Chaak is at the center of charming Old Town Tustin. Between walks around this captivating area, you can relax at Chaak's patio or inside its modern dining room to enjoy its supreme Yucatecan cuisine. Cochinita Pibil: When you unwrap the banana leaves, the prize is the pork shoulder that has been smoked for 12 hours. Grab some of the insanely tender pork with the warm and supple blue corn tortillas. Add some achiote-sour orange braising juice, pickled onions and watermelon radishes. Top it with the avocado puree and salsas. Also add some black charred habanero sauce, whose fiery heat puts this dish over the top. Pulpo al Guajillo: The grilled octopus is lightly charred and crispy, and nice and meaty on the inside. The garbanzo bean puree is like the smoothest creamiest hummus. The diced chayote is similar to young potatoes with a little crunch. Crumbled red chorizo enhances the savoriness of the ingredients. And the hoja santa gremolata is a medley of green herbal flavors. Ceviche Campeche: The cubes of striped bass and octopus are delicate and soft, combined with yellow and red cherry tomatoes, onions, cilantro, scoops of avocado, avocado mousse, cucumber, watermelon radish, and leche de tigre. The zing from the lime juice and the crunch of the blue tortillas makes for a perfect bite. Tamal Colado: This is a deconstructed tamal. The masa is molded into a slender rectangular block. The consistency of the masa is like pudding, just really soft and creamy. Chile braised lamb shank is placed on the masa. Then, an herby tangle of carrot tops and sorrel leaves go on top. On either side are clumps of crunchy cucumber-mint xni pek and silky hazelnut muhammara. Parrillada Yucatan: If you are still hungry, this mixed grill plate will do the job. The prime skirt steak is exquisitely cooked, so soft, moist, and tender. The smoked sausage has a wonderful flavor and is a little spicy. Pollo pibil has a dry rub of achiote and sour orange, and it gives a nice smoky kick. Chuuk Trio: This appetizer plate features sikil p'ak (a dip of pumpkin seeds), guacamole, and salsa. Dip the tortillas and light and crispy rinds into these dips. read more

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The wait on the weekend is sooo long, even with a reservation. The ambience and decoration is very nice. Service was sooo slow but waiter was polite. We were a table of 8 and we wanted to try several dishes since my family is from Yucatan and the food is supposed to be classic from the area. Some of the dishes have a good influence like the relleno negro, salbutes and some sauces. Tortillas were very good, pulpo was amazing. The pibil was not an authentic flavor and it is one of the most classic ones from Yucatan, but it was not bad, I was just expecting a classic flavor. Empanadas were very good and salbutes were tasty. The New York steak was good, great option to share for like 4 people. It was a good meal overall with SOME of the dishes with an influence of Yucatan flavors, but I guess if you are not familiar with it, it is not a problem because it was tasty. Very slow service, a bit frustrating, also long wait to be seated. If our order wouldn't have taken so long it would have been an amazing experience because the food was good with a beautiful presentation and the place is very nice. read more

this romantic, lively restaurant serves unique Yucatecan Mexican food with Mayan staples. the servings were a bit small for their prices, but the flavors were so full without being overwhelming and all of their tortillas were on another level in freshness giving a delectable homemade taste to each upscale dish! street parking was free and the atmosphere i'd say is a chill, lively bar/restaurant vibe for a semi-casual night out! Cochinita Pibil unfortunately so pricey. unfortunately so so good. one of their signature dishes, the pork shoulder was so juicy and tender and served in its own broth. it reminded me of an upscale birria taco. this was served with fresh, hot tortillas that i could've eaten by themselves honestly (they were that good) and a side of 2 salsas and an avocado purée that each had their own kick and personality that they added. Pulpo al Guajllo another signature dish here, this grilled octopus came tender and served with hummus, chayote and red chorizo. the portion was a bit smaller than expected, but it was still filling and very satisfying in flavor. i loved the onions that added a crunchy texture break from the soft octopus. Tetela this was a special valentine's day item, but it was a small corn masa quesadilla stuffed with black beans and topped with tender braised oxtail, all on top of a mole rosa and sliced beets. the beets gave a crunchy texture to the tender meat and chewy quesadilla. overall another small dish but equally delicious! Empanadas served with 3 medium sized oaxacan cheese empanadas and a habanero-romesco salsa, i didn't know what to expect but even this simple dish blew me away. again the tortilla quality really showed even in these empanadas. the tortilla shell was thick and savory and tasted so homemade. the oaxacan cheese had a unique saltiness that carried a lot of flavor and paired great with the salsa, and they also sprinkle a bit of salt on top that toed things together nicely. Persimmon Basque Cheesecake this basque cheesecake dessert was soft and creamy, topped with an extremely sweet, seasonal persimmon sauce and charcoal flakes. the cheesecake itself was yummy, but the persimmon sauce was wayyyy too sweet and somehow also bitter. the charcoal was also very bitter so i think it could be a unique balance, but it wasn't quite what i had expected and i ended up scraping off the toppings and just enjoying the cheesecake. Agua Fresca depending on your taste preference, i didn't find this drink to be anything too special. personally it was veryyy sweet and sour. read more

