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    Chelas Mexican Kitchen

    4.2 (45 reviews)

    Chelas Mexican Kitchen Photos

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    CHELAS MEXICAN KITCHEN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Trendy
    Outdoor seating
    Happy hour specials

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    Recommended Reviews - Chelas Mexican Kitchen

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    Steph G.

    Honestly, we love Chela's. There's one closer to us in the Talega area, but we happen to be by this one. There is some parking right out front. Nice communal tables along with a bar front that looks cool. We love the specials and happy hours including taco Tuesday. Usually we get an order of fries because they're really good as well as the crispy chicken tacos. We also like the bean burritos. The beans themselves are delicious. Service is always upbeat and friendly. Really love the salsa variety. Honestly, I was too hungry to take a picture of the chicken tacos I had but trust me.

    Menu
    John M.

    Several times I have been to the other location in Talega and they were great experiences. Today I tried their newer location and it did not disappoint! At their other location I have had the breakfast burrito (one of the best in SC), the bean and cheese burrito, and the el Macho burrito and the chili verde wet burrito. All great. This time I wanted something different so I had the Chela's Chicken Burrito. The very nice server took my order for the burrito, the verde, La Famousa and chipotle salsas. $0.45 for the extra salsa as you get two with the food order along with a handful of tortilla chips. But I wanted to try them all and I should have tried the habanero as well. Next time and, spoiler alert, there will be a next time. Order came out quickly and is brought to your table after ordering at the counter. I started my meal with a salsa sampling. With the warm and fresh chips, I dug into the three salsas I had chosen. Immediately I liked them all, as I recall from the other location. After several tasting rounds I put them in this order: 1. Verde, 2. Chipotle, 3. La Famousa. Honestly, I'd be happy with any of them. Can't say I've been to a Mexican restaurant where I REALLY liked all of the salsas! Damn, should have tried the habanero! On to the Chela Chicken Burrito. Came out very quickly and looked and smelled (smelt?) good. Took some boudoir pics of it and then tried it out. Another great burrito. They are consistent at Chelas! The Chela Chicken Burrito is black beans, sour cream, guac, cabbage, onion, cilantro and Monterey Jack cheese. I would have preferred my tortilla grilled, but it did not take away from how good this burrito was. Just delicious and I would get it again. For me, the highest, high point of Chelas is their breakfast burrito, but all I have had beyond the BB has been great. GO! EAT WELL! HAVE FUN!!!!

    Taco alambre (with red pickled onion) and taco al pastor.
    Craig P.

    Really tasty, colorful and flavorful dishes ... ¡muy auténtico!.. I've tried the tacos alambres and al pastor ... pictured. It's a small, pleasant, clean place with both indoor and outdoor seating. No wait staff, but very nice people at the counter who bring the food to the table. We've been here a couple of times and really loved it; recommended it to friends who texted us to say how great it was.

    Surfboard table is very cute
    Elisa G.

    I've driven by her so many times and finally stopped in today before my MRI. Marilyn was here to greet me and she's very sweet and said it's happy hour! They don't have any margaritas though but they do have beer and shrimp tacos on the happy hour menu along with stuff that I don't eat. The shrimp fajitas are tasty and the vibes are great and it's such a deal!

    Samantha P.

    Oh how I love OC Restaurant week! Took a drive to visit this gem and it was well worth it! For $30 I got chips with salsa and guacamole, carne asada fries, 3 tacos (beer battered fish, crispy carnitas, ribeye) and flan. Everything was tasty but the beer battered fish taco was a standout for sure. The staff was all so kind and pleasant to work with and I will for sure be back

    Menu
    Nancie M.

    Wow wow a great start to this eatery in San Clemente the wait is finally over and this has been a great way for this restaurant to start off by having the most amazing Happy hour in town. Fish tacos 2 for $6 so huge not the street tacos look at the pics ..... great deal and the happy hour is Tuesday Wednesday and Thursday until closing 9pm . Don't miss this deal it's as good as it gets.

    Counter service
    Virgil E.

    New location in SC same great food. Love the salsas served! Someday will serve beer we hope. Counter service still. There's some outside tables with umbrellas.

    Chilaquiles with steak.

    Food is delicious. And customer service (Angel) was great. My girlfriends and I will most definitely be coming back here for breakfast.

    Food.
    Bob S.

    I love this place very much because the food here is delicious, there was awesome service, great ambiance, and nice upbeat Spanish music, too.

    Happy hour chicken burrito
    Joe A.

    We've been waiting for this location to open for a long time! And we weren't disappointed! The best part of Chelas is their happy hour. They have both food and drink specials which are discounted pretty well. Their salsa is on point, definitely check out the habanero salsa.

    Don ole burrito was amazing

    Food is amazing ... definitely coming back !! The decor was very cute as well . I recommend this place for sure !!

    Got the ORIGINAL chicken burrito on a Wednesday for happy hour.

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    9 months ago

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    Karla V.

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    1 year ago

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    Karla V.

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    2 years ago

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    Karla V.

    Yay for happy hour! We appreciate your support. ~Karla V.

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    2 years ago

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    Karla V.

    Thank you so much for choosing Chelas, Virgil! ~Karla V.

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    1 year ago

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    2 years ago

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    Karla V.

    We appreciate you choosing Chelas Mexican Kitchen! ~ Karla V.

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    2 years ago

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    1 year ago

    Best breakfast burrito in Orange County! How are they not 5 star rated?- blasphemy! Come eat and review it! 5+++

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    Karla V.

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    10 months ago

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    Karla V.

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    10 months ago

    this restaurant was so nice and lovely and i enjoyed the nice staff and the food was very good so were the drinks

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    Karla V.

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    2 years ago

    Beautiful food. Great service. Definitely returning. Loved the steak nachos and guacamole. All the salsas were superb. Thank you Chelas!

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    Karla V.

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    2 years ago

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    Karla V.

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    11 months ago

    This is the second Chelas that I've been to and it is just as good as the original store.

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    Karla V.

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    1 year ago

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    Karla V.

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    2 years ago

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    Karla V.

    Please check your messages Martha. ~ Karla V.

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    1 year ago

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    Karla V.

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    1 year ago

    Food was excellent and service was very good. We will definitely order again in the future.

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    Karla V.

    We appreciate your support so much! ~ Karla V.

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    A++++ I stumbled on…read morethis place toward the end of the afternoon and I'm glad I did. It's a cute little bistro in the industrial area of Saint Clemente around some other restaurants, including a Starbucks around the corner. The staff was super friendly when I walked in, need to use the restroom and the restrooms were super clean, and then I ordered a burrito the way I like it made made a couple of adjustments extra meat less cheese and I ordered the ribeye burrito and it was fantastic. Great amount of flavor. Didn't require any salsa or anything to help enhance it. Juicy and just well-made. Their chips were fresh out of the oven or at least tasted like it still warm. Very impressed. This little place. I'll definitely be coming back. Deserves five stars plus

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    Chelas Mexican Kitchen - mexican - Updated September 2026

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