Chile Fresco
23624 El Toro Rd, Lake Forest, CA, 92630
Chile Fresco Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Lake Forest for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Lake Forest for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Lake Forest for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
23624 El Toro Rd
Lake Forest, CA, 92630 - Phone (949) 770-2226
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :10:00 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : Yes
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Dogs Allowed : Yes
Waiter Service : No
Caters : Yes
Categories
Mexican Cuisine
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.
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Steven K.
Ate here today for Taco Tuesday.. Crispy Tacos and Street Tacos are both FANTASTIC. A great place for lunch or dinner! Parking can be a little tight during the week for lunch, which can be annoying, but that's just California life.
(4)Adam J.
Good food but when I ordered they asked if I wante to up grade to a fresh tortilla for .50 more ( mental note Mexican food I'm paying for that is suppose to be fresh and you want me to pay more) this is bull. Instantly made me decide to never eat here again bad service got my order wrong and some else at my table ordered something with corn and they didn't have any so they just served it without corn and didn't apologize don't eat here!
(1)John M.
Great, fresh food. Very good salsa bar and one of the best fish taco's I've had. The only bad news, and the only reason I didn't give 5 stars, is that they don't have fresh ice tea. They use that junk from a fountain dispenser, other than that this place is great.
(4)Michael S.
Called in a order one night on the way home. "Hi, Chili Fresco". Me: Chili what? Them: Chili Frescos Me: I thought I dialed Jalapenos. Them: We changed and are now Chili Frescos. Me: Uhmm Bye. click. I must admit, not my greatest moment dealing with change. I grew up with Jalapenos and when this one opened it meant not having to drive to my old neighborhoods in Tustin and Irvine. This change has not set well. Well no more Jalapenos in Lake Forest. Similar format with a few slight changes. Homemade tortillas which are smaller than previous, a small change in flavor and new fancy plates. I think I need to stay loyal and make the extra drive out of the way. Don't get me wrong this place is clean, the people are friendly, but it feels like a impostor of a fan favorite, almost like California comfort food. To get that comfort it would appear that I need to suck it up and drive a few extra miles for that old time favorite that I know so well.
(3)Jenna M.
This is very similar to when it was Jalapenos but with new paint and mirrors and a new look to the menu. I used to go to Jalapenos for taco tuesday. i had also had their chicken quesadilla. This night i decided to try something different I decided on the grilled chicken burrito and a med horchata to go. It was almost 10 dollars I just feel like thats too much for a burrito and a drink, granted the burrito was large it was good, but. In my opinion not worth the money.
(2)Emily K.
I was excited after seeing the Street Tacos for $1.00/each deal, but I'm a sucker for flautas/taquitos. I was sadly disappointed in mine since they were lukewarm, not flaky but too dry and mushy at the same time. The rice was alright if a bit bland, and the black beans had huge chunks of garlic and were a bit under-cooked for my taste. The jamaica was good but they were out of horchata and it was only 3:30 in the afternoon. With so many other choice I don't think I'll be coming back, the drink prices aren't worth dealing with the food that would accompany it.
(2)Jim T.
Went looking for a Thai Spice, and I thought I recalled one on El Toro Road. Then I spied the GRAND OPENING banner for Chile Fresco. Walking in it is a little confusing where to go. I walked up to what was a salsa bar on the right side in back, then I saw I was supposed to have entered on the left side. This place is billed as a "healthy Mexican grill." I asked what vegetarian fare they had and was told they had vegetarian burritos, and tacos. They even have tacos made with lettuce (low carb). I ordered the burrito, on their house-made tortillas. With a fountain drink, my bill came to $9.31. The fountain drinks were typical. The salsa bar was very good. I saw a large jar of my favorite whole jalapeno peppers pickled with carrots. They also had those spicy carrots with those leaves for seasoning. The burrito came out and looked like a plain-wrapped brown package that UPS might deliver. LOL The tortilla (house-made) was a darker, and translucent color, and a bit rubbery. It was delicate as I was eating it, one of the beans pierced it's size. The whole thing fell apart as I got to the halfway point. The whole, jalapeno peppers carried the day. I ate four peppers. Wow, they were hot, and juicy and really left my stomach with that heated feeling. I'll be back when I want to satisfy my pepper craving. If they lose the large jalapenos they'll lose me. LOL
(3)Danny R S.
