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    Taco Mesa

    4.0 (2k reviews)
    ModerateMexican
    Open 10:00 am - 10:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Order Taco Mesa Takeout or Delivery

    Taco Mesa Photos

    Business Info

    TACO MESA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Dogs allowed
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Taco Mesa

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    Wednesday menu: burrito de mar
    Tracy N.

    I've gone here a few times with my classmates. They have daily specials that come with a drink, and their horchata is really good. The prices are reasonable ($$), the food is good, and the service is fast and friendly. I usually order the Burrito del Mar, which has a combination of different seafood and vegetables. The flavor is good, and the portion is filling. Overall, it's a good casual place for a quick lunch with friends or classmates. Definitely worth the try.

    Wet steak burrito
    Shannon C.

    This place has always been so good but unfortunately I got a steak wet burrito and paid $20 just to end up getting a big bean burrito with only a few pieces of steak...very disappointing considering this place is good with everything else but this is my first time getting a burrito from here and I it's all beans...what did I pay $20 for?

    Covered patio - not great for very large parties
    John S.

    I was in the area and decided to stop by since it had been a while and I've always liked the food. Prices have ticked up a bit, food-flation, like they have everywhere else, but the quality is still there. I went the January diet route this visit and ordered a salad w/ streak. The salad was a pleasant surprise with little seeds, dried cranberries, and a great dressing that actually has flavor. Really enjoyed the whole plate. It wasn't crowded this day, which made it even better. Plenty of seating, a cool relaxed vibe, graffiti style art on the walls, and a small outdoor patio with fun stickers all over the windows. Service was good as usual. This place still beats a lot of hole in the wall spots. The salsa bar is always a win, and their mild sauce hits the spot without being overpowering. Easy parking is a big plus. I'll definitely be back soon to try some other items when I'm not pretending to be calorie conscious. Solid food, good atmosphere, and consistently enjoyable.

    breakfast burrito
    Lexi J.

    i can't lie, i did not love the food here. i'm wanting to try their food again and get tacos or a different burrito, but i just felt like the breakfast chorizo burrito was pretty bland. it did take quite some time to get our food, but i believe they were making everything fresh so that wasn't an issue. i love the artwork everywhere and there's a nice outdoor seating. the people i was with did not think the food was as bland as i did, so i definitely want to try again.

    Must try!
    Eve N.

    Stop on Sundays or Monday's and order the pozole. One of a kind dish. The i greasers used are top notch and you can take the unique flavor of the spices. They only use authentic ingredients like in Mexico City. You must order the horchata! It's the best in Orange County and no other restaurant can imitate the flavor unless you visit Mexico City

    Tacos
    Arshad H.

    Taco Mesa is a casual Mexican restaurant located at the site that used to be a Taco Bell. They offer tacos, burritos, entrees, appetizers, and breakfast menu options. I opted for 3 tacos. Taco Steak - $6.50 - Grilled marinated steak with cilantro and onions were all served on a tortilla. While it was good, I did expect there to be a bit more steak at the given price point. Taco Shredded Chicken - $5 - This came with a crispy corn tortilla with seasoned shredded chicken, romaine, pico de gallo, crema & queso fresco. Out of all the things I tried, this was the best, it had a lot of flavor. Taco Fried Fish - $6 - This consisted of fried fish, cabbage adobada, pico de gallo, crema & queso on a crispy corn tortilla. Unfortunately the fried fish was a little off tasting and not so fresh. Overall I felt the tacos were on the pricier side and the fried fish taco didn't taste as fresh. Perhaps they needed to change the oil used for frying. They do have a large selection of meat options, especially sea food so if I did come back I'll look into other options.

    Veggie taco
    Michelle G.

    Hard to believe I don't have a previous review here. This place is the real deal. Authentic Mexican. Check out their amazing Taco Tuesday. I've been coming since 2020. Various tacos for only $2.75 loaded with beans, cheese, pico de gallo and meat of choice. I get the veggie. Use to get the battered fish. You won't be disappointed. Quick to get food out. Hot and fresh. Nice guys working here. Great self service bar with authentic carrots, onions, salsas etc. great music in background no artistic graffiti all over.

