The Taco Stand started off in San Diego and due to it's popularity has spread to so many locations in Southern California as well as a handful of places across the U.S. While they are extremely popular for their tacos, I'm always drawn in by the burritos here as I feel like they are the best bang for the buck. All the tortillas here are hand made. Camraon Burrito ($11) - This burrito consisted of grilled shrimp, melted cheese, avocado, cabbage, tomato, and chipotle salsa. It was packed with so much meat and tasted so good. I usually get their their mar y tierra burrito which comes with carne asada and shrimp ($12), but the camaron has become my favorite. Overall this is a great place to go to get your taco or burrito fix. There is always a line out the door during the week day lunch rush, but it moves along quickly. The churros here are also the perfect sweet treat. Another thing I really like here is their salsa bar which has so many different types, including my personal favorites: chipotle mayo and a cilantro salsa. read more

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Long line was telling me the food should be good... and it was. Order your food at the counter and you will get it few mins later. Mar y Tierra burrito is the way to go if you ask me. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Workers are super chill, it's crowded but you always find a seat as people go in and out so quickly.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Before I forget.... The Salsa is also fantastic read more

There is always a line for this place so we had to try to see what the hype was. Quality of the tacos were so so. The meat wasn't really seasoned or cooked well. You have to rely on sauces to get you by. The proportions of the chicken and carne asada could use work. The chew can be tough so smaller pieces or different cuts would have been better in the taco. They're just throwing pieces of meat in there without thought. It is freshly made for you per order. Price is alright for the area. So if you're in a pinch, it's worth it. The churros were gross. Overly greasy without much crunch or chew. [[HIGHLIGHT]]It's actually really dirty when the place gets busy. No one cleans the trash bins or picks up the sauce station near the back of the soda fountain.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I don't even want to know how the restrooms look. read more

So I figured out finally how much I really love the double tortilla wrapped burrito Carne Asada, add fries, and add shrimp! And to me it's like the perfect combination! And it's under 15 bucks, and it feeds me for two days! Services is always great, I love seeing them prepare the food as you could see from my newest video. And the ambience is positive energy, with all the patrons eager to be here enjoying the food! read more

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[[HIGHLIGHT]]Place was really clean![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The line. Was out the door only because the register is right by the door so don't be alarmed ! Tacos have amazing flavor they are on the higher side for pricing but they are also staffing at least 8-9 people per shift ! Crazy turn around when you order and everything tasted fresh ! read more

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Tried a few tacos here and they are all pretty good. Loved the asada, al pastor and shrimp. The asada and shrimp (Mar y Tierra) burrito was bomb. Also got the Sonora taco - it's basically the same as the Mar y Tierra burrito, but smaller. Churros were good but not my favorite, a bit too dense and cakey for my taste. read more

The Taco Stand - Mexican Near Me - Mission Viejo, California

The Taco Stand a small footprint, super casual eatery in a busy target shopping center and you should be off of Alicia Parkway. It's like driving straight over the border and grabbing street tacos in Tijuana! Positives are you can literally watch them making the corn tortillas by hand and cooking some of the meat on a stick and the other made to order as you go. The servings are large and if there's not enough tables, there is a counter facing the kitchen, you can sit at. And all food is made to order. The salsa is OK nothing brilliant. The meat products used for the tacos, I had chicken and fish the first time, were OK but not exceptional. Because the food is made to order it does take longer to receive. And the restaurant always feels a little bit on the grungy side versus clean. Overall, this is an OK taco shop in an area that doesn't have a lot of taco shop options. I will eat here if I need to, but I don't particularly want to go back here for tacos. read more

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Came to this little shopping center for Dave's and ended up getting distracted by the taco stand because the line was crazy. My cousin and I had to see what all that was about. Very glad we did. The line was long but moved fast. Counter service. Easy. Everyone was also so sweet and smiling. Food came out pretty quickly too, especially for how busy they were. We got two things off the secret menu: the al pastor volcan and the mar y tierra taco. We also got the al pastor burrito which had a subtle sweetness from the pineapple. Soooo good. If you sit at the bar, you can watch them making everything right in front of you. Good food and something to look at. So fun. Also loved the sauces. The salsa verde and cilantro salsa were both so good. Very much added the cilantro sauce to everything: it complimented the shrimp especially well. Also!!! I saw that they're opening up their first location in LA soon, Beverly glen. So excited. It was definitely worth the wait. This is our new go to casual late night dinner spot. We're already planning on coming back next week read more

