Wow. Just wow. I'm sad I waited so long to try this place. Mostly because I'm a night owl, and they close early. This is the best and most authentic molé I've ever had! Not only is the food upscale, and authentic, but the cocktails are balanced with fresh and homemade ingredients. One of the best cocktail menus in Orange County! I'll be back asap! read more

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I've been there a few times and everything was excellent. I'm waiting to get somebody to go again. Dinners are great at the Chapman &hotel location and breakfast is great at the main street location. read more

Amazing service, super cute restaurant and delicious food. Margaritas, fresh made chips and tortillas, guacamole, salads, tacos - everything was delicious. I'm in town for 3 days and want to eat here everyday! read more

This place was a great find! Super authentic flavors and everything was delicious! I had the mangotini which was not too sweet with the added bit of spice from the tajin. For dinner we got the pastor tacos, mole, and lobster enchiladas. All of the items were wonderful and everyone enjoyed their dish. Would definitely return! It is a little small inside, so would recommend making a reservation if possible, but for a Friday night it wasn't super packed. Service was great as well! read more

This is the bar/restaurant for the Hotel ALO on Chapman. Great service, Geraldo. Thank you. Bar prices are high. A 25.00 Margarita comes as a surprise when people have a couple. But it worked out fine. Still easier than driving around the city Looking for a place to go. We would come back. Actually having our free breakfast here in the morning All good read more

Great service. Cecilia introduced herself right away. Very friendly. Corn appetizer was amazing. Guacamole was phenomenal. 3 of us ordered wagyu ribeye tacos. One of us sent it back. Two of us tried to eat it and gave up chewing all fat and no meat in the taco. It was terrible. $20 for each of the ribeye tacos- so expensive for the worse quality meat. $160 in total for 4 of us. read more

Food was delicious, outdoor seating was great. I hope to try indoor seating next time, as well as different dishes! Their service was excellent. read more

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Quaint Mexican restaurant attached to Alo Hotel (which was a surprise to me, clearly did my research lol). Fun vibe with plants galore! I had the classic Paloma, the corn appetizer, and my husband and I split the Enchiladas Rojas and Carne Asada plates - yum!!! 10/10 for the cocktail and corn, and 8/10 for carne asada. 6/10 for enchiladas (maybe biased, it was unexpectedly spicy for this gringa). We do not have regrets! read more

Anepalco - Mexican Near Me - Orange, California

I have been here 3 times and love it more each time! I'm a chilaquiles fanatic and these chilaquiles were among the best I have ever had! I could taste the seeds and wonderful mole seasonings in this to die for green mole! The horchata French toast was good but you don't want to miss out on the savory dishes! Perfect place for Sunday brunch with both family and friends. read more

Anepalco - Finger licking mole! Chilaquiles con cochinito pibil. - Mexican Near Me - Orange, California

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The ambiance of this place was decent, and it has a lovely (albeit small patio). The inside has half booth/half table options with nice embroidered pillows. We came in for brunch with the kiddos and everything was fine, just a three-star experience. I had the Chilaquiles Divorciados which was half green sauce and half red. Presentation was nice but the flavor was lacking. Husband had the divorciados (same idea but eggs instead of chips). He liked the green, but said the red just tasted smoky but without much flavor. The kids meal came with a nice bowl of fruit and thick garlic toast along with the scrambled eggs. My biggest issue there was that on the menu it just says scrambled eggs, and for some reason the kitchen added tons of ham? My preschool daughter wouldn't eat it, so I ended up trying to scrape some eggs out that didn't have the ham on there. Had the menu listed it, we would have ordered something else. The restaurant also didn't bring complimentary tortilla chips and salsa, which I though was just customary? It just left me without much of an option to feed the kiddo. Thankfully, I had some snacks for the kids in my purse. Then we had to flag down the hostess to get the check because people kept walking by our table even though I clearly had my credit card out and waiting to pay. Hostess was prompt with bringing our check and ringing us up, but there are so many amazing restaurants in that area that I'd probably skip this one, personally. read more

