A hole-in-the-wall dive bar, so you know what to expect. The beer is super cheap and they have pool (I swear it was free one night). The only downside is the smoke, but after a few of their 22-ouncers, you kind of stop noticing. Sure it seems a little sketchy, but don't be scurred, everything'll be fine.
Review Source:If you are looking for a bar that makes you feel like you're nowhere near O.C., but rather somewhere in redneck Midwest, this is it. Smoking indoors, half the pool sticks are broken, and 32 oz beers. No wine or liquor. Also a decent selection of bottled microbrews and a very good chance someone with no front teeth will talk to you.
Review Source:one of my favorite places to play pool at, it's a bit of a drive for me so i don't come as often as i'd like. Â it's a hole in the wall next to a sushi place and a liquor you might miss it but it's there! the bartender is very friendly and you get good service. it's your standard dive bar, a couple pool tables, bar, and jukebox. Â Every time I've gone people are friendly and you get matches going, it's always fun to put some beers on the line haha
overall i like this place, small chill joint plus last time a saw people from storage wars! Jarod and Brandi (I should've asked for a picture)
cash only bar! make sure to pass by the ATM before getting here
AMAZING beer selection for a South County random dive in the wall.
Every time I come here, I half-expect a slot machine to be installed close to the bathrooms. It is that special in here. Ah, Vegas away from home.
Cash only, promoting my incorrigible ciggy habit, chill peeps, and now added to my Mule arsenal?
MU'FUGGIN DARTS, Y'ALL. I have indeed lived under a rock for the past whatever many years. I finally played entire games of darts. I finally felt the pain of throwing a 28 when all I needed was an 18. Or something like that.
In the eternal words of my FK, "I fucking love this place."
This place is fucking great.
It's a dive bar, but it's damn near the best a dive bar can be. The only downsides are that its beer only and cash only. It's got a punk rock feel, pool tables and a juke box.
Huge drinks. Reasonable prices.
The best part (in my opinion) - You can smoke inside. That's right I said it and I love it. I will come back again and again just for that.
Iron Mule is a good dive bar for drinking in south OC.
Great hole in the wall beer joint. I love the atmosphere, three or four pool tables ($1 in quarters per game). They have a decent selection of beer. Its a dive bar so it does smell like smoke from those inside (just a fair warning to those who aren't fans of smokers).
I recommend this place.
This guy Adam Henry recommended this joint via Yelp. The reviews are great, but we shall soon see if it is as bad as they say it is. If it is, I will upgrade this review to 5 stars. Â Four stars for now based on reviews only.
Ok, so the Mule will be a spot we will revisit when in that area. Â Wasn't as bad as some of the low end reviews that I read, however, if you're kind of soft...don't go here. I can see why some people would be turned off to the Mule. But it is a dive bar, so not for everyone. Good time, I'll keep it at a four star. Great internet juke box but needs a little bit more of a selection. Â But that may depend on the company serviced by the juke box.
The Iron Mule is right down the street and since our normal bar closed down, we decided to give it a shot. Â We knew it was a 'dive bar' and that you could smoke inside - (we smoke so that is a plus). Â The place is exactly what we thought it was - and that's not a bad thing. Â It's exactly that, a dive bar where you can get a good beer at a reasonable price and just hang out without any frills.
The service has always been nice and the crowd is mixed with younger and older. Â We like the pool tables and the darts as it gives us something to do (since the place isn't that packed and not many people to meet).
Iron Mule may not be the place we hang out all the time, but it's definitely worth it if you just want to have a beer, maybe play some darts, and hang out with your friends.
This fine establishment represents the very best that Orange County has to offer. Â Their selection of fine wines is second only to the decor. A wonderful fusion of turn of the century Paris and the Harlem renaissance. Â Black tie only, and lady's don't forget your bustles.
Upon entering it is customary to greet every standing fellow with a "hizzah", and every sitting lady with a "howdoo". Â The bar closes at 9:30 P.M. on the dot so that guests may partake in the bare knuckle boxing match next door at El Pollo Loco. Â
Indeed in all my travels I have never been to such an exemplary bastion of chivalry and decadence. Â
Cheers!
I was here one night with some friends of mine having a great time, and the bar was really crowded. I walked up to the bar and waited for the bartender to come back around so I could order a drink. I was standing next to a vacant barstool, and there was a half-finished beer on the bar. Â I was standing, and waiting really patiently, everything was normal.
Out of goddamned nowhere, this woman shows up and just says "Oh what the fuck now?" to me. I turn and look at her, she was hideous. Her face was distorted with half a century of hard living, calloused and stern from years of being a rotten old Slavic hag. Looking upon this grim visage was like staring at a wood carving of somebody's scrotum. I was petrified, my primitive survival instincts freezing me into place. I thought "maybe, if I don't move, she won't see me... her vision must be based on movement." as I looked into those cold, dead grey eyeballs bulging with rage out of her ancient skull. Â She barked again "I can take a fuk'n hint! You bunch of cocksuckers! Let me get my drink you asshole!" and then reached out a twisted branch that must have been some kind of arm and grabbed the half-finished beer. It was all quite sudden.
