Came for a girls lunch date earlier to this weekend and this spot did not disappoint! THE SERVICE: 5/5 - Quick, friendly, accommodating, and our waiter made a real effort to engage in conversation with us. The FOOD: 4.5/5 | Drinks: 5/5 Off the appetizers, we had the pork belly bites and dirty fries! First dish came with a long hot pepper, several mini tortillas, and 2 dipping sauces. The pork was crunchy on the outside and soft+succulent on the inside. I can see myself doubling up on this appetizer the next time I come. Dirty fries were great; it came with a generous amount of pickled onions - providing a really nice contrast to the savoriness of our meal. Our waiter graciously accommodated our request to have the egg on the side. Off the entrée/taco menu, my friend ordered the Korean tacos and I got the Ensenada (fish) tacos. But you can also order the Ensenada tacos with shrimp. These were delicious, I would have loved a little more lime crema to go with the fish - but not a big deal. I got a Watermelon Margarita. I wasn't expecting it to be HUGE, but it was the perfect amount considering how much food we as a pair ordered. My friend ordered the La Toxica table side cocktail and one additional mango cocktail. Table side cocktail was a whole show and my friend really enjoyed it. We had a great lunch at Tempo Cantina. I can't wait to try more of their bar menu, maybe even at night when the restaurant is lively read more

Very large and fun bar/restaurant/cantina with great ambiance and good food. The interior transports you to Mexico. Plenty of parking. Prices are on the higher side. I tried the Japanese-Mex menu and the sushi was outstanding. I would have it again anytime. Good, friendly service. read more

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So this is Mr Tempo, but rebranded I guess. The restaurant was okay, exactly the same as Mr tempo from years back, all the same decor and signage and it was all dusty, they clearly don't wipe down or dust anything, but nonetheless the vibes are there perfect for an outing with friends and family. The service was good.. staff is friendly and checked on us a good amount of times. Food was really good it is definitely in the pricer side, even 3 tacos is gonna put you at $25.. and when asked for extra of something like more sauce or more crackers we were charged! Normally when i ask for these items at 99% of restaurants Im not charged so i was shocked to see my $3 for each side.. and i wasn't even told it was an extra charge.. They do come around to take photos, which we do buy every time but when we got home we saw the photos/frame are smaller from years past! For the same price at $20 years past 5x7 this year 4x6! read more

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Food was a 10/10 of course. Good customer service; however, not enough tostadas come with the torre mariscos & they didn't tell us about the extra charge when we asked for more. I was expecting it to be $1 or $2 dollars but it was $3 for 3 extra tostadas. Did not get a picture of the restrooms but they can use a little love. Lots of dust on the soap dispenser, mirror I still would come here again though. It's too bad cinco de mayo was on a Tuesday this year lol read more

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Came here on a Sunday afternoon and it was nice and slow, which made for a really relaxing experience! Our server, Israel, was awesome! Super attentive, friendly, and always checking in to make sure we were taken care of. The food was really good, and the recommendations he gave us were definitely worth trying! The vibe here is energetic and fun, though the music is pretty loud, so conversations can be a little difficult at times. The women's restroom could also use a little extra attention. The only thing that caught me off guard was having to pay extra for rice and beans, but overall the prices felt fair for the experience. We'd definitely come back! read more

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I had lunch plans with one of my friends at Tempo Cantina in Brea. Apparently there are 2 locations in the area. This one is NOT the one in downtown Brea. It is near Nothing Bundt Cake in a small plaza with its' own lot. Speaking from someone who went to the wrong location. Oops. I had made a reservation on Open Table, but there were plenty of tables at the time of our arrival. The atmosphere was very trendy and lively. We were seated in Paola's section and she was super friendly and helpful the whole time. My friend had the Surf and Turf Tacos ($20) with an added a side of Rice ($?) and a Diet Pepsi ($3), since they didn't have Diet Coke. I had the Bone Marrow Tacos ($20) with a Watermelon Agua Fresca ($7). We both enjoyed our meal and can see ourselves coming back. Yum! My bone marrow tacos were so delicious and fun. It had 3 bone marrows topped with asada and melted cheese. It was fun to scrap down the bone marrow and assemble my own tacos. Friendly service and delicious food. I also saw that they had a great happy hour menu, so I would have to come back for that in the future when the opportunity is available. read more

Tempo Cantina - Surf and Turf Tacos with a side of ride and Bone Marrow Tacos - New American Near Me - Brea, California

