Esmeralda Figueroa

 The sweet sugary smell of baked goods wafted lightly throughout the restaurant. The people next to us had ordered the House Chilaquiles ($10.79). Green spicy salsa. Onions. Peppers and eggs. It smelled delicious.

 

Cafe Calacas is a great place to enjoy a Sunday breakfast. My older sister, Paulina, and I ordered the churro waffles ($7.99 each) and drinks: a specialty lavender “Como La Flor” drink for her ($4.49) and a lemonade for me ($2.75). Bianca, my younger sister, ordered the pan dulce French toast ($7.49) and a cajeta latte ($4.25).
 

The small contemporary Mexican cafeteria is located in Downtown Santa Ana on 4th Street, or “La Cuatro,” as it is referred to by us Latinos. Easy to miss, the restaurant is located in a white building with patchwork-like designs. Three tables surround the outside patio, carrot-colored umbrellas overhead. A dark bronze statue of a nude man stands outside. A palm tree obstructs the building’s name: West End Theater.

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May April 8, 2018- West End Theater in Downtown Santa Ana, home to Café Calacas. 

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A chalkboard sign outside warns that the “current meal time is 25+ mins thank you for waiting.” Customers milled about the patio either waiting to order or already enjoying their meals. Inside, casual conversation and Selena Quintanilla’s music made for a relaxed and fun environment.

 

We nabbed a small table in a windowless corner of the restaurant. A waitress in black delivered our meals. Four churro waffles with powdered sugar and caramel syrup topped with fresh berries for Paulina and I. Four slices of French toast with sweet pink sugar and fresh berries for Bianca.

Strawberries, blueberries and dollops of whipped cream decorated our plates. Caramel syrup drizzled over my golden waffles. The explosion of the sweet-tart berries complemented the cinnamon and brown sugar of the warm pastry.

 

The 25-minute wait was worth it.