Let's talk the good, the bad, and the ugly of Taco Rosa... The good: Their tacos are pretty delicious. I love the chips with beans. Like, I could live off those and a margarita and be happy! The bad AND the ugly: The shrimp. The shrimp that had not been deveined that I only noticed after eating most of them. Apparently some people don't care about this? I personally was so grossed out and not pleased that the server just said it got missed and offered no apology. I can't say it's 100% deal breaker for me, but I definitely will never again order the shrimp read more

Taco Rosa - Mexican Near Me - Irvine, California

No bueno drinks. No bueno food. No bueno service. No bueno review. No bueno coming back. read more

I am obsessed with their happy hour, their crispy barbacoa tacos alone are worth coming back for over and over again. We ordered one of each of their tacos, prices fairly at $1.50-2 each, they are small but 4 make a good meal. Second best was their only other crispy option, the potato, the rest I would not bother with again. The green tortillas a nice touch and all dishes are visually stunning. Service is exceptional, they really go above and beyond to make sure their customers are satisfied. Dishes come out quickly and the chicken flautas for the table a nice touch and tasty starter. The quality is well worth the occasional splurge, but I will stick with the delicious barbacoa tacos at happy hour. read more

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I went there today during taco Tuesday and sat at the bar outside. Asked the server about the blackened chicken, calamari or shrimp in the taco Tuesday menu that was priced $8. I asked for the calamari, and got a margarita too. And asked for a glass of water. The water never came and the taco was just 1 single calamari taco. When the bill came the taco was $16 and when I asked the waiter he said that taco (that o ordered from the taco Tuesday menu and was priced $8) was not $8 and was $16. I thought that was ridiculous read more

Excellent happy hour here! Mon -Friday 2-6. Drink specials! House margarita on the rocks is great! They make their own margarita mix organic. Beef tacos awesome! Great service out in the patio! We had churro desert to end the night! read more

Taco Rosa - Churro dessert - Mexican Near Me - Irvine, California

Just okay and expensive for quality. Ordered ceviche and steak fajitas. Margaritas were the best part but even that was a bit weak. I've had their breakfast before which was decent. Nice patio. That's why 3 stars. read more

Came here for dinner during OC restaurant week. Haven't been here in 5 plus years. We had a 3 course meal for $30. I also added Don Julio Hand Squeezed Margarita for $10. It was quite refreshing and alcohol was just right. Appetizers: stuffed jalapeño & shrimp ceviche Entrees: Lobster Enchiladas & Paella Espanola Desserts: Cuatro Leches & Flan Con Churros The food was better than what I remembered. Everything was tasty. There were a good amount of lobster in the enchiladas and the calamari was tender and clams were big, sweet and juicy in the paella. I didn't care too much for the desserts as it was too sweet for me. read more

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Their jalapeña sauce!!! Oh my goodness! All of their blackened tacos....can't go wrong! Staff is always happy!!!

This place is amazing. Not a bad item on the menu and the outdoor seating is nice, comfortable regardless of temperatures, and quite given it being close to the main road. The staff is always super friendly and the food comes out quick. Oh and they do a Taco Tuesday happy hour! read more

Taco Rosa - Sangria for two, King Tostada with steak, and chips & salsas - Mexican Near Me - Irvine, California

First of all no chips or salsa for the table!!!(they're an appetizer option for additional $$$) But that would be ok if the main dishes were good, BUT THEY WERNT. My ENCHILADAS OAXAQUENAS were soggy and very under flavored. The rice was old and had stale crunchy bits and the bean taste like they were right out of a can. My girlfriends shrimp fajitas were not sizzling and seamed to be old sautéed maybe ever boiled veggies and the shrimp were so bland. My margarita was fine although pricey. Our service was good. read more

Delicious food. Excellent service. The Rosa Cambo was the perfect size for hungry travelers. The flan was so creamy. I definitely would come back. Oops I forgot they had the creamest guacamole I've ever tasted. read more

Taco Rosa - Mexican Near Me - Irvine, California

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Fun place to enjoy happy hour drinks and appetizers with your friends. We ordered several margaritas and I also ordered quest jalapeños which were quite spicy but delicious. Super large portions enough to share. They have outdoor seating as well so you can enjoy the night breeze. Large menu selections and their churro and flan dessert is delicious. read more

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Amazing service, delicious margaritas! Very kind staff and the food has made us regulars there. Thank you for the great service and food! read more