We decided to come here for a quick small lunch as I had a work event and wanted to make sure I could make it until 8pm dinner. We love their tableside octopus and is our go to here. We usually get it and add an appetizer, today we didn't want to since I need to be able to have dinner and I don't eat much. First of they mentioned that they didn't have the normal octopus but the could make it with 8 legs that should equal, it didn't. It was smaller than the normal, fine. When she was doing the flambé, she poured the tequila and barely used the flame. She was on a rush to be done. Because of this, the octopus wasn't its usual crunch and you could taste the unconsumed liquor on it. The onion was still raw in the middle which upset my stomach. I couldn't finish eating as the onion was so raw my stomach started to feel it and I got nauseous. This was a very disappointing experience. The service was slow and nonexistent. We got our food and no utensils or plates. We asked the lady and she never brought them. We had to ask the busser for them which he kindly did. Our waitress eventually came by and ask how everything was going. I was honest and told her not great and probably the worse experience here and we were disappointed. She couldn't have cared less. We were not expecting anything but at least a simple apology but I guess that was too much. Needless to say, I don't think we will be back any time soon. We will probably try the one in downtown Brea instead. I have 2 stars as the octopus tasted ok and the tomato was good. read more

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Arriving on a Sunday morning for brunch, it felt like we had stepped into the leftovers of a nightclub: graffiti-covered tables, neon lighting, dark walls, skull art, and pops of vegetation; all giving the space a distinct after-hours vibe. THE FOOD. - Tortilla Chips & Salsa (Complimentary). Crunchy tortilla chips with delicious house made salsa. It was served on a wooden chopping board, understanding that certain shareable foods shouldn't be held back by bowl boundaries. - Crispy Birria Eggs. The birria had that unmistakeable slow-braised depth; rich and savory. - Pork Belly Benedict. Pork belly with chile verde hollandaise sauce gave this dish smoky, salty, and tangy richness. - Asada Chilaquiles. Don't expect a whole plate of chilaquiles with chopped up carne asada on top! Both are served as separate sides on the plate. Aside from that, the carne asada was juicy, tender and charred nicely. And isn't that all that matters? THE DRINKS. - Mango Fresca. Light, refreshing, and naturally sweet with a bit of tropical brightness. Plot twist, it didn't taste like mango. *shrugs* - Michelada. Bold, spicy, and tangy with a good umami kick. This makes drinking beer in the morning acceptable. :) - Coffee. Straightforward, hot, and caffeinated. THE PARKING. We got there just as the restaurant opened, so parking was easy (and free). THE VERDICT. Delicious bites, good drinks, and a scene that's anything but subtle. It would be interesting to experience this place at night where things seem to really pick up! read more

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We had a friend recommend this restaurant and we had such a delicious and satisfying lunch meal. Our friend said to eat the octopus. It was cooked perfectly and delicious!! We also had the chorizo queso fondido. It too was flavorful. I am a guacamole snob. This was great with extra lime flavor. We ended the meal with churros and ice cream. A wonderful sundae. Our server was highly attentive. Ambiance is casual dining. The decor led me to think that at night the place is hopping. read more

Went to have a drink turned into few drinks with a friend. Great fun, festive with great vibe. Services are friendly and great from staff. I had their foods from their other location and it was wonderful and delish. But this is just drinks for us. We had a great time here. read more

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The food was great! My friends and I was satisfied with our orders. Our drinks were just as good. I ordered a agua chili sushi and wow it was very delicious . read more

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* Who: partner & I * What: post-concert dinner * When: late Friday night * Why: randomly chosen due late hours/nearby home * Space/Decor: parking is shared with other stores in a small plaza but no issues parking when we went. The inside is spacious, modern via decor, with plenty of seating available; there's also a patio area. The color scheme is on the darker side, with the walls being covered with graffiti art & neon signs, & the bar area has TVs. * Service: standard. We were seated immediately. The waitress was nice & knowledgeable about the menu. Given how empty it was (granted this was like 11pm) with like 4-5 other couples, service could've been a little quicker or attentive. They also had a staff member going around offering to take photos. * Food: good with decent flavor. Given how late it was, we more so snacked. We ordered fries, ceviche, the pork belly appetizer, & tacos (unable to recall which type). The fries were crispy, the ceviche was pretty fresh, the pork belly was fatty/yum though a little dry, & the tacos were ok. * Final Thoughts: a cute, chic Mexican restaurant with decent food/portions & price, that's styled/decorated like many semi-new places where it creates a vibe & can be photo friendly, especially at night. * Final Grade: B+ or 8/10 read more

