By chance we found Cali Costa as we meant to go to Laguna Beach. The crowded private parking area for a late weekend was a good sign that we'd enjoy our meal. There's a large dark bar as you enter but don't let all the TV's showing many different sporting events mislead you about the food. We got great service and food for fair prices. We sat on the patio in comfortable wicker chairs. Our server Natalie was helpful and patiently answered our first timer questions. We each ordered two taco and shared. Their complimentary chips are thin and crunchy. Some are sprinkled with spices, nice little kick. Our tacos were beautifully plated. Rice and beans are extra (you can get in a combo) but pico de gallo was on a bed of fresh cabbage with freshly cracked pepper, subtle but delicious seasoning. All of the tacos - shrimp, carnitas and birria short rib, were delicious, the first two were topped with a generous amount of tasty guacamole. My friend and I didn't like the mostly oil birria taco sauce though. They have the range of Mexican food here including all day breakfast burritos. The only negatives were the dirty menus (smeared dried pinto beans) and the women's bathroom was out of seat liners. But I would definitely come back if I'm in the area, hopefully to take advantage of Happy Hour of nearly every day specials. read more

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Tried this spot today for the first time and I very was disappointed with the quality of the food. The short rib enchiladas were decent, not good but not bad either. However, the Spanish rice and the refried beans were really disappointing for a Mexican restaurant with these prices. What I was served is something I would expect from a really cheap Mexican restaurant in an area where people aren't familiar with Mexican food. The beans were so watery it was like a soup with a few beans mixed inside and the Spanish rice was completely bland. I had stomach pain after the meal and subsequently had to run to the bathroom. You can definitely find much better Mexican food in the area for the same price that's much better quality as well. Only had one customer in the store at 2pm on a Saturday so that seems indicative of how popular this spot is. If they improved the quality of their food and used better ingredients this would be a much better place. For what you get right now, it is not worth the price you're paying. read more

Cali Costa - Short Rib Enchiladas - Mexican Near Me - Dana Point, California

Good Mexican place. Live music often, good place to watch a game. Nice staff. Been here 3 times. If you order right you'll be happy. For two recommend the big Cadillac Margarita, two birria tacos and enchilada sampler and share. You won't be disappointed. read more

Cali Costa - Enchilada sampler split. - Mexican Near Me - Dana Point, California

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My favorite lunch or dinner stop when I'm heading home to San Diego County from Laguna Beach. I really enjoy the California fusion style tacos. This time I ordered 3 - Crispy Taco with Carnitas, Cali Shrimp (soft) Taco, and Maui Chicken (soft) Taco. All three were really tasty and hit the spot. The free chips and salsa (just enough heat) are also always good. A couple of on-tap Pacifico beers to wash everything down, and I was a happy camper! read more

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Cute little Mexican place with nice seafood options. I got the enchiladas Mariscos which has one green enchilada with shrimp that was quite tasty. The other enchilada was chipotle crab. This one was super hot, also appeared to be imitation crab so want to throw that out there. I enjoyed my food though and waiters were very attentive. My mom had the fish tacos and she also enjoyed them. I would recommend it for a nice easy sit down place for someone looking to eat some seafood. read more

Cali Costa - Mariscos Enchiladas - Mexican Near Me - Dana Point, California

It is interesting that some of the restaurants along the coast, in some of the towns, are not dog friendly, even when you see people with dogs everywhere! Luckily Cali Costa is a dog friendly place with an awesome outdoor patio! All the workers are really friendly and welcoming! Not too busy on a Monday evening which was nice for us. We had just missed happy hour. Ordered a house margarita and a skinny margarita. Both very good! The server in training suggested chips and guac, and why not? Really nice presentation and a really good serving of avocado and spices! I ordered the short rib enchiladas and Daveed had the combo taco and cheese enchilada. The short rib was good, and the sauce had a fair amount of heat. I wasn't too keen on the rice, and the pintos were good. Daveed thought he was getting a hard shell taco, but he said it was good. He would've preferred the pintos instead of the black beans. I would've wanted the black beans instead of the pintos, so maybe offer a choice? The presentations of both were really good. Since we're from San Diego, we do tend to judge Mexican food a little hard. We thought the food was pretty safe, meaning anyone who does not like spicy, or is apprehensive about Mexican food, is safe to eat here. There's something for everyone. Again, the service was friendly and upbeat, and they were attentive without being intrusive which we like. Oh, and Cako liked being there because she only lays down when she does! Cako Approves! read more

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Their menu has a lot to offer. The Chile Rellano has bacon in it, which gives it a good flavor. Free chips n salsa as well as great service.

