This place came up on a collection to follow of best tacos in Orange County.. We are working our way through the entire collection.. this did not disappoint! Home made shells are a big draw for me. Tried a few things.. Carnitas taco was the winner with the green sauce they give you on the side.. The Carne Asada taco was a close second place and that is great on its own but if you add the red sauce they give you on the side it takes it to a new level. Fish taco came in 3rd place but not by much. Very good, lightly fried and crispy... better than most. Order the chips and salsa.. that is sooo worth it... They have fresh Iced Tea which is nice as most places just go the easy route with powdered tea from A soda machine.. this is much nicer than that. Parking in front or in back.. just be aware of signs and don't park in apartments behind restaurant. Highly recommended place to try. read more

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I'm giving 2 stars because the food itself is actually pretty good. I really wanted to like Tacos Madre, which makes the overall experience even more disappointing. My first visit should've been a warning sign tbh.. I waited 40 minutes for 5 tacos. The complaints about this place are true: dine-in customers don't seem to be prioritized, parking is a hassle, and the food takes an extremely long time to come out. I decided to give them another chance today, and somehow the service was even worse. I only had one person ahead of me in line, yet they still managed to give my order to a large group behind me because another customer ordered similar items. When I brought it up, they couldn't even find my receipt and had to ask me all over again what I ordered. What bothered me most wasn't the mistake because mistakes happen. It was the complete lack of accountability or basic customer service. No apology, no explanation, no urgency. They just told me to sit back down and I waited another 10 minutes. When my food finally came out, the employee dropped it on the table and walked away without saying a word. Good food can only carry a place so far. The lack of communication, attentiveness, and simple human decency completely ruined the experience for me. read more

Stopped in while on a work trip. I had the vegetarian tacos which were tasty. The zucchini one was perfect. Enjoyed! The mushroom was good but maybe a little too much mushroom on one tacos. Or maybe needed a little Cole slaw to break it up, but that was just me. Flavor was good. Chips were decent. Salsa was pretty darn good. The tacos came with a green and red chili and the red chili didn't disappoint. I would come back. read more

Tacos Madre - Veggie tacos- 1 zucchini mix taco and 1 mushroom taco - Mexican Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Okay I was not expecting much from a recycled Taco Bell location but dang the Wet Steak Burrito was the bomb! We came here during Taco Tuesday $2.75. My wife hot the fish taco also very yummy especially with hand made tortillas. nice. Liked it so much we got steak tacos to go. Must try read more

I can't believe I didn't stop here earlier. I had heard about this place from a lot of my friends and they said you've got to go and check it out. I'm so glad I had time today to do that because this is one place that is worth of the trip! Super neat and tidy on the inside. Warm and inviting three video screens display the menu. Plenty of options for you regardless if it's breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Great selection of beer and soft drinks to wash it down with. I got a brag on the chips and salsa for a minute, they were off with the chain. I don't know if the chips are made in-house, but they taste like they were. Has a kick to it. It sneaks up on you, so don't get overzealous dunking your chip. And make sure you have a beer or some water handy. I ordered a couple of street tacos as it was still early and I needed to go to lunch later. I did carnitas and Kearney asada. The tortillas were definitely handmade and whatever marinade they used on the carmy asada was freaking amazing! I usually judge a Mexican restaurant by their carnitas and this one past the test and flying colors. Super delicious, moist and flavorful made for the perfect Taco. The bottom line? If you like tacos like I like tacos. You got to check this place out! Located on harbor boulevard. You really can't miss the sign out front. read more

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Dang Taco's Madre is where it's at! The food was sooooooo good. Everyone there was so nice and the vibes inside were prime. I ordered the asada keto tacos and was nottt disappointed. The cheese shell was perfect with the meat and onions. My family all said they looooved their food too. 11/10! The only bummer is the parking. But Taco's Madre is 100/10! read more

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I was craving carne asada fries and came here to check it out! The carne asada fries come with the larger crinkle cut fries but they're so crispy and the toppings were delicious. I also really liked the al pastor taco. Overall, great service, food and ambiance. read more

