Chronic Tacos — Restaurant in Newport Beach

I have to say, I’m extremely disappointed with the tipping culture that seems to be pushed so hard at places like Chronic Tacos. At a take-out restaurant, where I’m simply picking up my meal, expecting a 15-20% tip feels excessive. If I were dining in, that would be an entirely different story.

It’s disheartening to think that these employees—who are genuinely friendly and deserve fair compensation—might be relying on tips as a major source of income, rather than being fairly paid by their employer. In an attempt to be kind, I went out of my way to buy a soda just to leave a tip. However, I felt uncomfortable and pressured as I watched the cashier immediately look at the receipt to see what I’d left, which just added to the awkwardness of the experience. This felt unnecessary and uncomfortable for a simple take-out transaction.

I love the food here, but moments like this make me hesitate to return. I would hope Chronic Tacos could find a better way to compensate their staff and ensure a more enjoyable, no-pressure experience...

On Monday evening 12/20/21 I arrived at this Chronic Taco @8:57pm, which I believed to be 1 hr 3 min before closing. No one greeted or talked to me for 4 minutes, it oddly felt like I was being purposely ignored, but I wait patiently. At 9:01pm I’m finally acknowledged when I’m told: “Oh sorry, we’re already closed” and they explain to me on Monday they close 1 hour early. I reply “oh sorry didn’t know that, but it’s not even 9 yet.” To which they reply “ya it is it’s 9:01 sorry.” So the feeling I was purposely being ignored turned out to be exactly what was happening: They were making sure to not let me order until JUST after 9pm so they could tell me they were already closed and refuse to let me buy my dinner. P.S. ALL the food was still out. Register not counted. They were fully open and 100% capable of letting me order, and doing so would not have slowed the employees down or caused them to have to stay longer....

Rudest experience I've had for at least the past 6 months. I was yelled at by an older employee that was standing next to the cash register. She began yelling at me for ABSOLUTELY no reason....saying that I'm just going to have to wait for my shrimp to be cooked. My fiancé had been standing in line for about 20 minutes and I took her spot to ease her frustration.

EXECUTIVES: I know you read these reviews, check the cameras. 08/12/17 Newport Beach location between 1:10-1:30. You will easily find it, you will see a section of video when the entire restaurant becomes still and quiet when she is screaming as I am just standing there saying okay.

I had absolutely no issue waiting, nor did I complain. She argumentatively asked me twice "is something wrong?!?" I replied no, as I am used to waiting in lines in the...