Felix Continental Cafe

Everything on the menu looked so good that I had to try as much as I can definitely had to get some to go boxes. The food was delicious definitely will come back again. The service was amazing very attentive. The restaurant was very clean and so where the restrooms. I have nothing bad to say the food was amazing you can tell they take their time to make their food and care about the quality off food they are serving. The one thing that caught me off guard was the fried mozzarella not what I expected I'm use to the sticks these are like fried mozzarella cubes with there version of marinera sauce it was good but that is just way to much cheese and sauce for me.

Felix Continental Cafe is a very long standing Cuban restaurant located at the Orange Plaza Square traffic circle at the intersection of Chapman Ave and Glassell Street. The parking tends to get difficult here so I recommend parking at the Old Towne West Parking structure which is a 5 minute walk and is free. I used to love coming here when I was in college as the food was amazing. This time the food was good but not amazing. We started with the Calamaritos Fritos Gran Via (Calamari) and the calamari pieces were thick and cooked correctly but the flavor was just ok. As a main I had the Caribbean Delight which was good but not excellent as I was hoping. My daughter tried the Chicken Cordon Blue which she thought was excellent but it is quite a bit different than normal Cordon Blue so be prepared. Service was excellent, quick, and friendly. The plates come with a good amount of food for very reasonable prices.

Lots of food for the price. The service was excellent, as the waiter made sure to take precautions for my gluten allergy. I had a separately prepared red snapper with the sofrito, beans, and rice. My friends enjoyed the appetizers, paella, and plantains. It was $100 for 5 dinners with appetizers and salad and dessert, no drinks.

The Cuban Oxtail and rice plate was amazing and a must. It was super tender, meaty, savory, and delicious. This has got to be my favorite dish, here, so far. Their berry fruity Sangria was also delicious and not too sweet. I forgot to take a picture before I was enjoying my dish. Oops.

I came here mid-week around noon. Finding parking is challenging. They don't have their own parking lot. It has a small dining area. Service was ok, not the best. They took our order straight away. The food was served quickly. The portions are fair. I had the Ropa Vieja: I've had better. The meat was not seasoned enough, it had a little bit of onions and olive, the rice was good, the black beans were ok, and the plantains were ok. We also had a fish dish: the fish was not good, and I didn't like the texture. The yellow rice was hard, and the side was strange...we didn't eat it. It's expensive, and probably not worth while.

(7/12/2023) First time Cuban Restaurant and it was pretty good in my opinion. Service was friendly, and food came fast as well. Oxtail was definitely must try here because it had fatty that easily chewing and delicious overall. Also, Felix Combination was tasty as well that had lots of different ingredients in it. Creamy Spinach also good in my opinion. Because of this place, I would try more Cuban food in the future.

Felix's is located in an adorable historical downtown area of Orange, CA. It's very tasty and I have been there twice. I had the shrimp de ajo, which is the Camarones de Ajo (garlic) and it was delicious. The only item I didn't like on my plate were the "tostones", which are a very bland fried green banana cake. It would seem to me that someone should add flavor to them. I have been to Cuba in the past and food is bland, and these are very much like the ones in Havana.

Always a true delight to have a meal at this restaurant. The staff has been the same for years, they're always kind, always helpful. Food is prepared quickly but flavors aren't skimped. My favorite is arroz a la cubana. It's a generous portion and always makes for great leftovers the next day. Mojitos are refreshing, tasty and loaded. Never change Felix

Your platanos fritos will be missed. RIP Felix Continental Cafe :( I'm secretly hoping you open somewhere else in Orange county since there aren't many Cuban establishments.

I'm devastated! Can't believe they will be closing. This was my go to place. I've been coming here since 1999. As a family we have celebrated birthdays, special events and more. My absolute favorite is the "bistec empanizado", I love it but hate to make it. Being a Cuban I very picky about the cuisine. This is as close to moms without my making it. I'm going to miss this place and all of the awesome staff!

