You Can Call Me a Mama’s Boy After My Visit to Calaca Mamas

 Calaca Mamas

1550 South Harbor Blvd. 

Anaheim, CA 92802

It's remarkable to think of the number of people who visit OC each year to visit Disneyland. According to one figure, 28 million people visit Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure each year. Sure, some of these people are locals, but I imagine that with Disney's worldwide appeal, a good majority of parkgoers are from outside Orange County. Yes, these people have to eat, and even though the park has one of the best corn dogs on earth and the churros receive rave reviews, some tourists might want to venture out and try a restaurant outside the park. Might I suggest Calaca Mamas? 

Situated on the east side of the Disneyland Resort, Calaca Mamas is located on an area of Harbor Boulevard, which is dominated by budget-friendly hotels and plenty of ho-hum chain restaurants to pick from; Denny's, Panera Bread, Mimi's Cafe, and Tony Roma's, (yeah, I didn't know that Tony Roma's was still in business either). Not a very impressive or good representation of the thriving restaurant scene that OC has to offer. Calaca Mamas shines like a beacon for tourists and locals seeking a more accurate portrayal of our treasured local restaurants. 

Calaca Mamas was brought to life by two sisters, Angela and Mariam El Haj, who, when they opened this restaurant in 2022, became second-generation restaurateurs. They got their feet wet in the restaurant business by working in their parents' restaurant from a very young age. Their restaurant is themed for Day of the Dead, or Día de los Muertos, with vibrant artwork and a wall dedicated to honoring those who have passed. A breath of fresh air compared to their chain restaurant neighbors. 

Not only is the atmosphere at Calaca Mamas warm and welcoming, but their menu is something to behold. They are an authentic chef-driven restaurant that uses organic ingridients and responsibly raised meat and seafood in their kitchen. The menu featured a lot more authentic items than I had expected. Yes, they do have tacos and burritos, but they also feature queso fundido and a tlayuda, which is best described as a Mexican pizza. Prices for entrees range from $20 to $35, while starters cost between $15 and $20. They offer happy hour pricing on select items in the bar and patio, available from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Happy hour would definitely be on my agenda if I were spending the day at Disneyland. 

We arrived at Calca Mamas at 6pm on a recent Thursday evening. Parking is available at the Best Western Hotel, located adjacent to the restaurant. They will validate for two hours. We were warmly greeted by the hostess, who escorted us to our comfortable booth. Our server, Kyra, came right over and introduced herself, providing us with a rundown of the menu and sharing some of her favorites. We also met Osmani, who was doing double duty this particular evening, bartending and managing the restaurant. He did both jobs wonderfully, checking on each table, and as you'll see in a moment, his mixology skills were on point. Let's review everything we experienced on our maiden voyage to Calaca Mamas. 

As is our tradition when eating in a Mexican restaurant, I like to share a picture of the Chips and Salsa that started off our meal. The chips were fresh and ideal for dipping into the surprising salsa. I'm picky when it comes to salsa, especially regarding its consistency. This one had my desired amount of chunkiness to it. There could have been a bit more heat behind it, but I'd bet I'm more of a heatseeker than most of the people that visit Calaca Mamas. 

Almost every review on their Yelp page mentions either the cocktails or the awesome bartenders at Calaca Mamas, so we had to give their drinks a try. We had Osmani pick his favorite beverages for us, and he did not disappoint. For me, he selected the Miracle Agua ($17.50). It combined some gin, ginger beer, strawberries, rhubarb bitters, lime juice, and a sprig of mint, garnishing the glass. I found this drink light and refreshing, and not overly sweet, which is a plus in my book. The ginger beer was evident in each sip and nicely balanced with the crushed strawberries. 

Even though she's married to me, Katie is not much of a drinker, so she tried the Forgotten Grapefruit Mocktail ($10). This alcohol-free beverage was made with organic grapefruit and lime juices, an organic agave simple syrup, soda water, and a pinch of salt. Katie felt this exuded a fresh feeling when she sipped it. She loved that this beverage did not hit you upside the head with sweetness. It was very subtle, and the addition of a pinch of salt added a little complexity to the drink.  

