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This place is amazing. the food was great but the service stands out above all. The cook did an amazing job and educated us on so much but Manna was the star of the night. his service and care for the customers is out of this world. we will be eating here monthly moving forward just for the environment and care for customers. Best chili Rellenos ever, hands down.
This is such a cool hibachi experience but with Mexican food. And that food is DELICIOUS!!! I have been twice and our chef the first time was not very fun. Jesus, our chef this past weekend was awesome. First the fried rice is made, then the main meals. You get sauces to dip your dish in. Both times I got carne asada... and I think next time I will get chicken, to try something different. The meat is always cooked exactly how you ask for it. The celebration dessert comes with a fun sparkler! If you are celebrating a birthday, they also sing to you. Our waitress (didnt catch her name) was the same both times, remembered us, and was awesome each visit. It gets really warm so dress cool!!!
We LOVED our Mother's Day brunch at Descanso. We made reservations and were seated quickly. They had bottomless mimosas and a special Mother's Day menu. Food- 10/10. We ordered the bottomless mimosas, watermelon spicy marg, churro pancakes, and the shredded beef chilaquiles. All were amazing! The churro pancakes were soooooooo yummy. Crispy and fluffy. Service- 10000/10. Manny was amazinggg! He was working so hard serving so many tables at once and he did a great job. He was so kind, positive, and had great recommendations. He always made sure we had everything we needed. The gals at the front were also so kind and helpful. Everyone there was great! Environment- 10/10. It was a beautiful day so we sat out on the patio. They had table umbrellas which were super nice to block the sun. They also had a DJ's (I think there were 3 taking turns) that were all great! The inside is very clean and nicely decorated! Next time we wanna try sitting at the grill :) Extras- Lots of parking as it's in a shopping center. The prices for us were a little on the higher end, but the food and service are fantastic! Perfect place for celebrations and authentic food :)
Updating my review- another 5 stars. We came here again for my wife's birthday and all expectations were met yet again- Food is absolutely wonderful. I highly highly recommend you order the Carne Asada main, it's so tender, so juicy, perfectly seasoned. Get whisped away to heaven in every bite. Of course all the food is fantastic, even the salad which like, really? a salad? YES. It's that good. Service is great, the servers and chefs are very attentive and friendly. I love that the chef explains what he's doing, and especially love when they have a good sense of humor. The Plancha Grill is great for a small group, it's moody, cozy and really feels like you're getting a VIP experience (because you are). 50/10 go here for date night, birthdays, anniversary, alone, with a friend, take your mom, bring your dad, invite your neighbors, invite your arch nemesis.
Late post as I came here to try out their La plancha during cinco de Mayo. We were seated right away as had reservations. A fun experience with the chef making the food right in front of you. Fun environment. They had a tequila sponsor that day where you could create your own spice which was fun. I'd come back for the experience and food was good
Absolutely love this place and I'm always telling friends about it! Their menu is carefully crafted and each dish I've tried is full of flavor with high quality fresh ingredients. The service is phenomenal every time I go which really adds to the experience!! The vibe inside is very lively, especially during their dinner rush. I like their drinks, their starters never miss, and the entrees are the star of the show! Particularly the alambres, I'm already salivating just thinking about them. Their surf and turf was incredibly tasty as well. The only thing I haven't had here was dessert, but I'm already guessing that's bomb too. They also do a special hibachi style dinner which I'm dying to try soon! I could keep raving about this place, but you get the point already. It's worth a visit whether you live near or far, you'll be thanking me once you go!!
Such a fun and unique dining experience! The Plancha experience at Descanso was incredible. The food was delicious, the atmosphere was lively, and watching everything cooked right in front of us made dinner feel like a show. Definitely recommend for a fun night out!
Went there with friends for dinner yesterday. Let me tell you, it's not your average Mexican restaurant, but way beyond in service and food. Ordered chips with salsa, taquitos, and elote for appetizers. Everything was so yummy esp. the Elote. Main dinner of chile rellano tacos, mole enchiladas, salad etc. I can't decide which was better than the other. Desiree, our server, was awesome. So attentive, cheerful, helpful, and friendly. Please ask for her table if you go there. I casually mentioned to her while we were having dessert that we were celebrating our birthdays, and next you know she is coming with churros and ice cream with a sparkler candle, singing Happy Birthday with the other staff. Can't say enough about his restaurant. Will definitely recommend them and will surely go back with family
We had an awesome lunch!! The food was elevated in a beautiful way with layers of flavor and so many options. Our server and bartender was Marty. He was amazing and made one of the best drinks I've ever had... Habanero Margarita. The House Margarita was elevated, too. Ask for Marty and tell him The Chef sent you! Marty shared the food is inspired by the family's grandmother and it hits just like that... old world love. Everything is made in-house from sauces to drink mixes. We enjoyed every sip and bite.
