Mariscos Puerto Esperanza

This was one of my favorite Mexican places. I am so so sad to hear it’s closed.

Glad I hit this place, everything we had was tasty.
It was so good I returned the next day.
I wish I found this gem sooner on our trip.
Flan was awesome to.

Ok, we should have paid attention to the last 3 Unilocal reviews before deciding to go to mariscos last night.
A major disappointment. Maybe this place used to be a stellar restaurant — my wife and i love ‘hole in the wall’ treasures, but unfortunately the only ‘gem’ found in this experience was watching a couple getting frisky in the strip mall parking lot.
Thanks to the previous Unilocal reviews, we got there early and were seated quickly — too bad for the 30 people that came after us. It took about 15 minutes for the hostess/​waitress to take down their names. I think most of them gave up.
Let’s start with the drinks — we ordered margaritas. I don’t think virgin margaritas were on the menu, but that’s what we were served. Oh well, the salt was good.
Luckily I reminded the waitress that she had not taken our order, otherwise, i’m sure it would have taken another 30 minutes for her to cone back.
The food? We ordered cerviche with shrimp as an appetizer. The shrimp wasn’t de-​veined and the «tostada» was a stale tortilla out of the box. Not exactly authentic. Big pet peeve on the de-​vein issue. The saltine crackers were a nice touch.
Wife’s tacos were ok, nothing exciting.
I ordered the special mariscada with a lot of shellfish and some white fish. While the sauce was decent, some of the seafood was over-​cooked.
The chips were good, salsa very bland — faint reminiscence of tomatillo.
I thought the prices were relatively inexpensive, but considering the quality, I don’t think we would go back.
Let’s hope they learn to start putting tequila in the margarita mix they’re using.
We washed down the experience with a good bottle of wine when we got home. Oh well — for those that love seafood, try Nick’s pizza in costa Mesa. They always do a great job over there!

Lured by the rave reviews on Unilocal,the Chowhound accolades and, as of yesterday, The Orange County Register’s glowing descriptors, we were especially excited to dine at this Mexican eatery so many have ordained a «hidden gem». Unfortunately, last night proved that some treasures ought to be buried a little longer: never visit a small mom & pop restaurant the day a good review from a major newspaper hits the newsstand.
Since the Register’s article came out earlier that day, the restaurant was COMPLETELY overwhelmed. As a result, so many aspects of the evening suffered so much such that I doubt we’ll be coming back. We can forgive the glacial pace it took to get seated, the excruciating one hour wait for the food and the fact that we almost never got our appetizer. What was unforgiveable was the quality of the food.
Our evening started with the complimentary chips (above) and salsa which could at best be described as «angry water». It was so under seasoned that adding salt and Tapatio hot sauce to it didn’t bring any life to the condiment.
Unfortunately, I didn’t get a picture of the relleno appetizer (which arrived after our entrees, BTW). Essentially, it was a beautifully plated, strikingly flavorful casket of chewy, over-​cooked shellfish. It’s clear the kitchen’s timing was way off.
Meanwhile, the parade of the pretty plates continued …
The bacon-​covered shrimp plate «Langostinos Zaraneados» ($ 14.95) was another vessel of over-​cooked sea creatures. Shrimp only takes about 1 or 2 minutes to cook. The ones we were served last night must have sat on the pan a good 10 to 15 minutes. Sure it was flavorful & pretty, but that only goes so far.
The tragedy of the grilled salmon dish «Salmon Yucatan» ($ 12.95) that you see above is that not only was the fish over-​cooked as well, but the grilled veggies were bone-​chilling cold. Since it’s a small location with an open kitchen, we were able to see the plate literally sitting there on the counter like an unwanted child on Christmas, just waiting to be served.
Because the staff was woefully unprepared for the onslaught of new customers, our dining event was marred by shoddy and poorly executed seafood dishes. Should you decide to visit, wait a few weeks for the curious onlookers to subside and hopefully things will improve. The place is called «Esperanza» afterall, so who knows?

After acing my final, we decided to reward ourselves with some tasty Mexican seafood. I haven’t ever been here, but my classmates have and couldn’t stop raving. I would hear «The lobster is soooo good and large», and «the shrimp are huge and have a delicious tomato sauce». So, off we went.
Oddly enough, it’s in a small strip mall behind a gas station. You would never know it’s here without driving into the parking lot. Simple façade, nothing to see here. But inside, it’s a cozy restaurant and the kitchen grill is visible directly behind a half wall. The chef is the owner I believe, and cooks everything right in front of you.
We were informed that there was no more lobster, due to overfishing and the costs rising. No worries! I had the shrimp sauteed in butter and coated in a fine tomato sauce. It was delicious. So much goodness on this one plate. Spicy wild rice and buffet style grilled veggies.
The best part, for me, is that the whole place is family run. They were all here. Oh, and the price was just right. Four of us, and only $ 76. Can’t beat that! At least, not when seafood is involved on all four plates.

