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    El Chilito

    3.7 (47 reviews)
    InexpensiveMexican
    Closed 9:00 am - 8:00 pm

    El Chilito Photos

    Business Info

    EL CHILITO ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Chicharrones en salsa roja
    Howard L.

    Still amazing. So much happiness wrapped up in between a couple of tortilla. Come in and get down.

    Catchy name nice.

    Place is ok. The price for the plate was too much for the portion given. We ordered menudo had a great taste and good portion.

    Watered down food looks more like soup
    Charly R.

    I chose this place because it had average rating I got here staff was nice and good customer service. The food is very bad the horchata I ordered had too much ice and was watered down as well even the salsa is watered down !!!!!! I literally felt robbed didn't get any sort of value for the 15$ I paid overall it was like 2$ of food and was terrible ! Please save yourself the headache and go somewhere more reputable...

    Viviana H.

    The birria plate was really good. So are their rice and beans and I'm picky when it comes to how rice and beans are made since every restaurant is different. I also have tried their menudo and is a 10/10. Good customer service the cook and lady that is the cashier are really nice people. Not a lot of people go here and they should especially during this time of COVID . Help support small businesses !!

    Shredded chicken nachos con todo.
    Jay A.

    My wife has been coming here for years, looks family owned and I recommend the chicken nachos here. They were recommended to me and they are delicious!

    Carne Asada nachos with jalapeños

    Been coming here since I was a little kid best place for nachos. Employees are very nice and welcoming definitely my go to place when I don't want to cook. Fast and amazing food!

    The special: a canned soda and a massive burrito for $6.49 out-the-door!

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    11 years ago

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    15 years ago

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    14 years ago

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    16 years ago

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    10 years ago

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    Chaak Kitchen

    Chaak Kitchen

    4.3
    (1.3k reviews)
    0.9 mi
    $$$

    Wow. Totally outstanding. We had reservations for 1:30, but traffic was really bad so it looked…read morelike our arrival time was more like 2 o'clock. We call them and give them a heads up and wondered if there was still availability. Melody was pretty transparent and said that there is a different menu between two and five ---a more limited menu. She asked if there was anyway we could get there before 2 o'clock. Long story short, she was super gracious and told the cooks that we would get there a little after two and they would make us something from the lunch menu. Isa was our waitress, and she was phenomenal! Great sense of humor, very transparent about the different menu items. I got a copal and it was fantastic! Smoky and spicy, but not too spicy. We started our late lunch with Caesar salad, Sopa Limon, Seabreem fish dish. We also got the cubano. We were so stuffed by the end of it, but everything was phenomenal. The Caesar salad was a great way to start the meal, but after a couple of bites of it once we had the other dishes, it didn't stand out as much. We probably would've ordered the same thing all over again, with the exception of the Caesar salad (although it was still good!) Sopa Limon had a very unique bone broth flavor. It was a little sweet. So amazing. Seabreem dish - the vegetables played an important part in the flavors! The fries and the aïoli for the Cubano was amazing. The Cubano was excellent, but was a big serving. We sat outdoors, but if I had to have my choice, I would prefer indoors because the ambience indoors is similar to a resort. It reminds us of a place up in the Bay Area called Luna in Campbell. Except the food here is slightly better :). Will definitely return!

    This place is so cute! In the heart of old town Tustin. Open air seating, good vibes + the best…read moreservice and food. Everything we ordered was so good. I forgot the names of them all but just trust me on this one! Our server brought us out their house made hot sauce that complimented every dish we ordered. Don't forget to ask for it! One was a black charred ghost pepper paste like sauce, nothing like I've ever had. So good. The best thing about all of the food was nothing was too saucy or salty. My girlfriends ordered some drinks and they loved it too. We went on a Thursday and they had a farmers market on the streets as well!

    Photos
    Dining Room and Kitchen
    Dining Room and Kitchen
    Bone-In Prime New York Strip
    Bone-In Prime New York Strip
    Parrillada Yucatan

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    Parrillada Yucatan
    Taco Mesita

    Taco Mesita

    4.1
    (764 reviews)
    0.6 mi
    $

    High quality food that isn't cooked in seed oils…read more I just wish the portions were more generous. Their flan cheesecake dessert was incredible!

