I really want to do 3.5 stars, but I can't and it was better than a 3. The food was... Good... Not great. Service was really good though.
Jason Whitman
Good spot for Mexican food in Orange. We had the guac and salsa with chips, the Caesar salad and the carnitas platter, and all were really solid. Maybe a little more upscale for Mexican than my taste, but definitely good. Easy to make reservations on OpenTable before you roll up.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 4
Katie Pederson
If you’re looking for the best Mexican restaurant in Orange County, Gabbi’s Mexican Kitchen is it.
The service is truly impeccable. They are attentive, warm, and consistently thoughtful. The drinks are delicious and beautifully crafted, especially the margaritas. And the tacos? My absolute favorite in all of Orange County. The tacos de camarones are a must-order... perfectly cooked shrimp, spicy flavor, and fresh ingredients wrapped in warm tortillas. ALSO THEIR CHIPS AND SALSA is INCREDIBLE! After having Gabbi's salsa, you'll never want another salsa again.
The ambiance is perfect, the people are incredible, and the food and drinks are my favorite in all of OC. Best fine dining Mexican in town!
I recently dined at Gabbi's for the first time this Valentine's Day. With high expectations stemming from positive reviews, I found myself quite disappointed by my experience.
Unfortunately, my fiancé suffered from food poisoning after eating her chicken enchiladas. To make matters worse, when I reached out to the restaurant to notify them, the manager responded in a rude, confrontational, and dismissive manner. I was neither angry nor seeking a refund, so I was taken aback by the manager's unpleasant attitude during our phone conversation. This is certainly not the response one would anticipate from a manager.
As a result, I will not be returning to this restaurant, and if you prioritize excellent customer service, you definitely won't find it here!
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Botanas GGG COCKPRO
The food here sucks, salty and worst of all it came out cold. Burrito came with 6 suger cube size meat, meat was rock hard and over salted and I like salt...yes small suger cubes size meat..sad for a almost $30 dollar Burrito. It was nothing but a rice Burrito for $30 dollars, what a ripped off! Ordered a $5 dollar agua fresca and the small cup came half full and worst of all it was the powder stuff agua fresca like the the stuff that comes from the coolaid packets! Wife carnitas tacos came out cold and meat was super dry like the meat was sitting out. Shame on who ever gave this place a michilien rating. Don't waste your hard earned money on salty cold food!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 1
Service: 2
Raquel Gonzalez
We had a lovely time here, they were extremely busy, but found space for us in the bar area. Really made an effort to accommodate us. The food was delicious and drinks were yummy, but the bar tenders were busy pouring up table drinks and it did take a while for us to get an additional drink order in. It was a Friday night so plan ahead if possible.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Jian Liang
We chose to celebrate my daughter's birthday here. They have some similar dishes as Chaak, but to be honest, I myself like Chaak better. They helped us to store the cake and served it at the end of the meal which was very considerate. I will definitely come back during the day to try other food. Hopefully the parking won't be that hard.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Horacio R
Everything we ate was great.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Eric Manojlovic
Stopped in for lunch and had the Gorditas al Pastor, Camarones tacos, Carnitas tacos. They were amazing. Atmosphere and service added to the experience.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
J A
Great service here and the food was pretty good 👍🏾 👌🏾..the chef here is on point will definitely recommend this place an I will be back...
Unfortunately, our experience at Gabbi’s was very disappointing. The service was poor, and the manager was extremely unprofessional. When we attempted to pay with a gift card that clearly had “Gabbi’s” name on it (a birthday gift from a friend), the manager told us they do not accept it and said they “don’t deal with that online company where the gift card was bought.”
When I asked why Gabbi’s would be listed on the gift card company’s site if they don’t accept it, I was told that it was our problem to resolve. No accountability, and lots of attitude! I found it unfair that the responsibility was placed entirely on the customer instead of the restaurant addressing the issue and at least removing their name from the site.
After hearing other negative reviews, this experience confirmed them and would not have come if it weren’t for the gift card.