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The name does not do justice to the food. I have to say the chicken taco and corn were a winner and hits my list of crave-able food. The lines can be intimidating but if you have the time I would recommend checking it out. read more

The Taco Stand - Carne Asade, El Pastor, and Pollo - Mexican Near Me - Mission Viejo, California

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Garlic hooked it up for breakfast! Two breakfast burritos one bacon one steak and all good! Service here is always impeccable and I can't wait for them to open more locations like out in the Great Park Irvine! The shop is nice and feels like a great place to grub. If I could eat tacos and burritos forever, I would hear. read more

The Taco Stand - Breakfast burrito + carne asada - Mexican Near Me - Mission Viejo, California

This is our go to spot for Mexican food in South OC as gentrified as it is - the food is served fresh, high-quality, delicious and surprisingly reasonably priced! Honestly they serve up some quality Mexican food that beats some of the hole-in-the-wall spots. It's a walk up and order, and there's always a line out the door, I suggest ordering ahead if you wanna be in and out, but dining it, [[HIGHLIGHT]]it's super casual with a TJ-like vibe to it.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We always get the Al pasto burritos and the carne asada fries, and it always hits! Really happy to have a spot like taco stand in mission Viejo! read more

-- Big Flavor, Big Portions, Worth the Wait The Taco Stand absolutely lives up to the hype. The food is packed with flavor, and the portions are generous--you definitely get your money's worth here! Be prepared for a lively atmosphere. The meat is being cooked right there in the building, so it gets a bit loud, and with how busy it is, there's definitely a lot of chatter. It adds to the energy, but it's not the place for a quiet meal. Fair warning: this place gets busy. Seating is limited, and during peak hours you'll likely find yourself waiting outside in line. That said, the line moves pretty quickly, so it's not as intimidating as it looks. If you can, try coming during off-hours for a more relaxed experience. One tip: I'd skip the chips and guac. The guacamole was pretty underwhelming--more like plain mashed avocado without much seasoning. Overall, the tacos and main items are the real stars here, and I'll definitely be back for those. read more

The Taco Stand - Mar y Tierra burrito - Mexican Near Me - Mission Viejo, California

been here a couple times food is excellent every time! i tried something different this time and had the mushroom taco it was exquisite!!! The cashier Alex was fabulous super lovely and funny . I made a couple purchases and Alex said good to see you again everytime and we just laughed The guys who call out your name for the orders are also super lovely!! read more

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While this is not SD or TJ tacos by any means, along with the establishment being a chain, it's quite good compared to the "ertos" offerings. I would much prefer this place over the "ertos" chains. Food is made hot and fresh which is always a win. When it comes to flavors, its delicious when consumed within reasonable time. Love their fish and camaron (shrimp) tacos. Pair that with their crema sauce and hot sauce from the bar, it's a quick throwdown to the finish line. Some of the locations ive been to are on the smaller size in terms of space. This paticular one has decent amount of seating and along the bar. Because the nature of the cuisine, tables should turn pretty quick. You'll just need to keep an eye out for the needed space. Love that the tables have bottle holders for your beverages! so genius! Overall, great food, comfy, and clean. All wins! Great job team for keeping the standards! read more

The Taco Stand - Carneasada, Baja, Camaron - Mexican Near Me - Mission Viejo, California

