Let's start with the service was great they sat us quickly and also very attentive the whole time , the food came out at a good pace . The ambiance of the place is very nice it's a nice place to go on a date or simply out for some food & drinks with friends . Food was exceptional! 10/10 recommend these lobster enchiladas they were stuffed with lobster they didn't skimp at all . And the guava margarita is soooo good . Will definitely be back again soon . read more

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I have been a regular patron of Javier's since graduating from UCI in 2010, and until this incident, it was a place I returned to for celebrations, client dinners, and family occasions. This review is not written lightly. During my brother's birthday dinner, we found a hair in the ceviche. Rather than immediately removing and replacing the dish, the waitress and manager removed the hair and attempted to return the same ceviche to our table. When we expressed concern, the manager responded by raising his voice and insisting there was "no way" the hair originated from the restaurant. The manner in which this was handled was deeply unprofessional. Mistakes happen in any establishment -- what matters is how they are addressed. The manager's response was dismissive, confrontational, and frankly unsettling, particularly given the setting and the occasion. Javier's has long relied on ambiance and reputation rather than exceptional food, but hospitality and basic food safety should be non-negotiable. After this experience, I have not returned and do not plan to. read more

We had a great time at Javier's at The Irvine Spectrum. This was the first time visiting here since the remodel and the location has the familiarity of how it looked before, but upgraded. The food has always been pretty good throughout my times visiting Javier's, just the prices are a little high, but I feel you mostly get what you pay for. The drinks are fantastic, especially the spicy jalapeño margarita. For food, we got a tablita with carnitas and their version of carne asada which is more of a steak than the usual fair. The flavors were all solid across the board, just a little steep at $95 for the tablita. The service we had was top notch and the margaritas kept coming all night. We'll definitely be back at some point when we want that lounge atmosphere. read more

Javier's - Mexican Near Me - Irvine, California

I like the Irvine location way better than Crystal Cove. Much less of a scene. The food is always good to excellent, if a bit pricey. Top notch service too. Drinks and a modest dinner was over $200 on a random Thursday night for 2 people. I do wish they included rice and beans with more of the entrees- an extra $12 seems stingy, but obviously people pay. read more

Javier's - Shrimp and rice - Mexican Near Me - Irvine, California

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Nope. The line, even with a reservation, is stupid long. The door staff are super smug and aloof. My food was great. The waitstaff fantastic. Bathrooms spotless. Wait time for food can be a wile, especially if you are in a group, but fairly quick for a couple. All of that rendered moot by the experience at the door. We have eaten here 3x, once for a company event and twice for date night and it was the same all three times. We had an employee that had to leave the company dinner 1/2 way through because he baby stir was only booked for 4 hours. I won't spend my money or the company's money at Javiers again until the staffing/logistics at the door are fixed. read more

The drinks and vibes were nice but the food is overpriced. The crab and shrimp enchiladas were good and had a decent amount of crab, and the beef fajitas were tender and juicy. The guac is tasteless and too runny (I like chunks in my guac) and I'm not a fan of ceviche (scallops were a bit fishy, didn't like texture of the shrimp). Taquitos were just ok. Salsa was good tho and had a kick read more

Javier's - Fajitas - Mexican Near Me - Irvine, California

I tried making a Reservation the person who answered was so rude she said they were not taking reservations at that time when I asked a question she said I would have to wait at least an hour when I thanked her she just hung up on me UGH!!!! read more

The atmosphere and vibes of this place was like going to the club (they even have a guy in the bathroom to hand you a paper towel ). It's a lot of fun, and high energy, decor is top-notch and impressive. Service for our food was also great. Our server was friendly, tentative and had great recommendations. Food was very good as well, the ingredients used were high quality. Our personal preference is Mexican food can only get so good, but it's a great higher end restaurant for a good date night for Mexican cuisine. read more

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I actually love this place. We do our company party here every year and I often eat her personally. We had a few employees sick this year and came up $500 short on our minimum. The problem is we didn't find out until we were wrapped up with everything. Given this I asked the manager Stacey, politely, if she would work with us. I order the $250 Tomahawk and she meets me half way. She said it doesn't reach $1,500.00, I said I understand that, can you please work with us. She says you signed a contract so we will charge the extra $500. So yes, she is correct and this is true. She was a little condescending, a little rude, nothing over the top. But I own a business and was surprised with her zero flexibility. For this we give one star. Customer service is important. Had we known we were way off we would have ordered food while we were here. A smidge of customer service would have gone a long way. Our company will move to a different restaurant for our yearly parties. Server, food and everyone was great. Stacy, big thumbs down. Happy Holidays people. read more

