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Alejandro's Mexican Food
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Late Night
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Dive-y, Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
185 reviews for Alejandro's Mexican Food
Review Highlights
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"Also, their hot sauce here is awesome." In 26 reviews -
"Great place for late night munchies." In 36 reviews -
"Conveniently located right near Detroit Bar and Avalon." In 12 reviews
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185 reviews in English
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Review from Jeremy T.
Costa Mesa, CA
I love this place!! My wife loves this place my kids love this place! What else can I say.
I have been going to this place for many years especially after surfing or a late night party night.
I always get the Carne Asada burrito and chips and cheese with guacamole!! The best!!
Wife loves the Carnitas burrito, the kids love the Carne Asada burrito also.
Great, greasy, fast...
I recommend this to place to everyone even King Taco lovers... Although I have not had King Taco yet but will soon... -
Review from D J.
Costa Mesa, CA
We got Alejandros for the first time this evening. We had a Beef Enchilada, Chicken Enchilada and Carne Asada Wet Burrito- all with sides of beans and rice. The sauce on all of the food was delicious! There was a slight kick to it, and it was overall very flavorful. Nothing special about the beans and rice, very standard. The prices were very reasonable.
My only complaint is that we ordered the Chicken and Beer Enchiladas separately, but they served them in one box. Other than that, everything was great. We will definitely go back for more!
Another perk- there is a drive through and it is open 24/7! -
Review from Audrey L.
Costa Mesa, CA
Big, fat, greasy, delicious "breakfast" burritos? Yes please!
I have been coming here ever since my cousin and I walked 2 miles to get the burrito that he had been raving about 3 years ago.
The Mexican dudes that work here are friendly, but typically talk to my boobs instead of my face. But that's ok, they make good burritos.
The steaming hot potatoes (basically just french fries) inside of the breakfast burritos help create a weird, yet delicious, late night meal.
Like everyone else mentioned, it is cash only. -
Review from Sandy V.
Came here for a after Long Beach Grand Prix meal. Chicken and cheese burritos were YUMMY but shrinking in size. I also got the Chicken nachos which are also shrinking like a frightened turtle. Still yummy and worth the money but not sure for how much longer at this rate.
Listed in: Costa Mesa Adventures
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
-
8/7/2011
Came here for dinner tonight had my usual the chicken and cheese burrito which was awesome as always… Read more »
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8/7/2011
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Review from Emily H.
MACHACA burrito!
What is that, you ask? It's a burrito stuffed with shredded beef, EGGS, onions, and peppers. Best thing on the menu, and it's hard to get it anywhere else. What a fun name for such a delicious burrito.
Definitely my first (and pretty much only) choice for late night munchies in Costa Mesa because it's the only thing open 24/7 in the area. Cash only, no inside seating! -
Review from Eugene S.
It's hard for me to think about this place and wonder how much of my body is made up of the food I've ingested (late night) from here. Can't say that anything is bad here. Carne Asada fries?! MUST! Of course the Carne Asada Burrito is also a MUST after some heavy duty drinking. After the bars close this place becomes hungry-drunk-animal central. Beware, but go there now!
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Review from Jin L.
Huntington Beach, CA
when eating anything after a night of boozing it is bound to taste heavenly. and, oh how heavenly the carne asada tacos at alejandro's tastes each and every time.
things to keep in mind.
CASH only. screws me up EVERY time cause by the time i get here i'm too drunk to remember that it's cash only and must figure out how to get cash mid-drunkeness.
NO inside seating. they have 2 tables outside that are always occupied.. usually by equally drunk people.
OPEN 24 hours. need i say more?!
carne asada tacos - heavenly.
nachos - still heavenly.
taquitos - almost heavenly but missing a few good deeds to get through the gates of heaven.
carnitas - according to my girlfriend is quite delicious, but i would not know as i am not a fan of pork.
hard tacos - are too hard.. (insert that's what she said line here). it's not the hardness that i mind so much, it's the fact that after the first bite it breaks apart and i get lettuce errwhere. mostly in my hair, and in my cleavage.
all in all, i love this place! -
Review from Misha K.
