Absolutely loved our experience at Balvina's Mexican Kitchen in Laguna Hills! The food had great flavor and was beautifully plated -- you can tell they put a lot of love into every dish. The service was excellent and our food came out quickly, which made the whole experience even better. I love that they have an indoor and outdoor seating option, they have string lights for night time in both seating areas..such a vibe! My boyfriend said it was the best Mexican food he's had in a long time -- and I have to agree! The fresh, in-house tortillas were a standout, and the guacamole was so fresh, clean-tasting, and perfectly paired with their crispy chips. We couldn't stop eating it. We'll definitely be back. Highly recommend if you're craving authentic, high-quality Mexican food in a cool, welcoming spot! read more

Balvina's Mexican Kitchen - Chicken enchiladas and chicken with their special mole sauce, so yummy! - Mexican Near Me - Laguna Hills, California

Excellent food and a hidden gem - had the halibut tacos and they were out of this world - fresh, light, vibrant and full of texture. Service was attentive and friendly and the restaurant was clean. read more

Balvina's Mexican Kitchen - Halibut Tacos - Mexican Near Me - Laguna Hills, California

Our food and service were equally above par and expectation. We loved the ambiance and location of this restaurant as well. Highly recommend. read more

See all

Came here for dinner on Saturday night. Fast and good service, good food. We'd definitely come back to try other dishes. read more

Balvina's Mexican Kitchen - Mexican Near Me - Laguna Hills, California

Que rico Balvina's! Support local business. This place was delicious, we also had the queso fundido and guacamole. Parking is easy, staff is friendly. Would return again! read more

Balvina's Mexican Kitchen - Chile Relleno - Mexican Near Me - Laguna Hills, California

See all

Incredible chilaquiles, really nice server, and good music We like sitting out on the patio, but inside is just as nice. read more

Balvina's Mexican Kitchen - Chilaquiles, Bloody Mary, michelada - Mexican Near Me - Laguna Hills, California

Had a great time here at this friendly and casual restaurant in Laguna Hills. Here's what we ordered: Pork tacos combination: Very good Vegetable enchiladas combination: Very good Chicken enchiladas combination: Very good Balvina's combination: Steak quality is not prime grade, but tasty. Everything else was very good. Churros: The pictures shows an order of 4 chocolate filled churros and it was fantastic. Do let the staff know if you have a nut allergy. Their mole in the Balvina's combination did contain nuts. Quality food and great service here, so we'll be back read more

See all

Yelp! really helped me out. I needed a place for 10 of us to have brunch in an area I am unfamiliar with. Great reviews and an easy Yelp! reservation led me to this place. It turned out to be a great find. Everyone loved their food. It is clearly made with care and the recipes are delicious. Good portions at reasonable prices. They have a good size patio area as well as plenty of indoor space. We loved the fun repurposed seating like church pews and theater seats. Special shout out to a seriously spicy bloody Mary. My wife only at half her breakfast burrito as it was quite large. She loved the roasted green salsa. Myself and others enjoyed their take on shrimp and grits. Such a great combination of flavors. Not that many people there for Sunday brunch time which was surprising as so many people wait in line for brunch at other places not nearly as good. read more

See all

Was honestly not a good experience. We made a reservation for 5pm because we were seeing the tent circus show across the street at 7pm. They opened late, at 5:15pm we started walking away then the other people waiting waved to let us know they were open. The kitchen staff sat us...which was weird. They said they didn't want to open until the owners showed up. Once they were finally open (with someone besides the kitchen staff) they had one waiter who was struggling to handle the tables for everybody who came in all at once. Then the food...I sent mine back cause it was bad. The Diablo shrimp was bland, not spicy and had a funny taste to them. I ended up eating some of my mom's fajitas and those were mediocre at best. I would not recommend this place, unfortunately. read more

This was my first time going to this hidden gem in Lake Forest for breakfast and the food was exceptional. I got the steak and chillaquiles (although a little pricey) was so good. The sauce was on point and reminded me of how my mother makes them and the steak was seasoned perfectly. In addition to good food, the service was quick and attentive. I recommend checking this place out for breakfast! read more

