Cha Cha’s Latin Kitchen

Yummy yummy drinks! And happy hour ran as late as 9pm on Monday! Highly recommend! I order the large mango habanero for half the price! It was such a good deal and an even better drink!

The food here is outstanding! I enjoyed the carnitas (that were cooked to perfection), while my girlfriend got the shrimp & crab enchiladas. I am not normally one to go for anything but chicken enchiladas, but her’s were exceptional. My Mom ordered the honey, chipotle-​glazed salmon, which was incredible. The salmon was so light and flavorful with the exquisite combination of sweet and a very mild spice (not hot at all). The restaurant prides themselves on their drinks and I can see why. Although I would have liked to see the price for the large margaritas prior to ordering them (I didn’t hear the waiter ask if we wanted the large-​size, but my girlfriend did and jumped at the opportunity).
At the end of the meal I was cherishing the $ 20 margarita I had ordered when a plain-​clothed man came by and started taking our drinks away. I told him I wasn’t finished and for $ 20 a drink I was going to make sure I got every last drop. Come to find out, the plain-​clothed man was the owner Ron. He was an excellent owner, talking to us about the pride they take in making their drinks and the ingredients they use for them and their food. Ron definitely took care of us and brought a regular-​sized margarita for us to share. I would definitely recommend this restaurant to anyone.
Sitting on the patio was a plus, it seems that the inside can get incredibly loud with the live music

Food was super good! I got the 3 enchilada plate and a mango margarita, highly reccomend both but my waitress Sylvia made my experience awful. She yelled the whole time because she thought I couldn’t hear her and it was so annoying. Also at the end when we paid with seperate cards she circled the original total obnoxiously and told my table in a rude way and I will come back and request not to sit in her section

I came here for my friend’s birthday dinner, and it was just ok. There’s nothing special about this place. But since it was her birthday, she did get a flan with a candle in it.
People say this place is great for happy hour, so I would only recommend coming here for that.
[[Watermelon Margarita]] It’s alright. Nothing out of this world or anything. I wouldn’t order it again.
[[Chips & Salsa]] You get red and green salsa to go with your chips, and the salsa is pretty good.
Once night time comes, it is very dark in the restaurant, so any photos you want to take, you would need to enable flash. But with flash photography, your photos turn out looking like it was taken with a potato.
I wouldn’t say this is a place for any first date type of thing either. I came here on a Friday evening and there was live music. It was so loud I could barely hear my friends, and I was practically yelling just to have a conversation.

Had lunch here this past Saturday for late Father’s day. I’ve seen/​walked past Cha Cha’s several times hanging out in downtown Brea but this was my first time here.
The restaurant was not very busy and our server was friendly and checked up on us regularly even while we waited for half of our party.
We started with the Queso Fundido which was pretty tasty. A bit on the heavy side for an appetizer but oh well, we were hungry. Also, the complimentary chips and salsa were really good!
I ordered the chicken enchiladas but also tried some of the crab & shrimp enchiladas, carne asada, and the combination ceviche. The enchiladas were served with black beans and spanish rice and all the food was tasty, especially the carne asada!
This restaurant would make for a great casual lunch/​dinner or even for a special occasion!

BEST happy hour and service! The nachos here isnt like your typical nacho! The chips are spread out and is carefully put together with beans and cheese and your choice of steak or chicken! I got the steak they had big juicy pieces yum definitely wasnt stingy with he portions of the meat.
I also got the quesadilla with was fantastic as well…
If you are in the mood for their margaritas try the mango habanero one. I know it doesn’t sound like your typical margarita but this one is one of my FAVORITE! If your not in the mood for something fruity the regular blended mojito is good as well!
Will definitely be coming here more often!

Best place in town, hands down. And if you lucky to get Britney you definitely in for a great time.
Awesome smile a sunny disposition and a very gracious waitress and you can trust her to recommend you the best choices if you undecided.
Great happy hour

Came here for Fathers Day. Most items can be made vegan, which I love about Latin food. I got the mushroom tacos. The entrée comes with three small tacos made with corn tortillas. Each taco only comes with one shell, which I prefer because I try to be healthy now and then. The tacos are places on this stainless steel plate made for tacos, so it’s easy to pick up; no mess.
The entrée is served with Spanish rice and black beans on the side.
Also got mimosas because it was on the menu. That’s a rule right?

