I came here with my family, upon entering I was blown away how huge this Mexican restaurant is! This Restaurant is super clean & so were there restrooms, highly organized, and attention to details! I just loved all the authentic decorations here! The lighting inside is just perfect, it's very warm, extremely friendly, chic, classy and elegant! We were greeted Geovanny M, who showed us our table . Geovanny asked if we had any questions, we did & he answered them all beautifully! This Mexican restaurant has: Appetizers, breakfast, ensalads "salads", Sopes, Taco plates, Los Dorados, Flatus, Sopas, Burritos, Enchiladas, Chefs Specials, Plato,s especiales, Dulce Alegrias "desserts", sides, cafeteria, all kinds of tequilas, mezcals, whiskeys,gins, rums, vodka, cognacs, dessert cocktails, white wine & rose, red wines, sparkling, sweets, draft beers, Mexican beers, soft drinks "coke cola products", agus frescas. So we ordered 1 pollo quesadilla, 2 salmons negro, 1 pollo negro, 2 cokes , 2 ice teas. All were delicious, mouthwatering! Geovanny was so attentive & was on it!! always making sure if we needed anything! Geovanny M. Was so so sweet, kind, caring , very genuine, polite, super down to earth! Geovanny has this very positive upbeat personality about himself that really radiates!! He is your Rarest of all Diamonds! Please Treasure him greatly !! I would love to especially Thank Geovanny M for a fantastic, Terrific and memorable visit! Thank you to for the manager that helped us out too! Thank you Anayas for a wonderful visit! I'll tell all my Family & Friends to come here! read more

Anayas - Pollo Negro: Grilled Chicken breast. Topped w/sweet and spicy black peppercorn sauce. Served w/grilled vegetables, rice &bread. - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

Fun place! Food is 3.5 out of 5, nothing super special - tastes and preparation remind us of a neighborhood Mom & Pop Mexican restaurant. Steak and chicken dishes tend to be a little overcooked and under seasoned, but not repulsively so. The vibe and drinks are 5 out of 5! Service is generally good, as long as it isn't too busy or your waiter isn't off flirting with a group of ladies somewhere LOL read more

Dick, theres like 40 empty tables. What the hell we waiting 20 min for........................ And we had a baby Total waste of time looking at u at the counter doing nothing read more

Ordered Doordash since they're having a promo - 40% off $20 orders! Loved how my order came with complimentary fresh chips and salsa. The chips were so crispy and fresh and the salsa wasn't too spicy! Got the Sampler Plate ($22.95) and it came with 4 mini sopes rancheros, 4 mini quesadillas queso, epazote, 2 crispy taquitos (potato and chicken). The mini sopes rancheros were so cute and had a bean filling. It was a little dry but the bean filling was pretty good and not too salty. The mini quesadillas and taquitos were a bit overly fried and dry but it was not too bad. The guacamole was my favorite. It was freshly made and packed with flavor! It would have been better if the container was a bit bigger but not a big deal. The Guava Flan ($10.95) was tasty and creamy. It wasn't as soft as I was expecting but I liked how it wasn't overly sweet. It was nice they separated the whip cream from the flan since I'm not I'm not a fan of whip cream. Overall, I thought the food was ok but but seems slightly pricey if I had to pay full price read more

See all

Stopped in for a drink and quick bite before catching a show at the Pasadena Playhouse which is right down the alley. Friendly and helpful bar staff. I tried their Classic Old Fashioned ($24) which was served over an Anayas' stamped cube of ice. My wife had a Lalo Cadillac Margarita ($24). Both cocktails were well made and very tasty. We also tried an order of the Queso Fundido con Chorizo ($16.70) served with a choice of tortillas. Again, it was very tasty. Overall, it was another good experience. I'm sure we'll stop by again. read more

See all

If you're looking for an authentic Mexican brunch in Pasadena's playhouse district, Anaya's Restaurant is worth checking out. I've only been for their Sunday brunch, that runs from 10am- 3pm, and it's one of the better buffets around. Adults pay $30 and children pay $15 which is great for the variety and quality. The buffet is packed with food! They've got a great mix of appetizers like bbq ribs & fried shrimp,plus a wide range of authentic Mexican favorites: fajitas, carnitas pibil, menudo, pozole, ceviche, and all the sides like rice and beans. They offer a made to order service as well for omelettes, waffles, pancakes, and chilaquiles. Buffet items are rotated regularly. Non alcoholic drinks are included in the buffet. They have a great selection of freshly made aguas frescas too. You can do bottomless mimosas for $22 extra or order al a carte cocktails. The best part is their dessert bar with flan, tres leches, churros, arroz con leche, pan dulce, fresh fruit and a chocolate fountain. The space itself is beautiful, with a mix of modern Mexican artwork and traditional Talavera decor that gives it a modern, upscale feel. The staff is attentive, and I appreciated that the manager actively walks around checking in on guests. This is a great spot for a quality Mexican brunch buffet with tons of options. Well worth the price! read more

