THE BEST MEXICAN RESTAURANTS IN ORANGE COUNTY
Wondering where the best Mexican Restaurants in Orange County are located? Well, we’ve taken the guesswork out of it for you! And we’ve even included some that are having a Cinco De Mayo Celebration on May 5th. Located below you will find a list of local Orange County Mexican Restaurants, and we hope there is one near you. If you have a favorite and it’s not listed, please let us know and we will add it. And if you happen to go to one of the best Orange County Mexican restaurants based on our list, please let them know you saw them on My Local OC. We don’t receive any compensation for this list, nor do we expect to, but a ”shout out” would be great. It’s just one more way that we @ My Local OC serve those who live, work and play in Orange County. “See You Around the OC!”
A BRIEF HISTORY OF CINCO DE MAYO
The first American Cinco de Mayo celebrations date back to the 1860s. A common misconception is that Cinco de Mayo is Mexican Independence Day. However, it is not. May 5, 1862, is the day that Mexico defeated the French at Puebla in California.
The French landed in California and intended to set up a monarchy in Mexico, and then that monarchy was intended to become an ally with the slave states during the American Civil War; of which the United States was deeply embroiled.
Napoleon III the emperor of France at the time, had already selected Maximilian of Austria to be Emperor of California. The Latinos of California, which was still part of Mexico but had been deemed a “free territory” since 1810, were not going to allow that to happen.
The amazing stand-off of the Californios (the name for California’s residents during that time) against the powerful French is truly a shining example of brave citizens standing up for their civil rights. And while we know that Cinco De Mayo is a fun day for celebration, let’s remember to raise a beer, or a margarita, or whatever your pleasure to our California predecessors who were courageous and strong and fought for all of us, the current Californians. Happy Cinco De Mayo from the Team @ My Local OC.
THE BEST MEXICAN RESTAURANTS IN ORANGE COUNTY
Anaheim Bumba Gump Shrimp (714) 635-486 7321 W Katella Ave, Suite 101 Website
Anaheim Mi Casa Mexicana 714.971.0111 630 W. Orangewood Ave. Website
Anaheim Hills El Cholo Celebrating Centennial! 714.769.6269 8200 E. Santa Ana Canyon Website
Brea El Torito 714.990.2411 555 Pointe Drive Website
Brea Cabo Grill & Cantina 714.529.2540 301 N. Brea Blvd. Website
Buena Park La Huasteca 714.670.6621 6940 Beach Blvd. Website
Corona Del Mar El Cholo Celebrating Centennial! 949.777.6137 3520 E. Coast Hwy. Website
Corona Del Mar Avila’s El Ranchito 949.644.8226 2515 E. Coast Hwy. Website
Costa Mesa Playa Mesa 949.287.529 2428 E 17th St. Website
Costa Mesa Habana 714.556.0176 2930 Bristol Street Website
Costa Mesa El Matador 949.645.0324 1768 Newport Blvd. Website
Costa Mesa Avila’s El Ranchito 949.642.1142 2101 Placentia Ave. Website
Costa Mesa La Cave Steakhouse & Bar 949.646.7944 1695 Irvine Ave. Website
Costa Mesa Descanso Mexican Restaurant 714.486.3798 1555 Adams Ave. Suite 103 Website
Cypress El Torito 714.761.8155 5995 Katella Website
Cypress Chili’s Bar & Grill 714.229.0478 10643 Valley View St. Website
Dana Point Olamendi’s Mexican Restaurant & Organic Tequilla 949.6611005 34660 Pacific Coast Hwy. Website
Dana Point Lupe’s Mexican Eatery 949.558.5430 33621 Del Obispo Website
Foothill Ranch Avila’s El Ranchito 949.4521721 26771 Portola Website
Fullerton Super Mex 714.992.2624 250 West Champman Website
Garden Grove Sabrosa! Mexican Grill 657.427.6317 13129 Harbor Blvd. Website
Huntington Beach Ola Mexican Kitchen 714-969-7300 21040 Pacific Coast Hwy F200 Website
Huntington Beach Las Barcas Gourmet Mexican Food 714.536.2616 21032 Beach Blvd. Website
Huntington Beach Avila’s El Ranchito 714.960.9696 318 Main Street Website
Huntington Beach Lupe’s Mexican Eatery 714.892.7252 14961 Springdale St. Website
Huntington Beach Super Mex 714.964.1828 19684 Beach Blvd. Website
Irvine SOL Mexican Cocina 949.975.1220 1910 Main St. Website
Irvine Habana 949.419.0100 708 Spectrum Center Dr. Website
La Habra El Cholo Celebrating Centennial! 562.691.4618 840 E. Whittier Blvd. Website
Laguna Beach Avila’s El Ranchito 949.376.7040 1305 S. Coast Hwy Website
Laguna Niguel Calo Kitchen & Tequilla (949) 409-7380 28141 Crown Vly Pkwy Website
Lake Forest Avila’s El Ranchito 949.855.4989 24406 Muirlands Blvd. Website
Mission Viejo El Torito 949.951.9137 24301 Avenida De La Carlota Website
Newport Beach A Restaurant 949.650.6505 3400 West Cst. Hwy Website
Newport Beach Cabo Cantina 949.675.7760 100 Main St. Website
Orange El Mariachi Bar & Grill 714.602.9914 650 N. Tustin Website
Orange Gabbi’s Mexican Kitchen 714.633.3035 141 S. Glassell Website
Orange La Casita OC 714.602.9444 209 E. Lincoln Website
Rancho Santa Margarita Carmelita’s Kitchen 949.709.7600 31441 Santa Margarita Blvd. Website
San Clemente Asada Cantina & Kitchen 949.561.1200 225 W. Avenida Vista Hermosa Website
San Clemente Sol Agave 949.312.2210 111 Avenida Del Mar Website
San Juan Capistrano Sol Agave 949.218.1158 31111 Rancho Viejo Rd. Website
San Juan Capistrano Ricardo’s 949.493.4941 32082 Camino Capistrano Website
San Juan Capistrano El Adobe 949.493.1163 31891 Camino Capistrano Website
Stanton Dos Amigos 714.636.5907 8546 Champman Ave. Website
Trabuco Canyon Rose Canyon Cantina 949.766.6939 20722 Rose Canyon Road Website
Villa Park The Post 714.921.0622 17855 Santiago Blvd. No website listed
CINCO DE MAYO EVENTS 2022
The Playa Mesa – Costa Mesa, Various Vendors during open hours
El Torito – Brea, Cypress – Live Mariachi music, special on margaritas
Dos Amigo – Stanton – DJ & Dancing – 6 -11 Food & Drinks – 10:30 am -11
El Mariachi – Orange – Live Mariachi Band 8:30 – 10
Written by: Patricia Braun
Research: Georgia Bradley
****While we try our best to be accurate, we are not responsible for errors and/or omissions.
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