In the end, we were able to exchange the card online for a Visa gift card or deposit the funds into our bank account. Honestly, I’m glad it worked out that way — I’d much rather have the money than return here.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 1
Sheree
Gabbi's has a great vibe and is in a great central location. Downtown Orange Plaza is a nice place to walk around with friends whether at night or daytime. The Mojitos are delicious, priced a little high for the amount but very good. The couple we were with had Cucumber Jalapeño Margaritas. One of them actually ordered a Paloma but ended up being served a Margarita, but he did like it a lot. The Enchiladas Suiza were mediocre. Plain shredded chicken with a sweeter kind of green sauce with a zigzag of sour cream. It came with rice which was rather plain and black beans, they were good but nothing stand out. The chips, guacamole, and salsa were really good but chips aren't on the house and even when you order them it's a one basket and done deal. My husband also had enchiladas but with mole and he said they were dry and nothing special. The couple had the skirt steak and were surprised that it was on top of a corn dish but they said it was good. It was a great evening and I will visit again and try something different. I have had their Taquitos in the past and they were great but they weren't on the menu anymore.
Robert
An early dinner prior to a basketball game. We were seated on time but waited 25 minutes for water and chips. The food was great (as usual) but the lack of service urgency put unnecessary pressure on our schedule.
Denise Fernandez
Gabbi’s Mexican Kitchen is the kind of place that reminds you why dining out can feel like travel. A 2021 and 2025 Michelin Star recipient, this cozy, intimate space feels worlds away the moment you step inside—warm, charming, and quietly transportive.
We started with freshly fried chips, vibrant house salsa, and an impossibly creamy guacamole that set a high bar from the first bite. The camarones en mole verde were the standout: perfectly cooked shrimp coated in a lush, herbaceous mole, served over fragrant garlic white rice and vegetables so well executed they could be a dish of their own. Paired with the sangria roja, the flavors came together beautifully—bright, balanced, and indulgent without being heavy.
The pez del día, a delicately cooked barramundi (Asian sea bass), arrived nestled in a vivid green tomatillo sauce that was both fresh and deeply flavorful. Clean, elegant, and thoughtfully plated, it paired seamlessly with their house Cabernet and showcased the kitchen’s precision and restraint.
Gabbi’s isn’t just a meal—it’s a thoughtfully curated experience where every dish, pairing, and detail feels intentional. A true local favorite and a destination-worthy dining experience.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Linda
I've eaten here several times. I love the location and overall atmosphere of downtown Orange (Orange circle area). The service at Gabbi's Kitchen is consistently efficient and friendly. The food is good, keeping in mind I'm Mexican and cook good Mexican food, I can't give them a 5 (lol).
I really want to do 3.5 stars, but I can't and it was better than a 3. The food was... Good... Not great. Service was really good though.
Good spot for Mexican food in Orange. We had the guac and salsa with chips, the Caesar salad and the carnitas platter, and all were really solid. Maybe a little more upscale for Mexican than my taste, but definitely good. Easy to make reservations on OpenTable before you roll up.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 4
If you’re looking for the best Mexican restaurant in Orange County, Gabbi’s Mexican Kitchen is it.
The service is truly impeccable. They are attentive, warm, and consistently thoughtful. The drinks are delicious and beautifully crafted, especially the margaritas. And the tacos? My absolute favorite in all of Orange County. The tacos de camarones are a must-order... perfectly cooked shrimp, spicy flavor, and fresh ingredients wrapped in warm tortillas. ALSO THEIR CHIPS AND SALSA is INCREDIBLE! After having Gabbi's salsa, you'll never want another salsa again.
The ambiance is perfect, the people are incredible, and the food and drinks are my favorite in all of OC. Best fine dining Mexican in town!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: House-Made Chips \u0026 Salsa, Carne Asada Tacos, Steak Tacos
I recently dined at Gabbi's for the first time this Valentine's Day. With high expectations stemming from positive reviews, I found myself quite disappointed by my experience.
Unfortunately, my fiancé suffered from food poisoning after eating her chicken enchiladas. To make matters worse, when I reached out to the restaurant to notify them, the manager responded in a rude, confrontational, and dismissive manner. I was neither angry nor seeking a refund, so I was taken aback by the manager's unpleasant attitude during our phone conversation. This is certainly not the response one would anticipate from a manager.
As a result, I will not be returning to this restaurant, and if you prioritize excellent customer service, you definitely won't find it here!