The food here is amazing. Large portions and filled. I got the carnita nachos. My husband got the surf and turf burrito. Michelada's made to perfection. Service was attractive and kind. Definitely will go back when in town! read more

Cali Costa - Michelada - Mexican Near Me - Dana Point, California

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I always seem to get in here. Prices are low enough (for Dana Point) and last time I was here they had a local guitarist playing music and it was awesome. read more

We went for lunch on a Sunday. The waitress was friendly and efficient. I had a burrito which was great. The chips and guacamole were top notch. The Mexican street corn was tasty. They had live entertainment which I loved. Played all the great stuff from the 70's. Cute place with plenty of outdoor seating. read more

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Went here for Taco Tuesday. The food was excellent, good prices, great service and nice atmosphere. Will definitely be a repeat customer.

The service was terrible. The bartenders never welcomed or acknowledged me, I had to ask for a menu. They seemed inconvenienced when I asked for a margarita on cinco de mayo. And they never asked if I wanted to order food, it's like they didn't want the business. read more

Went to try it out for the first time on Taco Tuesday. Really great tacos especially the birria & nachos. Margarita is good too. Server was knowledgeable, nice & accommodating. read more

Great place! Tons of TV's to watch sports. They have an amazing 1/2 off bunch special on Saturday and Sunday between 9am and 11am. My server Sarah with an "H" was great! Definitely a place I will return to! read more

Cali Costa - Asada and Eggs - Mexican Near Me - Dana Point, California

Second time enjoying a post surf meal at Cali Costa. I was delighted to see that we got the same server that helped last time (the one working her butt off, not the one that ignored us and spent more time talking to other diners). Natalie deserves a shoutout for great service, friendliness, and attentiveness. Food was good again.. tried two new items: the guacamole dip and Cali burrito. Guac was delicious. Presentation of the Cali burrito was as boring as it tasted. The meat was a little cold and bland. We also had the avocado shrimp rolls which I had last time and they were as scrumptious as ever. We also got a wagyu burger for my friends dog. It's cute that you can order entrees for your doggie if you have one. read more

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This was the old Taco Surf. We took a chance and were pleasantly surprised. We got the combo - coastal taco and Dana taco. All of the food was delicious and the service was friendly and quick. Love the ambiance. We will be back! read more

Decent restaurant. Slow service 2 times visiting. Visual setting was favorable. nice asteroids and ambiance. good option socal entertainment on screens (should you be in mood to watch tv while not home). Salsa placed in chip basket causes soggy chips. Too much chipotle on menu. It was a hit flavor five to ten years ago. pretty outdated flavor profile. No street tacos unless lunch time. Pretty safe staple for mexican food fans. simple low food cost high menu price item. missed revenue stream for management. patio seats very uncomfortable. overall food is just decent. Not bad but not "crave I'll be back" good. couple that with slow service. makes for very average mexican restaurant. In a market with many exceptional options, I won't return after second attempt. read more

Shout out to the girl helping me when I had my hot date a few days ago. Granted I feel like the margarita needs to be a bit stronger but overall the tacos were legit. read more

Great spot. Before going I didn't know it was a sports bar. Went during NFL play-off game, Plenty of seats and tv"s not a spot inside that does not have a great view of tv. Many food options and drinks. They appear to offer specials different days of the week. Must try spot if in the area. read more

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Food was excellent Service was very attentive Ambiance is perfect for the old Hobe Surf shop. Brings back a lot of memories. read more

First time coming here and while in I impressed the bar is so cool. I got the server salad 10 out of 10.

Food was good Service was great! The cook even came out to our table to check to see if our food was to our liking. Ambience is very casual. Will definitely go back. read more

The service was excellent. There was live music, and there were different bands. They all sang great. The Bloody Marys were delicious. I would go again. read more

Cali Costa is a vibey beach hut of a local bar on the PCH strip in Dana Point. The decor is chill beach town with a good number of TVs. There is an optional sit down bar area or seated table service area as well as an outdoor, pet friendly patio. They do weekly food and drink specials, including taco Tuesdays, a specialty burger day, and a puppy friendly day. The food has a Mexican focus, but includes some American standards like hamburgers. Drinks are ample both in the boozy and non-boozy categories. Service is pleasant enough, but you're definitely nowhere near white glove here! And this place is definitely fun on game day as there are TVs on the patio and bar area with the ability to seat larger parties. Overall, I enjoy this place for a chill brunch or chill. hang-out read more

GET THE TIJUANA DOG. they brought it back and the corn is a must. margs obvi. happy hour from 3-6. also get the grilled chile relleno. read more

Cali Costa - Tijuana Street Dog, Elote Corn, Margarita - Mexican Near Me - Dana Point, California

