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

Best ever food! Highly recommend And prices are a blessing One of my favorite go to's Customer service is always spot on read more

This was my first time eating at the Taco Stand and it completely lives up to the hype. Even with the line extending outside the door, the food made it worth the wait. The tacos are the clear choice here. I had the Baja taco which featured a nicely battered fish balanced by fresh veggies and a nice dollop of sauce. The carne asada taco was rich, well-marinated, tender and packed with flame-grilled flavor. Both were served on warm, fresh tortillas. To top off the meal, the churros are made fresh to order. They arrived hot, crisp on the outside, soft on the inside and coated in the right amount of cinnamon sugar. The included side of condensed milk added a sweet finish. I would definitely come back to try some of the other tacos. read more

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

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TLDR: I'm disappointed. It's the first Taco Stand location that didn't live up to the hype of its brethren. It would've been fine if the store wasn't called "The Taco Stand", but the name means something to me, and they need to know that one of the locations isn't tasting as well as the rest. Mar y Tierra Burrito: It's a step below the burrito I've loved from this chain. Normally, I'd expect nicely sliced beef in almost a cube form, and shrimp that looks fresh. Instead, the steak looks more ground than sliced, and the shrimp felt old and refrozen a few times. The slaw and aoli were still as good as expected, and the flour tortilla was burnt on the sealed side. I will never stop ordering this at The Taco Stand, but there were simply too many things to overlook this time around. Baja Taco: It's hard to mess up deep fried fish, and they thankfully didn't. The batter is always very good, and the white fish they use is always a light option. If you prefer grilled fish instead, they have that too. Ambiance: It's one of the larger stores that I've seen, so they handled the lunch rush very well. Service: Very straightforward. You fall in line, order, and pick up your food made to order. Drinks are self-service; sauces are self-service. No big deal. read more

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

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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Great quality burrito l, the beans taste homemade and isn't wasn't greasy or too heavy. Super friendly and speedy service, I got a to go order and I was there only about five minutes. The chipotle salsa was good the others were okay. My only beef is that they shouldn't play there employees more and not leave it up to the client. Come on m.....20% tip for a to go order? Again this tipping culture is getting a little bit ridiculous read more

The Taco Stand - Heard a lot of good things, let's try it out - Mexican Near Me - Mission Viejo, California

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Let me just say that this place works like a well oiled machine! I've been going to the one in Laguna Beach since they opened and to this location 5x both locations are amazing because these guys work in unison, they are quick and they are efficient! The food is unsurpassed for the price, especially nowadays! The fish is fresh every day and they make fresh tortillas and chips, basically everything is made fresh including the churros. It's a well run company! Okay, so let's talk about their delicious food. We had the grilled fish (fresh mahi-mahi) burrito with all the ingredients except cheese. It's so well prepared and the fish was tender and flaky. The portion is big enough for a grown man to get full so it's worth every bite. I ordered tacos and they were absolutely delicious. One Baja fish which is their battered fish topped with creamy slaw that has a spicy flavor and compliments the fish but it's not over powering. I ordered the al pastor taco and it's always delicious; nice small pieces of juicy pork and pineapple with a creamy avocado sauce, it's beyond mouth watering! Everything served on fresh house-made tortillas, that's what you want to keep in mind! They have numerous locations now. I know Encinitas the line can be down the block. Same in Laguna on any given evening! If you time it right, there won't be long line in Mission Viejo. And those guys are quick anyway! Go try them! read more

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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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The Taco Stand is now my new go to Taco place in south OC. They offered every type of tacos that I love including Al Pastor, Baja and Carne Asada (no carnitas). The churros were crispy and delicious when dipped in the condensed milk. The service was fast and friendly. They do have a salsa bar if you want to customize your own additions to your meal. The ambiance is bright, airy and welcoming. Come early as the long line goes outside to the parking lot. read more

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When I think of California taco, I think of this place. So good and fresh. The service is pretty fast. This place is popular so it gets lined up quick. Love the sauce bar too it's self serve. I got a California burrito and a carne asada fries and both were fantastic. The store plays cheerful music and is very clean. Pleasant dining experience makes you feel like a local read more

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Call me a Taco Stand groupie or slut! There is always a long line to order and for the salsa bar, but it's definitely worth the wait. My to-go order is the Mar y Tierra fries or burrito. You can't go wrong. Shout-out to the "raza" working hard behind the counter to get our food out. ¡Mis respetos a DJ, también! read more

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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Place was really clean! 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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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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Best damn stand in the land Line is always out the door but the wait is worth it. we need them in texas read more

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

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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

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

-- 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

First time trying the taco stand and it was great I like the vibe in this place it actually feels like your in a taco stand in Mexico food was delicious you can taste the charcoal flavor on the asada! Al pastor was also great with the cilantro creamy sauce and pineapple. Churros were authentic as they can be warm crunchy soft with a side of lechera. The service was absolutely great as well! read more

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

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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

We have been to other locations and The Taste is always consistent this one is also very consistent is a small place with some seating and get busy at times but the food always tastes great to use a special type of charcoal too girl there meets and of course you have to have their churros that are handmade and there's the taste and lastly since for the fries do seem a little bit smaller but the taste is still terrific and you always leave very satisfied 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. 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. I don't even want to know how the restrooms look. read more

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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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

Omg the best Mexican place by far. So fresh! Must get the mar y tierra burrito Yummmmm! read more

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, it's super casual with a TJ-like vibe to it. 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

My favorite place to get tacos. Good amount of meat, juicy chicken, generous guacamole, and flavorful salsas; this place has it all. I actually think they have a support salsa bar in terms of both quality and variety. This is the only one where I grab 4 different salsas; the roasted black salsa, the spicy salsa that is prepacked (pairs well with sour cream), the creamy cilantro (the fave), and some pico. The quesadillas is not on the menu, but a fave and pretty big, comes with guacamole and sour cream. Overall a nice deal. I think it's busy for a reason, but they definitely try keep it moving. There were two large groups that made messes but they did clean up after they left ASAP. read more

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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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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I wouldn't call this authentic street tacos but it's very good for what it is. This location in particular has the shortest line and a decent space inside, and the service here is always great. Would recommend the shrimp and Baja fish tacos. I also like their California burrito but am not a fan of their carne asada fries read more

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. 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. We found seats at the bar so we could watch the staff cook and fulfill orders. 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 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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I go to this place all the time the food is amazing and they work very hard here, but I stopped by yesterday and couldn't figure out when they told me they ran out of ice why someone literally couldn't walk across the street to target and get more ice? on a hot day on a weekend when it's packed how can you just run out of ice and not replace it?? read more

Taco stand are the best authentic tacos in town. Used to go to the San Diego location and now they are in orange county so it bring back good memories read more

The Taco Stand - Bar area - 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 . It's a bit loud inside but I liked it ---- music was poppin . 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 . Seating is limited with some outside tables available when it's not hot out. I'm so sorry I didn't take any pictures . I'll update that once I go back . read more

I was looking for a good mexican food spot and think I finally found it. For sure the best tacos and burritos in South OC. The service was also amazing. Alex is the man! read more

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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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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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