All three. Sophia was awesome. Loved our booth and of course the salad was Dee LISH! Not to mention the Cadillac Margaritas were also great! read more

Food was excellent. They were very accommodating to our family - we are sadly lactose intolerant. The ahi ceviche was fantastic, the beef taco was perfectly crispy yet moist, the short rib enchilada was delicious, and the chicken fajita plate was filling with the chicken as the star. It was very juicy and the veggies were cooked to perfection on the grill. Shoutout to our host, Kia. He made this all possible. Would've taken more pics but we couldn't help ourselves to dig in. read more

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

Calo Kitchen + Tequila is one of my favorite spots. The margaritas here are seriously some of the best, always so good and perfectly balanced. It is the kind of place I crave when I want a good drink and a solid meal. The enchiladas are also a standout for me. They are always flavorful, well made, and super satisfying. Everything I have had here has been consistently good, which makes it an easy go to. Overall it is just a really reliable spot with great food and even better margaritas. Definitely one of my favorites. read more

I used to love the one in Laguna Niguel and then the service and quality of food started slipping. I thought I would give the one in Costa Mesa try. We sat at the bar and the bartenders were very busy so it was hard to get their attention. I started off with the pineapple margarita, which was amazing. I also love their chips and salsa. Then we had to flag somebody down to take our dinner order. I ordered the fajita salad with no sour cream and asked for dressing on the side. It came with no dressing at all, and no pico, no corn and no pepitas. I didn't say anything about half the ingredients missing from the salad. I did ask for the dressing though and then waited. I had to ask two different people for dressing before I got it. My friend ordered an enchilada which she said was cold and the cheese wasn't even melted on it. She asked for them to heat it up and then they sent a new one out and it was warm, but she said so salty she couldn't eat it. We waited a while for them to take our cards to pay. No one checked on us during the meal overall and underwhelming experience and meal. It's a pretty restaurant though. And it's huge. read more

Caló Kitchen + Tequila - Fajita salad. It's giving a chipotle bowl vibe. But way less ingredients and a $28 price tag. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Calo Kitchen in Orange County is worth the hype. At first, I didn't understand why people would wait two hours for a table, but after getting lucky with a last-minute opening, I get it. It was delicious. The fajitas were the standout. The steak was cooked perfectly, and everything on the plate, rice, beans, guacamole, onions, was excellent. We also shared the nachos, and they were far from basic. They really went all out. Drinks were great, service was friendly, and the space is modern and sleek. Everyone at the table loved their food. I'd definitely come back. read more

See all

Great spot for a business lunch at Calo Kitchen + Tequila. Adriana really made the experience--friendly, attentive, and gave great recommendations. I was looking for something lighter and went with the halibut tacos--fresh, clean, and not heavy at all. The watermelon lemonade was a standout (made with fresh watermelon, you can taste it), and I also had the unsweetened passionfruit tea which I liked. We started with the queso--super melty with that major cheese pull (very stringy in the best way). Quick heads up though: it does have pork. Same with the complimentary bean dip that comes with the chips and salsa. Adriana was great about flagging that for us and brought out a vegetarian version of the beans instead, which a lot of the group enjoyed. The space is beautiful and definitely gives "nice lunch meeting" energy. Easy parking at the mall too. Would come back. read more

Calo is conveniently located inside South Coast Plaza, so it's an easy stop if you're in the middle of a shopping day. The ambiance is really nice, plenty of comfy booth seating and a chic, polished vibe that makes it feel a little more elevated than your typical spot. The margaritas were solid and I liked that they can make any of them virgin. I tried the blackberry margarita without alcohol and it was super refreshing. Food wise, it was just okay, nothing bad, but nothing that really stood out either. Overall, it gave me strong Javier's vibes: stylish interior, decent Mexican food, and drinks that are definitely the highlight. That said, the pricing could definitely be better. It feels a little steep for what you get, this would be the perfect place for a reverse happy hour, especially on Sundays during that last hour before closing. It'd make it way more tempting to swing by at the end of a shopping trip. read more