Let’s face it. Unilocalers are a special breed. They stick together, they rise up against the «man» — yes, we are review revolutionaries! Who’s with us?! So get off of your butts Unilocalers and get down to Mariscos Puerto now. It’s open until 9pm. Why are we such zealots? Because they need the cute little Unilocal sticker in the window and more people need to know about this joint.
The beer is served in an ice cold goblet — that alone makes me want to go when it is like the surface of the sun outside.
The Pescado Zarandeado is quite possibly one of the best things, I (Liz) have ever tasted. The fish is fresh, smokey and lightly marinaded. The fish comes with rice (not usually into the rice), pinto beans (surprisingly very flavorful) and some very delicious roasted vegetables. Normally, I bypass the vegetable side dishes, but these are actually quite good and as a food friend pointed out to us, «they don’t need to be because their fish is the big star.» We share the dish and it is plenty for both of us, when accompanied by an appetizer.
Speaking of appies, let’s talk about the Ceviche Mixto. The best ceviche outside of Peru. Bourdain watchers know what I’m talking about. But Mariscos Puerto is quite simply the bomb dot com. Yeah, we’re bringing that back too. Unilocal THAT people.
The calamari is a unique blend of flavors. It almost has an Asian fusion taste going on. Deep fried as usual but with a tasty smokey salsa and some raw bell peppers and jalapenos on top. Don’t forget the cilantro for freshness!
The décor is not what you would expect for a strip mall restaurant. I have told Ryan many times that I feel like I am on vacation when I am there. It’s gaudy yes, but in a charming, clean sort of way.
If you enjoy Mexican seafood, really, there is no better place for such a steal. Speaking of steals — the lunch «especial» is two tacos, rice, beans and a soda for $ 3.99. What a deal!
Go here, have a beer, order some appies, try the fish and dream of being in Mexico on vacation. Then don’t forget to Unilocal it when you get back to reality. Tell the world — Puerto Esperanza is a the best strip mall surprise in Orange!

Came back last night after an amazing experience last week. This time I brought my brother. Between the 3 of us we had:
4 Michiladas — Your choice of beer with lime juice, chili flakes, and a hint of tomato juice… this was like a treat itself.
Pescado Zarandeado– the grilled fish fish with an addicting orange, chili cream marinade. The 2lb Striped Bass came with a side of rice pilaf, bowl of bean medley?, grilled zuchinni and carrots. The hot sauce that came on the side was also incredible. It was a dark red salsa with a little kick but sweeten with what tasted like honey. perfect combination of hot and sweet. We also asked for some corn and flour tortillas
Camarones Cucarrachas — sauteed shrimp topped with a roasted tomatillo sauce. had a nice smokey flavor
Ceviche Mixto– Mixed seafood marinated and cooked in lime juice. The seafood was so fresh and had the perfect amount of acidity.
Shrimp and Chorizo Quesadilla — Not your typical Quesadilla. I usually don’t even order Quesadillas. This is like a Chef’s Special Quesadilla. The nicely marinated shrimp with the fatty chorizo was sublime. The cheese was nice and rich also. Chef drizzled Mexican crema on top along with some avocado slices. This is the way a Quesadilla should always be…
Stuffed but refusing to stop we opted for a slice of Kahlua Flan.
Another Fantastic Meal. I wish this place would be busier. I feel bad because there weren’t a lot of customers there at all. It is my mission to spread the word about this place.

It was GREAT!
Came here for dinner after an entire day at the pool in the sun, and nothing hits the spot better than Mexican food. The restaurant may not look like much being in a small plaza, and not really being that big, but it’s great.
Inside, it is small & very clean. The servers are very friendly. We got chips & Salsa to start, and ordered drinks and some Oysters. The Oysters were great, better than you’d expect. We ordered the «Shrimp Diabla», some shrimp tacos, a fish taco, and carne asada tacos. It was all very good. The chips came out fresh, the tacos were hot, not greasy, and very flavorful. The food presentation is another thing I noticed, the presentation is very good.
I will definitely go back to try some more dishes. This place is a must try for anyone who like Oysters, Tacos, seafood, or just Mexican food in general.