Huntington Beach, CA
Pros: Awesome carne asada burritos + carne fries. Open 24/7 which is a huge plus. Drive thru is great.
Cons: Cash only -
Review from William W.
Portland, OR
The only time I eat here is for a quick machaca breakfast burrito or the random 2AM burrito while walking home from the Detroit/Avalon bar. Both were excellent, with the proper ratio of meat to other ingredients and the perfect tortilla to wrap them in. Definitely not low fat or healthy. Nice employees. Cash only.
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Review from michelle k.
Costa Mesa, CA
Their number 7 on the menu board is 2 of their beef burritos... these will challenge even the best of digestive tracts! The flavor is yummy hot as you bite into homemade flour tortillas, bits of onion, green peppers and the very tender shredded beef, and then, THEN the heat hits you!!! OMG it's soooooooo good but sooooooo damn hot at the same time. You're playing Russian Roulette with your bottom-end within a few hours, seriously!
I have found the craving to be uncontrollable and it's really horrid on my digestive system, that and living around the corner and having 24-hour access is wicked fun but doesn't help!
I haven't tried anything else from here because the number 7 is awesome..... and it's 5.76 for 2 of these delicious burritos, a side of rice and beans (beware of the orange 'hot sauce' ) .......
Not up to giving them 5 stars because they only take cash and have an ATM up front and ON OCCASION the rice is a bit old and kinda crunchy, but the burritos are pretty spot-on all the time (-1 time when it tasted like someone dropped a salt shaker onto the grill, but 1 time in about 5 yrs = acceptable)
Good Job Alejandro's my taste buds heart you but my rear-end doesn't -
Review from Austin A.
Irvine, CA
I take every person and any visitor from out of town to eat here. It's presence stands as a monument to SOCAL Mexican food. I live 20 Minutes away and come here all the time.
DRIVE THRU!!!! It's open 24/7, cash only, but ATM avaliable. It's not like you'll be needing that much money if you order right. DRIVE THRU!!!!!!!!!
$2.50 bean and cheese burrito as big as your forearm is a steal! The California Burrito is an amazing choice at $4-5, its a carne asada Burrito with crispy french fries. And if you're going pricier, go for the Carna Asada Nachos or 2 Chicken Tacos.
Don't be sold into the menu combinations and don't let the look of the building scare you. The rule with mexican food: "The worse the building looks, the better the food is." and Al's holds to that rule in the most serious of ways.
Be quick with your order, don't be offended by the demeanor of the cashier, he has to deal with drunk as***** who stumble from Detroit bar and Avalon across the street. If you order in Spanish you get treated with more dignity.
Eat your food outside or on your car and shutup that there's no indoor seating because your taste buds will let you know that nothing else matters in this world.
PS. Get your soft drinks at the liquor store across the street. Get your burritos Double Wrapped. -
Review from Pete E.
Newport Beach, CA
This place has great grinds 24/7. They have the best carne asada burritos in Newport, and the 3 rolled taco's with guacamole are killer. The hot sauce is pefect if you like spicy stuff.
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Review from Tina S.
Newport Beach, CA
F me this place is the JAM, son!!!!!
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Review from Austin R.
Corona del Mar, CA
This place has the best food for that late night craving, but I will go there anytime of day. They will make you any dish if you just ask. The cali burrito, and carne asada fries are usually my go to (not in the same visit). I have had most everything on the menu, and the only thing I can remember disliking is the cow intestine taco. Ordered it by accident, and won't be making that mistake again.
The problems that you may suffer the next day are well worth the taste. Also, awesome prices. -
Review from Richard C.
Los Angeles, CA
California stylie...
It's not too often that I find myself behind the orange curtain. But when I do and if I'm in the right company, good times and good eats are always had.
This latest time was no different. At the end of the night after seeing a photography show at The Comune, my buddy, Dave C. and I stopped by Alejandro's for some late night eats.
I had been there once before, years ago, so I didn't really remember how good or bad it was.
