Azteca is a wonderful distraction from the Mexican food chains like El Torito. It's an enjoyable restaurant, with lots of personality. The prices are reasonable and the staff is very friendly. It's a great place to relax and hang out with friends. Overall the food is good to very good, and there's plenty of variety. I like to get the two taco combo plate with a side of shredded lettuce and a side of green onions. The portions are big, and the plates are hot!! Be prepared for smaller size drinks and smaller chip baskets than you usually get at a Mexican restaurant. They're happy to bring refills, so just ask them. I'm not that much of an Elvis fan, but for some reason I just don't mind being surrounded by the 20,000 tons of Elvis at Azteca. From props and letters to music and old television broadcasts, it's in there. If the owner could figure out a way to get Elvis memorabilia on the floor, he probably would. Be sure to look up while you're there. The ceiling is covered with Elvis movie posters. It's not too crowded at lunch but weekend dinners including Friday night are typically packed. Check the calendar to make sure they're open for lunch on the day you want to go -- sometimes they're closed and open for dinner only. If you're wanting to have some fun, go when there's entertainment or karaoke night. Park in the back. It's just easier.
(5)
Joey G.
Great food. Garlic tacos - awesome. Fun environment. I'd return though not sit at their bar to order. Took over an hour to get my food & the bartender seemed drunk, pre-occupied and more focused on doing shots w/guests sitting @ the bar than servicing food.
(1)
Erick G.
An Elvis lovers dream! If you love Elvis than Aztecas will not disappoint. Friendly staff and excellent food will have you coming back again and again.
(5)
Tyler W.
I hate this place the food is disgusting, the bar is uncomfortable to sit in and for some reason it's all Elvis themed. The door man on weekend night's is a prick and because his family owns the place he feels entitled to be a prick. I refuse to spend another dime there.
(1)
Scott A.
Had high hopes, but was not all that impressed. Menu seemed limited. I had the garlic steak and I will say that they do not go light on the garlic. My wife was looking for Fajitas or something similar, but no luck. Owner was friendly, but I continued to hear him make excuses for the food quality. Service was fine and all and all it was enjoyable, just not worth a special trip. I hate to say it, but I find El Torito or Acapulco to be better.
(3)
Wendy C.
I love the Elvis motif and that's about it. My carne asada Mexico City burrito was bland, no flavor or spice. The guacamole tasted like mashed avocados with nothing else. Next time I'll stick with my first choice and go to El Torito.
(1)
Michelle P.
While the over the top Elvis decor does add a little fun to dinner, the food reminds me why I have not been in years. Recently my roommate and I were craving Mexican food and I had a restaurant.com certificate for Azteca's so we decided to check it out. I had the enchiladas, my roommate had the carne asada tacos, and her daughter had the kid's quesedilla. We also started with the taquito appetizer. I must say none of the food impressed. My enchiladas had no flavor and very little cheese inside. The youngest would not even touch her quesedilla. The guacamole that came with everything had so much salt in it. Needless to say, even though the prices are cheap, i will not be returning. There are several far better mexican restaurants in the area.
(2)
L J.
What do I love more than Mexican food? Elvis!!! I had been here once but recently returned almost three years later with a Living Social voucher. I love eating here while enjoying the Elvis decor. I ordered a chile relleno combo, a garlic taco, and the wet cake. All three were great. Be careful when ordering their garlic taco. It is loaded witih garlic. My lips were burning as I ate it but it was delicious. The wet cake is a must have! I will definitely be back. Note: There is a parking lot in the back.
(5)
Chris A.
First off, the main person who is supposed to make a horrible restaurant situation better is the manager in charge. You know your going to have a bad time when the manager walks up and the first thing he says is "What's wrong". The wait was horrible, the food was horrible, everyone looked like they were having a bad time. My chicken burrito was like a watery mess.
(1)
Matt B.
I bought the groupon so I thought I would take my wife who is a huge Elvis fan. I waited 20 minutes to get my drinks. Very slow service. I ordered the ceviche, which was terrible! Tacos were great! My enchilada and tamale were mediocre. I ended up being there for 2 hours. VERY slow service. It wasn't even busy. Honestly I wasn't impressed and probably won't visit here again.
(2)
Sara S.
Amazing dinning love all the incredible spices. Fresh meat that's cooked to perfection. Service was amazing with lots of smiles. Juan was especially nice.
(4)
Kimberly R.
Dinner tonight was awesome! We came in right around 9pm for a late night dinner and the place was packed! My carne asada was so yummy and the carnitas were yummy too! My daughter had the taquitos but they were too crunchy for her. She is used to the frozen mushy kind :( Sometimes the salsa is hotter than other times.... tonight was a hot night but i almost drank the stuff anyway! I will be back.... again
(4)
Rebekah M.
Ordered a taco and tamale plate with rice and beans. The taco was the only digestible item on the plate. The tamale was not homemade and was dry. The beans...how can you screw up frijoles!. .tasted like they were scraped from the bottom of the pot. I would love come back here...good service ..fun atmosphere but the food...sheesh! New recipes please!
(2)
Christina S.
I have to say worst food ever. Everything was so bland or had a funky taste.. Service was good. Thought was weird that a place called Azteca was all Elvis themed?
(1)
Marci C.
This used to be one of our favorite places, but this visit today will be our last time. Something has drastically changed for the worse. Service was SLOW, disorganized, super stingy with the chips and salsa and the garlic taco was nothing like it used to be and nothing like the menu descriptio. Hard to get a drink refill and my son's tortilla on his burrito was old and stale. Adios Azteca!
(1)
Linda S.
Apparently new owners took over last month. Yikes! Asked for a side of their famous garlic sauce (which we've always done) and was given about 3 tablespoons, so asked for another and one for my son. Aaah, $6.75 for the sauce. Really?!?! The new owners think it's a good idea to charge $2.25 for a few tablespoons of sauce. Sorry new owners, that's being penny wise and pound foolish. Will be looking for a new favorite Mexican restaurant.
(1)
Varo N.
If you have a true Mexican palete this is not the place for you. Regret every penny and calorie of this visit, why did I even tip??
(1)
Adam M.
Delicious food and cheap prices and it's fun. I like the nachos and the flat iron steak with bleu cheese crumbles.
(5)
D.Marie S.
My Husband & I LOOOOVE this place!! The food is great, the entertainment is fantastic & the service is wonderful! The drinks during happy hour are way cheap. Love Love Love! I love all of the Elvis product EVERYWHERE!!! Date night tomorrow & we will be here! The car shows Friday nights are also a PLUS!!
(5)
Erika Ashley K.
Do you enjoy Mexican restaurants, but you're looking for something a tad different? Azteca is definitely the place for you. The whole place is littered with Elvis memorabilia, photos, posters, paintings, figurines, statues, and even things Elvis himself owned. The owner is obsessed with Elvis, and shares that obsession with all of his customers. The whole atmosphere is like you walked into an Elvis party. Not to mention, the lighting is extremely cozy. You can come in during the middle of the day for lunch and still feel like you're having an intimate meal with your significant other. Azteca has high backed booths (so there is plenty of privacy for small groups) and tons of tables in the center of the restaurant that can be pushed together for large groups. The food is so-so on the Mexican level. It's what I would consider Americanized Mexican food. But their carne asada combo plate is DELISH, and they always bring out fresh chips and salsa at no additional charge to yourself. My absolute favorite part about this place? They completely separate the bar scene from the restaurant/family area. You actually have to walk into a completely different room for the bar. It's a great separation that allows families to be mellow, and those who want to party to be loud and wild without either group bothering the other. The bar area also has short backed booths in case you want to have a loud get together with friends and still order food. Overall, I feel this restaurant has done extremely well when it comes to catering to all possible persons.... Unless you despise Elvis.
(4)
Armando D.
Probably the worst Mexican food I've had in my life. We arrived pretty late at night and weren't sure if the kitchen was still open so we waited by the hostess station to ask to be seated. There were people signing karaoke and people working the bar so we figured we might still have a chance. We seated ourselves at a booth and waived down a busser to help us out because there were no servers in sight. He came over and we asked "Are you still serving food?" He took a few looks around and said "I don't know... *silence/blank stare*.... do you want a menu?" Well no fucking shit I want a menu. Had the daily special (carnitas burrito) and it was absolutely the worst burrito I've ever had. Dry and flavorless meat in a low quality tortilla with bland rice and beans. I felt cheated. Do yourself a favor and go to McDonald's down the street instead.
(1)
Rebecca R.
Cheap booze, chips & salsa, yummy Mexican food, and Elvis. What could be better? We frequent the bar so I'm not sure how it is on the dining room side, but the bar is always a fun atmosphere with fun employees that are usually pretty attentive. Get a pitcher of margarita... Thank me later
(4)
Ryann D.
I came here last week with a friend of mine for lunch and it was delicious! I enjoyed how it was decorated and the people working were kind. We sat in the dinner section, and my friend told me there is a bar section that stays open late which I can't wait to try out!
(4)
Kelly K.
"Well, it's One for the money, Two for the show, Three to get ready, now Garlic Tacos!!" Azteca had been on my list of places to check out for a long time, so I went on a Friday night when then the car show was outside. The car show was cool. Lots of great rides, older folks dancing, raffles and prizes. Good fun. Azteca disappointed me. The atmosphere was great and there was so much to look at. Elvis was on the screen and there was music playing. Almost every inch of the place is covered in Elvis memorabilia. The Crooner's Lounge, where they have karaoke, was small and predictably packed. Now for the food. I typically shun crunchy tacos like an Amish kid that doesn't come back from Rumpspringa, but the garlic tacos were highly recommended and I thought they were delicious. You really have to like garlic and, if you're on a hot date, you better hope your date had them, too, because you'll be warding off vampires and small predatory insects. I had overcooked, mushy burst rice, while my date's rice was still crunchy. The beans were fine, but you can't screw up beans. The salsa wasn't great, but I thought it was better than most places. The tamale was completely flavorless. It was covered in, I think, enchilada sauce, but there was absolutely no flavor. All I tasted was bland dough. I stopped eating it because I couldn't figure out WHY I was still eating it. Salt, pepper, something, anything, please. I want to believe in Azteca, which is why I'll give it another shot. After all, my garlic taco rocked. Maybe I just ordered the one combo they suck at. Here's Huell Howser: youtu.be/7M3f5_h7qX0
(3)
Amg G.
Let me just say I love this place the food is so good!! They just switched owners and everything seems so much better!! The ladies that work there were so nice always making sure we had enough chips and salsa, trust me it wasn't like that before but now it's sooo much better with the new ladies there. We will definitely start coming in to eat again!!!
(5)
K S.
This place just gets worse and worse. The head bartender does not know how to make any drinks and the prices change every time we go in there. Bring back the old staff before it is too late to save this place
(1)
Rasta AL Z.
This review is from about a year ago. The wifey and i had to stop in for the famous girllick tacos after seeing them on the news. I been there one time before but not for food, only a few dranks and karaoke. Wifay and i liked the restaurant itself. Its an interesting place and it was a nice place to have a meal. The flavor of the tacos was good. But the meat used was like thick chunks of cube steak tough and fatty meat. They really need to change that for some thinner cut , leaner meat. Service was kinda slow and they seemed overworked and understaffed.
(3)
P R.
This is the famous "Elvis" Mexican restaurant, and it did not disappoint! Wonderful decor with a sense of humor and a good dose of kitsch (be sure to check out the bathrooms), and the food was excellent. We had shredded beef tacos and the chile relleno combo, and they were great (in fact, the chile relleno was one of the best I've had in recent years). Highly recommended and I'll definitely be back for more.
(5)
L.A. L.
Recently saw this on burrous bites segment on KTLA news, so of course had to check it out. Location is great and the Elvis decor is kinda cool. Thats about it as they ran out beans. What, a Mexican place with no beans. Practically all the dishes come with beans. I ordered a carne asade burrito with green sauce and no sour cream. When It came it had sour cream and red sauce. I sent it back. When he brought it back, it still had red sauce. I asked the server if this was red or green. He said green....I called another server over and asked her if this was red or green and she said red. Wow! The asada was chewy and cold. I'm done and left and will not return . No beans, really!?!?!
(2)
Andrew B.
Unbelievable... Was told it would be a 30 minute wait when we arrived. After more than 40 minutes I notice a booth has been open at least ten minutes but the hostess isn't around. She finally walks up and said she can seat us ( end up seating us in the open booth I saw ). We sit down and are immediately brought chips and salsa but after more than ten more minutes we haven't seen a server or even been brought water. We finally gave up and walked out, grabbed Los Sanchez and ate at home. What a waste of time. I read a few others complaining on the long waits for service so it seems this wasn't an exception.
(1)
Michael F.
Chile verde azteca burrito is really good, but the garlic beef tacos are unbelievable! You have to try this place.
(5)
K C.
I have eaten here several times, and I've eaten lots of Mexican food. I would say the food is not super good. The place does have a great atmosphere with all the Elvis stuff, but if it's great food you want, I'd try elsewhere.
(2)
Kelli E.
This is by far the worst mexican food I have ever tasted! The waiter was nice, but all 8 of us were disgusted by the food here!
(1)
Alan G.
$2 domestic pints and $4 premium pints for happy hour at the bar all day Monday thru Fridays. Let them take you back with the awesome Elvis themed bar. There isn't an inch of wall bare that doesn't have some sort of Elvis memorabilia in it. If I recall correctly they were even playing some Elvis in the restroom, but I was drunk from all their awesome priced beer at the time, so I may be wrong on that.
(5)
Ignacio H.
This place is garbage. The food is vomit..
(1)
Bobby E.
Love the happy hour sun-thurs all day cant beat the prices, food and the atmosphere....... gotta love "The KING" and great food and singing to walk into this little slice of heaven
(5)
Maraley S.
Excellent. Food was really good. Husband had carnitas, we will definitely order that again.
(5)
Dar M.
The food is great here and the Elvis decor is one of a kind!! Has been there for years...new owners and the food seems to have improved. Just not sure why they use folding chairs? Seems so wired. At our table someone got their legs tangled up..chairs are too short for the tables...not enjoyable to sit in for 2 hours for the show...
(3)
Diana W.
Went to the _Doug the Crooner_ show on Thursday. Had a blast. Good drinks, and my Azteca Burrito with shredded beef was delish. I'll be back.
(5)
Justina R.
I've come here multiple times, and almost every time, I've been seated at the same booth :-) (except the last time, but that's okay, it was occupied). I've always been impressed with the food. Very tasty, and it makes for fabulous leftovers. I've had the bean burrito, veggie burrito, tostada, and quesadilla. All fabulous!
(4)
Rud M.
Fun place Our friends love karaoke which is how we ended up here. Pros: Lots of memorabilia Fun atmosphere Karaoke for those who like to sing Cons: foods a little pricey for speed quantity and taste Karaoke guy would not play some songs cause he saved them for himself (it seems karaoke DJs should only sing when its slow & not take customer's songs)
(3)
Layla H.
We have been coming to the Azteca for the Gospel Brunch for years. we were there this past Sunday. Marlon as usual put on a fantastic show! But I'm sorry to say that's the only good thing about this place. Since the new owner took over it has changed and not for the good. And Larry the new manager is RUDE and CONDESENDING! They advertise it as a champagne brunch and even had signs on all the tables. When asked about it, overheard the manager tell the owner, that's too bad and they removed all the signs. So no champagne, no special brunch menu and no fruit. The food is HORRIBLE! Chips stale, salsa taste like it came out of a can, and the rest barely edible. but the real problem is the manager. Never in all my years of coming here and to other restaurants have I been treated so badly by a manager. If his goal is to ruin this unique restaurant and drive away paying customers he has succeeded! Over heard him telling another customer who questioned why he changed their reservations to less than requested that it was his call and decision to make. REALLY? Will not be back and waste my money on this place!
(1)
Peggy M.
An Elvis themed, Mexican restaurant. One would have thought this would have been a fun filled experience for the whole family. NOT! By far one of the worse experiences ever. We had a groupon and came with the kids. We were sat a table pretty quickly but after about 15 minutes, we finally got a waiter to come to our table and ask if we wanted something to drink. Almost two hours later we are finishing our meal and waiting for a check. Not because we were eating slow, but it took that long to be served. Thank goodness we knew some fun guessing games to keep the kids entertained. Would not come here again.
(1)
Rudy R.
food here does not taste like mexican food at all! more like crap pretending to be mexican food, i heard people say how awesome this place was, they were right it is, but just for the ambiance and the drinks, thats it!! i will never return here for food,
(2)
Claire V.
One of the stranger karaoke places I've been to, as far as layout is concerned. Azteca has a dining room and a bar. The karaoke takes place in the dining room. This wouldn't be a problem, except that the dining room is pretty small, and on Saturday, the beginning of karaoke overlaps with the end of dinner. Given that we were there for karaoke, not for dinner, we couldn't get a table -- or anywhere to sit -- for an hour. Irritating. On the plus side, people seem to know this, so the place never really got busy. We got to sing a song per hour, which is damn good on a Saturday night. The KJ established a rotation of singers and didn't seem to be taking bribes to let people sing more often. Or maybe no one bothered bribing him. We tipped, but not exorbitantly. Most singers could carry a tune, which is more than I can say for many Saturday night karaoke crowds. The selection is really great, but it's difficult to know exactly what they have because it's split into two books: the usual alpha-by-artist book and a "recently added" book, which seems to include songs added in the last two years, many of which are not newly released songs. I know it's expensive to print new books, but I don't think it's unreasonable to expect a semi-annual update, and an alphabetized supplement of new additions in the meantime. Dream Karaoke in the Inland Empire does this really well. There isn't a stage per se, but that doesn't matter since the place is small. Best feature: Mic stand! A lot of karaoke joints won't let singers have a mic stand because some drunk fool will think he's Steven Tyler and cause property damage and/or injury. This place has a more sedate crowd, apparently. I was the drunkest fool and had only had two drinks. The screens with the lyrics are pretty far from the mic so wear your spectacles.
(4)
Chuck B.
I have not tried the food here yet. I come for the karaoke. The bar restaurant is really cool, with nearly every square inch of wall and ceiling space taken up with some form of Elvis memorabilia. My mom is an Elvis nut and would just love this place. The karaoke is a lot of fun and the crowd is pretty cool too.
(4)
Rick L.
The best is the tostada Supreme. There have also been many recent sitings of Elvis around the bar area. You got to come in and say hello to him. I had been a believer like many others that he was dead.
(5)
Manny Z.
This place calling what they serve "Mexican Food" is just shameful. The server were very helpful and friendly but that means nothing with the the food they are serving. This place needs a rescue from itself completely needs to go back to the drawing board.
(1)
Thu T.
Food was good. Service.....very SLOW. We went on a night where they had the car show at main street garden grove and it was busy. Took them 10+ minutes to take our orders an another 20 minutes before the food came out. We had 2 rounds of chip and sauce between 2 people. let's just say I wasn't hungry anymore when the food came out. Their decor was unique Elvis everything. Pasted on the wall, ceiling... Now they just need to figure out how to apply it to the furniture
(2)
Justin M.
Interesting place. Mom is a huge fan of Mexican food and Elvis, so this joint is right up her alley. The food is pretty good and the decor is interesting-probably a little over the top. They host classic car shows some evenings. Looks like they get a good turn out for them too. The garlic tacos are good, but consider getting the sauce on the side if you want to taste anything but garlic. I also liked the enchiladas. The "wet" cake was a nice way to wrap up our meal. Interesting place for sure.
(4)
Maytee M.
As far as food this place has by far one of the worst Mexican food I've had. The service was great our server was very nice. Don't think I'll ever come here again
(1)
Joycelyn D.
This review is strictly for the owner. I reference to him as "the owner" because he was so rude and unwelcoming we didn't feel we wanted to get to know him or even know his name. My coworker and I are not regulars but have been to Azteca 2 previous times. Both times we got amazing service from the waiters and bartenders (Roy, Lalo and Alex). However on the 3rd time, the owner manned the bar and helped us out with our service. He was initially welcoming and helped us get our orders in. When we asked about a waiter that we previously met when we were there, he asked if we knew him because he took shots with us. We were shocked at such a question and told him that he was actually a great waiter and we liked his service. Later when "the owner" asked if we wanted anything else, I said, "No". Informed him we were on our lunch break and needed to get back to work. He followed up with a... "this is what you do on your lunch break???" comment. Seriously??!!! Who says that? We decided although the happy hour prices are great and the other waiters are amazing, the owner did not deserve any of our continued business as we will be taking our business elsewhere where managers / owners are not as rude and unwelcoming.
I attended a private venue here and I only sampled a taco appetizer and not any specific meal from their menu. Hey, it's bar food you 2 and 1 star reviewers..eat at El Pollo Loco if you are so fussy assed! WOW, if you love Elvis THIS is the spot for you! Wall to wall ceiling to floor, even in the bathrooms. My Tia Alicia would go Elvis ape shitz over this place and, drive from Hacienda Heights to be here. She has been to every performance in Las Vegas he has ever done, front row seats every time and some paid for by the KING himself (which my tio Guermo has learned to get on board with her about), pictures with him and of him, his handkerchiefs he wiped his brow with, gloves, every record ( 45 RPMs and LPS)..a shrine in one room; hell Azteca and this room could be Les Quates! I'm almost afraid to tell her..but I just gotta or the chisme will get to her via my dad and I'm as good as dead like carne asada in the sun in Dallas during the summer sun! Blue Moon on Tap...OH YEAH! One sad note, the front doors are not wheel chair friendly; I and Erin V., had to get up to let this really cool lady in her Christmas best in manually-get busy on that Azteca! Cool place and great staff made this THE place to be pre Christmas Eve and Christmas Day! youtube.com/watch?v=7ODr…
(4)
Dan H.
Whaaaaaaat? I've never written a review of Crooners Lounge?!?! One of the coolest bars I've ever been to. And I have been to bars-a-plenty from here to Paris. I have a friend from Memphis that was actually envious as there aint even one this Elvisey there. I almost dropped it down a star cuz they now have one of those fancy new juke boxes that you can pretty much bring up any song ever recorded. The old one had Elvis, Frank, Elvis, Patsy, Elvis, Dean, Elvis, Bobby, Elvis, Tony, Elvis.....and more Elvis. If you love The King, you must go. Now. No, really. Now. Well, not really cuz today is Christmas, so go tomorrow. No, really. Tomorrow.
(5)
Kristee B.
The food here is bland and dry. Everything here is from a can or a jar. The salsa is just like Pace salsa, so I assume it is For lunch I has the Azteca chicken burrito, it was very dry and flavorless, could not finish it as the waiter did not bring any water to help choke it down. My husband ordered the carnitas, which again was bland and REALLY dry. The waiter never came around to ask us how are food was, I can only assume it's because he knew what the answer would be. Definitely will NOT be back
(2)
Brent R.
I've had incredible Mexican food; I've had mediocre Mexican food. This place served up enchiladas that were far below mediocre. The meal I had on 4/1/2012 is hands down the worst Mexican meal that I have ever had . . . and I am including Taco Bell and Del Taco. If it were not for my stern rule of not wasting food, there is no way I would have eaten it all. It really was really that bad. The atmosphere was nice, and the service was good. Thank you Victor for the fine service! I suggest Azteca focus on food quality.
(1)
Jen H.
This place is a paradox. So from the top: The food--The first time hubs and I were there the main kitchen was closed, but the had a taco cart type thing. The food was bloody DELISH! We went back just because those tacos kept calling out for us. We had the nachos and buffalo wings with the house special garlic sauce thing. Both were extremely satisfying. Food quality alone will bring us back. The price--On the shockingly pricey side. Now I don't mean pricey as in a fancy-schmancy, five star, zomg-I-just-sold-my-organs-to-pay-for-my-meal. I'm talkin' about pricey for a mexican food place. Maybe I'm just used to the Santa Ana Mexican restaurants. Or maybe I'm a stingy bastard. Whatever. The dishes were running around $15 a plate for the Carne Asada ones. If the food wasn't so got-dang fabulous I'd've vowed to not return. Hell, I'd go back just to taste the delicious morsels of fatty, fatty nomness right now if I wasn't hung over. The service--Meh. 'Nuff said. The environment--Blech! Okay, I guess to should explain further. We had an excruciatingly loud party of three next to us. You could hear them the next bloody town over. Hell, I'm sure China heard them. Everyone in the restaurant kept staring at them every time the WooGurl guffawed. Every. Single. Stinkin'. Time. As the environment got louder, so did she. It was a blatantly annoying call for attention. Now, I understand that this isn't exactly the restaurant's fault. But to have the bouncers, manager-on-duty, servers, hosts, bussers; pretty much every staff member stop by their table and kow-tow to them is just unacceptable. I want to have a good time. I want to enjoy some people making mockeries of themselves on stage with hoarse karaoke (more on this in a moment). I DON'T WANT TO HEAR THE BANSHEE FROM HELL SCREECHING EVERY TWO SECONDS! We had mentioned the annoyance to the staff and the most we got was a bloody shrug. Hell, you wanna bow down and ask for blessing from that demon hell hole? Sure, go ahead. It's your business. That's fine. Just sell some bloody earplugs or something. Now the karaoke. I love that there isn't too much of a wait. And some of the regulars have some real talent. It was fun to watch the first time around. But could there have been a more depressing song list than last night's? Gods! Paper cut my eyeballs to stop the flow of sadness tears. Alcohol to stymie the flow from my open veins. A molotov cocktail of anti-depressants to soothe the soul. That was the mood the patrons chose to put everyone in. I don't blame 'em though. We were there. With the WooGurl I'm convinced is the Devil's personal siren/alarm clock. Overall--Regardless of all the bad, the food is SO EFFING GOOD I'd come back anytime I have actual money. I can't believe a place could possibly have such impossibly great food. The garlic sauce thing is to die for. Well, okay. Pretty close considering last night's experience. The door guy/bouncer is a total sweetheart who listens to Hub's inane ramblings. Taco cart guy offered awesome service. I can't understand how you can have fantabulous food with some of the staff being great while everything else screams otherwise. Anyhoo, five stars for food, three for service (and that's five for the two employees, maybe three, that have been consistent with service, zero for the rest), zero for the environment as long as that WooGurl's residuals remain.
(3)
Janice C.
THIS IS MY SECOND TIME USING A DEAL FROM RESTAURANT.COM!!!! No more buying food certificate from this website because it SUCK! I got a deal EAT $100 but PAY $50 So I decided to check in. I showed certificate to the cashier before using it. I asked if this is cover liquors like beers or wine? he said, No because he referred to CNBC something that he won't be able to do this... So never mind. Then, me and my family started order steak dishes... 15 mins later cashier came to our table and he said... there's only 1 order left for steak... and We're like...No..you must be BS! Is this because we're using this certificate? Then we started ordered a bunch of appetizers, fried chicken, nachos, etc. and the bills came up around $120. but we ended up paying everything around $71 something and I tips them about 12% because we feel bad that they closed at 10 pm.!! I looked at yelp, yelp said closed at 2 am.! YELP! YOU NEED TO FIX THIS! BAR CLOSED AT 2 AM. but Kitchen closed at 10 PM.! I don't like the foods, There's many mexican foods I eat out and I feel a lot better than this place. No more going back.
(1)
Connie H.
I had heard really great things about this restaurant and made reservations for 12 people for a birthday dinner. The food was less than mediocre, very bland for Mexican food, and the service was really lacking. One of the servers wanted to give me someone else's dinner. Two of my guests got their meals after everyone else had been served and finished their meals. The memorabilia is fun but the food and service was lacking.
(1)
Hien V.
Horrible food. Good service. Eat here if you are an avid fan of Elvis and you're into weird, quirky but mostly tacky decor and bland tasting Mexican food. Ceviche was mostly frozen imitation crab drenched in ketchup and a drizzle of salsa. Repulsive. Guacamole, a decent portion and made with real avocados but lacked any flavor. Heck, even a couple pinches of salt was necessary. Tamales only comes with pork and is drenched in an unexciting sauce. How can you go wrong with tamales? Perhaps one of the worst tasting tamales yet. Garlic taco, what they claim to be famous for, was basically shreds of beef sprinkled with garlic powder stuffed into a chewy taco. Felt like playing tug a war with my teeth. Overrated and overpriced. For three people ordering simple combo plates our bill was more than $60, I rather eat at Javier's where the client and staff are equally stuck up but the food damn good and well worth the $$ minus the creepy ambiance.
(1)
Hazel Q.
It had been FAR too long since I'd paid Azteca a visit. But luckily I had a chance to hit up happy hour there this week. And, oh what a happy hour it is. First of all, it lasts pretty much all night. 2nd of all you get your margarita in a pint glass and prepare to find yourself a designated driver if you order more than one - those things are s-t-r-o-n-g. Ferrealz. All of this, plus $2 domestics and Elvis decor from corner to corner and floor to ceiling - how could you possibly go wrong at Azteca's happy hour?
(4)
DIANE T.
When I was a small child I loved to go to Mexico City restaurant in Long Beach and I was very happy when I discovered Azteca had the same recipes. Unfortunately, the last time I was there before last Saturday the food served was merely warm: my sister and her boyfriend went after that and had to send back the food that they got. None the less, last Saturday we decided to give it a try because my sister had a coupon for $25.00 off a $40.00 bill. I ordered a shredded beef burrito and my mom ordered a shredded beef enchilada plate, After one bite I called over the waiter the meat was BAD! We just smelled Mom's enchilada and could tell it was also bad. The manager, was called by the waiter and said when the waiter called him over, " we had a complaint about the shredded beef half an hour ago and I told the cooks.". The replacement food (chicken enchilada and subbing two ground meat tacos for the burrito) was okay. Then we got the bill and the waiter said your bill is only $37.00 so you can't use the coupon. (We ordered a flan and my sister and I split it - best thing I ate there that day.) It was just a very bad experience, If the manager was told earlier that the meat was bad he should have made sure no more was served and having served it later he should have done something to make it right. And definitely we should not have been told hey you have spent more just to use the coupon!
(1)
bob b.
Food is awful. Read the other reviews. This is canned food at best. Overcooked Steaks and they serve the food on a cart that is often used for cleaning dishes. Take out food is vastly superior to this stuff. You have been warned
(1)
Sandy Flores P.
When to this place because i saw it on KTLA 5 AND I GOT TO SAY IT WAS SOOOO GOOD! My grandmother is visiting from mexico and she just loved the beans and rice.I got their garlic tacos just the best ! Go and try this place!
(4)
Herbert A.
Atmosphere is welcoming and the food is delicious. It's a fun place to find the Elvis life come to reality. The bartenders are quick and courteous! From what I hear their Karaoke nights are impressive. I will recommend to friends in the area! Happy Sunday Fun Day from all of us who spent lunch here~
(4)
stevenson j.
This place is a gem. This is a review for the bar only --I've yet to try their restaurant but if it's anything like the bar, I ask: 3.5 stars yelpers? really??? I would return any day if I was in the area. It gives a good name to dive bars and I could attribute a good amount of the credit for my warm welcomed experience to Andrea, the bartender. There's free chips and salsa and generous servings on spirits, both drinks and ambiance alike.
(5)
Pat O.
Food is okay, nothing remarkable. I love the Elvis stuff, though! Too bad the service is awful, waiter ignored us once our food was brought. Had to bring my cup to him to get a refill, our dirty plates sat there on our table until at least after we left. There's a notice on the door stating there are new owners, hopefully they will resolve the staffing issues, though I am really going to try my best never to go here again.
(2)
Paul T.
Very often the line between obsession and devotion is blurred and cannot be told apart. Azteca takes the obsessive degree to nth level never seen before by this Yelper. While I'm not Rick Bayless and I don't know the connotation or correlation between Elvis and Mexican food, this place seems to go over-the-top with their pontification of all things Memphis King. This place doesn't have a quaint collection of the Heartbreak Hotel crooner but rather, a saturation of memorabilia that can make one think creepy or simply that it is too much. It's a shame they don't put that much effort on their accommodations as they do in providing what has to be the biggest collection of Elvis things this side of Graceland. This should have been the first forewarning that this place wasn't going to be substantially any good. The second was the nonchalant attitude by the staff up front when we first arrived. The third and this is one I share with my dinner date, is the fact we saw a plate of frijoles as flat as the world people once thought in the pre-Copernicus days. To me, that said no thanks! Well, there is actually one more that should've been a foreshadowing and that was the fact that we parked right next to a makeshift memorial for a gentleman who frequented an establishment in the compound (not Azteca...). It was a somber mark on the night and may whoever that person is--rest in peace. I guess time has healed the wounds of resentment I had for this place. Because I was pretty infuriated by the fact we were overlooked and whatnot. In fact, we never did sit down and eat because the hostesses bypassed us and sat someone who came 10 minutes after us while totally ignoring us. How did I know? I could see the guilt on one of their faces as I made a befuddled look in response. That to me is inexcusable and thus why this place is deemed horrible and not worth the time spent. There are a million better places for Mexican food in the O.C. and I suggest you give them your hard earned money and not Azteca.
(1)
Nadine H.
The lounge use to be my favorite place. The owner should be thankful people have patience. (It's a cool looking place.) So we'll wait to be served. The owner takes away from the atmosphere as he walks around disgruntle for having to help take orders. He's just so damn rude. Rather than apologizing for being short on staff or having to wait. He takes it out on you by being rude. Making one feel uncomfortable.
(2)
David H.
Saw this place on channel 5 and thought we would give it a try. Well...all I need to say is GARLIC TACOS! Unbelievably awesome, words are hard pressed to describe how great these things are. Will definitely be back. The decor is kitschy Elvis and it works, the staff is top notch but the food is great!
(4)
Stephanie C.
We went to this place for the Elvis and Mexican food...Its smaller than I excpected, and the service was not to great....I like all the memorabilia, but the food was just okay, not great...Im not sure if I would go back for the food, maybe for the Elvis...I ordered hot wings as an appetizer, and they were not good at all...we left them..... I wish the food was better, but I still like the place..
(3)
Jaime A.
Ask me 3 years ago and this place would have gotten a much higher rating from me. Back in the day, when I was young, I'm not a kid anymore and I used to be social. Well, go out. Really, just drink. And this was my go-to place. They had karaoke, a pretty happening atmosphere, and Elvis memorabilia every which way you looked (even "dirty" memorabilia in the restroom which was a crack up when I went drunk-girl pee every 5 minutes). Now let's get down to the nitty-gritty. The FOOD at this place is nothing to write home about (does anyone ever write home anymore?). I would not eat there unless the food was close to zero dollars. The BAR SCENE is where it is at. Now, if you have been here, you know that there is a restaurant side and a bar side (called Crooner's). Karaoke doesn't start until 10pm on Friday and Saturday night and it happens in the dining room. I admit the other night that I walked in a little tipsy, but I was also wearing 5 inch heels so I deserve a bit of a break and shouldn't have been greeted with "the bar is that way" by the owner. Really?! I didn't want to eat your dirty sock garlic tacos anyway (that's what he said). So, we went across the street to Louie's until 9:52pm. Walked back into Azteca and sat in an open booth and was blessed with another gnarly encounter by the owner "you can't get drinks in here, you will have to go to the bar". No sheeit. But we are here to laugh at drunk people singing karaoke! Does he really expect the dining room to be filled with people eating enchiladas and enjoying some chile rellenos whilst having a booming loud karaoke session going on in front of their table? I used to like the owner. He was friendly. Now he walks around with a look on his face like he loathes people who partake in an alcoholic beverage. And I am not a raging drinker so I can understand that frame of mind to some extent but c'mon man, your food is trash and the only way you probably stay in business is the night life (just read all of the prior reviews! they are all about the night life).
(2)
Andre T.
This is still a great place, but I had to take down my 6th star... They no longer have Guinness on tap. "It just wasn't selling" according to the bartender. "But it is ok... they are going to get a Bud Lite tap"... (there is no emoticon that can adequately describe the sadness in my heart when I heard this)
(5)
Jarrod F.
The reason why I decided to recommend this place to the group I was with was strictly because we are all Elvis fans, and after going here I realized I made a great choice. The Elvis decor was way more than I ever even planned on seeing. A must for any patron of this place is to try their Garlic Tacos; but be warned you will stink like garlic for the rest of then day or night! So if you are cruising Garden Grove and want to see a really cool place with lot's of awesome Elvis memorabilia then go check out Azteca and grab yourself a Garlic Taco and a cold Beer.
(4)
Kate J.
Came here at 5:30 on a Thursday night and was seated pretty quickly. Service was a little slow after that though when it came to taking our drink and then food orders. Food itself tasted great, but we had to wait quite awhile for drink refills. Other than that, the atmosphere was very nice and it was an enjoyable experience. Might give the place another shot sometime, perhaps on a karaoke night.
(3)
Kathy T.
I've only been here for drinks and karaoke in the past and loved it. My friend and I recently decided to come here for the food because she had a Restaurant.com coupon. Food: Not bad. Chips and Salsa - blah. Salsa tasted like from a jar. Chips were too oily. Ceviche - a little too sweet for my taste and was borderline tasting like shrimp cocktail (which I hate). Albondigas - very flavorful! It tasted great. It was my first time having it so I can't compare it to anything more authentic. Garlic Chicken Taco - quite big. The first few bites of this was good, but the chicken was dry and you lose the garlic flavor really quick. They serve it in a deep fried taco shell with lettuce tomatoes and cheese. Pork Tamale with Chile Verde sauce - not bad, but the corn part of this was too hard. The flavors were good, but the texture wasn't right. Garlic Steak with rice, beans and guac - tasted great! Very garlicky and I loved it. My favorite part. Flan - a very rich ending to our feast for 2. The flan is more creamy than eggy, which I didn't mind. They put the flan on a small bed of shaved coconut, so you might find that surprise at the bottom of your flan. Service was good. They were friendly. Only thing I didn't like was the added gratuity they put on our bill. I don't know if it was because we had a Restaurant.com coupon or not, but it was weird. It wasn't like we were a huge party or anything. Maybe they thought we'd rip him off on the tip, but we knew to tip on the bill before the coupon. Oh well... Not sure if I would come back for dinner because there are so many other Mexican food places that serve better food. The atmosphere can be fun though with all the Elvis memorabilia. I like it more for the cheap drinks at the bar and the old school karaoke!
(3)
Billy L.
All atmosphere. Coolest place in OC. If they served good food we'd have a winner. I love going to this place, I want to go to this place. But I don't go to this place (very often). The food really stinks. Note to owner: hire someone in the kitchen to redo to menu and recipes. I live within walking distance and I jump in my car and drive to get Mexican food someplace else. The happy hour is really cool. $8 for a pitcher of beer and they have it 5 days a week. The food is one star. The atmosphere and booze makes up the difference.
(3)
Abelardo H.
Great family outing! Good food, great service Karaoke and Elvis themed!!!! I have died and gone to heaven. If you love Mexican food, Elvis and karaoke. This is the place.
(5)
Kim L.
Love this place!!! Everything is Elvis in here, really cute! The food is amazing! It's clean and large portions! The garlic tacos and garlic steak is a must have here!! Only if you love garlic like me! I will be back for sure!
(5)
Paulina B.
I liek the fun atmosphere, however the food was just not doing it for me! My carne asada burrito had NO flavor! it tasted like dried out steak with tortilla! YUCK! pretty much I would only come here if I were drunk and wanted to sing horribly infront of random strangers!
(2)
Michelle S.
I truly adore this place. Anyone who knows me, knows I have a long-running fascination with Elvis Presley...& Priscilla Presley to. She is after all 1 of my 4 reasons for first dying my hair jet black, naturally my hair is honey blonde. I also happen to adore Mexican food. So to me this is the perfect place! The food is pretty good and I really like the garlic tacos and salad. Mostly though I come here for the Elvis and the memorabilia. The restaurant is lined from ceiling to floor with Elvis, Elvis and more Elvis!. And I do mean ceiling to floor. The ceiling itself is lined with posters from just about every movie Elvis ever starred in! So where ever you are images of The King flood your senses. Whenever I go here... I put 5 dollars in the juke box & put on all my favorite Elvis songs, order garlic tacos & a garlic salad, Cadillac Margarita, sit back and just have a nice time. I still remember the first time I heard an Elvis song I was 4 and it was Blue Suede Shoes and I have been in love with that man ever since! youtube.com/watch?v=T1On…
(5)
Lisa T.
Been here only once and I grew up in Garden Grove. I came here during lunch with some coworkers during our lunch break. I had high hopes for it because the place seem to be popular and it's been around for years, but I was wrong. Maybe because it was during lunch in the middle of the week, but it was so empty! It felt empty and the servers acted like it was empty! The chips were alright, quite greasy. I ordered a chimichanga and boy, it was so oily and greasy! Urgh. Everyone else were not impress with their foods either. I need to give this place another try, maybe during dinner time or happy hour because this place seems to be better at night (and with alcohol).
(2)
Jeremy H.
Can't go wrong here! Margaritas are wonderful! Family owned and operated with original family recipes. Try the garlic tacos. All kinds of special events from Sinatra lounge singers, guitar players and celebrations for Elvis. Speaking of Elvis, largest collection of Elvis memorabilia this side of the Mississippi - I think :) Fridays/Saturdays entertainment karaoke and a great juke box in the bar. Late night taco stand featuring the famous Kellee Burrito. People are friendly and the owner is always welcoming. Located on the best street in all of GG with other nice restaurants to complement your experience. A must see!
(5)
El S.
