Comments on Orange County Memories: Which Mexican Restaurant in Santa Ana or Orange?

Hi, when I went to Willard Jr. Highschool in 1954,...

2011-03-27T09:52:33.757-07:00

Hi, when I went to Willard Jr. Highschool in 1954, we used to walk down the street to a Mexican restaurant on the corner in an old house. We went in through the kitchen and they served us right there, and we took up to the front and paid. Great food and good prices then..!

original poster here :) i am almost positive it w...

2011-03-01T22:00:15.855-08:00

original poster here :) i am almost positive it was Casa Palma. Seems like i remember it being right by Norms. You wouldn't know if you were going to Norma or the Mexican restaurant until you got there. :) my parents used to take us to Norms for the early bird special. i would get the fish and it came on a metal looking plate shaped like a fish. Spires was also a place we would go. one time we drove all the way out to Huntington Beach for barbeque sandwiches--they were supposed to just like the ones we would get when we visited my grandmother in texas. there are so many times when i wish we hadn't left california. oh well.

Yes, the Mexican restaurant on 17th and I think Bu...

2011-02-27T00:47:02.780-08:00

Yes, the Mexican restaurant on 17th and I think Bush was called Casa Palma. The owner was a rather large gentleman and his wife also worked there. Hands down they had the best enchiladas and sauce. I believe he got cancer and lost tons of weight. He was a very nice man and had a great restaurant.

Message from Dana of Murrieta; La Fonda was also ...

2010-12-27T16:04:52.055-08:00

Message from Dana of Murrieta;

La Fonda was also a favorite of mine. Our entire family would go to the restaurant as it was very reasonable for a family of five. After dinner we would go to the Salvation Army Store down the street and look around for good bargins. My favorite as a child was there tostado topped with a very mild tomatoe sauce that was perfect for someone who couldn't tolerate spicy foods. I still crave their food to this day and nothing comes even close to their quality and their wonderful hosiptality!

Wow what memories of La Fonda. I started going th...

2010-12-02T09:14:31.361-08:00

Wow what memories of La Fonda. I started going there when I was a teenager and later played baseball in the summer league and our team was sponsored by La Fonda. A lot of Valley and Santa Ana high school baseball players played for La Fonda. That was a very successful team and we played in Anaheim Stadium in the summer of 1968 and 1969. I miss the tacos and that cole slaw salad was incredible. Would love to have the recipe with the right mixtures.

I grew up in Santa Ana in the 50s & 60s, and w...

2010-09-14T22:31:04.360-07:00

I grew up in Santa Ana in the 50s & 60s, and we frequently ate Mexican food, my dad's favorite, at both La Fonda and La Hacienda. I believe they were both on Main St. and both run out of houses by families. My dad grew up in Santa Ana in the 20s & 30s, and went to school with the kids of both owners, and he learned how to make really excellent Mexican food from them, as they let him help in the kitchen. He was a musician
and he played music in their restaurants sometimes. My favorite part of the meals there was getting those delicious steamed tortillas that were served beneath two warm china plates. We'd put butter on them and it would melt as we spread frijoles on top, rolled them up and gobbled them along side our dinners. I remember the tangy dressing on the salad, too. My dad was so inspired by that Mexican food, that when we were stationed in Sasebo, Japan from '61-63, he helped his Japanese friend, Eddie, turn his bar into a Mexican restaurant called Eddie's Kitchen. That Japanese Mexican restaurant was in business until 2000, when Eddie's widow finally retired and closed it down. My dad opened his own Mexican food place in Garden Grove in a little mall near Lampson. It was called El Gringo. I have a deep love and appreciation for Mexican food due to my father's influence, and being raised on the best from those two very fine Mexican restaurants in Santa Ana. Also, can't forget Mr. Sanches tamale shop - that was the bomb!! Does anyone remember Mr Sanchez? He also made other Mexican food dishes, all sold to go, with the tamales. Blessings to all!

Oh I am so happy to have found this - My favorite ...