One bite of that California burrito they make and it all came rushing back like a yesteryear memory in Wayne's World like fashion. The California burrito is no regular burrito. While it may have may have the usual ingredients, Alejandro makes a savory statement by adding fries to it. Yes, I said fries. While it's not the best burrito I've had, I can give Alejandro's credit for flipping the script on the old stand by.
Some fellow yelpers complained that the service was sub par. I did not experience that. The guy at the counter was friendly enough and made sure that I had everything that I wanted before I left.
Parking is always available. And they also have some outside tables you can sit at if you can't wait to get home.
Chalk it up as a great gastric experience... -
Review from Dave A.
Costa Mesa, CA
OK, I live within walking distance... I've eaten here once. To clarify, I was inebriated and hungry at 2am. Granjenal was closed. So I walked over and grabbed tacos and a torta. Even in my state I immediately realized that I had chosen poorly. The asada & adobada were dried out and WAY salty. There were zero vegetables and cheese on the torta, which was essentially a meat and breadwich. When I woke the next afternoon my note to myself read "Salty mess." I think that says it all.
I would go so far as to say the Del Taco and T-Bell along Newport are better options. Luckily they have a never ending stream of business coming from Detroit, Avalon, & UCI so they don't have to try that hard. -
Review from Bri G.
Costa Mesa, CA
First off: Cash only. There is an ATM there with a nominal fee to get cash.
Now onto the good stuff... I spotted this place when I first moved into town and any Mexican food joint that has a tacky yellow sign with red writing is probably going to deliver on their promise for good food.
The food is that greasy, awesome stuff that you wish was always available at 1:00am... and here it is! The prices are cheap (probably because it's cash and partially under the table) and the food doesn't disappoint. If you're at Avalon or Detroit Bar and need a quick bite, stop by here and you won't regret it! -
Review from Ian M.
Costa Mesa, CA
While the food at Alejandros is nothing to ignore, what puts this place over the top is the drive-thru ease with which it can be acquired, as well as the 24 hour flexibility it can be ordered. While the cash-only policy can be quite a pain if you forget about it, this is Mexican food at its greasy best.
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Review from Mike K.
Costa Mesa, CA
Great carne asada and breakfast burritos. Quick, cheap and delicious.
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Review from Richard P.
Alhambra, CA
Alejandro's is just your average hole in the Mexican Restaurant. They offer the usual options at affordable prices. We ate here while on the OC Yelp party bus. The bus made a stop at Detroit Bar and Alejandro's was near by so we decided to walk over. I ordered the carne asada fries. They were delicious. For some reason cheap Mexican always taste so much better when you are drunk. I like this stuff when I'm sober, but for some reason eating this stuff buzzed is so much better. I think part of it is that you lose your inhibitions and forget all the calories you are eating.
Alejandro's is a great place to go after drinking. They offer cheap eats that will definitely soak up that alcohol. -
Review from Steve V.
This place is a classic taco stand. No indoor seating a a few round tables outside. The double drive thru is clutch as it allows for more effeicient ordering. It can get busy late night.
I would recommend the carne asada burrito with guacamole. It is an all meat burrito so don't expect any beans. Their hot sauce is hot and will add to the meal and make it complete. Another recommendation is the rolled tacos. Topped with tons of cheese and guacamole, this is a great snack.
Make a pit stop here if you can! -
Review from Travis C.
Costa Mesa, CA
It was 2am on a Saturday night, and my girlfriend and I decide to do a late night grub session (she was doing a little drinking). I tell her that there is Alejandro's on the other side of town that is 24 hours and has really great food and was my usual late night spot. We decided to head over, and I warned her it's in the ghetto but it's worth it.
Service
We arrive at Alejandro's and decide to go through the drive through. As soon as we pull up, we start getting attitude from the guy taking our order. I would understand if the place closed soon and we were the last guests, but its 24 hours asshole, no need to be rude (minus a star). We pull up to the window and the guy gives me more attitude cause I have to get out of my car and get money out of the ATM. Keep in mind the food wasn't ready anyways. I asked the guy for salsa he said it was in the bag, and I had enough of that asshole. One thing he failed to mention was that the lid wasn't secured tightly to one of them and lucky my gf noticed before salsa got all over my car.
