We weren't greeted as soon as we walked in, a few servers and hostess just looked at us even tho the restaurant didn't look busy. The food was decent, but it didn't quite live up to my expectations. The service and ambiance were still enjoyable, and I appreciate the effort put into the experience. Overall, I had an okay experience read more

Anepalco - Enchiladas - Mexican Near Me - Orange, California

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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

Excellent food! Excellent cocktails. Service was friendly. Ambiance was fun, noise level was fun read more

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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

Best chilaquiles.. quick service Clean restaurant Very simple decor , but nicely done read more

A little confusing since it's inside a hotel, but you can park in the back parking structure if you're not a hotel guest. Interior is decorative and quaint. Guacamole Large portion. Hass avocado, cherry tomatoes, thinly cut serranos, red onions, cotija and lime. Boss - adding pineapple. Super fresh with a medley of flavors. Ceviche Large portion. Spanish octopus, mexican shrimp, fish, avocado, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, cilantro and lime juice. Tart and savory - like a good ceviche should be. Wish I knew what the fish was. Both these starters come with hard tostada shells - you may have to ask for more it's all so yummy. Arrachera Hanger steak in large cuts (medium rare, of course), chilaquiles, fried egg (overeasy), avocado, onion, cilantro, cotija. Again, LARGE portion! This is like breakfast platter heaven - more than enough to go around. Steak was so juicy tender good, and the tortilla chips were suprisingly crunchy. Lamb Tatemado Birria, onion escabeche, red radish, serrano, cilantro, organic tortillas. The depth of these Oaxacan region flavors is amazing - fennel-like, spice, hint of bitterness, super tender meat, blended beautifully with the other components. Upside Down Flan AMAZING! Not super chocolately because the upper layered flan balances out the sugar. Topped with sliced strawberries. The menu is a one-pager, but super diverse and creative. Next time, I want to try the short ribs (per the server's recommendation) or the "Not Paella". read more

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Wasn't bad spot I didn't realize it was a hotel restaurant when we walked in was empty and super narrow so wasn't conducive for my son so we sat on Patio. The chips and salsa is weird like big circles and over fried. I got the chicken enchiladas and they were pretty good. They just give very little white rice and black beans with. My guest got the Chicken Mole it was too strong flavor for me but she liked it. read more

Anepalco - Chicken Mole - Mexican Near Me - Orange, California

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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

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

Looking at the menu and ingredients, I could tell this was Mexican food inspired by Oaxaca or Guerrero Mexico. It's definitely a different flavor that others aren't used to when it comes to "American" Mexican food. Based on the reviews I've seen already on here, I assume they didn't like the food because it's not what they're used to. Please take this into consideration because if you haven't had Mexican food from these parts of Mexico, you might comparing it to Mexican American style food like an el torito or Javier's. Pros: Great service!! I'm my opinion, the food is great -- recommend the barbacoa tacos. The meat was super tender and full of flavor. The tortillas are freshly made and are delicious The enchiladas were very spicy Nice ambiance Drinks can be hit or miss -- pepino jalapeño Margarita is really good but really spicy Cons: Music is very loud Parking is bad since it's attached to a hotel. You might have to park far. Price point of the food is a bit on the higher side Mezcal Mule is not good. read more

Anepalco - Barbacoa tacos - Mexican Near Me - Orange, California

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Ive passed Anepalco so many times and i cant believe ive never tried it until now. Been there twice in the last 2 weeks. Its such a cute spot to meet up with friends. Service was great both times and the food was delish! I had the braised short ribs both time and the tomahawk last night. Had the margarita flight the first time and thought it was a little too sweet for me. I couldnt taste much alcohol. I will have to try something else since they have a wide range of tequila. We asked for something spicier than the sauce they provided and was given their special sauce. It wasnt much better than the ones they offered. Was really surprised to see a $1 fee for the extra sauce. The $1 wasnt an issue, we weren't told that there would be a fee. Anyways, I hear their Chilaquiles is amazing. Will have to go back to try their brunch. read more

Anepalco - Short Ribs - Mexican Near Me - Orange, California

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Meh, the food was ok. We came here for Sunday Brunch and was met with decent food. The Esquites was tasty. It had great flavors but was super watery. Watery to the point that the waitress spilled the appetizer all of my white shoes and didn't offer to help clean them up or anything. This to me was poor customer service on their part. Ceviche barely had any seafood in it, it was mostly cucumber. Chilaquiles were not bad, I wish they had a little crunch at the ends of the tortillas to add a different texture to it aside from it all being soft. I found it weird that they didn't have any hot salsa for a Mexican restaurant, but that's just me. However, I did love the Guava French Toast. I love Guava anything, and this did not disappoint. Overall, it's a pass for me. I really wanted to like this place, but my experience of the customer service and the food was underwhelming. read more

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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 brunch food was very average for an upscale-type restaurant and for the prices. For starters, my brunch club got aguachile and calamari - the aguachile was not spicy (housemade salsa was not bomb) and the calamari was not sour enough and the sauce was too tomatoey? Like I was eating a pasta dish I ordered the barbacoa omelette and the egg was not soft and had no flavor, the meat wasn't seasoned, and there weren't any other fillings in the omelette that I could tell. Only pro was that it was stuffed with meat. My friends ordered the guava french toast (the best thing we had) and chilaquiles divorciados (good presentation but had an overwhelming lingering smoky taste) read more

