Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Kalaveras

    4.5 (1.5k reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 12:00 AM (Next day)
    Updated 1 month ago

    Waitlist - Kalaveras

    Waitlist closed

    The restaurant is not taking waitlist parties right now

    Kalaveras Reservations

    Order Kalaveras Takeout or Delivery

    Kalaveras Photos

    Business Info

    KALAVERAS ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Hipster
    Casual
    Trendy
    Loud

    You might also consider

    More like Kalaveras

    Recommended Reviews - Kalaveras

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Andrea S.

    I hate having to write this because I've been to Kalaveras in Orange many times and have always enjoyed it. That's what makes this experience even more disappointing. A group of us came in and spent around $500. We ordered several appetizers and shared different plates because everything looked so good. I personally ordered the tacos gobernador. That night and the next day was awful. I started vomiting, had severe diarrhea, missed work, and my child also got sick after eating. Because of what happened, I called the restaurant to let them know and make them aware. I wasn't expecting an argument--I just wanted them to take the situation seriously. But I was being confused for someone that had already called earlier that day with the same problem. I felt completely brushed off. The response I received was basically, "Thanks for your comment." When I spoke with a supervisor he came across as aggressive and made me feel like I wasn't even allowed to express my concerns about what happened. As a regular paying customer, that was incredibly frustrating. I'm not saying restaurants don't have challenges or that mistakes can't happen. But when customers spend hundreds of dollars, we deserve quality food, proper food safety practices, and to be treated with respect when we report a serious issue. Whether this was a food handling problem or cross-contamination, my experience should have been taken seriously instead of dismissed.

    New Soft Serve Margaritas! I got mango/strawberry swirl
    Tiffany C.

    We came in last night at 8:30. I had put in a reservation on Yelp ahead of time just in case there was a wait. When we got there, I let the server know but it didn't seem to matter because he didn't ask my name or time, he just seated us. That works for me! Glad we didn't have to wait, we had to make it a fast meal! We waited about 5 minutes before we were greeted by our waitress. I had seen they had just started serving the soft serve margaritas on their IG and I was SUPER excited to order one! I asked our waitress (Rosie) what flavors were available and she had to ask someone else. Ok, no worries, they had mango and strawberry. I asked for a swirl. My husband ordered a shot of patron anejo sherry cask. She did not seem to understand what he was asking for even though it was an item listed on the menu. He repeated himself a couple times and even pointed to it on the menu before she said "I'll have to check with the bar" she took the rest of our order which consisted of another cocktail, the empanadas, and an order of enchiladas. She left for a bit and came back saying they had his tequila. Then another waitress came back a few moments later asking how he wanted his tequila. After our order was in, we received our chips and salsa. The salsa was delicious! Not too long after, my empanadas came out and they were overdone. Burnt. The pastry was bitter, but not just because it was overcooked, but because it seems like the oil was old. The filling wasn't what I was expecting, but it was tasty. My husband's enchiladas were good. I had one bite. After our meal, husband ordered one more cocktail and the dessert chimichanga. Same bitter oil taste on the chimichanga, I wasn't a fan. When we were brought the check, it turns out we were overcharged for the tequila. We brought it up to the waitress and she told him he ordered a different one when he had repeated "patron anejo sherry cask" to her multiple times. I don't even know if there's more than one sherry cask tequila on the menu! Anyway, she was able to adjust the bill to charge us for the correct tequila but the husband still didn't get to drink the tequila he wanted. Oh well.

    Pozole
    Jami S.

    Such a fun place to go to for brunch. Fantastic food, drinks, and service! I loved the decor and how clean the restaurant is.

    Paloma Negra
    Diana G.

    This place is def fun with coworkers. Food is flavorful and usually comes out hot. Service is amazing our waiter made all of us laugh and enjoy the dinner more than just the company. Music and lights fill the air. It's awesome because birthdays and special occasions involve the entire restaurant with an MC announcement it was awesome... def recommend early check-in because after 5pm it's a wait out the door.

    Albóndigas Soup
    Kim M.

    Pretty long time to get food & to get check but other than that the food was fairly good . The asada ( not shown ) was really tasty. Not hanging fresh brewed ice tea is always a bummer for me & but to most people that's not a big deal .

    Ruud N.

