Mary was an amazing server! Food was so good and packed with flavor. Definitely will be back again for the service, food, and good vibes!!

Enjoyed the food and atmosphere. Danna was a great server. We enjoyed our date night.

I came in on a Saturday morning, it was pretty slow but as the place started getting busier the bartender was still the only "server" on. He was super attentive and really really nice, no complaints about him, it just seemed like a lot of work for one person, although he handled it pretty well! I got the Brioche French Toast and added bacon, it was so good! I asked for coffee, got cream and sugar, it was a pretty decent cup of coffee ! The place is very lively looking, every room had a different vibe, nonetheless pretty! Will definitely be back for Lunch and maybe Dinner another time! read more

Palenque Kitchen - Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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My friend and I passed by for "lunch" around 5 pm Saturday. We were greeted warmly and attended by Hannah and Brittany throughout our visit. The inside is trendy and well put together. The bathrooms are also clean and have amazing lighting! I'm sure this place gets pretty packed later throughout the night, but since it was a bit slow, we were consistently checked up on, which I really appreciate. They have smaller tables for two, longer tables for big parties, and of course the bar area. My friend ordered shrimp aguachiles and I got the palenque salad, both of which were super good. We decided to share the patron tower as well (definitely something worth sharing). I look forward to coming back to see how the vibes are at night! read more

Palenque Kitchen - Patron tower + palenque salad w/steak - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Food was AWFUL!! We started with the Cesar salad came with dark blue tortilla chips. The salad was the only meal we enjoyed. We ordered shrimp Diablo which comes with beans and rice. APPARENTLY tortillas are separate. We also ordered the chile relleno no rice no veggies no sides at all. Let me tell you about the beans, they were disgusting,. First of all they don't look like beans at all, the texture is like fluffy mash potatoes so gross. Tortillas are separate Oh! and they are paper store bought tortillas. What ever they do to the beans is not only gross but disgusting and a disgrace to beans. For being à la cart it's so not worth it at all. This place is by far crazy overpriced and way overrated. Another thing if you request salsa yes you will be charged for it, and the amount that they bring is insulting. Service was mediocre they never came around to refill our waters, I'm sure we probably would have been charged extra for that too. Ambiance is very loud and dark so if you happen to have hair in your food or bugs you wouldn't be able to see. All in all I give this place a 2 out if 10 I WOULD NEVER GO BACK NOR WOULD I EVER RECOMMEND THIS PLACE. Not worth it at all. read more

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Great service! The food was delicious and the vibes were right! Our waiter Laz was great!

Good atmosphere, and delicious food. Our waiter Laz gave great service. Would definitely recommend on a Friday night.

I was at the place for a party on Saturday. I've only had drinks and this place is extremely average. The bartenders are not very good, can't pour beer properly. They ran out of oranges, I couldn't even have a proper Blue Moon. No proper glasses, wouldn't let me drink from a bottle, insisted that they had to pour into plastic cups. Other than beer everything they had was priced at about $15 and up and this place is in a strip mall. I won't be back. The guy who organizes the Russian parties there should find another place. The so called dance floor was tiny. read more

Beautiful place with amazing ambience! Dana was our awesome server for brunch. She was super friendly and attentive. Can't wait to come back and have the huevos rancheros again! read more

I was exited to try this place since I'm a big fan of real Mexican cuisine. Honestly this place was a disappointment from the food to the slow service & it wasn't even busy at all, I had to wait 35 mins for my food & 15 mins for my cocktail. The place is nice but that's about it, save your time & money fellas not real Mexican food read more

We ordered a variety of dishes and left wondering how this place has 4 stars. * Pulpo: Crispy (yes, fried), but not enjoyable. The Brussels sprouts it came with were the best part. * Branzino: Just a plain fish dish served with beans and rice. Nothing memorable. * Puerto Nuevo Lobster Enchiladas: Underwhelming and bland. * Beef & Shrimp Combo Fajitas: Apparently two shrimp qualifies as a "combo." Disappointing. * Refried Beans: Across the board, they were runny and watery. Why? On top of that, the presentation was poor. Looking back at Yelp photos, I thought maybe people just weren't great at photographing, but no, nothing came out looking appetizing or picture-worthy in person either. Overall, the food was uninspired and not worth the hype. At least now we know we don't need to come back. read more

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I came here with some friends while I was in Costa Mesa. I'm not super familiar with the area, so naturally I read the reviews. And it didn't disappoint! It was pretty hot outside, so we sat indoors in the air conditioning. The inside is kind of a vibe. I feel like it's a great evening spot. But we went around 2 when they were slower. I ordered the tuna tiradito which was delicious. The pickled onions on top of the tuna sashimi were the best part. Our server said that it was his favorite dish on the menu too. I'd definitely come back, maybe later in the evening to try other dishes. read more