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Came here for lunch to meet up with a friend. The colors are vibrant and colorful. There were a lot of tables available and not busy, which was great because we didn't have to wait. There was a pretty nice lady and the food was good. I only got some tacos. It was my birthday and they brought out this amazing dessert. It was the most delicious thing I had in awhile. It was a churro car with ice cream and sauces. Might come back one day for the dessert hahah read more

Tempo Cantina - New American Near Me - Brea, California

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Super good food and great hospitality all the way around. The pork chop and salmon were excellent, and even the hamburger was filling and hit the spot. I'm giving this place a solid 100%. I'll definitely be back -- if you're in Brea, come on down and check it out! read more

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Service was good. Ambience is very floral, eclectic, but low lighting. The menu has super small font, difficult to read with lighting. It wasn't edited, several grammatical and spelling errors. Food wasn't terrible, yet it wasn't as good as I was hoping for since the place has been around for so long. It isn't a traditional Mexican menu, not what I was expecting; lots of fusion options and sauces and items that I am particularly fond of, however someone with a different palate may be. The chips and walk came with things on it. I think they were chunks of cheese, but I'm not sure what kind and they were not very good. It was very bland no salt. read more

Tempo Cantina - New American Near Me - Brea, California

Tempo Cantina has a great vibe, but Vanessa and her team are what really make this place special! From the moment we walked in, we were greeted with so much energy. Vanessa was super enthusiastic and welcoming throughout our entire meal. It's rare to find an operating team that is this consistently accommodating and friendly from start to finish. The food was excellent, but the hospitality is what truly stands out. It makes such a difference when the staff clearly loves what they do. I will definitely be coming back here again soon. P.s. Vanessa, looking forward to that hot sauce on my next visit :) read more

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Super cute trendy mexican spot. They have a variety of food options as well as a bar! Our bartender was funny, fast and friendly! We stopped by for a quick drink and I ordered a Shirley Temple which was good! My mom ordered the Guayaba blended margarita and it was super tasty!! Definitely recommend that one. I hope to be back soon to give the food a try! read more

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Still four stars out of respect for Mr. Tempo. But, this recent time we came to Tempo it was a bit disappointing. Been here several times (despite the distance from the casa). We've also been to King and Queen down in San Diego as well as the Anaheim Hills location before it closed. We also know what we loved about all. Was missing this last time. Service was still solid, but the food and vibe were different. The interior was "Kalaveras"-like if you're familiar with that joint. The food took a step down for whatever reason. I don't know if the expansive menu and fusion thing watered down the whole thing. The surf and turf tacos were nowhere near Tempo quality. Same with the Ensenada style fish tacos. Diet coke came served in a plastic lidded cup. The tacos weren't bad. Just not at the level of past visits. We came on a Sunday and it was pretty low population inside. Again, Mr. Tempo has our loyalty. Maybe it was just a day when things weren't humming. read more

Tempo Cantina - Table full - New American Near Me - Brea, California

I just love the vibe at Tempo! It's got a hipster kind of vibe, crossed with sugar schools and reminiscent of a nightclub lol The bright colors and skulls are fun. The music was nice too, and it wasn't too loud. I also enjoy the booths- they are comfortable! The food was alright. It didn't blow my socks off or anything, but it was edible. I ordered Fresh Berry Salad with salmon. The salmon was very dry. The salad was lackluster. I won't order that again. I did like the rice and beans. Those tasted good and were filing. I like the guacamole; it is very fresh tasting. I don't like the spice on the chips though. I can't handle anything spicy and even that little sprinkle was too much for me lol My husband got the surf and turf burrito and struggled to eat it, because of how it was cut lol The inside of the burrito kept falling out lol He said the burrito tasted okay, but he was a little disappointed with the messiness of trying to eat it. Service was really good. We got our drinks and food very fast. Our server came by and checked on us often. My drink was always full. Great service. 10/10 read more

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Came here for taco Tuesday and loved the al pastor taco! They even had happy hour all day until 6pm on Tuesday which was awesome! Lots of different deals on food and drinks, which was exactly what we were looking for! Our server was so sweet. Definitely loved the vibe on the inside as well. read more

Tempo Cantina - Taco Tuesday - New American Near Me - Brea, California

Celebrated Graduation with a group of about 7. The staff was excellent, the food was really good and the vibe was great! Will definitely be back again! read more

Tempo Cantina - New American Near Me - Brea, California

Went with a work friend and he had been here but I had not. I ordered the fish tacos with rice and beans and a watermelon agua fresca. My friend got the birria tacos with rice and beans. We both thought that our tacos were delicious. They came to us hot and ready to eat, and my agua fresca was fresh and delicious. I would recommend this place, it has a fun vibe with graffiti all over the restaurant, and the servers are kind and professional. I want to go again and try something else soon! read more

