**I am writing this review in hopes that management will see this and course correct.** I've been coming here FOREVER. Since day one. I am friendly with the staff and appreciate so very much about this place. It's been a good three or more months since we'd dined here, so last night we decided to come back to the tried and true comfort of Avila's. Starting with the drinks: $13 for a house margarita which didn't taste like the house margarita I knew and loved. Chalked it up to a new mix. But when the Paloma showed up green, I knew there was a problem. Traditional Palomas are made with ruby red grapefruit juice. When we asked the server about it, it became a whole uncomfortable conversation when he insisted on involving the manager, who we also know and love. She kindly explained to us that they use regular grapefruit juice. Ok, fine....looks like we are paying $15 for a green "Paloma" that we didn't enjoy. Now to the food....We were thoroughly disappointed. The prices have gone up---I get it, sign of the times...but the portions...the portions have gone down---that I don't get. We ordered the Grilled Fiesta Platter (a regular favorite) which we previously would always have enough to take home for leftovers. Not this time. My husband left still hungry. My nephew, he's three, got the child's taco plate, upgraded to shrimp. There were only two pieces of shrimp. We cut the shrimp to balance it out. It didn't work. Had to order another shrimp taco for him. Subtotal for the night, which included two house Margaritas, a green Paloma, two adult meals and one child's meal with an extra shrimp taco....$146! Between the off-tasting margaritas, the weird Paloma, and the small portions, I am sincerely hopeful that this was a one-off and that this isn't the way it will be if we visit again. read more

Always love coming to Avila's! Both this location and the San Clemente location are great. Food is always consistently delicious, hardly ever a wait to get a table, and service is prompt and friendly. Prices are reasonable as well. The Orange location is cool because it's inside of an old church building, so has a lot of stained glass and vibes that match the rest of Old Town. Been coming here for the past 4 years and will continue to! read more

This happens to me every time I eat in or get it delivered. I love their Avila Chicken soup. It comes with avocado. But if you pay $4 more for their Condiment Plate - which includes cheese, crunchy tortilla chips, avocado, & jalapeños - they don't put in the avocado that is supposed to come with the soup, probably because it's also on the Condiment plate. If it happened once or even twice, I guess it happens. But this is obviously deliberate. If I'm paying $23 plus tax for a bowl of soup, at least give me what I'm paying for. read more

I love Avila's, it's always what you want and expect from an authentic Mexican restaurant: fresh food, huge portions, great chips and salsa, and friendly service. We love coming here for date night or to celebrate a special occasion. This location can be very loud if you sit in the main dining room due to the building structure and high ceilings, we prefer the bar area or back rooms. Highly recommend and will return soon! read more

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I'm a big fan of a Mexican restaurant that starts you off with a bowl of chips and salsa (at Avila's they're really good and they keep coming.) as delicious as they are don't fill up on the chips because the food is really good too. I had the chimichanga (deep fried burrito to put it simply) and it was really tasty. Avila's is in the beautiful Old Towne Orange are of Orange, CA and is a nice place to end your day before going home. read more

Avila's El Ranchito - Chimichanga - Mexican Near Me - Orange, California

Came by for a Christmas work lunch. I had the carne asada and camarones al mojo de ajo. Really good dish. The asada was cooked perfect (medium). The shrimp were also really good. I have to admit, the beans were super good! The chiles toreados werent that spicy but complimented the dish. read more

Avila's El Ranchito - Carne asada and camarones al mojo de ajo - Mexican Near Me - Orange, California

Avila's in Orange is my fav Avila forever...The most beautiful one in California. It's a masterpiece. Besides beautiful artistic windows, gorgeous decoration their customer service is very pleasant. Everyone makes sure that you enjoy your time here and you don't need anything on your table. They are very professional and welcoming. Their shrimp ceviche is what I order when I'm here. Their shrimp cocktail is very delicious to. The Margarita is always refreshing in this place. There is a private parking lot and also its not a weekend there is a plenty parking outside in the street. We enjoyed the gorgeous restaurant and quality food. read more

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Firat time at Avillas in Orange. it's located on a residential street corner in Old Town Orange. Beautiful building that appears to have been a very old church. maintained well with much of what appears to be original stained glass windows and pulpit. Very small parking but there is a public lot right next door. Hostess and service is excellent. Chips and salsa are homemade. The salsa is flavorful without being spicy but is LOADED with onions, both white and green. A little too much for my taste so avoided some of the onions and it was good. Had the shredded beef taco and chile rellano that comes with rice and beans. The chille rellano was REALLY good.... Light, fluffy, not greasy and cooked perfectly. Unfortunately the taco was a bit 'soggy" like maybe the oil wasn't quite hot enough. Other than it not being very crispy, lettuce, pico and cheese were perfect. Rice and refried beans were pretty standard, not exceptional. Added salsa to top both for a little more flavor and it was okay. For a $30 lunch -including tip there Are better mexican lunches to be had. Can't skimp on the tip as service was great! read more

