2497 Park Avenue
Tustin, CA 92782
Opening a new restaurant has got to be one of the most nerve-racking experiences to undertake. There's just so much that goes into it that it's got to feel like a tidal wave coming at you from all directions, and all that you can hope for is that you can withstand the onslaught of everything going on around you. It's probably even more so in these crazy times that we have been going through for what seems like the last seven years, but in reality, it has only been 20 months.
I used to have a very strict policy of waiting a year before reviewing restaurants on this blog. Then I had a change of heart as many people wanted to know if that new place they were thinking of going to was worth parting with their hard-earned money. Always one to listen to my readership, all three of you, I now go to all restaurants, regardless of how long they have been in business.
Casa Del Sol, which took over the Auld Dubliner spot at the District at Tustin Legacy opened in mid-September, and we visited during their opening weekend. This visit was almost a near-miss because they were having problems with their computer system, but they got it all figured out and opened their doors a half-hour after their posted 5pm opening time. We did not have a reservation, so we had to wait while they seated people with reservations first, but we eventually got a nice table out on their patio.
The backstory of Casa Del Sol is pretty interesting. The restaurant is owned by legendary mariachi musician, Jose Hernandez, who has been nominated for multiple Grammy's, and to the right of the hostess stand, there's an enclosed case with plenty of information about him. This restaurant used to be Cielito Lindo, but not the one that is famous for its taquitos on Olvera Street in Downtown LA. This one was in El Monte since 1986 and held nightly mariachi shows which drew people from all over.
The pandemic hit them hard, along with all of the LA County restrictions on restaurants, so they looked to move their operations to OC. When we visited they had paper menus, and we were told this was a slimmed-down version of their menu, but it looks pretty similar to the menu that is posted online. They still have their mariachi shows twice an evening but are closed on Mondays. Check the link at the bottom of this review for more info. We were too early for the 7pm show, but I was here for the food anyway. Let's check out this new kid on the block.
As is the custom on this blog, we have to start with the Chips and Salsa we were presented with as we were seated. The chips were lightly fried, and the salsa was fine, it just needed a bit more pop of spice. I also like a little more chunk to my salsa, but the abundance of chopped onions was a nice touch.
Katie and I have become Queso Fundido ($12) fiends, so we definitely needed to start our evening off with Casa Del Sol's version. The bubbly cheese blend was topped with chorizo, diced tomatoes, and some cilantro, and was served with flour tortillas. I really enjoyed the cheese and the bigger chunks of chorizo which really made this stand out. The downside of this appetizer was the diced tomatoes topping this and that we were only given three tortillas to split between the four of us. Still, it was worth trying for sure.
My mom is pretty predictable when she's eating Mexican food. Nine out of ten times she's going to have a cheese enchilada. At Casa Del Sol that meant the 2 Cheese Enchilada Plate ($15) would be sat in front of her. These enchiladas came with red sauce covering them with a drizzle of sour cream on top. She's a light eater, so she only had one and took the other one home, but she exclaimed that she enjoyed these enchiladas. She was not a fan of the rice since it included a few peas. Peas have been her arch-nemesis since she was a child.
As sure as my mom gets enchiladas, my dad is going to get a Chili Relleno ($19). Coming two to a plate, these chile Rellenos were filled with Monterey jack cheese and finished off with more cheese, sour cream, and a slight amount of ranchero sauce. My dad liked these but stated he'd probably get something else next time he visited.
Birria Tacos ($23) are all the rage right now, and Casa Del Sol appears to want to get in on that action right now as well. These were the best item of our evening. The beef was nicely flavored and provided an even better flavor bomb when dipped into the provided consume. This came with rice only, which I thought was odd, especially when you are paying nearly eight dollars per taco. Seem like some beans should have been added to this as well.
I've been trying a new tactic when eating in Mexican restaurants, and it's to try something off of the specialties section of their menu. At Casa Del Sol the one that piqued my interest the most was the Carnitas Uruapan Style with a Cheese Enchilada. The carnitas texturally was just the way that I like them, a good mix of fatty, crispy, and savory pieces, but these needed a bit more in the flavor department. The cheese enchilada was just as my mom stated, good, and was a nice diversion between forkfuls of the carnitas. This plate was good sized with the provided rice and beans. The beans were fine, but I rather enjoyed the lightness of the rice, which was not as heavy as most other Mexican restaurants.
After our meal, we walked around the District for a bit, and then we wandered back inside Casa Del Sol on our way out to the parking lot to check out the mariachi show. The place was jam-packed with people listening to the very talented musicians on the stage. If you are into mariachi music, you have to check this place out. The food on the other hand was just a bit above average. Nothing that we encountered on this evening was mind-blowing, even though the birria tacos were quite good, but you can get better at other spots nearby for quite a few dollars less. For being a new restaurant the service and kitchen were on point. We got our food in a very timely manner and our server was juggling at least five to six tables with ease during our visit. I'll be interested to see how this place does going forward.
Out of five cradles, (because Cocula, Jalisco Mexico is nicknamed the cradle of mariachi due to the fact that this type of music started in this town), five being best to zero being worst, Casa Del Sol gets 3 cradles.
For more information about Casa Del Sol, head to their website by clicking here: https://www.casadelsoloc.com/
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