We wanted fresh, we wanted authentic, and we wanted special – Nono’s did not disappoint.

After making several attempts to talk to people to get their opinions on where to find the best Mexican food in the area, we decided to try out Nono’s—a place that claimed to serve “authentic and fresh Mexican style dishes,” on the website at least.

At first glance, you probably wouldn’t notice Nono’s. It’s small and crammed between other stores, but the neon open sign gave us hope.

As we walked in, we were greeted by the owner herself, Eva Belman. When she took over the family business, she was determined to keep the authentic legacy alive.

Everything from the the restaurant starts out as fresh, pure ingredients. All items on the menu are made from scratch everyday.

“Our food is different because of the flavor… if you really want something authentic, something to remember… our flavor is very different to other Mexican restaurant,” said Belman.

Once we tasted the food, we knew exactly what she meant. You can tell each dish is made with care for the culture and love for the customer.

We decided to try out the sopes, which is basically a thick, crispy tortilla topped with beans and meat and some kind of vegetables, and it could not have been better. Everything came hot and delicious.

As for cleanliness, the store seemed to be in tip-top shape. There wasn’t too much space indoors, but outside seating is available. The family atmosphere of the place completes the whole experience.

As for all the broke students out there, don’t worry! Nono’s is really inexpensive, a lot of items on the menu are around $3-$9. There aren’t too many places around here where you can get cheap, good quality food, but Nono’s is definitely one of them.

Nono’s is located at 31115 Rancho Viejo Rd #2, San Juan Capistrano, so if you live in the OC area, we highly recommend you check out it one day. You won’t regret it.