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I've been to multiple Avila's location. This is become a must stop when I visiting from Washington! The way the staff welcomes you and the unique atmosphere of the place, reminiscent of an old church, really seem to make each visit special. It's not just about the food, which clearly is a highlight with the famous caldo and the must-have crispy taco, but also about the feeling of connection and warmth that turns a simple meal into a memorable occasion. The streak and garlic shrimp is also another favorite of mine. It's wonderful to find such a gem during my travels from Washington. I plan to have many more visits to Avila's. With the goal to visit all of there locations. read more

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I'm really disappointed with my experience here. Today, we decided to go celebrate my daughter's accomplishments to Avila's El Ranchito in Orange. The food came out fast, but wasn't great, on top of that we found a hair in my food, when I called the server to let him know, he seemed unfazed, like this was not the first time this had happened. He took the food and a while later brought another plate, stating, "we made another one", well I sure hope they did. Then throughout our meal, our drinks were never refilled, he only came back once to ask if we wanted a dessert and to drop the bill off. After I left, I called the restaurant and I finally spoke with the manager, Gabby, who told me she was already aware of this, but was "too busy in the kitchen" because they had one big party. I feel that's not an excuse for serving food with a hair in it or for completely ignoring basic service. I left frustrated and definitely won't be returning this location again. read more

Had my baby shower here. Loved the intimate setting and the absolutely delish food. The staff were so kind and attentive through the whole shower... at the end of my shower I got sick and they were quick to help me and assist my family in making sure I was ok. I would recommend this place to everyone I know and not just for an event but for any day lunch or dinner. read more

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I finally was able to come by here. I avoided it because the parking in the area can be difficult. The food was decent. The meat they used isn't the best quality but it's passable. We got the steak fajitas, flauta and enchilada. The beef in the enchilada had a bit of a weird gamey taste. My favorite part of the meal was the salsa. Their salsa here is really good. They have what I think is called salsa ranchera, which is mild but not too mild. It does thankfully have a slight kick. I love the green onions and chunky bites of onion in it. The interior is beautiful. Wasn't too loud on a weekday in the day. Not sure how it's like when it's busy and crowded. Service was pleasant and friendly, though I wish they came by a little more. Overall, a positive experience for the vibes. Food: 3.5/5 Service: 4/5 Ambiance: 4.5/5 Parking: 2/5 read more

Loved this restaurant especially knowing that it used to be a church which has been turned into a Mexican Restaurant... The customer service was great, and the food was good too... I look forward to trying more items off of their menu in the near future... read more

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Always love Avila's and this winter was no different. Hosted some out of town friends and we had a great time. The chips and salsa here really hit different, our waiter was amazing. The ambiance was super festive, especially for Christmas! PRO-TIP: the parking lot at the restaurant is crazy small, so don't waste time trying to park there. The church side of the street is the best option for parking. read more

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Great dinner beautiful restaurant, I had the enchiladas and my wife had the chimichanga and they were both very food, some of the best Mexican food I have had in a long time, We will be going back read more

Food is alright but great atmosphere and good place for kids. Service was great. I got a cup of their famous soup and a green enchilada. Soup needed a little more salt but added some of their salsa and it was good. The kids menu was perfect. Our little one loved the chicken, beans and rice plate. read more

Avila's El Ranchito - Kids chicken, beans and rice plate. - Mexican Near Me - Orange, California

Had a great meal at Avila's! This was our first time at this location. They were pretty busy when we arrived but they were able to seat our party of 7 fairly quickly. I ordered the 2 item combo with a cheese enchilada and Chile Relleno. The relleno was outstanding! Service was a little slow when needing refills and more tortilla chips but overall, a really good experience. read more

Avila's El Ranchito - Mexican Near Me - Orange, California

I've been to Avila's Orange location many times .. it looks like it's an old church service is very prompt. I love their food. I've been to several different locations and never a disappointment. read more

We've eaten here before and usually its good. This visit, we came for my birthday. Not only was our waiter incredibly rude and acted like we were disturbing him any time we asked for anything (like the water we had to request 3 times before getting it), but my dad had to eat his steak with a spoon since the waiter was too busy talking to bring him a set up. To finish it all out, my brother-in-law, who has a severe pork allergy (and has never had issues before) got super sick because they didn't alert him to them now using pork lard when cooking their rice. When my sister called to ask about it, their only response was "well he should have said something" before hanging up. I dont plan on us going back any time soon or encouraging anyone else either. read more

