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    Taco Mesa

    3.9 (662 reviews)
    ModerateMexican
    Open 10:00 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Order Taco Mesa Takeout or Delivery

    Taco Mesa Photos

    TACO MESA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating
    Good for kids

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    Taco Tuesday
    Morgan K.

    A favorite spot for taco Tuesday!! They have a great selection of tacos for $3 on Tuesdays. Been to all 3 of their locations - each one is able to deliver consistently good food with a slightly different atmosphere at each. Been coming to the MV location since I was a kid. Quick, affordable, and friendly!

    Roasted tomato soup
    Drew P.

    Always great service / friendly staff and the roasted tomato soup is amazing. Would definitely recommend.

    Vegetariana Quesadilla
    Madeline S.

    I have not been to Taco Mesa in years and I actually forgot about how amazing their food was! I love the cool murals on the walls and the overall chill vibes. All the staff are nice and their chips and salsa are amazing. The food tastes very authentic! I ordered a veggie quesadilla and I'd love to see them make it more like fajitas with bell peppers and other veggies because it was pretty bland. I'd also love to see an option for potato tacos!

    Tacos
    Chris W.

    We stopped by to try their tacos to see if it'd be a good fit to cater food for an event we were planning. Their tacos were amazing! We tried the steak and chicken tacos. Their corn tortillas were nice and had just the right amount of chew that paired well with the tender meat they serve. After trying their tacos we ended up ordering from their catering menu and it was a pleasure to work with them as we needed it 6 days from the event and they were able to accommodate.

    Inside the burrito
    Victoria L.

    This spot usually has a line out the door and every table is full. It's a casual spot, and family friendly. Patient and kind service explaining the portion sizes and flavors. The chile relleno itself was huge, stuffed with meaty cheese and more of a stewed-tomato sauce/topping than red sauce. The pepper itself was a little more firm (underdone?) than I've usually had it at many other spots before but the flavors were on point. And big scoops of rice and beans accompanied it. The shrimp taco with corn tortilla was really good. The tomato soup also good and tasted like a cheesy tomato soup - not the typical basil-tomato-y soup you might get with a grilled cheese. Not that we were expecting the latter. The burrito was stuffed and filling. We hope to rerurn to try their breakfasts.

    Yasmeen E.

    Decided to try this place since it's my friend's favorite taco spot. I thought it was really good. It's definitely on the pricier side, but good enough that I'd come back if I didn't live so far. I got two tacos; steak and fish. I wish I got a third! They were quite good. My only real complaint is the horchata. It was super grainy and had a coconut-like texture that kept getting stuck in my teeth. I think it might have been the tiger nut. It also tasted a bit bland. I guess I prefer a more traditional horchata that's sweeter and milkier with the rice. On a positive note, I liked what they had to offer at the salsa bar.

    Kids quesadilla $9
    Allee S.

    It was ok! The Mexico City enchiladas were the best thing. Tortillas not soft for tacos, kids quesadilla the cheese wasn't melted and the tater tots were odd? Super crispy but not potato-y? Probably wouldn't go back

    Wet Steak Burrito
    Myung S.

    We've visited all three Taco Mesa locations--including Taco Rosa in Irvine, which didn't quite hit the mark for us--but this one stands out as our favorite. The staff here are always friendly, and the food is consistently fresh, flavorful, and delicious. We highly recommend Taco Mesa in Mission Viejo!

    Chicken & Steak Taco Tuesday
    Elizabeth M.

    Scrumdillyumptious! I love taco Mesa! My to go order is the Steak Torta. Today I tried the chicken and steak tacos and I must say that the Chicken tacos were beyond delicious. My favorite sides are the coleslaw, carrots, and the green salsa. I love their horchata but today it was a bit bland imo (bad batch probably) The interior is so beautiful hand painted and just clean. They were playing Shakira which I love. Service is quick and the employees are so kind when we visit.

    nadia m.