Balvina's Mexican Kitchen - Steak & Chillaquiles - Mexican Near Me - Laguna Hills, California

Excellent and phenomenal people work here. Service was spectacular for a large party. Food was absolutely delicious and well worth the price Great experience tonight read more

See all

This is an upscale Mexican restaurant. The quality of food, the ingredients and also the culinary flavors of each dish is very unique. Excellent for those who like authentic Mexican food, and also who likes gourmet flavors . Service is always great and very friendly. read more

Balvina's Mexican Kitchen - Delicious oatmeal cakes with salmon, poached eggs and coriander sauce. - Mexican Near Me - Laguna Hills, California

I've been here twice now, once for dinner, once for lunch, and I must say it's surprisingly good. The previous restaurant was one of my favorites and I was really sad when they close down, however, it seems like the new owner had some relation to the previous restaurant, because my favorite dish sausage and rice with papaya salad was still on the menu (but isn't Mexican). Also, the furniture and layout is pretty much the same. For dinner I had the pozole and it's probably only the second time I've ever had it, so I don't know what it's supposed to take taste like, but I know it was delicious. My friend got the enchiladas and loved it. We shared the guacamole and it was very fresh. The flan was way too rich and sweet for my taste but it was fresh and tasted authentic. For brunch, I got the French toast with bananas, and I enjoyed it very much, it had some caramel fired into it. There was a little bit too much whipped cream on it, but not a big deal. I simply didn't eat at all. My friend got the Chilaquiles and loved it. read more

See all

We were sad to see that we were the only customers on a Friday night at 5:30. The host/waiter was on the phone most of the time we were in the restaurant. The food was fine (enchiladas suizas and tamale/mole enchilada combo) but a bit bland. We don't plan on returning which disappoints me since a good Mexican restaurant outside of Santa Ana is really hard to find. read more

Have experienced this restaurant twice once for breakfast and other lunch. Both time it was delicious food! Today we had taqueria abd chicken suiza enchiladas. Both were very good! The food is very well balanced! A touch of heat but not too much. I think the Chef specializes in sauces, they were so good. They serve chips and salsa to start and it was very good. Only bummer was no margaritas so unless liquor license changed you can only get beer and wine. We also went during lunch rush so sone patience was needed but not too bad. The prices are a bit on the higher end but the food perfectly made up for it. Try these guys out! Look for local coupons to save a buck. Very good will be back read more

Food: The food is delicious. Everything we have tried so far has been great. My kids specially love the pancakes and I always get the chilaquiles. They also sell mimosas and micheladas white are perfect for brunch. Ambiance: I love the simple decor. This place doesn't rely on many of the gimmicky decor other places use. I'm Mexican and sometimes restaurants go overboard. The music is a great blend of old and new music from Mexico and South America. Every time we go I hear a song that makes me smile. Service: This is the low point for me. Most of the times I've been there, including today, I've been taken care of by the same server. She is cold and not friendly, not sure she should be working in hospitality. Today she got my order wrong which I wasn't mad about, but then she replaced my meal and never brought a new side of beans for my food. The cold side of beans sat in my table the entire time I waited for my meal to be remade. She never checked back so I couldn't ask her for a replacement. I had to go find her to pay my bill. I will go back for sure but I hope she is not my server. read more

Balvina's Mexican Kitchen - Chilaquiles Verdes - Mexican Near Me - Laguna Hills, California

This really is a gem, hidden amongst the other inconspicuous restaurants that are in this strip mall. The food is fantastic and the presentation is fabulous. I had the chilaquiles and the over easy eggs were perfectly cooked, but I'm used to having a smear of refried beans on the bottom of the plate, so this was a beanless dish. My partner had the smoked salmon on their homemade corn pancakes, very well executed. The morning Bloody Mary hit the spot and was a nice spicy drink to wake my taste buds up. read more

