THIS PLACE ROCKS. Food was fire. Drinks were fire. JC was the best waiter in the world. Paid attention to allergies and had the best vibes! So amazing! read more

Great food, Good service, amazing drinks, would definitely recommend to others and will definitely be back again.

Came for happy hour and they have a really good happy hour menu. The shrimp taquitos were so good! They come with two per order. I ended up ordering another because they were that good. I also had the Animal Taco. It's a carne asada taco with fries, cheese, and fried onions. It didn't have any salsa or sauce, so it was pretty dry. The cucumber jalapeño margarita was really good too. The only downside was the service. It was slow. Our waitress hardly checked on us, and every time we wanted to order something else, we had to wait forever for her to come back to the table. They do validate parking, so make sure you give the hostess your parking ticket before you leave. Also, if you have a Tesla, there's a Supercharger in the SOL parking lot, so you can charge your car while you eat, which is really convenient. read more

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My husband and I took my parents in law out to Sol to celebrate their birthdays. To start off with the good, the ambiance here is really nice!! It definitely feels like a fancy restaurant. Alongside this, they give complimentary chips, salsa, and bean dip. I love how the chips were fresh and warm and having bean dip was a nice touch because most other Mexican restaurants don't serve that complimentary. I thought that the bean dip and salsa were exceptionally tasty. Unfortunately, I can't say the same with our entrees. Everyone on our table ordered something different and some items were better than others, but overall, we were all pretty underwhelmed. I ordered the carne asada burrito and it was honestly one of the saddest burritos I've had--the filling essentially only had beans and beef. Although I came hungry, I didn't finish my burrito because it wasn't super enjoyable. Alongside this, a lot of my party felt like our dishes came out room temperature instead of warm. Service was also just okay. We were seated on a table without utensils and napkins and had to ask multiple times until they actually came out. Alongside this, our waiter didn't check up on us too often and we felt like it was an effort to try to flag him down. Overall, although the ambiance and chips, salsa, and bean dip were good, I wouldn't say that it's enough for me to recommend this place. read more

SOL Mexican Cocina - CARNE ASADA BURRITO - Mexican Near Me - Irvine, California

SOL Mexican Cocina in Irvine is an easy pick when you want solid Baja-style food and a chill vibe without driving down to Newport. It's got a great outdoor patio with firepits that's perfect for a long lunch or relaxing after work. Definitely start with the chips and guacamole. The guac has a really fresh lime flavor with a bit of a kick from serranos, and the chips come out warm and thick enough to actually hold it. For an appetizer, the taquitos are great--super crispy, loaded with shredded meat, and topped with plenty of crema and cotija cheese. For the main meal, the braised short rib is hands down the best thing on the menu. The meat is so tender it just falls apart with a fork, and it comes covered in a rich, deep red chile sauce. It comes in a hot skillet with rice, black beans, fried plantains, and warm tortillas wrapped up so you can make your own tacos at the table. Drinks are great too, since they actually use fresh citrus in their margaritas instead of sour mix. It's definitely on the pricier side, and the parking lot off Main Street can be annoying around happy hour, but the food and drinks are always on point. read more

SOL Mexican Cocina - Mexican Near Me - Irvine, California

Very yummy taco!! Very cute vibe. Sat on the outdoor patio. Service was okay. All in all was good. Would come back maybe every year. read more

SOL Mexican Cocina - Steak Taco - Mexican Near Me - Irvine, California

Great everything. Came here on a working lunch and from being greeted by the host to paying the check every aspect was on point. This place has a spa like feel where every sense of your well being is cared for. The place is immaculate while the staff are well dressed and kept from head to toe! Ordered: Fresh Guac - perfect in everyway...fresh, clean, vibrant and went well with any bite on the table! Steak and shrimp taco - this was such a well balanced taco, I had to pull it back and look at it bite after bite. Each ingredient played off the other very well. Salsa's perfect spice, and freshness - another great addition to any bite at the table especially the fresh warm tortilla chips that come as tostadas! Will surely be back again and again!!! read more

