I made a reservation online and arrived on time. There weren't many customers dining, so I'm guessing I was there during off-peak hours (6 PM). My only request was to have a booth so my wife and I could celebrate our anniversary comfortably. Apparently, my request was too much, and they sat us right in the middle of the room, even though the restaurant was empty. I asked the hostess if we could be moved, but I was denied because the booths are reserved for parties of four--even though I also had a reservation. I understand that, but they could have accommodated us since there wasn't anyone there at that hour. We ended up just saying okay and letting it be. The food was okay--not outstanding in any way, just average. The beans were overly blended, almost like a paste, and lacked flavor. My wife initially thought they were mashed potatoes. Aside from that, you'll pay a slightly premium price for all menu items, and at the end of the day, it wasn't worth it to me. Just a little side note also, I don't think they do anything for anniversaries because they didn't mention anything or do anything special even though it was mentioned on the reservation details. read more

This place was pretty dead on a Thursday night. Ambiance was nice and bartender/server was good. Food came out semi slow for not being busy. The drinks and food were meh. Not bad but not great either. Don't think I'd return. read more

Great food! Great service! Laz was a great server! Ambiance was beautiful, would come back read more

What a complete disaster of a Valentine's Day dinner. We chose this place after seeing it on Instagram, thinking it would be the perfect spot to celebrate both my wife's birthday and Valentine's Day with our group of 15. Unfortunately, it turned into one of the worst dining experiences we've ever had. We arrived on time for our 7:00 PM reservation and checked in at the front, but then we were left standing outside waiting for over 30 minutes with zero communication. No host checked on us, no updates, no apology--nothing. We were literally just standing there wondering what was going on. For a reservation that large, you would expect at least some level of organization or acknowledgment. When we were finally seated, things didn't improve. It took another 45 minutes just for half of the table to receive the drinks we ordered. By this point it was close to 9:00 PM, everyone was frustrated, hungry, and the mood for what was supposed to be a celebratory evening was completely ruined. Service was extremely disorganized, and it felt like there was no system in place. Our server even told us she didn't normally work there and had been called in by the owner just to help that night, which honestly explained a lot. It clearly seemed like the restaurant was understaffed and completely unprepared for a busy holiday like Valentine's Day. We also heard the owner was apparently in the kitchen cooking, which might sound admirable, but it felt more like a sign that the operation was overwhelmed. After waiting far too long with no real progress, we decided to leave and went to a restaurant next door, which thankfully was able to accommodate all 15 of us without an issue. That alone showed the difference in organization and readiness. We also weren't the only unhappy customers. At least four other parties that we saw ended up walking out as well, many of them visibly upset and complaining about the wait and lack of service. Overall, this experience was incredibly disappointing, especially since it was meant to be a special night for my wife. Between the long wait, lack of communication, slow service, and clear lack of preparation, this place completely missed the mark. Sadly, this was a "never again" experience for us. read more

My wife and I decided to try Palenque for the first time. Excellent meal! Our server, Laz, was friendly and professional without being overbearing! My wife enjoyed her Fajitas and I enjoyed the ceviche and my chicken enchiladas! We will be back ! Thank you, Laz. read more

Came for Valentine's Day and they had limited menu prepaid 178 for shared salad, soup and steak then they add on 20% gratuity and tax way over prices for the minimum option read more

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I went here for my birthday and reserved for 12 people. The place is very aesthetic, spacious and looked promising for group parties. Parking can be tough if you have a big party just plan for extra time. We received our drinks first but the wait for food was delayed. Most of the food were good, although there were some inconsistencies with some of our parties order. It was to the point that we waited way too long for our food to arrive. The waitress did acknowledge and apologized and comped some shots for our party which was appreciated. I am not sure what happened this past weekend - assuming maybe they were short on staff so I don't want to pass too much judgement. They did the best that they could but I also felt so so bad for our party for the long wait. read more

Palenque Kitchen - Bar area - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Finally went here to celebrate birthdays and it was so nice inside. Apparently they are strict on the reservation because one of the girls kept making sure I would be able to make it since she had to reserve with her credit card. This place wasn't even busy and there wasn't even live music that my friends were waiting on. They were very disappointed and kept asking the waiters and all they kept saying was it depends on the night and the crowd. The food was good and even got the patron tower. It was super light with the alcohol so I was able to actually drink it, haha. So many photo opps which we definitely used to our advantage. I would definitely recommend this for groups. read more