I recently visited for a night of karaoke with some friends. As we are all a younger crowd who likes to have a good time, we always could rely on karaoke at the azteca for a younger party atmosphere. Apparently on this visit, we were SHOCKED to see how much the crowd has changed. From what we were told, some of their policies have changed in regards to song selection. It has DEFINITELY affected what was once a great, fun crowd. What we were instead subjected to were 5 minute pink Floyd songs and boring renditions of the same ol' songs we could hear anywhere on a karaoke night. Part of the reason we would go there was because it was different. We could sing songs nobody else had and that EVERYONE enjoyed. Sad to say that is not the case anymore. It seems like its also tough to have a good time now while the new owner hovers about the room, almost like they are looking at each and every single song, waiting for a reason to cut it off. It just seems tense and uncomfortable. They took the one thing that was successful and made it bland and boring. It's not like we ever went just for the food, which we only tolerated for the awesome karaoke and good times we had! It seems like we probably won't come back as we can go anywhere else on any day of the week for karaoke and sing songs we are "allowed" to and not have our selections dictated to us. I would have been horrified to be the poor guy who had his sing stopped in the middle by management because it was deemed "offensive". That alone would make me NEVER want to return again. I hope that guy at least got a free drink out of being humiliated by management like that. Good luck azteca, on your new direction. Sad to say we won't be following that direction.
(1)
D A P.
If you like Elvis and Mexican food, this is your kind of place. Karaoke on the weekends and a car show every Friday night. So you and your party can be easily entertained on a Friday night for just the price of dinner and drinks. The bar is cool but small. So get there EARLY if you want a seat at the bar.
(4)
Michael L.
Normally, this place is crawling with ugly chicks, but for some reason there was at least 5 hot girls here last Wednesday. I was really really confused. I'm not talking about Inland Empire/the butthole of Orange County standards. I'm talking about Santa-Barbara-There's-A-Slam-Piece-Every-Fifty-ÂFeet standards. Anyways, the karaoke is always fun and the drinks are strong. Pretty fun place for being in such a crappy city.
(4)
Daniel M.
Classic Mexican name, I thought I was going to see mariachi, matador and pictures of Vicente Fernandez. Nope, it was Elvis wall to wall. This was the closest I have ever been to Graceland. I got to say its the best display of Elvis, yes he lives here. Okay getting back to the food, got served very fast, taste of Sonora style cooking, very authentic. It was just a mind funk to see Mexican food and hear Elvis greatest hits. A must visit place,
(3)
Michelle T.
Where's the peanut butter and banana burrito? ELVIS theme everywhere! love it!!! Came here for the Xmas Eve Eve party and had a blast! Loved the karaoke. They had a section where we can order food- like a taco stand. For about 3-7 bucks or so, we could order nachos, tacos, burritos and quesadillas. The tacos were super spicy IMO, so i ate the quesadilla. The food was ok. Nothing i'd come back for, but i definitely would recommend coming for the whole elvis kitsch and karaoke fun. They have very current songs and it's great fun for those of you brave enough to sing in front of the entire restaurant! The staff here also jump on stage and have amazing voices. Fun for parties!
(4)
Vincent R.
The Food and Ambiance are 5 stars, customer service was a real issue. So we went here after watching a bout of roller derby around 930 on a Saturday night. My friends warned me in advance that the service wasn't great but it was worth waiting for the food. The 5 of us were seated and we waited for our server.... and waited.... and waited.... There were several large groups celebrating birthdays there that night so I understand service being slow but 15min to get our drink order? Please. Our friends only stayed for drinks, my wife and I had dinner. We ordered and again waited... and waited .... and waited.... Just as we were getting ready to get up and have our order cancelled it came out. The food was both delicious and a generous portion. We ate but noticed more and more people coming in. Both of our soft drink cups had not been refilled since we got them (1 & a half hours before) so we decided just to get our food to go and finish our meal at home. If you're going to come here either come for an entire night of revelry or get it to go.
(2)
Eugene H.
The food was below average. It did not have any flavor at all. It was Mexican food made by white people. I had the chicken salad and the chicken tasted and looked like it came from a can. On the other hand if you want to see an amazing Elvis collection then this is the place. One of our group said that his food had the texture and taste of a wet rag. Another in our party didn't finish her meal because "it was not very good."
(1)
Beth H.
I may be a little heavy handed here in my review for Azteca's. I haven't had any food here. I was a bit disappointed in the $1 beers being Coors Light and Bud Light. I can do me a Coors Light but Bud Light?? Really??? Let me rewind a bit. This place is all about Elvis. Did I mention my family LOVES Elvis? My Step-Dad does a MEAN Elvis. His answering machine message is in his best Elvis voice. Azteca's is 1000% Elvis. Not in a creepy way, but in a cool, OMG - WTF - ROFL kind of way. I never thought I'd see a place that was completely covered, floor to ceiling (I SHIT YOU NOT!) Elvis...I like me some Big E (no...not Eugine, although I love me some Eugine, too)...if you like you some Big E, this is your place. Fun people, fun atmosphere, roomy in the restaurant area. I liked the bar area but it did seem a little small. Loved that they had Rolling Rock and the bartenders were super sweet and having a good time. Can't rate the food (which I hear ranges from Suck Central to OK) but the atmosphere and low key bar arrangement works for me. Would I come here to eat? Probably not. Would I come here to hang, drink and maybe partake in some Karaoke? Absolutely' Baby........
(4)
Yuki M.
Came here initially for a 5-star Official Yelp event. Yelpers were great and I had a blast listening to karaoke and staring at ugly sweaters....the problem was that I didn't eat...or perhaps that was a good thing. Came here today to sample the "famous" Garlic tacos. Wow was I disappointed. Restaurants that require you to have a sense of humour with every bite are not at the top of my list. Garlic beef and garlic chicken tacos were generous in size but felt like I was eating a soggy pair of gym shorts. The lettuce was wilted and wet and made the entire meal soaked and cold. Really unpleasant aesthetics when the taco is wet and dripping stale smelling sauce that could have been wrung out from a sweaty football jersey. The meat in both the beef and chicken tacos were dry as all hell and the flood of kitchen water from the iceberg produce didn't help at all. In the end, I was left with soggy, smelly hands and even worse garlic breath. I don't mind garlic and I don't mind burping it for days after a meal, but this place somehow managed to transform garlic into sewage. I'm sorry, Azteca but you have seriously let me down. Never again.
(1)
James B.
Mexican food, karaoke, and The King. I'm all shook up, cabron. :) A friend was organizing a karaoke night. I warned her that my voice had been banned by congress along with waterboarding and other forms of torture and I had never been to karaoke. I was about to decline when she said it was at "an Elvis-themed Mexican restaurant that does karaoke." At that point I felt honor-bound to check it out because that's not a description I can just walk away from. Not all that big but very interesting. The walls are absolutely covered with Elvis pictures and there is a big statue of him as well. Beer was decently priced and had a good selection - I chased down my nachos with Negra Modelo. Didn't peruse the menu too thoroughly but my dinner companions' plates all looked appetizing - good sized portions and the prices I looked at were very reasonable. I asked for my nachos (normally comes with refried beans, cheese, sour cream, jalapenos, and guacamole) without cheese or sour cream and with extra guacamole and jalapenos. The guy didn't blink and certainly didn't skimp on the guac or peppers and it was a very good sized order of nachos for $6. Karaoke started at 9 PM (this was a Saturday night - not sure if it starts same time every night.) and the crowd was nice and lively and was good at hamming it up. I said I'd perform the next time we did this as long as I just had to watch that night. Very entertaining. No Elvis impersonators performed that night but I was told it's not uncommon and I saw at least one young couple there looking very Rockabilly. I like this place: a nice mix of ambience, good food at decent prices, good service, and the opportunity to squeal out a song in front of a crowd and/or watch others do the same.
(4)
Ant P.
Macha n margaritas not too bad. Carne asada quesadilla not any better than del taco.
(3)
Mo O.
Azteca USED to be a good restaurant, and had a great "neighborhood" feel to the restaurant and the bar. But somewhere along the line, it has become a shrine to Elvis and whacky karaoke cultists. I used to bring my kids here for dinner, and my wife and I would hang out in the bar when we were sans kids. Not anymore. You couldn't pay me to subject myself to the abuse of Azteca anymore. Drunks, fights, and a lot of people who somehow believe they are living in a fantasy version of the 1950's. No thanks, I've got better places to go.
(1)
Michelle D.
I may be biased, but I love this place and come here all the time. It's a few miles from where I grew up. Are there places with better Mexican food? It's all a matter of taste. Are there Mexican food places that are cheaper? Sure, but who wants to eat at Taco Bell all the time. This place has traditional Mom & Pop, Mexican food recipes; some people will like it, others will not. Prices are reasonable for the quality of the food. I don't know how many cocktails Hien V. & co. ordered with their meal, but most of the combos are around the $10 mark. Gratuity has never been added to my order and I eat here about once a month with my family so it was likely added due to the Restaurant coupon. There are live musical acts here all the time and they are always very entertaining. Gospel Elvis on Sundays is well worth the trip. Once a month they have a guy come in and sing Rat Pack songs, I think his name is Douglas Roegiers, very good singer. Fridays and Saturdays there is karaoke. I've been a few times and the regulars are a hoot. There's a guy that sings the Time's "Jungle Love" every week, complete with dance moves. The restaurant consists of two parts, the restaurant and the Crooner's Lounge off to the side. If you are coming here to drink, go into the bar to order your drinks. (They will let you take them into the other room.) The bar has happy hour prices around the clock, so by walking to the bar instead of having someone bring you your drinks you will save some cash.
(5)
Jennifer K.
I am not sure why this place is ever given a good review. The decor was the best thing. The food is really really gross. Their "carne Asada" is a disgusting shredded beef. The garlic taco to me wasn't good at all, i am feeling nauseous just thinking about it. It's a over hard taco shell filled with gross shredded beef and dirty tasting lettuce. The enchilada sauce is not edible. Taco bell would be 100x better than this place, dog food would probably be better as well. The salads were gross. The service was bad and unorganized it took them 1/2 hour to take our order and then food items were wrong. The only reason we went was for the Elvis show and to see the memorabilia. I recommend going somewhere else first and treating this place more as an elvis museum not a Mexican restaurant.
(1)
Hiram R.
nice little place, cheap drinks and good food. barmaidens are nice and if you like elvis this is the place for you.
(4)
Mark H.
anyone giving this place more then 3 stars needs to be checked for a heart beat. the food is god awful. i spent so much money here and my family did not enjoy the meal. i got the burrito combo and was so disappointed.... please close this horrible store down
(1)
Ismael R.
My favorite spot for my karaoke addiction. They have a great selection of songs to choose from.
(5)
Robert S.
and in case you didn't know... Los Angeles CBS just voted us one of the top 5 karaoke spots in all of Orange County. And now you know, check out the link. losangeles.cbslocal.com/…
(5)
Marbalina M.
Best mexican food EVER!!!! And Elvis!!!!!
(5)
Juan K.
First of all this place is far from what you would expect. It says Aztec resteraunt, but then when you go in its all Elvis Presley tribute and decor...maybe try renaming the place. Ok fine who cares about that, lets try the food. The quality was so bad I didn't finish my food for the first time. The carne tasted terrible and I felt like I was chewing rubber. You can tell this place is bad when they have so many food selections. The menu was literally cluttered with choices. Alot of quantity, very low quality. People are supposed to be rating this for their food and service, not the dang karaoke. Me and my friends got there during the st.patricks day weekend. They had advertisements and posters everywhere that says they have the "bud light green beer" we ask the lady for it and she acted like we had no idea what we were talking about. The waiter asks the bartender and she starts yelling "what in the nerve has them thinking we serve that?!" As she was saying this I slowly started looking at the mini poster on my table that specifically said they had the green beer. The food was dull, the service was bad. But I guess if karaoke and booze is all that matters to you then please don't hesitate to go. Worst Mexican food ever. I can't believe you guys are eating this place up. I actually made a yelp account for the first time just to rate this place. This restaurant needs a make over big time.
(1)
Trav ..
Great Place Great Food Great Service!!! A+++
(5)
Kim. B.
As if it hasn't been said enough: garlic tacos. Today was my second visit, and I ordered the combo #9 with garlic tacos...again. One of these days I'll have to try something different, but they're quite delicious. The food came out super hot and fresh. My mom loved her tostada salad, as evidenced by her completely clean plate. This place is a gem. Service was adequate, and I was thoroughly entertained by all of the Elvis memorabilia and music. On Fridays it can get pretty busy with the car show, but they still maintain decent service. The Friday night that I went for the first time there was even an Elvis impersonator! One piece of advice as it was told to me: "if one person gets the garlic tacos, we ALL get the garlic tacos. No one wants to be mad at the one person who reeks of garlic. We're all in this together."
(4)
Mark C.
If your an ELVIS fan this is your place. Everything is Elvis! Food is OK. Parking is good. I only go back when I bring someone who hasn't seen all the Elvis Stuff...
(3)
Anthony B.
I don't think I've ever eaten in the restaurant, but the bar (Crooner's Lounge) is where I go. If you like Elvis you'll love the memorabilia inside the bar. The food is average at best, but they have a really good happy hour. It has your typical dive bar feel. The atmosphere is friendly, beer is cold & if you come on Friday's you can catch the carshow outside & then come inside for drinks. There are TV's playing whatever game is on, 1 TV that plays Elvis only movies or concerts & there is a good jukebox.
(4)
Jen D.
Azteca Saturday night karaoke - where have you been all my life?! Such a good time! 5 stars for the entertainment - but unfortunately only 2 stars for the service and food. I'll come back for the Karaoke, but I think I'll stick to a liquid diet next visit ;)
(3)
Boogie H.
been here 3 times.....i first heard about this place from a friend saying the garlic tacos were killer....then i saw the segment from burrous' bites from channel 5 news...so one afternoon me and a nerdy friend went...got a chili verde and a garlic taco.... i must have hungry the food was pretty good....then i purchased 2 groupon deals....first time i went my friend and i went into the bar area where we were rushed on our order...then over hearing a loud conversation between a customer and bartender about doing drugs...the drinks were weak (margar's) and the food was ehhh the garlic taco gave me the rumbles later!!!!! then me and the same friend went tonight using the last groupon we gave it another shot.....once again failed!!!!! after the busboy sitting us down there was no place settings the chips were all broken then it took our waiter 10 mins to take our order with out writting it down... i decided on a chili verde enchilada & beef taco.....what i got was a chicken enchilada and the taco looked like it was pre-made earlier that evening just nuke and was re-placed with fresh lettuce ....then the waiter disappeared for about another 10 mins never checking back on us....finally he showed up and i told him about the mess he said he will fix it...the response was i got the groupon and it will not deduct the price.....what no replacement for the food???? and once again the magars taste like the mix only.....then in the middle of the night i puked everything up and was ill the whole next day.....so its more than likely i will not be going here again.....
(1)
Thao D.
My friend Tony and I just got done with dinner and I thought he was going to take me home, but instead he took me to Azteca. As we got out of the car, I looked over at him and asked, "YOU TOOK ME TO A BAR?!" And get this, since we went on a Thursday, it was happy hour allllll day! Azteca is a Mexican restaurant with a small little bar inside. As I walked into the bar the first thing I noticed was ELVIS! Elvis on the wall, Elvis on the ceiling, Elvis in the corners, freaking Elvis everywhereeeee! Fucking love it! I've never been to a bar where I can just sit and enjoy my drinks and not have to worry about guys hitting up on me. It was a nice change. I had 4 jack and coke and my friend Tony had the same and total came out to around $19! Cheap, right? I was buzzing like a bee at the end of the night. Thanks, Azteca for a fun fun night!
(4)
Robert P.
I love the food at Azteca! But you have to have correct expectations and be selective. Not everything on menu is good; it's just a blue-collar, working class place. Breakfast is very simple, but very flavorful. Authentic, meaning it is less Americanized than almost any other Mexican place. Good hand made tortillas, but they don't "show off" making them because it's normal in Mexican kitchens.
(4)
Shirley C.
Elvis is dead and so is the food and service. If you like unseasoned and bland food then this is the place for you. The waiter screwed up every order. The steak was over cooked and filled with gristle. My friend's carne asada burrito was burnt. The chips and guacamole was a bowl of guacamole and 3 chips stuck on top. Surprisingly the guacamole was the only decent thing to eat. Save your money and go to Del Taco instead. Their food is more interesting than this place. It's good that Elvis is dead. He would die again after eating.
(1)
Anjelica A.
This place is pretty cool. I went here a couple months ago for Karaoke and, Wow... Elvis is definitely alive in this little bar! You'd think this was the Sistine Elvis Chapel! I mean, I couldn't stop staring at the Tickle Me Elvis Elmo they had up on a shelf. Elvis you say? In a Mexican restaurant? Well why not. Doesn't hurt, and is definitely a reason to just have dinner there and check out all the Elvis memorabilia they have! It is definitely busy on Friday ans Saturday nights because of Karaoke with Pirate Mike, but it is also a fun atmosphere. Great food as well! I had a Chicken Tostada, and I couldn't even finish it with how much there was in the one dish. My friend had the Chili and Garlic Tacos... The Chili is to die for! I got a little taste! I need to try the garlic tacos next time, I heard they are Fabu! Definitely a great place to try out. In the heart of Garden Grove. Maybe if you stop by the Strawberry Festival next year, you should drop in and sing a lil karaoke with Pirate Mike and have some awesome Garlic Tacos or Chili with the King!
(4)
Sarah H.
Only been here once but I really liked it. I didn't even know it served Mexican food until I came here. I just came in and sat at the bar. The bartender was really nice and he didn't make fun of me for not knowing anything about booze. He even showed me the correct way to knock back Patron, and also the ins and outs of Irish Car Bombs. I liked all the Elvis stuff too. Drinks were pleasantly stiff and not too expensive. The crowd was nice and happy, no snooty folk. I plan on going back.
(4)
Sean M.
Azteca is as much about the Elvis collection as the food. The food is tasty and if you want to be soaking in Elvis memorablilia this is definitely the place to be. The garlic tacos are by far my favorite just dont plan on being in close quarters with anyone the rest of the night. The garlic cream sauce on the taco is plentiful and very strong.
(3)
Barry H.
This review is for the "Crooner's Lounge" only. I have eaten here before but was way to drunk to recall the details on my meal. Crooner's Lounge is a total small dive bar, and that is just the way I like it. There is sufficient amount of beers on tap, and the drinks are mighty! The ambiance is of... well a crooner's lounge? Think old western with double saloon style swinging doors... yes, they have those! Add a juke box and video games... ps3, and you got yourself a hell of a place to kickback. They also have guitar hero nights =)
(4)
Alyse P.
I ate at Azteca on a Wednesday evening around 6pm and the place had quite a few people inside. I ordered a chile relleno and cheese enchilada combination. The food was out very quickly and I ate as much as I could. The food was very reasonably priced for the portions. One thing I would criticize is that the Elvis memorabilia was impressive, but the over stimulation in that sitting room was making me ill.
(4)
A Z.
I'm an Elvis man, so Azteca suits me just fine. The arroz con polle with verde sauce was awesome. Their margaritas were mighty tasty too. I was kind of bummed there was no happy hour on a Friday night, but it's all navy in the gravy, baby.
(4)
Tee L.
Went to this place with a small group last week and while we were quite impressed with all the various Elvis memorabilia we were severely disappointed with the food. This was the worst Mexican food I've ever had and some of the worst sit down restaurant food I've ever had. First off our server screwed up all 4 orders...salads with dressing on the side came with dressing on the salad. Tacos with double rice arrived with rice and beans and salad with no cheese or dressing arrived with both. Secondly, the "carne asada" salad is shredded beef which is NOT carne asada. The rice was flavorless. The famous "garlic tacos" were drenched in the garlic sauce and tasted so bad I could only stomach one of the two they served. NOBODY in our group finished their meals. So in the words of Elvis if "It's Now or Never"...I say NEVER. Never go here for the food.
(1)
Randi B.
My dad is a huge Elvis fan, so one day last summer he forced me and the rest of my family to come here. If you like Elvis, you will like the interior. They have tons of memorabilia. I'm not a fan of the king, so I wasn't impressed. I wasn't impressed with the food either. It was honestly some of the nastiest Mexican food I have ever had. Nobody in my family liked what they ordered. I will never go back here again.
(1)
Natalia R.
I didn't know it was even possible to make bad Mexican food. Well, this place has accomplished it! The enchilada I ordered looked like someone threw up on my plate and then put it under a broiler to make it very hot. My chicken enchilada had no chicken in it! Who are these people who gave this place five stars?
(1)
Lynn S.
Live out of the area but when I am in town I like to come here. So my visit yesterday consisted of chips that tasted/looked like cheap ones that you buy at the dollar stores. Salsa was mediocre. Ordered a bean tostada and the tortilla was a pre fried one like they serve at Taco Bell and tasted stale. Shredded beef taco was good but the meat was cold inside like it came out of the refrigerator and was brought to room temp. The sauce that topped the taco and tostada was cold and no flavor. Now I used to go to the Mexico City Restaurant in Long Beach that was owned by the brother of the original owner of Azteca. When Mexico City closed several years ago, I started coming to the Azteca. Some of the food was very similar which I loved. After eating here yesterday I knew right off something wasn't the same. Now I see other reviews saying that the restaurant has changed ownership. Very disappointed and won't be coming back. Please don't cut corners while keeping the same name of the business. People catch on quickly.
(1)
E H.
My family has been going here for over 30 years. It has been sold to a new owner who appears to be allowing poor food quality come out of the kitchen. We went on a Saturday afternoon and it was dead inside. The service was fine but the food was cold. How can that happen when there is only three tables ordering food. The Garlic Salad dressing has become watered down and this is the main reason we come here. I don't care about karaoke or Elvis. I do care about quality hot food.
(1)
Eric P.
I was here late with a group of 10 friends. This place has a Bar atmosphere and Karaoke. We all had a great time, the drinks a cheap and anyone can participate with the singing. You can order individual or pitchers and also have a Tab. This was my first time here and I recommend it, another way to have drinks and have fun.
(4)
Patrick Y.
Came here with my friends last Saturday. The service was excellent & the food wasnt to bad. They both had carnitas burrito and I had the chile verde carnitas with rice and refried beans. My chile verde wasn't spice hot, it could have been hotter. The best meal of the night was the desert. Tres leches cake was excellent
(3)
Melanie S.
Unfortunately just typing will not convey how strongly I feel about this: THE WORST MEXICAN FOOD I HAVE EVER HAD IN MY LIFE. Actually, THE WORST MEAL I HAVE EVER HAD IN MY LIFE. Sums it up better. The food came out 1) cold 2) undercooked and 3) 100% sure it was from a can. The chicken smelt like cat food and the veggies definitely were not fresh. Even the rice and beans seemed as if they were defrosted and not even heated before they came out. On top if it, you need to ask for a drink about 3 times before your waiter actually responds. After eating only about 4 bites of my food, I actually went home ill. I'm getting sick just thinking about it. Do yourself a HUGE favor and NEVER EVER GO HERE!
(1)
Steve V.
Azteca Mexican Restaurant - Garden Grove, We only do their take-out & I can walk to it. Love their Chile Rellenos. Have gotten at least a dozen meals there without a dud. Appetizers could be slightly better. Prices could be slightly lower, like everywhere else. Steve & Cyndi Viall
(5)
Lonnie J.
We have two completely different things to rate here. Entertainment: 5 Stars Food: 2 Stars Seriously do not eat here...go here and drink and enjoy the entertainment. The guacamole was just mashed up avocados. Out of 7 people's meals we sent two back...dry carnitas and a well done steak even though we ordered it medium...so it was dry. I got the garlic tacos...they were ok...but didn't live up to the hype for me....rice was crunchy. Everybody has to learn their own lessons so go ahead and try it out...but I'm pretty sure like me you will not go back to eat...which is too bad because it's a pretty cool place with some good entertainment. As a consolation the staff was friendly and happily took back the food and replaced it quickly...they seemed understaffed though.
(2)
Arnold W.
I'm not sure if I can Yelp this place!? Technically I've never been here. I came here for the Yelp Elite Holiday Bash! This place is quite interestingly odd! If you like the Elvis stuff...A++++++ You'll be greeted by Elvis Hostesses. Elvis impersonators come here too! Food is bleh, Mexican food. They fajitas served was quite tasted like dorm food. The rice and beans were mediocre. Nice bar.
(3)
Tom T.
This is the second time I have been here and it was for a Yelp Christmas event. Thanks to Hazel for throwing this CMYE. This place has a lot of character with movie posters and Elvis posters plastered everywhere and on the ceiling too. The Christmas decorations even adds more character to this place. My wife and I had a good time at this event. I got to enjoy cheap beer and their special with the taco bar. It was too bad we didn't know about the taco bar, because we ordered a plate of nachos from their menu. We had some laughs with the $1 gift exchange. The karaoke stage was pretty entertaining to watch. We watched brave Yelpers take to the stage and sang their hearts out. I kinda wished the Elvis impersonator took to the stage. So my memories of Azteca will be about Yelp Chistmas parties and a brave Yelper who chose to sing "Last Christmas" by Wham!
(4)
Chantal B.
3 words : Elvis and cheese enchiladas !! this place is so entertaining!! And they have lots of garlic options for the garlic lover! service is friendly food comes out quick. but seating is a bit hard to come by, but its worth the wait!
(4)
Laura S.
Elvis!!! Karaoke!!! And Mexican food.. What else do you need!
(4)
M H.
If I could, this would be a "no stars" review.....have had good experiences at lunch with friends, but tonight, when I decided to take wifey, was a disaster! I don't care about the Elvis thing, but I do care about being treated with respect. Server cared about being there about as much as I did when I left; not at all! When my food order didn't work out, he offered me nothing to take it's place-just took it off the bill. I had taken two sips out of my glass of beer, and that's all, so as we left I poured the salsa in the glass to make up the difference to show my disapproval of this place.......probably doesn't matter.......nobody cares there anyway......NEVER AGAIN!
(1)
Norma L.
I HATE it when people call this place Aztecas. It's annoying. It's not Aztecas, it is Azteca! Singular people! Singular! Sheesh. Anyway, I love this place. I have only tried the food once, and I thought it was very tasty. I think I got cheese enchiladas. Good stuff! Chips and salsa are also good! :D Yummy. I mostly come here for the karaoke. It is a LOT of fun! I have embarassed myself and sang a few times. It is always fun though. Everyone is really friendly. I have met many wonderful people here. You will have a good time at AZTECA.
(5)
AlphaOne 6.
the decor is awesome, i have eaten here for years, the food used to be outstanding, last couple of years the food just plain sucks, not as good as it used to be, also portions are smaller lacking taste i find myself not going here much at all any more
(3)
Joshua G.
Food was just average but the ambiance was amazing! Elvis EVERYWHERE! If you're looking for a Mexican meal that'll knock your socks off, don't come here. If you're looking for a cool hip place to hang out with some friends, do some late night drinking and light grubbing, this place will serve ya just fine.
(4)
Kiki L.
Azteca is a party and a half--there is no way you can't love this place--even if you're blind and therefore rendered immune to the onslaught of Elvises staring at you from every corner of this restaurant, you would STILL have a great time--maybe it's all due to the enthusiastic, rollicking karaoke or the drinks that knock you out and leave you in the gutter, or the rowdy chatteirng of happy patrons, Azteca is not to be missed. For starters, how can you not love a family-run Mexican restaurant that has basically set up shop in an old-west saloon with an Elvis mannequin leering at you from the upstairs front porch? The kitsch from the outside alone drew me in--I LOVE stuff like this! However, once you enter Azteca, watch out. I don't think there's an inch of space inside this restaurant that isn't covered in SOMETHING having to do with Elvis--whether it's simply a sign spelling his name, a mug with his face on it, or one of his many movie posters, you're going to love the man if you don't already do so. The restaurant is actually huge and always seems to be full of a fun, bustling crowd of people of all ages. This is not a hipster spot or a "bro bar" but is full of the sorts of people who like to hang out somewhere different--eccentric older couples, families with eccentric kids, young groups of friends like ours who definitely did not attend their senior prom. You get the picture. Let's put it this way--Azteca is the sort of place that attracts Elvis impersonators--and there is apparently a resident one that hosts a "Gospel Brunch" one Sunday a month--OMG, I keep thinking to myself--I could have a mimosa, some chilaquiles, AND have some man in a sparkly white suit croon some of the finest classics ever written to me? Praise the Lord, indeed! We came here for dinner and karaoke on a Friday night (karaoke is BOTH Friday and Saturday nights because there is no happy hour these nights) and had simply a great time. We opted to have dinner before karaoke (karaoke starts at 10:30 and lasts until 2 AM...be aware the restaurant kitchen closes at 10:30 PM when karaoke starts because then the restaurant turns into a lounge status and singers set up shop in the front of the restaurant). I have to admit that though the food is cheap (plates are around $9-$11; tons of a la carte items are to be had for around $5 or $6) to me it was just mediocre at best, but palatable. I had the Azteca burrito plate (because as usual, I was feeling piggy) for $9.99--it ended up being a huge smothered burrito with chile verde inside, sided with some pretty good refried beans and the blandest Spanish rice I've ever had, but whatcha gonna do? Hubby just had a bowl of the chile verde a la carte ($5.99 with tortillas) and he proclaimed to be "way delicious". I must admit I don't care for their guacamole--it must be the kind that has sour cream or something mixed in it which is a huge no-no and it was very, very dark green and kind of pasty. Chips and salsa were bland, too, though we kept throwing them down to combat the absolutely killer drinks that we were having. Now, after simply one margarita here, I think I know what it feels like to be roofied. WOW did it do a number. Just an innocent little house margarita on the rocks (not even that big!) and even after several hours of karaoke, we still had to hang out in the parking lot for an hour before being fully sobered up to drive home. Never have I had that experience--I'd like to shake the bartender's hand. And now you also know why karaoke here is so fun--the k-jay actually had a really extensive list of available songs (with a HUGE Elvis section, of course!), my only complaint being that there was very limited Justin Timberlake (only "Cry Me a River" was featured, which really DOES make me want to cry a river). It was great because this wasn't a luke-warm crowd--EVERYONE got really into it and sang and there were some good singers for once--party, indeed! 10 points, Azteca, 10 points. Not only this, the bathroom is large and clean (at least, it was while we were still there fairly early in the night) and Azteca just happens to be situated in one of the coolest parts of Garden Grove I've ever been to--the historic downtown! There's plenty of parking in the lot out back, tons of fun things to look at, and tons of new friends to be made. Stay for some snacks and drinks and leave having had the time of your life. Uh-HUH.
(4)
Crystal M.
garlic tacos + karaoke +elvis = best bday party ever! We came here for my fiance's bday and had an amazing time. All of our food was awesome. Mexican pizza, enchiladas and a garlic taco (my fav). This place is definitely a gem for nighttime. The KJ had a huge mix of music and was pretty entertaining. The only downside to the night was the white trash monotone family that took over the karaoke. One of the guys actually brought his harmonica to the bar and played it for all the instrumental breaks. so awkward.
(4)
Mike F.
Excellent Mexican food. The cabbage tacos are the best! Whenever I'm in the area I drop in this place. Great atmosphere and cheap drinks too!
(5)
Chris D.
This is a great place to go if you are constipated since I guarantee you'll have the urge to go before you even get out the place. My wife have been here a handfull of times and everytime we get severe stomach aches. This paired up with the horrid service, greasy food, and almost everytime getting something I didn't order just doesn't do it for me. Only reason I'm making it 2 stars is not cuz of elvis, but the garlic sauce and dressing. I have no clue why I've been here more than once........... and the sad thing is i'll probably go again. Some strange subliminal messages I guess.
(2)
Kasey F.
I love Azteca's! I've been here about three times now and I always have a blast. The food isn't amazing but it's still pretty good, the prices are low, and there is so much Elvis memorabilia to look at! Everyone there is really friendly, too. I usually go on Fridays..the kitchen closes at 10 and the karaoke starts at 11 and goes until 1. After that you have to move over to the bar, which is open until 2. They start carding people at about 9:30, 21+. No slow songs allowed on Fridays or Saturdays, so the mood is very upbeat and everybody has a great time. And I love that they have hats and boas that you can wear while you're singing! Usually the crowd is really encouraging, even if you suck.
(5)
Rudy G.
Love this place. The food is so so, but then again, you don't come here for the food. Nice cheap beer, good atmosphere and friendly people with a jukebox with decent music in it as an added bonus. My kind of place. One last thing, if you are an Elvis fan you will freak over this place. Prepare to cream yourself. Elvis heaven.
(5)
Erica M.
Azteca is a favorite of ours. My son is already a big Elvis fan at five and really gets a kick out of the decor. The collection of Elvis merchandise is truly impressive. He also loves the chips and salsa. My favorites are the Huevos Rancheros and Ceviche. My husband likes the burritos. Their refried beans are delicious. We recently caught an Elvis impersonator, that was a hoot. The staff is friendly, the service is good. A really fun place for a meal.
(4)
Linda F.
Love this place! Elvis and Mexican food may seem like an odd combination but it works. The food is good and served hot and quick, leaving you plenty of time to enjoy your meal and soak up the atmosphere. JJ, the owner is a generous host and enjoys chatting up his guests. If you a re an Elvis fan and like Mexican food, this is the place!
(5)
Alicia C.
I call this place the Elvis Bar. Its a very small bar with a huge collection of Elvis memorabilia. The people are friendly as well as the bartenders. Check out their special event nights. All in all, great atmosphere, great lighting and drinks are reasonable. Haven't been to the restaurant yet...
(3)
Robyn W.
OK, where do I begin? First off, I went into this place with high expectations due to a co-worker's recommendation and the really cool website. High expectations always let you down. Went on a Friday night and seating was available and we got a seated right away. Cool. We ordered margaritas and the night was on. Or was it? Second round of margaritas wouldn't happen because they ran out of Sweet and Sour! What mexican restaurant runs out of sweet and sour?! This was after they told us they ran out of ceviche when we tried to order that too! Our night was slowly becoming a disappointment. The food was average to below average in taste. The quacaomole was bland. Our waitress was not friendly and spent very little time with us. Maybe she was embarrassed by not having items we asked for. She didn't try to accommodate either. I mean, a margarita can be made other ways without sweet and sour. The karaoke started and that was this place's saving grace. The guy running this was cool and fun. The crowd participation was great and lively. It was like we were at another establishmen altogether. Except when we ordered Bacardi and diet and they told us that they were out of Bacardi! Are you kidding me? This place has such potential to be great and at every turn they just fall short and disappoint. The two stars is for the Karaoke.
(2)
Paulina L.
If you love Elvis and Mexican food (best combination ever!) this is THE best place for you! As soon as you walk through the door, you're greeted by the king himself (well, you know ... a look-a-like, but still, it's pretty rad)! Anyway, the ceiling and walls are completely covered with Elvis memorabilia ... it's AWESOME! The food isn't as spectacular as the atmosphere, but it's pretty good Mexican food. After dinner, stick around for the karaoke. The DJ's pretty cool. My only dislike is the weird guy that works with DJ (I think his job is to get people pumped ... but my friends and I found him a little annoying).
(4)
Trent R.
Kind of a sports bar turned Elvis shrine. Very good margaritas, and very good service. Excellent chips and salsa, and ditto the guacamole. The fare here, alas, is only good, not great. I like the tacos and the rellenos. Burritos are decent, as is the chile verde. Good quesadillas. They have car shows on the street in front of this place in the spring and summer, and it's a nice place to go after you've hung out with the classic car buffs. I think 3 and a half stars is about right.
(3)
Bob S.
I was raised on Mexico City mexican food in Long Beach..... Everything must come to an end so they say but my uncle stumbled across this place while attending one of the Hot Rod Shows they have each and every Friday on Old Town Main Street... Come to find out, one of the servers recognized them and found out that this is the same family running this place... The menu is similar and the food is close. Tacos are huge...... Unfortunately the enchiladas are pretty greasy... but good.... We go twice a month usually and take in the car show and have a meal.... Elvis bar is kinda crazy but cool....
(4)
Meg R.
awesome bar!! (review of drinking only- who needs food?) they have a great happy hour, friendly bartenders, karaoke, and friendly "regulars". I highly recommend this place. Also, they were super cool hosting Hazel's CMYE. lets get any negatives outta the way - the bar area is kinda small/crowded i felt bad for the patrons that werent part of the yelp event for being squished in there. Also, i got hit on persistently by some guys at the bar (until they left thank god), every time i went up there. Annoying, take the hint the 3rd time i blow off your offer to buy me a drink man...(but thats not the bars fault, just the dense dude hitting on me) I met my bartender Brian, he was awesome and even knows my real real name and teased me about it (what you thought my parents actually named me "meg?" psh, it's close enough ;) ) Hooked me up with strong drinks and was so fast all night long. And! he didnt care when i left him hanging for 3 minutes to run and sing my song before coming back to finish my order and pay. J00 rock man. (I also threw down the yelp buttons littering my purse and saw him decorate his santa hat with them - that was great). Cheap ass drinks- sun-thursday is happy hour. $4 you call it well drinks (and shots?? double-check my drunk math), $1 coors and bud light, 4$ newcastle, guiness and bluemoon, and $5 margaritas ( - check their website for all the details). its a great atmosphere, especially that back room where they do the karaoke - zomg elvis! We had a great DJ too. he rocked it and when he'd do a song inbetween you could tell the guy practices, amaze-balls! Thanks for having us Azteca! I shall be back!
(4)
Angie T.
If you love Elvis, you will LOVE this place! I gave it 3 stars, strictly for the atmosphere. Food wasn't good at all. We went for Mom's bday dinner, as she is a big Elvis fan, and they were having a Elvis impersonator that night. Made reservations and were seated promptly. Service was good, food was awful! No one finished their meals, and we all declined take home boxes. I would go back for like Happy Hour drinks and another Elvis show, but will skip having a meal, and will just enjoy some chips and salsa, which were pretty good.
(3)
Christine R.
This place is not only eclectic and fun, but they have the BEST hand-rolled taquitos EVER! And great margaritas!! And friendly staff!! I love it!
(5)
Dan C.
Sun-Thurs nights 2 dollar draft beer what more needs said about that.
(4)
Michael G.
this review is just for the bar and karaoke..... to start off this place is simply awesome, you wont find a better karaoke bar around at first i was effy about this place since its in GG downtown area.. but surprisingly i had an awesome time! the environment is chill but up temple at the same it, just check it out after hours you wont be disappointed
(4)
Lindsey B.
Food is alright...but I love their little dive bar! Strong cheap drinks and the atmosphere is pretty laid back. Love it!
(4)
Marianne G.
3.5 leaning towards a 4. I didn't know this place existed until my friend (who's family are good friends with owner) took us there. Actually, I lied, someone else brought me here for karaoke one night first. It wasn't fun then but it has been fun every other time. I love Elvis. You realize very quickly that JJ (the owner) loves Elvis too. The doorman Jesse is awesome. He's very friendly and has the the Elvis fro going on. Nice. The food is good. Not the best of course... but good. They are famousefor their garlic sauce and I always order it on the side because it is pretty yum. I heart garlic. I think the kitchen might need a woman's touch when it comes to the beans. I don't taste the love. The women's bathroom is covered in movie posters that have to do with everything phallic. Hilario! Karaoke with Pirate Mike is always a treat. He is honsestly the nicest guy and he's entertaining. Unlike some KJs he can actually sing and the best part about that is, he doesn't act like he a hotshot singer. I always appreciate people who karaoke to have fun. :-) Fridays and Saturdays get pretty busy here for karaoke.
(3)
KaThy T.
When I walked into this place with my friend, it kind of felt like a culture shock...meaning, I've never experienced this environment before! I couldn't believe how packed it was, considering that it was in Garden Grove. This place is a karaoke bar. They serve food here, too. There is a bar on the other side; they kick people out of the karaoke side by 1pm and send everyone to the bar side for cleanup. On the karaoke side, there were some good singers and a couple bad ones. There was a guy there who sang in really low volume to the song called Turnin' me on (by Keri Hilson and Lil Wayne). It was weird because he was singing the woman's part and making dance moves, giving the viewers the impression that he was "happy" (hahaha). Everyone just stared at him and some wanted to boo him off, but they didn't want to be mean. On the bar side, there were interesting decorations up, with a red-colored theme going on. The crowd on that side was very friendly. Random people would come up to the bar next to my friend and I and start talking, etc. The prices for drinks were decent. I tried shock top beer for the first time. It was pretty good. I also tried this one shot of vodka w/ a lot of sweets in it. I forgot the name..something along the lines of iggy pop. I wouldn't mind coming to this place again, but coming earlier. We arrived around 1230pm.
(4)
Teresa W.
My husband and I have been going to Azteca on a regular basis for over 5 years now, and dearly love it! The atmosphere is fun, and the food is good, especially for the price. We always have friendly and quick service, and they really cater to large parties without charging additional fees. We're always introducing our friends to this place, and they keep coming back too! :)
(5)
Travis W.
Great Salsa, A solid Burrito. Three Stars? scratch that, make it two. Service was below mediocre; they give you attitude. When my friend katie asked for tomatoes the waitress said, "that's what pico de gallo is". But of course it didn't say pico de gallo on the menu. Not only this but we had to ask them to remake her burrito when she specifically asked for no beans and lo-and-behold: beans. This place has potential, but the service sucked. Vibes are all important and this place needs to work on them.
(2)
Darth T.
