The best Mexican food I've had in California. So authentic and a flawless experience. Carnitas burrito, cheese enchiladas, salsa and chips were perfection. We could not have been more impressed. Service, food and ambiance completed a memorable experience. We will be back soon! read more

Awesome Mexican food! The beans and rice were honestly better than any I've had back home in Arizona--perfectly seasoned and full of flavor. The carne asada was hands down the best I've ever tasted (and trust me, I've had plenty over the years!). It was juicy, tender, and cooked to perfection. The staff was incredibly welcoming and provided outstanding customer service from the moment we walked in. You can really feel the pride they take in both the food and the experience. This is my aunt and uncle's go-to spot for Mexican food, and after this visit, I completely understand why. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, perfect for a casual meal or gathering with family and friends. I will definitely be coming back again--already looking forward to trying more of the menu! read more

See all

If you want real home cooked mexican food, congratulations you found the best spot north OC has to offer. Been coming here for decades and have never found anywhere better than El Farolito. read more

Been coming here consistently my entire 20s and half my 30s so when it was my choice to pick a dinner spot for a night out with friends, I chose this place. They asked me why and I said because I felt like Mexican food and I love this place. As always, there's a wait. By wait, I mean, there's a line out there door, seating and heat lamps alongside the building, but service is fast and efficient so it's not a hard wait. I rarely get cocktails because I want to enjoy all the food but I was just so happy to hear so I ordered a michelada. Delicious! A must! Chicken flautas are my fave! Can't wait to go back! read more

El Farolito - Happy to be here with my michelada! - Mexican Near Me - Placentia, California

We love this place. Service is outstanding with authentic servers. What I mean is there all bilingual. Give the restaurant an authentic taste IMO. Food has been great. Will continue to go back read more

El Farolito is as authentic as it gets. Each time I've visited here over the last year, I leave feeling full, warm, and happy that I get a bang for a buck here! The customer service is top notch, and they quote accurate wait times when it's a busy period. Also so happy that they are going to extend out and build their patio area for more seating this fall. Definitely parts of the restaurant that are dated, but also some newer additions and areas to the restaurant that is new and modern. Food notes so far; Tamale is 3/5. I love their hard taco and flautas! read more

See all

Been coming here for years and it's still Always consistent. Authentic and they give big portions!!

This place appears to get pretty busy as there is a sign in the restaurant that mentions eating for a maximum of 90 minutes. The parking lot is really tiny so count yourself lucky if you actually get a spot. Otherwise, you'd have to park on the street. They offer fresh chips which is always a plus with some salsa. I ordered the steak picado dish which was decent and a pretty hefty portion. The restaurant is reminiscent of a hole in the wall that has been there for quite some time. read more

El Farolito - Steak Picado - Mexican Near Me - Placentia, California

Locals love this place... why? Because it is good, duh. Not only that, the service is always on point and the food is freakin delicious. Don't expect to find frills and over the top meals here. Just good ol' authentic Mexican food that always hits the spot. Definitely a cozy little spot to meet up with friends or do a family night out. FYI, parking can be tough because it's street parking and the wait can be long because of how busy it gets! It is THAT good. read more

Since I was very young, my papa Bud Steffen has brought me to El Farolito as our go-to Mexican spot. Now that he has passed on, I come here to enjoy food we enjoyed together. The service is always good, even when busy they always are happy to answer my questions and help with whatever I need. Sometimes it can be a bit loud or busy but I'd rather eat delicious food in a busy environment than mediocre food somewhere slow and quiet. Thank you for making food that transports me back to being a kid, and back to a time when my Papa was still with me. I can almost hear him joking around and talking with everyone whenever I come in to eat. read more