I gave it a 5 star and my husband gave it a 3. I guess it depends on what you order. For me the steak was great and the alcoholic drink was nicely served. He ordered the paella and said it was tasteless- he ended up eating off my plate. His drink was a whiskey coke and the soda was flat. We asked for another and still flat- he gave up and got a beer but not what he wanted. read more

The food had nice flavor and the handmade tortillas were amazing. We didn't have to wait long for our table outside to be ready. The service was good we didn't feel rushed. Sitting outside is recommended because it's a small place and inside it was quite loud. Would definitely dine here again. read more

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Wow. Wow. Wow. True hidden gem, hidden in Anaheim as a hotel restaurant. Having spent the day at Disneyland, we were looking for a nice dinner, and honestly one not available in Downtown Disney. I found Anepalco with the help of Yelp. The appetizers were good and the Margaritas by the pitcher were terrific. Everything that we ate here was great. We sat outside on the patio and received good service. If you're in Anaheim at Disneyland and looking for a great option for Mexican food, definitely head to Anepalco. They had a kids menu and we kept our kids busy to enjoy a great dinner. read more

I try not to come off the top rope with restaurant reviews but this place was just not good. I came in with a group of 5 and not a single one of us would go back. I get the whole modern Mexican vibe but it missed the mark. First when you walk in, there was a very bad smell. I'm guessing it was coming from the hotel bathrooms sitting right next door to the indoor entrance. Secondly, I ordered the carne asada medium rare and it was like chewing bark. I could not chew the meat and had to cut it in very small pieces just to get it down. I left half of it on the plate. Another of my group ordered the octopus and half the plate was cold and the other half warm. Service was very slow but I think it's because they were short staffed. I only saw two people working all night. The appetizers were ok so we honestly should've stopped there. I expected way more but things fell short. read more

Service was meh -- food was average -- they did not have hot salsa and the one they gave us was not good. We will not return read more

Anepalco always delivers great service and amazing chilaquiles. I personally prefer the red sauce over the green, but I noticed more people ordering the green. If you can't makeup your mind, try the divorciados (divorced) plate. Although, the regular chilaquiles will come with a bigger stack of tortillas. Oh, and don't forget the flight of mimosas! read more

Anepalco - Mexican Near Me - Orange, California

Been coming here mostly on early Friday evenings and the bar never fails to provide seating. I highly recommend making reservations if you want to have a nice sit down dinner in their dining area though. We just love the service we are provided with when we sit at the bar. Miguel, our bartender and server, is always so humble and polite, and can make some very thrust quenching yet comfort-filling drinks. I always order the Carajillo. Its a sweet coffee flavored alcoholic drink (like a dessert type drink) and he always makes it taste so darn good. I never have enough room for two due to the fact that when we go, we always order appetizers, dinner, and dessert. Everything always tastes freshly made and never fails to keep our taste buds content. I recommend the Arrachera plate, its similar to chilaquiles but with exquisite juicy meat on top. Their desserts are also a must try. We always go with the flan dessert. Its nice and small so you don't feel as guilty when eating this at the end of your meal. Everyone is always so friendly and attentive here. They make you feel like family and always make sure you are doing well throughout your visit. If you live in the area, or visiting out of town, definitely stop by. You will NOT be disappointed. read more

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This is a SUPER FIND! What a great spot. Everyone here is SO nice. It's located in the ALÓ Hotel, or rather adjacent to their lobby. I've been here a few times and this might be the best hidden gem. EVERYTHING is SO good (and no, they didn't ask for this review). We had the trio appetizer which was Guac, Ceviche and Corn. That might be the best street corn I've ever had. Spot on!! The ambiance is nice. I don't understand why this place doesn't have a line out the door. It deserves it and would STILL be worth the wait. We also had the margarita flight of cocktails and another one to which I don't remember the name. The classic margarita was my favorite because of how fresh it tasted. In fact, if I had one word to describe the food... that would be it...FRESH. If you haven't tried it... you're in for a treat. read more