A dining institution for the past 45 years in Old Towne Orange. Saddened to hear it closing for good, so we decided to visit one more time. - Fish a la Habanera - lightly breaded sole filet with crab, onion, bell pepper & Hollandaise sauce. Serve with rice, creamed spinach & plantains. A bit dry for my taste, so had to ask for more Hollandaise sauce; otherwise, it was average 4/5 - Roasted Chicken Cubano - was lacking in onions and some garlic citrus juices, yet tender. Serve w/ rice, beans & plantains 3/5 - Felix Cafe Combination - marinated pork, fish, shrimp & beef chunks. Serve with rice, creamed spinach & plantains 3/5 - Pork Ribs Cuban style - flavorful, tender pork ribs cooked in tomato sauce, wine, olives, raisins, garlic. Serve with rice, creamed spinach & plantains. Thumbs up! 5/5 Bread pudding - intoxicating dessert! The sauce is oozing with rum, simply delish! 5/5

Wonderful little family owned Cuban restaurant that opened in the 70's, and after almost 50 years of business, they will sadly be closing in 3 days this Wednesday the 28th of August. They open at 11am, and close at 8pm, but they will stop taking customers at 6pm because it takes between an hour and two hours for the wait to be seated. The waiter mentioned that it had been crazy busy since it was announced that they'll be closing. This is actually the location where my relationship started. We had our first date right here almost 5 years ago, and when we heard it was closing, we had to go back for one last meal. The steak is amazing, the Cuban sandwich is delicious, and the swordfish is salivating! It's so sad when such an iconic and beloved restaurant known by all OC locals closes. Felix's will be dearly missed.

There are not very many Cuban restaurants so I got a recommendation from someone who has a Cuban husband to check out FELIX CONTINENTAL CAFE to get my Cuban food fix. This place is not fancy but rather it gives off at-home vibes. Their food tastes as such--homemade and authentic! The customer service is EXCELLENT! Super friendly and attentive. When you order a meal, they provide bread and butter, an appetizer then the main dish and a dessert (you can choose 1: pineapple upside down rum cake, tres leche cake, rice pudding and vanilla pudding). They provide large portions so you will definitely be more than satisfied. I love how they have a lot of dishes that are both CUBAN and SPANISH. I ordered the Ropa Vieja and my husband ordered a Cuban holiday roast pork dish. Everything was delicious from the appetizer to the dessert! We got the soup and salad for our appetizers and the pineapple rum cake and the tres leche cake. I only docked one star because the bathrooms were not clean but in their defense, it was the end of the night. I definitely recommend this place and would come back!

I'm going to miss this place. Been coming here for years and it was always my go-to spot for Cuban food. The ambience was always good being that it's located right in the Orange Circle. Thank you Felix's for the 45 years of great food.

Came here for lunch with a group of 6 and we were all pleased wit our meals! I got the Cuban sandwich which was huge and came with a soup or salad. I got the lentil soup which was delicious. The sandwich's bread was soft and the meats and cheese mixed well together. Don't judge a book by its cover - this restaurant may not look like anything from the outside, but all of our meals were great...and affordable! By the time we left, every seat was full. Would highly recommend and come to eat here again. Service was fast and friendly too!

Felix has been around for a long time, it's an oldie but goodie! It is located in Old Towne Orange so parking is street parking and a few parking lots. I love the location, it's located in the circle. Customer service is always amazing, on point and very accommodating. Love the complimentary bread. We ordered a variety of dishes, shrimp, beef, oxtail, paella. All so very good!!! I would definitely recommend, especially if you're itching for something ethnic!

We had a really lovely experience here. My boyfriend and I came with two friends. Everyone loved their food and the portions were so big we were able to make a full meal of the leftovers the next day. I had the arroz a la cubana and the flavor was on point. The plantains were cooked to perfection, the rice was flavorful and spiced very well, and there were many different kinds of meat which was nice and fun to try everything. I really loved the chorizo. They brought a big helping of bread which was awesome. I tried the cafe con leche which was delicious. All of our food came with dessert and I had the vanilla pudding which was really yummy. My boyfriend had the cake and it was also good, but I actually preferred the pudding. The food came out quickly and the servers were very attentive. The space is a bit small with some seating outside on the patio. I would definitely return.