Taco Rosa - Mexican Near Me - Irvine, California

Unfortunately this restaurant has really gone downhill. Maybe they are understaffed, it's hard to say exactly. It took 45 minutes to take our order which is certainly unacceptable. The ice-t was skunky to boot. The food came about 25 minutes latter and was good but not great. Other parts of the meal came about 10 minutes later. This used to be one of my favorite Mexican food restaurants but I will avoid it in the future. I can't wait around for 90 minutes for lunch unfortunately. read more

Dude this place needs to go. From food to ambience to service not my favorite. Food was undervaluing, portions were small and taste was nothing like it should be. I would recommend Cha Chas Latin kitchen instead. I'll give this place May be a year. read more

We were greeted by a very friendly gentleman and seated on the patio as we requested as it was so nice out. Sat down and the table was sticky. Our server was Guillermo who greeted us but not with a friendly smile or welcoming of any kind. I nicely asked Guillermo if we could get the table cleaned as it was really sticky? He said that's how the table is and if it made me feel better he just washed the entire table down an hour ago. I asked him if the table was supposed to normally be that way, he said yes. I don't particularly like a sticky table so I put my linen napkin down (sorry if that makes me picky) and the entire floor under our table was sticky. My husband asked him what size the tacos were and Guillermo said regular size, my husband again what size are the tacos big or small to ensure he got the right amount, once again not with a smile and kind of grouchy he said regular size. I got 3 fried tacos and he got Tacos Al pastor, which were good. My husband is from Mexico City and he said the taste good but not authentic like it says "Mexico city cuisine. Presentation was good, service not so great. Almost $5.00 for a safe a little expensive. He took our dishes of food away after we finished and asked how it was in Spanish to my husband. He told him it was good which it was. Waited for sometime to receive our check he was a little nicer but I saw all the other servers with smiles for their guests read more

Taco Rosa - Fried Tacos chicken and beef - Mexican Near Me - Irvine, California

So glad I tried this out. Exceptionally warm greeting, service and food. We sat on the beautiful patio and it was very comfortable - they seem prepared for any weather out there. Going to have to make it for taco Tuesday sometime soon. Nice, upscale Mexican food. read more

Really good food and service. Had the caldo de pollo ranchero it was amazing. The tortillas are fresh and the chips with salsa and bean dip was really good too. Had an Horchata as well and it was great. Definitely recommend. read more

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Taco Rosa recently hiked their lunch prices by 50% which is a huge jump. It went from $10 to $15. I understand having to slightly raise prices due to inflation but 50% is just too much. If they do plan on upping their prices, I would expect to get more food but it's still almost exactly the same as before but at a higher price. The only addition to the lunch menu is that you now get an additional small tomato soup or beet arugula salad. With so many restaurants in the area with better lunch prices, I don't think I'll be dining here as often as I used to. Taco Rosa typically has attentive servers. However, on my last dine in, I'm sad to report I had a very inattentive server who only stopped by 2 times and that was to order and bring out the bill which I had to wave him down for and waited an additional 10 minutes for him to bring it to me. The restaurant was not crowded and he was only serving my table and another one behind me. Not impressed and hope that the server was just having an off day that day. read more

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What I got was DELICIOUS, but only four stars because of everything we didn't get. Aka service and price. They don't serve complimentary chips, so we got the chips and salsa for $3. Not bad, but a little frustrating bc many places give you this as part of your meal. I got the tacos ($21) with steak, mushrooms, and Brie, and they were TO DIE FOR. They melt the cheese in front of you with a handheld torch, so the tacos come out perfectly melty and warm. Cheese and beans on the side as well which help to cleanse your palette between delicious bites of taco. I only ate 2, and ended up having leftovers. I found the food to be a little pricey, but I think it was just what I got specifically (plus paying for the chips). The service was mediocre, but our waiter seemed flustered and was genuinely really friendly and nice when he was around our table. The food was flavorful and well done though (and everyone I was with loved it too). Definitely a great place to catch up with friends, or even have larger group dinners at! read more

Taco Rosa - Tacos with Brie and mushrooms and steak - Mexican Near Me - Irvine, California

First time here today. We will definitely be back! Instead of chip and salsa for a starter you are served a complimentary sope topped with a delicious red sauce and cotija with pickled carrots on the side...delicious. I had a blackened chicken taco and a potato taco, both were tasty. Chicken was tender and juicy. Hubby had a bean and cheese burrito with pibil sauce, very good sauce. Our server Octavio provided us with wonderful attentive service! read more

