I rarely give reviews, however I arrived at 2 pm. Today. Only 2 other customers in the cafe. Our food order for 2 people to dine in was received cold. I ordered the daily special it was absolutely awful. Food looked microwaved and the corn tortillas were rubbery and the rice was dried out. My horchata tasted weird with a chemical aftertaste. My guest and i ended up throwing most of our food away, what a huge disappointment. This cafe use to be great with fresh food and a coastal vibe 20 years ago. The worst part was overhearing, an elderly gentleman asking the cashier to speak slower due to his bad hearing ,however the cashier disregarded his request and the gentleman left. The cashier was very rude to this gentleman, even though he was OK with me. What could improve? Fresh hot food, and good customer service. I for one will not be returning. read more

Ordered a carnitas burrito but got a steak burrito with a few pieces of meat and a TON of beans. Bland flavor and a big disappointment. Also frustrated that they couldn't label the dishes for easier identification. We spent $188 and got two bags of unlabeled food. All in all a disappointing and frustrating experience. With all the other Mexican restaurants in the area there certainly are other choices. Taco Mesa used to be the go to place .... Adios Taco Mesa. read more

Taco Mesa - Steak burrito that's All beans - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Orange, California

First time here and we were greeted by a very knowledgeable and kind man, Alejandro. He recommended the best of the west tacos and they were amazing. I highly recommend all but my favorite was the shrimp. The chips and guac were also good along with the horchata drink. We will be back. read more

Some of the best tacos ever! I love both locations i went to this one and also the Costa Mesa one now. Same great food at both. I loved the green juice as well. Will come here any chance I get! read more

Taco Mesa - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Orange, California

this place has become a regular for me, the hours are super convenient and all the food is excellent. im partial to the burritos actually but the tacos are also amazing. alot of parking too which is a big deal for me read more

one of my fav oc hidden gems! you can taste the quality of the ingredients which is what sets it apart from your average mexican restaurant. the restaurant is very clean and spacious, so it's a perfect place to enjoy a nice meal with friends/family! read more

Taco Mesa - taco combo plate, fish salad, mesa bowl - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Orange, California

Hubby and I stopped by here after a Harbor Freight shopping trip. The inside was spacious and areas were clean. There were a few parties ahead of us and also seated. The self-serve salsa bar had two types of salsas (not sure which one was hot or mild since it wasn't labeled), pickled carrots, chopped cilantro, chopped onions, cut up limes, cut up lemons and a green creamy sauce (maybe dressing?). Hubby grabbed a carne asada taco for him and Little O. According to hubby, the taste and flavor of the taco was good. Taco size kind of small (see pic with Emergen-C packet) and a bit pricey. I grabbed the langosta burrito. About 1/3 of the way through the burrito did I finally get a piece of langosta. I understand the healthy version of the food but the flavors just weren't there for me. The veggies were cooked but bland and the langosta pieces were salty. Then they just threw it all together into a tortilla and threw the green sauce all over it. The green sauce was creamy but didn't really have any flavor. I ate 1/3 of the burrito only. Maybe I will eat the rest for lunch at work tomorrow??? Food was definitely made fresh because we had to wait a bit but the flavors just weren't there for us. I give them props for making that step towards healthier eating. Would we come back again? Maybe... Their advertised Meal Kits looked like a better deal. Maybe something to pick up for dinner on the way home. Though keep in mind the food comes cold and you have to still preheat everything at home. So....We'll see... read more

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Food it is consistently great. He gets a big rush during dinner hour. Probably best to come early. Calamari tacos and burritos are insanely good His tortillas are made in house . They compliment the food Here the deal I think they are a bit short staffed. With all the turnover of tables they have a hard time busing dishes and wiping things down. I think with the number of little kids a salsa bar is not the best idea. I see it spilling over dirty little fingers back into the container. Yuck. Shame because the salsa is very very good. Same story with the awesomely delicious escabeche. I'd rather the crew spoon it all out by request I'm still going to eat here read more

