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    Amorelia Mexican Cafe

    4.1 (981 reviews)
    Open 8:00 am - 9:00 pm

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    AMORELIA MEXICAN CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Amorelia Mexican Cafe

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    Queso Fundido ($14) - Yum!
    Tracey A.

    Just as I recommended 11 years, ago, begin your meal here with the Queso Fundido ($14; $8 in 2014). Between that, the free first basket of chips, a tasty salsa, and the drink (full bar) you're enjoying, you might never get much further on the menu. I haven't. Just like all those years earlier, my meal at Amorelia began as mentioned above and ended with an entree-sized salad (Mango Asada, $24). I vow - next time - to break out of the salad category as the menu is strewn with (and specializes in) the foods of Michoacán. These are offerings not found in your local taqueria. Thought not mine, I was able to sample the Mole Verde ($28), a big serving of organic chicken bathed in a tangy green sauce accompanied by rice, beans, and tortillas. It was a delicious example of the food in which Amorelia specializes. A quick scan of the other tables indicated that mine was, perhaps, the sole table of diners without Hispanic or Mexican roots. This observation, coupled with the knowledge that the place is still filling up eleven-plus years after my first visit, certainly says something good about the place.

    Dirty martini

    Arrived around 6 pm & we were the first to walk in so I was hesitant since I hadn't been here in years. It was surprisingly good. The sopes were amazing (salsa is a 10!) The shrimp app was good, overly cheesy but flavor was still there. & enchiladas were also really good. I'd definitely go back to try other dishes. The overall vibe is great & they had the games going on the tv as well. Service was also really good, I forgot the young lady's name but she was very kind & helpful. Wish they did a happy hour deal or something to bring in some traffic but overall great experience

    Mole enchiladas (stuffed with Tinga meat)

    Prices went up and quality went way down! I ordered enchiladas de mole and you can taste the prepackaged mole sauce you buy at any Hispanic grocery store (that you're supposed to mix with other ingredients) . I guess I'm so used to mole being made from scratch having family from Morelia mole is a staple there. But the chicken filing made no sense, it was Tinga!! Tinga chipotle meat that is used for empanadas should not Be mixed in a mole enchilada! The rice was reheated and stale. The beans had the tin flavor from the cans. It surprised me the prices for the quality. Restaurant is pretty, some fixes are needed . Service was really quick (makes sense since it's all prepackaged food).

    Dave L.

    I really need to go twice to this restaurant to get an accurate assessment. I'm going to do a pro and con review: Pros: 1. high quality dishes with super fresh ingredients. 2. friendly service. 3. clean environment 4. reasonable prices Cons: 1. $5.00 for chips (no refills) 2. Limited menu I do recommend this restaurant for wonderful Mexican food.

    Chicken chipotle
    Robert M.

    Excellent food. The chef seems to have put careful time in making sure the food here is flavorful. Service was helpful and excellent. At night, this restaurant has a great atmosphere and ambience with great lighting. It was great to dine here.

    Chicken pozole and for some reason they gave it to me on the side
    Jeannette G.

    The minute I saw my plate. I knew it was wrong. I ordered chicken pozole before I even took a bite I checked through it. No chicken more like a tomato soup/what's left at the bottom of the pot ...no broth texture at all. I mentioned it to the waiter and instead of taking it back and making a proper bowl of pozole. He brought the chicken on side. At that point I just had to eat it. I didn't dare send it back. I'll just give leave you with this picture. P S The music was too loud for a Sunday morning. You're supposed to be able to hear the person at your table. -1000 stars

    Gloria's salad- so delicious.
    Michelle G.

    Always incredible, every single part of the experience. Beautiful food made with love in a quaint atmosphere with perfect music and sincere & friendly service. We've been coming here since moving to the area in 2018 and it's consistently like this. Costa Mesa's #1 hidden gem.

    Del lugar

    Very nice place to have lunch , the staff is amazing ! The food is good ass well! Try it

    Ruud N.

    So Authentic! We wanted to try this nicely dressed up restaurant as it's well rated and after our trip to Yucatan we developed a craving for elevated Mexican food. Amorelia definitely delivered! Our hostess Fernanda was very personable, inquired on our questions instead of saying "I don't know". Kudos for that BIG time! Our enchiladas de mole verde, sopes, peppers on the side, all beautifully presented and delicious until the last bite. Yes, go ahead and mimic our order as it's a nice journey for your tastebuds. Lastly, we were lucky to visit on Thursday as there was live music from two gentlemen, "Los Dos".... very fitting in the whole theme. A bit hidden maybe but that's where the REAL gems reside. 5/5.

    Café de olla, Chilaquiles, papas con chorizo, pozole rojo
    Dee A.

    Delicious cafe de olla, great service, the food tastes authentic, nice vibe. Definitely recommend!

    Cafe de Olla
    Moni G.