Growing up in SoCal, I really have an affinity for tacos. My favorite tacos are the TJ style tacos with house made tortillas. The Taco Stand does not disappoint. I saw that they just opened a location in Costa Mesa but wait, there's one just 3 miles from my house?! Shut up! As soon as the realization hit me, I dragged my husband down the street to the Taco Stand in Mission Viejo. We opted to get 2 of the carne asada and 2 al pastor tacos, along with a serving of churros. I love the salsa & condiment bar they have. The pickled onions and jalapenos were on point. The super spicy salsa was diabolically spicy. [[HIGHLIGHT]]For a weekday evening in Mission Viejo, this spot was busy. All of the seats were taken by patrons and we had to wait for a table after ordering.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]We found seats at the bar so we could watch the staff cook and fulfill orders.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The food was glorious. My husband and I loved trying both the carne and al pastor tacos. It was hard to pick a favorite since both were immensely flavorful. He liked that they cut the flank steaks into chunks. I loved the habanero salsa as well. The creamy salsa on the al pastor highlighted by the pineapple chunks were so good too. The churros were served with some condensed milk but did not need it. My husband liked it even though he's trying not to eat sweets. We want to try their burritos now. If you are a taco connoisseur or just plain appreciate a good meal, check out the Taco Stand, at any of their locations for your next fix. We will be back! Hasta la proxima vez! read more

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The Al pastor was the best taco I've ever had in my entire existence. And I'm from Santa Ana area, so I've had tried a LOT of the taco spots in OC. The pork was melt in your mouth yummy and it was so juicy, there was literally juice dripping down my ARM. I usually drown my tacos in sauce but this taco required NO SAUCE. I love the peppered pickled red onions at the sauce bar, that was the only thing I added to the taco. I also got the asada+shrimp+cheese+avocado taco that was on the secret menu. It was also delicious!!!! But very heavy so just order 1. I was so full after 2 tacos but I got a 3rd asada taco. I took it home and heat up in the airfryer, it was also so yum. The sauce reminded me of the puesto filet mignon taco which is triple the price of this taco. The puesto sauce is a pistachio Serrano Crema (not sure if that's what taco stand uses) but it tasted exactly the same. I will def be returning read more

The Taco Stand - Mexican Near Me - Mission Viejo, California

Hello yelpers !!! Lunch time brought me to The Taco Stand There was a bit of a line but it went by pretty quick. We ordered an asada burrito , a bean and cheese with carne asada ( that's what I wanted --- my fault I was craving a bean and cheese but needed some protein ) and a nopal taco . The cashier was accommodating and sweet . [[HIGHLIGHT]]It's a bit loud inside but I liked it ---- music was poppin[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] . I do recommend the camarón burrito ---- which we got by accident but wish I had ordered that instead . Next time, next time . Everyone is working at a great pace cranking those plates out . [[HIGHLIGHT]]Seating is limited with some outside tables available when it's not hot out.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I'm so sorry I didn't take any pictures . I'll update that once I go back . read more

We love the Al pastor tacos here and the carne asada fries! The churros are also amazing and the corn! Staff are friendly and the salsa bar is always stocked and clean. Cons: Parking is horrible, line is typically long, not enough accommodations inside. read more

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The Taco Stand is a casual Mexican restaurant inspired by Baja-style taco stands. They have multiple locations across the country with the majority of them in the Southern California region. This location is in a busy plaza in Mission Viejo. The California burrito ($10.49) is one of the better ones I've had in Orange County. I liked the meat of the al pastor taco ($3.99). The mar y tierra fries ($11.99) had good portions of shrimp and beef, although I'm not the biggest fan of the nacho cheese (I prefer shredded). The churros ($4) absolutely surprised me; I knew they were popular but they were so soft and I bit right through them. I don't eat a lot of churros but these were delicious. When I arrived there was a long line out of the door so if you can I'd recommend making an order ahead of time for pickup. I was able to stock up on salsas at their salsa station while I waited; I liked that they had a variety ranging from mild to very spicy. The workers moved fast and like an assembly line. The line took a bit of time and the food also took some time but seeing my tortillas being made fresh and in real-time was worth the wait. read more

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Wow! Didn't realize this place is so popular. We came before 6:00 pm tonight and the line was already long and consistently being long or worse by the time we left. Restaurant was full inside. Took a while to get our order but we were pleasantly surprised how good it was. I was going to order a chicken burrito but was told it's dark meat and not chicken breast so I decided to order the California burrito instead, which was the same as my husband's order. It's basically steak, fries, salsa, and sour cream. The burrito was huge and steak was cut up in small cubes and very flavorful. Plenty of french fries if you like fries. But they also give a fair amount of steak, so that was good. I couldn't even finish the half of the burrito, which is the norm for me. Our only comment is: ingredients were listed in super tiny writing for the menu so we couldn't read what's listed there on the board. LoL We both liked the Taco Stand and will definitely return again. read more