Tacos Madre - Mexican Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Tacos Madre is LEGIT! Some of the most elevated casual Mexican food in Orange County. We've had the opportunity to visit a few times and they never disappoint! First off the ambiance of the place is really cool! They have some amazing artwork and images of cultural icons that looks super modern. It's also extremely clean and always well-maintained. You order at the register, get your table number, take a seat and they'll bring out your food. The menu is a little intimidating, at first, because they have such an expansive menu. At this point, our go-tos are: - Birria Quesataco - Fish Taco - Chilaquiles with red sauce - Side of Guac All of these items are 5/5. They make all of their own tortillas in-house and are amazing! Every order comes with complimentary fresh chips and salsa - chips made with homemade tortillas- TOP TIER! The fish tacos and chilaquiles are both some of the best we've ever had. The batter on the fish is crispy, full of flavor and a nice crema on top. The red sauce on the chilaquiles was epic! If you're in the area, I highly recommend Tacos Madre for an elite meal! read more

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Music playing in the background as you walk in to order. After ordering you seat yourself and wait for your food to be served. No hard liquor only beers available. Not a very big place but very busy and great service. read more

Tacos Madre has some of the best fish tacos in Orange County. We also love their fried fish plate. They are always super friendly there, which is a plus! It can get really busy, and tables can fill up even on weekdays. The parking situation can be tough, but it's worth it! read more

Tacos Madre - Mojarra Frita - Mexican Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Great spot for Mexican food. Everything we tried tasted really good. The servers were friendly and welcoming. The atmosphere is casual and relaxed, making it an easy place to sit down and enjoy your meal. Definitely worth checking out if you're in the area. read more

Tacos Madre - carne asada fries - Mexican Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Love the tacos here!! You can't go wrong here. Just be patient because there could be a wait to order, 1 register, and for the food to prepare. Always fresh and tasty. They do have taco tuesday specials as well which is nice. Just wish they could do something about their parking lot! Horrible parking situation when there's not spots available. SYOY read more

Tacos Madre - Queso tacos - Mexican Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Pretty limited parking so expect a bit of wait. Ordering is okay but the tacos do take a while to be made and there is no sauce/chip bar. Be sure to ask for water/napkins/limes/salsa when ordering. They do give a tomatillo and a spicier salsa (not too spicy, roasted, and buildable spice). Taco prices are okay, but doesn't have all the options ($2 normal, $4 fish taco for taco tuesday). They serve the tacos on a board and for the price a pretty good portion. The chorizo was okay, a bit dry and it would do well with some cheese. The tortillas are corn. Fish tacos had mostly cream flavor and was dressed well, pairs well with the lemon and big chunks. You should probably clean up after yourself because of limited staff. Overall, a little gentrified, but solid place for fish tacos and casual ambiance. Pretty self service. read more

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Good service, clean seating area, food was just average. Serving on a plank looks gourmet but the taste needs to match! Birria sliders- decent Horchata- good Carne asada tacos- dry read more

The food here is seriously good. Everything handmade and fresh. We had the street tacos and fish tacos with an horchata. Everything was a home run. Will be visiting again! read more

The tacos here are amazing. They take a while because everything is made fresh. I've been here twice now and it's so good.

So good! This place is always quick and taste is on point! I'll be back asap! Wish there was one closer

Amazing tacos. Great service. Nice seating with cool art on the walls. Parking out front can be difficult since it has only a few spots; try the spots in the back too. read more

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Make sure to try their grilled salmon taco ($7) which has fried (or roasted?) Brussels sprouts & house made cranberry agridolce! I was nervous the agridolce might be too sqeet but it wasn't, it mostly tasted naturally sweetened from the fresh cranberries! My taste buds were delighted & oh so satisfied, & it tasted healthy yet decadent at the same time :) These are high quality gourmet tacos, & the soft house made corn tortillas never disappoint! read more

