Cabo Cantina in Newport Beach leans more into a party spot than a traditional restaurant, but the food still holds its own if you know what to order. The atmosphere hits you first. Loud music, packed tables, TVs everywhere, and a crowd that's there to drink and hang out. This place stays busy, especially at night, and works best if you go in expecting energy instead of a quiet meal. It's built for groups, not solo dining. The menu sticks to classic Mexican bar food. Tacos, burritos, nachos, and fajitas make up most of what you'll see. The portions come out large and filling, which fits the setting. Popular picks like carne asada fries, shrimp tacos, and loaded nachos stand out as solid choices. Flavor-wise, the food is good for what it is. Nothing overly complex, but seasoned well and satisfying after a long day at the beach or a night out. The fish tacos bring a lighter option, while the burritos and fries lean heavier and more indulgent. Where this place really separates itself is value. The 2-for-1 happy hour deals and large drinks draw most people in, and the food complements that experience instead of competing with it. Service depends on how busy it gets. During peak hours, things slow down and feel less organized. When it's calmer, the staff keeps things moving and stays friendly. This is not the place for a refined dining experience. You go here for loud energy, big portions, and a fun group setting. If you walk in with that mindset, Cabo Cantina delivers. read more

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My wife and I went there yesterday to celebrate our wedding anniversary. We waited almost 20 minutes without anyone bringing a menu or even acknowledging us. When I spoke to the manager, he was very rude and said, "This is a bar, you have to come here and ask me." Very disappointing service and attitude. Definitely not coming back. Zero stars. read more

I don't even know where to start. This place was extremely unprofessional and honestly just straight up racist. We went in and my friend showed his ID by holding it up (which is not uncommon at all), and instead of just asking him to hand it over or calmly explaining anything, the guy immediately told him "get out." No explanation, just aggressive for no reason. When my friend asked why, he started yelling "get out" over and over again. As we were leaving, things got even worse. The bartender yelled "that's why you never met your dad" at my friend... which is completely out of line and disgusting, especially considering my friend is Black. At that point it didn't even feel like a misunderstanding anymore, it felt straight up racist. read more

Cabo Cantina - racist bartender - Sports Bars Near Me - Newport Beach, California

Came here for my friends bday!! We came after a bust ride! The inside was dim lit but has a cool interior!! Kinda small but it works!!! I only ordered a drink and must I say that thing was as big as my head!!! Will say it was a lot. So make sure to take precaution when getting the drink!! But also my friend got their drinks so fast and mine took a while but still was delicious :p The dude was cool. Sorry if the comment I made, made you put your cap :( but anyways cool dude. I will see, though with the restrooms were very tiny read more

Cabo Cantina - Sports Bars Near Me - Newport Beach, California

Always a fun time at Cabo Cantina! Stopped in for dinner last night before hopping on the Holiday Lights cruise at Davey's Locker for the boat parade. They always have the best deals on drinks, 2 for the price of 1! Full bar with tons of custom options. It was a fairly slow night and the service was very speedy. Got our drinks fast and food came out hot and quick. I got the Cabo chopped salad with chicken. It always hits the spot with fresh lettuce, deliciously seasoned chicken, lots of toppings, and a nice tangy dressing. The fiancé got the fajita plate with steak so we could share our meals and have 2 types of meat. The steak was cooked perfect and had so much flavor! I was scraping it off the piping hot dish at the end. The bell pepper and onions were delicious and tender. All of it paired perfectly with the rice, beans, guac, sour cream, and cheese of course. This place always feels like a vacation and their holiday decorations are so over the top in the best way! read more

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This place is great! The drinks are HUGE but very inexpensive. The food was delicious, and the service was also good. Only thing is the bathroom is super small and awkwardly shaped so it makes navigating that area difficult read more

Cabo Cantina - Margarita and Quesadilla Tres Quesos - Sports Bars Near Me - Newport Beach, California

Walked in at 220pm today 3/15. Two bartenders. Packed restaurant. My boyfriend and I walked in. I sat at the end of the bar (shorter side) while he used the restroom. In that time I was not greeted and the only reason someone said anything to us was because they had to walk over for the well tickets. The bartenders were only talking to each other. A little acknowledgment would've been nice. We walked out because of this. read more

I had a very disappointing experience at Cabo Cantina. The bartender completely ignored us while serving other people who arrived after we did. It honestly felt discriminatory and extremely unprofessional. On top of that, he was also being mean and disrespectful to the busboy, which was very uncomfortable to witness. No one should be treated that way. Because of this experience, I will not be returning. read more