Will never go back here. The previous Jalapenos seemed to be better food. I went on a Sunday afternoon, The place was not packed at all but for some reason it took them 20 minutes to make two tacos to go. They are also very careful on how much food they give you. For $8.61 for taco plate you should at least get decent portions. Nope..the meat in the taco is very small as well as the serving of rice and beans. This place needs to realize that they are competing with the very good Alabatross Mexican restaurant and now Alertos which are all a mile away. Alabatross puts this plae to shame in the portion amount as well as value and taste. Never ever coming back here and told many friends as well.
(1)Kim Z.
I stopped here a month or two ago and tried their fish taco. I love the chips while you wait, their salsa-- YUM! The fish taco tasted great, but would not have been filling if it was not for the chips on the side that they give you. They offered it made in a homemade tortilla but I said okay to but they didn't say it would cost additional. It ended up being a flour tortilla so didn't flatter the fish taco. It's great to upsell people but come on, don't say it's really good with something if it's not. A homemade corn tortilla is what I was expecting. I stopped in again yesterday and tried a fish taco and a shrimp taco. The fish, on corn tortillas, was delish. The shrimp taco will be what I don't come back for. A $3 taco should have more shrimp in it-- this was 2 regular size corn tortillas with sauce, cabbage and 3 small pieces of shrimp. Really?? 2-3 more pieces of shrimp would have made it a 5 star review. Fish taco-great. Chips-good. Salsa-amazing. Service-really nice people.
(3)Paul H.
Went here for lunch today with a few friends. Had the carne asada burrito with homemade tortilla - definitely worth the 50 cent upcharge. Meat tasted fresh and definitely filled me up. Friends had the taco combo plates, they liked it. Decent place for a change of pace.
(3)Mike H.
Love the tacos Great service We will definitely be back.
(5)Tom D.
The family and I have frequented this place since it was called Jalapenios. Fortunately, they preserved much of what made this our regular taco Tuesday destination when they swapped names. It looks like they fancied the place up in the transition. I'm a fan of their street tacos and their grilled chicken burritos. The endless supply of chips and salsa is always a plus. The manager works hard to provide that personal touch, which I appreciate.
(4)Amandie D.
The pico de gallo salsa is addictive. It's it's unlimited and free. Very vinegary, chunky and loaded with fresh tomatoes and cilantro the way it should be. This place is packed at dinner time and the customer service is fantastic. The portions are sizable and the dishes are delicious. The red sauce is tangy, fresh, if a bit too sweet, but definitely lovingly made. This is one of the better mexican places I've been to in these parts.
(5)Michael C.
Love this place!! I am Mexican so I am kind of a snob when it comes to Mexican food... Because nothing is as good as my moms food... But this place is amazing and reasonably priced... Way better than Jalapenos. I absolutely love their bean dip and fish tacos!! My husband loves their carne asada burrito and their homemade tortillas. They also have sopapillas for dessert, which are delish and extremely hard to find. The only thing in my opinion from making this a 5 star would be the chips.... They are a little greasy and hard... If they had lighter crispier tortilla chips this place would be 5 stars hands down.
(4)Robert V.
Great food, we had their food catered and everyone loved it! They deliver and a plus is thet you can order it all online through their system.
(5)Autumn O.
I went here on a whim with my boyfriend and wasn't disappointed, but wasn't really impressed either. I had the cheese enchilada plate and my boyfriend had the steak nachos. Food was pretty much average, probably won't go back--but not a bad place for lunch if you're around the area.
(3)Leah P.
Yum! I stumbled on this place while craving carne asada. I absolutely LOVE it. My husband and I have had take out from here several times and are very happy with everything we have had. It tastes very authentic. I highly recommend.
(5)J C.
The cashier told us that this place is way better than Jalapeno's. Well, he was so wrong and he knows it! Went in on a Sunday with the wife and kids, luckily we were first in line before a mob showed up after we ordered. Ordered nachos, a burrito, side of rice and tortillas to go. Watched painstakingly for close to half an hour of the cluster f**k that was called our lunch being made. We watched the fresh tortillas being made which was kind of cool, but that quickly ended. I watched my burrito tortillas on a plate filled with beans sit there for 10mins. The chef got side track making someone else's food and got confused. Finally, he is back to my cold burrito. He didn't care that it sat there cold, just tossed the rest of the fillings and wrapped it, done. During this time I watched my side of tortillas given to someone else and had to be remade again. Five minutes after my burrito, the chef proceeded to the nachos. Didn't take long to put it together, but it had to go to the back to melt the cheese. Didn't see that come back out from the kitchen for another 8mins. It sat on that upper counter for another 3mins before the cashier realized that we are staring at him and we have been there way too long. Oh forgot to mention that someone made us another side of tortillas, because it magically disappeared again. Finally made it out of there at close to 30mins. Home at last to a cold burrito, tasteless meats on the nachos, missing 1 of the 3 side of tortillas, which were under cook because they hurried that batch and decent tasting rice. Lets just say that we miss Jalapeno's and won't be going back to Chile Fresco.