I'm leaving 3 stars for nostalgic reasons. My first time here was around year 2014-15. I loved it. Drinks, food and service. My favorite were the little breads with that spicy achiote butter I would go for brunch and dinner service. I went there this weekend and it has changed so much. A 3 sampler salsa with tostada chips shoved between a spiral document holder. I ordered a carajillo and my boyfriend ordered a cocktail (I forgot the name but it had strawberries). They were good. Food: Chicken mole enchiladas and 3 taco plate. It was good. I was disappointed with the rice and beans. It was mediocre. Rice was hard/cry/crispy on outside, I mixed with the beans and added mole from my plate to saturate so I can enjoy. Service was just OK. I don't see myself going back or recommending it to peers as would've in past. read more

The food was actually good, but will not return, after watching the server tell a woman at the bar that her complaints about a dirty glass were unfounded (her complaint was legit). read more

This restaurant deserves a way better rating than it has! My parents came to visit me and stayed at the hotel this restaurant is attached to and I must say it beyond delivered. The food drinks overall vibe of the place made the dinner so amazing. We received great service and will be going again! read more

Visited for the first time today, 3/15/24. The restaurant is cozy, colorful, and with a fun, laid-back vibe. We were seated quickly without reservations ( it was earlyish..4:30). Servers and service were good. The ahi tuna looked gorgeous but came up short for my palette. My husband enjoyed it as is. I felt it was bland. It was missing the tangy and salty aspect. The mole was good. It's just enough sweet with a trailing kick. The side of black beans and white rice were very good, however, just warm, not hot. Not pictured was the Seabass dish. He loved everything. The fish preparation. The creamy mashed potatoes. The sauce. He was raving throughout eating. I forgot, the opening tostadas and 3 type salsas and beans were very good. My favorite was the green salsa... I imagine the green enchiladas use the same sauce and are delicious. read more

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First time here and was super exciting as we were celebrating for a friend's birthday! The drinks were good, they have a good mix of cocktails and other drinks. The menu was simple, not a lot in the menu so easier to pick. The only reason why I am giving a 4 star is because of their price and service. 2 tacos for $18 seems a lot and they are not to be full. I am not sure if I will come back and give a second chance but i wasn't impressed. read more

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Sat outside to enjoy a beautiful sunny day. Food was amazing! Service was great! Drinks were very refreshing. Recommend it for anyone who hasn't tried it. read more

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Cute atmosphere. Fish of the day was ok. Nice presentation at lunch but will not be back due to price. We are in hard times with this virus. Mole was not good and was sent back. Side note: why do they make the hostess stand all day? Give her chair at least! read more

Anepalco - Mexican Near Me - Orange, California

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This place had so much potential. We booked a reservation for dinner. Unfortunately the hostess could not stop guessing the name of the reservation long enough for me to tell her what my name actually was, so we sat at the bar. At the bar, the bartender took my girlfriend's drink order and walked away. As I tried to give her my order as well, the bartender asked me who was driving. I understand responsible drinking, however, this made both of us uncomfortable as the plan was to have dinner and drinks. After that, the vibe changed and everything became uncomfortable. We ordered ceviche... it was okay, not my favorite, but we could not shake the change in energy and decided to leave despite both being starving and looking forward to dinner. The drinks were actually quite good and food coming out looked great but it was so awkward we couldn't stay to enjoy it. Our farewell with the bartender was dry at best and not even a good night from the hostess as we left. Wish that we had not had that experience. read more