Came here a while ago to Felix Continental in Orange. Food here is bomb with big portions. I got the roasted pork plate which came with roasted pork, rice , black beans, plantains, and some bread with butter. The empanada was separate for an extra 3. Everything was delicious and I'm glad they had some shredded onions with the pork, it mixes well. I couldn't even finish everything and had to save it for later. Parking is easy here as there's a free parking garage which is amazing , LA should learn from OC! Restaurant has a nice aesthetic to it , it's built right in the circle area. Great place to bring the family or a date lol. Will definitely recommend this spot !

About to move from Orange after living here for 6 years. As I don't come as much as I'd like, best spot in Orange County. Staff makes you feel like family and then always take care of you. The food is always super authentic and great quality. They always keep their prices very consistent as well. Never have any complaints when coming to Felix's. If you ever visit the Orange circle, don't hesitate making a trip. I will definitely miss Felixes in Texas but will always visit when I come back to town.

Wow, these people turned out to be real jerks. I've been coming here for 20+ years. I understand they are closing soon. I just tried to meet some friends for lunch here to have it one last time. Each and every person that was working here that we encountered was beyond rude. Dirty looks as I stood there waiting to ask for a table as they just walked by us. I finally flagged one down and asked if we could get a table. He said just a minute. We stood there for a few more minutes with additional dirty looks from the other staff. We finally sit by the front door as someone left. Few minutes goes by, someone opens the door and puts the closed sign up while we're sitting there. The original barrel of sunshine that I had asked if we could get a table about 15 minutes prior comes by a few minutes later and says they are closed. I asked him about this and asked what happened to "just a minute" when I had asked for a table 15 minutes earlier. He just looks at me and walks off. I understand it is extra busy as everyone else is trying to get the "last time" meal at Felix's as well. I understand they may not be too happy about the reasons they have to close, but that's an not excuse to act like total jerks to their customers. After this experience, I'm glad they are closing. Frankly, the place became run down a few years ago and they didn't bother to keep it up. The inside smelled like a sewer a few times that we've visited over the last couple of years. Obvious plumbing issue that they didn't address. Lastly, the food quality also declined. I guess I still went there out of a false nostalgia for something that really no longer exists. Owners may want to consider quality and service as to reasons for any revenue decline. Hopefully a nice restaurant replaces Felix's in this spot. One that has good food, is sanitary, and with employees that have basic manners. Good riddance!

Ordered Swordfish for the first time here. It was grilled and sauteed with shrimp, rice, banana, and spinach. The spinach tasted like it had cheese in it which I didn't like much, but I ate everything else no problem. Very friendly and hospitable service. Ambience is a bit small, but there's more seating outside.

4.5 stars. Many moons ago (over a decade ago) I came once to Felix Continental Café and remembered really enjoying their oxtail. Finally, with a Restaurant.com certificate needing to be used, I returned once more. Felix Continental is located in the famous traffic circle in Orange, with smattered street parking. The interior was smaller than I remembered, but there were a few outside tables as well. Loved the hanging plants and portraits inside, plus the mirror walls which made the place seem bigger. Service was very friendly and upbeat, and we were actually spoken to in Spanish the whole meal, but the servers were all fluent in English too. Menu is extensive and prices actually very fair. We opted for the rabo encendido (oxtail), paella valenciana, side soup of the day (fish with vegetables), and a side of tostones (fried green plantains). Portions were very generous (lots of meat and seafood in the paella, four oxtails in the rabo dish), and all of the food was scrumptious. The oxtail broth was particularly delicious and flavorful/memorable to me. Complimentary warm bread was served to start; nothing amazing but a nice touch. We ended with a slice of tres leches cake with café cubano. The cake was chilled, nice and moist from being soaked in milk, as tres leches should be. Coffee was strong. Overall, a phenomenal meal and I can't wait to come back to this humble eatery serving great Cuban and Spanish cuisine!

Ordered pan con lechon, garlic flavor on the sweet bread. Food came very fast and ordered cortado but that came out with the meal at the same time.

Vegan/vegetarians AVOID They are closing 8/31. Not serving breakfast since they changed opening hours to 11 am, they're also not serving appetizers. It'd be nice if I knew before I drove out of the way and waited in line. Without breakfast, there aren't really any vegan or vegetarian options. Maybe one lunch & salad option if you customize, nothing hubby wanted to entertain. Other reviews about bad attitude & service are somewhat validated. We left without ordering since drinks would be the only category available, but we were hungry. One extra star bc the food looked delicious, sadly not for us.