Caló Kitchen + Tequila - Taquitos en Tres Salsas - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

See all

Service was incredible. Our server Ivan was kind and respectful. Everything he liked and suggested was delicious. I ordered the seafood enchilada trio and my favorite was the lobster. That creamy sauce was fire!!! My friend ordered the filet mignon meal it was sooo good fairly priced and lots of food!! We ordered 3 desserts: churro (my fav), the flan (so good, well made, firm and great texture), and the Deep fried ice cream (my friends fav). We had a great experience. It's a very vibey restaurant, beautiful for a date or a good time with friends read more

See all

Ladies night out and here we are!! We only got their appetizers and plenty of it! Guacamole- so good! Queso Fundido- so cheesy! I really enjoyed this Ahi Ceviche- very fresh. Good flavors Chicken Tostada- this thing is huge! But question... how do I eat this.. the flour shell break it into pieces and scoop the fillings I'm assuming. We tried sharing this and it was pretty hard but for your own it's delicious. Flavors were good tho Beef Queso Tacos- birria style tacos but make it mini!! Love it!! Dranks: La Sandia- super refreshing and delicious We got pretty full from all that. Flavors were actually pretty good for a Mexican restaurant at South Coast! Impresssed read more

See all

Amazing place with beautiful decor, great staff and excellent food/drink. The last 2 times I have visited Calo at SCP was just to sat at the bar and have drinks with their complimentary chips & salsa & beans. This time a few of us visited on a Saturday afternoon to have drinks and food. I was very impressed with the service and the quality of all the items we tried. Our server was excellent, made sure our order was perfect, kept bringing us napkins and cleaning the table and refilling our water. The gentleman who sat us was very nice and made sure to let the rest of our group know where to find us. The dining room is gorgeous! Spacious and full of plants and comfy furniture. The bar area is also gorgeous, with a huge oval bar, several booths and top shelf liquor/craft cocktails. We decided to share a couple of food items. The shrimp ceviche was delish, lots of shrimp and fresh avocado with the tangy lime juice. Eaten with the tortilla chips made it even better. The trio of enchiladas was on the pricey side ($45) but 3 of us shared it and it was a perfect amount of food. The lobster was cooked well, the crab was tender and the shrimp was so flavorful. The chips with beans and salsa - OMG to die for. You can ask for the non-pork version, which is un-mashed pinto beans. We tried the 3 leches cake for dessert. You get a very hearty version and there is a decadent whipped type topping on the top of the moist cake bread. We couldn't even finish it! Our cocktails were great too. I started with the cadillac marg, they really know how to make a perfect margarita! The pineapple chile is one of my favorites. Not too sweet, top tier ingredients. We got the hibiscus cocktail also, yummy! And lastly, the Honeybee, which was almost like a fresh juice with a little bit of sweetness. Such a great spot to come in for some drinks or have lunch/dinner. Highly recommend! read more

See all

This restaurant is on repeat for me! Not only is it stunningly beautiful but the service is great and the food is delicious! Tonight I tried the cilantro cucumber margarita, which was delicious. We also skipped appetizers and went straight to our meals. So we had the short rib enchiladas, the Halibut tacos and then as a table share, we did the shrimp and lobster enchiladas. I am a huge fan of the halibut tacos and after trying the shrimp and lobster enchiladas I would say those will be a repeat for me. Also they were so good! If you save any room for dessert, the churros are delicious! read more

See all

Wish I had more pictures of them pretty foooooood. But alas. I'm not perfect. It's too many months ago and probably on my old iCloud. Anyways, the staff here is what makes it. I almost always get servers and bartenders that are super sweet accommodating and deliver on quality service. I'm Mexican AF, So I'm a just a bit brutal with judging and critiquing "Mexican" cuisine in USA. I'm just picky and know my shit. But the food here is good and I know it's a lot of people's favorite / go to spot. It's fine. It's solid. It gets the job done. I typically come for the drinks, the vibes, and the god damn black bean / salsa dip combo. Don't @ me. I know how to box. I'm from TJ. I'm from the streets. I have a hefty body count. And I ain't talkin intercourse. Salud, dinero y amor read more

