Taco Mesa

Always made to order, uses fresh ingredients, great tasting and reasonable prices. One of my all time favorite restaurants in South Orange County.

A little pricey but very good and the staff has always been very pleasant and helpful! Parking is reasonable but can get tight if peak hours.

Taco Mess has been one of our favorites for many years, but it was only a couple of years ago that we discovered their South County branches in Mission Viejo and Ladera Ranch; both have indoor seating, unlike the Costa Mesa mothership. As you would expect, tacos are front and center - beef, chicken, carnitas, on soft corn tacos. There are also jazzed up tacos with crema, bacon (alambre), and pickled onions. However, they are trying to satisfy the suburban contingent with many more vegetable options than back up in Costa Mesa, including vegetable juices. Their escabeche is out of this world, and is perpetually depleted. If you are in South County, Taco Mesa will put some spice in your ordinary fare.

Great deal for Taco Tuesday! ???? ???? $1.75 for tacos, 7 different types. $3.75 margaritas. Tacos are tasty and filling. Portions are nice. We tried the shredded beef, chicken, and the carnitas. The beef and chicken have a little kick, but they are labeled as "spicy" so at least you get a warning. Place is clean and up beat. Staff is courteous. Definitely did not disappoint for a first time try!

I'm not local, so I'm not sure I'll ever make it back, but if I was, I'd want to give this place a few more tries before I rated it. That said, I tried the mole enchiladas that they had on special and loved them. I feel like most places miss with their mole, but Taco Mesa hit a homerun. The rice was decent, and even though there was nothing wrong with the beans, they weren't a style of beans that I am accustomed to having with Mexican food. I would have preferred refried or black beans. Overall, very good first experience.