Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Descanso

    4.1 (1.8k reviews)
    ModerateMexican
    Open 11:30 am - 10:30 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Order Descanso Takeout or Delivery

    Descanso Photos

    Business Info

    DESCANSO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Trendy
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Descanso

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    chamoy martini
    Anna N.

    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

    Entree, shrimp and veggies
    Renee T.

    Five stars. It was our first time here, this restaurant was recommended by a friend. Our family loves teppanyaki style dinners and this was authentic Mexican which is even cooler! You have to reserve a month in advance as there's only three plancha tables, additionally this is a two hour experience. We were celebrating my son's bday, and he loved it! They started with a salad or soup, I got the salad it was amazing! Everyone got different entrees, and everyone loved it, food was fresh! At the end they came out with a giant sparkler singing happy bday, they included ice cream with some sugar chips on it, looked amazing. We highly recommend for parties or just a night out, we thoroughly enjoyed this!

    Chris D.

    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.

    Shawna C.

    Benihana who? That is how I felt shortly after this night started! A few years ago we had the regular lunch during OC Restaurant week. I don't remember what I ordered but I was kind of disappointed and I wasn't in a hurry to return, despite knowing about their Plancha experience. However, I am glad we did return! You have to make reservations for their Plancha dining, because it will always fill up. Plancha dining is like Benihana's but with Mexican food that tastes a hundred times better! I made reservations for dinner for Steven's birthday along with a few friends. I tried last year but the slots were already filled up. There was another couple at our table, celebrating a birthday as well. We ordered the margarita flight and I ordered the carne asada dinner and he ordered the chile relleno dinner with chicken added for an upcharge. You also get a choice of fidel sopa (soup) or spicy caesar salad. Our chef, Jesus came by shortly after and started making amazing fried rice, bursting with flavor that reminded you of elotes. Jesus then started making all our food, to absolute perfection. No errors, and everything was so friggin delicious. He even offered Mexican candy (serrano peppers) which only Steven and our friend Chris accepted, and they noted that it was quite spicy. Jesus was entertaining throughout and made everything to perfection. Once all of our plates were made, he then heated up our tortillas, choice of blue corn or flour. The portions were so big that every single one of us had to take food home. All night we talked about how delicious it was! They even brought ice cream sundaes for the two birthday people with churro chips as spoons and a flaming sparkler. They sang Happy Birthday. There were a lot of those that night. Tip: This dinner is limited to two hours, and if you don't order dessert in advance when the dinner presentation is over, they won't allow you to due to the time limit and next parties coming in. Unfortunately that was not mentioned and our friends didn't get to order dessert unless they sat at a regular table after, which was weird. Overall, a completely amazing experience. I will definitely return for the Plancha dining.

    Steven C.

    I was recently treated to a great birthday dinner here from my wife and along with a couple of our friends we got to experience the plancha experience. The place was very busy and reservations would definitely be needed for the plancha. We were quickly taken back to our table and grill as we awaited what was sure to be a unique dining experience. Each meal begins with a soup or salad choice along with an entree and will be accompanied by Mexican fried rice and tortillas of your choosing. Let me start by saying the portions here are enormous and far larger than any other teppenyaki style place I have visited. The plancha experience works like Behihana with a Mexican flair (Benijuanas as so aptly named by our server). Our chef was phenomenal and the food was absolutely delicious. I went with the chile relleno with chicken added while my wife went with the carne asada and both were bursting with flavor. I added the grilled serrano pepper (Mexican candy) on the side for myself as well and it was spicy and perfectly grilled. I cant stop raving about this experience and hope to come back again real soon to try it again. That fried rice will leave a very lasting impression. This was a great night out, filled with good food, good friends and good service that I wont soon forget.

    Chicken taco
    Courtney D.

    I went here a couple of days ago at lunch and had a wonderful experience. The ambiance is nice and chic, the staff were friendly and helpful, and the food was flavorful and good quality. The place was pretty busy too for a week day lunch which is how you know the food is good. It is a little on the pricey side but I appreciated the bartender being honest about the food size so I didn't order too much. I got one taco, chips and salsa, and a side salad. Things to note: the taco looks normal but is packed with meat and the food isn't normal Mexican style that you see in California but a more Smokey style. Definitely a Must try!

    Shrimp Alambres - Fajitas with cheese - excellent
    Simon K.

    They have Taco Tuesday which includes all day discounts on Margaritas and Beer. They have Wine Wednesday which includes discounted wine as well as no corkage fee. Monday to Friday they have Happy Hour from 3pm to 6pm with appetizer specials and drink specials including wine. The House Margarita is not nearly as good as the Cadillac Margarita. The latter is a $3 up charge, bringing the price to $12 during happy hour! As such next time I'll just stick to the happy hour $5 beer. I don't know when they started charging for chips and salsa, but that was a surprise. Note that they charge you for every single side of sauce that you all for. For example the Morita Aioli that goes with the rice (we found that extra is not really needed), the green salsa (which is my favorite), and the volcano salsa (that I don't care for). While the side of Mexican fried rice is reasonably priced, the side of elote (corn) is outrageously priced. I question if we really need that next time. My wife loved the chicken tacos more than the steak tacos. Next time we need to remember that ordering it as a quesadilla instead basically means that they put a delicious cheese disc on top of the taco. As usual I got the awesome Shrimp Alambre.