For our starter, we tried the Taco in a Bag ($15). This interesting item was listed on the small bite portion of the menu, but I feel it should have been listed with the salads instead. Chicken tinga was mixed with lettuce, pico de gallo, shredded cheese, crema, and a good amount of Fritos. Growing up, my mom used to make a taco salad that also used Fritos, so that may be why I feel this was more of a salad than a taco. I enjoyed the playfulness of this and that there were extra Fritos in the bag, as they are one of my favorite chips. I'd opt for the carne asada option instead of the chicken tinga next time, as it might have stood out more than the chicken. The serving size of this was quite substantial, and we barely polished it off before our entrees arrived. 

Katie is a birria fiend, so I was not shocked when she ordered the Quesabirria Tacos ($24). If you're not keeping up with the hot food trends of the last year or so, birria is a slow-cooked beef dish cooked in a flavorful consommé, resulting in incredibly tender and delicious meat. This was also the case at Calaca Mamas. The tacos come three to an order and are filled with not only the soft shredded beef, but also an Oaxacan cheese crust, which brings the taco to the next level. Diced onions and an avocado mousse are dotted across the plate to enhance your taco experience. This plate is finished off with rice and your choice of pinto beans or black refried beans. Katie got the black refried beans, and this is the way to go here. They were fantastic, with a good texture and very flavorful, possibly with a hint of garlic. The rice was top-notch, also. 

Carnitas ($30) are my standard order when dining at a Mexican restaurant for the first time. I use this dish as a barometer as to whether the rest of the menu would be worth coming back for. If this crispy pork shoulder dish is any indication, we will be back to try more from the Calaca Mamas menu. Easily the best carnitas I've had all year. They were indeed crispy, and I liked the variety of the bites that I got here, some lean pieces and some a little more fatty. Everything I look for when having carnitas. Since Katie got the black refried beans, I decided to try the pinto beans. They were tasty, but not as good as the black refried beans. 

Dessert should not be skipped, and these Churros ($19) are a testament to that. They were served on a tabletop churro cart with both chocolate sauce and dulce de leche, and a little fanfare thanks to a large firework placed at the edge of the cart. The churros were dusted with sugar and cinnamon and came out piping hot. Katie and I differed on our opinions of the sauces. She loved them because they were not overly sweet, and I wished that they were a bit sweeter. We fought all the way home about this and haven't talked since. Kidding. 

If you've read this far, you must know that I was pretty stoked about our visit to Calaca Mamas. This is not just a restaurant for people visiting Disneyland; locals should also find their way here. If you're worried about traffic, this side of Disneyland is mostly pedestrian traffic. The freeway on- and off-ramps are less than a half mile away, and with validated parking at the Best Western next door, it's a snap to get here. As for my next visit, I have my sights set on their carne asada plate, a burrito with their delicious carnitas in it, and the queso fundido. Everyone we encountered on this evening was thrilled to have us here, and a quick check of their 800 Yelp reviews reveals that good customer service is a theme at Calaca Mamas. Also, a little insider tip: Be sure to snag a seat on their patio for Disneyland fireworks at 9:30 nightly and grab a cocktail or two. Thanks for having us, Calaca Mamas, and we'll see you again real soon.  

For more information about Calaca Mamas, head to their website by clicking here: https://www.calacamamas.com/

**We were provided this meal for free in exchange for an honest review of their service/food. No other compensation was received. **

Rerouting to Tijuanazo

 Tijuanazo Birrieria

676 South State College Boulevard #101

Anaheim, CA 92806

Truth be told, we had not anticipated eating at Tijuanazo. We had planned on going to Tacos Los Cholos down the street before heading to an early-season Angels game. Tacos Los Cholos has been on my list forever. After so many false attempts, we were determined to finally experience what many consider one of the best taco spots around these parts. 

