Descanso Restaurant

It should be a sin to eat the amount of food I was served at this place. We ordered and sat at the bar. Great customer service (shout out to Miguel). We were able to catch the last 20min or so of happy hour so we were excited! I’ve been a few times and have ordered different items and it’s always 10/10! My friend lives in the area and dines ALL THE TIME and says she hasn’t had a “bad meal” yet. Quality food, flavorful food, and a good portion of food for the price! 🤌🏾 Atmosphere is great for any type of celebration, date night, family night, or solo vibes. And parking is easy since it’s in a shopping center. Planning to come back to try the hibachi experience.

We came for an anniversary lunch. Our server Samantha was excellent, very attentive. Very informative on the menu items. Food tasted amazing. Portions are large enough to split. Our plancha chef was awesome.

9.6 !!!!!! Highest rated restaurant ever ! What an absolute MUST GO!! Seriously this should go on every food lovers bucket list !! Phenomenal food cooked hot right in front of you ! Chef Juan was fantastic!! Traveled 4 hours for this absolute gem and did not disappoint!

Very fresh oysters and yummy sauces. I wish I would've took pics of all the other food we had but I had a 7 month little one that I needed to keep an eye on. The chipotle sauce for the chips and salsa is really good. Beautiful place and cool bar.

WOW. I hardly eat at Mexican restaurants because i find them lack of flavor but this spot is great. Descanso offers more than just a meal; it provides a dining experience that engages all the senses. Whether you're seeking a unique date night, a celebratory gathering, or a flavorful brunch, Descanso delivers with authenticity and flair. Their was music outside and it was lovely. Their food passed my expectations. Reservations are recommended, especially for the plancha dining experience, to ensure a memorable visit

Outstanding flavor. The kitchen clearly takes pride in their work. We got the elote and two taco plates (garlic short rib and al pastor). All things were executed exceedingly well with bold yet balanced flavors with just the right accent of lime. 11/10 Definitely a must visit.

Great experience need to make reservations for the Teppan experience next time. Food was top notch, get the Birria!

I had an incredible experience at this restaurant! From the moment I walked in, I was greeted with warm smiles and excellent service. The waiter, Marilyn, was attentive, friendly, and really made us feel special throughout our meal. The food was absolutely delicious—each dish was perfectly prepared and bursting with flavor. The music added a lovely atmosphere to the whole evening, creating the perfect backdrop for a great time. I couldn’t have asked for a better dining experience. Highly recommend!

Joseph made the whole experience such a great time! He is so kind, holds great conversations while he cooks and is fantastic at what he does! Definitely would hope to have him as our chef every time we do the plancha grill dining! He made this a 5 star experience!

Loved my al pastor tacos..loved our server. Very friendly. One day we will try a la plancha

Shout out to Jasmin, she did a wonderful job taking care of us for our girls night on taco Tuesday! Always have a lovely experience at Descanso.

Descanso is one of my new favorite spots in Costa Mesa! It's a stunning hidden gem that's perfect for any celebration, brunch or date night! Lots of birthdays being celebrated during our visit. So fun!! The Fideo Soup is the perfect First Course! This is definitely better than the Caesar Salad. Loved this soup!! Add the Choriqueso Verde appetizer...so amazingly cheesy and packed with flavor!! The presentation had us drooling!! It tasted just as good as it looked!! A definite MUST-TRY!! Mexican flavors served Plancha style! The Plancha dining experience is FIYAH!! Imagine a Modern Taco Stand and a Chef to Table dining experience! Such an unforgettable experience!! So fun and exciting! Loved the bold, authentic flavors!! The Ribeye Steak and Pork Loin Alambre were heavenly! So perfectly cooked and seasoned well! The Picante Trio Margarita Flight (jalapeno was the favorite) and Watermelonrita paired up perfectly with our meal! The service is top notch!! Kudos to Daisy, McKenna and Jesus, who gave quite a performance and was so entertaining! Such an enjoyable dining experience! Exceeded my expectations!! They also have wonderful outdoor patio seating.

