28 Best Mexican Restaurants in Lake Forest

“Our Women's Group meets there monthly and we always have fabulous service and the food is delicious!! They bring out the entire staff to sing, dance & play instruments for Birthday's and gift framed photos. Fun, family atmosphere!!!!“

“Steak quesadilla was extremely chewy and greasy so I sent it back and still got charged for it. Took 30 minutes to receive check and 15 minutes to get credit card back when it was not even that busy“

“Love going to Morena‘s for lunch and brunch. The food is as good as any I’ve had in Southern California and the service is better than most places. Prices are acceptable. If you want a real experience go for brunch the staff is so friendly and warm. It’s hard to come away with a bad experience“

“Jessica was very friendly and helpful! But the second time I went back and a guy named Jaime took my order, he’s not very friendly and treated me differently from the previous white customer who also ordered takeout. I waited for almost 20mins to get my 2 taco order which’s unbearable for a fast food restaurant! It’s not that busy but just inefficient or delayed on purpose.“

“Best Mexican food in Lake Forest. The price and portions are awesome, too much food you might say. Taco Tuesday specials are a hit. Mexican Coca-Cola available along with Aguas frescas options. The owner is very friendly and polite. Definitely a hole-in-the-wall treasure in Lake Forest. Give them a “

“This location is extremely clean and it's not overly crowded Lindsay was so helpful she made all of the food super fresh and delicious and was very kind. They have deals everyday of the week for different food items I was able to get a salad on sale for $11 instead of $16. I got the Pollo asado which was very delicious with black beans and everything else. The food tastes so good the tacos are also good but they are a little pricey.“

“My hangout, healthy choices and some items under $5 while earning points ���“

“Always enjoy eating here, been a customer for 18+ years. For us it is worth the hour drive.“

“This Mexican restaurant in Lake Forest, California is truly a hidden gem. From the moment you walk in, you immediately feel welcomed and appreciated. The owner is always cheerful, kind, and genuinely attentive to his customers. He greets people with a smile, checks in to make sure everything is going well, and makes you feel like more than just another table. It’s rare to see that level of dedication and warmth, and it really makes a difference.

The restaurant itself is well kept and organized, and you can tell that the owner takes pride in maintaining everything in order. The atmosphere feels inviting, comfortable, and family-friendly — the kind of place where you can relax and enjoy your meal without feeling rushed.

One of the things I love most is the incredible variety of dishes and desserts they offer. There is truly something for everyone. Whether you’re craving traditional Mexican flavors or something a little different, the menu has plenty of options. The food is flavorful, well prepared, and consistently satisfying. And the desserts are a wonderful way to end the meal — it’s hard to choose just one!

I absolutely love coming to this place. Between the amazing service, the friendly and attentive owner, the wide selection of delicious food, and the welcoming atmosphere, it’s always a great experience. I always leave happy and looking forward to my next visit.

I truly hope to return again very soon — this is definitely one of my favorite spots in Lake Forest!“

“This is just a little hole in the wall Mexican joint. One time I had Taco, Beans, and Rice and another time I had Taquitos, Beans and Rice. Both times were good. The food isn’t expensive, it is a perfect place for a quick Breakfast or lunch.“

“We ordered different types of food
It's was all delicious
The guacamole 🥑 made fresh at your table,I don't drink.but I've seen ppl order drink look happy 😀
9 out of 10
Stop by try them out“

“Excellent and creative food. I love the Oceanside taco with octopus and shrimp. Also they have a cilantro cream sauce that is amazing! I often buy many burritos for my customers and they always package them up nicely in a box making them easy to carry into offices and job sites.“

“So I came here for the first time with 2 friends that come on a regular basis. We all ordered 2 crispy tacos. Well,1 taco was the crispy taco shell, and the other taco shell looked like one of the fast food places taco shells. Other than that, it was pretty good.“

“There was 7 of us in town for a conference and we stumbled upon Hole in the Wall Burger! Burger was delicious the service outstanding and special sauce of the chart’s. Next time I’m in the area I’ll definitely be stopping by and have a burger!“

“Our first time at a Wahoo's.
We were greeted by a nice gentleman named Freddy who helped translate the menu in spanish for my parents and explained everything throughly. The food was really fresh and his service was top notch! Thank you cooks and Freddy, my picky parents left very happy! ?“

“Love this restaurant. Been coming here for years. The food is reliably good. I really enjoy the breakfast: huevos rancheros with papitas! They make fresh corn tortillas in the restaurant and the service is always friendly. It's a mom and pop place so expect quality over thrills. The dining room is always clean and welcoming.“

“Only place in San Diego county I feel like you can get a proper breakfast burrito. Ten out of ten.“

“Hello, more fantastic food now“

“The food was good, but the size of the chicken pieces keep shrinking and the price is inflating. I don’t like the kiosk ordering. When I go to a restaurant I want to be served. Also, the kiosk kept making beeping noises while I was eating. Very annoying.“

“SEPTEMBER 25th, 2025:
When I first arrived, a kind gentleman held the door for me to let me in and he allowed me to place my order before his. THEN, gracefully I was greeted by Emma (I’m not sure if she’s the manager or front-line employee but either way I know that she is such a light, a kind soul, a wonderful spirit and a fantastic person!!