I can't speak for dinner but we came for Sunday brunch for a birthday. Food is mid. Nothing special. We ordered: 1. Nutella pancakes - super basic. A few pieces of strawberry and banana. Nutella spread on top of the 3 stack pancakes. The pancakes were too spongey. The steak knife could barely cut through them. I'm not exaggerating. It should not be that difficult to cut a pancake. But there was nothing fantastic about this $14 dish. 2. Nachos with asada. Very basic, the asada didn't taste freshly cooked. Not worth $20. 3. The chips and guac - we had to pay to have more chips because they didn't give us enough chips for the chips and guac. Make that make sense. 4. Tres leches pancakes -- looked more fun than the Nutella but it was way too milky. For the cost to eat out these days, the food needs to be worth it. I wouldn't come here again for brunch and I wouldn't recommend to anyone for brunch. They need to have better options on the menu as well because we came at 1pm and it was still the breakfast menu and we thought it was going to be a lunch menu. The good that I can speak on was our waitress was nice. read more

Never sit outside in the patio the waitress will forget you are there even after trying to wave them down, after 25 mins of sitting there just when we were about to get up and leave a waitress brought us two shots of tequila she said these are on the house, but by then my husband was already upset and we got up and left‍ read more

I went here with some friends for dinner. We were seated inside, and it was so loud, so we asked to be moved, and they moved us to the patio. It was so much better. There was a birthday celebration going on out there, but it was still quieter than inside. We ordered a gardez margarita, michelada, and some sort of mule( I forgot the name). Highly recommend the gardez margarita. It's my go-to at this restaurant. My friends liked the michelada while the mule was sooooo strong ... all we could taste was the alcohol. No to the mule. For food .... We ordered chips with salsa and guacamole. Guacamole was a little too salty. I felt it needed more lime. We also ordered the Korean bbq tacos, bone marrow tacos, and grilled octopus. Omg all these were delish. All flavorful. The Korean bbq meat was tender. I love bone marrow so these were delish! I could eat these by themselves without putting them in the tortillas that came with them. The grilled octopus was soooo good. It was tender. I love octopus so anytime it's on the menu I will order it. It was a fun night with good food. I highly recommend patio seating if you want to hear what is being said. Inside I feel you would have to yell at each other to converse. It is also dark inside. read more

Tempo Cantina - Drinks - New American Near Me - Brea, California

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As we arrived, we were quickly seated, despite the restaurant being somewhat busy. Our waiter, though I regret I didn't catch his name, was a young man with a slim build and a charming smile. On this occasion, he was serving near the back of the restaurant, wearing a red baseball cap. We started with a blended strawberry margarita, which was wonderfully refreshing and perfectly balanced--not overly sweet. We also ordered a non-alcoholic drink for variety. For our meal, I chose the Birria queso fondido, while we also enjoyed some chicharrones and later added the quesabirria with fries. Overall, the service was exceptional, and our waiter had a delightful sense of humor. I've visited this establishment before, but in its Downey location. read more

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First time trying Tempo Cantina and never knew it was here. This is what I would call a Mexican Japanese fusion restaurant since they offer both Mexican fare and sushi. Hostess and server were very friendly. They no longer offer lunch menu options but they do have a happy hour menu with some good choices. I ordered the Los 3 animales tacos from the happy hour menu with chicken Tinga, asada and Korean pork belly. A nice sampler plate for a first timer. All were delicious! You do have to pay for some chips and salsa. My friend ordered the three enchilada plate also from the happy hour menu which she said was very good. We will definitely be back for more! read more

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Went here for brunch with one of my friends for the first time! I made a reservation, but there was plenty of seating when we arrived. There were a lot of options for brunch! We both ordered the chilaquiles! I ordered the chicken, and my friend ordered the birria. The portion was huge! We really enjoyed our plates. Unfortunately, the chips for really soggy fast and we both resorted to just finishing all the meat. When we finished and they took away our food, the manager came up to us and asked if we didn't like the chilaquiles. We felt embarrassed, but we didn't want to take home the soggy chips. Would definitely recommend sharing with someone because the portion is big! read more

An amazing experience here at Tempo Cantina . a lot of options for vegetarian Thank you avanessa and grecia for the amazing customer service. Tuna Tostada was delicious!! read more

Tempo Cantina - tuna tostada - New American Near Me - Brea, California

Came here for a brunch recently and this place is such a vibe, nice music, good drinks and the service is good. Food could've used a little more seasoning but it wasn't anything that couldn't be fixed with table salt. Definitely worth trying it! read more