    Late night Happy Hour menu 7/2025
    Meggie T.

    Still love this! And look like lots more people have found it too! Update on the menu

    Shrimp Burrito
    Natalya S.

    I ordered the shrimp burrito and since eating it, have not stopped thinking about it. It was sooo flavorful, the shrimp was fresh and perfectly cooked and it was so juicy (maybe even a little too juicy as it fell apart on me at the end). They have a salsa bar with delicious salsa verde, and a bunch of other toppings for your food. I liked the ambiance of the restaurant, a bit on the smaller side but it has outdoor seating with TVs. The workers were very nice, and the food came out quick. Highly recommend trying this for some bomb Mexican food!

    Wendy W.

    Came by friday night, and sheesh tacos are good. I had the quesabirria, my gf had the carne asada, tacos have double tortillas, salsa was good and home made. The server was really friendly and helped us pick tacos, it's a cozy vibe inside, I would come back. They serve beers too.

    Grilled shrimp and grilled fish taco
    Jennifer H.

    Taco Mesa is always, consistently very yummy! This time, I got one grilled fish and one grilled shrimp taco, and they were quite large (though unsure if they were large enough to justify the price, ~$7 each). The fish and shrimp were both very fresh and cooked well, and the vegetables, cheese, and salsas in the tacos were good as well. The real standout at Taco Mesa is the salsa bar! As a massive fan of all things pickled, the pickled vegetables are an absolute must. I always just bring my whole plate over to the the salsa bar to load it up with the pickled onions, carrots, and cauliflower, which bring the perfect touch of acidity to a potentially heavy meal. The service is fast, and there are plenty of seats and tables for you to enjoy your food. Would definitely come back!

    I had the tacos pastor and my friend had the chicken burrito. The prices are a little up but pretty on par with your average taco spot. The meat on the pastor tasted awful and left a rotten smell on my fingers-and I'm someone who always orders pastor everywhere I go. I had 2 but barely could finish one. My friend also wasn't a fan of her burrito but wasn't miserable. 2 stars because service is fast and aguas are good. But man that pastor is ROTTEN

    Marc N.

    The lingua and carne asada tacos were solid, clean flavor, not dripping in grease like the usual street taco. They taste fresh and a little more "refined," but that polish comes with a slightly higher price tag. Service: Had it to-go so can't comment Food: Tacos are tasty, balanced, and satisfying Ambiance: Simple and casual, nothing fancy 7/10 - Good tacos, just a bit on the expensive side.

    Taco Steak, Taco Blackened Chicken

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    Business owner information

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    Nico C.

    Thank you Orlande! We appreciate your business and positive review!

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    8 months ago

    The food is outstanding. Lobster bisque is the best I've ever had. Horchata, tacos, burritos are incredible with a depth of flavor unmatched

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    credit to the chef. really great tacos with tons of high quality toppings. would probably skip the carnitas though.

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    11 months ago

    Food was amazing. The carne asada was real ranchera and the service was quick and easy

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    Always excellent food. Friendly staff. Highly recommend. I have been coming for a long time.

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    Taco Mesa Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Taco Mesa

    How much are the margaritas on Monday?

    $5.00 Margarita Monday. They taste like mix only so save yourself the disappointment and get a beer or Sangria.

    Do you do a taco Tuesday special at Costa Mesa?

    Yes they do. But not their specialty tacos.

    Do they have vegan tacos?

    No, all the tacos contain a meat or fish protein. But I believe they do have a vegan chile relleno.

    Why are the tortillas green?

