Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Chiva Torta

    4.3 (151 reviews)
    InexpensiveMexican
    Open 11:00 am - 5:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Chiva Torta Photos

    CHIVA TORTA ATMOSPHERE

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

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Chiva Torta

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Picture of cold drinks available .
    Em B.

    Best TACOS DORADOS in the Heart of Santa Ana. Service is great but long line just waiting for food. It was worth the wait. It's outdoor so if it's hot - it's hot! I ate in my car. I wanted Al PASTOR but they ran out so ended up with Carne Asada! Still YUMMY! My co-worker introduced me to tacos dorados in 2017 when Chiva Torta was still at North Gate on 4th Street and I've been hooked ever since. They moved to 5th St/Spurgeon St. and I also moved to another city so I was afraid to go for years because I do not like SA streets/parking. However, I found out that the parking across the street is free with limited time and it was just quick crossing the street so here I am. Don't waste time and risk your car over street parking. Just park in the structure across the street and you're good to go. Just watch your time limit/parking instruction when you enter the parking structure. Remember to ask for a little plastic bag to pack all the side condiments (onions, cilantro, pico de callo, pickled jalapenos, limes, raddish, green sauce, red sauce. HOT SAUCE - make sure you ask for them because they don't put it out. Two types - one spicy and other super spicy. Be careful of what you ask for because it'll burn your bootie. PICKLED ONIONS - drooling here. You can ask for them even if it's to-go. The girls at my previous job/office usually order 10-20 tacos darados at lunch among a few of us and got everything for to-go back to the office. We picked them up of course. Go early when they open or the line is ALWAYS long. 15-20-30 minutes wait at least! Yep! I'm coming back!

    Maisune E.

    the amount of times i have made the drive out just to get the tacos and go home is not even funny. when i think of santa ana, i think of this truck and i get very happy. the meat is just so tender and yummy, you'll inhale these and if you can normally eat 2-3 tacos you'll be eating 5+ just because they're good not even because you're hungry.

    Jericalla
    Yvette S.

    It's been 10 YEARS since I last reviewed Chiva Torta! I'm still a regular and they are very much still a 5-star worthy spot. The food truck was previously located at 514 N Spurgeon Street in Santa Ana right across the Northgate. Since all of the construction for the OC Streetcar, the food truck has now moved about a block or two over to French and Fifth Street. If you ask me, this is a much better spot because the parking structure is right next to it and you get an hour grace period, which is plenty of time to order and eat. Their popular items are the torta ahogada and tacos dorados de papa con carne. They hit the spot EVERY TIME. I've never once had a visit where it didn't come out right, so their consistency is unmatched. I love eating very spicy food, so I ask for my torta to be BIEN ahogada...pretty much dip it in that bucket of chile not once, but twice. It's crazy spicy but it's delicious. You can order your torta as a "media" which means half the spiciness. The torta ahogada comes with refried beans on the bread, carnitas, and topped with pickled onions. I ask for extra beans and onions because they're so good. The tacos dorados de papa con carne are also a must try but you might feel overly full if you want to try both the torta and tacos. I usually split a torta ahogada with my husband and we each order two tacos dorados on the side for us. These are also spicy but not nearly as much as the torta. If you want to finish off strong with something sweet, their jericalla is perfect. It's a custard dessert that helps cool your mouth from the spiciness. Lunch hours and weekend mornings are very busy for this place (it's a great hangover cure) so expect a bit of a wait. Since it's a food truck, there is obviously nowhere to sit. Near the parking structure, there are a few high-cement areas where you can sit and enjoy your food. My husband and I take our folding chairs and we set up next to the truck to eat our food once it's ready. At some point, they started taking card payments, but it's back to cash only. I don't mind this bit, because there is a Chase and a School's First nearby. Chiva Torta has many regular customers, and they're still thriving years later. They really are the s*** and you won't have a better torta ahogada anywhere else in California.

    Potato tacos? More like fried tortilla.
    Gaby R.

    We've been coming here for years and it's as close as you can get to the delicious tortas ahogadas from Mexico. They can be pretty stingy with the salsa and today we ordered some tacos and we got basically fried tortillas with cabbage, they ended up in the trash... super disappointing! Today's visit was definitely a one star visit but the other times it has been good. Increase your prices if you have to, don't lower the quality of the food you're serving...

    Sarah B.

    Honestly, the best tortas ahogadas in Santa Ana. I have tried multiple other places, but nothing compares. I can handle a lot of spice, but I get medium & it's perfect. Still pretty spicy but not unbearable. You can always ask for/add more spicy salsa or mild salsa to adjust it to your preference. The tacos dorados are good as well. My kids like their chorizo tacos & green salsa. It's also more affordable than some of the other food trucks with tortas ahogadas & they move quickly. It does get crowded on weekends, so be prepared to wait 30+ minutes sometimes, but well worth it.

    Torta Ahogada
    Efrain H.

