Always a great time at Calo. The GM is pretty awesome, friendly and checks in on the patrons. Service is outstanding if you get Jess, Tee, Sammy, Keegan or Christian. Great tequila selection, legit fresh cocktails with fresh ingredients always. read more

Caló Kitchen + Tequila - Quick view of partial bar before the rush. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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We had a Juan-in-a MILLION experience with Juan as our server who made our triple celebration wonderful! The food was great but service was even better! Love this place! And thanks for accommodating our larger party with roomier seating!! Mil Gracias!! read more

Great food, great service, wonderful staff. Everyone was kind and helpful. We enjoyed the ambiance and definitely will be coming back and brining friends. read more

Great food, service and the ambience was nice. We celebrated my bonus Son''s birthday and we all had a great time, we'll definitely go back again. read more

An overall 10 from the staff to the food, me and my group had a great experience. I came to Calo Kitchen for a birthday dinner, it was my first time coming here and it was a great pick, we were in a small selection that was great to decorate for the birthday person, which was beautiful. The ambience of the dim lights really made it nice. I ordered the spicy margarita (10/10) . It was great and for food I ordered the shrimp and lobster enchiladas (10/10) the flavor was just try and when I do go back I would order this entree again. The prices were decent for a nice upscale restaurant; worth it. read more

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Service was beyond attentive, thoughtful, kind, and helpful right from the beginning! The option had many delicious sounding options. The chips and salsa were so yummy, they were wiped clean from the bowl by us. I ended up getting the pork and pineapple tacos, and the staff accommodated my request to have them in lettuce cups instead of tortillas-- delicious!! The setting was nice, as well. I would definitely go again. read more

Caló Kitchen + Tequila - Pork and Pineapple Tacos - served in lettuce instead of tortillas - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Natalie and Steven are AMAZING! The food was delicious thanks to Gollo and the drinks were always full. I have "food allergies" and they were so attentive and helpful. Can't wait to see them again and love the ambiance. You guys are the best! read more

Excellent food, drinks and service. Nice vibe and ambience. A great place to celebrate a birthday.

Calo in Costa Mesa? Chef's kiss. The food slapped--in a good way. We're still thinking about that short rib enchilada and the carnitas tacos. And they don't just hit you with basic chips and salsa... no, no. They roll out a smoky bean dip that tasted like it was crafted by salsa wizards. Cocktails? Delicious, but let's be real--they're more "Instagram cute" than "strong and dangerous." Still, we sipped every drop like the classy people we pretend to be. Ambiance was vibey and perfect for our double date. Service? Immaculate. Our server refilled our chips, water, and love for humanity all night long. Parking, though... that's where the adventure begins. Park in the wrong lot and suddenly you're starring in your own episode of Survivor: Shopping Mall Edition. But once you make it, it's worth every step. 4.5 stars read more

Caló Kitchen + Tequila - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Sat at the bar with two of my friends and got great service. Food came out quickly. Easy, more upscale Mexican restaurant at south coast plaza. I ordered the Rib Eye Tacos and it came with four small tortillas to build your own tacos. Fun experience. I'd go back. read more

Caló Kitchen + Tequila - Ribeye Tacos - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

First time visitor Located in south coast plaza right across Boudin Plenty of free open parking Reservations on yelp available or walk in Dress up or dress down, very open to all appearances :) Definitely a pretty ascetically restaurant, various rooms and decor, geometric light fixtures, indoor fire pit, ambiance, large focal bar, and their cushion booths! No happy hour specials but quality of food really shows in plating and taste. Funny enough their chips salsa and bean dip very fresh addicting and tasty, and complimentary is always great! Jordan our server was friendly approachable checked up on us a few times and service overall was on point with water constantly refilled prior to being half empty and inquiring of everything is going well Ordered the blackberry margarita - pretty drink but don't it fool you, alcohol is certainly there! The michelada was playful with all the right components, both easily shareable! Shortrib enchilada was hearty with tender meat, I just thought it could use more sauce, but I think I enjoyed the black beans and rice accompanying it more The pork and pineapple tacos, set of 3 with red rice and beans, and though some of the cube pineapple was tough it had a nice balance of sweet and tart to go with the flavors of the pork. Good ratio of filling to tortilla. Very much would return to try other things. Definetly on the higher pricing but as stated seems very shareable and fun place to gather for work friends family solo and date night, can get loud so be prepare to semi shout :) read more

