La Hacienda de San Angel vs San Angel Inn

[CinderellaDream]

I'm looking for a World Showcase TS restaurant for two adults in December. DH and I are fans of Mexican fare and wondered which of these two is better in terms of food and service. This would be a late lunch or early dinner meal so the possible fireworks view from Hacienda is not important to us. Which would you pick and why?

 

[SGMCO]

We've only eaten at San Angel Inn (at least 4 times) I love the atmosphere, we've always gotten very good meals here. It is not Tex-Mex food, which you can get anywhere off property, I like it better than Tex-Mex. It has a romantic setting. We usually get a late lunch early dinner here to get out of the heat.

 

[loves to dive]

For atmosphere, probably San Angel or food quality and service, La Hacienda. They have crowded more tables than they used to have into San Angel so it's really close in, the noise level is pretty high too since it's in the same area as the gift shops. The food used to be a lot better but the last two times we've done it, it was just so so. The service is not very good. La Hacienda has a little more mixed menu, it's pretty bland looking inside but you do get to see the lake. The service is much better. San Angel used to be a must for us but through the years we stopped going as often. The second to the last time we went we swore we would never go again. A few years later we got to thinking maybe we just had a bad experience, we were wandering around trying to figure out where to eat, they had open ADRs so we tried it again. Last time for us, we do love the tequila bar though.

 

[Moliphino]

I love the food at La Hacienda, we're planning on going back for our third trip in a row in December. The Inn has the better atmosphere. I haven't eaten there in ages, though (we used to love it, then the menu changed and our favorites were gone, and I think it's changed again since then).

 

[hakepb]

San Angel inn is more of atraditional earthy vs most "Americanized" spicy Mexican food.

 

[rg35]

La Hacienda for better food/service
San Angel Inn for solid food but nice atmosphere of sitting inside the temple by the ruins.

I think they're still a toss up for our family, but we have been to San Angel Inn a couple of years in a row because the kids requested it. For our next trip I'd like to do Hacienda again.

 

[amberpi]

San Angel Inn, like Blue Bayou, is very atmospheric. The food, I always just get apps, the portions are giant, is solid, but neither place is going to knocks your socks off. The drinks are better at SAI, at La Hacienda they always seem watered down. Maybe sitting too long?

 

[CinderellaDream]

I'm considering La Hacienda because this is a trip without the kids. Maybe we will save SAI for a trip when they are with us so they get a chance to eat there.

 

[soccermom54]

I would suggest San Angel for lunch and La Hacienda for dinner. We love the atmosphere at San Angel and it makes a nice cool stop for a mid-day lunch. We make sure to have a dinner at La Hacienda every trip. Their Del Mar dinner for 2 is amazing seafood, very tender and melts in your mouth. We always request a booth when we check in and tell them we will wait for one. We have always been seated in a booth which solves the problem of the small, tight tables. Also, we have dinner early, before 6:00 p.m. The service and food quality at La Hacienda have always been excellent!

 

[KaitMM]

La Hacienda is one of our favorites! My husband and I are big fans of Mexican and Spanish food; La Hacienda has more authentic options than San Angel and the food is delicious. We've had mixed experiences with San Angel, and it seems the ambiance is what sticks out more, not necessarily the food.

 

[BabyPiglet]

We tried San Angel a couple of years ago and weren't too impressed. The service was pretty bad; she acted as if we were just bothering her. I just love the atmosphere though! I wish the tequila bar was in that area instead.

 

[danandjackie]

San Angel now has way to many tables - its a chore to even follow the host to your seat and squeeze into place - however its still a great atmosphere and the foods not too bad for the money (though admittedly its pretty basic compared to Hacienda)- they also do a great mexican beer whose name I cant remember. I agree with the post above - its more a lunch place.

Its not always a bad thing though - we had a large family of olds (some deaf) and mids (who clearly had 'in law' issues with each others parents) next to us last time who really should have had there own comedy show - we spent most of the meal in tears laughing

 

[MickeyWaffles]

I've eaten at San Angel a ton of times and Hacienda once.

I love the food at San Angel and wouldn't ever give up the atmosphere there for anything at Hacienda ever again. You just can't beat the San Angel setting.

 

[disneypaws]

I wanted to love San Angel but it was too crowded, too dark, and the food was just ok. I'm trying the hacienda next time I think.