Don't let the remote location put you off - this is def a must-go restaurant with fab cocktails and amazing food. Let's say that South County isn't known for their culinary experiences but I think this place may start the trend. People are going to make the trek because its that good. Once you go, you will be bringing your friends, telling your other friends and generally being amazed and surprised that you didn't discover this gem before. read more

Ate in the bar close to 7 pm on a Friday night. Mimi was extremely helpful with suggestions and really friendly. Cocktails were great. Tempura green beans were a surprise! The mole enchiladas with duck and carne asada were very good. We found a gem. We will be coming back to try brunch! read more

Xacalli is amazing! We've been here a few times now and never disappoints! As far as the food goes One of the best lamb shanks I've ever had and the servers are always friendly. The homemade tortillas are epic! I still remember this place as victors cafe from when I was a kid but the made some great renovations and I love it! It's a must try if you haven't been yet! read more

Best restaurant in Orange County!!! From service, to ambiance to food. Everything was truly exceptional - can't wait to be back!

I'll start of by saying we had such a great experience, The service was great the food was amazing true authentic regional Mexican cuisine. We were a large party and everyone was really content with everything. I read a review below that mentioned they need to add more side options and other options like enchiladas fajitas and idk what. Well I completely disagree. The menu is very unique and that's what makes this place stand out. We will definitely return. read more

Shhh! Don't tell anyone about this hidden gem in the canyon. First time here tonight and it did not disappoint! The cocktails were all amazing and the family style meals were so unique and full of flavor. We'll will be back on a weekly basis. read more

The food is AMAZING! They had a chicken special; it was the best chicken I have ever had. I took my sister, a foodie living in Portland; she said it was some of the best food she has had. She said we are going there every time she visits. The margaritas were also outstanding. The service was perfect. If you or your guest generally prefer predictable, chain restaurant food, you may not enjoy this place that much. It is unique, uncommon, and worth every penny. read more

This is a really nice place, the food was delicious and the service was excellent. I will come back soon! read more

Xacalli Kitchen - Mexican Near Me - Silverado, California

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Fantastic food in a cool space. Being in Silverado Canyon (and not that far into it) makes you feel like you're a world away. We had two orders of Poc Chuc--one achiote, one recado negro--both awesome and very different from each other. My wife had the duck which she thought was good but wished she'd ordered the branzino after hearing how good it was from friends at another table (I thought the duck was insanely good). Service was friendly and knowledgeable. Highly recommended Xacalli! read more

The food here is always incredible! Our new favorite restaurant and the best Mexican food in Orange County. Edgar and team make you feel at home; nestled in the beautiful Silverado canyon. The lamb, carne asada, carne cruda are amazing. The chile negro is one of my personal faves and my wife loves the oyster mushroom. We also went for brunch after only going for the dinner and the brunch is out of this world. You will be itching to go back after your first experience read more

Xacalli Kitchen - Birria Torta for brunch - Mexican Near Me - Silverado, California

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Disappointed. I went there for my birthday and it was terrible Birthday dinner. My husband and I order their trio salsa, they give you too much salsa and not enough tortilla chips. The red salsa tasted like they put too much vinegar. I ordered their birria dish and the sauce had more of a mole taste and texture, did not taste like traditional birria stew. My husband ordered their Carne Asada and it's not worth $65. Our server was not attentive, she didn't bother to stop by and let us know that our drinks or food are on their way or check on us to see if we need anything. I had to flag her down to let her know we were ready to order. And when I made the reservation it asked if there was a special occasion and I put down Birthday. No recognition. The only thing I enjoyed was their queso fundido. And their drinks were meh. read more

A wonderful surprise! This charming restaurant with delicious food would be an expected find in a busy suburban area. To discover this level restaurant in such an out-of-the-way place as the Silverado Canyon makes it even better. Order the ribs. Plan to linger. read more

Just had a fabulous meal with the 6 of us. Service was excellent throughout the evening. We sat the bar first and had tasty sangria and margaritas. Everyone was really happy with their drinks. The meal was fabulous as we ordered many dishes on the menu. Birria, branzino/ roast pork/ ceviche was delicious. Just a very enjoyable meal out in a idyllic setting. Be back for sure. read more

