OC takes our Mexican food seriously – after all , we ’re even closer to the border than LA , and Mexican cuisine has a foresightful and rich history in Orange County , from family - possess hole - in - the - paries taquerias to across the nation recognized modern Mexican restaurants , which is why we ’re breaking down the best burrito ( and much much more ) in OC :
Taco Maria
Taco Maria ’s chef and owner , Carlos Salgado , was named as a finalist for the James Beard award for his oeuvre at Taco Maria , and Jonathan Gold has called it one of the unspoiled restaurants in SoCal , for good reason : dinner party is a prix - fixe four - course menu that rotates on a regular basis , depending what Salgado finds fresh , so the menu ’s always unique – and always toothsome . Previous relishing menus have include dishes like the “ Pozole de Abulon , ” ( a delicately constructed soup made with abalone , beef tendon , clams , hominy , turnip , and lime ) and “ Tocino con Chicharos , ” a bean dish laden with passably much the salutary bacon you have ever had . There ’s sort of no question : Taco Maria is the premiere Mexican eating house in Orange County .
Carnitas Uruapan
Locals flock to the loud , colored Carnitas Uruapan for authentic Michoacán - style pork carnitas suritida , made with the whole - squealer – hide , venter , intestine , and all . This restaurant pays homage to the pig , with colored piggy wall painting on the rampart , and if you ’re lucky , you will occur human face to present with your dinner as they hustle out the freshly fudge whole pig from the kitchen to the steam table . Wash the bold flavors down with free consommé , then numerate down the moments until you get to pig it out again .
Gabbi’s Mexican Kitchen
locate in the historic Orange Circle , the terrace - abetted Gabbi ’s provides a premix of traditional Mexican recipe with Americanized culinary techniques . Gabbi ’s uses overbold ingredient from local farms in their modern Mexican recipes , which admit sweet , larder , plump Enchiladas de Camarones – shrimp enchiladas stuffed with pantry sautéed spinach and white Mexican cheese , wrap in crepe paper - ish thin tortillas .
Mexi Casa
This Gringo - style Mexican eating place has not interchange much since it opened in 1965 and still preserves its Bonanza - esque outside and out-of-date interior . It ’s a dive eatery , for sure , but their high mallow - laden stunner ( and grease - chintzy prices ) have made it a local favorite for yr ( Gwen Stefani name - checks it as one of her faves ) . Most combo plates , like the enchilada and taco combo , only be $ 5.50 , and you’re able to get a sangaree for under $ 2 ; it may not be the most unquestionable eating place in OC , but the food is expectant – and will allow your wallet mostly undented .
SOL Cocina
SOL Cocina offers the fresh , seafoody flavors of Baja Mexico in an upscale Newport Beach set overlook the marina . The “ Mexican prawn al mojo de ajo ” has intense flavors of white vino and butter , and their “ Viper Taco ” is spicy and dynamic in flavor , made with grill chicken and muy caliente trace peppers . soh appeal theDesperate Housewives of Orange Countycrowd on the weekend , so they ’re prim up for many , many orders of organic slight margaritas .
El Fortin
El Fortin is little , strangle , and full of cricket . Yep , that ’s right – one of the eating place ’s most popular mantrap is chapulines , the Mexican Scripture for cricket , which are a delicacy in many constituent of Mexico , include Oaxaca , the possessor ’s home commonwealth . At El Fortin , you may order the tool , simply roasted with lime , salt , and garlic or in their chile relleno and quesadillas . Although the restaurant is good screw for the chapulines , they also do a very steady business with their bulwark and molletes .
Naugles
The former ' LXXX fast - solid food chain Naugles was swallowed up by Del Taco back in the day – and has rise from the dead in Huntington Beach . Core Naugles fan are zealots and some have have drive cross - country to rekindle memory of their younger sidereal day . Naugles spread out their first Modern eating house in Huntington Beach in June ( after a couple month of pop - up vogue run - kitchen dinners ) , and they have since been flooded with loyal fan . “ The Hombre ” is a gut - buster burrito , made with with a full lb of squawk , beans , cheese , and your choice of green or red sauce ; they ’ve also got a sloppy joe - ish “ bun taco ” , which takes the contentedness of a wetback and puts it between two hamburger buns .