Only tried the handmade tortillas tacos so pls take this w/ a grain of salt. Loved how thick the handmade tortillas were, had a great bite to it and definitely enough to satiate an appetite that usually goes for 2 thin tortillas. I'd say the tacos are mid compared to other prestigious locations. The service however, is extremely friendly and accommodating. I can tell everyone there is hardworking and deserves proper acknowledgment! 5/5 for the staff :) Was simply lacking that "wow" factor flavor-wise and was hoping that the salsas would have their own unique taste. Parking is limited so be mindful of that during rush hour. I appreciate the generous portions though. The handmade tortilla tacos are big enough so go for it if you're hungry! read more

Tacos Madre - Asada on the left and Al Pastor on the right - Mexican Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

good variety and options here. i'd recommend the birra, horchata, & street tacos. they have good taco tuesday deals & this place can get pretty packed. also super small parking lot! read more

A lovely ambiance! Stopped by for "brunch" after finishing the OC marathon as a treat! I had the veggie burrito with zucchini; it was a yummy and fulfilling! While my family and I enjoyed our time, I wish the vegetarian options varied a bit more :- ) Amicable host and waiter yay read more

Tacos Madre - Vegetarian burrito - Mexican Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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The staff was polite, the restaurant was cute and clean. It was fast. However, oh man it was bland. Maybe they looked at me and assumed all spice needed to be removed, but for Mexican food I was left wondering where's the spice? read more

Just get the salmon tacos. It will surprise you and make you want to come back for it. I paired it with the green sauce. Future Jonesing is guaranteed. read more

Service is fine. Restaurant is clean. Food was just ok at best. Ordered a combo with crunchy chicken taco and cheese enchiladas. Sauce wasn't horrible but it tasted like it was from a can. Nothing special. I would love to say it was but there just wasn't any reason I'd eat here again. read more

I came here for the first time for a work lunch with a coworker and it was delicious, good prices and I would definitely come again. They had taco Tuesday and various special options as well. I got a fajitas plate that was delicious, large portions and great for leftovers. The service was good overall, it was just a bit hard to cut the meat with the plastic takeout utensils we were given to eat. Parking in the front fills up pretty quick, and the restaurant was busy (which I always take as a good sign). Clean tables and cute and simple decor. read more

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You can tell how good the Mexican restaurant is by how many gueros are there. And this place was packed full of them. The chicken, beans and rice plate were delicious. The ambience is really nice. The only thing was there really representing the Mexicano culture so hard, but playing yacht rock? So that tells you who they're trying to cater to. Anyway, definitely a delicious place but if you want really authentic Mexican food with the authentic Mexican vibe, maybe this isn't the place exactly. But it's still delicious. read more

The food was very good 100% recommended for any time of the day, the customer service was excellent and very nice to one. The ambiance was very nice. read more

I came here with a friend for dinner as we both love enchiladas. I got it with both red and green sauce and my friend is a big fan of just green. Wow, these enchiladas are so delicious and fresh tasting. I had enough for a huge breakfast the next day that fueled me to a very long hike. If I can get two meals out of one, that's a great value! Excellent service. Indoor seating. Casual. On my repeat list! Please come and create your own experience. read more

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You can't not give this place 5 stars. If you gave it less than 5, you're the type of person who thinks they're above it all. Girl bye. Hush up and eat the fire Mexican food. The fish taco is one of the best fish tacos I've ever had in my life and it super cute inside. I thought north gate had my heart but just half a mile down it was stolen by Tacos Madre. As the terminator once said...I'll be back. Came back and tried to judge this place based on their torta and they came out on top once again. The rolled birria tacos were insane. I can always tell how good a Mexican or Asian place is by the customers. If there are Hispanic people walking into a Mexican restaurant and Asians walking into an Asian restaurant, I just know it's authentic. Come here and eat bc it tastes like la cocina de abuela aqui. Adios. read more

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Perhaps it was an off night. Both my wife and I tasted something fishy. I'm thinking someone ordered fish before they made our food. The burrito was very greasy. The salsa was extremely salty as well. Good luck. read more