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
The food here sucks, salty and worst of all it came out cold. Burrito came with 6 suger cube size meat, meat was rock hard and over salted and I like salt...yes small suger cubes size meat..sad for a almost $30 dollar Burrito. It was nothing but a rice Burrito for $30 dollars, what a ripped off! Ordered a $5 dollar agua fresca and the small cup came half full and worst of all it was the powder stuff agua fresca like the the stuff that comes from the coolaid packets! Wife carnitas tacos came out cold and meat was super dry like the meat was sitting out. Shame on who ever gave this place a michilien rating. Don't waste your hard earned money on salty cold food!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 1
Service: 2
We had a lovely time here, they were extremely busy, but found space for us in the bar area. Really made an effort to accommodate us. The food was delicious and drinks were yummy, but the bar tenders were busy pouring up table drinks and it did take a while for us to get an additional drink order in. It was a Friday night so plan ahead if possible.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
We chose to celebrate my daughter's birthday here. They have some similar dishes as Chaak, but to be honest, I myself like Chaak better. They helped us to store the cake and served it at the end of the meal which was very considerate. I will definitely come back during the day to try other food. Hopefully the parking won't be that hard.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Everything we ate was great.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Stopped in for lunch and had the Gorditas al Pastor, Camarones tacos, Carnitas tacos. They were amazing. Atmosphere and service added to the experience.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great service here and the food was pretty good 👍🏾 👌🏾..the chef here is on point will definitely recommend this place an I will be back...
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Unfortunately, our experience at Gabbi’s was very disappointing. The service was poor, and the manager was extremely unprofessional. When we attempted to pay with a gift card that clearly had “Gabbi’s” name on it (a birthday gift from a friend), the manager told us they do not accept it and said they “don’t deal with that online company where the gift card was bought.”
When I asked why Gabbi’s would be listed on the gift card company’s site if they don’t accept it, I was told that it was our problem to resolve. No accountability, and lots of attitude!
I found it unfair that the responsibility was placed entirely on the customer instead of the restaurant addressing the issue and at least removing their name from the site.
After hearing other negative reviews, this experience confirmed them and would not have come if it weren’t for the gift card.
In the end, we were able to exchange the card online for a Visa gift card or deposit the funds into our bank account.
Honestly, I’m glad it worked out that way — I’d much rather have the money than return here.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 1
Gabbi's has a great vibe and is in a great central location. Downtown Orange Plaza is a nice place to walk around with friends whether at night or daytime. The Mojitos are delicious, priced a little high for the amount but very good. The couple we were with had Cucumber Jalapeño Margaritas. One of them actually ordered a Paloma but ended up being served a Margarita, but he did like it a lot. The Enchiladas Suiza were mediocre. Plain shredded chicken with a sweeter kind of green sauce with a zigzag of sour cream. It came with rice which was rather plain and black beans, they were good but nothing stand out. The chips, guacamole, and salsa were really good but chips aren't on the house and even when you order them it's a one basket and done deal. My husband also had enchiladas but with mole and he said they were dry and nothing special. The couple had the skirt steak and were surprised that it was on top of a corn dish but they said it was good. It was a great evening and I will visit again and try something different. I have had their Taquitos in the past and they were great but they weren't on the menu anymore.
An early dinner prior to a basketball game. We were seated on time but waited 25 minutes for water and chips. The food was great (as usual) but the lack of service urgency put unnecessary pressure on our schedule.
Gabbi’s Mexican Kitchen is the kind of place that reminds you why dining out can feel like travel. A 2021 and 2025 Michelin Star recipient, this cozy, intimate space feels worlds away the moment you step inside—warm, charming, and quietly transportive.
We started with freshly fried chips, vibrant house salsa, and an impossibly creamy guacamole that set a high bar from the first bite. The camarones en mole verde were the standout: perfectly cooked shrimp coated in a lush, herbaceous mole, served over fragrant garlic white rice and vegetables so well executed they could be a dish of their own. Paired with the sangria roja, the flavors came together beautifully—bright, balanced, and indulgent without being heavy.
The pez del día, a delicately cooked barramundi (Asian sea bass), arrived nestled in a vivid green tomatillo sauce that was both fresh and deeply flavorful. Clean, elegant, and thoughtfully plated, it paired seamlessly with their house Cabernet and showcased the kitchen’s precision and restraint.
Gabbi’s isn’t just a meal—it’s a thoughtfully curated experience where every dish, pairing, and detail feels intentional. A true local favorite and a destination-worthy dining experience.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I've eaten here several times. I love the location and overall atmosphere of downtown Orange (Orange circle area). The service at Gabbi's Kitchen is consistently efficient and friendly. The food is good, keeping in mind I'm Mexican and cook good Mexican food, I can't give them a 5 (lol).
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