Behind a Chevron gas station, deep in a run-​of-​the-​mill strip mall in Orange lies Mariscos Puerto Esperanza. Roughly translated, I believe that means «Seafood Door Hope». I’m a fan of seafood, doors AND hope, so I just had to come here. You will never see it unless you know what you are looking for, and even if you DO know what you are looking for, you still might have a hard time finding it.
The owner, Santiago has worked in some of the best restaurants in Orange County, and a little over the year ago decided to open MPE for his own creations. The talent of the chef is evident in the food:
First off, I loved the salsa! A very flavorful version with the perfect mix of fire roasted and fresh ingredients.
Next, I ordered a shrimp dish that was owner-​recommended. The mustard-​based cream sauce was unlike anything I have ever tried before and in my mind was somewhat reminiscent of a chicken tikka masala sauce from Indian cuisine. Can I just say that I’m not even a fan of mustard, yet I couldn’t get enough of this freaking mustard cream sauce! I poured it over my cilantro rice, my fresh grilled veggies… I licked it off my fingers! It was that good!
Lastly, the owner and I had a nice chat and it sounds like they might have some neat happy hour ideas brewing which I am very eager to try out! I was also impressed that even though I asked for my order to-​go, I was invited to sit down and chips and salsa were brought to my table while I waited. When I mentioned how much I liked the salsa, he made sure to give me an extra container in my to-​go bag along with some chips and salsa he’d already packed. I love a place that pays attention to details and does those little things that make you feel well taken care of.
The prices here are reasonable for the quality of the food and flavors but I wouldn’t describe it as «cheap». They do have lunch specials for $ 8.95, but the average price of dishes seemed to be mostly in the $ 10-​$ 15 range. On a sidenote, I thought the décor was delightful! I loved the wood carved chairs with sea designs. I liked MPE so much I asked my family to take me here for my birthday!

C’mon people, seriously?! This place isn’t bad but I would hardly call it a «hidden gem.»
I usually trust Unilocal’s newsletters but I’m not so sure about their recs these days. I went to Mariscos after reading the newsletter’s «best kept secrets» recommendation and was so excited to try it! Fresh mariscos at a hole in the wall, all right!
But the ceviche, though ice-​cold, was drowning in sauce and the scallops in it weren’t fresh. The two grilled shrimp dishes I tried also failed to inspire me. The secret is out — It’s not that good.

The reason I went back was because I had good service and good food the first time I went to Mariscos Puerto Esperanza. Second time was not so good. My ceviche tasted like dirt. Chicken was plain and my friends shrimp cocktail was mediocre. Service was really slow even though we were practically the only people in there (early lunch). The chef looks like he is always pissed off about something. Maybe that’s why my food tasted like he added some love.
The salsa is unique and tasty.

I went here because of the great recommendations on Unilocal.I definitely agree! My friend and I shared the mixed ceviche (YUM!), which was a great deal for the price.
We also tried a fish taco, a calamari taco and a shrimp taco. I liked the calamari the best. I want to go back and try more!

Very good.
Fried oysters in chipotle sauce — the dish of the night. I would go back and get a dozen for myself with some tortillas and that would be it.
Shrimp ceviche — good but not as good as Mariscos Licensiados. You need to add a bunch of lime.
Sea bass. This was good but not sure the bass is perfectly fresh. It was pretty fresh and expertly cooked.
Chile relleno. Didn’t love the seafood in this.
Shrimp wrapped in bacon. Ok this is a 70’s dish but it was very tasty. Cheese. In there as well. But I really enjoyed it.
Service was attentive. Then again, we were the only customers.
I hope this place makes it.

Try the shrimp/​chorizo quesadilla… freakin’ awesome! Heck, try anything here! My new favorite restaurant. :D

All the reviews are accurate. Fresh. Authentic. Delicious. Tasty. Nom, Nom, really good, fresh, and oh so tasty!
I suppose I’m being redundant but it really was good.
Chips were nice. Perfectly salted and crispy but not greasy. The fresh, homemade salsa was really good. Roasted chillies and peppers with a tad bit of spice.
Appetizers:
Grilled shrimp and ever so tender octopus on a bed of lettuce with mango and a zesty dressing. A Cactus, beautiful salad with romaine lettuce, carrots, tomatoes, and avocado to start.
Main dish: Seafood Chile Relleno stuffed with Oaxaca cheese, shrimp, mussels, white fish and more octopus. If you’re a vegetarian steer clear from the beans because they have chorizo (why?).
The horchata was blended and not too sweet but the strawberry horchata was… gulp… gulp… slurp… sluuurrrp… the best!
I will gladly drive 30 miles to meet my sister for lunch or dinner at Mariscos Puerto Ezperanza!

