The salsa and chips were excellent a little on the spicy side which keeps the grandkids at bay. The margaritas are excellente lime and strawberry! The shrimp enchiladas were so flavorful ! Great service ! Oh I will be back ! read more

Morena's Mexican Cuisine - bar area - Mexican Near Me - Lake Forest, California

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First timer! Lots of parking. Sunday lunch and was seated right away. Missed the brunch and looked like an awesome spread. Ordered from the regular menu, and we really enjoyed every dish! Very delicious and fresh. Loved that everything's made from scratch. The staff members were really friendly and attentive too. The only downside was that on this particular day it was super hot and their AC seemed to have been broken - they had all the doors open. So it was really hot while we ate, and we also know it was out of their control. But overall we had a great experience. Til next time! read more

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My overall experience at Morena's was alright, but it's not for me. The food was just okay. I asked a server for more water and it wasn't our server. He was the server for every table surrounding, but he wasn't assigned to our table. He didn't like my request. Whoops. Our server Francisco was great! He had a genuine smile and did a great job. He was the best part of the experience. read more

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My best friends picked this spot for lunch, and I couldn't have been happier with their choice. It's located in the same strip mall where I usually stop by for Japanese curry bread from the bakery next door, just a few minutes from my house. I always love supporting local businesses, and this place did not disappoint. Their AYCE lunch buffet completely exceeded my expectations with an impressive variety of dishes. We made it our mission to try a little bit of everything, and every dish we sampled was delicious. The only suggestion I'd make is to add food labels so guests know exactly what they're trying. Thankfully, none of us have dietary restrictions, so we were able to enjoy the full spread without worry. There's plenty of parking, the staff were friendly and welcoming, and the overall experience was fantastic. We'll definitely be back--especially to check out their Taco Tuesday! read more

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I have had the pleasure of brunching fairly often at Morena's. What keeps me coming back you ask? Well for one the food is outstanding. I'm a big fan of their huevos con chorizo, but everything on their menu is simply delicious. For those with a big appetite I suggest you try the carnitas with a side of corn tortillas. This dish will not disappoint. The ambiance is casual, yet very comfortable. A good spot for meeting friends for lunch or celebrating a special occasion with family. The restaurant offers both indoor and outdoor seating and has plenty of free parking. read more

Service was great and the ambiance was alright... The food was average nothing special about it... my husband said it was mediocre they do have a lot of options for the hot sauces which I liked! My tostada salad was good but nothing special, the steak and the beans were cold! The cocktail was okay... For a rice in beans steak tacos + tostada salad steak +meatball soup+ the kid burrito+ deep fried ice cream and a drink it was very expensive for only those items We will not come back here again... (They probably have a problem with their plumbing because the restrooms were disgusting and it really smelled so bad!!!) watch out for their restroom... read more

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Service is always great here but the quality of food has gone down in the last year in my opinion. Not sure if food is frozen or what but they did not try to make it right when we complained. We won't be back read more

Came for a weekday dinner at Morena's. Not sure if they were short staffed the night we came but it took about 10 minutes for a hostess to greet us, after that if was another 15-20 minute wait for a table but when we got seated the entire back dining area was not packed at all. As soon as we got settled, service was great. Chips and salsa on the house. We got their Morena's platter to start - quesadillas, nachos, taquitos, flautas, and wings which was plenty to share. For 2, it was too much, best shared among 4. We got fries & esquites (so good!) for sides. For mains, we really enjoyed the Enchiladas Divorciadas - green chicken enchilada & red steak enchilada with rice. The meats are seasoned well, i love the option of being able to have both. It is delicious. They have a full bar. Lively music. We plan on coming back to try their $16.99 Sunday brunch buffet from 9AM to 2PM - Mariachi from 12NN to 2PM. read more

