Hey the food is good and i will probably come back in the future, but a couple things to know before you go. (Note- Our group of four were seated at 8pm on a Friday night.) It's SUPER loud in the restaurant, so be prepared to talk at your loudest volume as you will be competing against all the other conversations happening around you including the staff and bar tenders. Maybe the patio (covid street extension) is quieter , i don't know, but inside the restaurant is not where you want to go to have a private dinner conversation or with anyone who is “hard of hearing”. The restaurant is open air. So layer up. The menu is very limited and constructed for family style. So plan on sharing. The appetizers are tasty- cesar salad and chips/salsa plate was a great choice. The octopus appetizer is really for one person, so don't think you're going to share that dish with more than one person. The meat dishes were well cooked and two entree's we ordered was enough food for the four of us.
Nancy
We had the best experience Omar made sure we were well taken care of due to our table not being ready he made sure we were please with the changes. Honestly one of the best anniversary dinner we had. We will for sure be back again.
lori
Our service was spot on tonight. It usually is but she was amazing. The food was delicious a new item or a change of an item on the menu. We had the seafood with the crunchy black rice. It's delicious.
Chris V
This was my first time experiencing Mexican cuisine with Yucatán roots, and CHAAK Kitchen delivered a flavorful and upscale take on it. The atmosphere had a refined, intimate vibe that paired well with the dishes.
The enchiladas were a standout—definitely a must-try—with a satisfying cheese pull and bold, layered flavors. I tried the smoked chicken as well; while it was a bit dry for my preference, the seasoning was on point and made it enjoyable overall.
The drinks were creative and had an elevated twist on traditional cocktails, adding to the high-end feel of the meal. Our server was very friendly, though there were a couple of small hiccups—he needed a reminder about a salad for one of our guests and forgot my wife’s glass of wine (which was left off the bill, so we didn’t bring it up).
CHAAK is a cozy spot, so I’d recommend keeping group sizes under 8 unless you call ahead—they likely can accommodate with notice. One of the coolest features was the retractable roof, addin
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Karthik Menon
Might be slightly over-rated. I'm not price sensitive but the food quality didn't meet expectations. The pork belly taco was excellent, very impressive. But my other orders were very mediocre-strong tastes over ride the more delicate subtle tastes; in my opinion, they need to re-wprk on their menu. However, service was excellent.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 2
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pork Belly Tacos
Debby Estes
We love Chaak kitchen. It’s such a vibe (and downtown Tustin is very cute in general). The food is very good, but some dishes are better than others. We particularly enjoy the corn dish with bone marrow. The drinks and desserts are also very on point!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Enchilada En Cazuela, Bombas, Pork Belly Tacos, Tacos De Cochinita Pibil, Esquites Grilled Com Bone Marrow Lime Cilantro Pecorino
Iren J
Too spicy
PJ
The service started with the front male at the door. Not welcoming. He looked at us like we either didn’t dress the vibe or we weren’t about to handle the prices. That’s the look we received from the guy. We were seated at the bar because he said that was all that was available. Which was fine by us. The server was pleasant. He went over the menu and was to serve us. Everyone at the bar was keeping it moving and seemed all professional. Nice corner spot. The lighting was perfect for the place. The seating area I actually prefer the bar. Not really a private spot. More for a social event or get together.
Vegetarian options: There are meatless options. The bar is nice seating and more private if it’s just 2. The male in the front needs to have better poker face if he’s going to have a stank face.
Dietary restrictions: Ask your server
Parking: Location is in a nice spot. Looks good in the evening by the lights
Overall we really enjoyed our meal here. Decor is great, our server was great. Some cocktails were good, others were a little out of balance. The food was good but just a few quibbles...I felt the ceviche was good but could use just one more flavor or element. While it looked very good at the end of the day it was just a pretty straightforward ceviche. The beef tartare was tasty, all components eaten together were nice, the black garlic sauce on the meat was just slightly overpowering. My biggest disappointment was on the Parrillada, I mean first off parrillada implies a mixed grill, and while I thought the beef and sausage were nicely done, the giant airline chicken breast was...odd. They called it chicken tinga but this was nothing like chicken tinga, it was coated in a spice blend and seemed to be cooked sous vide and then finished with a sear. It was tasty and juicier than I expected, but not chicken tinga. I would have preferred a really well executed traditional tinga. I also though the green sauce that accompanied was too strong on the cardamom. The chocolate mousse with banana and hazelnuts was a highlight.