    Patio dining!
    Kevin M.

    Visited with our good friends. It was a late lunch / early dinner . The place was not particularly full or busy; however, that did not speed up our initial service. It took a little bit to get our waters and cocktail orders in. That said, after that our service stepped up to where it should've been. Flights of margarita were the orders of two of our friends with margaritas and wine rounding out for the rest of us. We opened with orders of chips, salsa, Chicharron, and guacamole for the table. Absolutely delicious and how we remember! This was always our favorite Mexican restaurant in the area. No one had the exact same order, but all of our orders were exactly delicious! I really recommend this spot! My Alambre was absolutely delicious along with the side of elote. My wife also enjoyed her open face quesadilla.

    Darci L.

    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!

    Mango jalapeño Tajín martini
    Wendy M.

    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.

    Maritza S.

    Food 5 stars Service 3 stars The food was absolutely delicious. I ordered a taco combo with a Maya Taco (marinated chicken) and a birria taco. The portions are large and tasty. Our server must've had too many tables because he barely checked on us. Refills were hard to get. I will definitely go back. Hopefully service is better next time.

    Tiffany C.

    Spacious restaurant with a nice bar area and plenty of seating. We came for a birthday lunch and started with the chips and salsa $4 (chips were refilled and salsa was really delicious but very spicy...there was not a non-spicy option). We ordered the quesadilla birria to share and it was very delicious with a yummy broth dip. For entrees, we got the Crispy Carnita Skillet which was so tender and flavorful. It came with blue corn tortillas and beans. So good!! We also got the Salmon Avocado Tostada. I didn't realize it would not be warm and tasted more like a salad (gave the vibes of salmon salad mixed from a can/pouch), so it didn't quite hit the spot. The avocado was perfect and the dish was beautifully presented...but the taste was just so so. The best part of the meal was the surprise birthday treat! They turned up the music super loud and came marching out with this awesome dessert with a sparkler candle on top while they sang happy birthday! Totally unexpected and so fun! The complimentary dessert was so yummy too! It was vanilla ice cream atop cinnamon churro flavored chips with chocolate sauce! Wow! So good!!

    Figaro R.

    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.

    See all

    8 months ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 2
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Service was amazing! Food was incredible. Chef Tanya and our server Manny were exceptional, friendly, & inviting.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of AJ R.
    1
    593
    0

    17 days ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Rob A.

    Rob A.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    12 days ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    14 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1
    Photo of SD B.
    0
    20
    21

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 2
    Love this 2
    Oh no 1

    2 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Rob A.

    Rob A.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 1
    Love this 3
    Oh no 2
    Photo of Maisie R.
    189
    22
    3

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    15 days ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Rob A.

    Rob A.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 2
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Tressa L.
    51
    115
    2

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    10 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 2
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Mark W.
    586
    21
    3

    3 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Rob A.

    Rob A.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Rob A.

    Rob A.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 2

    1 month ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Rob A.

    Rob A.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 2 of 45

    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.… Read more

    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.

    Is there a bar for single diners?

    Yes, there is a bar.

    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… Read more

    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.… Read more

    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.

    Do you have to make a reservation for Sunday brunch?

    Not if you know the owner :)

    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… Read more

    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.… Read more

    View All 38 Questions

    You might also consider

    Playa Mesa - A house favorite: Taco Combination with our Spicy Cucmber Margarita

    Playa Mesa

    4.4(3.4k reviews)
    3.0 mi
    $$
    Takes reservations
    Happy hour specials

    OMG!!! What an amazing experience from the time we came in the door till the time we left! Friendly…read moreand inviting atmosphere! We were in from out of town and celebrating 31yrs of marriage. We sat at the Bar and really enjoyed our time with Mario! He was great and really took care of us, not to mention the food was amazing!

    What a great find. I had not eaten at this place before, but it came highly recommended from a…read morefriend of mine so I thought hey I'm going to check this out. I am so glad I did, especially since it was happy hour. The place definitely has a great vibe to it. Plenty of seating throughout the restaurant. I recommend sitting at the bar as that's where all the action happens. You definitely want to make sure you get there for happy hour and Taco Tuesday especially, $10 Margaritas $4 tacos and these are not cheap tacos. These are like serious tacos that will fill you up. Their salsa is great, not super spicy and makes great for munching while you're talking with friends. The margaritas are definitely strong, which is nice, as some places tend to water them down for happy hour. I would say that this is a great choice to go check out and have a taco or two or three or four. I had the carne asada, the carnitas, and the pastor, every single one of them was perfect and the salsa that they came with was out of this world. Bottom line? This is a great place for Taco Tuesday as well as just a hangout and have a drink after work. Whenever I am in Costa Mesa. I am definitely coming here again.