NOT sure WHY they have so many good reviews? Nothing here was worth 5 stars I have been seeing the videos of this place pop up on my social Media all the time making it look so amazing and fancy and was so intrigued and excited to go and dine here. I made reservations for brunch on Memorial weekend and took servals family members in the hopes that it's worth the 30 minute drive from Laguna Once arrived I realized the location was in a terrible cheap shopping center. Secondly this place is super casual and not some fancy Mexican restaurant as their prices are so high and make you believe it's some fine dining Then the service was SUPER slow and forgot several things we ordered. Even though the place was literally empty, I was surprised I even had to make reservations Then the food. We were 7 people. And ordered different dishes While the taste was ok. It was once again NOT worth the the prices nor the drive. They false advertise and make this place look all fancy and the food look good but the portions are super small and the food is actually below average Honest truth. Form someone who loves good food. Diner quality food at best. Really NOT worth it

This was such a disappointing experience compared to our other two visits which were 5 star with La plancha. Previously we have done the plancha experience but tonight we had the regular dining. When we called to make the reservation for 6:30 and I said we needed a high chair he said they had seats at the taco bar. When we arrived early they had us wait ten minutes past even our reservation time and when they finally sat us it was not at the taco bar but a long table meant for a party of 8. He said they had a miscommunication with their availability. We then sat at the table and waited for our server. He finally came at 7pm to offer us water for the first time. When we asked for water in a cup with a lid for our child he disappeared for a while and then finally came back with the plastic cup. He then asked if we wanted a drink and we said we were ready to order. N did a margarita, we also ordered a kids cheese quesadilla, chips and salsa, and two entrees. The chips came literally a minute before our food came. Seriously! Generally you eat chips and salsa before your meal and especially while you have a drink. I think he had forgotten because when he finally brought them he seemed harried. The timing was just so off and the service was bad. He finally came to check on us at 7:30om and realized my water was empty and asked if I wanted more. I said yes and he said okay and then proceeded to go stand by the bar in front of my view and fiddle with things for 10 minutes before finally catching my eye and then running to go get the water jug to do my refill. When we asked for our check, we had our card ready. But he proceeded to spend 10 minutes greeting and taking the order and then putting it in for the people sat behind us at the taco bar.

We have been here a few times and loved it. The last time we went for brunch we were so disappointed. The lady cooking made a fire volcano using the chilaquiles chips and we both ordered chilaquiles. We had many of our chips that were burnt. I asked to have them with scrambled egg but all I got was tortilla chips with salsa.

From the outside, this place seemed fine, walking in though is a different experience. Dim lights, soft jazzy international music, with warm decor. The Langastino enchiladas were a phenomenal choice. Couldn't have asked for a more delicious meal. The side of rice and beans included were great. El dorado tacos were good. Not great. Side veggies (we paid to upgrade) were good as well could have had more flair in my opinion. Our server was nice and helpful. May try the plancha dining which is a fixed menu and teppan style next time.

We were here for my brother's reception. The food was excellent. I had a fun watermelon margarita that was super tasty. We shared guacamole and some appetizers, also great. I had the Gordito tacos which were very good. We sat at a bar and watched the staff make all the tacos and plates. It took a bit to understand what was happening. The bar felt like you were going to have a chef entertain you but it was simply the wait staff coming in and out to make plates of tacos. They didn't engage with us at all. I felt a little like a voyeur watching these folks work. All-in-all it was a lovely evening.

I brought my father here for Father's Day, and it turned out to be one of our most memorable fine dining experiences. The attentive staff and the chef preparing the meal in front of us added to the excitement. The drinks were impressive, and the food was exceptionally delicious and flavorful. We tried the Plancha dining, which we highly recommend. The ambiance was perfect for any special occasion.