It was not to be, though. We cruised into the parking lot to see an extensive line of people around the building waiting to get their tacos. The open-air grill expelled an aroma that told people far and near that the tacos at Los Cholos might be worthy of the hype. I would have to wait to find out, as we had to pivot to find somewhere else to eat, as the mediocre food at Anaheim Stadium would not suffice. A quick Yelp search brought us to Tijuanazo Birrieria. 

They are not to be confused with the famous Tijuana taco stand, which recently opened two locations in the US, one in LA and the other in San Diego. Tijuanazo Birrieria has four locations, all in the Inland Empire, except for this one. Their first foray into OC opened last year. In that time, they have garnered a 4.8-star rating but with only 45 reviews. It's not a big enough sample size, but we were intrigued enough to try them.  

Tijuanazo is strictly a birria restaurant. Want carne asada or pastor? You're going to have to find another spot. They serve birria in many forms; burritos, tacos, nachos, tortas, party packs, and even ramen. Regular birria tacos cost $4, while the quesabirria taco will cost you a dollar more. The rest of the menu is modestly priced, with nothing over $14. They also have Taco Tuesday and other specials throughout the week. We ordered at the counter and sat in the spacious dining room while waiting for our food to be prepared. Let's see if Tijuanazo is a good stand-in for where we were initially going to eat.  

I got two Quesabirria Tacos ($4.75 each) and one standard Birria Taco ($3.99). Pay the extra 76 cents to get the quesabirria tacos. The regular taco was fine, and once I dressed it up with onions, cilantro, and their extra spicy hot sauce, it was just as good as any birria taco I've had. The cheese mixed with the moist birria brings these to the next level. The consome here is one of the best I've had, and when you dip the tacos in it, it is like a flavor bomb going off. I did not have a bad bite while here.   

When we first had Birria Ramen ($13.50), I thought it was just some gimmick to be shown on social media. Then we tasted it, and now we are converts. We can never go back to regular Cup Noodles ever again. The birria and the consome make this more comforting than hot chocolate on a chilly evening. Katie found it hard to share with me, but luckily, this was good sized, so I got a few bites after she got her fill. 

Even though we had not planned on eating at Tijuanazo, our flexibility paid off. These were some of the best birria items we have had to date, and as a bonus, they were not as pricey as other places we have visited. The restaurant was clean, the employees were friendly, and the food will have us returning soon, probably during Duck's hockey season. 

Out of five salads (because the Caesar salad was invented in Tijuana 100 years ago), five being best to zero being worst, Tijanazo gets 3.5 Caesar salads. 

For more information about Tijuanazo Birrieria, head to their website by clicking here: https://www.birrieriaeltijuanazoca.com/

Hitting All the Numbers at Keno’s

Keno's Restaurant

5750 East La Palma Ave. 

Anaheim, CA 92807

This is another long-overdue review. For those unaware, I grew up in Yorba Linda and lived in North OC for the first two decades of my life. In the 1970s and early 1980s, Yorba Linda and the surrounding area were not a hotbed of excellent restaurants. Even today, it still isn't going to rival other parts of OC, but the restaurant scene has gotten a little bit better. Keno's Restaurant is one spot that helped change the restaurant landscape back in the days of yore. 

Keno's has been around since 1983. Back then, just to get to a Denny's or another coffee shop, you had to go to Orange or Brea. Keno's helped cut our drive time in half, and it quickly became a local favorite. The current owner, Steve Cooper, and his father-in-law bought the restaurant in 1993, and locals still flock here for weekend breakfast, karaoke nights in the lounge, early bird breakfast specials on weekdays, and their famous fried chicken special on Tuesdays. 

Walking into Keno's, you feel instantly transported into the past. Every table is a booth, eliminating overcrowding in the dining room. The servers seem to have been here forever, and the darkened lounge brings to mind the Peppermill I visited as a kid in Reno. You can also eat at a counter, which you don't see in many restaurants anymore. 