2 stars for the food, NOT the service, every single person there was kind! Was insanely excited to try SOL for the first time as we were drawn in by the tacos y tequila tuesdays + live music. Arrived and parked in the parking structure that was right next to SOL. They validate your parking at the hostess table! Live music was a solo dj Complimentary chips + salsa and black beans, but these beans were terrible. Absolutely burnt and had such a burnt, acrid taste, so we stopped eating them. You know when something is burnt when it has an extremely overpowering gas/bitter taste to it We ordered the pan seared salmon, taste of baja, and grilled wagyuala tampiquena. Everything desperately needed salt and honestly, just flavor and seasoning. Just request for salt & they bring it out to you in a small molcajete (super cute!). I ordered the wagyuala and it tasted off, salt was desperately needed & i thought that the cilantro chimichurri would've added robust flavor but nope, literally everything on that plate was under seasoned or probably not seasoned at all, not joking. Maybe it was a bad day in the kitchen, but even sprinkling the salt over the beef did nothing, it tasted so bland. Meat was tender, requested medium and it came out fairly medium, but the meat also had a very strange aftertaste (to me), so i stopped eating it. And trust me, i NEVER stop eating my beef/steak uneaten because I will tear it up lol The food was BAD and wished so bad that we just stuck with our usual go-to, which is Javier's, but we wanted to try something new yesterday for dinner. Their borracho beans and rice side were just okay, everything seriously lacked so much flavor- salt, pepper, garlic/onion/cumin powder, ANYTHING. I'm just throwing out general seasonings. Bad decision. It really kills me to write this review because this has NOTHING to do with the employees, everyone was AWESOME. That food was seriously terrible, that burnt black bean dip should've been the red flag/indicator for how the rest of the food was going to taste like, but we remained positive. Glad others enjoy SOL, but its not for us 2 stars for the kind employees + ambiance of the restaurant. I echo the other similar reviews that say there is hardly no flavor, nothing stood out, not much to write home about, going to Javier's Irvine Spectrum/Newport or Red O in Newport read more

SOL Mexican Cocina - Mexican Near Me - Irvine, California

We came here for the first time to celebrate our birthdays, and unfortunately, it was a very disappointing experience. The service was extremely poor. We had to repeatedly ask for silverware, chips, and salsa because nothing was brought to our table. When our food finally arrived, everything was cold. Even the fajitas, which are supposed to come out sizzling, were not hot at all. When I told the staff that the food was cold, they offered to remake it. I asked if I could switch to the chicken fajitas instead. It took a very long time for them to bring the replacement, and when it finally arrived, they said they had run out of sizzling plates, so it was served on a regular plate instead. The biggest issue was with my daughter's meal. She has a tomato allergy, which we clearly informed the server about when ordering. The server assured us there were no tomatoes in her meal, but when it arrived, it had tomatoes. They took it back to remake it, but after another long wait, they brought it back with tomato rice still on the plate. That was unacceptable, especially considering it involved a food allergy. Overall, the service was slow, the food was cold, and there was a serious lack of attention to an important dietary restriction. This was supposed to be a special birthday celebration, but it turned into a frustrating experience. We won't be coming back. read more

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I got lucky to be able to make a day before reservation at SOL in Irvine for Cinco de Mayo! Hadn't yet been to this location, so I was looking forward to checking it out. The ambiance is nice; beautifully decorated. It was also very busy, but it was Cinco de Mayo. The deals that day were all day happy hour. Score! I started with the Cucumber Jalapeño Margarita skinny. That was good but I could barely taste the tequila. Felt watered down almost. Skinny just means less sweet, not less alcohol. I then switched to a frozen margarita and that was too sweet, but yummy. For food, my favorite was the Firecracker Quesadilla. That was deeeeeeelicious!! Highly recommend. The naked guacamole was good too, but not worth $9. And the Animal Tacos were O.K. I barely finished mine. When you make the turn to go to parking, don't go straight to the corporate parking structure. Make a u-turn and park in the structure that says restaurant and is right adjacent to SOL. Then they validate. But we didn't see that parking and ended up in the corporate parking, which they don't validate. I don't know if I'll go back. It's a bit pricey for happy hour. read more