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Beware if you are coming with a large party that your expectations may not be met. We were told and confirmed we'd be given a large table that was connected so we could all sit together prior to the event. When the day comes they gave our table to another group that booked the event AFTER us and split our group into two separate tables. Wouldn't recommend for large parties. Shrimp & Crab Enchiladas- 5/5: This dish was so good. The sauce on top was delicious. I'm not a fan of beans, but this one was actually good. The size of the enchiladas was a decent amount with the fillings. Rib Eye Taco- 4/5: Could use some sauce on the side to pair with the meat and cheese. It was pretty good. La Sandia- 5/5: This drink was so good. Definitely recommend. Grilled Pineapple and Chile Margarita- 3/5: Tastes exactly like the name implies. Nothing special. read more

Caló Kitchen + Tequila - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Absolutely amazing food and vibes every time. We love this place. Beats anything in the area by a mile. read more

We've been here to this restaurant a while back and it was amazing this time. I was so disappointed the food had so much spice in it. You couldn't even eat. The waiter told me the manager was going to come and they never did. He just brought us the check at end of story. I was very disappointed. I would never go back. For the price you pay the service and quality of food should be on $.50 plates should taste good but it didn't very disappointed. read more

Beautiful restaurant, fantastic service. A bit pricey for Mexican food BUT everything was delicious. I will be back to try their happy hour or special occasion if I want to splurge. read more

First time here and I will 100% come back!!! The ambiance was so cute - it was dark they had fire lighting!! Very nice. The service was great - our waiter checked on us so many times!! It wasn't over whelming it made me feel like VIP! The food was TO DIE FOR!!! everything was so delicious! Very well seasoned-- even down to something basic as a salad. The chefs know what they're doing!! :-) definitely coming back and bringing friends read more

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The place was really nice but I would've liked to be seated on a place that I could see more. The drinks were good and strong and I liked that they would bring chips and beans. The servers where nice and attentive to what we asked and made sure you weren't allergic to anything or had dietary restrictions. read more

Caló Kitchen + Tequila - Pork and Pineapple Tacos - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Love this place great food , great drinks and the service was great this is one of my favorite restaurants! read more

Caló Kitchen + Tequila - Me and my Cousin after dinner at Calós - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Austin our server was fantastic! 5 for service! Ambience is cool. Indoor and outdoor seating. Parking lot is decent size and alternate parking when crowded. Chips salsa and bean dip is delish. Watermelon salad with HUGE shrimp added was delish. Beef tacos served fajita style was good too. Cool spot. Food was barely a 4 for me though. Nothing extra special but good flavor. read more

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Great spot to celebrate an anniversary. My honeybun made reservations. We came on a Wednesday. It was busy. I love the vibe and decor. The background music was great as well. The food.... fabuloso! I like that our waiter was very knowlegeable about vegan options, attentive and polite. Love this location. read more

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Great food, great service, love the ambiance! We were going to be seated by kitchen. I asked to be moved, they accommodated us quickly.

Came here for a late V-day dinner. I want to highlight that they asked about any allergies before I even ordered. I have a mild shellfish allergy, but they took it very seriously and made sure there was no cross contamination while cooking, which I let them know what more than enough as I have to actually eat the shellfish for a reaction. Also, when they brought the food out, they again mentioned that the allergy was kept in mind. The food is always good, I am lucky that they had a fish ceviche as it's one of my favorite foods. The mango pieces give it a sweetness and they are generous with the avocado pieces in there as well. I also ordered the vegetarian enchiladas to give them a taste, and they were good for sure, but I think the star of the show was the short rib enchiladas, the crispy onions on top just make it so much nicer. I always ask for outside seating as they have fires on, and it feels like a better vibe compared to spindle. I also think it is quieter outside which is more my vibe. read more

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March 2025 Food ~ Delicious! The chips, salsa & bean dip is so good. Service ~ Awesome.. our server was happy, friendly & knowledgeable. Ambiance ~ We had a booth across from the bar so that was fun to be in the bar but the comfort of a booth, it was also in an enclave so we could have good conversation and not to much noise. read more

