Franco’s Famous Mexican Kitchen & Cocktails

I had to stay in a nearby hotel due to the LA fires, so I started searching Yelp for some delicious Mexican food and stumbled upon this hidden gem in the Laguna Hills area. The restaurant has plenty of parking, a great ambiance, and excellent customer service.I enjoyed it so much that I ended up coming here two nights in a row! The chips and salsa were amazing, and on the first night, I had two crispy beef tacos--they were absolutely delicious, and I highly recommend trying them. On the second night, I ordered a tostada with ground beef, beans, rice, cheese, sour cream, and veggies. This dish quickly became my favorite meal!Overall, I'd give this place a 5-star rating. If you're in the area, I highly recommend checking out this restaurant. It's definitely worth a visit!

I had this place bookmarked for a while and finally decided to give it a try. The restaurant's modern decor and stylish ambiance, paired with live music from a talented singer, created a great first impression. However, despite the promising atmosphere, the food was unfortunately disappointing.The guacamole lacked flavor--it just tasted like plain avocado with some spices, with no tomatoes or other ingredients to elevate it. The quesadilla was extremely bland and dried out, leaving much to be desired. The chicken tacos were eh. The rice was the only highlight; it was fluffy and well-cooked, but overall, the food didn't deliver despite being nicely presented.There was a big crowd for breakfast, so maybe that menu is better, but based on my experience for lunch, I don't think I'll be returning.

Franco's Famous is not your typical Mexican restaurant. Forget the cookie-cutter chains like Acapulco, El Torito, or On the Border--those relics of the past with their dimly lit, windowless dining rooms and tired red vinyl booths. Franco's is the antidote. It's brighter, livelier, friendlier--a place that actually feels alive.Let's start with the chips. These aren't just tortilla chips--they're the tortilla chips. Golden, crisp perfection that might just ruin you for anything else. But Franco's doesn't stop there. The tacos are crunchier, the soups taste like they've been simmering all day, and the cocktails? None of that premixed nonsense. Every margarita and paloma is crafted to order, the way it damn well should be.And then there's Taco Tuesday. Orange County has hundreds of options, but Franco's is king. The line at 6:00 PM doesn't lie. It's not just diners packing the place; it's industry people--restaurant owners like me--showing up to see what the fuss is about. Spoiler: the fuss is legit.Franco's Famous doesn't just do Mexican food better--it does it right. A bold, unapologetic (yeah, I said it) evolution of what Mexican dining should be. If you're still clinging to the old guard, do yourself a favor: step into the light.

Me and my dinner date came here on a Friday evening around 7pm. Got seated right away indoors. The place has a nice ambiance and fun bar section. Love their house chips served with spicy salsa. We ordered drinks and our entree. We got tacos, enchillada vallarta and martinis. The rice and sauce complemented well with the enchillada. Parking is plenty. I highly recommend this local gem for good entertainment and yummy food.

Delicious chicken enchiladas! Went two nights in a row while visiting this town! Run to this place! Incredible servers. Nice vibe. Yummy chips and salsa. Loved it.

First time coming here always wanted to try it. At first, I was a little disappointed at the menu because it was limited after ordering the food it was really really good. The thing that turned me off was watching the staff mishandling the clean utensils with dirty hands, wiping them down with a dirty cloth, after grabbing the utensils by the top the part that you put in your mouth. My husband asked me not to say anything to management, but the staff didn't even clean their hands before handling the utensils. Complete turn off. I don't think I'll be back, but I will be calling the health department enter at your own risk.

Another wonderful dining experience at Famous Francos. Taylor, Josh, Tori and the rest of the team provided stellar customer service. We started with drinks and oh boy can Taylor make the best drinks! The ambiance is always positive and casual and the food and drinks phenomenal. The tequila Ocho anejo shots were perfect. The Don Julio Blanco with Topo Chico and three limes muddled with mint was umm umm good as was the mango margarita. My wife had the enchiladas Verde and I had the chicken fajitas. Fantastic food, service and people. Highly recommended.