    I'm going to start this review by saying we go here often and we love the food. Quality is great…read moreand flavor is there. The drive through can take a bit , but it's not fast food so that has never bothered me. My one gripe, and it's enough for me to knock 2 stars, is their stinginess with salsa. Only Mexican restaurant I've ever been where they are vehemently stingy with their salsa. Order chips and pay close to $5 after tax and you get a solid amount of chips, but they only allow you 2 salsa and half the time they barely fill the salsa containers (honestly sometimes like 1/4 full which is less than an ounce of salsa). Again, it's literally the only Mexican food restaurant I've ever been to that limits you on salsa and it's not even reasonable. And this last time I went finally sent me over the edge because they charged me extra for salsa because I wanted more and I finally agreed to just pay up only to get home and realize half the containers were less than half full. Honestly unacceptable. And on top of that I'm a frequent customer that will tip a few bucks every time even though I'm not dining in and I continuously get screwed on the salsa.

    Photos
    Side seating (have kids chair)
    Side seating (have kids chair)
    Woodfired Steak Tacos
    Woodfired Steak Tacos
    The owner is also owner of Taco Mesa. This has a drive through.

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    The owner is also owner of Taco Mesa. This has a drive through.
    El Habanero

    El Habanero

    4.1
    (578 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$

    Found this place a little while back and honestly so glad that I did…read more Food is fresh. Quite an eclectic menu with items I don't typically see at other places. They have the huitalacoche (corn fungus) quesadilla that I really enjoy as well as their pupusa loroco y queso. Trying out their Lengua taco and taco jaracho which I have been eyeing for a while. All their food is tasty, made fresh. All bursting with flavor. Salsa bar is probably one of my favorites having literally a salsa made for every kind of taste bud. Don't let the small restaurant deceive you. Small restaraunt but with bit flavors. The tortilla made with the quesadilla is nice and soft but with a good chew to it. Tastes like a homemade corn tortilla versus flour. The cheese is rich and has a wonderful pull to it. The lengua is extremely tender, little skimpy on meat portion, but overall good taco. The jarocho taco which is basically a shrimp taco on a cheese crusted tortilla is excellent. Service is what you would expect at a ma and pop shop. The cashier was patient enough to explain to me what a jarocho taco was and also spoke English which was nice for me. Last time I dined I just used butchered Spanish and got by with that but thats on me with practicing more Spanish.

    (I came been coming here on consistent basis for the last 6 months and I feel its finally time for…read morea review, I guess i cant keep this to myself any longer, Last revisit on February 03 2026) Some places don't announce themselves... they whisper to the people who are meant to find them. El Habanero is that kind of spot  the ultimate hidden gem. You walk in expecting a quick bite and somehow leave feeling like you discovered a secret the city has been quietly protecting. I ordered the carne asada torta and immediately realized this wasn't just a sandwich  this was architecture. The bread? Perfectly toasted, soft inside with just enough crisp to hold the universe together. It cradles everything like it knows how important its job is. Then the carne asada shows up  tender, juicy, smoky, and seasoned like someone's abuela personally supervised the grill. Every bite releases layers: char, citrus, salt, and warmth all hitting at once. The toppings don't just sit there either they collaborate. Creamy, fresh, bright, and balanced so the meat stays the star while everything else plays the perfect supporting role. The sauces? I'm convinced they bend time, because the torta disappears way faster than logic allows. This isn't just food  it's the kind of meal that makes you pause mid-bite and look around to see if anyone else realizes what just happened. El Habanero didn't just make a torta... they made a reason to come back.

    Photos
    Salsa bar
    Salsa bar
    Carne asada fries
    Carne asada fries
    Drinks

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    Drinks
    Cha Cha's Latin Kitchen

    Cha Cha's Latin Kitchen

    4.4
    (3.1k reviews)
    2.6 mi
    $$

    Shoutout to Crystal for being an amazing server! She checked up on us the perfect amount of times…read moreand paced our courses exactly how we asked. Personally, I'd recommend eating everything here family style. Apps: Aguachile & cheese potato taquitos The aguachile was refreshing and was PERFECT to eat with the complimentary chips. The taquitos were amazing, no notes. Mains: carnitas & crab and shrimp enchiladas The carnitas came in a sizzling plate and was so tender that it was falling apart on the fork. The enchiladas had a delicious creamy green sauce and the crab flavor was very strong.

