amazing taste and atmosphere literally cured my hangryness Everyone I talked to was so nice as well read more

It was my first night staying in Newport Beach and I was looking for some dinner. To be honest, I wasn't feeling most of the places I encountered - however a family friend said they had tried Great Mex and had good things to say. Mexican sounded good, so I decided to check it out. Great Mex is located right on the main strip on the Balboa Peninsula. It's very much a hole-in-the-wall space - with a super simple/casual set up. The space isn't large - you order your food at the counter and then there are a few tables where you can sit. I was lucky that the place was empty when I arrived - shortly after I sat to eat a bunch of people came and filled the tables. They have a good variety of Mexican dishes - nothing too outrageous, mostly things familiar to the American palate. I decided to get the two taco combo dish and chose al pastor as my protein. The tacos were super tasty - generously filled with two being enough if you're hungry but not starving. The dish came with rice and refried beans which were also good. They carry Mexican Coke, so I got one of those to finish the meal off. Service was great - they were super friendly and the food was ready relatively quickly. They also went above and beyond - two people in my party got fountain beverages but they noticed they were too watered down and were quick to replace the syrup and provide us new beverages. Overall, I had a good meal at Great Mex - definitely a standout on Balboa Peninsula. read more

Great Mex Grill - al pastor taco combo - Mexican Near Me - Newport Beach, California

The service was great. That is the good We are not sure why this place has high ratings. I had the combination fajitas. The chicken and beef were cooked very well. but nothing had any flavor. The beef and chicken were tender The chicken and beef were again corked well. The vegetables were also cooked well. The salsa was bland. We had medium because generally the hot it too hot for us. But it had not flavor or heat at all. My wife has 2 Mexican tocos plate Again no flavor. The good the staff was awesome The food is mediocre at best. There is a lot of people that came in after us. I would say 2 or 3 part with about 15 people total. They seemed like locals. Maybe we ordered the wrong thing? read more

Very tasty tacos. The Cadillac margarita was lack luster but the food was good for the price. The restaurant is small and can get packed. read more

Great Mex Grill - Mexican Near Me - Newport Beach, California

No more chips unless you pay for them even when we ordered 3 meals! We are locals and loved this place and the employees. It has definitely lost its charm. read more

So whale watching was on the list this early am but breakfast was not, at least not yet...so yelped helped with that. Stopped and checked out the menu for this joint in New Port Beach. Saw a dish, figured I'd give it a try. Delicious omelette. Great customer service and great atmosphere for a nice early am Mexican breakfast. Thank you Great Mex!!!! read more

Great Mex Grill - El Mexicano Omelette - Mexican Near Me - Newport Beach, California

This used to be my favorite hole in the wall. Food was so flavorful, especially the shrimp tacos. I used to crave them however, the last two times I went I actually got a bad reaction from the shrimp. They are very different. Dry and lack flavor. I tried both the burrito, the shrimp bowl and the shrimp taco. I won't be going back. I also noticed the price is practically double from before Covid . Typical of so many places prices go up quality goes down. Bye bye great Mex grill. read more

I think this is officially becoming my favorite fast casual Mexican food spot in OC. I ordered on Door Dash this past week and got the 3 item special. The bean and cheese burrito was huge! The chicken flautas had a small side of sour cream and guacamole to dip which was great. The cheese enchilada was disappointing as it appeared over cooked. I'm not sure if it would have tasted different ordering in restaurant opposed to take out. Regardless, they are always very good about providing a bag of chips and one each on the salsas which is super appreciated because you cannot rely on delivery drivers to pick out salsa for you. read more

Great Mex Grill - 3 time special (chicken flautas and bean and cheese burrito) - Mexican Near Me - Newport Beach, California

