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    Tacos Madre

    4.3 (572 reviews)
    ModerateMexican
    Open • 10:00 am - 10:00 pm
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    Tacos Madre Photos

    Business Info

    TACOS MADRE ATMOSPHERE

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

    Recommended Reviews - Tacos Madre

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    Menu
    Nancie M.

    Great taco Tuesday tacos the street tacos are amazing especially the carnitas $2.50 and fish $4 . Family owned .

    Salsa and chips
    Liz F.

    Good place for Taco Tuesday! We came here for a coworker's birthday lunch and it happened to be Tuesday. Prices are good and food wasn't bad. I ordered a asada street taco and chicken hard shell taco, but they gave me chicken for both. I didn't want to make a fuss but it was a bummer because the asada was a bit more. Considering the prices were decent, I ate what I was served. Service was quick and attentive.

    Carnitas taco.. delicious
    Scott M.

    This place came up on a collection to follow of best tacos in Orange County.. We are working our way through the entire collection.. this did not disappoint! Home made shells are a big draw for me. Tried a few things.. Carnitas taco was the winner with the green sauce they give you on the side.. The Carne Asada taco was a close second place and that is great on its own but if you add the red sauce they give you on the side it takes it to a new level. Fish taco came in 3rd place but not by much. Very good, lightly fried and crispy... better than most. Order the chips and salsa.. that is sooo worth it... They have fresh Iced Tea which is nice as most places just go the easy route with powdered tea from A soda machine.. this is much nicer than that. Parking in front or in back.. just be aware of signs and don't park in apartments behind restaurant. Highly recommended place to try.

    Beans, rice, cheese
    Diana F.

    Enjoyed it a lot. I came for the fajitas and they were quite tasty. Comes with all 3 proteins (chicken, beef, shrimp) but you can have it with just one or 2 of those proteins. Served on a tray with rice and beans, 3 tortillas and 2 sauces. Order at the counter, get a number, and someone brings the food to your table. Not much parking in front or in back and it was very loud and busy inside.

    Keto tacos
    Megan O.

    Dang Taco's Madre is where it's at! The food was sooooooo good. Everyone there was so nice and the vibes inside were prime. I ordered the asada keto tacos and was nottt disappointed. The cheese shell was perfect with the meat and onions. My family all said they looooved their food too. 11/10! The only bummer is the parking. But Taco's Madre is 100/10!

    Definitely plenty of seating here!
    Dan L.

    I can't believe I didn't stop here earlier. I had heard about this place from a lot of my friends and they said you've got to go and check it out. I'm so glad I had time today to do that because this is one place that is worth of the trip! Super neat and tidy on the inside. Warm and inviting three video screens display the menu. Plenty of options for you regardless if it's breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Great selection of beer and soft drinks to wash it down with. I got a brag on the chips and salsa for a minute, they were off with the chain. I don't know if the chips are made in-house, but they taste like they were. Has a kick to it. It sneaks up on you, so don't get overzealous dunking your chip. And make sure you have a beer or some water handy. I ordered a couple of street tacos as it was still early and I needed to go to lunch later. I did carnitas and Kearney asada. The tortillas were definitely handmade and whatever marinade they used on the carmy asada was freaking amazing! I usually judge a Mexican restaurant by their carnitas and this one past the test and flying colors. Super delicious, moist and flavorful made for the perfect Taco. The bottom line? If you like tacos like I like tacos. You got to check this place out! Located on harbor boulevard. You really can't miss the sign out front.

    Chips and Guacamole
    LaRon D.

    Tacos Madre is LEGIT! Some of the most elevated casual Mexican food in Orange County. We've had the opportunity to visit a few times and they never disappoint! First off the ambiance of the place is really cool! They have some amazing artwork and images of cultural icons that looks super modern. It's also extremely clean and always well-maintained. You order at the register, get your table number, take a seat and they'll bring out your food. The menu is a little intimidating, at first, because they have such an expansive menu. At this point, our go-tos are: - Birria Quesataco - Fish Taco - Chilaquiles with red sauce - Side of Guac All of these items are 5/5. They make all of their own tortillas in-house and are amazing! Every order comes with complimentary fresh chips and salsa - chips made with homemade tortillas- TOP TIER! The fish tacos and chilaquiles are both some of the best we've ever had. The batter on the fish is crispy, full of flavor and a nice crema on top. The red sauce on the chilaquiles was epic! If you're in the area, I highly recommend Tacos Madre for an elite meal!

    Mojarra Frita
    Olivia H.