See all

Went for a birthday and thought it was one of those expensive Mexican food for no reason! There was a reason... it was delicious Sunday brunch buffet was it Margarita pitcher was niceeee and yummy Buffet had tacos to ceviche and menudo The beef was tendor and flavorful Oh even has freshly made waffles or pancakes Kids had chicken tenders Options for everyone Dessert the flan yummers read more

Anayas - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

See all

It was my first time today! We went during lunch so it was semi busy. Jorge was our waiter and he was super happy and funny and made us feel welcomed. I ordered a chicken enchilada from the lunch special menu and it was delicious! A little bit of a big portion so I was able to save the other half for a later meal. Had to get the churros for dessert! I will say they were small and came on a plate of 6! As you can see here, they were completely devoured. Prices were not bad and it was clean and I heard it gets packed on the weekends! read more

See all

Terrible food, terrible ambiance, and super unhelpful staff. I came here for my mom's birthday last month, and we definitely wouldn't come back. My mom ordered their camarones al ajillo and the dish literally tasted and smelled like a*s. When we inspected the shrimp, it was not cleaned properly and you could see the poop line in it. When we told the waitress, she said "that's how it comes". So in addition to not being cleanly or hygienic, they're also severely misinformed and shouldn't be serving this dish if they don't know how to clean shrimp properly. But the worst part of the meal was that at the end, when we were inspecting the receipt, we noticed the lady charged us for two margaritas and it was not buy one get one free as they had advertised. The waitress snootily informed us that, oh she didn't take the time to explain it to us because it seemed obvious, but it's not buy one get one free immediately and you can share it with someone else. It's buy one, then once you drink it, you get another one. But if someone else at the table wants to drink it, they will charge you for another margarita. That is very dumb and it was very sneaky and convenient how the waitress didn't explain what it meant. Then, to top it all off, they include a 20% gratuity on parties of 6 or more, and they have the audacity to ask for additional tip! Make sure to check your receipt. We didn't leave a single extra damn dime for this place. Firstly because they already took their 20%, and secondly because the service was absolute trash. Would never recommend coming here, and I hope some better restaurant replaces this one on Colorado soon. read more

Met the girls here for dinner and drinks on a Saturday night. This is definitely a family friendly restaurant. The place was crowded but the wait time was minimal. We were sat in a booth and offered drinks right away which we loved. The drinks were yummy and very pretty. As for the food, it was good. Basic Mexican with nothing that really stood out. I got the chicken flautas. Not too crispy, which was a little sad. The beans and rice were good. What helped this place out was the outstanding service! read more

Anayas - Chicken flautas - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

See all

Stopped by on Friday, 10/17/25 for the first time! Boyfriend and I ordered from the Happy Hour Menu (Monday - Friday from 3pm-6pm): - 4 carne asada tacos = $15 - 1 6-piece jumbo wings = $10 - 1 margarita de la casa = $9 - 1 16oz draft beer = $10 SUB TOTAL = $44 TAX = $4.62 OVERALL TOTAL = $48.62 The prices were great and affordable. I will say that the overall menu prices that are not part of the Happy Hour menu seems to be way over priced. We watched the Dodgers game and there wasn't a lot of people at the time. read more

See all

Took my girlfriend here for a romantic date night. The ambiance inside the restaurant is so dim and beautiful. They had live music playing and the decor makes this restaurant so special. My burrito was really good and drowned in the amazing sauce and covered with melted cheese. Their drink options come in tiki cups that are also a very nice touch. We came on a busy night so the parking was a bit difficult to find. Parking down the street and just had to cross the intersection to get to the restaurant. Overall a great experience and will come back. read more

See all

I generally prefer supporting non-chain restaurants, but Anaya's unfortunately fell short of expectations. The space is large and well-decorated, yet surprisingly quiet; even during Friday happy hour, seating was plentiful. While the drinks were decent for the price, the food definitely needs some refinement. I've often wondered why this spot wasn't more crowded when passing by--after finally stopping in, my curiosity is satisfied, but I don't think I'll be back. read more

Anayas - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

See all

Food is flavorful, Service was perfect our waiter was the best I believe his name was Oscar. Definitely going back. Very clean & attentive.

