X Marks the Spot in Mission Viejo (Plus My Top 10 South OC Mexican Restaurants)

 Xclusive Mexican Kitchen

25571 Jeronimo Road #1

Mission Viejo, CA 92691

I often hear it from people, "there's no good Mexican food in South OC." I agree that most of the great Mexican food in OC is located north of Irvine, but there are some excellent Mexican restaurants in South OC; you just have to do a little more hunting to find them. I'll post my top ten Mexican restaurant spots in South OC at the end of this review, but for now, let's see if Xclusive Mexican Kitchen can crack my top ten list. 

If Xclusive sounds familiar, it might be because you have been to or heard about Xclusive Taqueria Moderna in Ladera Ranch. I reviewed that restaurant in 2020, right before the pandemic threw everything into chaos. At that time, they were a fast-casual restaurant, where you'd order at the counter, and then the food was brought to you. They pivoted sometime after I published my review to a full-service restaurant, and even though they don't have the most high-visibility location, they are still thriving and have a very high 4.6-star rating on Yelp. Very impressive. 

The men behind Xclusive are Manny Velasco and Eddie Rivera. Manny was the executive chef and co-owner of Sol Agave, but I'm unsure if he's still with them, as there is no mention of him on their website or in recent news stories about the restaurant. I was also surprised to learn that Sol Avage has expanded to six locations, with two of them in Utah. It's very interesting, and I'm sure there's a story behind it, but back to the restaurant I'm reviewing. 

Xclusive started out as Xclusive Mexican Seafood and changed its name to Xclusive Mexican Kitchen sometime after its 2022 debut. Their menu is still primarily seafood-focused, but it also offers a variety of beef, pork, and chicken options. The menu is very approachable, and almost everyone who walks through their door can find something they'd like to eat here. Entrees range between $20 and $43. Taco Tuesday is celebrated here all day with food and drink specials. 

We arrived at Xclusive at 7 p.m. on a Wednesday and were greeted by a fairly full restaurant. Upon entering, a large bar area is located off to your left, featuring an L-shaped bar and four TVs mounted above it. The dining area is spaced out nicely, as you are not right on top of other tables. A couple more TVs are scattered throughout the space, and a wall display proudly showcases their tequila collection. We made our selections with our server and waited under 15 minutes for our food to hit the table. 

The Bean Dip served with Chips and Salsa is a signature dish from any Manny Velasco restaurant. It was hard for Katie and me to keep from gobbling this down as we waited for our entrees. The bean dip here is addictive. The chips were fresh, and the salsa had a great consistency—just right for dipping. The waitstaff was very attentive to refilling our drinks, salsa, bean dip, and chips during our visit, which was greatly appreciated. 

Katie's order this evening was fairly straightforward: she selected the Two-Item Combo ($18), which includes a Crispy Chicken Taco and a Cheese Enchilada. The taco came with pico, crema, queso fresco, purple cabbage, and chicken. The chicken was nicely done with a mix of crispy and tender pieces. The tortilla was fried lightly and held everything together well. The cheese enchilada was topped with lime crema and queso fresco. It was bigger than most enchiladas we have had. Katie was pleased with this combo plate and would not hesitate to get this again. She loved the crispiness of the taco shell, the chicken's flavor, and the enchilada's understated cheesiness. The plate was rounded out with rice and beans. 

I would not normally spend over thirty dollars on two enchiladas, but the Lobster and Shrimp Enchiladas ($31) came highly recommended on Yelp, so I had to try them. Like the cheese enchilada on Katie's plate, these enchiladas were on the larger side. They did not skimp on the amount of lobster and shrimp in these either. Every forkful had at least some shrimp or lobster. The red sauce complemented the insides of the enchilada wonderfully. The little salad was okay. I would have rather had some beans, but the rice was a nice vehicle for the excess sauce. 

We both enjoyed our meal at Xclusive this evening. The portion sizes are generous, but the prices might deter some people, which is a shame because what comes out of the kitchen is some really high-quality Mexican food. I look forward to trying one of their molcajetes, steak tampiquena, and carnitas on future visits. The service we experienced was excellent, but did they make my top ten of South OC Mexican restaurants? Read on to find out.  