El Farolito - Carne Asada plate - Mexican Near Me - Placentia, California

Even though Mexican restaurants are a dime a dozen, it doesn't mean the majority of them are actually good. From hole-in-the-walls to bougie ones it still comes down the taste. Let me start by saying this place was busy on a Sunday night. Of course I don't want to wait in line, but it's a good sign people are flocking to this site. Once you walk in and put your name down on the list you'll see and smell the plates of food and I dare you not to start drooling. Food comes fast out of the kitchen and often. It's a well-oiled machine. Once we were seated the menu had options, but I'm always drawn towards large burritos. Now the litmus test for all Mexican places is the chips and salsa. You ruin that and it's all downhill from there. I'm happy to say the house salsa and chips were a hit. A hint of spice and warm chips always do it for me. They even had a hotter salsa, but in my option the house one was both spicer and better tasting. Now the burritos are generous and the prices these days are more than fair! I ordered the special because I love pork. The next time I'll try the salad burrito. Beyond the food and speed of service it's the details that push this one over the top: uniform help, asking how you like your food & anticipating needs (refills on chips and drinks) shows attentiveness to customers. There's something to be said about places that have been around 50+ years. That means you're doing something right. There's also not a whole lot on this street so THIS is the destination people are going to. I love an old school, non-chain, family owned eatery. This is not that close to me, but more than worth the drive. I'll be back soon and you should try it too (just not the same time as me ) read more

El Farolito is one my few 5 Star deserving resraurants. The service food and ambiance is all there. I could eat here every day. They are expanding at the moment. The Menu posted in my photos is from my visit January 2025 read more

El Farolito - Chicken Flautas Plate - Mexican Near Me - Placentia, California

See all

Went here for the first time 3 weeks ago. Have been going back every weekend. Great food, friendly staff. Will definitely recommend to any asking for a go to mexican restaurant read more

El Farolito - Tostada with chicken - Mexican Near Me - Placentia, California

We always go here. Tonight was another great experience at this place! The foods are spot on every time. I always get the carnitas plate. The pulled pork so juicy and tender and goes so well with the rice and beans. Service always 10/10. Everything about the place- food, ambiance, etc. so homey!! read more

See all

BF and I decided to go out for dinner. This place has been a long time neighborhood go-to spot for Mexican for him and his kids. There's usually a long wait for table, but boy! Was it worth it! I ordered their special burrito with shredded beef and added rice and guacamole and red salsa. Man oh Man! That was bomb! It was a lot of food and I couldn't finish it all. It was like comfort food and boy, if I could snuggle up with it in comfort, I would. I would definitely go again. read more

The food was amazing customer service was excellent and they were very helpful and accommodating

Came here with a friend and I won't lie I wasn't sure before coming here when i looked at the menu and all the pictures. But honestly it was so good. I got the arroz con pollo and it was so flavorful. The rice was delicious and so soft and went perfectly with the chicken. I got it with the flour tortillas that were definitely handmade. The salsa that they have for the table was also so light and fresh with a small kick to it too. service was super quick and friendly. we waiting 5 minutes for a table and our server was attentive. will definitely be returning! read more

My family and I have gone here for many years!! Service is excellent, never not liked a dish and the ambiance is so fun!! They always make you feel like you're at home read more

Best Mexican food in the area and prices have remained reasonable despite prices skyrocketing for casual restaurants. Amazing enchilada sauce, tamales, rice, beans and proteins. Don't come here often since I live out of state now but every visit here is excellent. read more

Great lunch! I had the tostad salad with carne asada. One of my friends had the regular tostada with ground beef & my other friend had the taquitos with rice and beans. We were all happy with our choices. It's the first time i'd been there since it was remodeled and enlarged. It looked great! Even the men's room looked like it would fit at the Palazzo. Service was friendly and good (even though our waitress knocked over a full glass of water.... which splashed over my leg... I laughed and we all moved on). Nice lunch visiting with friends in an attractive restaurant with tasty food! read more

I've been to el Farolito a few times already, and have always loved the food they served. It's been a couple years since we visited, and this time we came back for brunch. After completing our meal, I was reminded why I truly enjoyed El Farolito. Their dishes continue to shine, and brunch was no exception. Everything was well seasoned, perfectly cooked, and we were welcomed as if we were guests coming into their home. I will always recommend my friends and family to have a seat at their table! read more

