Avila's El Ranchito - Orange

My first time dining at Avila's El Ranchito. I met my buddy here as it's one of his favorite restaurants.Situated in old downtown Orange, this little gem exudes an historic and authentic cultural vibe. The staff are super friendly and extremely attentive. We visited during lunch time on a Wednesday and chose to sit at a table in the bar area. We never had to wait for anything. Chips n' salsa never ran low and our drinks never dipped below half a glass before they were re-filled without having to ask. Impressive! Although, it was my first experience at the restaurant, there was a strong "cheers" style feel. Upon being seated, we were immediately presented with chips and salsa. I must say that the salsa was excellent! Definitely not from a jar here! It was super tangly, cool and refreshing with the perfect amount of spice to rally your tastebuds for what would be coming next..I ordered the two chicken tacos and tortilla soup combo. I really liked that I had some options with regard to the style of chicken. Specifically, chicken grilled breast or shredded. I asked and was able to order one of each. While both were excellent, the shredded chicken was a bit more flavorful as it's marinated. The soup was absolutely perfect! Lots of chicken and vegetables in a broth that makes you feel like you are at grandmas! All in all, the food was EXCELLENT! Not a drop of grease, just high quality "homemade style" and authentic Mexican food that is delivered by a staff that aims to please. Fantastic experience and can't wait to comeback and try another amazing dish!!!Avila's El Ranchito is a MUST try!!

Great Mexican Food 'Alfredo is the best bartender ever !Great ambiance for family's and no children ... place for everyone one !

Came for dinner with the bestie and we both got the mole enchiladas. The mole was very good not spicy only thing is I'd probably ask for no melted cheese on top next time. For dessert we got the churros it came with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and the churros were filled with a vanilla custard. Top notch!Oh by the way this location doesn't serve aguas frescas.

We had a really large group and the service was amazing! They accommodated us with short notice and we had one of the best waiters I've encountered in a long time. The food was fantastic and I would highly recommend this restaurant!

I love Avila's, it's always what you want and expect from an authentic Mexican restaurant: fresh food, huge portions, great chips and salsa, and friendly service. We love coming here for date night or to celebrate a special occasion. This location can be very loud if you sit in the main dining room due to the building structure and high ceilings, we prefer the bar area or back rooms. Highly recommend and will return soon!

I'm a big fan of a Mexican restaurant that starts you off with a bowl of chips and salsa (at Avila's they're really good and they keep coming.) as delicious as they are don't fill up on the chips because the food is really good too. I had the chimichanga (deep fried burrito to put it simply) and it was really tasty. Avila's is in the beautiful Old Towne Orange are of Orange, CA and is a nice place to end your day before going home.

Came here on Saturday night around 8pm, after a mini golf date, my wife was craving the avocado burrito. we had no reservations, were seated immediately. This time, i tried mama avila's soup -- absolutely mind-blowing (especially if you add lemon) Service was again super good , met Jesus who just crushed it from the moment i met him -- served chips and salsa immediately upon sitting -- got our mains within 5-10 minutes Constant reminders of why this place exists and thrivesAlso -- the Diet Coke here is 10/10 Worth the stop -- will be coming here frequently for the soup!

Came by for a Christmas work lunch. I had the carne asada and camarones al mojo de ajo. Really good dish. The asada was cooked perfect (medium). The shrimp were also really good. I have to admit, the beans were super good! The chiles toreados werent that spicy but complimented the dish.

Come for the food, margaritas, and service, but stay for the charming neighborhood. I've been to several Avila's locations. This one, in my opinion, tops the chart because of the neighborhood. I can easily see that parking could get tricky during prime dining hours, and I imagine as the weather gets more perfect, this gem will get crazy busy, so be sure to keep that in mind.Avila's menu is predictable with options for any palate. Salsa, guacamole, chips, you know the drill. I had the Tampequeña and have to admit I've had better. I prefer a medium rare steak and would have liked an a la diabla shrimp enchilada, but apart from that, my meal was good. Note to self: stick to carnitas.There is an outdoor area - lovely for those warm evenings when sipping margaritas are the way you roll. Parking surrounding the restaurant, and they have a private lot too, but again, this area is popular so parking could get hairy.Chips, dip, sip, repeat in this sweet, converted church, and say a prayer for good measure.

I've been to multiple Avila's location. This is become a must stop when I visiting from Washington!The way the staff welcomes you and the unique atmosphere of the place, reminiscent of an old church, really seem to make each visit special. It's not just about the food, which clearly is a highlight with the famous caldo and the must-have crispy taco, but also about the feeling of connection and warmth that turns a simple meal into a memorable occasion. The streak and garlic shrimp is also another favorite of mine. It's wonderful to find such a gem during my travels from Washington. I plan to have many more visits to Avila's. With the goal to visit all of there locations.