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Had the pleasure of dining at Chaak, and since I knew I'd be in the area that day, I decided it was best to make reservations. We arrived about 15-20 minutes early because we weren't sure how busy it would be. When we walked in, it was surprisingly slow, which was odd, the maitre d took a good minute to seat us. There were plenty of available tables, but she decided to wait until exactly 6:30, which felt a bit off. Our server also took a while, maybe another 10-15 minutes to arrive, but at least someone was pouring water in the meantime. After some time, Lyndsay came over apologizing, explaining she was busy cleaning up broken wine bottles? Once that was sorted, everything got much better. We ordered the bone-in NY steak, octopus (pulpo asado), esquites, and finally the Bombas! Everything was absolutely -- it was a fantastic experience. I can't wait to visit their sister location, which offers more modern Mexican cuisine, compared to Chaak, which is inspired by the Yucatan Peninsula. Very modern ambiance! Reservations not required but highly suggested! read more

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I ate here with a group of work colleagues. When I had Googled the location before coming I realized that I would be eating at my first Michelin star rated restaurant in the US. This in a old downtown area of Tustin where parking is limited; I had to cruise around the block a few times to find a parking place on the street. We were seated after checking in with a reservation. The restaurant is dimly-lit so I needed the light on my phone to illuminate the menu. I started out with the Higa, a gin cocktail. There were quite a few offerings to chose from but ended up getting the half chicken. That chicken had a generous spice rub on it and gave it great flavor. I was disappointed that they had very limited offerings for vegetables. My colleagues were pleased with their food and the service was good. I had never been to a Michelin starred restaurant in the US and didn't know what to expect. I was surprised when I saw how plain the restroom was. This was a four star experience for me. read more

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Service was awesome. Everyone was super attentive. Food came out quickly. We tried a myriad of appetizers and then had a couple of mains and it was perfect for a group of eight. The aguas frescas guava hibiscus was really good. Standouts were the clams, unique corn and the chicken with a spicy citrusy sauce. The sauces were all super flavorful. We enjoyed the dessert as well. They made the celebration super special with a card! read more

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I asked an OC foodie friend to recommend a good brunch spot around Santa Ana, and his answer was immediate: "Chaak Kitchen, hands down." Great call--and it's even listed in the Michelin Guide. The restaurant is beautiful, with inviting indoor/outdoor seating (a bonus since I could bring my dog). The brunch menu is somewhat limited, but there are still plenty of appealing options. We started with the empanadas, which were excellent--perfectly crisp, filled with melted Oaxaca cheese and scented with epazote, and served with a tangy habanero romesco. The ceviche campeche was equally impressive: bass and octopus with avocado and cucumber over a bed of avocado mousse, accompanied by blue corn tacos. Two of us ordered the Cubana torta with spicy fries. The roasted pork, Nueske ham, pickles, and Swiss cheese came together on a perfectly griddled roll. However, the chilaquiles rojos our friend chose were less successful--once the fried egg, crema, and avocado were gone, what remained was a plate of tortillas drenched in red sauce. Still, this Yucatán-inspired spot is a gem--and to top it off, our wonderful server was named Maya! read more

