We aren't from the area and were just passing through, looking for an authentic Mexican restaurant when we stumbled upon Rosa Madera online. The photos caught our eye, but they don't even do justice to the actual experience. The modest facade completely hides the gem buried within; the moment you step through the doors, you are transported into a beautiful, vibrant atmosphere. Despite arriving just before 7:00 PM on a busy Saturday night, we were seated incredibly fast. We had the absolute pleasure of being served by Karla (with a 'K'). Her enthusiasm, attentiveness, and deep knowledge of the menu were top-notch--truly a model for how the entire service industry should operate. As for the food? Out of this world. From the presentation to the flavor, the attention to detail is flawless. It is completely clear that Rosa Madera was created by someone with immense vision and heart, and they've managed to find a staff that shares that exact same passion. We are so hooked that we will absolutely be making the trip back from San Diego with the sole purpose of eating here again. In the meantime, my friends and family are going to get sick of me over the next few days, because I refuse to shut up about this place! read more

Service was amazing! Our waitress Maria was great and really attentive! Food and drinks were good as well! Would definitely recommend.

Celebrating friends and life. Rosa Madera has delicious food. The ambiance was top notch. Cristian Luna was our waiter, very polite, helpful and patient. He made wonderful suggestions! read more

The food is amazing!!!!! I usually only review when I'm pissed off at quality or service. The food is insanely tasty. The happy hour deals are a steal and the service was amazing. Carla N was our server and she did a great job navigating the menu and joking w my dad while he asked for off menu meals. The mini ceviche was the best I've ever had. The street tacos were packed w flavor. And if you want something out of pocket good, the birria........ they have tacos w consume and birria chimichangas! I came in expecting the lunch special of birria tacos and got there in time for their happy hour and it was an insanely amazing surprise!! I came two weeks ago w my dad for the lunch special. And we got here in time for happy hour today. And I just ordered randomly and wasn't disappointed in even one thing! read more

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There are plenty of parking spaces. The restaurant has really nice decor and vibes. They serve Chicharrones per table as good starters. We ordered Flautas De Tinga Con Guac and Queso Con Chorizo to share. Both were absolutely delicious and great appetizers to start. I ordered the Enchiladas Verde, which comes with rice and beans. The Enchiladas Verde were delicious and flavorful. I also got the Guava Margarita, which was a bit sweet, but still good. Recommendation(s): - Flautas De Tinga Con Guac - Queso Con Chorizo - Enchiladas Verde - Guava Margarita Service: 5/5 Tip(s): - Plenty of parking spaces - Restrooms available read more

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Rosa Madera caught hubby's eye on The Internets, just like the last two restaurants that I reviewed. He's 0 for 3 right now, and I'm HIGHLY skeptical about the foodie influencers that rate these restaurants so highly. It's my birthday this week, but life happens so we celebrated early with the whole family here at Rosa Madera. We could've easily chosen a better and more familiar spot, but I wasn't paying and it was worth a try (I guess). Upon entering, my oldest son said the decor is tacky. The overhead lights were on so it didn't look all romantic like on the socials. Hella roses, skulls, huge murals, drift wood, tiki lounge lamps, Clase Azul bottles on the wall, an Our Lady of Guadalupe at the hostess stand... Decor wasn't cohesive and was a mix of romantic, goth, pirate, tropical bungalow and coastal beach house. My older two mentioned that the playlist had a really good mix, and I distinctly remember walking to our table with La Chona playing. We went in on a Thursday afternoon, so the restaurant was not to capacity, probably 1/4 of a way occupied. We were seated quickly, and our server greeted us just as promptly with two servings of duritos, one plain and one with Valentina. We ordered our drinks and an app: Modelo, Jamaica Margarita, Cucumber Agua Fresca, Dr. Peppers, and waters, and Los Favoritos that had chicken tinga taquitos, birria chimichangas, and al pastor nachos. Drinks came out quickly and were presented nicely. The Jamaica margarita came rimmed with chamoy and Tajin and was garnished with rose petals and a lime slice. The Cucumber Agua Fresca was served in a traditional jarritos and was refreshing. Hubby took a few sips of his Modelo, then ordered an Horchata. I thought he ordered another beer, but he explained that Modelos are only good ice cold, so he didn't want the rest of his beer. Los Favoritos was served to our table, and the food looked great. Our favorite was the chicken tinga taquitos. The birria chimichangas were too cheesy for my liking, and my daughter mentioned that the middles were on the cold side. The chips for the nachos were good and crispy and held up to all the toppings. The al pastor, though, had a flavor that I couldn't appreciate, and soon as I said that out loud hubby and my oldest son chimed in and said the same thing. A red salsa and some crema were served with our app, with the red salsa having a nice flavor and a little kick to it. The twins both ordered the Ranchera A La Plancha, hubby had the Tacos de Papa, my daughter had the Mushroom Quesadilla Ahogadas, my oldest son chose the Ultimate Breakfast Burrito, and I decided on the Chilaquiles Rojas with steak. The twins quickly pushed aside all the food items they don't like, which basically left just the meat and the tortillas. My oldest son said the burrito was more cheese than anything and only took a few bites before pushing his plate aside. Hubby only ate half of his tacos. I think they gave me the mole instead of the salsa rojos because the sauce was undeniably sweet. The steak that came with, half of it was fatty. My daughter's mushroom quesadilla was almost pure cheese with tiny slivers of mushroom. We took a lot of the food home, but I doubt anyone is gonna eat it. My older two said 2/5 and the twins said 3/5. Parking is a shared lot amongst other businesses and the restrooms are bright and clean. There were two big parties to the left of us, with one table disputing the bill. That same table celebrated a birthday where they brought a dessert with a sparkler and a communal sombrero. read more