Came here with a group of 6 to celebrate a birthday. We were able to make a reservation for Sunday morning online, but you honestly don't need one-- there was no wait when we got there. This place is located in a busy shopping plaza so it might be tough to find parking. Clean interior and cute decorations-- near the back is where you can see the chef cooking right in front of you. Unfortunately our server was quite rude, they weren't polite and didn't seem to be excited for my friend's birthday. There was also a switch of our server midway through our meal so she could go on her lunch break, and when she came back she was arguing with our new server about serving us our mimosas (that we ordered) right in front of the table. Just seemed like she didn't want to be there. Food proportions were huge, most of us brought leftovers home. I ordered the crab cake benedict and it wasn't hot and there was too much sauce on the entire dish, couldn't really taste the crab. The birthday celebration is cute though, they bring a churro and ice cream to the table and sing :) I'm sure this place is great, maybe just a bad service experience for my party.

Descanso's patio brunch comes with a live serenade, and that felt like the cherry on top of a well thought out meal experience. Though, I do recognize that others who come at a busier time may not be able to receive the same experience as I did closer to opening. The food is good, and the portions are very fair. Plates are stacked high, and I, someone with a pretty decent appetite, left completely stuffed and with leftovers. All the plates were good but my surprise highlight was the rice. The Mexican rice was stunning and had a great fluffy texture. Chilaquiles were very salty compared to the other dishes. Taquitos were served fresh and super crispy, a little oily at the ends, but not the end of the world. My server took the time to give some background on the restaurant, menus, and plating, which was a really neat touch. I'll definitely try to return to give their dinner menu a whirl.

Absolutely exceeded my expectations. Came here for my boyfriends birthday with his family and they are really picky with Mexican food. We sat at the table where they cook in front of you and everyone had so much fun! The fried rice with the sauce is amazing and so was the tomato soup. The chicken was absolutely AMAZING. So juicy and tender you could cut it with a spoon. The veggies were seasoned to perfection and the plate presentation was beautiful. I was very impressed by the cheesy potatoes that came with the carne asada, I might just have to get it next time. Our chef was very nice and charismatic. I forgot his name but he only works on Sundays and is younger. He was fun to chat with and seemed to love his job. They brought out a really yummy churro chip dessert for my boyfriends birthday that was really good. They played music and sang too! It was nice. The food was even better than what I imagined. One of the best meals I have had this year. I will be coming back soon! Highly recommend this place is worth the hype.

Sunday dinner. Tried Descanso and I'm not disappointed The only complaint I will have is that they don't have a selection of different enchiladas. They do have several options for tacos, but the only option they had, was lobster enchiladas with flour tortillas!!!!!, which is kind of weird for me, I've never heard of enchiladas made with flour tortillas ...anyways. My husband ordered that and I had the Carnitas skillet. Service is great not a big huge place but big enough to enjoy a nice meal. They have a small but nice bar area .

I've enjoy going to Hibachi restaurant, but I've never been to a Hibachi-style Mexican restaurant. Our chef was great as he cracked some jokes with up and pulled some tricks. The table menu included soup or salad and your choice of entree. It also includes the Mexican fried rice Mexican fried rice (5/5): So perfect and the aioli sauce on top was perfect too. Sopa (5/5): The best sopa I've ever had. I was soothing and had so many flavors in it. I really loved addition of chunks of avocados in it. Carne asada (4/5): I added the queso on top and regret that because it overpowered the flavors of the asada. However my asada looked a bit too rare for medium rare. The steak was flavorful and bit too raw for me. I ate it like a taco with the blue corn tortillas. I really recommend this place if you want to be entertained for dinner.

Family is in Costa Mesa for my son's performance at Vanguard. We happened to come across Descanso. Oh my word, so tasty! First of all you are greeted by the most friendly staff. This place has teppanyaki type tables where they cook your tacos and quesadillas in front of you. 3 of us had chilaquiles, mom had tacos, son had nachos and I had taquitos. Our waitress, Sam, has an amazing personality. She kept our drinks filled and made suggestions on what we should have. Thank you so much! Also, there was a birthday celebration in the restaurant. The staff goes all out. It was amazing. The music goes up and they sing happy birthday. There is a huge sparkler in the ice cream they bring.