    Very nice! Our friends brought up this place to meet at although they're extremely familiar with Mexican food already. The restaurant looks welcoming and artsy, although the interior is quite dark for my 58-year old eyes. Keep that phone on and use the flashlight to read the menu! And YES, they offer Mexican Coca Cola which is such an improvement over the overly sweet US Coca Cola. A must have. Our margarita flight is lovely in presentation, color, although the tequila level seems a bit low... I love the lemony and cucumber ones in particular. Trio enchiladas are sumptuous, well prepped. The Mexican rice plus beans are a nice addition. My better half's quesabirria tacos are equally lovely in terms of texture, filling and shell strength (none of the sissy stuff that tears easily). Only one thing, there's very little heat in any of the dishes, including the salsa. Also the salt content is quite low which for a high blood guy is appreciated..... but for taste I'd expect a bit more. Just an FYI to ask for salt when needed and the restaurant offers small packets.

    A K.

    Pretty bomb food was solid, service was solid. Just a little pricey but still it was poppin and solid food! Free Chips and Salsa on arrival. Wet burrito with shrimp was bangin they celebrate birthdays and have a dj I think

    Apple Chimichanga
    Raven R.

    Came here for lunch. The place has a fun and vibrant vibe! I wish we could have gone at night to fully enjoy the ambiance. The staff is really nice and we were seated right away. We ordered a margarita flight, then got asada and chicharon tacos, and asada fajitas for our entrees. To finish the meal on a sweet note, we ordered the apple chimichanga for dessert. Margarita Flight- The presentation is so cute and they start by lighting the board on fire. The flight comes with pepino, guava, jamaica, and chamoyada. I appreciate the range of flavors and they were all tasty. The pepino was my favorite, it was sweet and refreshing. Asada Taco- Love the house made corn tortilla! The asada was juicy and tender. It had a lovely flavor and I appreciate the generous amount of filling. Chicharon Taco- Pork belly tender with a light crisp on the skin. It was seasoned to perfection. Asada Fajitas- I love the extra smoky char brought on by the sizzling platter. It was served on a bed of onions, tomatoes, bellpeppers, and mushrooms. Apple Chimichanga- The apple filling had a delightful amount of cinnamon sugar. The shell was warm and crisp. The whipped cream and vanilla ice cream provided a nice contrast and tied the flavors together. Great experience overall!

    QUESA BIRRIA TACOS: 3 crispy cheese tacos - slow braised beef - lime onions - avocado - cilantro - consommé
    Chris G.

    We landed here before a concert at the Honda Center because everything closer to the venue was absolutely packed, and honestly, that turned out to be a win. We've been to Kalaveras locations before and enjoy the brand, and this location delivered exactly what we expected. One thing you can count on with Kalaveras is consistency: similar vibe, similar menu, and a similar high-energy experience no matter which location you visit. The Orange spot is no different. The interior is vibrant and lively, with bold colors and neon accents that immediately set the mood. It's festive, upbeat, and a fun place to kick off a night out before a show. Food-wise, we were very happy. The birria tacos were flavorful, rich, and satisfying (see picture), exactly what you want when you're hungry and gearing up for a concert. I also enjoyed the house burrito, which was a hit and easily holds its own among the many options on the menu. All in all, great food, a fun atmosphere, and a solid alternative when the area around Honda Center is slammed. We'd absolutely do it again. For the record, this is maybe 5 minutes from the Honda Center.

    Jenny P.

    Atrocious parking aka find a place to park in another plaza nearby or risk being towed by parking next door. Came for our friend's birthday and the environment was super lively + the servers helped make the experience memorable by bringing out our friend's cake and a sign. However, the food is overpriced with these pollo and asada tacos being around ~$13.

    Expired business license.
    George B.

    This place has delicious food, but their customer service could really improve. My wife and I placed an online order to eat during lunch break from work. We were given a time frame of 12:50-1:10 to pick the food up. We got there at 1:10 and did not receive our food until about 1:35. I could tell they were giving us the run around when I asked why it was taking so long when they only had 3 customers in the restaurant! If it was busy, I understand but it wasn't! We spent almost half of our lunch break just waiting for the food. RIDICULOUS!! And this has also happened to other co workers. Our mistake for not believing them. Also, this place had an expired business license. This location doesn't seem to be well organized. Do yourself a favor, and take the drive to a different location if you really want food from here.

    Aracely M.

    I actually really enjoyed. I have gone during the day for happy hr and i have gone at night so i think it's a cool place

    My shrimp tacos
    Irma Patricia B.