What a surprise! Balvina's is delicious, great menu, very nice people and a nice patio and indoor area. Definitely going back. They need to serve better chips, my only criticism, but their chili rellenos came in a delicious soup and the chicken mole was very tasty. Want to return for the pork verde and the lamb shank. read more

Excellent food across the board and the wait staff are excellent as well. I've been to this place a number of times now and I will go many more times I'm sure. This place is a gem. Their margaritas are excellent as well. Be sure to grab the queso appetizer and the churros for desert! read more

The worst service ever! Only two tables occupied and the waitress couldn't find the time to take our order. Drinks took forever to be delivered and I never got my glass and ice for my Coke that she asked if I would want. Save your time and frustration especially on a slow week night! The tortilla strips on my salad were old and stale! Don't eat here! read more

Hiding in plain site. I think this restaurant is best known for its breakfast menu. We stopped by for dinner and it was amazing. The chicken mole was incredible. The chicken was incredibly tender served on plate of perfectly flavored mole sauce. For a starter we had taquitos and they raised the bar, perhaps the best I have ever had. My new go to location for Mexican food. read more

I would give it no stars if I could, I made a reservation a week before my wedding for 15 people for 10 a.m., the day of wedding ( Friday morning) we arrived at the restaurant and sat around waiting for someone to help is for about 15-20 minutes, after we finally ordered our drinks and our food we waited about 45 for our food. From what I noticed there was only 1 server and at most 2 cooks. The food was very bland and the server was not the best, I mist say I really enjoyed the music selection and the over atmosphere. I understand the server was doing her best and I thank her for that but we there's a reservation made ahead of time I wish they would inform the customer that there might be a longer wait time because they are short staff or something along those lines. It was a very special day for us and we made the best of it! After finishing our meals we asked for our check over 6 times and that took about 30 mins before the server brought it over to us. I do want to thank her for the 2 champagne drinks she gave us so that we could toast. Don't think we'll be back anytime soon. read more

Balvina's Mexican Kitchen - Enchiladas - Mexican Near Me - Laguna Hills, California

See all

Balvinas has amazing food and great service. The food tastes authentic and it is always a great experience. The list of wine is extensive and the ambiance is always welcoming. read more

I came here because I saw it while I was at the Road Runner Sports next door to pick up my race packet for the City of Laguna hills Memorial Day Half Marathon. After running that race, I came here to eat brunch. I ordered the steak and eggs with some coffee. This was a nice quiet place to enjoy a good meal. They seemed a bit short staffed, but service was still good. I was definitely glad that I stopped by as the food was delicious. I just might have to make this my usual post race stop as I run this race almost every year. read more

See all

There are plenty of parking spaces. They have indoor and outdoor seating available. They provide chips and salsa, which were really good with a kick of slight spiciness. But I may have eaten too much because I was pretty much full before the entrees even arrived. I ordered the Queso Fundido and Enchiladas Suizas. The Queso Fundido was very cheesy and comes with your option of corn or flour tortillas to go with it (There were about 6 tortillas). I got the flour tortilla 'cause it was softer and they recommended that. It's basically like a cheese quesadilla, where you put the cheese in the tortillas. The Enchiladas Suizas were in green sauce and not spicy. It comes with 2 enchiladas and rice and beans. The enchiladas had chicken and they were good. The chicken was slightly dry, but delicious with rice/beans and sauce. The service was also great! Recommendation(s): - Queso Fundido - Enchiladas Suizas Service: 5/5 Tip(s): - Plenty of parking - Indoor and outdoor seating available read more

Balvina's Mexican Kitchen - Queso Fundido - Mexican Near Me - Laguna Hills, California

See all

The food was okay for being mexican. The pozole was okay i was expecting better. They only had one server but good service. Loved the ambiance of the place. read more

The food, from presentation to taste, and service was great! The last visit, I had the enchiladas suizas; the ratio of cheese and tomatillo sauce perfectly complimented the shredded chicken which was perfect (not dry and stringy). My friend had the fajitas with the jidori chicken and they looked (and she confirmed) they were tender and juicy, perfectly seasoned and served with perfect corn tortillas. The guacamole is delicious! Highly recommend. read more