The atmosphere is casual and inviting. We sat near the taco bar, and we're able to watch as tacos, etc... we're being prepped. Went for chiliqulias with chicken, and while it looks like the plate is smallish, this is a heavy plate of food. I love chiliqulias, so I pushed through until I finished them all. It felt like they just kept appearing from the bottom of the plate. Very good plate of food. My wife opted for taquitos, and sadly, no clown heads (invader Zim joke iykyk) she really enjoyed them. Nice helping of gauc hidden in there as well. The chips are good, salsa has a nice smokey flavor. Not your typical Pico style salsa, it's pretty thick and doesn't have much heat to it, but it is good. Overall, we would definitely come back and a shout out to our waitress, Sam. She was very attentive and made our visit awesome. The table next to us had a birthday, and the ice cream and birthday song was awesome.

Descanso Restaurant came highly recommended by my friends, and I'm thrilled to say it lived up to the hype! Our visit was an absolute blast from start to finish. The service was impeccable, the menu offerings were diverse and enticing, and the atmosphere was lively and festive. Here's what we indulged in: Appetizers: We started with the tantalizing combination of Chips, Salsa, and Chicharróns, setting the tone for an exciting culinary adventure. The Ceviche El Tigre was a standout, featuring Wild Caught Striped Bass, Lime, Leche de Tigre, Pomegranate, Avocado, Cucumber, Red Onion, Fresno Chile, and Blue Corn Chips. Kids Menu: For the little ones, the Quesadilla with Chicken or Steak was a hit, offering a delicious and satisfying option. Plancha Dinner Menu: We began our main course experience with either the flavorful Fideo Soup or a classic Caesar Salad. The Mexican Fried Rice stole the show, especially when paired with the creamy sauce. It was an absolute must-try! The Pork Loin Alambre was a symphony of flavors, featuring Center Cut Pork Loin with an 'Al Pastor' Marinade, Bell Peppers, Onions, Tres Quesos, Avocado Toreado Salsa, Cebollita Onions, Cilantro, and Serrano Chiles. The Ribeye Steak was cooked to perfection, served with Fingerling Potatoes, Charred Cebollita Onions, Grilled Serrano Chiles, Avocado Toreado Salsa, Morita Chile Aioli, and Cotija. To cap off the evening, we celebrated with a fiery birthday dessert of Cinnamon Sugar Chips and Vanilla Ice Cream, adding a sweet finale to our memorable dining experience. I wholeheartedly recommend Descanso Restaurant to anyone seeking a unique and delightful Mexican Teppanyaki experience. I'm already looking forward to returning for brunch and Taco Tuesday - this place is truly one of a kind!

Had the most incredible dinner here tonight. Great food, great service, and great experience. Loved every moment of our dinner tonight. We came for the Tuesday night Taco Tuesday in the Grill room where they grill the tacos and quesadillas right in front of you. I got ALL the different variety of tacos they had: Shrimp, Carnitas, Steak, Chicken, and 2 Beef Quesadillas as well as 2 Birria tacos. Yes you can also order off the main menu while you are dining at the live cooking table as well. Also got some Guacamole and Chips. Omg. So much food. Too much food! We were stuffed to the max after our dinner. Ended with their cheesecake which we thought was so so. We thought it would be softer and more moist but it wasn't. Still a good dessert though. And their drinks are on point. Super great Sangrias and Margaritas. Very well made, balanced and the perfect amount of alcohol. Very fun, energetic table side experience. Our chef was awesome, our servers were awesome (one was in training super nice guy) and the management team is very friendly, courteous and professional. We also loved all the people we were sitting next to. Fun crowd tonight. Highly recommend coming here to dine! You won't be disappointed.

Back at it again! Third trip to Descanso, and just like the first two times, it was fantastic. We came to celebrate two birthdays and a 17th wedding anniversary, and everything--from the food to the staff--was spot on! Descanso's atmosphere is always electric. You can always tell when there's a celebration happening because the music kicks up, the staff starts dancing, and those firework candles make a dazzling entrance. If you haven't been here yet... what are you waiting for?

