Diners' Choice: Contemporary Mexican restaurants in Orange County

OpenTable

Updated December 05, 2024

Looking for restaurants with the best overall Contemporary Mexican cuisine in Orange County? You’re in the right place. Each month OpenTable analyzes more than 400,000 new diner reviews. We sort the results by category to help you discover new favorites. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Chaak KITCHEN

4.9

4.9 (2126)

$31 to $50

Contemporary Mexican

Tustin

About the restaurant

Discover CHAAK, nestled in the heart of Old Towne Tustin. A culinary gem honored with a 2024 Michelin Bib. Inspired by Executive Chef Gabbi Patrick’s Yucatecan roots, CHAAK features Mayan staples of pibil, recados, seafood, smoke, and exotic spices combined with her signature modern flare. The Yucatan peninsula's influence sets it apart, with Spanish, Caribbean, and Mediterranean influences, dense tropical climate, and deep Mayan culture roots.

Indulge in our signature dishes, like the Ceviche Campeche, Cochinita Pibil, Parrillada, & Branzino. Our menu boasts culinary delights like panuchos, salbutes, empanadas, pork belly tacos, enchiladas, almejas, tamal, bombas and much more. CHAAK is open for Dinner, lunch & brunch. Enjoy our full service craft bar, where expertly crafted cocktails and specially curated wines compliment the culinarily journey of CHAAK. We accept reservations for large parties and have buyout options available.

Experience the spirit of the Yucatan at CHAAK.

Top review

Mark

Dined on Dec 12, 2024

Great eats, lots of variety, very noisy, good service

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Popular dish

Makkum Whole Branzino

4.6

4.6 (1774)

$31 to $50

Contemporary Mexican

Irvine

About the restaurant

Owned and operated by a Mexican American family whose best memories all include tacos, Puesto is an award-winning Mexican Artisan Kitchen & Bar providing an innovative approach to authentic Mexican flavors. Puesto has garnered national acclaim for its Mexico City-style crispy melted cheese tacos, served on handmade non-GMO, organic, maíz azul stone-ground tortillas. In addition to tacos, offerings include a selection of fresh catch ceviches, guacamoles, starters and ensaladas, courtesy of Chef/Partner Luisteen Gonzales. The bar program showcases the best of Mexico City through the use of fresh ingredients in our hand crafted cocktails and housemade Micheladas, tequilas, mezcals, Baja craft beers, and Valle de Guadalupe wines you can’t find elsewhere We’re honored to have been featured by media outlets nationally and internationally, some of which include National Geographic, Huffington Post, Refinery 29, MSN, Insider, Zagat, Eater, Food and Wine, and LA Times.

Top review

Armando

Dined 1 day ago

Puesto is the best. The food is very, very good in my opinion. The drinks are also very, very good. My girlfriend and I normally go to the one in Anaheim, but wanted to go to the Irvine Spectrum and decided to go to this location instead of trying Chaak Kitchen, because you can never go wrong with Puesto! The food was great, the ceviche was flavorful, the enchiladas suizas were great as well. The server was polite and very kind, just a little forgetful. We ordered the ceviche and esquite as appetizers, then a watermelon margarita and a holiday champagne ponche (which my gf was excited to try but they did not end up being able to make so we switched it to a passion fruit mule) and both drinks were great as well! However, our server forgot to ring in the esquite because we received the ceviche and then the enchiladas but had to ask for the esquite. The drinks took about 10 minutes to hit the table. When we asked about the esquite we asked for limes, as the Puesto in Anaheim gives out limes with their enchiladas and here they didn’t but not a big deal we can just ask for some. Well the esquite eventually came out but the limes never did asks I just tried to squeeze as much out of the lime wheel from the watermelon margarita onto my gf’s enchiladas (lol). Regardless of the hiccups, the food and drinks were great, the patio is super nice, and even though there were little details missing, our server at the end of the day was very polite and kind. Working in the industry I understand these things sometimes unintentionally happen and it’s ok, I will continue eating at Puesto, in my opinion the food is worth the price and everyone there has always been very nice.

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Experience

Taco Tuesday!

Santo Remedio Mexican Resto-Bar

4.6

4.6 (106)

$30 and under

Contemporary Mexican

Orange

About the restaurant

BE PART OF THE BEST DINNING EXPERIENCE!
Santo Remedio is a Mexican Gallery Boutique Style Restaurant that highlights the best of Mexico.

DISCOVER THE BEST AUTHENTIC MEXICAN TACO TUESDAY EXPERIENCE
IN ORANGE COUNTY, VARIETY OF MEATS GRILL CHARBROILED & FRESH HAND MADE TORTILLAS (5-10PM)

Please contact with any questions or concerns to 714.941.6100

Top review

Erika

Dined on Dec 7, 2024

Having my birthday brunch with bottomless mimosas services and atmosphere was great!!! All my girls and I really enjoyed ourselves.