    Chilaquiles & Cafecito Kind of Morning We were seated right away, and the restaurant itself is absolutely beautiful--great ambiance. I ordered the chilaquiles rojos with scrambled eggs and added steak. The steak had a flavorful, slightly sweet marinade--not really my thing since I prefer a more savory or crunchy bite, but still tender and well-prepared. Very soggy. I didn't even finish half of my dish. My husband had the huevos rancheros with chorizo--bomb.com Crunchy, spicy, and packed with flavor. Definitely a standout dish! I had two coffees (yes... guilty ): First was the Mexican mocha--rich with a hint of Abuelita chocolate. I added a Splenda for some sweetness. So good. Then I tried the café de olla--that cinnamon aroma hit before the cup even touched the table. Absolutely delicious. Only note: service could have been a bit warmer. Not bad, just not as friendly as we had hoped. Overall: beautiful spot, tasty food, and unforgettable coffee. We'd come back!

    enchilada de mole
    Fernando A.

    Met up with some colleagues at Amorelia and had a nice lunch. The food and service were really good. I enjoyed my chicken enchilada de mole. The mole sauce was rich and creamy, and something I don't often see on menus. I'd definitely come back to try more dishes at Amorelia!

    Cafe de Olla
    Spencer S.

    In the back corner of the At Home anchored shopping center. Near Planet Fitness. Full service, sitdown restaurant. Mostly indoor seating, but a few outdoor covered tables. They're expanding into the space nextdoor, so there'll soon be even more seating. Fast and friendly service! We came for breakfast on a Sunday. I got the breakfast burrito and their cafe de olla (cinnamon and brown sugar coffee). Both were great, but drink was scalding and portion size of burrito wasn't the most generous. Decently priced given today's standards. Enjoyed overall!

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    3 years ago

    The worst Mexican food ever, food was cold, had no flavor and everything tasted old and out of can. Stay away from this place! Terrible!!!

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    3 years ago

    Great local place for happy hour and tacos! The trout dish is out of this world!! The service is great too!

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    Page 3 of 25

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    Ruin Bar

    Ruin Bar

    4.1
    (486 reviews)
    2.4 mi
    $$

    What a great little trendy bar hidden away! After the OC Fair we felt like a little nightcap &…read morethrough Yelp found this little gem. The ambiance was so cool with lots of Asian inspired decorations, total eye candy. The line for the drinks was a little long but went pretty fast and we were lucky to score 2 seats inside almost immediately. If not, you can stand around or sit on other little tables on their outside patio. You can view the drinks through a QR code, a wall menu or above the bar. The drinks were really good with fun names, it was hard to decide which I'd make my first! A great place to visit and enjoy a good drink.

    A very special bar, from the drinks to the decor. I really like that they are open during the day…read moreand also late at night, with mixed indoor and outdoor seating (though the outdoor seating is a bit worn). Vibes are always good. If you have some time while browsing The Lab during the day, I recommend stopping by for a drink! It's also nice to include in your barhopping itinerary in the evening since there are a number of breweries around too. I've had mixed experiences with the bartenders. Luckily, the gentleman manning the bar during my most recent visit was very friendly. Drinks are always great. I've tried a variety of drinks from the menu here, but my favorites are: -Love in Drunk, a lovely cocktail with cucumber and grapefruit flavors that create a fresh watermelon taste when mixed together -Bee's Knees, short but strong and sweet -London Mule, very herbal thanks to the gin and very refreshing

    Photos
    Old fashion. House bourbon. Better than anywhere else.
    Old fashion. House bourbon. Better than anywhere else.
    Coconut pineapple peach shots. Phenomenal.
    Coconut pineapple peach shots. Phenomenal.
    Outside patio

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    Outside patio
    Cowboys and Poodles

    Cowboys and Poodles

    3.9
    (284 reviews)
    2.4 mi
    $$

    CALVIN IS THE BEST BARTENDER EVER…read more Summary: Fascinating place; wonderful drinks; adorable setup (confession booth; actual carriage...); on-theme decor (don't drink every time you see a cowboy with a poodle for your liver's sake, please.) Review: My partner & I were across the street at the shopping center & I wanted to hit up a bar since we don't know the area. I was the one who found this on Yelp, and he was like ...yeah, idk. I thought it'd be cool so we crossed the street & walked over. Okay, he literally fell in love with this place. A coworker recently asked him for a bar rec & he mentioned Cowboys and Poodles!! The concept is very cute (being a speakeasy) & when we came in we were greeted by Calvin who is hilarious & who makes excellent drinks. They had this very intriguing drink on the menu & he helped me decide. I would for sure come back & have it again + try the others. My partner noticed the very extravagant and peculiar decor here. The ceiling of the confession booth literally has cowboys ON poodles (!!!). He hypothesized it's all custom-made bc this is just too random. We loved it! My partner found himself counting down the seconds until these guys got out of the carriage, LOL. We swooped in immediately. It was sooooooooo cute! & strange! We pretended to be some kind of royalty in a different century. Whaaaaat a vibe. Saying again that Calvin is the best Even if this place wasn't so cool, his banter + his drinks would've still led to 5 stars. Come see for yourself!!