    Tacos Madre has some of the best fish tacos in Orange County. We also love their fried fish plate. They are always super friendly there, which is a plus! It can get really busy, and tables can fill up even on weekdays. The parking situation can be tough, but it's worth it!

    Veggie tacos- 1 zucchini mix taco and 1 mushroom taco
    T K.

    Stopped in while on a work trip. I had the vegetarian tacos which were tasty. The zucchini one was perfect. Enjoyed! The mushroom was good but maybe a little too much mushroom on one tacos. Or maybe needed a little Cole slaw to break it up, but that was just me. Flavor was good. Chips were decent. Salsa was pretty darn good. The tacos came with a green and red chili and the red chili didn't disappoint. I would come back.

    Dana T.

    I was craving carne asada fries and came here to check it out! The carne asada fries come with the larger crinkle cut fries but they're so crispy and the toppings were delicious. I also really liked the al pastor taco. Overall, great service, food and ambiance.

    Queso tacos
    Calli Y.

    Love the tacos here!! You can't go wrong here. Just be patient because there could be a wait to order, 1 register, and for the food to prepare. Always fresh and tasty. They do have taco tuesday specials as well which is nice. Just wish they could do something about their parking lot! Horrible parking situation when there's not spots available. SYOY

    Inside
    Jessie Z.

    Pretty limited parking so expect a bit of wait. Ordering is okay but the tacos do take a while to be made and there is no sauce/chip bar. Be sure to ask for water/napkins/limes/salsa when ordering. They do give a tomatillo and a spicier salsa (not too spicy, roasted, and buildable spice). Taco prices are okay, but doesn't have all the options ($2 normal, $4 fish taco for taco tuesday). They serve the tacos on a board and for the price a pretty good portion. The chorizo was okay, a bit dry and it would do well with some cheese. The tortillas are corn. Fish tacos had mostly cream flavor and was dressed well, pairs well with the lemon and big chunks. You should probably clean up after yourself because of limited staff. Overall, a little gentrified, but solid place for fish tacos and casual ambiance. Pretty self service.

    Birria tacos and fish taco were THE BOMB! Love the salsa bar too to get everything decked out to perfection!

    I heard about this place from someone in my Philharmonic group so I thought since they were being kind enough to support us, I would go and support them. Best decision! The food was super fresh and absolutely phenomenal. Truly the best Birria tacos around this side of Cabo San Lucas! No flight required! The fish taco was excellent as well but I forgot to take a picture of it. I put it in the air fryer next day, and it was amazing! Go get some!

    carne asada fries

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    Business owner information

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    5 days ago

    Very disappointed! they should remark " only to go after 9:30pm we got there at 9:25pm and we were told "only to go orders"

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    2 months ago

    I solid choice for go to tacos. Friendly staff, fresh ingredients. Street tacos and the hard shell chicken tacos are tasty.

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    5 months ago

    So good! This place is always quick and taste is on point! I'll be back asap! Wish there was one closer

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    Tacos Madre Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Tacos Madre

    Do you offer delivery direct through your business or third party i.e Ubereats, doordash, grubhub? Thank you.

    Hello Michelle unfortunately not at this time, apologize for the inconvenience

    Do they have Taco Tuesday deals?

    Yes, we do have Taco Tuesday deals. !

    Do you have gluten friendly options?

    they do, plenty :) since they use corn tortillas and not flour.

    Do they have outdoor seating? Do they serve beer and wine?

    No they do not have outdoor seating. Beer and wine I'm not sure.

    Any vegan options?

    Hello We do have some vegetarian options that we can turn it vegan , we have this 4 options calabacitas,nopales ,poblano rajas and potato, using this options we can do completely vegan sopes,hand make tortillas taco,rolled crispy taquitos ,hard… 

    View All 6 Questions

    Playa Mesa - Plato del Patron. Roasted Jidori chicken, confit spare ribs, cesina, chile toreados, pico de gallo, ceboilltas, papas bravas & refried beans

    Playa Mesa

    4.4(3.5k reviews)
    2.7 mi
    •$$

    Late review but I felt like I should leave this here just in case people are wondering cause if…read morethey closed down cause of the food quality. -- Came back to Playa Mesa for my friend's birthday. The chips and salsa were really good. The aguachile had a nice spicy flavor that made it stand out. The queso fundido was SO good super cheesy, and paired with the handmade tortillas it was one of my favorites. We also ordered the calamari and I was surprised by how good it was. Everyone ordered different rounds of cocktails throughout the night and honestly, not one missed. Service was a little slow, but it was a busy Friday night, so that's somewhat expected. I've been here before and the grilled octopus tacos and carne asada burrito were just as good as I remembered them. They also made the birthday celebration really cute. They sang happy birthday, brought out a small ice cream, and gave my friend a big mariachi hat. Good food, great drinks, and still consistent as I remembered it. So long Playa Mesa. 9.5/10

