Everything was delicious. Cinthya was our server and she was very knowledgeable about the amazing food cocktails and even on the dessert she mentioned it was the mango cheesecake . Suggest to lower the music out on the patio because it's so nice outside and the street traffic is enough noise read more

Anepalco - Chilaquiles Divorciados and a classic margarita - Mexican Near Me - Orange, California

I got a to-go order of the Al pastor tacos. To be honest, it was quite average. I've had better tacos at a food truck and taco stand. There was nothing special about this dish, but maybe I got the wrong item off the menu. Also, the sides - rice and beans were very bland. I was anticipating a different kind of rice. They served something that resembled bland steamed rice. It lacked flavor significantly. My boyfriend and his family ate here, so I can't comment on service. Overall, I probably wouldn't order again from this restaurant. Also, based off the photos of the menu on Yelp looks like it's pretty pricey as well. ~$25 for 2 tacos and small side of rice and beans. Go support your small mom and pop shop instead! I am sure there would be more authentic flavors elsewhere. read more

Anepalco - Al Pastor Tacos - Mexican Near Me - Orange, California

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Amazing contemporary artisanal cuisine with great service and atmosphere for a cozy dining experience.

Anepalco is a modern Mexican restaurant with great indoor and outdoor space. There are a lot of plants everywhere which adds to the ambiance. It is located in the same Plaza as the Ayres ALO hotel. Parking is easy as there are spaces around the restaurant and hotel. Came here with my boyfriend and a couple of his co-workers for lunch on a Wednesday. We were greeted and seated right away upon entering. We ordered a few things to share: Chilaquiles with Cochinita Pibil, Chicken Mole Enchiladas, and the Steak Sandwich. The food came out quickly and beautifully presented. The chilaquiles are plated in the middle with the sauce around it, which is different from how we are used to seeing them. However, the sauce and cochinita pibil were flavorful. The enchiladas were also very good and we enjoyed the mole sauce. The steak sandwich was okay and didn't stand out amongst the other dishes. Overall, giving Anepalco a 4/5 and would recommend people to visit. It is a solid spot for modernized Mexican food with a nice space for groups to hang out and enjoy a meal and/or drinks. The service is quick and the staff are kind. read more

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Service 10/10 Cynthia was amazing and so pleasant. The food was so delicious that we are definitely coming back to enjoy some more food CHECK THEM OUT SUCH A GREAT EXPERIENCE read more

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Absolutely amazing. Throws Javier's out of the water. My first time eating here. Will definitely be back. The seafood platter, calamari, lobster enchiladas all the cocktails. Out of this world!! 10/10. Highly recommend. Will be your new go to high end Mexican spot. read more

Anepalco - Mexican Near Me - Orange, California

I usually only love giving 5 star reviews but this time the food and value left something to be desired. Service was excellent and we appreciate the staff and their work. The mole enchilada : solid, lovely sauce, beans could have had more flavor. Chilequiles: less than ideal, eggs were a rubbery disc and chips soggy yet somehow dry. Sauce was nice but guacamole did not seem fresh, maybe frozen?. We had a party of 7 and service again was smooth and accommodating. French toast;: both flavors were nice but portions too small. Food being just ok would have been balanced out by good value, maybe something like chips and salsa being free or a potato side being part of brunch dishes would have made us feel better about the choice. read more

My first time here. Food is okay, interior space is small and dated. Also, the first impressions when I walked in, were not warm, quite the opposite, there seems to be a confusion with the servers on who is doing what?! This is one of those places, that you try once and move on to try other restaurants. Pricing wise, I think a bit pricy for the food I ordered (eggs & French toast). read more

What an amazing brunch! The food was so delicious, every bite, the service was excellent. Our server was Cynthia, and she was so nice, warm, attentive. The flavors in the drinks and all the sauces was soooo good! read more

Anepalco - Huevos Divorciados - Mexican Near Me - Orange, California

It's a cute place but that's it. We went there for Sunday brunch and had the French toast and chilaquiles. The toast is not well cooked and not fluffy, I could make a better toast at home. The chilaquiles is a big disappointment, the chips were super soggy, crushed and pressed into a plate shape. The sauce is not good either, glad we didn't order more dishes and would not come back. read more

Service, food and drinks were incredible. We love coming here for dinner before shows at house of blues since it's so close. We ordered the Caesar salad, tacos, mole enchiladas, guac, and fish of the day. Everything was excellent! read more

Very good setting, great food and drinks, the service was also very good I highly recommend