Taco Rosa - Mexican Near Me - Irvine, California

I came here with friends for happy hour on a Friday afternoon. When passing by on my way home from work I usually see a lot of people sitting in the outdoor patio sipping on drinks. Upon arriving, the host was friendly and very welcoming to us. The patio seating was open so we were able to choose our own seats. The servers were very nice and patient with us when ordering, however after taking our order and bringing out our food and drinks they did not check up on us very much. By the time she came back to ask us for another round of drinks, our cups were empty. After refilling our drinks, we did not see our server for over 20 minutes. At the end of our time here, we were unable to flag her down to ask for the check. Very friendly staff but they are not attentive. As for food, we ordered the happy hour nachos with skirt steak. The nachos were very tasty and and filled with a lot of meat and cheese. The only con I would say about the nachos was how soggy the bottom was. I hoped they would have drained out the liquid from the beans and the pico de gallo but all the juices were dripping to the bottom of the plate. Unfortunately Taco Rosa does not offer complimentary chips and salsa to start. Usually, Mexican restaurants serve chips and salsa as a free starter which is a nice plus. For the drinks, I ordered the HH sangria for two which comes in a small pitcher shaped like an hour glass. The sangria was tasty and had the traditional red wine and fruity flavor but the pitcher was filled with ice. By the end, my drink was very watered down and tasted like juice. Also, my cup was dirty and had little specks of what looks like tajin or chili flakes (maybe from a spicy margarita). I also noticed some smudged on our table. I wish they would wipe down the tables a bit better, even though they are outdoor. My friends ordered white wine which was filled to the top and very much appreciated! The price for happy hour is very reasonable, but my sangria was watered down by the time I was on my second glass from the pitcher. Overall, I gave this restaurant 3 stars because I feel like it was a tasty spot with friendly service, however the staff was not as attentive as I would appreciate, the drinks were watered down, and the restaurant as a whole could be cleaner. I would have liked to try more food from the HH menu but we were too full from lunch to order anything else. read more

Very enjoyable! Went for Taco Tuesday slash Happy Hour with a group of 6 and was treated greatly by Ricardo. They brought complimentary bite size chimichangas for everyone that was delicious! We shared the stuffed jalapeños, nachos and esquites. Also took advantage of their taco Tuesday and many of us had delicious tacos or tostadas! Tacos were $1.75-$2/ea and there were so many items for half off their happy hour! Everything was delicious, margaritas were great, house wine was great, service was great and everything was well priced. At 3 drinks each, appetizers and a meal...we ended up at only $40/pp! Will be back soon! read more

This place was awesome when they had their brunch + mariachi unfortunately it has gone down hill. I know what authentic mexican food taste like and this is far from it. read more

This was our first visit to Taco Rosa we were in the area for a visit to the Pumpkin Patch and decided to grab some Mexican food. This was an interesting visit to this restaurant because its not like any other Mexican restaurant we 've been to its very nice almost like a upscale restaurant. Not only is your food decorated very nicely it tastes great to but also different in flavor then any Mexican food ive ever had i guess they just put they're own twist on the food here. I had a Blackened Chicken burrito that was over the top great with large chunks of chicken and my burrito was not runny. My wife had specially made Carnitas Sope's on blue ground corn. They gave us two small sope's when we sat down on the house which was cool but the negatives were you have to pay for chips and salsa and there are no free refills and the salsa isnt chunky. It is a bit pricey here but well worth it. read more

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First time visiting Irvine Spectrum and our Birthday Girl wanted Mexican for her Birthday Dinner. Called Taco Rosas spoke with Ruben and he was very welcoming and had openings for walk ins. As we walked in was greeted and welcome by Ruben and staff. Wonder atmosphere, Kid and family friendly, attentive, and food and drinks were excellent!! I highly recommend Taco Rosas if you're looking for the Best Mexican Restaurant and great ambiance. read more

I have eaten here before but have not been back in awhile. could not remember why. Then I remembered. The service! When we first got there we were greeted by a young man (maskless) who sat us right away. For a Friday night, I was very shocked. We sat at our table for 15mins before someone finally realized we there. They came took our drink and dinner order (since we were clearly done looking the menu over) the food came out very quickly it after that we never saw our server again. Actually I don't even know if the person who took our order was even our server because he seemed to have glanced at us from afar and asked us if our server has come over yet. Anyway food was actually pretty good. We ordered chips and salsa (you have to pay for it as an app doesn't come for free) came with three different salsas which were amazing!! We also ordered tacos with rice and beans (rice and beans are extra) I ordered potato and shredded beef tacos which were very tasty. The S.O ordered fish and calamari tacos. He said there was little to no calamari in the taco but still tasty. * the SO said his tacos were not crispy at all just your normal soft corn tortillas but mine were..strange as it said nothing of the sort on the menu. Food: 4 stars Service: 2 stars Ambience: 3 stars read more