Quickly deducing that she thought her seat was taken, there was no time to explain that I was simply standing next to her seat waiting for the bartender. My friends all looked at me in confusion as the swollen form of a woman who walked like an upright badger snorted and scratched around for a new seat on the other end of the bar. She planted herself on a stool; ample currents of fatty buttock flesh cascaded down the stool's circumference as she settled into place and proceeded to mad-dog glare for the rest of the night.
Things like that make evenings at the Iron Mule really special.
What a DIVE! Â I LOVE IT!
Except the damn smell in the clothes. Â Despite the sign, everyone smokes in the bar. Â They have a wine and beer license, but choose not to server wine; wine is for whiners I guess. :-)
Pool tables are in fairly bad shape, music is loud, nice AMI jukebox you can load up from your phone, but beer is cash only (never thought I'd see the day), two E-dart boards, don't know now.
Place ROCKS!
Randomly decided to pop in to this place not long ago while feeling like I hated that moment in time of life.
I walked in and told the bartender to "Beer me"
Good god did she beer me. A massive beer mug which was half the size of a pitcher of beer. Â Only took 1 and I was near shit faced.
I don't like bars. I don't like to drink alone or without a party going on around me.
I would come back though.
The only thing that kind of sucks about this place is the indoor smoking. It stinks. My clothes smelled like crap after, but I get it. It's a dive bar. I walked into it, so I deserved coming out smelling like one.
I'd definitely come back the next time i feel like crap over my position in life or if a friend wants to get a drink locally after work. I would recommend this place for anyone that does like dive bars.
Me and my husband love dive bars so we thought we would check out this one since it's close to home.. Bad idea, we walked in and I swear the music stopped.. From the moment we walked in we were getting a stare down from almost every person in the bar.
I don't know if it was the color of our skin but it was super uncomfortable. We sat at the bar and waited... And waited... An waited some more. The crazy thing is that bartender wasn't even busy!! She was just talking to some other guys that already had there beer.
Anyways after we waited for about 10 min. We decide to leave and this is the worse part, they started CLAPPING!!!!! All the people in the bar I guess had wanted us gone.. I have never felt so small. Please do not come here.
IPA in a super-cold pint-glass for $3.
Pool. Electronic darts.
A couple of open-doors at times for smoke to escape or fresher-air to venture in.
Quick service as long as you're louder than whatever else is goin' on.
The parking lot kind'a sucks, but who goes to a par for the parking lot?
First of all, for all you idiots on this page posting negative comments about this bar F OFF!!
What did you expect when everyone tells you its a dive?
Stick to the club scene if you don't feel that you get treated with great service.
Its The Iron Mule.
Maybe its that snobby personality that you inherit from leaving in the suburbs with mommy & daddy, I don't know?
I have always had an awesome time there.
Beer, smokes, good vibes and awesome people that will make you feel like family.
Thanks
I really can't explain why I love the Iron Mule so much, but I just do! Â It's one of the last, few remaining bars that allows smoking, and there's just something about a smoke filled bar that adds to the ambiance. Â I don't personally smoke, but it doesn't bother me and it kind of makes a bar feel like a real bar. Â The bartenders there are all really cool and friendly and there are always some interesting characters sitting around chit chatting. Â Prices are reasonable and they have a large selection of beers on tap as well as bottles. Â They have about 4 or 5 pool tables and a few mega touch games if you're in to that sort of thing. Â
This is just a cool, hole in the wall type of bar that you feel really comfortable in and welcomed. Â Great people watching, 5 stars just for that!!
Not Bad for a hole in the wall!! The staff has always been friendly, fun and interesting people hanging out- (great for people watching) great beer selection, pool tables, juke box- what else do you need!!
I also like that I'm never scared I'm gonna be attacked out back when I'm there either- unlike other super dives!! Ha!!
This is OC's original dive bar, and the secret's out. Â I used to hang out here back in my earlier days when I was just a smidge over the legal drinking age. Â Why? Â There was (and still is) no other legitimate drinking place where you can play $1 pool and darts AND (for all you smokers out there) smoke inside (though the sign says "no smoking"). Â And then you can do that all the while downing a schooner (or 3) among fellow pool playing alcoholics, and let me tell you. Â I mean that in a very good way.
However, please note that I've never been a smoker nor a very good pool player. Â But I will tell you that once upon a time, I perfected my dart playing to a reasonable degree right here at The Mule. Â And I did that all the while listening to metal and various forms of classic rock. Â Okay, so they do get a little crazy blasting the Sublime nonsense, but remember this is Lake Forest we're talking here, and that means you might get your fair share of bros. Â Don't bother them and they usually don't bother you. Â Fast forward to today, and guess what? Â It hasn't changed a bit. Â AND you still get the same snarky bartenders. Â Love it.