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Today we went to the all you can eat weekday lunch from 11 AM to 2 PM. To begin with overall food was GOOD . The chili Riano was Satisfying. BUT the shredded pork was VERY Good. Surprisingly, they didn't have tortillas ? / To go with the shredded pork. and when I asked, "If you please, were they were at the tortillas?" The waiters pointed to a large bowl, and replied with " use tortilla chips" I couldn't determine if this should be three stars or four stars. One of my family members didn't like the food at all, and the other f thought that everything was "solid". furthermore, taking into consideration that this is an All You Can Eat, perhaps my expectations were a bit too high, But then again, I could not eat the shrimp, in my opinion, they were Inedible. ! Two of the waiters were very nice, but I think the one in charge, didn't seem happy. So if you like buffets, all you can eat, with a good price, OK service then this is the place to be. read more

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I'm always a little careful when rating Mexican food restaurants because quite frankly, I don't mind if it's watered down Mexican food. Morena's is decent. My husband and I went for dinner and then I went back again for their lunch buffet. I definitely enjoyed the dinner a little more. The shrimp fajitas were served right! Lots of shrimp too! Chips & salsa, rice & beans were good. My husband ordered the carne asada & shrimp a la diabla and he really enjoy his meal as well. The lunch buffet was only OK, but for $16.99 it wasn't bad. The spread included: rice, beans, lentil soup, pozole verde, chips & salsa, salad with a variety of dressings, chile relleno, green enchiladas. Chicken fajitas, shrimp pasta, fresh fruit, jello, and a few other things. I really wish a drink was included in the price. None the less, i enjoyed both dinner and lunch buffet. read more

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Came for the Sunday brunch buffet and could not be happier! First time here but not the last. Our server, Veronica, was so sweet and attentive, but not excessively so. She let us know about their Taco Tuesday deals and we can't wait to come back. read more

Morena's Mexican Cuisine - Brunch buffet, Chili Colorado, cheese enchilada and rice. SO delicious. Would have taken more pictures, but devoured it - Mexican Near Me - Lake Forest, California

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Finally got a chance to try out Morena's Mexican Cuisine. Used to frequent this location when it was Mimi's, so to say the least I was a little bummed when it went away. I honestly came to Morena's with no expectations whatsoever, I know it gets decent reviews, but for me, Mexican cuisine is really hit and miss in South Orange County. Wife and I showed up around 4pm on Saturday evening, and the place was not crowded at all. We were seated immediately and were given some chips and salsa. Both of us thought the chips and salsa were good, chips light and crispy and warm too. The salsa was mild with a bit of a black pepper flavor. I ordered the taco Chile Relleno combo, it came with rice and beans. The food was pretty good, not great but honestly pretty good. The service was excellent and all the employees we encountered were super friendly and helpful. There's plenty of parking. By the time we were finishing up our meal the restaurant was now pretty full. All in all this is a decent place to grab a meal and get excellent service. read more

Morena's Mexican Cuisine - Taco & Chile Relleno, Beans & Rice - Mexican Near Me - Lake Forest, California

We visited Morena's Mexican Restaurant in Lake Forest this past Friday, and we noticed the menu has changed a lot since our last visit. Unfortunately, many of our favorite items were removed, and some of the prices have gone up as well. Our server mentioned they also got rid of the happy hour menu, which was a bit disappointing since we always enjoyed it. Service, as always, was great -- the staff is friendly and attentive. We tried the chicharrón appetizer, but it came out pretty dry and not as flavorful as we hoped. On the bright side, the tortilla soup was very delicious, and the flautas were also really good. Overall, still a solid spot with great service, but we definitely miss the old menu and happy hour options. hope they bring them (appitizers, drinks) back and also the good deals they originally had when they first opened. read more

Morena's Mexican Cuisine - Churro Dessert Plate.. Very Good! - Mexican Near Me - Lake Forest, California

I really enjoyed the lunch buffet. The food was delicious. I was experimenting with different was to eat everything. I had two varieties of nachos, one with beef one without. I really liked the enchiladas, and shrimp. I didn't notice tortillas to make tacos or shredded cheese. The employees were really nice. I would definitely return for the buffet. Its a great deal read more