Cabo Cantina - Sports Bars Near Me - Newport Beach, California

Tried to go to happy hour but didn't even get drinks from happy hour bc the large margs were a better deal for more alcohol lol. This is definitely a fun place for friends/group/date to be downtown and a casual fun vibes. The food was good, nothing crazy good but definitely not bad. The tacos were a little dry but the added salsa helped. Our server Moira was so funny and helpful and a great worker!! read more

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The beach-iest bar scene in all of Newport Beach! They have the friendliest staff serving margaritas that can be ordered in all flavors; make sure to upgrade to a Mega Marg. The food is delish; steak fajitas are my favorite on the menu. I sat at the bar where Leslie provided the best vacation experience that the Balboa peninsula can offer. Thank you Cabo for all of the good vibes! read more

Cabo Cantina - Sports Bars Near Me - Newport Beach, California

Stopped in for margaritas and chips. The margaritas are huge with lots of flavor options. It was definitely a must try after sitting on the beach. Fun decorations inside and very open place as far as sitting goes find the first spot and grab it. The service was great our waitress was really nice! read more

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**I VERY RARELY LEAVE ANY YELP REVIEWS UNLESS IT'S WARRANTED** A family member and I decided we wanted shrimp tacos and I knew the food at Cabo was legit because I had worked there many many years ago. True to form, the food WAS awesome and the service was great....at the start. The place was practically empty except for a few other tables with couples who were there quietly eating and watching the hockey game on the TV's. Lots of open tables arohnd the entire place were completely open. We took a small table for 2 next to one of the open windows along the boardwalk but half way through our meal and beers, a family of 7-8 heavy set women and men came in and the server seated them basically right on top of us. I became pretty f*ckin irritated at basically being pushed up against the wall and having these people breath down my back as I ate and so I stepped outside for a "breather". I did this so I could still talk and drink my beer through the open window. I then watched as one of these fat sized woman took my chair I had just been sitting in (with my plate of food still on the table infront of it) and moved it to her table and then promptly sat her giant sized ass in it. F*ck me, right?!?! A few seconds later, the server came bye and he could tell we were not too stoked about basically being pushed aside and squeezed up against the restaurant wall while we were eating. We just asked for our bill and then THAT'S when the "I'll never come back here" really kicked in. A bill that should have been around $50-$60, came in at just over $80 (not a big difference but still). We paid and then looked at the receipt and we see were charged $10.00 for whatever-the-f*ck "Call" means and we were charged an additional 3.5% "Inflation Fee/Tax". It was right there on the receipt, clear as day, as if to say "Thanks for coming in and letting us rip you the f*ck off. Now, please get the f*ck out!" Obviously, I left absolutely no tip and we left behind roughly 40-45% of our food on the table and 2-3 undranken beers because we simply wanted to get the f*ck out of there! I'm born, raised and currently live in Newport. I've been to all the bars and restaurants on the Penninsula thousands of times over as a patron and Cabo has been no different. But this experience turned me off for good, unfortunately. Additionally, I realized the place hasn't changed or upgraded anything (except for the new menus) in the 18-19 years since I worked there and has become kinda grimy. Advice to the owners: Time for a revamp...and please train your staff to respect other patron's space while they eat. The horse trough out back would have been better suited for the family that came waddling in other than being seated on top of us. They were seated so close I could smell the syrup they had spilled on themselves during breakfast 12 hours earlier. read more

If you're looking for a quick place to drink with some MEGA deals on said libations, I'd recommend Cabo Cantina if you're aimlessly walking around and enjoying the beach :) Situated in the heart of NB - Cabo Cantina has its fair share of cocktails, but are known for their Mega Margaritas- which are about $23 My friends and I handled one by ourselves and it was pretty good and nicely boozy - service was quick and the cantina had typical beach dive vibes with lots of open sunlight indoors :) read more

thanks for having us, we enjoyed the great service & laughs we love coming here, michael was definitely welcoming ! -bri & jas read more

Cabo Cantina - Cabo Cantina Newport Balboa Beach - Sports Bars Near Me - Newport Beach, California

We were in the city for a few days to enjoy the NBIBS. Stayed at an Airbnb walking distance from Cabo Cantina. Best decision ever Lol Lenny thank you for taking care of us. You are your team are amazing. Margaritas happy hour OMG yesss please. Ambiance was cool there was a DJ one of the nights. I hope to see you all soon again. Xo read more