    It wasn't my idea to come here, my friend saw it while driving by and said it looked like a cool spot! We got here yesterday, I was floored! Not only is it beautiful, it has very good ambience, very fun and an overall wonderful experience! I loved it!! There were at least 3 people celebrating their birthdays, they bring you a skull that sparkles and lights up beautifully! It is sooo beautiful! Music is great, who doesn't like peso pluma? The atmosphere is amazing, full bar and plenty of seating available! Food was great and prices were okay. They have a beautiful full bar and the staff is great! I highly recommend!

    See all

    19 days ago

    Rosie was amazing , the service was as great as the food and hopefully you're as luck as we were to have her as our hostess!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Loved the food ..great service Rosie our server was the best .didn't have to wait long and will definitely come back

    Business owner information

    Photo of Roberto B.

    Roberto B.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Roberto B.

    Roberto B.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Roberto B.

    Roberto B.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Andrea S.
    255
    11
    14

    2 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Roberto B.

    Roberto B.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    4 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Roberto B.

    Roberto B.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    5 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Roberto B.

    Roberto B.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Roberto B.

    Roberto B.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Roberto B.

    Roberto B.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 days ago

    Terrible service, long wait time for food and drinks. One waitress for entire restaurant

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Roberto B.

    Roberto B.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Roberto B.

    Roberto B.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    16 days ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Roberto B.

    Roberto B.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of A K.
    0
    25
    7

    2 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Roberto B.

    Roberto B.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Patricia S.

    Patricia S.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 1
    Photo of B A.
    6
    52
    36

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Chris G.
    1578
    2217
    5021

    9 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Roberto B.

    Roberto B.

    Helpful 15
    Thanks 6
    Love this 11
    Oh no 0

    20 days ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    4 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Roberto B.

    Roberto B.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Patricia S.

    Patricia S.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 1

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Patricia S.

    Patricia S.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Elle C.
    92
    1029
    2490

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Patricia S.

    Patricia S.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 2
    Photo of Rigo S.
    30
    300
    879

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 2

    20 days ago

    Bronny James jr was a great server. Great service and great therapy. Try to the soft serve it's fire.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Roberto B.

    Roberto B.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Roberto B.

    Roberto B.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Roberto B.

    Roberto B.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Patricia S.

    Patricia S.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Roberto B.

    Roberto B.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Fernando B.

    Fernando B.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 3

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Patricia S.

    Patricia S.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Angela L.
    14
    185
    1

    4 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Roberto B.

    Roberto B.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    It was our first time eating here and it was amazing our server Rosie was magnificent!! Food was done fast!

    Business owner information

    Photo of Roberto B.

    Roberto B.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Fatima took such great care of me on my birthday! Truly a night no remember and we'll be back

    Business owner information

    Photo of Roberto B.

    Roberto B.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Tommy L.
    1065
    243
    884

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Alina M.

    Alina M.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 38

    Kalaveras Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Kalaveras

    Do taco Tuesday specials apply all day or 3-7pm M-F only (same as HH)?

    Taco Tuesday special is all day!

    Is the kitchen open all night?

    As far as I know yes being going there for months now. Highly recommended

    Is there piña coladas on the menu?

    yes they have them, very expensive in fact!

    Do they have a Brunch Buffet and if they do how much is it?

    Yes, it is $40 for adults and $19.99 for kids.

    Kid friendly for dinner?

    I think lunch would be a more comfortable time. Dinner time seems to be louder, dark and lots of people celebrating birthdays with shots.

    Do you have any taco tuesday specials?

    Yes they do. $3.50 each taco (only certain tacos not all)

    I can't find a menu linked to Yelp. do you offer vegan options?

    Do you guys offer brunch? If so are there any specials on drinks?

    Yes they do but it's sort of a different type of brunch you may not be use to. I would recommend anyone is interested to go and check this place out before you take a large party. It's a different type of place. It's good but different. As in… 

    Hi, do you accept reservations?

    Do they charge for parking in their lot?

    No but it's small

    Esta abierto hoy?

    On main before Chapman yes. Santa Ana/orange location.

    Can you make reservations in advance at this location?

    Yes! No reservations on Friday or Saturday night after 4pm though. Only Walk ins. If you call ahead, they'll try their best to accommodate but they won't make a reservation.

    Is this family friendly?

    If you go during the day .. yes nights are a little crazy and loud would not recommend.

    How many ways do they let you split a check for large parties?

    As many ways as you like

    Do they have Happy Hour?