Out of five vigilantes (because back in 1997, Mission Viejo was home to a minor league baseball team of this name, which played in the now-defunct Western Baseball League), with five being best and zero being worst, Xclusive Mexican Kitchen earns 3.5 vigilantes. 

For more information about Xclusive Mexican Kitchen, head to their website by clicking here: https://xclusivemexicankitchenca.com/

Top Ten South OC Mexican Restaurants (I've been to so far) 

#10  Perla's Taqueria - Mission Viejo (no review yet)

#9  Baja Fish Tacos - Mission Viejo/Lake Forest

#8 Xclusive Mexican Kitchen - Mission Viejo

#7  El Campion - San Juan Capistrano (no review yet)

#6  Sol Agave - San Juan Capistrano

#5  The Taco Stand - Mission Viejo

#4  La Cocina de Ricardo - Lake Forest

#3  Calo Kitchen and Tequila - Laguna Niguel

#2  El Maguey - San Juan Capistrano

#1  Tacos de Birria Estilo de Guadalajara - Laguna Woods/Aliso Viejo

A Rolling Stone Gathers Teriyaki Bowls at Mos 2

 Mos 2

221 South Grand

Santa Ana, CA 92701

It's been far too long since I've eaten at Mos 2. Okay, that might be an understatement. The last time I was here was in 1995, when I worked nearby and went here with a coworker for lunch. What I remember most about that trip was that it was tough to find parking, they had what seemed like hundreds of little cups of teriyaki sauce on the counter, and many people were standing around waiting for their food. I was also nervous about making it back to work on time.  

Flashback to the present day, and after being at my job for 37 years, I'm no longer nervous about taking a more extended lunch break. I can't remember not taking an extra ten minutes for lunch recently. Ironically, on this visit to Mos 2, I came with my current coworkers, who were not even born when I was here the first time all those years ago. They are fans of this spot and wanted to make sure I would review it. So here goes. 

I conducted some research and discovered the reason why this is called Mos 2. There was a Mos Burger's off of Edinger in Santa Ana way back in the day. I'm unsure if these two had the same ownership, but to avoid confusion, they named themselves Mos 2. They have four locations up and running, two in Anaheim and two, including this one, in Santa Ana. The Santa Ana establishments are housed in old Taco Bells, so if you feel nostalgic, this might be another reason to visit.  

We arrived here at 1030, and with only ten parking spaces in the cramped lot, I can imagine it gets a little hectic at lunchtime. You could chance parking at the DMV next door, but plenty of signs warn that car towing is possible. We arrived early enough, so this was not a concern for us, but it is something to be aware of. 

The menu at Mos 2 is slightly more diverse than that at your local In-N-Out. They have bowls, combo plates, and sides. The big draw here is the teriyaki beef, chicken, and pork. Like at Flame Broiler or Waba Grill, they serve their teriyaki proteins with green onions, rice, and two thimble-sized cups of teriyaki sauce. Combo plates come with a gyoza, egg roll, and green salad, and you also have the option to upgrade(?) your meal with fried shrimp, scallops, or fish. This is one of the few remaining restaurants that still accepts cash only, so be sure to have some cash handy, as if it's 1995 all over again. 

We found seats on the front patio and waited for our number to be called. My Teriyaki Beef and Chicken Combo ($14.50) arrived first. Both meats were piled on top of plain white rice, and I drizzled my two allocated cups of teriyaki over the chicken and beef. I considered buying two more sauces, but I decided to try this with what was provided. 

The chicken was more tender than I expected, while the beef was slightly overcooked, but the teriyaki sauce masked that, making it still enjoyable. This would have been even better if I had gotten two more teriyaki sauces or at least some hot sauce to balance out the sweetness of the teriyaki. The gyoza and egg roll were both unremarkable, and the salad was dressed very lightly with a creamy, tangy dressing that only coated a quarter of the lettuce. The bowl might be the way to go at Mos 2.  

Both Jeff and Becks got plates. I don't know if they planned it this way, but they got one of each: the Teriyaki Chicken Plate ($13.50) and the Teriyaki Beef Plate ($14.25). They really pile on the meat at Mos 2. They seemed to like their meals, but Jeff said he prefers Waba Grill. 