The live music on Saturdays really makes my visit memorable... good food, good, sounds & building community! Can't ask for more than that Have not had anything that wasn't delicious yet. And I've been there quite a few times :-) I would recommend to do the same. Let your taste buds be your guide;) read more

Taco Mesa - Dinning Room- Taco Mesa Live Music Saturdays! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Orange, California

I'm grateful places like Taco Mesa. I've been coming here for 20 years. The quality of food is great and the staff. Would recommend Taco Mesa. read more

Taco Mesa - Carnitas Burrito Madness - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Orange, California

Came in with my family for taco Tuesday, Irene was the cashier at the moment thank you for the recommendation and fresh brewed coffee read more

Taco Mesa - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Orange, California

We love it here however my son prefers his horchata sweeter I love my cinnamon coffee. Pictures here is the machaca plate and chorizo con huevos read more

Taco Mesa - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Orange, California

We asked them what's their favorite taco and AlPastor was the response. So we had them and a chicken taco. It was a divine intervention on my taste buds. The crispy chicken taco was even better in my opinion. This place is a for sure spot. read more

Taco Mesa - Julian said it's better than mom's lol. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Orange, California

This is a nuce establishment. Very clean, practicing social distance, has outdoor eating area. They are friendly and will help you out in anyway. Food are flavorful. Portion in my opinion is on a smaller size. I think most people order two items plus a starter. Please support them especially during this pandemic. All restaurants are having a hard time to keep the business going. Definitely will go back for more. read more

Taco Mesa - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Orange, California

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Taco Mesa is a casual restaurant that consistently delivers delicious food! They also have great seasoned chips with several delicious salsas. I have never had anything here that I didn't love! Some fan favorites for our family- shrimp tacos and burritos, salmon tacos, a calamari torta, the house salad- pick your protein- all delicious! read more

Clean water in the bathroom and corn in dishes that say they have roasted corn would be nice. Cashier just basically said it's a hit and miss if you get the corn because they're mixed vegetables. Bathroom sink water is cloudy not clear just very weird. Not accommodating at all, sad because I've been here before and ordered the same dish and it had plenty of roasted corn. Different staff today they don't care. read more

Taco Mesa used to be really good over the years it's gone downhill. Tonight I got to Alambre beef tacos, which were greasy and the meat tasted half spoiled.. when I brought my tacos up to the counter and told them about it I said these tacos taste like the meat is old and the girl says "no we make everything fresh here" I know spoiled me when I tasted it. It was disgusting.. when they gave me the refund. They kept the tip and didn't refund it. The only reason I was there in the first place is because some friends wanted to go because I don't go anymore. The food went from being excellent 15 years ago, to being pretty gross in my opinion. Sorry Taco Mesa. Maybe start doing some quality control would be a good idea. read more

Taco Mesa has been a go to place for my family since I moved to Orange in the 90's. Stopped by this evening for dinner. I ordered two Pescado Fritos, two blackened Chicken tacos and a calamari taco. The fish was fresh, not fishy, the toppings fresh and crispy. The chicken tacos were well-seasoned and had a good portion of chicken. The calamari taco is my favorite. Surprisingly tender and tasty. Pricing is a little high but the value is there. They have daily specials... even a taco Tuesday when you want to save a buck or two. read more

Taco Mesa - Blackened chicken tacos ordered with crema and queso only. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Orange, California

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Pretty bland in general and my wife did not like it but I did like the Mesa burrito, which is the only reason it is getting 3 stars as opposed to 2 (my wife would give it 1 or 2). If it was not so pricey, I would consider giving it 4 stars but $20 for a relatively bland burrito is steep, even post covid. We got the Mesa burrito with asada, blackened burrito with shrimp, quesadilla for daughter, asada nachos and Al pastor tacos. Al pastor was very disappointing and at $5 a taco, should be much much better. I still have a taco, half a burrito and half the quesadilla in my fridge 3 days later, which is not a good sign since I ravage the fridge all the time. Service was fine even if the guy on the phone seemed a little short. Ambiance was ok - seemed clean and accessible. Salsa bar only had mild salsas and there was no spicy / habanero option behind the counter. Honestly, this is probably a spot for old white people (I'm an older white guy so I can say that.. haha) who don't need a lot of flavor and aren't too worried about disposable income. read more