(1)Christina F.
Great Mexican food...it is a sit down place but very casual. They have the best crispy tacos and delicious enchiladas. They just re-opened after undergoing a renovation. The new look is fresh. You will not be disappointed ... Give it a try. They have the nicest staff and you can watch sports games on their TVs! Excellente!!!
(5)Katherine K.
Best chicken quesadilla I've ever had! Service was wonderful. Tacos are great and very inexpensive. Do yourself a favor and stop by here!
(5)Coach R.
I love Mexican food. But this place was a huge disappointment. Way too much salt in the chile Colorado. They advertise house made tortillas. Again, disappointing. Stale tortillas, stale chips. Too much salt on/in the food Service was pretty slow. Most likely will not return to this restaurant. Bad first impression. With all the local choices, it's time to try the next place.
(1)Kathy C.
Ewww!! No. No no. First, I ordered 3 hard tacos. I got 2, one soft and one hard. 2nd- the gal wearing gloves putting all the chips in the bags, keeps the gloves on when exchanging money, and using the nasty cash register keys. GROSS.
(1)Janet V.
No no no and no. Giving it 1 star because it's the only choice. The only thing I was ok with was the crispy taco,but it's not even close to Miguel Jr and they suck. What is wrong with people I got the saddest quesadilla I want my $7 bucks back. The $1.20 tacos beyond suck.... if you like 2 tortillas with nothing order them. Not even the horchata is good. I feel ripped off!!!!
(1)Amber H.
YUMMY!! This is a fantastic place for great tacos (as well as rice, beans, soup, etc) at a reasonable price, especially on Tuesdays! We frequent here almost every Tuesday and the kids LOVE it too. With a fountain to run around out front and frozen yogurt across the way, you just can't go wrong. :)
(5)Narendran M.
Their $1.20 tacos (meat + onions & cilantro) are really good. Their chips and salsa are good as well. They seem to have a lot of weekday specials and I'm definitely interested in checking them out.
(4)Sean M.
A great hidden jem of Mexican Food in Lake Forest. The street and crispy tacos are fantastic, combo plates delicious, and burritos killer. There is a huge variety which is nice but makes choosing food hard The only downer is that it is a bit pricy, expect about $10 a person to eat.
(4)Sherri G.
$1.50 street tacos found here! They changed this place up a little since the Jalapeno's days. They no longer bring your food, you get a flashing thingy and have to go up to the counter to pick it up. The street tacos are a bit lacking in the meat/filling. I looked down at the basket and just stared for a moment - then thought, what the hell, less calories. I honestly think you get more meat at Del Taco. The guacamole is tasty, can't complain there. The chips are the same too. Thick, slightly greasy chips that pair well with the variety of salsas at the bar. They used to bring extra to the table if you asked but now you get the basket of chips after you pay - which leaves you balancing chips, drinks, salsa and my favorite carrots. Their crispy tacos still look delish. Full of meat, veggies and cheese...your waist will widen just staring at them. The restaurant was fairly empty at noon-thirty, gone are the days when the line went to the door and you couldn't find seating, even outside.
(3)Robert V.
Under new management. They changed the ingredients and flavors. If I could erase my previous 5 star recomendation, I would! It doesn't apply to what they are serving these days. Good luck, we won't be back.
(2)Estela M.
Found this place on my Friday night food run. Luckily we got here before they closed at 9PM. Delicious enchiladas meal! Very good price for such quality food. I also heard they serve breakfast all day which is always a plus! Will definitely come back again to try that and the burritos! Random: I liked the decor. :-)
(5)Bri B.
I love this place! My boyfriend and I have been going here every wendesday for enchiladas for a few months, and honestly that's all I've ever had here, but the enchiladas are great. Service is great, very friendly employees, they know me and my boyfriend now and are always very friendly with us.