The aguachiles were bland and a smaller cut portion. Aguachiles are supposed to be whole shrimp, Javier's slices the shrimp to give you the illusion of a well portioned plate. Now the service on the other hand was good. read more

Javier's - Left, what Aguachiles should look like. On the Right is Javier's version. Javier's serving was smaller with no flavor yet priced the same. - Mexican Near Me - Irvine, California

Javier's never disappoints! I love this place and the food is delicious. When we visited for my birthday, it was really nice. We went at night and it was super romantic. During our visit, the power did go out so we were dining in the dark for a little while, but the staff did their best to continue to work around it. Thankfully, it was dinner by candlelight so in a funny kind of way it just sort of added to the ambience (haha). Our server continued to keep us posted and make sure that we had what we needed. This is a really great Mexican food spot and I'm always ready to go back. read more

Javier's - Mexican Near Me - Irvine, California

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We came for our anniversary. We got a negative vibe while we were asked to wait for a table. We were being looked up and down to by the guy in the front. The tomahawk porkchop is dry and bland. My husband said the lamb chops was good and juicy. For our first time we're not going back. We dressed up for the occasion because we thought it's a fancy place. However we witnessed guys picking up two girls right in front of us. Very tacky. The girl who took over to take care of us was pretty nice and we tipped her nicely. But very disappointed in the tomahawk. Not going back. read more

I will say that while Javier's is not terrible, in SoCal where we can safely say that Mexican food is one of our indigenous cuisines, it's certainly not great. This is especially meaningfull when prices are taken into consideration. At $60 for a lackluster entre and one adult beverage, the value and quality just aren't there. I went for the first time, and likely last, for a company business dinner. For my meal, I had the relleno de picadillo, which were two small, beef filled poblanos served on a very large platter covered with sauce to give the impression that there was more food on the plate than was actually served. The sauce was decent, but the beef was flavorless and reduced to being just a textural addition. I'm not kidding when I say I stopped to grab a burger on the way home from dinner since I was still feeling hungry. For my drink, I ordered a call top shelf old fashioned (no margaritas, don't care for tequila) for which I'm pretty positive they substituted well liquor. You know when something is off, as the drink isn't as strong in flavor that better liquors can provide, plus they tried to hide this behind the sweetness from the added splash of syrup from the cherries with which they garnished my drink. The telltale headache from cheap bourbon a few hours later confirmed it for me. That's the most disappointing part. Overall, if Javier's were located in the Midwest, it would probably be considered really good Mexican food. Here in SoCal, it just feels like a place that sucks in both shoppers and tourists with mediocre and overpriced food and drink. Beyond that, in the heart of the land of great Mexican food, I don't really see the draw. Seriously, just head five minutes north on the 5 to Santa Ana and pick a spot, you'll probably be happier. About me: SoCal native, someone who had gone to San Diego just for great tacos I'd heard about, a frequent visitor to Mexico and Baja in my childhood and early adult life, a regular business traveler who's had the opportunity to try a lot of great food around the country, from cheap roadside stands to high-end white tablecloth service. My expectations are based on experiences. read more

Had a decent experience at Javier's in Irvine. I ordered the shrimp and steak combo -- both were flavorful, nicely seasoned, and cooked just right. The service was very good throughout the night: attentive, courteous, and made us feel well taken care of without being intrusive. The ambience at the Irvine location is especially nice -- upscale yet relaxed, with a stylish interior and a lively but not overwhelming atmosphere. It's a great spot for a date night or a special dinner out. Would definitely return. Little on the pricey side though. read more

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Beautiful restaurant with outside patio and delicious drinks and food. Great service and their lobster enchiladas are delicious! Definitely make reservations and worth a visit! read more

Servers are always amazing and friendly. They were informative and very accommodating for the dietary restrictions of our party. Plenty of chips and fresh salsa to go around, and it was always replaced without having to ask. I love the variety of food and how easy it is to share with your party. The margarita selection is superb, and if you don't find a drink you'd like, there's a full bar. I always order a lemon drop at most dinners after I try a menu cocktail. We sat outside this time so I did not experience the inside ambiance, but the vibes were still lively and amazing outdoors with music that isn't too loud to have a conversation! read more

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Rude manager/staff overpriced food. Sauce was overpowering and meat was bland. Waited 45 minutes when we had a reservation. The presentation and ambience was fine but service and flavor were horrific and I paid well over $100 for my meal. There are a lot of other restaurants you can try in Irvine. I recommend any of those. read more

