In search of the most down home Mexican food in the OC...

Ok, I will elaborate what I mean by down home Mexican food. My family is 3 generation Mexican, and our ancestors were from Northern Mexico. I love pinto beans, rice, carnitas, and carne asada. I want to find a place kind of like La Tolteca in Azusa, but a bit better on the quality. I want really yummy, simple food, nothing fancy, no funky colored chips, no black beans (nothing against black beans, but to me, those are more southern Mexico and carribean). I love spice and an earthy flavor to the food. Any decent places in the OC? I have tried Taco Rosa in NB, and while it is good, it really isn't down home food like I'm looking for.

Thanks!

Super Antojitos at Bristol/17th (1702 N. BRISTOL ST)

I heard about it years ago on Chowhound and have been a loyal patron ever since. Right on target for 'down-home'.

I second that. We live in the neigborhood & love Super Antojitos (or Supper Titos as our son called it when he was really small). They have good meats - al pastor, carnitas, carne asada, barbacoa - and really good menudo/posole on weekends.

I have a menu for order take-out, and there are at least five locations for this wonderful little place.
Three in Santa Ana, one in Tustin and another in Costa Mesa. Everything I've gotten is good, to the creamy lardy beans, the red sauce enchiladas, the camerones rancheros, the pasilla chili rellanos. It's a once a week habit. I have address' if the need arises.

El Gallo Giro in Santa Ana on Bristol & Edinger has really good carnitas and al pastor tacos. Tortillas are made on the premises and there's an aguas frescas bar with horchata, tamarindo, sandia, plantano, etc.

Note that there isn't much seating (just some bar stools along the window).

Also, I have no idea what La Tolteca is like so I can't make a comparison.

What about el farolito in Placentia? That is about as down-home as it gets for me. No frills, legit mexican. I know that people are picky about these things, the family run restaurant with an emphasis on mexican classics seems to be what you are looking for.

Yes, I second El Farolito in Placentia. A close second is Ricardo's in San Juan Capistrano.

I second El Farolito.
201 S Bradford Ave
Placentia
714-993-7880

But around the corner on W Santa Fe Ave, there's a divier hole-in-the-wall that's serves up a pretty good beef stew (which I order during winter). I believe it's called El Taco Sabroso Grill.

And while you're in the neighborhood, across the street from El Farolito's is Q Tortas. Good stuff!