2010-09-11T10:08:22.329-07:00

Oh I am so happy to have found this - My favorite all time place for Mexican food was La Fonda's! Our family would eat there at least once or twice a week. We would order "The plate" most of the time. The salad recipe (someone wrote above) was given to me years later after it closed by Caroline, one of the waitresses that worked there for years, then moved over to La Chiquita (on Washington) after La Fonda's closed. My mother (god rest her soul) sought the perfect Chile Rellano for up until her passing 4 years ago that could compare to La Fonda's! She said she could get the chile part, but never could find how they made the sauce that topped it! The tacos yes, to die for! The complete recipe for the salad is: Red and Green cabbage, shredded carrots, and regular parsley (some people forget that). Then the dressing is apple cider vinegar, wesson oil, and sugar to taste, and salt and pepper. You will know the taste by adding the sugar (it is alot more then you would think!). Now if you still want a great cheese enchilada you can still go to La Chiquita (and they sell their sauce to go to!) and eat there, but nothing will ever replace La Fonda's! Gil was loved by many, he sold my mother a painting that used to hang in the restaurant she had admired it one time and said she would buy it from him, he would not here of it, and said he would sell it to her for I think a dollar! I still have it hanging in my home. It was a picture of a spanish lady with a beautiful mantilla and full long dress with roses on it. I have often wondered who painted it, so if anyone knows more history of it, I would love to know. Gil even wrote a note on the back of the painting from the Gonzalez family to our family. My dad always thought Sabie was so cute when she was taking orders (which usually she didn't only when they were busy) and she would repeat back the order saying "Un tamal"! The lifesaver rack with the gold bowls of candy. I was hooked on the candy that had "ice" in the title - can't think of the name, but it was a chocolate square wrapped in gold paper, and it melted in your mouth instantly! Yum, topped off the salad, chips, taco, corn tortillas with butter (yes still have to have them con mantiquilla!) So many memories, I even dated one of the busboys in jr. high school. Tina, Armando, Cheryl we would love a recipe book!!! Please please please!!!!

I remember Gil told my mother that they put a lay ...

2010-05-13T05:07:40.623-07:00

I remember Gil told my mother that they put a lay of shredded carrots in the base of the taco, then the meat. That soaked up the drippings and kept the taco from falling apart. I think it gave it that special flavor too. Dad would always ask to sit in the back room so that he could order a drink from the 500. The back doors of both places faced each other across the drive.

La Fondas set the stand for every Mexican meal I h...

2010-05-12T08:28:11.384-07:00

La Fondas set the stand for every Mexican meal I have ever had. Great memories

Louie's - I grew up eating at Louie's. I,...

2010-03-21T13:06:55.395-07:00

Louie's - I grew up eating at Louie's. I, too, always got the cheese quesedilla. What memories. I was just a kid and used to like to play waitress there!

I went there at least once a week and sometimes tw...

2010-03-16T08:53:13.246-07:00

I went there at least once a week and sometimes two or three for 33 years. Everything on the menu was terrific. Bring on that book please (or at least a write-up on how to make the tacos and sauce). Does anyone have pictures they could scan and post to this list?

A recipe book of La Fonda delicacies? Sign me up. ...

2010-03-14T01:06:36.664-08:00

A recipe book of La Fonda delicacies? Sign me up. I grew up at that place ( I think nearly everyone did). The beef tacos, the cheese enchiladas, the tamale Gonzales,the sweet and sour slaw ( it's a cinch to make, La Fonda fans), with chips and tomato salsa, the corn torillas with butter, and the scoop of vanilla ice cream and coffee for dessert. Fabulous food, and absolutely unique. And the anbience, a mom and pop venue so cozy and nice, you wanted to live their, and Gil and Sabie were terrific hosts. and what about poor Ramona ( the statue in front of the well? What terrific memories. It was a different era back then; smaller, more innocent. The only thing comparable was Knott's Berry farm and Mrs. Knott's chiken dinner erstaurant, before they began to charge admission to enter Calico. God bless the Gonzales'. Get that cook book out!

I remember going to Louie's across from St. Jo...

2009-11-21T10:17:32.089-08:00

I remember going to Louie's across from St. Joseph's with my family in the late 60's/early 70's. I always got a cheese quesadilla (I can still remember the taste -- yummmm) and my mom always ordered a chile relleno and cheese enchilada. Not sure what dad and my sister ordered!

We ate at La Fonda usually on Saturday's after...

2009-09-22T11:52:16.510-07:00

We ate at La Fonda usually on Saturday's after we had spent the day at Bullocks with my grandmother. We would have lunch in the Tearoom, then walk around the Fashion Square stores or Town and Country. I couldn't wait to drive down 17th Street to have my usual 2 bowls of the cabbage salad with the chips! To this day, I still butter my tortillas! (Lipitor anyone?) My sister and I would be so annoyed if we got there too late and we had to wait by the fountain because there was already a waitlist. If a cookbook is ever available, I would be the first in line!
So many wonderful memories! The business cards on the wall, the old cash register, the candy. Would love a time machine to duplicate just one day of a wonderful childhood memory. And if anyone has the Bullocks Chicken Salad and Popover recipes, I really don't know what I would do!

My mom worked at Headstart in Santa Ana and ate th...

2009-09-06T21:11:43.846-07:00

My mom worked at Headstart in Santa Ana and ate there frequently. Sometimes in the summer we would go to work with her and she would take us to La Fonda. I remember scooping up the creamy beans with the corn tortillas spread with butter. I've never found beans like that anywhere else. I wish I'd tried the guacamole, but that was probably too exotic for my Canadian mother.

I remember as a kid going to the old Louie's ...