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This place seems to be highly recommended by people online, so we were extremely excited to try it. We came in around 8:40 p.m., and they told us they were closing soon, so we had about five minutes to put in our order. That wasn't an issue for us--we already knew what we wanted and understood we were coming in a bit late. The main issue was that our food came out undercooked. We ordered the Marisco en Arroz Negro, and some of the shrimp were undercooked--the bottoms were still transparent. We asked the server about it, and they told us, "It's usually fully cooked, but these tiger prawns can be eaten raw." But this dish is supposed to be cooked?? I didn't want to risk it tho. They did offer to remake it for us. Unfortunately, that experience kind of killed the vibe. I understand that mistakes happen, but for a dish that costs $52, you'd expect more care. Maybe it was because we came in close to closing time--I'm not sure--but overall it left a bad impression. Putting that aside and focusing on the food itself: aside from the undercooked seafood, the flavors were good. The crispy black rice was different, and I enjoyed the texture. The seafood tasted fresh. However, there were two major downsides--the dish was way too salty and extremely heavy. You can't finish it without feeling like you just drank a bunch of oil. We also ordered the castacán (pork belly taco). It was good, but overly sour. That said, I really enjoyed the tortilla--it tasted fresh and well made. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this place. Maybe this was just our experience, but it felt way too expensive for what it delivered and didn't have a wow factor. read more

Chaak Kitchen - Marisco en Arroz Negro - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Tustin, California

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We had a reservation for Easter brunch and were seated promptly. We ordered family-style for the table, and everything we tried was delicious. There were a couple of dishes we were hoping to try, but they weren't available on the brunch menu. The service was friendly and we had a nice time. There's street parking across the street which was easy enough early on Sunday. read more

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Came here on New Year's Day for dinner with a reservation. Food was amazing! We ordered the Castacan (pork belly tacos), Codorniz a la brasa (grilled quail), mariscos en arroz negro, and orange margarita. The two of us had a pretty large lunch so we weren't super hungry. We got full after eating the quail and pork belly tacos and could only finish half of the mariscos en arroz negro. The Castacan tacos look small but they are actually really hefty and filling! The mariscos en arroz negro was also quite a large portion; I heated it up in a pan the next day and could barely finish the remaining half of the leftovers before I got full. Be aware that the rice is burnt and crunchy. I would recommend trying everything, especially the mariscos and the pork belly tacos. The orange margarita is a good recommendation for anyone who enjoys the clean strong taste of alcohol. The orange adds mild citrusy flavor, but it definitely is not a fruity drink. read more

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CHAAK Kitchen is one of those places you walk into and immediately know you're in for something special. The flavors are bold, layered, and so thoughtfully done. Every dish feels like it was crafted with intention. The proteins were perfectly cooked, and the sauces had that deep, savory richness you can't fake. The atmosphere is warm and modern without trying too hard, and the service was genuinely kind and attentive. You can really feel the pride in everything they bring to the table. If you're looking for food that's memorable, elevated, and still comforting, CHAAK Kitchen is absolutely worth the visit. I'd come back in a heartbeat. read more

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Chaak Kitchen truly exceeded all my expectations - from the service, to the food to the restaurant's ambiance and decor, everything was top-notch. They offer a modern take on Yucatan-style Mexican cuisine, and every dish tasted incredibly fresh and thoughtfully prepared. While we tried a number of dishes, my favorites were the Ceviche Campeche, as the bass and octopus were perfectly marinated, and it was served with fresh blue-corn tortilla chips. The empanadas were soo good as well, they came out of the oven piping hot and generously stuffed with gooey Oaxaca cheese. The Caesar salad was elevated with their unique twist of crunchy corn nuts and plenty of cheese, making it better than your average salad. The Bistec en Recado sirloin steak was the star of the night, as it was cooked to perfection and paired with Chaak's flavorful (although a bit spicy) take on chimichurri. The service was great as well - our waitress, who is from the Yucatan, took the time to explain the roots of each dish, explaining what elements were traditional and how they were modernized, adding an extra layer of appreciation to the experience. read more

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The ambience and service is phenomenal. I didn't love the food but the cocktails were delicious. Maybe I need to try a couple different dishes next time and give it another go. Overall it was a pleasant experience! read more

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Great flavors and portions. The decor is pretty cool with a kind-of open kitchen concept. read more