    Yes 3-7 M-F

    View All 26 Questions

    You might also consider

    The Peel

    The Peel

    4.2(153 reviews)
    1.4 mi
    $$$

    The Peel in Orange is one of my go-to spots! The food and drink selection offers plenty of great…read morechoices, and honestly, I've never been disappointed with anything I've ordered. If you only have one drink, make sure it's the Fade to Black--it's my personal go-to and definitely worth trying. For food, I usually gravitate toward their flatbreads, but you really can't go wrong with anything on the menu. What really sets The Peel apart, though, is the service. Alan has always been incredibly helpful, friendly, and accommodating, and the overall service is consistently outstanding. It's a great place for happy hour after work, getting together with friends, or hosting events. I've had a few events there myself and continue to go back--and that says a lot. Highly recommend The Peel!

    So this place is inside Hotel Fera and there is a self park lot outside. Be sure you get your…read morevalidation. We came for breakfast on a Saturday am. It wasn't very crowded. It's a beautiful location with lots of windows and a nice outside view. As for the food, it's hotel food I feel like. May be good but over priced. It wasn't my pick so I came for the company. We sat in the back area which can accommodate large groups. Our server was good. They don't have lattes or speciality coffee drinks but you can get it from the coffee bar in the lobby and bring it in. I didn't get end up getting anything from here. My friends who got food said it was good. I just couldn't justify paying $22 for breakfast food. i guess if you are staying at the hotel, it would be good to try. However I don't need to come back.

    Photos
    The Peel
    The Peel
    The Peel

    See all

    The Blind Rabbit

    The Blind Rabbit

    4.5(3.5k reviews)
    4.0 mi
    $$$

    September is SepTiki month at the Blind Rabbit. The interior has been decorated tiki style, and…read morethere is a new specialty cocktail menu with eight new tiki inspired drinks. We visited a few times in recent weeks to try out some of the new drinks. El Quetzal (Illegal Caribbean cask mezcal, yellow Chartreuse, Campari, lime, pineapple, cane, cardamom). This is a variation of a Junglebird, and has a nice smokiness with light bitterness. It's an easy drinker, and is served in a tiki mug with a lit sugar cube. 3 Rabbits & a Dash (Blind Rabbit Garrison Brothers single barrel bourbon, Kuleana Nanea rum, falernum, allspice, honey, orange, lime). It drinks a little boozy from the bourbon, and is complemented by nice spice notes. Let the Man'Go (Patron 100 tequila, bitter Bianca, mango, rice, lemon). I love drinks with a foam top, and even though it didn't say it on the menu, it was obvious after one sip that the foam was infused with toasted rice. Good balanced cocktail with light mango flavor and rice notes. Velvet Samba (guava, cachaca, Patron 100 tequila, lime, condensed milk). Unique milky looking cocktail. It's guava and lime forward, balanced, and has a little creamy mouthfeel from the condensed milk. Clarified Ango-Lada (Blind Rabbit single barrel Sagamore rye, Angostura bitters, coconut, pineapple, lime). It's served with a nutmeg sprinkle on top. The rye is toned way down from clarification, and it's a smooth drinker. The Cocktail of Week I believe was a type of zombie. I forgot to write down the ingredients but I believe some of them were rum, vodka, raspberry, and lemon. It is served in their zombie mug with a lit cinnamon stick and was good. Dreamwave (Empress gin, barrel aged Curacao, sherry lychee, lemon). I think this was my favorite. It has a nice tart flavor, not boozy at all and balanced. I was sitting at the bar where my drink was being made, and when the Li Hing Hui powder was sprinkled on top, it had a really nice sweet, almost vanilla-ish aroma. I asked bartender Adrian to make me a Captain's Reserve (bartenders own creation) using rum as the main spirit. He made an amazing cocktail with rum, scotch, passion fruit, and some other ingredients I forgot to jot down. It was lush and perfectly balanced with multiple layers of flavor. I hope he remembers that recipe, it was one of the best drinks I've ever had. Adrian, Ruben, and Sergio all provided great service and conversation, and they make some excellent drinks. Hosts Anna and Emma always give a warm welcome and were very friendly. There's only a few weeks left of SepTiki, so visit soon if you're interested in these drinks. Their Halloween theme will be starting in early October.