Okay I sorta feel it is unfair for me to rate this, as anyone knows I am a Elvis fan....so ummm...the whole Elvis atmosphere leaves me at a disadvantage as.... EVERYTHING TASTES BETTER WITH A LITTLE ELVIS!!! that's right...an Elvis-themed Mexican Restaurant I can't help but admit I would eat a microwave burrito and tell you it was delicious if I ate it in this place....but to be honest the food I have eaten there was actually good... can't say it was the best mexican food i've ever had...but can say it with the surroundings is good enough to keep me coming back time and time again. the bar "Crooners Lounge" is the topper in all this...you jsut walk right past them western style swinging doors...and POW! your magically whisked away to "the Elvis Bar" Pink Cadillac anyone? the whole place is covered from floor to roof in memorabilia...and although 99% of it is Elvis they do have a few other cool things in there...not as cool as the King mind you. They have Kareoke on certain nights..and sell elvis sun glasses and t-shirts. playing Elvis hits and or Elvis cover songs while you enjoy your meal. take a look around and soak in the scenery the place has a great story and history... the best are the letters from the Elvis Cooperation telling the owner to stop using the Kings image in his restaurant...but hey...the guys a crazy Elvis fan! he can't help it...it's in his blood...just like I can't help curling my lip as I take a bite of that Garlic taco!... now I need to find that Elvis Themed Chinese resturant... TCB baby...
(4)
Tika O.
AHAHA! Good memories here. The servers and waiters are super humble and chill. The food is good.. I'm not a huge fan of Mexican food unless it's home made but WHATEVER. Drinks are cheap-- but obviously the best and fun part is the karaoke. Catch me singing Pussy Cat Dolls or Destiny's Child any day haha. The crowd is very nice, they wouldn't boo you haha. And you can actually go around with the mic and dance with people. It's such a party !! Although if you're shy, the veterans that belt out numbers like it ain't no thang will make you feel like a loser. It's still a good time, and I've been here for large parties. They really work with you when you are expecting a large party.
(5)
Nick V.
Food is awful! So is the service, however if food and service do not matter to you, then I suggest that you go there for a drink from the bar and admire this odd place! You do not have to be an Elvis lover to enjoy this place but it sure helps, the place is surreal, it is something that you would expect to find in a Quintin Tarantino movie, which alone may make it worth checking out.
(2)
Leopoldo P.
You've gotta love this place* *if you're an Elvis fan. That's right. If you are a fan or you want a night of Elvis karaoke, this is the place to go. Otherwise there's nothing else to it. The food, though abundant for its price, was somehow messy, soggy and of no special taste. The place has the usual combination of great entertainment and poor to average food. I came for Elvis, though I think the chef had left the building...
(1)
Holly C.
I've been coming here for about 6 years and I love this place. I'm not even an Elvis fan but I LOVE looking at all the memorabilia. I love the Strawberry Margaritas and Cheese Enchiladas!
(4)
Nicci G.
This place is amazing solely for the reason that it is the ONLY Elvis-themed Mexican restaurant you will ever find. Hence, a truly delightful ambience to upstage the cliche, bad mariachi playing, fake cheese serving, wear-a-stupid-sombrero-on-your-birthday, Mexican dining experience. And you know the Elvis-love is legit when the owner himself sports a pomp 'do and bought the Graceland gates featured on an episode of Full House to put in front of his house. His house is infamously The Elvis House, as there is also a Elvis statuette behind said gates. The food is mediocre, but because I've been going there for years, I love it. Garlic Taco Tuesdays used to be a godsend. But now they are on the menu daily ;) If you're hungry-- and I mean HUNGRY-- the burritos are fantastic! Besides the decor itself, The Crooner's Lounge is the real gem of this establishment. With themed nights of Bad Movie Mondays and Karaoke nights, there's something for everyone. The jukebox is top-notch with a great song selection. The bartenders are some of the coolest guys ever, and always friendly and willing to divulge a swell tale. For sober nights, the classic Shirley Temple is tops!
(4)
Maximillian M.
The "Crooner's Lounge" could pass for an Elvis memorabilia museum. The Elvis statue by the parking lot should've tipped me off about things to come. They even had a framed record sleeve for The Smiths' "Shoplifters Of The World Unite" EP signed by Morrissey. Very cool. Had the garlic steak and a Blue Moon. And then? Garlic breath for the rest of the evening.
(4)
Veronica B.
I was there with my husband. I had beef tacos which were ok. But my husbands chicken burrito tasted like fish. That was alarming. We dislike complaining about food we eat. But we just didn't have a choice. We told a waiter which told a manager. And the manager said that all he could do was have another one made but it will be with the same oil that made it taste that way in the first place. Yuck!!! They didn't offer to make him something else. And even when they noticed he didn't eat it they still charged us for it. Terrible costumer service. We will not eat there again. I see why you have to have drinks from the bar to enjoy your food there.
(1)
Dave J.
Great staff, great vibe... I love going to Azteca!
(5)
Laura M.
Came in a few nights ago and sat at the bar- bartenders were attentive, friendly and mix a mean margarita. I didn't eat dinner but the chips and salsa was fantastic, the chips were warm and tasted homemade, the salsa was cold and refreshing- not bland, not too spicy. Drink prices are super reasonable, I was actually surprised how inexpensive my drinks were for being in OC. It's a shame people are so quick to give this rad little spot a one-star for something like "slow service" when a thirty-something minute wait time for a meal is pretty standard at restaurants on a super busy night. If you want a 15 min and under ticket time don't dine out on the weekend. This place got my stamp of approval all the way and the vibe inside is my cup of tea... I felt right at home my first time there. The owner came through the bar to say hello to some regulars- I saw a lot of smiles and few dance moves to the Juke Box tunes. Azteca is definitely worth a visit. I'll be back soon to try the food.
(5)
Mayra E.
Karaoke? Yes, please! Came here on a Friday night and I was digging the environment. I had one drink and was just really enjoying the free show of other customers who had the liquid courage to go up and sing. I mean the whole room stares at you, but there is no negativity anywhere. Everyone just kind of sings along! The person I came with that night had a bit too much to drink, and the owner Jennifer came to ask if she needed anything. She was extremely nice and handled the situation very professionally. I was not offended one bit, and I was glad she actually cut her off. She offered water, chips and salsa, and just anything she needed even though the kitchen was closed. She takes away the cake for superb customer service. Will I come here with other people to maybe catch dinner and sing karaoke one day? Yes!
(5)
Melissa M.
The Azteca is very Kitschy. If you are an obsessive compulsive fan of Elvis Presley & if you LOVE Mexican cuisine like I do, then The Azteca is Heaven on Earth. This is a family friendly restaurant that serves many classic Mexican dishes. They have their signature Garlic Taco, which I always get when I dine there and even order to go. I absolutely enjoy devouring the crispy Garlic Taco with their special homemade Salsa Verde! Even with all the elaborate Elvis Presley decor, The Azteca is a warm & cozy restaurant that is located on the historical preservation of Main Street. On Friday nights they have the Classic Cars & Motorbikes show that model themselves in front of the Azteca. It is quite a sight to see. I have so many wonderful memories from the Azteca, the people there are so nice, and I always want to ransack all of their GARLIC TACOS!!!
(5)
Mark B.
Stopped in for dinner this evening. We were impressed with the friendliness and attentiveness of the staff. Can't say as much for the food. It was mediocre. The Elvis collection was outstanding! We noticed they have karaoke Friday and Saturday nights. We'll be back to check that out.
(3)
Andrea R.
Can you say Elvis? This restaurant is dedicated to "The King!" When you walk into this fun place, you see memorabilia everywhere, even on the ceiling! I don't really understand how Elvis and Mexican food go together, but that's what makes this place different! The customer service here was excellent, they kept checking on my family and I. Plus you can't complain when they keep bringing the tortilla chips. I was excited to try out my Enchilada and Tostada plate since this place was doing a good job so far. Sadly the food fell short of my expectation for this place. Everything was pretty bland and plain. Nothing really stood out. If I was to at least recommend one thing, it would probably be the Tostada (make sure you order sour cream with it). I think if the next time I were to ever come back, it would only be to grab a drink and sing some karaoke. This place is great to admire the neat Elvis collection but not really that good to eat at.
Drove out to.this place for dinner after being told the kitchen was open. First we sat at a booth near the bar and the blonde waitress never came out from behind the bar to take our drink orders. I finally walked up to her, gave her my order, only to be told the kitchen was closed. Some patron apparently answered the phone when I called to see if the kitchen was open. I called again, on my way out and the same idiot answered only to refer me to Mae's Cafe. I wanted Mexican food. Will never visit this establishment. Owners need to get a better handle on its staff.
(1)
Dianna H.
What a great ELVIS night we had!L!!! Jennifer and Larry were fabulous to have all us in one place!!! Thanks!!! Food was great too!!!
(5)
Marco S.
Interesting place with lots of entertainment items on the wall. I found the food very bland. As a person before stated the salsa taste like it came from a jar from the store. I ordered buffalo wings which the menu stated that they came in a garlic buffalo sauce. When I got them they were just regular fried wings with a side of ranch. I asked for buffalo sauce and they did gave it to me but again average sauce, nothing special. I also ordered the half nachos with shredded beef. I felt like the beef was very bland and dry. The food took pretty long to arrive and once it did arrive, my wife got the wrong order. When we told them about it we were told that they ran out of that item.(they tried to replace it without asking) We had to order a replacement item while all the food was already at the table, so my wife just sat there watching everybody else eat. Overall it is not a place I would visit again, but to each their own.
(2)
Lurine F.
This place was really odd. I am a lover of Elvis and Mexican food. However I am not sure how the two can work together in a restaurant. And coincidentally they don't. The food seemed fake. I was extremely disappointed. This is why I don't usually let anyone but me luck the restaurant
(3)
Nancy C.
This restaurant has an amazing collection Of Elvis. One Of the main reason I like This place is because their bar is absolutely amazing very detailed and the service is great always have a good time. The food is not the greatest that's the reason for the four start. Just a shame won't be coming as often. But will definitely coming back.
(4)
Quynh Tran P.
This is one of those places that you want to love. Its pretty cool that they have walls to ceiling full of Elvis memorabilia. For that reason alone is what draws in the crowd. But what is it that the have to offer that would keep them coming? When you first sit down they offer you chips and salsa. I am not sure how to describe the chips. They were edible, felt a bit stale but very crunchy. It scrape my gums. The salsa tasted like pace picante sauce. Which isn't a bad thing. My family loves that stuff. However, no one will remember you for that. We ordered the ceviche as an appetizer. our waiter asked if we wanted it first or together with our meal. We asked for it first. It came out like a minute before my meal. I took one bite of the cevieche and my dinner came out. I figured that would happen because the food coming out of the kitchen seem kinda slow. But at least our server was very on top of refilling the drinks. The ceviche tasted different. It didn't look very appealing. I took a big first bite and I was kinda taken by surprised that it was bubbling in my mouth. My friend thought it was bad and i thought they used soda in it. Which the owner said it was from the acid, then later it was the Worcestershire sauce. I think going with soda would be a better answer. Considering in costa rica they make ceviche with ginger ale and club soda. I also found a recipe online that uses orange soda. For my entree i ordered the chicken enchiladas and the tostada. The presentation of my food could of been better. The enchiladas was ok. However I felt it was over garnish. Their was a lot of chopped green onions on top. Nothing about it stood out. My tostada had a big scoop of beans on it. The beans were so dry. I just scrape everything off the tostada and ate it like a chip. My friend said the beans came from a can. I had decent beans from a can. you can always add things to it to make it good. Dilute it, add some bacon grease, and some Serrano chili. 3 stars since the owner came over and talked to us. however, they seem a bit passive agressive.
(3)
Michael V.
This restaurant has a great bar separated from the eating area which is an awesome hang out spot. The beer is cold the chips and salsa is decent. The wings were pretty good and was affordable. This place is a pretty cool hang out spot with plenty of parking.
(5)
Robin L.
My BFF and I stumbled upon this great place while trying to find a different restaurant we had Yelped. Old Main street in GG was totally cool! It was a score.Not really busy as it was a weds night but it seems like this place would be hoppin on a friday/saturday night. Staff was great very attentive and gave honest opinions. the only reason I didn't give 5 stars is my margarita was served in a pint (beer glass). It was great, a little strong ( of course we al like) the salsa was above average and the chips were great! we both decided on the daily special Blue Cheese New York steak- i know not very Mexican but it was awesome! both cooked perfectly and the rice was light and fluffy. We saw lots of burritos/tacos go by everything looked great! I will be back to try the garlic tacos and I Totally recommend the place!
(4)
Nancy M.
I knew coming here that I shouldn't expect classic Mexican delicious dishes from previous visits. My friend and I were in the area and I had a 4 year old coupon from restaurant.com . We walked in and waited a few minutes for a table and we get a salsa and chips. The salsa tasted like it came out of a can and the chips were barely edible. Everything was so bland! I ordered a cheese enchilada and chicken taco combo. It seemed like there was only one server taking orders which was a bit odd. The hostess refilled the drinks which was nice. We got shrimp ceviche as an appetizer and had to return it. The shrimp were super pink and didn't taste or look fresh and the sauce had no flavor. It tasted like the sauce had carbonation. There was no way that we were going to eat it at that point. The chicken in the taco was bland and the salsa on top tasted and looked like ketchup. Then I tried the rice and beans and only took a couple of bites. They heat up the plates so the rice was a little crunchy and the beans looked and tasted like they dried out in a tin can. The enchilada was dry and the sauce did not taste home made at all, much like the rest of the meal. After seeing that we didn't eat the majority of the food the hostess asked if there was a problem with the food. It's a bit embarrassing to tell someone that their food isn't good. She called the manager and they went to check out the ceviche. The final conclusion is that the acidity was making the shrimp taste carbonated, since it had been made that day. She also said that the beans were home made which I found pretty strange. Home made beans do not look or taste like that. The check comes and I tell our server about the coupon that I had. He went to go ask the owners how to process it. That took a while to figure out. One of the owners came to talk to us and explained that they aren't part of the restaurant.com promotions anymore. He still gave us the $10 off. It would have been nice if they contacted the website so I could have the credit moved to another restaurant. The lesson of the day is not to come here expecting a traditional Mexican meal. I kinda wish that we'd gone to Del Taco, their beans are actually edible!
(2)
Trisha B.
I really wanted to like this place. Big Elvis fan! Unfortunately the food and the service is just not good. I absolutely loved the interior! If you are an Elvis fan, you should definitely go just once for the fun of seeing it! Unfortunately they didn't even know how to use the Groupon that they list themselves. They tried to overcharge. It took forever to get anything. They made my food wrong twice. Also, I couldn't believe that the bean and cheese burrito was made with different beans than their regular refried beans. It was not good. Oh, and don't even get me started on the garlic sauce that they are supposedly famous for. I could've eaten an entire head of garlic and had less garlic taste. It was overwhelming! The red enchilada sauce was good though. Bottom line: There are so many better Mexican restaurants throughout Orange County.
(2)
Zach B.
Overpriced, small portions, under cooked, lumps of fat, and very little flavor and spice. I ordered an asada burrito from them this afternoon and there wasn't anything "asada" about it. It was just beef with very little flavor. It was rare which is not how the meat is typically cooked. The tortilla was extremely moist, flat, and floppy. Being "authentic" I expected there to be some limes and decent salsa. the salsa I received was water with some bits of cilantro, tomatoes, and onions floating in it. No kick whatsoever. I spent just under $8 for this piece of crap and got about as many bites out of it. I initially came in for some tacos but a single taco was $5 with nothing else included. That is right, FIVE FUCKING DOLLARS for ONE taco. Do yourself a favor and go elsewhere unless you are looking for a cocktail. The food is terrible.
(1)
Mike K.
Full disclosure: I'm a huge Elvis fan. After dining at Azteca, what was memorable? The Elvis decor. I loved it! Oh, and I liked the chips. The service was also good. The food was...blah. My intro to the food quality was the salsa- which tasted like jarred Picante. Hey, I have no problem with Picante, but I expect much more at a Mexican restaurant! The chips, however, were fresh, warm, and quite good. My entree was the Mexico City burrito. It looked nice presentation wise, but it had no flavor. Seriously. Even with the red sauce topping it tasted like nothing. And the guacamole it was supposedly topped with was non-existent. I asked for more, and was told there would be a charge. Anyway, after reading the other reviews here it seems my dining experience was par for the course and so I won't be returning to Azteca as I can easily get better food anywhere else in OC. Too bad- the interior is awesome and it could be a really fun place if they can improve the food.
(2)
Victoria M.
Fun place to hang out with friends, drink, and sing karaoke. The food has improved greatly since the new owners took over. The bartenders are great and make you feel like your a regular (even if you aren't) and the prices for drinks are definitely not bad compared to places surrounding them. Owners are really friendly. Tim and Sergio are the most awesome doormen ever. Really fun place on Friday and Saturday nights!
(5)
Brian L.
Dont know why I was holding out on bringing my girlfriend here, who is a big Elvis fan. She loved it! We both think the place has great atmosphere, service and food. I'm sure this place will now be in our regular local Mexican restaurant rotation. Elvis is the king! (says my girlfriend)
(4)
Jeff H.
Great food but the severs can be a little slow at night. Be patient cause it's worth it.
(4)
Ana B.
This place is really unusual... In a good way. The Entire restaurant is dedicated to The King, which is weird because it's a Mexican restaurant and I never thought of putting those two things together. The location is ideal. Right on main street and very close to the University (Cal State Fullerton). The food is hit or miss. My tamale and rice were amazingly good, but the beans were watered down and flavorless. That was a bit of a bummer. Prices were reasonable and service was attentive. I recommend trying this place at least once.
(3)
Fernando D.
I have been coming to azteca for about 3 years now. The customer service has always been good to us. The food is well portioned and tasty. They have been advertising on groupon lately and if you are an elvis fan with a taste for mexican food i would suggest this place. They have daily menus if you are looking for something cheap, well-portioned, and friendly services. The ambiance is very cool and they have tvs to watch your sports with leisure. I always just come for lunch since there isn't a huge rush of people. The sirloin burrito on saturday is a good choice if you haven't a sirloin burrito before and are looking to switch from asada, carnitas, chicken etc. Be cautious of the garlic dressing on the salads, it is SUPER OVERWHELMING! You have to love, like name your first born Garlic love to like this dressing. Even the waiter starts giggling like a school boy when people ask him about the taste of the dressing. The albondigas soup is great! Big amount of albondigas with tasty broth.
(4)
Danielle S.
We ordered take out, expecting it to be good. I had the carnitas which were baked. Not a problem except the meat was grey in color, bland, and extremely dry. To make it worse cut up green onions covered the meat so when you opened the container, the house immediately smelled. Rice and beans were alright but they left out the guacamole. My husband has the chimichanga shredded beef. Dry meat, over fried and soggy tortilla. If we had been in the restaurant we would have sent back our plate.
(1)
Jacki N P.
This place sucks. Food quality is awful and over priced. I ordered ceviche bowl and got the tiniest shrimp that looked like it came from jar or can that was precooked and was mixed with imitation crab meat that looked and tasted horrible. Also tried the carne asada tacos. All I can say is yuck. I will never come back to eat here again.
(1)
Tin N.
Only bad thing was that it was loud, but everything was pretty good.. We came in on Sundan Afternoon, when there was a full room @ happy hours, so we were to be seated in the bar area when elvis was there. The waiter/bartender had to served 5 tables along with the bar, she worked her ass off! So, I couldnt say anythign fair about the serviced, but our food came out pretty quick, just took awhile to grab her attention if we needed something... Garlic Steak is REALLY good! Do give this place a try.. its not that bad!
(5)
Joey M.
I hope JJ does not read this if he does I am sorry...We finally had a chance to try the food now that Azteca has a new owner. The food was AWESOME!!! I honestly think it has gotten better. The enchiladas still taste great but there is something about the flavor that is a definite improvement. Even the beans were great. I was afraid things would drastically change with the new owner coming in and taking over but all the changes are for the better. My family and I were pleasantly surprised. I am happy to say this is still a great place. In fact in my opinion it has gotten better. I did not think that was possible.
(5)
Mikey R.
So groupon had a deal for this restaurant. So I bought it. Not a good idea. The salsa had no spice. No flavor. My margarita had soda water. I ordered carnitas and they were dry and no spice no seasoning. My other half ordered a chicken burrito. He put it this way: that was the whitest Mexican food. I've ever had. Sorry. He said his burrito tasted like boiled chicken and cheese in a tortilla. Sorry guys. Just an honest depiction of what I was served. It's unfortunate because we came here for happy hour and sat in the bar area. We ordered margaritas and street tacos. The street tacos were delicious and the margaritas were in point. Not sure what happened here but I'm sorry I won't be back in the dining room.
(1)
Miguel G.
Been eating here for over 10 years and out of the blue I get a .30 fee for a "to go" order. Elvis would definite not approve of this.
(1)
Marie E.
My mom had a groupon to try this place out that she saw on the channel 5 news. WORST MEXICAN FOOD EVER!!! First the chips and salsa are straight from the store and are definitely expired. The entree food had no flavor and everyone from my family hated it and everyone ordered something different (meaning ALL the food sucked)! WTF is with Elvis everywhere? Plus it was a Saturday night at 7pm and the place was dead - that's usually when restaurants are their busiest. The waiter took 15 mins to take drink orders, by then we were ready to order food. Then he got the drink orders wrong and if you wanted a refill, you better get up and get it yourself. He got my entree wrong too, but because he was so slow and wrong with drinks I said screw it so I could at least eat with everyone else. I hope this place closes so no one else wastes their time here.
(1)
Danielle A.
Been eating here for years and its my go to spot. Love the azteca burrito. Its big enough for two, has great flavor, and always tastes fresh. Great chips and salsa and the bar makes the best cadillac margaritas. Whether we eat in the dinning area or the bar we always have great service. The jukebox with the Elvis decor are just added bonus.
(5)
Margaret F.
Use to love this place but now that my favorite bar tenders are not here not as fun. And telling us to keep it down in a bar while karaoke is going on Really.??? No one can hear us... I miss the old Azteca. Not my go to place anymore.i want my regular bartenders back.
(1)
Jayne B.
We went today with a pretty large group. We sat in the bar, Celine was the only bar person working but you wouldn't have known it. Great service and very attentive with us. Food was great, I had the shredded beef tacos and my bf had the shredded beef burrito. Beer cheap and yummy margies. Fantastic music on the jukebox. Will be back soon.
(4)
Glen W.
Food here leaves a lot to be desired. Carne asada... Bad. Stringy at times chewy others . Red sauce on wet burritos... Bad salty with a better after taste. Chile reano... Bad. What the hell was with using left over spaghetti sauce on Mexican food? Drinks are good and decor is cool , chips salsa beer... Skip everything else. Sorry. I always swear off this place and something always brings me back (tonight it was the crowd at Louie's) but never again.
(3)
Emmie R.
As a Mexican girl who grew up being obessed with Elvis, I was shocked when I found out about this place. WHY HAVE I NOT BEEN HERE BEFORE?!? I basically forced everyone in my family to come here after a long day at Disneyland, telling them before we walked in, "Trust me." I ordered the chile rellano and loved it! It reminded me of my Nana's. My mom shared some of her flan with me, which was also amazing. Everything was absolutely perfect! My only complaint is the service - not like it was bad, but it took our server a long time to bring the check after we finished, and he never refilled our drinks. I will definitely be coming back, especially on karaoke night!
(4)
Christine J.
Great Mexican food. The Elvis bar is relaxing. The employees are friendly. New owners are nice! Would recommend! Live the bathroom themes. Rofl
(5)
Melanie R.
Every now and then I always come to Azteca for their Munchie meals. The Munchie Meals are very convenient especially when I wanna be ordering drinks all night. I like the space and the Elvis decor. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THEIR CHIPS AND SALSA Also a fan of their avocado sauce . Karaoke nights here are really popular and I like the staff here. Very Friendly.
(4)
Sharon O.
Boy OH boy...this place is interesting to say the very least. As everyone knows this place is Elvis EVERYWHERE...it's like a crazy...and not in a good way. We sat in the bar on a tuesday...one girl working it...so it took a while to get a menu. Finally ordered and got the taquitos and the tacos and a strawberry margarita. Tacos were ok, taquitos GROSS, and there was literally no alcohol in my drank! Not a good experience and not coming back...sorry Elvis =/
(2)
Melinda K.
Worst food ever! I took my mom here because she LOVES Elvis... however... we got chili relleno's -- which where not fluffy and golden. They were clearly a frozen product and looked old because the bottom was blackened. The beans and rice and zero flavor. My mom got a cheese enchilada and the sauce was horrible, canned sauce is better than this. The waiter was nice, but, there was only one waiter for the whole restaurant. I had ask him if I could place our order. He was nice enough to only charge us for one plate since I complained but this is a place I will never go to again.
(1)
Tammy K.
I came to Azteca's for the first time on 09/14/14 when Elvis was in da house. My party and I came for a family celebration mainly because of the floor show. I doubt that I would return. The service was lacking to say the least. After waiting a considerable amount of time (15-20 minutes) and not because we were finally approached, but because we spoke up to the next staff person that finally walked near enough to hear us, we were able to place our order. When our order arrived, it was dropped off and that was basically the last time we had any sort of resemblance of service. No one ever came to check up on us. We were out of salsa from all the chips we ate while waiting to place our orders and needed some for our meal but went without it. One of the orders from our table was wrong, but then again no one was around to make a correction so that was never taken care of. The meal included champagne and was served upon request but then again, no one came by to check up on us. During the meal, when someone was out of a beverage whether it was water, champagne, soda, etc we had to go out of our way to find someone- anyone who worked there for refills and then the drinks were 1) never delivered or 2) only provided to the person who spoke up for our party and the rest of the party was ignored and without something to drink. We were pretty much 'packed in' and I can understand because of the Elvis show but just about every time someone walked behind me, my chair was kicked. In trying to avoid this annoyance, I sat as close to my table as possible and literally even with my breasts resting up on my table, my chair still got kicked time after time. I did not think to look around for the sign that should be posted advising how many people the room is certified to hold but I'm pretty sure that this seating just might have earned a citation from the fire department. With these two things- lack of service, and amount of clientele, I think that these 2 things do go hand in hand. We had reservations (and I doubt we were the only ones). With knowing the amount of people to expect, isn't it wise to have an appropriate amount of staff on hand to provide reasonable service?
(1)
Julie G.
The way they get you in here is the Elvis memorabilia......it sure ain't cause the food is good! The food was awful! It took so long to sit and wait for our appetizer which was a store bought ceviche, we had to ask the waitress if she remembered our order and when she brought it out it was a tiny bowl of ceviche with brown avocado, and we waited an hour for our main course and when it came it was chicken wrapped in a tortilla with melted cheese on it nothing else nothing more...... And the rice and beans were bland. Canned beans are waaaaay better! I also found a hair in my food, YUCK!! And I ordered a michelada and it was terrible just clamato and beer, nothing else no fixings no salt no pepper no Tabasco or lemon the whole food and drink experience was awful...... The Elvis memorabilia was cool tho but I would by no means call this a good Mexican restaurant you're better off getting an even better meal at *dare I say it?!* Taco Bell or del taco!!!!
(1)
Alex V.
Elvis was a hero to most but he never did shit for me, well until he opened up a Mexican restaurant in Garden Grove. Straight out of the gate this isn't your average Mexican restaurant, it's like you're in a memorabilia museum of Elvis and others from that time. It really is something to see. The staff is super friendly, they didn't look bummed at all when I spilled a full thing of salsa on the table. simply brought me more. Kudos. Smiles all around and super attentive. I had the garlic tacos and seriously these had a huge dose of garlic, if you're trying to hoard off the local vampires you def want to try these. This place is a great dining experience and I would for sure go back.
(4)
Kristin M.
THE SERVICE WAS HORRENDOUS. I used to be a waitress, and I am extremely patient and forgiving with wait staff, especially in huge crowds. But there was no forgiving this. We came here for the Elvis brunch to celebrate some birthdays in the family. The minute the waiter sat us down he wanted to take our order and we asked for a few minutes. TWENTY MINUTES LATER, someone finally comes back. We were not so much as acknowledged during that time and I'm convinced that he was purposely avoiding us. Can you please let that sink in? TWENTY MINUTES of waiting for someone to acknowledge us. And we were not sloppily drinking and entertaining ourselves in the meantime. It was pretty obvious we were waiting for service. While taking our order he was aggressive and rude. Because we had spent twenty minutes waiting for someone to come back, of course our waters were empty, and when we asked for more water HE ROLLED HIS EYES. I was so furious, but that place was a madhouse so it was impossible to do anything. They shove WAY too many tables WAY too close together for that brunch: it is uncomfortable for all the viewers and the wait staff is overwhelmed... even though that does NOT excuse the ignoring and the ROLLING OF THE EYES. Oh, and pretty sure that we never got more water, and of course the orders ended up having so many mistakes, but again, wasn't worth correcting at that point. I don't even remember anything about the food. I can say though, that my grandma is 96 years old and her favorite Mexican dish is chile relleno and she gets it EVERY time she eats Mexican. Her review of the chile relleno was "eh". There was ONE lady there, an adorable little blonde woman who really did what she could to help out and talked to us personally, and I credit her for saving all of us from going off the rails but honestly, my family is NOT one to get upset easily and we were all close to fuming at the end of the meal. I roll my eyes right back at you, Azteca!
(1)
Zoe G.
Delicious food!! And the owner is so so sweet! The only problem we had was that the customer service sucked. Servers hardly checked up on us, and I had to get up and get someone's attention for my table to get refills. But overall, this was a great place! I love love love the Elvis memorabilia!
(4)
Nora N.
Great Service, Clean restaurant. Fun place. Lots to look at. The food was fine. Nothing to write home about. A good place for a family event I guess. Good amount of food. You wont go home hungry. Basic Mexican food.
(2)
Lindsay C.
I've really tried to give this place a more than one chance. After coming here one night it solidified why there are so many mixed reviews...no consistency. Service is usually very quick during the week if you go around lunch time. However, when they are "busy" some of the bartenders look like deers in headlights. Meaning they look utterly confused at what to do when tending to more than 3 people. The chicken taquitos are ok,as in the Mexican Pizza. For the price I'm not going to complain. I find it hard to want "Authentic" Mexican food, given the place is an "Elivs Bar", and not promoting any other thing "Mexican". Therefore, I wasn't disappointed in what I got. PROS: - Happy hour ALL day (in the bar), except Friday's & Saturday's _ Cheap HH menu _ Karaoke ( it's cool 'cause you can sit in the bar and watch the singers from the main room on a t.v.) - They carry Don Julio tequila. Why is it so hard to find a bar that has this?? -Jill makes some darn good drinks CONS: - No consistency. You either have a great bartender or a sh**ty one OVERALL: It's not a bad place to stop by during the week. Or a place to get a few drinks before or ending your night going/coming from the better establishments.
(3)
Priscilla B.
I love this place! I've adored Elvis my whole life, and this place is bursting with Elvis! I first came here about 5 years ago to see one of my favorite ETAs. I thought it was so cool I decided to come for my 19th birthday for karaoke, but I got kicked out by an Elvis look-a-like because it was 21+ past 10:30pm. Now at 24, I order margaritas and beer by the pitcher without worrying about Elvis kicking me out. I don't come for the karaoke anymore though, usually just dinner with the boyfriend or friends before heading to a movie. The service is always great, Lalo is really attentive, and so is the tall server with tattoos. The owner has come to our table a few times and has always been very nice. GARLIC ANYTHING!! I come here for their garlic dishes! You can never go wrong with the garlic tacos! My usual is the two garlic tacos with rice and beans. WARNING: The garlic tacos don't have a little garlic kick to them, its a straight up Chuck Norris roundhouse kick to the face. You will be burping up garlic for two days and fend off vampires. If you don't like garlic, stay away. I just had the garlic steak last night and it was great! It wasn't a huge steak, it was just the right size, cooked perfectly medium rare and came with rice, beans, guacamole and tortillas. The garlic in this dish doesn't attack you like it does with the tacos, it just complements the steak very well. I personally LOVE their garlic dressing, so I order a small side of it if I order something without garlic. I know they have happy hour and a bar menu which I haven't checked out yet, I'll save that for the next review.
(5)
Jeff S.
Had a Groupon, my daughter and I thought we would try it out. Went on a Monday evening, quiet inside, only a couple other tables. They took the Groupon no problem. Food was just ok, barely average. We use Groupons to get deals of course, but also to try new places. And hopefully you have a good enough experience, you want to go back, and everybody wins. In this case, with Azteca, the food was just very average. Cheese Enchiladas were runny, no substance to them. If you want to go to check out the Elvis stuff, then you'll like that. But for the food? So before you go, have some Suspicious Minds, as You'll have a Hunka Hunka Burning Something in your stomach, and have you feelin' like a Hound Dog.
(2)
Eric H.
3 stars for the food, 4 stars for the service and 4 stars for the Elvis themed decor. If you are an Elvis Presley fan like me, you can spend a couple of hours here just looking at all the Elvis memorabilia - everything from foreign movie posters of his films to crazy tchotchkes. I will return.
(4)
Kaela H.
I don't know if I hit them on an off night but...shit, this place sucked. The food was edible so I didn't give them the 1 star. BF and I were greeted and sat promptly. Chips and salsa were brought out quickly, but I was weirded out that the plastic basket with chips was unlined? I'm used to the paper being the barrier for salt when my BF douses the chips in it...not here...salt all over the table. Weird - and do they wash the baskets?! Moving along...an unlined basket full of chips later, still no server, no water, no acknowledgment, no napkins...I see a bus boy and ask him if there's a server assigned to our booth and he very calmly said "he's coming". About 5 minutes later our server, a pretty good looking tall guy in his late 20s strolls up without any apology or introduction says "Know what you want yet?". In my head, I'm like "YEAH SOME WATER AND A NAPKIN FOR MY RUNNY NOSE" (salsa was somehow spicy and flavorless). Instead I order what I want and he scurries away. He was so phony and seemed so inconvenienced by having this occupation. The food was decent at best, but we absolutely will not be back.
(2)
Tod T.
The food is ALWAYS great, as well as the staff. They are friendly, and take care of your needs, by checking on you while dining, without being annoying. The food is served hot, and in a timely manner. Flavors are on spot, and fit most any taste. Take a minute to browse all the cool Elvis memorabilia they have. It's great!!!
(5)
karen r.
Service is excellent. Food is bland, but ok. Karaoke is pretty good.. the environment is very unique!! Worth a visit to see the decor and memorabilia or take a picture with Elvis!!.
(3)
Sarah R.
I would normally have given this place 5 stars... That is 5 stars under the previous owners. We went there last week for dinner. We stood at the podium (where we wait to be seated.) There was an employee and a blonde lady talking... We stood there for a few minutes and NEITHER ONE Acknowledged us. Not a hello or we will be right with you... NOTHING. Finally, we approached one of the servers and asked to be seated. Even he was surprised that had happened. During our meal I asked who the blonde lady was, and was told she is THE NEW OWNER!!! At that point I was seriously angry. I hope they read this. I will not be going to Azteca anymore after being ignored by the owner.
(1)
Teresita B.
Delicious food, cheap drinks, what more do you want? The food tastes authentic and they give really big portions. I was really pleased with it. The bf and I split an appetizer and some shredded beef enchiladas. They were on point, to say the least. We got a pitcher of beer for $15, not bad. The ambiance was good overall. For my first time here, I left with a positive impression and will definitely consider returning.
(4)
Willie B.
Wow! I can't believe how bad this restaurant has gotten. Very dirty, outdated, tacky, smells bad, and food sucks. The salsa tasted like it came out of a can. Very depressing. Very depressing.
(1)
Juan C.
This place is awesome been both to the main restaurant part and bar. The tamales are great. Chips and salsa are delicious. Recommend for people to come and eat here.
(5)
Josie Y.
The ambiance made the experience. An Elvis themed Mexican restaurant, not sure how that connection was made, but it was fun and unique. Service: I don't like how you are not escorted to your table they just pointed to the table. Service was also pretty slow and unattentive. The womens bathroom was unkept. Our food took so long the waiter brought us a second basket of chips and salsa. The staff had a plate of fries by the bar area that they all were picking in, come on keep them in the back where customers can't see you eating. Food: someone from the kitchen brought our food on a cart that looked like it should only be used in the kitchen. The garlic tacos are very good and probably the one item I would have again. My husband had the NY strip and he said it was good.
(3)
Yetisaurus R.
I will never eat here again. My boyfriend and I went with a group of people, and I made the fateful mistake of ordering the Azteca burrito with shredded chicken. It didn't taste bad, just middle of the road. We stayed for karaoke until around 1 am, and then headed home. By then, I wasn't feeling well at all. I went to bed, and awoke at 4 am with horrible, horrible food poisoning. I won't give you all the gory details, but I literally wasn't able to leave the bathroom from 4 am until 7 am. The whole next day, I was nauseated and alternated between fever and chills. It's taken until about now, almost 48 hours later, for me to feel pretty much back to normal. Thank God my boyfriend didn't eat any of my burrito. And I know with 100% certainty that it was this food that made me sick, because we ate at around 8 pm, and I hadn't eaten anything since breakfast. If you like karaoke, then give this place a try. But for the love of god, eat at home first. By the way, another yelp reviewer mentioned having a similar problem in March of this year (vomiting in the middle of the night and being ill for a day or two after), and yet another one got food poisoning in 2009. And those are just the people who bothered to post reviews. I don't think they have very good food handling practices in that kitchen.
(1)
Britt H.
Elvis themed bar?! YES, PLEASE!!! This place is fun and has karaoke!!!
(4)
Gilbert S.
The Elvis decorations are pretty cool if your into the king but the food is way overpriced if you come in here without a coupon. Food is just bland and pretty gross to be honest. Server was nice and attentive. Came here with a groupon and ordered the steak. He came back and told me the kitchen was out. No problem, I ordered something else. I overhear our waiter talking to a man in a blue dress shirt which I assume is the manager who confesses to our waiter he wasn't going to sell me a steak when I come in with a groupon. That's horrible business I will not be returning.
(2)
Velvette W.
First let me start with the chips. The chips were cold and the salsa was frozen. ..yes FROZEN? WTH? The older lady helping us was nice (not sure if it was the owner) but man our server was very slow. The garlic special Tuesday tacos were not that great. The chicken was not marinated in garlic. . There was like a garlic sauce or something. The beans and rice were cold too. Man we were disappointed :( I do not recommend this place! We are on vacation from Las Vegas and this made us sad. Everyone with us were upset too! Waste of 60$
(2)
Nicole V.
This is one of my favorite places to eat. The garlic tacos are delicious. The service could always improve. Overall it's close, good prices,and free chips and salsa.
(5)
Les D.
Love these guys they have only gotten better with the food and the service now all they have to do is upgrade their seating and just the formality of the restaurant if they have the best food love to you dear
(5)
Michelle M.
i loooooovvvvvve this place!!! the food, the elvis theme, karaoke nights.... so much fun! ******** please don't ever change a thing!!!
(5)
Cris A.
The Azteca is my stomping grounds and I have MANY memories I have taken from it. A theme i'm seeing in other reviews is that The Azteca is known for it's night life, and it's truly a blast! I am not a fan of Bobby Vegas however (this stands true for most groups I've attended the bar with). He often will cater to the same people who he bring's up over and over to sing. Especially if they are giving him tips. God forbid someone else puts in for two songs, you'll be lucky if you get up there a second but mainly third time. Understandable if there's a long list of people. He plays favorites and will recycle the same people. It's quite frustrating really. He's also never been very personable in the years we've been going. You're a DJ, isn't that what you're supposed to do? Bobby V. tends to be the low point with every visit. Other than that, we always have a great time!
(4)
Stacey R.
The food, service and atmosphere are great! The Chili Verde was one of the best I've had. More chili and less tomatillo flavor. Pork was cooked perfectly and was not fatty. Beans and rice both good. Worth it!
(5)
Ann F.
A great friend of mine recommended me to this place cause we're both Elvis Presley fans and said it's his themed restaurant and lot of fun and good food and she's right! This is the next best thing as being at Graceland or Vegas! Almost all there is Elvis memorabilia (one of the statues is also at a restaurant called Peggy Sue's) along with some Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, a couple Tom Jones, Priscilla and Lisa Marie and more.. There is some TV's with the sports and others with Elvis movie clips (I'm a rookie EP/ETA fan and haven't seen any of his movies yet.)! I went inside during their lunch on a Tuesday afternoon, we were seated and given menus. We ordered orders and my friend ordered margarita without salt. She ordered the taquitos w/ rice and beans while I ordered the cheese enchilada and tosada combo. Food came to us on a very hot plates while we were looking more around the restaurant and took some pictures. I enjoyed the food along w/ their chips and salsa. They have Elvis Tribute Artist do live shows every weekend and I hope to come back when they're there. Owner is very nice and fun to talked to!
(5)
N G.
The first time I came here was back in '03 with my sister. She was a huge Elvis fan and it was an adventure kind of day. We both loved it and went any chance we could! I loved their beef tacos and their huevos con chorizo. The service we would get always made us come back! When I first met my husband we were basically on a blind date and I suggested we meet at Azteca for dinner. He loved the ambiance, he's into all that rockabilly stuff & old cars. The service diminished, our drinks were flat and our food was mediocre. I was super embarrassed I recommended this place, but we had a great time none the less. About two years ago I went with my sister as a nostalgic experience since we both would always come here when we were younger and again, very poor food quality. I had plastic on my huevos con chorizo. Needless to say I lost my appetite. I tried going once more with my husband, I came out smh and said no more! I didn't mind the price, I didn't mind waiting for my food but everything just went downhill at that restaurant. Like they lost that touch, that drive, like they just gave up, which is sad because this use to be a great place. I gave it a 3 stars because of Elvis & because of the great memories I had with my sister and my then boyfriend now husband :-)
(3)
Rogelio V.
The service here is awesome. The buffalo wings are really good and they always have good price for happy hour. One recommendation I suggest are the tamales and cheese nachos. Everyone in here are very polite.
(4)
David T.