In my last review, I mentioned that the food was good. I was curious about the plancha which I heard so much about. Essentially, it's very similar to the Japanese tapenyaki. There's a chef preparing and cooking the food in front of a large grill with diners seated around the grill. Instead of Japanese food, it's all Mexican. You have a choice of a starter and main course. I had the Fideo soup which was so good. Not your usual tortilla soup. So much flavors. For my main course, I chose the pork loin Alhambra in place of the sea bass since they were out. The chef explains all the ingredients that go into the dish which includes fried rice and your choice of proteins. Such great flavors. I'll be honest, this is way much better than the Japanese tapenyaki! This might be off the cuff, but I enjoyed the martini more than their signature cocktails. You would think martinis are easy to make but that's not true. The bartender smashed it with this one. The staff are really nice and helpful with your selections. My second dining experience here did not disappoint. I will definitely be back and can now recommend. This was on a Wednesday evening and this place was packed.

We started with the Taquitos, which were an excellent choice. They were crispy, perfectly seasoned, and filled with a savory blend of ingredients that melted in your mouth. The presentation was nice, and the flavors were spot on. For my main course, I went with the Chilaquiles. Topped with a generous helping of cheese, fresh avocado, and a perfectly cooked egg, each bite was a symphony of flavors and textures. It was a little too salty for my taste but overall was really well prepared. My girlfriend opted for the Salmon Tostada, which did not disappoint either. It was a fresh, vibrant dish that balanced flavors beautifully. The crisp tostada base was piled high with tender, flavorful fish, fresh veggies, and a delightful dressing that tied everything together wonderfully.

First of all, love the bottomless mimosas. It's hard to find in S.D. Next the food was very delicious. We tried three different dishes which we all sampled. All of them had great flavor and good combinations of ingredients. I think the Chilaquiles packed the most punch flavor wise. Service was good, fast, friendly and courteous. We sat on the patio. Very modern vibe. Definitely a place I would visit again!

Ambience 5/5 Locations is aesthetically pleasing and the staff did an amazing job of celebrating the clients. Service 5/5 Reservation check was quick! Highly recommend reserving ahead since there was a long line for walk ins and the table where they cook in front of you get booked quickly. Food 5/5 The food was absolutely delicious! I don't think you can go wrong with anything in the menu.

When I came here for dinner one of the servers gave my flyer for the weekly specials. I came here for brunch on Sunday, it said "bottomless mimosas" it was more like "bottomless purée". They wouldn't fill up the glass with champagne and for the amount I pay is ridiculous. Don't advertise "bottomless mimosas" when it is not. Don't come here if you want to have a headache of a sugar rush......... I see the owner replies to the comments on here is just flat out rude, I can only imagine how he treats his staff.

Descanso is a restaurant that I believe that has been recently opened up and let me tell you it has a bright future ! It's located in a big shopping center so don't worry about parking you'll be good! The ambiance when you go in is a super retro/modern Latino style restaurant. And when your dining in you have the option to sit outside or you can sit inside where you can have a chef cook in front of you which is nice ! The service is super friendly and nice and I have no complaints for them especially considering this was my first time there Aw man you couldn't ask for more ! But overall the service was super friendly and helpful ! The food is on point you can taste the quality right away ! And the price point is super reasonable you pay for what you get overall if your around the area check them out !

Love this place definitely a spot to go on a date night just make sure you make reservations ahead of time it's a twist on your typical hibachi this is hibachi with a Mexican twist we had the salmon and the ribeye both were cooked perfectly our apps were elote and the seafood ceviche we also tried both sangrias and they were amazing I would definitely take the red over the white but both are very delicious I forgot our chefs name but he made our experience one of a kind we will definitely be back soon

First time visiting Descanso, the vibe was very good. The food was yummy, portions size is great. The bar area is awesome too

Mexican cuisine fused with teppanyaki? Count me in! My culinary journey began in true teppanyaki fashion with Sopa Fideo, a delightful twist on miso soup, followed by a Caesar salad. For the main course, I opted for Pollo Maya--Achiote Marinated Chicken Breast accompanied by summer veggies, cherry tomatoes, sweet bell peppers, and habanero pickled red onion. Our chef wasn't just skilled but incredibly warm and engaging, even treating us to some complimentary queso frito, which was a pleasant surprise on my Pollo Maya. The Mexican fried rice was delicious, I'd come back just for it. And the margaritas? Absolutely divine. However, the steep pricing was a bit of a letdown for what it was and our waitress was just not attentive (kept messing up some things although it wasn't super busy) shaving a star off an otherwise amazing experience.