Again, these are quibbles. Overall we were happy with our meal but at this price point I'd want to see cocktails and some food details just a little more dialed in.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Ann Pham
I hate having to write a negative review for a restaurant but when there is actual danger in dining at an establishment, I am forced to say something. I dined here with a girlfriend for her bday and we were originally sat in the back right next to the white flourescent kitchen. It was easy enough to change seats but rough start. We had drinks, the grilled octopus and pork belly shared. When I got home that night, I got violently sick. I figured this was just me and I fell ill because the winter season. But when I talked to my gf the next day came to find out she too spent the night in the bathroom after dinner. I alerted the restaurant the next day. The first manager that I talked to was in denial about the whole thing, mainly spent time defending his food and said he'd talk to the cook. Never said the word sorry once. I was so floored I had to just hang up. They did follow up with me and I spoke to a different manager who was much more apologetic but their solution to my getting sick off the very "popular items of pork belly and octopus" was for me to come back to the restaurant, even if it's just for drinks and salsa and chips at the bar. Mind you he consulted with the manager there and the owner and they thought let's deal with this customer who spent 3 hours throwing up from our food by asking her to give us another try. We spent almost $100 on dinner and I don't want to come all the way back to subject myself to your food again. The 2nd manager even admitted that he'd gotten sick off sushi once before and never went back. Then why is your solution for me to go back there?? I'm actually in shock. Literally could not even go to work the next day off their poison. Please message me if you guys know how I report this to the department of health. I just don't trust in this place's competence at this point.
I have a bad experience. Lost my wallet there and the staff never returned it.
Parking: C
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 2
Hamid Bakhsheshi
All was well. Their Arnold Palmer was the best I’ve ever had. A bit chili in there to the point of discomfort. Doors left open could also be closed…just a pointer. Smoked chicken salad was very good except the lettuce had sand in it. Didn’t stop me from eating but was annoying. Otherwise, very good.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Enchilada En Cazuela, Smoked Chicken Salad
Steve Vu
Foods were okay. Tacos de Conichita Pibil is for people who never enjoy duck dish. The duck taste is very strong. The bill was still applied the “kitchen fee”! If you want to impress your girls then you should dine here. Otherwise, there are many better Mexican restaurants around.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Ceviche Campeche
Lee Friedersdorf
Excellent Mexican dishes here. On the pricey side but a great spot for a special occasion like my son's birthday. All of the dishes are made to share, and so we did. The deconstructed tamale was especially good.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Grilled Octopus
Nicole
❤️Ceviche ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ❤️Crudo ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Esquites ⭐⭐✨ - not enough bone marrow, was overcooked so it shrunk in the bone and there wasn't much for the plate
Pulpo al guajillo ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Col morada ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - beets and cabbage
Salbute recado negro ⭐⭐⭐ Salbute Pato ahumado ⭐⭐⭐
Tamal colado ⭐⭐⭐ - deconstructed tamales
Empanadas ⭐ - too greasy, no substance
Chaak Caesar ⭐⭐⭐ - nothing special, thought it would be great because of the chimnichurri
Castacan ⭐⭐⭐✨ - pork belly wasn't melting but was still good - mole was just ok
Hey the food is good and i will probably come back in the future, but a couple things to know before you go. (Note- Our group of four were seated at 8pm on a Friday night.) It's SUPER loud in the restaurant, so be prepared to talk at your loudest volume as you will be competing against all the other conversations happening around you including the staff and bar tenders. Maybe the patio (covid street extension) is quieter , i don't know, but inside the restaurant is not where you want to go to have a private dinner conversation or with anyone who is “hard of hearing”. The restaurant is open air. So layer up. The menu is very limited and constructed for family style. So plan on sharing. The appetizers are tasty- cesar salad and chips/salsa plate was a great choice. The octopus appetizer is really for one person, so don't think you're going to share that dish with more than one person. The meat dishes were well cooked and two entree's we ordered was enough food for the four of us.
We had the best experience Omar made sure we were well taken care of due to our table not being ready he made sure we were please with the changes. Honestly one of the best anniversary dinner we had. We will for sure be back again.
Our service was spot on tonight. It usually is but she was amazing. The food was delicious a new item or a change of an item on the menu. We had the seafood with the crunchy black rice. It's delicious.
This was my first time experiencing Mexican cuisine with Yucatán roots, and CHAAK Kitchen delivered a flavorful and upscale take on it. The atmosphere had a refined, intimate vibe that paired well with the dishes.
The enchiladas were a standout—definitely a must-try—with a satisfying cheese pull and bold, layered flavors. I tried the smoked chicken as well; while it was a bit dry for my preference, the seasoning was on point and made it enjoyable overall.
The drinks were creative and had an elevated twist on traditional cocktails, adding to the high-end feel of the meal. Our server was very friendly, though there were a couple of small hiccups—he needed a reminder about a salad for one of our guests and forgot my wife’s glass of wine (which was left off the bill, so we didn’t bring it up).
CHAAK is a cozy spot, so I’d recommend keeping group sizes under 8 unless you call ahead—they likely can accommodate with notice. One of the coolest features was the retractable roof, addin
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Might be slightly over-rated. I'm not price sensitive but the food quality didn't meet expectations. The pork belly taco was excellent, very impressive. But my other orders were very mediocre-strong tastes over ride the more delicate subtle tastes; in my opinion, they need to re-wprk on their menu. However, service was excellent.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 2
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pork Belly Tacos
We love Chaak kitchen. It’s such a vibe (and downtown Tustin is very cute in general). The food is very good, but some dishes are better than others. We particularly enjoy the corn dish with bone marrow. The drinks and desserts are also very on point!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Enchilada En Cazuela, Bombas, Pork Belly Tacos, Tacos De Cochinita Pibil, Esquites Grilled Com Bone Marrow Lime Cilantro Pecorino
Too spicy
The service started with the front male at the door. Not welcoming. He looked at us like we either didn’t dress the vibe or we weren’t about to handle the prices. That’s the look we received from the guy. We were seated at the bar because he said that was all that was available. Which was fine by us. The server was pleasant. He went over the menu and was to serve us. Everyone at the bar was keeping it moving and seemed all professional. Nice corner spot. The lighting was perfect for the place. The seating area I actually prefer the bar. Not really a private spot. More for a social event or get together.