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Everything was amazing. Delicious from the home made beans the perfectly made ric. Great combination dishes. From the asada hard shell taco and red asada enchiladas with a pork tamale with green sauce. What got me was the pastor nachos, it was by far the best meat I have ever tasted. I highly recommend this place. And the food came out fast. This restaurant knows what they are doing. I can't wait to go back. read more

Great Mex Grill - Mexican Near Me - Newport Beach, California

My wife and I loved this place! Came on a Friday and got the taco Friday special (Also on Tuesday!). The mahi mahi was especially good! We also saw some dude try to get a drink for what may have been his minor girlfriend. And the manager on duty shut it down HARD. Kudos to you! But seriously, the tacos were so good! Thanks! read more

Great Mex Grill - Mexican Near Me - Newport Beach, California

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Popped in here in our last day of vacation and I am SO glad we did. I had been craving Mexican and wanted one final good meal before heading back home, and this place was legit. It's small inside, I was a little nervous about seating, but people seemed to dine and leave rather quickly so we managed to get a spot. My mom ordered the quesadilla and it was HUGE. Delicious and more than enough to share. My cheese enchiladas were simple but perfect. Even both my kids devoured their enchiladas. If you're looking for fast and good food, this place is it. read more

Great Mex Grill - Cheese enchiladas - Mexican Near Me - Newport Beach, California

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Truly the worst Mexican food I've ever had. The chicken taco was dry and flavorless. The rice in the burrito was soggy and the steak in the burrito was grey in color. Absolutely not worth it. read more

I guess I'm a good snob when it comes to Mex food. Upon walking in, we had to wipe down our own table that was filled with stains. Yikes. It wasn't super crowded so I'd expect it to be cleaner, than not. We have so, so many options and when I rank them, I rate based on food quality to cost as my ratio just because the options available. Ordered the shrimp burrito with cabbage and a cream slaw (does not come with beans or rice) $14 And the asada bowl (which has steak, grilled vegis, and beans at the bottom), that was tasty) $18. The food is good - ish. More like 3.5 stars but we were greeted with a a nice lady with some chips. I wouldn't go out of my way to go back but maybe it's the best for the area? read more

Great Mex Grill - Shrimp Burrito - Mexican Near Me - Newport Beach, California

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Whole in the wall in Newport Beach. We stopped in after a whale watching cruise, but it did seem like a mix of locals and tourists. It's very casual and not a fancy atmosphere, but the food speaks for itself in terms of value, quality and authenticity. They have specials on Tuesday and Friday for $2 and $2.75 tacos. My sister and I both got 3 tacos each and a larger order of chips and guacamole. It was more than enough food for a relatively inexpensive lunch! The staff were very friendly, happy to answer menu questions and efficient. read more

Great Mex Grill - Mexican Near Me - Newport Beach, California

Over rated, hole in the wall dump, food was mediocre. Only one small, busy bathroom. Just didn't look clean.

I love this place, its my go-to after JGs. The steak quesadilla is my favorite i only go after JGs because its barely a 2 minute walk from the beach. I mostly go in the summer because I live further but they still recognize me when I go in. their service is amazing and fast, its a local spot thats kinda easy to miss lol. The price and food is a lot better than the big expensive tourist traps read more

This is a small quaint place that smells delicious from the sidewalk. The staff is super friendly and the food is delicious! I ordered the fried fish tacos that were super flavorful and fresh. The crunch is perfect! I also had the chips and salsa! Again the crunch of the chips were perfect and the salsas were all delicious. Beware, the hot packs a nice little punch! I will for sure be back! read more