Trying to impress his girlfriend, Astrid, Jesse opted for the Teriyaki Chicken and Fried Shrimp Plate ($14.75). This is probably so he won't have to take her to a nice seafood restaurant for at least a few months. Of course, always the cheapskate, Jesse made them split this meal. You deserve so much better, Astrid. 

Jesse was generous enough to share one of their shrimp with me. It reminded me of the frozen ones my mom used to fry up in a pan while growing up. There was nothing wrong with it, and it brought back some nostalgia. Thanks for the shrimp and the journey down memory lane, guys. 

I left Mos 2 feeling good about my meal. It's easy to see how they have stayed in business for many decades. I'm not a teriyaki bowl expert, as this is the first one I've reviewed on this blog; however, it's the leader in the clubhouse for now. Mos 2 is better than Waba Grill and light years better than what Flame Broiler has become in the last few years. This is not a convenient restaurant to patronize, given its cash-only policy, limited seating, and tiny parking lot. However, if you want a good teriyaki bowl at a reasonable price, Mos 2 might just be what you are looking for. They'll probably be around well after I retire.  

Out of five blind intersections (because of the proximity to the DMV, it reminded me that the reason I failed my first driver's test was that I went too fast through blind intersections, and I had to wait an extra month to finally get my license, very traumatic at age 16), five being best to zero being worst, Mos 2 gets 3 blind intersections. 

For more information about Mos 2, head to their website by clicking here: https://mos2teriyaki.com/

Is This SOL Mexican Cocina’s Moment in the Sun?

 Sol Mexican Cocina

1910 Main Street

Irvine, CA 92614

Sol Mexican Cocina will always hold a special place in my heart. In the early days of this blog, I wrote about this restaurant quite often. It turns out it was only four times, but that still seems like a lot to me now, as I always wanted this restaurant review blog to be as diverse as possible. There were two reasons for the overabundance of Sol Cocina posts. We were invited to their media events, of which they had one every few months or so. The second reason was that we genuinely enjoyed the food here. This is where we'd come for special occasions, and we even spent a memorable Valentine's Day lunch here about ten years ago. 

This was also the first place where I really enjoyed what people called elevated Mexican food. When Sol Cocina opened in Newport Beach in 2011, the only restaurants that fit this description were Las Brisas and Javier's, which I have never really enjoyed. Sol Cocina was brought to fruition when Deborah Schneider, an award-winning writer of Mexican cookbooks and executive chef, and her business partners decided to bring her Baja-inspired recipes to the public.

Sol Cocina's expansion was measured, but it progressed over the years. They operate five locations: their initial Newport Beach spot, Playa Vista, Scottsdale, Irvine, and Denver. An outpost at the Forum Shops in Las Vegas shuttered last year. Sol Cocina spawned a more casual Mexican restaurant, Solita Tacos and Margaritas, which has two locations, Huntington Beach and Valencia.   

In 2019, Xperience Restaurant Group acquired both of these restaurant concepts. The group also operates El Torito, Chevy's, Las Brisas, Acapulco, and others. This was our first visit to Sol Cocina since it was sold to the new restaurant group, and it's always a crap shoot whether it's going to be as good or slide downward in food and service quality. I was intrigued to find out which way it was going to go. 

My aunt and uncle have been including Katie and me in their family celebrations, and for my aunt's birthday, they decided to have it at Sol Cocina in Irvine. This location is situated alongside Main Street in the Irvine Concourse, also home to Goldfinch, The Trough, their soon-to-open sister restaurant, Monaco Italian Kitchen, and Izakaya Osen. Quite the ensemble of restaurants for an area of town mainly dotted with hotels and multi-story office buildings. 

We arrived at Sol Cocina at half past 6 on a Sunday evening. The restaurant was sparsely populated, and our server met us immediately as we were seated. The dining room was sleek and modern. We weren't sitting near it, but the dining room's centerpiece is a glass-enclosed kitchen, which would be interesting to sit near if you are into watching the inner workings of a restaurant kitchen. 

It's been a long while since we've eaten at Sol, but since the ownership change, the menu has not changed much, which is nice to see. Four of the ten starters are different versions of guacamole, and the rest of the menu is broken up into sections of salads, specialty plates, tacos, burritos, and quesadillas. Entrees go for anywhere between $20 and $42 for a wagyu steak. We made our selections, and this is what came out for us.  

