This place has authentic Mexican flavors! As you walk in, you're ordering at the counter they have some printed menus of a couple of sheets of papers. (Although I think it would be better to have an updated menu with images that's just esthetic). There are so many food items to select from. It might be better to sit down and think about what you're getting. I got the taquito plate, and let me tell you it did not disappoint at all! Crispy Rolled beef taquitos topped with lettuce, chopped tomatoes, crumble cheese on top, sour cream and guacamole on the side, Mexican rice, and refried beans! I mean it literally tastes like mom's food. They do have an option for beers, wine, sealed drinks in cans, bottles and fountain drinks. We ordered a small container of guacamole, small bag of chips (they do have a large bag of chips if you have a larger group as an option). We chose a few salsas which are already packed in small tiny take home containers that you usually see at tacos places. Our waiter, young guy, was very attentive. He walked to several tables a few times asked if we needed anything, how our food was, etc. The ambiance was great! We watched the FIFA game on the TV which was a nice plus! We were leaving I grabbed a few items on my hands, and I accidentally left my purse inside hanging on the chair, the waiter came to parking lot and handed my purse. So, grateful for honest personnel. From what i gathered this place is local, and has been in the area for a while, they recently moved from a hole in the wall, to this nice open area restaurant with a nice upgrade. There were local people that were familiar with the owner who was also inside in the kitchen area. Just nice to see, humble people working.i have only been in the area since 2022 and this was my first time here. They have several seating options inside, with tables chairs, booths, including an outdoor patio area! I loved the authentic Mexican food, and definitely adding it to my go to place! read more

Celinda's - Taquitos with refried beans and rice - Mexican Near Me - Rancho Santa Margarita, California

See all

Again, an excellent experience here. We come to this restaurant once or twice a month, usually on a Friday afternoon. Not too busy and plenty of parking at that time. Staff are super friendly and welcoming and funny hahahah. Atmosphere is nice and chill. Great noise level, good for friends, solo and groups. Food is always great. My new favorite is the Carne Asada Fries, I usually take half of it home. If you want to bring a big party, call them, they'll reserve the seats for you. Inside and outside seating available! read more

See all

8+ establishment very clean excellent food great service great location. 100% satisfied. Highly recommend for lunch or dinner. Car shows are a bonus. Nidal and Judith are great hosts read more

See all

Awesome vibe and ambience with all the mini Porsches. Clean restaurant. Now the food....absolutely incredible. Reminds me of the places I'd frequent in New York. High quality with so many layers of flavor! Great portions and they plate everything nicely and with presentation. Everything is made in-house, including all the sauces. So the place is also priced a bit higher. This is NOT a dive, grab and go, pseudo fast food Mexican spot. It's not the fastest food so you might have to be a bit patient because you're getting high-end, upscale eats in a chill ambience (modern cantina vibe). These places actually care about quality and presentation, so it takes a bit longer. If you wanna check out this place and you're in a time crunch, then definitely go during slower hours. The only problem with this place is that it's not closer to my home. Also, vegetarian-friendly with many options and he can prepare things custom if called a day in advance. I highly recommend Celinda's. read more

Their salmon tacos are pretty epic! Did not expect them to be that good. Best taco I've had in a long time.

Live music was amazing and all the food was delicious! Definitely will be going back.

The Tacos are amazing. I asked for extra cheese and they didn't forget. I really like the way they make their Spanish Rice and Refried Beans. Definitely liked the chips, fresh, crispy and salty. They have an outdoor patio with live music, with great atmosphere. Can't wait to go back! read more

Celinda's - Two Taco plate with Rice and Beans - Mexican Near Me - Rancho Santa Margarita, California

See all

Great food, great service, the owner is one of the nicest people you'll ever meet. My wife and I always look forward to dine there.

