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    Carlitos Diner

    4.4 (714 reviews)
    Closed 8:00 am - 8:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Order Carlitos Diner Takeout or Delivery

    Carlitos Diner Photos

    Business Info

    CARLITOS DINER ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Recommended Reviews - Carlitos Diner

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    Crunchy taco
    Kim W.

    Food was good, service was great I went for a quick bite ~ great crunchy taco. Service was wick, food tasty!

    This used to be a wet burrito.  My hub ate the whole thing!!
    Julie N.

    I've been coming here regularly for a few months ever since I heard this place was struggling possibly due to an illness in the family. Not sure how true that story is, but my point here is... the lady at the counter is not as "friendly" as one would expect, especially if they are trying to keep their business alive. I thought she might be having a bad day, so I just wrote it off, but now that I've been here numerous times, I guess that's just how she is. Not a customer oriented friendly "front office" type. I referred this place to a friend who has also been a regular customer recently but, today, coincidentally, he mentioned he had a bad experience with the younger cashier. The food here is good and I don't mind continuing to support them, especially because it's convenient for me, but ... there are plenty of other small businesses to support, if I don't feel appreciated... After reading a few other reviews... it seems we're not the only ones who've noticed this "not exceptionally friendly" service... SMH

    Fish Taco
    Amanda C.

    Cute, mom-and-pop spot that instantly feels welcoming. The bright yellow walls give the place a cheerful vibe, making it a fun stop for a casual lunch. My husband and I are big fans of hardshell tacos, so naturally, we had to give theirs a try. Both the chicken and beef were very good. The chips and salsa they brought out were also solid, with just the right amount of kick. This place is perfect for a spur-of-the-moment lunch. The menu has plenty of options, but honestly, I think I'll definitely come back for the tacos.

    Cristine O.

    This restaurant has good food but they need to be more transparent with their customers. We've had two subpar experiences back to back. We went a few weeks back on May 29th because they put out a flyer saying that the FV location was going to have a buffet but the HB location would have their taco Tuesday specials all day. We went and tried getting the Taco Tuesday special and the lady who took our order said they weren't doing that. I was a bit surprised since the flyer stated they did and the last time they had the buffet at the other location, we had no issue ordering the special. If they didn't want to honor their special, it should not have been included on the flyer. The second time was tonight. We went in for a smash burger and made it a combo. Usually when you order a combo, it comes with fries and a drink. We were surprised when we saw the price and when we questioned why we were charged an additional $3.50 each, they said it was for the sodas. If the sodas are not included in the combo, this should be relayed to the customer so they aren't surprised when they pay. We like coming here for food but I unfortunately don't see us coming back here for all the surprise charges on the food.

    Taco Tuesday combo plate and two street tacos all for $11
    Beau A.

    This was some of the best Mexican food I have had in Orange County. I haven't found anything that reminds me of home in a hot minute. The staff were kind and it was cute to eat there. Their weekly deals are incredible. You will see me there every taco Tuesday

    Menudo con pata
    Anacleto E.

    Wifey and I ordered desserts next door and went to one of our favorite places to eat for a light snack but was greeted by a scowling, indifferent and attitude-filled server. We asked for specific menu items and were answered with an eye roll! So, we just ordered and left... I guess you should only come in for breakfast and lunch because the service goes out the window when the closing shift shows up.

    Chicken Fried Steak
    Michelle N.

    Who would have thought a small, rinky, hole in the wall Mexican diner would offer one of the best chicken fried steaks!! Being from the south, I grew up on hearty breakfasts. Everything loaded with gravy. Carlito's CFS did not disappoint!! Crispy chicken steak smothered, no, drowning in sausage gravy! For the price you really get a large portion too. It included 3 eggs made your way, I opted for hashbrowns and a side of toast. The diner itself is very tidy and clean. Excellent customer service. Upon entry, go to the counter to place your order then they will bring your food out.

    Inside + specials
    Bridgette E.

    Came across this taco place through research on Yelp. I ordered a crunchy taco plate with rice and beans and I enjoyed my dish. The salsa was also very delicious and I was given extra salsa when requested. So service here from placing the order to getting my order to leaving the restaurant was very good. Inside is very homey / mom - n - pop style vibes. It's comfortable and I can understand why they were busy inside at the time of visit. My mom order a shrimp dish with rice and she didn't like it because she said the shrimp wasn't cooked enough. I will definitely be back to get more crunchy tacos in the future.

    Nachos

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    18 days ago

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    2 months ago

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    1 year ago

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    4 months ago

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    7 months ago

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    3 months ago

    Love the food here and if you pass by, turn around and go back! Three meals a day, so there is no excuse!

