OMG!!! What an amazing experience from the time we came in the door till the time we left! Friendly and 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! read more

Playa Mesa - Mexican Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

What a great find. I had not eaten at this place before, but it came highly recommended from a friend 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. read more

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530 reservation. The hostess called my name at 6. Then she says never mind go sit back down. Calls me again at 615. We are finally seated. Waiter says no more taco Tuesday specials bc they ended at 6. I told him reservation was at 530. He says too late now. They hand me literally pieces of photocopied paper for a menu. Then I tried to order a burrito bowl which they said no more. Tortas? Not available either. I ordered the camarones de mojo Ajo. Completely over cooked and dry. I asked for salt that never came . We asked for the lakers game to be on bc it was playoffs and that was never done either. It was an awful experience. I would not recommend. read more

Interior was extremely modern and clean. Great place for brunch if the food is second on the priority after the drinks. The latter is what I would go here for as they have a great bottomless mimosa and margarita flight deal. Food was extremely unmemorable as it lacks any flavor complexities. Our group of 15 ordered a variety of breakfast items ranging from burritos to tacos and platters. None of them really stood out. Servers were extremely attentive and made the experience seamless. From ordering food and drinks to paying out. Awesome place to hang out on the weekend but don't expect much from the food. 3.5/5 read more

My first time here and I really love the atmosphere and my food was good!! For my food I ordered a side Caesar salad and guacamole!! They made the guac without tomatoes and onions, which at first they said no but they did!! I was happy with that! I'll give my guac 5/5 for sure!! Only had a Prosecco for my drink but it was solid! The service was 3/5 I felt that the guys at the bar was confused and lagged to help us out. It wasn't even crowded so not sure why??? Hmmmm Anyways, the ambiance was greattttt!! It gave me vacations vibes like I was in Cabo!! It's very cute and Modern and perfect for summer time!! Came on a Saturday and didn't need any reservation but I feel you should for the evenings times!! The manager and the guy who brought out our plates were very nice and accommodating besides the other service we had at the bar! I will def be back here!! -Marshay D. read more

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This place is awesome. They sat our large party after we had just come from an event and even though we were sweaty, they were very kind there were chips at the Wazzu perfect amount of salt. read more

Playa Mesa - Chicken Fajitas - Mexican Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Pre-Bday celebration with my honey! First time for dinner and it was amazing! I got the mushroom tacos with rice and beans. My boyfriend got the Tabla. Lots of flavor full, juicy and filing food. Our waiter was great, detailed, and very friendly. The restaurant has a happy, vibrant atmosphere. Great background music too! read more

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I've been wanting to try this place for a long time & I'm glad I finally got the chance to eat here for dinner. What an experience, our server was awesome, our cocktails were delicious, and the food was perfect. We made reservations on the Sunday after valentines and we're expecting it to be packed but it was decent! We didn't have to pay for parking, our food came out quick, and the ambiance inside was great. Nice dim lights, beautiful decor, really such a great find. I would recommend the steak fajitas & dulce muerte cocktail read more

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I've always loved Playa Mesa from the first time I found this place a few years ago. I love their Tamardino Margarita and their chips and salsa are always delicious too. My friend and I went here for Taco Tuesday and the tacos did not disappoint. They are a good size and have plenty of meat/fish in them. Servers are also pretty attentive here and come around at a good pace. Overall ambiance in here is open and airy which l enjoy. Parking is a bit challenging at times esp. when they don't have valet parking (seems to be only on the weekend) as it seems Wild Goose Tavern goers tend to park in Playa Mesa's spaces as well, so just give yourself extra time to find a parking spot. read more

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My wife and I came here for a monday date night. The dining room is cozy, comfortable, very beautiful and well kept. Service was quick and friendly between the host and our waitress, they were very nice. You'll be given chips and salsa at your table, be careful because they are very good and you might fill up on them before you even order. Now for the good stuff- My wife ordered the Birria tacos, which came with a side of rice and beans. I of course finished them for her as she got full fast and they were great! I'm not a huge fan of birria as I often find it stringy or tough- not at Playa Mesa! The birria was fantastic and very tender. For myself I got the Surf n Turf burrito. It came wet with both red and green sauce. The burrito was packed with steak and shrimp, they didn't hold back on the meats but kept the burrito balanced. My wife did ask for her Margarita with a Tajin rim, when the waitress brought it out she (our waitress) immediately noticed it had a salt rim, not a big deal and she fixed it right away. all in all I'll definitely be returning for more date nights. read more