Caló Kitchen + Tequila - Potato Taquitos.. very good :) - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Natalie was an amazing waiter, the food was amazing. I loved the vibe here, she would be amazing as a bartender. 10/10 come again

We came here to celebrate birthdays, and they truly went above and beyond to make the night special. The food was phenomenal -- I had the short rib enchiladas and they were absolutely incredible. We finished with the churro dessert, which was the perfect way to end the meal. The service was just as impressive as the food. Jennifer was our waitress and took amazing care of us all night. Juan Pablo, the manager, also made a point to make sure everything was perfect and that our birthday celebration felt special. Great atmosphere, incredible food, and even better service. Definitely a 5-star experience and we'll absolutely be back! read more

The vibe was great, the interior decoration was modern and felt open and inviting. It's inside/outside South Coast plaza so you know it's going to be good. I had a cocktail to drink and an app. Service was friendly. Would def go back read more

Some of the reviews from so-called "Elite" Yelpers are honestly hard to take seriously. This place is miles better than Javier's, no comparison. And for those who don't know, Carmelita's is actually owned by the same family. That said, the menus and vibes are completely different. I've been here three times now and tried something new each visit. The halibut tacos? Incredible. The Taquitos en Tres Salsas appetizer? Also amazing. Margaritas? Spot on. And the service? Consistent. Yes, this location happens to be in a mall, just like their other spots in Laguna Niguel and El Segundo, but don't let that fool you. The food, drinks, and experience speak for themselves. read more

Caló Kitchen + Tequila - Halibut Tacos - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Outstanding food! We had the short rib enchiladas and the rib eye tacos with bean and rice. The salsa, guacamole and bean dip is also delicious. It's a classy restaurant with wonderful service and great food. Check out locations in Laguna Nigel and Costa Mesa. Oh, and the Cadillac margaritas are delicious! read more

Ambience was ok but I thought the food was sub par. In my opinion it was like going to el Torito but everything was just double the price. Also if you are going to charge prices like you are a classy establishment then the wait staff should act accordingly. My daughter was eating her taco that we had cut up for her next to her grandma. The waiter comes over and knocks over the bottle of seltzer water onto my daughter's plate soaking her food. Now the amount of food and drink that got ruined by this waiter wasn't that much but the way they handled i thought i was at a mom and pop Mexican joint. I don't recall him ever apologizing and all he did was give my daughter a dry plate. I'm sure those of you who have been to restaurants that have $$$, you would expect a different response. I doubt i would come back here or recommend this place to anyone I know. read more

I made dinner reservations for my birthday. We started with drinks and appetizers. We had many servers stop by and check on us. The service was great! The staff were so friendly and welcoming. Kristopher with a K brought out my birthday ice cream read more

Caló Kitchen + Tequila - Mexico City Cosmo - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Food: not bad at all, and good for mall vibes, for sure. It's cute and reminds me of Javier's or Carmelita's. The table salsa, beans and chips are a nice touch that I always appreciate. I came with my family and everyone liked their meals and had 0 complaint. The food was just not... "wow" for me, especially being in SoCal, and definitely in OC. The customer service and ambiance are all great. Probably won't be back?? because South Coast has soooooo many good food places. Pro tip: Calo has its own entrance, so parking is somewhat easier than if it was deep inside the mall. Pro tip: the Serrano peppers are SERIOUSLY spicy, and I LOVE spice. Like, LOVE. read more

Caló Kitchen + Tequila - Chips & Salsa Bean - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

First time coming to this restaurant and it was a great experience. We didn't try any of their appetizers this time, but we hope to try them during our next visit. They provide you chips and salsa to start off with a side of refried beans, all delicious. We ordered a spicy margarita and a blueberry margarita both well-made. As for our food choices, we went with recommendations provided by our great waiter. Both the shrimp and meat were delicious! The restaurant itself is beautiful inside, lots of tables and not too loud where you can't speak to one another. Definitely look forward to coming here again and trying more of their wonderful food . read more