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Food is tasty yet a bit too salty. Worst part is, I just finished working 16 1/2 hrs and very tired and hungry (not hangry lol) and the enchiladas, rice, AND beans are all COLD.....NOT even warm. I told the young kid and he said I should have told him sooner. Okaaaaay.....how much sooner? SMH Sad that it took a review for the kid to try to rectify......when he could care less prior. Back to "meal prepping" and saving money and empty calories! read more

Taco Mesa is different than the average Mexican restaurant. It is a casual dining restaurant with modern interior that offers fresh, healthy versions of Mexican cuisine. The menu is full of great options including breakfast, salads and soups, sandwiches, quesadillas, tacos, burritos, and meat-based entrees. The prices are a little high. For example, a taco costs $4-$6 and burrito costs $9-$14. These prices and high quality of food make Taco Mesa more of a sit-down restaurant than fast-food spot. My favorite items on the menu are pozole and shrimp tacos. If you're looking for a more filling entree, try the blackened chicken burrito. I do not recommend the house salad as it is very bland. This is a restaurant worth trying! read more

Dishonest. I order king tostada w/ chicken marked $17 on the big menu behind the counter. they charge $19. it's only $2 but I don't like being ripped off read more

Our food was delicious, included soft and hard shell tacos shredded beef/chicken. Yum! Salsas are good too. We will make this a regular spot. read more

The nachos are excellent, the place is clean, the service is good and friendly. Also the orchata is very good. Everything is solid but those are my favorites. read more

A decent choice for Taco Tuesdays in OC! Taco Mesa has your standard Mexican food, and tacos are $1.95 on Tuesdays. There's a lot of tables both inside and outside, though it does get busy especially at dinner time. My friend and I both got margaritas, but they mainly tasted like margarita mix instead of a good mix:alcohol ratio. However, I enjoyed the Mexico City dinner platter- chicken enchiladas with a side of rice and beans, and it was a pretty good portion size for $12.50! For any sweet tooths out there, they also offer desserts like churros con chocolate, flan de queso, and almond tres leches. read more

Taco Mesa - Taco Tuesday + margs + Mexico City plate - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Orange, California

The ambiance is very different from the Costa Mesa location. It's nice, it just looks more clean and commercial, almost like a chain restaurant. Great Taco Tuesday specials! Im very particular about Margaritas and theirs is amazing! read more

The food is always fresh and delicious and they have not altered their quality even after the pandemic and with current economic market/food sourcing struggles. I appreciate that. They have a quality attitude, quality food, and some of the nicest staff. I go out of my way to seek healthy, fresh food throughout my travels. As a self proclaimed foodie, I would definitely recommend this restaurant for casual eating anytime. read more

Not a good example for Mexican food in Southern California, but if you're simply hungry and need something filling this is the place. Unfortunately, the astronomical pricing for the poor quality here isn't appetizing. If the Carne Asada is any indication for the rest of their menu you just need to give Taco Mesa a pass. The beef was an over cooked salt bomb that probably sat in a hotel pan all day before they tossed it on the flat top for reheating. Ordering it wet made things worst because the red sauce was nothing recognizable in taste. The Lobster Taco was also a true disappointment. What was I thinking? Battered and fried?! When asked what drinks they have, the reply was, "Pepsi Products." read more

Took my wife for the taco Tuesday ended up in the ER a few hours later due to severe food poisoning. She ordered the crispy potato taco and the chicken taco. Few hours later she started feeling ill and then threw up non stop. read more