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Ordered aguachiles from here on uber eats. These have to be the worst ones I have ever tried in my life. They were not spicy and they were not lemony. They were nothing like aguachiles. And they were $24 or basically a tiny tostada. If you just look at picture I posted you can see there is no way this was appetizing read more

Palenque Kitchen - Shrimp Aguachile - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

My friends and I went into brunch Sunday! The food was delicious my fave were the fish tacos, French toast, and the enchiladas. The service was Amazing and Eddie was so helpful, he gave us the best recommendations. Also the tres leche was to die for! This place is always so beautiful and love how it is perfect for date nights and girls brunch! read more

Yes we had made reservations several days before because there were seven of us. When we arrived they did not have our reservation. They said they would prepare an area for us. Laz was a good waiter however the service was slow. We were there a long time. The food was ok however not exactly what we were prepared for and our fajitas were hot but rice and beans were in the cool side. Very beautiful restaurant, parking not easy. read more

Pros- This place has real potential. It's huge, not far from Newport Beach, and serves good Mexican food. For Sunday brunch they have a DJ. I got the pozole soup and it was good. Cons- there were only three groups there and the restaurant was mostly empty. There was just one server for the entire restaurant and so he wasn't at our table often enough. There was a long wait for them to bring the bill and then take our credit card to ring it up. read more

It was my first time going to this place and it did not disappoint Laz was a very good server and gave us drinks recommendations and they were all really good but the Guava-mente was my favorite ! I'll 100% recommend this places read more

Palenque Kitchen - Food came out very good! Would recommend this place! :) - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Laz went above and beyond with every detail offering expert recommendations, checking in at just the right moments, and making sure our table felt like the most important one in the room. His passion for the menu and genuine hospitality made all the difference. The food at Palenque was phenomenal (te Aquachiles and cocktails deserve their own 5 stars!), but Laz's amazing service elevated the whole experience to another level. If you're dining at Palenque in Costa Mesa, definitely ask for Laz -- you'll be in the best hands! Can't wait to come back and enjoy another perfect night here. Thank you, Laz and the Palenque team, for making it such a memorable evening! read more

Palenque Kitchen - Salmon Al Pastor, absolutely bomb and I will be back to have it again. Laz and Edwin took great care of me! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Came here with a meetup group, so there were quite a few people in attendance. I wasn't really impressed with this place. While the ambiance is great for a swanky night out for good vibes, the service was slow at best. Drinks from the bar can be difficult to order from, but they still come out timely. Food is a different story. I placed my order for a quesadilla and then nothing happened. I must have been waiting for 20 minutes before someone came to greet me a second time (clearly they were busy however) the food never came out until I reminded them. Another 10 or so minutes later, the food came out, fortunately, it tasted good, but the amount of time I waited just didn't justify a good enough experience. Fortunately, they waived the cost due to the wait, but since I don't live in the area, I can't guarantee a return trip is in order. Good food, a little too much ice in the drinks, too. read more

Palenque Kitchen - Quesadilla - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

The place is nice and there is plenty of parking the drinks are okay the service is good and I liked the dj. But why is the place so dead? The food is your average bar food but we got there at almost 10 and it was practically empty. Hopefully it was an off night but I don't understand how such a nice looking place can be so slow on a Saturday. read more

Made a reservation for my sil bday she got there before we did and sat at the bar, when we arrived we got seated and asked to move her tab to our table so we could pay for her drink and whatever else we were having the bartender rolled her eye at us and said "I guess" then the guy bartender walks over and rudely says "we told her (sIL) that she needed to close out her tab before she left the bar" to which I asked if it would be possible to move it to our table tab. He rudely said no. We like to keep our tips separate. I said no problem paid the drink. But they were so rude about the whole situation that we just left and went to a different restaurant and celebrated there. read more