Palenque Kitchen - Tuna Tiradito - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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We were at another place a few spots down in this little shopping center and were hungry. My girlfriend loves Mexican food and I've driven by this place a several times and it always catches my eye. The menu on their website is excellent and has pictures of almost every item including both food and drinks. The front of the restaurant looks very cool, especially at night, so we decided to give it a try. The parking lot out front was full but we were fortunate to grab a spot earlier in the day. They apparently have parking in the rear also. We walked in a bit past 5:30pm on a Sunday evening and were a little concerned at first because the place was empty except for one table. The reviews were good and we were having dinner earlier than most so we proceeded. The inside of the restaurant looks as nice and trendy as the outside. The big bar is kind of the focus with some neon signs around and the whole restaurant is lit by a great variety of different fixtures. The lighting is on the dim side and gives the place a great lounge type vibe. There was some Mexican music playing that was almost a little too loud but not quite. Our server Hever greeted us who was very friendly and gave great service all night. We asked if they had chips and salsa and they came right out along with some extra salt which we requested. The chips were great and the salsa was very flavorful and was a generous size. I ordered the Sandia Pepino cocktail which was excellent. It was perfectly balanced, the chile rim was great, and I loved the garnish with a round scoop of watermelon pinned between a long cucumber slice. My girlfriend just had a diet coke but it was kind of cool that they serve a Mexican Diet Coke bottle with a glass of ice. The bottle is a little on the small side and your tab might add up quick if you order several. Next came the entrees. She had the Tacos De Papa and the plate looked nice. She enjoyed them but there was a little too much cabbage piled on top. I had the Enchiladas Mazatlan which almost looked like lasagna at first because the layer of cheese on top was so thick. However I really enjoyed the thick layer of cheese and there was a generous amount of shrimp, some in almost every bite. The arugula salad on top was something I had never seen before. I pushed most of it off to the side and had it after the enchiladas. It surprisingly worked, was very good and light and was a nice way to finish off a dish that was a little heavy from the all cheese. We really enjoyed our meal here and would definitely return again. read more

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genuinely confused how this place has 4 stars? the menu is beyond overpriced. not to mention, when the check came, they tried to charge 3 of our items at a higher price than what was listed on the menu. how does that even happen? i ordered a mango mocktail and received watered down orange juice. my sister and dad ordered alcoholic drinks and couldn't even taste a hint of liquor. it took well over 20 minutes to even be asked what we wanted to drink (btw there was only 3 other groups in the whole restaurant, and 2 of those groups were only groups of 2) when the food came, the portions i received were unbelievably small. i tried to make my own burritos out of rice and beans and i received a plate that was smaller than my phone that was the side of rice and beans together. not rice and beans in seperate dishes that are smaller than my phone. both of them TOGETHER in a dish smaller than my phone. absolutely ridiculous. i always try my best to be open minded and understanding when im at restaurants, but this was absolutely unacceptable. PLEASE save your hard-earned money. this establishment does not deserve it. read more

First time checking this place out and WOW. Not sure how this spot isn't packed on a Friday night, because Palenque is hitting all the right notes. Literally and figuratively. Let's break it down: Delicious food - I had the veggie tacos and honestly, I wish I took a photo before I devoured them, but they didn't stand a chance. Flavorful, and super satisfying. Great ambiance - Trendy with the kind of lighting and vibe that makes you want to stay awhile. No cover - In this economy? That alone is a win. Plenty of parking - A rare gem in OC nightlife. Fabulous service - Friendly, attentive, and genuinely welcoming. Music on point - I couldn't stop moving, even mid-bite. Every beat felt like it was synced with my soul . TheDJ knew what they were doing. This place is perfect for a chill dinner that turns into dancing, and it deserves way more attention. If you're looking for a new weekend go-to with great vibes, great music and even better food, Palenque is where it's at. read more

Palenque Kitchen - Crispy Beef Tacos Dorados- replaced beef with sautéed veggies for vegetarian version - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Food was delicious, our server Dana was great! Definitely coming back. Restaurant was accommodating to my allergy as well.

The service was great! Wednesday night after work we had dinner and cocktails. The spicy margarita was super tasty! The food was good. read more

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Came for brunch. Dana was such a great server.The food was delicious and the service was top notch. I highly recommend the molada. The mole is tasty and not too sweet. read more

I Palenque. Dude this place is underrated af. DANA was our bartender and she ROCKS! The guava-mente marg is fire and the green sauce chicken enchilladas are a white gurls dream. The carajillo is the best i have ever had. read more

Great food and perfect ambience! Mary was the best server and the mole enchiladas were delish!