Elvis is everywhere! At Azteca in Garden Grove, delight in prideful Mexican cuisine, with the motif of Elvis Presley every which way but loose. On the walls. In glass cases. On the TV set. And some of the staff members personify the legendary icon. We can talk about Elvis all day. Back to Mexican food. Two impressive dishes here include the Mexican pizza and the arroz con pollo. Okay, back to Elvis. There's Elvis statues inside and out, and a ton of memorabilia. And they play all the Elvis movies, I believe there are 31 where he was either a star or had a talking part. And, Elvis had a twin brother, but passed away very young. And Elvis was blonde. And Elvis is the most personated celebrity, second to Jesus. I can be here talking about Elvis all day, so...Thank, thank you very much.
(3)
David L.
I was disappointed with the food and the service the Elvis decor was cool but not cool enough to go back
(1)
Amanda N.
five stars for ambiance! 5 stars for Elvis! Service 5 stars! nachos 5 stars! margs...3 stars
(5)
Jacob K.
If you love garlic and you love tacos and you love Elvis then this place is a must. The owner is an awesome guy who pays alot of attention to his guests food and drinks are very reasonably priced I will definitely be going back and really enjoyed my time hear Elvis music playing the whole time along with videos interviews etc
(5)
J M.
Wow! This place is awsome place to visit. They have a nice cozy bar area. The main dining area is everything Elvis. It all fits in good but the food is muy terrible. I don't understand how a taco truck can have better tasting food than this place. My wife ordered the carne asada plate and I ordered some garlic steak plate. The server came out with our plates in a moving tray cart, which told me that the food was warmed up in some oven. My wife's carne asada was the same size of thinkness as my steak. Hello! They just put some sauce on mine and left my wife's alone. If this place want's to be know for their food they should drive down the street to Los Sanchez Mexican food and take some notes or hire their cooks.
(1)
Mico C.
Never been to Graceland, but I reckon it'd look like Azteca, the Mexican Elvis eatery in Garden Grove. Portraits and collectibles of "The King" garishly smother the ceilings, wall panels and powder rooms. Azteca's compendium of Elvis memorabilia is its best quality. The bland chow is not fit for a king- dry meat soaked in salt of all machinations: chimichanga, enchilada rancheras, carnitas, steak picado, taquitos, tamales, quesadilla, ceviche. Day One: August 16, 2009- i'll remember this date. This is the date of my first post on "Yelp: real people & reviews." Why do you yelp? I've lived in California over 30 years now and I'm mighty proud of that fact. Writing for Yelp is my way cheering for companies and organizations i enjoy in the Golden State... Scribbling, how quaint, an ancient tradition practiced centuries before photos, audio, and videos clips. No hoopla, just you and a stack of letters piled 3 paragraphs high. Correspondence in its most fundamental form. Answering the questions: "What are you doing Saturday?" "What's for dinner?" and "Why did you go there?" since 8/09 - Mico 33 (Orange County, CA)
(2)
Brandy C.
I realize that a 4-star rating wouldn't ordinarly accompany a review like the one I'm about to write....but...well, I'm believe this is likely an isolated incident, but serious enough to merit publicity. My grandparents-in-law have been eating at this restaurant for over 40 years with nary an issue.....deliciousness and good times across the board. When I learned that on our recent trip to Orange County they'd be taking us there, I was more than excited to try the garlic tacos they're famous for. I must say, the tacos didn't disappoint....but much to the chagrin of my digestive system, I ordered the ceviche. Arriving at my place setting in the traditional Peruvian preparation (in tomato sauce), I was hesitant but hungry and drunk on the cadillac margaritas that can only be described as "the mad notes." Hence, I ate it and enjoyed it (not as much as I enjoyed the garlic tacos and just-this-side-of-too-strong margaritas). I awoke the next morning feeling just-this-side-of-utterly-fucked-up with the gag reflex to match. The short of the long is this: food poisoning via bad ceviche. Like I said, I believe this is an isolated/freak incident. Even if the margaritas and garlic tacos weren't toe-curling good, the constant streaming Elvis video and music make the trip more than worth it.
(4)
Matt M.
Holy Elvis, that's all I have to say. If you even slightly like Mexican food, this place is worth a visit just to see one crazy mix of Elvis memorabilia. Once you get passed the Elvis statue at the front door (seriously, be prepared), you will get settled in for pretty good service and Mexican food that is pretty good. In terms of the Mexican food trinity (a burrito, chips n' salsa, and margarita), the salsa is flavored and spiced to meet your whole table's needs, margaritas have enough booze to know you ordered a margarita, and the burrito is decent. Two out of three isn't too bad. Fun place to come with people who enjoy a visual explosion of Elvis. After that, the intrigue may wear off.
(3)
JC D.
Holy Jesus and Elvis Presley!!! Smack in the middle of the bar is Jesus and Elvis together watching over the drunks. This is a shrine to Elvis. The walls are carpeted with pictures, dolls, and license plates of our King. I came here tonight with a group of friends for my going away party, and I wasn't disappointed. The drinks were decent, and the ladies were plump in all the right places. As soon as I walked in, I felt right at home with all the hipsters, locals, and college students. It's an eclectic group of people with two things on their mind: Booze and Karaoke. I finished the night with a drink named after myself, and Journey's "Don't stop believen' " playing on the jukebox. A night to remember. A great place to chill if you don't want to doll up, but want to get shit faced.
(4)
Jessica C.
This is my favorite place by far!! I have a great time every time I come here. It is easy to become a regular here even if your not from the area! Monday nights are movie madness Mondays, Guitar Heroes on Wednesday night and they have crazy karaoke on Friday and Saturday nights! Defiantly my favorite karaoke place!! I know everybody there and the atmosphere is very welcoming! This is a hole in the wall place but so worth it! Elvis memorabilia is posted everywhere! Great Mexican food. Things I would recommend food wise is the Mexican pizza! The salsa is to die for and to drink order a Pink Cadillac best I have had anywhere!
(5)
Sonya M.
When we walked up to the joint, there was a chick smoking outside. This chick was wearing slippers... as a fashion statement. If you know a little bit about me, you know that I HATE O.C. This place is swarming with folks that live on the outskirts of the Orange County. Leopard print tank tops and purses, zebra striped hair color, pink lipstick and fake fingernails ruled this place. *side note* There's something quite funny to me when a chick has tits that cost more than her car. The decor in this joint was appealing... Elvis threw up all over the place. The food SUCKS. I couldn't take more than two bites. The bartender was the only thing I liked about this place. So I went here for a birthday party. Since I adore birthdays, I had fun. A lot of fun. So I up'd them a star.
(2)
Tim B.
Awesome great food cool wait staff killer karaoke and to top it all off the most Elvis memorabilia this side of Memphis the King's spirit truly lives here con Mexican food with a slight New Mexico style. Party all night Fridays & Saturdays on classic old town main street in Garden Grove. If you don't have fun here check your pulse.
(5)
Kathryn G.
Very unique place. As everyone has informed us, it's Elvis memorabilia everywhere! I don't have the pickiest palette of mexican food, but this place does not disapoint. Always good. The garlic tacos are a must have. The cabbage tacos are also worth trying. If good food wasn't enough, they also create for a fun enviroment after hours too. We're talking good ol' Karaoke nights, but even more special is the Guitar hero nights!
(4)
Dina H.
First time at Azteca today,a Elvis Presley tribute type of restaurant with mexican food. I ordered the carne asada quesadilla, my kids the carne asada nachos & my hubby the carne asada burrito. All four items had shredded beef instead and the meat tasted gamey. I informed the waiter of the taste, smell & error in cut of meat and he stated he was sorry and that what they considered "carne asada". The first basket of chips & salsa are on the house, if you ask for additional chips you are charged $1 a basket. The waiter was nice however it took him a long time to come back and check on us. Due to the taste of the food I had to give this restaurant one star and that was only becuase we enjoyed looking at all the pics & the waiter was nice.
(1)
Candice Z.
I'm seriously surprised I didn't come here until AFTER I graduated from GGHS cause this place is like a GGHS magnet. My friend Annie was the first one that brought me here and I fell in love. The food is great, for reals. But what's even better is the Elvis decor. Hands down! They even have the notices from Elvis' estate telling them to take down everything FRAMED for all to see. It's hilarious. Crooner's Lounge is a nice little bar to hit up, whether after work, or for a birthday party. Beware if you went to GGHS though cause chances are you will run into an old classmate or even a history teacher or band director.
(4)
Irene C.
Kitchy cool for sure. Only recommend if you happen to be in GG. Order two Garlic Tacos (or Garlic Grilled Steak plate) with a tall Michelada and you'll be good to go!
(3)
John O.
The appeal of the is place is the Elvis craziness. it's fun and entertaining. I'd rather take it all in from the adjoining but separately named Crooner's Lounge. They make some good drinks there including a solid margarita. But the food? Not so good. Old school in a kind of bland entrees beans and rice all run together and covered with cheese way. Yeah the garlic tacos are different and they are garlicky. But are are they great? Are they a well-balanced combination of flavors? Not so much. We last went with a party of eight people who dine out regularly and none of us thought the food to be any good. I think too many people rate this place highly for everything but the food. That to me is like saying Chuck E Cheese is a great Italian restaurant because you can play games there.
(1)
Sergio B.
Took my brother here for his 21 first birthday and it was a blast! We didn't order any food we just ordered alcohol, the karaoke was fun especially when everyone starts getting used to it. After 10:30 you have to go to the bar and order drinks and they were pretty fast to serve us too.
(4)
Clifford Y.
I stopped by here last night because a couple of my close friends were hanging out here and it's literally 30 seconds away from my place. I've been here a few times before, and it's always been one of the local places that I never get excited about. but i've never regret going. Nothing fancy, but not ghetto either. It's chill.. an Elvis fanatic place, seems like always a mixed crowd. sometimes we see the older hick type of crowd. middle-aged ppl. young ppl. we got the asian baby girls and boys. the truck driver db type buff dude crowd. just always a mix. they have karaoke sometimes right outside the bar in the dining section. the bar section is very dive-bar like. they bring you free chips and salsa if you're seated at the booth tables near the bar which is cool. the cool thing i noticed is that they have random "sales" on certain drinks each night. i dunno if this is every night. I had a guiness on draft which i think was the special of the night, and it was quite refreshing. the workers/bartenders are chill and down to earth. give this place a try. it clicks with some ppl and it doesn't with others. or if you're like me, it'll grow on you eventually.
(3)
Adam B.
Definitely a fun experience but a no on the food. Probably 2 stars if I didnt have fun listening to some good kareoke singers (and one really bad one). The chicken burrito was nothing special. Drinks were good.
(3)
J W.
this place is disgusting. i enjoyed zero parts of our meal. everything tasted like it came right out of a can. NOT worth the $$. gross, gross,gross.
(1)
cassina Q.
My gf introduced me to this place a couple years ago and we've gone back here and there...went recently and it was still pretty good. Karaoke can get pretty funny, got your regulars there, it's like an elvis shrine up in this piece!! Drinks are good...I will agree with another yelper...margaritas are pretty good. Although, of course my drink is henny and coke and here...it was just henny with a splash of coke...yea...they make good drinks. Food is pretty good...reasonable price....it's mexican food...a little americanized but hey...still pretty good. It's a great local spot for just hanging out with some funny entertainment (karaoke) would stop by if I was in the area.
(3)
William R.
I'm convinced that the owner of Azteca must be a closet vampire slayer or something. This restaurant, though located on the bright and friendly sidewalks of Garden Grove's Main Street, is dank and dark and kinda creepy on the inside--all the better to lure vamps in, right? No, see, 'cause the place's famous for their garlic sauce, a concoction that would send any vampire to its coffin for all of eternity. Hell, after eating way too much of it, I was also ready to spend the rest of my life inside a box, closed away from the rest of the world and those unfortunate souls I might breathe upon. I mean, c'mon, the sauce is famous. The menu told me so. It wouldn't lie. Manipulated once again by an inanimate object, I ordered garlic tacos, a salad with garlic dressing, and, yes, even a shot of the garlic sauce as a chaser for my Pepsi. It burned. It scalded. It brought tears to my eyes. Thank God the place was so dark: no one wants to see me crying into my shredded beef. I, of course, finished my meal. But I don't remember much of it. The flavor of the garlic sauce overwhelmed everything, including my memory. It was as if I'd came in, sat down, and said, "I'll have the garlic appetizer, the garlic combo, a garlic shake, and a piece of garlic cheesecake for dessert. By the way, could you toss a bunch of garlic on my chips as well? Thanks." True, I did try to order in my crappy, learned-from-watching-The Simpsons-after-I've-hit-the-SAP-button-on-my-Âremote Spanish, but I'm pretty sure that's not what I said to the waiter. Okay, maybe this place would kick ass if you really liked garlic. And I'm talking about loving it so much that you've petitioned Starbucks to keep bottles of it next to the cinnamon and nutmeg ("mmm...now my latte's stinky.") But I doubt anyone planning to kiss something other than their dog likes it that much. And, believe me, if you eat as much garlic sauce as I did, even your dog will shun you. Sorry about that, Peanut. We'll play fetch again soon. So how's the food without the garlic sauce? Glad I asked. It's decent. Solid, though nothing spectacular. I suppose it's actually pretty good for Garden Grove. The city's far more concerned with the quality of its pho than it is with the tastiness of its carne asada. So if you need Mexican food and you can't drive the extra 10 minutes it would take to eat anywhere in Santa Ana (you lazy bastard), then, by all means, eat here and don't feel too bad about yourself....unless you slather on the garlic sauce like it's whipped cream during another night of double-dare group sex. If you forgo the sauce, I recommend the chili con carne with some butter-covered corn tortillas. What doesn't taste better slathered in butter? I know I do. Oh, and one more thing: what's with all the Elvis memorabilia? Here you are, eating greasy, heartburn-causing, cholesterol-filled Mexican food, and you're surrounded by statues and pictures of a man who killed himself by swallowing plate after plate of fried peanut butter-and-banana sandwiches. This is supposed to make you feel better about the food? That's always a good message to send restaurant patrons: eating this stuff will kill you; enjoy your meal, asshole. Uh, thanks. At Azteca, I guess anything makes sense if you add enough garlic sauce.
(2)
Warren S.
What else can I say... "Elvis! Elvis! Elvis!" Strong Margarita's, affordable beer pitcher's, HUGE taco's, and wonderful home-made tortilla chips are just the beginning. You can't go wrong with the chile verde, carne asada or the chile colorado... all YUMMY! The Crooner's Lounge is the place to be... music, sports television, cocktails, and a funny bartender. I'm on my way!
(5)
Sylvie E.
My bf and I have been here four times so far to watch the games and the entertaining Elvis movies they have on at the same time. Besides the good but very Americanized Mexican food, the service is fab! waiters are attentive, the kitchen staff as well as the owner serves the food with a smile and the atmosphere is colorful yet soothing. You always feel at home at Azteca...not as if your at a restaurant. It's a must experience for yourself for those that haven't. Keep up the great work Azteca!
(4)
Marci W.
Haven't been here in a while, but I love this place! The food is pretty good, but the bar is more of the draw, I think, it's fun with a cool, Elvis-Vegas-RatPack vibe.
(4)
Jarod E.
Love, love, love this place!!!! Cheap food... happy hour menu with big portions and it is Elvis themed! Great vibe, always a good time when I come here with my friends. A must if you are in Garden Grove.
(4)
Amber P.
gotta love MY AZTECA :) i have to say i used to be a regular and it was always a good time here. if Bruce E Bruce is there, you are guaranteed a good time for karaoke, and if not, you still feel the urge to get up there and let loose. karaoke is friday and saturday nights, at 11/9 my favorite meal is the mexican pizza (totally different than Taco Bell's version) it is a hot plate of basically burnt cheese.... mmmmm the years of donated Elvis memorabilia makes this spot one of a kind, and they even host Elvis look alike competitions on sundays i believe. on Friday nights there is a classic car show on main street right outside the front door. i believe about 8:00... so take my advice and make a night of it out in Garden Grove.
(5)
Andrew E.
Azteca serves good, inexpensive quality Mexican food. blah blah blah. The real story here is the whole place is covered with Elvis memorabilia. Glass cases housing thousands of trinkets, from novelty mugs to record album covers....Vintage Elvis concert footage playing on the televisions....Overall a great, Elvis vibe. I need to go back again soon. This place is great. I recommend the tacos. Great for starting a nite out in the HB/OC area.
(4)
Johnny S.
So, teddy bear, are you lonesome tonight? It's now or never, go to Azteca! The garlic tacos make me shake, rattle, and roll--in fact, there is nothing here that I would return to sender. So all you suspicious minds, trust me on this one and stand by me. Viva Azteca! I'll never lose that lovin' feeling. The food is good, the bar, Elvis. All the locals have been nice and the bartenders are friendly as well. and I'm sorry but I have to. . .the martinis are 'all shook up'.
(5)
hana k.
I can't talk to you right now. I've got garlic breath. But that's okay. I had the afternoon off, so I went to Azteca to try the garlic tacos. I've been here a few times before. Mostly to marvel at the Elvis stuff. It's literally wall-to-wall Elvis, even on the ceilings. Ever since I read Annie N's review, I've been craving garlic tacos. I ordered the 2 taco combo which comes with rice and beans. Each taco is loaded with shredded beef, lettuce, cheese, and of course that wonderful garlic sauce. The sauce is strong, but it doesn't overpower the flavor of the beef. Good stuff. My lunch companion had the chile relleno, and she enjoyed it. She said that the garlic taco was a little too garlicky for her tastes. Huh? It's a GARLIC taco; it's supposed to be garlicky. I mocked her sissy palate. I can never say no to free chips and salsa. Especially if the chips are warm. Their salsa is weak, but ask for the green hot sauce. That one has some kick to it. Kapow! I'll be back to visit the Crooner's Lounge...and to try the rest of the garlic menu.
(4)
Steven G.
This is a spot that my long time and dear friend Alfonso P. took me to a while back. Being a big Elvis fan, the minute I walked into this small bar I knew he had put some thought into inviting me here. The entire inside is COVERED in Elvis memorabilia, I mean EVERYTHING, including the ceiling! It's small and has a cool regulars that hang out here, everytime I show up the seats are filled but never packed (the way I like a bar to be). It has a modern style jukebox and even though the bartender gets uptight about me using too many straws to make clever bar toys with I'll still come around. I only drink beer and there pitcher price wasn't bad.
(4)
Jenny A.
What. The. Fuck. I think I had a mini-seizure when I walked through the doors man. Who knew a Mexican could love Elvis so much. And who knew guys could look so gay whilst dancing. I have never seen so many people get down to karaoke like that. Especially that one couple... who was freaking.... to Low.... like, what would they do if it was the real song? Hahaha. But the 98 lb. chick with the DD's made it all worth it in the end. If there's one thing I left with that night, it was that 1) guys shouldn't hug 2) guys shouldn't dance and 3) come back to this bar again.
(4)
Isabel S.
Based only on the food - a one. If it was based on the karaoke night - A FIVE ! The service sucks too, the waiters are rude and last night when I went, the owner was bussing the tables even before we were finished ! UHM, I would like to use my fork, knife and napkin when I eat that horrible excuse for a burrito. It was cheap both money wise and taste wise. Disgusting.
(1)
Ryan H.
Love this place! Its really hard to find fault with this place, the food is great, the specials are a great deal, the service is top notch and the decor is fantastic. One of my favorite restaurants in the OC!
(5)
Susana G.
Gosh, if I could have given this a 1/2 a star, I would have. This place, aside from the cool decor (my husband is an Elvis fan) was horrible. The food was tasteless and stale and the service was sub par. The place was nearly empty as we strolled in on Father's day and although the waiter was nice when we first got there, as the hour crawled by, his attitude started changing. The owner - or I think it was the owner - kept hovering over us as if we were holding up a big party from sitting where we were sitting but from what I saw, no one was waiting for a table. The rice was DRY! The beans were overcooked. My taquitos were stale and bland. The enchiladas were good but that was probably a fluke. Needless to say, my family and I will never go there again. I wouldn't have written such a harsh review but really, aside from bad food, the service was horrible. The workers were rude and that's what makes me angry the most. If they would have been nicer, I would have been able to tolerate the food a little more. And the house margaritas were not great but EXPENSIVE! 4 drinks, a beer and some soft drinks and our beverage cost was over $36! I'm sure those margaritas were not top shelf. If you're a fan of Elvis, I'd say stop by and take a look because the place is stuffed with memorabilia but if you like food, don't go here. Go to the bar and order something bottled. They can't screw that up.
(1)
Jen K.
Have only ordered togo so far, but want to eat in one of these days, especially with all the great Elvis memorabilia in there. My food was just okay, but I won't base the place off of one dish.
(3)
Dayna C.
This cute Mexican Restaurant is nestled down a quaint neighborhood street where you see many Vintage cars. The inside of the restaurant is rockin with Elvis Decor and Elvis music. For lunch, I ordered my usual shredded beef tacos and cheese enchiladas. The food was good for the price! The staff was extra fun and friendly. The staff took our picture standing next to a huge statue of Elvis too.
(4)
Anita J.
This place has the best jukebox everrr.. love the music and the atmosphere cant get enough of Elvis.. well I still need to come back and try the Karaoke I will be back for sure.. although it was funny sum local skater kids walked in the bar and wanted to buy sum shot glasses and were even willing to share their bottle of greygoose with me untill my friend next to me kicked them out.. jk.. I wasnt going to drink with these minors but hey they had the balls to come in there and ask for a shot glass.. lolzz.. kids these days.. aside from all that it was a kewl bar to hang out and it was busy during the week very surprising...
(5)
Nicole L.
Uh, I must have either gone here on a bad night or you guys are all nuts! I went here after a co-worker told me it was amazing, I got terrible service and bad food. The atmosphere is insteresting (like Sonya said, Elvis threw up all over) but definitely not worth going back for imo. I haven't trusted a food suggestion from that co-worker since.
(1)
M S.
First, when ever someone tells me they are an Elvis fan I immediately tell them to come here!! Then I ask them if they if they like garlic because the garlic tacos are a must. I MUST mention Bobby Vegas. They best KJ! He keeps things moving . We have a good time as a family here. Call ahead for a table!
(5)
Tina D.
wow, i didn't even think about the fact that this place might serve food! I've only been here between the hours of 10-2... and i've stayed after hours hanging out with the bartenders, but shhhh, we don't want to get them in trouble. this place is set up to have a big restaurant room and the smaller dive-bar sized bar area. they have karaoke on some nights in the big room, so if you wanna get with your girl friends and sing some fun karaoke in Garden Grove, this is the place to do it. Or if you just want to chill and have a drink with a buddy or two, escape off into the bar area and maybe get a look at who's singing each song on the camera between the bars. +great drinks- strong pour and great prices +friendly and fun bartenders +fun karaoke (or not... see above) +kinda oldies/kinda rock n roll/kinda punk rock. +they serve pitchers. cool. +really fun and down to earth crowd -creepy dudes. they have no shame here! ranging in age anywhere from 25-65. why is it that the barstools seem so much closer here than at any other bar??! -this is a novelty bar, filled with eccentric Elvis memorabilia all of the walls and one on the fake balcony when you enter. as a novelty bar, that's how often i go. Look, Garden Grove is far and if this bar is the only thing it's got going for it, definitely not really worth my time to go hang out in the "GG" with my buddies. Great if i'm in the area, tho!
(4)
Shonda M.
Best wet chile verde burrito I have ever had. Period.
(5)
Kevin H.
Went here for a party and the kareoke was amazing and the atmosphere of Elvis memorabilia made for a fun night.
(5)
Chris C.
There's two reasons to come to this place: garlic tacos and Elvis Presley. The garlic sauce on the garlic tacos are super potent. You better not plan on kissing anyone after your meal, unless your date just had some garlic tacos too. So you better be a big garlic fan to enjoy these. Absolutely delicious! There is Elvis decor laced all throughout the restaurant, which is almost awe-inspiring. Every corner and crevice of the restaurant you can find Elvis memorabilia. On the TV's, an Elvis movie will be playing too. There's even a cease-and-desist letter from Elvis Presley Enterprises telling the owner to change the name of the restaurant (which I'm guessing is why it's called Azteca and not something else Elvis related) posted by the front door! There's a bar attached to the restaurant, but I haven't checked it out yet. Come in on a Tuesday because they have Garlic Taco specials that day. If you come for lunch, head over a few stores down and grab yourself a vanilla root beer soda!
(3)
Sandi S.
It is a tradition for me to come to this restaurant every year with a group of friends for the past few years, we went lat night and I was extremely disappointed! It seemed as if there was one waiter for the whole place and he was not friendly, the food was awful and we will be looking for a new place for our tradition!
(1)
Johnny Jennie B.
I cannot recommend this place to anyone i know! We ordered chicken nachos, mexican pizza and carne asada tacos. Besides the carne asada taco, the food was pretty much very below par. the chicken in the chicken nachos were hard and dry, the chips were stale and soggy. And then there's the mexican pizza, not sure how to describe this, but awkward. cheese was burnt and weird tasting ingredients. I never fail to take anything in a to-go box because i hate wasting food, but it didn't bother me one bit to leave all of the food there on the plate. The couple of positive things I can say about this place is that our server/bartender was nice and our drinks were good.
(2)
Genevieve L.
Azteca is more for fun that great food. It seems to be hit or miss everytime I go. I took some friends and none of them liked what they ordered. The only thing I ever get is the chile verde and sometimes its not the best. I guess I give it 3 stars because of all the good times in Crooner's lounge with my friends. The crowd is always fun and the drinks are good. Cadillac Margarita gets a big thumbs up from me.
(3)
Yum Yum D.
I've only had the Chicken Quesadilla and the House Margarita...but they were both bad! The quesadilla was overloaded with dry chicken and a bit of cheese that wasn't even melted all the way. That's not a quesadilla, that's a weird soft taco. The House Margarita didn't taste strong or good, like not enough sour... and the rimmed salt was just table salt! Acapulco's $2 margs are 10 times better. The Elvis decor was interesting, but confusing.
(2)
Melody V.
I love this place! Elvis and Mexican food, that's like the hottest combination for a girl like me. Awesome. I used to go to this place for lunch when I worked down the street. Their lunch specials are affordable and their dishes are yummy. If you want to spend a little more, it's worth it too. They shred their chicken which makes for a good, easy to eat, no mess, dish. Their Mexican Pizza was fulfilling, it can serve two people. They host a Karaoke night on Saturdays, and I have yet to attend a night but my guess is that the selection is limited to Elvis songs (I should SERIOUSLY check it out!) The service was great. We always had the same server around lunch time and he often knew what we wanted to drink, so instead of asking us what we wanted to drink he simply asked if we wanted the same drink as previous. And, he would know when one of us was absent. Like I said, we were regulars. There are Elvis collectibles throughout this place. Rooftop to the floor. Don't expect to see a sports game on the television screen either (unless you're in the bar area) because you'll basically see an Elvis movie on or his music videos. It's definitely a unique place to visit and eat.
(5)
imelda s.
I ordered Crab Enchilada and I was dissapointed...they put more cheese than crab itself.the service was okay NOT great.my friend ordered abondigas soup..she said the meatballs taste like beef that comes out of can(like chef boyardee meatball).
(3)
Teri T.
I come here all the time. I luv their food here, from their combination plates, to the garlic taco salad..to the tacos...yumm...and the chips and grean salsa..I like it spicy...But if you like Elvis, than come here to check out the place as well. Elvis galore!!! I'm more of a food fan. :-) This is yummmy in my tummmmyy....xoxo
Being a huge Elvis fan, I definitely enjoyed the interior look of the restaurant and bar area with all of the Elvis posters, figurines and every other kind of tchotchke you can think of. I haven't sampled any menu items yet, only drinks from the bar, so only four stars for now. However my real reason for going here is the karaoke they offer on Friday and Saturday nights. This is only one of a handful of karaoke bars that has an extensive song selection, covering all the old standards to the newest hits covering all genres. If you go to sign up for a song for the first time, they try to get you up there as soon as they can. However after that, if you want to do a 2nd or 3rd song, you may not get the chance if there's a large crowd. My only negative is that it's at least an hour drive from my house, so if you plan on drinking, go with a group or have someplace nearby to stay. If you get bored, you can always get up and dance along to whatever crowd-pleasing song someone else happens to be ruining at the time. Thank you. Thankyouverymuch!
(4)
Ryan C.
This place is great what else do you need great mexican food Elvis and booze you can not go wrong. I have been going to this place for a while i love to see Phil Shane there he gets down i try to make it in to this place a couple times a month.
(5)
Gil H.
Been going there for years. Great service and margaritas. Quality of food has been steadily going down. Last two times yuck. Lots of other places to eat on Main St. Maybe they will wake up before it is too late. Lot's of Elvis. Great xcar show every fri night.
(2)
Wendell S.
If you are coming for the food you are in for a treat. I've been a patron for over a decade. Known the owner JJ for years. I love the atmosphere and the music in the bar. You will love the "Crooners Lounge" and visiting with the 'King' in this bar. The memorabilia here displaying music from the 50's and 60's is historic. It is like being in a museum that will rock your soul. Try it out and see for yourself. It is a historic landmark.
(4)
DM A.
If you're into Elvis kitsch, Azteca Mexican Restaurant is cheesilicious, but unfortunately the food is not delish. The atmosphere is wacky with Elvis memorabilia from floor to ceiling, including an Elvis concert on plasma TV. Our service was fast and friendly. My family and I were thrilled thinking we found a campy cantina we could take our friends to for a fun night out. We were planning our return trip to check out the Elvis impersonator when our food arrived bland and cold. Pity. With the right chef this place could really sing. Upshot: if you're an Elvis fan, it's definitely worth a visit, but sidestep the dining room and head straight for the bar.
(2)
Steph H.
I came here for the first time this past Cinco de Mayo with a bunch of friends. I first saw it when my husband and I came down for the vintage car show on a friday night, and thought it might be a cool off-the-beaten place to come for a Cinco fete, and I was right! It's got a lot of history and character (all the Elvis stuff!) and the food's totally old-school but good. I had their carnitas and was surprised to see it cut into medallions, and not all shredded, as is the norm, I think. But it was still good and I loved their cheese-covered beans. And let's not forget the kickass karaoke on Saturdays. Needed lots of pitchers of their yummy strawberry margaritas (melon, blah) before my friends and I could brave the "stage." Didn't help that all the regulars were all incredible singers! As the night wore on a younger crowd showed up, and the singing got ever-more raucous and bad, but I think it got more fun. We left right in the middle of a trio of girls mutilating "Mother" by Danzig. It was a great time had by all and we all agreed that we'd be back.
(4)
Brad G.
I visit Main St. almost every Friday night with my classic car and really enjoy the show and atmosphere .Last Friday night, I decided to try out Aztecas for dinner. I walked in and waited by the front counter. After several minutes of basically being ignored by hosts, I saw a group walk in behind me, who were promptly greeted, handed menus, and asked how many were in their party. Of course, I spoke up and stated that I thought I was first. Immediately, two hostesses replied that this group was first and they went ahead and seated them, never offering me just a small table to sit at, of which there were many in the restaurant to offer. This is not an example of good customer service and certainly doesn't follow the age-old motto of " the customer is always right." I especially appreciated the fact that the employees both ganged up against me in a stroke of righteousness. Needless to say, I walked out and tried another restaurant down the street, which seated me just fine....
(1)
Dorian J.
i really like the food..garlic tacos are very good. Even if the Elvis thing dissappeared tomorrow, I would still eat there.
(4)
Bert J.
Two folks can eat lunch here for $21. Great prices considering the quality and quantity of food you get. Service was friendly and prompt. Oh yeah, it's wall-to-wall Elvis inside. Probably a great place to bring your friends from other countries. If you're shopping at Costco across the street, stop by Azteca for a quick bite. (FYI -- Warm chips but weak salsa....very weak.)
(3)
Jim S.
Do I like Elvis? nah...not really, but this place is close to home so I had to give it a try. I've eaten there a few times and I think the food is pretty good. It's that greasy, slimy kind of Mexican food that you get a craving for sometimes...you know? Never really stuck around for drinks or catching the Elvis impersonators...but they look like they'd be a fun time. The service there is good and I'm definitely going back...you know, when I get that craving for a slimy "Mexico City Burrito", which I highly recommend, by the way.
(4)
Sharona C.
very good tacos with lots garlic sauce..enough said. :)
(5)
P M.
Elvis and Mexican food..... Sound like a strange combination? Well....you must experience it to appreciate it. The roquefort tostadas and chili rellanos are my favorites, however if you really like garlic (and I mean REALLY like garlic) then you have to try the garlic tacos and/or tostadas. I am particularly addicted to the warm chips and salsa that arrive at your table almost as soon as you sit down. During the week, they have special combinations that are pretty decently priced. Even if you never liked Elvis before, you will soon learn to love him after a meal here. There are four TVs in the dining room to watch Elvis movies and sports. I think there is almost every imaginable Elvis memrobilia that you will want to see....and more. Friday nights is the Main Street vintage car show and in January ("Elvis birthday month") you will sing along with many different Elvis impersonators. Oh, and don't forget to check out the Crooners Lounge....a full service bar. It's actually the only Elvis lounge in Southern California.
(5)
Annmarie L.
i have been going to azteca restaurant for as long as i can remeber. my parents would walk us around the strawberry festival then it was off to see elvis. the electric atmosphere is absolutely contagious. if you are lucky you will even catch "the king" dining or singing karaoke.
(5)
Shawn G.
This place is my family favorite!!! Also this place is always on restaurants.com you can get gift cards for cheap. We come here for all our birthdays. We know all the servers and everyone is really nice!!! The food is normal price for Mexican food. If you love ELVIS you have to go!
(5)
S M.
I went there with some friends on a weeknight. It is an amazing place. You walk in and it transports you to a different era. The bar is big and friendly. You can order food at the bar if the restaurant is busy. The portions were big and muy excellente!!! I would recommend it to people however if you are not from the area, it is bit out of the way to get to. Several veg options if you like rice and beans :)
(4)
Daniel S.
Ok I'm updating my Azteca review, because the last one was too short and because we went there again last night. First thing you notice when you enter Azteca is the plethora of Elvis memorabilia that adorns the walls inside. One would wonder where the connection of Elvis comes with Mexican food, but honestly who cares, it's the King and Mexican food; two of the greatest things ever wrapped into one! Elvis music plays throughout which an Elvis movie plays on one TV, along with sporting events on their other flat screen HDTVs. This place scores a 5 on atmosphere alone, but it's a restaurant so let's leave the overall score up to the food. In my previous review I mentioned that the Carnitas plate was terrific. In fact I believe their carnitas is probably the tastiest carnitas I've ever ordered. It was cooked to the point that it was juicy, but also had some crisp on the edges. But I didn't order carnitas last night, no my friends I ordered Arroz con Pollo (Rice with Chicken), which is quickly becoming my favorite Mexican meal. Our meal started with the typical Mexican fare of Chips and Salsa. The chips were unsalted, so I had to add some salt to taste. The salsa was a little bland, it needed something added to it, but it wasn't bad, just bland. Now on to our main course... I must admit the only other Arroz con Pollo I've ever had before was from El Faralito in Placentia, which is to die for, so I had a good litmus test to gauge Azteca's on. I was not let down on Azteca's version of Arroz con Pollo. It was slightly different then what I've had in the past; it basically was just a bed of Mexican style rice along with some of their mouth-watering chicken, that's it, nothing else; no sour cream, no cheese, and not even tortillas to eat it with. But that's OK! It's only like $4.75, you can order tortillas, and you have yourself a pretty good size meal, I even had enough to eat today as leftovers! Since I wasn't sure of the size of my main dish I also decided to try one of the Garlic Tacos with shredded beef, they are the typical shredded beef taco topped with a good helping of their special garlic sauce. It's a hit or miss depending on how fond one is with high levels of garlic, personally I enjoyed it and was happy to know that if I encountered a vampire I would be able to fend him off just by breathing in his general direction! My wife ordered a Chicken Azteca Burrito, with lettuce, tomatoes, and beans inside. It was a good size burrito with lots of melted cheese on top (I stole some of it to use with my Arroz con Pollo). She loved the burrito, probably her favorite burrito at a restaurant. Kelly is very picky with the way chicken is prepared at Mexican Restaurants because normally the chicken has very little seasoning, it's the same problem she runs into with ground beef tacos, she likes seasoned meat, but that isn't always typical with Mexican food. Along with our drinks our meal was just barely over 20 bucks, not bad considering the amount of delectable food we were able to consume. Service was good, with our waiter getting my wife's order right (she had produce added to her burrito), and also checking on us from time to time.
(5)
Paula M.
I've been a fan of The Azteca since it was a small hole-in-the-wall next to Shakey's on Garden Grove Blvd. My husband was a musician, and after his gig we would go there for "breakfast" because they were open until 4:00am. My favorite was the chili verde. I loved it so much I never ordered anything else. We left the area, and when we returned we thought they must have gone out of business. Years later I learned that they had just moved to the historic Main St. location. I've been there twice since...the first time I had my old fav', and found it to be mediocre. Decided to give them the benefit of the doubt and tried again today. I ordered the enchilada's ranchero's and it was delicious. The chips and salsa (and rice) were also wonderful. But what bothers me was the service both times I was there! The first time, there was no one there but me and my friend, and we had to keep tracking down the server. Today it was the middle of the day, and they had a fair lunch crowd, but the staff scurried around openly exhibiting their frustration, acting as tho it was all too much for them, this wasn't their real job, and why were they having to deal with the frustration of it all. But we were served quickly, and the food was great (although they forgot to bring the adult beverage I ordered). I hope the evening shift is more customer service oriented, because the day shift bordered on being just down right rude (every single one of them...as tho they had never been trained in the finer points of good customer service). We left a lousy tip in hopes they got the hint! (I'll still go back for the food, but think I'll just get it to go).
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Music : Karaoke Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : Yes Best Nights : Mon, Fri, Sat Coat Check : No Smoking : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.
Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.
Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.
D M F.
Azteca is a wonderful distraction from the Mexican food chains like El Torito. It's an enjoyable restaurant, with lots of personality. The prices are reasonable and the staff is very friendly. It's a great place to relax and hang out with friends. Overall the food is good to very good, and there's plenty of variety. I like to get the two taco combo plate with a side of shredded lettuce and a side of green onions. The portions are big, and the plates are hot!! Be prepared for smaller size drinks and smaller chip baskets than you usually get at a Mexican restaurant. They're happy to bring refills, so just ask them. I'm not that much of an Elvis fan, but for some reason I just don't mind being surrounded by the 20,000 tons of Elvis at Azteca. From props and letters to music and old television broadcasts, it's in there. If the owner could figure out a way to get Elvis memorabilia on the floor, he probably would. Be sure to look up while you're there. The ceiling is covered with Elvis movie posters. It's not too crowded at lunch but weekend dinners including Friday night are typically packed. Check the calendar to make sure they're open for lunch on the day you want to go -- sometimes they're closed and open for dinner only. If you're wanting to have some fun, go when there's entertainment or karaoke night. Park in the back. It's just easier.
(5)Joey G.
Great food. Garlic tacos - awesome. Fun environment. I'd return though not sit at their bar to order. Took over an hour to get my food & the bartender seemed drunk, pre-occupied and more focused on doing shots w/guests sitting @ the bar than servicing food.
(1)Erick G.
An Elvis lovers dream! If you love Elvis than Aztecas will not disappoint. Friendly staff and excellent food will have you coming back again and again.
(5)Tyler W.
I hate this place the food is disgusting, the bar is uncomfortable to sit in and for some reason it's all Elvis themed. The door man on weekend night's is a prick and because his family owns the place he feels entitled to be a prick. I refuse to spend another dime there.
(1)Scott A.
Had high hopes, but was not all that impressed. Menu seemed limited. I had the garlic steak and I will say that they do not go light on the garlic. My wife was looking for Fajitas or something similar, but no luck. Owner was friendly, but I continued to hear him make excuses for the food quality. Service was fine and all and all it was enjoyable, just not worth a special trip. I hate to say it, but I find El Torito or Acapulco to be better.
(3)Wendy C.
I love the Elvis motif and that's about it. My carne asada Mexico City burrito was bland, no flavor or spice. The guacamole tasted like mashed avocados with nothing else. Next time I'll stick with my first choice and go to El Torito.
(1)Michelle P.
While the over the top Elvis decor does add a little fun to dinner, the food reminds me why I have not been in years. Recently my roommate and I were craving Mexican food and I had a restaurant.com certificate for Azteca's so we decided to check it out. I had the enchiladas, my roommate had the carne asada tacos, and her daughter had the kid's quesedilla. We also started with the taquito appetizer. I must say none of the food impressed. My enchiladas had no flavor and very little cheese inside. The youngest would not even touch her quesedilla. The guacamole that came with everything had so much salt in it. Needless to say, even though the prices are cheap, i will not be returning. There are several far better mexican restaurants in the area.
(2)L J.
What do I love more than Mexican food? Elvis!!! I had been here once but recently returned almost three years later with a Living Social voucher. I love eating here while enjoying the Elvis decor. I ordered a chile relleno combo, a garlic taco, and the wet cake. All three were great. Be careful when ordering their garlic taco. It is loaded witih garlic. My lips were burning as I ate it but it was delicious. The wet cake is a must have! I will definitely be back. Note: There is a parking lot in the back.
(5)Chris A.
First off, the main person who is supposed to make a horrible restaurant situation better is the manager in charge. You know your going to have a bad time when the manager walks up and the first thing he says is "What's wrong". The wait was horrible, the food was horrible, everyone looked like they were having a bad time. My chicken burrito was like a watery mess.
(1)Matt B.
