Olamendi’s Mission Viejo

We enjoy Olamendi's regularly. The staff is efficient and lovely. The restaurant is small but has tables inside and outside. The decor is Mexican art. From their salsa to their flan, the food is outstanding. It's home-cooked authentic Mexican cuisine made from family recipes handed down from generation to generation. The ingredients are always fresh and first-rate. Tacos are amazing and always served your way. Try the fish tacos, they're awesome. The Chile Relleno is by far the best I've ever had. A delicious Poblano chile stuffed with cheese and served with a tomato-based sauce. The rice is always moist and perfectly cooked. Beans have no lard to mask the taste. Enchiladas are classic dishes with either red or green sauce. The Albondigas soup is a traditional favorite made with a satisfying broth and incredibly soft meatballs. Special note: Mole Enchiladas: the absolutely best mole anywhere! I've tried Mole at numerous Mexican restaurants (if they even have it) - There's either too much heat or the sauce is thin with no depth nor flavor. Olamendi's Mole comes from grandmother Olamendi's recipe. It take hours to prepare Olamendi's Mole with spices, chiles, herbs, seeds, and of course cacao. The result is a thick, flavorful sauce that has the perfect balance of complexity and richness. The Mole is typically served over Chicken Enchiladas. I highly recommend Olamendi's to anyone who knows and loves real Mexican cooking. If Carlos Olamendi is there, as he usually is during the day, then be sure to say hi. He's a wonderful man and dedicated to his craft. By the way, Olamendi's does catering and we are looking forward to having them cater our summer party.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 5

DO NOT SLEEP ON Olamendi's. I've eaten here for 20 years. The owners are really nice people and their food is amazing. They will always be my top spot for authentic Mexican food.

Been going to Olamendi's all my life. Great authentic food with a nice atmosphere.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

No need for words just look at a $20 burrito.

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 1

Service: 3

There's always been my favorite mexican food. A menu for everyone. Authentic taste. I Wish they had more locations.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Carne Asada Taco, Fajitas Steak, Quesadilla, Pastor Tostada

This place is just plain awful. I cannot believe it's current star rating (4.5). I ordered three burritos. Three. It took them almost an hour to make and they had the nerve to charge me $70!!
I asked for some burritos that were not technically on the menu...California burritos. CALIFORNIA BURRITOS. They only consist of asada pico de gallo and fries! HOW IN THE HELL DOES THAT JUSTIFY $70?
Not only that, when I bit into these burritos they were one level above taco bell in quality. Mushy, bland, and LUKE WARM. Avoid this place like the plague.

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 1

Service: 1

Fresh food and authentic vibes. Very friendly hometown vibes

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

We used to go here all the time until we moved. The owner was always so friendly. The food and the service always great!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Taco, Enchilada

Got my order wrong and made me fight to get a refund on an uneaten, returned, and wrong order?! I tried the pinto beans and rice. Worst ever with no flavor or salt. Check out all the water from rinsing the lettuce for my expensive ceviche salad!! What am I missing? This place has been around forever. Have any Mexicans eaten here? My guess is NO!

Food: 1

Service: 1

excellent and authentic Mexican food!

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 5

this place is 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

I ordered two carne asada burritos, two carne asada soft tacos, and a cheese quesadilla. Total out the door was around $80.

The good:
The soft tacos were pretty good. This unfortunately was the best part of the meal.

The quesadilla was a standard white cheese variant and was not too bad. Just average.

The bad:
As for the carne asada burritos.

1) They made it a wet burrito. I wanted a burrito that I could eat with my hands, not a knife and fork.

2) There was so much rice in contrast to the steak and beans that it might as well be called a rice burrito. It can't even be given a title of a rice and bean burrito due to the volume of rice in the burrito. The cheese was not even in the burrito. I didn't even make it 1/3 of the way through the first burrito. My disappointment was so immeasurable that I threw away the first and second burrito without even looking at it. Did I mention how disappointed I was with this meal? I had such high hopes that this place could be my go-to Mexican restaurant.

3) There was hardly any carne asada in it. The food is overpriced for what you get, and the flavor was average.

Nothing special with this place. Nothing to write to Grandma about.

Save your money and go elsewhere.

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 1

Service: 1

I called a few days ahead of time. We had a special 60th surprise get together at my home and Carlos and his team provided a hardy most delicious Tacos and Taquitos with all the fixing. Everyone was impressed with the tasty food and presentation as we picked it up and ready to serve...Thank you Carlitos! :) Julie, Rancho Santa Margarita!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Walked in and had their lunch special. Chicken enchilada, beans and salad along with chips / salsa. Blew me away. Great green sauce and the food was excellent. Great staff as well

I have had a lot of fish taco before but this was the worst here, picture of the special also showed the salad to come with avocados which I never got. The fish was frozen and warmed up in a microwave.
Had food here in the past never had a problem . My daughter order the same thing I did and didn’t touch it

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 1

Service: 4