Sol had amazing food and even better service! Mariana was our server and she was wonderful! She was sweet and on top of caring for our table. We will definitely be back!! read more

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! read more

SOL Mexican Cocina - Salsa is delicious! Chips so fresh!! - 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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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

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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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

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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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

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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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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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 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

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

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

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

Good food. Nice setting. Kind of fancy and has cocktails . I'd go back..........................

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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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

This restaurant is very beautifully designed. Very spacious and garden themed. The patio is also extremely spacious and beautiful. The location is conveniently right by John Wayne Airport. Right in the business center of Irvine. The food is high-quality. Very interesting takes on traditional Mexican dishes. Surprisingly, even though it's a Mexican restaurant, they have a delicious Wagyu burger with sweet potato fries. Their specialty tacos are arguably the best things on the menu. The shrimp Dorado or the CDMX taco are so delicious. The bar is also beautiful and a great place to hang out and watch sports or just drink. They also offer a Sunday brunch buffet from 9 AM to 3 PM. Definitely a nice spot in Irvine. The hostess are very nice and accommodating with seating requests. The servers are very attentive. They also offer free 90 minutes parking validation in their specified parking deck. Definitely a nice place for dinner or even a quick bite for lunch. read more

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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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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

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

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

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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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

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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My steak fajitas looked good but they really weren't. In fact no one at my table said they'd return. My steak had no flavor and neither did the rice it came with. Server was great but that was it... read more

SOL Mexican Cocina - SKIRT STEAK SOL FAJITAS - Mexican Near Me - Irvine, California

Blue , our servicer very knowledgeable and gave us great suggestions . Great Ambiance , food tasting great so far !!! read more

SOL Mexican Cocina - Yum !! - Mexican Near Me - Irvine, California

Gigi was our AMAZING server on a busy and hectic Cinco de Mayo! She was attentive, kind and so very detail oriented! I would give her 100 Stars if I could! Thank you so much, Gigi!! :) read more

I first want to say that I loved the location in Orange so I was excited to try this one. I was EXTREMELY disappointed. I'm not one to write negative reviews, but I need to talk about this. The margaritas we ordered were not good and they were expensive. Totally not worth the price at all. I ordered the chicken fajitas and my fiancé ordered the wet steak burrito. Neither were good. There was no seasoning on the chicken or veggies, and the steak was flavorless. Absolutely no salt or seasoning on anything. The veggies were also drenched in oil. The guac tasted like mashed avocado, nothing else. Nothing was good. There was also an order mixup and they accidentally gave our order to the table next to us, which was fine, mistakes happen. However, it took an additional 25 minutes for them to get us our order. Our server promised that she would "make it right" for us, but nothing was taken off our check and we weren't offered anything for free to make up for the mishap. We paid full price for everything. Not only that, but we were charged for 2 additional entrees that we did not order. If I did not bring it up with the server, I would've paid for food I did not order, which was an additional $70. The cherry on top was that we stayed so long because of the RESTAURANT'S mistake, we had to pay for parking even though we got validation. We stayed over the hour and a half validation limit because of our food issue. We will not be returning. read more

Traveling on business and staying close by I noticed SOL from the street. After looking at the YELP! reviews I decided to give it a try. Everything....everything was outstanding! I sat at the bar, was acknowledged immediately, provided with a review of the dinner and drink menu. Next were 2 Cadillac Repo margaritas that went down that quick! Awesome report with the bartender and a customer near by - a nice environment. Awesome food and drinks....I remember....LOL read more

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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So this place definitely stands out... . Their claim to fame is the outrageous about of cheese they throw down! Cheese so thick that your teeth squeak as you eat it! Also known for late night hours they keep in the NB Bar areas. ITS AN EXPERIENCE that you should try when in the area. Best eaten after a night out on the town... But probably not as a steady thing, unless you can handle such greese bombs... read more

Great spot for lunch with coworkers or after work hangs. Th atmosphere is lively and they play the music moderately, enough to hold conversations. Staff is supportive, and attentive to needs of the table. Love the chips and salsa. And the food tastes fresh and well seasoned. Had a great experience, if you want to ensure you get a table you can make a reservation. read more