(5)Paul V.
This place was one of my favorites. Then they changed ownership and the ingredients changed. The meat was the best part. I wish they would go back to their old menu and ingredients.
(3)Michael B.
This is another great restaurant to eat at.
(5)Marie S.
I love a good veggie burrito. While my favorite can only be found in Arizona, the veggie burrito here is a close substitute (and a much closer drive!) Overall, I wasn't blown away with their food, but they were quick, and the food was decent. I like that the food is prepared right in front, so you can watch your food from the glass partition I'd you wanted to. Our cashier also gives us two bowls of chips when we asked (my husband and I both like our own).
(3)Neluta G.
First of all not a very clean place, they have a salsa bar that needs some cleaning. The food is subpar. I had a steak tostada, the meat was dry with no flavor. My friend got the taquitos plate. It came with a ridiculous amount of refried runny beans and the taquitos were not even warm. Not going back to this place.
(1)Kelly S.
Great food...however, I DESPISE how they run out of essential food items so quickly. It's the only reason I'm giving them 3 stars. I mean seriously, how do you run out of LETTUCE and CEVICHE BEFORE noon??!! That seriously screws over the lunch crowd and goes against the whole purpose of being the "healthy" Mexican restaurant. I have honestly never had the ceviche here because they're always out (even though I've heard stories that it's amazing - must be a figment if people's imagination). Tells me that whoever does the food purchasing here, doesn't know how to do their job. Step it up Chile Fresco!! When you do, I'll give you more stars.
(3)Manny R.
This is my second time there. 1st time with the family. I like the fish tacos alot. Salsas are good. Saw a co worker there. So i guess we know good food Its a must go to place. I recommend this place Every if i work at del taco.
(5)Cathy H.
This place has changed and not for the better. It used to be Jalapeños. They continued with Jalapeño recipes for about a year before switching to their own. You no longer have trouble getting a table because the food doesn't compare. No more thick homemade chips; store bought red and green ( how original). Salsas are watery. Service is very slow. I was the only customer and asked for 2 street tacos. A very rude (and stupid) woman told me there is a 3 taco minimum. I then went down the street to Ensenadas. When I have time I drive to the Jalapeños on First St in Tustin. Even though the line is out the door at lunchtime it is worth the wait. Sorry Chile Fresco, you will be out of business in a year unless you step it up. Whoever came up with the new recipes has no flair for Mexican food. What a shame.
(2)Timothy R.
Solid food at great prices! I'm a big fan of their tacos here and love that you can get your food very quickly. It may not be the best Mexican food ever but it is a good place to have some lunch and enjoy! Great stop for lunch on Taco Tuesday! Plus everyday they have great specials including Thursday when they have $5 taquito plates with beans and rice.
(4)alvaro k.
Great food, the crispy tacos are delicious. The fish tacos are great. I love coming here for a quick lunch, food is light and tasty.
(5)Dan W.
They used to have the best al pastor tacos on home style tortillas but they changed ownership around October 2014 and it is not the same. Fatty and skimpy. Dang.
(3)Jordan P.
Great hidden "hole in the wall" in south county. Crunchy tacos were delicious, filled with shredded beef, lettuce, cheese, sour cream, and guac. Salsa bar and thick cut chips top it off. 3.25 beers during happy hour. This was a welcome find after a long work day.
(5)Carl G.
I went to this place for the first time and I was surprised to found excellent food at decent price I ordered the chile verde burrito and one taco al pastor and WOW! Both were very flavorful and portions were big. I will come back when I'm the area again. Keep it as it is, simple, excellent food and friendly staff.
(5)Erika A.
My husband and I have been coming here for almost a year now, he eats a lot. He loves the spinach tortilla chicken burrito because it's big he actually gets full. Always gets that burrito very single time we come here. I love everything they have. Their potato tacos, shrimp quesadilla, the fresh made tortillas, we always take extra home. Love the bean dip can never make up my mind of which salsa that comes with it is my favorite, the green or red they are both delicious. Also their chips and salsa I love. Great place great value and healthy.
(5)Michelle T.
The worst Mexican food in OC! Terrible service, rude! Do not go there ever! Every To go order gets messed up, cold & awful. They just don't care about customer service or quality!
(1)chelsea m.