See all

This place was sooo good and cute!! We came here for a friends bday and it was perfect (there were 7 of us). Some of us got there a bit early so we had a drink at the bar which was such a vibe. I had the calo margarita and it was so good next time I wanna try the fun ones - they had so many flavors but I decided to stick to the house. To start the chips and salsa came with the table and it was soo good. The salsa was great but I particularly loved the bean dip. It was unique and added to the salsa. For food the menu had a large variety. It was so hard to choose because so much sounded good but I went with the chicken enchilada and beef crispy taco which is usually my go to at a Mexican restaurant. Other people got the quesadilla, burrito, and beef enchiladas and everyone loved their food so it seems like you can't go wrong. Our server was also great! read more

See all

We celebrated a friends birthday here on a Friday night! Book a reservation ahead of time and recommend for a large group or date night setting. The food and cocktails were amazing!! I ordered the Mexico City Cosmo and then the pork & pineapple tacos. We also had short rib enchiladas, ceviche, and shrimp taquitos. Our waitress Jennifer M was amazing!! She was so sweet and professional! read more

See all

Finally tried this spot in South Coast Plaza. It was very good. I had seafood enchiladas and they were amazing. Loved the sauce and filling. I got a Paloma one of my favorite drinks and it was delicious. Definitely a great spot if your shopping. Service was friendly and helpful when it came to making choices on the meny. Fun lively atmosphere but it was not overly loud at all. read more

Oh my goodness! This place is amazing The staff are great, friendly and attentive! I love coming here to eat authentic food and high end with best quality food! Love their black beans and carne asada is so tender, so yummy! I highly recommend this place if you're in south coast plaza mall try it! read more

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

See all

Came to this restaurant to celebrate my friend's birthday, and we had a group of about 15 people. It was really nice that they were able to accommodate us in a private area, which made the celebration feel more intimate and comfortable. Because we were a large party, we had a set 3-course menu that included three appetizers, one entrée per person, and three shared desserts. For the appetizers, the cheesy empanada was definitely a standout for me. The pastry was crisp and flaky on the outside, while the inside was warm, gooey, and packed with rich, savory cheese that felt indulgent without being overwhelming. The birria crunchy tacos were also very enjoyable -- the shell had a great crunch, and the birria itself was flavorful, slightly smoky, and nicely seasoned, with that slow-cooked depth you expect from good birria. The ceviche, on the other hand, was just okay for me. It leaned heavily on the citrus, which made it refreshing but also a bit one-note compared to the other starters. For my entrée, I ordered the ribeye tacos. By the time they arrived, I was already pretty full (which is probably a good sign for the portion sizes). The ribeye itself was tender and flavorful, and it sat on a cheesy base that added extra richness to each bite. My only small wish here was that the tacos came with a salsa or sauce on the side -- we ended up using the salsa that came with the tortilla chips served earlier, which worked, but a fresh pairing would've really elevated the dish. Dessert was a trio of churros, flan, and tres leches cake. All three were good and satisfying, though they definitely leaned on the sweeter side. The churros were warm and crisp, the flan was silky, and the tres leches was moist and rich -- just a bit heavy after such a filling meal. As for drinks, service was a little slow, likely because of the size of our group, but once they arrived, they were worth the wait. I ordered the spicy margarita, and it had a great balance of sweetness, acidity, and heat, with a nice kick that didn't overpower the drink. Overall, it was a solid experience with flavorful food, a fun atmosphere for groups, and just a few small things that could be improved. I'd definitely consider coming back, especially for celebrations or group dinners. read more