I wanted to try their caldo de res and they had it on the menu when I checked their website. I've never eaten there so I ordered by phone and placed my order and requested for them to deliver it to my address. The guy that answered didn't know what that soup was and said told me they don't deliver. Most restaurants make deliveries so not sure why he couldn't do that. read more

Food- always amazing! Service- excellent Ambiance- there is always something fun going on, flamingo guitars, a band, fundraising, and even if there isn't, it is still a lot of fun read more

Got right in, No wait. Nice size patio. Service was excellent. Servers were super attentive. The owner/chef Nidal greeted my group and continually checked in with us. All food made to order and never rushed. The quality of the food is outstanding!! Bring your appetite. Nidal makes the best mini burritos. I often order the mini bean/cheese and breakfast burritos when I know I'm in the area. Order ahead. If I lived in Rancho Santa Margarita this would be my go to spot at least 5 times a week. read more

$21.91 for a carne asada burrito and a regular soda. Ok, but can they at least throw in some tortilla chips for that price? Primos does, over by Smart & Final. I guess thats my go-to going forward. read more

Went in ordered 12 mini burritos, was told it takes 30 min as it's a catering item. Waited the 30 min got the burritos and asked for a little salsa. This owner told me I they don't offer small salsas for catering items. Like really? Taco Bell offers salsa for god sakes. I will NEVER be back! read more

Celinda's - This isn't a large order it's 12 mini burritos equal to 2 reg burritos they wanted me to buy a big tub of salsa - Mexican Near Me - Rancho Santa Margarita, California

What a discovery!! Super good fresh food! Like homemade, and fairly priced. An owner, Nadia, who is also the chef and GM, really seems to enjoy and care about what he's doing. Celinda's will become our go to restaurant for Mexican food!!! read more

Had an exceptional experience stumbling into this restaurant for the first time tonight. Had planned to go to the Chinese restaurant next door since that is what we were craving but it looked too shady and empty (directly attached to ARCO gas)! Celinda's on the other hand is a total VIBE. Not your typical Mexican dinner establishment, Celinda's is decorated with taste, style, and originality. The owner, Nidal, was present when we arrived and greeted us with a smile. After placing our order, we carried our cutlery to our table along with fresh ramikins of pico de gallo, salsa verde, and spicy salsa, and our cutlery was fine and sturdy to hold! I ordered chicken taquitos which came out beautifully decorated with diced tomatoes, fresh lettuce, sour cream and grac. Option for quantity was 3 or 4; I chose 4 and scarfed every bite. My partner ordered a steak burrito and raved about the meat quality and overall deliciousness. Nidal told us he uses only the finest ingredients, and that was apparent in everything we ate. While seated, we requested a special order item (not that special - just chips and cheese instead of a full nacho order) and Nidal was pleasantly accommodating. We were comfortable, took our time, and staff kept coming by to check on everything. It was so casual and the food was so delicious and the hospitality was so welcoming. We ended up chatting with Nidal at length before we left, but not before also enjoying a sumptuous slice of flan. It tasted homemade, so worth it. To talk further about the decor/vibe and what made it different is to spoil the fun in store for you when you go for a meal. As a lover of music, art and food, our experience far exceeded what we sought and I can only recommend it positively to all Yelpers. read more

Food was immaculate and staff was really friendly. Food also came out quick. Would definitely recommend this place to anyone in the area wanting Mexican food. read more

Just the very best Mexican food in South OC. Not even really all that close! Authentic and delicious! Too many favorites to list! Just go get you some! read more

Came into Celinda's with a group of friends. Nadel, the owner, came over to greet us. Big smile & friendly. The food was sooo amazing. We had a party of 8 and ordered several appetizers to start. There was plenty to share. I got the salmon tacos. I should have taken a picture because it was such a beautiful presentation! Wow! You can't miss with this order! Everyone ordered something different. Food came out in a timely manner. The server took great care of us. Everyone was very pleased and quite happy. Highly recommend!! Yum!!! read more

One of my family's favorite Mexican restaurants! The owners and staff are incredibly friendly and welcoming and the food is always delicious! I highly recommend their chicken burrito, carnitas nachos, or mushroom quesadilla. read more

Excellent restaurant. Not only do we enjoy the atmosphere and the food, but we had a family party that they catered and it was wonderful. Highly recommend. read more

