tell artists work here!.. I got a tattoo of my father who passed away a couple months ago so I was very picky on who I wanted to do this. I got reffered to Matthew and I did not regret it one bit! Hands down the best experience I've ever had getting a tattoo. He knows exactly what he is talking about on what will look good and he will explain why to. I was so nervous going into the appoitment but once he started to break down how he starts with the stencil till exactly what he's doing and why the nerves went away i could tell he knows exactly what he is doing and he puts pride into his work. I got there at 1 left by 6 and he even ordered sandwiches for me and my friend who came with me..how sweet! Super cool guy who loves what he does and it totally shows! Once I seen the final result my heart dropped! It's is so real looking it's exactly my dad!! I've gotten so many Compliments already and it's only the day after.. Matthew didn't just give me another tattoo he changed my life this tattoo means the world to me.. I HIGHLY recommend anyone to see Matthew! Read Less

Had an amazing experience with Jose aka Cheeseburger. My very first tattoo and from the moment I walked in I loved the decor and vibe of the shop. I felt so comfortable watching Kubo and the two strings while getting tatted. Jose was very patient with me, a very anxious and overreactor, so I appreciated him answering my texts after the appointment. The quality of his anime tattoos are superb and the time he takes really shows in his work. He even mocked up two separate pieces based on what I wanted. I drove 8 hours from Norcal for my first tattoo and it was so worth it. Thank you Jose and sorry for the extremely late review. Read Less

Had a full forearm piece with clock, map and compass done by "r17". He can do good work, but when I told him multiple times I wanted the clock done in as much detail as the compass he continuously refused. Eventually let it go because I figured I could come back and have him add in detail if I wanted it later. After it healed I hated the huge whole the clock left on my arm because there was zero detail in it and when I hit up r17 to see if he'd add it in he still refused. As an artist, give your opinion, but when someone is dropping $2000 I expect to have it done how I fucking want. Read Less

I came in trusting the artist which is a must when you are going to ink something permanent on your body, especially if they are charging an arm and a leg but according to them it's still a deal because let's face it.its Black Anchor..a reknowned tattoo shop, the name says it all. I realized What they charge isn't worth the amount of scrutiny and belittling you get for even speaking up about the creative process when wanting to make changes to your tattoo. Being able to make the customer happy is key because although it's your work, it's your job to take positive criticism and make yourself better both as an artist on a talented level and professional level. Not because your ego is so inflated it's as big as your head do you treat your clients as if they are attacking you without even considering their ideas. I mean you should be looking at all the details ..not because you're  nit picking but because that's how much pride I put into my drawings as an artist myself..to the very last drop until the customer is happy.  What ended up being a finished tattoo brought the worst experience I will probably ever have with the process of it all. Everything started off great but I guess you really don't know a person for the life of you until they show you their real Colors. I was always on time. He has the audacity to tell me he is going to change my rate becuase he feels like it (get this!, because i wanted to revisit some details on the tattoo.) He didn't want to even attempt to talk about what I wanted to change..he brushed it off completely by talking down to me and blasting me in front of his coworkers. Where is the level of respect. Yes I am talking about you MAT HURTADO. Learn some manners..just because your art is good doesn't mean your maturity is also. Take it as a learning experience and know for the people reading this that he will not listen to you as a client. He will instead block you from his profile and post up his work as if you weren't ever apart of the process( just because you speak up and I was being nice about the whole thing.) He is rude, condescending, and has a lack of respect. Choose your artist wisely. Just because it's Black Anchor doesn't mean you should be treated as if the artist is always right. You're paying them not the other way around. So screw you MAT! I have never said anything about this but you crossed the line with your immaturity and the way you handled the situation. Read Less

Wow !! You don't know great art until you have been here! Not only are these guys talented but they are professional. Customer service is top notch. I was blown away by the talent and by the comfort level I felt getting my Tattoo! If you need a tattoo this is the only place to go! Personally I trust Umbrellaface for my style art, however, go look at the artist portfolios and decide for yourself. Read Less

Hands down the best tattoo studio on the melrose strip. Everyone there is super friendly and professional. The space is like an art gallery meets a tattoo studio. Super clean and modern, no flash anywhere. The artist are insanely talented. UmbrellaFace totally knocked it our of the park for me and I will 100% get another piece from him. He's incredibly funny and kind. I'd recommend him to anyone and do! If it's your first piece or hundredth go see UmbrellaFace. Read Less

I had the opportunity to work with Aric Taylor.  He was quite professional, spent a good deal of time working out our my sketch.  I am very happy with my new tattoo and highly recommend Black Anchor Collective. Read Less

