Happy hour until 6pm with food and drink specials. The Tamarindo Margarita was way better than the House Margarita. The chips are homemade. The salsa is made from scratch. The guacamole and the queso are great. The Camarones al mojo de ajo shrimp was boring. It comes with a lot of vegetables and plain rice. They provide tortillas but what's the point. In that car is rather have fajitas. The Carnitas entree was great. read more

Playa Mesa - Camarones al mojo de ajo shrimp was boring - Mexican Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

530 reservation. The hostess called my name at 6. Then she says never mind go sit back down. Calls me again at 615. We are finally seated. Waiter says no more taco Tuesday specials bc they ended at 6. I told him reservation was at 530. He says too late now. They hand me literally pieces of photocopied paper for a menu. Then I tried to order a burrito bowl which they said no more. Tortas? Not available either. I ordered the camarones de mojo Ajo. Completely over cooked and dry. I asked for salt that never came . We asked for the lakers game to be on bc it was playoffs and that was never done either. It was an awful experience. I would not recommend. read more

We had a reservation, but when we arrived, no one greeted us for several minutes, even though the restaurant was nearly empty. The servers were standing around near the kitchen, but no one acknowledged us until we got their attention. The floor in front of the kitchen was greasy and slippery, and I almost fell. After we were seated, we were given water and menus, but no one came back to take our order for about 30 minutes. We had to call the server several times, despite the restaurant not being busy. When the server finally came over, we were told that most of the drinks listed on the menu were unavailable. At that point, we decided to leave without ordering. This was a very disappointing experience due to the poor service, lack of attentiveness, and overall management. Unfortunately, we will not be returning. read more

We came for happy hour, saw that only tacos & margs were the main thing available for it- Our bill ended up having an extra $2 charge per margarita (listed at $10). Our server let us know that since everything is made "in house", all flavored margaritas-including the ones listed specifically for their $10 happy hour deal- had an additional charge. There is no fine print, and our server did not communicate this beforehand. Food was good but definitely not a place to go to happy hour. Our server was nice too. read more

Playa Mesa - Happy Hour Menu @ Playa Mesa- Does not tell you each margarita is an additional $2 charge due to them making everything 'in house'. - Mexican Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

I came here for lunch with a friend one day during the week. It wasn't busy so we sat immediately. The service was fantastic and the place had a nice ambiance. We ordered the margarita flight to share and each tasted amazing! We couldn't decide which one we liked best. We also ordered the guacamole, ceviche and bowl to share. It was more than enough food for two people and everything was so delicious. I would defintiely come back again when I'm in the area. read more

Playa Mesa - Margarita Flight - Mexican Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

My wife and I love coming to Playa Mesa, especially during their generous happy hour from 3 to 6pm. The happy hour menu is one of the biggest we've seen with tons of great food and drink options. Everything we've tried has been delicious. On our most recent visit, we were lucky to have Josele R. as our server and he absolutely made our experience. He went above and beyond with his service and hospitality. It honestly felt like we were guests in his home. Warm, welcoming, attentive, and just top-tier service all around. One of the best parts is that it's never too busy if you come right at 3pm, which makes for a really chill and relaxing meal before the dinner rush. We're regulars here for a reason. Great food, even better service, and always a great vibe. Can't wait to come back again soon! read more

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Visited Playa Mesa in Costa Mesa on a Wednesday around 7pm. Valet is $5 (your only clear option if you're driving directly to the location), or you can walk - though where you're supposed to park otherwise is unclear. We were seated right away and chose the bar. Ambiance was cute, and service was fine - nothing stood out, but nothing to complain about either. They start you off with free chips and salsa, which was a nice plus nowadays. We both ordered the Pollo Asada Tacos, which come with rice and beans. The tortillas were good, but that's about where the excitement ended. The rest of the plate felt flat and underwhelming - not bad, just... not worth remembering. Personally wouldn't return or recommend unless you're just going for drinks and the vibe. read more