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Decent Mexican food and great margaritas. Came here for lunch last Saturday and enjoyed our meal. Great variety of super tasty margaritas. We enjoyed our food as well. Service was great. read more

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Came here for a group meet up and our server did not disappoint. He was on his A game and made sure our bottomless mimosas were never empty. You get the champagne in its own glass with the juice of your choosing on the side. I got their birria tacos and they were tasty. Just what I needed. The rice and beans that come along with the meal were pretty good as well. If I recall correctly cause of our group size we were charged a large party fee of 20%. Not an issue and was 100% expecting it cause of our size but in case anyone wants to do a group thing there, just know it's 20%. read more

Playa Mesa - Mexican Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Had a group outing at Playa Mesa for the holiday. I was able to secure my reservation with the Yelp app, which was super convenient. The restaurant was spacious and great for a group outing. I got the surf and turf fajitas that came on a sizzling plate. They did put a lot of tomatoes in my fajita plate, would have been nicer to have more onions and peppers . I did enjoy the queso appetizer. If you like it spicy, ask for the habanero salsa and the chili oil. read more

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Cute place and the service was top notch. This is the 2 stars. The food is very bland. Salsa, meat, chips, margaritas, just everything was bland. The birria burrito had more bell peppers than anything else and that wasn't in the description so that was a bummer. Birria was also bland. Drinks did not have much flair or alcohol. Underwhelming meal. read more

Great spot , the place is super cute ! The drinks and food were good ! Service was good very attentive ! read more

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Been here multiple times now when visiting from out of town and it never disappoints. Service is excellent with drinks arriving soon after ordering and food received quickly even when the place is packed. Tried the grilled octopus fajitas this time and they were delicious with a nice smoky flavor. Can't wait for my next visit! read more

I made a reservation for this restaurant for my birthday because I had heard a lot of great things about the food and the overall experience. The yelp reviews were promising, and I was looking forward to my birthday brunch however a lot of things were not as expected. The reservation part of it was very easy to do online, we didn't have any issues. The inside is cute and vibey. But the overall service was pretty disappointing. Upon walking to the restaurant, there were two houses who didn't acknowledge my husband or I, and I saw my cousin at the table already so she waved us down and we went to her and the first thing my cousin said was that the host we're standing there for a while before they greeted them either. We ate the complementary chips and salsa for a bit while waiting to order, but then we found a hair in the salsa, my husband told the server and they just exchanged it for a new bowl- she just kind of stared and seemed annoyed for us telling her. We were a party on the bigger side with a party of eight, but they ended up getting three of the orders wrong. I personally choose not to have runny eggs because I'm pregnant but she got 3 egg orders wrong in general. One of the dishes where the eggs came sunny side up instead of scrambled, didn't come with the tortillas- so we asked for the side and the server ended up charging us for the side. Another issue was that we asked for a side of Serrano chile or jalapeño and the server said they were still "roasting them"- but the chile came cut and just raw (which we don't mind by why lie that it's being cooked). The food was pretty good, but it took quite a long time or receive everything. This isn't our first time dining with 8 people, and there were definitely bigger parties there- but by the end of the experience we were all just tired. The food tasted good but the service was enough to be over the whole experience. I try to give grace if they're busy or a newer spot but they weren't as packed for Saturday brunch from what I've seen at others places. We probably won't be returning, but we just wanted to give our personal experience of our first and last dining there. read more

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I really enjoyed this place for a few reasons: The service was excellent! The staff was so friendly and attentive. The interior of the restaurant was open and inviting. The chips and salsa were fantastic. The food came quickly and was good. We ordered Fajitas and enchiladas. I wish the fajitas came out hot and sizzling but were good, not excellent. The enchiladas were good, not excellent. Parking seems to be Valet only, which is not fair when the restaurant is slow. They had only one handicap spot. Overall, a good time. I recommend this place. read more

Playa Mesa - Mexican Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Amazing food and service!! Came to celebrate my sister's birthday with a group of 8 girls. The appetizers were delicious. My only wish was that the salsa was spicer. There was no kick at all. The margaritas were delicious (although the first flight came out wrong), our hostess fixed it right away. Everyone felt that the dishes were nicely portioned and the price point was right. They do charge a 20% gratuity for a large party. read more

