Lola Gaspar

last week from Lola Gaspar. Lola Gaspar is that scrappy, 12-year-old gastrobar in downtown Santa Ana. I wrote briefly last year about the chef’s Mexico City-inspired, stripped-down reboot, which felt like a culinary awakening. And this is quickly

(from simple taco six packs to buckets of carnitas). And as good as the takeout is, Lola Gaspar is also one of the safest places I’ve found lately for dining out. The patio is open with limited seating. The tables are safely distanced and meticulously

Lola Gaspar in Santa Ana closed for a short break in July while chef Luis Perez took a brief sabbatical south of the border. He came back freshly energized by Mexico City’s restaurant and bar scene, prompting him to throw out the old menu and start

anew.  The revamped offering is gloriously concise: a few tacos and quesadillas, plus several Mexican side dishes and snacks. Customers now order all food and drinks at the bar. Table service is gone.  Lola Gaspar opened more than 10 years ago, kindled

at Lola Gaspar is made with mezcal, pineapple and cilantro. (Photo by Brad A. Johnson, Orange County Register/SCNG) 5. El Viento at Lola Gaspar This is one of the most elegant expressions of mezcal I’ve come across in a long while. Mixed with

/eatpho101 Mesquite-grilled chicken taco at Lola Gaspar in Santa Ana (Photo by Brad A. Johnson, Orange County Register/SCNG) 4. Eat incredible tacos and drink expert cocktails on the patio at Lola Gaspar in Santa Ana. Located on a tree-lined pedestrian

into a no-frills-but-perfect-for-the-moment outdoor dining room. They partnered with Luis and Eddie Perez, the brothers behind Lola Gaspar just over a mile away. Until recently, Eddie was focused on operating a pizzeria in downtown Los Angeles. Eddie’s

, onotria.com Mesquite charcoal-grilled chicken taco at Lola Gaspar in Santa Ana (Photo by Brad A. Johnson, Orange County Register/SCNG) 3. Mesquite-grilled chicken tacos at Lola Gaspar The tacos at Lola Gaspar are always superb, especially on Tuesday nights

, full-service restaurants. (See the full list, ranked.) Looking at the map, it becomes crystal clear that Santa Ana remains the undisputed epicenter of OC’s vast taco universe. Coming in at No. 1 is Santa Ana’s Lola Gaspar, an exciting gastrobar inspired

Gustavo Arellano first wrote about Lola Gaspar four years ago, when our food blog was still young and the restaurant had just opened. He weaved a brutal account of the inattentive service, the exorbitant $9 tacos trios, and a toothless habanero

the same has happened with Lola. In many ways, the Crosby and Lola Gaspar are a lot alike. They both shared shaky beginnings as rookies in the downtown Santa Ana restaurant scene, and they even looked similar, with a purposely Goth/punk aesthetic that

Kickin’ Crab in Costa Mesa (Photo by Brad A. Johnson, Orange County Register/SCNG) Lola Gaspar The family-style care packages at Lola Gaspar vary from week to week and aren’t always advertised. Sometimes they are teased exclusively on Instagram, so you’ll

to load up on mezcal cocktails while you’re at it. They come in the cutest plastic pouches. 211 W. 2nd St., Santa Ana, 714-972-1172, lolagaspar.com Wood-grilled jerk chicken, a takeout special, from Lola Gaspar in Santa Ana (Photo by Brad A. Johnson

Andrei's    Birrieria el Bandido    Buttermilk Fried Chicken    Clay Oven    Harley    The Kickin' Crab    Lola Gaspar    Noble Bird    Taco María    Vaca   

County Register/SCNG) 9. Jerk chicken from Lola Gaspar The family-style care packages at Lola Gaspar change frequently and aren’t always on the menu. But if you ever see the jerk chicken pop up, jump on it. The chickens are rubbed with a bucketful of jerk

marinade, then grilled over mesquite. 211 W. 2nd St., Santa Ana, 714-972-1172, lolagaspar.com Mesquite-grilled jerk chicken from Lola Gaspar in Santa Ana (Photo by Brad A. Johnson, Orange County Register/SCNG) 8. Delmonico steak from The Ranch The