Diners' Choice: Mexican restaurants in South Orange County

OpenTable

Updated December 05, 2024

Looking for restaurants with the best overall Mexican cuisine in South Orange County? You’re in the right place. Each month OpenTable analyzes more than 400,000 new diner reviews. We sort the results by category to help you discover new favorites. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

South of Nick's - Laguna Beach

4.8

4.8 (1883)

$30 and under

Mexican

Laguna Beach

About the restaurant

An essential stop in Orange County for Southern California Mexican Cuisine.

South of Nick's Mexican Kitchen Bar features Classic Mexican favorites, prime steaks and seafood with a So Cal twist. Fine Tequilas & Margaritas

Our food and drink meets the highest standards of quality, freshness and seasonality and combines both modern-creative and traditional styles of cooking.

Top review

Randyvip

Dined 1 day ago

Perfect service all around. Beautiful sunset view to go with excellent food and drinks!

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4.6

4.6 (257)

$31 to $50

Mexican

Silverado

About the restaurant

Xacalli is a Chef Driven Modern Mexican Restaurant that highlights regional Mexican cuisine. Located in historical mining town of Silverado Canyon, in eastern Orange County next to the cities of Rancho Mission Viejo, Ladera Ranch, Lake Forest. Beautiful drive from Orange, Irvine and Tustin.

The community of Silverado with her majestic mountains, state designated scenic highway is a hidden gem located at the boundaries of Cleveland National Forest.

Xacalli's aim is to bring people and food together with authentic dishes that are modern and visually beautiful as well as entice your taste buds. We serve plates with the intention of sharing family style. Whether at the bar or in our dining room, we aim to showcase our passion for service excellence. Executive Chef Vincent Espinoza sources quality ingredients to create a seasonal menu alongside a craft bar. We are thrilled to welcome you to Xacalli for dinner + craft cocktails in our rustic and friendly restaurant.

Top review

Michellevip

Dined on Nov 24, 2024

Every dish has incredible flavor and a little heat. The ceviche had the right amount of heat, the fish was delicious. We also had the mushrooms and Sweet potatoes. Still thinking how crisp and flavorful the potatoes were. The Lamb shank, Ribs and Branzino were so good. Can’t wait to go back.

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Experience

Hot Rod Holiday Taco Takeover

South of Nick's - San Clemente

4.8

4.8 (1939)

$30 and under

Mexican

San Clemente

About the restaurant

An essential stop in Orange County for Southern California Mexican Cuisine.

South of Nick's Mexican Kitchen & Bar features Classic Mexican favorites, prime steaks and seafood with a So Cal twist. Fine Tequilas & Margaritas

Our food and drink meets the highest standards of quality, freshness and seasonality and combines both modern-creative and traditional styles of cooking.

Nick’s is dedicated to perfecting the dining experience through continuous innovation, offering the highest quality food and beverage, and executing impeccable standards of hospitality. The deeply instilled Nick’s culture is personified by its Ladies and Gentlemen – professionals who share a single focus and are inspired and committed to offering great service and creating positive memorable experiences.

Top review

Molly

Dined 2 days ago

Great evening as always at south of nicks. My coconut margarita was fabulous. The chips and salsa very fresh and filling. The chicken taquitos were out of this world.

Todos Santos - Newport Beach

4.7

4.7 (103)

$31 to $50

Mexican

Newport Beach

About the restaurant

Todos Santos Balboa is an expansion of the Todos Santos Mexican Kitchen concept established in 2019 in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA. TSB inherits the authentic recipes of coastal Baja, while providing a modern presentation and flavor profile in our cuisine.

Our program includes specialty coffee service provided by Succulent Coffee Roasters, a full bar with scratch made margaritas, and an elevated wine list to enhance guest experience. Our home on Balboa Island exhibits the contemporary beauty of Southern California and welcomes you with patio dining just a few feet from the Island Ferry. We look forward to your visit!

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined 7 days ago

Our first time trying Todos Santos and it was a lovely experience! The food, drinks and service were wonderful!

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Popular dish

Halibut Tacos

Palmilla Newport Beach Cocina y Tequila

4.8

4.8 (109)

$31 to $50

Mexican

Newport Beach

About the restaurant

Palmilla Cocina Y Tequila features home-style Mexican cuisine featuring the freshest seafood and the finest cuts of beef, along with an amazing selection of premium tequilas, mezcals and globally inspired wines. Both Palmilla Hermosa Beach and Palmilla Newport Beach feature lovely outdoor patio areas, perfect for soaking up the sea breezes from the Pacific ocean just footsteps away. Palmilla’s sophisticated, yet inviting dining rooms showcase imported, custom-made furniture and decor that transports guests to Mexico’s luxurious coastal landscapes. When dining at Palmilla, you will feel as if you’ve been transported to an upscale boutique hotel in beautiful Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, which is where much of the inspiration of the design came from.

Top review

Jorge

Dined on Dec 5, 2024

Great place. Amazing food. Will be back again!!!