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We just left here than an hour and 20 minutes ago... We were here for a work outing... I'm a part of a team that some reside in Los Angeles and some reside in Costa Mesa so because there's more of them in Costa Mesa we are always having to drive to Costa Mesa... I have not been to this restaurant before I don't really go to Orange County very much... But this restaurant was really interesting. I loved the open bar area so like everything kind of revolves around the bar there's some amazing seating outdoors to get the cool breeze. The food was delicious. I had the Al Pastor store plate. My other coworkers had the steak and shrimp fajitas. My manager had the Carne Asada burrito. We a few appetizers is my favorite was the aguachilie. The servers were very attentive and took care of us very well. I had to drive to LA so I had a two drink maximum starting at the beginning of the night and then another one a little bit later so the last hour and a half there was no drinking and I felt bad because had this been somewhere where I could Uber to I would've had a few more drinks the drinks were delicious, but there was not a lot. I could do about that. I'm not paying $200 for an Uber home from Costa Mesa... But this place was pretty fire! read more

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The vibe here is electric ! Loved the smokin pina cocktail (mezcal based), spicy shrimp with cilantro lemon rice was v good. Chicken fajitas hit the mark as well. Calamari with shishito peppers was good. Our server Marcos took good care of us. They have a huge bar area and tables are always available. We will be back ! read more

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Had my 40th bday here; found this place on yelp and it already had great reviews. Our waiter was amazing and had very good recommendations for drinks and even the after party! The vibe was very open and breezy definitely felt the vacay beach vibes! The food and drinks were very good, a lot of things I haven't seen on a menu so I was happy to try new things. Our group even had a celeb citing!!! You had to be there! Definitely will come again! read more

Playa Mesa - My first time wearing a sombrero! - Mexican Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

My second visit to Playa Mesa and still a pleasant dining experience. If I was a local resident of this area, Playa Mesa would be my regular go to restaurant for really good scratch recipe Mexican food. Every item we ordered was delicious. This time around I ordered their Lobster & shrimp Burrito which is prepared as a wet burrito with a delicious red sauce, crema, and lots of melty cheese. Our server Alexandra, is the best. All around great service by her and the food runners were all super nice and willing to help. Without a doubt, if I'm craving Mexican food and don't mind making the drive, I'm coming to Playa Mesa. read more

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Vibes for days and the best Margaritas in CM! Playa Mesa is easily one of my favorite spots in Costa Mesa for a lively dinner. The atmosphere is incredible--bright, coastal, and "boho-chic" with a great indoor-outdoor flow. The Food: You have to start with the guacamole and the ceviche campechano (the octopus is so tender). For mains, the Birria Tacos are the standout--the consommé is rich and flavorful. My husband got the Al Pastor plate and said the grilled pineapple made the whole dish.The Drinks: They aren't lying about their margaritas. The Spicy Mangosita has the perfect kick, but if you want something refreshing, the Spicy Cucumber is the move.Pro Tip: It gets packed on the weekends and for Taco Tuesday, so definitely make a reservation or use the Yelp waitlist. Also, valet is usually the easiest way to deal with the 17th St parking situation. read more

Tried out this cute Mexican spot in Costa Mesa and had a good time. It was not crowded and the service was super friendly and attentive. The food was yummy and priced well which made it even better. I would definitely come back for a casual lunch or dinner. The outdoor seating is really cute and the drinks were so good last time I went. read more

Playa Mesa - Short Rib Enchilada - Mexican Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

My friend and I enjoyed our brunch at Playa Mesa! We both got the chilaquiles, a mimosa, and churros with coffee for dessert. We loved each part of our meal! Our server, Alejandro, was very friendly and attentive. Parking was easy which is a plus. The restaurant was very nice inside and had a very open feel to it. I'd recommend it and go back! read more

We had the chicken fajitas and posole--both were incredibly tasty! The tortillas were warm and tasted homemade, which made everything even better. Plus, the service was great and friendly, making the whole experience even more enjoyable. Can't wait to go back!! read more

August 2025 This restaurant was quite nice, super friendly & welcoming. Which began with the parking attendant, he was so polite. The food was delicious, the chips were perfectly crunchy, the salsa was so so. We got the guacamole appetizer, really fresh and flavorful. I ordered the carnitas tacos with rice/beans and I loved every bite. They did not skimp on the meat! My friend got the steak salad and it looked really fresh and also good portions on the steak, she really liked it. I had an espresso martini, which I throughly enjoyed :) I will definitely go back. read more