Playa Mesa - Pollo Carne Asada Taco Dinner - Mexican Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Came here on a Saturday 7/25 with me and my husband (party of 2). We arrived at 5 pm without a reservation and was pretty much turned away despite the restaurant having many open tables. The hostess said that if we didn't have a reservation we would have to wait until 5:30 when they can start taking walk-ins. We left. While walking back to the car, I check the app and there were SO MANY reservation times available for that day!! I literally was able to confirm my reservation for 5:15! I don't understand why the hostess wasn't able to accommodate us despite 1) the restaurant had many open seating at the time and 2) they weren't even booked out for the night!! Available reservations ran every 15 minute increments all the way till 9 pm that day! This is truly a lack of customer service. We didn't even feel welcomed. She could've maybe offered us bar seating? Or maybe look at the reservation schedule and offer us the 5:15 slot? Even though we were able to secure a reservation at 5:15 and literally could've walked back in there 15 minutes later, we chose to take our money elsewhere. We would not have been happy dining there regardless after what happened. I don't understand why they would turn away business in this economy but we left with an ick. read more

We visited this restaurant Saturday night around 8:00 PM, and it wasn't busy at all. After being seated, we waited more than 30 minutes without anyone taking our order. We had to ask several times for a server before someone finally came to our table. Unfortunately, the server was very rude and impolite. After waiting so long and experiencing such poor service, we decided to leave without eating. While we were leaving, other tables told us they had also been waiting a long time and were unhappy with the service. This was a very disappointing experience. I cannot recommend this restaurant based on the poor customer service and lack of attention to guests. read more

Horrible service. Waited an hour at the bar for food and they gave the food to someone else because no one knows what they're doing. Had to walk out hungry. And annoyed. Will not go back. read more

Cute place and the service was top notch. This is the 2 stars. The food is very bland. Salsa, meat, chips, margaritas, just everything was bland. The birria burrito had more bell peppers than anything else and that wasn't in the description so that was a bummer. Birria was also bland. Drinks did not have much flair or alcohol. Underwhelming meal. read more

I made a reservation for this restaurant for my birthday because I had heard a lot of great things about the food and the overall experience. The yelp reviews were promising, and I was looking forward to my birthday brunch however a lot of things were not as expected. The reservation part of it was very easy to do online, we didn't have any issues. The inside is cute and vibey. But the overall service was pretty disappointing. Upon walking to the restaurant, there were two houses who didn't acknowledge my husband or I, and I saw my cousin at the table already so she waved us down and we went to her and the first thing my cousin said was that the host we're standing there for a while before they greeted them either. We ate the complementary chips and salsa for a bit while waiting to order, but then we found a hair in the salsa, my husband told the server and they just exchanged it for a new bowl- she just kind of stared and seemed annoyed for us telling her. We were a party on the bigger side with a party of eight, but they ended up getting three of the orders wrong. I personally choose not to have runny eggs because I'm pregnant but she got 3 egg orders wrong in general. One of the dishes where the eggs came sunny side up instead of scrambled, didn't come with the tortillas- so we asked for the side and the server ended up charging us for the side. Another issue was that we asked for a side of Serrano chile or jalapeño and the server said they were still "roasting them"- but the chile came cut and just raw (which we don't mind by why lie that it's being cooked). The food was pretty good, but it took quite a long time or receive everything. This isn't our first time dining with 8 people, and there were definitely bigger parties there- but by the end of the experience we were all just tired. The food tasted good but the service was enough to be over the whole experience. I try to give grace if they're busy or a newer spot but they weren't as packed for Saturday brunch from what I've seen at others places. We probably won't be returning, but we just wanted to give our personal experience of our first and last dining there. read more

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We used to be regulars at Playa Mesa and I always got the carne asada burrito and loved it! We returned after a while and quality of food was not the same. The burrito was not bad but not as good as before. A lot more rice and bean ratio and not a lot of flavor. The steak was cut very small and not as much as before. It used to be much more steak and larger pieces with less of the rice and beans. They also got my order wrong but we ended up eating it to avoid wasting the food despite our nice server's offer to take it back. The side arugula salad barely had any dressing and it was old/wilted. Overall not our favorite visit to Playa Mesa. Service was great. read more

Playa Mesa - Carne Asada Burrito with no sauce - Mexican Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Food was delicious!! I ate the grilled shrimp tacos and they were perfectly cooked along with the rice and beans being delicious! Our waiter was so nice and helped us quickly along with our food coming out fast! The ambience is amazing with the staff being great. read more

Playa Mesa - Grilled Shrimp Tacos Carne Asada Tacos - Mexican Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Love their taco Tuesday/Happy Hour menu. Fish taco and birria are my go to's. The margaritas on the HH menu are perfect for me.