    I was passing back on my way back to Escondido and im glad I stopped. The food and service was really something most other food trucks can only strive for. I had the much recommended Torta Ahogada and would myself recommend it to anyone who will listen. Due to time constraints and COVID I had to order it to go and build it myself. The concept seem simple enough, a Carnitas Torta dipped (or bathed) in a kind of salsa. This placed helped me see the hype behind this Guadalajara speciality, with crispy carnitas, flavorful salsa, fresh veggies and pickled onions to cut down the heaviness and spice. I also had some agua de Horchata that helped me survive after putting a little too much sauce on the torta. Being my first time ordering a torta ahogada i was a little worried i would choke up the line or mess up somehow, but the staff was friendly and helpful in guiding me to one of my favorite culinary experiences of 2021. If you've been wanting to try a torta ahogada makes sure to try this place out.

    a close up of a hot dog
    Camila R.

    I'll never get tired of this place and their tortas. I recommend getting their tacos dorados as well. I've been coming to this place for years now and never disappoints.

    Media with two tacos

    Best tortas. Takes me back to Guadalajara. They never disappoint always satisfies the craving.

    Tacos dorados de papa con pollo!

    See all

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Authentic tortas ahogadas. Best I've had outside of Guadalajara! Tacos the papa were also great. Good portion and reasonably priced.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Em B.
    42
    192
    3591

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Tacos dorados were amazing with hot red sauce with the cabbage onions and carnitas on top

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Horrible food and horrible service. The owner and the staff don't know what they are doing. Don't come here!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of George R.
    10
    35
    31

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Gaby R.
    176
    118
    32

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Tony M.
    168
    24
    0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Nemo A.
    3
    70
    37

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of M M.
    37
    138
    25

    3 years ago

    Always has the great quality n customer service. Every time I'm in town I make sure I stop by.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Best tacos dorados in town. So flavorful and great quality ingredients. Everything is good on the menu

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ana M.
    0
    16
    12

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Nick B.
    0
    52
    32

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of J A.
    110
    2721
    20

    6 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    One word: FIRE! I've tried the tacos dorados con carne and the tortas ahogadas and they were both A1. This place never disappoints!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Lo L.
    0
    20
    7

    2 years ago

    Food is always great even though prices are going a little high. Love their tortas and crispy tacos.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 4

    Chiva Torta Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Chiva Torta

    Alex are yall still in the same spot or a resturant now? Im the black girl that use to always come well I'm back and i need a torta lol ive been coming to you since 2008?

    Where are you guys located now?

    Hi, we are at 514 N Spurgeon St Santa Ana Ca 92701

    Where are you guys?

    514 N Spurgeon St Santa Ana Ca 92701

    Where are you guys located now with the construction going on in the street?

    Hi, we will be behind Northgate market instead of the front!

    View All 16 Questions

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Mexican 317,973 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Rosa Madera

    Rosa Madera

    4.0(1.3k reviews)
    2.5 mi
    $$

    Stepping through the doors feels like entering an absolute hidden gem. In a world where genuine…read morehospitality can feel increasingly rare, the entire team here goes above and beyond. From the moment you sit down, the staff treats you with a level of warmth and attentiveness that immediately puts you at ease--you can genuinely tell they are happy to see you and appreciate your patronage. The dining room itself is stunning, featuring an elegant, home-welcoming atmosphere down to every last detail. The carefully curated lighting, comfortable chairs and tables, and the beautiful pictures lining the walls create an exceptionally warm and inviting environment. While I initially expected the standard chips and salsa, I was pleasantly surprised by the complimentary snack of crispy "cartwheels" drizzled with a tangy, flavorful hot sauce that hits all the right notes. As for the main event, the food is remarkably authentic and rich in flavor. I ordered the fish tacos accompanied by white rice, but the real star of the show--to my absolute shock--was the side of pinto beans. They are so incredible that I am literally planning a trip back this weekend just to order another side of them. If you think I'm exaggerating about a side of beans, you simply have to try them for yourself. Huge kudos to the cook and the entire staff for delivering next-level hospitality and an unforgettable meal. This place is a breath of fresh air, and I will definitely be back!

    I'm going to start off by the ambience, I loved the mariachi, my party and I were really enjoying…read morethat part and the aesthetic look of the place is beautiful. The food was average I wasn't wowed but it wasn't terrible. What gives the place my rate (definitely had more potential on receiving a 4 star) was that we pretty much got told to wrap it up by the manager. My husband had payed the tab and we were sitting enjoying our time celebrating my mother's 50th birthday and suddenly the manager came and said if we can leave bc there was more party's waiting. I completely understand BUT we had called ahead of time to get the times that are the busiest so we were sure to be seated before it gets busy and have an enjoyable dinner. Now we made sure to arrive early and organized ourselves to be able to avoid the wait, etc. Our tab was $400 not including the tip and we got told to leave by the manager. My party and I literally LOL and said really?!?! After she left, so we all got up and left. This act of the manager shows that what they cared most about was $$$$ versus customer service and truly caring about customers enjoying their time. I left out that she had said "I noticed you payed your tab already". Clearly she thought "payed tab we got what we needed now leave". This was our experience dining at Rosa Madera, most likely won't be coming back.