If you're looking for a solid Sunday brunch deal, this is it. The beverage program is on point; the café de olla has that perfect spiced warmth, and the horchata is refreshing and clearly made with care. I opted for the Chilaquiles Verdes. The green salsa is the star of the show--rich in flavor without being overwhelming right out of the gate. However, the heat profile is deceptive! It starts mild but gradually builds into a satisfying spice by the end of the plate. Great portions, great prices, and even better flavors. I'll definitely be back to explore more of the menu. The service was impecable and everyone was really friendly. read more

I have dined at Anaya's Mexican Restaurant in Pasadena Playhouse district once before for a birthday celebration. I loved it so much that I recommended it to my work colleagues for a team lunch recently. We came here on a Wednesday afternoon. Prior to arrival, I easily made reservations for a party of 8 via online. I got a few reminders before our arrival which was great. Please note for a party of 10 or more, you'll have to call them to make reservations. Good ample inside space with solid dark wood tables, chairs, bar stool, and bench seating. Limited outside seating available. Interesting industrial-chic inspired decor. They also have a full bar area. They weren't super busy for lunch maybe 3 big parties of 8 or more with a few smaller parties of 3 or less. Unfortunately, they had only one lady server and one gentleman barista who also helped with table service. This didn't make sense to me. They should have at least 2 full-time servers. Anyway, despite of the slow service due to the very limited staff, the staff members were friendly and did the best they could. We got complimentary chips and green salsa... just one note, there was not enough of green sauce for the amount of chips given. As for drink, water for everyone. As for food, I ordered the Anaya's Fajitas with shrimp. You can get it with steak, shrimp, chicken, or a mix of all 3 at different prices. I was expecting it to come out on a sizzling platter instead it was just on a regular plate. Slightly disappointed. It had about 7 good size shrimps along with sauteed garlic, bell peppers, onions, tomato, and white wine served with rice, beans plus 2 tortillas. Flavors were just okay nothing exceptional. Btw, I needed at least 3-4 tortillas. And what happened to the guac, sour cream, and pico de gallo? For $27.95, it needed more bells and whistle (just an analogy). Probably will not get again. We also got two guacamole appetizers that came with lime juice, jalapenos, white onions, and cilantro. All was mixed right in front of us. I was so bummed that it didn't have any taste to it. It was the blandest guac I have ever eaten. I felt like we were eating plain avocado. Just not enough salt and lime juice. Our entire table had the same feedback. Very disappointed. We also got 2 orders of churros served with caramel and whipped cream. Since we had to return back to work, we asked them to pack them to-go. We had already finished eating. It took them literally another 15+ minutes to have it out to us. We extended our visit longer than we should have... not by choice of course. Btw, churros were very good. At the end of our meal, I was not a very happy camper especially when it was a restaurant that I recommended. The slow service, the long wait on food, the bland guac, and the non-sizzling fajitas platter + lack of condiments was NOT the dining experience I was hoping to have with my team. I'm only giving it 3 stars because of the hardworking staff on the floor. Thank you for all that you do. I can't say I will recommend Anaya's again in the future which is unfortunate. Good luck Anaya's! read more

See all

Popped in on New Year's Eve for some margaritas. What a treat! We loved the ambiance and the decor. We had a wonderfully tasty Anaya's Margarita pitcher. The complimentary chips and salsa were very good. Our server was friendly and made recommendations. I highly recommend coming here! I'll definitely be back. Mr and Mrs Anaya are the nicest people and I love to see their personalities come through so nicely with this restaurant. read more

Tried Anayas for the first time for a birthday dinner and was extremely underwhelmed. We had reservations for 5 pm on a Friday night, and upon arriving, the restaurant was completely empty. The restaurant seemed a bit run down and not taken care of. The restaurant attempted ambient lighting, but it was dark and the lights above our table were constantly flickering throughout our dinner. I ordered the enchiladas de carne for $27. The food was just okay, nothing special. The price is definitely extreme for what I received. The other guests in my party had similar opinions. The chips and salsa were at least good. On top of the food being mediocre, the service was horrendous for it being an empty restaurant. We had to call our server over 3+ times due to him being inattentive. It was also disappointing that despite notifying the restaurant of this dinner being for a birthday, my guest never received a single happy birthday and their special occasion was essentially ignored. Overall, I don't recommend Anayas. The restaurant lacked liveliness and the service and food both need serious improvement. There is much better Mexican food for a better price in the surrounding area. read more