I bought the groupon so I thought I would take my wife who is a huge Elvis fan. I waited 20 minutes to get my drinks. Very slow service. I ordered the ceviche, which was terrible! Tacos were great! My enchilada and tamale were mediocre. I ended up being there for 2 hours. VERY slow service. It wasn't even busy. Honestly I wasn't impressed and probably won't visit here again.
(2)Sara S.
Amazing dinning love all the incredible spices. Fresh meat that's cooked to perfection. Service was amazing with lots of smiles. Juan was especially nice.
(4)Kimberly R.
Dinner tonight was awesome! We came in right around 9pm for a late night dinner and the place was packed! My carne asada was so yummy and the carnitas were yummy too! My daughter had the taquitos but they were too crunchy for her. She is used to the frozen mushy kind :( Sometimes the salsa is hotter than other times.... tonight was a hot night but i almost drank the stuff anyway! I will be back.... again
(4)Rebekah M.
Ordered a taco and tamale plate with rice and beans. The taco was the only digestible item on the plate. The tamale was not homemade and was dry. The beans...how can you screw up frijoles!. .tasted like they were scraped from the bottom of the pot. I would love come back here...good service ..fun atmosphere but the food...sheesh! New recipes please!
(2)Christina S.
I have to say worst food ever. Everything was so bland or had a funky taste.. Service was good. Thought was weird that a place called Azteca was all Elvis themed?
(1)Marci C.
This used to be one of our favorite places, but this visit today will be our last time. Something has drastically changed for the worse. Service was SLOW, disorganized, super stingy with the chips and salsa and the garlic taco was nothing like it used to be and nothing like the menu descriptio. Hard to get a drink refill and my son's tortilla on his burrito was old and stale. Adios Azteca!
(1)Linda S.
Apparently new owners took over last month. Yikes! Asked for a side of their famous garlic sauce (which we've always done) and was given about 3 tablespoons, so asked for another and one for my son. Aaah, $6.75 for the sauce. Really?!?! The new owners think it's a good idea to charge $2.25 for a few tablespoons of sauce. Sorry new owners, that's being penny wise and pound foolish. Will be looking for a new favorite Mexican restaurant.
(1)Varo N.
If you have a true Mexican palete this is not the place for you. Regret every penny and calorie of this visit, why did I even tip??
(1)Adam M.
Delicious food and cheap prices and it's fun. I like the nachos and the flat iron steak with bleu cheese crumbles.
(5)D.Marie S.
My Husband & I LOOOOVE this place!! The food is great, the entertainment is fantastic & the service is wonderful! The drinks during happy hour are way cheap. Love Love Love! I love all of the Elvis product EVERYWHERE!!! Date night tomorrow & we will be here! The car shows Friday nights are also a PLUS!!
(5)Erika Ashley K.
Do you enjoy Mexican restaurants, but you're looking for something a tad different? Azteca is definitely the place for you. The whole place is littered with Elvis memorabilia, photos, posters, paintings, figurines, statues, and even things Elvis himself owned. The owner is obsessed with Elvis, and shares that obsession with all of his customers. The whole atmosphere is like you walked into an Elvis party. Not to mention, the lighting is extremely cozy. You can come in during the middle of the day for lunch and still feel like you're having an intimate meal with your significant other. Azteca has high backed booths (so there is plenty of privacy for small groups) and tons of tables in the center of the restaurant that can be pushed together for large groups. The food is so-so on the Mexican level. It's what I would consider Americanized Mexican food. But their carne asada combo plate is DELISH, and they always bring out fresh chips and salsa at no additional charge to yourself. My absolute favorite part about this place? They completely separate the bar scene from the restaurant/family area. You actually have to walk into a completely different room for the bar. It's a great separation that allows families to be mellow, and those who want to party to be loud and wild without either group bothering the other. The bar area also has short backed booths in case you want to have a loud get together with friends and still order food. Overall, I feel this restaurant has done extremely well when it comes to catering to all possible persons.... Unless you despise Elvis.
(4)Armando D.
Probably the worst Mexican food I've had in my life. We arrived pretty late at night and weren't sure if the kitchen was still open so we waited by the hostess station to ask to be seated. There were people signing karaoke and people working the bar so we figured we might still have a chance. We seated ourselves at a booth and waived down a busser to help us out because there were no servers in sight. He came over and we asked "Are you still serving food?" He took a few looks around and said "I don't know... *silence/blank stare*.... do you want a menu?" Well no fucking shit I want a menu. Had the daily special (carnitas burrito) and it was absolutely the worst burrito I've ever had. Dry and flavorless meat in a low quality tortilla with bland rice and beans. I felt cheated. Do yourself a favor and go to McDonald's down the street instead.
(1)Rebecca R.
Cheap booze, chips & salsa, yummy Mexican food, and Elvis. What could be better? We frequent the bar so I'm not sure how it is on the dining room side, but the bar is always a fun atmosphere with fun employees that are usually pretty attentive. Get a pitcher of margarita... Thank me later
(4)Ryann D.
I came here last week with a friend of mine for lunch and it was delicious! I enjoyed how it was decorated and the people working were kind. We sat in the dinner section, and my friend told me there is a bar section that stays open late which I can't wait to try out!
(4)Kelly K.
"Well, it's One for the money, Two for the show, Three to get ready, now Garlic Tacos!!" Azteca had been on my list of places to check out for a long time, so I went on a Friday night when then the car show was outside. The car show was cool. Lots of great rides, older folks dancing, raffles and prizes. Good fun. Azteca disappointed me. The atmosphere was great and there was so much to look at. Elvis was on the screen and there was music playing. Almost every inch of the place is covered in Elvis memorabilia. The Crooner's Lounge, where they have karaoke, was small and predictably packed. Now for the food. I typically shun crunchy tacos like an Amish kid that doesn't come back from Rumpspringa, but the garlic tacos were highly recommended and I thought they were delicious. You really have to like garlic and, if you're on a hot date, you better hope your date had them, too, because you'll be warding off vampires and small predatory insects. I had overcooked, mushy burst rice, while my date's rice was still crunchy. The beans were fine, but you can't screw up beans. The salsa wasn't great, but I thought it was better than most places. The tamale was completely flavorless. It was covered in, I think, enchilada sauce, but there was absolutely no flavor. All I tasted was bland dough. I stopped eating it because I couldn't figure out WHY I was still eating it. Salt, pepper, something, anything, please. I want to believe in Azteca, which is why I'll give it another shot. After all, my garlic taco rocked. Maybe I just ordered the one combo they suck at. Here's Huell Howser: youtu.be/7M3f5_h7qX0
(3)Amg G.
Let me just say I love this place the food is so good!! They just switched owners and everything seems so much better!! The ladies that work there were so nice always making sure we had enough chips and salsa, trust me it wasn't like that before but now it's sooo much better with the new ladies there. We will definitely start coming in to eat again!!!
(5)K S.
This place just gets worse and worse. The head bartender does not know how to make any drinks and the prices change every time we go in there. Bring back the old staff before it is too late to save this place
(1)Rasta AL Z.
This review is from about a year ago. The wifey and i had to stop in for the famous girllick tacos after seeing them on the news. I been there one time before but not for food, only a few dranks and karaoke. Wifay and i liked the restaurant itself. Its an interesting place and it was a nice place to have a meal. The flavor of the tacos was good. But the meat used was like thick chunks of cube steak tough and fatty meat. They really need to change that for some thinner cut , leaner meat. Service was kinda slow and they seemed overworked and understaffed.
(3)P R.
This is the famous "Elvis" Mexican restaurant, and it did not disappoint! Wonderful decor with a sense of humor and a good dose of kitsch (be sure to check out the bathrooms), and the food was excellent. We had shredded beef tacos and the chile relleno combo, and they were great (in fact, the chile relleno was one of the best I've had in recent years). Highly recommended and I'll definitely be back for more.
(5)L.A. L.
Recently saw this on burrous bites segment on KTLA news, so of course had to check it out. Location is great and the Elvis decor is kinda cool. Thats about it as they ran out beans. What, a Mexican place with no beans. Practically all the dishes come with beans. I ordered a carne asade burrito with green sauce and no sour cream. When It came it had sour cream and red sauce. I sent it back. When he brought it back, it still had red sauce. I asked the server if this was red or green. He said green....I called another server over and asked her if this was red or green and she said red. Wow! The asada was chewy and cold. I'm done and left and will not return . No beans, really!?!?!
(2)Andrew B.
Unbelievable... Was told it would be a 30 minute wait when we arrived. After more than 40 minutes I notice a booth has been open at least ten minutes but the hostess isn't around. She finally walks up and said she can seat us ( end up seating us in the open booth I saw ). We sit down and are immediately brought chips and salsa but after more than ten more minutes we haven't seen a server or even been brought water. We finally gave up and walked out, grabbed Los Sanchez and ate at home. What a waste of time. I read a few others complaining on the long waits for service so it seems this wasn't an exception.
(1)Michael F.
Chile verde azteca burrito is really good, but the garlic beef tacos are unbelievable! You have to try this place.
(5)K C.
I have eaten here several times, and I've eaten lots of Mexican food. I would say the food is not super good. The place does have a great atmosphere with all the Elvis stuff, but if it's great food you want, I'd try elsewhere.
(2)Kelli E.
This is by far the worst mexican food I have ever tasted! The waiter was nice, but all 8 of us were disgusted by the food here!
(1)Alan G.
$2 domestic pints and $4 premium pints for happy hour at the bar all day Monday thru Fridays. Let them take you back with the awesome Elvis themed bar. There isn't an inch of wall bare that doesn't have some sort of Elvis memorabilia in it. If I recall correctly they were even playing some Elvis in the restroom, but I was drunk from all their awesome priced beer at the time, so I may be wrong on that.
(5)Ignacio H.
This place is garbage. The food is vomit..
(1)Bobby E.
Love the happy hour sun-thurs all day cant beat the prices, food and the atmosphere....... gotta love "The KING" and great food and singing to walk into this little slice of heaven
(5)Maraley S.
Excellent. Food was really good. Husband had carnitas, we will definitely order that again.
(5)Dar M.
The food is great here and the Elvis decor is one of a kind!! Has been there for years...new owners and the food seems to have improved. Just not sure why they use folding chairs? Seems so wired. At our table someone got their legs tangled up..chairs are too short for the tables...not enjoyable to sit in for 2 hours for the show...
(3)Diana W.
Went to the _Doug the Crooner_ show on Thursday. Had a blast. Good drinks, and my Azteca Burrito with shredded beef was delish. I'll be back.
(5)Justina R.
I've come here multiple times, and almost every time, I've been seated at the same booth :-) (except the last time, but that's okay, it was occupied). I've always been impressed with the food. Very tasty, and it makes for fabulous leftovers. I've had the bean burrito, veggie burrito, tostada, and quesadilla. All fabulous!
(4)Rud M.
Fun place Our friends love karaoke which is how we ended up here. Pros: Lots of memorabilia Fun atmosphere Karaoke for those who like to sing Cons: foods a little pricey for speed quantity and taste Karaoke guy would not play some songs cause he saved them for himself (it seems karaoke DJs should only sing when its slow & not take customer's songs)
(3)Layla H.
We have been coming to the Azteca for the Gospel Brunch for years. we were there this past Sunday. Marlon as usual put on a fantastic show! But I'm sorry to say that's the only good thing about this place. Since the new owner took over it has changed and not for the good. And Larry the new manager is RUDE and CONDESENDING! They advertise it as a champagne brunch and even had signs on all the tables. When asked about it, overheard the manager tell the owner, that's too bad and they removed all the signs. So no champagne, no special brunch menu and no fruit. The food is HORRIBLE! Chips stale, salsa taste like it came out of a can, and the rest barely edible. but the real problem is the manager. Never in all my years of coming here and to other restaurants have I been treated so badly by a manager. If his goal is to ruin this unique restaurant and drive away paying customers he has succeeded! Over heard him telling another customer who questioned why he changed their reservations to less than requested that it was his call and decision to make. REALLY? Will not be back and waste my money on this place!
(1)Peggy M.
An Elvis themed, Mexican restaurant. One would have thought this would have been a fun filled experience for the whole family. NOT! By far one of the worse experiences ever. We had a groupon and came with the kids. We were sat a table pretty quickly but after about 15 minutes, we finally got a waiter to come to our table and ask if we wanted something to drink. Almost two hours later we are finishing our meal and waiting for a check. Not because we were eating slow, but it took that long to be served. Thank goodness we knew some fun guessing games to keep the kids entertained. Would not come here again.
(1)Rudy R.
food here does not taste like mexican food at all! more like crap pretending to be mexican food, i heard people say how awesome this place was, they were right it is, but just for the ambiance and the drinks, thats it!! i will never return here for food,
(2)Claire V.
One of the stranger karaoke places I've been to, as far as layout is concerned. Azteca has a dining room and a bar. The karaoke takes place in the dining room. This wouldn't be a problem, except that the dining room is pretty small, and on Saturday, the beginning of karaoke overlaps with the end of dinner. Given that we were there for karaoke, not for dinner, we couldn't get a table -- or anywhere to sit -- for an hour. Irritating. On the plus side, people seem to know this, so the place never really got busy. We got to sing a song per hour, which is damn good on a Saturday night. The KJ established a rotation of singers and didn't seem to be taking bribes to let people sing more often. Or maybe no one bothered bribing him. We tipped, but not exorbitantly. Most singers could carry a tune, which is more than I can say for many Saturday night karaoke crowds. The selection is really great, but it's difficult to know exactly what they have because it's split into two books: the usual alpha-by-artist book and a "recently added" book, which seems to include songs added in the last two years, many of which are not newly released songs. I know it's expensive to print new books, but I don't think it's unreasonable to expect a semi-annual update, and an alphabetized supplement of new additions in the meantime. Dream Karaoke in the Inland Empire does this really well. There isn't a stage per se, but that doesn't matter since the place is small. Best feature: Mic stand! A lot of karaoke joints won't let singers have a mic stand because some drunk fool will think he's Steven Tyler and cause property damage and/or injury. This place has a more sedate crowd, apparently. I was the drunkest fool and had only had two drinks. The screens with the lyrics are pretty far from the mic so wear your spectacles.
(4)Chuck B.
I have not tried the food here yet. I come for the karaoke. The bar restaurant is really cool, with nearly every square inch of wall and ceiling space taken up with some form of Elvis memorabilia. My mom is an Elvis nut and would just love this place. The karaoke is a lot of fun and the crowd is pretty cool too.
(4)Rick L.
The best is the tostada Supreme. There have also been many recent sitings of Elvis around the bar area. You got to come in and say hello to him. I had been a believer like many others that he was dead.
(5)Manny Z.
This place calling what they serve "Mexican Food" is just shameful. The server were very helpful and friendly but that means nothing with the the food they are serving. This place needs a rescue from itself completely needs to go back to the drawing board.
(1)Thu T.
Food was good. Service.....very SLOW. We went on a night where they had the car show at main street garden grove and it was busy. Took them 10+ minutes to take our orders an another 20 minutes before the food came out. We had 2 rounds of chip and sauce between 2 people. let's just say I wasn't hungry anymore when the food came out. Their decor was unique Elvis everything. Pasted on the wall, ceiling... Now they just need to figure out how to apply it to the furniture
(2)Justin M.
Interesting place. Mom is a huge fan of Mexican food and Elvis, so this joint is right up her alley. The food is pretty good and the decor is interesting-probably a little over the top. They host classic car shows some evenings. Looks like they get a good turn out for them too. The garlic tacos are good, but consider getting the sauce on the side if you want to taste anything but garlic. I also liked the enchiladas. The "wet" cake was a nice way to wrap up our meal. Interesting place for sure.
(4)Maytee M.
As far as food this place has by far one of the worst Mexican food I've had. The service was great our server was very nice. Don't think I'll ever come here again
(1)Joycelyn D.
This review is strictly for the owner. I reference to him as "the owner" because he was so rude and unwelcoming we didn't feel we wanted to get to know him or even know his name. My coworker and I are not regulars but have been to Azteca 2 previous times. Both times we got amazing service from the waiters and bartenders (Roy, Lalo and Alex). However on the 3rd time, the owner manned the bar and helped us out with our service. He was initially welcoming and helped us get our orders in. When we asked about a waiter that we previously met when we were there, he asked if we knew him because he took shots with us. We were shocked at such a question and told him that he was actually a great waiter and we liked his service. Later when "the owner" asked if we wanted anything else, I said, "No". Informed him we were on our lunch break and needed to get back to work. He followed up with a... "this is what you do on your lunch break???" comment. Seriously??!!! Who says that? We decided although the happy hour prices are great and the other waiters are amazing, the owner did not deserve any of our continued business as we will be taking our business elsewhere where managers / owners are not as rude and unwelcoming.
(1)Steven M.
So, I just gave Azteca their last chance. This was the sixth time my wife and I have given this place a chance to impress! Don't get me wrong, the décor is great and the food outstanding, but everything else is an exhausting drag. On prior visits the only way to get good service is to eat their at lunch time and even then plan on a wait. We learned the hard way two visits ago to never show up to this place without a reservation in the evening. When we arrived two visits ago, we were strung along with promises of table availability for over a hour. After almost a hour and a half of waiting in the bar, we were told that most of the restaurant had been reserved for the night and they were not sure when a table would be available. Last night was my 50TH birthday party at Azteca. I made a reservation for 12 people THREE WEEKS in advance for 6PM. I even stopped by a week ago to verify the reservation was on the books. When we arrived there was two tables set up that would sit 10 people at most! When I brought this fact to the attention of the staff, I was told the tables would sit 12 people. I'm not sure in what universe 12 people would fit at that table, but not in my world! Eventually I was offered an extra table away from our group that ended up sitting four of our guest away from the main table. Once seated, it took over 20 minutes before we were offered drinks and 40 minutes before our order was taken. See with large groups the 18% gratuity in automatically added to the bill, so why would staff need to impress, right! Almost a hour and a half after we arrived and three visits by me to the staff we finally received our food. That is everyone but my wife, which then took another 15 minutes to receive here dinner. We had to constantly ask staff for drink refills, napkins, silverware. I spent way to much time of my own birthday party chasing service staff around with request, especially when our final tab was nearly $400.00! Our entire dining evening took 4 hours to complete! This will be our last visit to Azteca for quite some time or maybe forever. So if you decide to eat here be warned. Don't be in any kind of a rush or plan on great service!
(2)Michael P.
I attended a private venue here and I only sampled a taco appetizer and not any specific meal from their menu. Hey, it's bar food you 2 and 1 star reviewers..eat at El Pollo Loco if you are so fussy assed! WOW, if you love Elvis THIS is the spot for you! Wall to wall ceiling to floor, even in the bathrooms. My Tia Alicia would go Elvis ape shitz over this place and, drive from Hacienda Heights to be here. She has been to every performance in Las Vegas he has ever done, front row seats every time and some paid for by the KING himself (which my tio Guermo has learned to get on board with her about), pictures with him and of him, his handkerchiefs he wiped his brow with, gloves, every record ( 45 RPMs and LPS)..a shrine in one room; hell Azteca and this room could be Les Quates! I'm almost afraid to tell her..but I just gotta or the chisme will get to her via my dad and I'm as good as dead like carne asada in the sun in Dallas during the summer sun! Blue Moon on Tap...OH YEAH! One sad note, the front doors are not wheel chair friendly; I and Erin V., had to get up to let this really cool lady in her Christmas best in manually-get busy on that Azteca! Cool place and great staff made this THE place to be pre Christmas Eve and Christmas Day! youtube.com/watch?v=7ODr…
(4)Dan H.
Whaaaaaaat? I've never written a review of Crooners Lounge?!?! One of the coolest bars I've ever been to. And I have been to bars-a-plenty from here to Paris. I have a friend from Memphis that was actually envious as there aint even one this Elvisey there. I almost dropped it down a star cuz they now have one of those fancy new juke boxes that you can pretty much bring up any song ever recorded. The old one had Elvis, Frank, Elvis, Patsy, Elvis, Dean, Elvis, Bobby, Elvis, Tony, Elvis.....and more Elvis. If you love The King, you must go. Now. No, really. Now. Well, not really cuz today is Christmas, so go tomorrow. No, really. Tomorrow.
(5)Kristee B.
The food here is bland and dry. Everything here is from a can or a jar. The salsa is just like Pace salsa, so I assume it is For lunch I has the Azteca chicken burrito, it was very dry and flavorless, could not finish it as the waiter did not bring any water to help choke it down. My husband ordered the carnitas, which again was bland and REALLY dry. The waiter never came around to ask us how are food was, I can only assume it's because he knew what the answer would be. Definitely will NOT be back
(2)Brent R.
I've had incredible Mexican food; I've had mediocre Mexican food. This place served up enchiladas that were far below mediocre. The meal I had on 4/1/2012 is hands down the worst Mexican meal that I have ever had . . . and I am including Taco Bell and Del Taco. If it were not for my stern rule of not wasting food, there is no way I would have eaten it all. It really was really that bad. The atmosphere was nice, and the service was good. Thank you Victor for the fine service! I suggest Azteca focus on food quality.
(1)Jen H.
This place is a paradox. So from the top: The food--The first time hubs and I were there the main kitchen was closed, but the had a taco cart type thing. The food was bloody DELISH! We went back just because those tacos kept calling out for us. We had the nachos and buffalo wings with the house special garlic sauce thing. Both were extremely satisfying. Food quality alone will bring us back. The price--On the shockingly pricey side. Now I don't mean pricey as in a fancy-schmancy, five star, zomg-I-just-sold-my-organs-to-pay-for-my-meal. I'm talkin' about pricey for a mexican food place. Maybe I'm just used to the Santa Ana Mexican restaurants. Or maybe I'm a stingy bastard. Whatever. The dishes were running around $15 a plate for the Carne Asada ones. If the food wasn't so got-dang fabulous I'd've vowed to not return. Hell, I'd go back just to taste the delicious morsels of fatty, fatty nomness right now if I wasn't hung over. The service--Meh. 'Nuff said. The environment--Blech! Okay, I guess to should explain further. We had an excruciatingly loud party of three next to us. You could hear them the next bloody town over. Hell, I'm sure China heard them. Everyone in the restaurant kept staring at them every time the WooGurl guffawed. Every. Single. Stinkin'. Time. As the environment got louder, so did she. It was a blatantly annoying call for attention. Now, I understand that this isn't exactly the restaurant's fault. But to have the bouncers, manager-on-duty, servers, hosts, bussers; pretty much every staff member stop by their table and kow-tow to them is just unacceptable. I want to have a good time. I want to enjoy some people making mockeries of themselves on stage with hoarse karaoke (more on this in a moment). I DON'T WANT TO HEAR THE BANSHEE FROM HELL SCREECHING EVERY TWO SECONDS! We had mentioned the annoyance to the staff and the most we got was a bloody shrug. Hell, you wanna bow down and ask for blessing from that demon hell hole? Sure, go ahead. It's your business. That's fine. Just sell some bloody earplugs or something. Now the karaoke. I love that there isn't too much of a wait. And some of the regulars have some real talent. It was fun to watch the first time around. But could there have been a more depressing song list than last night's? Gods! Paper cut my eyeballs to stop the flow of sadness tears. Alcohol to stymie the flow from my open veins. A molotov cocktail of anti-depressants to soothe the soul. That was the mood the patrons chose to put everyone in. I don't blame 'em though. We were there. With the WooGurl I'm convinced is the Devil's personal siren/alarm clock. Overall--Regardless of all the bad, the food is SO EFFING GOOD I'd come back anytime I have actual money. I can't believe a place could possibly have such impossibly great food. The garlic sauce thing is to die for. Well, okay. Pretty close considering last night's experience. The door guy/bouncer is a total sweetheart who listens to Hub's inane ramblings. Taco cart guy offered awesome service. I can't understand how you can have fantabulous food with some of the staff being great while everything else screams otherwise. Anyhoo, five stars for food, three for service (and that's five for the two employees, maybe three, that have been consistent with service, zero for the rest), zero for the environment as long as that WooGurl's residuals remain.
(3)Janice C.
THIS IS MY SECOND TIME USING A DEAL FROM RESTAURANT.COM!!!! No more buying food certificate from this website because it SUCK! I got a deal EAT $100 but PAY $50 So I decided to check in. I showed certificate to the cashier before using it. I asked if this is cover liquors like beers or wine? he said, No because he referred to CNBC something that he won't be able to do this... So never mind. Then, me and my family started order steak dishes... 15 mins later cashier came to our table and he said... there's only 1 order left for steak... and We're like...No..you must be BS! Is this because we're using this certificate? Then we started ordered a bunch of appetizers, fried chicken, nachos, etc. and the bills came up around $120. but we ended up paying everything around $71 something and I tips them about 12% because we feel bad that they closed at 10 pm.!! I looked at yelp, yelp said closed at 2 am.! YELP! YOU NEED TO FIX THIS! BAR CLOSED AT 2 AM. but Kitchen closed at 10 PM.! I don't like the foods, There's many mexican foods I eat out and I feel a lot better than this place. No more going back.
(1)Connie H.
I had heard really great things about this restaurant and made reservations for 12 people for a birthday dinner. The food was less than mediocre, very bland for Mexican food, and the service was really lacking. One of the servers wanted to give me someone else's dinner. Two of my guests got their meals after everyone else had been served and finished their meals. The memorabilia is fun but the food and service was lacking.
(1)Hien V.
Horrible food. Good service. Eat here if you are an avid fan of Elvis and you're into weird, quirky but mostly tacky decor and bland tasting Mexican food. Ceviche was mostly frozen imitation crab drenched in ketchup and a drizzle of salsa. Repulsive. Guacamole, a decent portion and made with real avocados but lacked any flavor. Heck, even a couple pinches of salt was necessary. Tamales only comes with pork and is drenched in an unexciting sauce. How can you go wrong with tamales? Perhaps one of the worst tasting tamales yet. Garlic taco, what they claim to be famous for, was basically shreds of beef sprinkled with garlic powder stuffed into a chewy taco. Felt like playing tug a war with my teeth. Overrated and overpriced. For three people ordering simple combo plates our bill was more than $60, I rather eat at Javier's where the client and staff are equally stuck up but the food damn good and well worth the $$ minus the creepy ambiance.
(1)Hazel Q.
It had been FAR too long since I'd paid Azteca a visit. But luckily I had a chance to hit up happy hour there this week. And, oh what a happy hour it is. First of all, it lasts pretty much all night. 2nd of all you get your margarita in a pint glass and prepare to find yourself a designated driver if you order more than one - those things are s-t-r-o-n-g. Ferrealz. All of this, plus $2 domestics and Elvis decor from corner to corner and floor to ceiling - how could you possibly go wrong at Azteca's happy hour?
(4)DIANE T.
When I was a small child I loved to go to Mexico City restaurant in Long Beach and I was very happy when I discovered Azteca had the same recipes. Unfortunately, the last time I was there before last Saturday the food served was merely warm: my sister and her boyfriend went after that and had to send back the food that they got. None the less, last Saturday we decided to give it a try because my sister had a coupon for $25.00 off a $40.00 bill. I ordered a shredded beef burrito and my mom ordered a shredded beef enchilada plate, After one bite I called over the waiter the meat was BAD! We just smelled Mom's enchilada and could tell it was also bad. The manager, was called by the waiter and said when the waiter called him over, " we had a complaint about the shredded beef half an hour ago and I told the cooks.". The replacement food (chicken enchilada and subbing two ground meat tacos for the burrito) was okay. Then we got the bill and the waiter said your bill is only $37.00 so you can't use the coupon. (We ordered a flan and my sister and I split it - best thing I ate there that day.) It was just a very bad experience, If the manager was told earlier that the meat was bad he should have made sure no more was served and having served it later he should have done something to make it right. And definitely we should not have been told hey you have spent more just to use the coupon!
(1)bob b.
Food is awful. Read the other reviews. This is canned food at best. Overcooked Steaks and they serve the food on a cart that is often used for cleaning dishes. Take out food is vastly superior to this stuff. You have been warned
(1)Sandy Flores P.
When to this place because i saw it on KTLA 5 AND I GOT TO SAY IT WAS SOOOO GOOD! My grandmother is visiting from mexico and she just loved the beans and rice.I got their garlic tacos just the best ! Go and try this place!
(4)Herbert A.
Atmosphere is welcoming and the food is delicious. It's a fun place to find the Elvis life come to reality. The bartenders are quick and courteous! From what I hear their Karaoke nights are impressive. I will recommend to friends in the area! Happy Sunday Fun Day from all of us who spent lunch here~
(4)stevenson j.
This place is a gem. This is a review for the bar only --I've yet to try their restaurant but if it's anything like the bar, I ask: 3.5 stars yelpers? really??? I would return any day if I was in the area. It gives a good name to dive bars and I could attribute a good amount of the credit for my warm welcomed experience to Andrea, the bartender. There's free chips and salsa and generous servings on spirits, both drinks and ambiance alike.
(5)Pat O.
Food is okay, nothing remarkable. I love the Elvis stuff, though! Too bad the service is awful, waiter ignored us once our food was brought. Had to bring my cup to him to get a refill, our dirty plates sat there on our table until at least after we left. There's a notice on the door stating there are new owners, hopefully they will resolve the staffing issues, though I am really going to try my best never to go here again.
(2)Paul T.
Very often the line between obsession and devotion is blurred and cannot be told apart. Azteca takes the obsessive degree to nth level never seen before by this Yelper. While I'm not Rick Bayless and I don't know the connotation or correlation between Elvis and Mexican food, this place seems to go over-the-top with their pontification of all things Memphis King. This place doesn't have a quaint collection of the Heartbreak Hotel crooner but rather, a saturation of memorabilia that can make one think creepy or simply that it is too much. It's a shame they don't put that much effort on their accommodations as they do in providing what has to be the biggest collection of Elvis things this side of Graceland. This should have been the first forewarning that this place wasn't going to be substantially any good. The second was the nonchalant attitude by the staff up front when we first arrived. The third and this is one I share with my dinner date, is the fact we saw a plate of frijoles as flat as the world people once thought in the pre-Copernicus days. To me, that said no thanks! Well, there is actually one more that should've been a foreshadowing and that was the fact that we parked right next to a makeshift memorial for a gentleman who frequented an establishment in the compound (not Azteca...). It was a somber mark on the night and may whoever that person is--rest in peace. I guess time has healed the wounds of resentment I had for this place. Because I was pretty infuriated by the fact we were overlooked and whatnot. In fact, we never did sit down and eat because the hostesses bypassed us and sat someone who came 10 minutes after us while totally ignoring us. How did I know? I could see the guilt on one of their faces as I made a befuddled look in response. That to me is inexcusable and thus why this place is deemed horrible and not worth the time spent. There are a million better places for Mexican food in the O.C. and I suggest you give them your hard earned money and not Azteca.
(1)Nadine H.
The lounge use to be my favorite place. The owner should be thankful people have patience. (It's a cool looking place.) So we'll wait to be served. The owner takes away from the atmosphere as he walks around disgruntle for having to help take orders. He's just so damn rude. Rather than apologizing for being short on staff or having to wait. He takes it out on you by being rude. Making one feel uncomfortable.
(2)David H.
Saw this place on channel 5 and thought we would give it a try. Well...all I need to say is GARLIC TACOS! Unbelievably awesome, words are hard pressed to describe how great these things are. Will definitely be back. The decor is kitschy Elvis and it works, the staff is top notch but the food is great!
(4)Stephanie C.
We went to this place for the Elvis and Mexican food...Its smaller than I excpected, and the service was not to great....I like all the memorabilia, but the food was just okay, not great...Im not sure if I would go back for the food, maybe for the Elvis...I ordered hot wings as an appetizer, and they were not good at all...we left them..... I wish the food was better, but I still like the place..
(3)Jaime A.
Ask me 3 years ago and this place would have gotten a much higher rating from me. Back in the day, when I was young, I'm not a kid anymore and I used to be social. Well, go out. Really, just drink. And this was my go-to place. They had karaoke, a pretty happening atmosphere, and Elvis memorabilia every which way you looked (even "dirty" memorabilia in the restroom which was a crack up when I went drunk-girl pee every 5 minutes). Now let's get down to the nitty-gritty. The FOOD at this place is nothing to write home about (does anyone ever write home anymore?). I would not eat there unless the food was close to zero dollars. The BAR SCENE is where it is at. Now, if you have been here, you know that there is a restaurant side and a bar side (called Crooner's). Karaoke doesn't start until 10pm on Friday and Saturday night and it happens in the dining room. I admit the other night that I walked in a little tipsy, but I was also wearing 5 inch heels so I deserve a bit of a break and shouldn't have been greeted with "the bar is that way" by the owner. Really?! I didn't want to eat your dirty sock garlic tacos anyway (that's what he said). So, we went across the street to Louie's until 9:52pm. Walked back into Azteca and sat in an open booth and was blessed with another gnarly encounter by the owner "you can't get drinks in here, you will have to go to the bar". No sheeit. But we are here to laugh at drunk people singing karaoke! Does he really expect the dining room to be filled with people eating enchiladas and enjoying some chile rellenos whilst having a booming loud karaoke session going on in front of their table? I used to like the owner. He was friendly. Now he walks around with a look on his face like he loathes people who partake in an alcoholic beverage. And I am not a raging drinker so I can understand that frame of mind to some extent but c'mon man, your food is trash and the only way you probably stay in business is the night life (just read all of the prior reviews! they are all about the night life).
(2)Andre T.
This is still a great place, but I had to take down my 6th star... They no longer have Guinness on tap. "It just wasn't selling" according to the bartender. "But it is ok... they are going to get a Bud Lite tap"... (there is no emoticon that can adequately describe the sadness in my heart when I heard this)
(5)Jarrod F.
The reason why I decided to recommend this place to the group I was with was strictly because we are all Elvis fans, and after going here I realized I made a great choice. The Elvis decor was way more than I ever even planned on seeing. A must for any patron of this place is to try their Garlic Tacos; but be warned you will stink like garlic for the rest of then day or night! So if you are cruising Garden Grove and want to see a really cool place with lot's of awesome Elvis memorabilia then go check out Azteca and grab yourself a Garlic Taco and a cold Beer.
(4)Kate J.
Came here at 5:30 on a Thursday night and was seated pretty quickly. Service was a little slow after that though when it came to taking our drink and then food orders. Food itself tasted great, but we had to wait quite awhile for drink refills. Other than that, the atmosphere was very nice and it was an enjoyable experience. Might give the place another shot sometime, perhaps on a karaoke night.
(3)Kathy T.
I've only been here for drinks and karaoke in the past and loved it. My friend and I recently decided to come here for the food because she had a Restaurant.com coupon. Food: Not bad. Chips and Salsa - blah. Salsa tasted like from a jar. Chips were too oily. Ceviche - a little too sweet for my taste and was borderline tasting like shrimp cocktail (which I hate). Albondigas - very flavorful! It tasted great. It was my first time having it so I can't compare it to anything more authentic. Garlic Chicken Taco - quite big. The first few bites of this was good, but the chicken was dry and you lose the garlic flavor really quick. They serve it in a deep fried taco shell with lettuce tomatoes and cheese. Pork Tamale with Chile Verde sauce - not bad, but the corn part of this was too hard. The flavors were good, but the texture wasn't right. Garlic Steak with rice, beans and guac - tasted great! Very garlicky and I loved it. My favorite part. Flan - a very rich ending to our feast for 2. The flan is more creamy than eggy, which I didn't mind. They put the flan on a small bed of shaved coconut, so you might find that surprise at the bottom of your flan. Service was good. They were friendly. Only thing I didn't like was the added gratuity they put on our bill. I don't know if it was because we had a Restaurant.com coupon or not, but it was weird. It wasn't like we were a huge party or anything. Maybe they thought we'd rip him off on the tip, but we knew to tip on the bill before the coupon. Oh well... Not sure if I would come back for dinner because there are so many other Mexican food places that serve better food. The atmosphere can be fun though with all the Elvis memorabilia. I like it more for the cheap drinks at the bar and the old school karaoke!
(3)Billy L.
All atmosphere. Coolest place in OC. If they served good food we'd have a winner. I love going to this place, I want to go to this place. But I don't go to this place (very often). The food really stinks. Note to owner: hire someone in the kitchen to redo to menu and recipes. I live within walking distance and I jump in my car and drive to get Mexican food someplace else. The happy hour is really cool. $8 for a pitcher of beer and they have it 5 days a week. The food is one star. The atmosphere and booze makes up the difference.
(3)Abelardo H.
Great family outing! Good food, great service Karaoke and Elvis themed!!!! I have died and gone to heaven. If you love Mexican food, Elvis and karaoke. This is the place.
(5)Kim L.
Love this place!!! Everything is Elvis in here, really cute! The food is amazing! It's clean and large portions! The garlic tacos and garlic steak is a must have here!! Only if you love garlic like me! I will be back for sure!
(5)Paulina B.
I liek the fun atmosphere, however the food was just not doing it for me! My carne asada burrito had NO flavor! it tasted like dried out steak with tortilla! YUCK! pretty much I would only come here if I were drunk and wanted to sing horribly infront of random strangers!
(2)Michelle S.
I truly adore this place. Anyone who knows me, knows I have a long-running fascination with Elvis Presley...& Priscilla Presley to. She is after all 1 of my 4 reasons for first dying my hair jet black, naturally my hair is honey blonde. I also happen to adore Mexican food. So to me this is the perfect place! The food is pretty good and I really like the garlic tacos and salad. Mostly though I come here for the Elvis and the memorabilia. The restaurant is lined from ceiling to floor with Elvis, Elvis and more Elvis!. And I do mean ceiling to floor. The ceiling itself is lined with posters from just about every movie Elvis ever starred in! So where ever you are images of The King flood your senses. Whenever I go here... I put 5 dollars in the juke box & put on all my favorite Elvis songs, order garlic tacos & a garlic salad, Cadillac Margarita, sit back and just have a nice time. I still remember the first time I heard an Elvis song I was 4 and it was Blue Suede Shoes and I have been in love with that man ever since! youtube.com/watch?v=T1On…
(5)Lisa T.
Been here only once and I grew up in Garden Grove. I came here during lunch with some coworkers during our lunch break. I had high hopes for it because the place seem to be popular and it's been around for years, but I was wrong. Maybe because it was during lunch in the middle of the week, but it was so empty! It felt empty and the servers acted like it was empty! The chips were alright, quite greasy. I ordered a chimichanga and boy, it was so oily and greasy! Urgh. Everyone else were not impress with their foods either. I need to give this place another try, maybe during dinner time or happy hour because this place seems to be better at night (and with alcohol).
(2)Jeremy H.
Can't go wrong here! Margaritas are wonderful! Family owned and operated with original family recipes. Try the garlic tacos. All kinds of special events from Sinatra lounge singers, guitar players and celebrations for Elvis. Speaking of Elvis, largest collection of Elvis memorabilia this side of the Mississippi - I think :) Fridays/Saturdays entertainment karaoke and a great juke box in the bar. Late night taco stand featuring the famous Kellee Burrito. People are friendly and the owner is always welcoming. Located on the best street in all of GG with other nice restaurants to complement your experience. A must see!
(5)El S.
I recently visited for a night of karaoke with some friends. As we are all a younger crowd who likes to have a good time, we always could rely on karaoke at the azteca for a younger party atmosphere. Apparently on this visit, we were SHOCKED to see how much the crowd has changed. From what we were told, some of their policies have changed in regards to song selection. It has DEFINITELY affected what was once a great, fun crowd. What we were instead subjected to were 5 minute pink Floyd songs and boring renditions of the same ol' songs we could hear anywhere on a karaoke night. Part of the reason we would go there was because it was different. We could sing songs nobody else had and that EVERYONE enjoyed. Sad to say that is not the case anymore. It seems like its also tough to have a good time now while the new owner hovers about the room, almost like they are looking at each and every single song, waiting for a reason to cut it off. It just seems tense and uncomfortable. They took the one thing that was successful and made it bland and boring. It's not like we ever went just for the food, which we only tolerated for the awesome karaoke and good times we had! It seems like we probably won't come back as we can go anywhere else on any day of the week for karaoke and sing songs we are "allowed" to and not have our selections dictated to us. I would have been horrified to be the poor guy who had his sing stopped in the middle by management because it was deemed "offensive". That alone would make me NEVER want to return again. I hope that guy at least got a free drink out of being humiliated by management like that. Good luck azteca, on your new direction. Sad to say we won't be following that direction.
(1)D A P.
If you like Elvis and Mexican food, this is your kind of place. Karaoke on the weekends and a car show every Friday night. So you and your party can be easily entertained on a Friday night for just the price of dinner and drinks. The bar is cool but small. So get there EARLY if you want a seat at the bar.
(4)Michael L.
Normally, this place is crawling with ugly chicks, but for some reason there was at least 5 hot girls here last Wednesday. I was really really confused. I'm not talking about Inland Empire/the butthole of Orange County standards. I'm talking about Santa-Barbara-There's-A-Slam-Piece-Every-Fifty-ÂFeet standards. Anyways, the karaoke is always fun and the drinks are strong. Pretty fun place for being in such a crappy city.
(4)Daniel M.
Classic Mexican name, I thought I was going to see mariachi, matador and pictures of Vicente Fernandez. Nope, it was Elvis wall to wall. This was the closest I have ever been to Graceland. I got to say its the best display of Elvis, yes he lives here. Okay getting back to the food, got served very fast, taste of Sonora style cooking, very authentic. It was just a mind funk to see Mexican food and hear Elvis greatest hits. A must visit place,
(3)Michelle T.