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    1 year ago

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    7 months ago

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    5 months ago

    Really felt like we were interrupting the cashier from more important tasks and the food was only fair. Will not be back.

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    8 months ago

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    2 months ago

    Always great affordable meals. Good quality generous portions and wonderful service. Our go to for lunch hands down!

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    10 months ago

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    2 years ago

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    5 months ago

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    2 months ago

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    6 months ago

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    2 years ago

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    4 months ago

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    1 year ago

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    2 years ago

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    9 months ago

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    9 months ago

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    2 years ago

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    11 months ago

    This place is great with great service. I had the Carnitas helping was good and they were browned perfectly. Salsa taste great too.

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    2 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    11 months ago

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    6 months ago

    I love this place the food is always very good, well priced, and servicee moves quickly. The mom is my favorite !

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    1 year ago

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    11 months ago

    I went back and was happy with food but yelp would not let me take down negative review

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    3 years ago

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    1 year ago

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    2 years ago

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    Page 1 of 18

    Carlitos Diner Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Carlitos Diner

    Carlito s has very good food & the people are very nice.?

    Very nice staff. Carlito's met me at their front counter. He's a really nice guy and spoke to me for awhile. Their tinga was great! A little bit of onion and cilantro topped it off nicely.

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    The Brant

    The Brant

    4.3
    (490 reviews)
    4.2 mi
    $$

    It was my first time here, and I came to celebrate my birthday. From the moment we arrived, the…read morecustomer service was above and beyond. Our waiter was incredibly kind, attentive, and made sure everyone at our table was taken care of. I have food allergies, and he took them very seriously. He double-checked with the kitchen to make sure my meal was safe, removed anything I couldn't have, and even gave me some great recommendations. That level of care meant a lot to me. We were a pretty large party, and somehow every single order came out exactly as requested. There were no mix-ups, nothing was forgotten, and our waters were constantly being refilled without us even having to ask. Our waiter was truly on top of everything. The food was absolutely delicious! I ordered the steak cooked medium rare, and it was cooked perfectly with amazing flavor. One of my friends let me try a bite of her salmon, and oh my goodness...it was so good! I already know that's what I'll be ordering the next time I come back. The mocktails were also fantastic and paired really well with the meal. The restaurant itself was spotless, including the restrooms, and the atmosphere was beautiful. The ocean views made the experience even more special and were the perfect backdrop for celebrating my birthday. I would absolutely come back for the incredible food, amazing service, beautiful views, and overall great atmosphere. Thank you for making my birthday celebration such a memorable one!

    The Brant is one of my go-to spots whenever I'm in the mood for a good lunch with an ocean view…read more The sandwich and draft beer lunch special is hard to beat. My regular order is the Prime Rib Dip--hands down my favorite item on the menu. Tender beef, plenty of flavor, and perfect for dipping. When I'm craving something different, the Fried Chicken Sandwich is always a solid choice, and The Brant Burger is just as tasty. I usually pair my meal with a crisp beer and, every now and then, a shot to round things out. The location is another reason I keep coming back. The views overlooking PCH and the ocean make for a great place to relax, grab a bite, and enjoy the afternoon. The staff is always friendly, welcoming, and attentive, which only adds to the experience. Great food, cold beer, ocean views, and consistently good service. The Brant continues to be one of my favorite spots on the coast.

    Photos
    Sunny beach views
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    Simmzy's

    Simmzy's

    4.1
    (1.2k reviews)
    4.2 mi
    $$

    I've been to Simmzy's more times than I like to admit and every time I come here it's because of…read morethe great view. Sitting on the patio with a view of the highway, the beach and the ocean is just so relaxing when you're having a drink after a hard day at work. I think for the 50 or so times I've been here. I've only had bad service here once and that person from what I can see no longer works here My go to dishes here are the nachos, chicken wings, and little Simmzy's burger. When I get the burger, I usually order a salad with it so it's a little healthier; cause most of the time I have the nachos and we all know how unhealthy but delicious nachos are. As for drinks, I usually take the beer for breakfast Stout, which is in my opinion the best draft that is offered by the house brand I've also tried a lot of their listed drafts. The other one I really like is probably the Russian roulette one. Overall, they have me hooked, and I also have tried out their happy hour, which is not bad if you are a taco lover

    Long overdue but here it goes! This place is simply ok…read more I got the nachos, and I was not a big fan of the hard as pebbles homny they added. Homny needs to be in pozole. I got a chicken sandwich and it was pretty good. Filling for sure since I couldn't finish it. My sweet potatoes were a little overcooked but it was still eatable. However their drinks selection is amazing. I got some lavender blueberry hard cider drink and it was amazing. Seriously one of the best ciders I've had in a while. The view is nice since it's right next to the beach.

