Olamendi’s Express Mission Viejo

Excellent fish tacos and a friendly staff, I’ll be back in! I’d recommend giving this place a try.

Amazing service, amazing food, and have you tasted the lemonade? We love this place! They’ve been around forever, but we just recently started eating here! I’m not sure what took us so long Everything looks good but the hubs and I have stuck with the same thing twice; Carnitas burrito wet w/​green sauce and Mexican potato tacos (crispy). You can’t go wrong eating here!

The food here is always fresh and delicious. Everybody that works here is so friendly. If you like old school «hole in the wall» Mexican food then I highly recommend this place. This restaurant is in a shopping center so there is very little seating but I noticed a lot of people order takeout. They will wrap up anything to go, with delicious chips and salsa. They also make fresh lemonade and brewed hibiscus tea that is out of this world! They even make their own salad dressing (I think it’s a creamy cilantro).

Amazing authentic Mexican food. 5 star Service and cool atmosphere. Always a treat to eat here. Great Prices too. Ask Carlos for the John & Kimberly Special at this location and you are in for a healthy but tasty treat.

We’ve lived in Mission Viejo a grand total of two weeks and have already been to Olamendi’s three times. Their fish tacos are ridiculously fresh, flavorful and with generous amounts of sweet, flaky white fish. My husband had the shredded beef tacos on his first visit, but I’ve convinced him that the fish tacos are the way to go here. He’s convinced, and he’s not the fish taco fan that I am… so that’s saying something.
We met and chatted with the owner, Mr. Olamendi, and he couldn’t have been nicer or more helpful in recommending places to go here in Mission Viejo. The other staff members are equally nice and hard working, eager to provide good service. This will be a «go-​to» place for us from now on.

My son and I were on the hunt for a local place that had flautas. Unilocal led us to Olamendi’s that I have passed by a few times but have never had. When we arrived it was late in the evening and the restaurant had no other patrons, although I have seen it quite busy during lunch hours.
We checked out the menu on the board and saw flautas that you can have in either beef or chicken so my son went with the beef. You get rice and either black beans or pintos, I chose pintos and was glad to see they were not charro style more refried style. I ended up with the relleno because I can’t pass them up when I see them on a menu. The relleno was good the taco was better, very good shredded beef and rice. Prices were a bit more, but maybe that’s market and location. Still a place I would revisit.

Oh my dear Lord in Heaven this place is so darn good. I got the u. ique fish taco plate and I was on vacation and wish I would’ve gone here everyday.

Just the best Mexican restaurant in Orange County. We have been going here for years and the quality is always top notch.
They begin with fresh ingredients and that’s a great start for any meal. Their crisp tacos and chicken enchiladas, served with rice and beans, are delicious.
Their salsa is unbeatable anywhere in this area.
The owner and staff are very nice people. The cook has been there for many years and does a great job.
We have enjoyed every meal here and ‘yes’ we have tried, at some time or another, all of the local Mexican Restaurants and Cafes in this area and there is absolutely none that can match Olamendi’s Express.

Super great fish taco plate for $ 8.95 a great deal and freshly made. Owner is very friendly … I’ll be back quaint with outside seating a plus!

This is a tough 1… was looking for a quick Dinner for the family and happened to be shopping at the sprouts market next door. I always see this place busy, so decided to give it a try. You walk in and the smell is very authentically Baja and Mexican. Because it was Tuesday I happened to get the Taco Tuesday deal and ordered a few chicken, carnitas, potato tacos. There was no line and no other person in the restaurant with me. The wait was a bit long…(thus 3 stars)…25 minutes for 4 tacos on taco Tuesday night. Tacos were ok. Thrown together with no real works, just lettuce. Kind of bland. Definitely would try something other than tacos if i go back.

Not good. I have been sick from their food all evening. Not sick-​sick but just with the worse lump in my throat. Quite awful. I can safely say that I will never be back and I will definitely pick ANYWHERE else next time. To make matters worse, their prices are actually on the high side so I would recommend something… anything other than this place.
Been here before and the food was better… but not now. Not sure of the issue but it was not good. Go elsewhere.

Came in with my daughter for a quick bite we eat inside it was a lil small but what do u really need besides good service good food and some chairs n tables right ;) so I got the steak mexi bowl with jugo de Jamaica it was sweet a lil too sweet but overall good I just the ice melt a bit my daughter loved it the bow came with steak salad beans n rice with a tomato sauce I’m thinking the steak was was cooked with the sauce either way really good will have to go back to try other menu items. It didn’t get a full 5 stars because it was good but it didn’t blow my taste buds and it really didn’t have anything unique that makes it stand out. I would recommend it to anyone looking for some good American Mexican food :)

We were looking for good Mexican food after a soccer game and ran into this small hole-​in-​the-​wall place ! The choices were great & the food was excellent. The staff are friendly and the service is good. However the tables are very small & can seat only 2 per table.
The fried /​grilled jalapeño for $ 1 is totally worth it and will add a zing to your food.
Overall a good change from the normal Mexican restaurant chains.