I have been here twice during Covid. I decided to give it a second try after a very long time and shouldn't have. I'll keep it short. Both individuals cooking and handling the food, we're coughing and sneezing while handling the food, with no masks. Tonight I waited 30 minutes for my to go fajitas. One person was in front of me. Everyone behind me who ordered, got their food before me. It was eventually figured out my food was sitting on the side, on the pick up rack. So on top of all of that, my food was cold. Unfortunately that's it for me here. Also, keeping the doors open or the AC on would be advisable with the 80+ degree heat outside and the coughing and sneezing and lack of masks. The air needs to flow if nothing else. read more

See all

If you haven't tried Celinda's in RSM, you are missing out! Delicious food, nice dining area (both inside and out) and super friendly and attentive staff. We stopped by today for tacos and enjoyed carnitas, chicken and salmon. Loved every bite. The salmon tacos are a must order! Perfectly prepared with a balsamic glaze. They'll make your day. Highly recommended!!! read more

Celinda's - Salmon Taco - Mexican Near Me - Rancho Santa Margarita, California

Love this place! Been around for years and still has great food! We always get their bag of chips and salsa to go as well. So good!

My goodness, this place has really good enchiladas. There is something about the red sauce that is just extraordinary. Extremely earthy, deep with complex ingredients, and you can tell they put a lot of heart into it. I tried both the cheese and the chicken enchilada, and they were both good. Cheese is a bit like burnt cheese, and the chicken was just your typical shredded chicken. I can't wait to come back and try other things! Their menu looks pretty expensive with a variety of price points, and I think the next thing on my list is the shrimp. There's so much competition in the area, with all of these Mexican restaurants. But this place stands out it is worth visiting. read more

Celinda's - Chicken enchilada - Mexican Near Me - Rancho Santa Margarita, California

See all

Spent $40 on mini burritos, chips, guac and a tip Asked for 2 measly sides of salsa (just the little containers) and was told "we don't give salsa for catering orders" I can't order mini burritos off the regular menu and I'm not trying to get a whole container to go without paying Ridiculous policy and it's not stated anywhere I don't like complaining about mom and pop restaurants but come on read more

Amazing special today. This was a melt in your mouth sea bass that I would gladly have again every day if I could. Cooked perfectly and the salad was a perfect match. read more

Celinda's - Mexican Near Me - Rancho Santa Margarita, California

Went in for lunch and order a traditional carnitas burrito to go. 30 mins later I'm still standing there asking when will it be ready? They kept saying it is coming but I fell Behind the take home orders. Finally got the burrito and it was terrible. Half the carnitas were like hardened beef jerky. Rice was dry and the requested sour cream was frugal. This place has done me wrong more times Than right. Won't be going back. read more

Stopped in because we were hungry, drove by, and said why not. Caldo de Res was absolutely delicious and the fajitas were too!

Pretty awesome Mexican place with amazing nachos. Why, because the steak they use is solid skirt steak and seasoned amazingly as well. I was pleasantly surprised. The guacamole was spot on and house made chips to accompany. The bean and cheese burrito was a hit as well;) tasty and was worthy of the praise. Burrito fell apart so get the fork handy. Inside it's decorated pretty neat with collector things and an amazing Indian motorcycle! The patio outside is a nice place to meet up and enjoy some good food. Can't wait to go back! read more

Celinda's - Carne asada nachos - Mexican Near Me - Rancho Santa Margarita, California

My kids and I were craving Mexican food for dinner while in RSM, so we decided to give Celinda's a try. I'll start with the positive... the employees were very polite and attentive. Also, the chips were good. Unfortunately, that's where the positives end. The flavors of our dishes were odd for Mexican food. The shredded beef in the taquitos and tacos were salty and mushy, and the sauce on the enchilada was not good. None of us finished our plates. I hate to leave a bad review because the employees were so nice, but none of us liked the food. The decor was also weird for a Mexican restaurant; it had an eclectic assortment of prints of race cars and classic American album covers. read more

The best shrimp enchiladas I've ever had in my entire life! My favorite meal, I crave it every single week!

If you want to try a Mexican restaurant that charges you for your salsa, Celindas is your place! What a joke.