2009-08-18T18:31:07.696-07:00

I remember as a kid going to the old Louie's restaurant across the street from St. Josephs hospital in Orange. I believe the owners name was Louie Armenda?? They had previously owned a mexican restaurant in the older part of Santa Ana which my parents used to go to when they were in high school. (Santa Ana High) The food was great!! I often wonder what happened to that family.

I started going to LaFonda as an infant in my baby...

2009-08-05T18:29:22.580-07:00

I started going to LaFonda as an infant in my baby carriage in 1944, I was raised on that great food. After I left Santa Ana as an adult I would always come to Orange County to see my family and we would go to LaFonda's several times when I was in town. When they closed we were so sad. I remember Sophie doing the register and Gil seating the customers and visiting all around the resturant. Suckers were always given free when you left. The wishing well was special to all the little kids. The tacos and red cabbage salad were my very favorites, but everything was good. If anyone has their recipes please post them. The tacos had a special red taco sauce that was wonderful and unique. My dad, grandfather, and then my husband would bring in a beer from the 500 Club. What a special place that was for our family and friends. Never did we have a bad meal there. Again, please post recipes for their beef tacos and the taco sauce and the good red cabbage salad.

I have THE BEST memories of La Fonda. I recall dr...

2009-07-06T21:37:34.189-07:00

I have THE BEST memories of La Fonda. I recall driving from north Santa Ana down the 55 fwy to get there and we would pass the sugar factory. The chips and the salad dressing at La Fonda were to die for! My mom always bought me candy ciggarettes there and I thought I was so cool....the food was fantastic but my fondest memory was always making a wish in the wishing well out front. I wish I had the recipes as well. Would totally buy a cookbook......

Ahh! The memories. La Fonda in Santa Ana was true ...

2009-04-29T19:30:00.000-07:00

Ahh! The memories. La Fonda in Santa Ana was true home cooking and I had the pleasure of enjoying it from the time I was 5 years old until they closed when I turned 40 or so. Mom, Gil and the staff were the best as was their food. Reading this a few weeks ago got me in the Guacamole mood so with the avocados being just right and with the butter milk, cottage cheese, garlic powder and hot sauce I am delighting my family and friends with a real treat. Where is a time machine when you really want one to back in time? Oh that deluxe dinner.

I was so glad to come across this blog regarding L...

2009-04-27T15:40:00.000-07:00

I was so glad to come across this blog regarding La Fonda - the restaurant on Main Street in Santa Ana. My entire family went there regularly for 30 some years until it closed. I was so sad to see it go. I remember the wishing well...the grape lollipops...and my favorite menu items - the salad and the cheese enchiladas! I can still see your Grandmother greeting us at the door with menus in her hand and showing us to a table.

To B. Gonzales that posted a message on May 12, 2008 - yes, there are many people in the local area that still talk about La Fonda. I look forward to seeing your website in the future :)

I used to go to La Fonda when I was a teenager.. m...

2009-03-11T20:17:00.000-07:00

I used to go to La Fonda when I was a teenager.. my girlfriend was a waitress there and one of my girlfriends Elaine Gonzales was related to the family.. I would go to work with my friend and wait in the kitchen for her. I remember Gil Gonzales.. I watched her make the best cabbage salad with apple cider vinegar, wesson oil, and sugar. I still make this salad today. They had the best food and I am going to California this may and was going to look up the restaurant but I see it has closed. Lots of memories of this place.

My name is Pam Nee Lindsey....Elaine Gonzales was ...

2009-03-11T11:29:00.000-07:00

My name is Pam Nee Lindsey....Elaine Gonzales was one of my best friends at Spurgeon Elementary in the 50's. we were in scouts together. I was at her family home many times and just loved her Family. I spent many wonderful hrs at The La Fonda and always wonder how the family was. My Mother worked for them before I was born. such lovely people and wonderful memories.

It was the LaFonda, my Mother worked there in the ...

2009-03-11T11:20:00.000-07:00

It was the LaFonda, my Mother worked there in the 40's and I went to school with one of the Daughters of the Gonzalez Family...good times....Pam valley Grad 1967

I remember La Fonda very well. Thirty years of gre...

2009-02-22T19:05:00.000-08:00

I remember La Fonda very well. Thirty years of great memories. After they closed I actually tried using the Register to seek out their taco recipe with no success. I will never forget the night that Gil went nuts because a customer accused them of using dog meat in the tacos. Gil was so great. Didn't he also own the 500 Club next door? I remember him sending us over there to buy the cold beer to bring back to the restaurant. I'm now in the Northwest but I would fly down there to get some of the recipes. They did teach me the guacamole recipe that to this day is still a hit with anyone I serve it to.

Hi again to the Gonzales family im will Rauls son ...

2009-02-05T06:44:00.000-08:00

Hi again to the Gonzales family im will Rauls son contact Email willie_j_wells@yahoo.com