How did I not know about Descanso's taco game sooner? Came here on a Tuesday during lunch and got the mahi mahi taco and birria taco. Both were amazing! The mahi mahi taco was so innovative. I loved the slaw on top and the surprise of the peanuts. The birria taco is on another level. The short rib was melting in my mouth, and paired with the consume... chefs kiss. On Tuesdays they also have an amazing Taco Tuesday deal with 6 street tacos for $22. That's a steal! Definitely need to come back more hungry to try that out.
Amazing food! We did the plancha brunch, it's a 3 course meal, I got the vegetable alambre with chicken.. definitely recommend it.
Came here for Steven C's birthday and what an epic place for a celebration meal! I was expecting Benihani bland and boring and boy was I wrong. Everything had so much flavor I was amazed! Our party of 4 scored the corner seats at the Plancha table which allowed for easy conversation. Acoustics were pretty good. My wife and I shared some nachos while waiting for the show to start. The nachos packed so much flavor they defied logic. We devoured the whole plate. Next I had the fideo soup and my wife had the Caesar salad. Both great so you can't go wrong with either. Our chef Jesus had a great personality and put on an exciting performance while cooking. He explained everything he was doing and talked about the ingredients. I was impressed he was cooking full cuts of meat and slicing them at the end which kept everything tender. I went with the chile rellenos with al pastor. This masterpiece was covered in a blanket of cheese the chef fried on the grill. The portion sizes were massive and everyone at the table could only get through half their plate. I truly loved my meal and couldn't believe how flavorful it was. It tasted even better reheated! My wife had the pork loin entree and she loved hers too. The C's had steak and chicken and equally enjoyed their meals. Only negative was the end of the meal. Steven was brought out a birthday dessert with an impressive performance of fire and singing. I asked our waiter Max if I could order dessert and he told me no. Told me to leave and order at the bar. I was confused and asked if he was joking and he turned unfriendly telling me our time is up and to leave. We ate as fast as we could and as the restaurant served us so it was an odd ending. I'm wondering if we didn't box up our food if they would have told us to leave while eating? Maybe offer to pack up a dessert to go? Besides the ending it was a 5 star experience. I guess if you want dessert you're SOL. All the cocktails were great too.
We accidentally ended up back here for brunch and were pleasantly surprised by our "mistake." We usually like to try new spots and didn't realize we had been here a couple of years ago--but we enjoyed it just as much this time around. We tried a few different drinks and entrees, and everything was delicious. The service was still excellent, and the outdoor patio was comfortable and inviting. So glad we came back!
Great ambience, service, and the food is really good, too. If you're expecting traditional combo meals with refried beans and rice, look elsewhere. But if you want authentic Mexican flavors with a twist, this is it. I had the 2 taco platter. Battered tilapia and steak (only because they ran out of tilapia). I chose a side of pinto beans. Loved the blue corn tortillas. Everything was yummy. My Margarita was also good. I'll be back! read more
Loved it!!! It's a really nice Mexican restaurant but also very casual! Service is so friendly and gives great recommendations. This was our first time so I got a taco plate and my fiancé got the lobster enchiladas which he LOVED! My tacos plate was delicious loved their asada meat. I wish it had more salsa tho but we got salsa as an app with chips. I will come back to bring my fmaily! read more
Great food and service for a birthday celebration. Everything was so delicious with each dish and cocktail beautifully presented and bursting with flavor. Here's what we tried from their lunch menu: Ceviche Tropical Quesadilla de Birria Salmon Tostadas Crispy Carnitas Skillet Mexican Brownie Look forward to trying out their happy hour and brunch menu. read more
7 months ago
We have never been here before but heard great things about it. Well, let me tell you, they were right! We loved the taco plate selection. I went with the Birria tacos and my husband with the Felipe tacos. both delicious and there were more we wanted to try but the tacos are really beefy and we got full. We will have to come back again and bring more friends to enjoy the great food and service. I definitely recommend it. read more
1 year ago
I was clearly already a fan of Descanso before but I recently hosted a corporate team event with 24 people here and had such a wonderful planning experience. Shoutout to the event manager, Caroline! Not only was she professional and easy to work with, she was even onsite at the time of the event to ensure everything went smoothly. Our group had the pleasure of being served by Miguel, Jalaena, Cesar, Juan and Tanya. The team was very welcoming and enthusiastic. Our group had such a great time! We did plancha dining and had a custom menu which included each person's choice of a soup or salad, choice of protein (we narrowed it down to 4 options), and 1 preselected dessert. Highly recommend hosting your corporate meal here! read more
4 months ago
What an absolute treat from beginning to end! Our server, Manny, was so knowledgeable, and personable we felt like old friends from the moment we sat down. The different tacos, rice and potatoes were all excellent and the wonderful dessert made for a perfect meal. Live music tonight (our reason for dropping by) provided a special background - we can't wait to return! read more
