El Farolito Mexican Restaurant

I've been coming to El Farolito since 2013 or so. It's still as amazing today as when I first visited. It can get busy and a bit crazy but they seat very quickly and are great accommodating all types of groups.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

We have been coming to El Farolito for years, and it is easily one of our favorite spots in Old Town Placentia. The restaurant sits right in a neighborhood and has that classic feel of an old house. We love coming here in person, but we also order takeout quite often because the quality is always so consistent.

On our most recent visit, we finally got to sit in the new expansion area. It’s a great space and it adds so much more seating, which was definitely needed. The only downside is that it gets very loud in that room. The ceilings are extremely high, and the sound just bounces around. It seems like adding some insulation or sound-absorbing material up in the rafters would go a long way in making it a bit easier to have a conversation.

The menus are also new, so it’s worth noting that prices seem to have gone up a bit with the changes. However, the food was just as delicious as always. One of us ordered the menudo, which they only serve on Saturdays and Sundays. It is great that they offer it in small, medium, and large sizes so you can pick exactly how much you want. Another person at the table had the breakfast burrito. It was a bit on the small side and felt like something you might roll up at home, so having it come with a side of rice and beans would have made it feel like a more complete meal. I went with the Mama’s Plate, which is a two-item combo. I chose a cheese enchilada and a crispy chicken taco. Everything tasted great, though the enchilada must have been cooked a little too quickly since the cheese wasn't quite melted all the way through in the middle.

The service is always wonderful, whether you are sitting down for a meal or just picking up an order. We were also able to get our holiday pork tamales ordered this year. They are $40 a dozen right now, and you really have to call them early because they sell out every single year. If you haven't been to this local place yet, you should definitely check this family run place out.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 4

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Additional Chips, Pork Tamale, Tacos Hard Shell

Wow!! We dined at a great place.
The chips and salsa were great. Thick chips, which I prefer, complemented the salsa.
Beware - the nacho appetizer was very filling. And very good.
The carnitas were delicious. The carnitas were sided with rice, beans and tortillas.
After the nachos, we could not eat the Chicken and cheese enchiladas with red and green sauce. Eduardo and Joel provided great service.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 5

Pretty darn good. Place is ALWAYS busy.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 4

Service: 4

Delicious food and great prices.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

I really wanted to love this restaurant. 50 years of family owned recipes in a true hole in the wall gem. The first red flag was the salsa....red canned tomato sauce with a few diced tomatoes. No seasoning, which was the theme of the meal. If you love spaghetti made with ketchup and weiners, you would have loved this meal. Bland beans, bland rice, even bland carnitas. So disappointing. The only reason I gave it a 2 is because the ground beef taco actually had flavor, and the beer was perfectly chilled.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 2

Service: 4

What a great, Authentic place! Danny and Michelle took me there for dinner, they have been going there for 35 years. I ordered 3 tacos and the menu said 2 tortillas, I figured they were street tacos, but come to find out there are full-size tacos. I have a big appetite and had a hard time Finishing all three tacos with rice and beans. This place I will definitely be coming back to.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Food is alright. If you grew in a Mexican household this food okay and nothing impressive. Everyone else think this is authentic and the best food ever.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 3

Service: 4

Great chilentelleno

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 4

Service: 4

Seems to be a little overrated and get people in get them out, they have a 20 minute dining., I guess that’s better than the military or they give you a minute or two. The food is average. The service was average. The atmosphere was less than average.

Atmosphere: 2

Food: 4

Service: 3

Excellent!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Food is just ok. Nothing special. Tastes like El Torito. Service was fine. I'd avoid and find a hole in the wall Mexican joint. I'd prefer King Taco any day of the week and twice on Sunday over this place.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 2

Service: 4

The best Mexican food around

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

This is the place to come to for Mexican food in Placentia. I had the Chicken enchiladas, with rice, beans and green salsa. It was on point. The chips and salsa we very good. I highly recommend. Met the owner. Really great guy. Come here for Mexican food. Restaurant was clean and they are expanding.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Hands down, the BEST mexican joint I've ever been to. The meats are tender and fresh, the dishes cooked and fried to perfection, and consistently too! I always make a point to stop by when I'm in the area because food like this is unforgettably delicious.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5