


At Palenque Kitchen by Mezcal in Costa Mesa, we are a modern mexican restaurant serving bold flavors with a fresh twist. We offer elevated Mexican cuisine along with a full mezcal and tequila bar that makes every visit special. Guests join us for brunch, lunch, dinner, and late night dining in a fun and lively space. Our menu features tasty tacos, classic favorites, and new dishes made with care. We also bring music and entertainment to Costa Mesa, CA and nearby areas, so you can enjoy great food and good times all in one place.
Hours
| Friday | 5 PM–12 AM |
| Saturday | 12 PM–12 AM |
| Sunday | 11 AM–9 PM |
| Monday | Closed |
| Tuesday | Closed |
| Wednesday | 5–10 PM |
| Thursday | 5–10 PM |
Address and Contact Information
Address: 1749 Newport Blvd, Costa Mesa, CA 92627
Phone: (949) 402-9951
Website: https://www.palenquekitchen.com/location/orange-county-copy/?utm_source=omg-gbp&utm_medium=webclick
Menu Photos
Order and Reservations
Reservations: palenquekitchen.comopentable.com
Photo Gallery
Related Web Results
Palenque | Mexican Restaurant in CA
Palenque Kitchen (@palenquekitchen) • Instagram photos and videos
Palenque – Orange County Restaurant – Costa Mesa, CA – OpenTable
Last Updates
Reviews
Food wise, unfortunately, my breakfast burrito was bland, and so were the rice and beans from my friend’s tacos. Another friend who is not into spicy food said her tacos were very spicy (so be careful when you order). My burrito came with green salsa on the side and it still was missing some flavor. Next time I come I will order my friend’s chilaquiles, which was very tasty and flavorful!!
Drinks are made in house and are perfect. Our waiter was really nice and the food didn’t take long to arrive. Great place to come for a date or a large celebration! Yes, they have brunch! The tres letches cake and the birthday dessert are worth it too.
The Good: We sat at the bar, and our bartender was dope. He was the only highlight of the night, and the drinks were fantastic.
The Atmosphere: Despite the place being packed, there was zero vibe. It was eerily quiet, like a university library—a lot of people, but no noise.
The Food: For $90 a head, the “3-course meal” had fewer than 10 total options; it felt like an international flight menu. The kitchen completely forgot our order. After 45 minutes of watching others eat, we waited another 15 for a “lobster bisque” that was served cold and had almost zero lobster. I’m not exaggerating when I say a single basil leaf had more surface area than the lobster morsels in the dish. Even the bartender noticed and checked with the kitchen, only for the chef to claim it was “intended to be that way.” My steak arrived dry and overcooked, and there was only one choice for dessert—a basic cheesecake.
The Logistics: I stepped outside for some air and saw a line of people with reservations who still hadn’t been seated. I overheard several frustrated couples, including one pair who had been waiting for half an hour past their scheduled reservation time.
Final Verdict: Between the kitchen and the seating, the management was a complete mess. Save your money and go somewhere that actually values its customers. Spending $300 to leave feeling like an idiot is a joke
We were so impressed with the ambiance and service as well. Extremely attentive.
And the food lived up to the hype too. Steak chilaquiles and chicken enchiladas came out piping hot and full of flavor, and we ended our meal with the best tres leches cake my friend and I have ever had. We literally had to sit back and bask in the glory of that dish.
WE WILL 100% BE BACK!
Our server, Miguel, took quite a while to come by and take our order. Once we did order, it took an unusually long time for our drinks to arrive. What made this more frustrating was that we were the only party in the restaurant, aside from a couple sitting at the bar. I can only imagine how much longer it would have taken if there had been more guests.
Another point that stood out was the reservation process — I had to provide a credit card to reserve a table, which seemed unnecessary given that it was a Tuesday evening and the restaurant was nearly empty.
Throughout the evening, we had to call out several times to get our server’s attention, which really detracted from what should have been a pleasant dining experience.
Overall, while the food was enjoyable, the service did not match the price point or the expectations for a restaurant of this caliber. I truly hope management addresses this issue so that future guests can enjoy the full experience the restaurant aims to provide.
This experience was on 10/21/25 at 7:00pm