ANAYA's MEXICAN - REVIEW FOR JUNE 2025 Staying at the nearby AC Hotel, I was looking for a quick mexican restaurant nearby. Surprisingly, this restaurant is larger than expected and something i was looking for in Pasadena. *Food - Order = Beef flautas with beans and rice = 25$ with tax and tip - I would order again! A little pricey but substancial amount and considering location. It was packaged well, although make sure to ask for cutlery if you're staying at the hotel *Different than most mexican spots in Pasadena - - Aside from El Portugal nearby which is great for outdoor seating and the food isn't out of this world-- there isn't many big family seating mexican restaurants in pasadena; There are many hole in the walls along with taco trucks but not too many like Anaya's. *Other - outdoor seating right on colorado + large indoor seating - happy hour specials - parking? = since i walked.. can't comment and seems like it may be street parking on colorado only which may be hard I'll definitely check this place out for dine in! Heard the margaritas were worth trying pre a coworker! Shout out to Joanna for being extra kind on the phone and staff seems very friendly. read more

Anayas - June 2025 -/ beef Flautas - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

Love this place. Fell in love with the Diablo pasta. Creamy and spicy with shrimp or chicken. Great drinks. Had almost all of them. read more

See all

Great service and food on Cinco de Mayo. Friend and I shared a hearty Oaxacan stew of Molcajete de carne (with shrimp add-on) The steak, chicken and spicy sausage all cooked perfectly. I thought the Molcajete I had in Santa Barbara (Los Agaves) was good, but Anayas' high-end version takes it up another level. We assembled the ingredients into various tacos (beef, shrimp, surf and turf, etc.) it was so fun to eat! Btw they make their tortillas fresh so new orders take a while to come out. We poured the leftover broth, rich in umami flavor, over the rice and it tasted A-mazing! $70 total damage but would definitely do it again. Happy Cinco de Mayo! read more

See all

I was able to enjoy a nice dinner here at anayas! The meñu had so many options from burritos to Cameron's a la diabla to fajitas. I was in the mood for beef so I went ahead and ordered the costillas norteñas dish. This dish came with braised beef, rice, and beans served with a little bit of onion and cilantro on the side to add to your dish. They did serve it with a small side of red sauce, which personally I was not a fan off. The meat was so tender and juicy and the taste was immaculate ! although the portion seemed small in the beginning I definitely got super full. Before my Main entree came I did order guacamole and chips in which the GM mixed all the ingredients together at my table. It's made in a molcajete and they do serve a decent amount of guacamole! Shout out to the GM for being so kind!! The location is very wide, clean and modern. The restrooms are nice. I enjoyed my dinner here. I'd definitely recommend. PS they do have brunch here on Sundays and live music. According to the GM. I plan on coming here soon for that! read more

Anayas - Costillas Nortenas - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

See all

Anaya's delivered a wonderful dining experience. The food was exceptional--my chicken fajitas were perfectly prepared and served with beans, rice, and freshly made corn tortillas. My husband's beef burrito and my son's beef tacos were equally enjoyable. The service truly stood out. George I think he was the manager was attentive, gracious, and consistently checked on us with a warm smile. The ambiance was inviting and comfortable, making it a lovely place to celebrate my birthday. Dessert--churros served with ice cream and flan--was the perfect ending to a memorable meal. I highly recommend Anaya's for both lunch and dinner. read more

See all

Anayas is a gourmet Mexican restaurant located in downtown Pasadena. They have a great variety of food and drinks. I loved the inviting ambiance inside. I ordered the Costillas En Chile Verde (pork baby back ribs, rice, beans, and homemade corn tortillas. It was so good, especially the tortillas!! For $24.95, I felt like the portions were reasonable, and I had enough leftovers for a second meal. Dishes from our appetizers were picked up right away after the entrees arrived. Glad I stopped by! read more

Anayas - Costillas En Chile Verde - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