Combination Plates are always popular and Chile Fresco has 5 to choose from. I ordered #1 Chicken Taco and Beef Enchilada Combination Plate. It is served with rice and beans. The taco shell was a homemade fried corn tortilla. The chicken was juicy and tender with rotisserie flavor. The beef enchilada was perfect. The shredded meat was tender and seasoned to perfection. I'm not a big fan of Mexican rice but Chile Fresco's is one of the most flavorful that I've ever had, seasoned like a great Spanish rice. The enchilada sauce was also very good and I love the added melted cheese on top. Thumbs up! Chile Fresco Salad is lettuce, tomato, corn, black beans, cheese, and guacamole with your choice of dressings (chipotle ranch, pepita Caesar, ranch, or balsamic) and can be topped with chicken breast, steak, tilapia, or shrimp. Now, this is one healthy salad. I tried it with the pepita Caesar dressing and chicken breast. The salad is very light and packed full of fresh vegetable flavor. The chicken was tender and moist. The pepita Caesar dressing, while light, added a nice flavor to the vegetables. I like this healthy twist to the traditional Taco Salad. Thumbs up! And now the stars of the show -- the tacos. You can choose from their regular, street, or lettuce tacos with choice of meats (carne asada, carnitas, shredded beef, shredded chicken, al pastor, fish, or grilled shrimp). I ordered up the street tacos with al pastor, carne asada, shredded chicken, and carnitas. It was a great combination of flavors and textures from the charred and crispiness from the al pastor, the juicy, beefy flavor of the carne asada, the tender, juicy flavor from the shredded chicken, to the tender, melt-in-your-mouth carnitas. I might try the grilled shrimp next time for a surf & turf option. Thumbs up, way up!
(5)Michelle B.
We love this place! Nachos are terrific, fajitas are outstanding, carnitas are flavorful, it's clean and service is great. It's also our 7 year olds favorite place to eat!
(5)Jana B.
Unfortunately, we were not impressed with this restaurant. My spouse ordered a crunchy taco combo plate and I ordered a burrito with the option of homemade tortilla for $0.50 more. (When you're buying a $7 burrito a la carte what's half a buck more.) When my food arrived it was served on a paper plate. Maybe my expectations are too high but when I'm dining in I expect more than a throwaway plate. The burrito was ok. I ate 1/3 and was done. My spouse's combo plate came out and the taco shells looked like the pre-made shells sold at the grocery store. He took a bite and said the shells were disgusting and the carnitas was dry. He inquired about the taco shells and we were told they were made at the restaurant not store bought. Ultimately, my spouse decided to order a homemade tortilla to try to salvage our $22 meal but in the end, we walked away very disappointed. We definitely WILL NOT be returning to this restaurant.
(1)Mike P.
The spinach burrito is huge. You need two hungry guys to handle it. The food is very similar or identical to Jalepeno's. The salsa is better and less watery. 3 tacos for $3 and they aren't super mini sized like most "street tacos". I will return very soon.
(4)Jeremy S.
Love love LOVE this place. Food is always good. Service is alway excellent and they have great weekly specials. I used to come here at least twice a week when I lived in Laguna and have to drive down to get my fix.
(5)Carlene P.
Chile relleno was good. Salsa bar was very messy; could definitely be better cared for. Refried beans had too much lard in them; you can identify the taste of it, so pun intended - it left a bad taste in my mouth. Ricardo's is much higher rated, so I think we'll try that next time.
(3)Joseph S.
After eating at Jalapeños a couple times with disappointment I was excited to see a New Mexican restaurant taking over its spot. I defiantly had to give it a try. Disappointed. It tasted just like I was eating at the jalapeños. I am not sure what happened, or if they only changed the name, but it was very disappointing.
(3)Christy M.
This place used to be Jalepenos. It's pretty much the same, even the specials, but the plating is different. It's still pretty tasty. They offer street tacos for under $2.00. I usually go on Thursdays when they have the $5.00 taquitos, rice and beans special. They are fast and it's tasty. Good enough for me.
(4)Patrick P.
service is very very slow. Had to wait 30 minutes for basic $1 tacos. On top of that They ran out of onions and cilantro! prob will never come back again. Food was very mediocre. Should have gone to rubios.
(1)Rohlin A.