Came here for lunch. I got short rib Barbacoa. Meat was tender and flavourful. Came with rice and sweet potatoes on the side. Super yummy. My coworker got tortas and swear potatoes/black bean tacos plate. Both said those were good. They have non alcoholic drink that smell like real drink, but non alcohol . Good option for business meeting. Our server was tentative and friendly. Definitely will come back read more

SOL Mexican Cocina - Mexican Near Me - Irvine, California

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It was okay. The tacos were mid. The short ribs were really good and filling, though. Overall, pretty average. read more

SOL Mexican Cocina - short ribs - Mexican Near Me - Irvine, California

Service was amazing. wonderful customer service. Kiara the host helped me with all my questions and requests. Beautiful restaurant and location. Will be back! Free parking validation as well read more

My kiddo wanted to eat a chile relleno for her birthday, so I booked a reservation here for a party of 7 at 6:30p on their website the day before (they use Open Table). They have more than one location, but this one is located at the corner of Main Street and Mercantile, and there is a parking structure right next to it. We drove down Main Street from Jamboree Road towards MacArthur Boulevard, so we entered the parking structure from Gillette Avenue (where Izakaya Osen is), but I think there is an entrance from the Mercantile side, too (Gillette turns into Mercantile). SOL validates the parking ticket, maybe for 1.5hrs? We arrived a little after 6:30p and left a little after 8:00p and had to pay $1.50 when leaving the structure. The restaurant is spacious, so we probably would've been able to sit down right away without a reservation (but better safe than sorry). We ordered the coconut calamari ($19.00) and grilled sweet corn ($11.00) for starters, and I got the frozen guava margarita ($15.00+$2.00 guava). I ordered the shrimp chile relleno ($27.00) and asked for no cilantro and pico de gallo. The rest of the group ordered the short ribs 'Barbacoa' ($36.00), chef's special chile verde ($22.00), chile poblano relleno con elote ($19.00), filet & shrimp 'El Jefe" with rice and beans ($17.00+$4.00), carne asada burrito served wet with red salsa ($22.00+$3.50), and the shrimp chile relleno as well. The calamari came with 3pcs, but they were huge pieces. Still, very fresh and tender for their size. It came with a spicy mayo sauce mixed with cilantro. The sweet corn was shaved off the cob and mixed with the same spicy mayo, so it had a kick, but tasty. The chile relleno was served open style and not fried in egg batter as I typically see, but rather stuffed with arroz verde and cheese with plenty of shrimp on top. Even though I asked to skip the onion and cilantro garnish, there were sus-looking herbs cooked into almost everything...but I didn't taste any so maybe my cilantro radar was muddled by the margarita, lol. The dish was pretty spicy for me, but it was still yummy. Everyone else seemed to enjoy their dish, including the chips and salsa/bean dip at the beginning. I did ask about any birthday treat, and our server said that they do have one, and brought it out. It was fried tortilla chips with a scoop of whipped cream, drizzled with chocolate and caramel sauce and topped with almond slices. When I initially reserved the table and put down "for birthday," I guess they didn't see it since it was on Open Table? Not a problem since I still was able to get my kiddo a birthday treat. I just didn't know that I was going to be charged $6.00 for it...not a big deal either, just a bit surprised. Either way, our server was very nice, food was pretty good, and they don't skimp on the alcohol. They seem to serve a lot of spicy food, so not a place I can frequent though. read more

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This Mexican spot is very conveniently located near office buildings, with garage parking attached and easy access right off the freeway, which makes it a great option for lunch, happy hour, or an easy after-work dinner. The food quality is strong and a step above your average casual Mexican place. The animal taco was the standout -- flavorful, well-balanced, and definitely worth ordering again. The chips and guacamole were pretty tasty, too. On the drinks side, the cucumber jalapeño margarita packed some heat but was still refreshing and well made. If you like a little spice, it's a good choice. Happy hour pricing is decent, especially considering the elevated take on Mexican food. Overall, a convenient, reliable spot with good food and drinks that works well for office crowds and casual meetups. read more