Javier's - Mexican Near Me - Irvine, California

They wouldn't let my disabled husband sit down at a table bc the other 2 people in our party weren't there yet...TREAT DISABLED PEOPLE BETTER...we will NEVER go back!! read more

We went there last night 6/20/25 for my fiancé birthday we were a party of six people. I'm the only person that's a vegan . I had the vegan enchiladas with ranchero sauce which was delicious. My fiancé had tamale, chile relleno and taco, everyone's food looked amazing! Expresso martinis were very good Once the dinner was finished the waiter surprised my fiancé with dessert and sang happy birthday. read more

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This used to be my #1 favorite place to eat. It has really gone downhill. The waiters are nice. The food isn't as good as it used to be. They overbook and even though you have a reservation you still have to wait 30 plus minutes for your table. If it's busy there are people waiting everywhere in the front entrance and around the bar. It's nuts!! I literally began to feel cslohterohobic and was concerned about the number of people crowding around me and my children. The servers can barely get through with their trays to bring drinks to the tables. They cram your whole party into the smallest booth or table arrangement that they can. It's so loud inside that you can't talk to anyone at your table unless you're yelling to one another. The servers were so busy that they rarely came back to the table to ask if we wanted to reorder any drinks or even refill our waters! After a very long wait they finally brought the food and of course mixed up the plates. They even forgot an entire meal. Two of us were left waiting on our food while everyone else at the table was almost done eating. It's not an enjoyable atmosphere. They shouldn't allow so many people to crowd the entry way and bar area. The prices for the meals have also gone way up. They refuse to split the check but you're allowed to use up to 4 different cards to pay. Be prepared for a long bathroom line of people stumbling over from too many drinks. It's absolutely not worth going here anymore and that's unfortunate to say because this place was my absolute favorite. I recommend going elsewhere and avoiding this Javiers, especially if it's busy and you have kids. read more

I honestly thought this would be one of those overpriced, over-hyped restaurant chains. I was wrong. We had a reservation for an early Mother's Day and got seated immediately. I was surprised since it was a busy BUSY Saturday. The restaurant has really nice vibes. I liked the metalwork decor. The drinks were really good with the exception of Javier's margarita. The pina colada margarita was good and I drank two of the Jamaica margaritas. We started with the shrimp ceviche. For 3 people, it was a perfect size, leaving room for the entrees and extra chips and spicy salsa you might snack on. We ordered the steak and lobster, seafood enchilada trio, and the chipotle chicken. All 10/10!! The steak was cooked to a perfect medium which rarely happens. The lobster had so much flavor. The enchiladas were so good I wanted to order more to take home. We didn't have room for dessert because we devoured our plates lol. Our server was amazing as well. He was very attentive and kind. The food came out in good time (again, I was surprised since it was so busy). I would definitely come back here or try the other locations! read more

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Honestly, I never write reviews for restaurants that are less than stellar, but I couldn't believe that this place gave me a hard time for handing my service dog some water. I had a cup of water in my hand (didn't even place it on the floor) to give my real working service animal some water. The busser came and told me I couldn't do that and then I explained she's a service animal and then he went and told the manager (narc) who then came and told me I had to take my dog outside to give her water. I've been in the service industry for 22 years. I've gone to 100s of restaurants with her, this is the first... read more

This place is amazing, it's beautifully decorated giving it a very elegante vibe. Customer service is great everyone & I mean everyone checks up on you. Our server Alex was great. Food is delicious. It's reasonably priced, only thing for the price you charge on alcoholic beverages you might want to make them a little bigger, they are a bit small, Also the musics is a bit loud I could not hear my husband who was across the table from me. The food is delicious, we order the tablita for two, omg!! So much food I walked out of there so stuffed and I brought left overs home. We got the carnitas & chicken one both meats were cooked to perfection. The rice & beans are so good. Come hungry. I wish I knew there was a sweet lady in the restrooms who pours hand soup in your hand & gives you a towel to dry your hand. She has a tip jar. I went to the restroom without my purse by the time I remember to go back, I had already left. I highly recommend this place. I will deff be back. read more

Javier's - Mexican Near Me - Irvine, California

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We arrived at 5pm on a Friday night and there was NO wait. We did not have to deal with reservations. We were seated right way in the back patio next to the fire. Perfect spot! The waiter was so helpful and friendly. He really guided our order and everything came out great. My water cup was NEVER empty which I really appreciate. The restaurant was packed by the time we left and the service never suffered. Great service. The chicken tacos were a great value and full of flavor! The bowl of white beans were also great. I think I like them better than refried beans. I do recommend the fresh vegetables on the side. It's nice to have vegi's at a Mexican restaurant. Javier's is a bit on the pricey side, but the quality is worth the price in my opinion! read more