    Been wanting to eat here with friends, glad i tried it and sadly it was bad! order 2 alpastor and 2 fish taco plate, Fish Menu said Wild Fish taco? it was soaked in batter and soaked in oils, the fish is like a size of my pinky funger. I am losing faith in eating out and losing faith in finding best tacos in OC! Fyi I am a frequent travelers to Cabo,Cancun,Playa and Vallarta none of them match the autenticity. I just wish the owner or manager manage the food quality is par mediocre, i actually paid $32 for 4 pcs of tacos. The only good thing is the sauce similar to what i have in cabo or playa. Food industry in not as the same 10-15 yrs ago!

    De mar burrito
    Joshua

    I have been coming to taco Mesa either in Ladera Ranch or here for probably eight years. I have never gotten sick at this restaurant. It's always good. It's a decent price because it's real food. It's pretty fresh if not completely fresh. I highly recommend this as a Orange County stop if you were in the city. This is the one I don't know what city is Lake Forest or something the other ones in Ladera Ranch Both are good. They're the same pretty much.

    Taco Tuesday menu
    Bridget J.

    Taco Mesa is ideal for a quick bite on Tuesday. Upon arrival, you place your order, receive a number, and then select a table inside or outside. My family and I prefer to dine outside, as my sister has a service dog. We take advantage of Taco Tuesday, enjoying $10 guacamole with well-seasoned chips. The carnitas tacos, salmon tacos, and lobster tacos are our favorites, with the latter two being upgrades that are well worth it.

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    2 months ago

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    29 days ago

    Went back and it's so good! The green salsa and shredded beef tacos are bomb! Such a great deal on taco tuesday too!

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    6 months ago

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    4 months ago

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    2 months ago

    Amazing food and salsa everyone is so nice. We go there every Tuesday and it never disappoints.

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    7 months ago

    We come here all the time. They have great vegetarian options, and the walls and ceiling are painted super fun.

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    6 months ago

    I love the el pastor wet burrito. One of the healthier places to eat . Worth the price

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    9 months ago

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    9 months ago

    It was ok but was taco Tuesday so quite worth it. Service good and fast. Restaurant was clean

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    Page 1 of 17

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    Chuponcito - BANANA LATTE

    Chuponcito

    4.8(794 reviews)
    4.3 mi
    $$

    We've always seen this spot but had never tried it, so we decided to check it out on Mother's Day…read more They were BUSY, but still moved quickly to get the line down. The restaurant itself is pretty small inside, you order first, then they bring the food to your table. Even with how packed it was, the wait honestly wasn't bad at all. My wife, who's pregnant, saved us a table while I waited in line to order, and Fidel, who I'm assuming is the manager, was very nice and welcoming. He checked up on us a few times even though he wasn't our server, and was very personable asking about our baby. The food was AMAZING. I'm so glad we decided to stay. I had the carnitas Benedict, which was delicious and packed with flavor. My wife had the El Chupon burrito, which was also amazing. But the star of the show for us was their hot salsa, incredibly flavorful with the perfect amount of spice We'll definitely be back!

    They need a way better seating policy. absolutely unacceptable. We were waiting in line, ordered…read moreour food, and someone had put their stuff down to "reserve" the table, when it is completely packed. And they hadn't ordered yet. It should not be like that. There should be proper seating, where ONCE you order, you go find your table. If you don't get a table then you wait your turn. We ask the staff if we can put personal items to reserve a table and she said yes??? What sort of service is that ?!? They should have a host. Or someone guiding it. The food is rather great but what an unpleasant experience. The manager needs to fix this, cause this isn't a cafe. It's a restaurant.

    Photos
    Chuponcito - Ordering counter

    Ordering counter

    Chuponcito - Papas cargadas

    Papas cargadas

    Chuponcito - Interior dining

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    Interior dining

    The Taco Stand - Al Pastor on the left, Carne Asada on the right

    The Taco Stand

    4.5(852 reviews)
    2.1 mi
    $$

    Came to this little shopping center for Dave's and ended up getting distracted by the taco stand…read morebecause the line was crazy. My cousin and I had to see what all that was about. Very glad we did. The line was long but moved fast. Counter service. Easy. Everyone was also so sweet and smiling. Food came out pretty quickly too, especially for how busy they were. We got two things off the secret menu: the al pastor volcan and the mar y tierra taco. We also got the al pastor burrito which had a subtle sweetness from the pineapple. Soooo good. If you sit at the bar, you can watch them making everything right in front of you. Good food and something to look at. So fun. Also loved the sauces. The salsa verde and cilantro salsa were both so good. Very much added the cilantro sauce to everything: it complimented the shrimp especially well. Also!!! I saw that they're opening up their first location in LA soon, Beverly glen. So excited. It was definitely worth the wait. This is our new go to casual late night dinner spot. We're already planning on coming back next week