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Visited for a Saturday date night dinner with my boyfriend after seeing other yelp reviews. We were immediately seated since it wasn't busy, probably only 3 other parties dining. The ambiance was okay. While the decor was cute, the lighting was pretty bright and the experience could of been better if it felt more intimate. The location of the restaurant is also below a hotel which is on the corner of a busy intersection. We ordered drinks and 3 appetizers. The paloma was SO good. The cocktails were strong too. We ordered the queso, pork belly and calamari. The calamari was the best out of the three and the pork belly was just okay. For my main I got the enchiladas divorciadas. The rice & beans were good but the lobster in the enchilada wasn't the best. It would of been better to order the appetizers one at a time since I had to ask the waiter to hold off on bringing our 3rd appetizer since the table was small. They kept coming to check on the table to take our plates which made the dining experience feel rushed. Even after our appetizers, our main meal felt rushed as well as the waiter was overly attentive and while it might of came from a good place it felt like our meal was being interrupted. I didn't understand the urgency since the restaurant didn't close for another 3 hrs and the place was hardly even busy. By the middle of our meal it was only us and another family dining. Overall it was a pretty underwhelming experience and I left feeling like we should of went somewhere else for dinner. The food was okay, the drinks were good and if I were to give Anepalco another shot i'd like to visit the other location instead read more

Fortunate to sit down almost immediately upon arrival for a group of six. They wanted us to pay separately but we needed individual receipts for reimbursements. The manager agrees. We were all excited for our drinks and dinner. The drinks were all delicious and that was unanimous. Their homemade tortilla chips were thick and flavorful along with the salsas but were not very spicy. Unfortunately, although the tortillas and sauce on our dishes were tasty, the proteins were lacking. My steak was over cooked, not tender, in my enchilada. The lobster enchilada was also a bit fishy which is probably the first time I've had a fishy tasty lobster. The service was adequate as it is not a large space and they fortunately have plenty off staff. I do want to come back to try their breakfast choices. read more

Anepalco - Enchiladas Divorciadas - Mexican Near Me - Orange, California

Delicious tacos! This modern Mexican restaurant is located next to two hotels. Since I was staying at the Ayer's, myself and 5 others walked here for a Wednesday lunch. It was mildly busy when we arrived so we had a little 10 minute wait before we were seated inside. Seating inside was comfortable. The vibe was social and loud. The menu was a typical for Mexican restaurant with a few vegetarian options. I ordered the veggie tacos. The others in my party ordered fish tacos, Chile Rellano, enchiladas and chillaqullas. The wait for our food was acceptable but a tad longer than we had expected. It arrived warm, beautifully plated and in decent portion. The tacos were amazing! The tortillas on the tacos were thick and chewy. The salsa was perfectly tangy. Comments about other food was that it was good and/or okay so choose wisely! Service was good. Overall... solid 4. read more

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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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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

Me gustó la comida, las bebidas muy originales, es un lugar pequeño pero agradable, (patio es amplio) read more

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Came for brunch today and had an amazing time, this was our first time coming to this location, normally we go to the smaller family owned version on main st. There was no wait time we were seated right away and had our meals out fast. The ambience is very busy, very fun and they had great music playing. We got black coffee, it was delicious and perfect on its own. We ordered the chilaquiles divorciados and the enchiladas that comes with chicken tinga inside. They were perfect as usual at the other location and service was quick. The enchiladas were a first for us and man they were good I'll definitely be ordering those in the future. The pricing is well set for the food quality and quantity, we spent a total of $47 for two w/tip! This place never disappoints and I love that they have two versions of this location. I feel that this one is more for drinking/socializing and the other is more for eating/family time. Either way I love them both! Will be coming back in the future to try the drinks here the bar looked amazing. read more

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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 eaten here a few times, and it's always been delicious. Last meal I enjoyed was the arrachera - hanger steak cooked to medium-well perfection. The only thing missing was the fried egg. I looked between the layers of chilaquiles, but no egg to be found. Perhaps they were aware of my elevated cholesterol levels and were looking out for me? After all, Anepalco has two locations within walking distance of Orange's two hospitals. My coworkers had the Not Pa'ella and Oaxacan Mole, which I shamelessly tasted - both delicious and items I'd order on future visits. Ambiance is lovely - plants-cum-chandeliers adorn the lofty ceilings. Social distancing is practiced. And a GREAT playlist! read more

Anepalco - Arrachera! - Mexican Near Me - Orange, California

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

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

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

We decided to eat here since it was close to our hotel. We sat down at 5:15 and ordered at 5:20. We were in town to see an Angels game at 6:30. The drink I ordered came out promptly but the same wasn't for the food. After the drink was given to us we didn't see our server the rest of our visit. At 6:02 I approached the and asked if it was possible to cancel my order. At the same time it was being taken to my table. I ask to have it packed to go and didn't try it until 10:30 that night. We ordered the wagyu ribeye tacos and the el pastor tacos. They may have been better fresh out the kitchen but they were an abysmal excuse for tacos. At $71 for two orders of tacos you'd expect prompt service and something better than canned black beans and steamed long grain rice. Please avoid this place and visit your local Mexican restaurant or taco truck. read more

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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

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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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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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