For years I heard people rave about the food at Javier’s, but it was my husband who convinced me that it was a restaurant I had to try.
   
“This place has the best chicken mole,” he told me, “and the best margaritas.”
   
I responded with a command: “Take me there.”
   
He did, and he was right.
   
Mexican food ranks high on my list of favorite cuisines. I’ve tried a lot of mole, and I’ve sipped a lot of margaritas. And I know what I like.
   
Let’s start with the mole. To make a good mole, you need to find the right balance between sweet (chocolate is a key ingredient) and spicy. If it’s too sweet, it overpowers the flavor of the chicken. If it’s too spicy, well, it’s just no fun to eat. Javier’s Mole Poblano strikes the perfect balance – you can’t really taste the chocolate, but it adds a subtle richness and texture to the sauce, with just the right hint of heat. Fresh, warm tortillas (flour or corn), Mexican rice and beans dusted with
Cotija cheese serve as the perfect accompaniments.
   
Now, the margaritas: Anyone can make one with a mix. But often the drink tastes more like syrup than a refreshing cocktail. Not margaritas at Javier’s. Again, the restaurant has found the perfect balance – not too sweet and not too tangy, with just the right kick.
   
There are plenty of other great choices on the menu, as well: chicken in a chipotle cream sauce, carne asada and Jidori chicken tacos that you prepare at your table, and filet mignon with Mexican white prawns. And now, Javier’s Crystal Cove serves breakfast on weekends from 8 to 11 a.m., featuring Huevos Rancheros, Huevos con Chorizo and other house specialties.
   
It’s no wonder this place is so popular. When the eatery in Crystal Cove opened, the wait for a table sometimes took as long as two hours.
   
The buzz about Javier’s started soon after the first restaurant opened in 1995 in Laguna Beach. Javier’s has since opened locations in Irvine Spectrum Center and, of course, Crystal Cove, and there’s a Javier’s in Cabo Azul Resort & Spa in Mexico. The original restaurant has since closed, but the remaining locations thrive, and for good reason. When you serve great food and drinks in an upscale, hip and culturally inspired environment, you’ve got a recipe for success. u


Javier’s Cantina & Grill
javiers-cantina.com
• 7832 E. Coast Hwy., Newport Beach
949.494.1239
• 45 Fortune Drive, #400, Irvine
949.872.2101
Hours: Operating hours vary at each location.