    The Taco Stand a small footprint, super casual eatery in a busy target shopping center and you…read moreshould be off of Alicia Parkway. It's like driving straight over the border and grabbing street tacos in Tijuana! Positives are you can literally watch them making the corn tortillas by hand and cooking some of the meat on a stick and the other made to order as you go. The servings are large and if there's not enough tables, there is a counter facing the kitchen, you can sit at. And all food is made to order. The salsa is OK nothing brilliant. The meat products used for the tacos, I had chicken and fish the first time, were OK but not exceptional. Because the food is made to order it does take longer to receive. And the restaurant always feels a little bit on the grungy side versus clean. Overall, this is an OK taco shop in an area that doesn't have a lot of taco shop options. I will eat here if I need to, but I don't particularly want to go back here for tacos.

    Photos
    The Taco Stand - Inside

    Inside

    The Taco Stand - Al pastor tostada thing on the secret menu

    Al pastor tostada thing on the secret menu

    The Taco Stand - Chicken, al pastor

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    Chicken, al pastor

    Xclusive Mexican Kitchen - Taco Sampler

    Xclusive Mexican Kitchen

    4.6(574 reviews)
    1.2 mi
    $$

    Service here was amazing! For the amount of breakfast we ate for only $30, too good to be true…read more Susana was the sweetest and our waiter Alfonso was attentive at all times with the most genuine help. (sadly forgot to take pictures of all of our plates). Ambiance was very uplifting and great vibes! Would definitely come back!

    This place is a gem…read more.. I decided to order something different today since we have been here a few times now. CALAMARI FRITO (always a must): -- super tender and lightly coated w/batter -- chipotle type sauce and green cilantro sauce both delectable for this RATING = A+ ALBONDIGAS SOUP: -- white broth -- veggies and the best meatballs by appearance and taste maybe ever -- wife big fan, I only got tiny taste -- a bit spicier than norm for sure RATING = A+ TACO SAMPLER: -- wife big fan, especially the carnitas -- she wanted street tacos since our local pop-up got shut down a while back -- asada very solid too RATING = A PRIME SKIRT STEAK SKILLET: -- corn tortillas -- white cheese and sauteed onions in the bottom -- delicious medium cooked skirt steak above that -- guacamole on top -- rice and refried beans on the side -- yum city from A to Z -- delicious steak -- I made mini tacos with some and forked in on the rest RATING = A+ Friendly efficient staff. Leaving the door open on a cool night only worked because I blocked the wind from the wife with my body and marginal cool night at our early bird dinner hour.

    Photos
    Xclusive Mexican Kitchen - Dining Room / Kitchen

    Dining Room / Kitchen

    Xclusive Mexican Kitchen - Xclusive asada tacos, grilled onions and mushrooms

    Xclusive asada tacos, grilled onions and mushrooms

    Xclusive Mexican Kitchen - Mimosas and Cafe de la olla (cute)

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    Mimosas and Cafe de la olla (cute)

    Caló Kitchen + Tequila - Laguna Niguel

    Caló Kitchen + Tequila - Laguna Niguel

    4.6(1.7k reviews)
    5.3 mi
    $$

    We were looking for a nice quiet Mexican restaurant and it actually wasn't that but I must say the…read morestaff was more than happy to try it solve the problem. They gave us a beautiful little alcove. But the staff and the food was excellent. It's not the least expensive place to go, but the food was very good and they made you feel like King's while you're there. The chips and salsa was exceptional. I tried the seafood was excellent. My wife tried the fajitas. She was very happy. If you're looking for a place that has a nice bar as well. Looks like a good choice. We will certainly be going again.