Javier's - Chicken Tacos - Mexican Near Me - Irvine, California

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This is the second time a visit the place , well the first time I came the food was okay but this second time I got really disappointed with the food maybe the cook wasn't in the mood and made a mistake I ordered the tablita and the rice and beans were extra salty and the steaks I think it was old well besides that the 2 times that I have been here the service is terrible the first time the server was little rude and I thought maybe it was only that server but this second time same the service very cold the server is like angry he doesn't smile or he doesn't make you feel like welcome I don't know if it is the Mexican culture no to smile to your costumers or be very careless wit your costumers , all the servers are man rather than a hig-end place looks like Mercado Gonzalez close to Newport Beach all servers are Malle talking and laughing very loud That it doesn't look very high end at all Definitely I'm not coming back to this place Food not really good you can find Mexican food in Newport Beach in El maguey way tastier than here and they should hire female maybe mexican females care more about your costumers read more

Love this place! Great food, great drinks! Service is always good. Wait was around 30 minutes so I chilled at the bar in the meantime. Man, those pepino margaritas are fire! I usually order the same, steak and shrimp. Steak is always cooked perfect, medium. The prawns are delicious too! Next time youre close by, swing by for a few pepino margs and a steak. You wont regret it! read more

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We usually come here to celebrate and we order "The Tablita." We usually order the steak and chicken (you get 2 choices of protein) and it comes with queso fresco, guacamole, refried beans, rice, pico de gallo and jalapeños. The rice is a little bland for my taste but the beans and the guacamole are to die for. This time around we got a queso fundido 8/10. Had to many mushrooms for my liking and the guacamole 10/10. My husband ordered a Cadillac margarita and I've had those before. It's delicious. 9/10 They always serve chips and salsa and I love them! The chips are always fresh! The salsa actually has a little kick to it. Not like other places it just tasting like tomato. Service was great. We were constantly getting water refills. I really appreciate that. I drink a ton of water. Friendly staff The place was very clean. Towards mid morning tho the heaters made the place very hot. So recommend wearing a light sweater or something removable if too hot. read more

OMG so delicious!! Loved the ambience and salsa. Service was great but a bit slow. Reservations were also easy to snag for a Sunday lunch! read more

Javier's - La Tablita - Mexican Near Me - Irvine, California

Always good. Can't go wrong with the following: Carnitas, chile verde, fajitas.. also the vibe is awesome and the food is great read more

Javier's - Beef fajitas - Mexican Near Me - Irvine, California

I am currently dining at Javier's, and I am extremely disappointed by how the alcohol ID policy was applied to me today. Last week, I dined here with a large group of approximately 18 people. Alcoholic drinks were ordered for the table, and no one was asked for identification, including myself. While I understand that it is my responsibility to carry my ID and that the restaurant has the right to request it, this clearly shows that the policy was not enforced consistently. Today, I returned with a much smaller group and was asked to provide a physical ID to order a drink. I explained that I had been here the week prior without being asked for ID, and the manager responded, "Sorry, it's our policy." However, immediately after denying me service, my male friend ordered an alcoholic drink, did not have his ID either, and was still served alcohol. This raises serious concerns. If the policy requires a physical ID, it should be applied equally and consistently to all guests. Denying service to me while serving a male guest under the same circumstances especially while commenting that I "look young" comes across as discriminatory and gender-biased. Selective enforcement of alcohol service policies is unacceptable and can fall under discriminatory practices. Because of this experience, I will not be returning or spending my money at an establishment that does not follow its own policies fairly and transparently. read more

Javier's - Today - Mexican Near Me - Irvine, California

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Date night at Javier's! Always a great restaurant, especially for special occasions. The ambiance is romantic and the food and drinks are amazing. This time, we got margaritas, guacamole, carne tacos, and the carne fajitas... and it was all delicious. I love their flour tortillas- so authentic, tasty, and perfectly thin. Wait staff are great- they constantly fill your waters and check on you. Only thing is they seemed to kind of rush us (brought our check when we hadn't been there even an hour and didn't ask if we wanted dessert, and took our food before we were done). I'm going to say this was a one-off, though! read more