The menu at Keno's is enormous. Highlights include burgers, melts, sandwiches, steaks, seafood, pasta dishes, Mexican food, and comfort food classics like meatloaf, country fried steak, a turkey dinner, and others. To be honest, I have only had breakfast here. Their breakfast menu is filled with all the classics and served all day. We were meeting our good friends Ozker and Bianca for a long overdue catch-up. We had about a five-minute wait for our party of five at 9 on a Sunday morning, which was way shorter than when we had been here before. Let's take a look at how our breakfast went this particular morning. 

I'm going to spark a little controversy with my following sentence. Chicken fried steak is the most photogenic of all breakfast foods. It's almost impossible to take a bad picture of this delicious dish. Eggs Benedict might be a close second, but then there's a sharp drop-off for third place for the most beautiful breakfast plate. Anyway, Katie chose the Keno's Chicken Fried Steak and Eggs ($17.79). Keno's uses sirloin tri-tip, which is breaded and topped with a country gravy. It was in the fryer just a minute or two too long, but the gravy helped to cover up that mistake. It's not the biggest country fried steak plate she has had, but the inclusion of the three eggs and the mound of crispy hashbrowns more than filled her up/ 

Many people would describe Bianca as special, so it was fitting that she ordered the Special Gourmet Omelet ($16.99). The omelets at Keno's are all made with three eggs, and this one came with mushrooms, tomatoes, bacon, and cheese and was topped with avocado. Bianca was happy with this omelet and even more thrilled that she did not have to do the dishes afterward. Instead of toast, you have the option of getting two pancakes instead. She did that so she could share it with her four-year-old daughter. Both mother and daughter were happy with their breakfasts. 

I'm always partial to skillets; the more meats, the better. That meant the Farm House Skillet ($16.99) would be placed before me. Just like the omelets, the skillets are made with three eggs. This skillet came with the holy trinity of breakfast meats; ham, bacon, and sausage, and was finished with bell pepper, onions, and cheese topping the hashbrowns. This was not heavy on the bell pepper or onions, which allowed the meats and cheese to stand out more. I liked the contrast between the crispiness of the hashbrowns and the eggs. Very filling and satisfying.  

I always try to pair savory and sweet when eating my first meal of the day, so it was no surprise that I opted for pancakes instead of toast. However, I added chocolate chips for an additional $2. From the picture, you probably think I got ripped with the number of chocolate chips they gave me, but they were plentiful in the batter underneath. The pancakes were delicious, and it's easy to see why they are so popular with their guests. 

It's easy to see why Keno's has been such a hit with the people of North OC for the last 40-plus years. There are few coffee shops like this around anymore. The food will not blow you away, but it's a place where you can get a nice and honest breakfast with large portions for a fair price. After having breakfast here, we skipped lunch and ended up having just a light dinner. I wish I remembered our server's name, but she was excellent and ensured our every need was met. With an experience like this, it's easy to see why the people of Anaheim Hills, Yorba Linda, and other surrounding cities have supported Keno's for so many decades. 

Out of five stone blocks (because the Great Wall of China is believed to have been financed by an early version of the gambling game keno, and they used quite a few blocks for this massive structure), five being best to zero being worst, Keno's Restaurant gets 3 stone blocks.  

For more information about Keno's Restaurant, head to their website by clicking here: https://www.kenosrestaurant.com/

Buzzing Into the Hive Sports Bar and Grill

 The Hive Sports Bar and Grill

6362 East Santa Ana Canyon Road 

Anaheim, CA 92807

One thing that drives me crazy is how restaurant influencers exaggerate how great a place is. I know most of them are getting paid by the restaurant to be there, or maybe they are trying to drive traffic to their accounts by over-hyping a restaurant. That's not my style. I like to tell it like it is, which probably accounts for all my two-and-a-half and three-star reviews. I don't give a glowing review because I occasionally get a free meal. I don't want to see the three of you who read this blog throw your money away by going to an average restaurant. I also always add a disclaimer at the end of every post that my meal was comped, which these food influencers rarely do.