Had a similar experience as Larry P. Setup a gathering with group to have one last meal from this orange circle staple. Called several times to try to make a reservation with no luck. They will NOT answer the phone. Upon arrival, they ran out of food by 5:30 pm and were closing. Great problem to have, but clear sign of mismanagement. Get it together Felix, the place has survived several hardships, dont go out leaving such poor impressions.

The service was great. Serving size is huge. The abundance of food was overwhelming. Flavor was excellent. The #6 slowly cooked pork we ordered was overly dried and impossible. We should have ordered pull pork. Price was right for the amount of food we were serviced and more. Go support this local business.

I have only been here twice and first time about 5 years ago then this past weekend. I thought about 4 or 5 stars because place since a little dark and maybe a bit tired but I thought no this is what this old town orange feel is about. The quaint streets to browse stores and find a nice bite to eat and walk off. The food is just what I remembered as Birmingham big portions and very tasty. We had the Piccadillo and oxtail stew which is pretty typical for our orders and it did not disappoint. We came during a late lunch which goes till 5pm!! Nice. We also had a few appetizers going with the empanada and the potato croquet with a beef filling. All the food was excellent and very filling. I will definitely not wait 5 years to come back.

This place was awesome. 50 something years old guy that remembers coming here when 8 years old. Service was always great. Waiter that always helped us will be missed. Property owner raised the rent and pushed a loved tenant out. I will boycott new place. That's just me... Rip Felix Cafe ... Orange natives will miss you

Just a quick thumbs up to Felix's! Small place, yummy Cuban food, fantastic service! My seafood plate was awesome, the Caribbean Delight. Delish! The Empanadita Criollas were pretty yum too. Breakfast, lunch and dinner, desserts, wines, coffee! Nice selection and affordable prices. I think I like it mostly because it is more of a mom and pop type place than a chain. Very quaint and cozy. If you like Cuban, give it a shot!

I had pretty high hopes for this place since I found out this Cuban place was closer to me. I usually have to drive out to Santa Ana / Costa Mesa area. I remembered I had actually come here once before but it wasn't anything that stood out so I was excited to try it again. However, I came with a group of 4 and everything we had was just ok.. the best dish was the one attached here. I heard their tres leches cake was really good but I didn't get a chance to get it. To be honest, It wasn't bad but I'd probably make the trip out to Santa Ana for better Cuban food. Service was nice though

Salad, entree, and dessert for $20! And it was delish. Traditional Cuban food and the service was super friendly. This place has been around for YEARS and my only regret from going here was that I didn't come sooner. My mom, aunt, and grandma all raves about this place and I'm so happy I finally listened to this recommendation. The salad was nice and fresh, the steak and onions were filling and well rounded, and lastly, I got the tres leches cake which was one of the moistest ones I've ever had. I'm so happy to have come here, it's the best bang for my buck and quality food and service that I've had around OC in a while. Thank you!!

Felix is such a lovely dining experience. The Cuban/ Spanish cuisine is a real treat, and everything is so flavorful. I highly reccommend the mozzarella Provencal, croquetas de pollo y Jamon, papa rellena, the Cuban sandwich, and the chicken a la'orange. I dream about the mozzarella provencal, it's that good. Service is always great. I enjoy sitting outside to get a great view of the lively orange circle.

I'm here now. Everyone is extremely kind. And I'm looking forward to my last Felix meal. I wouldn't let those two recent negative comments keep you away. It's as great as always today!

A "hole in the wall" located right by Starbucks in the orange circle, that is full of surprises! Generously sized portions and deliciously authentic Cuban dishes delighted our entire group. Can't wait to come back and try more items

If I had a Cuban grandma to cook me authentic Cuban food, I'd imagine it would be like Felix. Good old fashioned delicious food with great service. No frills, no hype, just good food. I've been coming here for more than 20 years and the food and people keep me coming back. My favorite time to come is for dinner bc you get warm toasty bread, soup/salad, entree with the BEST maduros (grilled/fried plantains) and creamed spinach, and desserts for a little over $20. My go to is the filet mignon wrapped in bacon, and my current favorite, the salmon medallions. HUGE portions of tasty food at an affordable price. I like sitting outside to enjoy the views of the Orange Circle. Old Town Orange wouldn't be complete without this gem of a restaurant.