    I think this is on everyone's speakeasy list!…read more Make sure you make a reservation It is very packed. They offer bar seating and booth / table Follow the wall from Randy's donuts and Look for a wall of Japanese sake/beer barrels and head towards the restaurant - the rolling boil. There will be a check in host and stand there and wait (it will be located up against the wall with a big secret door right next to the hostess station) It's very New York inside. When I first came in Spring with the amazing, Karen, the menu and everything was great Now, I took my friend who was in town from Nashville and it was a brand new theme. It's the great Gatsby. Even our waitress, Jasmine was dressed for the occasion. I would say this place is known for Absinthe. They have cocktails featuring it or you can get one of the huge apparatus (huge and glowing green) which, if you are into it? I highly recommend. Just one of the huge apparatus makes one regular drink. Or, what Karen and I did, was split it and make it into a shot for the both of us. The waitress comes out and shows you how it works and goes over everything. Karen, who I came with, was a pro and knew her way around it. She showed me the ropes lol. Honestly, if you are here? When in Rome. Go all out and try it, since it's where they shine here. They took off a few menu items and added some themed drinks. ( a couple new champagne themed drinks) They have big entree items but I suggest small bites and sharing and mostly coming for the drinks. There's no bathroom inside, so you do have to leave the bar and go to the closest one (over behind Randy's donuts) and then enter the speakeasy again Both times coming here I've never had an issue. It's a small, packed place. And yet they still have the cocktails flowing and the food coming out in a good time. So the food and drinks are good Atmosphere is lovely. Service is good. Especially for it usually being very busy in here This place is located inside the Anaheim packing district. So I suggest hitting up a couple other spots before or afterwards for some more food or drinks P.S. it is very dark In here. They never cared if we used our light to look at the menu. However, they do not want flash photography They also do not strictly enforce a dress code (my friend from Nashville asked) however, they suggest dressing business casual and not too underdressed

    Photos
    The Blind Rabbit - Make My Millennium: Berry, Anise, Bold

    Make My Millennium: Berry, Anise, Bold

    The Blind Rabbit - It's Showtime: Umami, Rich, Floral

    It's Showtime: Umami, Rich, Floral

    The Blind Rabbit - Dead Man's Party: Tropical, Funky, Spiced

    See all

    Dead Man's Party: Tropical, Funky, Spiced

    Strong Water Anaheim - Loco Moco Burger

    Strong Water Anaheim

    4.6(1k reviews)
    4.3 mi
    $$

    Strong Water isn't just a place to grab a drink, it is an entire experience from the moment you…read morewalk through the door. We were escorted inside and our hostess immediately started introducing us to the lore of the place: a capsized ship with the space decorated using pieces recovered from the wreckage. The room is VERY dimly lit, and we actually stood near the entrance for a moment while our eyes adjusted, but honestly that just added to the atmosphere. On the way to our reservation in the Captain's Quarters, our hostess gave us a little tour of the main room and even pointed out the bathrooms for later. Once we sat down, we met our bartender, Drew, who was fantastic. He walked us through the different menus, explained the food and cocktails, and really added to the experience throughout the night. I'm normally a whiskey drinker, so I started with the Southeast Spice Trade while my girlfriend ordered the Pineapple Whipped Colada. Both were delicious, but half the fun was watching Drew make them. You could really see the amount of care that went into the craft and presentation of every drink. For food, we ordered the chicken katsu and ahi poke nachos. I was especially excited when the nachos arrived and I realized they were made with wonton chips. I'm a sucker for wonton chips, so those were an immediate win. We obviously couldn't stop at one round of drinks, so next came the Tarobi Colada and Zombie King. Drew told us a little about the history of the Zombie King and gave us a lesson on rum, so I had to try it, plus it came in one of the coolest mugs I've ever seen. The Zombie King was easily my favorite drink of the night. The flavor was fantastic from beginning to end and dangerously smooth. I didn't even realize how much it had hit me until I stood up. Even leaving was part of the experience. We finally checked out the bathroom and the door has what feels like TEN different locks on it. It genuinely felt like I was locking myself inside the bathroom of an old pirate ship. Between the storytelling, incredible atmosphere, Captain's Quarters, food, cocktails, and especially the service from Drew, this was such a memorable night. Strong Water completely commits to its theme without sacrificing the quality of the drinks. Absolutely an experience worth having, and we can't wait to come back.