Came here for brunch on a Sunday. We were a group of 3 and ordered few beers, Micheladas, and margarita flights. Interestingly the cucumber one was the worst and didn't taste like cucumbers at all, more like a fake syrup. On the other hand, the Tamarind and watermelon were good. I ordered the octopus and it tasted good but I wish it had a sauce or some sort of potatoes to eat it with read more

Playa Mesa - Octopus - Mexican Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Came here to eat with a group of friends and the wait wasn't too long. The valet parking was $5 which made our experience dining here much easier. Since we came on a Friday night, it was pretty busy but it took them a while to get our orders in. Other than that, our server was very attentive and frequently checked up on us. We got an order of their fried calamari and I 10/10 recommend, it was so yummy. I also ordered their steak fajita which was delicious, along with their margarita flight (original, sandia, and spicy cucumber). The drinks were amazing but the spicy cucumber does has a pretty strong kick in it. Overall, I would come back here again due to their ambiance and vibes. read more

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The food is delicious here! We got the augachile appetizer but it's really spicy!! Then we got the shrimp fajitas and they were super hot and delicious! They have amazing Guacamole and very generous portions. I enjoyed the experience they do take their time with the service (not in a bad way) it allows you to enjoy your appetizers and have good conversation. It was an excellent experience and I can't wait to go back! read more

Playa Mesa - Churro dessert - Mexican Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Had my 40th bday here; found this place on yelp and it already had great reviews. Our waiter was amazing and had very good recommendations for drinks and even the after party! The vibe was very open and breezy definitely felt the vacay beach vibes! The food and drinks were very good, a lot of things I haven't seen on a menu so I was happy to try new things. Our group even had a celeb citing!!! You had to be there! Definitely will come again! read more

Playa Mesa - My first time wearing a sombrero! - Mexican Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Interior was extremely modern and clean. Great place for brunch if the food is second on the priority after the drinks. The latter is what I would go here for as they have a great bottomless mimosa and margarita flight deal. Food was extremely unmemorable as it lacks any flavor complexities. Our group of 15 ordered a variety of breakfast items ranging from burritos to tacos and platters. None of them really stood out. Servers were extremely attentive and made the experience seamless. From ordering food and drinks to paying out. Awesome place to hang out on the weekend but don't expect much from the food. 3.5/5 read more

Great spot for BOTTOMLESS mimosas especially when celebrating a birthday!! They had options to choose from like GUAVA, ORANGE, PINEAPPLE, MANGO, TAMARIND, CRANBERRY, and STRAWBERRY!! Bottomless champagne and a juice was $22 which is hard to beat (although extra juice is an add on). We liked strawberry and tamarind. Honestly what made the experience was our server JOSELE !! He was so nice and welcoming and made the experience feel homey and special. We were a large and loud party and he handled us so kindly and patiently which I really appreciated! I got a chorizo burrito which was not my favorite although I loved the pickled sides. It tasted too lean and simple for what I was craving. Although I didn't love the food, the service and bottomless made the experience for me! read more

Playa Mesa - Chorizo burrito - Mexican Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Happy Hour is a must! The prices are awesome and everything we tried was really good. The calamari appetizer was delicious, and the guac and salsa were seriously addicting. The fish tacos were just okay, but all the other tacos were packed with flavor. Our server was super friendly and even brought out a special dessert for a birthday we were celebrating! Parking is valet and not too pricey -- otherwise, you're looking at a bit of a walk to get there. read more

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I have been here in the past and really enjoyed their food and their regular menu! Food and drinks are always so good however this weekend we tried their Easter buffet, first time ever trying their buffet option & it was underwhelming! Food was decent but the place preferred other options for brunch, or truthfully el torito brunch buffet can't be beat.. will definitely return to playa mesa but only for the regular menu! Service was quick and friendly. When we arrived around 10 AM Easter Sunday they weren't busy yet. read more

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It's been years since I have eaten here and drinks are still good but the food is blah and especially for the price. It's also very loud in here so if you want to talk to the person/people you came with this is not the place. You also need to valet since there's no parking what so ever. The valet wait time was a while as well. read more