9 months ago
4 months ago
This is one of my favorite restaurants, drinks are so good, food is amazing and consistent, and the service is always great. Always a lovely atmosphere to be in. Very clean and well kept. They have a outside bar area too which is nice. I bring all my friends here and me and boyfriend try to come as often as possible. Definitely recommend the nachos with carnitas. I have celiacs and they are always accommodating plus most things on the menu don't have gluten anyway! I give five billion stars to Descanso lol read more
3 months ago
Great food, and the ambiance felt family like. Couldn't provide more praise to Manny for the service provided. Would recommend the service for everyone to try read more
1 month ago
Ordered takeout so cannot comment on ambience or service. This review is solely for the food. I got the el toro ($21) and mayan ($19) tacos. Was not a fan. The taco fell apart quick and the meat wasn't cooked well, tasting a bit nasty. The rice was tastier than the tacos. read more
2 months ago
4 months ago
Food was mediocre, nothing special. My husband got food poisoning. He reached out to tell them and they said they would investigate. He never heard back. Service was good, they were attentive to our party of 10 with 2 young babies. They also gave my adult son a free birthday dessert. Ambience was nice on the patio. Plenty of umbrella shade and they had DJ playing some nice tunes during Sunday brunch. They also played my son's song request. Overall, it wasn't a completely bad experience, but for the price of the food, it lacks quality and good flavors. Their red salsa is not that good - it tastes like a chipotle blend, and nobody liked the rice. Lastly, I'd recommend going for drinks. And if you want mimosas, just buy the bottle so you can control the juice/fizz ratio. read more
I was told this restaurant was really good, so I went in with high expectations. Unfortunately, I wasn't as happy as I thought I would be. I got the lobster enchiladas and the sauce was delicious, but there was way too much cheese, so much so that it overpowered the lobster. Everyone else loved their food though. We got happy hour drinks, the cucumber sol margarita and the watermelon margarita and they were both nice and strong. The waiters were nice also. I didn't go inside, because we sat on the patio, but the patio was nice and clean. Not sure if the enchiladas are worth $40 but I would return for the drinks. read more
2 months ago
1 year ago
Okay this place was sooo amazing! From the moment we arrived, the service was top-notch and the staff made us feel so welcome. The margarita flight was absolutely bomb and every single dish came out perfectly cooked and full of flavor. When they brought out the birthday song and dessert, the birthday girl felt incredibly special and celebrated. This place is perfect for any event or celebration and I would highly recommend it for your next gathering. You won't be disappointed! Also, ambiance and vibe is perfect. Ps: make sure to reserve the dinner experience or you won't get a cook for your group. There is also a taco quesadilla bar area if you want. read more
6 months ago
Food and ambiance is so amazing perfect brunch spot. I think the tres leches pancakes are one of the best pancakes I've ever had at this price point. Our server Summer was very kind. We will be coming back for sure read more
6 months ago
Came here last night for a birthday celebration and we did the plancha dining. It was a good experience with chef Tanya . She was entertaining and explaining to us the ingredients of each menu items as she cooks. Very informative indeed. Food was delicious as well and wonderfully prepared. The place itself was inviting and we felt welcome when we arrived . Everyone was nice . We will be back. read more
I decided to bring my mom to try their delicious plan ha experience! I was a little disappointed at first because during brunch hours, they only offer brunch and nowhere in the website did it say that. We decided to stay and make the best out of it. We are glad we stayed as everything was delicious! The chef was even nice enough to make an exception and do the chile relleno which is part of the dinner menu. Everything was absolutely delicious! We were celebrating my bf birthday with my mom so they brought the dessert and sang for him. It comes with a flare and it's sugar, cinnamon chips that were super good with an ice-cream scoop. Now that I have had it, I'm going to want it every time. Service was really good, our chef was very experienced and really friendly. There was a trainee observing in the sidelines and assisting with some things. During brunch it is definitely a family friendly restaurant with latin music playing and an average noise level. read more
3 months ago
Anthony Bourdain once called Mexican cuisine the most undervalued and underappreciated cuisines in the world and this is without a doubt true. Descanso is actually two, maybe three restaurants in one. There is a standard sit down restaurant, a taco bar, and the plancha dinner experience. As I have only experienced the plancha dinner, that is all I can speak to. Although the plancha grill dates back to 19th century Mexico and Central America, most people think of the Japanese teppanyaki experience that Benihana popularized in the US. Descanso brings the traditional plancha from outside and adds a teppanyaki flair. You will have to make separate reservations specifically for the plancha section of the restaurant. There is a different menu from the standard restaurant that includes a multi course menu that you are told at the start will be a two hour experience. The place looks great on the inside, with a full bar, a single plancha grill near the front that serves as the