Great service. Paige O is a great server. Very friendly and nice :)
But the food is overpriced!!!

Ok not gonna lie. This place has some pretty amazing Latin food. Wow. A very upscale nice place with some legit food and drinks.
Food: I got the Carne Asada Plate and it was definitely a 5 star dish! Portions were a tad small but it’s ok. The Nachos appetizer supplemented. I got my steak cooked medium rare and it melted in my mouth. For once a restaurant actually cooked my steak the temperature I asked for! Not overcooked at all!
Wife got the 3 flavored Enchiladas. Dang these were so delicious. My favorite was the Crab and Shrimp. So good!
But my ULTIMATE FAVORITE was the Steak Nachos. They actually make the nacho for you in the back with the meat and cheese already melted on top. So good. See my pic.
The desert flan and churros were also bomb. Loved the desert.
Their drink selection is also very good. Lots of margaritas and beers and wines to choose from.
This place is clean and has a cool trendy vibe and feel.
OUR SERVER: Cherish was spectacular. Her recommendations were perfect, her prompt service was on point and she is beautiful. We all loved her personality and willingness to explain the best items on the menu.
Definitely coming back here!

This big restaurant is situated right across from the movie theaters in downtown Brea. This place has been around for a while and there’s always a line, so luckily we lucked out and had no wait for our luncheon! \
The meals were a little bit pricey, over $ 10USD each plate, but the short rib tacos and grilled mahi mahi were delicious. I really liked their spin on the beans and rice, it was definitely not as Mexican-​style as I am used to, but a welcomed difference. I actually really enjoyed the place and would return. The other two in our party had enchiladas, and they cleaned house so I assume they were delicious also.
I believe during the weekend nights they have some kind of live band and it appears they also have TVs for the games. This looks like a fun hangout spot, but definitely for small-​ish crews, maybe 6 or less people is best.

Introduction:
We came to try this place out today due to the rave reviews. I would probably give the foods 3 stars top. Except for the Cha Cha Fries, that was definitely a 3+, but not quite four either. The price was a little high, but I would give it a four because it averages out with everything you get. However, everything else was a five, so final results? A FIVE! Here’s why…
Quality 3+(due to the fries):
We had the Carnitas, yes, it was tender and tasty. For me, a little too wet/​soggy and the onions were way too over cooked. We also ordered the potatoes, once again, tasty, but a little too wet and onions over cooked and soggy. Lastly, we ordered the Cha Cha fries, this one was great, except slightly salty because I felt like there was way too much spices. At first, I thought they were a type of spices that smells like a bad armpit (not sure the name of it, sorry). But it wasn’t, it was actually good, but like I said, just a little too much.
Customer Service/​Atmosphere ⁵⁄₅:
Our Server Nolan was outstanding, talking about great customer service to the max. Nolan was on point, from the moment we encountered with him. No need to ask for refills, your bill, friendly, accommodating, etc etc etc. Nolan gives you that welcoming atmosphere. He’s an asset to Cha Cha!
Cleanliness ⁵⁄₅:
One word, IMMACULATE!!! I love it, a place that employees takes pride at maintaining their appearance in every way. This place was so spotless, you can eat off the floor. Good job!
Price ⁴⁄₅:
Our bill comes out to $ 40.50 (an order of Carnitas, cha cha fries and an order of potatoes) $ 48 with a 20% tip. Like I said, the price was definitely not 5 stars, but I gave it a four. Why? Cause everything else was above five stars, with the exception of the taste. Once again, it averages out.
Quantity ⁵⁄₅:
One word A LOT! The carnitas was enough for two of us and we left quite a bit of fries and potatoes behind. It was just way too much, but definitely better to have to much than not enough. So 5 stars all the way for quantity.
Tips: The parking is in a plaza shared with Union Bank, Baskin Robins, etc. But super convenient, just park there and walk to Brea Downtown, can’t miss it. I would definitely come back to try other items on the menu.
Fyi:
All and all, I am pleased with the experience. I am just being fair with my ratings so that readers can judge what’s important to them. In other words, even if a place has amazing foods, I will not return if the service is poor and the place is dirty. If they’re ok, I will return if everything else is good.
Hope this helps