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YUM! We came here for emotional support after a brutal day and wow, am I glad I picked Morena's Mexican Restaurant. All joking aside, we've been on a mission to find the best Mexican food in Lake Forest, and so far, Morena's is topping the list. SERVICE: 5/5 We were greeted and seated immediately upon walking in. Even as we passed through the dining room, everyone said hello - such genuinely friendly energy. Our server was fast, kind, and efficient. Chips and salsa landed on our table within minutes, and drinks were out right after. It felt like they actually cared that we were there, which is rare these days. FOOD: 4/5 The chips were fine, but the salsa stole the show - fresh, flavorful, and tasted homemade, maybe roasted tomatoes or chiles? I'm still thinking about it. The guacamole came with tostada chips (honestly better than their regular chips). Perfect crunch, great pairing. The guac had that perfect balance of salt, lime, and spice. *chef's kiss* I ordered the carnitas, and my wife went for the chicken enchiladas. The carnitas were a little fatty, but the crisp and flavor were amazing. The rice could use a touch more flavor, and the beans were smooth and creamy... almost pureed, but in a good way. Individually, the carnitas, rice, beans, guac, and salsa are fine. But wrap them all in a warm flour tortilla, and suddenly it's harmony in handheld form, like edible teamwork. My wife said the enchiladas were just okay. The chicken was a bit dry, but the tomatillo (verde) sauce was delicious: a little sweet, a little spicy, totally balanced. OVERALL RATING: 4/5 WOULD WE COME BACK? Absolutely! Morena's is easily one of the friendliest and most satisfying Mexican spots in Lake Forest. Next time, I'm trying the tacos or the chile verde because clearly, these folks know flavor. read more

Believe every great review that you have read about this place because it's absolutely accurate. I came here for their Taco Tuesday and was so impressed. I ordered 3 tacos and couldn't even finish them all. I was so full after the first one and a half had to get it to go box from my 3rd taco and ordered an extra one to savor the experience lol . I also tried their taco Tuesday drinks Special , wow. The service was also impeccable , Veronica was my server, special shoutout to her ! I will definitely be returning! read more

Morena's Mexican Cuisine - House margharita - Mexican Near Me - Lake Forest, California

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First time doing their Sunday brunch. The food was exceptional and very authentic, the service was exemplary, and the price was very reasonable. All you can eat Mexican classics, including bottomless mimosas, taco bar and omelette station to order, $40. Will definitely be returning! read more

Super friendly staff. The food is delicious. We were here for an event, but we will be coming back for a dinner date night soon. Definitely a must try for Lake Forest! read more

This was our first time eating here, the staff was friendly the food presentation was very nice and delicious read more

Morena's Mexican Cuisine - Carne Asada And enchilada - Mexican Near Me - Lake Forest, California

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Had a nice meal this evening on my way back home at Morena's in Lake Forest. I started with chips and salsa and Francisco was my server. He was kind, professional and recommended the specials. I had the Carne asada and chile relleno and it was excellent. I also had a few Cadillac margaritas that were delicious. Great place, good food and great staff. Highly recommended read more

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This place isn't much to look at. It's fine. It's clean. The service is fantastic. And the food was crazy good. Had the guac and the shrimp burrito. Both fantastic. read more

My family had gone to Morena's a couple of times and liked the place. Today 20 of us went to Morena's for Sunday brunch to celebrate a birthday. The food was excellent. Unfortunately, the server, FELIPE, was very rude, unprofessional and a lier. Of course since there was 20 of us, he had secured $180 for gratuity. FELIPE kept ignoring us when he was serving champagne to the tables next to ours. When the mariachi was coming into our area, he told them to only play one song to our group because we were loud and obnoxious. Two of us heard him and asked Felipe what was the reason he was referring to us in such manner. Felipe then denied having said that to our face. Needless to say, we will not be going back. read more

Morena's Mexican Cuisine - Felipe, the most disrespectful server ever. - Mexican Near Me - Lake Forest, California

One of my favorite Mexican restaurants great outside padio and indoors when it is too cold. Dog friendly. Good prices and great Taco Tuesday. read more

Morena's Mexican Cuisine - Breakfast - Mexican Near Me - Lake Forest, California

The food was really tasty! The shrimp enchiladas was recommended by our server and it was very delicious! The sauce was super creamy and full of flavor! Love the shrimp and corn filling. Carnitas plate also good. Personally, I only had a small bite but the piece of meat I ate was very tender. The server was very nice! Gave us multiple types of salsa and extra tortillas! Very friendly! There was a ton of seating space inside! Lovely decor. read more