Okay, end rant. A well-known Instagrammer had visited The Hive in Anaheim Hills and gave a glowing review. I needed a place to meet my parents for dinner and decided to try it. The Hive is in the former spot where the original Slater's 50/50 used to be. This shopping center, anchored by a Big Lots and a few smaller storefronts, has always seemed out of the way, lacking the foot traffic to make a restaurant successful. For a point of reference, it's between Imperial Highway and Weir Canyon, on the corner of Fairmont and Santa Ana Canyon Road. 

On a recent Friday evening, when we visited, many people found themselves here. There was a steady stream of guests throughout our stay. The inside of the restaurant is similar to when this was Slater's. They made the bar wrap around the dining room side, which helped to open up the space and make the bar the focal point of the restaurant. They also added more flatscreens, so there's no bad seat in the house when watching a game. 

The menu here is top-heavy with many appetizer options, which makes sense while watching sports. Salads, burgers, sandwiches, tacos, and more extensive entree options are also available. Prices for starters range between $8 and $16, while entrees will set you back anywhere between $10 and $26. They offer breakfast on weekends, and their happy hour is Monday through Friday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Let's see if I thought the food was as good as the Instagrammer did. 

My dad is probably the most unpredictable eater I know. A definite wild card, he tried the Fish and Chips ($16.99) this evening. Four pieces of fried cod, french fries, and coleslaw were sat before him. The fish had a lighter batter than most places, which was nice for a change. The cod was nice and flaky underneath, and the tartar sauce kept him interested throughout his meal. The fries were almost to the point of being over-fried, but they were saved from the fryer just in time. They had a good outer crunch to them. The coleslaw was bland, without a lot of dressing. It was mainly used to cut the richness of the fried food. 

My mom connected with her inner child by ordering Chicken Fingers ($14.99) from the appetizer menu. These come four to order and also include fries. These seemed like basic tenders, but my mom enjoyed them and even took two home for lunch the next day. Again, the fries and chicken were left in the fryer for too long, a trend that will continue with the next item. 

Katie does not often eat burgers, but she was intrigued by the Hive Burger ($18.99 + $3.50 upcharge for onion rings instead of fries). Their namesake burger features melted provolone, caramelized onion, plenty of arugula, and fig jam on a glossy bun. The burgers are a half pound and include Angus beef and brisket. She described this as an elevated bar burger. She enjoyed the way the sweet onions and arugula interacted with the cheese. The burger patty was tender and juicy. As you can see from the picture above, the onion rings were obviously over-fried and almost burnt. They were not worth the $3.50 upcharge for three onion rings. The provided ranch helped mask the burnt parts of these rings, but she'd just stick with the fries next time.  

Since all the Marie Callenders by my house closed several years ago, I've been craving their famous Frisco Burger. This craving led me to get the Big League Deluxe ($19.99 + $2.50 upcharge for tater tots instead of fries). This burger/sandwich includes bacon, sliced avocado, Swiss cheese, and buzz sauce on parmesan-crusted sourdough bread. The bread was a little light on the parmesan, but I enjoyed this burger. Like Katie's burger, the patty was tender and juicy, and the creaminess of the avocado and cheese went well with the smoky bacon and the beef. I will ask for extra of their buzz sauce next time, as I need more, and I'd like to dip the sandwich into it. The tater tots were a good choice. They had a nice crunch, and I alternated between dipping them in ketchup and ranch. 

Our visit to The Hive was a mixed bag. We all liked the mains, but Katie's burnt and lack of onion rings and the over-fried fries were a bummer. Their prices were a tad high, especially when you get hit for an upcharge by not getting fries. The portion sizes are big, which helps lessen the hit to your wallet. We experienced excellent service this evening, as plates were cleared, drinks were refilled, and the pacing of our meal was nicely timed. Unlike the food influencer who came here before me, this is not a glowing review, but The Hive is a great place to catch a game, have one or two cocktails, and have some solid food. Something that this area of town sorely needs. 

Out of five drones (because male bees in a hive are called drones), five being best to zero being worst, The Hive Sports Bar and Grill gets 3 drones.  