See all

I love Calo! Great restaurant at SCP and of course the inside is beautiful. Great for date night, friendly gatherings, and work events. Gets really busy during peak times so definitely make a reservation on the weekends. Staff are friendly but don't prioritize speed...everything is paced, not rushed. There are a few menu items that really changed my brain chemistry: Queso fondido is a MUST HAVE. One of the most delicious dishes I've tried at a Mexican restaurant. Also LOVE their short rib enchiladas with the short rib sauce *mouth watering as I'm typing my review. Question becomes whether it's better than its rival Javier's at the Spectrum. Close call - Javier's is slightly nicer/yummier IMO but it's on the same level and a great place to grab lunch during a shopping break. Will be back regularly! read more

Still enjoying lunch or dinner at Calo. The service was iffy a few times. When I spoke to the manager about it, he was so great, that I went back again and again. The service and food have been good. I plan to keep dining there and hopefully step out of my norm and order some of the delicious looking food I see servers walking by with. read more

See all

Super, amazing, phenomenal. Yeah, all of that. We reserved a private room for about 20 people for a vow renewal and everything was better than we could have imagined. Shout out to JP, the manager who hooked it all up. Servers were really exceptional and attentive and the food, just really wonderful. We had the taquitos, birria tacos and ceviche for appetizers and they were all unbelievably good. I personally had the chicken fajitas for my entree and I can vouch for that. For dessert we had the flan, the churros and the deep fried ice cream. All of them were ridiculously good and we can't wait to go again to eat some more. Even the chips and salsa with bean dip was amazing! read more

See all

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

See all

This restaurant is such a vibe. I especially love their huge bar. The food and service is equally great. You can come solo, with a friend or a group. Their drinks are always good. I would highly recommend coming here. read more

Had a reservation but it took 30 minutes past my reservation time to get seated, so we were off to a disappointing start. The starter chips they gave weren't great and seemed like they were the ones you could get at any grocery store. I got the caló combination with the beef enchilada and chicken taco. Beef enchilada was pretty good, the chicken taco wasn't memorable. The interior here is beautiful, but overall I wasn't impressed with the service or food read more

So happy to have finally stopped by to dine here with my family. The atmosphere is so gorgeous, classy, and sheek. The service was super friendly and attentive. The menu is on point, along with a great kids selection. The guacamole appetizer was excellent, nice, simple, and fresh. The carnitas were tender and so flavorful without extensive salt. The chile verde had a nice spicey kick to it! The kids carne taco was tender and easy to eat. It got two thumbs up from my kiddo. I loved the red rice, it was fluffy and tasted great. A must try for sure, we'd love to return! read more

See all

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

See all

Beautiful decor, great drinks and excellent wait staff. Prices were high for the food offered, but overall a good time.

I've been to this location several times and it never disappoints. I especially love this spot compared to the one in Laguna Niguel. The aesthetics and openness of the space make it much more enjoyable. The customer service is always great and the food is consistently good. My favorites are the potato taquitos and the halibut tacos. I also found out today that the halibut is wild-caught, not farm-raised, which was a nice surprise! read more

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

Beautiful, fun, and lively atmosphere! We chose to sit in their covered patio where it was brighter and quieter during our lunchtime visit. Service was excellent from the start; Yonathan represented the restaurant well: he was friendly, knowledgeable & helpful with the menu, professional, comfortably attentive -- and completely unrushed. I enjoyed their Complimentary (warm) chips with bean dip and salsa; it's easy to fill up on this tasty starter. In addition, I'd ordered their Potato Filled Taquitos ($17) and Spinach Enchiladas ($23); both were attractively presented and I very much enjoyed the flavors of both. Unlike the also-beautiful Laguna Niguel location, I appreciate this location in that one may stroll around the mall before and/or after one's meal to shop or get in some steps to increase one's appetite or walk off one's food & beverages. Positive experience. read more