No sizzling skillet for the Sol Fajitas ($30) here. This serving of flap meat featured some really nice grill marks on the steak, and came with some fajita vegetables, an excellent cilantro chimichurri, pico de gallo, and sliced avocado. I was sitting at the far end of the table from Casey, who ordered this, but I did not hear any complaints from him from where I was sitting. I liked the change of pace of forgoing the pomp and circumstance of having the fajitas steaming hot and sizzling for all the restaurant to hear. Very understated. 

The taco plates come with three tacos and two sides of your choice. They offer carnitas, grilled chicken, or this Carne Asada Taco Plate ($21). The corn tortillas contain pico, onions, avocado sauce, and cilantro. These looked fine from where I sat, but I would have asked for extra salsa. The black beans and red rice were an easy choice over the other two sides, spicy slaw and quinoa salad.

This would have been my pick if someone had not snatched it up before me. This Short Ribs 'Barbacoa' ($32) resembled a chile colorado. The short ribs were tender, and the red sauce had a nice, almost smoky flavor but did not detract from the meat. This came with the rice and beans as the tacos, but also had three pieces of sweet potato on the plate, which I thought was a little odd. For $32, I thought they could have included a little more short rib. 

I always favor pork in Mexican restaurants, and that was true again on this visit to Sol when I selected the Pork Carnitas ($23). This was a very solid version of this dish. The pork had a nice mix of fatty and lean pieces; there were some crispy ends, and adding the chicharon, which was not listed on the menu description, was a pleasant surprise. The rice and black beans were good, but I prefer the bean dip you get at the start of your meal with the chips and salsa. The bean dip brought this pork to a whole other level. I'll ask for extra the next time I'm here.  

Katie selected the Chicken 'Desmadres' ($23) for her meal this evening. I promise there is chicken under all that arugula, red onion, tomatoes, peppers, and avocado salad. It was an interesting presentation because a citrus drizzle acted like a light dressing, topping this. I would have liked this salad served on the side, so getting to the chicken would have been easier. Katie liked this well enough but thought it was also an odd dish. The chicken was tender, but it needed a flavor boost. 

I've never really understood why quesadillas need to be as expensive as they are. This is not a knock on Sol Cocina, because every restaurant, whether it's elevated Mexican, a modest taqueria, or even Del Taco, which offers its chicken quesadilla at $6, has a massive upcharge for this delicious snack. Half a dollar for the tortilla, a dollar for the cheese, and two dollars, conservatively, for the chicken, for a grand total of $3.50 for something that gets upcharged 400 percent at most sit-down restaurants. This Grilled Chicken Quesadilla ($19), I'm sure, was better than most, and it did come with a drizzle of salsas, tomatoes, and onions on top, and two sides. So, it's a relative bargain compared to most restaurants' quesadillas. Sorry, I rambled here, but I needed to get it off my chest.  

I'm glad Sol Mexican Cocina has not fallen off the rails since they changed ownership. Some of the novelty of their food has dimmed a bit because upscale Mexican food has become more common, but I'd place Sol right in the middle of all the elevated Mexican restaurants I've visited. They are better than Las Brisas and Javier's, but not as good as Calo, Red O, or Sol Agave. The service was nice and cordial, and their prices, except for the quesadilla, were not outrageous. A worthy restaurant for a family gathering or a date night. 

Out of five soccer balls (because the Los Angeles Sol was a professional women's soccer team that won the regular season championship in their only season, with five being best and zero being worst, Sol Mexican Cocina gets 3 soccer balls. 

For more information about Sol Mexican Cocina, head to their website by clicking here: https://solcocina.com/

Yes, Another Hot Chicken Review, Bred Hot Chicken

 Bred Hot Chicken

2930 Bristol Street Suite A104

Costa Mesa, CA 92626

Okay, I know I've written this before, but this feels like hot chicken review number 3,692 that I have posted. It's like weeds sprouting up in your front yard; once you turn your back, many seem to come up through the grass. Hot chicken sandwich spots are just like that; they are multiplying like frozen yogurt places did in 2010. Unfortunately, most small froyo places have closed, with only Golden Spoon, Yogurtland, Menchie's, and a few others surviving. I'm hoping for a better fate for all the hot chicken spots in Southern California. 