Black Anchor is really an awesome spot to get a tattoo! I've been going to my guy, Mike R. for about 7 years now and when I heard he was working here I was super excited to go and check out the place! Everyone there is super helpful and of course Mike always does a phenomenal job; I mean I've been only going to him for the past 7 years, if that's not trust and loyalty I don't know what is  He always makes your ideas come to life and there's never a dull moment! He's very professional and he works with your schedule! Stop by and see his work or look him up on social media @umbrellaface promise you won't regret it!! This is my newest piece done by Mike Read Less

Checked out the Black Anchor Collective website, looked through the artists work, contacted Aric and booked an appointment. Employees at the shop are Professional, the entire experience went seamlessly. My tattoo is amazing, couldn't be happier. Read Less

Loved this place, but most of all Mike! By far the best tattoo and experience I've had! Mike was completely professional and just an all around fun dude to be with. His art is amazing, quality is top notch and I will always continue to go to BAC. Read Less

Extremely fortunate to have St Matthew to tattoo me. The parking is great, the shop is clean and warm and the artwork is amazing, theres a nice bathroom, the artwork is cool and inviting. I know that i got the best with Matt Romero! Read Less

I've been SO SO SO lucky to have been getting tattoos by Ben Ochoa for six years now and there's seriously no other artist I trust for larger pieces. Yes *he is busy* but the wait will be worth it I promise you. I always come to him with a super loose idea of what I want and he has never dissapointed on delivery.Super professional & easy to get along with.I'm very proud to wear his art! Read Less

This place is amazing! Idk wth everyone is say about the customer service when I showed up there everyone was amazing with me, damn they even offered me some food. But to get back to the point I had no problems with no one there. Ben, Nikko, Carlos, Jamie, Aric, and Mar all welcomed me in with open arms and even help me out to create the exact tattoo I wanted. Highly recommended this place. People just need to understand how to be patient. Definitely coming back. Carlos did my tattoo and hands down my favorite Read Less

I'm in the middle of my second large piece from Ben Ochoa and I couldn't be happier!  He is super light handed, crazy talented, and actually fun to hang out with!  He is constantly exceeding my expectations, and coming up with stuff that I couldn't think up myself.  I am so proud to wear his artwork Read Less

If your trying to decide on an artist at Black Anchor Ben Ochoa is #1!! I've been coming to him for over three years and he is the best of the best. Very professional and always keeps appointments. He's gets booked up fast but is worth the wait. He's very creative and a true artist! Read Less

DO NOT !!!!! Go to mike riedl , AKA. Umbrella face he does not to good work. And when I was. Dissatisfied he did not want to fix it or refund me my money ... !!!! Don't be stuck with a tattoo your not happy with for the rest of your life ... take my advice go elsewhere !!! Read Less

This is one of the best tattoo shops in the country if not the world. You probably want an appointment with an artist before you get there. It's best to contact them via email first so you're not disappointed when you arrive and they are busy working on people who have been waiting months to get in to sit for work. It is well worth the wait for top quality work. Read Less

Mat Hurtado did a freakin amazing job on my rebel alliance insignia. He was super nice even though at times I was difficult. He did exactly what I wanted and gave great advice without pressure. Best tattoo experience! Will definitely be going back (: Read Less

Did a follow up appointment with Jose (cheeseburger champ) and couldn't be happier with my tattoo!!! His work is amazing but his bedside manner is spectacular!!! I felt very comfortable and completely trusted his judgment!!!  Can't say enough about the wonderful experience and beautiful artwork in my tattoo.  If you're lucky enough to get tattooed here .... Know you're getting the best!!! Read Less

Mat did an amazing job on my tattoo, & my boyfriend also got one for him as well. He has the best personality and his work is to die for. You gotta check him out on Facebook and Instagram ! Lego figures of my boyfriend & I Read Less

Writing this for my parents-- my mom wanted to get her first tattoo for her 59th birthday. She knew what she wanted and where, but her artist Mat kept trying to change the size and location. That annoyed them but the thing that ruined the experience was his attitude. They said at one point he put on the outline and walked away---and didn't come back. When my dad found him he was eating lunch! He called him out on it and matt said "oh, it has to dry for 20 minutes, I'll be up soon." To which my dad said "That would have been nice to know." He just left them up there, no explanation or anything and he only talked to them when trying to alter the tattoo. 2 stars because my mom loves the tattoo but they said he was a total dick and ruined the experience. My dads pissed, don't get Matt, save your money for Nikko. Read Less

I had a tattoo done by Ben Ochoa. My tattoo came out amazing! He knew exactly what to do to make sure the tattoo would look great and let me know exactly what he was doing, he made sure I was comfortable the entire time. The staff was friendly, I had a great experience and can't wait to get more done! Read Less

I've been following Ben Ochoa on social media for sometime and have loved his work since the moment I saw it. I love everything about my tattoo the colors are soo vibrant and the details are just amazing, not only did Ben make sure I was comfortable the whole time we  joked and laughed which is always nice when your being worked on. I can't wait to add on to my piece now :) definitely worth the drive. Read Less