Here we go again. Great Mex might be the place I've reviewed on yelp more often than any other. The reason for that is obvious: I've been going for years but the inconsistency though those years has left me 5-star raving in the good times to 1-star upset in the bad. And though just 1 year ago I'd have held the 5-star rating (seeing no need to update it), things have now changed. Again. Creatures of habit, my order here is this: * Carne Asada Fajita Salad (now $18+); and * Shrimp Burrito (for my dining companion) On a Taco Tuesday though, we embraced the flavor of the day and ordered 6 tacos between the 2 of us. I won't lie: Even at the great price, these weren't good tacos, a fact we both agreed on. Two nights later we were back for our standard order, crossing our fingers that the Taco Tuesday experience was just an aberration. Sadly, it was not. Chalk it up to different cooks or the time, tide, and season. I don't know why, but neither of our "usuals" were excellent like they'd been for the past few years running. I can usually count on eating at Great Mex 4 times in 7 nights. On this visit we stopped at 2. I miss the serve-yourself salsa bar which Great Mex has long offered but more than that I miss the fabulous fare. Until then, 3 stars is my verdict though my hope is that well be back to 5 in 2025. As you can readily see, it's happened before. read more

People were friendly, but I wouldn't say this is great Mexican food. I ordered a chicken soup like other Mexican restaurants and you could tell the chicken was canned chicken. The super served on a small paper bowl My friends were ordering their Mexican dishes and they were small in a disposable aluminum foil dish. Somebody ordered a vegetables and it was more like salad. There's no beans or rice. I want to emphasize everything is served on a disposablle paper or aluminum foil dish with throwaway plastic utensils. read more

Good tacos at a reasonable price, beach adjacent in Newport's Balboa area. How can you beat that? This was my dad's regular Tuesday and Friday lunch place for tacos when he was alive. The carnitas and al pastor soft tacos are my go to order. But I mix it up from time to time with chicken. Order and pay at the counter and your food is ready shortly. If you sit down they will bring it to you, or stand and then it will be bagged and handed to you when it's ready. Their salsa bar is fantastic. I love the roasted Chipotle salsa on my tacos and the Pico de gallo for their chips. The salsa Verde is good as well. Indoor seating and when the weather is nice there are big windows along the sidewalk out front that can be opened. Casual ambiance with a good selection of beer and margaritas available for purchase. For non alcoholic beverages they serve soda and orange bang. They've been there for 20 plus years, right on the ocean side of Balboa Blvd between palm and main Street. read more

Quick stop as I was in the area. The fried fish tacos have always been a favorite of mine when I come down here. Ordered 2, one for myself and one for my brother. The sauce was flavorful and not overly powerful. Cabbage, pico, sauce and some hot salsa make a good taco. Wait wasn't too bad either though they got busy right after we ordered. Good spot and will continue to visit when I come to the beach. read more

Great Mex Grill - Outside - Mexican Near Me - Newport Beach, California

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LOVE this place. My boyfriend showed it to me on a whim and the history behind it was incredible. The incredible owner was there and did so much herself. Her kindness is infectious and I kind of already want to go back. Greta chips and salsa with an excellent huge menu. Cozy little place by the Fun Zone. Can't recommend it enough. read more

Always a family favorite for over 20+ years Great little hole in the wall. Grandkids grew up coming here. read more

Great Mex Grill - Taco Tuesday@ Great Mex, Balboa - Mexican Near Me - Newport Beach, California

Love this place. Good authentic Mexican food, great service, and comfortable seating.

Solid Mexican food place. It doesn't try and be more than what it is. Just good solid food. Best Chile Riano I've had a Newport! Definitely plan on going back. Fast service. They do charge .50 cents for soda refills. read more

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Great family owned place with excellent service! Free tortilla chips and salsa. Really great tasting Mexican food which is hard to find in this area. Highly recommend read more

Great Mex Grill - Carne asada Torta and California Burrito - Mexican Near Me - Newport Beach, California

Our Newport day included a day at the beach, bike rides, and food from Great Mex. I ordered the shrimp burrito and chips, which my boo and I were able to share between the two of us. The shrimp burrito was large and creamy. I loved the cabbage, cotija cheese, and chipotle sauce. I honestly did not need the guac and sour cream but used the chips to dip into the guac. Service was great. Seemed like it had a chill vibe, and they have a great drink menu, including micheladas. If you are in the area, definitely something worth trying :) read more