I'm unsure how Bred Hot Chicken ended up on my restaurant wishlist, but it seemed like the perfect spot to meet my niece Kaylie and her husband Brady, whom I have nicknamed Brawny, due to his resemblance to the guy on the Brawny Paper Towels. They had recently married, so Katie and I wanted to treat them to dinner to celebrate. I gave them five spots to choose from, and this was the one they wanted to try. 

Bred Hot Chicken opened at the LAB Anti-Mall in Costa Mesa three years ago this month. In that time, they have brought some stability to this space, which has seen its fair share of turnover in recent years. I ate here when it was LA Brisket and Baba's Hot Chicken, which departed after what feels like a very short stint.  I'm sure I'm missing some places this suite used to be, but let's focus on the present. 

This is a family-run business, with Scott Kearse and his wife, Laura, running things. Like many other restaurant beginnings, they started with a food truck before opening this location. Since then, they have also opened at the newly opened River Street Marketplace in San Juan Capistrano. Their website also mentions a possible expansion to Las Vegas, but a quick Google search yielded that they have not done that yet, although they have sold their chicken at some concerts there. Stay tuned. 

At Bred Hot Chicken, you can get your chicken many ways: as nuggets, tenders, in a slider or sandwich, on top of fries, served with waffles, and even in a Caesar salad. They also have many platter options, perfect for bigger groups. I counted six side items and two desserts to choose from. With all hot chicken restaurants, the dipping sauces are front and center, and Bred's has ten to choose from, with their signature Comeback sauce being the most popular. Enough chatter, let's see the food. 

I'll just group the chicken items together to reduce my writing time. We got the Slider Chicks ($12..95), Big O' Sandwich ($12.95), and Juicy Tenders ($10.95). These come à la carte, with the sides costing between $1.49 for the slaw and $7.95 for the mac and cheese. The chicken has six heat levels, with everyone else choosing either no heat or a kiss of heat, the two lowest amounts of heat you can get. I kicked it up two notches by getting the spicy, which is described as a satisfying burn. 

Everyone really enjoyed their chicken. My tablemates described it as juicy and moist, with a good, crunchy breading coating the outside. I also enjoyed my rather large chicken tenders. They nailed the description of the heat level, as it was very satisfying without being overwhelming. I got the comeback sauce, which resembles Cane's sauce but is a little less peppery and thicker, so it clings to the chicken better. I discarded the white bread that came with my tenders, but their homemade brined pickles were legit. 

Here's where things went a little off the rails, Bred's sides. The Potato Salad ($3.95) was fine, with hunks of tender potato and covered in a dressing that resembled the one my mom made when we were growing up. I felt my mom's was okay back then, but it was not good enough to be served in a restaurant. Bred's was just kind of boring, and maybe they should look at the picture on their website and add some cayenne seasoning to the top of their potato salad to wake it up a bit. 

The Millionaire Mac and Cheese ($7.95) was the night's biggest disappointment at Bred Hot Chicken. When something is called, "millionaire", you'd expect it to be something special. This was not. It was rather boring flavor-wise, even though the menu claims this is made with four kinds of cheeses. The cheese barely covered the noodles, and this again was not even close to what the picture on their website looks like. I looked at the pictures on Yelp, and the mac and cheese is at best inconsistent, either really soupy or lacking the cheesiness you want when ordering mac and cheese. At least add some bacon or something else if you call this millionaire mac and cheese. Sorry, end rant. 

If I were judging this solely on Bred's chicken, it would rank right up there with some of the best in OC. The chicken was that good, and the sauces were also delicious. Unfortunately, the sides were subpar and lackluster. The fries were fine, but needed some seasoning to elevate them. We ordered through the screen, so we did not have a lot of interaction with the employees here, but they got our food out to us rather quickly. It'll be interesting to see how this hot chicken craze shakes out, but it shows no sign of stopping for now.  

Out of five coffee cups (because not only was the hot chicken sandwich invented in Nashville, but this Tennessee city was also where Maxwell House Coffee was invented in 1892), five being best to zero being worst, Bred Hot Chicken gets 3 coffee cups. 

