32 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!!!!“

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

“Forgot how flavorful the food is here. It has been a little while since visiting Wahoo's since my go-to is not a fish taco.
I had the Bonzai Burrito with Asada Beef. It comes with marinated veggies, which adds a unique flavor to the entire burrito.
The salads are also good and quite large.
There wasn't a long line and our order was taken quickly, we did wait a while for the food service but it arrived hot and as ordered.
The atmosphere is lifted with decorations that are unique and festive.
Prices are very affordable and coupons or online discounts are often available. Parking lot is small but there seems to be space near by.“

“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!“

“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“

“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 “

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

“Wow!! The amount of care and service they provide even during a rush is astounding! The cooks were working together to get meals out timely and the front counter crew were restocking, taking orders, and neatly plating the food. My partner and I watched in awe. Despite a few people being a bit impatient (I mean you can look at their packed screens) they handled it phenomenally. Food was amazing, perfect amount of toppings on the tacos, tortillas were at a great temp, really good guacamole with our chips, and at a really great price! Hope to try out some more items from the menu! Cheers to the crew here at Lupe’s Mexican Eatery in Lake Forest! You are the best!!“

“Avila's Restaurant is reopened with newer aesthetics and an artistic flare.
The food is very flavorful. There was an assortment of taquitos, flautas and mini burritos to try, plus fresh guacamole, always a good choice. The buffet style arrangement also had iced tea and horacha, which I had heretofore not tasted and it was incredibly delicious.
The family-run restaurant has a personal flare and a faithful commitment. It has been a local favorite for decades and now it's got a fresh start.“

“Food is great. My last visit order process was slow due to people’s customization requests. Other than that. Great place to visit. Their new smaller plate options and prices are a great alternative to the rampant high pricing going on now.everywhere.“

“Honestly one of the best tacos I've had in the OC so far. Ordered food from here several times, and I have never been disappointed. I appreciate their ample variety of meats to choose from, along with having a self serve toppings bar. This place always has professional customer service, and is very fast in fulfilling their orders. Genuinely wish they'd open a location in Irvine, we need some good taco trucks over there.“

“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.“

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

“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.“

“Stopped in for lunch. Great service. Didn't catch the server's name but she was very friendly. Food was very good. Been looking for grilled chicken, I dont fare well with the crazy chicken, so this was very refreshing. Will be back. Posted a Pic of our order 8 piece family meal and menu.“

“Great experience at El Pollo Loco! The chicken was fresh, juicy, perfectly seasoned, and had a delicious fire-grilled flavor. The sides were tasty, portions were generous, and everything was served quickly. The restaurant was clean and the staff was friendly and efficient. A great option when you want something flavorful and satisfying without feeling like typical fast food. Definitely coming back!“

“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.“

“Hello, more fantastic food now“

“Last visit burrito bowl was great. Love it when they don't skimp on the meat.“

“Great people, environment drinks etc, highly recommend“

“Love this El Pollo Loco near my work. I’ve been coming herea lot for over two years since my job moved into the area, and the food is consistently good every single time. The manager and staff are always friendly, welcoming, and on top of things. Reliable spot with great service.“

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

“Food and service are great and consistent. One small glitch in the system, however. They recently put up multiple signs that state “condiments only on request” they no longer ask if you want sauce. Had to put in quite a bit of effort to score a couple packets of Scorcho. Supply chain issues? There is another location across the street. I’ll go there next time and see what they are up to.“

“I like this location, they don't short you on the meat portions as other locations do. My only recommendation for improvement is to complete online orders in time. Have been 3 times since October and had to wait for my online order to be ready despite arriving a few minutes after the order was supposed to be ready for pickup. Other than that, great location.“

“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.“

“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“

“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.“

“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.“

“wanted to give a quick shoutout to Daniel- he’s always on top of things even when its super busy and always goes the extra mile to make sure my order is correct and that I have enough sauces etc… may seem trivial but it really does make a big difference! 🙏🙏“

“Such an amazing time here at the LIVE MAS CAFE GRAND OPENING! The kids loved it, we loved it, the workers and managers where all so nice! Everybody was viking and having a good time. The drinks are really good. I got the vanilla latte blended! Can't wait to try all the drinks!“