Wow… a scrumptious seafood delight! Okay, start off by ordering a Chabela… and ask for the Modelo Negro… so refreshing, one will not be enough!
Then, order the Calamari… seasoned to perfection with sweet peppers and a delectable dipping sauce with just the right kick! The Chile Rilleno as an appetizer is chock full of fresh seafood, savory sauce and topped with melted queso…
Then, well, the large grilled, seasoned and juicy red snapper was amazing, served with two kinds of well seasoned rice, grilled vegetables and black beans… I thought I would burst…
but, alas, my belly always has room for more good food! This was a feast fit for the king of cats! I can’t say enough about this Mexican Seafood Paradise other than, I’ll be back soon for more! Meow :)

With the hype on Unilocal and chowhound you would think that this place would be crowded as heck, but sadly it isn’t… and my guess is that it has a lot to do with the location of this eatery.
Nestled in an nondescript strip mall in Orange next to a gas station is probably the best Mexican seafood restaurant in the area to date. The surrounding location is nothing to look at, but once you are inside the eatery it’s a whole other story. The tropical themed interior, open kitchen, and cleanliness of the place is commendable, if not totally unexpected from the exterior.
Our orders of bistec and langostine were both seasoned just right and grilled perfectly. My order of langostines came with six large prawns that were halved (with shells and heads on like they do in Baja!) topped with a creamy chipotle sauce and pico de gallo. Sauce was so tasty I contemplated about licking the plate, but seeing as another couple came in shortly after that thought occurred I refrained… so instead, I stole a couple of bites of the bistec from my husband’s plate.
Charred flap steak was smothered with sauteed onions and peppers and served with a side of green cilantro rice. Funny thing is that the description of the dish on the menu calls it pounded steak, and literally after we ordered the dish we heard thudding sounds from the kitchen as the chef whacked the meat into submission… wait that didn’t sound right, you get the idea… The meat could have been cooked a tad less, but hey that didn’t stop me from stuffing my face. I had the same rice as my hubby’s plate, though my dish also came with a medley of grilled ribbons of carrots, zucchini, and cabbage. Grilled.Cabbage. can you believe it? Well, it tastes a whole lot better than it sounds, that’s for sure.
Oh, and just as we were about to leave, the chef waved me over to the grill and with a flurry of his hand and a twinkle in this eyes, he showed me what he was cooking on the grill. One humongous halved lobster was nestled next to a an even larger order of grilled fish, «live lobster!» he exclaimed, and then added «that fish, it can feed 3 to 4 people». Like a moth to a flame I was almost about the scale the counter for a taste of that bad boy, but I guess that’s something worth coming back for. As an aside note, it is worth mentioning that these same seafood orders were for a party of 5 that had called in prior to arriving at the restaurant. Not a bad idea as the food can be a bit slow in coming with only two chefs in the kitchen. I can foresee long waits with larger parties possibly being an issue.
I am completely tickled to find such a gem in my neck of the woods and would totally recommend this place to anyone visiting the area in need of a fix for good Mexican seafood. Finally, a place within a 10 mile radius worth taking guests to… huzzah!
4.5 stars for now, but I’m betting that it’ll be upped once we try a couple more dishes.

Reading through OC Weekly on a thursday, I found a full page review on «Mariscos Puerto Esperanza.» After reading it I was intrigued. I just had to go down to this place. The review stated that when the customer walked in it was completely dead. The chef eagerly awaits for a customer to walk into the restaurant so he can get down and dirty, making some great mexican fish. The food was nicely priced and a great new hole in the wall in this shopping center.
Anyhow I went down got one of their specials. Unfortunately I dont remember the names. It was the mixture of fish, crab, shrimp and, charizo.
I also had to try to shell fish cocktail. I believe it meant «back to life» or something like that. It had oysters, cucumber, shrimp, onions, tomatoes and more. That was really good. I could eat that all day.
If you’re a fan of oysters they have an oyster bar you can sit up at.

Very good seafood cooked just right with beautiful sauces. The service is perfect — efficient and unfussy. Ditto the comment about not trying to be «alta cocina».
If you have not visited this fine establishment yet, please do. When we visited in November for our anniversary, there were no reviews on Unilocal.It tickles me to see so much enthusiasm about them now.

Do not let the look of the strip center where this restaurant is located fool you.
Wonderful and beautifully prepared dishes. Had lunch here for the first time with my business partners and was very, very impressed. Sauces, flavors, grilled vegetable sides, soup, salads were all very, very delicious. This is a hidden, little gem. I can’t wait to go back for dinner and some of the seafood preparations — I have heard that the chef is known for his fish/​seafood dishes. Nice, clean restaurant with food and presentation that is obviously the mark of a very professional, skilled and proud chef.