El Farolito - Mexican Near Me - Placentia, California

Hostess = $ of $$$$$ Tech-Enabled = $ of $$$$$ Service = $$$ of $$$$$ Deliciousness = $$$ of $$$$$ Cleanliness = $$ of $$$$$ Ambiance = $ of $$$$$ The hostess had no idea how to estimate seating time. First it was 30 minutes, then 30 minutes later we were told it'd be another 40 minutes. Owner Dudes, you need to get tech to enable your restaurant operations. You shouldn't rely on human error to determine ETAs... it will only frustrate your patrons. Once we got in, our party of nine was squeezed into separate tables. Definitely not ideal, but we were hungry. So many people on a Saturday night over the holidays...they should've expected and planned better for it. The food was decent when it finally came. Cheesy, greasy, spicy -- what you want in a Mexican restaurant. Aguas frescas were good. Don't come on Fridays or the weekend -- you'll avoid a slow and frustrating experience. Farolito is much better Monday-Thursday. Avoid getting sick like we did -- too many stuffed into a small space, and you know some folks don't care when they're coughing/sneezing everywhere. Do a better job of actually disinfecting the menus versus using a wet rag to spread germs everywhere. And please train your workers to wash their hands. A cook or someone who works there went into the women's restroom, used a stall, then didn't bother washing her hands. We should've left there and then and perhaps avoided the week long Covid we contracted. Don't know if I'll be back. read more

See all

Food is authentic and awesome! Servers are attentive and polite. Very knowledgeable. Atmosphere isn't a little noisy but bearable. One of my favorite places for Mexican food. read more

Always delicious and great service! You can never go wrong with anything you order here. read more

See all

This place has been around since the 70's . The food is great and the service there is always excellent. This is the place for good Mexican food. Enjoy a great meal here. The menudo on the weekend is amazing. Enjoy. read more

We tried to go to Rudy's for breakfast one lovely Monday when we were off work, but alas Rudy's isn't open on Mondays. So where can we get a decent breakfast burrito? It was a question for Yelp. El Farolito has a great breakfast menu so we decided to try it out. I had Huevos Rancheros Divorciados which I asked for egg whites scrambled atop a fried tortilla, with red sauce on one side and green sauce on the other. It came with rice, beans and a side of tortillas, YUM! Next time I'll want to try the Breakfast Enchiladas which is two chicken enchiladas topped with two eggs and a side of rice/beans. Service was great and the coffee has cinnamon in it......we'll be back! read more

This is my old stomping grounds. I'll forever associate this restaurant with my time at my old job :) I've been coming to El Farolito for the past 5 years. It def has a soft spot in my heart and satisfies my Mexican food fix from time to time. My last visit was prob in Nov of 2023, but these pics/prices are from my visit on 8/3/2023. My go-to order is: Lunch Special #11 -Mexican Combo Chicken Taco & cheese enchilada w/ rice & beans $10.99 with a Coke - $3.99 - Deliciousss! It's pretty affordable and I never really have to look at the menu because I know this is a classic. -The cheese enchilada is so good, covered in cheesy goodness. I always finish eating this prob first. -Chicken taco is a little dry since it looks like they use chicken breast (but I guess that makes it healthier? ;) LOL). It comes with some lettuce and a tomato slice. -Rice and beans are yummy. Never too salty and complements the meal - making it pretty filling. Also, when you sit down, they quickly provide you with freshly fried chips and fresh salsa, which is soOoO good. I love it when restaurants give you a lil somethin, and I get lucky because my coworkers never eat THAT much of it (y'know stomach acidic probz) so I get more salsa LOL. The chips are always fried to perfection, not too salty with a good bite. The salsa can sometimes have a kick to it, but nothing crazy. I sometimes include some of the salsa in my meal to add more punch and flavor. Seating: Indoor and outdoor are both available. Before Covid, we had only dined inside, but post-covid, they have both options open. Customer Service: We have already received great customer service here. They check up on your periodically throughout your meal, and always offer to provide drink refills. Parking: There's limited parking available and we have tended to utilize the street parking. My dear El Farolito - hopefully I will be back in the future if I'm back in the area. I'll def be missing you!!! read more

See all

Bomb food. Nice restaurant outside eating during Covid not sure but I'm guessing outside is still there. I eat chicken tacos3 beans rice every time. Chips are thick n good salsa I am eat w a spoon. Eaten here many times over 30 years. Margaritas are good too sting read more

Always a great experience. The patio area is now open and what a beautiful extension. Service was fast and great as always. The food is amazing. Price is always reasonable. Definitely worth it if you go. read more

All of this food and services and Ambiance was great! The waitress and waiters took care of us. I will definitely be eating there soon!