Food
I ordered the carne asada burrito which was good except I hit a fatty piece of meat every bite. I was constantly pulling pieces from my mouth. Here is a picture I took with my camera phone. I didn't finish it because it was more work than reward.
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
My girl ordered the chicken taco and enjoyed it till she hit a large chicken bone that was the size of a quarter. We could not believe our eyes, so I took a picture of it.
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Conclusion
It pains me to rank this place one star, I use to eat here all the time. After that experience it will be save to say I am never coming back here again.
Our bill came out to $9 something but the food wasn't worth $1. -
Review from Jessica B.
El Toro, CA
Please note ahead: You are going to a hole in the wall with a drive thru. expect greasy food. But also expect damn good greasy food.
Breakfast burrito lovers....go here!
I had the #4- Egg, potato, bacon, and cheese burrito. Minus the egg (ugh!).
It was so greasy, it soaked thru my napkins and brown bag. I could smell the REAL cheese and crispy thick bacon pieces as they lovingly partied with the potatoes as I drove towards work. The hot sauce they gave me smelled like it could singe my nostrils, but in reality balanced nicely on my palette without giving me heartburn.
This was just the burrito I was looking for.
Health freaks need not drive their Priuses thru... -
Review from Cynthia S.
Glendale, CA
When I lived in Irvine used to work couple of blocks away from this place at a pre-school, co-works always talking about how good their food was.
everyday after work, someone would say "Does everyone have cash for Alejandro's" turned out no one ever did! BOO... finally we decided on a date that we would all bring cash and eat there..
I'm not very big on Mexican food, so I ordered the carne asada fries! (I LOVE FRIES, you should know this about me if you read my other reviews)
OH MY GOD! This thing is humongous. soo much food ! (NO IM NOT COMPLAINING) I love it.
a lot of fries, topped with salsa, avocados, CHEESE, beans, sour cream(which i never get)... ITS SOOOOO GOOOD!!!! you know its a heart attack waiting to happen but you cant resist.
No indoor seating, some tables outside the little shack that they are trapped in making some good food! but they do have a drive thru!
On my way back to LA this was my stop every weekend for the carne asada fries. Have you ever been stuck in traffic from OC to LA? it sucks doesn't it? well Go to Alejandro's grab yourself something yummy so you can enjoy the ride back to LA with some Good Mood Food! =] -
Review from Andy O.
LA people talk about King Taco/El Taurino all the time, and for good reason: it's the shit. It's funny when clueless people from Orange County counter with,"Dude have you tried Alejandro's?" Two words: bitch, please.
We stopped by this place to see what the hype was about...
For starters, the guy in the window was stoned out of his tiny mind and couldn't comprehend shit. Apparently he lost his ability to speak English as well, so I had to bust out what I remembered from high school-level Spanish to place my order (I'm not joking). When we got the food, I wasn't just underwhelmed, I was pissed. Terrible terrible food. Sorry, OC'ers, LA has got you destroyed when it comes to Mexican food. Try again next time.
This was the convo when I went back up to the window to ask for water (I'm not being funny here, this is actually how it went...)
Me: Can I have some water?
Guy: .... ¿Que?
Me: Water? One cup of water?
Guy: ...... ¿Que?
Me: Agua.
Guy: ... ¿Agua?
Me: Si... Quiero agua. Con hielo...
Guy: ¿Hielo?
Me: ¡AGUA con hielo!
Guy: ¿Tu quieres?
Me: YES.
Guy: Okay.
And then he hands me a dinky cup of iced water. Is that so fucking difficult? -
Review from steve a.
Irvine, CA
This review is solely for the chicken burrito, which is absolutely the most vile concoction I have ever had. It was full of tendons and chewy bits, as well as being all dark meat and having a very filthy texture to it. I think a family of lions or hyenas may dig the way they prepare the meat but I am unfortunately neither. The food still comes out rather quickly and yes, it is nice(in theory) that it is open very late... however I would rather go to del taco or something along those lines. The hotsauce does have a nice flavor though. Seriously went downhill from the last time I had been there about circa 2008. The outdoor tables are seriously putrid and there is about 7000 pieces of gum around the joint. Long story short... avoid the chicken burrito.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/7/2011
Late at night, stomach aching
My hungers yours, For the taking
Eat my fill, caress me gently
Dont eat… Read more »
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3/7/2011
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Review from maureen c.