    Finally was able to grab some drinks here with a friend…read more Such a cool speakeasy vibe. Bartenders were super nice and attentive. Tried out the Seoul Rider, which was so unique and savory but fresh. Key notes if flavor were kimchi and fish sauce, but honestly very well blend. Sounds a little intimidating, but honestly was great. I already love Miche's, Bloody Mary's, and dirty martinis. So if you are more of a savory esque person, this drink is fun to try if you adventurous. They garnished with a green onion which I frickn love. Oh So Jaded, a gin crafted drink with notes of kiwi and fresh cracked peppercorn. Ugh, so fresh and good. She Devil, such a great drink if you like Moscow Mules or ginger tasting drinks. Kiss My Hisbicus, such a pretty and fruit drink. Definitely on the sweet side an dangerous cause you don't taste the alcohol at all lol. Great bar to stop by with a friend or two to catch up. Very small and limited seating.

    Photos
    Exterior
    Exterior
    Are you?
    Are you?
    Curated Creations

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    Curated Creations
    Playa Mesa

    Playa Mesa

    4.4
    (3.5k reviews)
    1.7 mi
    $$

    Late review but I felt like I should leave this here just in case people are wondering cause if…read morethey closed down cause of the food quality. -- Came back to Playa Mesa for my friend's birthday. The chips and salsa were really good. The aguachile had a nice spicy flavor that made it stand out. The queso fundido was SO good super cheesy, and paired with the handmade tortillas it was one of my favorites. We also ordered the calamari and I was surprised by how good it was. Everyone ordered different rounds of cocktails throughout the night and honestly, not one missed. Service was a little slow, but it was a busy Friday night, so that's somewhat expected. I've been here before and the grilled octopus tacos and carne asada burrito were just as good as I remembered them. They also made the birthday celebration really cute. They sang happy birthday, brought out a small ice cream, and gave my friend a big mariachi hat. Good food, great drinks, and still consistent as I remembered it. So long Playa Mesa. 9.5/10

    Playa Mesa has a great atmosphere with beautiful aesthetics. In the evening, the open windows…read morecreate a nice breeze, though they do let a few flies in. The hostess was friendly, and our server was funny and kind. He was a little less attentive as it got busier, but the staff worked well as a team, so we never had to wait for refills or anything we needed. Parking in the back can be a little tight. The birria tacos were packed with flavor, and I loved the inside-out cheese crust. My husband's fajitas were flavorful, although the chicken was a little overdone. The guacamole was excellent, especially with the pepita seeds adding great texture. Overall, we enjoyed the flavorful food, service, and atmosphere. We'd definitely come back!

    Photos
    East Side Sunset
    East Side Sunset
    The eastside cocktail - all the drinks here are delish!
    The eastside cocktail - all the drinks here are delish!
    Lovely interior...

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    Lovely interior...
    Stowaway

    Stowaway

    4.5
    (813 reviews)
    7.5 mi
    $$

    Definitely recommend reservations and parking can be tight. I recommend parking behind the…read morebuilding. Even though I don't drink alcohol, I thought it was very cool with the Hawaiian themes and there were so many cool cocktails. Apparently there's a speakeasy in this bar too. The food was very good as we got burgers, sandwiches, onion rings and ice cream. Our servers were very nice and attentive. Food came out quickly and it wasn't too loud. No complaints and I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a nice to place to eat and drink.

    Stowaway has the near perfect blend of high end tiki mixed with what I call the "brewers dive bar"…read more Disguised in a dumpy looking strip mall is one of the better tiki experiences I have had. Is it as high end and bougie as Strong Water? No. Does it tickle your fancy and offer a wonderful experience that even your kids can enjoy? Absolutely! Kids- yes they are welcome. In fact mine had the time of their life. Just don't be those parents and bring them after 7. It is a tiki bar after all and unless they follow the rules of Arrested Development then let them chill at home with grandma and grandpa or maybe their weird Uncle Joe. Drink- Delightful. Very fun themed glassware. Presentations were beautiful and well thought out. Our server did a great job at recommending drinks that built on top of the previous one. Food- the weakest part of the experience. While certainly not bad however when compared to the rest of the experience it just was a bit lacking. The Loco Moco looked very nice. The patty was quite dry though. Yes there's gravy but that's not an excuse for a dry patty. Mac salad was very nice. Stowaway fries were fun and tasty. It is smothered in gravy so be prepared to lose the crispy fries about halfway into the dish. All in all I (and my wife and kids(before7) and weird Uncle Joe) will be back.

    Photos
    Dining room
    Dining room
    Pokebombs
    Pokebombs
    Stowaway Fries $17

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    Stowaway Fries $17

    Amorelia Mexican Cafe - mexican - Updated August 2026

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