    We have returned to Strong Water several times in recent months, so it's time for an update. We…read morefirst returned in early June since they introduced some new cocktails and food to the menu. The other visits were just because this is by far our number one place. Recently added cocktails: Buzzin' Jungle Bird (Jamaican gold rum, coffee infused campari, dark rum, pineapple, lime, hemp orgeat, cane, Angostura bitters). This is a great spin on a jungle bird, with some complexity and coffee flavor. I'm usually not a big fan of coffee, but it is at a good level. Chi Chi (Whey vodka, pineapple, lime, date, honey, coconut, salt). This has a great creamy texture which I believe comes from the dairy component of the whey vodka. It is well balanced with some sweetness, and I could taste the coconut and date flavors. Lapu Lapu (Asian rum, Jamaican rum, dry curacao, lime, orgeat, demerara). It is juicy, well balanced, and served with a flaming sugar cube on top. This is the cocktail they chose to serve at their booth at Tiki Oasis recently which says a lot, try it! Thai Me Down (Barbados rum, coconut liqueur, papaya, lemon, demerara, Thai basil). It is served old-fashioned style, and was light and perfectly balanced. Those Thai inspired flavors were all noticeable. Demerara Dry Float. They added and took this one off the menu as of now. It was a balanced light citrusy drink which was served with a delicious sidecar of Hamilton 151 rum infused with banana chips. I sipped half of that and mixed the rest into the cocktail. It was served with a beautiful ice shell. I'm guessing it was too labor intensive, and took up a lot of space in their freezers. Recently added food: Ahi Poke Nachos (marinated ahi tuna, masago, avocado, cucumber, spicy mayo, furikake, green onion). This is such a tasty starter with so many textures and flavors. I love that the nachos are wontons too, and not just chips. Crab & Cream cheese wontons. Nice crisp wontons with a good amount of crab and cream cheese inside. The chili sauce and spicy mayo adds another layer of flavor, and there is a slice of jalapeno on top for a little heat. Pan-Seared Scallops. This was an excellent lighter entrée. The four scallops are cooked perfectly, and even have a little dollop of caviar on top. I liked the mix of veggies and really liked the bed of potato puree underneath. Steak & Eggs (8oz hanger steak, crying tiger glaze, Nam Jim Jaew sauce, sunny eggs, rice). I normally wouldn't try steak & eggs for dinner, but I can't resist a good hanger steak. It was cooked a perfect medium rare and I appreciate that it was pre-sliced. The crying tiger glaze and sauce were so flavorful. There's plenty of rice to soak up any left egg yolk or sauce. Recently added desserts: Dubai Chocolate Lava Cake. This was excellent, but it's definitely sweet and rich. Save some room if you plan on ordering this. Ube Flan Cake. I'm usually not a fan of flan, but I have to try anything with ube and this was good. The cake had nice ube flavor, and I liked that the flan was a little firm since the looser custardy/gelatinous texture is not for me. This is definitely a lighter dessert than the lava cake. It's not a new drink, but I also had the Naval Grog for the first time. (Lost Voyage rum, overproof white rum, allspice dram, lime, grapefruit, demerara, honey). It is boozy with nice spice notes. Other repeat cocktails enjoyed were Tales from the Black Lagoon (my favorite), Missionary's Downfall, Agave Parrot, Singapore Sling, and Serpents Grasp all of which are excellent. Their cocktails, food, ambiance, and service are always top notch. Thank you Ying, Erica, Greg, Jordan, Joey, Iris, Karen, Kyle, Joy, and John for your wonderful hospitality during our visits. We will return again soon!

    Photos
    Strong Water Anaheim - Lapu Lapu cocktail

    Lapu Lapu cocktail

    Strong Water Anaheim - Rum Runner cocktail

    Rum Runner cocktail

    Strong Water Anaheim - 3 Dots & A Dash and Tales from the Black Lagoon

    See all

    3 Dots & A Dash and Tales from the Black Lagoon

    QUA Contemporary Chinese Cuisine - Afternoon Tea: a new weekend experience at QUA. Tea, dim sum, savory and sweet, presented all at once. Reservations available via OpenTable.

    QUA Contemporary Chinese Cuisine

    4.2(628 reviews)
    6.5 mi
    $$$
    Minority-owned & operated
    Takes reservations