Had the traditional burrito with carnitas and the house sauce (extra $2). It was good. I wasn't blown away. It could've and should've been served warmer but I was very hungry so I did not ask them to warm it up more. I've been to this restaurant before and liked my food. This time it just wasn't anything spectacular. read more

Celinda's - Traditional carnitas burrito with house sauce - Mexican Near Me - Rancho Santa Margarita, California

Best Mexican Cuisine ever! I've been going to CELINDAS for years! The owner is very passionate about the cooking and so so friendly! We moved to Arizona and miss CELINDAS terribly! You gotta go!! read more

It's been several years since I've been here, and now I remember why. This is the worst excuse for Mexican food you could ever try. Shrimp taco had 2, yes *2* shrimp. And they tasted off and were rubbery. And only $7.50! Chicken taco was dry and flavorless. Even the bean and cheese burrito was bland and boring. How on earth do you mess that up?!?! *Never* again Do yourself a favor and head over to Tacos Ensenada on El Toro. Excellent food and much cheaper. read more

Cute interior design. Used brick, guitars, racing cars. Not very Mexican feeling but good food. Service is nice read more

Just spent $45 on mini bean and cheese burritos and when i asked for salsa i was told they don't give salsa for bean and cheese burritos. Super odd since the fellow in front of me spent half as much on burritos and the person working (I'm assuming it's the owner) offered them a bundle of extra salsa on top of the two he asked for. Not sure why someone wouldn't offer some sort of salsa for 2 dozen bean and cheese mini burritos but whatever's. Always loved this spot but don't think I can patronize them anymore after this. Super bummer. read more

AMAZING FOOD, AMAZING AND GENEROUS OWNER! Nicest restaurant to be at and enjoy food with great people that will take care of you and make you feel at home. Order anything on the menu and you won't be disappointed because everything is made with care, quality and love! read more

Had to try the Diablo burger today. It sells out fast so we came at 3:00 on Monday. It was amazing!!! Sarai served us, super nice and attentive! I'll post a pic so you can see what I'm talking about. This is a must try when you are in RSM! Thank you for a wonderful meal! read more

See all

I'd still rate the food as above average but is just so hard to stand up for this place. I used to eat here weekly before the new ownership. I have tried to understand where this business is going and it just confuses the heck out of me. I just don't understand some of the changes. Mostly the terrible service on a recent trip has me motivated to voice my opinions as a 12-year local customer. Salsa used to be free, now you have to ask for it from behind the counter and get pressure to just have a couple with multiple entrees. How can you open at 10:30am and still try to push your breakfast burritos? The old ones were so good. And closing early too? I've walked up to an opening late sign more than once and had to leave without eating. One shining glorious thing is the chips. The chips remain legendary. Chips of dreams. So good! Thin and crispy with a good salt ratio. But no free chips, and if you buy chips you also need to buy salsa. One really misses the open salsa bar of yesteryear. What the heck is with the American rock LPs, motorcycles and guitars? This theme work is just not landing. Owner has a rock and racing fanboy thing, which is totally rad, but out of place in here. Counter service is nothing you can count on. Sometimes nice, sometimes nasty spice. I am always asked to leave a tip, even on take out orders. Leave a tip, and still get stiffed on salsa. I've been asked to wrap up my meal when eating at a table in house so they could close early. I was also told too late to place a take out order for a bean and cheese burrito at 7:15 pm with closing coming soon (7:30). And lastly I asked on a separate visit if it was possible to get a table 30 minutes before closing and the new owner sighed and was visibly disgruntled pointing out other customers that just sat down that will also make him close late. The food has all changed, not significantly in all cases but the beans are rice are both different and really bland now, while the enchilada sauce is much spicier. Still good eats but Burgers and fries? Greek diner vibes. All these various attempts to scale up the quality in questionable directions leaves me missing the OG Celinda's and the two sons who ran this business in the old location across the lot. They could also be grumpy, well, one of them, but I tend to avoid Celindas now due to unpredictability of service, the reduced hours lack of culinary consistency. Please open early again, and be nicer to your customers. You might start to see a full dining room again. read more