New Restaurant Review: MAMÓN in Foothill Ranch

If you're a Peruvian food fan like myself then you've for sure been to one of the delicious Inka Mama's Restaurants in OC, BUT did you know that right next door to the Foothill Ranch location of Inka Mama's is another Peruvian-influenced treasure, MAMÓN?  Brought to you by the children of the two "Mama's" who started it all, it's a unique presentation of wholesome food cooking emphasizing healthy eating but without sacrificing flavor! 

I recently visited and was beyond impressed with how flavorful every dish I tried was! From their delicious brunch offerings to the moist juicy roasted meats they serve with their plates, it was a pleasant surprise to find such unique tasty offerings in a place I never knew was there. MAMÓN is a casual eatery with fun modern decor. They have both inside and outside seating, as well as bar seating. The service is upbeat, friendly and helpful. 

The menu at MAMÓN offers a little something for everyone including sandwiches, wraps, salads, and their infamous roasted meat plates.  The roasted meat offerings include pork, tri-tip, salmon and the seasonal turkey that was recently added. I chose to try the turkey which proved to be cooked perfectly moist and seasoned to perfection. It was also served up with a nice sauce that is reminiscent of the green Peruvian sauce you'll find at Mama Inka's.  An especially nice touch to the meat platters is that you get to choose your portion size ranging from 4 to 8 oz, depending on how hungry you are and how much you want to spend. Each plate comes with a side, as well as a serving of their crave-able pickled beets - yes, I know they're beets but trust me, these were some of the BEST beets I've ever tried. They were SO good that we actually inquired about taking some home, and was informed that they do indeed sell their sides a la carte to-go!

Chanco en Cama 

MAMÓN is also known for their unique sandwich creations so I couldn't leave without sampling one. At the suggestion of one of the owners, I chose to try the traditional Chanco en Cama (Pig in Bed) which comes with roasted pork shoulder, charred thinly sliced sweet potato, lime marinated red onions and cilantro, and a decadent yellow pepper aioli. Reminiscent of a pulled pork sandwich but with an added sweetness from the sweet potato and a unique twist with the yellow pepper aioli. It was delicious and I'd definitely order it again on a return visit. 

Brunch is also offered at MAMÓN on Saturday and Sundays. Having seen a few pictures prior to my visit, I had to try the uber popular "Toasted" from the brunch menu.

The "Toasted" French Toast

The "Toasted" is a banana pudding stuffed french toast, served with a seasonal berry compote and warm maple syrup. It's as heavenly as it sounds with banana pudding oozing out the sides of the thick slices of grilled up toast. I can see why this is such a popular dish and if you're a french toast fan, you definitely want to put this on your "must try" list! if you're not in a sweet mode, the brunch menu also offers up several savory items including the "Loaded" breakfast sandwich and a "Hammered" spinach tortilla breakfast burrito. 

Although known for their roasted meats, MAMÓN does have quite a few vegan/vegetarian options and 75% of the menu is actually V friendly!  Options include an Avocado and Tomato Toast,  a decadent sounding three cheese Grilled Cheese,  and many of the sides are also V friendly so definitely don't be put off by the meat-centric menu. 

Check out MAMÓN for yourself at 26676 Portola Parkway, #D in Foothill Ranch. 

Hours: 11-8 Monday - Friday

             9-4 Saturday & Sunday

See the full menu and learn more about MAMÓN on their website:  https://www.mamonrestaurants.com/

Don't forget to tell them OCFOODIEGIRL sent you! ;)