    One person can ruin a great reputation…read more I just picked up an online order and had an unpleasant experience with their hostess. She was rude and acted as if I was inconveniencing her. My order was promised for 2:30pm. I arrived at 2:30pm and checked in with her. She told me that they were still working on it. Fine no problem. After 20 minutes of waiting I asked her if she had an update since it was 20 minutes late and she unapologetically said "they're working on it" and stared at me. I sat back down and waited another 10 mins until the food finally came out. The hostess brought the bag to me, handed it over without saying anything, turned around and walked away. It's one thing having the food be 30 minutes past the promised delivery time but I was very taken aback by the attitude of the hostess. In no way do I feel entitled to special treatment, but basic decency goes a long way. I also observed her being rude to other patrons - specifically to those without reservations. The food here is great but an experience like this will make me think twice about visiting again. Especially as this is not the first time we've had service issues. Sunday May 10th 2026 3pm.

    Photos
    Caló Kitchen + Tequila - Laguna Niguel - From patio towards bar

    From patio towards bar

    Caló Kitchen + Tequila - Laguna Niguel - Spicy margarita and blackberry margarita

    Spicy margarita and blackberry margarita

    Caló Kitchen + Tequila - Laguna Niguel

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    Tacos De Birria Estilo Guadalajara - The  best tacos

    Tacos De Birria Estilo Guadalajara

    4.6(657 reviews)
    2.8 mi
    $$
    Outdoor seating
    Private events

    Hidden spot located in a church! Parking can suck - I would get here a little earlier for lunch to…read moreavoid the mess that is parking. There's limited spots and some spots are reserved for clergy, daycare, etc. Tacos are a bit on the pricey side, but they're honestly some of the best tacos in the OC. There's a punch card available where you get $10 off after 8 visits. Best Tacos: - Questaco w/ Birria - birria is super flavorful (beef) and perfect with that green salsa and the consume. The cheese is melty and the tacos perfectly crispy. - Fish Taco - Classic fish taco that's perfectly battered and fried with great flavor. Overall, since our first visit, it's become our go to taco spot and we can never go wrong with it. Covered seating + outdoor seating available. Bathroom available via the room onto your left if you're sitting in the covered seating area. On our first trip we walked alllllll the way down the church just to wash our hands since we sat outside, lol. So don't be foolish like us!

    We felt like having tacos on a Tuesday evening and found this place on Yelp. It's the type of…read morerestaurant where you would not notice it when driving by. But good thing for the Yelp platform and the Internet. It had just sprinkled recently and so all the outdoor tables were wet. We were so glad that they also have covered semi indoor seating. Parking was plentiful since we came in the evening and it looks like this is the parking lot for a school also during the day. We ordered at the register and were helped by a couple different staff members. One gentleman took over since it seemed like he was able to explain things better about the menu. I ended up getting a fish taco and a shrimp taco. I should've asked, but didn't realize that the tacos were fried. I was a little surprised because most fish tacos I've eaten are usually served on a tortilla that is not fried. It was a little too greasy for my liking but still tasty! We also ordered birria taquitos to share, which were fried obviously. My family also ordered Carne Asada tacos and birria quesotacos. It didn't seem like there were any taco Tuesday specials for the dishes we ordered. The total amount seemed pretty expensive. Maybe I'll come back to try the ceviche. There are accessible restrooms, which was great since our hands were very greasy afterwards and the small thin napkins weren't sufficient. From the inside dining area, we saw a dance class taking place in the main church assembly room (I think that's what it was). it appeared to be a hula or Polynesian dance class.

    Photos
    Tacos De Birria Estilo Guadalajara - The best  tacos De Birria on Orange County ,jesus uses the World clase meats .

    The best tacos De Birria on Orange County ,jesus uses the World clase meats .

    Tacos De Birria Estilo Guadalajara - Quesataco

    Quesataco

    Tacos De Birria Estilo Guadalajara - Fish taco

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    Fish taco

    Taco Mesa - mexican - Updated May 2026

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