ABSOLUTELY THE BEST MEXICAN FOOD EVER !! I honestly and truly never knew that Mexican food could be this amazing! seriously! They make their own organic chips w/ 3 different delirious salsas. The fish tacos are unbelievable and the blue and yellow corn combination tortillas are w very unique. I'm not even done with my meal and am already posting this review, and Miguel and Cynthia are very pleasant and also proud of their food. Just a nice touch as well. The funny thing is it's on the premises of the ALO Ayres Hotel so who woulda thunk.... If you read any of my other reviews, you know, I always call it like it is, but I'm telling you the food here is the best Mexican food I've ever had and I'll say it again. Come treat yourself! read more

I was crazing some Mexican brunch and this place popped up on my Yelp and it looked like exactly what I needed to try out. This place is connected to a hotel as well so the parking would be shared. I had to try their guava coconut French toast as it had my attention from the get-go with their pics. While the flavor and concept of the French toast with guava and coconut was delicious, the bread they used was very dry and was not moist at all. I would have to press and soak the syrup from the plate to make it a little better. Next was the Chilaquiles Divorciada which is a combination of green and red sauce. The top of the bowl was good and crispy but as you go to the bottom the tortillas were so mushy and soggy that I just left the rest of the food. Also maybe needed some kind of fresh touch like pickled onions or something. Along with the food I had also gotten their appetizer trio with guacomole, ceviche and street corn. The best of the three was definitely the ceviche as it had a nice spice, tart and texture over all. Lots of beautiful dishes here but maybe a little oomph is needed to make this place really stand out as it was very quiet on a Sunday noon. Everyone here was very nice and friendly but adding attentiveness and asking how everything is would help them and the kitchen know if they are doing well or not. read more

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Anepalco is a posh, modern restaurant showered in greenery and with a stylish covered patio outside. Located next to the Ayres' ALO Hotel, the parking is scattered around the venue. The service is friendly and the ambience is fun, but the food holds back on flavor and portion size. When a restaurant serves upscale versions of delicious street food, it's common for dishes to get refined, as Anepalco does with its dinner menu. Perhaps in this case, the French influence overcasts the Mexican roots, and I was left missing the punch in flavors. One of the better dishes was the Tacos Dorados - which isn't really a taco, but more like a fried shell enchilada. While the name was slightly misleading, the dish was pretty good, served with fresh fish and a pleasant chipotle sauce. The trio, which caters to those that love to have a little bit of everything (me), included a refreshing ceviche, guacamole, and corn. The guacamole was quite muted though they indeed use very fresh avocado. The ceviche similarly included decent bits of fresh seafood - it was refreshing and had a nice herbal and citrus-y base. The corn was well roasted but didn't quite pack the elote punch. To be fair, the "punch" probably would have made the dish much heavier, and it seems the trio was going for more elevated, less decadent. I also sampled one of their drinks, El Diablo, which was mixed with Jamaica syrup and tamarind puree. Tasty and, as with everything else, mild. Not quite the flavor of the devil, but definitely aligned in color - the drink had a nice red glow. Anepalco has the vibes and service down, if they bring the spice, they'd be a home run. Regardless, it's a fun place to do happy hour or a light dinner before a concert or night out. read more

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This is my second favorite place in the area. Their food is absolutely delicious, no matter what you order. The ceviche is probably some of the best I've had. The pork belly tacos appetizer is off the charts. The bartender made me a Mezcal special margarita that was phenomenal. I do like Gabbi's better (sorry) but this place is definitely one of my all-time favorites. You will not be disappointed. read more

Great food. Great drinks. Great service. Will definitely be back! Mole enchiladas were

A must try restaurant! Food, drinks service was amazing! The music the ambience is such a pleasant way to enjoy your dinner . Cynthia and Esmeralda were amazing gave us All the info on the food a background of everything. Loved it .. read more

Anepalco - Mexican Near Me - Orange, California

Food is very tasty, we had the chilaquiles with chicharrón on top and carne asada plate. Coffee was really good and light taste. Our server was Cinthia, she was a great listener gave great options and very knowledgeable with the menu and explained how everything is served fresh and made with thoughtfulness from the chef. We sat outside and felt very welcome and comfortable. read more

Anepalco - Chilaquiles divorciados and carne asada plate - Mexican Near Me - Orange, California

Setting was great, small but perfect. The service was amazing, very attentive. And the food, all the dishes were great. There were appetizers, the main course, and dessert. More than the actual pictures but everything was clean on every plate, and by clean I mean gone. Will definitely go back to try other plates. read more