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By far, one of the best meals we've had in the OC area! We went on a date night on a Saturday around 6pm. We didn't have any reservations but because we went around the time they opened, we were able to get seated outside within 10 min of arriving. Now for the star of the show: the delicious food. We got the CHAAK Caesar and wow it was delicious! The best Cesar salad we've had! We got the Castacan which are 2 confit pork belly tacos and the Cochinita Pibil, which we shared everything between 2 people. The pork belly tacos were INCREDIBLE. The pork belly melts in your mouth and holy cow the tortillas were so good. The Cochinita Pibil - another incredible dish! It came with tortillas and a side of sauces, it was perfect! All three dishes were great for 2 people. Everything was fresh, had incredible flavors and was delicious. The drinks were great too! We got the Hibiscus + Grapefruit Margarita and Espinoza drinks and we loved them!!! We also got the Bombas dessert to go and wow-they do not miss! We recommend! The service was also top notch! Nothing missed at CHAAK and now it is my favorite restaurant! We will be back! Definitely recommend visiting and trying it out for yourself! read more

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Chaak is a personal favorite of mine. It's in the Michelin Guide as a Bib Gourmand restaurant; however, it's known for their representation of Mexican and Mayan flavors from the Yucatan peninsula of Mexico. Their Chuuk Trio is a must have. It features tortilla, plantain, and taro chips and chicharrones with a trio of dips: guacamole, salsa, and an addictive tomato-pumpkin seed dip. The dips are assertively seasoned with salt and limes and so flavorful. Another must have are their empanadas on their "del maiz" (corn) menu. The empanadas are filled with cheese and they feature a thick corn masa that's ridiculously good. If the empanadas are the only thing that I'm served, then I'd still leave content and happy. Their "del maiz" menu features their corn masa and their castacan (pork belly tacos) and enchilada en cazuela (cheese enchiladas in red chile-mole sauce) were unbelievably flavorful. If you want a heavy entree to share, then they also have these here. I enjoy their cochinita pibil, a classic regional dish from the Yucatan with pork, sour oranges, and delicious flavor from spice that isn't spicy. We also had their Marisco en Arroz Negro (Seafood in black rice), which was a flavor bomb. It had black rice cooked in seafood stock and served with clams, scallops, and prawns. The seafood flavors were balanced by unbelievable flavor from spices that aren't spicy and lemon aioli as a creamy element. Overall, the flavors they serve up at Chuuk are full, the ambiance is nice, and it's definitely worth the money. I am generally happy with ordering a bunch of appetizers and tacos; however, it's hard to go wrong here! read more

Not sure what took me so long to try this spot out but I'm really glad I did! We had reservations on a Friday night for a friends birthday and started off with some cocktails which were really tasty. I got the ceviche and the pork belly tacos which were omg soooooo good! It comes with two but they are a pretty good size to be honest and it was pretty filling. The service was awesome also. I can't wait to come back and hopefully next time, for brunch! read more

Chaak Kitchen - Pork belly tacos - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Tustin, California

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We came to Chaak Kitchen to celebrate my friend's birthday, and it turned out to be the perfect choice. From start to finish, everything was fantastic. We ordered a few cocktails to kick things off, then shared several dishes: the ceviche, octopus, duck tacos, and pork shoulder. Every single plate was flavorful, beautifully prepared, and thoughtfully presented--honestly, we didn't have a single complaint. The standout for me was definitely the pork shoulder. It's served shredded rather than as a whole piece, with fresh tortillas and sauces on the side so you can build your own tacos. It was delicious, fun to eat, and perfect for sharing at the table. We wrapped up the night with an order of beignets, which were the ideal sweet ending to a wonderful meal. Great food, great atmosphere, and excellent service--can't wait to come back! read more

Chaak Kitchen is in the Michelin Guide, and I won't be surprised if it gets a Michelin Star before long. It's that good. For this outing, I chose the "Parrillada Yucatan / 8 oz. prime arrachera, spicy smoked sausage, pollo pibil, house tortillas." Yes I cribbed from the menu. It was one of the best meals I've ever had. It wasn't cheap, but it was worth every penny It's a very stylish, upscale; place consistent with the pricing. The service, as usual, was excellent. The staff are well trained and very good at what they do. Cheers! read more