Hands down one of the best Mexican restaurants in Southern Ca. Of the hundreds of Mexican restaurants I have tried in my lifetime, they have one of the best salsas (love their salsa) and all of their food is amazing!! Great prices on entrees and great customer services. They have quadrupled in size over the years but on average a 15 minute wait because guest drive from all over So Cal to dine at El Farolito. read more

El Farolito - Mexican Near Me - Placentia, California

Our go for quick fast and tasty Mexican food. Sit down style but they are efficient. It's a regular part of our rotation of restaurants. Not super fancy but always crowded. read more

The food is great the service is very good. For some reason th price have gone up exponentially. It used to be affordable, not so much any more. read more

Truly a gem. Finally got around to reviewing after having come here the last 10 years. I think their machaka and eggs could be the best anywhere I have ever had. You will always leave here full. Maybe not the healthiest but if you want authentic mexican food at a good price this is the spot. Family owned and they take pride in what they do. Support them! read more

Have not been here in years. Fantastic food. The salsa has a great little burn and the chips are thick and crisp! They are busy for lunch and do a good job of serving you quickly. I had the burrito special with carnitas. It has a mild sauce and is very wet! I added the salsa from the chips to make it a bit more spicy. My wife enjoyed the enchiladas, the rice was excellent. She loved the enchilada sauce. Very creamy and not watery, more homemade. read more

El Farolito - Burrito Special with Carnitas - Mexican Near Me - Placentia, California

See all

A while back this business had a tent for a restaurant and they have just changed so much since then that they have a nice building and the also clean it so much, which makes it so beautiful. If you were looking for an amazing Mexican food place I would recommend this place!!! If you also want great service it's perfect there, they cook your food so fast! (They do not put it in the freezer then microwave it for you) read more

My hubby and his family have been coming to this restaurant for well over over 30 years. It's a great family owned and operated restaurant that gives you great food with a smile every single time. While I haven't had everything on the menu, but between our 5 kids, his family, and mine, we have pretty much sampled 90% of the menu and give it a thumbs up all around. There is always a wait, and they don't accept reservations. But, trust me, it's well worth it! read more

Was looking for a decent place to celebrate my son's birthday. We usually do Korean BBQ Or sushi, but we opted for Mexican for a change. Decent ambiance, the place was pretty full for a Tuesday night. We waited about 10 minutes and we were seated. We asked to be moved because we mistakenly put down four when we needed a table for five. They were very accommodating. Food was pretty good, though my son's girlfriend left a lot on the plate, which she normally doesn't do. Everyone else seemed to enjoy their meal. Before we went, I called to see if I could bring a cake to celebrate. The person on the phone had me wait while she checked. She then came back and told me it should not be a problem.. she however failed to tell me that there would be a $12 cake charge...needless to say, we decided to have cake at home.. Overall a good experience.. read more

Definitely a hot spot that has legacy. Straight up Mexican food that is exquisitely simple but delightful. I had the pollo a la plancha tostada salad. Ask for pico de gallo on the side. The beans are the secret sauce that pulled it together. The carnitas plate that my wifey had we tasty and tender. Solid performance that explains the crowds. Drinks well not so much my Paloma was a bit soda like instead of cocktail. read more

See all

LARD! Why are the beans so tasty? Why are the tortilla chips so good? What makes the crispy carnitas (cause you have to ask for them crispy). So damned irresistible? The answer is they are cooked in lard. This amazing family run restaurant has been serving up top notch Mexican food for over 50 years. You can generally expect a wait although with the addition of the large tented area, it's a lot shorter. Wait staff is attentive and gets your order right away. They want you out in 90 minutes. The margaritas are intense and strong! The salsa is entertainingly hot. Perfect for those lard fried chips. Definitely get the carnitas (ask for crispy) at least once but really the whole menu is full of proven winners. read more

See all