Food service and ambiance are all top notch! Music was vibey. I wish I lived closer so I could come here more often. Steak was melt in your mouth and buttery. Not too many great vegetarian options (see other pic) but great for everyone else! Cocktails were also delicious. read more

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

See all

Great food and excellent service! Everything was delicious, and Mary was attentive, friendly, and welcoming. Overall, a wonderful dining experience. Highly recommend! read more

Palenque was amazing! The food was amazing, especially the shrimp enchiladas and guacamole. Mary provided such a great service and always checked in to make sure we were doing great! Will come here again! read more

Great ambiance good food and chill vibes!! I would come here again. Highly recommend for everyone

Palenque Kitchen by Mezcal is a standout in Costa Mesa we went on a Friday and it delivered exactly the high-energy vibe I wanted, DJ, packed crowd, and a fun atmosphere. Beautiful space that works for date night or a night out with friends, and even with the crowd, service was on point, shoutout to Josue. "The Patron Tree" is super fun and photogenic (mini margaritas). The branzino and the steak were seriously good. Overall, great music, great vibes, and a perfect spot for a night out. read more

See all

Cute place in downtown Riverside. Definitely nice to sit down and relax with family or friends. Restaurant itself is cute. The food is ok but the drinks are delicious. Very much enjoyed the margarita flight with hibiscus, watermelon, cucumber and a normal one. Highly recommend. The cheese enchilada was ok, a little too salty for my taste. My husband got the chicken enchilada and thought it was ok. Would come back for drinks and apps, but will likely pass on entrees. read more

Went for new years with their set menu. Our server Laz was excellent from the beginning, he was helpful and friendly. The salad and soup to start were delicious Also they fry their own tortilla chips in house and they're served warm. Delicious! Main dishes were salmon and steak, both were about average but not bad in any way. Our nye ticket included party favors Dj was playing awesome throwbacks mixed with modern hip hop, enjoyed it Recommend this place - lots of seating so reservations are easier than others in the area read more

I visited here on a rainy night and it was an intimate and visually appealing restaurant. Even though there were barely any people inside (though my guess is because it was a Tuesday night and it was raining), the music and visuals made me feel excited to eat here. My enchiladas with the shrimp was cooked to perfection and the beans and rice were also good but nothing outstanding. They serve chips and salsa and honestly those were some of the best I've had at a Mexican restaurant. I think my friend got some Al Pastor dish and he really liked it too. I think it is on the pricier side for what is served but the service was friendly; I would definitely come back here. read more

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

Our visit was in March of 2026. The food was great the place was mostly empty yet were questioned for quite a while by the hostess about having a reservation. Ended up eating at the bar which was nice. For how slow it was we were surprised that the service was a still a bit slow. My husband ordered a Paloma and was charged $20! Receipt attached. While food was good I don't think we will be back. Too many other choices with better service and pricing. read more

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

Food was delicious and service was good. Portions were perfect. Great staff very professional.

Food was sooo delicious and the service was top notch! Had the ceviche tostada for our appetizer . The enchiladas were unlike any other I've had before... EXCELLENT! Mary provided us with the best and most attentive service! Thank you Mary! read more

Palenque is such a beautiful spot. The ambiance is stunning and you can tell they put a lot of thought into the design. As soon as we sat down they greeted us with water and chips and salsa. The chips are homemade and really good. I ordered the cheese enchiladas and overall everything tasted great. My only small caveat was that I wish the dish came out hotter temperature wise. One other minor thing was when we were waiting for the check the music got very loud and I couldn't hear the person sitting right next to me. I am not sure if it was accidentally turned up. That said, overall it was a good experience and I would definitely come back. read more

See all

Great restaurant for a special occasion :) we tried the half chicken and aguachiles and both were so yummy! Also great service and ambiance.

Thank you Mary for the great food and service! Excellent evening celebrating my friend's birthday and the vibe was amazing.

Wonderful service, we came to celebrate two birthdays and had the best time. The tacos and cocktails were bomb. The server was so friendly and had the best recommendations. We will definitely be back!!! read more

We came here around 12:30 on a Sunday and it was pretty empty. Only 3 tables were filled which was surprising considering they have a Brunch menu. That emptiness should have been my que to leave but was looking forward to trying something new. We got chips and salsa with an appetizer meanwhile a group of 4 sat next to us. 20mins later we see the table of 4 getting all their food and we still had not. The waiter could see my face and he went immediately to the kitchen. He comes out with no food stating that they are starting to work on our food. WTH it's now after 1 and you just now starting it. He states they like to give ppl time to enjoy their appetizers, it don't take that long to eat no appetizer. Needless to say we got the check and left. Very disappointing and a waste of time. Do Better!!! If I could give a zero I would read more

Great huevos rancheros and excellent service from Dana! Highly recommend. We enjoyed our brunch

Amazing food! Gilberto the chef is gifted. Dayna was so attentive, beautiful Smile! Music ambiance, feels like you are at a club, fun, lighting, and overall experience is great!!!!!!!!!!!! Highly recommend! read more

Brought my mom here for an early Mother's Day celebration. The food was amazing and the service was great. read more

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

food was great. nice and clean establishment. Good service from the server. Very attentive with our needs.