Absolutely ridiculous!! Wanted to order chiliquiles, asked for the sour cream and cheese to be placed on the side due to an allergy to dairy but my husband would eat it if it was on the side. The waiter said sorry they don't accommodate any substitutions to any of their dishes. Explained I wasn't substituting anything just asking for it to be placed on the side. He responded with I could pick an item that didn't include dairy. He explained that the chef makes the menus and doesn't allow substitutions. Well I can't wait to watch the chef look for a new job after this restaurant closes down. Everyone has different taste buds, allergies and preferences so to not allow for changes is absolutely absurd. I think they need to realize people are paying to eat and should be allowed to have a choice of what they would like on their food. It explains why on a Sunday afternoon at lunchtime they had 2 customers in the entire restaurant. In the end I found out that Mimi is the owner and the one who doesn't allow substitutions but blames it on the chef. I hope Mimi realizes she is a horrible business owner with a lot to learn based on previous reviews she doesn't have a clue how to treat people let alone run a business. read more

A hidden gem. We've been here twice and very impressed both times. The food is amazing and the staff is very friendly.

My family's new favorite place. Location: It is a hidden gem in Orange County. A fun drive through Modjeska Canyon. Passing through Cooks Corner (if coming from RSM), turning to Silverado Canyon, and it's real close to St. Michael's Abbey. The place itself has a cool ambience. You can also see different birds perked on the trees. Service: Service is amazing. The staff is really attentive and caters to your needs. Food favs: * Carne Cruda: Filet Mignon, Avocado, Capers, Garlic Chives, Tarragon, Sour Orange, Maldon, Quail Egg, Sourdough * Ceviche (Ensenada) / Aged Bass, Octopus, Avocado, Cilantro, Red Onion, Golden Cherry Tomato, Leche de Tigre *. Queso Fundido / Oaxacan Cheese, Flor de Calabaza, Oyster Mushrooms, Epazote * Pulpo (Oaxaca) / Spanish Octopus, Potato Confit, Mole Amarillo, Chayote Slaw * ALL the main entrées. We've had it all! * Mousse de Chocolate / Semi-Sweet Chocolate, Cajeta, Hazelnut Dukkah, Hibiscus Gastrique, Oblea * Merengue / Seasonal Compote, Jocoque, Merengue read more

Excellent!! So nice to be out in Silverado Canyon! Food was perfect, ambiance fabulous, and the drinks were superb. Highly recommend!

Very good food and to have a great food experience in a beautiful setting is wonderful! The only thing suggested would be to get some kind of sound walls in the back dining area. It gets so loud that one cannot hear across the table. Maybe different flooring or insulation would help. But for all.... the food is great. We sit inside at the bar now... read more

Just enjoyed a delicious meal at Xacalli with my wife. The cocktails were very tasty, we also had the ceviche, a mushroom dish and the Branzino, all very flavorful. Nice ambience and the staff were all very friendly and helpful. We will definitely be back soon, highly recommended! read more

Just had brunch at Xacalli in Silverado Canyon (between Silverado Cafe and Silverado Canyon Market) and we LOVED it!!! We had fish tacos and ceviche both of which were perfect!!! The menu isn't your typical Mexican food. Very unique dishes developed by their executive chef. Met the co-owner, Mimi, who was our server. She and the entire staff were delightful. The restaurant and bar are nicely decorated. We didn't have a cocktail but we were told by someone not associated with the restaurant that the bartender makes fabulous and unique drinks. Highly recommend!!! We will definitely be back!!! read more

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Everything was wonderful. Service is amazing. Cool atmosphere and decor. My husband and I split the whole fish and the queso. Both were excellent. The branzino was so filling, haven't had anything like it anywhere else. read more

Wow! I went to the new Xacalli restaurant for a New Year's Eve drink and small bite and was absolutely impressed with every aspect of this little gem in Silverado canyon. For starters, The Smokey old fashions were perfection and a hibiscus lemonade cocktail that was divine. There were three of us and we shared two plates. A roasted mushroom plate in a sauce that had so many subtle flavors and textures that it had us all savoring every last bit with the fresh made corn tortillas and roasted salsas. Then we shared a lamb shank in a chili sauce that was fall-off-the-bone delectable and was enough for three of us to feel satisfied. The preparations were truly elevated and the prices were quite fair for what we got. The dishes are seasonal and vary based on what is supplied by the neighboring gardens in this rural enclave. Two thumbs up from all of us! So happy you're on the up and up! read more