Anepalco is an upscale Mexican restaurant next to the ALO Hotel in Orange, near the freeway. Because of the hotel, parking can be a challenge, but this is not a hotel restaurant. This is a beautiful restaurant that is adjacent to a hotel. There is a large patio that probably seats as many people as the restaurant. This does not appear to be a Covid addition, because it lacks the temporary barriers - this is a real patio. We opted for the GORGEOUS smallish dining room. There are only 15 tables or so and a full bar. It feels like being in a fancy restaurant in Mexico City. Butcher block tables are surrounded by lots of plants and bright and colorful decor. The festive atmosphere carries through the cocktail and the exquisitely crafted cocktails. The El Manhattan is a well-crafted version of the classic cocktail (maison rouge cognac rye old whiskey, luxardo liqueur, angostura bitter, paychauds bitter). The El Gran Mestizo Aged is a SHOWSTOPPER! The bottle aged mix of los javis mezcal, Elijah Craig bourbon, licor 43, choco bitter and coffee bitter would be quick to serve except that it is served with STYLE! It comes in a little terra cotta pot with simmering embers. There is a flourish of smoke, a drop of the rock and a pour over of the cocktail with an ember. It is a smoky wonder! While there is a kids menu, the four of us are adventurous eaters, we ordered a variety of dishes to create a shared meal. We started with the chicken tinga enchiladas with coloradito sauce. There were three generous and full enchiladas. The chicken was super moist and the sauce is super flavorful. Next up, we had the chile relleno, which was a fresh take on a classic. A roasted poblano (no breading, no frying) was loaded with melty oaxaca cheese, little sweet shrimp, roasted cauliflower, pickled vegetables and roasted corn in a verdant, herb sauce. It was so fresh and absolutely delicious. A springy take on a classic. We also ordered the sopes, which were two slightly thicker homemade corn tortillas topped with black bean sauce and cilantro pesto garnished with red onion and cotija with a chunk of bone LOADED with bone marrow. It was easy to scoop out and chunk around the sope for a wicked flavorful bite. The best dish of the night was Quesadillas. Wow! Housemade blue corn tortillas envelop chorizo and oaxaca cheese before being deep fried and set in a bed of avocado cream and topped with sliced fennel and tomatillos. BAM! This is so delicious and wonderful and dreamy. After such a wonderful meal, I ordered dessert, because I was expecting more show stoppers. Here, I was a bit disappointed. The coconut custard was so gelatinous that it was basically tough and had very little flavor. The impossible flan was better as there was a chocolate cake based topped with a caramel custard, but it was not a show stopper. It was a tasty and rich dessert. The service is quiet, but we did not have any unattended needs. I just didn't get the warm fuzzies. The staff here is pretty busy, and I appreciate that they are getting things done. I look forward to coming again and exploring more of their savory items and cocktails, even if I need not do dessert again. read more

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Good food, the tortillas are made by hand from organic corn and are made to order. The bar offers a good variety of cocktails and an unique smoked tequila that makes the drinks very different. I did see vegan food mentioned by some yelpers, they do not have a vegan dish at this place. The chiliquiles are the top seller, beautiful presentation and taste. A reservation is needed in the weekends. Brunch menu very small but all good choices. read more

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my mom & i were looking for some yummy mexican brunch and so glad i came across this place. all the food was delicious & they were huge portions (lots of leftovers). service was great too! & they brought my dog some water too! read more

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We love Anepalco! We tried the other location first and really enjoyed it. We were actually trying to go back today with some friends, but the wait was over an hour, so we took a shot and came here instead and there was no wait! I don't think the menus are identical between the two places, but they had all the things we wanted to get, so it worked out. We got the ceviche, esquites, spanish octopus tacos, and both the red and green chilaquiles for four people. The ceviche and esquites were absolutely delicious. I never had esquite before, but I don't think you can ever go wrong with a corn and cotija cheese combo. That was probably my favorite dish of the day. Both chilaquiles were also very good. The octopus tacos was the only one I could have done without. The octopus was a little chewy, and a little boring (sorry!). Service was also great! The staff was very attentive, and even offered to bring some water for our friends' dog! We will definitely be adding this place to our list of favs! read more

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Very friendly staff , good coffee and good cocktails. What fell short was the chilaquiles. I ordered the chilaquiles divorciado with carne asada and an egg over easy. The dish looks delicious and extremely photogenic but that's it, unfortunately my chilaquiles were all soggy. They lacked crunch. I also prefer my chilaquiles more spicy. read more

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The drinks and food plates were delicious, super spicy like it should be and very tasty. Will come again!

