Riviera Orange County
January 2007
Grab A Hot Mexican
Forget hole-in-the-wall taco stands--who says authentic Mexican food Has to be eaten with plastic utensils? At Gabbi’s Mexican Kitchen, the chef (think a gifted, hit version of Rachael Ray, sans the cutesy cuisine abbreviations) is trailblazing a foodie revolution in Old Towne Orange. Nestled in a 1904 building with modish Mexican décor, Gabbi’s has all the Makings of becoming the next O.C. Hot spot: tacos de rajas with Oaxacan cheese, secret-recipe margaritas and a kitchen open ‘til midnight-plus waitlists that stretch to an hour or more. And like every seriously cool hot spot, there’s no sign outside-half the fun is finding it.