I was craving Mexican and planned on going to Baja Fish next door. I noticed the Olamendi sign and decided to try them.
I looked at their specials and decided on the Unique Fish Taco plate. I didn’t know what made it unique, but felt grilled fish would be a healthier lunch.
The counter person was very friendly and helped me out quickly. I got complimentary chips and salsa with my order and I started on that before my meal. Chips and salsa were tasty and fresh.
My plate arrived and it looked great. It was a lot of food for $ 8 and I wasn’t that hungry. I took my first bite and I was caught off-​guard. I think the «unique» is that the fish is cooked in a lemon or lime sauce. I thought the citrus flavor over powered any of the fish taste and I couldn’t eat it all.
Although I didn’t really like the fish, the rice, beans and salad were good. I know they have many other items on their menu and everything else was great about the place so I’m justifying 4 stars. I’ll try them again and re-​rate them then.

This is our favorite Mexican takeout near our house! I’ve been coming here for over 20 years since I was in highschool. (There used to be one in RSM near Pavilions). The owner always recognizes me and his other employees are always so friendly as well. As for the food, the crispy fish tacos are to die for and they also have great enchiladas, rice and beans. The chips and salsa are homemade in-​house. My husband loves the horchata Mexican drink too! We come here weekly and just love it!

Olamendis reminds me of going to a Mexican Grandmothers house to eat. The food is authentic and tastes homemade, the tacos are so good and the salsa is very fresh. Service has always been friendly

As you can tell, my review will not be the most positive but won’t be terrible.
1. The menu on Olamendi’s website is outdated, I don’t frequent weekly so how is a customer supposed to know? Called up to order with the combo numbers and notes written down for our order, spoke for a moment with a woman who was unbelievably catty for NO reason. I started explaining what I wanted until she interjected midsentence and said «We don’t have that.» I said; «Oh, okie do you not have enchiladas anymore?» «No, we have them.» «Alright, must have written the number down wrong, could I please-​» «I don’t know what menu you’re looking at but that’s not ours!» «…It says Olamendis on the menu I’m reading right no-​» «We don’t go by that menu *rude laugh*» «Oh… How weird it’s on the website, I’ll just send someone down to look at your menu in pers-​.» «*bitchy giggle* yeah you do that!» *click*
And just like that, I was hung up on. And just like that, you lost a customer!
2. The food may be tasty, but the portions are so out of whack. I understand marketing and making popular, quality dishes more expensive but smaller? Funny how I could easily spend less at an actual sit down Mexican place and get BETTER food.
3. The price– come ON now, it’s not as though we’re paying for the ambiance here, it’s rediculous to charge so much when we live in California and have SO many places to choose. If the service, staff or website were on point then I wouldn’t even complain… But I’m not going to pay more for no service somewhere that won’t even get a soda fountain, only CANS of soda?
4. The catering/​delivery drivers are absolutely terrible on the road, pumping the brakes at green lights and accidentally making partial turns just to whip back out into traffic without indicating. Also witnessed drivers multiple times at an apartment complex I frequent stop in the middle of lanes (that are no stopping zones and red curbs) with hazards on, blocking cars and garages and inconveniencing residents, it seems to have gotten a bit better at said complex however. I’ve worked delivery, I get that it’s hard to find your way from time to time but don’t cause accidents over something as menial as food, put the address in your phone or look it up BEFORE you get in the car so you know where you’re going!!!
3 stars for food, 0 for everything else.

I usually never give any restaurant 5 stars but, it’s the first time I have tried it and it’s legit.
I have been craving pozole and I was very skeptical because there are not very many places that can actually pull it off.
As I waited they brought me a plate with lemon, onion, diced lettuce and oregano. As they walked over with the bowl of pozole, I could see the steam coming from the plate. As they laid it out in front of me it looks amazing. They absolutely pulled it off. Best pozole I have ever had at a restaurant.
I also had a taco al pastor and jamaica. Both were great.
Definitely recommend this place and i will be coming back here to try more food

I finally decided to give this place a try. It was ok. I can’t say that it was bad, but I’ve had better.
I did enjoy seeing all the photos. It gave the place a feel of coming to a family business which I like.
They have tables for dining in and someone will bring the food to the tables which is kind of cool. I was expecting it to have that Rubio’s look on this inside, but it didn’t have that fast food look.
I may return and try something different, but I can’t say my burrito was anything special.

The food here isn’t bad but with so many other choices around I’m not in a hurry to come back to this place … food is OK to pretty good … but nothing special
Taco Tuesdays are $ 1.50 each except Fish Taco and Carne Asada Taco which are $ 2.85 each (regular price)
Fish Taco *** 3 STAR ***
Not bad … but a bit too sour as they doused it with lime juice which is unfortunate since it kinda mask the taste of the fish itself … they should’ve just give you those lemon wedgy thingy on the side, but the green sauce (creamy cilantro ???) they gave you is pretty good albeit rich tasting
Beef Taco **** 4 STAR ****
This is the shredded beef style (machaca) and is surprisingly tasty … (better than it looks)
They give you a choice of either crispy or soft taco … in my opinion the crispy taco is a nice touch, however the filling is not as much as the soft taco since the taco shell is kinda narrow and it limits on how much can be stuffed in it without breaking the shell
Chicken Taco **** 4 STAR ****
Pretty good and nicely seasoned
Prepare to wait a while if you come here on Tuesdays … one time I was told on the phone that food will be ready in 25 minutes … but when I got there half an hour later I still had to wait another 30 minutes … including waiting in line to pay since there is only one line (no special line for to-​go order only)
Seating inside is available but somewhat limited in number and for small groups only. There are a few tables outside by the sidewalk for a nice evening relaxing dinner at affordable price.
Location is next to Sprouts in the same complex as the Claim Jumper …