I knew i wasn't impressed the first time I came here but my friend wanted to try it so I decided to give it another shot. I really don't know why this place just doesn't do it for me. We sat at the bar and our waiter/bartender was not friendly and looked like he was having a bad day. So that made this experience even worse. The chips and salsa were definitely not great, didn't even want to eat any of it. I had the Volcano tacos and potatoes on the side. It was lacking flavor for sure and it just wasn't that great. This is definitely going to be my last time for sure. I guess you have to go to the Plancha tables to have a better experience? I have no idea.

Location and interior atmosphere is great. Plenty of options for cocktails, drinks and appetizers. We had the chips and salsa. The salsa had a nice smoky flavor to it. The chips weren't fresh but still good. We both ordered entrees with the carnitas. The flavor is the dish was good and it had a pleasant amount of spice. The entree did fall short on the carnitas aspect. The menu described the carnitas as crispy and they were the consistency of wet pot roast and did not have much flavor. The service was great and we will be back to try different items.

The BEST ! It's benihanas but with Mexican food. We did the Herradura tequila tasting dinner, 5 courses and EACH course came with a well done tequila drink. It was so much fun, the staff make it fun and enjoyable. The food was actually really good and delicious, prepared right in front of you and at your preference. Perfect for date night or for celebrating a birthday or special event. They have the option to eat at a regular table or you can do the "a la plancha" which is the one we did. We loved it and highly recommended!!

The atmosphere was pleasant and enjoyable. I had no idea what to expect, as it was my first time at this Descanso. The cook really made the dinner fun and exciting, he was very personable and we appreciated that. The waiter was on top of things! When it came to the food presentation....it was like art, food art! I would 100% suggest anyone to dine here and my family and i will be back! The food is worth it!

Our chef, Jesus made our first time visit absolutely fun and enjoyable. The food was very good. I got the fideo soup for my starter and it was so tasty and tasted just like my mom's homemade fideo. For the main course I got carne asada, it was cooked just right very good taste. Their fried rice was delicious! I did ask for the aioli sauce on the side since I wasn't sure if it would be for me but I'm glad I tried it. The presentation and taste of the food was definitely worth the price. Highly recommend especially for a date night or special event

We saw a tiktok video about this place & decided to come celebrate our wedding anniversary WOW!!!! Wow!!!!! First impression: friendly hosts!!! Very welcoming!! We sat at the grill table. Our waitress was very courteous & explained the entire experience with us. Have us tips on how to order extras & was overall very pleasant & attentive. The food was 100000/10!!! Our chef was Chuy. Put on a great show & the food was TO DIE FOR!!! We had the sea bass & the carne asada Very good portions. Tasteful & delicious!! Definitely a must try place!! The had live music outside in the patio The crowd was good for a Wednesday night! They have daily specials Will definitely come back!!

We had a reservation for the plancha dining on a Saturday evening. We started with chips and salsa which were fresh and the salsa was very flavorful and delicious. My husband had the Pork Loin Alambre and my daughter and I both had the Carne Asada with the added melted cheese on top. Let me say, everything was cooked to perfection and super delicious! Wr ended our night with the mango creme brûlée which was delish as well. We loved our meals. The added bonus was our chef, Jose. He was great! He was very friendly and attentive to our needs. I can't wait to go back and try the regular dining next time to see how we like that.

My best friends brought me here for my birthday dinner and I immediately fell in love with this place! I loved that they cooked the food on the grill in front of you - so similar to benihanas. I have never seen another place that does this style of cooking so it was nice to get a different type of food and a show with it! Our server and grill chef were super nice. The food was super flavorful and delicious. Do not be shy about asking for extra of the sauces, they're really what makes the dishes over the top! We also had a few drinks, highly recommended the chamoy martini! They sing LOUD for birthdays so if that's not your thing please beware! There is a 2 hour time limit at the grill so we moved to the bar after and ended up staying until closing. The best spot for a fun birthday dinner!

