It was a Thursday afternoon and I was craving no other than breakfast. Luckily, Cinnamon Productions in Rancho Santa Margarita happened to serve all day breakfast.
I don’t really get to Rancho Santa Margarita as often as I would like, but I happened to be in the Trabuco Canyon area on a hike. During the hike, I decided that afternoon breakfast sounded like an awesome idea. Not knowing the area too well, I opened up my trusty Yelp app which sent me in the direction of Cinnamon Productions.
Cinnamon Productions is a laid back and casual place that reminded me of a knock off of Corner Barkey. The interior of the restaurant was very inviting with warm colors and natural wood. Large windows allowed for lots of light in the open dining room area.
When you are ready to order, pay at the cashier, take your numbered placard, and try to find a seat. Finding an open table, even on a Thursday afternoon, proved to be quiet difficult for me. All the tables inside were taken including a couple by people only on their laptops. Luckily, there was outdoor seating available. I could only imagine how packed Cinnamon Productions would be on the weekends.
Huevos Rancheros
Being a big fan of Huevos Rancheros ($8.45), I knew I had to order it. It was served with a side of hash browns. For those who want to eat healthier, you can choose a bowl for fresh fruit.
When the dish arrived, the first thing I noticed was how different the Huevos Rancheros looked compared to other restaurants. It definitely was not the traditional Huevos Rancheros I was use to.
Instead of the usual open faced tortillas, Cinnamon Productions stuffed the flour tortillas with refried beans, wrapped it like a burrito, and grilled it lightly. On top was two eggs, sliced avocado, and a spicy ranchero salsa.
The hash browns were cut in thin and skinny strips. The hash browns were crispy on top but a little dry most likely due to the way they were cut.
Both the Huevos Rancheros and hash browns were under seasoned, and to be honest, a little boring. Adding salt and pepper only slightly helped. I’m not saying the dish was bad, but it was forgettable.
Chorizo Wrap
Next up was the Chorizo Wrap and side bowl of fruit ($8.95). Inside the wheat flour tortilla was three scrambled eggs, chorizo, green onions, tomato and jack cheese.
On my first bite, I literately almost choked. I love cheese, but I have never experienced so much cheese in one wrap in my entire life. Every bite I had to be careful.
The wrap was quite filling with three scrambled eggs and chorizo which had a great smokey flavor.
The problem I had with the chorizo wrap was that it was lacking any sort of texture or crunch. The texture of the scrambled eggs, chorizo, and cheese were all the same. The green onions were sliced so microscopically small that they could barely be noticed at all and added nothing to the dish.
The wrap was served with a side of roasted chipotle salsa. I usually love anything to do with chipolte but this salsa was a big let down. It was more like a sauce. It was thin, sour, under seasoned, and really had no distinguishable flavors. Adding extra salt and pepper just made the salsa more sour.
Service
I was satisfied with the service on my visit.
Cashiers at the front were friendly and my orders were delivered fairly quickly and correctly. Almost immediately after I finished my meal, a server came by and cleared my table.
Conclusion
I was a little let down by the breakfast at Cinnamon Productions. The dishes weren’t horrible but they were not memorable at all. They both could have used a little more seasoning and a little more originality and love.
With so many great breakfast options in Orange County, I probably won’t find myself returning to Cinnamon Productions in Rancho Santa Margarita anytime soon.
Pros
- Breakfast served all day
- Gluten free options available
- Quick and casual
- Outdoor seating
Cons
- Food was under seasoned
- Inside tables hard to come by
- Dishes were boring and forgettable