See all

Five star experience from start to finish! The decor in Calo is like entering an exotic space. There are a ton of plants, unique light fixtures, textured walls and tropical wallpaper. Let's take a moment to appreciate the employees! Every employee acknowledged us when walking to the table and when walking out. There is a welcoming energy from everyone and they deliver fast results with a positive attitude. I came for a business lunch as a party of 9 at noon on a Wednesday and the service was timely. The restaurant wasn't too busy. Before our drink order, we were given 3 chip baskets with salsa and beans for each basket. They even replaced the bean dip when they saw it was low. Water cups never went dry as they refilled them constantly. I had the La Sandia watermelon margarita to start. It was tasty and easy to drink, however, there was a ton of little watermelon pulp bits that got stuck in my straw and made drinking a little frustrating. I ended up ditching the straw. I think, for this drink, they should just stick to watermelon juice with the slice as a garnish... or get wider straws. I tried the chicken taquitos (absolutely unreal with tender shredded chicken and 3 different sauces on top), the chilean seabass (thick piece of flaky and moist seabass on a bed of rice and pico de gallo. I subbed the asparagus for beans! I couldn't get enough of this dish), the churros (they're caramel-filled and come with vanilla ice cream and whipped cream! Not too sweet and coated in sugar. You can't go wrong.) flan (again, not too sweet and came with strawberry slices and whipped cream). Every single dish came out warm and was unbelievably delicious. I swear, my entire party of 9 kept gushing about how good their dish was. Not one complaint concerning the quality, ever. I wish I tried their shrimp since everyone kept going on about that in particular! Portions were large and I was able to take home half of my seabass entree. I will absolutely be back if I ever am in the area- I wish they had a happy hour here! read more

See all

I went to Calo on a Saturday afternoon for lunch to celebrate a graduation. Calo is located outside of South coast plaza. It is outside of the entrance to the carousel area. The restaurant interior looks very trendy. It's nice and clean. The bathrooms also look very clean. The service was okay as well. The server started us out with chips and salsa and a black bean dip. We got shrimp ceviche as an appetizer for the table which was $25. The shrimp ceviche does not come with additional chips or crackers so we just ate it with the table chips that came with the salsa. The server tried really hard to push us to get a second order because she said it was small. $25 for a small appetizer was a bit shocking. We stuck with one order and I'm glad we did due to the large serving sizes of the entrees. I ordered the quesadilla. It was $25. It came with red rice and beans. Everything tasted good however many of the dishes on the menu are pretty pricey. At the end of the meal, they offered us a complimentary dessert since we were celebrating a graduation which I thought was a nice touch. Overall, food was good but it is a bit pricey. It's a good restaurant for special occasions. read more

See all

The ambiance was great. We were greeted as we enter the restaurant. We had reservations on a Wednesday night. It was semi busy but would highly recommend resversation. The service was fantastic great server. The food was not bad but not the greatest for vegetarian options. My favorite was the fajita salad it was delicious.. of course loved the chips salsa. Was not a fan of the fondue even though the made it vegetarian. Tacos were okay need flavours it was very bland. I liked the enchiladas it was good. Fried ice cream i loved it was not soggy but crunchy and warm outside and really went well w the vanilla ice cream. The drinks were delicious as well. Overall a a good place. I will be back for the salad again my most favorite item. read more

See all

Another excellent dinner at Calo's Kitchen & Tequila! We love sitting at the bar, and somehow we always get lucky with seats, zero wait every time! The bar area is the best spot in the house, especially because of Damian, who is almost always our bartender whenever we visit. He always takes great care of us, is super attentive, and keeps everything flowing smoothly. Service at the bar is fast, friendly, and exactly why we keep coming back. For this visit, we enjoyed some of our usual favorites: Cheese Quesadilla - These are "empanada-like" quesadillas, the way true quesadillas look in Mexico. So simple and so good. Halibut Tacos - I've ordered these a few times and can never finish more than one. I always box the rest because they're that filling and flavorful. Grilled Serrano & Onion - A must-order for me. I eat everything with these, especially paired with their amazing habanero salsa. Ribeye Tacos - My boyfriend's go-to and one of his absolute favorites. Tamarindo Sour - My drink every single time. Mexican Old Fashioned - His go-to, and perfectly made by Damian. Consistently great food, great drinks, and even better service. One of our favorite Mexican restaurants in all of OC. If you haven't checked them out yet, do it! read more