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Now I know what all the hype is about! This restaurant location first opened a couple of years ago, and I remember friends mentioning that since they don't take reservations, it would take a long time to get seated. Thankfully right now, even on a Saturday afternoon, there was plenty of seating. Although they do have an online waitlist that you can join straight from their website, and you'll get texted when your table is ready. All of the food here is excellent! The Birria Chimichanga appetizer comes with 1/2 dozen mini fried burritos all packed with shredded beef, cheese and are so filling that you can order this as an entree, which is what I did. Their beans and rice are both exceptional, as is the Horchata. Oh and you get a large mug for your drinks, so you definitely get your moneys worth for your beverage. I can't wait to come back and try more delicious Mexican! read more

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If you're looking for a place with amazing vibes and even better food, this is the spot! They also have live music on the weekends. They have amazing cocktails as well as agua frescas. I've tried a few different dishes from here and it never disappoints. The service is fast and friendly. Perfect place to have birthday or anniversary dinners. I'll be back! read more

Rosa Madera - Enchiladas verde - Mexican Near Me - Santa Ana, California

Portion size was great price was good and so was the service. This spot is so cute and perfect for any event. The ambiance is dimly lit and beautiful interior and lighting. Overall great food all around A+! read more

Rosa Madera - Mexican Near Me - Santa Ana, California

Been wanting to visit and finally did so. Was not that impressed. Food was mediocre - at best. Several dishes provided less than impressive results. Yes, your ambience is nice, service is great, and drinks were not bad. But if you don't deliver on the food, every else is irrelevant. read more

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Came for dinner just before the rush. Was pretty busy. The inside decor is really pretty. I ordered the horchata and the Combination option where you can select two items for $22. I got the quesabirria and the flautas verde. These came with a side of beans and rice. I do wish that the quesabirria came with consome but it did not. The horchata was good but it has a bit of a coconut flavor to it which was unexpected. Quesabirria was delicious. They had a mariachi band playing which was nice but also made it really loud and difficult to talk with my group at the table. read more

Rosa Madera - Horchata - Mexican Near Me - Santa Ana, California

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To be honest this time around Rosa Madera was a huge disappointment. I understand the staff doesn't always have to be super happy but dang our waitress seemed to be annoyed to be serving today. I understand bad days i really do but even on my worst i try to not let it affect my work life. I tried to be kind but even then it felt like we were a bother when in reality everything was so simple from our order. Even with other tables she seemed to not really care. Then we got our drinks and i kid you not they were the most mediocre drinks ever and i've been here multiple times but today it felt like the drinks were premade or something. We ate and within 34-40 we left. Super disappointed in this. So i will definitely update my review read more

