El Chilango Villa — Restaurant in Garden Grove

It was a sweltering summer day, I had just finished pouring a ton of concrete. With sweat in my eyes, concrete in my lungs, exhausted, hungry, and beaten down, I searched for sustenance; “El Chilango” revealed itself to me as an oasis in an unforgiving desert.

I ventured in. It’s small, but cozy, with a simple to read menu. We asked “what’s good here?” The cook Hector replies, “everything.” Such confidence and pride, I was hesitant at first. Little did I know the journey I was about to embark on, due to his culinary skills.

I requested a carne asada burrito and al pastor taco. Everything was created from scratch, it took 10 minutes to receive our food, and after taking my first bite, I would have waited a lifetime.

As I unwrapped the al pastor taco, I noticed perfectly sliced pork pieces, with a touch of crisp on all sides. The onions, flawlessly caramelized, as if I was staring into a citrine gemstone in the moonlight. I took my first bite. Breath taking. As if I was a child first discovering sight and sound. I had to catch my breath as I felt like my soul was ascending to a higher plane. The salt, onions, cilantro, pork, all perfectly balanced as is the universe. I paid $2 for this experience. I would have paid $200.

Once my soul returned to my being, I unwrapped my burrito, scared, but excited to delve into the main course. I took my first bite with no sauce. Immaculate. A burrito that needed no sauce, could it be? A work of art lay before me. The meat, rice, beans, onions, and cilantro, pristinely layered with such delicacy. I added their house made green salsa, and with my next bite, I was hurled into a chaotic electrifying revelation; I had discovered my new favorite burrito and taco home.

Was I at a 3 Star Michelin restaurant? For only $13 in total? If there is a god out there, they were smiling down upon me this day. Unfortunately I live far from this area, but perhaps one day, I shall be granted the opportunity to relive pure unadulterated joy, once more.

Hector, bless you for the experience, and thank...

The place is clean. The menu reflects older prices and the staff has no trouble driving that home About 6-7 times before you order. The food is good. Fresh ingredient for mostly small orders so most can be prepared when ordered. The portions are too small. I dont have the appetite I did when I was a younger woman but when I finish my entire entree and im still hungry I know my Sons would leave starving. It would be too expensive for me to order enough for my family to be satisfied but if the day ever comes when im in the area alone with a few extra bucks, it wouldnt be completely out of...

One of the best restaurants I've been to. The food is amazing! Everything tastes so fresh and prepared at the spot. I had an order of crunchy flautas with beans and rice. I bit into the tacos and the couch was amazing. The chicken inside tasted juicy and it was steaming when I bit through it. The refried beans were amazing, was not dry at all but moist. The same I can say with the rice. The salsa on the side are amazing as well, both of them had flavor and had their own kick to each other. Everything about the place states so fresh. Planning on coming here...