    Finally got a chance to try this place out. There's ample parking. Ambiance has an authentic…read moreSpanish feel. Restaurant is open, clean & spacious, is open and nice. Service was fantastic. We felt their warmth, friendliness and tended to. We ordered the following dishes for 2: *Ceviche sampler: duo shrimp ceviche & ahi aguachile. Preferred the shrimp ceviche. The ahi was a bit too fishy. *Fresh seafood caldo was fantastic with great sampling of fresh shrimp, clams, fish, squid, herbs, light toasted angel hair pasta on a bed of savory saffron tomato broth. The dish was very fresh & flavorful; my favorite. Would definitely come back just for this!! Three enchilada combo came with rice & tasty beans. Libations: Mango-Habanero signature cocktail & Cha Cha's Margarita. Solid amount of alcohol. Chips with salsa - I preferred the red salsa more than the green salsa but both were good.

    Photos
    Indoor Bar Area
    Indoor Bar Area
    3 Tacos: 2 short rib & 1 steak
    3 Tacos: 2 short rib & 1 steak
    Watermelon Margarita

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    Watermelon Margarita
    Tacos El Bandido Express

    Tacos El Bandido Express

    4.2
    (358 reviews)
    0.8 mi
    $

    I've been here about 3 times already and this place has not disappointed! I drive out from long…read morebeach just for this spot because it's halal friendly and they have sooo many great options! Each time the quality is consistent and on par. The service is great, attentive, and friendly. I absolutely love how they have the interior decorated currently due to the World Cup. It just makes it so much more lively and fun. My go to is the classic birria soft taco. It's so simple, but so good. They don't skimp out on the meat here at all. The taco is full of birria and you can add your own toppings (cilantro, onion, salsa etc) from the salsa bar. It just tastes so comforting and flavorful each and every time!

    This spot has great queso birria tacos and tacos al gobernador. Their birria is *halal*, which is a…read morehuge plus! My husband tried their burrito and wasn't a big fan, but we both agreed that the tacos are definitely the standout menu item. My biggest shoutout goes to Lupita. She is incredibly sweet, welcoming, and made us feel right at home, like we were having dinner at a relative's house. While waiting for our food, I noticed how well she handled a busy rush with kindness, patience, and a smile for everyone. She truly works amazingly under pressure and provides exceptional customer service. We'll definitely be back for more tacos and because of Lupita. She is an absolute gem and deserves a raise!

    Photos
    Cool Wall with El Bandido, The Bandit and Salsa Bar- old condiments and yellow cucumbers
    Cool Wall with El Bandido, The Bandit and Salsa Bar- old condiments and yellow cucumbers
    10/10 highly recommended
    10/10 highly recommended
    Cali burrito ($11)

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    Cali burrito ($11)
    Holé Molé

    Holé Molé

    3.9
    (1.5k reviews)
    0.3 mi
    $$

    Just moved here from San Diego, and this place has some fire fish and shrimp tacos. They have great…read moreservice. It's a nice little taco shop with great atmosphere and awesome deals! I was there for Wave Wednesday. Baja Fish tacos for $2 bucks and Baja Shrimp tacos for $2.50. !! Hell yeah! Tacos were loaded, batter on fish was nice and crispy, not too thick not too thin, fresh veggies, good crema and the tortillas were great. The green salsa could be better but still add another layer of flavor to the t Coming back for tacos and tall boys(Don't ask, you're not ready) The Brisket Bowl and definitely Taco Tuesday.

    Disappointing Food & Horrible Customer Service "Ordered 6…read moretacos for my wife and me, then sat in the outdoor seating area waiting for our number. We never heard it called, though we clearly heard other numbers and saw employees actively delivering food to other tables. After 15 minutes, I went inside to check on our food. Our order was just sitting on the counter. When I checked the tacos, the meat wasn't just lukewarm--it was completely cold to the touch. When I caught the cashier's eye, he just gave me a thumbs-up. When I told him the food was cold, the cashier, Irvin, immediately got defensive and told me with an attitude, 'I called the number twice.' I explained that we didn't hear it, and pointed out that staff had been bringing food out to everyone else anyway. Instead of offering a solution, he doubled down, saying, 'I heard my voice over the speakers,' giving me a 'too bad, so sad' look. When I asked him to remake the food, he completely refused, repeating that he'd called the number. Unwilling to argue with someone that unprofessional, I told him to keep the cold food and just give me a refund. He refunded the money and we left. Absolutely terrible service from Irvin--we won't be back."