Rosa Madera - Mexican Near Me - Santa Ana, California

Food? Gooood. Drinks? Goooooood. Ambiance? Annoying. Too many birthday announcements and it gets really obnoxious when you're trying to dine with who you brought. They loudly play this annoying birthday message and then most of the time forget to dial the music back down to a comfortable level, so you'll be stuck with louder music, but it's okay because they'll do another birthday and it's a 50/50 chance the music will be put to a regular volume because it never ends. :) I think they should just change how they announce birthdays or how they make that a cool moment so it doesn't overtake everyone else's time in the restaurant. The birthday sombrero thing they do is cool but I'm not sure how sanitary that is. They come over and put a nicely made sombrero on you with a complimentary treat and sparklers, but mind you that sombrero goes on all 30 birthdays of the day... of people of ALL ages.. kiddos too. No amount of spray or cleaning agent would convince me to want to put that hat on, so put on at your own risk! Service is great and friendly, my waiter even brought out more chicharrónes for me and my friend; great hospitality! He was super sweet! Also, you can tell the servers are worn from the multiple birthdays. Their faces on the way back to the back says it all, and I even heard a male server say, "another one?!" And I don't blame them! They're doing back to back, back to back, and back to back, birthday marches to tables and they're expected to be hyped every single time! So management, instead of talking to your employees about their faces and comments from this one review, let this be insight for how your employees are feeling. Maybe reconsider how you're valuing them and their energy and how you can think of a different way to still make birthdays special for everyone without tiring out your staff and taking away the dining experience from other guests. read more

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Rosa madera is a hidden gem in Santa Ana It's a somewhat upscale restaurant that offers live music and entertainment. Food is very delicious the service was good. Very attentive. The price was mid point for 8 people came out to less than 250 which wasn't bad. Overall I would be down to come back ! If your ever around the area check them out read more

Rosa Madera - Mexican Near Me - Santa Ana, California

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Finally came back and I still love this place! I was craving asada nachos and a margarita and immediately remembered this place. I came in with my mom who was craving the exact same thing and we were so happy. There was live entertainment so it was sort of loud but we were still able to maintain a conversation and service was good, no complaints. I will say the same thing as last time ... those nachos are shareable and possibly still too much food for just two people. We got food coma and weren't able to eat anything else although the menu looked yummy. read more

Rosa Madera - cucumber and mango margarita - Mexican Near Me - Santa Ana, California

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Excellent & delicious chilli releno & tacos. Excellent service. Great ambiance with live Mexican music. read more

Rosa Madera - Mexican draft beer - Mexican Near Me - Santa Ana, California

Service = 5 stars! This place has fantastic service. Carla is amazing but honestly all their staff are friendly and attentive! Food = 10 stars!!! We've been here 4 times now and have had several items on the menu and haven't had anything bad. Everything has been perfect and tasty. Very authentic and the homemade tortillas are the best! Ambiance = 5 stars Clean, modern and fun! read more

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Even though there was a wait because it was the weekend, the check in time went by quickly. It originally had an hour wait but we only really waited less than 30 minutes. Do wait if needed. They had live mariachi being that it was the weekend. Everyone was friendly and the food was decently portioned and quite tasty too! It wasn't too loud in there as I was able to have a conversation without yelling. Their micheladas and paloma enamorada were very good too. read more

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I'm extremely disappointed with the way this restaurant handled Mother's Day reservations and wait times. I called TWO WEEKS before Mother's Day specifically to ask how I could get a table. I was told the ONLY way was to add myself to the wait list the day of when the restaurant opened. At no point during that call did anyone explain that there would also be a physical line outside and that seating would alternate between people waiting in line and people on the wait list. I joined the wait list at 10:03 AM and was already 60-something on the list. At the time, the app estimated a 2-3 hour wait, which I understood and was willing to accept. However, it has now been almost 3 hours and the wait list has barely moved about 10 people total. Had the process been explained honestly from the beginning, I could have made different plans for Mother's Day instead of spending hours waiting with no real movement or communication. The lack of transparency and poor organization completely took away from what was supposed to be a special day. read more