Everyone here is professional, humble, down to earth and amazing artist. I recommend these guys to everyone. I've had several sessions with Ben throughout the years. And his work gets better and better. I am truly a fan.. Read Less

This shop is clean, great vibe, and the shop has a "Dream Team" of artists! Ben Ochoa, Jamie Schene, Aric Taylor, Carlos Rojas, Mat and Nikko Hurtado are internationally recognized as some of the top artists in the world. I wish everyone could tattoo more than once a day, but you can't rush amazing art. I really love all of their gallery as well. Read Less

I've been considering getting this tattoo for years.  When I found Ben Ochoa through social media I knew I wanted him to do my court of owls piece.  I met him at a tattoo convention, he was stoked about the idea and really down to earth, he said he'd get me in if I emailed.  He got me in really fast, we talked ideas and he took mine and completely ran with them.  It is a full forearm piece that took a total of 3 shorter sessions to complete.  His line work and coloring are the reason I booked with him.  The tattoo itself is so much better and "cleaner" than anything I could've hoped for, I loved his ideas and the way he executed them.  I'm already getting compliments on it everywhere I go.You walk into a shop where every single guy in there is know across the globe for incredible work, it's not the kind of shop that takes walk-ins these guys are booked and you have to be patient, and they are so down to earth and fun to hang with.  Ben is a badass, my girlfriend can't wait to go in and get her leg done by him, and I just finished but I'm already thinking up new ideas. Read Less

First off, I'd like to say this shop is SO beautiful and clean! I feel like i'm at an art show every time I go here. All the staff are friendly and really fun to talk to as well! I'm very picky when it comes to who tattoos me...So picky, that I wouldn't get any tattoos done for years until I found the artist who I felt really captured the style I was looking for and that is Ben Ochoa.  On top of his bright color usage and A+ artwork he's super friendly and we always have lots of laughs every time I come in. My first appointment with Ben, I had some cat hair on my jacket --which he's allergic to-- so his allergies were acting up REALLY intensely, but he sat through it until my piece was finished which I really appreciated! (This was an 8 hour session mind you...) Even though he was probably miserable during that time, he was friendly and made me feel extremely comfortable. I get Comic Book/Sci Fi work done and it's so vibrant that I've been asked a MILLION times if my tattoos were fake or if they were spray painted on! I get stopped when I go shopping and told what awesome tattoos I have which always brightens my day. Concluding, I simply love the work Ben does and If you're as particular as I am, it's difficult to find an artist that is everything you're looking for and Ben is definitely that! Read Less

I've been getting tattooed at black anchor for a little over a year now by the amazingly talented Ben Ochoa. Not only is his artwork beyond impressive, but his creativity and vision push him well beyond the realm your "average" tattoo artist. He takes the time to research the artwork you want and puts care, thought and planning into his work. So if you're looking to get a piece that's original and beautiful go see Ben. I know personally I wouldn't waste my time getting tattooed by anyone else Read Less

Very disappointed BEN OCHOA is the worst tattoo Artist to walk this planet, very unprofessional..... My fiancé and I meet him in Fontana and relocate because he moved to Hesperia. We went there 2 times, didn't finish the job, he talks A LOT.... Canceled our appointment only to find out he tattooed someone else on our day.... Place it self is something else, the other tattoo are rude don't even greet or acknowledge you being there... To make a long story short we didn't go back and are getting the full sleeve done somewhere else.... Don't get tattoos here especially with BEN OCHOA Read Less

There's talent here, that's for sure. Go with anyone OTHER THAN Ben Ochoa. All the other guys were friendly, made me feel comfortable, and looked like they had great dynamic with their clients. But the CONDESCENDING TREATMENT and lack of professionalism you will receive from Ben Ochoa will give you instant regret.MY EXPERIENCE WITH BEN - Project was a full leg sleeve, 12-15 hours plus @ $150/hr1) You don't get to speak with him at all. His wife emails you and asks you want, and she said he won't even look at it until about 2 days before your initial appointment. At the time of your appointment, he will have come up with something based on your EMAIL, no collaboration together, you're just supposed to trust that you'll like it. 2) Nothing will be ready when you show up. If your appointment is at noon, prepare for him to still have to wake up, print your idea, trace it, and set up shop. All while you sit alone in the front. You'll start an hour later.3) He casually changes your appointment TIMES and even DATES to meet his needs. On one appointment we not only started an hour late, but he asked if he could stop after 3 hours, when we were scheduled for 5. Even though I obliged out of compassion, in our very next conversation he said that portion of my tattoo wasn't finished because of ME. (HOW?!) The next appointment he emailed me asking if he can switch days because he wanted to go out of town. Because of work I said I couldn't. He pretended he was going to make it work, then he emailed me the morning of cancelling on me anyway. What good are our deposits if they don't actually reserve the days? 4) He gets offended easily. Defensive. I got along with everyone else so well in the shop, we joked and laughed... he acts friendly while you're there but when you're back to email it's like he's bipolar. Where did the good rapport go? Ask a simple question and he acts like you're accusing him of something. Nooooo I just have a freaking question, dude, calm down. 5) He's condescending. You will never feel like a paying customer. You will feel like he is doing you a favor and you should be grateful. If you don't oblige to his emotions he won't like you, lol. He was so awful we didn't finish the project. I couldn't take it anymore. I was going to force myself through the 3rd appointment to apply my deposit and tell him he's not worth my money. Luckily he was willing to just give me my money back. Actually, he tried to keep half of it. I had to REMIND HIM of how much I had actually given him, and use CALL RECORDS to prove our agreement. Seriously... pick anyone else. The other guys are super talented and actually friendly. Read Less