Came here during brunch but ordered from the main menu. Wasn't too busy but that's a plus. As people came in, it got more crowded and loud. Great friendly service. And the food was amaaaaaazing. I had the bone marrow taco. The bone marrow was rich and the asada was tender. Great flavors! My friends loved their tacos as well. Don't expect street taco prices. read more

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I've been coming to tempo for a long time. I just looked and I haven't written a review since 2016 so i thought it was time. Tempo always has good quality food and a good upbeat atmosphere. I love the Edison bulbs that they have hanging throughout the restaurant. They have really good tacos too. I enjoy the service as well. They always refill your drinks and make sure you have everything you need. I can definitely recommend checking out Tempo. They are a great establishment. read more

This place totally surprised us in the best way! My friends and I were starving and had no idea where to go, some didn't want In-N-Out, others were over Olive Garden, so we found this place which was opened and assumed it was just a bar, not a food spot. We were so wrong. The food was not just good, it was better than good. Everything was plated beautifully, tasted incredible, and you could tell they actually cared about making it right. I got the surf and turf burrito and WOW. I didn't expect much, but it blew me away. They didn't skimp on any ingredients, the salsa had real flavor, and every bite hit. Service was great too, they accidentally spilt a drink on my friend and were super apologetic and kind about it. Honestly, the food was so good we didn't even care, that's how you know it was fire. The place itself has a cool club vibe with neon lights and modern decor, and it's open late, which is a huge plus. I'm 100% coming back here and already telling more friends about it. If you're thinking it's "just a bar," trust me, give it a shot, it'll change your mind. read more

Tempo Cantina - New American Near Me - Brea, California

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"I cannot thank Vanessa! enough for the outstanding service! She went above and beyond to make sure we always have a drink. Truly, the best service I have ever received--5 stars!" read more

Tempo Cantina - Maldita cruda - New American Near Me - Brea, California

Service was nice, food was pretty decent. The concept of mexican asian fusion is very fun! We got the korean tacos, birria tacos, and aguachilito roll. The restaurant is very dark with neon and black lights, more of a sports bar vibe. Table salsa and chips were tasty! Roach in the sink :/ read more

Tempo Cantina - bathroom roach in the sink - New American Near Me - Brea, California

I come here several times a year. Good foods, good vibes, good services. Nothing to complain about. Much better than the new place in downtown Brea. read more

I was very disappointed by a petite woman with long blonde hair, who appeared to be the manager. She was rude and condescending to the host in front of customers. Her behavior created an uncomfortable atmosphere and was completely unprofessional. On the positive side, our server Cindy was amazing, attentive, friendly, and professional, and the food was fantastic. She made our visit enjoyable despite the negative interaction we witnessed. I hope management addresses this issue, as employees deserve respect and customers deserve a comfortable dining experience. read more

We went for a group dinner and just needed a central location. We were there on a Tuesday and I wasn't a fan of pretty much anything. We were moved into a table that seemed to be in a walkway. Our service was scarce and had to ask repeatedly to just have our drinks we had ordered awhile back delivered to the table. The food was mediocre and small portioned. read more

Holy Guacamole!! This was the best Sunday Funday ever! Bacardi sponsored and everything for our 1st visit. We couldn't believe the fun this place was and how it was decorated and vibes to the highest. I mean good food and sponsored drinks hit the ultimate spot. They also gave all the people goodies which were sunglasses, bags and fancy fans, cups, shot glasses... we got it!! David the manager and the entire staff was just on point to make this restaurant super exciting. We ordered mango margaritas and then the shot plate. It had 5 delicious shots. I must say they were strong and very tasty. The burrito was bomb. I ordered enchiladas and they were the best I ever had. Just enough spicy to call it perfect. We will definitely be back for the new location coming in a few weeks. Thank you again David for the great food, drinks and service!! read more

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Parking: dedicated lot. Lots of spaces at 12 PM on a Wednesday. Service: took a little bit of time to get seated, but once at the table, Ariatna (please, excuse misspelling) was fantastic. She made great recommendations and was very friendly. Food and drinks: came out very quickly which I loved. Everything was delicious, and I recommend the pork belly bites, which were crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. They came with 2 delicious sauces. For parents: decently loud inside, so I felt less self conscious about my babbling baby. Can be overly stimulating for some babies, but I think the visuals (e.g., neon lights and multiple TVs) kept my baby entertained, so I liked it. This place is well deserving of the good reviews. read more

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