Interesting interior. Sat at the bar. Margarita was excellent. The one i ordered was spicy with cucumber flavor. Ceviche, pork belly tacos and pollo pabil were all excellent in presentation and quality. Pollo pabil, while expected to be served last, took a long time to come out of the kitchen. Server offered me a complementary drink as compensation. That was appreciated. Service was friendly, informative and professional. "Kitchen appreciation fee" or something like that, amounting to a few dollars, was tacked onto my bill. Compensation for restaurant staff should be included in the printed menu price. Don't make me go searching the fine print of your menu in a dimly lit room to figure out how much your food costs. While made legal under California SB 1524, I find this practice misleading and disrespectful. Great restaurant. Great food. read more

I took a peak at the Michelin Guide for Irvine while I was in town for work. Chaak Kitchen was one of the first restaurants on the list that appealed to me because of its cuisine, affordability, and ambiance. I totally get why this restaurant was highlighted. My friend and I had a great dinner. I made reservations for 5:15pm on a Tuesday. The restaurant opened at 5pm for dinner, so the place wasn't busy at all. My eyes were in awe of how gorgeous Chaak Kitchen was. The vibrant centralized bar and glass roof were showstoppers for me. Would've been nice if they pulled the curtains back to bring in more natural light, but I did find that the way the curtains draped attributed to the flair of the place. Overall service was wonderful. Food came out pretty fast and in a timely manner from one order to the next. Our server was friendly and very attentive. I had the pleasure of trying one of their drinks. Don't remember the name off the top of my head, but it was as guava tequila cocktail. Loved my cocktail, and my friend's hibiscus margarita was a delight as well. We shared Caesar salad, smoked duck tacos, ribeye, and panna cotta: - The Caesar salad is a must! The dressing was unique with a little kick to it, but it was the textures of the crushed croutons that did it for me. - The duck tacos were a nice to have but weren't that special flavor-wise. I also expected more from the duck chicharron. Was it even on the taco? What's cool about the tacos were that the tortillas puffed like pocket, which made for a different hand held experience compared to a folded taco. That said, I could do without these next time. - The ribeye was excellent. The meat was tender, juicy, and seasoned well. Loved the roasted baby potatoes and side sauces. - Lastly, the banana panna cotta with cajeta was pretty good but overly sweet. Huge fan of the crunchiness from the pepitas. The cajeta was a bit runny instead of viscous. read more

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It was a Sunday and there was a dark cloud looming. It had been more than three weeks since I had taken my lovely lady out to dinner and her 'side-eye' was becoming meaner and meaner by the second. Food and I mean delicious food must be presented to this woman before somebody gets hurt, namely me. Her favorite food is Korean but I would rather risk death than have it again this week, so I pivot, her second favorite food is Mexican. This I could do, so I start looking through the Taco Bell menu on my phone when I had a change of heart. Afterall, it was her birthday, I could take her somewhere a "little nicer" than Taco Bell. That's when I went for the Hail Mary, I decided to take her to Chaak, without a reservation on a Sunday night. She hates sitting outside so we would have to wait about an hour to be seated. She was losing hope when a phone call came in and someone had cancelled their reservation. All of a sudden, we're sitting under a retractable roof, exposing a brightly lit three-quarter moon. We ordered Parrillada, Mariscos en Arroz Negro, the ceviche, the whole Branzino fish and some pork tacos just to go overboard. Everything was simply delicious. It was also a nice opportunity to try Yucatecan and Mayan inspired food, which taste familiar but also new and exciting. Add a few glasses of wine to the meal and at the end you get what I call a little piece of heaven. You're beautiful lady is happy, full and best of all quiet. Stay going for the Hail Mary my friends... read more

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With the quality of both service, food and drinks, I know this place has its well deserved Michelin recognition. The ambiance is sweet here with the open walls to the outside patio, low lit interior and modern decor. I loved the variety of plates offered with the well rounded taste of South American cuisine. The staff here are well versed in what is offered both seasonally and recommended in their house classics. I was pampered with some of the yummiest drinks and especially enjoyed the orange margarita with the ceviche the most. I did notice that many of the items on the menu could be shared with a small table, so I'd recommend coming here with one or two people who are good, adventurous eaters to split a couple plates together and enjoy the chill vibes. Overall a great evening spent! read more