I've been coming in here for the last 30 years almost and have loved each and every visit , I always order up a chicken breast and white rice with beans plate. The chicken here is very , very good, great flavor to it , the service is attentive and friendly by the waiters who've been here for even longer than I've been coming in here . The ambiance is that of an old Havana cafe , very cool.

Each time we come to Cafe Felix, Despite pouring over a lengthy menu, we opt for the Pollo Criollo. This bright and tasty meal consist of flattened chicken breast seasoned with lemon, caramelized plantains (Mudoro), a generous portion of white rice, and a bowl of black beans. Soup the black beans on top of the rice and voilà, and the result is the most flavorful Congi EVER! The meal is not complete (IMHO) without a refreshing Sangria, full of blueberries, strawberries, and blackberries. Did I mention dessert? Tres Leche cake is the best I've had.

Absolutely phenomenal!!! I got recommended here by a local friend. Everything was super flavorful and the portion was perfect. Service was incredible too. The waiter was very kind. I got the NY steak (one of chefs specialties) and it was so good. Would definitely recommend!!!! The Mamey shake I tried from my friend's tasted a bit strange tho, but that might just be a personal thing

Food was fine...waiters were jerks. Went with my disabled elderly mother and received subpar service! Once was enough. Bye, byeeee

We are so sad to hear that this wonderful gem of a restaurant has closed down. The food was always so delicious! We honestly thought it would be there forever. When we went the last time for lunch which was just a few weeks ago we were so sad to hear from the server that they were closing down. Not only was their food wonderful, but their prices were great! Glad we got to go as many times as we did over the years.

Feels like I'm walking into a family members house, the staff is so welcoming and kind. And as soon as you sit down they are asking what would you like to drink and bringing you warm bread to nibble at. The portions are big, so either bring your appetite or be prepared for leftovers. My absolute favorite dish to order, been having it since I was a kid, Ropa Vieja. And the rice pudding. SO YUMMY!! It also puts me in food coma. One heads up the food is salty, so make sure to drink water while eating and afterwards.

Damn came back to see how it's doing. End of an era. RIP Felix Cafe. A staple of the circle. You will be missed.

I've been here many times over the years. It was fun to come back after Covid. The outdoor area is bold with new red patio tables / chairs but I miss the old ones bc they were subtle. I sat inside bc it had good ambiance, music. I love the hint of cigars next door. The maduros and Fish a La Habanera for lunch is my go to. I don't think portions changed but textures were a little different(like things were cold and not fresh) and maybe less salty. Not good or bad just an observation. The crab mix between the sole fillet was barely noticeable. Can't forget the creamed spinach and Spanish rice, delicious! I always love the leftovers.

Another visit ate tons of bread and had a Malta. Always a great experience. I definitely like little Havana in FL. But this place is like 45 years old. What a great old town circle restaurant

Really enjoyed meal here. Service is very attentive we split the Cuban sandwich While it's thin we thought it tasted great We've been to Cuba so it wasn't the best but it's decent Comes with salad or soup The salad was tiny They provide bread and butter We went to the Hilbert museum (the Vasquez was excellent) then walked all around this cute town

As my friends and I were walking around shopping the plaza, we kept walking by Felix Continental Cafe and couldn't help but to be drawn in at the delicious looking food. So we stopped in for dinner. We were promptly sat at our table. Our server quickly asked if we were ready to order, but we weren't quite ready. I kinda regret that decision because he took a while to finally come back. But once he did, let me tell you... I've never had food come out from the kitchen sooooo fast... ever! Our plates were in front of us within minutes. We ordered Paella & Lamb. We thought the paella was a little on the soft/mushy side, but the flavor was amazing! I ordered 'medium' on the lamb, and it was more well done. But it was still very tasty! The beans had great flavor, and the bread!! That bread is to die for!! Yummmmy! Overall, a great experience. The food has lots of flavor and the service is speedy.

Really sad to hear about their closing food was always good and service fantastic and fast.