Morena's Mexican Cuisine - Carnitas - Mexican Near Me - Lake Forest, California

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Was excited to try this local place for the first time. Shocked by the dishonest charging practices! Menu prices show whole dollars, but when the bill comes, each item is quietly upcharged--almost a full dollar more. My steak and eggs were listed as $23, but I was charged $23.92. Enchiladas were listed as $22, charged $22.88. Tax and tip were also added separately, so this isn't just tax--it's a sneaky markup per item that feels dishonest and likely illegal. It's not the couple dollars that I care about but how unethical this is and that they are getting away with this likely illegal practice. Charge exactly what you show on your menu like every other restaurant. They might have a class action coming their way as they apparently do this to every customer! I was willing to overlook the awful sewage smell inside, but deceptive pricing is where I draw the line. I won't be coming back, and I hope others check their receipts carefully. read more

Morena's Mexican Cuisine - They quietly upcharge each item nearly a dollar on top of their menu prices! - Mexican Near Me - Lake Forest, California

Excellent Margarita & borritos and pork carnitas. Salsa was also very good. Excellent service and very friendly. Great ambiance and busy as usual . read more

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First let's start with the chips and salsa. Love that they give you a red and green sauce. Both tasted great and not over powering in spice. The carnitas plate had so much meat that two people can share and still had left over. The carnitas were a little on the dry side but in their defense most carnitas are. That's what the salsa is for. The ceviche was really good! Again, totally shareable as the plate is big! My husband ate half and had to take the other half home. Finally I got the taco and enchilada plate. Met my expectations. The beans and rice were made just right! Being Mexican you'd be surprised how hard it is to find a Mexican restaurant that knows how to make beans and rice just right. The service was really good! The place is very family oriented. Next time I would order a specialty order than the usual taco and enchilada read more

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I came here for the first time for the buffet I'm always really picky about buffets because there usually just one or two good things and the rest is average, but not here I was surprised at everything they had was so good . From the salads to seafood to my new favorite place for menudo and of course the dessert . If your looking for brunch buffet this is the spot read more

I have tried Morena's for dinner, weekend buffet and also their weekday buffet (I didn't know they had it in week days). Our last visit we came in for regular early lunch during the week and they had buffet menu! The rest of the party stuck to ordering from the menu but I took a chance and tried the buffet that had many protein options, fruit, salad and soup and pozole or menudo. I think they had desserts as well. Pricing was great for the value I have tried their ceviches too and all the food I've had was delicious! Staff was kind and welcoming so we will not hesitate to keep coming back and to top it off, they have fresh aguas frescas! Yumm read more

Came to morena's for cinco de mayo and of course they were extremely busy. We had to wait for a while for our table but the manager made sure to take extra great care of us. He checked in on us multiple times during our meal. I love a place that gives free chips and salsa. The chips and salsa are really great quality as well. The drinks were super strong and so delicious. The taquitos were cooked perfectly and the perfect portion size for one person. The location is close to home and a perfect spot to get authentic mexican food. I will definitely be going back again! read more

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Food was amazing and huge servings. Staff very attentive. Great place. I'll be back all the way from Tampa.

Very large brunch spread, delicious dishes, good staff with friendly service. Man, was overwhelmed by the good brunch at Morena's. This is in the old Mimi's Cafe spot on Lake Forest rd. Hidden gem? They don't have a good website presence for brunch and not much mentioned here on Yelp either. First: Price $39.99 for AYCE, and that includes champagne. Among the dishes served when I was there. Beans, rice, enchiladas, chile rellenos, steak and chicken fajitas, chili Colorado, pork and chicken tamales, menudo and two other soups I think, shrimp ceviche, aguachiles, omelette bar, waffle bar. There may be a few other items I'm missing. They also had two aguafrescas, piña and cucumber. Both were tasty. Me and my buddy left there stuffed. Go in there hungry. We noticed some people weren't eating brunch and looked like they had chilaquiles. Would recommend. The food tasted really good. read more