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The food was good, definitely needed some salt and their salsas just weren't very spicy but I am not even taking off any points for that. We were in for a Sunday brunch and in the middle of our service they let our waiter go because it was slow. We were still drinking and eating but they brought the check and did not even have another waiter introduced to us. We had to flag someone down to get Togo boxes. Just left a bad taste in my mouth. I wish we had a better experience because I've been here before and remember it being good. Not sure if I'll be returning. read more

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This restaurant gives me similar vibes as Palmilla Cocina in Newport, but for a better price. Took my mom here for dinner and she loved the whole experience. She honestly felt like she was in Cabo with all the nice Latin inspired decor. Thank you for making it a pleasant night for us! We started with the shrimp ceviches as appetizers. The shrimp was meaty and the crisp of the chip was crunchy. 5/5. As for the entrees, we ordered the fish tacos and the chicken enchiladas. The chicken enchiladas is freakin delicious. I enjoyed eating the brown rice and the beans it came with. Very savory and flavorful. 5/5. It was a lot of food so we had it for togo. The fish tacos were good, but not crazy good to talk about. Just glad it was crispy then soggy. 4/5. We also ordered the jalapeño margarita and the Paloma Mesa cocktail. Both tasted good; barely taste the alcohol which can be dangerous lol. The bill wasn't too bad. I feel like it was worth it. Will come back again! read more

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We had the chicken fajitas and posole--both were incredibly tasty! The tortillas were warm and tasted homemade, which made everything even better. Plus, the service was great and friendly, making the whole experience even more enjoyable. Can't wait to go back!! read more

Visiting from Chicago and the menu here looked irresistible. The food in Chicago is incredible, especially the Mexican food so I was eager to try. Started with the guacamole and calamari. No complaints on the calamari, but the guacamole lacked a little salt. For my main I had a chicken enchilada and short rib enchilada. Also a birria taco. I wasn't a fan of the birria but the enchiladas were good. read more

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We reserved a spot on a Saturday at 11am. Came here and waited for the whole party of 5 to arrive to be seated. They gave us chips and salsa which was really good. The server was nice and they occasionally came over to refill the chips (3-4 bowls). The service was a bit slow in refilling the water. --We sat down at 11:30ish. The food came at 1pm-- We came during restaurant week so not sure if it was especially busy but a 1.5hr wait for the food is kinda ridiculous. The chips made it slightly better and held us down for a while but still. I got the eggs benedict on the brunch menu which was super delicious. I think the food is great but seriously that was the longest brunch I've ever had. read more

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Stopped in around 6:30pm for dinner. Place was not busy at all. Took too long for a host to greet us. Then once seated, the server was nowhere to be found. Once we were finally greeted, the server wanted to take our order immediately... no welcome/greeting, and no "do you have any questions or can I make any recommendations?". When I asked about vegan options the server looked at me with a blank look. Had no answer for me. Then after a few seconds she said there's veggie fajitas or vegetable tacos... to confirm are these vegan or vegetarian options??? No confidence, no knowledge, and no offer to ask to confirm. Then she suggested the potato tacos from the appetizer menu as a vegan options... I opted for the Mesa salad no cheese, no onion, and just put the dressing on the side. The "roasted" carrots weren't roasted enough so I couldn't cut them with the butter knife that's on the table (and you guessed it, there server was not attentive enough to visit after food was served so I could ask for some kind of sharper knife. I won't mention how long it took to get the check:/ There is nothing worse than poor service + poor quality food and this place gets top award for overall horrible experience. read more

Went to Playa Mesa to celebrate a birthday. The place is beautiful, well-lit, clean, and featuring a great ambiance with classic Mexican and Spanish music playing in the background. Went on a Saturday morning, not overly crowded. Parking is spacious and offers valet for $5. Our waiter, Scarlett, was amazing. There was a small issue with the kitchen bringing out our appetizers after our main dishes, but Scarlett immediately apologized and offered solutions. While it initially took her a little while to take our orders, she was very attentive overall and had a great, positive attitude. Our group ordered the chilaquiles rojos, pozole, breakfast sandwiches, and the steak and eggs plate. The pozole was my favorite, though every dish was packed with flavor and absolutely delicious. They offer bottomless mimosas and really good drinks. I myself had their michelada and the mix was very tasteful. I was really impressed with the food quality. I would definitely come back, not to mention, the prices were very affordable! read more