Taco Rosa - Tacos with rice and beans - Mexican Near Me - Irvine, California

Been coming here for years but always lazy with leaving reviews. The restaurant has to be extensively good for me to take my time. Back to the restaurant tonight and had a good time: good food, great service, friendly staff, reasonable pricing. We had steak and carnita tacos, rosa fajitas and cowboy steak.. everything is tasty and beautifully presented! read more

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Went to Taco Rosa during restaurant week. Tried out their lunch and it was absolutely delicious. Except I didn't realize chips and salsa was $4.the food was amazing and I love both of the desserts that came with it. I tried for the first course arugula beet salad which was delicious. I like the way they made it and the dressing is amazing. For the second course I tried Tacos de Filete. Again really outstanding flavors and I would definitely come back again. read more

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Happy Hour for the win! Happy Hour is M-Th 2-6pm Nachos, Enchiladas, Gorditas and other choices on the HH menu are $2-$3 off their normal price. read more

Had brunch here last Sunday and this place was packed! Get here early or make reservations. The place is small but offers a great menu. There is a Omelette, Burrito and pancake station, there is a carving station with 2 types of meats, a taco station outside in patio and a dessert table with a good variety and chocolate fountain. I personally wouldn't come here again unless there was an occasion. It was too packed for my taste and the service was kind of lacking. They do have a group that goes around the tables singing and playing live music. Just too tight a space for my comfort. read more

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The food we had here was absolutely delicious. There carne asada was very flavorful and and the service was excellent. The only down side is the price and portion sizes. read more

I'll start by saying this place from our past experience was really good, service, food and a great outdoor patio. Tonight was such a bad experience , my family and I will not be retuning. Our waiter was beyond rude. Service here and how we were treated was probably the worst I've ever experienced. read more

Great Ambiance, decent Happy Hours, Flavorful Tacos Went today here to try out their Tacos Tuesday Tacos as well as Happy hour. Be aware that the taco Tuesdays are cheaper than Happy hour but they are also smaller. My partner in crime order a classic margarita which was strikes a nice balance between sweet and sour and just the right amount of alcohol. The Shrimp ceviche was decent from a restaurant which had lots of nice visible pieces of shrimp. The carne tacos were awesome. They have a nice crunch on them and they only had to use one thin tortilla for each taco and the included sauce had the right amount of spiciness that was not overwhelming. Even though they may not be the cheapest place for tacos it is a wonderful place to hangout with a date or friends where you can get a decent margarita. read more

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THIS PLACE IS A JOKE! The manager's attitude and accountability is awful. I ordered a wet blackened shrimp burrito and requested the cabbage & sour cream to be removed. The waiter took my order correctly but the chef disregarded everything she said. The manger made a big deal because I asked for the burrito to be remade how I asked. HE BRINGS BACK A DRY BURRITO THE SIZE OF A TAQUITO with only shrimp inside the burrito... No rice, no beans, no sauce, no cheese, literally just shrimp inside of a dry tortilla. I genuinely feel bad for their workers. Every location is understaffed and they overwork their workers to the point at which they're DRIPPING SWEAT WHILE SERVING TABLES which is obviously not ideal for guests or the waiters themselves. We also waited outside along with 3 other parties for 15-20 minutes without being greeted or sat at a table. Do NOT come to this disgrace of a Mexican restaurant! read more

This is a gluten free review. Gluten free menu: No, but items are clearly marked on the menu. Some servers are knowledgeable or you can ask the manager (who is all knowing). What I ordered: Chicken fajitas usually. However, I've been coming for Sunday brunch. It's an all you can eat buffet and 90% of the options are naturally gluten-free. The only area to be cautious about is the dessert section. I have been able to have chocolate covered strawberries though! Ask the manager to give you a tour of the gluten free options and he will gladly do it. Gluten free options: 5/5 This place is a gluten free dream. There are so many options to choose from and everything is so delicious and flavorful. Food: 4/5 Food is always fresh and hot. The chicken fajitas are moist and cooked to perfection. portions are decent, but I wouldn't say shareable. Service: 5/5 Servers are friendly, the manager is even more friendly, the food comes out quickly. What more could I ask? Location: 5/5 Located in the Irvine side of the Market Place. Shares a parking lot with the Edwards Movie theater. Parking is plenteous and the restaurant is easy to locate. Ambiance: 4/5 It can feel a little crammed when it's busy, but overall the restaurant has a solid Mexican vibe. Very comfortable. On Sundays, a Mariachi band plays throughout the restaurant while you enjoy their brunch buffet. Overall score: 4.6/5 read more