I ordered the chicken which was very dry. My friend ordered salmon and raves about it. Although the food preparation at the table is entertaining, our grill person got the orders mixed up and we ended up waiting long time for a replacement meat to be brought and prepared. We paid with a combination of cards and cash- the server got it mixed up. Overall not a good experience.

Carnitas Hash was AMAZING. So much I couldn't even finish...but maybe that's because I ate so much of the delicious guacamole before my food arrived. My husband enjoyed the mahi mahi tacos (he thought the peanuts were an odd addition). The side of potatoes was good-the mayo based sauce on them was not my cup of tea. Service was quick and polite. Jamaica agua Fresca was good-I wish my husband and I split one and added water because it was a bit "juicy" for me. We enjoyed the clean patio on this gorgeous SoCal winter at about 1pm. My only complaint is about the tortilla chips-they just didn't do it for me.

Food was amazing, service was on point and the vibe was excellent, we sat in the their patio.

Really good food! I had previously sampled some of Descanso food at a Yelp event. I bookmarked this spot and have been waiting to be able to try it. Finally, I got to do so! I ordered a queso quesadilla with Mexican fried rice. My partner ordered the Volcano combo; shrimp tacos and a carne asada taco. My queso quesadilla came with cilantro and cotija cheese inside. This created a unique flavor, not your typical quesadilla: my partner loved his volcano combo tacos. The shrimp was fresh! The volcano tacos have some heat! Probably why they are called volcano tacos. Lol Overall, Descanso has unique flavors. The food is tasty. This is a good little spot.

Rating here is difficult. The guac was in desperate need of salt. Any salt. Some salt. Even the salt being near it. There was no salt and pepper in the table so you couldn't remedy this on your own. Then there is the table. They are sooooo small if you actually have a party of four. I took our candle off and removed the presentation platter from our Alote and that helped but, we were in desperate need of space. That said, the Volcano Taco was crazy amazing and huge. One was sufficient and you get two. I got the potatoes with it which were also amazing. Others at my table tried two other tacos and said they were awesome, and another had the taquitos. The other odd thing was our server didn't ask if we wanted dessert. We were there for early Mother's Day and a Birthday. We felt a little rushed and moved on. But did I mention that Volcano Taco

Food was amazing! Jesus "Chuy" was a great cook and entertaining .. lots of laughs ! Negative- If your group is not all there & on time, they only allow 10 minutes & they'll have to give up your reservation, per the hostess. So don't be late or you won't eat. Negative - Definitely felt rushed to place our order for a table of 6 people. Negative - Don't chitchat to long at the table after your done eating , cause the waiter will start setting up the table for the next group while your still enjoying yourselves.. sort of telling you in his way, leave we need this table for the next group .. Got it, but we spent close to $300 & wanted to enjoy my daughter's birthday. So #1 make sure your whole group is on time #2 Be ready to order #3 Don't chitchat too long and enjoy your party. However , thumbs up to an amazing cook "Chuy "

So far, the staff is really nice and the vibe is great. I ordered a hazy talk draft. The soup is very delicious.

The shrimp open face quesadillas are the best. The cheese is roasted first to add a crispness and extra layer of flavor and the tomatillo sauce adds just the right tang to every bite. My husband enjoyed his chicken taquitos and they came with a generous amount of guacamole. The chips and salsa are addicting as well. We enjoyed the outside patio as it is quieter than the inside seating. The birthday dessert looks pretty epic here!

Arrived late but should have not been relegated to the table top-- whole point was to experience the taco teppan experience

Do not come here for the Sunday brunch . The mimosa they fill every glass with half juice . The juice is a sugary purée . They will not fill it with anything less than half purée . I'm not kidding . Even if you already have 1/4 empty they refuse to top up with only champagne . They will give you half purée and the rest champagne . It's disguising that they force this to save on champagne. If you ask for less juice . They WILL NOT accommodate . They said it is not allowed . And the 2 hour limit is on the dot . I heard the server say to one guest when they asked for a refill . That they had to check their elapsed time before refilling . She came back and said ok and refilled . And said that they only had 15 minutes left . It wasn't even busy . The place was 35% full . Why push someone out like that . The rule in most restaurants is to not have other guest waits

