The first Acapulco opened in 1960 in Pasadena, CA. Known for its relaxed dining experience and wonderfully friendly service, it carries on to the “Mi Casa es su Casa” feel that we see today. The portions are always generous. You’ll always leave full and, most likely, with a doggie bag. The fare is designed to appeal to the American palate, but they do have some tasty dishes that are traditional Mexican cuisine. The dining room is festive – lots of bright colored décor on the walls and lots of windows to let in the natural sunlight.
Let’s take a look at some of their entrees. Carne Asada Y Camarones is citrus-chile marinated steak and sautéed jalapeno-garlic butter shrimp served with sautéed onions and bell peppers, rice, and warm tortillas. The carne asada’s marinated flavor is excellent! Its robust, spicy flavor goes well with the juicy meat. You can order it the way you want - rare to well done. The camarones (shrimp) is perfectly cooked. The jalapeno garlic butter for dipping is out-of-this-world delicious. The tails are cooked so well, you can eat them too. I’m serious! Think of crunchy shrimp-flavored potato chips. Thumbs up, way up!
Muy Grande Platter is grilled chicken breast, tender carnitas and your choice of cheese picadillo beef, shredded chicken or shredded beef enchilada, and served with sautéed fresh vegetables, charro beans, rice, and warm tortillas. The carnitas were juicy, tender, and succulent. The chicken was a bit ordinary. The mango salsa on top provided a spike in flavor but it was still missing something. A cilantro cream sauce with the mango salsa on top or mole sauce minus the chutney might help kick it up a bit and help to keep the chicken from drying out. The enchilada has a wonderfully juicy shredded beef and the enchilada sauce had a deep rich flavor which complimented it perfectly. Thumbs up!
This location also has a huge Sunday Brunch. Here’s a peek at some of the offerings:
- Mexican Caesar Salad is romaine tossed in their housemade creamy cilantro Caesar dressing. It’s just like the salad they serve on the regular menu; the only difference being you can adjust to your taste - more/less dressing, more/less parmesan cheese, more/less pepitas. Love it!
- Chicharones Rancheras are chicharones soaked in ranchera sauce. This bath makes them soft providing them with a tripe-like consistency. The sauce is a bit spicy and will definitely wake up your taste buds in the morning.
- Chile Verde is just like the entrée. The pork is tender and the verde sauce is outstanding, making a great marriage!
- Steak Picado is excellente! The steak is so tender. The sauce is thick, almost like a Mexican stroganoff. This will definitely give you an OMG moment or two. You'll definitely go up for seconds for sure.
- Orange Jicama Salad: The jicama soaks up the orange juices for refreshing flavor. It has a good play on textures - juicy orange and crispy, crunchy jicama.
- Sopa with refried beans, chorizo potatoes, shredded beef, cabbage, sour cream, cojita cheese or make your own. Wow! The sopas have a rich, roasted corn flavor, like a corn pancake. The flavor combination of all the ingredients is fantastic! Can't wait to have another one!
- Carnitas Taco: Fresh, handmade corn tortillas made before your eyes, carnitas, cilantro, onions, cojita cheese. Carnitas are slow-roasted pork simmered with garlic, oranges, lemons, and cilantro, but were a little too soggy for my liking. It needs to be a crispier with a little more salt to bring out the pork flavor.
- Pozole: It's refreshing yet hearty for a cold day. Top it with some oregano, cilantro and onions and you're good to go. The hominy absorbs the flavor from the soup making the hominy burst as you bite down on them.
- Fried flour tortillas with cinnamon, sugar, honey, and coconut: Wow! Simple, yet, delicioso! The tortilla is fried to perfection and the flavor combination is perfect - not too sweet, just right.
- Churros: Move over Disneyland, there's a new churro king in town. The churros here are decadent little devils with more of a cake consistency than most I've had. It’s a wonderful dessert. All it needs is a chocolate dipping sauce!
- Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookies: Love them! Not like your normal chocolate cookie. The cookie batter itself is not too sweet so it lets the chocolate chips shine with their sweetness and the walnuts add a wonderful texture and unique flavor.
- Mexican Pan (cookies/bread): They are good but nearly not the best I've ever had. I think I'm just used to getting them straight from a panaderia, freshly baked and soft. These were a little dry.
- Banana Chimichanga: It’s an admirable attempt at making a dessert chimichanga. It needs something else, so I added the plantains in caramel sauce from the waffle bar on top. Wow! What a difference! A scoop of vanilla ice cream could tie this into an extremely decadent dessert. It’s amazing how you can add one small thing and it completely changes the flavor dynamics.
As they say, “Grab your amigo and take off to Acapulco!” Don’t forget to get a margarita or a nice cold cerveza with your meal.
Savings Tips:
- Sign up for Acapulco’s Email Club and become a Fiesta Amigo– receive free food, updates, and promotions.
- 2012 Entertainment Book Orange County Edition – Receive $5 off each adult Sunday Brunch Buffet up to four people; Buy any regular-priced entrée on the menu and receive the second entrée of equal or lesser value for $2.99
Atmosphere: 5 out of 5 stars
Service: 5 out of 5 stars
Décor: 5 out of 5 stars
Food: 4 out of 5 stars
For more information:
Acapulco
1535 W Katellla Ave
Orange, CA 92867-3410
714.639.9550
Comments