Much more than an El Pollo Loco employee, she’s an Angel in my humble opinion. She not only helped me to place my order for the NEW Queso Crunch Burrito Bowl, she gave me a discount coupon which granted me $3.49 off of my order! She said that’s “her favorite magic trick”: Being kind and offering her kindness to those who she serves and in her life. The warmth in her conversation and spark in her spirit truly brightened up my day and lifted my heart!!

I’ll spare her personal business, but I’m thankful that Jesus brought us together this day!

She even blessed me with more coupons to take with me and to use in the future. I hope nothing but kind and wonderful blessings for you, too, Emma! What a great gift!

Now as far as the bowl goes, I’d give it a 3.5 out of 5. It’s a nice chicken bowl with an added crunch from the tortilla strips and the seasoned rice adds a great flavor to it as well!

I do know that it’s a limited time item but I would order it again. The bowl may have earned 3.5 stars, but partnered with the Exceptional Customer Service I received from Emma on this day, it bumps my overall rating to a 6/5 stars!!

Thank you El Pollo Loco and Emma for this wonderful and blessed experience. I’m looking forward to stopping by again soon!!

AUGUST 15th, 2025:
I wish I took some photos of my food, but I ate it so fast because it was so good, I forgot! Haha

I drove up to this location at a little after 1pm and there was no one in line. I wish I would’ve gotten his name, but the guy who took my order and my payment was very sweet and kind. I ended up trying their Shredded Chicken Nacho combo with Salsa Fresca minus the Guac and a Hawaiian Punch.

I drove around to the window and as I waited for my food, the guy who took my order was busy taking another order, and (i believe) the manager came and asked “Is this her food?” to him to make sure I wasn’t waiting much longer. Thank you! (I should’ve gotten your name too haha) He handed me my food with a smile. He thanked me and I thanked him and the other guy for their help!

My gosh, I can only speak for myself when I say, those nachos were good!!!! The queso topped with the seasoned chicken, tortilla chips, salsa Fresca, pinto beans was just the quick stop meal I needed on this busy day. Not only was it good but it was filling too!

I’ll definitely order that one again. This is my second time at this location.“

“El Pollo Norteno has some of the best mexican food I’ve ever had the pleasure of trying. Chicken is always juicy and flavorful. The burritos are exceptionally good, but my favorite menu item is definitely the torta de pollo. Staff is always kind and very helpful, and this location is always clean. Pro tip: get the chips and guac and the red salsa!“

“Great people, environment drinks etc, highly recommend“

“I've been here a few times and always have a good experience, but today was exceptional! They were out of chicken when I arrived, so I had to wait a few minutes. Zack was amazing—he offered chips, guac, and a soda while I waited and apologized multiple times. Very polite and respectful, The whole team was friendly, and even the cook apologized. Great service—I’ll definitely keep coming back“

“Best place yet in California to eat other than grandma carmen's“

“For the store being close to the corporate office…they weren’t super fast :/. Which is surprising because as a former employee of 5 years, they were always on our a$$ to get the time down and have fast service. I actually timed it and they took almost 5 minutes. Which is considered bad back when I was a manager. Sooooo double standards?? Anyways onto the real review. Food was hot and crispy. The guy forgot to give me my drink which I waited for.“

“tienen buena comidas un ambiente limpio y agradable se los recomiendo“

“Del Taco, is quickly becoming my favorite fast food chain for when I have Taco cravings. This location is one of the best in Lake Forest, with a 24-hour drive through and all-day breakfast. They treat me fair and friendly every time too, and also is a nice quiet place for dinner. Favorite entrees include the chicken quesadilla, the steak quesadilla taco, and the bean and cheese burrito with green chili.

Vegetarian options: Limited vegetarian options including bean burritos, salads, and nachos. However, most are made in the same kitchen as meat-based items.

Parking: Handicap spots at the store front, and part of a general shopping center that is rarely busy, so it's easy to find parking.

Wheelchair accessibility: Two entrances with single manual doors. Wheelchair accessible counter but the soda fountain is not wheelchair accessible.“

“While our bean and cheese burritos were substantial, it was hard to taste either the green sauce or any cheese. It seemed more like a tortilla full of beans. So, not really up to standards or expectations. The ice tea was very good and the speed of service was also good.“