Came to this restaurant on my brother wedding day, the staff was so amazing and absolutely fantastic service and huge thanks to the manager for taking care of the newly weds. meal and the food OMG it so good i would recommend this place most definitely coming back here again. And the place has amazing arts around the restaurant very beautiful. read more

I live in Costa Mesa, close to one of the OG Avila's on Placentia and have been going there for decades. So little complaints - it's terrific, and consistent. I wish I could say the same about their satellite office in the old church in Orange. (Mom is 92 and it's close to her home, so we do go there at times) Although the quality has been inconsistent, it usually passes for decent Availa's quality. But not any more. (By the way, I dont drink so I'm sure their maggies are more palatable than this evening dining experience) I ordered the Availa's classic - Momma's soup. It traditionally comes steeped in rice, avocado chunks, tomatoes, cilantro and side of sliced radishes, limes and other assorted goodies to fill it up. I liken it to Mexican Pho. At most of the other locations, it's usually so piled up I have enough for leftovers. Tonight, not so much. This batch was warm broth, little to minimal rice, a few pieces of avocado at best, couldn't see or taste any cilantro, no side accoutrements. It was barely worthy of this critique. At least they remember to put chicken in it. I will be accountable: I didn't send it back. I should have and regret I didn't. The waiter then offered the Mexican ice cream-one of my fave's at the CM location. Vanilla ice cream fried in Rice Krispy love. Like a warm tasty shell on the outside, cold on the inside, drizzled with some chocolate. We got slop. It was soft, mushy, and instead of Rice Crispy's this was spackled together with what appeared to be cornflake flakes. Remember how your cereal would get all soggy as a kid--barely edible.?Yes, like that. Again, should have sent it back. Instead, I'm no going back to the Orange location. Don't fall for the church digs. It's the only thing close to authentic for this branch. It's a hard pass. Head to one of the other Avilas for a better dining experience. The others are well worth it. Even without drinking the maggies. read more

They changed the carne asada. It went from delicious and flavorful to bland, mediocre, different steak that I could find anywhere.

I've been twice in the last two weeks got the same menu item. The first night we had four shrimp some Carne Asada got it today had three shrimp and I think for $27 please this is so expensive. I don't know that I'd go back again and we asked for a salsa that wasn't so spicy for somebody. Well they didn't really have anything or they'd have to charge us Like OK. The staff who works there is really nice, but I just think it's a little outrageous for the price read more

Avila's El Ranchito - Carne asada with shrimp in garlic sauce - Mexican Near Me - Orange, California

I've visited several Avila's locations, including Seal Beach, Huntington Park, Costa Mesa, and Orange, and so far, my best experiences have been at the Orange location. Each restaurant appears to be individually operated by different family members, so there are variations in menu items and cocktails across locations. For instance, the Huntington Park location doesn't have a full bar like the others, I believe. This review is focused on the Orange location. The building itself is beautiful and historic, which adds to the overall dining experience. I've visited this location about five times, and I've consistently had a positive experience. There's typically little to no wait time, or if there is, it's usually under 5-10 minutes, mostly during late evening visits. The staff here is always friendly and welcoming, and the service is quick and attentive. The quality and taste of the food has been consistently excellent. That being said, I do have a couple of minor suggestions. First, the salsa that comes with the complimentary chips contains a bit too much onion for my taste. It might be nice to offer an alternative salsa with less or no onion, especially for those who want to avoid onion breath during social occasions (like a first date). Additionally, while their cocktails are decent, they are on the pricier side, and the ingredients don't seem to be of the highest quality. Parking can also be a challenge, but I usually find space in the nearby residential area, so it's not a major issue for me. Overall, I highly recommend the Orange location for a great dining experience, with just a few small areas for potential improvement. read more

We went into Avila's El Ranchito for an afternoon lunch. We were sat at a table fairly quickly by a really good service person. Our drinks came right out in our food followed shortly. The food was really good and came out hot. Our server checked several times to make sure we had everything we needed. The inside is nicely set up with some tables having a good view of the back parking lot and some in the front look out onto the street. If you're looking for some good Mexican food, this is the place to go. read more

Avila's El Ranchito - Mexican Near Me - Orange, California

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Food is good will keep coming back but the need a better ambience salsa and the chips where bomb

The food was wonderful when I visited with my family. My favorite was the platter appetizer and the cheese enchilada. Service was quick and everyone was so kind. The restaurant gave the feel of an older building but everything was new and up to date, so it fit the theme of the town. read more

