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Food is great!! It is, but service and speed of food is pretty bad. We came here on a Saturday night and got seated right away, we heard it's usually packed on the weekends. I got the 2 combo plate with the chile relleno and the shredded beef taco, subbed for fries, my partner got a chicken enchilada with taco. My friends got a carnitas plate, and we also ordered drinks for the table. Their margaritas are pretty strong and the michelada is good! However our server wasn't on the friendly side. Although she was quick, every-time we needed some thing after she stopped off at our table, she would already be off to do something else. At the end of the night their POS didn't work and she just came back to the table saying card declined, when other customers experienced the same thing. She could've said do you have another card or something else, but she just said card declined. I also don't like have for substitutions you have to pay extra like for green sauce. Food is good, but hopefully next time we get a better server and food doesn't take forever to come out.
A friend brought me here and said they have THE BEST Mexican food in town. It was my first time dinning here. When we got here we had about a 10 minute wait which wasn't too bad. After getting seated waited about 5 minutes before our waiter came and took our drink orders. He wasn't too friendly had no personality, just very dry. Maybe it had been a long day for him as it was around 7pm for us and maybe he had been there most of the day already.. who knows Anyhoot...... After going over the menu the first thing that caught my eye was how they have noted that they use traditional "RED SAUCE" on there dishes. At that point I was solid on what I was getting. 2 cheese enchiladas plate with beans / rice. Anyone who is a true enchilada lover knows that enchiladas are made with the traditional Colorado red sauce made from red chili's and not that orange sauce made with red chilie's & tomatoes. I gotta say I was a bit disappointed when my ordered arrived. Turned out they don't use a traditional red chili sauce, they use the orange sauce recipe it's wasn't bad but it definitely wasn't the true traditional red sauce. But the blends of cheeses they used are on point! and their beans & rice as well as their salsa were good. I also ordered a dinner salad with ranch dressing. The salad was fresh not dried out. Came with fresh tomatoes, cheese and carrots. But the ranch dressing was horrible , it definitely is not homemade and tasted like that gawd awful wishbone salad dressing. Our waiter never did come back to ask if we needed drink refills or to check if we were fine with our meal. But as I said earlier maybe it had been a long day for him. He brought us our check and asked if we would like anything else, we asked for 2 food to go boxes and we pretty called it a night. I'm very torn between my rating, if I could leave a 3 1/2 stars I would. But i feel a 4 is a bit high for my personal experience. If I'm ever in the area again and I'm hungry. I may consider stopping by and getting something different on the menu. But I don't see myself driving out of my way to dine here. Photos attached are the ones my friend took of her meal. She had the cheese enchilada with a hard shell chicken taco with the chips & salsa The other photo is a picture of enchiladas with the red sauce ( Colorado red sauce) which is what I like
THE BEST! This is one of those if you know, you know; kind of restaurants. The food is absolutely amazing. No other Mexican restaurant compares in my opinion. Even the rice and beans are better than other places lol The rice is so fluffy and soft! I've never had rice that good. The chips are better than other places lol You can tell that they make them fresh. I got the shrimp enchiladas with extra cheese. It was delicious. The shrimp enchiladas came with shrimp and pico de gallo inside. It was topped with cheese. Very good! I scarfed it down. Next time though, I will order the cheese enchiladas. Those are my favorite! The flavors are just great. The food is freshly made and great service. They get you in and out quickly. We did have to wait for about 40 minutes, ambiance was crowded. There were people lined up outside! Worth the wait!!
What a delightful surprise, realizing that the previous seating area in their covered parking lot is now a completely enclosed building, replete with attractive furnishings, wall decor, multiple ceiling fans, and attractive-&-spacious restrooms! I have to remind myself not to overindulge in their complimentary warm, thick-&-crunchy tortilla chips, served with salsa. Aware that I'd already consumed a good amount of chips, I ordered their Junior's Plate: choice of 1 item (Shredded Beef Taco), rice & beans ($11) -- good amount of beef; my thoughts, easier (and more elegant) to eat with fork & knife. Hubby enjoyed his order #18 Pork Carnitas ($18). Cocktails: I enjoyed the presentation and taste of my Paloma, $16; hubby thoroughly enjoyed his Farolito, $11, commenting it was good-&-strong and reasonably priced - a win-win! With this newly-added attractive and comfortable dining room, El Farolito is among our options when in the mood for Mexican cuisine.
Gosh, can't believe I haven't left a review. It is my friend's favorite. We popped in because we wanted a delicious lunch. I was able to get street parking. It must have been a while since we've been because the entrance is now the exit, and the entrance is on the side. I think we waited ten minutes for a table for three. I stick to what I like, crunchy beef taco, enchilada and chile relleno. I like the rice and beans, and can't stop eating the chips and salsa. When we left to pay, the cashier was the grandson of the owners. He said the grandma lives in the house next door. she comes to the restaurant sometime. Their photo was on the wall behind the register. So cool, be back soon!