The weekday lunch menu is definitely worth the trek out to downtown Brea. However, the regular menu is pricey, but for the ambiance, service, and food quality I think it’s worth the splurge if you happen to be in the area and want a nicer yet casual-​chic place for Mexican/​Latin cuisine. Also, specials offered daily.
From the lunch menu we ordered the 2 items for $ 10 and opted for the chicken enchiladas and chicken flautas. From the regular menu we ordered a side caesar salad and the carne asada with chimichurri sauce.
The chicken in the enchiladas was moist and nicely seasoned. Not much sauce, but I enjoyed the simple preparation. The chicken flautas was rolled up like an actual eggroll. Although different it was delicious and the mango salsa on top was my favorite.
The carne asada we ordered medium rare and it was tender enough that we could cut it with the table knife. It included a side of roasted potatoes and bit of peppers, but what brought it all together was the chimichurri sauce. Since the sauce is oily, I think it would have been great if it included a side of roasted veggies.
The caesar was a bit over dressed but ok. My main compliant was that the pepitas seeds were slightly burnt so it made the salad bitter.
Free chips and salsa is served before you order. Very professional and friendly staff. Nice outdoor patio when it’s not too hot out. I’ll definitely be back again for lunch.

Came here for lunch on a Friday with coworker’s. We were seated instantly by a friendly host. We had the choice of inside seating or patio seating. The patio allows for a view of downtown Brea.
I loved the complimentary chips and green salsa. The salsa had a great taste, and wasn’t too spicy. I ordered the mix & match lunch special for $ 8.95. Great price for two items, rice, and beans. The meal was filling, and tasty. I loved the carnitas taco. I wouldn’t recommend the caesar salad, which didn’t taste anything like the usual caesar dressing.
The service was exceptional! Our waitress recommended adding cucumbers to the classic margarita, which made it refreshing. The frozen mojito was another great choice.

On a quest to try all the restaurants in Brea during happy hour! Or maybe I’m always in need of a drink on Fridays…
Nice place to relax and grab a drink. Drinks were good– I think we got the Cha Cha Signature Margarita? Drinks were at a decent price, but not really discounted at happy hour. I believe its only $ 1-​$ 2 off a drink, so our margarita was about $ 9.
Onto the food– The server brought out complimentary chips and salsa to start out with. Chips were perfectly crispy and it was nice that they had two types of salsas. Out of the food, the star has got to be the Chicken Flautas here. Perfectly crispy outside and moist flavorful meat on the inside. We also got two tacos at $ 3 each (Carnitas & Carne Asada). Carne Asada taco was very good! Meat was tender and definitely way better than the Carnitas. We also got the fries, which were tasty– but were too thick for my liking.
Service is friendly, but could be more attentive.
Overall, not my top happy hour spot– but a solid choice.

3.5 stars
Not so impressed on my last two visits within the past few weeks because the food tasted saltier than my prior visits, enough so where I am not rushing back. After my last visit, I drank plenty of water with dinner, even ordered chips with no salt, and still woke up super thirsty the next morning.
Someone is using a heavy hand with the salt in the kitchen. The salsas, guacamole, carnitas and even the grilled romaine salad dressing are all saltier than I remember them being on my past visits. Guacamole was barely passable-​it tasted off and we did not finish it. The calamari was still fresh and tender and as wonderful as I remembered it to be.

The food has always been consistently good and what they lack is a manager that knows how to execute a bottomless mimosa brunch. I drive from irvine to go here mostly to meet with my friends family who has almost made it their tradition to go here for brunch on weekends. But last 2 to 3 times over the course of few months I have always been disappointed with their mimosas and champagne. It’s too flat or too warm. It seems like they haven’t figured out how to keep champagne cold without going flat yet. I would recommend them invest in lot of ice buckets and make sure to hire a manager who knows the right temperature for champagne is. So disappointing. I have been trying to like this place
Having said that if you go for food and beer I would still say they are pretty good.