I really, really wanted to enjoy this experience. But alas, it was awful. The $16 mixed drink tasted like just a glass of aperol. Is there even any vodka in it? I can't tell. I ordered the octopus dish and it was so burnt that all you could taste was gas and charcoal. I thought this restaurant was run by a "chef" but you couldn't tell by the food. I tried my hardest to finish my meal but was so disgusted by the end that I couldn't eat another bite. Do yourself a favor and find a mariscos place in orange and save yourself $60 and the trouble of driving to some remote mountain town. read more

My partner and I live in Silverado and have been excited about this place for months. We finally had the opportunity to try it out a few nights back and were really, really disappointed. Here's the cliff notes: 1. We had a 6:45 reservation. We arrived several minutes early. We were soon told that they were running a little behind and would seat us in 20 minutes. There were several empty tables. We were ultimately sat at our table an hour later at 7:45. 2. While waiting for our table we ordered a Tamarindo Mule. It was quite possibly the worst cocktail I've ever had. Way to spicy(and I love spicy foods/drinks) to the point where each sip had to be chased by half a glass of water. We were starting to feel like we wanted to leave at this point. 3. We finally get to our table. Great! Our server soon showed up and took a drink order. He brought us our Josh chardonnay($13 per glass poured from a $10 bottle of wine)........and that was the last we heard from him. We sat at our table for roughly 30 minutes and finally asked for our bill from someone else. To be clear, we had been sitting at our table for 30 minutes and never placed a food order. 4. The menu. I can kind of understand what they're going for(Gabbi's, Chaak) but they're not there. It's like they visited those restaurants and took note of their pricing but NOTHING else. The plating, service and general ambience do not match the prices. I really wish they would have reached out to the community before committing to their current concept. I think they could be successful with a full revamp/new concept but I don't see them lasting long as they are now. read more

Great date night for me and the wife!! Its a really nice drive through the hills to get to the place. We had the queso fundido appetizer and the homemade tortillas. Homemade tortillas!! Its was delicious. Tortillas where awesome. I suggest ordering some to go. We also ordered the fish Branzino that was deboned and charbroiled. Very similar to Redondo pier which we go all the time. Only deboned and flavorful. Really good!! So if you are looking for quality authentic Reginal Mexican food this is the place!! read more

Had a lovely dinner there recently, everything top notch from decor to service, and especially tasty drinks & food! We'll be back.

Super overpriced for barely any food on your plate and not tasting like anything besides burned. I was soooo very excited about this new restaurant but boy was this a major disappointment. Food took forever - no sides besides 2 tiny tortillas - no chips & salsa either. My dish was burned and tasted horrible. Two margaritas to make it better but had no idea that would cost me 50 bucks for both and were not even great once. Doubt they will make it. Over priced bad food. Super loud in there too. Cannot have a normal conversation- major disappointment for sure. Don't waste your time and money on this place!!! read more

Exactly what we need in the canyon! My family and I tried Xacalli tonight and had an excellent experience. The ambiance was beautiful, amazing food, and great service! We had the queso fundido, prawns, and ceviche - it was hard to choose a favorite. All were so good! We can't wait to come back. :) read more

New restaurant with unique menu. Aguachile very fresh and tasty. Pork chops very juicy and tender. Tortillas handmade and fresh. Food is unique and elevated, not your "traditional" Mexican restaurant. Dinner ambiance with dim candlelight is nice for date nights. Not too far from the city for a special night out read more

Perfect in every way. Elevated food, service and atmosphere. Experience authentic food without tacos.

