Spent Newport home in Newport and had to stop by this old haunt. Strong margs and lots of ooey-gooey cheesiness! read more

Mi Casa - Two Item Combo (OLO) - Mexican Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Mi Casa's Taco Tuesday is awesome! Love sitting in the bar and enjoying some tacos and margs! They have the self serving chips and salsa which is helpful when you just need more and need it now! Staff is kind and helpful with questions. Also highly recommend the chips and queso as it is delicious! read more

I've been coming here since before I could walk. There's no better cantina Mexican in the area. The remodel has given it some needed life and energy, but the vibe remains the same - solid neighborhood hangout. Lexi and Jackie are the best in town. read more

We've been dearly enjoying this restaurant for 30 years, it was comfortable and had an extremely old-school vibe. Cozy and somewhat dark inside, coming in from busy 17th Street was a joy. A terrific escape from the surrounding urban hustle where the same waitress staff greeted and took care of you. As for the food, absolutely wonderful. Thankfully, the food is still good although the chips are often undercooked. Weird, but whatever. So why 3 stars? This is where I'm taking off the gloves and being brutally honest. Emphasis on 'brutal'. Whoever at Mi Casa decided to remodel this place and literally rip the heart and soul out of this restaurant should be absolutely kicked straight in the crotch and booted out the back door, straight into the dumpster. I say this with all honesty to the person who designed the remodel, "You're a fucking idiot with zero common sense and no knowledge as to theming and the absolute importance of ambiance within a restaurant." This restaurant went from dark and comfortable to harsh and cold, with bright white walls, exposed cement floors and privacy barriers between booths ripped out, an oversized cashier counter as you walk in, installed where comfortable waiting area seating once sat. The character of this place is now gone, sitting in a landfill where at least the rats can enjoy it. If you're the person who designed this remodel, please take a moment, look in a mirror and repeat, "I'm an idiot and I don't know what I'm doing." My advice, buy an annual pass to Disneyland and visit their restaurants to learn how professional designers theme restaurants. STUDY THE WORK OF JOHN HENCH, the incredible designer behind Disney's most successful venues which even today are updated based on his work. Now, I'm not a Disney fan boy, but I know first hand what goes into their design work and you, good Sir/Ma'am, need to learn from a pro as to how this job is done. Thankfully the food at Mi Casa is still terrific and yes, we still visit, but we take it to go as I honestly can't stomach the bullshit, refrigerator-like interior of this place. I cannot begin to count how many meals my family and I have enjoyed within this restaurant, with Debbie as our waitress the same personality-less manager staring at you as you walk in. All part of the day to day to operation which we loved and enjoyed. I read a review where someone stated this remodel was 'upscale'. Really? This remodel IS NOT upscale, it's a ridiculous attempt to perhaps make this place a bit fancier but it failed and failed miserably. Removing any trace of heritage, personality and character from a restaurant doesn't make it upscale. And let's be honest here, 'upscale' is just a millennial term for 'lets raise our prices' for people who can't afford a house but can afford $18.00 for a scoop of ice cream at the latest pop-up craft creamery. OK, I'm getting off topic, sorry. I'm going to assign homework to whomever did this remodel. Read this book: Designing Disney: Imagineering and the Art of the Show (A Walt Disney Imagineering Book) Learn the thought process of professionals who make the mediocre shine like diamonds purely through presentation. Oh yes, we'll still be enjoying Mi Casa, we still love their food but for the love of God, pull your head out of your ass and get this restaurant back in shape. If you read all of this, thanks, you're a real trooper and deserve a strawberry margarita. I apologize for being this avuncular, but like Walt Disney once stated, "You may not realize it when it happens, but a kick in the teeth may be the best thing in the world for you." read more

GREAT LOCALLY OWNED MEXICAN FOOD!!! Newly remodeled, to enhance your dining experience. My family has been going here since the 70's, because we love the staff and the food. I think the negative reviews about the remodel are people that can't handle change! They haven't figured out if you embrace change, you are a much happier person read more

They have the BEST ground beef tacos in the city. Staff is friendly and service is attentive. Love Taco Tuesday

I was in the mood for carnitas so I ordered the carnitas brisket. Unfortunately what I got was a very dry slab. I knew what I expected, as I've eaten carnitas before. But this was not appetizing. I ate it because I was hungry. The veggies on top were good but it did not help the carnitas. A lemon would have been more helpful. Thank God for the rice and beans. Those were tasty. I don't recommend this dish. The hostess was very nice. But the place itself could use a good cleaning. read more