Morena's Mexican Cuisine - Sunday brunch - tamales, chili rellenos, enchiladas. - Mexican Near Me - Lake Forest, California

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We went on a Monday at lunchtime and they had their lunch buffet going. We checked out the buffet and it looked sad. Only a few things on the buffet and no one making tacos. The saddest Mexican buffet I have ever seen. We decided to order from the menu. It took a while to get waited on because they only had two people working. We ordered the branzino which they came back and told us they didn't have it so we changed our minds and ordered the fish/shrimp tacos. These tacos were not good. Hardly any cabbage and only one tortilla. Most places double them so they are easier to eat. The sauce was so spicy it was almost not eatable. You could not taste the fish for the sauce it was so spicy. The beans were ok and we did not like their salsa either. The salsa was a more of a ranchero type and not spicy at all. The best thing on my plate was the mixed sauté vegetables. The waiter was real nice and gave us a break since they did not have the branzino and did not charge my hubby for his margarita which I truly appreciated and was truly kind on his part. Very sad because I was hoping to like this place but I won't be back. Just not for me. We just did not like the food. read more

Honestly, I'm only giving it two stars because they had mariachi and they were a good vibe. We came here on a Sunday for a buffet. The price is $40 per person with unlimited mimosas. I believe it's a two hours max. The food was not great. It wasn't bad but I didn't enjoy it. I feel like it was missing flavor. The only thing I did enjoy was the waffle with strawberries and ice cream. Oh yeah and the mimosas of course. read more

Went here for their taco tuesday! They serve high quality tacos for an affordable price!! They also kept giving us chips for free and I loaded up on those! I mightve gone too hard on the chips cuz i had to take half of the tacos home for later! High quality tacos for a great price on Tuesdays! read more

Stopped here for lunch. Nice menu selection, breakfast/brunch and a full regular menu. Service was excellent, friendly and fast ! The servings for our three selections were Large, very tasty. All three of us were impressed with the fresh ingredients and flavor. Prices are reasonable and again, large portions should be expected-- read more

I've had worse, but I generally have way better. 20 bucks for a quesadilla (and a suggested tip on the receipt for a to-go order) is insane. The place smelled like diarrhea when I showed up. Realistically maybe the fault of one of the patrons in their bathroom, but still... The quesadilla was OK - could have been better, but they forgot the sour cream and pico de gallo in my order. read more

Sensational. My first time at this location and assuredly my new favorite restaurant. Everything was exceptional: hostess, service, ambience, food ...! To date, the best queso fundido discovery and I've had many! The lunch portion of chicken fajitas was still so delicious and plentiful I had leftovers. Their Mondavi Sauvignon Blanc also yummy. In particular, Elvis was a terrific server and Karen, was the most invested Hostess I've ever encountered. She's a keeper! Overall, ten stars for a solid, delicious, enjoyable Mexican dinner experience! read more

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I had lunch here with my mother and wife. I ordered the mole poblano, my wife the chicken milanesa and my mom enchiladas. My mole poblano was very good: the mole was well prepared, garnished with sesame seeds, and there was a lot of it and the rice and beans were excellent. My wife's chicken milanesa (panko crusted chicken) was very good. The panko crusted chicken had the right amount of crunch to it. My mom was less satisfied with her chicken enchiladas as she felt the red sauce overwhelmed the taste of the food. The chips and salsa were excellent. Our waiter was very good. He was friendly and prompt with his service. The ambiance of the restaurant was good, with a pleasant though not that special decor. It's a good restaurant for lunch. I thought the prices were on the high side though. There is a lunch buffett which is reasonably priced but as we're not buffett type of people we stuck to the menu. read more

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Over the weekend, we decided to try this place as we have heard great things about it since they opened. The chips and salsa were phenomenal, the service was great, and our waiter was very attentive. This restaurant is located in the old Mimi's building, and is decorated like a standard traditional Mexican restaurant. I will definitely be coming back and also I forgot to mention that their margaritas are fantastic, I ended up ordering two Cadillac margaritas which were both very yummy! read more

Morena's Mexican Cuisine - Cheese enchilada, crispy beef taco w rice & beans - Mexican Near Me - Lake Forest, California