This location has gone through a few Mexican places since the center's remodel and now it is up to Chile Fresco to make it. I think they have a good shot. The inside is basically the same, some new mirrors on the wall and a fresh coat of paint, but the menu is definitely better. We came here with Chief, sitting down outside and familiarized ourselves with the menu. I gave the wife my order for a beef taquito plate and a carne asada taco with the fresh tortilla (additional $.25 and worth it). We had a coupon for 50 percent off one item ($5 or more) when you order 2 items and 2 drinks. We were also allowed to use a coupon for a free tortilla. My wifey-poo ordered a carne asada plate and a small order of the fresh tortillas. The meals come with the choice of white rice or tomato rice (Mexican) and the choice of pinto, black or refried beans. It is really nice to have the options. The food was brought out relatively quickly, but there was a misunderstanding (the cashier was a trainee) and instead of taquitos, I was brought 3 shredded beef tacos. The person who brought out the order offered to fix it immediately, so did her trainer, but I really wasn't upset (mistakes happen). My loving wife even apologized for not catching the error on the receipt. Interlude: If my wife wants to apologize for something, apologize for 15 years of HELL! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! I married Satan's daughter! *Rawwr!* *Rawwr!* *Rawwr!* (I have been watching a lot of Sam Kinison on YouTube) Interlude II: I love my wife very much and I am very happy! She reminds me of this daily. Back to the food: The love of my life's carne asada looked and tasted really good. It was sirloin, but the cooks have taken the time to tenderize it and cut the fat off. The carne asada taco was the same, just chopped into smaller pieces. The shredded beef tacos were good and the salsa on it has a good kick to it. The white rice and refried beans was really, really good. I think they add butter to the white rice to add some flavor and the refried beans had a good consistency. The home made tortillas are worth the money: fresh, hot and oh so good. The only disappointments were the pico de gallo and guacamole were a little bland and the chips were not fresh or hot. These are minor issues and I will definitely be back, next time I will actually get the taquitos!
(4)Michelle M.
Pretty solid Mexican joint. I came in at lunch today and was pleasantly surprised. This place replaced Jalapenos and the layout and the menu looked very similar, as well as some of the staff. I ordered the Three Street Taco Combo, which came with three street tacos, chips, beans and rice. I got two steak and one carnitas taco. All three tacos were wonderful. I probably could have ordered more of them, would have happily eaten them all and have been satisfied. Two thumbs up for the tacos. The rice and beans were just ok and nothing special. Mostly bland in my opinion. The chips, on the other hand, were cold and stale. Yuck. No good. Two thumbs down on chips. Service was wonderful. Cashier (and possibly owner/manager?) was very friendly and helpful. The guys making the food and bringing it to your table were awesome as well. Only downside is that they are kind of slow. I was there for about 50 minutes and they weren't even that busy. I ended up being about 5 minutes late to work from lunch. Also, the ladies standing behind me in line to order were rude. This isn't the restaurants fault, but it irked me. They asked if they could squeeze by me to get a better look at the menu, than proceed to order before me. So sneaky! I pity myself for being nice! Bummer.... All in all, pretty solid. I'll be back! Cheers.
(4)Laina A.
Chile Fresco replaced Jalapenos and for the better in my opinion. The layout is pretty much the same, as is the decor. Putting on a new coat of paint and new mirrors is not a "renovation" as some yelpers seem to think, but that is unimportant. The food is what is imporant, so on to that. We ordered beef taquitos, 1 carne asada taco, a carne asade plate, 2 drinks and a small order of 3 of the homemade flour tortillas. We paid an extra 25 cents per tortilla to get the homemade ones. Maybe the owners have read Yelp reviews and the "sort of" complaints re 50 cents?! Our food was brought to us in less than 10 minutes. Overall the food was very good, considering the type of establishment you are in. There were some issues and most were addressed: the free chips were thick, cold and definitely did not taste fresh, boo. The young lady working misheard an order and gave us tacos instead of taquitos. The manager came out and apologized and asked if we wanted it re-done. Hubby said no, but thank you and he persevered with the tacos. The salsas are okay at best. The good stuff: the carne asada was pretty good quality and not fatty. It was tasty and not under or over cooked. The platter comes with choice of white rice or tomato rice and your choice of black, pinto or refried beans. I opted for white rice and refried beans. Both were very good and I detected a hint of butter perhaps in the white rice? I asked what tomato rice meant and was informed it was Spanish rice, with no vegetables. The homemade flour tortillas were very, very good, and I asked for softened butter and spread a bit of that on, then added salsa fresca and rolled it up...delicious. Although tortillas lose their heat so fast! You can refill on your drinks, the place is clean and neat and on a Wednesday night, it was basically empty, so no lines. Service was great and friendly. A bonus was we had a coupon for buy 1 and 2 drinks, get a 2nd for 1/2 off. Always nice to save money. Will definitely be back.
