La Farola — Restaurant in Costa Mesa

I came for the first time with my family (we are Argentinean/Italian/Spanish and are spoiled by a family of fine and wonderful cooks, so I write with high standards). Though the empanadas were ok in general (some flavors were great while others were a bit disappointing- specifically the beef were excellent, the onion and cheese, and ham and cheese were OK, the Spinach one was disappointing and the Spicy Chicken, being Argentinean, was WAY TOO SPICY, as aforementioned in another review, this is an Argentinean establishment, Not a Mexican one, so let's keep it real- with a kick is ok, but traditional Argentinean cuisine is not spicy, and most of us are wimps when being newly introduced to other cultures' spicy cuisine, lol... I would tone down on the spicy- though the chicken was very tasty, it was painful and hard to enjoy [my mother couldn't finish it, and my husband braved it, but was left chugging drinks and crackers, anything to dull the heat in his mouth], so medium consensus for their empanadas comes to an overall "OK"). We also purchased 2 dozen facturas amongst us, which unfortunately we were too full to try while at the restaurant, so I feel they were not as good as they would have been, had we eaten them fresh and in the moment, I think the humidity and heat played against them, but they were still enjoyed and eaten with coffee... so if they were OK now, then I am sure they are MUCH MUCH better in the moment, and next time we are in the area, we will save room to enjoy them there. YES, we will return!!! The Milanesa a la Napolitana was EXCELLENT, as was their Lomito Sandwich.... Tender and Delicious!!! Unfortunately, the locale does not have their own restrooms, so you have to go to the one shared with several establishments, which was a but inconvenient- my hopes are they do well enough that they can keep their prices reasonable, as they are now, and move to a stand alone, where they can have their own restrooms to assure they are maintained and given their own personal touch. Oh! They also carry Guarana soda, which is another personal favorite, which just adds bonus points! The man in charge, from Uruguay was welcoming, very patient, and nice, which made our experience all the more lovely. No place is perfect and we all have our own experiences and standards, but as a well -travelled, multicultural American, I can assure you, if you enjoy Argentinean cuisine, you will enjoy the food and laid back ambiance and if they do their jobs well (as they did with us), you will leave satisfied! Hope...

I love empanadas, but I'm a little picky about them. I don't like the frozen type found in supermarkets (chemical additives make my stomach sour, not to mention that the ingredients are rarely top-quality) and I don't like the fried type so common in central American countries (too greasy, too heavy... At least for me). Argentinian empanadas to me are the best: good size, baked and delicious. La Farola Empanadas makes NEAR PERFECT empanadas that are 100% homemade and delicious. But they don't just serve empanadas. They also have Argentinian-style sandwiches, pastas and "Milanesa." The latter is an Argentinian take on the Italian "cotoletta alla Milanese" (Milan-style fried cutlet), which this restaurant offers in several variations. We tried several empanadas and they were all delicious. My personal favorite was the Salteña, which comes with ground beef and potatoes in a very flavorful spiced (not spicy) sauce. I also tried the Lomito sandwich (steak sandwich). Also very flavorful and satisfying. The steak fries that came with it were also excellent (crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, right amount of salt). The prices are reasonable, especially in these times when food prices have reach crazy heights. Service is courteous and reasonably fast (you don't want any faster, it's not fast food). The restaurant only accommodates a few tables (take-out is far more popular here), but it's very clean. Highly...

I stumbled upon this place as I was stopping by the spa in the same plaza. There is plenty of parking available in the lot. The restaurant itself is pretty small. It has 4 tables inside and 4 bar stools for bar seating. The service was quick and staff were very friendly. They offer bottled beverages and have a wide variety of options on their menu from sandwiches, pizza, desserts, and their empanadas. Definitely worth a try if you're in the area. Food review: I only ordered empanadas to try this time, but I will definitely be back again to try more menu items. My top 2 are definitely the Arab and Spicy Saltena. The chimichurri here is AMAZING. I wish I would've ordered a second one, it just wasn't enough for all 4 of the empanadas.

Arab: (5/5) Omg! When I took the first bite my tastebuds exploded. Flavors are amazing, it came out nice and hot, and the texture was great. I'd definitely order this one again and again.

Chicken: (4/5) This one is pretty good, but nothing spectacular. I'd pass and try a different one next time.

Spicy Saltena: (5/5) This one is definitely in the top 3 as well. The flavors are amazing, it's stew like? Idk.Whatever it is was delicious and wasn't too spicy.

Pepperoni: (3/5) This one was OK. It tastes exactly like pepperoni and cheese, but I could've gone...