Wanted to get inked by Nikko, the process was a headache! You have to deal with his assistant who is slow to respond. I was willing to go up on my offer by $500.00 by the time they emailed me back I had already found someone who did a great job and did it for $500.00 less. I understand that he's in high demand and not hurting for money but me personally I don't like losing out on any money but hey if you act like peoples money isn't good if they're smart they will go elsewhere. Read Less

I was lucky enough to have Carlos Rojas tattoo a portrait of my daughter on my arm. I knew his work is impeccable from following him on Instagram. But, it's impossible to explain the amazing level of detail in his work until you see it for yourself. From the curls in my little girl's hair to the exact way she pursed her lips in the photo, I couldn't be more thrilled with the result. This is all a result of the time and care Carlos put into the design and composition of the tattoo before we ever started with any needles. In fact, the design process included seeing the piece photoshopped onto an image of my arm, which helped nail down the scale. And Carlos carefully chose from many options for our reference photo to get the image that would translate best to a tattoo.It's also important to point out, the whole shop has a real cool laid back atmosphere. Everyone is super friendly and they are all very gifted artists.Also, Carlos was really cool throughout the appointment. We watched about 7 episodes of the Walking Dead while he did his thing. In the end, I couldn't be any happier with the tattoo. I constantly get compliments on it.I'm sure I'm stating the obvious. But, tattoos are permanent and portraits are easy to screw up.  If you're considering a tattoo portrait, do yourself a favor and get in touch with Carlos or the other pros at Black Anchor. You might regret it otherwise. Read Less

Ben Ochoa did awesome work!  It was my first tattoo and the experience was awesome from start to finish.  Not only is Ben a talented artist, he was fun to hang out with and really put me at ease.  He took the time to explain everything very well, and I could not be any happier with the end result.  As a bonus, there was a huge TV with a movie playing during my tattoo, which was a great distraction.  I will definitely go back to Ben and Black Anchor for future tattoos.  All of the artists work by appointment only and tend to get booked up way in advance. So it pays to do your research and find the artist that you want to work with, then contact them via email to set up your appointment.  They definitely are not a walk-in shop. Read Less

Came here last night to get my Aunt's portrait on my leg. She passed away in September from cancer (3 time survivor) I had been looking for close to a year on who I wanted to do a portrait. I chose Carlos Rojas because, simply put his work is awesome! Booked my appointment back in September amd put a $200 deposit down. Carlos always got back to me quickly via email.  Reading other posts about how people said that people flake, etc did have me a bit worried, but whwn I met him and we collaborated on the piece. I knew I made the best decision.  I gave him control of the size and color scheme. I trusted him enough and in the end it came out great. For people thinking anyone of these guys is overpriced, just remember this is on u forever. I would prefer to pay more for talent upfront, than having to pay it in the end to fix an amateurs work. Carlos is a great guy. This being my first tat he was never arrogant or douchey. He asked how i was doin and took quick breaks which was good for both the artist and person getting the piece done. Straight up professional the whole time. I honestly cannot say enough good things about him. The other guys in the shop were cool as well. Niko gets some flack on these reviews and other boards, but he was cool. Then again I didn't go to be star struck or some groupie so it was not a big deal to me. My overall impression was the place is laid back and supportive of one another. Rich Pineda was there gettin a piece done and he was cool as well. If ever u read anything negative about these folks, just judge for yourself because I saw nothing negative about any of them. I would highly recommend u saving your money and coming down to their shop, well with it. Read Less

I've been getting tattooed at Black Anchor Collective by Carlos Rojas for about 4 years now and every visit has been amazing. The shop is super clean and everyone that works there is professional & friendly. All the artists here are talented & down to earth. I get compliments on my tattoos often and always refer people to BAC. Can't wait for my next appointment! Read Less