What happened here? We used to come and enjoy the great prices food and drinks and it was typically empty. Just came from there and it was packed to the brim we were excited to eat! The chips came out with no salt or seasoning... they used to be heavily seasoned in a Doritos style seasoning and was great. The salsa was bland. Got two burritos and ended up gutting them and picking at the insides. The worst part the tortilla was the better part of the burrito! But it was inedible mush. Ended up spending $55 before tip on BoGo margs two burritos and chips and salsa. The chicken wings I remember were good and loaded fries maybe I'll stick to those next time. The inside was pooping and I hope to return and tonight was a one off! read more

I went to celebrate a friends birthday, we had a good experience. Good food, the plates are huge and drinks as well. Good music and environment. We told the manager I think his name was Alan that it was our friend's birthday and they even played a special request song. Definitely going back. read more

We came back!!! Michael is awesome and the food is delicious. You need to try the fajitas, fish tacos, burritos. taquitos and the cheese dip! Miguel help us too! Music is so good it get you into it!! read more

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Walked up on a Saturday at 1pm and were seated right away! We got a nice spot by the window and it was such a beautiful day. The vibes were up and everyone was having a great Saturday at Cabo Cantina! I got the chop salad wrap and it was really good. Could have used a bit more dressing but overall no complaints. It tasted really fresh and I loved the chicken! My boyfriend got the burrito bowl. It wasn't the best burrito bowl ever but it did the job. Overall the food was pretty good, the vibes were up, and the service was great. I wish I got our servers name but she was blonde and super sweet and bubbly. She checked on us often and brought us our food out quick. She also filled our waters 3x whenever they got close to being empty. It was pretty packed inside and had a bit of an overcrowded feeling. The tables were all pretty close to one another. Def a bar vibe. Overall we had a nice quick lunch here! I would come again on a nice weekend day for a drink and some food. read more

Cabo Cantina - Bowl - Sports Bars Near Me - Newport Beach, California

Disappointing Experience: Fees Everywhere! Rating: I've been a regular at many local Mexican spots, but my recent visit left a bad taste in my mouth--and it wasn't because of the food. While Southern California's dining scene is getting pricier, the "fee fatigue" at this location has reached a whole new level. The "Surcharge" Surprise When the bill arrived, I was shocked to see a 4.9% Inflation/Wage Surcharge tacked onto the end. I understand that costs are rising, but seeing a "junk fee" instead of just having those costs reflected in the menu prices feels deceptive. It's essentially a "backdoor" price hike that makes you feel like you're being penalized for just walking through the door. Paying for Every Bite The nickel-and-diming didn't stop there: * Chips & Salsa ($4.99): In a region where complimentary chips and salsa are a cultural staple, being charged nearly $5 for them felt excessive. * Taco Salad "Salsa Fee " ($1.00): This was the kicker--I was charged an extra dollar for salsa on a taco salad. Charging for a core ingredient of the dish you already paid for is just plain greedy. The Bottom Line The food was decent, but the lack of transparency is a dealbreaker. If a restaurant can't be upfront about its prices and expects customers to subsidize their labor costs through separate line-item surcharges, I'd rather take my business elsewhere. There are plenty of great authentic spots nearby that still offer free chips, salsa, and honest pricing. We won't even discuss the volume inside. There were numerous sports on TV's all around with the volume up on all. read more

The ambiance was very fun and lively. The servers were friendly and hospitable. The food came out quickly and it was so fresh and flavorful. The prices are pretty reasonable. I would definitely return. read more

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All I have to say is the color of your skin matters at this place and I'll leave it at that.!, especially when they walk right past you and take other people's orders right in front of your face insane never again !!!!! read more

Bought a sealed beverage at the walk up and go bar. The beverage was large, pricey but not very strong. Nice to just walk up and purchase and go. read more

What a wonderful finding walking down Balboa with my husband, looking for a bite to eat stumbled up on this place in front of the beach. Friendly staff and bonus they have 2 X 1 drinks from 4 to 8. I believe every day we had a margarita it was really good, and also try the wings with buffalo sauce. read more

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So I found this place purely by ratings and I had a blast. The giant margarita actually got me really drunk. I just had fajitas and it was very very filling. Reasonable prices. I would go again read more

It's once upon a time, this Faerie Queen and her steadfast companions arrived here on our trusted E-steeds after a dazzling ride through the area. It was a perfect Southern California day! This place was the culminating stop and we enjoyed all of it! Great location! Delicious drinks and snacks. We had a ball! The end. read more

Went on St. Patrick's night with my wife. Happy hour was great. Manager Alan made sure to make us feel welcome. Definitely coming back.