    QUA - A new addition to the Kei Concepts stores that I really wanted to try. Made it my way here on…read morea Wednesday around 6:30 pm via reservation. However, it wasn't really needed at the time. The interior gives off a nice clean atmosphere with ample seating. There's also an outdoor patio and a bar seating as well. My girlfriend and I heard of their newer menu items. After a quick look at their menu, we decided to get the items we were considering beforehand. Peanut Chili Crunch Sundae: I'll admit it, I was highly skeptical of a spicy and sweet combination. However, I'm a sucker for anything crunchy and spicy, so this dessert genuinely had me surprised. Still not something up my alley but a great try! (3.5/5) Mala Fries: Solid appetizer! Each fry was crispy and the peanuts add a nice crunch. Tons of chilis surrounding so it's packed full of flavor. (5/5) General Tso's Chicken Wing: Perfect for the sweet and spicy fans! It is reminiscent of the Korean yangnyeom flavor. (5/5) Chili Crunch Burrata: This was an interesting dish, which I enjoyed dipping with the Chinese donut. Not particularly my fan but my girlfriend was a fan of it. (3.5/5) Crab Roe: Needed to do a bit of mixing for the noodle and crab roe. It tastes as you'd expect (great crab flavor) and served as a good foundation to balance out the other dishes' flavors. One drawback was that the noodles were very long; it could have been great if it was pre-cut to shorter lengths. (4.5/5) American Express is accepted here. Considering signing up for their Kei Rewards if you're a frequent diner of Kei Concepts for some rewards!

    Qua afternoon tea was quite an experience and certainly worth trying out. The food in the…read moreafternoon tea treats in the 3-tiered stand were all delicious. The BBQ pork pastry was crispy, the tea egg sandwich was flavorful and the honey walnut shrimp snack was good too. The vegetable crudite was fresh and came with a spicy hummus that was tasty. The desserts were yummy and we enjoyed the sesame cookie, mango sago and egg tart. None were too sweet and they were all a perfect complement to the meal. The siu mai was also savory and we think if that is a preview of the regular items on the menu, we'd go back to try other dishes. The tea was good, but you have to share one pot so both of you have to want the same flavor. Overall, a great afternoon tea experience. The restaurant is decorated beautifully and there's plenty of parking as it is in an outdoor plaza mall with other restaurants. The reason for the one star knock off is because even though service was good by the server(s), the hostess wouldn't let us change seats even though there was a lot of seating available. Also when we left the restaurant there was a lady at the front stand that had a rude scowl on her face and didn't say bye when we said bye to her. It wasn't a great way to leave a venue!

    Photos
    QUA Contemporary Chinese Cuisine - Afternoon Tea: a new weekend experience at QUA. Tea, dim sum, savory and sweet, presented all at once. Reservations available via OpenTable.

    Afternoon Tea: a new weekend experience at QUA. Tea, dim sum, savory and sweet, presented all at once. Reservations available via OpenTable.

    QUA Contemporary Chinese Cuisine - Chili Crunch Burrata

    Chili Crunch Burrata

    QUA Contemporary Chinese Cuisine - Fan Tuan, available in 3 different variations.

    See all

    Fan Tuan, available in 3 different variations.

    46 A Speakeasy - The "sampling bar" where you take a straw on the right, grab your taste and discard the straw on the left.

    46 A Speakeasy

    4.5(25 reviews)
    3.3 mi

    First time visiting this cocktail lounge, and it was a truly unique experience. The space is…read moreintimate with limited seating, creating a cozy and welcoming atmosphere. The service was outstanding--attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable. What makes this place special is that there's no traditional cocktail menu. The bartenders craft drinks throughout the day, and guests are invited to sample them before deciding what to order. It feels personal, interactive, and completely different from the typical bar experience.

    Excited to have a speakeasy in Orange, but would rather drive to anaheim for theirs. The ambiance…read morewas cute to look at but impractical to dine in...and the pressure is on. We went to celebrate a birthday for one of our friends. We were sat at a long table facing a wall and weren't able to hear or speak with one another. They were 15 minutes late calling us up to our adventure and hasty to get us out!! While the bar experience sounded like it would be fun, the "tasting" was run as a dictatorship - one of our group wanted a quick photo of the laid out drinks and was scorned to put it away until the detailed instructions of taking a clean straw and using it to take a sample of each drink then discard it was ridiculous on every level. If you are going to sample, pour everyone a small taste! How wasteful in every way - the straws, the remains of the drink, etc. (a new straw was used for each "sampling"). Once e we finished this process, they wanted everyone's drink order before you could go back to the table. Not everyone knew what they wanted - but that wasn't allowed. You were to order before sitting back down! Then comes the food. Meh at best. Nobody was impressed by the food, there were limited choices, and our poor guest with food allergies was not well accommodated. The service was rushed and demanding. Oh. All of this on top of a $25 per person fee for reservation that goes back toward the bill. Also watch out! Gratuity was already included but not mentioned. There are better options for an experience of this sort.

