Casa Rosita's — Restaurant in Fullerton

Based on a take-out review.

I gave this place a shot based on the 4.9 star rating and the proximity to me at that time. I had high hopes given the great reviews regarding food, service, and atmosphere.

For starters, the parking lot was a little tight and the place small and cramped. I was immediate overwhelmed by the chaos of trying to get in line while people were walking in, out, and around me. This order at the front and then sit seems like more work than it’s worth. Especially when from the photos online you’re expecting a sit down experience that reflect sit down prices.

The service. The girl with glasses at the register was visibly flustered taking orders. It was back to back customers so I understand but that doesn’t mean your service should be short and awkward. She didn’t greet me and stared at me until I said I was picking up. I then asked about garnishes on the food as none were listed on the menu but I wanted to double check. She confirmed the plate had cilantro on top and when I asked if it was too late she handed me the bag and said “yeah, we already made it”. Right away that left a bad taste in my mouth but I took my food anyway and agreed to pick it off.

The food. I ordered the Chile Verde plate with only beans. Luckily, I could pick off the cilantro garnish as it was sparse. I however was appalled at the literal branches of cilantro swimming amongst the tiniest chunks of pork. My salsa verde was extremely salty, I had to throw most of it away as it was inedible. The beans were the better part of the plate. Overall, not worth the almost $17 I spent.

Based on this short, but impactful interaction with Rosita’s, I would not recommend and would...

I visited Casa Rosita’s in Fullerton and had a great experience overall. The restaurant was busy, but the service was attentive and consistent. The food came out in a normal amount of time, and the staff checked in often to see if anything else was needed.

Parking in front of the restaurant is limited, but there’s plenty of additional parking next to the building, which makes it convenient.

What really stood out was the friendly atmosphere. Who I believe was the owner came out to greet several tables, showing how much they value their customers. It’s clear that they’ve built strong relationships with many regulars.

As for the food, my wife tried the huevos rancheros, which were very delicious. The menudo was flavorful, though the menudo it self was a little softer than I prefer. The tortillas weren’t homemade, which was a bit of a letdown for me since homemade tortillas always elevate a meal—but it’s not a dealbreaker.

The menu is simple but full of traditional Mexican favorites like chilaquiles, café de olla, and a variety of Mexican sodas. It’s not overwhelming, and everything feels thoughtfully selected.

Overall, I’d give Casa Rosita’s 4 out of 5 stars. The service and atmosphere were excellent, the food was enjoyable, and with just a few small improvements (like tortillas and menudo not to be so soft), it could easily be a solid 5-star spot. ( the menudo is not to fall...

I stopped in and ordered to-go: an Al Pastor burrito (just meat, cilantro, and onion) and the Al Pastor nachos. While prepping, the lady kindly asked if I wanted lettuce or cabbage to make the burrito less small. I told her I usually skip fillers because most spots stuff burritos with rice and beans and skimp on meat, but I agreed to add a little rice and beans.

When I got the bag, it felt way too light. In my truck, I checked—and the burrito was tiny. Not exaggerating—it was barely bigger than a credit card. For $13, it felt like a slap in the face. The nachos? Another $13 for a tray mostly filled with store-bought chips, a thin layer of cheese, meat, and pico.

I paid $28 total, plus a $2 tip just to show love to the cooks. But I got home feeling totally ripped off. I wanted this place to be my go-to since it’s right around the corner. The food tastes pretty good, but the portions are just sad. Even the salsas were alright, but the tomatillo salsa tasted like it wad made with tap water.

I added photos with a credit card and my hand for scale so you can see I’m not making this up. It sucks because the staff was friendly and it’s a small, family-run place—but the stinginess is real. I won’t be back. Hopefully this review saves someone else from wasting...