(4)L. W.
Salsa is amazing with the chips and the tacos are absolutely incredible. Love this place.
(5)Kailey S.
I am a definite fan of this place. I agree that it is a bit confusing that an already pretty delicious restaurant changes its name. It may make you a bit hesitant to try the place. I would come here just for the homemade tortillas. They were so good. Crispy tacos are also very tasty. Their daily specials are pretty good and the servers are pretty friendly. My only complaint is that the prices on the menu do not match the prices on the receipt. They are not that much higher, but they shouldn't be different at all.
(4)Daneille H.
Homemade tortillas, authentic taste, and outstanding sauces and salsas. I enjoy the daily specials, like dollar tacos or five dollars combo plates. You must try the enchiladas and the veggie burrito. Chile Fresco is on the top of our list for quality and affordable fast sit down restaurants.
(5)Deanna M.
Read my tip. It used to be good but I think there is new management and now it sucks.
(1)Kayla L.
Went here for some food on my lunch break and decided that the street tacos sounded like a good way to try out the restaurant. They are one dollar each and you have to order a minimum of three! Sounds fair to me, I guess. The lady who took my order seemed nice and she spoke English pretty fluently. However, I'm pretty sure she was on her PERSONAL cell phone while preparing orders...............what the eff? I don't think the business phones are small and pink. I ordered two carnitas, and one chicken because they were the cheapest and I have a short amount of time to get my food and eat it before I have to go back to work. They were wrapped in two warm corn tortillas. They were not hard and no liquid grease was dropping out of them which was nice. They also top the tacos with cilantro, salsa, and onions. I think the tacos are a great deal if you want something that's yummy and quick! The meat was warm, it fell apart easily and with no effort, it was exactly my type of taco! Also, I heard from some of my co-workers that this building use to belong to a Jalapenos restaurant until the owners sold it and they changed it to a Chile Fresco. Some people will debate and say it was better before but there is no way of knowing for sure if you were never there before, lol.
(4)Toni L.
This place is in the same shopping center where I work. I visit at least once a week and have not been disappointed yet as some of the other reviews. I normally get a few street tacos and a drink. They give you free chips with salsa so in all pretty filling for under $6. Staff is friendly. Sure the salsa bar may get a little sloppy but that's common in most places around lunch time. I'd rather have my food fresh and fast than slow because someone needs to man the salsa bar.
(4)Adrian K.
Friendly Cashier, and decent Mexican food for under $10. Not much else to say here. The street tacos were quite delicious, and the salsas were unique. Not my #1 Mexican food spot, but would definitely consider coming back again.
(4)Yteb A.
Iv only been here once. I had a street taco and a torta- both de al pastor. The tacos were bomb and only $1.20! They are small though, about 2 bites. The torta was what made this review 2 stars. My bread was cold, no mayo, and no onion. It was not the best Iv tried. The salsas were a disappointment too since their name is chile fresco. I would come back for the tacos and maybe try something new.
(2)Javi U.
I walked in said they were closed.. I asked what tome do you close they said 9. It was 8:40. Guess they made enough money for the day.
(1)Crystal P.
great food! love the crispy tacos. Restaurant and bathrooms were clean. fast service, excellent food.
(5)Josh S.
This used to be a Jalapeños but is now on its own. Really good lunch deals. $1 street tacos everyday with great chips and surprisingly good salsa. Well worth a visit.
(4)becca a.
If you're looking for something fast then stay away from this place! Customer service is really slow. I walked in and was the only customer in line but no one acknowledged me for about 5 min. I didn't mind the first few minutes because I was looking over the menu. But after having 3 employees acknowledge others in the restaurant after me was unacceptable! Poor customer service!
(2)Alex W.
I WANTED to like this, really I did. The first time there I was blown away. However every time I went back it was mixed - either the food was good and the service not so much, or the service was great and the food mediocre. Their homemade flour tortillas are always good though.
(2)Andrew B.