For more information about Bred Hot Chicken, head to their website by clicking here: https://bredhotchicken.com/

Hopefully the Spitting Will Be Held to a Minimum at Spitz

 Spitz 

1474 Kramer Blvd. 

Placentia, CA 92870

As is my custom when attending my dentist's appointment, I always look for somewhere to eat afterwards. It's like a way to reward myself for caring for my teeth. I'm usually up in North OC twice a year for these appointments on a weekday afternoon, so I try to hit up a place I would not usually get to. Even though my parents live in the area, they are not big fans of Mediterranean food, so since I was alone, I tried a spot that had caught my eye on Instagram, Spitz. 

While writing this review, I was surprised to learn that this is one of 24 locations in nine states, with more to come. This is the only one in OC, and it's in the busy, revamped Placentia Village Plaza, situated at the corner of Kramer and Yorba Linda Boulevard. Clyde's Hot Chicken, Craft Burger Co., Original Pancake House, and Saigon Noodle House are other restaurant tenants here. 

Spitz was conceived by two Occidental College classmates in 2009. Their vision was to bring the Mediterranean street food found everywhere in Europe to the US. The restaurant's name is an homage to the vertical cooking method used to make doner kebab, which is featured on almost every dish on their menu. They also want to de-ethnicize traditional doner kebab by making it healthier and more approachable to US consumers. 

It must have worked because they have become very successful, and all five of their Southern California locations have four-star ratings on Yelp. They have also been named one of the top upcoming franchises for restaurant industry insiders to watch in the future. 

The Spitz menu is divided into sections for doner wraps, house favorites, bowls, salads, sides, gyros, desserts, and a vegan menu. Nothing on their menu exceeds the $15 threshold, except for the combos, including a wrap, a side, and a drink. Favorites included loaded fries and an interesting take on a taquito, which I'll have to try on my next visit. For now, I kept it basic food-wise. Let's see how Spitz turned out for me. 

Please forgive my awkward hand modeling. I promise my hand was not hurt holding this large Gyro ($12.25), although it was stuffed with plenty of fries, onions, tzatziki sauce, Berliner sauce, zesty feta, gyro meat, and chicken. The pita was puffier than the normal pita, which made it softer when bitten and able to hold everything together. I was also a fan of the sauces here, which they were not shy about applying generously. The Berliner sauce, which was a creamy, slightly spicy sauce, was a standout and went well with the insides of the gyro. The gyro meat was nicely done, with a good flavor, but the chicken got lost in the shuffle here and was not a standout. Even after my thirty-minute drive home, the fries were relatively still crisp, which was no small feat considering the amount of sauce on this. Spitz makes a very pleasing gyro.  

This Street Cart Wrap ($14.25) was no slouch either. The grilled wrap was filled with green peppers, garlic aioli, lavash chips, cucumber, romaine lettuce, cabbage, and tzatziki. Again, I went with the mixed meat option, which included gyro meat and chicken. The chicken was more noticeable in this wrap. Both this and the gyro come with tomatoes, but I'm not a fan, so I omitted them. I was afraid they would overstuff this with the cabbage and romaine, but that was not the case. The proteins were front and center, and I enjoyed the many textures inside this wrap. The chips, cabbage, and the grilling of the wrap provided a nice crunch in most bites. The garlic aioli added a big burst of flavor, and I'd ask for extra next time. 

Spitz was a great choice after my dentist appointment. I can see myself exploring more of their menu and customizing the items above, even more to my liking, on future visits. I'll rate the wrap I had recently at the Chicken Shop better than this wrap from Spitz, but it's very close. It's easy to see why they have opened so many locations in such diverse areas of the US in such a short time. I did not get much chance to interact with their staff, as I got my food to go, but it was ready for me at the stated time, and I was on my way with clean teeth and a delicious lunch at home. 

Out of five fillings (not because I had any fillings at my dentist appointment, but because Mark Spitz, the Olympic swimmer from the 1970s, originally went to college to be a dentist, and that ties in nicely with my review and the name of this restaurant), five being best and zero being worst, Spitz gets three fillings.  

For more information about Spitz, head to their website by clicking here: https://spitz-restaurant.com/