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Acapulco Mexican Restaurant Y Cantina
Category: Restaurants Mexican Mexican [Edit]
750 Sampson WaySan Pedro, CA 90731
Neighborhood: San Pedro
(310) 548-6800
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 11 am - 10:30 pm
Fri-Sat 11 am - 11 pm
Sun 10 am - 10:30 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
60 reviews for Acapulco Mexican Restaurant Y Cantina
Review Highlights
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"And happy hour on Monday is off the chain." In 9 reviews -
"Food was great and fairly inexpensive." In 2 reviews -
"...is good, especially the omelets, tacos, and waffles (sooooo..." In 8 reviews
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60 reviews in English
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Review from Tammy G.
Huntington Beach, CA
11/28/2011 1 photo
I love the location at the waterfront. It is always nice to walk around after dinner, or watch the ships and yachts as you dine.
This is a kid friendly, group friendly place with decent food - nothing I crave or would write home about - but decent, and worth a stop. I admit the location is my TOP reason for choosing this place. I came more often when I lived in San Pedro a few years ago, for sure.
You can come for late night drinks with a view - make it a date night....or bring the whole gang, and there will be room. -
Review from Linda T.
11/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
I'm a fan, BUT....only for happy hour on MONDAYS and Sunday brunch. So 3 stars instead of 4.
Its hard to beat Margarita Monday, with their $2.50 margs. All day. Yes, you read correctly, all day. The view is kinda crappy, the waterfront view is of the lame harbor, but it is what it is, and if you're trying to impress someone, then don't come here. If you have a case of the Mondays and a wanna get buzzed for 10 bucks, this is your place.
This is a good place for large groups, but try to come together, if you come in little by little they are kinda hesitant to put tables together (reasonably so).
The brunch, is decent, they only give you about 1 glass of champagne, 2 if you're lucky. The food is good, especially the omelets, tacos, and waffles (sooooo good).
My complaint is that they try to fit in as many people as they can and it is a horrible situation when you are trying to get up and around to get your food at the buffet. I mean the tables are crowded where if you don't have a booth you are going to be getting bumped into often. I recommend you ask o be seated outside if its a nice day.
Also, I wait for the coupon that comes in the mail to make the brunch at $14.99, a reasonable price, I wouldn't pay the full price, which I think is $19.99.
BTW: don't get salt on your marg, I got a horrible case of food poisoning, when having margs, and I think it was from the wet sponge that is used to moisten the cup before you put salt in. I didn't take samples and analyze the strands of bacteria under a microscope, but linear logic would lead me to believe that the wet sitting all day at the bar would be breeding grounds for bacteria. So if you don't listen and you're sitting on a toilet barfing into a trash can, don't say I didn't warn you. -
Review from Asa J.
San Pedro, CA
5/5/2012
Combination plater for two great deal, margaritas need more tequila ,great location on the Los Angeles harbor
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Review from Kenwood G.
Kenwood, CA
Updated - 5/1/2012
This update is to compliment the new regional manager, Robert Fowler, for promptly responding to my complaint to the regional headquarters. Mr. Fowler was interested in the details of why the experince was bad, he really took his time. He sent my Mom a really nice personal letter along with some gift certificates.
We used the first of those at a sister restaurant - Torito Grill in Torrance - off the chain outstanding Food and Service. They accepted our Acapulco Certificates with grace. So I will write a separate review on their site.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/1/2012
Great waterfront location We've been going here for years. We were there March 31, 2012 . We… Read more »
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Review from Junior A.
Long Beach, CA
3/16/2012 2 Check-ins Here
Great location on the water. If it's a warm evening, sit out on the patio and watch the ships go by. Great fajitas!
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Review from Stuart S.