Overall, don't expect to order a cosmo and just forget about that vodka tonic you've been craving all day. Â Folks, this is BEER ONLY. Â Also, it's probably not a good place for a date. Â Note: Â Decent beer selection on tap (Newcastle, Fat Tire, Stone Co, etc.). Â Cash only!
I happen to love this place!
I work in the area so me and my friends at work stop in here all the time.. They have PBR on tap, as well as Guinness (My Fav) and server Stone brews.. that alone is worth a star I think.. Â Also its one of the last Bars in So. Cal that you can smoke in (Again another star) 3 pool tables a E-Jukebox, free WiFi.. whats not to like?
If you get a chance to check this place out, don't pass it up!
In this little corner shopping center is this casual, neighborhoody spot.
There's a few flatscreen TVs plus free pool Sundays. No food is served, but outside food is allowed; there's a few chain eateries next door if you get the munchies.
Not a fan of how smoky the one side of the bar got, and I was sad when I saw the Big Game Hunter game wasn't working (or off). Cash-only, too.
To find the Mule, look for the door with "Iron Mule" on it, in the famous "Iron Maiden" typeface.
I'll be back.
Adventures with Dave H. (stop #2)
---------------------------------------
Post dinner at Fukada, we decided to hit up a local bar for some drinks...and Holly recommended Iron Mule, which she hadn't been to in a loooong time
Things that stood out for me:
-free WiFi
-smoking indoors (is that still legal in CA?)
-3 pool tables to the left and one to the right (free pool on Sundays)
-most of the guys there looked like these dudes <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fimg2.timeinc.net%2Few%2Fdynamic%2Fimgs%2F080626%2Fbogus-journey_l.jpg&s=b381b1ca743bca171ffd069dca34a8b21391a9610f6131e6d5e21f16733c153f" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://img2.timeinc.net/…</a>
"EXCELLENT!"
-gotta love a bar that plays "Ice Ice Baby"
<a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DVp-is6S_b_g&s=425bc53436aea9650d7722145b58896cdac75b0a93ff4f32491f9c58a1f35ae0" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.youtube.com/w…</a>
-beer only (they carry domestics, Stone, Blue Moon and I forgot what else)
-allowed to bring outside food
NEXT! :)
This place is the best dive bar to hit up in South OC. Good and cheap selection of beer, awesomely chill bartenders and you can smoke inside (a huge plus for some).
Not a single person there with a chip on their shoulder, everyone is simply there to have a good time. Definitely a place to hit up if you want to have a laid back time, shoot some shit and drink some IPA... or PBR if you're feeling frugal.
If you ever wanted to know what the inside of a womans vagina was like on her period, this place is the closest to that experience one could come.
Everything in here should either be soaked up by a tampon or discharged into a toilet, and im being kind. If it survived beyond that you'd actually consider a partial birth abortion.
This is a pretty quintessential dive bar, commonplace in the Northwest or Bay Area, but all too rare in Orange County. Â Beer only, cash only, smoking inside, dirty floors, enough said.
This is the kind of place where one of my friends got a beer mug smashed in his face by the bartender and she threw one at my head, but that was kind of endearing to me, in a way.
By the way, Kimba, I think we may have met the same bartender and she has been canned, so no more worries about her. Â Corey rocks, he's a really chill, friendly guy.
Beer is cheap, did I mention smoking inside? Â I think this place would get five stars if the clientele was a little more interesting. Â It is mostly just bros at this point. Â Hate to say it, but if the patrons could get a little more gentrified then this place would be my default bar, period.
So i'm not a racist at all and i try to steer clear of any negative racial stereotypes but when i have been done wrong, you best be expecting some dirty language as a slap in the face..or in this case, a nasty review.
And if i could give no stars at all, i would. Â But the "eek! me thinks not!" speaks for itself
My sister and i were excited to finally check this place out considering the great reviews and we have lived in this area all our life. Â We were home for thanksgiving break and decided to finally give it a go. Â However, it seems that our own hometown doesn't welcome us. Â
The minute we got in there, we sensed a negative vibe and my sister noticed a death stare by the shady bartender lady. Â We are about to order, I give her my id, and I dont get any service. Â This woman claimed i didn't look anything like my picture and that I looked too young. Â First of all, i'm 22 years old. Â Do you really expect me to look exactly like i did when i was 16? Â
She then goes on analyzing my id not only saying that the picture didn't look like me, but that it was expired.  My id also said that i'd be 21 in 2007 and that it would expire in 2011.  So she tries to be all smart suggesting i get a new id cause it won't work for much  longer when my id clearly says that it will expire in 2011.  Plus, she claimed that i was supposed to be mailed a new id when i turned 21. She was such a pain in the ass that we ended up at Yardhouse in Irvine where I happened to vent to the bouncer about my new lady friend.  Thankfully he explained that she didnt know what she was talking about and that "some people are just stupid and don't understand the law/policy".  Thank you, bouncer man!