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The food here is consistently good, the prices are great, parking is sufficient, that's why there is always a large crowd. Navigating the salsa bar can be bad if the timing is wrong. I don't think they have room for a 2nd salsa bar, so it's just the way it has to be and we're all willing to work with it. (as seen by the long line for ordering as well as for salsa) Service is friendly and the menu has something for most everyone. From beef to mushroom tacos. read more

The Taco Stand - Mexican Near Me - Mission Viejo, California

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The food was outstanding, but the service wasn't great. The woman taking orders and giving out food was not friendly at all. She appeared unenthusiastic and generally annoyed by any simple request or question, such as asking for a to go bag. Eating out is no longer an affordable experience, and my family refuses to go to restaurants that don't take the time to give top notch service. The food was delicious, but the hospitality was sadly lacking. read more

Hands down one of my favorite taco spots, I was first introduced to The Taco Stand at their original location in La Jolla and was so happy to find out that they have continued to expand locations! This time, I ordered our usual al pastor tacos, and they are still easily the best al pastor I've ever had. Perfectly seasoned, not too sweet, juicy, and packed with flavor in every bite with the citrus from the pineapple pieces. We also got the carne asada taco, which had nice, thick chunks of beef that were tender and satisfying as well as the shrimp taco, which was fresh, juicy, buttery, and not overly cooked. Every taco was solid and full of flavor. The salsa bar is another huge plus, great variety and everything tasted fresh, letting you customize each taco exactly how you like it. If you're a taco lover, this spot is an absolute must! read more

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The Taco Stand is always poppin' and such a good vibe! It's always a good sign when a place has a fully stocked salsa bar. We ordered a bunch of tacos - camaron, baja, pollo asado, and al pastor, and we also got a carne asada burrito. The food was quick and really delicious! We enjoyed every moment. The servers were so friendly and made the whole experience even better. Will definitely come back! read more

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We had the California burrito and the Mar y Tierra fries, both were so delicious! The fries came with shrimp and guac. There's a bunch of different salsas at the self serve salsa bar. For dessert, we tried the churros and they were served crispy, warm, with a side of condense milk. It's a bit mushy on the inside compared to the famous ones in anaheim, but still a pretty good churro! The food came out fast and they clean the tables pretty quickly for the next guests. The decor is pretty minimal but it's a self serve place. And the prices are very very reasonable. I haven't seen a burrito for under $15 in a good while. We will definitely be back. Lots of parking, but can get busy since there's a cluster of restaurants and a target in this plaza. read more

Taco Stand is always a reliable affordable meal! It gets really busy during lunch, so you may want to order online to avoid waiting in line. Love their fish burrito ($10.49), which had a nice piece of grilled fish inside - probably my fave fish burrito around! Everything was very fresh. They have a salsa bar where you can load up on salsas. Indoor and outdoor seating available. Parking in the lot. read more

The Taco Stand - Camaron burrito - Mexican Near Me - Mission Viejo, California

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My bf and I were craving tacos so went in around 12:30pm on Thursday. It was already busy but not too crowded. I could smell them right as I walked out of the car across the street. You just walk in and order. All seats were taken, inside and outside, but while we were waiting for our food, we were able to find a table. The tacos are really good. They use trompo for the asada so you taste the smoked flavor. I would come back again and get more. read more

The Taco Stand - Mexican Near Me - Mission Viejo, California

Tasty tacos and burritos! We also enjoy getting the churros for dessert. It's nice to see vegetarian options, we love the mushroom tacos but will also get the cali burrito without meat and it's delicious! The salsa options are also great, highly recommend. Customer service is always lovely too. read more

The Taco Stand - Mexican Near Me - Mission Viejo, California

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Delicious fresh tacos, [[HIGHLIGHT]]clean sauce bar (huge plus)[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] and great service! Cashier is very nice