The vibe of the restaurant is awesome! They had good music playing, TVs, and board games you can play. The California burrito and chicken flautas were so good. It took a while to get our drinks and food however the margaritas were delicious. read more

Cali Costa - Chicken Flautas - Mexican Near Me - Dana Point, California

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So I pass this place all the time and decided to check this place out for Happy Hour with my friend. It's a Friday and was expecting to be packed and to my surprise there was only a patrons outside patio area. I had the chili Relleno HH special $6 it's a la cart but it was delicious and good portion, HH beer $5.50. Ou waitress was great and all and all a pleasant experience. read more

Cali Costa - Mexican Near Me - Dana Point, California

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I am not gonna lie. I was very skeptical at first but then I had the soup. One of the best chicken soups I have had at a restaurant. Tons of flavor. Then I came back for the Chile relleno and taco. Different than other spots but familiar to make you want 10 more. I had enchiladas and the chicken and waffles. Have yet to have something I did not like. Highly recommend Cali costa read more

Great food and great service for Super Bowl Sunday. As soon as a table got up, it was quickly cleaned and sat. We left before game started, but you guys were on it today. Food was delicious as always. Best chefs in OC. read more

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Cal! Costa provides fairly tasty food. We just had some delivered, however, and I was shocked at the portion size. The tacos (2) were $15 dollars, which is not great. But see the photo below for beans, rice, and guac. Knife and fork for size comparison. Each of those cost $5 each! For those tiny portions! Please do better Cali Costa! read more

Cali Costa - Beans, rice, quac - Mexican Near Me - Dana Point, California

Food was incredible. Great dishes and quality was superb. Great take on some classic dishes. Staff was super friendly. Definitely a family friendly place. Thanks for a great experience! read more

Nino was a great server. He was very attentive and checked on us plenty of times through our meal. The food was tasty as always. They had all the games playing on their many tv's. Great spot to enjoy sports, taco tuesday, or brunch! read more

Cali Costa - Mexican Near Me - Dana Point, California

For a place that is a "Mexican" Cuisine , this was honestly one of the most disappointing meals I've had in a while. The food was completely bland--no seasoning, no flavor at all. If you're hoping to have some authentic Mexican food this is not the spot! The food looks great but the taste is something else... read more

I've driven by Cali Costa a few times and always wanted to try. The place looks cozy and cute from the outside, but looks can be deceiving. Inside of Cali Costa looks like a dive bar. It's kind dark and dinky. I ordered a short rib breakfast burrito, and the total was $19+. The burrito itself was unimpressive. I'm not sure about returning. read more

Cali Costa - Breakfast burrito - Mexican Near Me - Dana Point, California

Probably the blandest food I've ever had. I never leave reviews but this was really bad. Not a single pinch of salt on anything. Chips were bland, salsa and the $12 guacamole.. $12 for a tiny bowl of bland guacamole is an absolute scam. This used to be such an amazing Mexican spot called Taco Surf. I had 2 tacos and they were also incredibly bland. Like the day I came they ran out of salt. Unfortunately this might be some of the most flavorless Mexican food I've ever had. People leaving 4 - 5 star reviews don't have taste buds, or they were so drunk the food got better. read more

It's a really cute spot with great staff, food, & cocktails. The ambiance is cozy and inviting. Definitely a spot to check out!

The food was cold and not tasty. I had a cheese enchilada, rice and beans. The server was very nice. There were three other people in the party and nobody cared for the food. Sorry to say. read more

Our new favorite taco Tuesday location in Dana Point. With so many restaurants in Dana Point, we had not been back to Cali Costa in a couple of years. We went for taco Tuesday this week and were very happy with the experience. The service was great. We sat outside under heaters. The wine pour was generous. The tacos on special, were street tacos and served authentically. The birria taquitos were amazing. Overall, a great choice! read more

We were in town yesterday and stopped by Cali Costa to eat brunch. Not too crowded but definitely started to fill up as we were leaving. I ordered a steak taco and Mexican corn - I didn't care for either dish unfortunately. My husband got the short rib enchiladas and he liked his dish. My daughter got the green chili chicken enchiladas, a bit on the dry side was her only complaint but flavor was good. Ambiance is typical beach town bar vibe. Only giving four starts since I didn't like my meal and also they were out of a few different soda options. Service was ok, seat yourself and then was waited on promptly. read more

First time there and we'll definitely be back! Service was great, atmosphere was beachy and fun. I got the taco and soup lunch special....yes, taco and soup! The soup was a nice big bowl with lots of beef ribs meat, noodles and birria broth. It was delicious! Hubby got the street tacos which were good too. The bloody mary was spicy and very yummy! I highly recommend giving them a try if you're in the area!!! read more