Mi Casa - Carnitas Brisket - very dry! - Mexican Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Mi Casa holds a special place in my heart. My boyfriend and I love spending time in the Burro Room every Tuesday--and sometimes on Saturdays--where Shasta always takes such great care of us. She's incredibly kind, attentive, and always goes the extra mile to make sure we have everything we need. Juan, who's usually behind the bar, is also a delight whenever he takes care of us. The food here is consistently amazing--easily a 10/10. Their Taco Tuesday deal is unbeatable, and the fish tacos are my absolute favorite! The steak fajitas are also incredible. If you're looking for a great local spot with delicious food and drinks, Mi Casa is the place to be! read more

Been coming here for a few years and love the new upgrade to the restaurant. New design is nice and the food, typically the Drunken Burrito is always awesome. The server we had this time Dana was great and look forward to coming here again.. read more

Soooo goood just like it's always been but now with a a new remodel decor and I love it!!!! I had the mahi taco and shrimp taco without the combo and they were so big I was stuffed. My husband loves the January margarita of the month the "OC Rita" yum! And last but not least Lexi our server was just the best, genuinely friendly and on top of her craft! Seriously she is the main reason we will be back!!!! Thank you Mi Casa! Yum yum! read more

The vibe sucks! The new interior is like a hospital Mi Casa lost it's authentic mexican restaurant ambiance read more

Been coming here for years and loving the refreshed look. So surprised to see so many disappointed 'regulars' venting on here who are not supporting a modern version of our favorite place. Same delicious food, same amazing staff, and a bright new look is welcoming. Mi Casa added many modern touches to their restaurant while also paying homage to the place we grew to love. Look around at the photos, the host stand countertops, and the other small details that represent a thoughtful approach to this transformation. A business you love will lose business with bad reviews. Is the lack of carpet and walls really reason enough to complain? Change is hard but you too will adjust. Have another margarita and chill out! Cheers MiCasa! None of us look like we did 20 years ago. Your remodel looks great. read more

We love Mi Casa! The food & atmosphere is amazing. We've been going here for 10+ years. The fajitas & beef taco's are a staple here at the restaurant. And, we get excellent service. Shasta is the best waitress. She is awesome & attentive to her customers. It's our favorite Mexican restaurant!! read more

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Just over $7 for an a la carte shredded beef taco is getting a little ridiculous. And by a little ridiculous, I mean a lot ridiculous. I know things are going a little nuts with inflation right now, but these prices have been in affect post-pandemic, at least. I just spent $35 on my lunch (no alcohol). That's not OK. While I adore the mi queso and I think they have the most fantastic salsa, I think they've temporarily lost a customer until something gets in check a little more. I mean - I feel like it's almost price gouging! Also - I ordered the mi queso and a PINT of salsa. I got one tiny bag of chips. I have chips for my mi queso... but no chips for my salsa now. Stingy much? 2022: 63/100 read more

Food is classic Mexican , cheesy , delicious , and a sure thing for take out or dine in . Margaritas are as good as they get . A classic !

Awesome dining and food experience 20 years now or more The whole menu is great selection and tasty Sincerely Dana F read more

I've watched one of my fav TikTokers order take out and dined in at this Cali-Max establishment and I had to give it a try for myself! Located next to Sidecar and across the street from Target on 17th street you might miss it if you're not paying attention. Hubby and I decided to stop by for happy hour and taco Tuesday! It's such a great steal that they have both specials for the day. Happy hour is in the bar area from 3-6pm and Taco Tuesday is also in the bar area from 4pm-close. Chips and salsa are unlimited and self serve, so is the water. Shasta was our server and she was the sweetest and quickest! We started off with queso, guacamole and cheese enchiladas and let me tell you, we were licking our plates clean of the enchiladas. The sauce was so good! I ordered a ground beef taco and that baby was piled high with cheese!!!! And I'm a cheese lover but it was a bit much for me. Hubby ordered the fish taco and he said it was delicious and was not fishy at all. For the drinks.. we started out with house margaritas and wow! For $6 you cannot beat it! The bartender did not skimp on the alcohol. We split a blended peach margarita and WOW THIS IS THE BEST HANDS DOWN. After dining here, we can't wait for the next Tuesday.. lol, oh wait! It's coming up!! Please come here, you won't regret it. read more