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Came for OC Restaurant week and it was awesome! The deal was $25 and I had: *Hamachi crudo sliced sushi grade hamachi, pineapple & lime citrus marinade, avocados, petit micro greens, caramelized pineapple, sliced radish and chile oil. *Grilled salmon tacos: citrus slaw, pico de gallo, morita sauce, pickled fresno peppers. served with rice & beans And the churros - FRESHLY MADE, and are served with a cafe de olla syrup... while the syrup was good, I'm more of a dulce de leche or ice cream person hehe. We also made it during happy hr so we got rally good Margaritas for $12. I definitely recommend! read more

Playa Mesa - Churros - Mexican Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Omg this best for top-tier!! They had valet which was cheap, we love that! We only waited for like 10mins for walk-in for 3 people, and it was a Saturday Night! We ordered the shrimp and steak fajitas, it was delicious and the presentation was fantastic! The cocktail were to die for, I had mango marg. mocktail mmm! And for dessert don't forget to try their Flan! They did seem like the servers had too big of a sections, there was only like 2 servers and so many bussers and bartenders. The inside was so pretty and but the booths' seats needs to be replaced. read more

Playa Mesa - Street tacos - Mexican Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

I tried Playa Mesa Today and really enjoyed my experience. The ambiance inside is very nice with a unique decor. Our server was extremely friendly and checked up on us frequently. The menu has a wide selection of Mexican dishes such as enchiladas, fajitas, tacos, burritos, and combo plates. Their chicken enchiladas taste delicious. I just wish that the chicken was more seasoned. I also wish that the restaurant offered chile rellenos. Overall, Playa Mesa is an excellent restaurant read more

Playa Mesa - Inside of restaurant - Mexican Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Scallops are amazing. Love the ambience and Mexican lounge music. Attentive service. Tres leches desert are the best! read more

Playa Mesa - Scallops yummy - Mexican Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Great casual/nicer spot for some Mexican in Costa Mesa! Waiter was nice but we really wish he would have spaced out our food. We ordered apps and food all at once and had it all at our table at the same time.... And it was a small table... Recommendacione: - tortilla soup - warms the soul - carne asado tacos - only 2 but they were full of meat :P - guac - good and at any good Mexican spot you need to get it. But I've had better Overall, go here with friends or fam! Fills up so make a reservation! read more

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Ehhhh is all I can really say about this place. I came here with my friends for a birthday group dinner and the service was great. My review is all about the food. I got the carne asada tacos and the meat just tasted like it was seasoned with salt and nothing else also the tacos just came with some diced tomatoes and rice and beans on the side. This is not Mexican food. For the price literally go anywhere else I'm just disappointed I had to spend my money on this place for subpar food. I can season my food better than this and if you've ever had real Mexican food you'll know what I'm talking about. read more

Delicious Mexican food! Friendly and attentive service. So patient didn't feel rushed. Came for some comfort food after a really stressful night and left with full tummies and warm vibes. Our waitress continued to check on us and was so caring throughout the night read more

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So Luxury and So still so Mexican Delicious food! We were sit right away Even tho it was late night almost closing time read more

Here's a polished review that keeps the criticism pointed but fair: My wife and I were in the Costa Mesa area and decided to give this restaurant a try after seeing its strong Yelp reviews. The restaurant itself is pleasant, and the service was genuinely friendly and attentive. Unfortunately, that's where the positives ended for us. We asked our server about the tortilla soup and were told it was a fan favorite. We also asked about the taquitos and were told they were exceptional. Based on those recommendations, we ordered both. After trying them, we're left wondering if they're considered exceptional only by Costa Mesa standards. The food was, at best, a slight step above El Torito. The tortilla soup lacked flavor and depth, and the taquitos were entirely forgettable. Nothing we ordered came close to the quality we would expect from a restaurant receiving such high praise. Everyone's tastes are different, and we appreciate the friendly service, but if you're looking for truly good Mexican food, there are many better options elsewhere. We wanted to like this place, but the food simply didn't live up to the reviews. read more