El Farolito   

Although Placentia's Hispanic-influenced downtown district doesn't span more than two city blocks, its Latino roots are well represented by El Farolito, a tiny Mexican restaurant housed in a structure which looks more like an east LA one-bedroom home than one of north OC's most desirable eateries. Since it's zoned in a residential neighborhood, it blends seamlessly with the rest of the houses in the area, which lends to the fact that El Farolito is the definitive example of a local's hangout. The breakfast rush consists of the aforementioned locals -- expect to find most of them sipping coffee and ordering chorizo and eggs with diced potatoes or the Mexican chilaquiles (a dish made up of refried tortillas, scrambled eggs, hot sauce, cheese and meat). Lunch and dinner orders are a little more diverse with regulars who either work nearby or live within walking distance. Mainstays like the enormous enchiladas and the carne asada combos are ordered faster than the kitchen can prepare them, but it's the king-sized burritos that keep everyone returning. Overstuffed with everything from pork, chicken and beef to a salad and veggies, these monsters keep this place alive.