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A good pit stop since I had to charge my Tesla. Good deals on happy hour in terms of food. I had shrimp taquitos as a snack before dinner. Service was prompt. I'd come back to try other items on their menu read more

SOL Mexican Cocina - Chips and salsa - Mexican Near Me - Irvine, California

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My first time here. The attached parking garage is so convenient and they validate; the garage has a walkway to restaurant entrance. Arrived on a quiet Saturday in between the lunch and dinner rush; sat at the bar. Bartender Andy G. couldn't have been a better ambassador with knowledge and service. Their Sauvignon Blanc is delicious. The chips and salsa were fresh and delicious. I personally don't recommend the queso - greasy and surprisingly bland. The pollo fajitas were divine. The protein so tender and moist, along with their salsa was worth going back for. The fresh breeze, decor, comfortable bar stools (a first) and service were so appealing. Is it overpriced? Yes, in comparison to other well done upscale Mexican restaurant menus - No, when you consider the quality of the food presented, the service, location and convenience of validated parking. I'll be back for sure! (Had takeout delivered nine days later and it was as delicious!) read more

SOL Mexican Cocina - Salsa is delicious! Chips so fresh!! - Mexican Near Me - Irvine, California

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All sunshine and smiles at Sol Mexicana Cocina! It's got total vacation resort vibes, and I'm all in for good times. And good food! We came here for brunch today, and everything was so good! I ordered their chorizo and potato scramble. It was delicious. Generous portions, they are not sheisty when it comes to their servings. My daughter got their chilaquiles and it was huge! Also so delicious. Hubbie got their fajita, he was a bit disappointed that it did not come in a sizzling skillet. Save room for dessert! Their tres leches cake was SO good! We shared it between us three, and could not finish. Not because we did not like it, but because it was so generous. Will definitely order again. This is our third visit to Sol, and we will definitely be back. The food. The atmosphere. The friendly service. Everything is just superb. Like a day full of sunshine! read more

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Nice and big place, great customer service every time we come and we enjoy the food. I have tried a variety of items and my favorites have been the Wagyu steak entree, shrimp chile relleno, and of course the chips and salsa they give you when you sit down. Each dish is unique and good and feels like there's a couple dishes where you can pass but depending on what you like but you can't go wrong. They are great for HH and just to sit down and chit chat with some girlfriends read more

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This was my 3rd time visiting, the first time having been a friend's birthday and the second time having been my graduation dinner. I was extremely excited to be back, as I recalled the service and food being above par. The exterior of this restaurant is mesmerizing, and I saw people taking photos the entire time. I visited on Valentine's Day for a family dinner. Immediately, I was relieved by the kind service from the staff. We arrived early to our reservation, and the employees were understanding and sat us way sooner than we were supposed to be. I ordered the Goat Cheese Enchiladas, which were amazing! The tortillas were perfect, and the goat cheese blended perfectly with the salsa verde & crema. I wish I had caught our server's name, as he was incredibly knowledgeable about the menu, kind, and spoke Spanish! This helped elevate the experience for our whole party. I will say... the prices are on the higher end. read more

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Such a fun place. We had a wonderful experience at SOL Mexican Cocina. Zully, Our server,, was very attentive and helpful, and gave us great food recommendations on what to order. The food we had was really good, and we all enjoyed our meals. The ambiance was also amazing, very relaxing, and perfect for a great family dining experience.. Moises the manager is as wonderful as well !! and we always look forward to coming back again. read more

SOL Mexican Cocina - Mexican Near Me - Irvine, California

Excellent crab chowder, chili verde and Cobb salad. Food and service was very good. Ambience excellent! read more