On another note, this particular bartender was using terms of endearment like "honey" and "sweetheart", which I so did not appreciate especially if it was very clear to me that I was being insulted. Â a simple "sweetheart" isn't gonna get me to kiss your ass. Â god forbid this had anything to do with my race. Â don't call me sweetheart if you're gonna discriminate me by my age and/or race and try to hide behind some BS law you made up all just to reject us for whatever good reason you probably don't have. Â
So overall...extremely disappointed. Â And simply put...the girl's a bitch. Â If my experiences here were witnessed by anyone else other than me, then PLEASE don't leave a tip on my behalf...OR you can steer clear. Â If you're a chain-smoking, ignorant, trashy conservative..then by all means. Â Enjoy your booze. After all, we WERE in orange county.
I grew up in the neighborhood behind 'the mule' Â therefore spent my summer days roller blading to Frank's liquor, or Fosters Freeze in the same parking lot, always passing the elusive mule, which looked seedy, smokey, and dangerous. Honestly to me it looked like a strip club, with it's frosted glass, loud music, and cigarette smoke seeping from beneath the closed front door. It filled me with awe and wonder....
Ten years later, I was old enough to enter this alluring neighborhood watering hole, and I just can't get enough. Maybe it's the fact that I can literally somersault home, or the fact that I can roll up on a whim and experience a blend of high school reunion/ random local who remembers me from last week/ eccentric passers-through that you plop yourself next to and engage in an import-beer induced, unpretentious bartalk, cig in hand, classic/metal blaring on the jukebox.
It's Lake Forest's Cheers, raw and real.  The spot to go when you don't want to put something nice on, because chances are  you'll leave stinking like an ashtray, and I understand that's not for everyone, but hey, it's for me.
This place is right down the street from my work. Â If I had a rough day at the office, I slunk in this place to grab a pitcher and hit on the ugliest chick that just turned pretty to make my day a little better. Â
This place tripped me out when I first got here. Â Everyone smokes in the bar and it's a super dive bar. Â Almost reminds me of LA bars I go to. Â
What I don't like about the place? Â lol, sometimes I get funny looks when I come in. Â I attribute it to me wearing my button up shirt and tie after work on a Tuesday when it's slow.
This is such a laid back bar. Â They allow smoking inside and they just serve BEER ONLY. Â The best way to go is buying one of there large ass schooners for $8 which holds like 3 or more beers..
The place is CASH ONLY. Â They do have an ATM with a $1.75 service charge if I remember correctly, for those of you who only carry plastic.
They have a fair amount of pool tables here, over all just a great place to drink beer and socialize and maybe play a few games of pool never seemed to get overly crowded when I was there and always seemed to be at least one pool table available. Â
I love how the place is not sceney at all. Â It just real people coming for a drink unwind and shoot the breeze.
One of my favorite bars
Ah now this is a dive bar...at least by Orange County standards... Â Durable concrete floors, kinda dark, smokey, only a beer and wine license, and blaring music. Â The Mule is a great place to go for a few beers and to shoot some pool. Â Make the most of your time there and order up one of their giant mugs of beer...and then try to drink it before it gets warm. Â
I also think that it's odd that they let you smoke inside (well the back door is open), but hey you know that is going on so if you can't handle the smoke I'm sure you can find another place that serves beer and has a pool table.
The next time I go I'm gonna play that naked lady game...
For being tucked away in a shopping center on the corner of Trabuco and Bake Pkwy (google maps made it seem farther down Bake), this place sure knows how to keep good business. Â I was in town for business in Mission Viejo and realized there isn't much in the way of a night life here. Â But I found this place as an oasis for many like myself who enjoy the down-to-earth vibe and good beer. Â Thank you yelp!
I didn't really care that there was no liquor served because their beer variety is pretty spread out to satisfy any picky drinker (isn't that kind of an oxymoron?).  The cash only service is fine with me too  because of the ATM machine inside.  The service itself was welcoming and for not knowing anyone in town, the regulars there were totally chill.  I recommend this place for a good time with good beer and a good crowd.
I just left this place, but I love it. Â Good beers on tap. Â Cheap enough to get wasted off of. Â The people that complained about the bathrooms are obviously braindead. Â The dude's bathroom has 3 urinals and two stalls. Â Why the fuck would you complain about that???
Sure, they play a lot of Sublime, but who cares. Â I don't really know what I'm saying, all I know is they have good beer and the bartender is nice. Â Thanks Iron Mule. Â U RUle.
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