Harbor City, CA
1/16/2012
I will never ever never go here again. Simple bad management. I was there Sunday Jan 15 for the Sunday Brunch. While me and the lady were waiting for our table we overhead a customer complaining about no Champagne. I went up to the hostess and asked if the restaurant was out of Champagne? She said yes! The restaurant ran out of Champagne for the Sunday Brunch!! She said it will still be the same price and they are not substituting anything to cover the loss of the Champagne. I left and will never go back. 1st, they could have told me this when I was told it would be a 20-25 minute wait. 2nd, how can you charge the same price for a Sunday Champagne Brunch and offer no Champagne? Imagine yourself looking forward to a Nice Champagne brunch, you wait for a table 20-25 minutes and then when you are seated the waiter says they have no champagne. UNBELIEVABLE.
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Review from Elizabeth R.
Miami, FL
8/21/2011
FUN FRIENDLY SPOT FOR A GROUP. Acapulco made our group of 16 hungover party people feel right at home for lunch yesterday. They accommodated our request for a big table outside, and they handled all of our goofy antics with ease.
They kept the chips and salsa coming, they did a tasty table side guac for us to share, and they whipped up some pitchers of margaritas, no problem. I was really impressed by the level of service we received given that we were such a large group with really diverse tastes. We didn't all arrive or leave at the same time, which usually causes problems in a big group, but the pros at Acapulco handled us adroitly.
The food was pretty standard Mexican restaurant fare. What it might lack in authenticity, it makes up for in generous portions.
The patio seating was comfy. We really enjoyed being outdoors in the beautiful weather, and the view of the Port was fun. We saw tugboats and party cruises going by. Acapulco was just the right spot for our Saturday lunch.Listed in: A Party in San Pedro
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Review from Victor G.
San Pedro, CA
7/30/2011
Sippin' on a Margarita or a cold brewski watching the boats cruise in and out of the Port Of Los Angeles is the only reason I come here. The beer selection is limited and the Margaritas are OK.
The 1 star is based on the food. I grew up eating home cooked Mexican meals, so it's hard to like this stuff. Last time I ordered food here was probably 10 years ago. -
Review from Huero R.
San Pedro, CA
7/20/2011
Well Acapulco Mexican Restaurant Y Cantina, you did it. You earned the first ever 1 star rating given out by yours truly. Ya know, I really hate to do this, but this restaurant is consistently terrible.
The crowd - most nights this place looks like scene out of "American Me".
The view - if dilapidated boats and smokey container terminals are your idea of a pleasant view, you've probably spent most of your life working in a coal mine.
The food - cold soup, greasy tacos, chewy meat. They serve Mexican food for old white people that don't know any better.
The booze - How do you fuck up booze? Since, I'm not a woman or a fucking pansy, I've never tried their Margaritas. I don't drink mixed drinks but a friend of mine ordered a Tequila Sunrise and bitched about it the whole time, so apparently they can screw up booze.
Unless you're looking to get into a knife fight on Cinco De Mayo or you're being forced to eat their food as part of some local neighborhood gang initiation, avoid Acapulco Mexican Restaurant Y Cantina, es no bueno...Listed in: Places where you are most…
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Review from Ryan P.
Long Beach, CA
8/14/2011 4 Check-ins Here
Kids Eat Free Tuesdays!!! Need I say more...okay, you get a view of the San Pedro port, good food, and great service.
We dine outside to enjoy the weather and it's great during the hot summer nights! Plenty of parking and the bar is great for happy hours. -
Review from Lidia P.
San Pedro, Los Angeles, CA
2/12/2012
Great clean place! Go there often always great food And great service! However, it does get crazy during happy hour and on margarita Mondays!
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Review from Bill Q.
San Pedro, CA
2/13/2012
Great food, good prices, nice view, and one really excellent Margarita! One of our favorite hangouts in town.
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Review from Brandie A.
San Pedro, CA
12/31/2011
My favorite chain of mass market mexican food. This particular location has an incredible view from the outside terrace, a must if you eat here. The food unfortunately varies from time to time. They do not have a consistancy what-so-ever in that department. The staff has always been very friendly and our over all experience has been pleasant.
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Review from Kelly W.
