We were late to our reservation because traffic was horrendous getting out of our daughter's graduation ceremony on the other side of town. They were extremely understanding and accommodating. The service was amazing and the food was great. They even brought my daughter a treat for recognition! I would love to go back if we are in the area again... (my kid is moving to LA!) read more

I came here because of the great reviews, and I couldn't agree more with all of them! The service was great, as soon as we walked in the gentleman at the front were so welcoming, and our server was just as great! He was very attentive and funny. My mom did say she wished she had more carne asada because it was so good. My Birria plate was so juicy, along with my michelada that was made just as I like it! I would definitely come back. This would be a good place to come for a birthday, as it is a beautiful restaurant. read more

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I came here for a friend's birthday in a really big group. Service was fine considering we had two big table worth of people. A few people kept ordering drinks and it seemed like it came out pretty quickly each time. I ordered the combo plate with the birra taco and chicken enchilada. It also came with arugula salad, rice, and beans. I thought the birra taco was going to be one that I could dip, but that wasn't the case, so I was a bit disappointed with that. The chicken enchiladas was okay, nothing special. I felt like it needed more flavor. I did ask for a side of pico afterwards, and that made the food a bit more enjoyable. I may consider coming here again just to try other entrees, not in a big group setting. I came for a 7 pm reservation and the parking lot was full. So I had to park down the street and walk. It wasn't too bad, but a slight minor inconvenience. read more

Playa Mesa - Mexican Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Brunch was such a great experience Miguel J. was so attentive and made sure our mimosas stayed bottomless. I loved the green chilaquiles with my medium rare steak. read more

Playa Mesa - Mexican Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

I was a little weary when my friend mentioned this cool spot in Costa Mesa for brunch. Why? Because of parking. However, parking is not something you have to worry about for this spot as they have their own parking lot. The place has an open window concept, so you will not get out of there smelling like the food, however the rich flavors of Mexican cuisine can be definitely experienced. The decor is beautiful and picturesque. The staff were super friendly and attentive. So very attentive that they kept trying to take my plate as I was actively still eating lol but I know they were just trying to be attentive. I got the breakfast tacos. Simple but delicious. The flavors were so good. And the 2 tacos were super fulfilling. I enjoyed every single bite and I'd totally recommend it. I also got a mimosa to celebrate my graduation, although their mimosa flavors were basic and the orange juice was the bitter type. Also the glass for the mimosa wasn't the best. I attempted to cheer a couple times but it was filled to the top and it spilled everywhere. Anywho, the girls all loved their brunch and we totally recommend this spot. You'll feel like you went to a Cancun vacation read more

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I love their brunch menu. It's a place where you can make a reservation for brunch and enjoy unlimited mimosas if that's your thing. It's great that I can avoid the typical long queue for weekend brunch. I had the French toast, and my friends had the tres leches waffles, the chilaquiles, and the breakfast tacos. Everything was solid. We especially loved all the fun, colorful brunch drinks. We were celebrating a birthday, and they brought out a hilarious giant sombrero, which was a big hit. The service was excellent too -- our server was very friendly and professional, serving our big group and making our birthday celebration special. The interior decor was great too -- breezy Baja style. read more

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The complimentary chips and salsa are both great! Hot, thin and crispy chips with a delectable salsa for dipping Shared chicken fajitas and enjoyed our meal very much. My companion had a margarita and said it was the best she'd ever had! Seemed a bit short handed for 12:30 on a Friday afternoon (one server, one bartender) but they kept up with everything. Beautiful restaurant/bar. read more

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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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Went to Playa Mesa for a birthday dinner, and it seemed like we picked a popular night as there were at least five groups celebrating birthdays. Unfortunately, it took about an hour for our food to come out. A manager came by to apologize and explained that the kitchen was backed up and offered us complimentary churros. It was delicious and probably the best dish of the night. The chicken enchiladas and fish tacos were nothing special. The ceviche was not good and the calamari was okay. Their spicy sauce was very spicy. read more

Playa Mesa - Mexican Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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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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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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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 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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We came here for my birthday and had a reservation but it wasn't super busy. The service was quick and the food was really good. We got the queso fundido, pollo burrito, steak/shrimp fajitas and a margarita flight. Everything was delicious. Will be back to try other dishes. read more

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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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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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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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Came here for Mother's Day expecting to try some things we saw on the menu because it was our first time and we were disappointed to find out that they were only offering a buffet today. I had not seen this on the site nor was there a notice when reservations were made. We got there a little early so we waited about 25min total. 15 min after our reservation time. The hostess assured us that most all menu items were included in the buffet but they were not. This buffet was very mid with not much variety. I've never gone to a brunch buffet that had no omelet station? The best options they had were birria, chicken or asada tacos. Their scrambled eggs did not look good, and their breakfast potatoes were disappointing. They had a pancake and French toast bar where they are making and serving them and you can add toppings you want from table. This was the only made to order thing they had. Their desert table was at a corner opposite to where the food was I'm sure some people missed it, although not much to be missed all they had was mini flans and arroz con leche, they ran out of pan dulce in their desert table around 1pm? I did not like that we were forced to stick with the buffet option since this was reserved far in advance and it being Mother's Day we had no where else to go. Wish there would've been a heads up, had we known that this was going to be it we def would have chosen to go elsewhere. Flecha Cantina in HB has a great brunch buffet with 5x as many food options and their desert options include a chocolate fountain and ice cream for the same price! Also there, their price includes juices and aguas frescas! Idk if we will be back here none of the food made me want to go back for seconds. The service was great props to them refilling waters and coming around often even though it was busy, also live mariachi not sure if it was only today but I enjoy live music. read more

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

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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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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

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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Food was delicious!! I ate the grilled shrimp tacos and they were perfectly cooked along with the rice and beans being delicious! Our waiter was so nice and helped us quickly along with our food coming out fast! The ambience is amazing with the staff being great. read more

Playa Mesa - Grilled Shrimp Tacos Carne Asada Tacos - Mexican Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Ehhhh is all I can really say about this place. I came here with my friends for a birthday group dinner and the service was great. My review is all about the food. I got the carne asada tacos and the meat just tasted like it was seasoned with salt and nothing else also the tacos just came with some diced tomatoes and rice and beans on the side. This is not Mexican food. For the price literally go anywhere else I'm just disappointed I had to spend my money on this place for subpar food. I can season my food better than this and if you've ever had real Mexican food you'll know what I'm talking about. 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

Loved the guacamole! Service impeccable. Highly recommended. Great Food and services and good taste in music read more

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

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

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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Here's a polished review that keeps the criticism pointed but fair: My wife and I were in the Costa Mesa area and decided to give this restaurant a try after seeing its strong Yelp reviews. The restaurant itself is pleasant, and the service was genuinely friendly and attentive. Unfortunately, that's where the positives ended for us. We asked our server about the tortilla soup and were told it was a fan favorite. We also asked about the taquitos and were told they were exceptional. Based on those recommendations, we ordered both. After trying them, we're left wondering if they're considered exceptional only by Costa Mesa standards. The food was, at best, a slight step above El Torito. The tortilla soup lacked flavor and depth, and the taquitos were entirely forgettable. Nothing we ordered came close to the quality we would expect from a restaurant receiving such high praise. Everyone's tastes are different, and we appreciate the friendly service, but if you're looking for truly good Mexican food, there are many better options elsewhere. We wanted to like this place, but the food simply didn't live up to the reviews. 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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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

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

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