Great Mex Grill - Mexican Near Me - Newport Beach, California

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I just had the best chile relleno in Newport/Balboa. Perfect ratio of cheese, chile, batter and sauce. Perfectly cooked exterior, tender roasted and peeled poblano with plenty of melted cheese in the sauce too. Excellent. The crispy ground beef tacos hit right on time. Maybe slightly over cooked corn tortilla as if they are fried a second time per order. Either way they were really tasty. The cheese enchilada had a nice, zesty sauce. I had to go back for a second relleno and crispy taco! Very small unassuming place handled well. Food-5 Service-5 Value-5 read more

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Food is always great I've been coming here since I was a little kid, here we are 34 years later. The staff is always friendly I just ordered to go on a Tuesday afternoon. The girl in the front taking orders (sorry didn't get her name) is as friendly as they come. You have my business for life! Thank you great mex! read more

Tacos on Tuesdays and Fridays are delicious, fresh, with adequate protein, with excellent service with a smile, and inexpensive! . Ask for Salsa if desired. The menu has a large number of options for large meals. The food is wonderful! The staff is very friendly Highly recommended for a casual Mexican restaurant. read more

Ugh it's the best. I love great mex. This place has been keeping me fed since colllege. The best crispy tacos you've ever had in your life. You'll need some napkins cus they are juicy. Ugh just thinking about them right now. Too good! read more

The family had great expectations when we placed our delivery order for Great Mex. Results were mixed. Four of the family members thought the food tasted really good. Three of the family members disagreed. I was one of the folks who thought the food was just okay. My burrito was large so no complaints about the portion size or the price. Taste wise, I was underwhelmed. The meat tasted dry and lacked flavor. No comment regarding service or ambiance. We had the food delivered. read more

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Get the shrimp tacos you won't regret it! Solid food, great service. It's close to the beach too.

This place is petty & the food is mid. Bad service. Placed an order by phone, they misheard my order and gave me food I didn't order. They admitted to hearing it wrong and wouldn't fix the situation. They said I had to pay the difference to add chicken and they said I had to return the food they gave me by mistake. I really dislike places that mess up, refuse to fix it, and make you return food after I already wasted gas and drove it home. They can't resell the food and they're not going to give it away, they throw it in the trash. Bad business move. This isn't the first time this has happened here but it will be my last. read more

No doubt in anyone's mind, this place is the best Mexican food on all of Balboa Peninsula! The service is fast and friendly, and as you are ordering, you can see the chefs preparing the food right behind the cash register area. They're salsa bar is to die for, and I highly recommend all of them, but especially the roasted dark one (I forgot the name). Taco Tuesday is always super busy, but the prices for their tacos are super reasonable, so go check them out even on non-Tuesdays. We always get a sampler of each kind: mushrooms, chicken, ground beef, and carne asada. There's more, but those are our favorites. Special shout out to Veronica and Moses for always being so kind to my fiancé and I. As soon as we're back in the area, we will visit you all again! read more

BEST breakfast burritos ever. Been coming here for years and always the best place to stop after or during a beach day. read more

These people NEVER get a single order correct. Every time an order something is wrong. They also have zero consistency with their food. One day it's burnt and the other it's barely warm. You also have to always ask for chips and salsa with your to-go order, what kind of Mexican restaurant doesn't give you chips and salsa with your order? read more

Taco Tuesday and taco Friday excellent chicken tacos are wonderful. Two bucks each and a beer is nice and cold.! been going there for years!

Always good! This place has really good breakfast burritos. I find it hard to find a consistently good one but so far out of three visits everything we've had here has been delicious. If I come for breakfast I usually grab a couple tacos or burrito to enjoy later. read more

Great service, great prices and outstanding food! Our boat tour crew recommended this place and it did not disappoint. There is a Tuesday and Friday taco & beer special too read more

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