Tacos Ensenada
Tacos Ensenadas is one of OC ’s great hidden - treasure Mexican spots , with some slayer seafood in an unassuming interior . Their mixto ceviche tostada are very popular , as is the deep-fried tilapia , but if you are only getting one dish antenna , make it the “ Coctel De Campechana ” – a seafood cocktail with shrimp , abalone , and octopus .
El Toro Bravo
Do n’t confuse El Toro Bravo for the other Mexican restaurant facing the street in the same center – rather , head to the back and appear for the line going out the door . The centre is the star of this eating house , and it rotate on a daily base , with standbys like chicken and kick also abetted by funky choice like costa substance , buche ( stomach ) , and trotting horse . After you choose your meats , they chop it up in front of you and serve it with rice , beans , salsa , french-fried potatoes , and a stack of house made tortillas in foil , which are perfect for make - your - own - greaser Tuesdays .
Taqueria De Anda
Taqueria De Anda is a Santa Ana institution , which started as a nutrient truck and has germinate to several eating place throughout OC . The restaurants are still manoeuver by the same family line and the formula have stayed true to their humble beginnings . De Anda is best known for the minister tacos , with heart that is slow stewed and then broiled with fresh onions , integrating the spirit into a beautiful , layered flavour experience .
Rose Canyon Cantina & Grill
Set in the rustic Trabuco Canyon , Rose Canyon restaurant feels like a secret spotlight you stumble into a hacienda in the foothill of Mexico – the food is good , but the atmosphere is the real draw . Request a board on their patio and you will be rewarded with views of oak tree trees and the auditory sensation of nature . The steak in their fajitas is excess - gamy and the crispy caramelized flavors from the steak and onions sticking to the hot pan adds a decent flavor boost . Added ( sorta ) bonus : if you own a horse , you may feel free to park him at the front - room access hitch post .
Taqueria El Zamorano
This legit taqueria is located in the heart of Santa Ana , and is deserving visiting for their carnitas wetback , which are made with hand-crafted tortillas , and are full of juicy pork with just the correct amount of avoirdupois to make the flavors pop . If you ’re adventurous , try the cabeza tacos ; the fat head meat literally melts in your mouth as your chew . Top these tacos with their house - made salsas and wash away it all down with their cucumber vine agua fresca .
Sabroso Mexican Grill
Garden Grove ’s sleep together more for Asian tang like pho and Korean BBQ , but do n’t be put one across : it ’s also home to one of the best Mexican restaurants in north OC . Sabroso is a pose - down menage restaurant with food that ’s not the fancy – but with recipes that have passed down through generations . The DDD - approved spot ’s best dish is the " Chamorro " – a tender eats boeuf slow simmer in a disconsolate chocolate-brown ( almost bleak ) deeply smoky Guajillo sauce .
Los Reyes Del Elote
Los Reyes attracts long line of reasoning of loyal fans for boiled or chargrilled corn whiskey covered in mayo , Cotija cheese , chile , mantequilla , chili powder , and , of grade butter . For $ 3 you could get an spike of their pie-eyed corn – or for a dollar sign more , you could get it “ lazy style ” served in a cup . They ’ve also got the sometimes - firmly - to - find specialization huitlacoche , essentially enormous corn meat that have been infect with fungus , giving the corn a balmy chocolate truffle flavor .
Tio Flaco’s Tacos
Some phratry will say that you ca n’t retrieve OG Tijuana - panache carne asada tacos in Orange County . Those folks are wrong . Tio Flacos reach carne asada that is hug by smoky hardwood relish , and just like in TJ , the inwardness is put on the hot mesquite grill as you order , ensuring it come out hot , with the natural beef juices still oozing out . Very small is pre - made , as they also fresh press and cook their tortillas throughout the day .
Sign up herefor our day-to-day LA electronic mail and be the first to get all the nutrient / drink / fun Los Angeles has to bid .
Sol Cocina
Taco Maria
Gabbi’s Mexican Kitchen
Sol Cocina
Naugles
Taqueria De Anda
Sabroso Mexican Grill
Courtesy of Tio Flaco’s