This place is terrible. Service was EXTREMELY slow, and they weren't even that busy! Food is overpriced, to say the least. Portions are tiny. And to top it off, the food doesn't even taste that great.
(1)Michelle V.
Fresh tortillas here are so delicious. Soft, warm, floury goodness! I've eaten most of their tacos on Taco Tuesdays. Great price, good flavor. I recommend the salsa bar... delicous condiments await!
(4)James M.
Not great, but not horrible. Tacos were kinda greasy, and the salad was bland. Very skippable.
(2)Sally K.
So I had no idea that Jalapenos turned into Chile Fresco. I was in the plaza not too long ago and I could've sworn it was still Jalapenos then.. weird. Anyhoo, I dropped by last night to feast away on Taco Tuesday. Upon discovering it was now Chile Fresco, I was a bit hesitant since I didn't know how the food would be, but it was better! I got the carnitas street tacos and they were tasty. They were a little dry, but the salsa made up for it. The fact that the Laker game was playing was also a huge plus! I only wish it was open a bit later.
(4)Juanita R.
Fresh quality food served HERE. Decent price delivered by happy people; winner in my book! Try it!
(5)Nick S.
Really good lunch deals, but the food isn't fantastic. It's pretty good, but not great. It's ok, but not super fabulous. It's alright, but not exquisite. It's... ya know.
(3)K. L.
Originally was going to pizza place next door, but they were closed. So I ordered a bean and cheese burrito here. While waiting I used the restroom, there was NO soap and it wasn't very tidy. Normally I wouldn't mention it . . . but a female EMPLOYEE came out right before me. As I looked around, I noticed the tables (empty but one) were dirty and so were the front glass doors. The chips were stale and I lost my appetite for the burrito after the bathroom incident. Total waste of five bucks.
(1)MJ F.
Tried the carnitas and al pastor street tacos. Didn't care much for the carnitas but the al pastor was tasty. Be warned though...these are very small tacos. They're probably about 3" in diameter so if you're hungry plan on eating at least 3-4 of these little guys. The salsas could be better. There's mild, hot and pico de gallo. The mild is simply pureed tomatoes with a hint of spiciness - did not like this one at all. The hot salsa was a little more spicy but had a rather sour taste. The pico de gallo was edible. Overall the place is just okay.
(3)Andrew D.
This place must use incredibly fresh ingredients. With the amount of time it took to make a carintas burrito they must have raised a baby pig and slaughtered it in the back. In all honesty it was pretty slow for a very basic burrito. They added a homemade tortilla charge (50 cents) without asking beforehand. The cashier seemed like he wanted to be anywhere but there (understandable but at least fake it like the rest of us). And overall the burrito was just okay. Wouldn't go back.
(2)Shannon G.
It seems the same as when it was jalapeños only the salsa isn't as good. $2 fish tacos on Friday. They were pretty good.
(3)Roxane B.
I have been coming here for years. This location was formerly Jalapenos before they changed the name. I think the food is just as good as it was before the name change. I have never had a bad experience here. My food always comes out the way I request it and the employees are always friendly. Keep it going guys!
(5)Catherine C.
This place was surprisingly good! I was driving up to LA from San Diego and my friend and I were craving Mexican food. I was so disappointed to see that Olamendi's just down the street had shut down. :( We drove a little further down El Toro Road and pulled into this shopping center and randomly ended up here. I had 3 al pastor tacos and a chile relleno and completely loved my lunch. They had a deal for 3 street tacos or more for $0.99 each. Totally reasonable, great flavor, and the a la carte chile relleno was nicely done too! My friend got the enchilada plate-- he liked the enchiladas, but the beans on the side were a little watery, and the guac was just so-so. The place was simple but clean, including the bathroom, and service was friendly and fast. Parking was not a problem at all, and if you feel like having Mexican and your friends want something else, there are lots of little places in the same area with outdoor seating to choose from. I'd come back again if I were passing through town and craving a quickie little taco stop along the way.
(4)Alen V.
Came here for lunch and had their $1.00 tacos. They have $1.00 Monday thru Friday. I think it's only for lunch. Anyways I had their carne asada tacos and tried their fish tacos. They offer complimentary chips. I love real tacos and this was good. Overall great food and great service. After lunch, the Catering Manager came by and introduced herself and asked how our lunch was? I love that! It's awesome when management comes by and get feed back from their customers. If your in the area, I recommend this place. Good food, great prices & great service.
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