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I took my mom here for her birthday and it instantly became a family favorite! The atmosphere was warm and intimate without being too quiet as it was on a Thursday when no mariachi or Banda were scheduled. Amazing service that interacted well with our family and brought over an amazing birthday flan and huge sombrero! The birria quesadillas are apparently one of their top ordered and rightfully so. The molcajete also was a favorite as the meat was deliciously seasoned and the plate was not too oily. While pricier than other restaurants, the decorations and photo worthy interior makes this spot 100% worth coming for special occasions. Ig: socalyumiez read more

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Came here to celebrate my cousin's birthday and absolutely loved it! The decor inside is beautiful and loved the livelyagain! Servers and the staff were very friendly. We unfortunately came a little earlier than when they had their live music so we def have to come back. We ordered the following: -Agua de Pepino- Super refreshing and tasted exactly as expected. -Los Favoritos- Lots of food for an appetizer to share for the group. A sampler of flautas, birria chimichangas, and nachos. I honestly felt like someone could order this for their main entree! -Ceviche Verde Agua Chiles- Very filling, large portions. Spicy and absolutely delicious -Flautas Salsa Verde- Perfectly crispy and had lots of flavor! The salsa verde is not very spicy if that is something you prefer or don't, good to keep in mind. Their cocktails were also delicious, I got the Vacaciones A Tulum and it honestly tasted like juice which I prefer. Definitely would come again! read more

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Delicious food and drink, especially the cafe de olla and mole enchiladas. Inside is beautiful as shown on many other photos. read more

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I really loved this place when they first opened. The food is good, they had live entertainment on various nights, and the margaritas are on point. I didn't even mind paying the ridiculous top shelf prices because the drinks were solid. Not to mention they had a 2 hour wait list. And I was fine with that too. However, today they lost a customer. And from the looks of how empty the place was when I arrived and got rudely turned away by the hostess, apparently I'm not the only person feeling this way. They post a closing time of 10pm but don't be deceived, last call is an hour prior‍. So if you walk in at 9pm thinking you're going to have dinner and a drink, save yourself the trip and literally go anywhere and everywhere else. read more

We came to this spot on a weekday so there was no wait time (yay). This place is so visually captivating in the inside. On the outside it doesn't look special but boy what a treat when you walk in. Their whole restaurant is filled with vibrant murals and their decor captures the true essence of Mexico. As you arrived you are served with some Doritos with hot sauce, which is just the perfect classic snack to munch on. Their cafe de olla was perfect, no creamer was needed and I normally cannot live without creamer or milk in my coffee. It was also perfectly paired with some classic galleta Maria's ( cookies). I ordered the chilaquiles divorciados to taste both the red salsa and green salsa and let me just say this was delicious. Their green salsa was so good, it was perfectly paired with some crema and queso. I decided to add steak and eggs and it did not disappoint. The service was great too! Karla N. was so welcoming and attentive, making sure we had everything we needed. She answered all my questions and even helped me pick the perfect dish. All in all, this is a place I would definitely return to - their decorations, food and drinks offered a wonderful taste of Mexico. read more

When you walk in the atmosphere is very classy and fun. Live entertainment on a Saturday evening can be a bit loud so if that might disrupt your experience might want to check if anyone is scheduled to play but it does elevate and energize the experience if you are ready for it. Came out for a birthday dinner and had Myles serve us. He was very attentive, made sure our table was clean, and made sure we were happy with our experience from start to finish. The food was great. The quality of meat was spectacular and everything was very filling. The price is reasonable for the quality of food and the atmosphere that you get here. Overall experience was amazing and would definitely come back to try other dishes. read more