My husband, two friends, and I visited Palenque on a Friday night at 6PM. When we arrived, only one other table was seated, and it took a little while for someone to notice us waiting to be sat. Once seated in a cozy booth inside, we appreciated the beautifully decorated interior--it has a vibrant and authentic charm that sets a nice tone for the evening. The meal started on a high note with complimentary chips and salsa, which we enjoyed enough to ask for a refill. We also ordered the queso fundido, which was served with bread, though we requested tortillas to also have with it. The queso was okay, but we've definitely had better versions elsewhere. For drinks, I tried the Mayan Pitaya and the Frida's Maggie. While I personally preferred the Frida's Maggie, that was mostly because I overlooked the mezcal in the Mayan Pitaya, which isn't my favorite spirit. For our main course, my husband and I shared the steak fajitas and carnitas. Both dishes came with rice, beans, and a choice of corn or flour tortillas. Unfortunately, the steak fajitas felt a bit underwhelming and possibly not freshly prepared. The carnitas, on the other hand, were definitely the highlight and our favored dish between the two. Parking was convenient for us, as we found a spot right in front of the restaurant. It's worth noting that parking is limited in the small strip mall, though there is additional parking in the back. By the time we left, about six tables were occupied, and the lively atmosphere added to the overall vibe of the place. Service was friendly and attentive--maybe too attentive at times. Servers checked in often and frequently asked if we wanted new drinks when we were still working on our first ones. Overall, Palenque delivered an okay experience. While the atmosphere was inviting and enjoyable, especially as the restaurant filled up, the food didn't quite wow us. While we're not itching to return, the decor and vibes make it worth trying at least once. read more

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It's one of those I always wanted to try it, now that I have, I'll never be back. This place is the perfect example for why I no longer trust people's review of food. The food was a mess. Nothing special, nothing memorable, and a waste of money. Our waiter Julian, he was amazing. The bar tender, was a bit angry and kind of a rude guy. Hello, if you don't like working at a busy bar, get a job at Denny's. read more

Located in strip mall near 17th street, I would've never come here if it wasn't for friends recommendation From the outside, you wouldn't think this place is buzzing w energy. It is. Mostly young couples and family celebrating good food and good company. For small space, this place was well decorated and maximized its space to the fullest. Staff is very helpful and accommodating. Staff can always make or break the experience. In Palenque, it added to the wonderful experience we had. As for good, I think it depends on what you get. My carne asada was fantastic. I would highly recommend. Our potato taco app was also very tasty but nothing out of this world. Buddy got some pork dish that was stew like presentation which was also tasty. Draw back was chips and salsa. Little disappointing but other factors to this place more than made up for it. read more

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Server & crew very nice the vibe and music great! Drinks very good! Just very DISAPPOINTED in the food starting with the chips and salsa... Salsa very sweet :( I ordered the beef "tacos" dorados ahhh there wasn't any meat I got veggie tacos just pepper and onions :( I also got the fish ceviche & the plate looked nice but the taste and smell was so bad too :( sad on the money I spent here. read more

Palenque Kitchen - Beef tacos dorados - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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The food is excellent. I was there to celebrate a 30th birthday with 10 other ppl we had different dishes and they were all delicious. We ordered from Sunday brunch menu I had steak & eggs which also included refried beans, grilled purple onions with a beautiful large jalapeño everything was seasoned to purrrfection. I tasted the waffle, bacon, breakfast burrito oh I also ordered pazole ALL FANTASTIC!!! The best eggs I have had out or in for that matter! The service and ambiance equally matched the deliciousness of the food...oh lest not I forget the DJ --- Very good! Lord will I am definitely returning! read more

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OUTSTANDING. My hubby and I were ecstatic to stumble into this place today after being mistreated at the restaurant next door (Hook & Anchor). From ambience to service and food--if iwe could give them 10/10 stars, we would! Daniel treated us like VIPs as soon as we walked in, even if they were transitioning to dinner. Alicia and Laz were such amazing servers. Alicia complimented us on ordering "all of the right things". Laz took over afer Alicia's shift was over and gave us the best recommendations for entrees and desserts, as well. We ended up ordering the best Tres Leches cake. We are definitely coming back to have a big celebration here for daughter's 21st birthday since they have live music on Fridays and Saturdays. We highly recommend this place! read more

Palenque Kitchen - Tacos Dorado - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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I don't understand how this place has such wonderful reviews. I'm giving it the benefit of the doubt that because we were a large group (15) on Valentine's, they just couldn't handle it. We had reservations for 7 & we sat until 8 before any of us got a drink. I waited an additional 30 minutes as they never brought my drink. They didn't even bring waters or chips or salsa. They had a fixed menu so I don't understand how you could take so long? Is that crap in massive amounts of rows ready to come out? After two hours they didn't even take our orders & randomly just start bringing plates of tacos to our table. Our waiter didn't even care we all got up to leave. I'm actually appalled our friend paid for a portion of the bill. The entire thing should have been comped! The fact not one employee even truly cared was concerning. I snagged a taco as we left & it honestly tasted like a pot roast stuffed into a hard shell taco you buy at the grocery store (along with some random shredded cheese). What a horrible experience! read more