The food is always perfect and prices were great! Papas rellenas, croquettas, plátanos, empanadas, everything always delicious

I had a good experience at Felix Cafe. I ordered the Picadillo Criollo and it was delicious. The portion was huge for me so I was able to have my leftovers for breakfast, and it was even more delicious. The service was great, and the staffs were nice and friendly. The ambiance was warm and inviting. I will definitely be coming back to try their other dishes .

Came by at 11:30am on Saturday for lunch and there was no wait with several seating options indoors and outdoors. The food was as delicious as ever and the staff was attentive and courteous. Things picked up at 12pm and there was a line of people waiting to be seated. We were so happy to enjoy one more meal here before they close on Thursday, August 29. This restaurant is one of our favorites and we'll miss it! Thanks for all the happy memories.

I've been going here for years! It's a family favorite! Love that I can take my kids to a place that I would go to with my parents.

My friend and I had lunch here today, after her friend recommended it to her. The photos and reviews looked good, so we decided to walk over here from Contra Coffee down the street. The server was not friendly nor professional. He was pushy and just wanted to rush us to order. He didn't say hello nor introduce himself. He just said, "Are you ready to order?" That's an order taker, but not a real server. My friend had pieces of foil in pork. My banana shake was banana milk, with no consistency of a shake. Is this normal or did they do something different? The flavor was good, but a shake is thicker than milk. The food runner was nice, and the dishes tasted good. It was mainly the horrible server and the foil in the pork that caused the removal of 2 stars. I won't return.

This is my go-to spot whenever I'm in old town Orange. Have been coming for more than 10 years and their food is consistently delicious and their service is always great. My usual is Ropa Vieja but I thought I would have the roasted chicken. There really is nothing like a good Cuban roasted chicken with the onions and slight tang and that Cuban rice with black beans on top mmm mmm mmm - not to mention the plantains. My husband loves the roasted pork and that's his go-to. The tres leches was very moist and fluffy but not my favorite. I do however love their coffee. There are tables inside and out but if it's a busy day in OTO then it can be noisy and the smell of car exhaust can be nauseating as this restaurant is right at the circle.

Felix Continental Cafe is a very long standing Cuban restaurant located at the Orange Plaza Square traffic circle at the intersection of Chapman Ave and Glassell Street. The parking tends to get difficult here so I recommend parking at the Old Towne West Parking structure which is a 5 minute walk and is free. I used to love coming here when I was in college as the food was amazing. This time the food was good but not amazing. We started with the Calamaritos Fritos Gran Via (Calamari) and the calamari pieces were thick and cooked correctly but the flavor was just ok. As a main I had the Caribbean Delight which was good but not excellent as I was hoping. My daughter tried the Chicken Cordon Blue which she thought was excellent but it is quite a bit different than normal Cordon Blue so be prepared. Service was excellent, quick, and friendly. The plates come with a good amount of food for very reasonable prices.

What an amazing find! Right off the bat the atmosphere is exactly what you want for a cafe in Old Town Orange. Has a vintage, nostalgic feel to it. It's a perfect fit for the historic old town and sits facing the center roundabout. Right away you're greeted with amazing staff. Customer service tends to be good most places I go, but at Felix's it's a bar above. All the servers were incredibly friendly and attentive. I felt like they treated me like I've been going here for ages and I love that! And of course the food! The portions are huge and everything was cooked perfectly! I got the Felix's Combination and everything on that was great! My partner got the Paella and loved it as well. The hot sauce they provide is also great! Really added to our dishes! Also you get complimentary bread, per person too which is something I rarely see which I thought was nice! And the meals came with a choice of soup or salad, and a choice of dessert! So it really is a great deal! Can't wait to come back and try some more dishes! Pros: - Great comfortable atmosphere - Amazing service (I'm not usually big on service but it's different here) - Food portions are large and dishes have that homey feel Cons: - Didn't love the desserts we had since they're very sweet, but I consider them freebies since they come with the dish

Love the quick service and the amazing tender meats! And it's just right in the middle of the town that people watching is an added bonus.

Good prices, and there aren't many Cuban food offerings in the area, so I appreciate this being here. ~17 dollars gets you bread, appetizer, entree, dessert. I have had the rice pudding before where the milk tasted like it went sour, so that is hit or miss. But by far my favorite part of this place is that the menu says "Cool, Cool Salads".