Where's the peanut butter and banana burrito? ELVIS theme everywhere! love it!!! Came here for the Xmas Eve Eve party and had a blast! Loved the karaoke. They had a section where we can order food- like a taco stand. For about 3-7 bucks or so, we could order nachos, tacos, burritos and quesadillas. The tacos were super spicy IMO, so i ate the quesadilla. The food was ok. Nothing i'd come back for, but i definitely would recommend coming for the whole elvis kitsch and karaoke fun. They have very current songs and it's great fun for those of you brave enough to sing in front of the entire restaurant! The staff here also jump on stage and have amazing voices. Fun for parties!
(4)Vincent R.
The Food and Ambiance are 5 stars, customer service was a real issue. So we went here after watching a bout of roller derby around 930 on a Saturday night. My friends warned me in advance that the service wasn't great but it was worth waiting for the food. The 5 of us were seated and we waited for our server.... and waited.... and waited.... There were several large groups celebrating birthdays there that night so I understand service being slow but 15min to get our drink order? Please. Our friends only stayed for drinks, my wife and I had dinner. We ordered and again waited... and waited .... and waited.... Just as we were getting ready to get up and have our order cancelled it came out. The food was both delicious and a generous portion. We ate but noticed more and more people coming in. Both of our soft drink cups had not been refilled since we got them (1 & a half hours before) so we decided just to get our food to go and finish our meal at home. If you're going to come here either come for an entire night of revelry or get it to go.
(2)Eugene H.
The food was below average. It did not have any flavor at all. It was Mexican food made by white people. I had the chicken salad and the chicken tasted and looked like it came from a can. On the other hand if you want to see an amazing Elvis collection then this is the place. One of our group said that his food had the texture and taste of a wet rag. Another in our party didn't finish her meal because "it was not very good."
(1)Beth H.
I may be a little heavy handed here in my review for Azteca's. I haven't had any food here. I was a bit disappointed in the $1 beers being Coors Light and Bud Light. I can do me a Coors Light but Bud Light?? Really??? Let me rewind a bit. This place is all about Elvis. Did I mention my family LOVES Elvis? My Step-Dad does a MEAN Elvis. His answering machine message is in his best Elvis voice. Azteca's is 1000% Elvis. Not in a creepy way, but in a cool, OMG - WTF - ROFL kind of way. I never thought I'd see a place that was completely covered, floor to ceiling (I SHIT YOU NOT!) Elvis...I like me some Big E (no...not Eugine, although I love me some Eugine, too)...if you like you some Big E, this is your place. Fun people, fun atmosphere, roomy in the restaurant area. I liked the bar area but it did seem a little small. Loved that they had Rolling Rock and the bartenders were super sweet and having a good time. Can't rate the food (which I hear ranges from Suck Central to OK) but the atmosphere and low key bar arrangement works for me. Would I come here to eat? Probably not. Would I come here to hang, drink and maybe partake in some Karaoke? Absolutely' Baby........
(4)Yuki M.
Came here initially for a 5-star Official Yelp event. Yelpers were great and I had a blast listening to karaoke and staring at ugly sweaters....the problem was that I didn't eat...or perhaps that was a good thing. Came here today to sample the "famous" Garlic tacos. Wow was I disappointed. Restaurants that require you to have a sense of humour with every bite are not at the top of my list. Garlic beef and garlic chicken tacos were generous in size but felt like I was eating a soggy pair of gym shorts. The lettuce was wilted and wet and made the entire meal soaked and cold. Really unpleasant aesthetics when the taco is wet and dripping stale smelling sauce that could have been wrung out from a sweaty football jersey. The meat in both the beef and chicken tacos were dry as all hell and the flood of kitchen water from the iceberg produce didn't help at all. In the end, I was left with soggy, smelly hands and even worse garlic breath. I don't mind garlic and I don't mind burping it for days after a meal, but this place somehow managed to transform garlic into sewage. I'm sorry, Azteca but you have seriously let me down. Never again.
(1)James B.
Mexican food, karaoke, and The King. I'm all shook up, cabron. :) A friend was organizing a karaoke night. I warned her that my voice had been banned by congress along with waterboarding and other forms of torture and I had never been to karaoke. I was about to decline when she said it was at "an Elvis-themed Mexican restaurant that does karaoke." At that point I felt honor-bound to check it out because that's not a description I can just walk away from. Not all that big but very interesting. The walls are absolutely covered with Elvis pictures and there is a big statue of him as well. Beer was decently priced and had a good selection - I chased down my nachos with Negra Modelo. Didn't peruse the menu too thoroughly but my dinner companions' plates all looked appetizing - good sized portions and the prices I looked at were very reasonable. I asked for my nachos (normally comes with refried beans, cheese, sour cream, jalapenos, and guacamole) without cheese or sour cream and with extra guacamole and jalapenos. The guy didn't blink and certainly didn't skimp on the guac or peppers and it was a very good sized order of nachos for $6. Karaoke started at 9 PM (this was a Saturday night - not sure if it starts same time every night.) and the crowd was nice and lively and was good at hamming it up. I said I'd perform the next time we did this as long as I just had to watch that night. Very entertaining. No Elvis impersonators performed that night but I was told it's not uncommon and I saw at least one young couple there looking very Rockabilly. I like this place: a nice mix of ambience, good food at decent prices, good service, and the opportunity to squeal out a song in front of a crowd and/or watch others do the same.
(4)Ant P.
Macha n margaritas not too bad. Carne asada quesadilla not any better than del taco.
(3)Mo O.
Azteca USED to be a good restaurant, and had a great "neighborhood" feel to the restaurant and the bar. But somewhere along the line, it has become a shrine to Elvis and whacky karaoke cultists. I used to bring my kids here for dinner, and my wife and I would hang out in the bar when we were sans kids. Not anymore. You couldn't pay me to subject myself to the abuse of Azteca anymore. Drunks, fights, and a lot of people who somehow believe they are living in a fantasy version of the 1950's. No thanks, I've got better places to go.
(1)Michelle D.
I may be biased, but I love this place and come here all the time. It's a few miles from where I grew up. Are there places with better Mexican food? It's all a matter of taste. Are there Mexican food places that are cheaper? Sure, but who wants to eat at Taco Bell all the time. This place has traditional Mom & Pop, Mexican food recipes; some people will like it, others will not. Prices are reasonable for the quality of the food. I don't know how many cocktails Hien V. & co. ordered with their meal, but most of the combos are around the $10 mark. Gratuity has never been added to my order and I eat here about once a month with my family so it was likely added due to the Restaurant coupon. There are live musical acts here all the time and they are always very entertaining. Gospel Elvis on Sundays is well worth the trip. Once a month they have a guy come in and sing Rat Pack songs, I think his name is Douglas Roegiers, very good singer. Fridays and Saturdays there is karaoke. I've been a few times and the regulars are a hoot. There's a guy that sings the Time's "Jungle Love" every week, complete with dance moves. The restaurant consists of two parts, the restaurant and the Crooner's Lounge off to the side. If you are coming here to drink, go into the bar to order your drinks. (They will let you take them into the other room.) The bar has happy hour prices around the clock, so by walking to the bar instead of having someone bring you your drinks you will save some cash.
(5)Jennifer K.
I am not sure why this place is ever given a good review. The decor was the best thing. The food is really really gross. Their "carne Asada" is a disgusting shredded beef. The garlic taco to me wasn't good at all, i am feeling nauseous just thinking about it. It's a over hard taco shell filled with gross shredded beef and dirty tasting lettuce. The enchilada sauce is not edible. Taco bell would be 100x better than this place, dog food would probably be better as well. The salads were gross. The service was bad and unorganized it took them 1/2 hour to take our order and then food items were wrong. The only reason we went was for the Elvis show and to see the memorabilia. I recommend going somewhere else first and treating this place more as an elvis museum not a Mexican restaurant.
(1)Hiram R.
nice little place, cheap drinks and good food. barmaidens are nice and if you like elvis this is the place for you.
(4)Mark H.
anyone giving this place more then 3 stars needs to be checked for a heart beat. the food is god awful. i spent so much money here and my family did not enjoy the meal. i got the burrito combo and was so disappointed.... please close this horrible store down
(1)Ismael R.
My favorite spot for my karaoke addiction. They have a great selection of songs to choose from.
(5)Robert S.
and in case you didn't know... Los Angeles CBS just voted us one of the top 5 karaoke spots in all of Orange County. And now you know, check out the link. losangeles.cbslocal.com/…
(5)Marbalina M.
Best mexican food EVER!!!! And Elvis!!!!!
(5)Juan K.
First of all this place is far from what you would expect. It says Aztec resteraunt, but then when you go in its all Elvis Presley tribute and decor...maybe try renaming the place. Ok fine who cares about that, lets try the food. The quality was so bad I didn't finish my food for the first time. The carne tasted terrible and I felt like I was chewing rubber. You can tell this place is bad when they have so many food selections. The menu was literally cluttered with choices. Alot of quantity, very low quality. People are supposed to be rating this for their food and service, not the dang karaoke. Me and my friends got there during the st.patricks day weekend. They had advertisements and posters everywhere that says they have the "bud light green beer" we ask the lady for it and she acted like we had no idea what we were talking about. The waiter asks the bartender and she starts yelling "what in the nerve has them thinking we serve that?!" As she was saying this I slowly started looking at the mini poster on my table that specifically said they had the green beer. The food was dull, the service was bad. But I guess if karaoke and booze is all that matters to you then please don't hesitate to go. Worst Mexican food ever. I can't believe you guys are eating this place up. I actually made a yelp account for the first time just to rate this place. This restaurant needs a make over big time.
(1)Trav ..
Great Place Great Food Great Service!!! A+++
(5)Kim. B.
As if it hasn't been said enough: garlic tacos. Today was my second visit, and I ordered the combo #9 with garlic tacos...again. One of these days I'll have to try something different, but they're quite delicious. The food came out super hot and fresh. My mom loved her tostada salad, as evidenced by her completely clean plate. This place is a gem. Service was adequate, and I was thoroughly entertained by all of the Elvis memorabilia and music. On Fridays it can get pretty busy with the car show, but they still maintain decent service. The Friday night that I went for the first time there was even an Elvis impersonator! One piece of advice as it was told to me: "if one person gets the garlic tacos, we ALL get the garlic tacos. No one wants to be mad at the one person who reeks of garlic. We're all in this together."
(4)Mark C.
If your an ELVIS fan this is your place. Everything is Elvis! Food is OK. Parking is good. I only go back when I bring someone who hasn't seen all the Elvis Stuff...
(3)Anthony B.
I don't think I've ever eaten in the restaurant, but the bar (Crooner's Lounge) is where I go. If you like Elvis you'll love the memorabilia inside the bar. The food is average at best, but they have a really good happy hour. It has your typical dive bar feel. The atmosphere is friendly, beer is cold & if you come on Friday's you can catch the carshow outside & then come inside for drinks. There are TV's playing whatever game is on, 1 TV that plays Elvis only movies or concerts & there is a good jukebox.
(4)Jen D.
Azteca Saturday night karaoke - where have you been all my life?! Such a good time! 5 stars for the entertainment - but unfortunately only 2 stars for the service and food. I'll come back for the Karaoke, but I think I'll stick to a liquid diet next visit ;)
(3)Boogie H.
been here 3 times.....i first heard about this place from a friend saying the garlic tacos were killer....then i saw the segment from burrous' bites from channel 5 news...so one afternoon me and a nerdy friend went...got a chili verde and a garlic taco.... i must have hungry the food was pretty good....then i purchased 2 groupon deals....first time i went my friend and i went into the bar area where we were rushed on our order...then over hearing a loud conversation between a customer and bartender about doing drugs...the drinks were weak (margar's) and the food was ehhh the garlic taco gave me the rumbles later!!!!! then me and the same friend went tonight using the last groupon we gave it another shot.....once again failed!!!!! after the busboy sitting us down there was no place settings the chips were all broken then it took our waiter 10 mins to take our order with out writting it down... i decided on a chili verde enchilada & beef taco.....what i got was a chicken enchilada and the taco looked like it was pre-made earlier that evening just nuke and was re-placed with fresh lettuce ....then the waiter disappeared for about another 10 mins never checking back on us....finally he showed up and i told him about the mess he said he will fix it...the response was i got the groupon and it will not deduct the price.....what no replacement for the food???? and once again the magars taste like the mix only.....then in the middle of the night i puked everything up and was ill the whole next day.....so its more than likely i will not be going here again.....
(1)Thao D.
My friend Tony and I just got done with dinner and I thought he was going to take me home, but instead he took me to Azteca. As we got out of the car, I looked over at him and asked, "YOU TOOK ME TO A BAR?!" And get this, since we went on a Thursday, it was happy hour allllll day! Azteca is a Mexican restaurant with a small little bar inside. As I walked into the bar the first thing I noticed was ELVIS! Elvis on the wall, Elvis on the ceiling, Elvis in the corners, freaking Elvis everywhereeeee! Fucking love it! I've never been to a bar where I can just sit and enjoy my drinks and not have to worry about guys hitting up on me. It was a nice change. I had 4 jack and coke and my friend Tony had the same and total came out to around $19! Cheap, right? I was buzzing like a bee at the end of the night. Thanks, Azteca for a fun fun night!
(4)Robert P.
I love the food at Azteca! But you have to have correct expectations and be selective. Not everything on menu is good; it's just a blue-collar, working class place. Breakfast is very simple, but very flavorful. Authentic, meaning it is less Americanized than almost any other Mexican place. Good hand made tortillas, but they don't "show off" making them because it's normal in Mexican kitchens.
(4)Shirley C.
Elvis is dead and so is the food and service. If you like unseasoned and bland food then this is the place for you. The waiter screwed up every order. The steak was over cooked and filled with gristle. My friend's carne asada burrito was burnt. The chips and guacamole was a bowl of guacamole and 3 chips stuck on top. Surprisingly the guacamole was the only decent thing to eat. Save your money and go to Del Taco instead. Their food is more interesting than this place. It's good that Elvis is dead. He would die again after eating.
(1)Anjelica A.
This place is pretty cool. I went here a couple months ago for Karaoke and, Wow... Elvis is definitely alive in this little bar! You'd think this was the Sistine Elvis Chapel! I mean, I couldn't stop staring at the Tickle Me Elvis Elmo they had up on a shelf. Elvis you say? In a Mexican restaurant? Well why not. Doesn't hurt, and is definitely a reason to just have dinner there and check out all the Elvis memorabilia they have! It is definitely busy on Friday ans Saturday nights because of Karaoke with Pirate Mike, but it is also a fun atmosphere. Great food as well! I had a Chicken Tostada, and I couldn't even finish it with how much there was in the one dish. My friend had the Chili and Garlic Tacos... The Chili is to die for! I got a little taste! I need to try the garlic tacos next time, I heard they are Fabu! Definitely a great place to try out. In the heart of Garden Grove. Maybe if you stop by the Strawberry Festival next year, you should drop in and sing a lil karaoke with Pirate Mike and have some awesome Garlic Tacos or Chili with the King!
(4)Sarah H.
Only been here once but I really liked it. I didn't even know it served Mexican food until I came here. I just came in and sat at the bar. The bartender was really nice and he didn't make fun of me for not knowing anything about booze. He even showed me the correct way to knock back Patron, and also the ins and outs of Irish Car Bombs. I liked all the Elvis stuff too. Drinks were pleasantly stiff and not too expensive. The crowd was nice and happy, no snooty folk. I plan on going back.
(4)Sean M.
Azteca is as much about the Elvis collection as the food. The food is tasty and if you want to be soaking in Elvis memorablilia this is definitely the place to be. The garlic tacos are by far my favorite just dont plan on being in close quarters with anyone the rest of the night. The garlic cream sauce on the taco is plentiful and very strong.
(3)Barry H.
This review is for the "Crooner's Lounge" only. I have eaten here before but was way to drunk to recall the details on my meal. Crooner's Lounge is a total small dive bar, and that is just the way I like it. There is sufficient amount of beers on tap, and the drinks are mighty! The ambiance is of... well a crooner's lounge? Think old western with double saloon style swinging doors... yes, they have those! Add a juke box and video games... ps3, and you got yourself a hell of a place to kickback. They also have guitar hero nights =)
(4)Alyse P.
I ate at Azteca on a Wednesday evening around 6pm and the place had quite a few people inside. I ordered a chile relleno and cheese enchilada combination. The food was out very quickly and I ate as much as I could. The food was very reasonably priced for the portions. One thing I would criticize is that the Elvis memorabilia was impressive, but the over stimulation in that sitting room was making me ill.
(4)A Z.
I'm an Elvis man, so Azteca suits me just fine. The arroz con polle with verde sauce was awesome. Their margaritas were mighty tasty too. I was kind of bummed there was no happy hour on a Friday night, but it's all navy in the gravy, baby.
(4)Tee L.
Went to this place with a small group last week and while we were quite impressed with all the various Elvis memorabilia we were severely disappointed with the food. This was the worst Mexican food I've ever had and some of the worst sit down restaurant food I've ever had. First off our server screwed up all 4 orders...salads with dressing on the side came with dressing on the salad. Tacos with double rice arrived with rice and beans and salad with no cheese or dressing arrived with both. Secondly, the "carne asada" salad is shredded beef which is NOT carne asada. The rice was flavorless. The famous "garlic tacos" were drenched in the garlic sauce and tasted so bad I could only stomach one of the two they served. NOBODY in our group finished their meals. So in the words of Elvis if "It's Now or Never"...I say NEVER. Never go here for the food.
(1)Randi B.
My dad is a huge Elvis fan, so one day last summer he forced me and the rest of my family to come here. If you like Elvis, you will like the interior. They have tons of memorabilia. I'm not a fan of the king, so I wasn't impressed. I wasn't impressed with the food either. It was honestly some of the nastiest Mexican food I have ever had. Nobody in my family liked what they ordered. I will never go back here again.
(1)Natalia R.
I didn't know it was even possible to make bad Mexican food. Well, this place has accomplished it! The enchilada I ordered looked like someone threw up on my plate and then put it under a broiler to make it very hot. My chicken enchilada had no chicken in it! Who are these people who gave this place five stars?
(1)Lynn S.
Live out of the area but when I am in town I like to come here. So my visit yesterday consisted of chips that tasted/looked like cheap ones that you buy at the dollar stores. Salsa was mediocre. Ordered a bean tostada and the tortilla was a pre fried one like they serve at Taco Bell and tasted stale. Shredded beef taco was good but the meat was cold inside like it came out of the refrigerator and was brought to room temp. The sauce that topped the taco and tostada was cold and no flavor. Now I used to go to the Mexico City Restaurant in Long Beach that was owned by the brother of the original owner of Azteca. When Mexico City closed several years ago, I started coming to the Azteca. Some of the food was very similar which I loved. After eating here yesterday I knew right off something wasn't the same. Now I see other reviews saying that the restaurant has changed ownership. Very disappointed and won't be coming back. Please don't cut corners while keeping the same name of the business. People catch on quickly.
(1)E H.
My family has been going here for over 30 years. It has been sold to a new owner who appears to be allowing poor food quality come out of the kitchen. We went on a Saturday afternoon and it was dead inside. The service was fine but the food was cold. How can that happen when there is only three tables ordering food. The Garlic Salad dressing has become watered down and this is the main reason we come here. I don't care about karaoke or Elvis. I do care about quality hot food.
(1)Eric P.
I was here late with a group of 10 friends. This place has a Bar atmosphere and Karaoke. We all had a great time, the drinks a cheap and anyone can participate with the singing. You can order individual or pitchers and also have a Tab. This was my first time here and I recommend it, another way to have drinks and have fun.
(4)Patrick Y.
Came here with my friends last Saturday. The service was excellent & the food wasnt to bad. They both had carnitas burrito and I had the chile verde carnitas with rice and refried beans. My chile verde wasn't spice hot, it could have been hotter. The best meal of the night was the desert. Tres leches cake was excellent
(3)Melanie S.
Unfortunately just typing will not convey how strongly I feel about this: THE WORST MEXICAN FOOD I HAVE EVER HAD IN MY LIFE. Actually, THE WORST MEAL I HAVE EVER HAD IN MY LIFE. Sums it up better. The food came out 1) cold 2) undercooked and 3) 100% sure it was from a can. The chicken smelt like cat food and the veggies definitely were not fresh. Even the rice and beans seemed as if they were defrosted and not even heated before they came out. On top if it, you need to ask for a drink about 3 times before your waiter actually responds. After eating only about 4 bites of my food, I actually went home ill. I'm getting sick just thinking about it. Do yourself a HUGE favor and NEVER EVER GO HERE!
(1)Steve V.
Azteca Mexican Restaurant - Garden Grove, We only do their take-out & I can walk to it. Love their Chile Rellenos. Have gotten at least a dozen meals there without a dud. Appetizers could be slightly better. Prices could be slightly lower, like everywhere else. Steve & Cyndi Viall
(5)Lonnie J.
We have two completely different things to rate here. Entertainment: 5 Stars Food: 2 Stars Seriously do not eat here...go here and drink and enjoy the entertainment. The guacamole was just mashed up avocados. Out of 7 people's meals we sent two back...dry carnitas and a well done steak even though we ordered it medium...so it was dry. I got the garlic tacos...they were ok...but didn't live up to the hype for me....rice was crunchy. Everybody has to learn their own lessons so go ahead and try it out...but I'm pretty sure like me you will not go back to eat...which is too bad because it's a pretty cool place with some good entertainment. As a consolation the staff was friendly and happily took back the food and replaced it quickly...they seemed understaffed though.
(2)Arnold W.
I'm not sure if I can Yelp this place!? Technically I've never been here. I came here for the Yelp Elite Holiday Bash! This place is quite interestingly odd! If you like the Elvis stuff...A++++++ You'll be greeted by Elvis Hostesses. Elvis impersonators come here too! Food is bleh, Mexican food. They fajitas served was quite tasted like dorm food. The rice and beans were mediocre. Nice bar.
(3)Tom T.
This is the second time I have been here and it was for a Yelp Christmas event. Thanks to Hazel for throwing this CMYE. This place has a lot of character with movie posters and Elvis posters plastered everywhere and on the ceiling too. The Christmas decorations even adds more character to this place. My wife and I had a good time at this event. I got to enjoy cheap beer and their special with the taco bar. It was too bad we didn't know about the taco bar, because we ordered a plate of nachos from their menu. We had some laughs with the $1 gift exchange. The karaoke stage was pretty entertaining to watch. We watched brave Yelpers take to the stage and sang their hearts out. I kinda wished the Elvis impersonator took to the stage. So my memories of Azteca will be about Yelp Chistmas parties and a brave Yelper who chose to sing "Last Christmas" by Wham!
(4)Chantal B.
3 words : Elvis and cheese enchiladas !! this place is so entertaining!! And they have lots of garlic options for the garlic lover! service is friendly food comes out quick. but seating is a bit hard to come by, but its worth the wait!
(4)Laura S.
Elvis!!! Karaoke!!! And Mexican food.. What else do you need!
(4)M H.
If I could, this would be a "no stars" review.....have had good experiences at lunch with friends, but tonight, when I decided to take wifey, was a disaster! I don't care about the Elvis thing, but I do care about being treated with respect. Server cared about being there about as much as I did when I left; not at all! When my food order didn't work out, he offered me nothing to take it's place-just took it off the bill. I had taken two sips out of my glass of beer, and that's all, so as we left I poured the salsa in the glass to make up the difference to show my disapproval of this place.......probably doesn't matter.......nobody cares there anyway......NEVER AGAIN!
(1)Norma L.
I HATE it when people call this place Aztecas. It's annoying. It's not Aztecas, it is Azteca! Singular people! Singular! Sheesh. Anyway, I love this place. I have only tried the food once, and I thought it was very tasty. I think I got cheese enchiladas. Good stuff! Chips and salsa are also good! :D Yummy. I mostly come here for the karaoke. It is a LOT of fun! I have embarassed myself and sang a few times. It is always fun though. Everyone is really friendly. I have met many wonderful people here. You will have a good time at AZTECA.
(5)AlphaOne 6.
the decor is awesome, i have eaten here for years, the food used to be outstanding, last couple of years the food just plain sucks, not as good as it used to be, also portions are smaller lacking taste i find myself not going here much at all any more
(3)Joshua G.
Food was just average but the ambiance was amazing! Elvis EVERYWHERE! If you're looking for a Mexican meal that'll knock your socks off, don't come here. If you're looking for a cool hip place to hang out with some friends, do some late night drinking and light grubbing, this place will serve ya just fine.
(4)Kiki L.
Azteca is a party and a half--there is no way you can't love this place--even if you're blind and therefore rendered immune to the onslaught of Elvises staring at you from every corner of this restaurant, you would STILL have a great time--maybe it's all due to the enthusiastic, rollicking karaoke or the drinks that knock you out and leave you in the gutter, or the rowdy chatteirng of happy patrons, Azteca is not to be missed. For starters, how can you not love a family-run Mexican restaurant that has basically set up shop in an old-west saloon with an Elvis mannequin leering at you from the upstairs front porch? The kitsch from the outside alone drew me in--I LOVE stuff like this! However, once you enter Azteca, watch out. I don't think there's an inch of space inside this restaurant that isn't covered in SOMETHING having to do with Elvis--whether it's simply a sign spelling his name, a mug with his face on it, or one of his many movie posters, you're going to love the man if you don't already do so. The restaurant is actually huge and always seems to be full of a fun, bustling crowd of people of all ages. This is not a hipster spot or a "bro bar" but is full of the sorts of people who like to hang out somewhere different--eccentric older couples, families with eccentric kids, young groups of friends like ours who definitely did not attend their senior prom. You get the picture. Let's put it this way--Azteca is the sort of place that attracts Elvis impersonators--and there is apparently a resident one that hosts a "Gospel Brunch" one Sunday a month--OMG, I keep thinking to myself--I could have a mimosa, some chilaquiles, AND have some man in a sparkly white suit croon some of the finest classics ever written to me? Praise the Lord, indeed! We came here for dinner and karaoke on a Friday night (karaoke is BOTH Friday and Saturday nights because there is no happy hour these nights) and had simply a great time. We opted to have dinner before karaoke (karaoke starts at 10:30 and lasts until 2 AM...be aware the restaurant kitchen closes at 10:30 PM when karaoke starts because then the restaurant turns into a lounge status and singers set up shop in the front of the restaurant). I have to admit that though the food is cheap (plates are around $9-$11; tons of a la carte items are to be had for around $5 or $6) to me it was just mediocre at best, but palatable. I had the Azteca burrito plate (because as usual, I was feeling piggy) for $9.99--it ended up being a huge smothered burrito with chile verde inside, sided with some pretty good refried beans and the blandest Spanish rice I've ever had, but whatcha gonna do? Hubby just had a bowl of the chile verde a la carte ($5.99 with tortillas) and he proclaimed to be "way delicious". I must admit I don't care for their guacamole--it must be the kind that has sour cream or something mixed in it which is a huge no-no and it was very, very dark green and kind of pasty. Chips and salsa were bland, too, though we kept throwing them down to combat the absolutely killer drinks that we were having. Now, after simply one margarita here, I think I know what it feels like to be roofied. WOW did it do a number. Just an innocent little house margarita on the rocks (not even that big!) and even after several hours of karaoke, we still had to hang out in the parking lot for an hour before being fully sobered up to drive home. Never have I had that experience--I'd like to shake the bartender's hand. And now you also know why karaoke here is so fun--the k-jay actually had a really extensive list of available songs (with a HUGE Elvis section, of course!), my only complaint being that there was very limited Justin Timberlake (only "Cry Me a River" was featured, which really DOES make me want to cry a river). It was great because this wasn't a luke-warm crowd--EVERYONE got really into it and sang and there were some good singers for once--party, indeed! 10 points, Azteca, 10 points. Not only this, the bathroom is large and clean (at least, it was while we were still there fairly early in the night) and Azteca just happens to be situated in one of the coolest parts of Garden Grove I've ever been to--the historic downtown! There's plenty of parking in the lot out back, tons of fun things to look at, and tons of new friends to be made. Stay for some snacks and drinks and leave having had the time of your life. Uh-HUH.
(4)Crystal M.
garlic tacos + karaoke +elvis = best bday party ever! We came here for my fiance's bday and had an amazing time. All of our food was awesome. Mexican pizza, enchiladas and a garlic taco (my fav). This place is definitely a gem for nighttime. The KJ had a huge mix of music and was pretty entertaining. The only downside to the night was the white trash monotone family that took over the karaoke. One of the guys actually brought his harmonica to the bar and played it for all the instrumental breaks. so awkward.
(4)Mike F.
Excellent Mexican food. The cabbage tacos are the best! Whenever I'm in the area I drop in this place. Great atmosphere and cheap drinks too!
(5)Chris D.
This is a great place to go if you are constipated since I guarantee you'll have the urge to go before you even get out the place. My wife have been here a handfull of times and everytime we get severe stomach aches. This paired up with the horrid service, greasy food, and almost everytime getting something I didn't order just doesn't do it for me. Only reason I'm making it 2 stars is not cuz of elvis, but the garlic sauce and dressing. I have no clue why I've been here more than once........... and the sad thing is i'll probably go again. Some strange subliminal messages I guess.
(2)Kasey F.
I love Azteca's! I've been here about three times now and I always have a blast. The food isn't amazing but it's still pretty good, the prices are low, and there is so much Elvis memorabilia to look at! Everyone there is really friendly, too. I usually go on Fridays..the kitchen closes at 10 and the karaoke starts at 11 and goes until 1. After that you have to move over to the bar, which is open until 2. They start carding people at about 9:30, 21+. No slow songs allowed on Fridays or Saturdays, so the mood is very upbeat and everybody has a great time. And I love that they have hats and boas that you can wear while you're singing! Usually the crowd is really encouraging, even if you suck.
(5)Rudy G.
Love this place. The food is so so, but then again, you don't come here for the food. Nice cheap beer, good atmosphere and friendly people with a jukebox with decent music in it as an added bonus. My kind of place. One last thing, if you are an Elvis fan you will freak over this place. Prepare to cream yourself. Elvis heaven.
(5)Erica M.
Azteca is a favorite of ours. My son is already a big Elvis fan at five and really gets a kick out of the decor. The collection of Elvis merchandise is truly impressive. He also loves the chips and salsa. My favorites are the Huevos Rancheros and Ceviche. My husband likes the burritos. Their refried beans are delicious. We recently caught an Elvis impersonator, that was a hoot. The staff is friendly, the service is good. A really fun place for a meal.
(4)Linda F.
Love this place! Elvis and Mexican food may seem like an odd combination but it works. The food is good and served hot and quick, leaving you plenty of time to enjoy your meal and soak up the atmosphere. JJ, the owner is a generous host and enjoys chatting up his guests. If you a re an Elvis fan and like Mexican food, this is the place!
(5)Alicia C.
I call this place the Elvis Bar. Its a very small bar with a huge collection of Elvis memorabilia. The people are friendly as well as the bartenders. Check out their special event nights. All in all, great atmosphere, great lighting and drinks are reasonable. Haven't been to the restaurant yet...
(3)Robyn W.
OK, where do I begin? First off, I went into this place with high expectations due to a co-worker's recommendation and the really cool website. High expectations always let you down. Went on a Friday night and seating was available and we got a seated right away. Cool. We ordered margaritas and the night was on. Or was it? Second round of margaritas wouldn't happen because they ran out of Sweet and Sour! What mexican restaurant runs out of sweet and sour?! This was after they told us they ran out of ceviche when we tried to order that too! Our night was slowly becoming a disappointment. The food was average to below average in taste. The quacaomole was bland. Our waitress was not friendly and spent very little time with us. Maybe she was embarrassed by not having items we asked for. She didn't try to accommodate either. I mean, a margarita can be made other ways without sweet and sour. The karaoke started and that was this place's saving grace. The guy running this was cool and fun. The crowd participation was great and lively. It was like we were at another establishmen altogether. Except when we ordered Bacardi and diet and they told us that they were out of Bacardi! Are you kidding me? This place has such potential to be great and at every turn they just fall short and disappoint. The two stars is for the Karaoke.
(2)Paulina L.
If you love Elvis and Mexican food (best combination ever!) this is THE best place for you! As soon as you walk through the door, you're greeted by the king himself (well, you know ... a look-a-like, but still, it's pretty rad)! Anyway, the ceiling and walls are completely covered with Elvis memorabilia ... it's AWESOME! The food isn't as spectacular as the atmosphere, but it's pretty good Mexican food. After dinner, stick around for the karaoke. The DJ's pretty cool. My only dislike is the weird guy that works with DJ (I think his job is to get people pumped ... but my friends and I found him a little annoying).
(4)Trent R.
Kind of a sports bar turned Elvis shrine. Very good margaritas, and very good service. Excellent chips and salsa, and ditto the guacamole. The fare here, alas, is only good, not great. I like the tacos and the rellenos. Burritos are decent, as is the chile verde. Good quesadillas. They have car shows on the street in front of this place in the spring and summer, and it's a nice place to go after you've hung out with the classic car buffs. I think 3 and a half stars is about right.
(3)Bob S.
I was raised on Mexico City mexican food in Long Beach..... Everything must come to an end so they say but my uncle stumbled across this place while attending one of the Hot Rod Shows they have each and every Friday on Old Town Main Street... Come to find out, one of the servers recognized them and found out that this is the same family running this place... The menu is similar and the food is close. Tacos are huge...... Unfortunately the enchiladas are pretty greasy... but good.... We go twice a month usually and take in the car show and have a meal.... Elvis bar is kinda crazy but cool....
(4)Meg R.
awesome bar!! (review of drinking only- who needs food?) they have a great happy hour, friendly bartenders, karaoke, and friendly "regulars". I highly recommend this place. Also, they were super cool hosting Hazel's CMYE. lets get any negatives outta the way - the bar area is kinda small/crowded i felt bad for the patrons that werent part of the yelp event for being squished in there. Also, i got hit on persistently by some guys at the bar (until they left thank god), every time i went up there. Annoying, take the hint the 3rd time i blow off your offer to buy me a drink man...(but thats not the bars fault, just the dense dude hitting on me) I met my bartender Brian, he was awesome and even knows my real real name and teased me about it (what you thought my parents actually named me "meg?" psh, it's close enough ;) ) Hooked me up with strong drinks and was so fast all night long. And! he didnt care when i left him hanging for 3 minutes to run and sing my song before coming back to finish my order and pay. J00 rock man. (I also threw down the yelp buttons littering my purse and saw him decorate his santa hat with them - that was great). Cheap ass drinks- sun-thursday is happy hour. $4 you call it well drinks (and shots?? double-check my drunk math), $1 coors and bud light, 4$ newcastle, guiness and bluemoon, and $5 margaritas ( - check their website for all the details). its a great atmosphere, especially that back room where they do the karaoke - zomg elvis! We had a great DJ too. he rocked it and when he'd do a song inbetween you could tell the guy practices, amaze-balls! Thanks for having us Azteca! I shall be back!
(4)Angie T.
If you love Elvis, you will LOVE this place! I gave it 3 stars, strictly for the atmosphere. Food wasn't good at all. We went for Mom's bday dinner, as she is a big Elvis fan, and they were having a Elvis impersonator that night. Made reservations and were seated promptly. Service was good, food was awful! No one finished their meals, and we all declined take home boxes. I would go back for like Happy Hour drinks and another Elvis show, but will skip having a meal, and will just enjoy some chips and salsa, which were pretty good.
(3)Christine R.
This place is not only eclectic and fun, but they have the BEST hand-rolled taquitos EVER! And great margaritas!! And friendly staff!! I love it!
(5)Dan C.
Sun-Thurs nights 2 dollar draft beer what more needs said about that.
(4)Michael G.
this review is just for the bar and karaoke..... to start off this place is simply awesome, you wont find a better karaoke bar around at first i was effy about this place since its in GG downtown area.. but surprisingly i had an awesome time! the environment is chill but up temple at the same it, just check it out after hours you wont be disappointed
(4)Lindsey B.
Food is alright...but I love their little dive bar! Strong cheap drinks and the atmosphere is pretty laid back. Love it!
(4)Marianne G.
3.5 leaning towards a 4. I didn't know this place existed until my friend (who's family are good friends with owner) took us there. Actually, I lied, someone else brought me here for karaoke one night first. It wasn't fun then but it has been fun every other time. I love Elvis. You realize very quickly that JJ (the owner) loves Elvis too. The doorman Jesse is awesome. He's very friendly and has the the Elvis fro going on. Nice. The food is good. Not the best of course... but good. They are famousefor their garlic sauce and I always order it on the side because it is pretty yum. I heart garlic. I think the kitchen might need a woman's touch when it comes to the beans. I don't taste the love. The women's bathroom is covered in movie posters that have to do with everything phallic. Hilario! Karaoke with Pirate Mike is always a treat. He is honsestly the nicest guy and he's entertaining. Unlike some KJs he can actually sing and the best part about that is, he doesn't act like he a hotshot singer. I always appreciate people who karaoke to have fun. :-) Fridays and Saturdays get pretty busy here for karaoke.
(3)KaThy T.
When I walked into this place with my friend, it kind of felt like a culture shock...meaning, I've never experienced this environment before! I couldn't believe how packed it was, considering that it was in Garden Grove. This place is a karaoke bar. They serve food here, too. There is a bar on the other side; they kick people out of the karaoke side by 1pm and send everyone to the bar side for cleanup. On the karaoke side, there were some good singers and a couple bad ones. There was a guy there who sang in really low volume to the song called Turnin' me on (by Keri Hilson and Lil Wayne). It was weird because he was singing the woman's part and making dance moves, giving the viewers the impression that he was "happy" (hahaha). Everyone just stared at him and some wanted to boo him off, but they didn't want to be mean. On the bar side, there were interesting decorations up, with a red-colored theme going on. The crowd on that side was very friendly. Random people would come up to the bar next to my friend and I and start talking, etc. The prices for drinks were decent. I tried shock top beer for the first time. It was pretty good. I also tried this one shot of vodka w/ a lot of sweets in it. I forgot the name..something along the lines of iggy pop. I wouldn't mind coming to this place again, but coming earlier. We arrived around 1230pm.
(4)Teresa W.
My husband and I have been going to Azteca on a regular basis for over 5 years now, and dearly love it! The atmosphere is fun, and the food is good, especially for the price. We always have friendly and quick service, and they really cater to large parties without charging additional fees. We're always introducing our friends to this place, and they keep coming back too! :)
(5)Travis W.
Great Salsa, A solid Burrito. Three Stars? scratch that, make it two. Service was below mediocre; they give you attitude. When my friend katie asked for tomatoes the waitress said, "that's what pico de gallo is". But of course it didn't say pico de gallo on the menu. Not only this but we had to ask them to remake her burrito when she specifically asked for no beans and lo-and-behold: beans. This place has potential, but the service sucked. Vibes are all important and this place needs to work on them.
(2)Darth T.
Okay I sorta feel it is unfair for me to rate this, as anyone knows I am a Elvis fan....so ummm...the whole Elvis atmosphere leaves me at a disadvantage as.... EVERYTHING TASTES BETTER WITH A LITTLE ELVIS!!! that's right...an Elvis-themed Mexican Restaurant I can't help but admit I would eat a microwave burrito and tell you it was delicious if I ate it in this place....but to be honest the food I have eaten there was actually good... can't say it was the best mexican food i've ever had...but can say it with the surroundings is good enough to keep me coming back time and time again. the bar "Crooners Lounge" is the topper in all this...you jsut walk right past them western style swinging doors...and POW! your magically whisked away to "the Elvis Bar" Pink Cadillac anyone? the whole place is covered from floor to roof in memorabilia...and although 99% of it is Elvis they do have a few other cool things in there...not as cool as the King mind you. They have Kareoke on certain nights..and sell elvis sun glasses and t-shirts. playing Elvis hits and or Elvis cover songs while you enjoy your meal. take a look around and soak in the scenery the place has a great story and history... the best are the letters from the Elvis Cooperation telling the owner to stop using the Kings image in his restaurant...but hey...the guys a crazy Elvis fan! he can't help it...it's in his blood...just like I can't help curling my lip as I take a bite of that Garlic taco!... now I need to find that Elvis Themed Chinese resturant... TCB baby...
(4)Tika O.
AHAHA! Good memories here. The servers and waiters are super humble and chill. The food is good.. I'm not a huge fan of Mexican food unless it's home made but WHATEVER. Drinks are cheap-- but obviously the best and fun part is the karaoke. Catch me singing Pussy Cat Dolls or Destiny's Child any day haha. The crowd is very nice, they wouldn't boo you haha. And you can actually go around with the mic and dance with people. It's such a party !! Although if you're shy, the veterans that belt out numbers like it ain't no thang will make you feel like a loser. It's still a good time, and I've been here for large parties. They really work with you when you are expecting a large party.
(5)Nick V.
Food is awful! So is the service, however if food and service do not matter to you, then I suggest that you go there for a drink from the bar and admire this odd place! You do not have to be an Elvis lover to enjoy this place but it sure helps, the place is surreal, it is something that you would expect to find in a Quintin Tarantino movie, which alone may make it worth checking out.
(2)Leopoldo P.
You've gotta love this place* *if you're an Elvis fan. That's right. If you are a fan or you want a night of Elvis karaoke, this is the place to go. Otherwise there's nothing else to it. The food, though abundant for its price, was somehow messy, soggy and of no special taste. The place has the usual combination of great entertainment and poor to average food. I came for Elvis, though I think the chef had left the building...
(1)Holly C.
I've been coming here for about 6 years and I love this place. I'm not even an Elvis fan but I LOVE looking at all the memorabilia. I love the Strawberry Margaritas and Cheese Enchiladas!
(4)Nicci G.