Javier's - Carne tacos - Mexican Near Me - Irvine, California

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I tend to go here a lot with my firm when it's my choice, so safe to say I love it! It's pretty pricey for the food, but I always leave full and satisfied. My go-to is the combination plate with the enchilada, taco, rice, and beans, but sometimes I'll change it up and get the fried shrimp tacos. Their chips and salsa is my favorite. If you ever want to buy just that, they can sell you a huge bag of chips and a LARGE container of salsa (worth it). Service is always friendly and helpful. The restaurant has indoor and covered outdoor seating. read more

Went there last night to celebrate my birthday and one party was late but the manager on call rudely made us wait and they way he spoke with you was so hateful and mean ( as if he owned the place and we were nothing ) after nicely putting back in his place and teaching him how to use. Customer service, he finally told us to wait few min and sat us down. Never in my life have seen such rudeness to ladies or anyone else. read more

Trendy and delightful. Very good margaritas. Ambience is also great! The time and quality of a meal. read more

Our first time here on a Saturday night with no reservations, host quoted 30+ minute wait but manager immediately sat us down! I'm not really a drinker, but really enjoyed the Tamarindo and Guava Margaritas! The salad was light and refreshing. We shared the Tomahawk pork chop, which was delicious, and that red chili sauce was spicy and addicting, the perfect compliment to the Tomahawk! Ended our meal a flan, which was perfect! Kudos to our waiter Ricardo, who offered great recommendations and did an outstanding job ensuring our first experience here was amazing! The food is delicious and the service was impeccable, never had to ask for water or anything else! Before leaving, I spoke to manager, sorry don't remember his name, but wanted to let him know that we had a great dinning experience and that we would definitely be back! read more

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Visited on a sat night no reservation just tries our luck and it was an hour n a half wait and we waited just about that finally sat and service was fast got our drinks had the Jalepeno margarita which lived up to its name nice n spicy had an appetizer queso fundido which was really good and then I ordered the bone in ribeye which was really good and my girl got the sirloin with the shrimp enchilada she said it was rellay food and her steak was more tender than my ribeye but over all this place is good alittle over priced for Mexican food but the ambience is nice and it's almost like a fashion show when you go in there which I'm not complaining the eye candy is a plus read more

Javier's - Mexican Near Me - Irvine, California

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DONT COME HERE . Took my wife for her birthday 3/3/2026. The waiter not friendly, order fajitas I told waiter were is the sizzling. He said pretend its sizzling, I look at my wife and said not good , tortillas cold , waiter never said everything ok . My party off 5 smell gas or propane , I called waiter and he laughed and said dont worry. I went to look for manager , I told him the same thing he said its the stick , he never came back to check on us no a good manager, he should have moved us it was cold , not only food or service bad, but manager terrible, I come all the time to Newport Javier never experienced this before. I will tell all my family stay away. read more

Update: 6/10/2025 Talked to the Supervisor over the phone. She handled the situation very professional and all I had to do was return to the Javier's Irvine location for my partial tip refund. Update: 6/3/2025: After leaving a review on Facebook, I received a comment on my post to respond with my info on Javier's instant messenger. I posted the photo of that exchange. Now, I finally talk to an employee on the phone, the employee is telling me, that she has to get my refund from the waitress. read more

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First time to Javier's. A different world from LA Mexican restaurants, more like a Kalaveras bar/restaurant rather than the family mom & pop places I like. At least it's not night club loud like Kalaveras. It's expensive for Mexican, but that's for the good service. A proper restaurant with both servers and busboys. It was a fairly busy Saturday night, but we had a reservation and were seated immediately. It probably helped that it was raining, so we got a parking spot fairly quickly. Our drinks were kept full and the food came out fast. I had the carnitas and it was the 2nd best I've had, 1st going to Lares in Santa Monica. The guac, beans, and fried ice cream desert were pretty standard, which is why I'm giving 4-stars instead of 5. The nice thing was it was a small family reunion and we weren't rushed like many popular restaurants that turnover tables. read more

Javier's - Carnitas - Mexican Near Me - Irvine, California

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Been going here for 10+ years. It has officially fallen off - I actively tell people not to go here anymore. My beloved seafood enchiladas are gross now - pieces of crab shells, smaller pieces of meat, bland flavor. The beef tacos are like dried leather. Salsa and guac are bland. Servers are a strange bunch - seem to be friends with each other and super talkative amongst themselves, but indifferent towards customers. Sometimes even rude. I'd say go here for a drink, but they are close to $30 for some watered down stuff. They never have the tequilas I order from the menu. I am completely done. Oh yea, and the prices are outrageous for what you get. Goodbye Javier's. read more