SOL Mexican Cocina - Chili verde - Mexican Near Me - Irvine, California

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Beautiful restaurant! Buffet Style! The food was decent, however the food wasn't as fresh and hot as I hoped it would be. Every dish I tried seemed at room temperature or cold. The enchiladas was very dry and cold. For desert I got arroz con leche but it looked very dry. Bartending service was exceptional, very welcoming and gave us alcoholic and non alcoholic recommendations. As far as service, our server seemed to be more attentive to everyone else around our table except us. Unfortunately, I don't think I will be returning. read more

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We came for the Father's Day buffett, as we have been to this location for Sunday buffets for about 3 decades as an El Torito mostly before. We were surprised to see the buffett offered, and surprised in a great way! Layout was generous but not crammed, we made reservations so that helped a ton. It was busy but the service was still amazing. It has a cute "hacienda" feel to it like the old El Torito but with a clean and modern design. Now the food? All your Mexican breakfast staples from Chile Rellenos, Menudo, Green Posole, Enchiladas, Waffles, Omelet bar and what was by far the most impressive and popular was the Ceviche station. It had a couple other seafood offerings beside it that was constantly being refilled all the time. Super popular offerings!! I'd come back for the buffett in a heartbeat, it's nostalgia for us and Sol is doing a great job with a kind and caring staff, great food options and amazing vibe for breakfast. Parking tip: Pull in on Main St. to the parking structure, Sol will validate for 1.5 hours so don't get lost! read more

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This place was very packed in the bar and lounge area on a Tuesday. Got to the restaurant around 5:30pm and not a single seat in the bar area. Wanted to sit at the outside bar but they were using that part of the patio for a private party so instead sat in the other patio area. Furniture was pretty dirty but it was nice that the host who brought over the menus at least wiped down the table. You can get a house margarita and two street tacos for $15 which is a pretty good deal for Taco Tuesday. Also shared the shrimp flautas which were crunchy and delicious. Also enjoyed the Cobb salad which came out with no dressing, not even on the side and took awhile for our server to bring. Service overall was pretty slow but at least the server was nice enough to apologize that the bartender was backed up so your drinks would take a bit to come out. It's definitely a vibe inside with a DJ as well. My only complaint is that the service was soooo slow that I still had to pay $8 to park even with the 1hr and 30 min validation. My experience overall from the moment I sat down was about 2.5 hours which seemed a bit absurd seeing I got there at 5:30pm. read more

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I was so impressed by the food here. It is absolutely delicious. We came after work around 5pm and we did not need to wait for a table. We order the carne asada tacos and the chicken quesadilla. The quesadilla was the best quesadilla I ever had. It was amazing and honestly my favorite thing on the menu. The chips and salsa are also very good. The quality of food is impressive and honestly I am very happy with the overall experience. If you are going to happy hour, make sure to mention that you want to sit on the "cantina" side. The separate the bar side and restaurant side. So you cannot order happy hour on the restaurant side. I did not like that they do not tell you that before you are seated. So make sure to check before they seat you. read more

The food was nothing special. It matched the aesthetic of upscale Mexican food but definitely far from authentic. We got a calamari appetizer, the breading was a bit much and the calamari itself was too tender. Not your typical squid. The octopus "paella" was okay. The octopus itself was 7/10 but the stuff under in the dish didn't do much. It was bland and seemed unnecessary. We also got a shrimp and fish taco. Very big in size, the amount of shrimp and fish didn't match the size of the taco unfortunately. The service was good. Helpful when we asked questions of what's popular and what he personally enjoyed the most. The inside was very pretty and upscale. The food was mediocre and overpriced. read more

horrible!! this place is mid food at best. its like el torito. got a guava marg. it was basically like salty water. then i order a shrimp taco. on the menu it says "one big taco" small as heck. i had to order 2 more. it was honestly ok but super messy. came for a birthday so glad i didnt have to pay. the "dessert" they had for the birthday party was a plate of whipped cream with strawberries and tortilla chips? strange. everyone in my party was choking/crying/complaining from over spicy food. thanks for the experience i wont be back read more