I had an amazing experience at Palenque Kitchen. The service was quick and great. The food was really tasty. We got excellent food & drink recommendations from our waiter Laz. read more

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

We had such a great experience here! The food was delicious, the atmosphere was lovely, and the service was amazing. Staff was so friendly, attentive, and welcoming throughout our visit. We really enjoyed our time here and would definitely come back again. Highly recommend! read more

I came in on a Saturday morning, it was pretty slow but as the place started getting busier the bartender was still the only "server" on. He was super attentive and really really nice, no complaints about him, it just seemed like a lot of work for one person, although he handled it pretty well! I got the Brioche French Toast and added bacon, it was so good! I asked for coffee, got cream and sugar, it was a pretty decent cup of coffee ! The place is very lively looking, every room had a different vibe, nonetheless pretty! Will definitely be back for Lunch and maybe Dinner another time! read more

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

See all

Jackie is a great server! She was extremely attentive and overall such a sweet person! Would come eat here again; the ambiance was amazing :) read more

Dana was amazing! We appreciate the quick service and attention to our table. We will be coming back!!

The ambience is so nice and aesthetically pleasing! The service was quick and very nice. I recommend getting the fajitas they were super yummy and seasoned well, plus it had a good amount of food. Definitely worth it and would come back again read more

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

Had such a great experience at Palenque by Mezcal! Mary was our server and she was so friendly, attentive, and welcoming. I ordered the protein bowl with chicken and it was absolutely packed with flavor! Everything was fresh and delicious. Definitely recommend! read more

Best food. Best service- everyone is happy to work here. This place is underrated!!! I can't get over the quality of the food and cocktails. Try the guavamente! If she's available, Dana is the best! LOVE YOU PALENQUE read more

See all

My friend and I passed by for "lunch" around 5 pm Saturday. We were greeted warmly and attended by Hannah and Brittany throughout our visit. The inside is trendy and well put together. The bathrooms are also clean and have amazing lighting! I'm sure this place gets pretty packed later throughout the night, but since it was a bit slow, we were consistently checked up on, which I really appreciate. They have smaller tables for two, longer tables for big parties, and of course the bar area. My friend ordered shrimp aguachiles and I got the palenque salad, both of which were super good. We decided to share the patron tower as well (definitely something worth sharing). I look forward to coming back to see how the vibes are at night! read more

Palenque Kitchen - Patron tower + palenque salad w/steak - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

See all

Great food and drinks! Try the old fashion with mole. Would definitely come here again. Mary was an awesome server!

Great Food & Drinks! Had a great experience at Palenque Cocina in Costa Mesa! I had the Pepino Margarita and the Protein Bowl, and both were excellent. My wife had the Watermelon Margarita and the Chilaquiles, and she loved them as well. Everything we ordered was fresh, flavorful, and really well prepared. The margaritas were especially good, and the food was just as impressive. Definitely a place we'd come back to. Highly recommend checking out Palenque Cocina if you're in Costa Mesa! read more

We had a nice birthday dinner here. The steak fajitas were delicious. The ambience is such a breath of fresh air, beautiful decor, low lighting and chill beats music! We loved it! read more

Mary was an amazing server! Food was so good and packed with flavor. Definitely will be back again for the service, food, and good vibes!!

Food was AWFUL!! We started with the Cesar salad came with dark blue tortilla chips. The salad was the only meal we enjoyed. We ordered shrimp Diablo which comes with beans and rice. APPARENTLY tortillas are separate. We also ordered the chile relleno no rice no veggies no sides at all. Let me tell you about the beans, they were disgusting,. First of all they don't look like beans at all, the texture is like fluffy mash potatoes so gross. Tortillas are separate Oh! and they are paper store bought tortillas. What ever they do to the beans is not only gross but disgusting and a disgrace to beans. For being à la cart it's so not worth it at all. This place is by far crazy overpriced and way overrated. Another thing if you request salsa yes you will be charged for it, and the amount that they bring is insulting. Service was mediocre they never came around to refill our waters, I'm sure we probably would have been charged extra for that too. Ambiance is very loud and dark so if you happen to have hair in your food or bugs you wouldn't be able to see. All in all I give this place a 2 out if 10 I WOULD NEVER GO BACK NOR WOULD I EVER RECOMMEND THIS PLACE. Not worth it at all. read more