Playa Mesa - Carnitas tacos, delicious! - Mexican Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Delicious! Met a friend for lunch. The place was clean. Everyone was very nice especially our server, his name was Josele R. Very attentive but not overbearing. We both had the new drink they were promoting, the "strawberry dreams forever". It was really good. We had the calamari appetizer and both had the birria tacos. It was my first time here and I can't wait to come back. Found it via Yelp looking for a place in the area. read more

Playa Mesa - This drink was so good! - Mexican Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

I came here for lunch with a friend one day during the week. It wasn't busy so we sat immediately. The service was fantastic and the place had a nice ambiance. We ordered the margarita flight to share and each tasted amazing! We couldn't decide which one we liked best. We also ordered the guacamole, ceviche and bowl to share. It was more than enough food for two people and everything was so delicious. I would defintiely come back again when I'm in the area. read more

Playa Mesa - Margarita Flight - Mexican Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

So Luxury and So still so Mexican Delicious food! We were sit right away Even tho it was late night almost closing time read more

Happy hour until 6pm with food and drink specials. The Tamarindo Margarita was way better than the House Margarita. The chips are homemade. The salsa is made from scratch. The guacamole and the queso are great. The Camarones al mojo de ajo shrimp was boring. It comes with a lot of vegetables and plain rice. They provide tortillas but what's the point. In that car is rather have fajitas. The Carnitas entree was great. read more

Playa Mesa - Camarones al mojo de ajo shrimp was boring - Mexican Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

My wife and I love coming to Playa Mesa, especially during their generous happy hour from 3 to 6pm. The happy hour menu is one of the biggest we've seen with tons of great food and drink options. Everything we've tried has been delicious. On our most recent visit, we were lucky to have Josele R. as our server and he absolutely made our experience. He went above and beyond with his service and hospitality. It honestly felt like we were guests in his home. Warm, welcoming, attentive, and just top-tier service all around. One of the best parts is that it's never too busy if you come right at 3pm, which makes for a really chill and relaxing meal before the dinner rush. We're regulars here for a reason. Great food, even better service, and always a great vibe. Can't wait to come back again soon! read more

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Visited Playa Mesa in Costa Mesa on a Wednesday around 7pm. Valet is $5 (your only clear option if you're driving directly to the location), or you can walk - though where you're supposed to park otherwise is unclear. We were seated right away and chose the bar. Ambiance was cute, and service was fine - nothing stood out, but nothing to complain about either. They start you off with free chips and salsa, which was a nice plus nowadays. We both ordered the Pollo Asada Tacos, which come with rice and beans. The tortillas were good, but that's about where the excitement ended. The rest of the plate felt flat and underwhelming - not bad, just... not worth remembering. Personally wouldn't return or recommend unless you're just going for drinks and the vibe. read more

Playa Mesa - Pollo Carne Asada Taco Dinner - Mexican Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Had such a great experience getting served by Dominic and Mario. Thank you so much for everything I will be back. The food was phenomenal

We used to be regulars at Playa Mesa and I always got the carne asada burrito and loved it! We returned after a while and quality of food was not the same. The burrito was not bad but not as good as before. A lot more rice and bean ratio and not a lot of flavor. The steak was cut very small and not as much as before. It used to be much more steak and larger pieces with less of the rice and beans. They also got my order wrong but we ended up eating it to avoid wasting the food despite our nice server's offer to take it back. The side arugula salad barely had any dressing and it was old/wilted. Overall not our favorite visit to Playa Mesa. Service was great. read more

Playa Mesa - Carne Asada Burrito with no sauce - Mexican Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Good food great prices...Will be coming back for their happy hour, servers were very attentive.

Now here are some damn good birria Tacos. Food was excellent. Service was attentive and the vibes inside are excellent. That's how you do a restaurant read more

we recently hosted a surprise engagement party at this restaurant, and I cannot say enough wonderful things about the experience! From the moment we arrived, the staff went above and beyond to make the night truly unforgettable. The team helped keep the surprise perfectly timed, and their attention to detail made everything feel effortless. The food was spectacular. every dish was beautifully presented and full of flavor. Our guests are still talking about the appetizers and how perfect everything tasted. The atmosphere was warm, elegant, and ideal for such a special celebration. Most importantly, the service was exceptional. The staff was attentive without being intrusive, incredibly kind, and genuinely excited to be part of our special moment. They helped create memories we'll cherish forever. Thank you for making our engagement celebration absolutely perfect. I highly recommend this restaurant for any special event or even just a fantastic night out! read more

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Awesome time!! Margarita crawl was a success!! Had an amazing server Diego!!! He made the night!! Great food pairing with the margaritas!! Highly recommend!! read more