My family and I visited for a late lunch on a Sunday, and there was a fifteen-minute wait to get seated. There's only an outdoor waiting area, but it has chairs. We parked across the street near an intersection with a stop sign. Our table inside had a nice view of the Placentia Water Tower, and it felt somehow relaxing to gaze at it in the distance. I ordered the pork carnitas ($18), which included pico de gallo, rice, refried beans with melted cheese, and three warm tortillas. The portion size was large, and I took a some carnitas home. While the carnitas were tender, they weren't as juicy as I hoped. They provided only three tortillas that lost their warmth quickly in parchment paper. The rice had a good texture that had the right amount of firmness. I also tried the guacamole, which had a somewhat fluffy texture with a pleasantly light and savory flavor. While not affecting my review of this restaurant, I wish they served a mole dish.
Yum Yum Yum! The portions here are so big! The carnitas was super soft and the free chips and salsa was amazing. The food was a 5/5. The only bad thing is that the bathrooms had a gross urine smell....
Alwaysbthe best tasting food. Now the back parking lot has been converted to a full dining room. Front door is now take out, side door for dine-in. Papa's plate (3 item combo) is still available, but not on the menu. Combos (papa, mama, jr) still can order a burrito even though not on the menu. Note: you can no longer grab a beer the fridge while you wait, especially since we have stand outside. You can't
This is still one of my favorite Mexican restaurant here in Orange County and my go to place whenever I crave good chips and salsa! Currently their new patio is under construction but it should be open at any moment now and I can't wait for it. Bon Appetit.
This is my go to place for great comfort Mexican food. I can eat here daily. The salsa has a serious bite to it. I always order the arroz con pollo. With the tortillas they give you with the plate, I make 3 soft tacos out of it and still have over half the plate to finish. The tacos rock too. And with the new seating area, you don't wait too long for a table.
El Farolito is a cute spot with fast, friendly service and seriously satisfying food. The horchata was smoother than a politician's empty promise and not overly sweet, one of the better horchatas I've had. Portions are generous, and the table chips come out warm with an addictive spicy salsa. Ingredients taste fresh, and the flavors are super comforting across the board. Solid place for a casual, reliably good meal.
I stopped by for dinner with my family. We ordered some jamaica, several fish tacos, and a burrito special. The service was amazing and our food came out very quickly. The food was delicious. There were a lot of tables available and the place filled up pretty fast. It was a great place for a family dinner at the end of a long week. Would highly recommend and will be coming back in the future.
The best enchilada spot must try!!! I've been passing by this place for a while and always noticed a long line outside, and now I totally understand why. I got lucky with no wait, but about 15 minutes after I was seated, it quickly filled up. The service was great we were greeted right away, and our server Alex was amazing. He recommended the chilaquiles with carne asada, which were definitely worth trying, but the enchiladas truly stole the show. They were absolutely delicious. I could be wrong, but it looks like they may have added more seating because the restaurant feels much bigger now, and it's really nice inside. Would 100% come back!
5 months ago
10 months ago
2 years ago
El Farolito, Little Lighthouse, symbolizes the light of hope for this family where many of its employees are family and still work at this family Mexican restaurant. Babita Mexicuisine by Chef Berrelleza and Taco María by Chef Salgado, two hauts restaurants Mexicains, are refined cuisine hot spots, but Farolito may be the tastiest down home Mexican restaurant in all of Socal. Only downside is street parking only where it's hard to find an open spot. Totopos/fried corn Tortilla chips are so extremely thin, crispy, ethereally light like no other. My guess is the addition of corn starch to the Masa. The Salsa seems to be tomato sauce from a can, but it is freshened by addition of raw cilantro, chopped onions, puréed red chiles, garlic, vinegar. It may be left to ferment lightly for a well rounded Umami that is not found in most Salsa Roja. I used this Salsa on everything that I ordered. I got the combo that included 2 Beef Taquitos, Chile Relleno, rice & beans. Their Combination Plates section is a very confusing mishmash of options & rules that defy logic. It would be easier to learn how to read Mayan glyphs of Uxmal from the Classical Period. Rolled fried corn Tortillas are crunchy but not over fried in sweet fresh oil unlike many places that keep reusing oil until it is rancid. The Deshebrada shredded beef inside is moist, beefy, lightly seasoned. Small side cup of Guacamole adds that vegetal, buttery richness. Chile Relleno has the requisite gooey, mild, cheese filling inside the soft, slightly bitter green Pasilla Chile. The egg batter surrounding the Pasilla is mostly egg so it doesn't come off being too bready & heavy. Again, not over fried to destroy the nuanced flavours. The Frijoles de Pinto are flavourful possibly because drippings from Carnitas, Carne Asada, etc. may be incorporated into the semi-smooth Frijoles. The Arroz has a light red tomato tinge, moist, soft