    Photos
    Rosa Madera - Bar area

    Bar area

    Rosa Madera - Birria Chimichangas (Los Favoritos).

    Birria Chimichangas (Los Favoritos).

    Rosa Madera - Amazing Quesso and Rajas Appetizer

    See all

    Amazing Quesso and Rajas Appetizer

    Casa Ramos Restaurant - Ceviche Mixto

    Casa Ramos Restaurant

    4.6(288 reviews)
    1.9 mi
    $$

    This place has really good food! My family stopped on by after going to the Discovery Cube and it…read morewas a hit ! The staff is very friendly and inviting. I had the duo chicken and steak fajitas and it was pretty good. They do give free salsa and chips, the salsa has a slight kick to it and then they offered a spicy one which was good too. This restaurant was well maintained and had all the classic old school Spanish songs playing. They have ice cream with bunuelos chips and some chocolate syrup that was pretty good! We don't live in the area but wouldn't mind stopping by again.

    Honestly, I have no idea how this restaurant has nearly 5 stars…read more We arrived around 6 PM with a party of 6 adults and 3 toddlers, and we didn't receive our food until almost 8 PM. To make matters worse, one of our meals was completely forgotten. The service was extremely slow throughout the entire visit. Every time we needed something, whether it was a refill, an update, or assistance, the wait felt excessive. The restaurant may have potential because the food itself was flavorful, but it seemed like they were either understaffed or unprepared for the number of customers they had. Another disappointment was the drink selection. We were told they don't have a liquor license, so hard alcohol isn't available. Their sodas were canned, and when we asked for juice for the kids, they told us they were completely out. As for the atmosphere, the restaurant is on the smaller side and felt more like a converted house than a traditional restaurant, complete with a fireplace and television in the dining area. The food had good flavor, which is the only reason I'm giving more than one star. Unfortunately, the long wait times, missing meal, lack of drink options, and poor service made the overall experience disappointing.

    Photos
    Casa Ramos Restaurant - Inside New location Main Place Mall

    Inside New location Main Place Mall

    Casa Ramos Restaurant - Pork Belly Tacos

    Pork Belly Tacos

    Casa Ramos Restaurant - Crispy chicken taco and beef enchilada

    See all

    Crispy chicken taco and beef enchilada

    Restaurante Las Cazuelas - Pupusas

    Restaurante Las Cazuelas

    4.2(153 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    I used to LOVE coming to this place... until I realized their customer service seriously sucked…read more First off, the food is honestly a little on the salty side, but I kept coming back because I liked the place. Then this happened. I brought my family here for dinner, and when we were closing out the check, the server failed to mention that gratuity was automatically added for a party of 6. I didn't realize it until I was about to sign and saw that I was about to leave ANOTHER tip on top of the automatic gratuity. I was like, oh HELL NO, I'm not tipping $80+ So I asked the server to refund the entire transaction and rerun the payment correctly. She told me she couldn't do that, but said she could refund the extra tip instead. I said okay, trusting that she knew what she was doing. We left. Fast forward about 4-6 months later. I come back with different family members, and the MANAGER comes over and tells me I have an outstanding balance of around $150. At first I genuinely thought he was joking. Nope. Apparently, when the server was supposed to refund the extra tip, she accidentally refunded the ENTIRE BILL and kept the tip. ‍ Now explain to me HOW that was my problem?! I specifically told her I wanted the entire transaction refunded so we could start over, and SHE chose to handle it differently. That was THEIR mistake, not mine. And the worst part? Instead of pulling me aside privately and explaining what happened, the manager brought this up IN FRONT OF THE FAMILY I WAS WITH. So now I'm sitting there being told I owe $150+ in front of my guests because of an error THEIR employee made months earlier. Talk about embarrassing. Thank God I'm in a position where I could afford to pay it, so I paid the outstanding amount AND my new bill that day -- over $300 out of pocket -- just to resolve the whole situation. I paid everything they said I owed for both visits, and I have never gone back since. And I WILL NEVER go back. Between the salty-ass food and the customer service, I'll take my money somewhere else. Just sharing my TRUE experience because I think customers deserve to know what happened.

    Las Cazuelas was okay -- not bad, not amazing, just somewhere in the middle. The food had good…read moreflavor, but it didn't really stand out the way I expected. Service was good, fast & friendly. The restaurant itself is clean and comfortable, and the prices are fair for what you get. I can see why people like it, but for me, it was more of a "good if you're nearby and hungry" kind of spot rather than a place I'd go out of my way for.

    Photos
    Restaurante Las Cazuelas
    Restaurante Las Cazuelas - Chips and salsa.

    Chips and salsa.

    Restaurante Las Cazuelas

    See all

    Chiva Torta - mexican - Updated September 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...