This place has amazing varieties, but the highlight is the tacos! I've ordered Descanso for takeout many times as well and the food always arrives super hot. I've also dined in plenty of times for lunch and dinner and the experience never disappoints. If you are looking for a good value, come here for lunch on weekdays and you can get a taco plate for only $15. It comes with two tacos of your choice, beans, and Mexican fried rice. I really appreciate the fact that they don't cheap out on the taco quality even though it's lunch price. My favorite taco is the Don Chingon, I highly recommend these if you are looking for something flavorful. Here are some items I've ordered and enjoyed: Chips and Salsa ($3) - Classic appetizer and I really like the fact that the chips are warm. You can add $1 extra and get Chicharrones (pork rinds). Taquitos ($13) - These are four chicken taquitos so great for an appetizer or a meal even. They also come with guacamole. Elote Asado ($12) - If you like street corn, this is for you. Serrano Chile Potatoes ($6) - I typically don't order this if I have a side of the Mexican fried rice since the flavor profile are quite similar but they are good. Mexican Fried Rice ($6) - These are great additions if you need more sides for the table but they do come in plate combos which I highly recommend. Don Chingon ($6.50) - Spit-roasted al Pastor Pork tacos on their housemade blue corn tortilla. These are super saucy and flavorful. There is a bit of a kick but not too spicy. Mayan ($6) - Grilled achiote marinated chicken on their housemade blue corn tortilla. These are also very flavorful and a great white meat alternative. Alambre ($21) - You have a choice of filet steak, al pastor pork, chicken, shrimp, or vegetables. With this, you basically get the filling that would go into the taco but they come on a plate. It's served with flour tortillas so you can make your own perfect bite. Flan ($9) - Very balanced flan. A great option for a dessert if you're looking for something decadent but not too heavy. The restaurant itself is really nice. They have a great bar area and outdoor seating if you want to dine al fresco. The interior is cozy and is divided into different sections. They have these Benihana-style seating, where they make the food in front of you on the plancha grill. I would check the online menu for these because the pricing and menu items are a little bit different. The staff here are all very friendly and helpful! The service is prompt and the food always comes at a good temperature. I like to eat my hot food hot so if you're like me, you'll appreciate that.

We went during happy hours so the margaritas were reasonably priced. They also tasted like 4 stars but read on to find out why I rated this restaurant 3 stars. We waited 22 minutes no food, no drinks, the server must be new, we sat in the middle of the room how could she forget us? We finally got our order after I asked another server. Our server came n asked if we wanted the tortilla chips ok I don't mind paying $3 even though it's free n unlimited refills at all the other Mexican cantinas. The salsa was too hot for me, I asked for another milder salsa, they brought out pico de gallo n charged me another $3. It didn't sit well w me that's $6 nobody else charged. The bill also included a surcharge, it was ridiculous out of nowhere all kinds of fees added up to about $8. The service was not good so 3 stars is generous, sorry there is a Mexican restaurant every other block I don't need to drive to Costa Mesa to get overcharged so I'm not coming back.

Very cool idea for a restaurant. My family loves the experience of seeing our food being cooked freshly in front of us. Our chef - Anya was amazing. So sweet and explained every ingredient that went into the food. You can tell she is so passionate about what she does. Besides her the rest of the customer service was mediocre. The chips and salsa were okay, the pozole soup was delightful. My boyfriend ordered the ceasar salad but I think he was served the vinaigrette salad instead - either was it was yummy and refreshing. For the main course I had the carnitas machaca. It came with carnitas, salsa, cheese and tortillas on the side. Delicious but very greasy and filling. I ate only half the plate for lunch and felt full the rest of the day. My boyfriend ordered the chilaquiles (available vegetarian) which was yummy and crispy! He did wish however that there were more eggs. We were also celebrating my sisters birthday so churro chips with ice cream was sent to our table and delivered with a song. Overall food was tasty but left me feeling full and a bit icky and customer service was fine except the shining star that is Anya.