MarĆa Elena Avila Shares How Her Familyās Restaurant Has Impacted the Local Community
If youāve ever lived in Orange County, chances are youāve had the pleasure of eating at one of the 13 Avilaās El Ranchito locations. Known for delicious homestyle cooking and a fun, friendly ambiance, the long-standing Costa Mesa location has been serving local generations of regulars for over 47 years. The secret behind this success? Well, itās all in the family.
Like all Avilaās El Ranchito locations, the Costa Mesa restaurant is carefully watched and cared for by a family member, giving matriarch MarĆa Elena Avila the opportunity to honor her roots and preserve her familyās legacy while making a difference in her local community.
Family
MarĆa Elena, daughter of Salvador and Margarita Avila, grew up in the business from the moment the original Huntington Park location opened. Her passion for the family legacy has only deepened over time.
āI grew up helping my mom in the original restaurant, and even as a little girl, I fell in love with the kitchen,ā MarĆa Elena says with a smile. āThere’s a word called sazĆ³nāit means cooking from your heart for the people you love. And that’s my mama.ā
Mamaās authentic recipes, passed down for generations, create a living legacy that comes to life with every dish and menu. On the front cover of that menu, youāll find an iconic picture of Mama Avila standing in the first Avilaās kitchen wearing her own apron from home, radiating an expression that can only be described as pure joy. This Kodak moment occurred shortly after the first location opened when someone unexpectedly captured it in an era of special-occasion photography.
āMy mom always had a special love for the kitchen and always had little secrets of how to prepare food. As we opened different restaurants, I started thinking of all my mama’s recipes,ā shares MarĆa Elena. āWhen we started 57 years ago, she went from her kitchen into our kitchen. From the very beginning, it was just old-fashioned home cooking from scratch.ā
āI like to say that here in Costa Mesa, 47 years later, we cook everything from scratch the way Mama did,ā MarĆa Elena continues. āWhen I walk into the kitchen with my cooks, I like to say, āNo shortcuts. What would Mama say if she saw you doing that?ā And that’s my way of always staying on top of the recipes to make sure that it’s cooked from scratch the way Mama did.ā
Dishes
MarĆa Elena keeps Mamaās scratch-made values alive while adding fresh twists to traditional dishes. She uses authentic ingredients to create new favorites with bold flavors. Two standouts include Botana de Carnitas, a build-your-own taco platter with marinated carnitas, avocados, tomatoes, and corn tortillas. Another favorite is Pepeās Special, a skillet of caramelized onions, tender rib-eye strips, and Mama Avilaās chile negro sauce.
Aside from making an impact within the family restaurant, MarĆa Elena has left a lasting mark on her community. Born in Mexico, MarĆa Elena is proud to be an immigrant, an American and a business owner in Westside Costa Mesa.She actively engages with the community, particularly the local school district, and has earned prestigious awards such as Woman of the Year and Entrepreneur of the Year.
āBeing a businesswoman and a Latina, I felt like we needed those role models, and I wanted to be a bridge in our community and represent Latina women and businesswomen,ā MarĆa Elena says, beaming with a look of pride and passion reminiscent of her motherās photo on the menu.
āI’m really proud to be part of Costa Mesaāespecially on the Westside. Our restaurants are part of our communities. It’s not just about fundraising, but giving back in many different ways that can help strengthen and support our community.ā
With the Avilasā family values, philanthropy, and dedication to quality food, this restaurant has built a strong reputation. Itās a cultural pillar in Costa Mesa, welcoming customers of all ages and backgrounds.
āWhen first-generation families come in and say, āMy abuelita will only go to your restaurant because you really cook like home cooking,ā that’s a really nice compliment,ā MarĆa Elena says. āFresh. Good. Consistent. That’s the niche that we wantāthatās the sazĆ³n.ā
Food
Avilaās El Ranchitoās location in Costa Mesa is known as the Avilaās test kitchen. Try one of Maria Elenaās creations, like the Botana de Camarones with wild-caught shrimp cooked in delicious buttery garlic sauce. The Botana de Carnitas is a fan favorite, offering a platter of slow-cooked, marinated pork. Each bite is tender and juicy inside, yet crispy and flavorful on the outside. Build-your-own tacos on fresh handmade tortillas are also popular, and, of course, the famous Avilaās Chicken Soup is a must-try!
Decor
The Costa Mesa location hides on the west side as a classic old-school gem. With exquisite hand painted murals, an outdoor patio and a fun bar where the locals hang out, this location stays true to theirĀ style.
Price Point
Avilaās El Ranchito keeps its menu in an affordable range. Enjoy margaritas priced at $11 and entrees typically hovering around $20. And Avilaās is not stingy with portionsābe prepared to eat your fill.
Overall Verdict
Avilaās El Ranchito has been a Costa Mesa staple for nearly five decades, and thatās for a good reason. The Avila Family greets everyone who walks through the door with open arms. Be it a staff member, a new patron or a loyal regular, all are welcome.
Avilaās El Ranchito
@avilaselranchito
Born and raised near the Pacific Coast, Jordan Nishkian is a California girl through and through. She graduated from Cal State Long Beach with a BA in Creative Writing and a BA in Anthropology, and her favorite place to be is curled up in a comfy chair with a book in her hand and a pen in her hair.