Visited the location with breakfast options. There's super limited parking infront, all other spots are across the street in the lot for shopping mall. Easy access. Open for indoor and outdoor dining. It was pretty busy the day we went in, however the servers took over 20 mins to acknowledge and then seat us. The orders also took over 30 mins. When we checked, they said the order was ready and they just forgot to get it out. Food was not hot and tasted ok. Got the green/red chilaquiles and the french toast. French toast too was ok, used preserve/guava jam not fresh paste. The mix chilaquile is average and doesn't come in the same plating format.Would recommend that you do either green or red if you're going for the fancy looking one. read more

I used to LOVE this place....until they changed their menu and their portion sizes!! If you ordered guacamole a month ago they'd give you a decent amount. Now they barely give you enough for a couple bites (and it's definitely not enough to share). They also changed their salad dressing for their green salad appetizer. It used to be a delicious citrus vinaigrette...now it's a thick mayo-based dressing. Their aguachile also used to be a bowl filled with shrimp. Now they only give half the amount of shrimp, and the recipe is different too. Why you so stingy, Anepalco?? The prices are steep for the amount of food they give and the recipes just aren't the same. We won't be returning customers anymore :( read more

Absolutely did not like the food or service here, and should've just drank my way through this disappointing culinary experience. The Spicy Margarita was excellent and that's about where the excellence ends, and the all fluff no substance begins. We started with the Pulpos potatoes appetizer, a minimalist plate, with 3 small bites of octopus, and four fingerling potatoes ( literally the size of a small finger). We ordered our main meals at the time the appetizer arrived, but waited, waited and waited, ( about an hour) before I asked where our main entrees were. "You're ready to order now?" All of us in the party responded to him that we had already ordered to which he absolutely denied. So, we reiterated our order to him AGAIN. At this point, I'm ready to pay the bill and leave, but decide to wait it out so I can provide a full Yelp report on this restaurant. Considering it's reputation, I'm quite disappointed in our current ongoing dining experience, so I request to talk to the manager. No manager ever comes! Our entrees finally arrive, and we are half pleased. My partner's Enchiladas are excellent. A more sensible portion for the price, 3 enchiladas, and some really complex and delicious flavors. My dish, however, is a disappointment. The Chili Relleno is literally an almost raw poblano pepper, cut open like a baked potato, with a layer of cotija queso topped with steamed cauliflower, carrots and corn. It was a fancy "French" attempt to reimagine a chili relleno, but it was an unimpressive creation. We agreed to forgo dessert and paid our bill. Two cocktails, 1 unsubstantial appetizer, 2 main entrees, and crappy service cost us $82 bucks. While money is not usually an issue when it comes to gastronomical experiences, it does become so when the expense outweighs the benefits. Oh, and I left hungry and stopped on my way home to get a real, authentic chili relleno. read more

Anepalco - Brought this chili relleno home just to get a picture in good lighting. - Mexican Near Me - Orange, California

The food is mediocre. No authenticity at all. They make it look nice but the flavors are weak. They should sell the business to real people that have a passion for cooking authentic Mexican food read more

We didn't even eat there and it was a ridiculous experience. We didn't have a reservation and they basically refused to seat us. But, we were able to put our name in join the waitlist on yelp. Make it make sense. read more

I loved this place so much. Maybe it's because I've been locked up and not able to eat indoors for too long, but I don't think so. Very cozy and intimate atmosphere. I was surprised how nice it was, considering it's part of a hotel. Parking seems like it could be tricky, with the hotel. I noticed a big parking lot across the street so that probably helps when it's really busy. All the staff said "hi" to us and treated us great. We got reservations in advanced, factoring in the small space. We got seated right away. The food came out fast and hot. Everything looked and tasted delicious. The portions were really big, we took home eat entree. We didn't love the desserts. Our favorites were the chilaquiles and the not-paella. Good for friends and date night. read more

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Best chilaquiles ever. I've been here for both brunch and dinner and their food is simply amazing. But the chilaquiles always win. And they have such a great cocktail menu. It's easily one of the best elevated Mexican restaurants in OC. Whenever I visit my family, I make a stop here. read more

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Food delicious, very flavorful. Lovely atmosphere, bar and table seating. Servers very friendly and attentive.