    Playa Mesa has a great atmosphere with beautiful aesthetics. In the evening, the open windows…read morecreate a nice breeze, though they do let a few flies in. The hostess was friendly, and our server was funny and kind. He was a little less attentive as it got busier, but the staff worked well as a team, so we never had to wait for refills or anything we needed. Parking in the back can be a little tight. The birria tacos were packed with flavor, and I loved the inside-out cheese crust. My husband's fajitas were flavorful, although the chicken was a little overdone. The guacamole was excellent, especially with the pepita seeds adding great texture. Overall, we enjoyed the flavorful food, service, and atmosphere. We'd definitely come back!

    Photos
    Playa Mesa - East Side Sunset

    East Side Sunset

    Playa Mesa - The eastside cocktail - all the drinks here are delish!

    The eastside cocktail - all the drinks here are delish!

    Playa Mesa - Lovely interior...

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    Lovely interior...

    Mercado Gonzalez - Carne Asada Burrito and Tortilla Chips

    Mercado Gonzalez

    4.3(1.1k reviews)
    0.8 mi
    •$$

    If you haven't been here, you are missing out on life! Who would have thought going to a market…read morewould be an incredibly fun experience? Everything is clean, beautifully organized, colorful, and incredibly fun. It's almost like Disneyland of Mexican markets! We loved sampling the tacos and exploring all the different food stalls. We picked up a whole roasted chicken with warm tortillas, salsa, and beans, which made the perfect family meal. Easy, delicious, and no one had to cook. That alone deserves applause. The entire market feels like a fiesta. There is vibrant fresh produce, option of authentic food in different stalls, and churros served hot from the fryer. We also grabbed some carne asada to grill at home to keep the party going! And then there is pretty impressive collection of tequila for the tequila lovers! Mercado González is more than a market. It is a full experience for the whole family, and we will absolutely be back. Come hungry and give yourself plenty of time to explore. Salud!

    I'll be taking a very extended break from You Mercado after today, because today was my breaking…read morepoint. I've been shopping at this location for about a year and have been a customer of Northgate Markets for several years. Unfortunately, my experiences at this location have become increasingly disappointing. I've encountered raw chicken left on the shelf two or more days past its expiration date, fresh fruit and salsa still being sold after their use-by dates, and produce that was visibly rotten and infested with bugs. These aren't minor issues when it comes to a grocery store--they're basic food-safety and quality concerns. And then there's the customer service. Today, there wasn't a friendly employee in sight, and the customers weren't much better. I'd especially like to thank the grumpy woman on the scooter who apparently tried to run me down three separate times. I assume you were having a bad day, but judging by the atmosphere in this store, it seems like everyone is having a bad day, every day. No one smiles. No one acknowledges customers. No one seems remotely interested in providing even basic courtesy. I understand that people have bad days--I really do--but when the entire experience consistently feels cold, hostile, and unwelcoming, it becomes a pattern rather than an isolated bad day. The cashier couldn't be bothered to say hello back or even make the slightest attempt at being friendly, and the young man bagging my groceries was just as dismissive. I've spent years shopping with Northgate Markets, which makes this especially disappointing. Customers shouldn't walk into a store and feel like they're an inconvenience for simply being there. Today was the final straw for me. There are plenty of other places willing to take my money while treating me--and other customers--with basic courtesy and respect.

    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

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    Menu As of 6/8/25

    Caló Kitchen + Tequila

    Caló Kitchen + Tequila

    4.5(1.5k reviews)
    2.4 mi
    •$$$

    Came here with a friend before going to watch Beauty & The Beast The Musical. Came at 5:00pm and…read moregot seated immediately. Shoutout to Laura who was the sweetest, most attentive server! I waited for my friend to come and in the meantime, brought chips, salsa, and black beans to start. The chips were hot and fresh and the salsa was the perfect amount of spicy. Beans were warm and coated the chip well. I asked if they can make mocktails and she said anything on the menu! The Strawberry Jalapeno was delicious, but I do wish there was more spice from the jalapeno. My friend wanted a Coke and Laura said they had no more so she was so bummed. Later, Laura came running and grinning and found the LAST Coke bottle in the back and brought it out! Such a funny and cute moment! The Tres Enchiladas de Mariscos were SO yummy. Each one with a different taste, sauce, sea food. My favorites were the shrimp, lobster, crab in that order. The rice was perfectly hot and fluffy and complimented the dish. Then, my friend and I shared the flan, which is truly a sharing portion. It was so RICH and thick and was the best dessert to top off the evening. Thank you, Calo and your amazing staff!