Thank you to Bella our server!! I chose this spot for my birthday and the staff made it so special! I was beyond happy with the food and the Patron Tower! Will definitely come again. Ambiance is so fun with great music and amazing decor for pics! read more

Palenque Kitchen - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

(IG: @foodwithdeni) Celebrated my bff's birthday at @palenquekitchen !! From the ambiance to the dishes we definitely enjoyed our visit. We went on a sunday night so it wasn't busy but made reservations just in case. We started off with drinks & an appetizer -- Sauvecito, Guava-Mente & Toro Bravo Mojito and Pan con Queso *After we dived into our main orders-- Carne Asada, Enchiladas & Carnitas *We ended our dinner with a dessert to share-- Palenque Cake with Vanilla & Dulce de Leche ice cream *Small parking lot available FEATURING-- Carne Asada (achiote marinated prime steak, onions subisse, shishito pepper, morita ai-oli, crispy potatoes, and a choice of warm corn or flour tortillas) Enchiladas (Choice of Chicken or Steak, salsa verde, monterey jack cheese, sour cream, red onion arugula salad) Carnitas (confit natural pork, jalapeños, house pickles, salsa cruda, sides of Mexican rice and refried beans. A choice of warm corn or flour tortillas) Pan con Queso (queso fundido, chorizo, onions, bolillo ) Sauvecito (union mezcal, lime, pineapple, chareau, sugar) Guava-mente (patron silver, lime, sugar, guava, grapefruit, soda) Toro Bravo Mojito (captain white rum, lime, sugar, mint, watermelon redbull) Palenque Cake w/Vanilla & Dulce de Leche Ice Cream ( a single pound cake, piloncillo glaze, vanilla whipped cream, seasonal fruit) read more

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Underrated restaurant in the OC! The vibes, style of the building design and drinks are good! We will be back because of those things! The service was fine. They were friendly and kind but a little slow. The food was okay, not terrible but above average. Parking can be tough. Either in the lot or maybe street parking. This place should get more intention! read more

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Can I just say this is absolutely one of my favorite places to be? Food, drinks and atmosphere is top tier. The grilled octopus + branzino are my favorite but everything on the menu is great. This location is also the best IMO. The menu and cook changes at some of the other locations but this one has never disappointed me. The patron flight is also top tier read more

Super cute and the enchiladas were to die for! Officially my new favorite enchiladas! Loved it and the service was good too:) read more

Palenque Kitchen - Watermelon pepino margarita - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

I'd say 4* is pretty accurate although I'm going down to 3, I will not be returning. The cons really do outweigh the pros Pros: The food was very good, it really was and that is normally what I base most of my reviews off of Moody ambience and comfortable seating Cons: The music is LOUD and the DJ kept turning up the volume. We sat for dinner at 6:30pm on Saturday, not at 10 Communication was lacking with our server. Turns out the kitchen was short-staffed. Our meal took 90+ minutes to arrive The bill could only be split 3 ways without any itemization (they have the handheld Toast system) so people were charged for the wrong things plus at wrong prices? I.e. the menu said $14 for churros and we paid $16 it's nominal but it removed all trust Conclusion: Go for a cocktail and to get some good energy off of some music, not to catch up with a group of friends read more

Palenque Kitchen - Salmon - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Great ambience at the bar and also dining seating. Alessandro was our waiter and he was awesome! He was super helpful with recommendations, as it was as our first time. Their cocktails were unique and tasty. Presentation was on point. Enjoyed the octopus, and salmon along with more traditional dishes. Their lobster enchiladas were probably my favorite out is everything else. read more

