The Orange branch of El Molino de Oro is the company’s third location in Orange County, following Lake Forest and San Juan Capistrano. This bustling Mexican restaurant combines two businesses into one: a bakery on one side and a cafeteria-style restaurant on the other.
The cafeteria line gets frenzied at lunchtime daily when this place fills to capacity. There is much to consider. They serve everything from burritos and chiles rellenos to sopes and tacos.
You’ll want to get a good look at all the foods in the steam table before you get into the queue. You don’t want to be that person who grinds the organized chaos to a screeching halt when it’s finally your turn to order.
Trust me: There’s always that person, and the crowd behind them is always on the verge of riot.
The choices for tacos are extensive, and most of what I’ve sampled has been very good, especially the cabeza (cow’s head, mostly the cheeks), buche (pig stomach) and the chile verde pork.
If you want one of their excellent pink conchas (sugar-coated buns) or tres leches for dessert, there’s a separate queue and cashier for that on the other side of the restaurant.
El Molino de Oro
Where: 728 N. Tustin St., Orange
When: Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily
Phone: 714-602-9607
Click here to view the original web page at www.ocregister.com