Taco Mesa - Been in the ER for 5 hours now due to those tacos - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Orange, California

Shafted! Ordered chicken gorditas, papas and guac w tortillas. Gorditas we're excellent, must try. But he papa were cold despite the side of warm tortillas. The cook literally just tossed cold potatoes in a cup, so rude. Also the guac was aged and with dark spots. It tasted really old!!! Have a little care, you put these items on the menu then your obligated to serve updated food! Total cal to health department! read more

Taco Mesa is a personal go to favorite! Their huge menu offers a variety of food for anyone. We went on a Wednesday evening and never realized they have daily deals other than their regular taco Tuesday deals. Wednesday they have deals on their burritos. We ordered chips & guac, black bean tacos, and the chicken burrito dinner deal. Everything tasted amazing and was very affordable. It all stayed warm during our entire meal. We were thrilled to see their salsa bar (including carrots) was fully operating. Everything here tasted very fresh and yummy. I love Taco Mesa and make sure to always recommend to friends and family looking for a new place to try out! read more

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I love this place. To Yelp Reviewer "Juan" down below. 1 Star because of cold churros while the place is super busy? How about simply saying these are cold, can we please have some fresh churros? Manager said it would be 10mins? Give them a chance to correct it? You said yourself is a great place, it is! Support local businesses, just speak up! Taco Mesa is wonderful! Great atmosphere. Fresh, delicious, great house made salsa and salsa bar, fresh margaritas. Flavor is there and so is the creativity of the dishes. You can get healthy here if you want! read more

Door says closed at 10:00pm it's 9:38pm there are people inside and they locked the doors saying It was too slow to stay open! Ridiculous it's Friday night! read more

I have never like this place, I tried it a few times and I just don't get the fuss about the food. Costumer service is horrible and way too expensive for what you get. read more

We came to this place for fresh green juice. It was a real juice! I tasted fresh kale, cucumber, squeezed lemon and ...They had a local live music... lovely...We enjoyed our time here... read more

Taco Mesa - Super fresh - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Orange, California

I Always enjoy their great food and ambiance. Thank you for your service. We enjoy coming here.

Came here with my gym crew on a tuesday. They have a taco Tuesday special where some of their tacos are $1.75. Line was out the door when we got there and it took us 20 minutes to place our order but the food came out fast! There is plenty of seating inside but on busy days there may still not be enough. The crunchy tacos were delicious (beef and chicken) but I wasn't much a fan of the fried fish taco. It lacked flavor and was way oily for my taste. The sides they have at their salsa bar were really good especially the cabbage mix they have. Will definitely be back for more! read more

Taco Mesa - Battered fish, beef, chicken. Taco Tuesday. $1.75 a taco - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Orange, California

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The place was nice and the price is adequate. But unfortunately the meal is just adequate as well. Ordered al pastor burrito for $9, and the lady behind the counter offered the 'meal special' for $1.50 extra will get me soda, rice and beans, salad, "all the extras," she says. One would expect that the burrito is all meats that the rice and beans are needed to complete the meal. Well, it's extra indeed. What i get is the same rice and beans that filled the majority of the burrito anyways. Oh, and plus a small clump of salad, and a single chip. Not some chips, not even chips, it's a single lonely chip. The taste is not bad, but you can kinda count the meats as you bite on the burrito due to the scarcity. The salsa is pretty fresh, but they don't have the spicy variety. Everything is just mild, as mild as my motivation to come again. read more

Four stars for food and dine-in atmosphere. Three stars for lack of information about catering / party platters on the website. If you visit the website, the Party Platters menu webpage https://www.tacomesa.com/our-menu doesn't mention a minimum of 48 hours advanced notice. 24 hours isn't enough time. read more

Food is amazing here. The Alambre taco is incredible. The chips are super tasty with a chili lime seasoning. Love it. Customer service is fire! Highly recommend read more