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I've been wanting to come here since I first heard about several years ago and ended up doing a date here. It was a Tuesday night so no reservations were needed. The inside is quite loud, so we opted to dine outdoors. The volume outside was a lot more conducive to conversation. They do have heat lamps for chilly nights. We ordered the pulpa and the bone marrow, and they did not disappoint. The presentation was picture-worthy, although I didn't think to take photos in the moment. The octopus was nice and tender, and you can never go wrong with bone marrow. However, I would have preferred to soak the marrow in some kind of bread rather than corn. We washed the food down with a beer I never tried before but really enjoyed. The meal reminded me of tapas I had in Spain after a long day of walking the Camino de Santiago: satisfying and thirst quenching. The service was just as exceptional as the food. Our server was prompt, responsive, and so complimentary. I thought this was a great date spot or even a solid place to have dinner with friends considering the food, ambiance, and service. Parking is wherever you can find it, but there was plentiful street parking that night. read more

everything we tried were good, however, all on the saltier side... cocktails were alright, great services! love the open space and the glass folding doors. would still recommend to check out this place! read more

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Girls Dinner at a cute and cozy modern Yucatán style restaurant in Old Town Tustin. My friend and I ordered the branzino and pork belly tacos. The food was delicious and the presentation was there. Our waitress was sweet & attentive. It was pretty busy was for a Tuesday night but the food came out fast. I must say, if you're trying to have an intimate conversation it probably would be a little difficult because it does get loud. It's not the restaurant's fault but the drunk work Christmas party next to us lol. This is a Michelin guide restaurant so prices are a little on the pricier side but once you try the food, it just makes sense. I'd definitely come back if I was in the area. read more

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excellent Mexican restaurant. Seriously like, Javier's and similar weak ass joins like Ola, Puesta, Sol etc..need to take note of several things Even though I'm a fan of the Javier peeps, and my fellow Baja Californian natives..but Javier's could never do a ceviche like the one here at Chaak. It's definitely one of their best dishes, if not the BEST. Ceviche Campeche: 10/10 Castacan (pork belly tacos) 8/10 Bone-In New York: 9/10 Their two salsas are also fantastic. Love them The service and hospitality definitely deserve that Michelle recognition. They were all excellent and super accommodating. Tbh, I had been here before 2 or 3 times but perhaps hadnt ordered the right things to my liking or caught them on an off night. Totally plausible since I went once during the pandemic when it was just outside, and the other time just went for like a quick casual lunch with my dog. But regardless, I feel there have been major improvements. Can't wait to try their Sunday brunch soon. The ambiance and decor inside is super bitchin btw. To this day haven't gotten the chance to eat inside but will make sure to do so next time. read more

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My group came here for Sunday brunch at Chaak Kitchen. We had reservations, but they weren't really necessary since there were plenty of seats available. The brunch menu is different from what you might see in the photos online, so just a heads up if you're expecting the dinner options. I ordered the Bone-In Prime New York Strip, and let me tell you it was worth every penny. The portion was filling, the meat was tender, and the sauce was saucing in all the right ways. Highly recommend if you're looking to splurge a little. I also tried the Copal cocktail, which was close to one of my favorite drinks (a jalapeño margarita). It was refreshing and balanced definitely recommend giving it a try. The restaurant itself is beautiful, providing a relaxed and casual brunch atmosphere. Service was attentive and friendly, which made the experience even better. Overall: highly recommend especially if you want an elevated but comfortable brunch spot with great food and drinks. read more

Chaak Kitchen - Bistec - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Tustin, California

We came here to have a late Friendsgiving/early Christmas get together. Made reservations thru opentable, easy check in, we were seated right away. All the staffs were great, very welcoming. The place is nice, very modern,clean. Our server Spencer was the best, he knew the whole entire menu and explained every detailed about each entree, we took all his recommendations, he was the best. Everything that we ordered was top notch amazing. We ordered the octopus, esquites, empanada for appetizers. got the mariscos and bone in NY as mains; for dessert we got the banana cotta and chocolate mousse. Amazing experience, will def come back and try the branzino- as recommended! Thank you Spencer for the experience! read more