Updated - 1/13/2011
YIKES...I have been here several more times since my last review and the service is just HORRIBLE! I've had several different servers and it's just an all around decline in service. I was there last night with a couple of friends for happy hour...and it took our waiter FOREVER to bring drinks to take our order and to bring our bill. I think we spent an additional 30 minutes longer there than we wanted to just waiting and waiting...and it wasn't even that busy!
The view is still nice and the appetizers are still a great deal for happy hour. I'll be back because of this...but come on...give good service or patrons will go elsewhere!Listed in: San Pedro's Jewels
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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5/12/2010
I came here yesterday with my co-workers for lunch and I was surprised to find that it wasn't very… Read more »
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Review from Gary M.
Montebello, CA
5/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
"LAST MINUTE, Hurry let's get a bite to eat before my cruise line takes off" is all I heard before I decided on taking a party of 15 to this location.
So we took three cabs from the boarding station and paid five bucks to go and five to come back, not bad if you average it. My cab arrived 5 min. after and my whole party was already sat in the patio with drinks, wow. The server was a bit overwhelmed because she couldn't handle our group and she would disappear for a while. I never received my dessert in my three course meal which I didn't mind because I was totally stuffed. Everyone else had pretty good service from what they admitted but it was family time so we heard no complaints.
There food was ok but nothing memorable so I will only give them 3 stars because it is pretty pricey for Mexican food. -
Review from Emma K.
Los Angeles, CA
4/7/2011
Two words: margarita monday (for $2)!!
Well, I took a friend from Switzerland for her 21st birthday and they wouldn't accept her ID so it ruined it for us. We sat and ate and it was A-Ok. -
Review from rosquete b.
Belmont, CA
5/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
Ports of Call
Good guacamole
Great fajita combo
Nice shrimp enchilada
Deadly fried ice cream
Super service by Pepe -
Review from Michael T.
San Diego, CA
9/28/2011
We walked by after the Lobster Festival on September 18, 2011 to grab a quick bite before heading back on the freeway. We were seated right away by a very friendly hostess. We sat for 15 minutes with no waiter in sight, no water, no drinks, no nothing. Its hard to rate a place on service when there was no service at all. The place was maybe 1/4 full. Do not go here, unless you like sitting around waiting for nothing to happen. Period.
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Review from Brenda H.
Los Angeles, CA
1/10/2012
This location is my favorite spot to hit up the happy hour specials. I especially love their $1 tacos the chicken ones are my favorite. They make the tortillas fresh right in front of you and it smells so good. The service is pretty good for the most part unless it's on Margarita Mondays when they get slammed. I would drive all the way over here from my job in Carson just for the tacos alone lol.
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Review from Jack L.
San Pedro, CA
8/26/2011
I noticed that the workers were stressed and they didn't have enough help to serve all the people.
Not only that but they also have all you can eat dinners so the people need more service to bring them more food ,which stresses out the already worn out waiters .
When I went last night we got the all you can eat , and the waiter brought me what he called a specially big chile relleno for me and I got sicker than a dog last night blowing out both ends .
Needless to say they lost my business permanently ! -
Review from Grace C.
Long Beach, CA
2/6/2011 1 photo
Bf and I was visiting Port O' Calls, and decided to have a bite here.
We came here at around 1pm on a Saturday, so it was still lunchtime. Not too busy.
Service was pretty prompt. We were given plenty of time to figure out what we wanted to drink and eat. Ended up having the Grande Margarita, while both the bf and I had the Tres Enchiladas. For dessert, we had the lava cake.
Overall, the service was good. They didn't force us to buy more than we wanted, and they offered good suggestions. The food was great, and we enjoyed it immensely. My margarita was definitely pretty huge, but still enjoyable. I really was happy that they seated us next to the window, so we were able to see the boats being docked in the area, as well as the seawater.
For those who decide to sit outside, please note that birds (especially seagulls) will fly and sit within 2 feet of you, and they WILL steal your food if you're not careful. So, ye have been warned.