Cha Cha's Latin Kitchen - Irvine

4.7

4.7 (1149)

$30 and under

Mexican

Irvine

About the restaurant

Cha Cha’s Latin Kitchen is an award-winning Latin restaurant offering contemporary dishes including seafood; braised meats; and grinding corn in-house to create tortillas and various masa dishes. Cha Cha’s has become known for fresh Latin cuisine made-from-scratch with quality, seasonal ingredients; sustainably-caught seafood; wood-fired meats; local organic produce; as well as signature margaritas and an innovative cocktail menu.

PLEASE NOTE: Cha Cha's automatically adds a 20% gratuity fee for parties of 6 and over.

Top review

Matthewvip

Dined on Nov 21, 2024

Dined here on a busy Wednesday evening. There was a promotion this day, Enchilada Wednesday, and all Enchilada entrees were 50% off. My friend and I each had the Crab and Shrimp Enchilada entree. We both enjoyed our meals. My friend noticed there was not much crab though. She also requested to replace the rice with vegetables, the server said it can be done, but with a $4 surcharge. My friend had a Watermelon Margarita, and I had a glass of Sangria. We both enjoyed our drinks. We had Flan for dessert, and it tasted great. The server, Yvette, was friendly and efficient. There was very limited parking at arrival at 6 pm, and had to park a distance away. The total tab with tax and tip on this visit was $93.

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Javier's Crystal Cove

4.7

4.7 (158)

$31 to $50

Mexican

Newport Beach

About the restaurant

Artistically designed with unique sculptures, Javier's Crystal Cove provides guests with ocean views in a cozy, contemporary atmosphere to enjoy authentic Mexican cuisine. It opened its doors in 2008 on Newport Beach and is conveniently close to the Crystal Cove Shopping Center. This restaurant offers guests an upscale dining experience with such entrees as the Maine lobster enchilada topped with Monterey jack cheese and grilled chicken breasts braised in chipotle sauce. Javier's Crystal Cove serves a variety of fresh seafood dishes, appetizers and delicious desserts. It has a full bar that features numerous tequilas, cocktails, beers and wine. Javier's Crystal Cove also offers outdoor dining. It accepts reservations over the phone and online.

Top review

Christophervip

Dined 3 days ago

Always fantastic food and ambiance, simply one of the best restaurants in town.

El Adobe de Capistrano

4.7

4.7 (1035)

$30 and under

Mexican

San Juan Capistrano

About the restaurant

Enjoy authentic Mexican cuisine in a historic setting at El Adobe de Capistrano. This landmark features a wedding chapel, stained-glass windows and additional beautiful architectural details. Its kitchen has a mesquite-burning grill where chefs prepare deliciously flavored seafood and steak dishes. Soups, salads and appetizers are also on the menu, including tasty desserts.Owners Tony Moiso and Gilbert Aguirre have kept the atmosphere and traditions of the El Adobe de Capistrano going. This establishment still prepares the dishes that President Nixon and his wife enjoyed while visiting during his administration. It has a full bar that serves various drinks, a lounge area for socializing and a patio in the front. El Adobe de Capistrano offers private rooms for banquets and other events. The Palenque features a retracting roof, making it ideal for hosting an event under the night sky. It offers brunch and has a Happy Hour.

Top review

Lonna

Dined on Dec 7, 2024

Service staff attentive, timely and very pleasant! The food was delicious! Nice environment to catch up with friends!

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Cheese Enchilada Salad

Javier's Irvine Spectrum

4.6

4.6 (60)

$31 to $50

Mexican

Irvine

About the restaurant

Javier's Irvine Spectrum serves original Mexican cuisine. Opened in 2004 and located close to the 405 and 5 freeways, the restaurant offers numerous entrees and combo meals. Javier's Irvine Spectrum selects and serves only the freshest ingredients, including sustainable and in-season seafood, natural chicken and center-cut #1 prime Angus beef. Every dish is prepared fresh to order, and guests may sit in the spacious main dining room, on the intimate patio, at the bar or in a private dining area.The dining room is open Sunday through Thursday from 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and on Friday and Saturday until 11:00 p.m. Javier's Irvine Spectrum's full bar is open daily from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. Reservations are accepted.

Top review

Jasonvip

Dined 5 days ago

Great Mexican food - I had a mole poblano with chicken which was excellent (along with corn tortillas and rice). It was super flavorful and light, which is great for lunch. My client had seafood enchiladas, also great. If I’m in the area I’d definitely come back here. I can see why there was a line out the door when I arrived - it’s popular for a reason. Glad I had a reservation!

Puesto Park Place

4.5

4.5 (1091)

$30 and under

Mexican

Irvine

About the restaurant

Owned and operated by a Mexican American family whose best memories all include tacos, Puesto is an award-winning Mexican Artisan Kitchen & Bar providing an innovative approach to authentic Mexican flavors. Puesto has garnered national acclaim for its Mexico City-style crispy melted cheese tacos, served on handmade non-GMO, organic, maíz azul stone-ground tortillas.

We’re honored to have been featured by media outlets nationally and internationally, some of which include the Michelin Guide, Los Angeles Times, National Geographic, Huffington Post, Eater, Refinery 29, Insider, Zagat, Thrillist, and Food and Wine.

Top review

Satish

Dined 3 days ago

Thanks for seating us promptly and we really enjoyed the food.

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Experience

Taco Tuesday!

Explore Diners' Choice best of South Orange County