    Photos
    Playa Mesa - Margarita flights!

    Margarita flights!

    Playa Mesa
    Playa Mesa - Weekend Brunch served Sat - Sun, 9am-2pm.

    See all

    Weekend Brunch served Sat - Sun, 9am-2pm.

    Mercado Gonzalez - Carne Asada Burrito and Tortilla Chips

    Mercado Gonzalez

    4.3(1k reviews)
    1.1 mi
    $$

    The Menudo from the Birrieria La Menuderia place inside Mercado Gonzalez is so good!…read more They always sell out before noon, so come early in the morning! They offer the rojo (red) and blanco (white) versions of Menudo. I love that it comes with a lot of meat and fresh tortillas to eat it with. There is so much flavor in the soup. They went up in price ($17.99) as of 2026, and although I think it's pretty pricey, if you're already shopping here and have a craving for menudo, I think it's worth splurging. People who work here are always super nice and friendly - I just love coming to this place for my menudo fix!

    Our building had a catered event from them, and it was well received overall with a successful…read moreconclusion after some initial challenges. I will use mostly my names for what I tried: "ELEPHANT EAR" BREAD: -- light beige color -- very sweet -- honey taste very pronounced and sticky texture -- great with hot Mexican chocolate or hot coffee with no sugar to offset the sweet RATING = A- "PINKIE LA RUE" (aka Polvorone Rojas): -- semi-crumbly texture -- buttery shortbread -- large size -- dusted w/white table sugar on top which I scraped off to reduce the sweet -- medium sweet or tad more -- not dry nor moist -- very nice tasting, especially w/milk or hot coffee RATING = A "RHINO HORN" bread: -- has some color variance with light brown -- semi-firm texture -- lightly sweet -- best for dipping in hot Mexican chocolate or hot coffee; not ideal to eat plain -- not buttery -- I am not a big "dipper" of cookies or bread into coffee so this is not of much interest to me -- it's okay RATING = B- CUCUMBER/LIME AQUA FRESCA: -- I poured into my water bottle and added half water to get the sweet down. Way too sweet for my palate but nice once I got the ratio right. -- up to medium sweet initially RATING = A- PINEAPPLE/SPINACH AQUA FRESCA: -- above medium sweet but expected for pineapple -- the pineapple defeated anything rough about the spinach for me which was a good thing...not chalky tongue syndrome RATING = B+ WATERMELON AQUA FRESCA: -- medium towards high sweet -- I did 50/50 with water again to get it right -- tasted pretty close to fresh watermelon juice when I did that RATING = A

    Photos
    Mercado Gonzalez - Great packaged foods, snacks and Mexican candy.

    Great packaged foods, snacks and Mexican candy.

    Mercado Gonzalez - Time to eat churros

    Time to eat churros

    Mercado Gonzalez - Menu As of 6/8/25

    See all

    Menu As of 6/8/25

    Acapulco Restaurant & Cantina

    Acapulco Restaurant & Cantina

    4.4(2.2k reviews)
    2.1 mi
    $$

    This is my favorite Mexican Restaurant. Our server Roberto provided awesome service. We live in the…read moreInland Empire but we make sure we have lunch at Acapulco every time we are in Orange County. Great food and great service.

    LOVE this place for GREAT, FRESH, Coastal, Mexican food!…read moreThis location in Costa Mesa in particular, has been updated (new paint, new chairs, new lighting, etc.) and they have updated their menu with even MORE, Seafood items! They make GREAT Guacamole, customized at table side to your specs and their FRESH Chips, Tortillas and Salsa's are homemade in the restaurant. Husband LOVES their Pomegranate Margherita's and I can't get enough of their Enchilada's (Cheese, Chicken) and their Crunchy Taco's (Shredded Beef is my Fave!). Add in that their FRESH, Side Salads are AMAZING along with their new menu items - including Seafood combo's and there is no where else to go in OC for better Mexican food! Our INCREDIBLE Server, Hector (He IS the Acapulco restaurant - always upbeat and advising us about their new menu items!) and their FANTASTIC Chef Hector and all of the other Servers and Cooks there, make this a casual, yet special date-night restaurant! P.S. We've also tried their EXCEPTIONAL, Sunday Buffet and literally had to almost be wheeled out of there, there were SO MANY DIFFERENT, AUTHENTIC foods to choose from and sample! VERY nice to find this level of a PERFECT MEXICAN restaurant - with HIGH QUALITY FOOD INGREDIENTS, nearby! Can't wait to go back!

    Photos
    Acapulco Restaurant & Cantina
    Acapulco Restaurant & Cantina
    Acapulco Restaurant & Cantina - Make your own omelette. Veggies and chorizo.

    See all

    Make your own omelette. Veggies and chorizo.

    Descanso - mexican - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...