    Spinach

    Is their salsa spicy? It's really hard for me to find a great taco place with super spicy salsa

    I would say they have the typical "three temperatures": mild (pick de gallo), medium (avocado) and hot (red chilis). They are all VERY GOOD, especially the avocado version--I would be willing to buy that by the gallon. None are "scorchers"… 

    View All 6 Questions

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    Palenque Kitchen

    Palenque Kitchen

    4.1
    (786 reviews)
    0.4 mi
    $$$
    Takes reservations
    Happy hour specials

    Nice little Mexican food spot located where HUB used to be. They don't advertise it on their menu…read morebut they have an unpublished kids menu that includes: grilled chicken with rice and refried beans, chicken strips with French fries or quesadilla (choice of cheese, chicken, or steak) with rice and beans. I really enjoyed the puerto Nuevo enchiladas and my 4 yr old loved them too! He also nearly went face down in the flan with coconut ice cream. My son loves coconut ice cream but now he also loves flan! They have a cool decor in the restaurant and it's very modern. There's a bathroom at the end and they have high chairs if you need them. Service was great and we'd come back again.

    Palenque in Costa Mesa definitely nails the moody, Instagram-friendly aesthetic, but once you get…read morepast the low lighting and chic decor, it feels a bit more like a scene than a real value. It's a fun spot to grab a drink for the ambiance, but as a full meal, it leaves a lot to be desired. The food itself is okay--the quesa birria tacos have decent flavor and the carne asada comes with a nice char--but given the steep prices, you expect way better execution and more generous portions. Paying high-end money for pretty standard street food staples dressed up on nice plateware just feels overpriced. Service was fine enough, nothing to complain about, but the value just isn't there for what they're charging. On top of that, parking can be a bit challenging since it's tucked away in kind of a weird location. If you're going purely for photos, fancy cocktails, and a trendy date night backdrop, it fits the bill, but if you're looking for great food value, there are much better spot-on Mexican joints in OC.

    Photos
    Dining Room
    Dining Room
    Palenque Kitchen
    Palenque Kitchen

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    Acapulco Restaurant & Cantina

    Acapulco Restaurant & Cantina

    4.4
    (2.2k reviews)
    2.9 mi
    $$

    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!

    This was my first time at Acapulco as I had a fajita craving that needed to be satisfied. And it…read morewas! My server was very friendly and brought me chips and salsa about 5 minutes after I sat down. The salsa was really good by the way. I was able to place my order right away as I already knew I wanted the steak and chicken fajitas. The steak had a yummy char on it, and the chicken was moist. They provided a good amount of "fixings." I'm partial to fajitas in Texas. but besides that, I really enjoyed this spot and can't wait to come back to try more of their menu!

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

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    Make your own omelette. Veggies and chorizo.
    Palmilla Cocina y Tequila

    Palmilla Cocina y Tequila

    4.4
    (1.1k reviews)
    1.9 mi
    $$$

    Called in a last minute order about 15 minutes before the kitchen closed; ordered the filet mignon…read moretacos, the filet quesadilla, sides of refried beans and Spanish rice, the churros, and the flan for dessert. I appreciated that the quesadilla was super cheesy, it was a great size too and was perfect as an entree with the beans and rice. I was very happy with the flavor of the beans, you could tell they were cooked with a lot of love! The tacos were delicious as well, the roasted salsa was slightly smoky with a good jalapeño flavor, the meat was tender, and the tortillas had a great chew. The churros are not to be underestimated- they were thick and fluffy, and the dipping sauces were perfect accompaniments. The flan was the super star of the whole night for me- genuinely the most perfect, custardy, unctuous flan I've ever had. The vanilla bean specks throughout gave it such flavor, there wasn't a ton of syrup but it honestly did not need it. There is absolutely nothing that could have improved that flan. Will definitely come back, hopefully dine in and try a few drinks!

    I was looking forward to a nice dinner at the bar while I was in Newport Beach for work, but…read moreunfortunately my experience was very disappointing. As someone with a gluten sensitivity, I asked questions about the menu and trusted that my meal would be safe. Instead, I ended up having a gluten reaction after eating here, which completely ruined the rest of my evening. If you advertise gluten-friendly options, staff should be properly trained on cross-contamination and ingredient awareness. The atmosphere and location are great, but none of that matters if diners with dietary restrictions can't eat safely. I hope the restaurant takes food allergies and gluten sensitivities more seriously in the future.

    Photos
    Bar and dining room
    Bar and dining room
    Ceviche Tres Maneras
    Ceviche Tres Maneras
    Inside decor

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    Inside decor

    Taco Mesa - mexican - Updated August 2026

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