To begin with, Moi was the most professional and experienced worker i have ever seen. Started off with a great menu with learned recipes by Moi and explained well on the types of wine he had available for us. We were also brought some shade to our table as we sat by the sun which made our experience a 10 out of 10. The food was great, service was awesome and the vibes were nothing but perfection.! Definitely not the last time I come again. read more

SOL Mexican Cocina - Mexican Near Me - Irvine, California

Yoyo, thank you for making some great cocktails Really appreciate the quality service! Definitely will be coming back soon! read more

Amazing place. The hospitality is unmatched. Jose the manager was so helpful and friendly. Not to mention very handsome. Will be back again soon! read more

Went here wirh a big group for Sunday brunch. The seats are really low so a few of us felt like we needed booster seats. The menu looked so great it was hard to choose. I decided to restrict my choices to the brunch menu and come again for dinner to try the delicious sounding tacos and Chipotle seitan along with the drinks! Service was great and the restaurant is beautiful. read more

SOL Mexican Cocina - Huevos rancheros - Mexican Near Me - Irvine, California

I've stopped by SOL in Newport Beach a few times to charge my car, but this was my first time actually sitting down for a meal. The space is bright with good lighting, and the restaurant has a paid parking garage. If you have a Tesla and the code, the first 45 minutes are free, which makes it really convenient. The food was decent overall. I ordered the Mexx Chop Salad, which was big and filling. Chips and salsa were complimentary, and the red salsa was the standout for me. The chips were thin, fresh, and crisp. I also tried the carne asada tacos. They were okay, not amazing, but still enjoyable. Service was friendly, the environment felt relaxed, and the convenience of being able to charge while eating is a big plus. I'd give it a solid 4 out of 5 and would come back again. read more

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Food and cocktails were yummy. The only complaint I have is you pay for parking$17!!! Yuck! Service was awesome. Not busy at all for a Friday at 6pm. read more

SOL Mexican Cocina - Menu - Mexican Near Me - Irvine, California

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My go-to order is Carne Asada burrito!! Great taste of asada and beans inside. Burrito held up well and didn't fall apart. Love that it comes with salsa, pico, jalapeño and small guac! The spicy slaw is amazing, and not spicy! Quinoa is okay, but next time going with spicy slaw for both dishes! If you like slaw and a bit mayo base! Service was great! Went Wed afternoon, and Katie was server and was great! Very attentive, nice and helpful! Restaurant is large and in my big group of 12, it felt like a private party. I don't like the area though, you have to take a ticket to park. There are very small parking structures and they only valet for 90 mins! Otherwise you pay for parking! Plus it's tucked away in business complex area so hard to get to if you aren't familiar read more

SOL Mexican Cocina - CARNE ASADA BURRITO - W. Spicy Slaw and Quinoa - Mexican Near Me - Irvine, California

Great Mexican place! Decent music not too loud Great for a ladies night! Drinks are amazing !! Service was slow even though not crowded on weekend! We got the apps - shrimp taquitos was awesome!! read more

SOL Mexican Cocina - Mexican Near Me - Irvine, California

The most amazing thing about coming in tonight was our server Sabrina. She went above and beyond in servicing our table. She was so sweet , genuine , engaging and helpful. She came to check on us throughout the evening. Honestly, I've never had such good service in my life. The food was really good too especially the chips, guacamole, chips and quesadilla. Thanks Sabrina ! We'll be back to see you ! read more

SOL Mexican Cocina - Large tortilla chips - Mexican Near Me - Irvine, California

We booked a massive table for a birthday celebration here and we all had a great dinner. I'm personally surprised they weren't busier for a Saturday night, but I'd guess it has a lot to do with their location being nestled in with the office buildings so they're the only business within walking distances really. Brandon was our helpful and friendly server for the night, he made sure everyone had everything they wanted from pre-dinner drinks all the way to dessert. 5/5 to Brandon! He also recommended me the chef's special chile verde (pork), which was VERY good! I highly recommend it too, pork was well cooked and tender, cheesy chile verde sauce with tortillas, black beans, and mexican rice. I have heard the margaritas are good here, but given it was my birthday all I got were shots of tequila. Overall, I'll definitely be back to try more of the menu so everyone should give this restaurant a shot for lunch/dinner! read more