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My wife and I arrived at 11am on a Saturday with no reservations and had no issue with getting a table. There were a few other people and more arrived as it got closer to noon. The restaurant is very well designed with beautiful decorations and plants scattered throughout. The ceiling can slide open and in the evenings they move the sun shades so you can view the sky. The restaurant is noisy as you go deeper in the restaurant, particularly at dinner time so if you're looking to have a conversation the outdoor or high top seating is probably a better option. After tasting our second appetizer, we started planning our return visits to try out the brunch and dinner menus. Every dish and drink was unique in flavors, textures, tastes, and presentations. I haven't regretted trying any of the dishes, even the ones that didn't particularly appeal to me. The cocktails are creative and unique as well. We tried the La Blancha- more or less a passionfruit margarita mocktail and the Alma De Maiz which had an incredible variety of flavors. They also offer French press coffee with lunch which wasn't listed on the menu but was a strong but smooth roast of coffee. I think the ceviche has been our favorite overall dish. The shrimp hurache had perfectly cooked shrimp and a variety of toppings and sauces served in little triangle pieces. The branzino was amazing, perfectly cooked with a peppers onions and served with a spicy salsa on the side along with tortillas. We also got the cochita pibil panucho; the pork was incredibly tender and flavorful. We had way too much food for 2 people with these 4 dishes. We returned with 4 people for dinner and wished we had more people so we could try more dishes. The standout dish was the octopus, which was incredibly tender and well seasoned. We got two larger plates, the Mariano en arroz and pollo pibil. Both the seafood and the chicken were slightly overcooked, but the overall taste and presentation were still very good. read more

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We came here to celebrate my husbands 40th birthday. I left speechless. All nine of us did from start to finish dinner for 3 hours was nothing short of spectacular, our server Scott was so incredible! Our pre-fix menu came out to $75 per person not including extras like drinks, tips etc. We started off with empanadas that were to die for, and then ceviche with chips bursting with flavor. You know that so much time is taken into each dish. We can't wait to come back here to celebrate another event. I feel like you def get more bang for your buck by coming with a large party. You can sample more food and just enjoy family style the wonders of Yucatán food. Love the aesthetics inside, comfortable seating and they offer valet parking but you can park on the side streets. Just warning you ahead of time... you will have a good time, you will laugh so hard that you force the table of 4 in front of you to move but hey.. that just means everyone gets accommodated enjoy it to the fullest, it's so worth it. read more

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Tonight was our first time at Chaak, and unfortunately the experience was disappointing. We arrived for our 5:45 reservation and were seated outside. Because it was cold, I asked the host if we could move indoors. He said they were completely booked, yet throughout the night I noticed several open tables inside. As for the food, we were told the menu is designed for family-style dining and that our entire order would be taken at once. While placing our order, the server told us we were ordering too much and suggested removing items. I wish we hadn't listened, because everyone left hungry. The service was truly the biggest issue. We ordered drinks, and one of them never arrived. When we asked about it--nearly 25 minutes later--the server said, "It's probably sitting there." He eventually brought it out, but instead of apologizing, he asked, "Do you want it or not?" At that point, we declined. He never checked on us during the meal and repeatedly mentioned how busy he was. I genuinely wanted to love this place. The food itself was good, but the service alone is enough to keep me from returning. read more

First off, that Copal mezcal cocktail? Whew. Refreshing enough to revive your soul, smoky enough to make you question your life choices--in the best way possible. And don't even get me started on the almejas al vapor. Those clams come swimming in this magical green broth that defies description. Herbal, coastal, rich... honestly, it's one of those "don't ask, just order it" situations. Chaak is the type of place that makes you wonder why you ever settled for mediocre Mexican food in your life. Just come ready to be humbled--and maybe a little tipsy. read more

Chaak Kitchen - Copal Mezcal drink - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Tustin, California

This place makes it feel like you are transported back to Mexico because of the decor and open aired ceiling. Our server was great and helped us choose the right amount of food so we didn't over do it. We had the grilled octopus, bone marrow and corn, chayote, Branzino fish, and cheese enchiladas. The bone marrow corn was my favorite. Super tasty. The grilled octopus was slightly spicy, but had a good flavor. read more