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Stay away from the lobster enchiladas folks... It's false advertising to call the fishy, tough pink stringy contents of these lobster. I am convinced it was tuna, as in like tuna out of an old Starkist can. (I should've taken a picture of it.) The manager insisted they used fresh lobster. If that's the case they need to fire the chef for either lying or mixing in tuna. Stupid me we tried to stomach our way through one of the two enchiladas before letting our server know, such that they we had eaten too much of it to be able to return it free of charge. So $30 down the hole. Secondly, their guava french toast also tasted odd. While I love all things fruity and tangy especially guava, this also was a bit of a mystery. It had a yellow puree on top which presumably was passion fruit, but the after taste reminded me of the odor of a public bathroom lol. And not that I mind guava but the presentation was not subtle; the french toast was basically in a pool of liquidy guava puree. Service was otherwise excellent. read more

I highly recommend the tripa tacos and wagyu burritos! The chips are made in-house and have a lovely unique crunch to them- also a must!

wonderful food and even better service. the manager cynthia made the experience nothing short of homey and warm. our server gerardo was awesome! would absolutely recommend this place for anyone looking to eat good food and dine in somewhere cozy. read more

We had a wonderful dinner here, it was near the hotel we were staying at, we decided to go so we didn't have to drive anywhere in an area we were not familiar with. we were not disappointed, the staff were attentive. the atmosphere was great. I definitely ate too much, but it was worth it. I had the braised short rib dish, it was like comfort food. read more

Anepalco - Mexican Near Me - Orange, California

Service: 5/5 Servers are very attentive! Food: Food has a lot of flavor. I tried their red chilaquiles with chicken tinga. Delicious! I also recommend their coffee and Jamaica mimosa! Parking: accessible and plenty of parking Ambience: Great not too loud. read more

My wife and I saw Anepalco on a list of best brunch spots in OC. Unfortunately, the restaurant did not live up to this lauded title in our opinion. Starting with service. My wife and I showed up around our reservation time, but the restaurant was relatively barren with just a few other tables filled. My wife and I were promptly seated, but we began to feel a bit neglected. Our water glasses would go long periods without being refilled and flagging down the servers was harder than it should have been for the quantity of people in the restaurant. With that said, I will say the server we had was very kind and did apologize when he realized the few times he took longer than usual. Moving on to the restaurant itself. Anepalco is attached to one of the two Ayre's hotels across from UC Irvine Hospital. The fact that it is attached to a commuter hotel makes it feel a bit less special, though the interior decor was generally lively and inviting. All considered, the restaurant is probably situated better for a brunch or family get together rather than a romantic dinner. Finally, the food. Shortly, after sitting down, we were greeted with chips for the table--which were deep fried, unseasoned corn tortillas without any kind of salsa. We thought that the lack of salsa may have been a mistake, but looked around to find the few other tables sans salsa. My wife and I ordered the queso fundito for an appetizer, the Chilaquiles roja, and the Chilaquiles verde. The queso fundito was disappointing, watery, and lacked flavor. Conversely, the Chilaquiles roja were quite good, with bursts of spice and fluffy eggs on top. I will acknowledge the assertion from other review that the chips are soggy, but it didn't bother my as much as my wife. My wife's Chilaquiles verde were less impressive. She said the green sauce was just okay, and the pepitas seeds distracted from the dish. All said, Anepalco is okay. Some dishes are very good, but the service, less stellar dishes, and okay ambiance drag it down. read more

Anepalco - Chilaquiles - Mexican Near Me - Orange, California

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The food lacked taste. The chips were thick and burnt. The tacos, we were told, came with rice and beans. They didn't and when we pointed it out we were told "oh maybe we don't do that anymore". They were not offered. Also, the carne asada was ordered medium well and came medium raw. It was just a bad experience all around. To sum it up, I was disappointed we spent the time and money. I guess I am not a Modern Mexican fan. I prefer old school Mexican ‍ Don't waste your money because it is also on the $pendy side. read more