Cocktails had good flavor but were very weak. If I'm paying around $20 for a drink it should have more alcohol. We saw specials on the board outside but the waitress didn't mention them. Maybe that should have been a clue. But I asked because they were fish entrees and I like fish that's not tilapia. Tilapia was the only fish on the regular menu. One of the specials was red snapper. It sounded good so I ordered it. It was a whole fish, eyes and all staring at us. The fish was okay. But it got dryer as I ate it. When we got the bill we learned it was $55! Maybe I should have asked how much it was but I always feel awkward doing that. They should tell you how much it is, especiallywhen it's twice as much as most entrees on the menu. That is an absurd amount to charge for mediocre dry fish. My husband had the chilli relleno with steak. I assumed that meant the chilly was stuffed with steak, but it was just steak on top. He liked the flavor of the steak but there wasn't very much. The beans were salty. Overall this was a disappointing experience. read more

This is a great place to dine with friends and family. Great customer service. I love the decor and vibe of this venue. And of course the food was great. This is my family's go-to for celebrations and for taking family from out-of-town to dine for Mexican food. read more

We went here after going to the Art Walk for lunch. They had a special that if your purchased an entree, you would receive a free margarita. With all the decent reviews and the margarita deal, we thought giving this a chance would be worth it. Unfortunately, the food was pretty disappointing. We got a breakfast burrito and a 3 asada taco plate. My son got the bean and cheese burrito. The breakfast burrito was all egg and didn't have any meat such as bacon or sausage. For that, I would give it 2 stars especially for the price. The bean and cheese burrito was even worse and also cost $17. That's 1 star. I would say the asada tacos were the best but nothing amazing. We would definitely never come here again. Also, service was mediocre. They were understaffed so that might have been the reason but it wasn't great overall. read more

Fantastic service and great vibe. Strawberry margarita was small but mighty. Great flavor. Mexican Caesar salad with grilled chicken was substantial and filling. Additional of corn kernels and black beans added an additional layer of flavor and tortilla chips added some extra crunch. Place is clean and well maintained and overall very inviting read more

See all

Food here is decent, got a steak burrito. The burrito lack flavor and was kind of small for what you pay for. Service here was okay. read more

Anayas - Al pastor burrrito - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

See all

Picked this spot for a coworker team bonding after watching movies at landmark theatre bc it's walking distance thinking that I'm they might have specials and not too pricey...but was shocked at our two pitchers of margarita prices which was served with a lot of ice not that much drink and would have been same as us getting 10 separate classic margaritas individually. The waitress didn't tell us that it would cost the same but we assumed it would be less than getting individual ones but it wasn't not even by $1...when we told them about how much ice was in the first pitcher they responded that if we get a second one w less ice it will just have less liquid. What!??? It's a fun vibe w lively decorations we made the best of it but prob won't do pitchers of margaritas here anymore when we can go elsewhere for less...similar food. comes w lots of ice barely any liquid... Better off ordering 8/10 individual margaritas then vs pitcher no value in that at all...they didn't seem to care & got charged w $20 cake cutting fee we weren't expecting...we cut ourselves but they brought us plates read more

Anayas - One classic margarita $15 One pitcher $75/she said it fills up 5 glasses more like 4 or less it - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

This place never disappoints. The food is truly amazing. On a cold day I as able to grab some Pozole. They bring all the ingredients for you to make as you need for your taste. The service continues to be fast and ambiance welcoming. read more

Anayas - Pozole - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

Best refried beans this side of Mississippi. I mean the best. Ever! Get over here before they run out of the refried beans. #loveit Update 10 min later: The women's restroom is permeated with the most unbearable cat litter odor. Soooo gross! WTF?!?! read more

I was craving ceviche so my friend recommended to try this place. We got seated right away despite not having reservations on a Sunday afternoon. The service at first was really good, they seated us and gave us waters and menus. However, it took a while for them to then take our order. We probably waited around 20-25 minutes before they came to take our order. They gave us complimentary salsa and chips which helped with the wait time, but we were unhappy with the time it took for them to attend to us. We ordered the ceviche de camaron and it was delicious! It came with two tostadas, which paired well with the ceviche. I liked the avocado as well, as that's not typical in a ceviche dish (from my experience). I also tried the ceviche with the salsa they provided from the complimentary salsa and chips, which tasted well with the dish. Overall, 5/5 on the food and the portion was sufficient for the two of us. The ambiance of the restaurant was nice. It was big inside with ample seating, dim lighting and cozy decor. read more

Anayas - Ceviche de Camaron - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