For more information about The Hive Sports Bar and Grill, head to their website by clicking here: https://www.thehivesportsbar.com/

A Long Overdue Visit to Rosine’s Mediterranean

 Rosine's Mediterranian

721 South Weir Canyon Road

Anaheim Hills, CA 92808

We try to be there for our families, even though I've become a real homebody the last few years. I've gotten into binge-watching tv, listening to audiobooks, and of course, trying to write as many restaurant reviews as possible for all of you. We were wrangled from our home cocoon by my niece Lillie, who was performing a comedy show at her high school. Always a patron of the arts, you could not keep me away. It was also a great chance to try another restaurant. 

That restaurant is Rosine's. I'm almost ashamed that it has taken this long for me to make it here. It's arguably the most popular restaurant in Anaheim Hills. I can't tell you how many people around these parts have asked me if we have done a review at Rosine's yet. They have earned a four-star rating on Yelp, with close to 1,000 reviews. Not bad for a restaurant that most of OC overlooks because it's not geographically desirable unless you live in the area or are visiting someone around here. 

Rosine's has been in business since 1995, and in those 27 years, they have expanded from a single unit to take over the adjoining Starbucks that used to share this detached building with them. So now there's only a Subway sandwich shop left in their way if they want to expand even further. Rosine's is named after Executive Chef Rosine Najarian. She and her son, Hagop, are still involved in the day-to-day operations of this bustling Mediterranean restaurant in the rolling foothills of Anaheim. 

Back when they started out, this Mediterranian restaurant was mostly unknown to most people in OC. Rosine's got by selling their rotisserie chicken, an instant hit from day one. As the years have rolled along, much like their square footage, their menu has expanded as more people have become accustomed to this food. It's also helped that many more Mediterranian restaurants are operating these days. As a result, people have become much more comfortable with food from this world region. 

We arrived at Rosine's on a busy Friday evening at half past 5. The restaurant was crowded, but there were a few empty tables. The host asked if we had a reservation, and when we replied we did not, he said he'd seat us but only if we were done eating by 7, as they were booked for the evening. We agreed that we had to be at the comedy show by then. He led us to a table adjacent to the packed horseshoe-shaped bar in the center of the space. 

Rosine's menu is broken up into hot and cold starters, soups and salads, sandwiches, and mains. They also have a burger, but I couldn't find a picture of it online, so I assume they don't have too many coming out of the kitchen. I was not going to be having a burger here, but let's check out what we consumed this evening. 

We started with a duo of their cold starters. If you've followed along on this food journey with us for any length of time, you know that Katie is a garlic spread fiend, and when she spotted the Rosine's Famous Garlic Spread ($10.95) on the menu, she had to order it. This could be the most potent garlic spread we have ever experienced. After I learned of this potency, I pulled back, which was much more enjoyable. I used it with the provided pita triangles and my entree. The Hummus ($9.95) was a nice contrast to the garlic dip. It was much more mellow, with a silky smooth texture that was nicely achieved. I'd suggest both of these dips, which were good-sized, so you can use them when your main meal arrives.  

Speaking of main meals, Katie selected this Chicken Pita ($15.95) as hers. This pocket bread was filled with lettuce, tomato, garlic sauce, and shredded chicken. Katie liked this sandwich but would get something else the next time she visited. It was bland, as all the sauce settled at the bottom. This was remedied with the extra sauce that we had from our appetizers. The chicken to vegetable ratio was also off, which detracted from the chicken standing out. For her side item, she went with the rice pilav, which she enjoyed, especially when mixed with the hummus. 

I do not eat enough lamb, so I tried to rectify that at Rosine's by getting this Lamb Kebab ($26.95). This California lamb ate more like steak than any I have had previously. It was not gamey but still had the outstanding flavor one associates with lamb. It was spiced nicely and grilled expertly. This came with ratatouille and garlic mashed potatoes. This ratatouille was more like the Turkish dish saksuka, rather than what most people expect to see when they think of the French version, which is way more common. This version was okay. It gets a lot of love from the people on Yelp, so I think I might not be a ratatouille person, as I found it too mushy, and the flavor did not appease me at all. I did enjoy the garlic mashed potatoes way more. They were fluffy and light and went well with the lamb. 