Anepalco's strength is everything is made from scratch in house, Daily. And the freshness and uniqueness shines through every dish. Chips and two salsas plus a bean dip/sauce are brought to the table. The chips are fresh Daily and made in house and are a real cut above. Both the red and green sauce are delicious. I especially enjoyed the bean dip/sauce. The Appetizer Trio: Ceviche; Roasted Corn (on the cob); and Guacamole were each fresh and delicious. The guacamole was one of the best I've ever had. It's a creative blend of items, so be sure to note those items in case you want them to leave one out or put it on the side as we did with the Cotija cheese. The main course was the best of all. I had the New York Steak Plate, which included an 8oz. Steak, a Wagyu Ribeye Taco and a Lobster Enchilada. The Wagyu Ribeye Taco was the best steak taco I've had in my life. The plate comes with white buttered rice and refried beans, plus an avocado verde sauce with small chunks of avocado in it; and 5 small corn tortillas. I ate half the steak directly and the other half with beans and and the avocado verde sauce in a corn tortilla: Delicious! The Lobster enchilada was tasty, fresh and had a nice texture. It included potatoes in it and it worked. It came with a verde sauce over it. The New York Steak was cooked correctly as I ordered it, medium. It was excellent. My friend had the Wagyu Ribeye Tacos Plate and was very pleased. He agreed with my enthusiastic delight over the taco. He also commented that he loved the presentation of the food, from the salsa trio dish with the chips to how the appetizers were presented and all the main course dishes. My brother ordered the Borrego Tatemado, which is a Lamb and Garbanzo bean stew. He said the amount of Lamb was generous, the beans were very fresh, as was the Lamb and the broth. He liked it. I tried it and thought it was very savory and flavorful. He also ordered the Caesar salad and it came in a huge bowl and was enough to share among three or four people. The Caesar dressing is mild and they toss it with a lot of dressing. So if your on a diet beware. My other friend ordered the Enchilada Rojas and although she doesn't favor red sauce she said they were good. She wanted them with green sauce but they would not do it. The waiter, Geraldo explained that the cooks felt the green sauce would not be good with their recipe. She got them anyway as she wanted chicken rather than the Lobster enchiladas which has the green sauce. The desserts sounded magnificent. We are going to try the Mango Cheesecake next time we come and one of the Flan dishes (both are creative). We were just too full. The restaurant is in the Alo Hotel by Ayres on the first floor with easy handicap access. As are the bathrooms. The bathrooms were clean and very nice. It's a special experience to eat in a good restaurant inside a nice hotel. The patio was well appointed but the sounds of traffic are inescapable. The other Anepalco restaurant in Orange on Main St. And LaVeta has the same owner. This is the one on City Dr. And Chapman Ave. (3737 W. Chapman Ave.) The food is expensive but appropriately priced for the location, the ambience, and the quality of the food. Altogether I believe it's worth it for an upscale Mexican Restaurant. Without alcohol, but with three bottles of sparkling water and two cans of Diet Coke over ice, the bill was $194 for four people. Just under $50 a person. My plate, the New York Steak, priced in the upper $40 range was the most expensive plate. The manager Cynthia was available and interested in our reactions to their menu and meals. She told us about their devotion to fresh food and salsas and tortillas made from scratch every day. We asked her about the unusual name of the restaurant and we learned that in English it means a bay, connected to the ocean. The owner comes from the region where Acapulco is and the word is from a local dialect. Geraldo is an excellent server and was warm, personable and took good care of us. We will be back. read more

The service was excellent. They sat me right away. Beautiful colorful pillow ambiance with the option to sit outside. Food was delish. I was skeptical when I saw the Chile relleno but it exceeded my thoughts. The rib eye, shrimp and corn asado stood on its own, very flavorful not over cooked. The green and red salsa was really good. However the tostadas were too hard for me to eat. The margarita flight was even better than I expected. I am not a Margarita lover but the flavor margarita attracted me to order. The tamarindo and Jamaica were so delish, the tequila was smooth not overbearing. My server was excellent, very friendly. Thank you for a great dinner ! read more

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I've eaten here quite a few times over the years because it's close to my work. I have to say that the quality of the food has really gone down. Portion size has also gone down. The dinners are over priced for what you get. Fine dining prices without fine dining taste. Lunch is more reasonable price wise, but the taste is lacking still. I use to really enjoy the food here. I think others have noticed as well, as it is hardly ever crowded anymore. Service is still friendly and the ambience is bright and welcoming. Too bad. read more

Found this place while at a conference. Located in a strip mall next to/connected to a hotel. Smaller sized restaurant with a relaxed vibe. Service staff is friendly and food served promptly. The dishes are Aesthetically pleasing and it translates to the taste. Every bite is full of flavor. We ordered the tacos and chilaquiles along with other dishes like the appetizer trio, and enchiladas. Fresh homemade corn tortillas make the difference. A pleasant surprise for me and a place I recommend. Enjoy! read more

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Appetizers were great, too bad our server Gabby ruined our experience with her poor service and bad attitude

Chilaquiles heaven! My daughter recently fell in love with Chilaquiles over a getaway trip. We were in search of some good Chilaquiles back at home in OC. We found that Anepalco was known for their infamous Chilaquiles and had to come give it a try. We were impressed! My daughter ordered their Chilaquiles, which she really enjoyed. I love that they have a "Divorciados" option, which lets you enjoy both their red and green chilaquiles. It was GOOD! My husband opted for their enchiladas, which he also enjoyed and their Ahi Tuna Ceviche was delicious. We all decided we wanted to come and try their lunch menu next time. Thanks Anapelco for a great brunch! read more