We went on a Thursday evening. It was only about 1/3 full, with a few large birthday groups. Service was excellent, David was fantastically obliging. The drinks flowed and the food was mostly really good. Green salsa and chips, 5/5 All of the salsas were tremendously flavorful. Roasted tomato salsa was my fave. Queso fundido 5/5 Rice and beans 4/5 (good but nothing special) Ceviche 5/5 Carnitas 5/5 Flautas (beef & chicken) 3/5 Flan 4/5 Guava martini 5+++/5 this will definitely be my go to drink when i go back. read more

Anayas - Guava martini, so so good! - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

I've been wanting to come here for a few months now. I've seen mixed reviews on this place but finally decided to go. David was our server. It wasn't busy when we went on Saturday night. We ordered Anaya's fajitas, potato tacos and shredded beef taquitos. For dessert, fried ice cream and churros. All delicious. Service was great. Empty dishes picked up promptly. No one hovered over us but we also weren't forgotten. My husband loves IPA's and David had great suggestions, especially the Mexican ipa. Loved the decor and ambiance. Great place. Will definitely add it to our favorite places to visit again read more

See all

Walked by on a Wednesday and was seated quickly! Free chips and salsa brought to your table. They have a good lunch special that includes either a agua Fresca or classic margarita for $20. Food overall 9/10 on flavor scale read more

See all

Great service. Lovely location. Really enjoyed our time here. Guacamole was fresh and plentiful. Chips were great. read more

I visited Anayas earlier today to celebrate my daughter's birthday, and we had a fantastic time. We arrived much earlier than our reserved time, but this was not a problem. The hostess greeted us with a smile and sat us immediately. Also, our waiter was attentive and professional. The food came out fast and hot. My daughter's chicken flautas and my enchiladas con mole were absolutely delicious. Generally, I'm not a big fan of rice, but the rice here had a distinct brothy flavor which I enjoyed. Once we finished, I requested the check. Just a moment later, a group of employees approached our table, placed a sombrero on my daughter, and sang Happy Birthday to her. For the final touch, our waiter surprised my daughter with a slice of flan that was creamy and topped with a bit of cajeta. I appreciated how they helped make my daughter's day a special one. read more

Our food fell extremely short of the reviews that hype them up. The chips came out super cold which was a hint as to how the guacamole would be...so we didn't order it, then my gambas al ajillo had chewy, overdone prawns so when sending back, they asked if I wanted something else. I asked for the enchiladas Del mar which also had shrimp but they said it was cooked differently. The dish was SO heavy. Drenched in a white queso type of sauce, the tortillas were thick and tasteless and the shrimp were these baby shrimp which were also quite bland. Our boys had the quesadilla with refried beans (bc they said they don't have black beans), and cheese enchiladas. Both dishes were just ok. The prices given these were just insane. I think the enchiladas are close to $30. The fried ice cream - $15 was probably the worst. It came out with the shell cold and dry. The staff was nice but for a nearly $200 Mexican dinner in the LA area, this was so disappointing. Wouldn't go back :( read more

Anayas - Fried ice cream :( - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

While heading to a new-to-me movie theater in Pasadena, I figured I'd grab a bite somewhere nearby--no plan, just vibes. That's when I spotted Anaya's Mexican Restaurant. What drew me in? A sandwich board sign out front advertising lunch specials. It worked. I walked in around 11:40 a.m., only to find out that the lunch specials don't start until noon. No problem--I grabbed a seat, munched on complimentary chips and green salsa, and passed the time on my phone. The chips were fresh, and the salsa had a nice tangy kick--simple but satisfying. With a little time to spare, I decided to try their signature margarita. Good move. It was strong, well-balanced, and definitely not one of those overly sweet pre-mix types. A proper margarita. Once noon hit, I went with the chicken enchiladas with red sauce, skipping the refried beans in favor of just rice. (I'm not a refried bean person, and that's okay.) The rice was perfectly cooked--fluffy, with every grain holding its own--and the enchiladas were generously stuffed with shredded chicken. One note of caution: the red sauce is delicious, but messy. If you're like me and didn't think to ask for an extra napkin, you might leave with a souvenir or two--in my case, a few red stains. One napkin for the lap, one for the fingers next time. Bottom line: Anaya's is a solid neighborhood find--great lunch spot with strong margaritas, flavorful enchiladas, and a welcoming, relaxed vibe. Just keep an eye on the clock if you're after a lunch deal and maybe wear a dark shirt if you're going for the red sauce. read more

See all