grains and acts more as an intermission between bites. Yelper Louie L. kindly let me sample his Carnitas which is cooked in its own juices like a French Confit. It has layers of texture from meaty, moist to dry, airy, crisp. There is an underlying porkiness that lets you know this meat came from a pig in a very good way. Mango Margarita did not do it for me. It was dull, plodding, sweet yet lifeless. Next time an excellent Mexican beer like Bohemia, Modelo Etiqueta Negra will be the way to go. By the way, food here is heavy & hearty and may have roots in rustic cuisine made for hard workIng farmers who needed to work in their fields all day. Definitely not "la alta cocina". We ate inside El Farolito which is a small space, but they have converted their back parking lot into a huge outdoor tent to accomodate the masses. It's a miracle the small kitchen can keep up with all the orders and still come up with great food. Thank you Yelper Louie L. for introducing me to this exceptional "Restaurante de Sabores Mexicanos". 4+ Estrellas read more
10 months ago
2 years ago
The service was perfect. This is only a review for the food. I really wanted to like this place. But when the food came out, every single dish was incredibly salty. I didn't finish either of the plates, I couldn't get past a couple bites of either dish. When we went to the weight was super short. The places pretty well sized, and the noise Isn't that bad. It was Saturday a little bit before noon, and again the service was incredible. Our server was very lovely, but don't think I'll try this place again. read more
1 year ago
2 years ago
This place is SOOOO good! Amazing service, amazing food, and great pricing!!! Can't wait to go back! They are so generous with their portions, even the guacamole was generous!!! Pictured: 2 micheladas (one without Clamato), huevos rancheros, chicken enchiladas verdes, guacamole Mexicano read more
1 year ago
i've been here for breakfast and lunch, and their breakfast service seems better. for lunch, the rice and beans seemed stale. but their breakfast is delicious! they have so many options to choose from, and they bring out the food super fast. read more
2 months ago
Food was very good. Service was great. We had a party of 21 ppl and they don't take reservations which I think they should for large parties. So they scramble to get tables and chairs for us. Prices are very reasonable. We had a great time celebrating my 96 & 88 year old aunties. read more
11 months ago
1 year ago
So I came here with the family after a nice afternoon at the Nixon library, I have passed by this place multiple times and noticed that the place was really hopping so that kind of perked my interest. So our party arrived and fortunately got seated right away, complimentary chips and salsa was served then started our order. I ordered their Arroz Con Pollo, my fiancé the jumbo burrito, pops the enchilada ranchera and our young man an enchilada rojas which he seemed to have enjoyed. My Arroz con pollo was ok, nothing to brag about, i was dismayed to see a mound of food almost slopped to a platter not to mention the stingy serving of pico, I understand rustic but common now, there is rustic cooking and there is sloppy serving, mine is just plain sloppy, it would've been better if the meal was spectacular but unfortunately, it was not. It's just ok, it would've been better if there was more pico (and heat) but the sides must not make the dish complete, the dish itself must speak for itself. In my opinion, it's so-so. Next, My Pop's who ABSOLUTELY enjoys his margaritas expressed his dismay with his drink after we had left, Being the kind and polite man he is, he did not tell me that his drink tasted like a watered down lime juice, that was disappointing. So thumbs down on their regular margarita. He had Enchilada Ranchera which is his favorite and being we were all hungry after a day of walking at the Nixon library I thought he would finish the whole plate but he barely finished the first of the two chicken enchiladas, hate to say this but he said it was bland and he was better off buying the enchiladas at Sam's Club - Enchilada's at Sam's must be really good. So another thumbs down for that. The Jumbo Burrito - My fiance and I shared our food and we both unfortunately was very underwhelmed, there was a generous amount of pork which was ok but literally it was swimming in beans, after so much things I heard about this place it's really a disappointment, kudos to the place for being busy and hyped up but unfortunately I won't be back, Placentia has an abundance of family owned restaurants, I'd gladly help support small businesses especially those that keeps the authenticity of such delicious cuisines, unfortunately El Farolito feels a bit more commercialized. All the best. read more
2 years ago
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1 year ago
One of my favorite spots in SoCal is El Farolito, a family-owned Mexican restaurant that's been around since 1974. I've dined at this restaurant since my high school days, and they have never let me down! Now that I'm currently in the Bay Area, I can't visit as often, but I came here with my best friend during one one of my SoCal visits. We waited about 30 mins for a table (super popular place, even during off peak hours!). I ordered the Burrito Especial while she ordered their Carne Asada Quesadilla. I LOOOOOVE their burritos. The burrito is very simple - pork & beans smothered in enchilada sauce and cheese, but it's very filling and delicious. You can easily save half of it for leftovers, if you're looking to save some money (not like the meals are expensive to begin with - lots of food for an affordable price)! Forever a loyal fan and forever will dine here whenever I return to SoCal! Cost: -Burrito Especial = $10.49 -Carne Asada Quesadilla = $12.99 read more