Located in the heart of DT Brea and wow what a hidden gem! I had no idea Brea had something like this AND it’s super close to the Brea mall.
Cha Cha’s is kind of an «upscale» mexican/​latin restaurant with a very cool, urban feel and look to it. They apparently have an awesome happy hour, but this time around I skipped out on it and went for the main dining room.
I opted for their 3 course meal, and let’s just say WOW! I’ve never had Latin food like this before as all the dishes were so yummy. 1^st course: Chicken Flautas, 2^nd course: Crab and shrimp enchilada, and 3^rd course: Churros and Cake. I loved every item here and the enchilada was off the charts! The 3 courses is a pretty good deal for $ 25 so I would highly recommend it! They don’t shrink down the portions either so it’s a perfect dinner.

I heard many great things about Cha Cha’s. When I would drive by, it was always packed no matter the time of day. I finally went during OC Restaurant Week. Made reservations at the bar area for happy hour. I absolutely appreciate the fact that happy hour is all day Sunday-​Thursday and even some hours during Friday and Saturday. That already gives them two thumbs up. They have a good food selection ranging from $ 4-​$ 9. I’m not much of a margarita drinker, but they’ve got plenty at good price points. I went with the sangria, which was not the best, but still better than a margarita. I then got the Classic Margarita just because and I can say is well made.
I sat at the bar. And the bartender was an absolute delight. I wish I caught his name, but he’s Caucasian and very sweet and personable. Started off with their chips and salsa. I browsed the OC Restaurant Week menu and sadly I didn’t have an appetite for a 3 course meal. My dining partner did while I chose an appetizer.
Wood fired queso fundido: served in a stone pot piping hot and corn tortillas. I added chorizo for an additional $ 2, because me and my chorizo I had to. It was tasty when it was still hot. Definitely not a dish you want to sit around and enjoy your time with. So for me and appetite this evening, I didn’t finish it and let it get all cold and hardened. ³⁄₅
Short rib enchiladas: featured on the OC Restaurant Week dinner menu. Thankfully, I got to sample a couple of bites. They are generous with the short rib. Really good. ⁴⁄₅
Flan: Finished the meal right.
Aside from superb happy hour times, they also have daily specials. Enchilada and wine Wednesday caught my eye. 50% off all wine, sangria, and enchilada. Then there’s of course taco Tuesday and a Sunday Brunch with bottomless mimosas. Something for everyone really, no matter when you go. Definitely somewhere I can add to my list of spots to hit up for happy hour. I’m glad that it can also double as a full meal.
I appreciate you Cha Cha’s and your sister company Bruno’s, which is just a few doors down.

I love Cha Cha’s. If it was any closer to my house I would ask to purchase the corner booth. You cannot go wrong here, order whatever you want. I’m not even joking… I dare you… everything is divine.
At dinner, I have a hard time saying no to the salmon… it melts in your mouth and the flavors are perfect. The margaritas are delicious, they always have a fun and creative margarita available but you can’t go wrong with the house marg.
At lunch, the specials menu is an amazing deal. If they don’t give you a lunch special menu when they seat you, ask for one. My favorites are a tie between the chicken flautas with mango salsa and the carnitas torta. If I had enough tummy space for both I would be a happy lady.

We made a reservation last minute for Vday. Initially, they were booked, but they called me back 5 minutes later to let me know there was a spot opened for 7pm. We did their VDAY MENU. It was $ 29 per person. You get to choose an appetizer, entrée and a dessert to share. That’s a great price! But fine print says no sharing, but we still did!
I had their CARNE ASADA!!! It was perfect! Marinated grilled skirt steak topped with chimichurri sauce. Oooohh weeee, it was perfect! Meat was so tender and cooked to my liking (medium). The side of roasted yukon gold potatoes that it came with was good too and melted in my mouth.
El Hubby had their SHRIMP and CRAB ENCHILADAS and it was delicious. 2 enchiladas with lots of shrimp and real crab meat inside topped with a creamy habanero pesto sauce. I need to find a similar sauce recipe!
For appetizer we shared their CEVICHE for 2, AGUACHILE and SHRIMP CEVICHE. We enjoyed both. It was fresh and love the string lime flavor. El hubby enjoyed their drinks. Their HABANERO MANGO MARGARITA is a must tr!
Our service was superb! Server was very polite and funny. I just wished he told us that tip was included in the bill. We accidentally tipped twice because we didn’t pay attention. 20% was already included in our bill. I emailed the manager to get our money back.
Overall, great restaurant. I would like to try their brunch next time!