At the bar is where it's at when you are hungry and can't wait for a table. Came in on a Saturday and it was surprisingly busy like Taco Tuesday. Sat at the bar and 3 margaritas later...hunger strikes! I always go for the taco combo. It's crispy and loaded with cheese. Never disappoints! Bartenders always happy to refill your margarita when it gets dangerously low. Because no one should be without a fresh margarita on hand. Busy but head to the bar area for seating. Plus you get to scoop your own chips and pour your own salsa. read more

I came back to Mi Casa today and really enjoyed it. They have a lot of seating inside. The hostess and servers were all very friendly and attentive, which is nice. Their salsa is tasty. I ordered the burrito bowl with steak, and it was extremely delicious. I liked the meat,rice, beans, and slaw. The creamy jalapeño sauce was extremely flavorful as well. I also enjoyed their refried beans. The menu had a lot of choices of burritos, entrees, and combos. The portions were large, so the food value is very good as well. Overall, Mi Casa is a very great Mexican restaurant with excellent food, friendly employees, and a wide selection of food. I recommend trying this restaurant, if you are looking for a good place to eat Mexican food. I look forward to coming here again. read more

Mi Casa - Inside - Mexican Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

The food has always been fantastic but we were so disappointed they no longer sell Chile Colorado. We have been able to order off menu for years and this has been a favorite for many years. Unfortunately we won't be back. Adios Mi Casa. read more

Great service and good food. Wished they opened at 11:00 instead of 11:30 but that is my issue,not theirs.

Needs some A/C in the bar! But love the remodel. The food, service and wait staff is still amazing.

I love the vibe of this place - very old school. It's classic American style Mexican food at it's best! We ended up in the bar area behind the main dining area called "The Burro Room" where we were greeted by the bartender, Briana, who is one of the best. Her joyful demeanor made this a fun time. I ordered the "Tacos de Huevos" from the lunch/breakfast menu and they were wonderful. We will be returning soon! read more

Mi Casa - Tacos de Huevos with two sides: Breakfast Potatoes & Fruit - Mexican Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Only parking is a juggle... small plaza, host & manager looked tired on taco Tuesday they must have been super busy that day ;) family ambiance after 5pm is enjoyable, waiters were very nice and prompt place & restrooms are clean, tacos are mostly hard shell american style, only fish taco had soft tortilla, waiter was nice & accommodated switched yellow cheese for fresh one which is queso fresco i think is healthier for me, which i thank and appreciate very much the options, first time a year ago tried albondigas soup which was supreme! Delicious home made taste ... I recommend this mexican American food over El matador restaurant which vive scared me service you have to let them know exactly what you want to be happy read more

This place is a vibe. Doesn't get more local traditional than this. We love the rice, beans, tacos, and chips. It's a working man's restaurant. Feels like family- not hipster. Prices have gone up but what else is new. It's $15-20 per plate but we usually split. read more

Great good! Good variety on the menu and the items we all ordered were delicious!! We had amazing and friendly service by a server named Lexi. Looking forward to coming back and glad we gave it a try. Wish we came sooner. read more

Mi Casa - Enchilada plate - Mexican Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Server in the bar was rude, unwelcoming and did not want to be there. Shame with the right staff they could so more business.

Never order a steak. It tasted like cooking oil. Seemed like they just slapped a piece of meat onto a frying pan.Could you at least have grilled it? A Mexican restaurants's steak should at least havre been seasoned? Waste of money. Also had albóndigas soup. Please change the name to vegetable soup. Place seems dirty you should have the busboys vacuum a couple times Per day. Beans were good. Time for a make over Mi Casa read more

Okay so the California burrito was a carne asada burrito and it was filled with delicious well seasoned ingredients. Yum yum yum! It was big too, def will order again Shredded beef taco - gross - what the hell is up with all the cheese they put on there? The shell was cold and really hard to bite into. Enchilada sauce was soo bomb! And the shredded beef inside was really tender Tortilla Soup; yum yum yum, hit the spot...soo good. I would be curious to try their other soup. They do a taco Tuesday special $2.50 street tacos after 4 No carnitas served - which was a bummer for me, but they have lots of other options. Will be back! read more