Long line. Well worth the wait. Freshly made tortillas. Carne asada tacos are the bomb. Defiinitely coming back. read more

The Taco Stand - Mexican Near Me - Mission Viejo, California

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Where are the rest of the ingredients? This is the most disrespectful thing I have ever experienced at a restaurant. They have given me corn tortilla instead of flour twice but to give me a dry taco with only two ingredients is crazy. read more

The Taco Stand - Pescado taco - Mexican Near Me - Mission Viejo, California

They had a line far out the door, but they were managing orders quickly. I would recommend ordering ahead. We tried the Mar y Terra Burrito (Steak & Shimp), Carne Asada Taco (Steak), Baja Taco (Fish), Al Pastor Taco (Pork), and Corn on the Cob. Out of everything I would recommend the burrito the most. Ingredients were fresh and prices were reasonable. The ambience was lively and noisy. They have a good amount of tables inside, but don't have outside seating like the other restaurants. read more

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This place is always busy for a reason. Toured around Southern California my entire life and this is the quintessential SoCal Mexican spot I crave. Char grilled meats, fresh tortilla, solid salsa bar. California burrito always hits the spot - love how I get bits of charred crispy bites from the grill. Stephanie took care of us. 10/10 read more

The Taco Stand - California burrito - Mexican Near Me - Mission Viejo, California

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Been to a lot of their locations but this one is one of my favorites. Clean and tidy inside, friendly staff and love the food. Favorite is the california burrito and then the pollo asado tacos. Will come back again soon and many more times! read more

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The line looks long but they work quick here! Great service from Axel! Thanks ! We will come back again! read more

I got five tacos today: two Al Pastor, one Carne Asada, one chicken, and one shrimp. My favorite was probably the shrimp--it tasted very juicy. None of the tacos were too salty. I think the seasoning was just right, but the taste wasn't particularly extraordinary. A pretty standard taco. I would say the chicken was surprisingly good--definitely my second favorite. The meat was juicier than I expected. Unfortunately, the Al Pastor and the Carne Asada tacos were a bit on the dry side. I'm not sure if it was because the meat wasn't very fresh or for some other reason, but I don't think I'd get those two again. Overall, the tacos had slightly less meat than typical tacos I've had, but for the price I'd say it was just okay. I think I'll come back to try different tacos, though, just to see if any of the others are better. We got there around five, and there wasn't much of a line, but by the time we left, more people had started to come in. One thing I didn't like was the music--it was way too loud. If you don't mind loud music, you'll probably be fine, but for me, at a place like this, I'd much rather take the food to go. Overall, the service was okay. It wasn't too fast or too slow. I think we waited about 15 minutes before we got our tacos, even though we didn't have to wait long to place our order--probably because there were already several people ahead of us. read more

The Taco Stand - Chicken, al pastor - Mexican Near Me - Mission Viejo, California

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Fast service, great prices, and great tacos! One of the best taco spots around. Everything was fresh and tasted authentic.

This place makes everything by hand. I love how they have clean clear glass to look through as they hand make tortillas right in front of you. These handmade tortillas then hit the grill and are then stuff with the meat that was just kissing the fire grill. All the different sauces are also hand made and each of them tastes wonderful. The people who work here are really nice and great you with a smile! There was a line out the door which tells me that many people love this place. I didn't have to wait long and I enjoyed the experience of watching them make everything. I've never seen the entire process of making a tortilla from dough to burrito/taco right in front of me. It was a lot of fun to watch. I ordered Al Pastor burrito with cheese. The flavors are great and I don't need to add any sauce, but I wanted to try the different sauces and each one was amazingly fresh and delicious! I will be back!! read more

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Best tacos in mission Viejo but you can never get them. They always have a line out the door. And they turn off their online ordering. Makes it extremely difficult to be able to order and get out of there. The tacos are good, but I wouldn't wait in line for it. read more

Ordering and service was professional and courteous. Reasonable pricing. Food, as always, was amazingly delicious! Get the churros for that sweet tooth craving. read more