Taco Rosa - Some buffet items. Carb heavy, I know... - Mexican Near Me - Irvine, California

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No complaints, we will be returning for this great food and service! Quick service was a plus ! read more

Taco Rosa - Shrimp fajitas and the carnita plate were excellent! Definitely will be back again! Great service and hospitality was 5 stars! - Mexican Near Me - Irvine, California

Came here for date night. Partner really wanted to try the margaritas. The drinks were fine. I got the house, and it was way too sweet for a margarita. Partner got the strawberry margarita. It was sweet but I guess that works for a strawberry marg. I ordered the cowboy steak and she ordered the Rosa steak fajitas. I asked for the steak to be medium rare and had to correct the waiter to confirm it was medium rare... it came out very cooked. Like medium well? See pic. The partners steak was better granted it's smothered in fajita sauce. Like I would ask for another steak but realistically I am not going to eat another steak. Nor do I want to worry whether the next one will be cooked right. Honestly at this rate I could've made better drinks and food and that's because I actually would pay attention when I make the drinks and food... like you can taste the idgaf in the food here read more

Taco Rosa - Over cooked steak - Mexican Near Me - Irvine, California

I had been to Taco Rosa a few years back and always admired the fancy Spanish/Mediterranean interior, but had been turned off by the higher prices. There is plenty of interior seating as well as patio seating. I was happy to see that there were some great lunch specials. Items marked with a pink rose were 30% off the menu price from Monday to Friday before 6pm. Plus it was Taco Tuesday (valid all day), and the following tacos were priced at $1.50 (Pastor, Frito de Papa, Chicharoon y Nopal, Carnitas Pibil, and Barbacoa en Guajillo) and $2 (Blackened calamari, chicken breast, shrimp, asada). I opted for the blackened calamari taco, asada taco, and went with the UNO plato combinado ($7.35 after the 30% discount). Complimentary starter- All guests receive a complimentary starter. Typically Mexican restaurants offer chips and salsa, but this place decided to mix things up. Today they were serving pickled carrots and ceviche. I loved the taste of the carrots and the ceviche. UNO- ($7.35 after discount) This came with a choice of blackened chicken breast taco, Oaxaca cheese enchilada, or tamal de pollo with peas, carrots, and shitake mushrooms. Also included was rice, beans and a sweet corn tamalito. I went with the cheese enchilada and enjoyed the cheesy gooiness coming from it. The enchilada was smothered with a delicious red sauce and was soft and easy to cut with a fork. The rice tasted good and was happy to see that there was a large serving of the sweet corn tamalito included as well. Overall this was a pretty filling entree on it's own and I should have stopped here, but I didn't. :P Blackened calamari taco- ($2) I loved the tasted of the blackened calamari, enveloped in a chipotle sauce, cabbage relish, crema fresca, and cotija cheese in a crispy shell. The calamari was perfectly prepared. It was soft and tender and went really well with all the other ingredients in the taco. Asada taco- ($2) This crispy taco came with shredded beef, lettuce, pico de gallo, queso and crema fresca. I was completely surprised at how good this taco was. The beef was tender and the taco was bursting with flavor. Overall this was an awesome meal in an outstanding atmosphere. The tacos here are the star of the show and I can't wait to go back to try more. The 30% discount and the Taco Tuesday specials really impressed me and I for one am going to make sure this place is on my regular places to visit for lunch. read more

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Been here a few times and have always had a great experience. They usually start you off with a little complimentary dish before they take your order. The margaritas are very good and they have plenty of flavors to choose from. Only thing I'd say is that they're a bit overpriced for a margarita. Their food is and the plates are huge. Their enchiladas are our usual order, they're really great. Never had a bad experience here, the staff are always kind and attentive. The outdoor seating at this location is also pretty nice. Love this restaurant, I keep coming back! read more

Taco Rosa - Oaxaca enchiladas (split into two plates) - Mexican Near Me - Irvine, California