Came from hiking Santiago Peak and were looking for a taco shop...then we found Xacalli. What a great surprise...we are from SanDiego and there are many great restaurants, so we have something to compare to...This place was EXCELLENT!....We had Ceviche...Birrria...Pork Chop ...and we also tried the Guacamole....all were excellent!!!!....and so was the service.. read more

I was very impressed. I had heard it was really good and was wondering if I was going in with too high of expectations, but they did not disappoint. Every bite was exceptional start to finish. This is not your everyday Mexican food. The ceviche was fresh and full of flavor. The octopus was tender and succulent with the perfect amount of acid and the perfect amount of heat. The pescado ala talla was wonderful. A full branzino, boned, seasoned and cooked to perfection. With excellent sauces and fresh made corn tortillas. My mouth is watering thinking about it. Basque caramelized cheesecake for dessert with the perfect mix of sweet and savory. I think I may like this place better than Gabbi's Mexican Kitchen. It may be more inline with Taco Maria. I need to try the pato con mole next time. I should also mention that the staff was really attentive and very nice. Definitely worth a visit. read more

From the moment we arrived, everyone was on top of everything. We were greeted as soon as we walked in and the wait staff was extremely attentive and friendly. Our drinks and appetizers were great and our entrees arrived shortly thereafter (Octopus and Asada). Everything tasted wonderful. Our only regret was that we didn't order dessert. Looking forward to coming back for another pleasant and enjoyable evening at Xacalli. read more

Very unique and delicious food. We can't wait to come back and try more of the menu. Starters, mains and desserts are all great. The service is excellent. read more

Went on a Friday night and it was not a hectic as most Friday nights would be. Enjoyed the service, food, and ambiance!

I'm having a hard time choosing between 3 and 4 stars. It's a strange story and long review My wife and I went to xacalli kitchen for our anniversary. The server put down two wine glasses. My wife took a sip and thought they are giving us a glass of wine for our Anniversary Even though she was observing dry January and bet my son $100 she could do it. The server asked if we wanted to order a drink and my wife said "Im good with this " at which time the server began pouring water into her wine. Mine was water all along. The server realized her mistake and couldn't figure out where the wine came from. What I don't understand is why would you serve water in wine glasses? Secondly, while there was an apology, nothing was comped for our anniversary or the mistake not even a dessert.? Thank goodness my wife isn't an alcoholic. We don't know whose wine it was or why it was sitting with the water glasses. Anyway, I'm pretty sure it won't happen to you. The food was very good and unique but the place is kinda far. If you go try the lamb shank. Lastly, my wife sent an email to the restaurant over a week ago and has yet to get a response So while the food is good and the service was OK I'm not sure the customer service is worth four stars. So I'm giving it 3 stars to draw your attention to it. Why check out 4 and 5 star reviews, You know they r going to be good. read more

This place has the best mushrooms! I was hesitant to go there, but I am so happy I did. A wonderful atmosphere, great drinks and the absolute best food in OC! read more

The Margarita and Ceviche were fantastic. The main dish was not very good. The bartender raved about the leg of lamb. I love lamb especially on the bone. That wasn't what I received, it was bitter and dry and shredded. It wasn't good, the staff didn't ask if I wanted something else just didn't seem to be bothered. Not exactly the experience I was expecting. My gut said to order the carne asada however it's 24oz, a bit much for one person. Not sure I would be back and I think the customer service could be better all around. read more

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Bravo! We decided to take a chance on a new restaurant in a semi-remote but picturesque location in Silverado Canyon. This was rewarded with a wonderful meal and a pleasant evening, especially considering that this was only their third day of operation. The menu was small because the chef seems to prefer locally-sourced food as much as possible, but what we had was beautifully prepared and exquisite in taste. This is not your typical, California-Mexican restaurant. We had dishes that were new to us old Californians. I ordered the branzino, which was clean (not oily) and seasoned impeccably with a fascinating mix of spices that complimented the fish beautifully. The fish was cooked to perfection and was generous enough for two full sized portions. My husband ordered the Hongo Asado, a plate-sized roasted grey oyster mushroom that quoting my husband "had a fabulous taste". I agree. I have never tasted anything quite like it. He also had the Carne Crudo which was diced filet mignon with, again, an interesting array of spices. All dishes had warm, home made corn tortillas. The staff was welcoming and friendly. We are looking forward to our next visit and can't wait to try the pork. read more

Xacalli Kitchen - Beautifully prepared Branzino: plenty for two people - Mexican Near Me - Silverado, California

Loved the Tamarind Mule - highly recommend this drink. The portions are generous, we ordered the lamb and chicken tortas and enjoyed them.