Anaheim, CA
Alejandro, Alejandro...Ale Alejandro
I like coming to you because when I used to live in Costa Mesa you were the first carne asada burrito I had ever in my life and from then on I was hooked.
That is how I love my burrito, meat and guac, no frills, no cheese, no beans = no gas, yeah!
They're awesome because they have two drive through windows so if you have a passenger, put them to work and let them pay for the food and hold it too instead of you handing it to them.
So it's relatively simple buying their stuff here, I do have to warn you though, a lot of the pricing from their menu isn't updated so you may want to check things through with them.
Also it's no picnic eating outside. It's not exactly the safest looking place to eat in the middle of the night if you are on a food run.
Probably good location for the folks who just came out of the Detroit Bar looking for something to eat.
Did I mention they are 24 hours?
Really appreciate that they laid off the salt on their asada because part of the reason I stopped going to them was the overly salted burrito.
Other than that, all's good. -
Review from Katrina G.
Union City, CA
This review is only for the Carne Asada Fries:
KEEP IN MIND - THIS IS NOT ON THE MENU!!!!!!! We had to find this on. yelp while on vacation in Newport Beach. The meat was okay, but nothing exciting. It came with cheese, sour cream, and guacamole. It was a good fix for a craving, but I wouldn't go out of my way to go to this place again. -
Review from Eric T.
Newport Beach, CA
Everything they have is good, no lie! Plentiful in portions and taste!
I really like their Guacamole! -
Review from John C.
Tustin, CA
this location is the best of all the ones ive been too. get the carne asada burrito and three rolled taco with guac. ask for some carrots. this place also has lower prices than the rest. the tustin one is expensive, like $1 more for the 3 rolled tacos.
while youre here, get gas at the shell across the street, its one of the cheapest gas stations in OC. -
Review from Scott J.
Orange, CA
Epic Mexican Food.
This is the best taco stand place in all of Orange County, and possibly the world. From the exterior you expect standard, greasy food that is so so. Alejandro's doesn't care what it looks like, because it knows it's the best Mexican food around. If you have hang ups about shady characters, graffiti environment, and crowds of drunken people around your car, get over it. Don't you know the Mexican Gods of Grub are carefully working inside to make some of the best food you will ever have? The three rolled tacos with guacamole is the holy grail of late night meals. The carne asada burritos is the best I've ever had. A good reason to leave the bar by 1:45 to avoid the lines. Even if there are 12 cars in line, it's worth it. The hidden gem of Coast Mesa. -
Review from Robert. A.
Costa Mesa, CA
If you want a good burrito you can't go wrong with the bean and cheese with guacamole or the carne asada burrito. Te tortillas are super big fesh and soft. Also get he three rolled tacos w/guacamole and the chicken quesadilla is big, spicy and satisfying. Wash it all down with a horchata.
This is a good place for a late night stop or when you just want a good burrito. -
Review from Diana D.
carne asada fries.
SO FRESH AND SO GREASY
I don't find much sense in comparing this place with other mexican food joints-- if we're talking about mexican food in general. all i know, and can confidently say, about this place is that they have THE BEST carne asada fries within 10 minutes driving distance to the UC irvine campus.
layer #1: freshly fried shoestring french fries
layer #2: chopped carne asada
layer #3: melted cheeheeeese
layer #4: pico de gallo, guacamole, sour cream
layer #5 (optional): red hot salsa
helpful hints: 1) dig in DEEP with plastic fork to attain perfect distribution of ingredients in each bite and 2) remember to chew (yeah, it's totally inhalable)
i love alejandro's. always have, always will. -
Review from Patrick K.
Long Beach, CA
Next to San Diego, I used to think Alejandro's was the BEE'S KNEES while I was still living in Irvine. However, the sad truth is that their portions have gotten much smaller over the past couple of years.
