Xacalli Kitchen: Spring 2023 Menu

Xacalli is a farm-to-table Mexican Restaurant that highlights regional Mexican cuisine in the historic mining town of Silverado. In the heart of OC lies the community of Silverado with her majestic mountains, state-designated scenic highway, and Cleveland National Forest, next to the cities of Orange, Irvine, Lake Forest, and Tustin. They are 30 mins from John Wayne Airport and 20 mins from Rancho Santa Margarita.

In 2021, Chef Vincent teamed with Mimi Vy Nguyen to develop and open Xacalli in Silverado Canyon. Chef Vincent Espinoza got his start at AnQi by Chef Ryan Carson who gave the inexperienced college graduate an opportunity. Under the tutelage of Ron Lee, Chef Vincent advanced to Sous Chef at AnQi in Costa Mesa CA and in a space of only a few years, advanced to Executive Sous Chef at The District by Hannah An, Beverly Hills CA.

His high standards ultimately garnered him a 2020 Michelin Guide New Discoveries for CHAAK and a 2019 Michelin Bib Gourmand for Gabbi’s. In 2020, Chef Vincent left to pursue his personal goals.

Xacalli Kitchen was the first “hired” session with a restaurant I had, and I am forever grateful for this opportunity. I am writing this a year later, and looking back at these photos, I can see my personal growth in photography when I compare to Xacalli Kitchens Spring 2024 Menu.