This place seems to have once been a church, and it still carries a cool, serene atmosphere. The service was great attentive and friendly. The food is decent, though it doesn't feel entirely authentic. Overall, it's a solid experience." read more

My family and I went to El Ranchito, Orange for the first time on a Saturday. We were seated and attended to rather quickly. Service was impeccable and the food very good. The surf and turf was my favorite. Ambiance was a church, turned into a restaurant with stained glass windows. The prices were also reasonable. It's a must try. read more

My husband and I had an informal wedding reception here last Saturday and Avila's went above and beyond to make sure everything went smoothly. They were accommodating, the food was excellent (all our guests raved) and the service was spectacular! They even had three vases of beautiful flowers set up in the room. They let us bring our own decorations and we were able to fit a photo booth in. My husband and I as well as our guests had a wonderful time. I would recommend Avila's again and again! THANK YOU!! Mr. & Mrs. Hernandez read more

What happened to the food in this place? We been to the HP, Santa Ana and HB locations and the food taste here just went down the drain. Very disappointing. Party of 4 and the only dish that was ok was the traditional chicken soup. negative 5 stars!!! read more

This was our first time eating at this location. Although the prices are a bit higher than typical mexican fare in places like downtown Placentia, the menu selections were pretty unique and plentiful. Also, you can't beat the historic atmosphere. We really enjoyed our meal. I had a typical 2 item combination while my wife had a tacos and soup combo (their homemade chicken soup). Additionally, we were really happy to see Alfonso, a former employee of the now-shuttered Felix Cafe for over 20 years that has found his way to Avila's. We were so happy to encounter him there after seeing him all those years at Felix. Avila's made a smart choice binging him on, he's such a nice guy and great employee. We'll definitely be back for the food as well as to see Alfonso. read more

Really enjoy all the Avila El Ranchitos. Salsa and guacamole I really made well. I ordered this meal To-Go and got two item combination. Crispy chicken and shredded beef taco. Liked the shredded beef the best. Very filling, also the chicken soup is great!!! read more

Avila's El Ranchito - Two item combination plate, chicken soup, guacamole, salsa and chips - Mexican Near Me - Orange, California

Heard good things about this place and I'm glad I ate here today with my family. Food and service was on point and the inside was pretty with plants. read more

Avila's El Ranchito - Avila soup combo w chicken enchilada - Mexican Near Me - Orange, California

Delicious Delicious! The food from the beginning, complimentary chips & salsa flavor and freshness on point! We went during lunch so we got to enjoy the lunch specials. The Aztec Burrito was very savory and filling! I got the Caldo and tacos combo; soup, flauta, taco. Everything was so mouth watering. The building is beautiful, an old rustic church with stained glass. The staff was excellent and attentive. We will definitely be back again soon! read more

Avila's El Ranchito - Aztec Burrito - Mexican Near Me - Orange, California

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Food is always great! Even for delivery. One of the best Mexican restaurants in Orange County

Our first time visiting this restaurant. First of all our food took LESS than 5 mins to get to the table. Already a red flag. Carnitas was described as "Delicious chunks of lean pork, marinated in lemon and garlic. Tender and juicy inside, crispy outside." Totally lacking flavor. Not crispy AT ALL, and primarily DRY. The servers asked if we 'would like for them to crisp it up' for us. Why would you need to do that when it's described this way in the menu?! Also ordered ground beef & potato tacos. Again, no flavor at all and where was the potato?? This dish came with pinto beans. Again, FLAVORLESS. This meal was clearly NOT made to order and likely just sitting around waiting to be served. Unbelievable that you're able to keep so many establishments open with this quality of food. Definitely won't be back. I wouldn't recommend this restaurant to anyone with SO MANY BETTER Mexican restaurants surrounding you. I wouldn't give any stars but can't submit this review without one. read more

We had a really large group and the service was amazing! They accommodated us with short notice and we had one of the best waiters I've encountered in a long time. The food was fantastic and I would highly recommend this restaurant! read more

I hate to leave stars because we have loved the Avilas restaurants our whole lives and grew up with them. But it looks like they now cook everything with beef fat. Some will cook some things for non meat eaters but not this location. As most people are good with animal fat as an ingredient in everything vegetarians can no longer partake here. Not even in the potato tacos. Best of luck ! read more

For a group of 15 recommended to reserve. We were there for an outing for 12 people. Place is unique since it used to be a church and stain glass windows and structure of the church is still present. They have a bar area. Parking is hard to find. Service was pretty good. I had the taco salad. It didn't have rice in it and was a but bland for my taste. read more

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