Very nice place. Food was great and fairly inexpensive. Had no problems with anything. -
Review from Joan S.
11/10/2008 15 photos
Meh.
Why is this place so crowded on weekends?
Shoot, I was expecting something really good, judging from the long lines I've seen here.
So.....Monday, day before Veterans' Day, lunchtime = no lines. I sat on the outdoor patio and froze my ass off, haha. I left my jacket in the car and the wind picked up after I sat down & ordered.
The views were wonderful, see my photos. I took 15 pics.
The complimentary salsa & chips were so good, I got my hopes up.
Lately I'm craving shrimp soft tacos, so I ordered one (not on the menu). It came with rice and beans for ten bucks, but I subbed veggies for the beans. I added a small side of guac for 2 bucks.
My food was served cold.
And it was nothing at all to brag about, except for the delicious, chunky, fresh-tasting guacamole.
The taco was meh, made me long for the tasty one I had at Taxco the other day. The veggies were pretty good, the Spanish rice was simply white rice with color added.
So. I ate fast cuz I was cold, and got the hell outta there. My lunch plus iced tea (brrrrrrrrrr....) cost just under 14 bucks, not worth it at all.
If I go back I am having a Margarita and the tableside guacamole that they offer. For 8.50 they make it fresh at your table and serve it with warm chips. I love guac. I could make a meal outta that plus the salsa.
Live and learn.Listed in: Nicer Restaurants, Viva San Pedro!, Mexican Restaurants
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Review from Belle B.
Walnut, CA
7/24/2011 1 Check-in Here
This is a poor excuse for Mexican food, but it has a nice view of the port. Unfortunately, not as nice as if you were eating by the marina or the harbor. There is a funky smell outside which is unpleasant as well. Not really what you want to smell when you are headed to the restaurant or eating outside. You can have fun looking at the different people that live in the boats located directly behind the restaurant... those people are definitely.... um... different. This is the more industrial area of the port, so there isn't beautiful scenery. The food is bland and expensive for what you get. The benefit is that there is a bar, and when you are drinking maybe you won't notice those other things. This is just a bad place to eat and a bad area in eat.
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Review from Lisa Marie M.
Orange County, CA
7/23/2009
Acapulco's happy hour is always the place for cheap margaritas, cheap happy hour eats, and good conversations with co-workers.
Acapulco is probably my favorite restaurant in San Pedro, not necessarily for the food, but for the outside patio, where I can watch the ships float by. What a great way to waste the day away, uh? :-) -
Review from Soleil D.
9/21/2009 4 Check-ins Here
Like everyone else--this place isn't great for it's food, rather it's location. It over looks the water, well actually the port of Los Angeles. So you'll see a bunch of ships carrying cargo and well the water's not that clean. Anyway plenty of parking, the inside of the restaurant is plenty spacious- great for large crowds. And the bar area well its large, again over looks the water-nice view especially when you're tipsy.
Oh and I celebrated my birthday here so I got a free birthday flan! (I will say that the flan was very creamy/tasty. I'd only go back for the flan and mango margarita!) Also, the waiters sang to me in Spanish with authentic Mexican accents. I guess I shouldn't assume they're all Mexican but whatever--I'm Mexican I can assume others are too. haListed in: Great as left overs!
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Review from Elizabeth V.
Long Beach, CA
7/30/2010
A distant relative of mine ended up drunk here.
I'll go with the drinks being okay but there was 2 returns for not getting the drink order right.
We did get an appetizer but it wasn't really impressive -- some type of cheesy spinach goo. And the salsa was too hot for me. We were provided with plenty of chips and salsa.
The location is nice -- plenty of view of the water front. I didn't like the parking lot but we chose this location for one thing -- the sign and building stand-out that the people meeting us could not possibly get lost. The menu is a typical chain-restaurant Mexican food menu. The server was prompt -- this location is busy when I pass by so business seems to be okay. But it really doesn't stack up against family owned Mexican restaurants.Listed in: Snake Eyes - and not in a good…
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Review from Art D.