Even after this one visit, it's easy to see why this neighborhood loves Rosine's. Their food is well executed, authentic, and fresh. I look forward to visiting again and trying more of their kebabs and maybe even their rotisserie chicken which helped to put them on the map. The service was friendly and cordial. Their prices were not too outrageous. It took us a long time to visit Rosine's, but with another three years of high school plays, shows, and musicals, we will have plenty more opportunities for return visits. 

Out of five banjos (because the city of Rosine, Kentucky, is the birthplace and home of the father of bluegrass music Bill Monroe, a type of music usually involving a banjo), five being the best to zero being the worst, Rosine's Mediterranian gets 3 banjos. 

For more information about Rosine's Mediterranian, head to their website by clicking here: http://www.rosines.com/.

Dinner With the Old Boss at Craft by Smoke and Fire

 Craft by Smoke and Fire

195 West Center Street Promenade

Anaheim, CA 92805

Some Instagram feeds just draw me in. One such account is Smoke and Fire Social Eatery in La Habra. They opened a month into the pandemic, which probably made me love their pictures even more. Their food can best be described as a collection of comfort food from all across the country. There's Nashville hot chicken, Texas barbecue, smash burgers from the west coast, and giant steaks that look like they would rival what's served in uppity east coast steakhouses. 

Opened by three guys who had roots in Southern California, but spread their culinary wings in corporate restaurants like Red Robin, Bubba Gump Shrimp, Pizza Rev, and Wood Ranch. Smoke and Fire is the culmination of what they liked to eat from across the nation, served in a variety of ways throughout their menu. It's definitely struck a chord with customers, as they have now opened three other locations, Paramount, Pomona, and the one we were visiting this particular evening with our good friends Kyle and Melissa, in Anaheim. 

To be clear, this location in downtown Anaheim is Craft by Smoke and Fire, which is a slightly different concept from their locations slightly north of here. I haven't been to those spots, but from what I hear they are smaller, and do not have such a polished atmosphere and elevated cocktail program as this Anaheim spot. 

We had made reservations on a recent Friday evening at 7:30 and were met with a very full restaurant. We ended up having to only wait a couple of minutes before we were seated. The restaurant is pretty loud when it is full. The feel of the place is comforting, with large TVs on many of the walls, black ceiling tiles, grey accent walls, hanging chandeliers, and wooden floors. There's also outdoor seating on their good-sized patio in the front of the restaurant. I already kind of briefed you on the menu, so let's take a look at what we had this evening. 

Before we even ordered, we were brought this Ay Dios Mio Guacamole ($9) as a comped item, which was a pleasant surprise. From the reviews I've read online, they comp items with regularity to show appreciation for your business. A very nice touch. This guacamole was a mixture of jalapeno, green salsa, tomatoes, cotija cheese, and a smattering of pomegranate seeds on top. This was a very freshly made guacamole, which had plenty to offer the four of us flavorwise. I could not really detect too much jalapeno, so if you are averse to heat, you should have no problem eating this. It was nicely seasoned and the green tortilla chips were a fine vehicle for dipping. 

Birria is the big food trend going on right now. Even places like El Pollo Loco and Norm's are serving it, so I was not surprised to see birria on the menu here. One of the birria offerings at Craft is this Short Rib Birria Quesadilla ($12). This football-shaped quesadilla was filled with cheese, tender prime short rib, and the outside was drizzled with their comeback sauce, which I'd describe as chipotle ranch, with a hint of spice to it. I really enjoyed the crisped cheese on the outside of this quesadilla, and they filled this with a good amount of smoked rib meat. Definitely a very good start to our time here. 