    Photos
    46 A Speakeasy - Featured cocktails

    Featured cocktails

    46 A Speakeasy - Decor

    Decor

    46 A Speakeasy - 46 burger

    See all

    46 burger

    Anepalco - Paloma Clasica with Nosotros Blanco, Pamplemousse Liqueur, Grapefruit & Lime Juice, Jarritos Toronja

    Anepalco

    3.9(1.4k reviews)
    1.4 mi
    $$
    Free parking
    Full bar

    Anepalco has been a fixture in Orange for quite a while, but this was my first visit since they…read morerefreshed the space. The added greenery and updated aesthetic give it a different feel now. For a moment, you forget you're sitting in Orange County. It feels more like a restaurant you'd stumble across in Mexico City than one tucked along Main Street. The premium tacos are the kind of thing that make conversation stop for a minute. Rich, deeply flavored meats piled onto a tortilla with beans, salsa, and cilantro. Messy and satisfying. The green sauce chilaquiles are outstanding. Bright, tangy, and packed with flavor, topped with eggs that turn the whole thing into something greater than the sum of its parts. The guava French toast is pure excess in the best possible way. Sweet, sticky, indulgent, and completely worth ordering. The only disappointment was the Café de Olla. It never quite found the warmth, spice, or depth that makes the drink special. Still, this is a kitchen that knows what it's doing. Come hungry, expect to spend a little money, and leave with no regrets.

    Great service, subpar food. Guess it's part of it being attached to a hotel, should have known, in…read moretourist area of orange I think. Very salty, not too much flavor ironically, looks good but kind of bland. I went in thinking it was a mexican/french fusion so expectations should be different vs if it was a very authentic mexican food place which is fine! But the quality actually is not worth eating/ordering. The drinks I thought were good but I'm not a drinks person so don't trust my opinion there if you are a cocktail connoisseur. LOL

    Photos
    Anepalco - Wagyu beef tacos topped with savory beans, creamy Oaxaca cheese, zesty pico de gallo salsa, and fresh chopped chives.

    Wagyu beef tacos topped with savory beans, creamy Oaxaca cheese, zesty pico de gallo salsa, and fresh chopped chives.

    Anepalco - Enchiladas Rojas with chicken tinga.

    Enchiladas Rojas with chicken tinga.

    Anepalco - Tropical Guava French Toast with Toasted Coconut and Nance Syrup, and Powdered Sugar

    See all

    Tropical Guava French Toast with Toasted Coconut and Nance Syrup, and Powdered Sugar

    Sonder - Little Gem Salad: black vinegar caesar * preserved lemon * shallot confit * cured fresh peppercorns * bread crumb * smoked pecorino | $15

    Sonder

    4.3(232 reviews)
    2.7 mi
    $$

    From the moment I walked in, I knew, this was going to be good. The server I think his name was…read moreBilly, really did a good job. He recommended some amazing cocktails and really good pre dinner apps. And he delivered. Our favourites were the pork skewers and the smooth operator cocktail. excited to come back here!!!

    Four of us ate at Sonder last Tuesday for my birthday. We walked in and they didn't even ask my…read morename; they knew which party we were and took us immediately to our table. Our server was friendly and knowledgeable and gave great advice about which dishes to order and whether each would be enough for four. Everything was excellent. In particular we enjoyed the pork belly, the seafood cocktail, and the chicken skewers. We also had the Little Gem salad, the sourdough, and the bone marrow onigiri. We all agreed: "Not a bad bite in the bunch." The cocktails were creative and the wine selection was good, too. Music was good. It wasn't so loud that we couldn't talk. After dinner, they brought a scoop of matcha ice cream with a candle in it for me and there was enough for all of us to have a bite or two. The only drawback was that from my seat, I could see into the kitchen hallway, which wasn't very attractive. They need a noren to block the view. Minor detail, though, and I suppose that would probably make it more difficult to bring food through. Highly recommend.

    Photos
    Sonder - Sophisticated bar and classy chandeliers

    Sophisticated bar and classy chandeliers

    Sonder - Pork Belly: mustard * black vinegar * thai basil * chives * side of rice | $8

    Pork Belly: mustard * black vinegar * thai basil * chives * side of rice | $8

    Sonder - CHICKEN OYSTERS: Buttermilk brined thighs, tare sauce | $8ea

    See all

    CHICKEN OYSTERS: Buttermilk brined thighs, tare sauce | $8ea

    Kalaveras - mexican - Updated September 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...