One thing we always need to do when we come to Cali is get some Mexican. Legit Mexican food. My friend kept raving about this place, so of course we made sure this was one of our first stops for a meal. Parking is either on the street or there's a small lot that they share with some neighboring shops. It's right across the fire station. Since it was an odd hour, all the stalls were available. Surprisingly though, there were a lot of patrons inside eating. Looks like from Covid, they closed the inside of the actual restaurant part and make their parking lot into an enclosed tented place. There's a lot of tables filled with patrons. We were greeted by our server which we placed our order of a carne asada quesadilla & I got a chicken burrito. She shortly came back with some chips and salsa. The world's largest chips. Hahhah. You can tell they are freshly made as they're still piping hot! Salsa had a really good heat also. Simple ingredients but packed with flavor. My burrito was HUGE!!! I ordered mine with a scoop of guacamole also. It was great and most definitely filling!!! My friends quesadilla was packed with cheese. The way a quesadilla should be! All in all it's a very authentic Mexican place. As we were wrapping up, there was a line of patrons waiting for a table. So if you come during peak hours, be ready to wait. read more
8 months ago
6 months ago
Poppin' on a Saturday night! Lots of seating (outdoor) in the tents with heaters all around. There were quite a few parties ahead of us and it took about 10-15 minutes to seat our party of 4. We were seated inside and it was packed. Tortilla chips were delicious and fresh. The salsa is a good spice. We all opted for the Mama's Plate which is the 2 item combo. I chose the 2 Shredded Chicken Taquitos and 1 Shredded Beef Taco. You also have the option for ground meat. Crispy taco and taquitos satisfied everything I needed. I will probably go for the bee taquito next time. The taco was awesome. Beans were piping hot. The menudo was great. Lots of meat and came with 3 corn/flour tortillas. The plates are massive. Have to note: Chip refills are EXTRA $1.99. Hot water is $1. Bummed about these extra charges we weren't aware of prior to receiving the bill. :( Service is great. Did not have to ask for water refills. Great staple for big portions and delicious Mexican food! read more
1 year ago
1 year ago
4 years ago
Parking is on the street. Thru the neighborhood and local businesses. We were seated quickly, our server was very kind and attentive. First was coffee, it was cafe de olla. I think that's their main coffee. Next I ordered Huevos a la mexicana Great bean and rice portion to the meal. The scrambled eggs with jalapenos , onions and tomatoes. They were perfect. Large meal I took 1/2 home. Thank you for great service and food. read more
1 year ago
I must have missed all the positive food. My tacos were carne asada with a few tomatoes and two pieces of lettuce. VERY disappointed! With all the positive reviews I this?!?!? The salsa looked like it was from a jar with cilantro and onions added at the end. We also had two hairs in our salsa. GROSS!! Take my advise and AVOID!!!! read more
Absolutely Love this place! Located in historic Placentia since 1974. Family owned and operated. They make you feel at home and I've never been disappointed with any of their menu items. No frills interior/patio seating. On this visit, I had the shrimp cocktail which is so light, refreshing, and tasty. The Pollo Diablo plate had perfectly cooked chicken in a rich, velvety, red, Chile sauce. The beans and rice are so good! The jalapeño, spicy margarita complements anything on the menu! Affordable prices and large portions. The restaurant can get very busy so their parking lot can fill up and there can be a wait but it is worth it! They have parking in front designated for take out. read more
7 months ago
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1 year ago
1 year ago
More info about El Farolito
201 S Bradford Ave
Placentia, CA 92870
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(714) 993-7880
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http://www.elfarolitomex.com/
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Ask the Community - El Farolito
Do they serve complimentary chips and salsa?
First serving is complimentary but don't fill up on these. The food is so good.
Do you take reservations fora party of 9?
No, they are always first come first served
Are you open New Year's Day?
I think they recently had a Covid situation because it had a sign saying they were under staffed so they had to close. Sorry. Not 100% sure that's why but the sign was present this past week.
Drove over this morning and it was closed. Why?
They are "understaffed" as of late. Possible Covid situation.
Are your dishes cooked in lard? Or are there options for vegetarians in which Lard/Chicken Stock has not been used?
They have pot-boiled beans (no lard)! They also have a veggie burrito; to make it vegan-friendly ask to sub the regular beans for pot-boiled beans and take out the chesse! It's very filling ??
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218 reviews that are not currently recommended
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