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!

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.

Very good service from Salvador and Yolanda felt very welcomed for our very first time here!!!read more

Fernando was our Server/Waiting Staff, he was excellent…read more First time visitors from Menifee, visiting OC Fair for Happy Together Tour at Amphitheater. I had chicken Fajitas with HOME MADE CORN TORTILLAS (oh my Gosh just like when I was young) Husband had combo meal taco & enchilada. Beans & rice where perfect. But for us the salsa was beyound yum, chunky fresh with chunks if green onion mixed in. We even took a pint home. :P

Food was delicious great service Out server Dana was very…read morenice had a great personality Very good ambiance

Best food. Best service- everyone is happy to work here. This place is underrated!!! I can't get…read moreover the quality of the food and cocktails. Try the guavamente! If she's available, Dana is the best! LOVE YOU PALENQUE

Had dinner last night with my son and his friends. It was a great night and everything was…read moreperfect. Thank you JP, and Jennifer for making it such a wonderful night.

We stopped at Calo Kitchen & Tequila one evening with my family on our way to Mexico, and WOW! From…read morethe moment we walked in, we were impressed. The restaurant is absolutely beautiful, the decor is gorgeous, and the atmosphere alone makes it worth visiting. Add in amazing food, great drinks and some of the kindest, most attentive service we had on our trip, and this place was a winner! Of course, we started with drinks and appetizers. I ordered the Spicy Margarita made with serrano chiles and blanco tequila, and it was DELICIOUS! It actually had a nice spice to it, which I love. my husband probably had an old-fashioned. But the best part had to be the TEQUILA CART! They bring the cart right to your table with different tequilas to choose from and some of the most unique salt rims I've ever seen. Such a fun experience! We ended up trying a couple of shots as well because...when in LA! My daughter wanted the guacamole to start, and it was fresh, chunky and packed with avocado, lime, cilantro, onion, tomato and serrano. She also wanted the chicken taquitos topped with salsa and guacamole. Both were really good and disappeared pretty quickly! For dinner, my daughter ordered the chicken fajitas. The pieces of chicken pieces were HUGE, which she loved, and everything was seasoned really well. My husband ordered the tacos and absolutely loved them. At this point we were already saying, "Why don't we have a place like this back home?" Seriously, if we did, we'd probably be there all the time. I ordered the Calo Combination with a chicken enchilada, chicken taco asado and carnitas chile relleno. This was the perfect choice for me because I got to try a little bit of everything. Everything was seasoned and sautéed really well and had just the right amount of spice. Soooo good! And obviously we couldn't leave without dessert! We ordered the churros AND fried ice cream because apparently making decisions wasn't happening that night. I LOVE a good warm, fresh churro, and these did not disappoint. Such a good way to finish an already amazing meal. The service deserves its own mention too. Everyone was incredibly friendly and attentive and made sure we had everything we needed throughout the entire meal. Even though the food was outstanding, the service really helped make the whole experience. Hands down some of the BEST Mexican food we've had in LA. From the appetizers and drinks to our entrees and desserts, everything we tried was delicious. Beautiful atmosphere, fantastic service, great drinks and AMAZING Mexican food. We were impressed with the entire experience and will absolutely be back the next time we're in LA! HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

Great food, and the ambiance felt family like. Couldn't provide more praise to Manny for the…read moreservice provided. Would recommend the service for everyone to try

What a fun brunch experience at the Plancha table at Descanso Restaurant!…read more Karen was incredibly knowledgeable about the origins, ingredients, and preparation of every dish, which made the meal feel so immersive and special! Every single thing we ate was absolutely delicious! I will absolutely come back!

Ah nostalgia. One of my favorite hangover cures, an ETB Carnitas burrito. Careful: they are…read moremassive; and delicious. Basic tortileria, you stand in line and wait to order. Line moves very quick and that's also when you have your opportunity to grab some chips or tortillas to go. Portions here are huge and everything is authentic.

I had a very disappointing experience here because of the customer service. I ordered six tacos…read moreseparately, and the employee helping me rolled his eyes, laughed, and sarcastically repeated, "So... six tacos all the same?" I brushed it off and tried to stay polite, but the attitude continued. While waiting for my order, I noticed him talking to his coworkers in the back while looking over at me, which made me feel uncomfortable and disrespected. I eventually called him out because there was no reason to treat a paying customer that way. Everyone has stressful days, but that's not an excuse to be rude or mock customers for placing an order. The food may be good, but customer service matters just as much. I hope management addresses this because no customer should feel embarrassed or disrespected simply for ordering food.

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!

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.

As I'm writing this review, I'm deeply saddened that it appears La Vida Cantina is coming to an…read moreapparent closing! I've developed so many fond memories here with awesome Taco Tuesday and DJ dance nights with friends that it's a bit emotional. Literally designed to feel like you've been transported to Cabo, Mexico or somewhere exquisitely beautiful along the Latin American Coastline and beach, La Vida Cantina in my view was such a wonderful spot to get some yummy Mexican bites and drinks and just have an amazing time with the people you love being with! I really loved the ambiance, from the artsy cabanas to the fire pits and the cool dance floor inside with the colorful strobe lights. Everything about it was glamorous! I particularly loved their crunchy tacos and their special mango habanero salsa was to die for! And the servers here were almost always awesome! Situated at the popular Triangle Square, La Vida Cantina was hands down one of my favorite Tuesday Taco spots in Orange County and again, I'm truly saddened to see it go. I wish a sad farewell!

Worse service ever…read more Overprized for the quality of service they offer. Our drinks were horrible and bartender kept just talking with the server... Don't recommend this place at all.