Came in for a birthday drink, bartender gave us our drinks but we wanted to upgrade it for the bigger cup. Bartender wasn't friendly. Rude stating tab was close ( mind you we are willing to pay) We had our kids with us and we sat. Our selves down at the table ( no one greeted us). Waitress came to our table and ask if we wanted anything. I stated we will start with the drinks for now. The Waitress then told us to leave the table quote saying " I need to make money with this table if you sit here I won't make money"..... We clearly move i already felt bad for my kids because I was still deciding and looking at the menu. Then another Waitress came to us and said there was a miscommunication about the drinks by then I got over it. I asked her to void and cancel the drinks as the service was rude 3 times all around with 2 Waitress and bartender. Note all I wanted was to enjoy my birthday good to know we won't ever be going in there nor recommend the establishment to anyone. Thanks Cabo Cantina for your bad service read more

Micheal is wonderful bartender and the wings are amazing and the vibe is great here. We will definitely be back again.

RAYNE IS THAT BITCHHHHHHHH she is the MF one. I'm obsessed w her do not get served by anyone but rayne. It just wouldn't be the same. She serves. Food. Drinks. Vibes. She's got it all. read more

Our waitress was very attentive and friendly. She made sure everyone had everything we needed. We each ordered a large margarita and boy were they large!! It took me the entire meal to finish mine. I had a steak quesadilla because I wasn't as hungry and that was delicious with their mild salsa. We had their chips, salsa, guacamole and queso for the table to start as well. Their salsas were delicious. A must on every dish. This place was cute and they had the windows open so you can look out into the water by the boardwalk. It's a cute spot to get your margarita fix in before your next spot! read more

Cabo Cantina - Mango Margarita - Sports Bars Near Me - Newport Beach, California

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Worst service and policy ever! Came here tonight for their Margaritas but were read their Rules and regulations policy for Taco Tuesday ! We asked for water before ordering drinks never came so after a half hour later I had to ask again. Our Margaritas took for ever as they only had one Bartender even on St Patrick"s Day! Asked for the all you can eat Taco Tuesday special and server said yes but you have to follow rules and regulations which is getting the double wrapped flour tortillas and have to finish every last tortilla or you would not be getting seconds! So I explained I had Diabetes and ever one flour tortilla raised my blood sugar to hyperglycemia and I could not do that without shooting up insulin. Waiter was unimpressed and was not about to make any considerations for health so I had their bland Cesar salad! I guess if your Gluten intolerant or any diet restrictions too bad! Most places even ask in advance! After other people in my party had a hard time getting a drink refill or additional tacos after plate inspected to make sure all tortillas were consumed! So after more than two hundred dollars for the party none of us were impressed! Lame place! read more

No longer a Cali resident, but every time I come back for a visit this is a must! I have a love affair with their queso cheese, but the wife's ok with it! Plus every day (except holidays) is there amazing happy hour from 4-8. All drinks BOGO! Can't find that anywhere else. Plus the atmosphere is awesome, service is great right and the location is beautiful. Only down side are tiny bathrooms, so just a heads up! read more

Cabo Cantina - The view just outside! Can see it from the windows - Sports Bars Near Me - Newport Beach, California

Food was really good as well as the prompt service & that was even during Happy Hour!!! Absolutely would recommend. read more

Cabo Cantina - Nacho fries with steak, big portion too. - Sports Bars Near Me - Newport Beach, California

Michael is an amazing bartender. I love the environment, customer service, music and overall experience is amazing. I highly recommend!!

Yummy food and drinks are good and strong. We love this place. Bartenders are also so friendly and fast too. We go alot.

The food was not good. service was worse. Asked for water and lemon. Food came out still no drink. I end up telling the bartender I'd like a water and pepper for the table. Attitide and uses his filthy fingers to put the lemon in my water. won't be back. read more

Cabo Cantina - Outdoor sign - Sports Bars Near Me - Newport Beach, California

Gave me bad food poisoning 3/1 taco salad. Put me and the others i was with in the hospital.

Service was quick but food was terrible. We got all you can eat tacos and the chicken and carne asada was dry and half burnt. No one explained what was included in the 2 for 1 so we got the mega margarita and shots and both were not discounted. What's excluded should not be on the flyer for the happy hour because I only got shots because I thought it was 2 for 1. read more

We went for happy hour drinks but ended up getting the very large margaritas instead which were definitely a good deal. I got the cantina tacos with chicken. Be careful if you can't handle heat because these were spicyy it had some chopped up jalapeño bits (not sure if it was the pico de gallo on top or mixed in with the chicken) They were on the dry side but ordered a side of mild salsa which helped. Our server Moira was so fun!! Overall good vibes would definitely go back! read more

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