    This restaurant is not only Beautiful but the food is Wonderful and the Service is Impeccable…read more The only negative is... Automatically adding pork to the refried beans! Pork is not considered clean in various dietary laws. With that said... I will be back

    Photos
    Caló Kitchen + Tequila
    Caló Kitchen + Tequila
    Caló Kitchen + Tequila

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    Descanso - Lobster Enchiladas

    Descanso

    4.1(1.8k reviews)
    0.3 mi
    •$$$

    The food was great and the restaurant itself was beautiful. I took my staff here for a nice team…read morelunch, and we were really looking forward to enjoying the experience. Unfortunately, it was extremely hot inside the restaurant. I understand it was a hot day outside, but we were literally sweating throughout our meal and were very uncomfortable. Considering the price of the meal for our group, I really wish the temperature inside had been more comfortable. If the AC isn't working properly or can't keep up with the heat, guests should at least be informed before being seated so they can decide if they're comfortable staying. Great food and a beautiful atmosphere, but the heat really took away from what should have been a nice lunch for our team.

    Had a great time celebrating my husbands birthday. We wanted to try something special and different…read morefor his birthsay and saw this in social Media. Made a reservation and so we disnt have to wait to be seated. We ordered different items ao we can try them. I also ordered a Zorro drink thats a blackberry mezcal. So yummy! He ordered the ceasar salad and carne asada with shrimps as his main and I ordered the fideo soup and the sea bass as my main. We were so surprised that they were both flavorful and cooked perfectly. They do like a benihana style performance while cooking your food. Our chef was very nice and friendly! Service was super great! They paid attention to our needs but not too over whelmingly! They gave my husband an ice cream dessert on some cinnamon sugared chips with a huge firework for a candle. So fun!! Will definetly bring friends and family back for a fun celebration.

    Photos
    Descanso - Dining Room

    Dining Room

    Descanso - Carne Asada Skillet

    Carne Asada Skillet

    Descanso - Short Rib Estofado

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    Short Rib Estofado

    Acapulco Restaurant & Cantina

    Acapulco Restaurant & Cantina

    4.4(2.2k reviews)
    2.0 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
    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 - Lobster  Tacos

    Palmilla Cocina y Tequila

    4.4(1.1k reviews)
    3.7 mi
    •$$$

    Dare I say I prefer this place over Javier's??…read more Okay okay I came here on a whim with a girlfriend and Palmilla fully exceeded our expectations. We did not have a reservation but we were able to sit at the bar, and eventually we moved to the center communal table. Honestly, I would prefer to sit there than at a private table! You are so in the mix of the whole restaurant, great place to be social. To drink I had a skinny margarita with raspberries added and my friend had the orangutan (espresso martini). My drink was SO good and SO cute. I am being serious when I say after I ordered it, the entire communal table got it too. I love that instead of chips and salsa they bring you fresh, hot tortillas with salsas and HONEY BUTTER?? to dip them in. This was so yummy and definitely unique to Palmilla. We ordered the guacamole, combo plate with a cheese enchiladas and crispy beef taco, and the filet mignon tacos. The only thing I might skip is the guac but thats just knit picking because everything else was so good. The ambiance of this place is beautiful. Think boujee beach bar in Tulum with a natural pallet and foliage. Every member of staff we met was also a 10/10! I'll be back!

    10/10 Most…read moreimportantly: Oliver @ the bar made this is most memorable experience. All of the cocktails and margs we had were delicious! The hand made tortillas with salsas was such a great and unique choice! Someone finally realized that as delicious as they are, eating that many fried tortillas in one setting can't be good ...Oh! And that honey butter. Divine. Fruit margs, spicy margs, every single one of them is PERFECTION. Make sure you upgrade to Ocho blanco (trust me it will save you a hangover)... Shared the carne plate with chimichurri with asparagus and spanish rice...so flavorful and delicious. Large portion and perfectly cooked. Seabass ceviche was spot on and the plantains were next level. Music, ambience, people and vibes were just POSITIVE. New favorite Newport spot...I mean seriously, what other place has a motorized ceiling that opens at sunset hour? Take my money.

    Photos
    Palmilla Cocina y Tequila - Bar and dining room

    Bar and dining room

    Palmilla Cocina y Tequila - Ceviche Tres Maneras

    Ceviche Tres Maneras

    Palmilla Cocina y Tequila - Inside decor

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    Inside decor

    Tacos Madre - mexican - Updated October 2026

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