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Came with a group of friends last night and had a really great time. Caló is located in South Coast Plaza, but has an entrance outside of the mall so you can park right in front (drive past claim jumpers and it'll be on your right hand side). They also get very busy so make sure to get a reservation or use the wait list feature, especially if you've got a larger group. The restaurant is gorgeous, I loved the vibe and appreciated the indoor and outdoor seating options. I've been to their other location in Laguna Nigel and this one is much bigger and has a better look and feel IMO. Service is great here too, from the hosts to our wait staff, everyone is was kind and accommodating. I especially appreciated how conscious they were about allergies and making sure people were ok with everything we ordered. On the food front - everything was very good. The chips and salsa are excellent, the guacamole was delicious, and the chicken tacos I ordered were solid. The beans they served are also very good, I think the vegetarian pinto beans are a bit better than the black beans, but I enjoy them both. I also ordered a margarita and that was solid. Everything is a bit pricey, but overall worth it. This is a great restaurant for date night or a special occasion with friends, you're definitely coming for the vibes, and staying for the food and drinks. I look forward to coming back soon! read more

Food was very tasty!! Salsa very fresh. Presentation was beautiful! We ordered the short rib, enchiladas, chili rellano, crispy beef taco, tamale, ceviche, and guacamole. It was all excellent. Service was very attentive and they brought the child's food right away with the appetizers! read more

A great place to have Mexican food! Especially the tacos! They also make the best margaritas! You definitely won't be disappointed.

My third time here and it was even better. The margaritas are yummy. The shredded beef hard shell taco was so good! read more

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This restaurant is located at one of the entrance to southcoast. Parking is in front and valet parking is available as well. Went here on a date so my date already made reservations ahead of time. However when we arrived, I didn't see anyone waiting so I don't think the wait would be very long even without a reservation. I really like the vibe of the restaurant. We went for dinner and was seated in a booth. Lots of room to move around. It didn't feel cramped at all even though there were several large parties around. Our waiter was very nice and knowledgeable not only about the menu but also drinks as well. I don't really drink alcoholic drinks but my date and the waiter had an extensive conversation about which drinks to pair with what dish, which I find interesting. I had the salmon and it was very filling! No complaints about the food at all. I would love to come back here for brunch to see how the restaurant is during the day! I enjoyed my experience here. read more

Caló Kitchen + Tequila - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Best experience I've had. The waiter is super friendly and welcoming and the food is delicious. Would come again!! read more

Caló Kitchen + Tequila - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

My friend and I had an incredible experience. We only came here because the place is extremely well decorated and we wanted desert in s beautiful place. The customer service is one of the best customer service I have experienced. Everyone was so outstanding and proactive at providing excellence. It was us 2 and since we were just doing dessert they asked if it was okay to seat us at the bar. We didn't have a problem at all. The manager actually cleaned the spots for us (2 guest were leaving as we approached the host area). Immediately we were served complimentary chips/salsa/beans and water. The salsa was so fresh and delicious. Jessica was helping us at first, then Damian (I hope I got his name right) took over. We actually got nachos snd the best tres leches cake I ever had. This place is a vibe and incredible. MUST EXPERIENCE!!!! read more

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I took my best friends here to celebrate a birthday, they both drove down from Fullerton on a very rainy night. We were given the best booth in the restaurant (my opinion), and Myra, the on duty Manager was wonderful! She was so kind, and accommodating from tying up my balloons, arranging the flowers on the table, and she introduced me to our server, Hillary. When my friends arrived, a few minutes late due to traffic with the rain, she escorted them to the table, wished my friend a Happy Birthday, and told them to enjoy their dinners. My BD friend is a real Mexican food connoisseur, and she was so impressed with the first rate decor, Hillary, our server, and the dish, Chicken Tostada, which she said has become hard to find on menus anymore. I had the Crab & Lobster enchiladas, which were excellent, and my other friend had the Skirt Steak Picado, which he almost licked his plate he said it was so good. I made a reservation to bring some 8 friends here for the 2nd year in a row for Valentine's Day. This is one of the best Mexican restaurants I've ever gone to, and I'm not a real fan of Mexico food, so it has to be exceptional! But, it's not just the food here, it's the beautiful decor with the fire pits lit, and most important the service and accommodating manager Myra, was outstanding!!!! Thank you for making me look good for my choice tonight. read more

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