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    Fish Ensenada Burrito: Hand Battered Fish, Cabbage, Onion, Tomato, Cilantro, Crema, (NO Rice & Beans) | $11.29
    Fish Ensenada Burrito: Hand Battered Fish, Cabbage, Onion, Tomato, Cilantro, Crema, (NO Rice & Beans) | $11.29
    (3) Yellow Chiles | $0.79

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    (3) Yellow Chiles | $0.79
    El Camino Cafe

    El Camino Cafe

    3.7
    (1.3k reviews)
    0.9 mi
    $$

    The morning sun hit just right as I pulled into Old Town Tustin where El Camino Cafe sits. I'd…read moreheard whispers about their breakfast game, so I stepped in, stomach already growling. First visit: red chilaquiles. Crispy tortillas soaked in a bold salsa roja, topped perfectly--no soggy mess, just layers of flavor with that careful hand you feel in every bite. Green chilaquiles next time: brighter, tangier tomatillo punch, still executed with precision. Then the green pozole--rich broth, tender pork, hominy popping, herbs fresh enough to wake you up. Menudo sealed it: deep, comforting, slow-simmered depth that only comes from real care. Every dish screamed high-quality ingredients and thoughtful prep. No shortcuts here--it's crafted like someone's abuelita still runs the kitchen. But reality hits: portions run modest for the price tag. In this nice-area location, expect to pay premium. You get what you pay for in quality, not quantity. Lines move fast though--staff hustles, friendly faces seat you quick, no endless wait. Bonus: their Dirty Horchata surprised me--smooth, subtly sweet, solid twist on the classic with espresso. Pros: Exceptional Mexican breakfast authenticity; consistent high-quality execution; quick service; welcoming vibe. Cons: Pricey relative to portion size. If you're craving elevated, carefully made traditional Mexican breakfast in Tustin, this is your spot. For cheaper classic home-style, cook it yourself. Rating preserved: 4-4.5 stars (high quality outweighs cost for what it delivers).

    My wife and I had lunch there yesterday which ran $60.00. This 77 year old customer asked for a…read morecup of water to take medications. In California, that is a STATE requirement to provided water for customers. They stated that they DO NOT provide water. You must purchase it! Then when we left, we asked where to put our trash from LUNCH. We were directed to walk it outside and deposit the trash in the City Trash reciprocals, which was OVERFLOWING! Really? The restaurant can't handle the trash they produce? The MANAGER confirmed their policies... NEVER AGAIN! THEY WILL NOT SUPPLY TAP WATER TO CUSTOMERS! California restaurants are required to provide tap water, but only upon request. Under state water conservation regulations, restaurants, bars, and similar establishments are prohibited from automatically serving water unless specifically asked. Key details regarding this regulation: 1) Mandatory Upon Request: While they cannot automatically serve it, restaurants must provide complimentary tap water when a customer asks. 2) Violations: Restaurants failing to follow these rules could face fines, sometimes up to $500.00 per day.

    Photos
    Hallway inside
    Hallway inside
    Chilaquiles Rojos and Enchiladas Suizas
    Chilaquiles Rojos and Enchiladas Suizas
    El Camino Cafe

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    Casa Ramos Restaurant

    Casa Ramos Restaurant

    4.6
    (285 reviews)
    2.2 mi
    $$

    We recently relocated from Garden Grove to the Santa Ana/Fountain Valley area and have been on the…read morehunt for a Mexican restaurant to fill the void left by our beloved spot in Los Alamitos. Thanks to Restaurant Week, we stumbled upon this gem, and we are so grateful. The hospitality alone would earn five stars. But then came the food. The tacos? Absolutely exceptional. The steak was tender and flavorful in a way that reminded me of eating throughout Mexico, you could actually taste the meat. A light, gentle pickle of vegetables on top, minimal cheese, nothing heavy or greasy. These are not the American-style tacos drowning in a pound of melted cheese. These are the real thing. The beans were lovely, the rice was solid, and my passion fruit winearita drink was genuinely a treat. Restaurant Week gave us the perfect low-pressure reason to try somewhere new, and we walked out with a new favorite. We'll be back for lunch. We'll be back for dinner. And yes, Taco Tuesday, we'll absolutely be back for that.

    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
    Indoor seating
    Indoor seating
    Pork Belly Tacos
    Pork Belly Tacos
    Crispy chicken taco and beef enchilada

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    Crispy chicken taco and beef enchilada

    El Chilito - mexican - Updated June 2026

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