See all

First time here and definitely will be coming back! Came for the vibes and stayed for the drinks. Service was top notch. We were helped by Laz and 10/10! Drinks were soooo good and such good prices. Also, I am a sucker for chips and salsa, and wow delicious!! read more

I had a great experience at Palenque Kitchen. The service was quick and respectful. The aesthetics is amazing. The food was top quality as well. Overall, a very nice restaurant to dine. read more

Palenque Kitchen - Quesa Birria Tacos, Frida's Maggie - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

We ordered a variety of dishes and left wondering how this place has 4 stars. * Pulpo: Crispy (yes, fried), but not enjoyable. The Brussels sprouts it came with were the best part. * Branzino: Just a plain fish dish served with beans and rice. Nothing memorable. * Puerto Nuevo Lobster Enchiladas: Underwhelming and bland. * Beef & Shrimp Combo Fajitas: Apparently two shrimp qualifies as a "combo." Disappointing. * Refried Beans: Across the board, they were runny and watery. Why? On top of that, the presentation was poor. Looking back at Yelp photos, I thought maybe people just weren't great at photographing, but no, nothing came out looking appetizing or picture-worthy in person either. Overall, the food was uninspired and not worth the hype. At least now we know we don't need to come back. read more

See all

We were at another place a few spots down in this little shopping center and were hungry. My girlfriend loves Mexican food and I've driven by this place a several times and it always catches my eye. The menu on their website is excellent and has pictures of almost every item including both food and drinks. The front of the restaurant looks very cool, especially at night, so we decided to give it a try. The parking lot out front was full but we were fortunate to grab a spot earlier in the day. They apparently have parking in the rear also. We walked in a bit past 5:30pm on a Sunday evening and were a little concerned at first because the place was empty except for one table. The reviews were good and we were having dinner earlier than most so we proceeded. The inside of the restaurant looks as nice and trendy as the outside. The big bar is kind of the focus with some neon signs around and the whole restaurant is lit by a great variety of different fixtures. The lighting is on the dim side and gives the place a great lounge type vibe. There was some Mexican music playing that was almost a little too loud but not quite. Our server Hever greeted us who was very friendly and gave great service all night. We asked if they had chips and salsa and they came right out along with some extra salt which we requested. The chips were great and the salsa was very flavorful and was a generous size. I ordered the Sandia Pepino cocktail which was excellent. It was perfectly balanced, the chile rim was great, and I loved the garnish with a round scoop of watermelon pinned between a long cucumber slice. My girlfriend just had a diet coke but it was kind of cool that they serve a Mexican Diet Coke bottle with a glass of ice. The bottle is a little on the small side and your tab might add up quick if you order several. Next came the entrees. She had the Tacos De Papa and the plate looked nice. She enjoyed them but there was a little too much cabbage piled on top. I had the Enchiladas Mazatlan which almost looked like lasagna at first because the layer of cheese on top was so thick. However I really enjoyed the thick layer of cheese and there was a generous amount of shrimp, some in almost every bite. The arugula salad on top was something I had never seen before. I pushed most of it off to the side and had it after the enchiladas. It surprisingly worked, was very good and light and was a nice way to finish off a dish that was a little heavy from the all cheese. We really enjoyed our meal here and would definitely return again. read more

See all

I came here with some friends while I was in Costa Mesa. I'm not super familiar with the area, so naturally I read the reviews. And it didn't disappoint! It was pretty hot outside, so we sat indoors in the air conditioning. The inside is kind of a vibe. I feel like it's a great evening spot. But we went around 2 when they were slower. I ordered the tuna tiradito which was delicious. The pickled onions on top of the tuna sashimi were the best part. Our server said that it was his favorite dish on the menu too. I'd definitely come back, maybe later in the evening to try other dishes. read more

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

See all

First time checking this place out and WOW. Not sure how this spot isn't packed on a Friday night, because Palenque is hitting all the right notes. Literally and figuratively. Let's break it down: Delicious food - I had the veggie tacos and honestly, I wish I took a photo before I devoured them, but they didn't stand a chance. Flavorful, and super satisfying. Great ambiance - Trendy with the kind of lighting and vibe that makes you want to stay awhile. No cover - In this economy? That alone is a win. Plenty of parking - A rare gem in OC nightlife. Fabulous service - Friendly, attentive, and genuinely welcoming. Music on point - I couldn't stop moving, even mid-bite. Every beat felt like it was synced with my soul . TheDJ knew what they were doing. This place is perfect for a chill dinner that turns into dancing, and it deserves way more attention. If you're looking for a new weekend go-to with great vibes, great music and even better food, Palenque is where it's at. read more

Palenque Kitchen - Crispy Beef Tacos Dorados- replaced beef with sautéed veggies for vegetarian version - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

See all