I seriously wish I could give this restaurant a negative five-star rating. The customer service was atrocious and rude. I didn't know now in California that we refuse to serve people based upon political viewpoints/affiliation. This wasn't something that occurred to me but it was something that I observed in overheard and was extremely offended by. I had come here on a reference from somebody who had mentioned the food was worth it. I have been to other locations and the food was mediocre, but not authentic mexican. The parking is what it is, the food is mediocre nothing to really write home about. Can't say that I would be back to this location. The restrooms left a lot to be desired. There was toilet paper and paper towels all over the floor as if somebody had spilled something and then failed to wipe it up. The feel here and the vibe is extremely rushed like they want to push you out the door so they can turn that table quickly. Greed is a real thing here. Do yourself a favor look elsewhere for your authentic Mexican cuisine, the prices they charge here I would have expected much better quality. You're welcome. read more

Delicious food, refreshing cocktails, and great service. We started off with cocktails and appetizers: Sangria Roja Baja Coastal Vibe Tableside Hot & Raw Tropical Ceviche Coconut Calamari Followed by our favorites: Pineapple Serrano Margarita Watermelon Hibiscus Margarita Short Ribs Barbacoa Shrimp Chile Relleno And ended with sweet indulgence: Rosca De Churro Banana-Chocolate Bread Pudding Carajillo read more

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Visited when they first opened and held back on my review because I figured it was not fair. I visited again this past weekend and feel that a review is appropriate. Summary: Average food on the higher price side, and "hotel lobby" ambiance. The price point rivals Javiers but the experience is far from. We ordered some carne asada tacos that were not our favorite. Tortillas were cold and hard to chew. Could not really enjoy the meal to be honest (as a taco lover). I really wanted to enjoy this restaurant, we may try again in the future. read more

Beautiful setting for an intimate romantic dinner. Menu of the classics (tacos, burritos) with proteins that satisfy every dietary need. Very much loved the decor and vibe of the place. read more

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The food was good, but what really made this experience so special and memorable was the above and beyond, amazing service from Sabrina! She checked on us frequently, made my 1 year old son laugh countless times, and just overall made our experience here one that we will never forget. We will definitely be back because of her! read more

SOL Mexican Cocina - AGUACHILE ROJO - Mexican Near Me - Irvine, California

SOL Mexican Cocina has a great vibe and solid drinks, but the food left a little to be desired for the price point. We came around 7pm and the sunset views totally lived up to the restaurant's name, beautiful atmosphere for a night out. Our server Zully was fantastic and took great care of us. I ordered the cucumber cooler with vodka, which was refreshing and well-balanced , definitely getting that again. For food, I had the pan-seared salmon, which was cooked nicely, though I wish the succotash portion was scaled back a bit since it didn't add much to the dish. My dad ordered the grilled octopus, and while the flavor was good, the portion was noticeably small for the price. A little menu transparency on portion size would go a long way here. Food also took longer than expected to come out, which is worth knowing if you're in a time crunch. Overall, SOL is a great spot for drinks and ambiance, and service was a highlight. The food has room for improvement, but I'd still recommend it for a nice evening read more

SOL has never disappointed! We've been to the Newport Beach location a few times, but this was the first time at this Irvine location. A nice clean restaurant. Service was amazing, we were very well taken care of! We ordered the following - Sol guacamole, Shrimp taquitos, grilled Esquites, Hot & Raw tropical ceviche, Branzino, Ensenada-style fish taco, Grilled shrimp Quesadillas, Grilled shrimp burrito - everything single dish was really really good! We had an incredibly satisfying meal, and we will definitely be back =) read more

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