Food - A 5 ***** - my vegetarian burrito was exactly how I like it! I will be coming back for more. My fiancé's Cajun shrimp burrito however was a little underdone concerning the shrimp. Service - B 4**** very authentic friendly service. I just wish the sweet gal who took my order would be able to explain to me better if I was able order all vegetable options in my burrito or only one,,,two, etc? I couldn't really tell with the language barrier. Ambiance - B **** lively busy atmosphere at 7pm when we were taking our walk by. We came back two hours later and it was still pretty busy. It's because this place caters to all: from the keto lover, vegetarian or the one wanting to the real deal Mexican food! read more

Tacos Madre - Vegetarian burrito with mushroom and onion. Wet verde sauce. - Mexican Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

I love this place! I love the vibe and the service is always great! The sopes are the best especially the carne asada! All their food tastes amazing. Recommend this place 100000%! read more

Good food but had to wait 40 mins for my takeout order. Bummer because me and my bf go here, but after the service tonight we probably will take a break :/ read more

We have been here several times now. The chips and salsa are great. My favorite is their fish tacos. The fish tacos are always consistent. I love their green salsa. My son enjoyed the asada taco on the handmade tortillas. Good beans and handmade tortillas. Beef taquitos were good and my husband enjoys the asada wet burrito. The kids quesadilla is ok. Yummy orchards! The ladies running the front are helpful. Plenty of seating. It fits our large family. Parking can be difficult at times. You can order online! read more

Tacos Madre - Fish tacos - Mexican Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

This is a tough review. The food good but the service was not the best. It was our first time there and we asked for recommendations and there were a few misunderstandings when the food came out. One dish had more than what we wanted and another was just wrong. The problem was that there was no attempt to fix the order. That said, the food does stand on its own just make sure you know what you're ordering. The chicken taquitos were the best I've had. The beef Birria tacos was so tender and delicious. The Keto taco on a cheese shell, very special but super greasy. Atmosphere was fine but parking in front might sometimes be an issue. My last critique is that I went there for a mole taco following a yelp event where I tried a sample and there was no mole. Perhaps I got the wrong restaurant but I don't think so. Anyway, again, the food was good but not the best overall experience. read more

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I love this place sooo much the food is amazing. the staff is friendly and helpful every time I come here I notice that the customer service is top tier I love to come and get a meal and a enjoy a beer, and if i'm lucky enough to catch a slow moment i'll get to enjoy the music and the vibe they curate here. truly worth every penny special should out to Dora for the lovely service and kindness read more

Tacos Madre - cafeteria - Mexican Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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I completely understand this restaurant is made-to-order but I wish they did not ignore the online orders letting them sit there. I told the cashier I was picking up an order and when it was ready, she did nothing. I had to walk to the counter to remind her. Please do not have an option for online ordering if they don't care read more

This is one of those places that prioritizes online orders. I stopped in to have dinner with some friends ahead of going to see a show. We placed our order at the counter and sat down. The restaurant is clean. The bathroom is also clean. The parking is terrible. We ended up waiting 30 minutes for some tacos. I finally had to ask them to make it to go instead of enjoying our meal in the restaurant because we were going to be late for an event. When I went up, they couldn't find my order. I watched them going through the tickets and it was obvious they weren't putting them up in order. When we had arrived there was only one person in line ahead of us. There was a large number of people that arrived later, which is where all the order tickets must have come from. Other sit down patrons were also complaining about their orders taking too long. I finally got my food but it was only after asking for a refund. The food was a 3 out of 5 and we barely made our event in time. Unfortunately I won't be returning. I can't support sit down restaurants that prioritize online orders over customers who take the time to come in and enjoy the food. read more

We ordered tacos with 3 diff types of basic meats... asada, pollo, and pastor. Pastor was okay. The other meats were so dry and didn't taste fresh. I ended up ordering protein style tacos, I never see that in any taco spots. I liked the idea of it, but it just wasn't enough for me to give them a better rating. read more

Tacos Madre - Mexican Near Me - Costa Mesa, California