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Everything we tried was fresh and full of flavor -- especially the agua fresca, which was incredibly refreshing. The service was just as impressive. Cynthia, our server, was the sweetest! So friendly, helpful, and genuinely welcoming. We originally came in for breakfast, but she suggested a few drinks and other dishes. Thanks to her, we felt completely at home. Can't wait to come back and try more from the menu -- and we'll definitely be asking for Cynthia again! read more

Anepalco - Mexican Near Me - Orange, California

We stayed at the attached ALO because work was being done on our house. The ambiance is DTLA arts district with the plethora of hanging pothos, houseplants and open shelving galore. The cocktail menu is pretty inventive so I tried the Spicy margarita one night and the Diablo the next. Def go with the spicy. I didn't realize that chips and salsa should've come out without any request. It wasn't until my husband, who dined solo at a different time than my boys and I did, that I found this out. The kids' menu sucks if your kids don't like cheese! We had to go back and forth with the server to find something they could eat... when we finally decided on a side of chicken with their house made tortillas, I was so happy I didn't ask for the price. Turns out it is $1 EACH per tortilla so tortillas alone were $4. I still remember El Torito Grill bringing out their house made tortillas as part of the meal! I had tacos dorados from the appy menu and it had nice flavor, although they were more like small taquitos. Dropping more than $350 here over 3 visits, I don't think it was a great value, but the bartender was attentive to my husband during his visit, and the NBA playoff games were on, so he was happy. The guac is a must order and so are the braised short ribs! fall from the fork tender! read more

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The food was great! All freshly made and organic ingredients!! Delicious!! Service was great as well.

Just wow. I am a huge fan of Mexican cuisine, of which we have much less on the East Coast, where I live, and very little that I would call excellent. Luckily, I got to live in L.A. for a bit and have traveled a great deal around the world and in Mexico, so I have enjoyed remarkable, real-thing Mexican cooking. Anepalco is exceptional. I went just for an appetizer and a drink at the bar and I was immediately impressed by the chef's combination of traditional recipes with various magical twists (a few unexpected ingredients). I had the Shrimp Zarandeado, in which the shrimp was grilled with shell on, and floated on a dark red sea of chile flakes (guagillo and puya), roasted garlic, lime, chives, and something that recalls a spice I have had in Chinese oils. This oil-sauce was so delicious and addictive that I after I had finished the shrimp, I had to order rice (which came buttered, delicious!) so I could keep eating it! I also ordered a side of refried beans, which was made the way I prefer it: very smooth and with lard and a bit of bright and salty queso fresco. So many Mexican places only serve liquidy, not fried black beans without lard, which, while healthier perhaps, is so dull in comparison! I ordered two mezcal drinks to try, both with the artisanal Los Javis. The bartender Miguel was fantastic and his Diabolito with an infusion of hibiscus flower and tamarind puree was superb (a salty-chile rim, too). I learned that at Anepalco, nearly everything is made from scratch; no question, you could tell. You could also tell that the recipes were not only traditional (with some twists), but from various regions around Mexico. I wish I lived here and could visit this restaurant often- I would try everything! Or... they would open a branch in Baltimore. And one more fabulous thing about Anepalco: Cinthya. She is the manager of the Anepalco I went to (there are 2 in Orange, CA) and because I was there very early before the crowds arrived, she was able to talk with me about the chef's vision, the ingredients and techniques and more. So knowledgeable and kind! I adore this place and its staff and I wish I could transport them all to next door to my home. read more

Love love love this place ! I love their chilaquiles with alpastor meat and the guava French toast is to die for. I'm not really into their regular coffee but I still order it. The ceviche tostadas too bad is a small portion. Everything here is so delicious. read more

Food, beautifully prepared, service did not start out well, we almost left, but that was due to my ignorance about the reserved area. They accommodated us in an area that had high chairs but from then on service was wonderful. The drink server was very helpful in making recommendations about food choices, and I have to say he was correct! The Huevos Divorciados with 2 sauces and homemade tortillas were out of this world! My hubby ordered the braised short rib with potatoes and fresh made tortillas and everything was delicious! Absolutely would come back (with a reservation . read more

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I used to work down the street from Anepalco so we would have most of our work lunches here (not a bad thing at all.) the chilaquiles are my favorite item on the menu - both red and green. I also really enjoyed their agua frescas and coffee. Sitting outside when it's nice out (when is it not nice out in Orange County) is always a bonus and my preferred way to enjoy Anepalco. read more