See all

The ahi ceviche was the highlight of our visit. It came with a spicy mayo-dressed crispy tostada chip and was hands down the best ceviche I've had. The sweetness of the mango and red onion paired so well with the fruity heat from the Serrano, and the ahi itself was incredibly fresh. Even my husband, who normally isn't into ceviche, said it was the best he's tried. We also enjoyed the crab and shrimp enchilada as well as the short rib enchilada. Both proteins were very tender and flavorful. The fresh lemonade was bright and refreshing, and a nice addition to the meal. We arrived around lunchtime without a reservation and were told there would be about a 25-minute wait for a table, so we opted to sit at the bar. Service was prompt and friendly. The ambiance is upscale with beautiful, high-end finishes. We were also given complementary fresh salsa, a warm black bean dip, and house-made chips, which were a great start to the meal. Overall, a wonderful experience from start to finish. read more

See all

Celebrated my boyfriend's birthday here. It was a great experience, we made a reservation so we got seated approx 15 mins after we got there. They did let us know when we arrived they were running behind due to many prom dates there. Food was delicious. Exceeded my expectations really. The portions themselves were amazing. The overall vibe of the restaurant was cool, we got sat in the exterior the restaurant. The dim lighting was a nice experience. Will be returning. read more

Caló Kitchen + Tequila - Queso Fundido, blackberry margarita - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Calo is such a beautiful restaurant! Once coming in, my group and I were greeted promptly. We brought in a cake to celebrate a birthday and an employee at the front asked if we would like to keep it refrigerated, which is kind of them! Service given by our server was okay! Not really present in my opinion. Not to mention, no acknowledgement for the birthday guest that chose to dine at Calo. The food was beyond delicious! Everyone in my group was happy with the quality of food and perfect portioning. So yummys! I loved the short rib enchiladas and the complimentary chips with salsa and bean dip. I would definitely come back! read more

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

See all

Great food, service and cocktails. I had the Potato Taquitos, Ahi Ceviche and Vegetable Enchiladas. Potato Taquitos tasted as if they had a little bit of cheese inside but I'm not sure if it was just me or if they did. The salsa on the side was perfect for the taquitos. Oh my gosh can we talk about their Ahi Ceviche?!?! One of the best I've had. Ahi was so fresh, melted in your mouth and the veggie, mango and lime balanced it perfectly. Okay in all honestly I was a little afraid that the Veggie Enchiladas would disappoint me thinking the veggies might be soggy but let me tell you they were amazing good! The green creamy salsa was delicious, the vegetables were crunchy and yes fully cooked and the cheese made it perfect. I definitely highly recommend it. For cocktails I had the Tamarind Sour and Blackberry Margarita and they were a 5/5 to my liking. Not sweet at all. read more

See all

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

Stopped by Caló Kitchen in Costa Mesa before a show at the theater across the street. We went for an early lunch and were surprised to learn they don't have a brunch menu -- so FYI, if you're heading to a matinee, you'll be ordering from the lunch menu. I had the Queso Fundido which was fabulous, and the shrimp taquitos were really good too. The chips and salsa were amazing -- definitely a highlight. Drinks were good but on the pricier side. The only downside was that service started off slow because several staff members were on break right when the restaurant opened. However, the manager came around to check on tables, and our server was super friendly. Actually, everyone we interacted with was very nice and welcoming. A bit expensive for a Mexican restaurant, but overall a great spot for pre-show dining with tasty food and friendly service. read more

See all

Caló is such a stunning restaurant and the service is always top notch. Bella was our server and she made the experience so fun, while giving us good direction on drink and food choices. Everything was delicious- we had the short rib enchiladas, ahí tuna ceviche, strawberry margaritas, and the mahi mahi tacos. The only slight disappointment were the tacos. The filling had such good flavor, but the mahi was very fishy. P.S. The starter chips, salsa and beans are so tasty and you have to be careful not to fill up on them read more

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

See all

This restaurant is so pretty and has great decor and ambience. The food and drinks were delicious and well presented! Our server was attentive and kept our table clear and clean. It has a large bar and indoor and covered outdoor seating. read more

See all