This place is amazing solely for the reason that it is the ONLY Elvis-themed Mexican restaurant you will ever find. Hence, a truly delightful ambience to upstage the cliche, bad mariachi playing, fake cheese serving, wear-a-stupid-sombrero-on-your-birthday, Mexican dining experience. And you know the Elvis-love is legit when the owner himself sports a pomp 'do and bought the Graceland gates featured on an episode of Full House to put in front of his house. His house is infamously The Elvis House, as there is also a Elvis statuette behind said gates. The food is mediocre, but because I've been going there for years, I love it. Garlic Taco Tuesdays used to be a godsend. But now they are on the menu daily ;) If you're hungry-- and I mean HUNGRY-- the burritos are fantastic! Besides the decor itself, The Crooner's Lounge is the real gem of this establishment. With themed nights of Bad Movie Mondays and Karaoke nights, there's something for everyone. The jukebox is top-notch with a great song selection. The bartenders are some of the coolest guys ever, and always friendly and willing to divulge a swell tale. For sober nights, the classic Shirley Temple is tops!
(4)Maximillian M.
The "Crooner's Lounge" could pass for an Elvis memorabilia museum. The Elvis statue by the parking lot should've tipped me off about things to come. They even had a framed record sleeve for The Smiths' "Shoplifters Of The World Unite" EP signed by Morrissey. Very cool. Had the garlic steak and a Blue Moon. And then? Garlic breath for the rest of the evening.
(4)Veronica B.
I was there with my husband. I had beef tacos which were ok. But my husbands chicken burrito tasted like fish. That was alarming. We dislike complaining about food we eat. But we just didn't have a choice. We told a waiter which told a manager. And the manager said that all he could do was have another one made but it will be with the same oil that made it taste that way in the first place. Yuck!!! They didn't offer to make him something else. And even when they noticed he didn't eat it they still charged us for it. Terrible costumer service. We will not eat there again. I see why you have to have drinks from the bar to enjoy your food there.
(1)Dave J.
Great staff, great vibe... I love going to Azteca!
(5)Laura M.
Came in a few nights ago and sat at the bar- bartenders were attentive, friendly and mix a mean margarita. I didn't eat dinner but the chips and salsa was fantastic, the chips were warm and tasted homemade, the salsa was cold and refreshing- not bland, not too spicy. Drink prices are super reasonable, I was actually surprised how inexpensive my drinks were for being in OC. It's a shame people are so quick to give this rad little spot a one-star for something like "slow service" when a thirty-something minute wait time for a meal is pretty standard at restaurants on a super busy night. If you want a 15 min and under ticket time don't dine out on the weekend. This place got my stamp of approval all the way and the vibe inside is my cup of tea... I felt right at home my first time there. The owner came through the bar to say hello to some regulars- I saw a lot of smiles and few dance moves to the Juke Box tunes. Azteca is definitely worth a visit. I'll be back soon to try the food.
(5)Mayra E.
Karaoke? Yes, please! Came here on a Friday night and I was digging the environment. I had one drink and was just really enjoying the free show of other customers who had the liquid courage to go up and sing. I mean the whole room stares at you, but there is no negativity anywhere. Everyone just kind of sings along! The person I came with that night had a bit too much to drink, and the owner Jennifer came to ask if she needed anything. She was extremely nice and handled the situation very professionally. I was not offended one bit, and I was glad she actually cut her off. She offered water, chips and salsa, and just anything she needed even though the kitchen was closed. She takes away the cake for superb customer service. Will I come here with other people to maybe catch dinner and sing karaoke one day? Yes!
(5)Melissa M.
The Azteca is very Kitschy. If you are an obsessive compulsive fan of Elvis Presley & if you LOVE Mexican cuisine like I do, then The Azteca is Heaven on Earth. This is a family friendly restaurant that serves many classic Mexican dishes. They have their signature Garlic Taco, which I always get when I dine there and even order to go. I absolutely enjoy devouring the crispy Garlic Taco with their special homemade Salsa Verde! Even with all the elaborate Elvis Presley decor, The Azteca is a warm & cozy restaurant that is located on the historical preservation of Main Street. On Friday nights they have the Classic Cars & Motorbikes show that model themselves in front of the Azteca. It is quite a sight to see. I have so many wonderful memories from the Azteca, the people there are so nice, and I always want to ransack all of their GARLIC TACOS!!!
(5)Mark B.
Stopped in for dinner this evening. We were impressed with the friendliness and attentiveness of the staff. Can't say as much for the food. It was mediocre. The Elvis collection was outstanding! We noticed they have karaoke Friday and Saturday nights. We'll be back to check that out.
(3)Andrea R.
Can you say Elvis? This restaurant is dedicated to "The King!" When you walk into this fun place, you see memorabilia everywhere, even on the ceiling! I don't really understand how Elvis and Mexican food go together, but that's what makes this place different! The customer service here was excellent, they kept checking on my family and I. Plus you can't complain when they keep bringing the tortilla chips. I was excited to try out my Enchilada and Tostada plate since this place was doing a good job so far. Sadly the food fell short of my expectation for this place. Everything was pretty bland and plain. Nothing really stood out. If I was to at least recommend one thing, it would probably be the Tostada (make sure you order sour cream with it). I think if the next time I were to ever come back, it would only be to grab a drink and sing some karaoke. This place is great to admire the neat Elvis collection but not really that good to eat at.
(3)Channy M.
I was originally in the area to celebrate a friend's birthday at The Globe, but they turned out to be closed until August 28th, 2014 (gone fishin'). Since all of our friends were already heading to the area we decided to eat at Azteca, which is right across the street from The Globe. Azteca is a Mexican restaurant with an Elvis twist. As many other yelpers mentioned, I can't figure out how the two go together. When you first enter a life size Elvis statue is there to greet you. There is both a formal dining area as well as a lounge. We decided to dine in the lounge since happy hour is only honored in the lounge. The lounge is fairly small considering that our party of 12 took up half of the space. There were 3 additional booths as well as seating at the bar. A wide range of music is played in the lounge since you can choose the songs by using a machine that resembled a jukebox, not your typical old school jukebox though. The downside, the music was extremely loud. I started getting a headache after awhile. I also couldn't hear conversations since the music was so overpowering. Chips and salsa were served once we sat down. The salsa was very watered down and had no taste or spiciness. Since we were at a Mexican restaurant I was looking forward to ordering fajitas with a side of corn tortillas. To my disappointment fajitas were not on the menu! The waitress informed me that they were "working on it". This is a first for me where a Mexican restaurant did not serve fajitas. I ended up ordering the Steak Picado, "New York steak cut into strips and sautéed with bell peppers and onions served with beans, rice, and guacamole" with corn tortillas. When the dish came out, the presentation was not appealing at all and that was a reflection of how the food tasted. Some of the meat were overcooked while others were undercooked, no consistency. The beans were very "mushy". I didn't like how cheese was melted on top of the beans. Lastly, the tortillas that I received were burnt. Overall I was fairly disappointed. One of my friends ordered the same dish, but was not given his corn tortillas. Also the orders for my two friends were missed/forgotten. Even though these were missed, the waitress was still very attentive and nice to our party for the rest of the evening. I probably won't visit again unless the quality of food improves, but I still enjoyed a night out celebrating a friend's birthday.
(2)Sylvia P.
Service tonight was very slow and bad. Ordered our food took almost 40 minutes.
(1)Raymond P.
I'm not sure if this was a Elvis Museum or a Mexican restaurant. The whole place is decorated with Elvis memorabilia. There is a almost life sized statue of him just as you walk in the door. The walls are covered in different posters and other various things having to do with Elvis it pretty especially if you are into Elvis. They even had a documentary on the TV's that was about Elvis. The food matches the name and not the décor was your typical Mexican restaurant food. I thought the service was excellent. I would only really recommend this place for someone that was into Elvis other than that there are plenty of similarly priced Mexican restaurants around.
(3)Enrique S.
Drove out to.this place for dinner after being told the kitchen was open. First we sat at a booth near the bar and the blonde waitress never came out from behind the bar to take our drink orders. I finally walked up to her, gave her my order, only to be told the kitchen was closed. Some patron apparently answered the phone when I called to see if the kitchen was open. I called again, on my way out and the same idiot answered only to refer me to Mae's Cafe. I wanted Mexican food. Will never visit this establishment. Owners need to get a better handle on its staff.
(1)Dianna H.
What a great ELVIS night we had!L!!! Jennifer and Larry were fabulous to have all us in one place!!! Thanks!!! Food was great too!!!
(5)Marco S.
Interesting place with lots of entertainment items on the wall. I found the food very bland. As a person before stated the salsa taste like it came from a jar from the store. I ordered buffalo wings which the menu stated that they came in a garlic buffalo sauce. When I got them they were just regular fried wings with a side of ranch. I asked for buffalo sauce and they did gave it to me but again average sauce, nothing special. I also ordered the half nachos with shredded beef. I felt like the beef was very bland and dry. The food took pretty long to arrive and once it did arrive, my wife got the wrong order. When we told them about it we were told that they ran out of that item.(they tried to replace it without asking) We had to order a replacement item while all the food was already at the table, so my wife just sat there watching everybody else eat. Overall it is not a place I would visit again, but to each their own.
(2)Lurine F.
This place was really odd. I am a lover of Elvis and Mexican food. However I am not sure how the two can work together in a restaurant. And coincidentally they don't. The food seemed fake. I was extremely disappointed. This is why I don't usually let anyone but me luck the restaurant
(3)Nancy C.
This restaurant has an amazing collection Of Elvis. One Of the main reason I like This place is because their bar is absolutely amazing very detailed and the service is great always have a good time. The food is not the greatest that's the reason for the four start. Just a shame won't be coming as often. But will definitely coming back.
(4)Quynh Tran P.
This is one of those places that you want to love. Its pretty cool that they have walls to ceiling full of Elvis memorabilia. For that reason alone is what draws in the crowd. But what is it that the have to offer that would keep them coming? When you first sit down they offer you chips and salsa. I am not sure how to describe the chips. They were edible, felt a bit stale but very crunchy. It scrape my gums. The salsa tasted like pace picante sauce. Which isn't a bad thing. My family loves that stuff. However, no one will remember you for that. We ordered the ceviche as an appetizer. our waiter asked if we wanted it first or together with our meal. We asked for it first. It came out like a minute before my meal. I took one bite of the cevieche and my dinner came out. I figured that would happen because the food coming out of the kitchen seem kinda slow. But at least our server was very on top of refilling the drinks. The ceviche tasted different. It didn't look very appealing. I took a big first bite and I was kinda taken by surprised that it was bubbling in my mouth. My friend thought it was bad and i thought they used soda in it. Which the owner said it was from the acid, then later it was the Worcestershire sauce. I think going with soda would be a better answer. Considering in costa rica they make ceviche with ginger ale and club soda. I also found a recipe online that uses orange soda. For my entree i ordered the chicken enchiladas and the tostada. The presentation of my food could of been better. The enchiladas was ok. However I felt it was over garnish. Their was a lot of chopped green onions on top. Nothing about it stood out. My tostada had a big scoop of beans on it. The beans were so dry. I just scrape everything off the tostada and ate it like a chip. My friend said the beans came from a can. I had decent beans from a can. you can always add things to it to make it good. Dilute it, add some bacon grease, and some Serrano chili. 3 stars since the owner came over and talked to us. however, they seem a bit passive agressive.
(3)Michael V.
This restaurant has a great bar separated from the eating area which is an awesome hang out spot. The beer is cold the chips and salsa is decent. The wings were pretty good and was affordable. This place is a pretty cool hang out spot with plenty of parking.
(5)Robin L.
My BFF and I stumbled upon this great place while trying to find a different restaurant we had Yelped. Old Main street in GG was totally cool! It was a score.Not really busy as it was a weds night but it seems like this place would be hoppin on a friday/saturday night. Staff was great very attentive and gave honest opinions. the only reason I didn't give 5 stars is my margarita was served in a pint (beer glass). It was great, a little strong ( of course we al like) the salsa was above average and the chips were great! we both decided on the daily special Blue Cheese New York steak- i know not very Mexican but it was awesome! both cooked perfectly and the rice was light and fluffy. We saw lots of burritos/tacos go by everything looked great! I will be back to try the garlic tacos and I Totally recommend the place!
(4)Nancy M.
I knew coming here that I shouldn't expect classic Mexican delicious dishes from previous visits. My friend and I were in the area and I had a 4 year old coupon from restaurant.com . We walked in and waited a few minutes for a table and we get a salsa and chips. The salsa tasted like it came out of a can and the chips were barely edible. Everything was so bland! I ordered a cheese enchilada and chicken taco combo. It seemed like there was only one server taking orders which was a bit odd. The hostess refilled the drinks which was nice. We got shrimp ceviche as an appetizer and had to return it. The shrimp were super pink and didn't taste or look fresh and the sauce had no flavor. It tasted like the sauce had carbonation. There was no way that we were going to eat it at that point. The chicken in the taco was bland and the salsa on top tasted and looked like ketchup. Then I tried the rice and beans and only took a couple of bites. They heat up the plates so the rice was a little crunchy and the beans looked and tasted like they dried out in a tin can. The enchilada was dry and the sauce did not taste home made at all, much like the rest of the meal. After seeing that we didn't eat the majority of the food the hostess asked if there was a problem with the food. It's a bit embarrassing to tell someone that their food isn't good. She called the manager and they went to check out the ceviche. The final conclusion is that the acidity was making the shrimp taste carbonated, since it had been made that day. She also said that the beans were home made which I found pretty strange. Home made beans do not look or taste like that. The check comes and I tell our server about the coupon that I had. He went to go ask the owners how to process it. That took a while to figure out. One of the owners came to talk to us and explained that they aren't part of the restaurant.com promotions anymore. He still gave us the $10 off. It would have been nice if they contacted the website so I could have the credit moved to another restaurant. The lesson of the day is not to come here expecting a traditional Mexican meal. I kinda wish that we'd gone to Del Taco, their beans are actually edible!
(2)Trisha B.
I really wanted to like this place. Big Elvis fan! Unfortunately the food and the service is just not good. I absolutely loved the interior! If you are an Elvis fan, you should definitely go just once for the fun of seeing it! Unfortunately they didn't even know how to use the Groupon that they list themselves. They tried to overcharge. It took forever to get anything. They made my food wrong twice. Also, I couldn't believe that the bean and cheese burrito was made with different beans than their regular refried beans. It was not good. Oh, and don't even get me started on the garlic sauce that they are supposedly famous for. I could've eaten an entire head of garlic and had less garlic taste. It was overwhelming! The red enchilada sauce was good though. Bottom line: There are so many better Mexican restaurants throughout Orange County.
(2)Zach B.
Overpriced, small portions, under cooked, lumps of fat, and very little flavor and spice. I ordered an asada burrito from them this afternoon and there wasn't anything "asada" about it. It was just beef with very little flavor. It was rare which is not how the meat is typically cooked. The tortilla was extremely moist, flat, and floppy. Being "authentic" I expected there to be some limes and decent salsa. the salsa I received was water with some bits of cilantro, tomatoes, and onions floating in it. No kick whatsoever. I spent just under $8 for this piece of crap and got about as many bites out of it. I initially came in for some tacos but a single taco was $5 with nothing else included. That is right, FIVE FUCKING DOLLARS for ONE taco. Do yourself a favor and go elsewhere unless you are looking for a cocktail. The food is terrible.
(1)Mike K.
Full disclosure: I'm a huge Elvis fan. After dining at Azteca, what was memorable? The Elvis decor. I loved it! Oh, and I liked the chips. The service was also good. The food was...blah. My intro to the food quality was the salsa- which tasted like jarred Picante. Hey, I have no problem with Picante, but I expect much more at a Mexican restaurant! The chips, however, were fresh, warm, and quite good. My entree was the Mexico City burrito. It looked nice presentation wise, but it had no flavor. Seriously. Even with the red sauce topping it tasted like nothing. And the guacamole it was supposedly topped with was non-existent. I asked for more, and was told there would be a charge. Anyway, after reading the other reviews here it seems my dining experience was par for the course and so I won't be returning to Azteca as I can easily get better food anywhere else in OC. Too bad- the interior is awesome and it could be a really fun place if they can improve the food.
(2)Victoria M.
Fun place to hang out with friends, drink, and sing karaoke. The food has improved greatly since the new owners took over. The bartenders are great and make you feel like your a regular (even if you aren't) and the prices for drinks are definitely not bad compared to places surrounding them. Owners are really friendly. Tim and Sergio are the most awesome doormen ever. Really fun place on Friday and Saturday nights!
(5)Brian L.
Dont know why I was holding out on bringing my girlfriend here, who is a big Elvis fan. She loved it! We both think the place has great atmosphere, service and food. I'm sure this place will now be in our regular local Mexican restaurant rotation. Elvis is the king! (says my girlfriend)
(4)Jeff H.
Great food but the severs can be a little slow at night. Be patient cause it's worth it.
(4)Ana B.
This place is really unusual... In a good way. The Entire restaurant is dedicated to The King, which is weird because it's a Mexican restaurant and I never thought of putting those two things together. The location is ideal. Right on main street and very close to the University (Cal State Fullerton). The food is hit or miss. My tamale and rice were amazingly good, but the beans were watered down and flavorless. That was a bit of a bummer. Prices were reasonable and service was attentive. I recommend trying this place at least once.
(3)Fernando D.
I have been coming to azteca for about 3 years now. The customer service has always been good to us. The food is well portioned and tasty. They have been advertising on groupon lately and if you are an elvis fan with a taste for mexican food i would suggest this place. They have daily menus if you are looking for something cheap, well-portioned, and friendly services. The ambiance is very cool and they have tvs to watch your sports with leisure. I always just come for lunch since there isn't a huge rush of people. The sirloin burrito on saturday is a good choice if you haven't a sirloin burrito before and are looking to switch from asada, carnitas, chicken etc. Be cautious of the garlic dressing on the salads, it is SUPER OVERWHELMING! You have to love, like name your first born Garlic love to like this dressing. Even the waiter starts giggling like a school boy when people ask him about the taste of the dressing. The albondigas soup is great! Big amount of albondigas with tasty broth.
(4)Danielle S.
We ordered take out, expecting it to be good. I had the carnitas which were baked. Not a problem except the meat was grey in color, bland, and extremely dry. To make it worse cut up green onions covered the meat so when you opened the container, the house immediately smelled. Rice and beans were alright but they left out the guacamole. My husband has the chimichanga shredded beef. Dry meat, over fried and soggy tortilla. If we had been in the restaurant we would have sent back our plate.
(1)Jacki N P.
This place sucks. Food quality is awful and over priced. I ordered ceviche bowl and got the tiniest shrimp that looked like it came from jar or can that was precooked and was mixed with imitation crab meat that looked and tasted horrible. Also tried the carne asada tacos. All I can say is yuck. I will never come back to eat here again.
(1)Tin N.
Only bad thing was that it was loud, but everything was pretty good.. We came in on Sundan Afternoon, when there was a full room @ happy hours, so we were to be seated in the bar area when elvis was there. The waiter/bartender had to served 5 tables along with the bar, she worked her ass off! So, I couldnt say anythign fair about the serviced, but our food came out pretty quick, just took awhile to grab her attention if we needed something... Garlic Steak is REALLY good! Do give this place a try.. its not that bad!
(5)Joey M.
I hope JJ does not read this if he does I am sorry...We finally had a chance to try the food now that Azteca has a new owner. The food was AWESOME!!! I honestly think it has gotten better. The enchiladas still taste great but there is something about the flavor that is a definite improvement. Even the beans were great. I was afraid things would drastically change with the new owner coming in and taking over but all the changes are for the better. My family and I were pleasantly surprised. I am happy to say this is still a great place. In fact in my opinion it has gotten better. I did not think that was possible.
(5)Mikey R.
So groupon had a deal for this restaurant. So I bought it. Not a good idea. The salsa had no spice. No flavor. My margarita had soda water. I ordered carnitas and they were dry and no spice no seasoning. My other half ordered a chicken burrito. He put it this way: that was the whitest Mexican food. I've ever had. Sorry. He said his burrito tasted like boiled chicken and cheese in a tortilla. Sorry guys. Just an honest depiction of what I was served. It's unfortunate because we came here for happy hour and sat in the bar area. We ordered margaritas and street tacos. The street tacos were delicious and the margaritas were in point. Not sure what happened here but I'm sorry I won't be back in the dining room.
(1)Miguel G.
Been eating here for over 10 years and out of the blue I get a .30 fee for a "to go" order. Elvis would definite not approve of this.
(1)Marie E.
My mom had a groupon to try this place out that she saw on the channel 5 news. WORST MEXICAN FOOD EVER!!! First the chips and salsa are straight from the store and are definitely expired. The entree food had no flavor and everyone from my family hated it and everyone ordered something different (meaning ALL the food sucked)! WTF is with Elvis everywhere? Plus it was a Saturday night at 7pm and the place was dead - that's usually when restaurants are their busiest. The waiter took 15 mins to take drink orders, by then we were ready to order food. Then he got the drink orders wrong and if you wanted a refill, you better get up and get it yourself. He got my entree wrong too, but because he was so slow and wrong with drinks I said screw it so I could at least eat with everyone else. I hope this place closes so no one else wastes their time here.
(1)Danielle A.
Been eating here for years and its my go to spot. Love the azteca burrito. Its big enough for two, has great flavor, and always tastes fresh. Great chips and salsa and the bar makes the best cadillac margaritas. Whether we eat in the dinning area or the bar we always have great service. The jukebox with the Elvis decor are just added bonus.
(5)Margaret F.
Use to love this place but now that my favorite bar tenders are not here not as fun. And telling us to keep it down in a bar while karaoke is going on Really.??? No one can hear us... I miss the old Azteca. Not my go to place anymore.i want my regular bartenders back.
(1)Jayne B.
We went today with a pretty large group. We sat in the bar, Celine was the only bar person working but you wouldn't have known it. Great service and very attentive with us. Food was great, I had the shredded beef tacos and my bf had the shredded beef burrito. Beer cheap and yummy margies. Fantastic music on the jukebox. Will be back soon.
(4)Glen W.
Food here leaves a lot to be desired. Carne asada... Bad. Stringy at times chewy others . Red sauce on wet burritos... Bad salty with a better after taste. Chile reano... Bad. What the hell was with using left over spaghetti sauce on Mexican food? Drinks are good and decor is cool , chips salsa beer... Skip everything else. Sorry. I always swear off this place and something always brings me back (tonight it was the crowd at Louie's) but never again.
(3)Emmie R.
As a Mexican girl who grew up being obessed with Elvis, I was shocked when I found out about this place. WHY HAVE I NOT BEEN HERE BEFORE?!? I basically forced everyone in my family to come here after a long day at Disneyland, telling them before we walked in, "Trust me." I ordered the chile rellano and loved it! It reminded me of my Nana's. My mom shared some of her flan with me, which was also amazing. Everything was absolutely perfect! My only complaint is the service - not like it was bad, but it took our server a long time to bring the check after we finished, and he never refilled our drinks. I will definitely be coming back, especially on karaoke night!
(4)Christine J.
Great Mexican food. The Elvis bar is relaxing. The employees are friendly. New owners are nice! Would recommend! Live the bathroom themes. Rofl
(5)Melanie R.
Every now and then I always come to Azteca for their Munchie meals. The Munchie Meals are very convenient especially when I wanna be ordering drinks all night. I like the space and the Elvis decor. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THEIR CHIPS AND SALSA Also a fan of their avocado sauce . Karaoke nights here are really popular and I like the staff here. Very Friendly.
(4)Sharon O.
Boy OH boy...this place is interesting to say the very least. As everyone knows this place is Elvis EVERYWHERE...it's like a crazy...and not in a good way. We sat in the bar on a tuesday...one girl working it...so it took a while to get a menu. Finally ordered and got the taquitos and the tacos and a strawberry margarita. Tacos were ok, taquitos GROSS, and there was literally no alcohol in my drank! Not a good experience and not coming back...sorry Elvis =/
(2)Melinda K.
Worst food ever! I took my mom here because she LOVES Elvis... however... we got chili relleno's -- which where not fluffy and golden. They were clearly a frozen product and looked old because the bottom was blackened. The beans and rice and zero flavor. My mom got a cheese enchilada and the sauce was horrible, canned sauce is better than this. The waiter was nice, but, there was only one waiter for the whole restaurant. I had ask him if I could place our order. He was nice enough to only charge us for one plate since I complained but this is a place I will never go to again.
(1)Tammy K.
I came to Azteca's for the first time on 09/14/14 when Elvis was in da house. My party and I came for a family celebration mainly because of the floor show. I doubt that I would return. The service was lacking to say the least. After waiting a considerable amount of time (15-20 minutes) and not because we were finally approached, but because we spoke up to the next staff person that finally walked near enough to hear us, we were able to place our order. When our order arrived, it was dropped off and that was basically the last time we had any sort of resemblance of service. No one ever came to check up on us. We were out of salsa from all the chips we ate while waiting to place our orders and needed some for our meal but went without it. One of the orders from our table was wrong, but then again no one was around to make a correction so that was never taken care of. The meal included champagne and was served upon request but then again, no one came by to check up on us. During the meal, when someone was out of a beverage whether it was water, champagne, soda, etc we had to go out of our way to find someone- anyone who worked there for refills and then the drinks were 1) never delivered or 2) only provided to the person who spoke up for our party and the rest of the party was ignored and without something to drink. We were pretty much 'packed in' and I can understand because of the Elvis show but just about every time someone walked behind me, my chair was kicked. In trying to avoid this annoyance, I sat as close to my table as possible and literally even with my breasts resting up on my table, my chair still got kicked time after time. I did not think to look around for the sign that should be posted advising how many people the room is certified to hold but I'm pretty sure that this seating just might have earned a citation from the fire department. With these two things- lack of service, and amount of clientele, I think that these 2 things do go hand in hand. We had reservations (and I doubt we were the only ones). With knowing the amount of people to expect, isn't it wise to have an appropriate amount of staff on hand to provide reasonable service?
(1)Julie G.
The way they get you in here is the Elvis memorabilia......it sure ain't cause the food is good! The food was awful! It took so long to sit and wait for our appetizer which was a store bought ceviche, we had to ask the waitress if she remembered our order and when she brought it out it was a tiny bowl of ceviche with brown avocado, and we waited an hour for our main course and when it came it was chicken wrapped in a tortilla with melted cheese on it nothing else nothing more...... And the rice and beans were bland. Canned beans are waaaaay better! I also found a hair in my food, YUCK!! And I ordered a michelada and it was terrible just clamato and beer, nothing else no fixings no salt no pepper no Tabasco or lemon the whole food and drink experience was awful...... The Elvis memorabilia was cool tho but I would by no means call this a good Mexican restaurant you're better off getting an even better meal at *dare I say it?!* Taco Bell or del taco!!!!
(1)Alex V.
Elvis was a hero to most but he never did shit for me, well until he opened up a Mexican restaurant in Garden Grove. Straight out of the gate this isn't your average Mexican restaurant, it's like you're in a memorabilia museum of Elvis and others from that time. It really is something to see. The staff is super friendly, they didn't look bummed at all when I spilled a full thing of salsa on the table. simply brought me more. Kudos. Smiles all around and super attentive. I had the garlic tacos and seriously these had a huge dose of garlic, if you're trying to hoard off the local vampires you def want to try these. This place is a great dining experience and I would for sure go back.
(4)Kristin M.
THE SERVICE WAS HORRENDOUS. I used to be a waitress, and I am extremely patient and forgiving with wait staff, especially in huge crowds. But there was no forgiving this. We came here for the Elvis brunch to celebrate some birthdays in the family. The minute the waiter sat us down he wanted to take our order and we asked for a few minutes. TWENTY MINUTES LATER, someone finally comes back. We were not so much as acknowledged during that time and I'm convinced that he was purposely avoiding us. Can you please let that sink in? TWENTY MINUTES of waiting for someone to acknowledge us. And we were not sloppily drinking and entertaining ourselves in the meantime. It was pretty obvious we were waiting for service. While taking our order he was aggressive and rude. Because we had spent twenty minutes waiting for someone to come back, of course our waters were empty, and when we asked for more water HE ROLLED HIS EYES. I was so furious, but that place was a madhouse so it was impossible to do anything. They shove WAY too many tables WAY too close together for that brunch: it is uncomfortable for all the viewers and the wait staff is overwhelmed... even though that does NOT excuse the ignoring and the ROLLING OF THE EYES. Oh, and pretty sure that we never got more water, and of course the orders ended up having so many mistakes, but again, wasn't worth correcting at that point. I don't even remember anything about the food. I can say though, that my grandma is 96 years old and her favorite Mexican dish is chile relleno and she gets it EVERY time she eats Mexican. Her review of the chile relleno was "eh". There was ONE lady there, an adorable little blonde woman who really did what she could to help out and talked to us personally, and I credit her for saving all of us from going off the rails but honestly, my family is NOT one to get upset easily and we were all close to fuming at the end of the meal. I roll my eyes right back at you, Azteca!
(1)Zoe G.
Delicious food!! And the owner is so so sweet! The only problem we had was that the customer service sucked. Servers hardly checked up on us, and I had to get up and get someone's attention for my table to get refills. But overall, this was a great place! I love love love the Elvis memorabilia!
(4)Nora N.
Great Service, Clean restaurant. Fun place. Lots to look at. The food was fine. Nothing to write home about. A good place for a family event I guess. Good amount of food. You wont go home hungry. Basic Mexican food.
(2)Lindsay C.
I've really tried to give this place a more than one chance. After coming here one night it solidified why there are so many mixed reviews...no consistency. Service is usually very quick during the week if you go around lunch time. However, when they are "busy" some of the bartenders look like deers in headlights. Meaning they look utterly confused at what to do when tending to more than 3 people. The chicken taquitos are ok,as in the Mexican Pizza. For the price I'm not going to complain. I find it hard to want "Authentic" Mexican food, given the place is an "Elivs Bar", and not promoting any other thing "Mexican". Therefore, I wasn't disappointed in what I got. PROS: - Happy hour ALL day (in the bar), except Friday's & Saturday's _ Cheap HH menu _ Karaoke ( it's cool 'cause you can sit in the bar and watch the singers from the main room on a t.v.) - They carry Don Julio tequila. Why is it so hard to find a bar that has this?? -Jill makes some darn good drinks CONS: - No consistency. You either have a great bartender or a sh**ty one OVERALL: It's not a bad place to stop by during the week. Or a place to get a few drinks before or ending your night going/coming from the better establishments.
(3)Priscilla B.
I love this place! I've adored Elvis my whole life, and this place is bursting with Elvis! I first came here about 5 years ago to see one of my favorite ETAs. I thought it was so cool I decided to come for my 19th birthday for karaoke, but I got kicked out by an Elvis look-a-like because it was 21+ past 10:30pm. Now at 24, I order margaritas and beer by the pitcher without worrying about Elvis kicking me out. I don't come for the karaoke anymore though, usually just dinner with the boyfriend or friends before heading to a movie. The service is always great, Lalo is really attentive, and so is the tall server with tattoos. The owner has come to our table a few times and has always been very nice. GARLIC ANYTHING!! I come here for their garlic dishes! You can never go wrong with the garlic tacos! My usual is the two garlic tacos with rice and beans. WARNING: The garlic tacos don't have a little garlic kick to them, its a straight up Chuck Norris roundhouse kick to the face. You will be burping up garlic for two days and fend off vampires. If you don't like garlic, stay away. I just had the garlic steak last night and it was great! It wasn't a huge steak, it was just the right size, cooked perfectly medium rare and came with rice, beans, guacamole and tortillas. The garlic in this dish doesn't attack you like it does with the tacos, it just complements the steak very well. I personally LOVE their garlic dressing, so I order a small side of it if I order something without garlic. I know they have happy hour and a bar menu which I haven't checked out yet, I'll save that for the next review.
(5)Jeff S.
Had a Groupon, my daughter and I thought we would try it out. Went on a Monday evening, quiet inside, only a couple other tables. They took the Groupon no problem. Food was just ok, barely average. We use Groupons to get deals of course, but also to try new places. And hopefully you have a good enough experience, you want to go back, and everybody wins. In this case, with Azteca, the food was just very average. Cheese Enchiladas were runny, no substance to them. If you want to go to check out the Elvis stuff, then you'll like that. But for the food? So before you go, have some Suspicious Minds, as You'll have a Hunka Hunka Burning Something in your stomach, and have you feelin' like a Hound Dog.
(2)Eric H.
3 stars for the food, 4 stars for the service and 4 stars for the Elvis themed decor. If you are an Elvis Presley fan like me, you can spend a couple of hours here just looking at all the Elvis memorabilia - everything from foreign movie posters of his films to crazy tchotchkes. I will return.
(4)Kaela H.
I don't know if I hit them on an off night but...shit, this place sucked. The food was edible so I didn't give them the 1 star. BF and I were greeted and sat promptly. Chips and salsa were brought out quickly, but I was weirded out that the plastic basket with chips was unlined? I'm used to the paper being the barrier for salt when my BF douses the chips in it...not here...salt all over the table. Weird - and do they wash the baskets?! Moving along...an unlined basket full of chips later, still no server, no water, no acknowledgment, no napkins...I see a bus boy and ask him if there's a server assigned to our booth and he very calmly said "he's coming". About 5 minutes later our server, a pretty good looking tall guy in his late 20s strolls up without any apology or introduction says "Know what you want yet?". In my head, I'm like "YEAH SOME WATER AND A NAPKIN FOR MY RUNNY NOSE" (salsa was somehow spicy and flavorless). Instead I order what I want and he scurries away. He was so phony and seemed so inconvenienced by having this occupation. The food was decent at best, but we absolutely will not be back.
(2)Tod T.
The food is ALWAYS great, as well as the staff. They are friendly, and take care of your needs, by checking on you while dining, without being annoying. The food is served hot, and in a timely manner. Flavors are on spot, and fit most any taste. Take a minute to browse all the cool Elvis memorabilia they have. It's great!!!
(5)karen r.
Service is excellent. Food is bland, but ok. Karaoke is pretty good.. the environment is very unique!! Worth a visit to see the decor and memorabilia or take a picture with Elvis!!.
(3)Sarah R.
I would normally have given this place 5 stars... That is 5 stars under the previous owners. We went there last week for dinner. We stood at the podium (where we wait to be seated.) There was an employee and a blonde lady talking... We stood there for a few minutes and NEITHER ONE Acknowledged us. Not a hello or we will be right with you... NOTHING. Finally, we approached one of the servers and asked to be seated. Even he was surprised that had happened. During our meal I asked who the blonde lady was, and was told she is THE NEW OWNER!!! At that point I was seriously angry. I hope they read this. I will not be going to Azteca anymore after being ignored by the owner.
(1)Teresita B.
Delicious food, cheap drinks, what more do you want? The food tastes authentic and they give really big portions. I was really pleased with it. The bf and I split an appetizer and some shredded beef enchiladas. They were on point, to say the least. We got a pitcher of beer for $15, not bad. The ambiance was good overall. For my first time here, I left with a positive impression and will definitely consider returning.
(4)Willie B.
Wow! I can't believe how bad this restaurant has gotten. Very dirty, outdated, tacky, smells bad, and food sucks. The salsa tasted like it came out of a can. Very depressing. Very depressing.
(1)Juan C.
This place is awesome been both to the main restaurant part and bar. The tamales are great. Chips and salsa are delicious. Recommend for people to come and eat here.
(5)Josie Y.
The ambiance made the experience. An Elvis themed Mexican restaurant, not sure how that connection was made, but it was fun and unique. Service: I don't like how you are not escorted to your table they just pointed to the table. Service was also pretty slow and unattentive. The womens bathroom was unkept. Our food took so long the waiter brought us a second basket of chips and salsa. The staff had a plate of fries by the bar area that they all were picking in, come on keep them in the back where customers can't see you eating. Food: someone from the kitchen brought our food on a cart that looked like it should only be used in the kitchen. The garlic tacos are very good and probably the one item I would have again. My husband had the NY strip and he said it was good.
(3)Yetisaurus R.
I will never eat here again. My boyfriend and I went with a group of people, and I made the fateful mistake of ordering the Azteca burrito with shredded chicken. It didn't taste bad, just middle of the road. We stayed for karaoke until around 1 am, and then headed home. By then, I wasn't feeling well at all. I went to bed, and awoke at 4 am with horrible, horrible food poisoning. I won't give you all the gory details, but I literally wasn't able to leave the bathroom from 4 am until 7 am. The whole next day, I was nauseated and alternated between fever and chills. It's taken until about now, almost 48 hours later, for me to feel pretty much back to normal. Thank God my boyfriend didn't eat any of my burrito. And I know with 100% certainty that it was this food that made me sick, because we ate at around 8 pm, and I hadn't eaten anything since breakfast. If you like karaoke, then give this place a try. But for the love of god, eat at home first. By the way, another yelp reviewer mentioned having a similar problem in March of this year (vomiting in the middle of the night and being ill for a day or two after), and yet another one got food poisoning in 2009. And those are just the people who bothered to post reviews. I don't think they have very good food handling practices in that kitchen.
(1)Britt H.
Elvis themed bar?! YES, PLEASE!!! This place is fun and has karaoke!!!
(4)Gilbert S.
The Elvis decorations are pretty cool if your into the king but the food is way overpriced if you come in here without a coupon. Food is just bland and pretty gross to be honest. Server was nice and attentive. Came here with a groupon and ordered the steak. He came back and told me the kitchen was out. No problem, I ordered something else. I overhear our waiter talking to a man in a blue dress shirt which I assume is the manager who confesses to our waiter he wasn't going to sell me a steak when I come in with a groupon. That's horrible business I will not be returning.
(2)Velvette W.
First let me start with the chips. The chips were cold and the salsa was frozen. ..yes FROZEN? WTH? The older lady helping us was nice (not sure if it was the owner) but man our server was very slow. The garlic special Tuesday tacos were not that great. The chicken was not marinated in garlic. . There was like a garlic sauce or something. The beans and rice were cold too. Man we were disappointed :( I do not recommend this place! We are on vacation from Las Vegas and this made us sad. Everyone with us were upset too! Waste of 60$
(2)Nicole V.
This is one of my favorite places to eat. The garlic tacos are delicious. The service could always improve. Overall it's close, good prices,and free chips and salsa.
(5)Les D.
Love these guys they have only gotten better with the food and the service now all they have to do is upgrade their seating and just the formality of the restaurant if they have the best food love to you dear
(5)Michelle M.
i loooooovvvvvve this place!!! the food, the elvis theme, karaoke nights.... so much fun! ******** please don't ever change a thing!!!
(5)Cris A.
The Azteca is my stomping grounds and I have MANY memories I have taken from it. A theme i'm seeing in other reviews is that The Azteca is known for it's night life, and it's truly a blast! I am not a fan of Bobby Vegas however (this stands true for most groups I've attended the bar with). He often will cater to the same people who he bring's up over and over to sing. Especially if they are giving him tips. God forbid someone else puts in for two songs, you'll be lucky if you get up there a second but mainly third time. Understandable if there's a long list of people. He plays favorites and will recycle the same people. It's quite frustrating really. He's also never been very personable in the years we've been going. You're a DJ, isn't that what you're supposed to do? Bobby V. tends to be the low point with every visit. Other than that, we always have a great time!
(4)Stacey R.
The food, service and atmosphere are great! The Chili Verde was one of the best I've had. More chili and less tomatillo flavor. Pork was cooked perfectly and was not fatty. Beans and rice both good. Worth it!
(5)Ann F.
A great friend of mine recommended me to this place cause we're both Elvis Presley fans and said it's his themed restaurant and lot of fun and good food and she's right! This is the next best thing as being at Graceland or Vegas! Almost all there is Elvis memorabilia (one of the statues is also at a restaurant called Peggy Sue's) along with some Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, a couple Tom Jones, Priscilla and Lisa Marie and more.. There is some TV's with the sports and others with Elvis movie clips (I'm a rookie EP/ETA fan and haven't seen any of his movies yet.)! I went inside during their lunch on a Tuesday afternoon, we were seated and given menus. We ordered orders and my friend ordered margarita without salt. She ordered the taquitos w/ rice and beans while I ordered the cheese enchilada and tosada combo. Food came to us on a very hot plates while we were looking more around the restaurant and took some pictures. I enjoyed the food along w/ their chips and salsa. They have Elvis Tribute Artist do live shows every weekend and I hope to come back when they're there. Owner is very nice and fun to talked to!
(5)N G.
The first time I came here was back in '03 with my sister. She was a huge Elvis fan and it was an adventure kind of day. We both loved it and went any chance we could! I loved their beef tacos and their huevos con chorizo. The service we would get always made us come back! When I first met my husband we were basically on a blind date and I suggested we meet at Azteca for dinner. He loved the ambiance, he's into all that rockabilly stuff & old cars. The service diminished, our drinks were flat and our food was mediocre. I was super embarrassed I recommended this place, but we had a great time none the less. About two years ago I went with my sister as a nostalgic experience since we both would always come here when we were younger and again, very poor food quality. I had plastic on my huevos con chorizo. Needless to say I lost my appetite. I tried going once more with my husband, I came out smh and said no more! I didn't mind the price, I didn't mind waiting for my food but everything just went downhill at that restaurant. Like they lost that touch, that drive, like they just gave up, which is sad because this use to be a great place. I gave it a 3 stars because of Elvis & because of the great memories I had with my sister and my then boyfriend now husband :-)
(3)Rogelio V.
The service here is awesome. The buffalo wings are really good and they always have good price for happy hour. One recommendation I suggest are the tamales and cheese nachos. Everyone in here are very polite.
(4)David T.