San Pedro, CA
2/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
wouldn't normally come here on a regular basis the food is really expensive for a Mexican restaurant, they charge 10$ for a burrito. I much rather go to las brisas and pay 450 for a burrito. But if paying more to eat by the ocean is your thing go for it.
but I would recommend coming her on Monday's for all day happy hour. 2.50$ margaritas and 1$ tacos. -
Review from Linda S.
San Pedro, Los Angeles, CA
10/16/2011
The food was good-slow to arrive, but good! Our server, Jose made our visit fun!
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Review from Reno C.
2/5/2010
This place is great for those mid-afternoon meeting with friends. The view of the harbor and the large cargo ship and cruise liners going by excites grown ups and children. The main reason for today was for drinks and food at Happy Hour prices. Domestic beer on tap ($3), complimentary chips and salsa, Tacos ($1), and guacamole.
The view was from within the bar section, the patio and some sections in the dining area is fantastic. The staff was great acknowledging our arrival and departure, the service was on par with smiles. I will return to enjoy the patio once the weather warms. -
Review from J R.
San Pedro, CA
1/29/2012
Great food! But I have to agree the wait times are horrible. 35 mins to be seated, another 10 just to get the drink order, then another 30 once the food was ordered, and the staff acts if they are too busy to be bothered with actually doing their jobs. Don't get me started on the horrible mariachi band that was squawking out (I'd like to call it music, but it wasn't) noise. They were so loud we couldn't have a conversation at the table and kids were holding their ears. One of them kept trying to belt out an "ay, yay, yay..." but it sounded more like a donkey in heat!
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Review from Chuckie G.
San Diego, CA
5/22/2007
This place is a chill spot to sit and have lunch. This restaurant features a nice view of the main channel in the Port of Los Angeles where you can watch the container and cruise ships drift on by.
The food is very average. Nothing spectacular but nothing that left me upset about the meal. You get the normal endless chips and salsa and your run of the mill Mexican food.
The service was ok. I found the bottom of my drink a few more times than I cared to but the staff was reasonably attentive and polite.
I say three stars. I would not go out of my way to get there but if I was in the 'hood I would not say no. -
Review from Paul F.
Lakewood, CA
6/5/2008
I've eaten here a number of times, usually for lunch but a couple of times for dinner. Great location, right by the water. It's especially nice to sit outside when the weather permits.
The drinks here are much better than the food, and they have a decent happy hour. There are better (and more authentic) places for Mexican food in San Pedro. The chips and salsa are good. The service can be slow, especially when it comes time to bring the bill.
There is one waitress in particular that finds it necessary when she comes to take your order to take the menu from you, turn it to a particular page and recommend something. Hello... I had the menu open to the page that had the item I already picked out and wanted to order.Listed in: Pedro!, Cinco De Mayo, Dining under the stars
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Review from I Q.
San Pedro, CA
2/11/2008
My wife and I have nicknamed this place "Assapulco" because the service was surly and inattentive, the crowd was loud and obnoxious, and everything from drinks to dessert were subpar.
Margaritas are on the level of a college dive bar, and the food is barely acceptable. Maybe this place would fly in a Mexican-impaired area like Colorado Springs, but considering there are literally dozens of superior, authentic Mexican restaurants within San Pedro, Acapulco really has no business being here. -
Review from Liz R.
Long Beach, CA
Updated - 7/16/2008
Visited here again today and had a much more positive experience. I shared the shrimp and chicken fajitas with my partner, and had a bit of my aunt's vegatarian fajitas which were pretty but only decent tasting. Service was better this time. So, I guess it just depends who you get and what time you come in.
You're still only getting 3 stars for being the red-headed stepchild of Mexican restaurants in southern California, Acapulco!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/9/2008
I have to admit, I went here last week and it has gotten a lot better than before. They totally… Read more »
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Review from Frank D.