    Photos
    Simmzy's
    Chicken Tinga Taco
    Chicken Tinga Taco
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    Jolie Restaurant & Rooftop

    Jolie Restaurant & Rooftop

    4.4
    (657 reviews)
    4.0 mi
    $$$

    Outstanding service and delicious food. Everything was so good and you cannot beat the location -…read moreunobstructed views of the ocean! Lots of heaters on the patios and blankets available if it is still a little chilly. The Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice Stack was definitely a favorite as well as the Ube Basque Cheesecake (OMG). Cocktails were also a hit! Be sure to visit the rooftop! Definitely will return!

    Overall: 4.5/5 A…read morecouple things to note: GREAT beach views and we went during sunset so it was beautiful. The trade off is that it can get windy so your food will get cold quick. Busy hustle type vibe with the diners, cars on PCH and beachgoers. Park in the underground structure, get validated. Food we ordered: - Calamari: Standard quality with light batter and soft pieces. The pesto sauce was very good. - Ribeye House Butchered Cut: I ordered mine Black & Blue (aka Pittsburg Style) which can be difficult. They did a very good job with it. Outside had good crunchy sear in most areas and soft tender rare inside. It was generously seasoned topped with compound butter. I subbed the garlic fries for mash potatoes which was just okay. Overall, very impressed. Steak is my favorite. - Picanha: Flat Iron Steak topped with chimichuri. Ordered medium rare and it came out cooked perfect. Very soft and tender pieces. The garlic fries were very good and the arugula salad had a nice blend of citrusy and savory flavor. Overall, the food was great. Lots of seasoning and flavors. We were celebrating a birthday so they brought out a complimentary chocolate cake and ice cream. Very nice gesture. Another note; Service was great and the manager also walked the floor the entire time to check in on guests, run food, clear tables when needed and helped his staff. As someone who's worked in restaurants, that's always nice to see.

    Photos
    Outdoors looking towards bar
    Outdoors looking towards bar
    Spicy tuna crispy rice stack
    Spicy tuna crispy rice stack
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    Lorea

    Lorea

    3.8
    (199 reviews)
    4.3 mi
    $$$

    Since I was staying the hotel, it was convenient for me to eat here and what not…read more I had breakfast twice in a row and I have to say, I was not disappointed. I think their breakfast options are very good. A little pricey but I had purchase a voucher through a travel package so my out of pocket cost wasn't too bad. Out of everything I tried, I really enjoyed the blueberry lemon pancakes. They're fluffy and sweet. The potatoes were nicely seasoned along and filling. The view is gorgeous since it's right in front of the ocean.

    Had such a great dining experience at Lōrea inside Pasea Hotel & Spa!…read moreLet me start by saying the food was SO delicious overall. Now, for full honesty, the starters weren't the star of the show for me. We ordered the pork belly wraps and spicy pork gyoza. Both were cooked well, but in my opinion, they were missing that extra "something" maybe a dipping sauce or a bit more flavor to really elevate them. Next time, I'd probably skip those and try different appetizers. The service was great from start to finish attentive, friendly, and everything came out smoothly. The restaurant itself is super cute, and I loved both the indoor and outdoor seating options. We sat outside under the heaters, which made for such a cozy, perfect vibe. BUT the mains and sides? That's where they absolutely delivered. I had the Korean BBQ salmon and WOW flavor on flavor on flavor. Easily one of my favorites of the night. For the table, we shared lobster mac and cheese, asparagus, and whipped potatoes, and let me tell you... those sides were everything. The portions are generous (perfect for sharing with 4-6 people), the mac and cheese was rich and creamy, the asparagus was cooked perfectly, and the whipped potatoes? Smooth, fluffy, and packed with flavor, definitely a standout. We were originally hoping for the tomahawk steak, but they had run out (sad moment ). However, they made it right by offering a prime New York steak for two and honestly, no regrets because that steak was FIRE. Super flavorful, juicy, and absolutely mouthwatering. We also tried the Wagyu and sea bass, which were both delicious, but the real highlights for me were the steak and salmon. Drinks were also on point! We had an Old Fashioned, Moscow Mule, and a few lemon drops including blackberry, passionfruit, and watermelon. The blackberry lemon drop was hands down my favorite, so good! To top it all off, they brought out the cutest birthday macaroons! One tasted like Fruity Pebbles (so fun!) and the other was paired with whipped cream and raspberries such a sweet touch. Overall, while the appetizers didn't quite hit for me, the mains and sides absolutely carried the experience and are 100% the reason I'll be back. I'll definitely be returning for more steak and that Korean BBQ salmon!

    Photos
    Lorea Outdoor Patio
    Lorea Outdoor Patio
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    Peach Cobbler
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    Carlitos Diner - diners - Updated July 2026

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