As you can see from the guacamole picture and now this shot, Melissa is very subtle about getting her on-point Yorba Linda manicure included in each picture. Yes, we are all impressed by your nails, Mel. She was just as impressed with her sandwich this evening, The Madison ($15), which is piled high with smoked pastrami, coleslaw, cheese, pickles, and comeback sauce. From across the table, it looked really tasty, and she felt this was one of the better pastrami sandwiches that she has eaten. 

Probably their most popular sandwich, and the one that gets featured the most on their Instagram, is the Mac Rib Sandwich ($31). This monster of a sandwich comes with three kinds of meat; brisket, short rib, and just for good measure, a cheese-covered Smashburger. It's dressed with more of their comeback sauce and three pieces of Texas toast. The sandwich comes with the bone, and our server took it out clean with a flourish at our table. It was challenging getting the first bite into my mouth, but it was worth the trouble. One of the best sandwiches I have had. The short rib and brisket were tender and flavorful, while the Smashburger kind of got lost in the shuffle, but it made no difference. This was a very heavy sandwich as you could predict, but it was amazingly balanced. I ended up saving half of this for lunch the next day, and it was still just as good. Yes, it's a thirty-dollar sandwich, but so worth it. 

Another favorite was Katie's selection, the Brisket Grilled Cheese ($17). This is comfort food to the max. Lots of gooey cheese with a big helping of brisket. Katie was shocked by the richness of this, but she powered through to finish it. It was dressed with a very good barbecue sauce and some pickles to help cut the richness of the meat. Another winner. 

Since I follow Craft by Smoke and Fire on Instagram, I get to see some of the off-the-menu specials that they sometimes offer. When we visited they had this Smoked Barbecubano Sandwich ($27). It's their take on one of my favorite sandwiches. Here they use smoked turkey and brisket as the meats, then finish it with swiss cheese, mustard, and pickles. I was a bit let down by this sandwich. The turkey to brisket ratio was off, as there was way more turkey than the delicious brisket. I also felt that there was not enough mustard included in this, which would have helped tie everything together a bit more. I still enjoyed the half of this that I ate the next day, but I did end up adding mustard from my fridge, which helped out. 

Kyle had the same sandwich as Katie, but he still wanted to be included in this review, so he got the Brisket and Short Rib Sausage ($6) to try. This came pre-cut to our table, which made it very easy to share. The casing on this was very sturdy and the meat inside had a very pleasant texture to it. Flavorwise, it did not blow me away, but it's worth trying at only six bucks. 

One side is included with each sandwich, and since we had five between the four of us, we got to try five of their eight options. The best one was probably the Loaded Mac and Cheese. If you like a gooey cheese that clings to each noodle, this is for you. There were little bits of meat in there as well, and the bread crumb topping rounded this out. My second favorite was the Creamy Blue Cheese Slaw. The one we got was not as creamy as others I have seen in other pictures, but I still found myself hogging this. The Brisket and Grits were just straight-up the definition of comfort food. I usually like a creamy potato salad, but this Loaded Brisket Potato Salad was very good, big chunks and all. The worst of the bunch was the purple-hued Garlic and Herb Mash Potatoes. I detected some herbs here, but this fell flat because there was no garlic in any of the bites that I had. The only bland item of the evening.   

Craft by Smoke and Fire is worthy of all the love they get online. They prove that they are not just pretty food, like others I can think of but won't name, they actually back it up with some really delicious stuff. If this was merely just a barbecue spot, it would be really good, but you add their special spin to it, and it makes them great. The service was really good, especially when you consider how busy they were when we visited. Yes, the prices are a tad high, but the serving sizes are very good sized, and some of you can make two meals out of one of their sandwiches. I can definitely see us visiting here again in the near future, especially for that incredible Mac Rib Sandwich.  

Out of five fire trucks, (because when you see smoke or fire, it's probably a pretty good tip that you should call to get some fire trucks real quick), five being best to zero being worst, Craft by Smoke and Fire gets 4 fire trucks. 

For more information about Craft by Smoke and Frie, head to their website by clicking here: https://www.craftbysmokeandfire.com/