6/25/2011 6 Check-ins Here
Just about the only thing this place has going for it is the view. It's located in Ports o' Call so there's a cool view of the harbor/port. You can see cruise ships, cargo ships and tug boats going by and a sweet view of the Vincent Thomas Bridge. But there are plenty of lookout points with scenic views at Ports o' Call and nearby that won't cost you a penny. Other than that the food is far from authentic and the drinks are weak. So save your money, appetite and thirst for elsewhere.
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Review from Rob W.
Orange County, CA
6/29/2009
Location, Location, Location.
This place was actually pretty darn good when it was El Paso Cantina. I doubt there are many (any?) yelpers that remember that though. Now it's just an average chain restaurant with a nice, large patio in a good location. -
Review from Leah M.
Vallejo, CA
8/2/2011 1 Check-in Here
Yum! good food, good prices. The service was a little slow but it was obviously a busy night and the waiters were apoligetic. Had the steak and chicken tacos! they were really good and i am a fan of mexican food. It was definitley a little texmex-y but their attempt at authentic is well executed. had a coupon from the paper and saved some dough!
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Review from Michael C.
Harbor City, CA
1/28/2011
Everybody knows what aculpolco food taste like!! Decent food and Good Drinks!! The service here however was terrible!!
A couple relatives of mine were going on a cruise and were in from out of town so i recommended this place since it was directly across from the Hotel!!
It took at least 20 minutes for the Waitress to even take our drink orders.. And it was all downhill after that!!
We sat in the patio section outside for Happy Hour... I guess if you do happy hour you don't get good service only a waitress who has more than 10 tables and she's so oblivious you have to flag her down if you want anything! Not one time did she come over and ask if we were ok or needed more drinks!! I had to get up and go find her every time...
Usually at this point in my dining experience I speak up and either talk with a manager or leave and take my business elsewhere... But my relatives were on Vacation and it didn't bother them as much since they were going on a cruise to Mexico the next day!!!
As for me i was irritated that we wasted our time and that my relatives still left a $20 tip for the girl.. I understood and stood quiet in the background...
Next time my Relatives come i will take them to a classier place that appreciates my business!!
I give them 1 star only because they left a bad taste in my mouth!!! -
Review from Victor K.
Berkeley, CA
6/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
I don't think my server liked my family. I mean, we are usually a little difficult. My parents have thick European accents and always try to order the wrong things for each other. Either way, they should still try to work a little harder with us. We were seated in one of the back rooms with a very large, loud, Mexican family. We could barely here each other speak. The food was average. I got the fajitas combo with steak, chicken and shrimp. It's definitely the best thing they have there. The strawberry margarita was also decent, although it didn't taste like there was much tequila in it. The flan is one of my favorite things about Mexican food. That's about all I got.
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Review from Megs B.
Anaheim, CA
2/14/2011
Sigh.
Got seated quickly, on the patio (our choice)... It was a LOVELY day. nothing like sunshine and a strong breeze to blast the smell of fish and other sea life in your face as you're getting ready to eat. Not complaining, after all, we CHOSE to sit outside, I just think it's funny. Besides, your nose gets accustomed to it and it's all dandy.
So, anyways... seated quickly, took a while for a server, took a while to get our drinks, took a while to order, took a while to get guacamole, finally got that - then everyone's food came right after, except mine. Jerm and his two sisters both got cooked meals, I got a simple Mexican Caesar salad... I didn't get my salad until the three of them were DONE with their meals. Yeah. The waiter said they were out of something (couldn't understand him very well) and that they had to go down somewhere to get more... Go where?! Mexico? I ordered a salad, not poached quail eggs, still quite confused on this one, but when I finally got the salad, it was VERY good and they didn't charge me for it. Eh.
Good food, so there's the two stars. Not so good service, even though he WAS friendly, still... you need to be prompt and correct when serving food.
Hopefully it was just a fluke thing... ???