Vegetarian options: There are meatless options. The bar is nice seating and more private if it’s just 2. The male in the front needs to have better poker face if he’s going to have a stank face.
Dietary restrictions: Ask your server
Parking: Location is in a nice spot. Looks good in the evening by the lights
Kid-friendliness: No
Wheelchair accessibility: Not sure
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 2
Recommended dishes: Empanadas Oaxaca Cheese Epazote
Overall we really enjoyed our meal here. Decor is great, our server was great. Some cocktails were good, others were a little out of balance. The food was good but just a few quibbles...I felt the ceviche was good but could use just one more flavor or element. While it looked very good at the end of the day it was just a pretty straightforward ceviche. The beef tartare was tasty, all components eaten together were nice, the black garlic sauce on the meat was just slightly overpowering. My biggest disappointment was on the Parrillada, I mean first off parrillada implies a mixed grill, and while I thought the beef and sausage were nicely done, the giant airline chicken breast was...odd. They called it chicken tinga but this was nothing like chicken tinga, it was coated in a spice blend and seemed to be cooked sous vide and then finished with a sear. It was tasty and juicier than I expected, but not chicken tinga. I would have preferred a really well executed traditional tinga. I also though the green sauce that accompanied was too strong on the cardamom. The chocolate mousse with banana and hazelnuts was a highlight.
Again, these are quibbles. Overall we were happy with our meal but at this price point I'd want to see cocktails and some food details just a little more dialed in.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
I hate having to write a negative review for a restaurant but when
there is actual danger in dining at an establishment, I am forced to
say something. I dined here with a girlfriend for her bday and we were
originally sat in the back right next to the white flourescent
kitchen. It was easy enough to change seats but rough start. We had
drinks, the grilled octopus and pork belly shared. When I got home
that night, I got violently sick. I figured this was just me and I
fell ill because the winter season. But when I talked to my gf the
next day came to find out she too spent the night in the bathroom
after dinner. I alerted the restaurant the next day. The first manager
that I talked to was in denial about the whole thing, mainly spent
time defending his food and said he'd talk to the cook. Never said the
word sorry once. I was so floored I had to just hang up. They did
follow up with me and I spoke to a different manager who was much more
apologetic but their solution to my getting sick off the very "popular
items of pork belly and octopus" was for me to come back to the
restaurant, even if it's just for drinks and salsa and chips at the
bar. Mind you he consulted with the manager there and the owner and
they thought let's deal with this customer who spent 3 hours throwing
up from our food by asking her to give us another try. We spent almost
$100 on dinner and I don't want to come all the way back to subject
myself to your food again. The 2nd manager even admitted that he'd
gotten sick off sushi once before and never went back. Then why is
your solution for me to go back there?? I'm actually in shock.
Literally could not even go to work the next day off their poison.
Please message me if you guys know how I report this to the department
of health. I just don't trust in this place's competence at this
point.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Restaurantji Recommends
I have a bad experience. Lost my wallet there and the staff never returned it.
Parking: C
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 2
All was well. Their Arnold Palmer was the best I’ve ever had.
A bit chili in there to the point of discomfort. Doors left open could also be closed…just a pointer.
Smoked chicken salad was very good except the lettuce had sand in it. Didn’t stop me from eating but was annoying.
Otherwise, very good.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Enchilada En Cazuela, Smoked Chicken Salad
Foods were okay. Tacos de Conichita Pibil is for people who never enjoy duck dish. The duck taste is very strong. The bill was still applied the “kitchen fee”! If you want to impress your girls then you should dine here. Otherwise, there are many better Mexican restaurants around.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Ceviche Campeche
Excellent Mexican dishes here. On the pricey side but a great spot for a special occasion like my son's birthday. All of the dishes are made to share, and so we did. The deconstructed tamale was especially good.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Grilled Octopus
❤️Ceviche ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
❤️Crudo ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Esquites ⭐⭐✨
- not enough bone marrow, was overcooked so it shrunk in the bone and there wasn't much for the plate
Pulpo al guajillo ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Col morada ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- beets and cabbage
Salbute recado negro ⭐⭐⭐
Salbute Pato ahumado ⭐⭐⭐
Tamal colado ⭐⭐⭐
- deconstructed tamales
Empanadas ⭐
- too greasy, no substance
Chaak Caesar ⭐⭐⭐
- nothing special, thought it would be great because of the chimnichurri
Castacan ⭐⭐⭐✨
- pork belly wasn't melting but was still good
- mole was just ok
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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