Rosa Madera - Bar Area - Mexican Near Me - Santa Ana, California

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We learned about Rosa Madera on TikTok and knew this would be the perfect place to celebrate my mom's 70th birthday! Everything about this Mexican restaurant was amazing! From the outside, the restaurant was understated and easy to miss, but the moment we stepped through the doors we were met with vibrant murals, beautiful décor, and an atmosphere that made us feel like we'd crossed into a fiesta in Mexico. Reservations were not available but our party of 11 only had to wait 30-40 minutes to get seated on a busy Friday evening. Mariachi Corazon de Maria played the entire evening. The male and female vocals were incredible. I'd say they're one of the best mariachis that I've seen live. Everyone in our group agreed that the food, cocktails, and desserts were delicious. The menu had lots of traditional dishes that sounded great. My Mexican born and raised mom loved her meal... that says a lot because she is a fantastic cook who typically prefers her own homemade recipes. Prices were reasonable for all they had to offer, and portions were substantial. This was a perfect place to celebrate my mom. At one point in the evening, the singer walked around to the tables and gave shout-outs to guests celebrating special occasions. Later, the wait staff brought her a large sombrero, flan, and sparkler, then sang happy birthday. All the staff were friendly and attentive. Thank you, Rosa Madera, for giving my mom and family a memorable dinner. I can't wait to come back again. Rosa Madera has earned the spot as my favorite Mexican restaurant! read more

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Celebrated my son's birthday on a Sunday. Reservations were made ahead of time. We were greeted and seated. We happened to get seated next to the stage, which was in our favor since there was a Mariachi show that starts at 1130amsh. That Mariachi band was awesome. The ambiance felt like I was in Mexico. Ordered adult beverages and received our complimentary Salsa with chips. Few minutes passed and we put our orders in. The Mariach band started to play while we waited for our entrees. The wait wasn't long until we received our food. We chowed down! The food did not dissapoint, it was rather delicious. Portion size was big. Overall, this place is an entertainment restaurant, especially on a Sunday. Good music and good food!! Overall l, i would come back. The staff was very friendly. Our waitress always attended to us. Customer service was great!. Long story short... Plenty of parking, good food, and a band. Comfortable yummy. read more

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Rosa Madera thank you guys for making my parents Birthday Celebration unforgettable. I was able to make a reservation for 20 people, brought our cake, the service was outstanding and the food delicious. All of my family enjoyed the amazing Mariachi and they were amazed at the music, the food and the ambiance. Will definitely keep coming back. read more

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First time here! Place is beautiful- love the ambiance and music playing. Cristian L was very nice and helpful in giving is feedback on the popular drinks and plates. Would definitely be back! read more

Rosa Madera - Mexican Near Me - Santa Ana, California

Tonight I brought a group of 44 parents from our school to Rosa Madera while our kids were at their Spring Dance. The restaurant is so unassuming from the outside but when you open the doors it is decorated beautifully with bright flowers, fun lanterns, and rustic wood tables. The bar at the end was full of people having a great night and a bartender making the evening fun. Our group took up a big chunk of the restaurant but I'd booked well in advance with Deodo and Rosio so they were ready for us! Our two servers worked so hard to get everything ordered and out to the tables as quickly and as efficiently as possible - great job to both of them!! The food was delicious!! I just have a picture of mine but the feedback I received was that it was some of the best Mexican food our party had tasted!! So flavorful!! Overall it was a great night and we hope to be back next year for Spring Dance night!! Let's make it a tradition! Thanks Rosa Madera for a fabulous night!! read more

Rosa Madera - Mushroom tacos and cucumber aqua fresca - Mexican Near Me - Santa Ana, California

Highly recommend this spot. Came by a couple times already not sure why I haven't left a review. Unfortunately I didn't take pictures every time I came here but I did take a picture of what I ordered when I came here for a quick drink and bite. I ordered the "Los Favoritos" as my main since I wasn't too hungry and it was the best choice I could've made. Who doesn't like finger foods??? Flautas de Tinga, Birria Chimichangas, and Nachos Al Pastor! Super fire, all the meats were flavorful and juicy. One of my favorite things about this place is that they serve Chicharron while at the bar / before you order anything (basically in place of chips and salsa that you'd usually get at other restaurants.) A couple times that I've been here, there was also live music, mostly on the times that I've came on weekends. Been here on weekdays and it was pretty packed but no live music. Definitely expect a wait time for tables, not so much for bar seats. Los Favoritos 5/5 would order again ! Flautas de Tinga 5/5 Birria chimichangas 5/5 Nachos Al pastor 5/5 read more

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Great service by Karla and fun band playing on a Friday night. Food came out fast and very yummy. We ordered the Agua chile and salmon. Both were so great. The chica Fresca drink was delicious. My only complaint is that we did have to have to wait a long time before being seated but we did have a large group of 15 people & it was a Friday night so it's best to arrive early to put your name. Will definitely recommend to friends and family read more

