Taco Mesa

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647 W. 19 th St., Costa Mesa 92627

(949) 642-0629

Cuisine:
Mexican
Hours:
Mon: 7:00AM - 11:00PM Tues: 7:00AM - 11:00PM Wed: 7:00AM - 11:00PM Thurs: 7:00AM - 11:00PM Fri:... Read More
Price:
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Cream cheese flan! Photo - Taco Mesa, Costa Mesa, California

User Reviews

Taco Mesa - Healthy Mexican food?

by stvchin

Tustin, California

September 18, 2008

Best of IgoUgo I don't usually associate the terms "healthy Mexican food" with the term "tasty." But my friends said Taco Mesa can really combine these terms. Taco Mesa is a small local chain that bills itself the healthy Mexican restaurant using no MSG, no lard, ...Read more I don't usually associate the terms "healthy Mexican food" with the term "tasty." But my friends said Taco Mesa can really combine these terms. Taco Mesa is a small local chain that bills itself the healthy Mexican restaurant using no MSG, no lard, preservatives, or other additives.

My friends dragged me to the location in Costa Mesa across the street from the DMV office. There are also locations in Orange, Ladera Ranch, and Mission Viejo. The Costa Mesa location is a quasi taco stand, where you order at the frount counter.

The menuboard had typical Mexican fare, tacos, burritos, carnitas, enchiladas, quesadillas, shrimp and fish, as well as the ever-present Mexican combo plates. I ordered a carne asada Burrito, Campechano style, which is topped with red and green sauces. My friend had a chicken enchilada combo platter. Our total with soft drinks was about $18.

We found a table and waited for our entrees. I found out that founders of Taco Mesa are also the forces behind Taco Rosa, a full service restaurant I've also been to and like very much. I'm beginning to feel better already about this.

About ten minutes later, the cook called my name and I went to pick up the food. My carne asada taco was artfully decorated with the two sauces and ribbons of sour cream and sides of rice and beans. The taste was much better than what I expected, savory bites of carne asada with onions and cilantro. The taste was quite fresh and took my mind away from thinking this was one of "those" healthy restaurants. My friend had her chicken enchiladas and loved them. They also came served with Mexican rice and beans.

We were pleasasntly stuffed, but there's always room for dessert, and I saw something interesting on the menuboard earlier. I went to the front counter and inquired about the cream cheese flan. I've had flan, which is basically egg custard with caramel, but I've never had cream cheese flan. I have no clue what the healthy aspect behind cream cheese flan must be, but I had to try it anyways for $4. I watched the cook take a preformed cream cheese flan out of a bowl, invert it on a plastic plate, then he drizzles sauce on it and expertly spooned the strawberries and caramel over the flan with the same precision as a tableside dessert chef at some mega-expensive restaurant in the Michelin guide. The cream cheese flan was excellent! Sort of like a cheesecake without the crust. The strawberries weren't in season, but the rest of it tasted just right.

The fresh and interesting flavors of Taco Mesa made me forget it was a "healthy" restaurant. Not only is it heathly, it's just darn good Mexican food prepared well and with attention to detail. Close

Taco Mesa

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Taco Mesa - Healthy Mexican food?