Elvis is everywhere! At Azteca in Garden Grove, delight in prideful Mexican cuisine, with the motif of Elvis Presley every which way but loose. On the walls. In glass cases. On the TV set. And some of the staff members personify the legendary icon. We can talk about Elvis all day. Back to Mexican food. Two impressive dishes here include the Mexican pizza and the arroz con pollo. Okay, back to Elvis. There's Elvis statues inside and out, and a ton of memorabilia. And they play all the Elvis movies, I believe there are 31 where he was either a star or had a talking part. And, Elvis had a twin brother, but passed away very young. And Elvis was blonde. And Elvis is the most personated celebrity, second to Jesus. I can be here talking about Elvis all day, so...Thank, thank you very much.
(3)David L.
I was disappointed with the food and the service the Elvis decor was cool but not cool enough to go back
(1)Amanda N.
five stars for ambiance! 5 stars for Elvis! Service 5 stars! nachos 5 stars! margs...3 stars
(5)Jacob K.
If you love garlic and you love tacos and you love Elvis then this place is a must. The owner is an awesome guy who pays alot of attention to his guests food and drinks are very reasonably priced I will definitely be going back and really enjoyed my time hear Elvis music playing the whole time along with videos interviews etc
(5)J M.
Wow! This place is awsome place to visit. They have a nice cozy bar area. The main dining area is everything Elvis. It all fits in good but the food is muy terrible. I don't understand how a taco truck can have better tasting food than this place. My wife ordered the carne asada plate and I ordered some garlic steak plate. The server came out with our plates in a moving tray cart, which told me that the food was warmed up in some oven. My wife's carne asada was the same size of thinkness as my steak. Hello! They just put some sauce on mine and left my wife's alone. If this place want's to be know for their food they should drive down the street to Los Sanchez Mexican food and take some notes or hire their cooks.
(1)Mico C.
Never been to Graceland, but I reckon it'd look like Azteca, the Mexican Elvis eatery in Garden Grove. Portraits and collectibles of "The King" garishly smother the ceilings, wall panels and powder rooms. Azteca's compendium of Elvis memorabilia is its best quality. The bland chow is not fit for a king- dry meat soaked in salt of all machinations: chimichanga, enchilada rancheras, carnitas, steak picado, taquitos, tamales, quesadilla, ceviche. Day One: August 16, 2009- i'll remember this date. This is the date of my first post on "Yelp: real people & reviews." Why do you yelp? I've lived in California over 30 years now and I'm mighty proud of that fact. Writing for Yelp is my way cheering for companies and organizations i enjoy in the Golden State... Scribbling, how quaint, an ancient tradition practiced centuries before photos, audio, and videos clips. No hoopla, just you and a stack of letters piled 3 paragraphs high. Correspondence in its most fundamental form. Answering the questions: "What are you doing Saturday?" "What's for dinner?" and "Why did you go there?" since 8/09 - Mico 33 (Orange County, CA)
(2)Brandy C.
I realize that a 4-star rating wouldn't ordinarly accompany a review like the one I'm about to write....but...well, I'm believe this is likely an isolated incident, but serious enough to merit publicity. My grandparents-in-law have been eating at this restaurant for over 40 years with nary an issue.....deliciousness and good times across the board. When I learned that on our recent trip to Orange County they'd be taking us there, I was more than excited to try the garlic tacos they're famous for. I must say, the tacos didn't disappoint....but much to the chagrin of my digestive system, I ordered the ceviche. Arriving at my place setting in the traditional Peruvian preparation (in tomato sauce), I was hesitant but hungry and drunk on the cadillac margaritas that can only be described as "the mad notes." Hence, I ate it and enjoyed it (not as much as I enjoyed the garlic tacos and just-this-side-of-too-strong margaritas). I awoke the next morning feeling just-this-side-of-utterly-fucked-up with the gag reflex to match. The short of the long is this: food poisoning via bad ceviche. Like I said, I believe this is an isolated/freak incident. Even if the margaritas and garlic tacos weren't toe-curling good, the constant streaming Elvis video and music make the trip more than worth it.
(4)Matt M.
Holy Elvis, that's all I have to say. If you even slightly like Mexican food, this place is worth a visit just to see one crazy mix of Elvis memorabilia. Once you get passed the Elvis statue at the front door (seriously, be prepared), you will get settled in for pretty good service and Mexican food that is pretty good. In terms of the Mexican food trinity (a burrito, chips n' salsa, and margarita), the salsa is flavored and spiced to meet your whole table's needs, margaritas have enough booze to know you ordered a margarita, and the burrito is decent. Two out of three isn't too bad. Fun place to come with people who enjoy a visual explosion of Elvis. After that, the intrigue may wear off.
(3)JC D.
Holy Jesus and Elvis Presley!!! Smack in the middle of the bar is Jesus and Elvis together watching over the drunks. This is a shrine to Elvis. The walls are carpeted with pictures, dolls, and license plates of our King. I came here tonight with a group of friends for my going away party, and I wasn't disappointed. The drinks were decent, and the ladies were plump in all the right places. As soon as I walked in, I felt right at home with all the hipsters, locals, and college students. It's an eclectic group of people with two things on their mind: Booze and Karaoke. I finished the night with a drink named after myself, and Journey's "Don't stop believen' " playing on the jukebox. A night to remember. A great place to chill if you don't want to doll up, but want to get shit faced.
(4)Jessica C.
This is my favorite place by far!! I have a great time every time I come here. It is easy to become a regular here even if your not from the area! Monday nights are movie madness Mondays, Guitar Heroes on Wednesday night and they have crazy karaoke on Friday and Saturday nights! Defiantly my favorite karaoke place!! I know everybody there and the atmosphere is very welcoming! This is a hole in the wall place but so worth it! Elvis memorabilia is posted everywhere! Great Mexican food. Things I would recommend food wise is the Mexican pizza! The salsa is to die for and to drink order a Pink Cadillac best I have had anywhere!
(5)Sonya M.
When we walked up to the joint, there was a chick smoking outside. This chick was wearing slippers... as a fashion statement. If you know a little bit about me, you know that I HATE O.C. This place is swarming with folks that live on the outskirts of the Orange County. Leopard print tank tops and purses, zebra striped hair color, pink lipstick and fake fingernails ruled this place. *side note* There's something quite funny to me when a chick has tits that cost more than her car. The decor in this joint was appealing... Elvis threw up all over the place. The food SUCKS. I couldn't take more than two bites. The bartender was the only thing I liked about this place. So I went here for a birthday party. Since I adore birthdays, I had fun. A lot of fun. So I up'd them a star.
(2)Tim B.
Awesome great food cool wait staff killer karaoke and to top it all off the most Elvis memorabilia this side of Memphis the King's spirit truly lives here con Mexican food with a slight New Mexico style. Party all night Fridays & Saturdays on classic old town main street in Garden Grove. If you don't have fun here check your pulse.
(5)Kathryn G.
Very unique place. As everyone has informed us, it's Elvis memorabilia everywhere! I don't have the pickiest palette of mexican food, but this place does not disapoint. Always good. The garlic tacos are a must have. The cabbage tacos are also worth trying. If good food wasn't enough, they also create for a fun enviroment after hours too. We're talking good ol' Karaoke nights, but even more special is the Guitar hero nights!
(4)Dina H.
First time at Azteca today,a Elvis Presley tribute type of restaurant with mexican food. I ordered the carne asada quesadilla, my kids the carne asada nachos & my hubby the carne asada burrito. All four items had shredded beef instead and the meat tasted gamey. I informed the waiter of the taste, smell & error in cut of meat and he stated he was sorry and that what they considered "carne asada". The first basket of chips & salsa are on the house, if you ask for additional chips you are charged $1 a basket. The waiter was nice however it took him a long time to come back and check on us. Due to the taste of the food I had to give this restaurant one star and that was only becuase we enjoyed looking at all the pics & the waiter was nice.
(1)Candice Z.
I'm seriously surprised I didn't come here until AFTER I graduated from GGHS cause this place is like a GGHS magnet. My friend Annie was the first one that brought me here and I fell in love. The food is great, for reals. But what's even better is the Elvis decor. Hands down! They even have the notices from Elvis' estate telling them to take down everything FRAMED for all to see. It's hilarious. Crooner's Lounge is a nice little bar to hit up, whether after work, or for a birthday party. Beware if you went to GGHS though cause chances are you will run into an old classmate or even a history teacher or band director.
(4)Irene C.
Kitchy cool for sure. Only recommend if you happen to be in GG. Order two Garlic Tacos (or Garlic Grilled Steak plate) with a tall Michelada and you'll be good to go!
(3)John O.
The appeal of the is place is the Elvis craziness. it's fun and entertaining. I'd rather take it all in from the adjoining but separately named Crooner's Lounge. They make some good drinks there including a solid margarita. But the food? Not so good. Old school in a kind of bland entrees beans and rice all run together and covered with cheese way. Yeah the garlic tacos are different and they are garlicky. But are are they great? Are they a well-balanced combination of flavors? Not so much. We last went with a party of eight people who dine out regularly and none of us thought the food to be any good. I think too many people rate this place highly for everything but the food. That to me is like saying Chuck E Cheese is a great Italian restaurant because you can play games there.
(1)Sergio B.
Took my brother here for his 21 first birthday and it was a blast! We didn't order any food we just ordered alcohol, the karaoke was fun especially when everyone starts getting used to it. After 10:30 you have to go to the bar and order drinks and they were pretty fast to serve us too.
(4)Clifford Y.
I stopped by here last night because a couple of my close friends were hanging out here and it's literally 30 seconds away from my place. I've been here a few times before, and it's always been one of the local places that I never get excited about. but i've never regret going. Nothing fancy, but not ghetto either. It's chill.. an Elvis fanatic place, seems like always a mixed crowd. sometimes we see the older hick type of crowd. middle-aged ppl. young ppl. we got the asian baby girls and boys. the truck driver db type buff dude crowd. just always a mix. they have karaoke sometimes right outside the bar in the dining section. the bar section is very dive-bar like. they bring you free chips and salsa if you're seated at the booth tables near the bar which is cool. the cool thing i noticed is that they have random "sales" on certain drinks each night. i dunno if this is every night. I had a guiness on draft which i think was the special of the night, and it was quite refreshing. the workers/bartenders are chill and down to earth. give this place a try. it clicks with some ppl and it doesn't with others. or if you're like me, it'll grow on you eventually.
(3)Adam B.
Definitely a fun experience but a no on the food. Probably 2 stars if I didnt have fun listening to some good kareoke singers (and one really bad one). The chicken burrito was nothing special. Drinks were good.
(3)J W.
this place is disgusting. i enjoyed zero parts of our meal. everything tasted like it came right out of a can. NOT worth the $$. gross, gross,gross.
(1)cassina Q.
My gf introduced me to this place a couple years ago and we've gone back here and there...went recently and it was still pretty good. Karaoke can get pretty funny, got your regulars there, it's like an elvis shrine up in this piece!! Drinks are good...I will agree with another yelper...margaritas are pretty good. Although, of course my drink is henny and coke and here...it was just henny with a splash of coke...yea...they make good drinks. Food is pretty good...reasonable price....it's mexican food...a little americanized but hey...still pretty good. It's a great local spot for just hanging out with some funny entertainment (karaoke) would stop by if I was in the area.
(3)William R.
I'm convinced that the owner of Azteca must be a closet vampire slayer or something. This restaurant, though located on the bright and friendly sidewalks of Garden Grove's Main Street, is dank and dark and kinda creepy on the inside--all the better to lure vamps in, right? No, see, 'cause the place's famous for their garlic sauce, a concoction that would send any vampire to its coffin for all of eternity. Hell, after eating way too much of it, I was also ready to spend the rest of my life inside a box, closed away from the rest of the world and those unfortunate souls I might breathe upon. I mean, c'mon, the sauce is famous. The menu told me so. It wouldn't lie. Manipulated once again by an inanimate object, I ordered garlic tacos, a salad with garlic dressing, and, yes, even a shot of the garlic sauce as a chaser for my Pepsi. It burned. It scalded. It brought tears to my eyes. Thank God the place was so dark: no one wants to see me crying into my shredded beef. I, of course, finished my meal. But I don't remember much of it. The flavor of the garlic sauce overwhelmed everything, including my memory. It was as if I'd came in, sat down, and said, "I'll have the garlic appetizer, the garlic combo, a garlic shake, and a piece of garlic cheesecake for dessert. By the way, could you toss a bunch of garlic on my chips as well? Thanks." True, I did try to order in my crappy, learned-from-watching-The Simpsons-after-I've-hit-the-SAP-button-on-my-Âremote Spanish, but I'm pretty sure that's not what I said to the waiter. Okay, maybe this place would kick ass if you really liked garlic. And I'm talking about loving it so much that you've petitioned Starbucks to keep bottles of it next to the cinnamon and nutmeg ("mmm...now my latte's stinky.") But I doubt anyone planning to kiss something other than their dog likes it that much. And, believe me, if you eat as much garlic sauce as I did, even your dog will shun you. Sorry about that, Peanut. We'll play fetch again soon. So how's the food without the garlic sauce? Glad I asked. It's decent. Solid, though nothing spectacular. I suppose it's actually pretty good for Garden Grove. The city's far more concerned with the quality of its pho than it is with the tastiness of its carne asada. So if you need Mexican food and you can't drive the extra 10 minutes it would take to eat anywhere in Santa Ana (you lazy bastard), then, by all means, eat here and don't feel too bad about yourself....unless you slather on the garlic sauce like it's whipped cream during another night of double-dare group sex. If you forgo the sauce, I recommend the chili con carne with some butter-covered corn tortillas. What doesn't taste better slathered in butter? I know I do. Oh, and one more thing: what's with all the Elvis memorabilia? Here you are, eating greasy, heartburn-causing, cholesterol-filled Mexican food, and you're surrounded by statues and pictures of a man who killed himself by swallowing plate after plate of fried peanut butter-and-banana sandwiches. This is supposed to make you feel better about the food? That's always a good message to send restaurant patrons: eating this stuff will kill you; enjoy your meal, asshole. Uh, thanks. At Azteca, I guess anything makes sense if you add enough garlic sauce.
(2)Warren S.
What else can I say... "Elvis! Elvis! Elvis!" Strong Margarita's, affordable beer pitcher's, HUGE taco's, and wonderful home-made tortilla chips are just the beginning. You can't go wrong with the chile verde, carne asada or the chile colorado... all YUMMY! The Crooner's Lounge is the place to be... music, sports television, cocktails, and a funny bartender. I'm on my way!
(5)Sylvie E.
My bf and I have been here four times so far to watch the games and the entertaining Elvis movies they have on at the same time. Besides the good but very Americanized Mexican food, the service is fab! waiters are attentive, the kitchen staff as well as the owner serves the food with a smile and the atmosphere is colorful yet soothing. You always feel at home at Azteca...not as if your at a restaurant. It's a must experience for yourself for those that haven't. Keep up the great work Azteca!
(4)Marci W.
Haven't been here in a while, but I love this place! The food is pretty good, but the bar is more of the draw, I think, it's fun with a cool, Elvis-Vegas-RatPack vibe.
(4)Jarod E.
Love, love, love this place!!!! Cheap food... happy hour menu with big portions and it is Elvis themed! Great vibe, always a good time when I come here with my friends. A must if you are in Garden Grove.
(4)Amber P.
gotta love MY AZTECA :) i have to say i used to be a regular and it was always a good time here. if Bruce E Bruce is there, you are guaranteed a good time for karaoke, and if not, you still feel the urge to get up there and let loose. karaoke is friday and saturday nights, at 11/9 my favorite meal is the mexican pizza (totally different than Taco Bell's version) it is a hot plate of basically burnt cheese.... mmmmm the years of donated Elvis memorabilia makes this spot one of a kind, and they even host Elvis look alike competitions on sundays i believe. on Friday nights there is a classic car show on main street right outside the front door. i believe about 8:00... so take my advice and make a night of it out in Garden Grove.
(5)Andrew E.
Azteca serves good, inexpensive quality Mexican food. blah blah blah. The real story here is the whole place is covered with Elvis memorabilia. Glass cases housing thousands of trinkets, from novelty mugs to record album covers....Vintage Elvis concert footage playing on the televisions....Overall a great, Elvis vibe. I need to go back again soon. This place is great. I recommend the tacos. Great for starting a nite out in the HB/OC area.
(4)Johnny S.
So, teddy bear, are you lonesome tonight? It's now or never, go to Azteca! The garlic tacos make me shake, rattle, and roll--in fact, there is nothing here that I would return to sender. So all you suspicious minds, trust me on this one and stand by me. Viva Azteca! I'll never lose that lovin' feeling. The food is good, the bar, Elvis. All the locals have been nice and the bartenders are friendly as well. and I'm sorry but I have to. . .the martinis are 'all shook up'.
(5)hana k.
I can't talk to you right now. I've got garlic breath. But that's okay. I had the afternoon off, so I went to Azteca to try the garlic tacos. I've been here a few times before. Mostly to marvel at the Elvis stuff. It's literally wall-to-wall Elvis, even on the ceilings. Ever since I read Annie N's review, I've been craving garlic tacos. I ordered the 2 taco combo which comes with rice and beans. Each taco is loaded with shredded beef, lettuce, cheese, and of course that wonderful garlic sauce. The sauce is strong, but it doesn't overpower the flavor of the beef. Good stuff. My lunch companion had the chile relleno, and she enjoyed it. She said that the garlic taco was a little too garlicky for her tastes. Huh? It's a GARLIC taco; it's supposed to be garlicky. I mocked her sissy palate. I can never say no to free chips and salsa. Especially if the chips are warm. Their salsa is weak, but ask for the green hot sauce. That one has some kick to it. Kapow! I'll be back to visit the Crooner's Lounge...and to try the rest of the garlic menu.
(4)Steven G.
This is a spot that my long time and dear friend Alfonso P. took me to a while back. Being a big Elvis fan, the minute I walked into this small bar I knew he had put some thought into inviting me here. The entire inside is COVERED in Elvis memorabilia, I mean EVERYTHING, including the ceiling! It's small and has a cool regulars that hang out here, everytime I show up the seats are filled but never packed (the way I like a bar to be). It has a modern style jukebox and even though the bartender gets uptight about me using too many straws to make clever bar toys with I'll still come around. I only drink beer and there pitcher price wasn't bad.
(4)Jenny A.
What. The. Fuck. I think I had a mini-seizure when I walked through the doors man. Who knew a Mexican could love Elvis so much. And who knew guys could look so gay whilst dancing. I have never seen so many people get down to karaoke like that. Especially that one couple... who was freaking.... to Low.... like, what would they do if it was the real song? Hahaha. But the 98 lb. chick with the DD's made it all worth it in the end. If there's one thing I left with that night, it was that 1) guys shouldn't hug 2) guys shouldn't dance and 3) come back to this bar again.
(4)Isabel S.
Based only on the food - a one. If it was based on the karaoke night - A FIVE ! The service sucks too, the waiters are rude and last night when I went, the owner was bussing the tables even before we were finished ! UHM, I would like to use my fork, knife and napkin when I eat that horrible excuse for a burrito. It was cheap both money wise and taste wise. Disgusting.
(1)Ryan H.
Love this place! Its really hard to find fault with this place, the food is great, the specials are a great deal, the service is top notch and the decor is fantastic. One of my favorite restaurants in the OC!
(5)Susana G.
Gosh, if I could have given this a 1/2 a star, I would have. This place, aside from the cool decor (my husband is an Elvis fan) was horrible. The food was tasteless and stale and the service was sub par. The place was nearly empty as we strolled in on Father's day and although the waiter was nice when we first got there, as the hour crawled by, his attitude started changing. The owner - or I think it was the owner - kept hovering over us as if we were holding up a big party from sitting where we were sitting but from what I saw, no one was waiting for a table. The rice was DRY! The beans were overcooked. My taquitos were stale and bland. The enchiladas were good but that was probably a fluke. Needless to say, my family and I will never go there again. I wouldn't have written such a harsh review but really, aside from bad food, the service was horrible. The workers were rude and that's what makes me angry the most. If they would have been nicer, I would have been able to tolerate the food a little more. And the house margaritas were not great but EXPENSIVE! 4 drinks, a beer and some soft drinks and our beverage cost was over $36! I'm sure those margaritas were not top shelf. If you're a fan of Elvis, I'd say stop by and take a look because the place is stuffed with memorabilia but if you like food, don't go here. Go to the bar and order something bottled. They can't screw that up.
(1)Jen K.
Have only ordered togo so far, but want to eat in one of these days, especially with all the great Elvis memorabilia in there. My food was just okay, but I won't base the place off of one dish.
(3)Dayna C.
This cute Mexican Restaurant is nestled down a quaint neighborhood street where you see many Vintage cars. The inside of the restaurant is rockin with Elvis Decor and Elvis music. For lunch, I ordered my usual shredded beef tacos and cheese enchiladas. The food was good for the price! The staff was extra fun and friendly. The staff took our picture standing next to a huge statue of Elvis too.
(4)Anita J.
This place has the best jukebox everrr.. love the music and the atmosphere cant get enough of Elvis.. well I still need to come back and try the Karaoke I will be back for sure.. although it was funny sum local skater kids walked in the bar and wanted to buy sum shot glasses and were even willing to share their bottle of greygoose with me untill my friend next to me kicked them out.. jk.. I wasnt going to drink with these minors but hey they had the balls to come in there and ask for a shot glass.. lolzz.. kids these days.. aside from all that it was a kewl bar to hang out and it was busy during the week very surprising...
(5)Nicole L.
Uh, I must have either gone here on a bad night or you guys are all nuts! I went here after a co-worker told me it was amazing, I got terrible service and bad food. The atmosphere is insteresting (like Sonya said, Elvis threw up all over) but definitely not worth going back for imo. I haven't trusted a food suggestion from that co-worker since.
(1)M S.
First, when ever someone tells me they are an Elvis fan I immediately tell them to come here!! Then I ask them if they if they like garlic because the garlic tacos are a must. I MUST mention Bobby Vegas. They best KJ! He keeps things moving . We have a good time as a family here. Call ahead for a table!
(5)Tina D.
wow, i didn't even think about the fact that this place might serve food! I've only been here between the hours of 10-2... and i've stayed after hours hanging out with the bartenders, but shhhh, we don't want to get them in trouble. this place is set up to have a big restaurant room and the smaller dive-bar sized bar area. they have karaoke on some nights in the big room, so if you wanna get with your girl friends and sing some fun karaoke in Garden Grove, this is the place to do it. Or if you just want to chill and have a drink with a buddy or two, escape off into the bar area and maybe get a look at who's singing each song on the camera between the bars. +great drinks- strong pour and great prices +friendly and fun bartenders +fun karaoke (or not... see above) +kinda oldies/kinda rock n roll/kinda punk rock. +they serve pitchers. cool. +really fun and down to earth crowd -creepy dudes. they have no shame here! ranging in age anywhere from 25-65. why is it that the barstools seem so much closer here than at any other bar??! -this is a novelty bar, filled with eccentric Elvis memorabilia all of the walls and one on the fake balcony when you enter. as a novelty bar, that's how often i go. Look, Garden Grove is far and if this bar is the only thing it's got going for it, definitely not really worth my time to go hang out in the "GG" with my buddies. Great if i'm in the area, tho!
(4)Shonda M.
Best wet chile verde burrito I have ever had. Period.
(5)Kevin H.
Went here for a party and the kareoke was amazing and the atmosphere of Elvis memorabilia made for a fun night.
(5)Chris C.
There's two reasons to come to this place: garlic tacos and Elvis Presley. The garlic sauce on the garlic tacos are super potent. You better not plan on kissing anyone after your meal, unless your date just had some garlic tacos too. So you better be a big garlic fan to enjoy these. Absolutely delicious! There is Elvis decor laced all throughout the restaurant, which is almost awe-inspiring. Every corner and crevice of the restaurant you can find Elvis memorabilia. On the TV's, an Elvis movie will be playing too. There's even a cease-and-desist letter from Elvis Presley Enterprises telling the owner to change the name of the restaurant (which I'm guessing is why it's called Azteca and not something else Elvis related) posted by the front door! There's a bar attached to the restaurant, but I haven't checked it out yet. Come in on a Tuesday because they have Garlic Taco specials that day. If you come for lunch, head over a few stores down and grab yourself a vanilla root beer soda!
(3)Sandi S.
It is a tradition for me to come to this restaurant every year with a group of friends for the past few years, we went lat night and I was extremely disappointed! It seemed as if there was one waiter for the whole place and he was not friendly, the food was awful and we will be looking for a new place for our tradition!
(1)Johnny Jennie B.
I cannot recommend this place to anyone i know! We ordered chicken nachos, mexican pizza and carne asada tacos. Besides the carne asada taco, the food was pretty much very below par. the chicken in the chicken nachos were hard and dry, the chips were stale and soggy. And then there's the mexican pizza, not sure how to describe this, but awkward. cheese was burnt and weird tasting ingredients. I never fail to take anything in a to-go box because i hate wasting food, but it didn't bother me one bit to leave all of the food there on the plate. The couple of positive things I can say about this place is that our server/bartender was nice and our drinks were good.
(2)Genevieve L.
Azteca is more for fun that great food. It seems to be hit or miss everytime I go. I took some friends and none of them liked what they ordered. The only thing I ever get is the chile verde and sometimes its not the best. I guess I give it 3 stars because of all the good times in Crooner's lounge with my friends. The crowd is always fun and the drinks are good. Cadillac Margarita gets a big thumbs up from me.
(3)Yum Yum D.
I've only had the Chicken Quesadilla and the House Margarita...but they were both bad! The quesadilla was overloaded with dry chicken and a bit of cheese that wasn't even melted all the way. That's not a quesadilla, that's a weird soft taco. The House Margarita didn't taste strong or good, like not enough sour... and the rimmed salt was just table salt! Acapulco's $2 margs are 10 times better. The Elvis decor was interesting, but confusing.
(2)Melody V.
I love this place! Elvis and Mexican food, that's like the hottest combination for a girl like me. Awesome. I used to go to this place for lunch when I worked down the street. Their lunch specials are affordable and their dishes are yummy. If you want to spend a little more, it's worth it too. They shred their chicken which makes for a good, easy to eat, no mess, dish. Their Mexican Pizza was fulfilling, it can serve two people. They host a Karaoke night on Saturdays, and I have yet to attend a night but my guess is that the selection is limited to Elvis songs (I should SERIOUSLY check it out!) The service was great. We always had the same server around lunch time and he often knew what we wanted to drink, so instead of asking us what we wanted to drink he simply asked if we wanted the same drink as previous. And, he would know when one of us was absent. Like I said, we were regulars. There are Elvis collectibles throughout this place. Rooftop to the floor. Don't expect to see a sports game on the television screen either (unless you're in the bar area) because you'll basically see an Elvis movie on or his music videos. It's definitely a unique place to visit and eat.
(5)imelda s.
I ordered Crab Enchilada and I was dissapointed...they put more cheese than crab itself.the service was okay NOT great.my friend ordered abondigas soup..she said the meatballs taste like beef that comes out of can(like chef boyardee meatball).
(3)Teri T.
I come here all the time. I luv their food here, from their combination plates, to the garlic taco salad..to the tacos...yumm...and the chips and grean salsa..I like it spicy...But if you like Elvis, than come here to check out the place as well. Elvis galore!!! I'm more of a food fan. :-) This is yummmy in my tummmmyy....xoxo
(4)Joseph H.
Joseph S. Hernandez English 100/ Cypress Professor M. Haven 15 September 2011 Love me tender taco If there is two things that Joey loves in this world, its Elvis and Mexican food. And Joey looks to satisfy these two loves, as he makes reservations at the Azteca Restaurant. A Mexican food place not only dedicated to Elvis, but that dedicates themselves to community, authenticity, and excellent food. Main Street, the heart of Garden Grove, CA, is also the home of the Azteca restaurant. Joey drives through the street, tailored in classic red stone bricks, to conveniently find parking in just a few minutes. He steps out of the car, and is overcome with tranquility from the community. From the old timers playing chess, to the local shops that have stood for decades, Joey is in no rush to the restaurant. Near his parking, he hears laughter, from a pizza parlor, as a baseball coach celebrates with his little leaguers. Down the street, He sees young pink ballerina dancers walking into the dance studio. The smell of Mexican food finally lures Joey back to his original final destination, The Azteca Restaurant. Joey stands outside the restaurant to notice a couple of things: First, the wooden exterior looks something straight out of a western; Second, the absurdity of placing a 1950's Elvis statue in the middle of all this. As he enters the restaurant, he quickly finds out why the Elvis statue isn't as absurd as he first thought. Hernandez 2 Joey discovers why the locals have dubbed the Azteca restaurant as "The Elvis Bar." As Joey looks in disbelief and awe of the countless memorabilia of The King of Rock n' Roll covering every inch of interior inside the establishment: To his left, cups and watches with Elvis plastered all over it; above him, posters and pictures of every Elvis movie posted on the ceiling as if I'm seeing an Elvis version of Michelangelo's ceiling painting; To his right, an Elvis pinball machine. Almost immediately, Joey wants to pose with Elvis Statue standing next to the host. After the host welcomes Joey, he sits him in a booth making it possible to see other customers in the restaurant. Ironically, locals and regulars of the Mexican restaurant are not Mexican, nor of any Hispanic culture that Joey can recognize. Instead, Joey notices mostly white patrons with a similar love for two things: Elvis and Mexican food. However, Joey overhears a conversation from a trio, sitting next to his booth, claiming they've heard about the Elvis Bar all the way from Chicago. Joey is fascinated to hear more from the locals and outsiders, but really has to use the restroom. As Joey walks toward the restroom, he looks at interior décor. There is a vintage feel as everything, including the seats, tables and floors, are made out of wood. However, there are contemporary items essential to customer needs such as flat screen televisions, so to play all of Elvis' greatest concerts. Joey talks to a regular, while waiting in line, as he explains that the Azteca has been around since the 1950's, and its owner, nephew of somebody close to Elvis, has been collecting the memorabilia since the 1970's. When Joey is finished with the small restroom, he makes his way to his antique table to accept a menu from the waiter. Hernandez 3 The waiter can be Joey's best friend or worst enemy. Joey watches as the waiter mess up another customer's order. The customer, Joey figures out, has made the mistake of coming to an authentic Mexican restaurant with real Mexicans, and not having learned Spanish. Fortunately for Joey, who knew Spanish, he orders his meal with ease and peace of mind. Joey looks at the menu that exemplifies a wide range of Mexican dining. From classics (tamales with pork, burritos with beef, Mexican pizza etc.) to the spicy [Chorizo con huevos (with eggs), Jalepeno Quesidilla, Relleno, etc.], Azteca provides Joey with every Mexican dish that he can think of- although he still can't quite figure out what a machacha plate is. Joey checks the menu to see if there is any Mexican cuisine they could have possibly left off, but to no avail. Joey is hungry and ready to order. As he reads the menu, he sees the phrase," Home of the famous Garlic Taco" stamped on every page. After skipping his appetizer, Joey gives into the hype, and orders the taco. The mouth-watering taco arrives on a small plate with a side of guacamole. The guacamole is not necessary to Joey, as the fresh aroma of garlic succumbs his nose and senses. Joey bites into the taco to experience a sensation of both gratification and joy. In Joey's mind, he comes to the conclusion that this is the greatest taco he has ever tasted. In his newfound love for the Azteca restaurant, Joey guarantees himself that he'll come back. He imagines his return washing away all his fears and worries, thanks to the peaceful and safe community. Azteca brings to Joey a true Mexican atmosphere that adds depth, texture and volume of every meal. And to watch Elvis shake, rattle a
(4)Ethan R.
Being a huge Elvis fan, I definitely enjoyed the interior look of the restaurant and bar area with all of the Elvis posters, figurines and every other kind of tchotchke you can think of. I haven't sampled any menu items yet, only drinks from the bar, so only four stars for now. However my real reason for going here is the karaoke they offer on Friday and Saturday nights. This is only one of a handful of karaoke bars that has an extensive song selection, covering all the old standards to the newest hits covering all genres. If you go to sign up for a song for the first time, they try to get you up there as soon as they can. However after that, if you want to do a 2nd or 3rd song, you may not get the chance if there's a large crowd. My only negative is that it's at least an hour drive from my house, so if you plan on drinking, go with a group or have someplace nearby to stay. If you get bored, you can always get up and dance along to whatever crowd-pleasing song someone else happens to be ruining at the time. Thank you. Thankyouverymuch!
(4)Ryan C.
This place is great what else do you need great mexican food Elvis and booze you can not go wrong. I have been going to this place for a while i love to see Phil Shane there he gets down i try to make it in to this place a couple times a month.
(5)Gil H.
Been going there for years. Great service and margaritas. Quality of food has been steadily going down. Last two times yuck. Lots of other places to eat on Main St. Maybe they will wake up before it is too late. Lot's of Elvis. Great xcar show every fri night.
(2)Wendell S.
If you are coming for the food you are in for a treat. I've been a patron for over a decade. Known the owner JJ for years. I love the atmosphere and the music in the bar. You will love the "Crooners Lounge" and visiting with the 'King' in this bar. The memorabilia here displaying music from the 50's and 60's is historic. It is like being in a museum that will rock your soul. Try it out and see for yourself. It is a historic landmark.
(4)DM A.
If you're into Elvis kitsch, Azteca Mexican Restaurant is cheesilicious, but unfortunately the food is not delish. The atmosphere is wacky with Elvis memorabilia from floor to ceiling, including an Elvis concert on plasma TV. Our service was fast and friendly. My family and I were thrilled thinking we found a campy cantina we could take our friends to for a fun night out. We were planning our return trip to check out the Elvis impersonator when our food arrived bland and cold. Pity. With the right chef this place could really sing. Upshot: if you're an Elvis fan, it's definitely worth a visit, but sidestep the dining room and head straight for the bar.
(2)Steph H.
I came here for the first time this past Cinco de Mayo with a bunch of friends. I first saw it when my husband and I came down for the vintage car show on a friday night, and thought it might be a cool off-the-beaten place to come for a Cinco fete, and I was right! It's got a lot of history and character (all the Elvis stuff!) and the food's totally old-school but good. I had their carnitas and was surprised to see it cut into medallions, and not all shredded, as is the norm, I think. But it was still good and I loved their cheese-covered beans. And let's not forget the kickass karaoke on Saturdays. Needed lots of pitchers of their yummy strawberry margaritas (melon, blah) before my friends and I could brave the "stage." Didn't help that all the regulars were all incredible singers! As the night wore on a younger crowd showed up, and the singing got ever-more raucous and bad, but I think it got more fun. We left right in the middle of a trio of girls mutilating "Mother" by Danzig. It was a great time had by all and we all agreed that we'd be back.
(4)Brad G.
I visit Main St. almost every Friday night with my classic car and really enjoy the show and atmosphere .Last Friday night, I decided to try out Aztecas for dinner. I walked in and waited by the front counter. After several minutes of basically being ignored by hosts, I saw a group walk in behind me, who were promptly greeted, handed menus, and asked how many were in their party. Of course, I spoke up and stated that I thought I was first. Immediately, two hostesses replied that this group was first and they went ahead and seated them, never offering me just a small table to sit at, of which there were many in the restaurant to offer. This is not an example of good customer service and certainly doesn't follow the age-old motto of " the customer is always right." I especially appreciated the fact that the employees both ganged up against me in a stroke of righteousness. Needless to say, I walked out and tried another restaurant down the street, which seated me just fine....
(1)Dorian J.
i really like the food..garlic tacos are very good. Even if the Elvis thing dissappeared tomorrow, I would still eat there.
(4)Bert J.
Two folks can eat lunch here for $21. Great prices considering the quality and quantity of food you get. Service was friendly and prompt. Oh yeah, it's wall-to-wall Elvis inside. Probably a great place to bring your friends from other countries. If you're shopping at Costco across the street, stop by Azteca for a quick bite. (FYI -- Warm chips but weak salsa....very weak.)
(3)Jim S.
Do I like Elvis? nah...not really, but this place is close to home so I had to give it a try. I've eaten there a few times and I think the food is pretty good. It's that greasy, slimy kind of Mexican food that you get a craving for sometimes...you know? Never really stuck around for drinks or catching the Elvis impersonators...but they look like they'd be a fun time. The service there is good and I'm definitely going back...you know, when I get that craving for a slimy "Mexico City Burrito", which I highly recommend, by the way.
(4)Sharona C.
very good tacos with lots garlic sauce..enough said. :)
(5)P M.
Elvis and Mexican food..... Sound like a strange combination? Well....you must experience it to appreciate it. The roquefort tostadas and chili rellanos are my favorites, however if you really like garlic (and I mean REALLY like garlic) then you have to try the garlic tacos and/or tostadas. I am particularly addicted to the warm chips and salsa that arrive at your table almost as soon as you sit down. During the week, they have special combinations that are pretty decently priced. Even if you never liked Elvis before, you will soon learn to love him after a meal here. There are four TVs in the dining room to watch Elvis movies and sports. I think there is almost every imaginable Elvis memrobilia that you will want to see....and more. Friday nights is the Main Street vintage car show and in January ("Elvis birthday month") you will sing along with many different Elvis impersonators. Oh, and don't forget to check out the Crooners Lounge....a full service bar. It's actually the only Elvis lounge in Southern California.
(5)Annmarie L.
i have been going to azteca restaurant for as long as i can remeber. my parents would walk us around the strawberry festival then it was off to see elvis. the electric atmosphere is absolutely contagious. if you are lucky you will even catch "the king" dining or singing karaoke.
(5)Shawn G.
This place is my family favorite!!! Also this place is always on restaurants.com you can get gift cards for cheap. We come here for all our birthdays. We know all the servers and everyone is really nice!!! The food is normal price for Mexican food. If you love ELVIS you have to go!
(5)S M.
I went there with some friends on a weeknight. It is an amazing place. You walk in and it transports you to a different era. The bar is big and friendly. You can order food at the bar if the restaurant is busy. The portions were big and muy excellente!!! I would recommend it to people however if you are not from the area, it is bit out of the way to get to. Several veg options if you like rice and beans :)
(4)Daniel S.
Ok I'm updating my Azteca review, because the last one was too short and because we went there again last night. First thing you notice when you enter Azteca is the plethora of Elvis memorabilia that adorns the walls inside. One would wonder where the connection of Elvis comes with Mexican food, but honestly who cares, it's the King and Mexican food; two of the greatest things ever wrapped into one! Elvis music plays throughout which an Elvis movie plays on one TV, along with sporting events on their other flat screen HDTVs. This place scores a 5 on atmosphere alone, but it's a restaurant so let's leave the overall score up to the food. In my previous review I mentioned that the Carnitas plate was terrific. In fact I believe their carnitas is probably the tastiest carnitas I've ever ordered. It was cooked to the point that it was juicy, but also had some crisp on the edges. But I didn't order carnitas last night, no my friends I ordered Arroz con Pollo (Rice with Chicken), which is quickly becoming my favorite Mexican meal. Our meal started with the typical Mexican fare of Chips and Salsa. The chips were unsalted, so I had to add some salt to taste. The salsa was a little bland, it needed something added to it, but it wasn't bad, just bland. Now on to our main course... I must admit the only other Arroz con Pollo I've ever had before was from El Faralito in Placentia, which is to die for, so I had a good litmus test to gauge Azteca's on. I was not let down on Azteca's version of Arroz con Pollo. It was slightly different then what I've had in the past; it basically was just a bed of Mexican style rice along with some of their mouth-watering chicken, that's it, nothing else; no sour cream, no cheese, and not even tortillas to eat it with. But that's OK! It's only like $4.75, you can order tortillas, and you have yourself a pretty good size meal, I even had enough to eat today as leftovers! Since I wasn't sure of the size of my main dish I also decided to try one of the Garlic Tacos with shredded beef, they are the typical shredded beef taco topped with a good helping of their special garlic sauce. It's a hit or miss depending on how fond one is with high levels of garlic, personally I enjoyed it and was happy to know that if I encountered a vampire I would be able to fend him off just by breathing in his general direction! My wife ordered a Chicken Azteca Burrito, with lettuce, tomatoes, and beans inside. It was a good size burrito with lots of melted cheese on top (I stole some of it to use with my Arroz con Pollo). She loved the burrito, probably her favorite burrito at a restaurant. Kelly is very picky with the way chicken is prepared at Mexican Restaurants because normally the chicken has very little seasoning, it's the same problem she runs into with ground beef tacos, she likes seasoned meat, but that isn't always typical with Mexican food. Along with our drinks our meal was just barely over 20 bucks, not bad considering the amount of delectable food we were able to consume. Service was good, with our waiter getting my wife's order right (she had produce added to her burrito), and also checking on us from time to time.
(5)Paula M.
I've been a fan of The Azteca since it was a small hole-in-the-wall next to Shakey's on Garden Grove Blvd. My husband was a musician, and after his gig we would go there for "breakfast" because they were open until 4:00am. My favorite was the chili verde. I loved it so much I never ordered anything else. We left the area, and when we returned we thought they must have gone out of business. Years later I learned that they had just moved to the historic Main St. location. I've been there twice since...the first time I had my old fav', and found it to be mediocre. Decided to give them the benefit of the doubt and tried again today. I ordered the enchilada's ranchero's and it was delicious. The chips and salsa (and rice) were also wonderful. But what bothers me was the service both times I was there! The first time, there was no one there but me and my friend, and we had to keep tracking down the server. Today it was the middle of the day, and they had a fair lunch crowd, but the staff scurried around openly exhibiting their frustration, acting as tho it was all too much for them, this wasn't their real job, and why were they having to deal with the frustration of it all. But we were served quickly, and the food was great (although they forgot to bring the adult beverage I ordered). I hope the evening shift is more customer service oriented, because the day shift bordered on being just down right rude (every single one of them...as tho they had never been trained in the finer points of good customer service). We left a lousy tip in hopes they got the hint! (I'll still go back for the food, but think I'll just get it to go).
(3)