taco bar, and four more in the back that seat 8 people each. The standard restaurant also has a large outside seating area. The drinks from the bar are very good, with my favorite being the el jefe. Try it. Most drinks run from 15-17 bucks with specials during the week. The dinner starts with a server explaining what will happen and then takes your orders. I ordered the carne asada with the add on queso frito ( a must) and shrimp. My wife had the pork loin, and my friends had the sea bass and chile relleno. There is a ribeye option for 72 bucks and a rajas option as well. Prices start around 35 and top out at the ribeye. Everyone loved everything they ordered. Jose was our chef and like many Teppanyaki experiences he told jokes and made fire, but Jose talked about how the owner of Descanso started his restaurant and added some personal touches about his own family and love for cooking. You start with either a salad or a fideo (noodle) soup. Both are fine, but nothing to write home about. Your chef will then start with your fried rice before he gets to the main courses. The rice is also fine, but the food is excellent. The carne asada came on a bed of potatoes with sliced poblanos and onions. Others came with veggies and potatoes. I recommend getting it topped with queso frito if you like cheese because it just put it over the top. It is also served with two sauces and either flour or blue corn tortillas. I will definitely be back. If it were closer, I would try the specials during the week. I commend the owner or owners for what they are doing- bringing something different in areas not traditionally known for upscale Mexican cuisine. They have a location in Costa Mesa and West LA (next to LACMA). Go there for special occasions, or just go there. It's worth it. read more
2 years ago
Hello fellow helpers !! I'm going to rate in list form. Brunch time, grill seating area : 1.) hostess was very sweet and informative 2.) server was sweet but not on point, she forgot our shrimp and also forgot the rice order for couple that sat across from us . Also , it was my late birthday celebration and she asked if I wanted a sweet treat , I declined and said thank you , she then said I'll bring you out a birthday treat ( when the check was already signed and paid for ) .... We were ready to leave .... Waited a bit and dipped out . 3.) food was a bit pricey for what your getting 4.) chef was awesome with a great personality 5.) ambiance was a bit loud but understandable I will say the chips and salsa were the star Overall won't be coming back read more
8 months ago
1 year ago
Second time visiting Descanso and this time we visited for a birthday brunch. We made a reservation online for 11:00am. The waiters were very attentive throughout our visit, our drinks were always refilled and the food was brought out quickly. The ambiance in the restaurant is very inviting but also very private which I really like. The food was delicious! We ordered a few plates of chilaquiles that were customized to perfection. The pozole rojo bowl was full of flavor. As an appetizer we ordered the chips and salsa with added Chicharrones, the salsa was nice and spicy. At the beginning the waitress asked if we were celebrating anything and we informed her that we were, a birthday. After we finished our meal the staff came out and sung to our birthday girl and brought out a tasty dessert with a sparkling candle. Definitely worth the price!! read more
1 month ago
7 months ago
Everything was amazing, drinks are great here! We stopped by on a slow afternoon and it was the manager Daisy's birthday and was kind enough to stop by to let us have some of her birthday cake. Ramon the bartender was handling the front, and it looked like a genuinely great community with the regulars all participating in wishing the wonderful manager a Happy Birthday. Love seeing restaurants care about their people like this, food was delicious and they also have a great happy hour! read more
The carne asada was SO RICH AND DELICIOUS. I absolutely love the cream colored sauce & he even gave me extra (so nice!). The meat was super tender and I loved the pickled onions. The salad and fried rice were also really nice and flavorful. I will say the fried rice the next day wasn't as good. Our chef was so funny and helpful. I wish he did speak up a little more but I loved his jokes that I could hear. He put on a great show and served some really amazing food. Parking is ample but it was super crowded when I came on a Monday night for some reason so I had to park in a compact spot. Not impossible but definitely a little stressful. Overall, this is a great spot for special occasions for the plancha menu. However I want to come back for the regular menu next time! read more
We came to brunch to a different restaurant in the same parking lot and was quoted a LONG wait so we saw Descanso and decided to try them. Glad we did! They had 2hr bottomless mimosas with purchase of an entree. We got 2 entrees and shared! The server Max was on it! When our drinks got half full he made sure he got our mimosas refilled! The food turned out amazing! Full of flavor! ... the place looked up scale and nice! We got Chilaquiles and churro pancakes ! read more
2 years ago
I was so excited to check out Descanso specifically for the plancha! The chef was great and always checked in to make sure if we were okay with sauces, and other ingredients on our food. Also, the environment was nice loved the decor. The one down side, ordered the carne asada and added shrimp but only came with 4 shrimps for $10 is not worth it in my opinion. Besides that the food was delicious and drinks were great! I would come back to enjoy the regular dinner service. read more
10 months ago
4 months ago
Business owner information
Rob A.
