Calacas Mamas Anaheim: Best Mexican Restaurant Near Disneyland

If you’re searching for the best Mexican restaurant near Disneyland, look no further than Calacas Mamas in Anaheim. Located right across the street from Disneyland, Calacas Mamas is a vibrant, Día de los Muertos–inspired restaurant serving modern Mexican cuisine and creative cocktails in a festive, family-friendly atmosphere. I was literally blown away after my visit to this restaurant. For me it was a complete experience. You can tell from the moment you walk in that this restaurant carries a heartfelt tribute to family, culture, and celebration. Everything from the murals on the wall, the art that is present throughout (which looks like it was collected in Mexico) and the effort they put into their libations and food, it all comes across as memorable, colorful, and genuine.

Cocktails at Calacas Mamas

We kicked off our night with some of their signature drinks. The “Spice Up My Life” cocktail lived up to its name with a perfect spicy kick, beautiful flowers and cool refreshing strips of cucumber that wrapped around the glass like an art project. The Churro on Ice cocktail was a sweet, dessert-inspired treat that was as Instagram-worthy as it was delicious.

Appetizers Worth Trying

For appetizers, we started with their fresh, house-made guacamole and a spicy shrimp ceviche bursting with citrus and heat. The shrimp ceviche was especially memorable —It was bold, bright, but be prepared for it to be super spicy. It’s a must for seafood lovers looking for authentic Mexican flavors. And let’s talk about their chips…They are so perfectly crisp and fresh. I was using them to dip in the birria we later tried.

Entrées at Calacas Mamas

For our entrées, we chose the Local Line Caught Fish, marinated in achiote and served with avocado salad and charred tomatillo salsa. The fish was tender, perfectly cooked, and paired beautifully with the smoky, tangy salsa.

We also ordered the Carne Asada, cooked medium and served with warm tortillas, black refried beans, and rice. The carne asada was juicy, flavorful, and perfectly charred, making every bite satisfying and authentic.

Now lets talk about the executive Chef Yen Woo! He was amazing. He came out several times to check on us and right before dessert he was talking about how they are going to be introducing some new menu items, one of them being birria . I told him we have never had birria before and he said “Can I please please bring you a Birria Taco to try”? Yes, please!!! OMG it was so good. He told us all about how they make birria in Mexico city and explained how it’s like the U.S. version of french dip.

Dessert with a Show

From watching a few tik tok’s I knew in advance Calacas Mamas takes churros to a whole new level. We ordered churros served tableside from a mini churro cart with cinnamon sugar, chocolate sauce, and dulce de leche. To top it off, they light a mini firecracker right at your table, turning dessert into a fun celebration.

Shopping

For those that want to fit in some more shopping, Calaca Mamas has a cute little shop fully of apparel, trinkets, cups and more. They also have exquisitely clean bathrooms where you could eat off the floor. Super impressed with that!

Thank you for hosting us Calaca Mamas. We can’t wait to go back and try brunch next!