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Came here to celebrate my wedding anniversary. After watching a few vidz on tiktok, I knew we had to eat here. When we arrived, we scored a parking right at the front. There's a sign that says parking in rear also. Entering the restaurant, the ambiance is definitely a vibe! It has a nice sexy intimate feeling to it. Music was on loud but we were still able to talk and hear each other no problem. Even though we had rsvp we had to wait a bit for a larger table because we told them that a table for 2 will be too small for what we were about to order. The manager came and introduced himself to us and accommodated our request by adding 2 tables together. So thoughtful of him. Now onto the food & drinks. Our waiter named Hever took care of us. He was friendly and attentive the whole time. I started off with the margarita flights. What I liked about them was that it wasn't too sweet like a lot of other flights I've had. Each one was perfectly refreshing. You can definitely taste how fresh the chips and salsa were. One of the thing I was excited for was the pulpo BUT what I received was nothing like the photos and videos I've been seeing. The pulpo were already cut up and mixed with the brussel sprouts. Even though it was still tasty, I really wanted the dish to look like what I went there for. The 3 entrees we ordered was the salmon al pastor, steak tampiquena and the callos dorados. All 3 were delicious!! I definitely recommend you try them. As for dessert, another thing that I was looking forward to was the tres leches BUT sadly they were out of that. So we ordered the palenque butter cake. I didn't like it, it was too sweet for me. My husband has a sweet tooth and he said it was too sweet for him too. All in all, it was a great experience. I would definitely return to try all the other things on the menu. P.S. there's no point in putting in the notes what you're celebrating because none of the staffs acknowledged it. I've been to many other restaurants where you arrive and they welcome you with whatever you're celebrating. Little gestures like that goes a long way with making your guests feel special. read more

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My friends and I recently dined at palenque kitchen in Costa Mesa on May 30th. The restaurant has a warm and inviting ambiance with rustic decor that makes you feel right at home. Food was delicious. The staff were incredibly friendly and attentive, making sure we were comfortable throughout our meal. Thanks to our waiter Mr Mario! They had Dj and played good music Overall, we had a fantastic experience and would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for authentic Mexican cuisine in the area! read more

Edwin and Julian were the best. Super attentive service and so so kind to us. The food and drinks were amazing. And the ambiance was super beautiful inside read more

Palenque Kitchen - I had the Oaxacan old fashioned - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

I was grossly disappointed with the food and the fact they nickel and dime you for everything. Fried jalapeños were a $1 each. Extra tortillas were a $1 each. The salad and drinks were good. The rest of the food mediocre and extremely salty. Not worth the money. read more

Came here on a Saturday night for a friends birthday! We made a reservation and were immediately were in! Coming in the design of the interior is really nice and it gives off clubbing vibes. We were sat and given chips and salsa and they were so good! Here's what we got: Birria- it was really tender and delicious! It comes with three tortilla and also rice and beans. The rice and beans were not bad! The Birria had a lot of nice flavors and it was a little salty but not bad! Salmon- this was one of the best dishes there! The salmon was so moist and flavorful. It was just perfect of the flavors. I would recommend this one for sure! Overall, my party enjoyed our experience! The service was great and the lady who helped us which I wish I knew her name would always check up on us and refill our chips and dip! Would come back here and run it back! read more

Palenque Kitchen - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Mario was a great server! It was our first time here and he really made us feel comfortable. So thank you for that! The food was really good just like the vibes as well! Drinks hit the spot too , Paloma and guava-mente ! Definitely will be coming back! Highly recommend this place! read more

Our brunch experience was AMAZING!! You gotta get their tiered Patron margarita tower - it's truly standout! We were so impressed with the ambiance and service as well. Extremely attentive. And the food lived up to the hype too. Steak chilaquiles and chicken enchiladas came out piping hot and full of flavor, and we ended our meal with the best tres leches cake my friend and I have ever had. We literally had to sit back and bask in the glory of that dish. WE WILL 100% BE BACK! read more

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Great decor and design. More of a trendy bar scene than a restaurant. Waitress was attentive and friendly. Chips and salsa were ok. Guac was good. Cocktails were the highlight. All were delish. Wanted to try the chipotle cream chicken but they were out of it. Bummer. How does that happen at 6pm? Carne was good and a good cut of meat. The sauce was also good but the potatoes were nothing special. Not sure I would get it again. Corn tortillas were freah and homemade. Wife had the chicken enchiladas and she said they had a lot of chicken. She appeoved. Churros were just.... eh. Too much sugar coating and not fresh. Would pass next time. read more

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I came to Palenque around the time they first opened and my husband and I loved the vibe. It transports you to Tulum with all of the beautiful decor. There's tons of seating and perfect for small or large groups. We've come 3 different times and had Laz as our server every time, he's so friendly and attentive and made excellent recommendations. We started off with chips and salsa 10/10 and guac was 8/10, needs a little more flavor. The salmon Al pastor was really flavorful and comes with creamy polenta. And the half chicken was also delicious. We came another time on taco Tuesday and I'm such a fan of their tacos! I'd say their chicken enchiladas are my favorite with a side of rice and beans. The drinks are 10/10 and crafted to perfection. Palenque margarita, Oaxacan lover, suavecito, mercadito and guava-mente are all great choices! read more

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