Thank you for visiting us. I'm sorry to hear that your experience…
8 months ago
I will start by saying the entire experience was great. Everybody that worked at the location was pleasant and appeared to enjoy working there. The only ding against my experience was the cost. Food was delicious though and I would come again for a special event it the opportunity arose. It was loud as you expect in a hibachi style place with flames flying and people celebrating something. Overall an enjoyable experience. read more
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More info about Descanso
1555 Adams Ave
Ste 103
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Directions
(714) 486-3798
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http://www.descansorestaurant.com
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Ask the Community - Descanso
Do they use lard in their recipes?
NO. At Descanso, we are committed to providing only fresh, high quality ingredients sourced locally. We do not cook with lard and we don’t believe in can openers. A majority of our menu is gluten free.
Are the sides such as rice, beans, potatoes all vegetarian?
Rice has egg, but the beans and potatoes are actually vegan.
Can you order off of the regular plancha menu during brunch hours on Sunday? We have a reservation on Father's Day and didn't realize it was during brunch hours.
Hello Sara, The Brunch Menu in the Plancha room is the only menu available from 11am-3pm. The menu does not only have breakfast items... there are lunch items as well.…
I reserved for plancha dining on taco Tuesday. Can someone in our party still order off the regular plancha menu while the rest order taco Tuesday? And can I order sides of the Mexican fried on taco Tuesday?
The Regular Plancha Menu is the only menu available on Tuesdays in the Plancha room. The Taquero Tuesday menu is available in the rest of the restaurant.
Do you have Mariachis on brunch time?
No, but we do have live musicians playing latin music.
When do you have bottomless mimosas?
During Brunch: Saturdays and Sunday 11am-3pm
Is there a cooking show at the Plancha table?
yes, the Planchero Chefs prepare your meal right in front of you and guide you through a culinary adventure... They describe the food they are cooking, talk about the origin and provide helpful cooking tips.
Do you have vegan rice and beans?
Hello Rahul... We do have Vegan Beans as we dont cook with lard... however, our Rice does have egg in it.
The Plancha table area is it customary to tip your chef after he is done? or is it included in the final bill tip.
I haven't actually been to the restaurant but I have sampled some of their foods.... Very delicious
Do we need to make reservations?
I strongly recommend to do reservation especially if is a weekend or a large group. If you get there without a reservation for a 1-2 dinner you might have to wait at least…
If making reservations for plancha, can a person in the group still only order off the regular menu?
Yes, some of our party ordered salads off the regular menu.
Hi there, I didn't see a Vegetarian option for the plancha menu? Can you accomodate a vegetarian diet? And, if so ...with what?…
Yes! we have our Rajas Con Queso Dish... Oyster Mushrooms, Tres Quesos, Roasted Bell Peppers, Onions, Corn, Serrano Chiles and Epazote Herbs.…
Is there a separate kids menu? If so, what's on it?
Yes... Burrito, Steak or Chicken Taco and Quesadilla. all come with rice and beans.
How many tacos do I get - if it's made in front of me?
No limit... that is completely up to you!
How much per person at the Plancha?
Varies depending on your protein choice. Budget $30-$55 pp and you'll be covered.
Do you have gluten free options for those with a gluten allergy?
The vast majority of the menu is gluten free. Just ask when there
Do you have a CorkageFee and how much is it ? Thanks
Hello, Yes we do have a corkage fee and it is $20. On Wine Wednesdays, we void service fee for…
Is it possible to eat here if I am dairy and soy free?
absolutely... we have many dishes without cheese and we stay away from soy and dairy based sauces... please consult your server on details when you arrive.…
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