I came here for lunch, Miles and Nadia recommended the Birria chimichanga because I was asking them about a really good place that makes them, they said there's are the best, so I ordered it and ohhhhhhhhhhh man they both were right, Sooooo BOMB!!!, Nadia was telling me about the dip sauce, which is consome the juice of the pot that is used to cook the shredded Birria , and the juice is adding flavor to the beef, the last place I ordered a Chimichanga put asada in it and it's not the same at all!!, I would recommend this place to any of my friends and family, also thr place is big inside once you walk in. Levi Romo read more

The interior of this place is super nice! Great for a date night or celebration. The service was great and food was good! The birria chimichangas are a must try. I was blown away. We also got the molcajete, which can feed 2+ people. It's very impressive looking, but just okay taste wise. Everything was a little too salty. Overall, we had a really good experience and would come back! Would love to come back when they have the live mariachi band. read more

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A Must Try! Excellent authentic food, a hidden Gem! We came on a weekday to celebrate a graduation and the staff was very attentive and helped us celebrate the special occasion. All of the staff came up to our table to congratulate the graduates and at the end of our meal, they thought both graduates a dressed up congratulations dessert. From the waiters to the bartender, everyone was amazing! The bartender was one of a kind, he checked up on customers and made sure he greeted everyone. This guy was on point, made small talk with my family and made us feel at home. As for the drinks he was mixing, Damn!!! They were amazing and wasn't shy with the alcohol!!! Appreciate you!!! As for the food, authentic and original! We all tried different plates and they were all delicious !!! Birria Chimichangas and Churro Puffs... AMAZING!!! The environment, very nicely decorated with dimmed lights, creative lamps, and flowers hanging from the ceiling. Very clean as well. Overall... 10/10 !!! read more

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Truly one of my favorite mexican restaurants near me, i gone multiple times and the food is always delicious! we love begging the molcajete to share with two people and choriqueso. the drinks are also delicious. service has been great so far and the ambiance is great. read more

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Loved the drinks, food, and ambience!! The happy hour is so worth it! I ordered the cecina plate and loved it. Maria was a great server. I highly recommend. read more

Rosa Madera - Happy hour - Mexican Near Me - Santa Ana, California

All of the times I've been here food and vibes has always been 10/10. Today we were served by Miles and his service was amazing. He made the best strawberry margaritas I've ever had. Next time will be ordering this again. read more

Rosa Madera - Strawberry Margarita, Cucumber Margarita and Horchata. - Mexican Near Me - Santa Ana, California

A must!!! This place is a hidden treasure. I came here on a weekday and it was almost full house. Lots of family birthday and graduations I absolutely love the live singing and music . The atmosphere is beautiful a little on the louder side because of the music, but it's beautiful! The girl and guy singing come around the tables to sing, and they are very attentive to celebrate birthdays and ask tables to give them a shout out! The environment is clean, waiters are constantly coming to your table to check on you and if anything is needed. The decoration of this place is beautiful with dimmed lights, creative lamps and some artificial flowers on the ceiling. The food: I ordered tropical ceviche and it was yummy! They layered the tostadas with guacamole on the side which I really loved. My husband ordered the chimichanga burritos, had a side of consome and he couldn't finish it! It was a lot of food but so worth it. And finally dessert the churro puffs yum!!! Overall 10/10 for atmosphere, customer service and food. The mariachi come on Wednesday, Fridays and Sundays! read more

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I was excited to try this place as my dad and his wife had said that this was one of their favorite places. We went there for a birthday celebration for both me and his wife, and it was so much fun. The live music really made the vibes and the decor was very classy. A lot of others were celebrating anniversaries and birthdays as well and the hosts of the entertainment made sure to go around and celebrate everyone. My partner and I shared a dish, the Pollo En Mole, and tried a forkful of everyone else's dish at the table as well. Everything was so good!! And the cocktails were beautiful and tasty as well. I also got a birthday flan and my stepmom got a birthday "shot" of alcohol on the house. I'm sure my dad will be happy to take us back next time we're in town. read more

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