It has all the same menu items as any "____andro's", "Al___o's" or "Alber____o's" so if you've never been, you can expect Cali Burritos, Carne Asada Fries & the like.
Why does this place get only 3 stars? Depending on who works at night (or well, any time of day), your portions will definitely vary in size. There are nights where you feel like a KING when you receive your super fries, but there are other nights where you feel jipped. The same could be said for their 3 Rolled Tacos. I used to order this one all time! It was until they stopped being so generous with their toppings (guac, sour cream, cheese, etc.).
If I were hungry and in the area, then sure! But I wouldn't make the trek out. Make the drive and go to Albatro's if you can. That place is a MUCH better deal, and they also give you a whole lot more food. Trust me on that. -
Review from Meredith W.
Costa Mesa, CA
There are so many mexican food places on 19th, each has their own draw and unique qualities ... this one's are the convenience, hours, and consistently hearty, comfort food.
Cash only, drive through or walk up window, generous proportions, open late, willing to sell individual tortillas!!
They do the type of carne asada burrito (too much for me) that people like: carne asada, pico de gallo and guacamole. The re-fried beans are rich and yummy - like they use lard(a plus) and they over stuff their tacos :) -
Review from Jason S.
San Jose, CA
Once they gave me carne asada fries without carne asada. It was the saddest night of my life.
Otherwise, good food. It's considered one of the better ones in the mexican junk food restaurants in the area.
Open 24 hours.
Cash only.
Their hot sauce is crack. Love it. -
Review from emimi s.
Irvine, CA
THE BEST CARNE ASADA FRIES I'VE EVER HAD (in the OC) ARE FROM ALEJANDRO'S.
After a night of drinking, carne asada fries is the best solution to any hunger cravings you may have (pho comes in at a close second). Heck, I'm even craving it right now and it's Monday afternoon at 5. The fries are so good that me and one or two other people can finish it within 5 minutes and then we crave more and wish we ordered a second one.
The fries themselves are nicely crisp (not dry like Alertos's fries) and comes with a hearty helping of meat, guacamole, and cheese. Soooo bomb...
This review can do these fries no justice. You need to try them out yourselves. -
Review from Luis C.
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
My second favorite place besides los grandes in Santa ana. This place has awesome Mexican food. My favorite thing is the carne asada fries and they are a must try which I yet to find any other place better then alejandros. I also love their all meat carne asada burrito.
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Review from Angela C.
Dang I can't believe I never wrote a review for this place! I come to Alejandro's for one thing and one thing only - yup you guessed it - Carne Asada Burritos!! It's sure to satisfy your Carne Asada Burrito craving, BUT I can already name 3 other restaurants in the OC that have better ones - Alertos in Fountain Valley, Albatros in Lake Forest, and Albertaco's in MIssion Viejo.
Alejandro's is a true hole in the wall if there ever was one. There is one drive-through area and no indoor seating. They do have outside benches with umbrellas you can sit under though. Make sure to bring a jacket on those cold nights.
For about $5 you get a giant greasy (what do you think makes it taste so good?) burrito filled with chunks of meat mixed with guacamole and onions. Mmm it sure hit the spot tonight even though the meat was on the salty side for my preference! -
Review from Ashley O.
Westminster, CA
Two words: breakfast burritos. I give Alejandro's 3.5 stars - I round down for consistency.
Needed a quick breakfast fix to fuel the Disneyland adventure that was ahead of us. Alejandro's breakfast burritos were the perfect way to start our day. Piping hot potatoes, cheese, eggs and chorizo (my custom addition to the burrito) stuffed into a soft and flavorful tortilla. Take a big bite of that with their hot sauce - talk about breakfast of champions! The burrito was hefty - definitely exceeded my stomach's capacity for a morning meal. The burrito was a little chorizo-heavy, but it was good nonetheless.
I would definitely come back to try some of their other heart- stopping menu items (aka carne asada fries!). Alejandro's is that hit-the-spot, late night, hole-in-the-wall Mexican joint that they need more of in the Bay Area.