Artemiza was great! It was only her first week, but she was super friendly, easy to talk to, and rolled with all the jokes we were throwing her way. The food was pretty good--I had the carnitas, which was okay. Portions could be a little better for the price, but overall we had a good experience, and Artemiza definitely made it better! read more

First time visitor. Great vibe, friendly and welcoming staff. Sat at the bar, and our bartender, Josue, treated us like family. Will definitely come back for his service and mixology skills, as his recommendations were perfect and drinks were delish! Guacamole was fresh, and food was good. Hubby had the octopus and almost cried tears of joy! I had the appetizer tacos and we shared the poblano Cesar. Tacos were ok. Not bad, just not my flavor profile. Salad was fresh, light and bright, and would definitely do that as an entree with a protein. Overall, highly recommend! read more

Palenque Kitchen - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Service, was A+. You definitely leave wanting to try more dishes, will be back soon. The roasted salsa and chips also great to enjoy with a drink while you wait for your food. read more

Palenque Kitchen - The best octopus I have had. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

came in today and had laz as our server and he was phenomenal. food great, drinks great. ambiance was beautiful. flavor was amazing. great experience overall 100% read more

Best Margaritas in the city! Came here for drinks bartender let us know they freshly squeeze their mixers....made all the difference in the world. Good date spot, will be back to try the food. read more

Went to celebrate my birthday and my first time there. And it won't be my last. Our server was Luis and he was amazing and very attentive. Please come and visit soon. You won't regret it. read more

Luis Santiago is amazing he is very friendly and and I loved the service. The food and the drinks are great. I highly recommend palenque. Luis recommended the fish zarandeado and I really liked it. I will be back, ask for Luis read more

the quesa birra tacos and palenque margaritas were so buss down mmmmm i rate this place 10/10 read more

Palenque Kitchen - buss down Quesa Birria Tacos - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

The carnitas were so good!! Shout out to our server Mary for taking great care of our group!!

Bella was the best server , checked In frequently, refilled our waters , made sure we had all that we needed to ensure our time here was one to remember, First time here too actually , I'd recommend the carnitas , pollo chipotle's and margarita samplers ! read more

Palenque Kitchen - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

They ambience was good and there was great customer service. The food was very yummy. We celebrated a birthday and it was an amazing time

Awesome spot. 100/100 service! Mary got us right!! Amazing food and vibe chill spot affordable

Food was good, I had the chicken enchiladas, very cheesy. We put in for a reservation at 7 for 8 of us which made me put down a credit card stating if we canceled within 24 hours of making the reservation we would be charged $25 per person. Considering the place was nearly empty, it seemed excessive. Apparently there was a larger group in back so our services was just ok. We had a nice dinner but overall the experience was just ok. Seemed like a lot of staff compared to the business they were doing and the service they were providing. read more

Josett was hands down the best waiter I've ever had. He went above and beyond from start to finish and made our entire experience memorable. He sang Happy Birthday for my kids, helped cover our tab with an extra $30, and treated my family with genuine kindness and respect. He even complimented my wife and made her feel special, which was very thoughtful and appreciated. On top of that, we ended up talking about video games and found out we like many of the same games, which made the experience feel even more personal and enjoyable. It's rare to meet someone who is not only excellent at their job but also such a genuinely great person. If every restaurant had a waiter like Josett, dining out would be a completely different experience. Outstanding service, great personality, and an all-around amazing guy. We will definitely be back because of him. Thank you, Josett! read more

Was looking forward to checking this place out, but our group was left disappointed. Patron margarita tower looked super cool on social media, but for what you get, and how much you pay, it's a total joke. $60 for four mini margaritas pretty much. For food we ordered the guacamole which was good, and two quesadillas. While the quesadillas were good, they were overpriced for what you pay, and no sides are included. Took forever for our tower to come out. Probably waited 20 minutes for drinks, and the place seemed pretty dead for a Saturday night. I'm okay with paying premium prices for premium food, and drinks, but the quality doesn't match the prices at this place. In addition, the size of the salsa they hand out is laughable. You're better off going to other Mexican Restaurants in Newport that are a lot better in my opinion. read more

Palenque Kitchen - Tower - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

This place was pretty dead on a Thursday night. Ambiance was nice and bartender/server was good. Food came out semi slow for not being busy. The drinks and food were meh. Not bad but not great either. Don't think I'd return. read more

Staff was very friendly! The whole place is such a vibe, and the drinks were delicious. Great atmosphere to hang out, whether you're catching up with friends or just looking for a good spot in the area. Definitely a place to try! read more

Had reservations for 830pm. When we got seated everything had to be rushed even eating our dinner do to them closing early. Doesn't make any sense for them to have a slot open online for 830 if they dont give you enough time to enjoy your food. read more

Great food! Great service! Laz was a great server! Ambiance was beautiful, would come back read more

The atmosphere here was amazing and the food was delicious! Our waiter Laz was very polite and provided excellent service! Definitely recommend! 100/10! read more