D32 - Franco's Famous Mexican Kitchen & CocktailI had been to Franco's Famous once before, a month earlier with my good friend, MC. Him & I usually get together once a month to catch up and grab a bite to eat. Also, it just so happened to be Happy Hour which was a nice surprise! (Thumbs up)Restaurant front - https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=b9S5hk9OHzbOzbtIq38srA&userid=O6EBodP3Fgu_n67efSKnBQThe order:Strawberry Margarita - Happy Hour x2 ($10 x2) - Very goodModelo Beer - Happy Hour ($5) - OkayPhoto - https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=85NYM-a660PNocadScCd0w&userid=O6EBodP3Fgu_n67efSKnBQGuacamole - Happy Hour ($9) - Very goodPhoto - https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=GyK2YJiBatHaE_1qrvhjyw&userid=O6EBodP3Fgu_n67efSKnBQFish Taco - Happy Hour ($8) - GoodPhoto - https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=_8NraK1au7FI5tvaZVpO3w&userid=O6EBodP3Fgu_n67efSKnBQTaco Dorado - Chicken ($6) - GoodTaco Dorado - Shredded Beef ($6) - GoodPhoto - https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=ej9Oz2fYj76N2llvqKWsaA&userid=O6EBodP3Fgu_n67efSKnBQChile Relleno w/Carnitas ($20) - Very goodPhoto - https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=t7dtENsr6PoO0HYEt7qryA&userid=O6EBodP3Fgu_n67efSKnBQThe food and service were great! What was even more surprising was the Happy Hour tacos. MC & I somewhat expected small sized, street tacos; these weren't that. It was a good night. Time jump, forward one month; date night with AR. Since MC & I first ate here a month prior, I've been thinking that Franco's Famous would be a great place for date night... 'And I was right!BTW - The complimentary chips and salsa; delicious.Photo - https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=AwAYRF2yodJgeOZObMyt-w&userid=O6EBodP3Fgu_n67efSKnBQAR & I arrived just after 6pm and the restaurant was bustling. I advise arriving by 5pm. You will have better chance of scoring seats without to much of a wait AND still be able to order from the Happy Hour menu.Note: We had just missed Happy Hour by 15 minutes. HA! It would've been nice to save a few $$ but better luck next time. The order:House Margarita ($12) - GoodCucumber Jalapeño Margarita ($14) - Very good Guacamole ($12) - Very goodElote/Corn ($14) - Very goodChile Authentico ($21) - GreatExtra tortillas ($3) - Good**No photos - Decided to pass on the picture taking and focus on our date.Much like my first visit here with MC a month ago, another great experience @ Franco's Famous; from the delicious food and drinks, the service, to the ambiance. Last time here, I had a Modelo, on tap. The Cucumber Jalapeño Margarita was very good; decent pour; not watered down. AR had the House Margarita which was also very good.For starters, AR & I had the guacamole and elote. AR ordered the elote which I never had before. Both appetizers were very good! I enjoyed the guacamole as much as I did the first visit to Franco's Famous. Both of our drinks were tasty and had nice pours of tequila; a "generous two ounces worth." We both agreed that the highlight of menu items ordered was the Chile Authentico. The pork was cooked perfectly, nice and tender; the chile verde sauce was delicious. (Highly recommended.)One thing that would've made a better experience this evening would have been a bigger table. AR & I were seated at a small two person table which made for tight quarters with the candle, salt & pepper shakers, two glasses of water, two appetizers, two libations, an entree, and two small plates. The table was crowded with drinks teetering at the edge. My years of playing Tetris paid off, navigating the small table with menu items and drinks. Other than that, it was a great night.Looking forward to our next visit!- Big Aloha!Overall rating: 4 1/2 Stars (Rounding up) Food: 5Ambiance: 4Service: 5Value: 4+

We enjoyed quick and courteous take out service on Valentines night! Our fajitas ( both steak and chicken) were generously portioned, with all the trimmings!

Delicious food! Service was good, I have no complaints! I recommend if you're looking for a good Mexican restaurant. Chips and salsa were always hot and fresh. Fried ice cream was amazing. I would definitely get the churros and ice cream over the fried ice cream, the best!