Blog

Birria: The Mexican Comfort Food Everyone Is Craving

What Is Birria, and Why Is Everyone Obsessed?

If you’ve been on social media in the last few years, you’ve seen the videos — crispy tortillas dipped in rich, ruby-red consommé, cheese pulling in slow motion, that satisfying crunch. Birria went from a regional Mexican comfort food to a full-blown cultural moment. But at Olamendi’s in Mission Viejo, we’ve been making birria long before it was a TikTok trend.

Birria is a slow-stewed meat dish that originates from the state of Jalisco in central Mexico. Traditionally made with goat, most versions in the U.S. — including ours — use beef, braised for hours in a rich chili-spice broth until the meat is impossibly tender. The broth itself is the star: deep, complex, with layers of dried guajillo and ancho chiles, cumin, oregano, and a touch of sweetness from tomato.

How We Serve Birria at Olamendi’s

You’ll find our birria on the menu served the traditional way — as a stew with warm tortillas on the side, or in birria tacos with a cup of consommé for dipping. The consommé is what takes it from good to unforgettable. Dip your taco, let the tortilla soak up that broth, and take a bite. That’s the experience everyone’s chasing.

Our version follows the Olamendi family recipe — the same approach to slow cooking and spice balance that’s been part of our kitchen since 1974. We don’t shortcut the braise, and we don’t skip the fresh garnishes. Every bowl comes with chopped onion, cilantro, and lime.

The Story Behind the Dish

Birria has deep roots in Mexican celebration. In Jalisco, it’s the food of weddings, baptisms, and holidays — the dish that signals something special is happening. Families would prepare massive pots overnight, enough to feed an entire neighborhood gathering.

The social media boom brought birria to a wider audience, but the essence hasn’t changed. It’s still a dish built on patience, quality ingredients, and sharing a table with people you care about. That’s exactly the spirit we bring to every bowl we serve in Mission Viejo.

More Traditional Favorites

If you love birria, you’ll want to try some of our other traditional dishes too. Our mole poblano is another recipe with deep roots — over 20 ingredients blended into a complex, chocolate-kissed sauce. And our carnitas are slow-braised and crisped to perfection, another Olamendi family staple.

Each of these dishes tells a story, and each one has been on our menu for decades because our guests in Mission Viejo and across Orange County keep coming back for them.

Perfect for Sharing

Hosting a get-together? Birria is a natural party food. A big pot of stew with warm tortillas and all the fixings makes for an easy, impressive spread. Check out our catering options if you’re feeding a crowd — we can scale up any of our traditional dishes for groups of any size.

Come taste what the hype is about. We’re right here in Mission Viejo, serving the same recipes we’ve trusted for over 50 years. Some things trend for a reason.