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Chaak Kitchen is an upscale Mexican eatery with a Yucatán-inspired menu. This spot is located right in the heart of Old Town Tustin. To get here, street parking will most likely be your best bet and there is a good amount of it around the area. Reservations are also recommended so make sure to plan accordingly. Inside, they have a good amount of seating with a gorgeous interior paired alongside a lively atmosphere and ambiance. For their menu, they have a selection of different small dishes and entrees to choose from. I stopped by for dinner with a group of homies and we opted to go family style. We ended up ordering the Esquites, Empanadas, Pollo Pibil, Cochinita Pibil, Salbute Pato Ahumado, Marisco En Arroz Negro, and the Pulpo Al Guajillo. Overall, everything we had tasted delicious and the presentation for every dish was absolutely stunning. All of the staff here are very friendly and accommodating. This is a great spot for an upscale date or a nice meal with homies. We all thoroughly enjoyed our dining experience here. There is a reason why spot has over 1,000+ positive reviews! read more

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Always wanted to try this place out and finally got a chance to! Made a reservation for 8:30pm and got sat right away. We ordered what our server recommended for first timers! Got some starters which was the salsa trio & the sashimi. Both so delicious omg. The drinks were amazing aswell great presentation. We also got the pork tacos I believe that's what it called. Also sooooooo good! Then for entree we got the the steak by the time the steak came we were already full. But it was so good and the perfect medium rare. I loved the potatoes would definitely come back again. read more

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What great food and atmosphere. The food is a fusion and really good. I like sitting at the bar when i come here ,and the bartenders are great and make some amazing cocktails. We ordered a bunch of food, tapas style to try it all. Portions can be a little on the smaller side, but where the lack in quantity , then make up for with flavor and quality. I have been here 2 times and would come back for sure. Parking is on the street, there are some lots but they are "reserved" and you might get towed. Its worth checking out and believe they have a recommendation from michelin. read more

Chaak Kitchen - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Tustin, California

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What a great spot! We had already finished an early dinner but the menu and drinks looked great so we decided to check it out. Glad we did because it was a vibe! We didn't make reservations so there was a 40 min wait. Fortunately we weren't hungry so we didn't mind waiting. We sat on the couches in front and admired the decor. They also offered if we wanted to order drinks first while we waited for a seat at the bar. Their margaritas were Yums! It's a Yucatán style restaurant and the flavors were very unique. The Carne crudo (beef tartare) reminded me of a peppery soy sauce taste. I looked up the ingredients, and found out that porcini -black garlic is pretty much a bunch of spices. It's a flavor I haven't tried, and it's deliciously mixed with crispy taro chips and tortilla chips. Try it! We also ordered the bone marrow esquites. The corn was very sweet and perfectly blended together. The bone marrow had very little marrow but it paired well with everything. It was busy on a Friday so it's best to make a reservation. I definitely recommend this place, check it out! read more

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I'm giving this 3 stars because I didn't hate it but I didn't love it. I'm a huge fan of Gabbi's in Orange and I'd just rather go there (same owners). We came in on a Tuesday night-no reservations-and was a little perturbed by the hostess. We were told we could sit at a table but had to leave in 2 hours. This is just a pet peeve of mine. Yes I understand when restaurants do this but don't make me feel bad because I didn't make reservations. Just rubbed me wrong. The wait staff was great (our water glass was never not full). Food was ok. We shared a few dishes based on our waitress recommendation. Ceviche-a little too mushy for my taste. I prefer fresh/light ceviche. Empanadas were pretty good. Very cheesy. Grilled corn...meh. Cesar Salad was quite good (love me some baby gems). Chocolate mouse banana dish for dessert was quite good, just wish there were more bananas. My friends enjoyed the meal more than I did. So again-didn't love it, didn't hate it. But I'll just stick to Gabbi's. read more

Love this little gem in Tustin. Fine dining right in the heart of old Tustin. Our server was fanatic, good and drinks were phenomenal. Do yourself a favor and try the octopus, the esquites, and the cocktails! Make reservations to ensure you don't have a wait. read more

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