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I have been coming here since I was a sophomore in high school and that was 1974. The food and drinks still taste the same and that means a lot to me. I told my wife about this place when we were dating and took her here. 21 years later, we still have great food. Every item is great on the menu. The tacos are the biggest around and up may need to take a shower after eating one as they are so big. Brianna is a great bartender. Every drink a wonderful. read more

It doesn't look like much from the street but it's a fantastic home grown restaurant! Once you walk through that big blue door with MiCasa carved out in big letters you are welcomed with friendly smiles. The wait time is minimal if at all. The food is phenomenal! My husband orders a combo plate with a chili relleno, pork tamale & enchilada, I love burritos. The drunken burrito is amazing, so full of flavor and the salads are wonderful. When you go make sure yo order chips and cheese with guacamole with your drinks you'll be happy you did! read more

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Very original Mexican restaurant in the heart of Newport Costa Mesa area. Has a flare of a classic Mexican restaurant of the 80s with big booths and a classic decor that hasn't been updated in 20 years. Service is sloooooow. The chips can use a lot more salt and the salsa tastes like shrimp cocktail with a few chili flakes. The food is not that great in my opinion but my wife and older son believe that I am really mean for giving this place 3 stars. But if the food was a bit tastier I would have bumped it up to 3.5. read more

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Our waitress Debby was very nice, but the food was very average. I ordered the fajitas and the flavor was good, but they were a little light on the meat (only 2 shrimps and a few pieces of steak). The salsa was very mid and it almost tasted like ketchup. I don't think it was terrible but I wouldn't go out of my way in the future. read more

The mex food here never tastes good. The meat even tastes and smells like it is still alive. You get sick from just one margarita so the marg mix might be expired. The inside lighting and seating is like you are inside dennys. Very chaotic and busy plaza. I tried giving this place a handful of tries over the years. read more

Shasta is fabulous! She takes care of customers! I recommend mi casa and Shasta In the burro room! 5 stars

Rude rude rude ..... this place has changed !!! I'm so sad . I really did not want to write this ....,,,Having said that after the past 3 times of poor service I'm Finally going to speak up . Shasta decades ago was nice sweet and so thorough. For the past year she's unpleasant, pushy , rude and makes you feel bad for little things ( like asking for utensils) . As a result I will only dine in the bar if she is not working . I still love the food however I'm not paying to be mistreated. read more

Been coming here my whole life, and mi casa always delivers! Thank you for the many years of phenomenal Mexican food!

I really don't get why some people in the comments are acting like the remodel means the restaurant has changed entirely. Just because they've put money into making the space nicer doesn't mean they've lost touch with what makes it great. I appreciate them investing in the place I love and making it a more enjoyable experience. Honestly, if anything, the atmosphere has only improved, and they've kept the authenticity of their amazing food. As someone with both Mexican and Puerto Rican roots, I can definitely say they're still nailing it, and I really appreciate that. Big shoutout to Lex and Emilia for always taking care of us and being the best! read more

Newly remodeled Mi Casa is disappointing! Number one reason is the noise level. When the bus boys throw the plates into the tubs the noise echos thru the restaurant and is amplified because there is no longer any carpet to soften the noise. Number two the decor does not match it looks like it's half Denny's half Taco Bell. The third the bar is now visible to everyone. Fourthly, food prices are higher. And lastly, the owner, manager is not very customer oriented. We walked in to be seated and he looked at us like what do you want? Did not say hi welcome nothing. Grabbed two menus and we followed him. Not a peep no enjoy your meal nothing. We won't be back. read more

I could not agree with Matt L.'s review more. When Mi Casa did their previous remodel, a few years ago, and made it lighter, it took me awhile to get used to the brighter room, which I eventually did. I hoped beyond hope that this remodel would not do exactly what happened. The comfy, cozy booths were gone and the cafeteria looking tables, with the bright lights and walls with all the cool Mexican decorations replaced with weird paintings completely changed the feeling that Mi Casa was known for. I'm not sure that even the younger generations are happy with how bright the bar is. Sometimes it's nice to have a darker room, to wind down in and enjoy a drink. The food is still fabulous, as well as the service and the floor, minus the carpet, was a good choice. But ...Sadly, I don't get that same comforting feeling that I used to get before the remodel. Pls dim the lights in the bar and see how people react. Thanks for reading this! read more