Tempo Cantina - Brea

4.5

4.5 (1395)

$30 and under

Contemporary Mexican

Brea / La Habra

About the restaurant

*WALK-INS ALWAYS WELCOME*

Tempo Cantina brings Latin flavor to Orange County and Los Angeles from creative founder and owner MR.TEMPO.
Come for the atmosphere, but stay for the food. You will find all of your favorite Latin dishes infused with Asian flavors. Join us Happy Hour everyday, Weekend Brunch or Taco Tuesday for a dining experience like you’ve never experienced before!

Top review

carlaVIP

Dined on Dec 7, 2024

I frequently visit the Downey location, but had not been to Brea. I found the same wonderful service delicious food and warm welcome.

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Popular dish

Birria Tacos

URBANA

4.7

4.7 (412)

$30 and under

Contemporary Mexican

Anaheim

About the restaurant

Influenced by the authentic offerings of Mexico, URBANA brings an innovative fine dining experience to the Anaheim Packing House. Amazing Handcrafted Cocktails are a compliment to the menu. Gourmet Tacos with robust flavors, Fresh Ceviche's and other plates with traditional flavors are available to enjoy in Urbana's beautiful setting.

*In order for all guests to enjoy the URBANA experience, we enforce a 90minute maximum time seating policy on weekend nights and special events. We are only accepting Credit Card Payments, NO CASH*

Top review

TierneyVIP

Dined on Dec 7, 2024

It makes for an uncomfortable experience when there is a rush to grab the dishes from one’s seating especially when the other guest has not finished their meal. It was not busy so it’s not like the table needed to be turned over.

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Popular dish

Lobster

Tempo Cantina - Anaheim Hills

4.8

4.8 (715)

$30 and under

Contemporary Mexican

Anaheim Hills

About the restaurant

Top review

La Keacsh

Dined on Oct 26, 2024

Great experience Still haven’t received the pictures I took , was supposed to send me the originals by text or email , after I purchased the ones in the glass frames

RED O Taste of Mexico - Newport Beach

4.5

4.5 (5387)

$31 to $50

Contemporary Mexican

Newport Beach

About the restaurant

Dining at RED O is an experience like no other that offers a unique combination of Prime Steak and Seafood with Rick Bayless’ signature Mexican inspired influences. With sustainably sourced and local ingredients, RED O creates flavorful dishes true to the authentic flavors of Mexico. RED O’s team of friendly employees creates a welcoming atmosphere that parallels the luxury resort interior of the restaurant. RED O also features an impressive bar and lounge where you’ll find specialty cocktails, an extensive tequila list and an award winning wine list. The bar also offers Happy Hour from 3-6 p.m. daily and Late Night Happy Hour from 10-12am Tuesday-Saturday.

Top review

Laura

Dined 4 days ago

Staff was excellent! Very accommodating and polite. They were on the ball! Especially JC

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4.3

4.3 (242)

$31 to $50

Contemporary Mexican

San Clemente

About the restaurant

With a moody Mexico City vibe & modern dining room, Gema has an intimate neighborhood feel & buzzy bar scene. Our scratch-made kitchen highlights the finest Mexican ingredients & the countries staples of corn, chiles & regional cheeses .Our craft cocktail program changes with the season & features house-made syrups & fresh daily juiced citrus. Our bar hosts over 100 bottles of Mexico's finest small batch Mezcals which can be enjoyed in a flight or purchased by bottle and housed for your convenience inour Mezcal Liabrary. Our wines are brought in from Valle de Guadaulape and offer an amazing taste into the emerging Baja wine region. Gema celebrates the vast & sophisticated cuisine of Mexico, its people & its culture. We are proud to serve authentic Mexican cuisine that moves beyond the stereotypical bean and rice culture often associatedwith Mexican eateries. We hope you join us at Gema to experience the true palate of Mexican dining.

Top review

Matteo Romano

Dined on Dec 8, 2024

Incredible food made by scratch. The flavors and textures of the food were so unique and so delicious! Cocktails and wine all from Mexico. Entire staff is so passionate about the food!

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4.5

4.5 (138)

$31 to $50

Contemporary Mexican

Mission Viejo / Rancho Santa Margarita

About the restaurant

Hacienda on the Lake offers festive Mexican cuisine in a casual, comfortable atmosphere. With its location right on Lake Mission Viejo, it has spectacular views that can be enjoyed from the outdoor seating area and an extensive menu that features appetizers, soups, salads, seafood, grilled entrees and chef specials.

Cinco De Mayo, Mothers Day and Fathers Day we only offer a Limited Menu.

Catering services make it easy and convenient to plan business functions, birthday parties or other special occasions.

Top review

Kim

Dined on Dec 8, 2024

Great table by the water watching the boat parade!

Hector's on the Circle

4.1

4.1 (83)

$30 and under

Contemporary Mexican

Orange

About the restaurant

Mexican Kitchen Kitchen Seafood + Bar
The only mexican Restaurant in the Orange Circle (Plaza) than offers Mexican Food plus exclusively serving Molcajetes, Lomo Saltado, Seafood & Ribeye Steakes. Breakfast Lunch and Dinner with capacity for groups up to 50+ customers.

Top review

Shawntel

Dined on Oct 18, 2024

The service and the food were amazing!! I will definitely be coming back!

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Experience

Hectors on the Circle Social Hour

Experience

Homemade dessert for you birthday!

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