It's so great they have some of the Break of Dawn menu items here! Brings me back to years ago. So cool to see familiar food options. From their breakfast menu, I ordered the Potato skillet, served on a sizzling cast iron plate. The red sauce, sour cream, cheddar cheese, and scrambled eggs was such a good combo. It usually comes with bacon and poached eggs. They were able to swap it out for scrambled eggs and they cooked the scrambled eggs so well! It was not over cooked and fluffy. The serving could have easily been two meals; there was so much. This one would be a good one to share if you were getting a few plates for the table. It's located in a shopping plaza so there's plenty of parking. I went with friends on Sunday and there was plenty of seating options available. They also have a covered patio with tables. The employees were so friendly and the food was prepared swiftly and with care. A great experience overall! read more

Balvina's Mexican Kitchen - Potato skillet. Sub scrambled eggs - Mexican Near Me - Laguna Hills, California

Great food and courteous friendly service. Well-designed setting. Enjoyed the Enchiladas and Roast Pork Tacos. Balvina's should be as busy as any of the numerous mediocre Mexican restaurants in Orange County. Highly recommended! read more

Balvina's Mexican Kitchen - Enchiladas Suizas - Mexican Near Me - Laguna Hills, California

See all

Great gourmet Mexican food. I have only been here for breakfast but everything I had was outstanding. I highly recommend the pozole. I will have to stop by for dinner one of these days but I am sure it will be just as stellar as their breakfast. read more

Balvina's Mexican Kitchen - Chilaquiles. Excellent. - Mexican Near Me - Laguna Hills, California

The aesthetic of this place is so nice! Came for dinner and it wasn't too busy. Staff were able to attend to us fairly quickly, and the food was also great. I recommend their combination dishes and their guisados. They also have a large selection of alcoholic beverages from cocktails, wines, and beers to choose from. read more

See all

We had the pleasure of experiencing Balvina's for dinner. They offer an authentic selection of dishes with mole, pipian and other delicacies of Mexico. We started with a shrimp ceviche that was refreshing and well balanced with cerrano peppers, mango & jicama. We also tried kurobuta pork with chicatana sauce, chicken on pipian sauce and porc tacos and finished our meal with a delicious flan for dessert . If you're seeking truly authentic Mexican food that offers meals balanced with the right amount of spice, look no further than this hidden gem! By the way, they have an excellent wine list and of course margaritas! We cannot wait to try their breakfast! read more

We purchased a $ 100.00 gift card for our family, they.drove from Riverside County for Friday 11: 00 ,lunch place is closed out of business,no notice. read more

Great little Mexican restaurant! This restaurant has a fantastic menu with lots of high end Mexican dishes. It is important to know, they're a little on the pricey side, but the quality of the food is fantastic. I ordered their steak dish which comes with a chicken enchilada, a tamale and refried beans. As you can see in the photo, my dish was completely devoured. Their chips and salsa are top notch. Get a side of guacamole, as it's one of the best quacs I've ever tried. The reason for the 4 star is based on the service. We went on a Wednesday afternoon and there was one person who waited on everyone making the service extremely slow. They fix that part and they have a 5 star restaurant all day long. This is a must try! read more

Balvina's Mexican Kitchen - Hated it. lol - Mexican Near Me - Laguna Hills, California

