Cinco de Mayo 2013

2013

If you know of a Mexican restaurant in Orange County that is holding a Cinco de Mayo event (it's even okay if you work for that restaurant) please forward the information to me by leaving a comment here or e-mailing me at reviews@ocmexfood.com.

Sol Cocina

On Sunday, May 5th, we welcome all fun-loving local foodies and margarita connoisseurs to celebrate Cinco at SOL.

To help make it a party, we will offer drink specials all day and live music beginning at noon! And, of course, our legendary Sunday Brunch will be served 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

It will be slightly more sophisticated than your typical tequila-slinging, beer-guzzling party that Orange County has come to know as Cinco de Mayo - but we can't promise that some tequila-slinging won't take place.

Our waterfront location on the Balboa Marina sets the stage for those who wish to celebrate with a few cocktails and delicious brunch beginning at 10 a.m. -- of course, the celebration will continue into the night with SOL's eclectic twist on traditional Mexican cuisine offered along with cocktails and beers!

Cinco @ SOL is less than two weeks away, so make your reservations now by calling 949-675-9800.

El Corazon de Costa Mesa

Official Site

El Torito Grill

Matador Cantina

Wild Goose Tavern

Cha Cha's Tacos and Tequila

Coyote Grill

Coyote Grill is also featured at a special OC Weekly Cinco de Mayo event.

Mi Casa (Costa Mesa & Rancho Santa Margarita)

Our Mi Casa Coverage

Clancy's Clubhouse

Review at OC Menus

The Heat Ultra Lounge

Click either image to see it bigger.

Fred's Mexican Cafe

Cantina Lounge

Our Cantina Lounge Review

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IMPORTANT NOTE: All the information below is from prior years. When we get info from a restaurant for the current year then we erase their information down below and put the updated info at the top of this entry. We keep the old information because quite often a restaurant will have similar parties/deals in subsequent years.

2012

Taco Rosa

Tortilla Jo's

Tortilla Jo's even has salsa dancing lessons:

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More info at The Orange County Register's OC Latino Link and a 2011 slideshow here of restaurant recommendations by Nancy Luna, Jeff Overley and Paul Hodgkins.

El Pollo Loco info here.

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Neveria La Flor de Mexico

Neveria La Flor de Mexico 7151 Katella Ave Stanton, CA 90680 (714) 761-2813 Listing on Voice Places Listing on dishtip Facebook Page

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With a staggering 4.5 star rating on Yelp family-owned and run Neveria La Flor de Mexico in Stanton churns out great Mexican and American ice creams for hot summer days and all those other nearly-hot days here in Orange County and even a few of the cold ones. So far from there I have had a scoop of guanavana (not to be confused with guava or guayaba, guanavana is the Spanish name for the soursop fruit, which supposedly has cancer-preventing and curing qualities), a tall plastic cup of strawberries and cream, and a scoop in a waffle cone of rocky road. Not liking rocky road with almonds I really appreciated the fact that this place serves it with peanuts. I've been looking for rocky road w/ peanuts for years. Now I have found it. And whenever I'm there next and will be heading straight home afterwards I'll be stocking up on several of their paletas (see mention at OC Weekly's Stick A Fork In It) to fill my freezer with. One of my brothers went with me on my second trip and enjoyed the sweet potato ice cream he got. They also have other unique flavors such as grosella (gooseberry), hibiscus, passion fruit, prickly pear and more. Oh, and they have a sign up sometimes saying that they also sell tamales. In an almost hidden little shopping center La Flor de Mexico is worth seeking out. After one visit you'll be recommending to all your friends and family.

Sweet Potato Ice Cream

Rocky Road w/ Peanuts

View the complete photo album (13 photos so far) on flickr.

Miguel's Jr.

Miguel's Jr. 141 E 17th St Costa Mesa, CA 92627 (949) 646-2049 Listing on Rely Local Listing on TripAdvisor Official Site • Facebook Page

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Shortly after this blog started James submitted a review of a place in Corona called Miguel's Jr. I wondered then if a Miguel's Jr. would ever open up in Orange County. A little over five years later that time came. Miguel's Jr. opened up in the Newport Mesa area in November 2011. James and his wife made it to the opening night. I made it a few months later for several visits (including one with them) and took numerous pictures. Here are some of them and if you click on any of them it will take you to the complete flickr photo album. Everything is made fresh at Miguel's, so fresh in fact that they don't even have a freezer on the premises.

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And here is James' prior review (from March 12, 2006) of the Miguel's Jr. in Corona:

Miguel's Jr. Menu

On Friday, March 10, 2006 at 8:45pm I went to the Miguel's Jr. on Compton Ave. in Corona, CA. Of course this is NOT in Orange County, however since many OC dwellers pass through Corona, and since Miguel's Jr. is not in Orange County yet, I thought it would be a good place to review.

I usually get the "Famous Garbage Burrito" when I go to Miguel's Jr. -bad name for a good burrito. This time I got the combination plate #10 (Enchilada & Taco) I got chicken instead of beef in the taco. The taco came separately from the plate and was one of the best tacos I've had. It was not too crunchy, but not too soft either, and the chicken was great.

I like the salsas at Miguel Jr. -both the famous salsa (red and medium spicy) and the chile de arbol (yellow and milder). They are both unique and tasty. Since the drive thru at the Compton Ave. location is open til midnight on Friday and Saturday now, and is next to the 15 freeway, you can stop on your way back from (or to) the desert or river or whatever and get food.

Thanks, James.