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    Chelas Mexican Kitchen

    4.5 (74 reviews)
    Open 9:00 am - 8:00 pm

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    Sandy C.

    My daughter and I came here for dinner last week and sat up on the top deck, lovely view and quite cozy. Food came out quick, we ordered cheese enchiladas and they were pretty good, not the best I've had but not bad either. We will definitely be back. Service by the way was great!

    Sarah R.

    OMG what a Laguna Beach gem!! We came here to end a wonderful day celebrating my mom's birthday and had the best time. You order at the counter and can either sit on the first floor or go up to the rooftop area. That's where we sat- it was so cute! Lights, music, vibes. And it's on PCH so you can see the ocean. I had the Chela burrito with no meat- the black beans are vegetarian (refried beans and rice are not). It was really good! Comes with chips and choices of salsas. My sister and mom also got a beer and it was during happy hour (check out that menu too it's great!). Prices were very reasonable, especially for location. And the staff were so kind!!! Such great vibes all around. They have a little parking lot and even though it was full we found street parking right next to the restaurant. After dinner we walked down to the beach for sunset. Can't wait to go back!

    Fish Tacos (2 for $7 during happy hour), ample but void of flavor.
    Tracey A.

    With its amazing and generous happy hour offering and a second floor roof deck with an ocean view I wish I liked Chelas food a whole lot more. First, that happy hour: It happens after 3pm every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday and the menu includes things like 3 Taquitos for $8, 2 Al Pastor Tacos for $8, and Bean and Cheese Nachos for $10. The prices almost have me hankering to return just to see if I can find a menu item I like. I'm not saying the fish tacos (2 for $7 during happy hour) were bad. In fact, they were so ample (served with tortilla chips and salsa) that the serving size served to confirm how bland the offering was. I'm not certain what they were missing but neither the version with fried fish nor the offering with grilled fish could overcome my impression that the whole thing tasted more of tortilla than anything else. So next time I'd try something else. At Chelas one orders on the main floor and can also sit there but the smart money knows that the optimal seating is up a flight of stairs (food is delivered to your table). With a slice of ocean visible from almost every seat up top, this was a nice ambiance which would only have been improved if they'd opted for music other than electronic. I think one could cobble together a tastier meal here than I had (a man beside me raved about the tamales) and at these prices, with this nice, casual ambiance it's certainly worth a try.

    Carnitas burrito
    Daph H.

    Chelas Mexican Kitchen looks a bit small from the outside, but they have a nice outdoor patio upstairs where you should dine, as opposed to the lackluster space downstairs. If you're lucky, you can score one of the seats looking out to the ocean! You order at the counter and then take your number and find somewhere to sit. I got the Chelas burrito ($14.50), filled with carnitas, beans, cabbage and guacamole, which came with chips. It was a solid burrito and made me wish that there was a Chelas closer to where I live. My husband got the chicken fajita burrito ($14.75), with chicken, bell peppers, onions, black beans and cheese. We tried three of their salsas - la famosa, verde and the habanero - which were all good. Will definitely come back to try their breakfast burrito and their tacos!

    Chile verde burrito
    Jennipher C.

    I wasn't expecting such good Mexican food in Laguna Beach, but Chelas Mexican Kitchen really surprised me. You start out by ordering in a small area where you can also grab soda, water, beer, or sparkling wine. We had really great service. They give you a number, then you go find a seat. There's some seating upstairs that offers a great view of some beautiful cars passing by. I ordered the chile verde burrito. This is my go-to at any Mexican restaurant and this was pretty good. Not the best I've had, but still good. I wish there was a little more sauce, but overall it was good. The chips were good with the chipotle salsa. I ended up getting a sparkling wine with some organic orange juice that they sell. The juice was so good and fresh. The burrito was so big I couldn't finish it.

    Menu
    Trina D.

    Chelas Mexican Kitchen opened in Laguna Beach on PCH over the weekend in the old Moon Goat Coffee spot. We were surprised to see the new location when we walked by but took note to come back after walking to the beach. We did our time at the tidepools and decided it was time for lunch. We walked over to see the menu, ordered downstairs and told them we'd be sitting upstairs on the roof. We ordered the Grilled Ribeye burrito ($15.99) to share so I asked them to cut it in half. I also asked if they had chips and salsa, which they did but my burrito came with some chips and salsa so we were set. We also ordered a couple Coronas to enjoy on a warm spring day. We were given a number and headed upstairs. Our food arrived pretty quickly. I also asked if they had a spicier salsa and was told they had a habanero one. The server was kind enough to bring me a small container of it which I quickly mixed with the salsa they originally gave us. It was the perfect amount of spicy for me. The burrito was hearty with pieces of warm beef and cold cabbage. I enjoyed having it upstairs while people watching the folks on PCH. I'm glad to have another option in Laguna Beach when we head to the beach. They have a small parking lot but there is metered parking nearby and residential parking if you're willing to park a bit further.

    What an excellent experience this place was for our daughters wedding after-party. Excellent food and really wonderful hospitality. To the entire staff: Thanks very much, We really appreciate what you did for us.

    Best Tacos ever!
    Lida M.

    I love this cute & festive Mexican restaurant at the heart of North Laguna Beach with amazing views ! From 3-8 everyday, sit in their upstairs area, order the best fish tacos ever for $6 and $4 beers and enjoy your life ! Doesn't get any better. Can't wait for my next visit ! Cheers!

    Red chilaquiles & chorizo omelette
    Lucy S.

    Really good food. Chilaquiles are a little spicy. Service was good very nice guys at the counter. Chill place has sitting area downstairs and upstairs.

    Fish tacos
    Ian P.

    Really delicious fish tacos, freshly prepared. The upstairs area has such a wonderful view of the ocean as well. This is the perfect Southern California setting. A Corona paired with these fish tacos makes for the perfect meal on the beach.

    Chela's Mexican Kitchen.

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    2 months ago

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    5 months ago

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    6 months ago

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    21 days ago

    Good burritos and tacos. Their service and food are fairly priced. Good Happy hour id you can make it on time. Will go back again.

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    1 year ago

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    7 months ago

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    1 year ago

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    4 months ago

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    2 months ago

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    2 months ago

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    27 days ago

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    1 year ago

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    1 year ago

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    We are thrilled you enjoyed your Chelas visit! ~ Karla V.

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    1 month ago

    Great for group takeout / two taco bars - fed three families including 5 teen boys - even had leftovers!

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    4 months ago

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    8 months ago

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    8 months ago

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    8 months ago

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    10 months ago

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    1 month ago

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    11 months ago

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    6 months ago

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    3 months ago

    Food is ok, not the best - it's too salty (burritos ribeye) but price is ok for this area.

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    10 months ago

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    1 year ago

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    6 months ago

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    2 months ago

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    7 months ago

    Great food and a great price! As long as it doesn't get too expensive, we will be there. Great deals for Taco Tuesday and Thirsty Thursday

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    3 months ago

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    11 months ago

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    7 months ago

    Had fish tacos on the deck at sunset. This place is a hidden gem. Would recommend. Servers were friendly, had a low key vibe.

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    1 year ago

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    8 months ago

    Food was delicious .. The Manager Arturo was very nice and hospitable.. Love the atmosphere..

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    9 months ago

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    11 months ago

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    5 months ago

    We eat here a lot. The last few time the food has been served cold and the greasy cheese makes everything hard to eat.

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    8 months ago

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