See all

This place was so good for brunch that we came back the next day for my birthday dinner with more family in tow. Brunch was so good that after trying the Nutella kids menu roll, my 10 year old son declared that he would be bringing his future wife to this restaurant. My 9 year old son couldn't believe that French toast could taste so good. As for me, I was blown away by the huevos rancheros. The tortillas, beans, ranchero sauce and eggs all came together beautifully in savory delicious well balanced bites. Every bite had my palate waiting for the next. And the potatoes are seasoned! You don't know how many places I visit with severely under seasoned potatoes. Getting fully seasoned potatoes confirms they know what they're doing. Unfortunately, it wasn't until well after our dinner meal that we found out the machaca is the thing to try. Oh well, I guess we're coming back. Dinner was the most satisfying delicious molé I've ever had. I grew up eating molé and I even worked at a restaurant that made great molé. This was better. This was as good as you can get in the motherland. So much complexity, sweetness, warmth and spice perfectly balanced with perfectly cooked and seasoned chicken. You can taste the passion that it takes to make it and I wouldn't be surprised if it took the chef at least 2 days and about 30 ingredients to make it. I did not know you could get Mexican food in a restaurant that tasted as authentic as this did. It's so sad that so many Mexican restaurants comprise their recipes in order to appeal to the bland gringo palates. Not here. My dad and grandpa had the Tierra Maya which I was able to sample and I was amazed by the complexity of the chicatana sauce. There was warmth, spice and an earthiness that I hadn't tasted in anything this side of the border. Mind blown. The service was fantastic. Brunch was a bit busier but our server was still attentive whilst serving the rest of the house. Talking with Alex at dinner and getting to understand the work that he and his family puts in to his recipes really made me appreciate it that much more. Please try this place. This restaurant is a true gem stuck in a location where it can never be appreciated to the fullest. Not everyone knows or understands what it takes to make food like this, much less appreciate it. I for one will be returning and recommending it to everyone. Sure you may not like everything but please know that this is as close to true traditional central and southern Mexican cuisine as you can get on this side of the border. None of that adulterated Tex Mex stuff that keeps having to close its doors. read more

Balvina's Mexican Kitchen - Huevos Rancheros - Mexican Near Me - Laguna Hills, California

The worst Mexican food I've ever even had in my entire life. I wouldn't even feed it to a dog. The waitress was out of it, The fish tacos were over cooked and dland they smelt like they were rotten and horrible . No limes on my entrée. I actually managed to eat one of the tacos. Rice and beans were dried up.. waitress refused to discount my order because she said I ate all which I did not never go back there ever again read more

Honestly, I had low expectations coming into this experience. I was blown away. Everything was so good here. To start, the chips were so satisfying. That's always a good sign. And that goodness carried over to our entrees. The food took a good while. We felt it was worth it in the moment, but others may have been displeased. But when we took our first bites it dawned on us how fresh our food was. The sauces had so much flavor, the rice was delicious, the protein shined, and the presentation was fabulous (and unexpected). Everything that could go wrong went RIGHT. We really enjoyed our meals! Definitely check this place out. read more

See all

First time and no regrets at all! Friday night and I was looking for a Mexican Restaurant that was also dog friendly. I'm really glad I came across Balvina's Mexican Restaurant in Laguna Hills. The restaurant has a beautiful and welcoming ambiance and the staff were friendly and attentive. Entradas: Ceviche de Camaron was fresh and so yummy! Taquitos was light and crispy the perfect bite. Entree: Enchiladas Suizas was muy delicioso!!! Will definitely come back to try their Breakfast and Taco Tuesday. Gracias Balvina's! Hasta luego! read more

See all

Went here for a late breakfast/brunch before seeing the Cirque du Soleil in the Laguna Hills mall. It was my wife's birthday and our waiter, Kelvin was great. He managed to sneak in a very quiet "Happy Birthday" which made her day. I had the Huevos Con Machaca Sonora which was excellent and my wife was trying to decide between something she knew she liked (Huevos Rancheros) or something different. Kelvin convinced her to be "bold on her birthday" and she tried the smoked salmon on an oatmeal pancake with poached eggs. It was delicious!. The eggs were poached perfectly-nice and jammy and the pancake complimented the salmon nicely. The mimosas were also great. Just enough OJ but not enough to overpower the main ingredient. read more

We had a wonderful meal this evening at Balvinas in Laguna Hills. Great menu items and terrific service. Rufino our server was quite attentive and the food cooked to perfection. My wife had the enchiladas pompano with rice and beans and I had the Pescado Veracruz which was a generous portion of halibut cooked just right accompanied by rice, beans and tortillas. The margaritas were also quite tasty. A new restaurant open only 5 months and also serves breakfast. What a find! Highly recommended Thank you read more

See all