Playa Mesa

Mexican restaurant · Costa Mesa

Playa Mesa

Mexican restaurant · Costa Mesa

1

428 E 17th St, Costa Mesa, CA 92627

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Highlights

Homestyle Mexican food, weekend brunch, happy hours & great service  

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428 E 17th St, Costa Mesa, CA 92627 Get directions

playamesa.com
@playamesa

$$ · Menu

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428 E 17th St, Costa Mesa, CA 92627 Get directions

+1 949 287 5292
playamesa.com
@playamesa

$$ · Menu

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Last updated

Aug 8, 2025

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Where to Drink Margaritas in Orange County for MargaritaCon | Eater

"The coastal influence at this Mexican spot in Costa Mesa is clear from both its name and the menu, with many of its entrees featuring shrimp, salmon, white fish, or some sort of fruit of the sea. The restaurant might be best known for its lineup of takes on the margarita, including the the Spicy Mangosita. With jalapeño-infused Astral Tequila Blanco, mango cordial, and lime, it’s an easy sipper and a great way to wind down after a long day. Grab a patio seat out front to feel those ocean breezes blowing in from the Balboa Peninsula." - Robert Spuhler

https://www.eater.com/ad/maps/orange-county-bars-participating-in-margaritacon
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Emily Cervantes

Google
The food was incredible! I got the carnitas taco plate and the food was delicious I am very picky with my beans but these were so tasty. I also got the tamarindo, sandía and candy shot. All were delicious but the candy shot has a predominant jalapeño taste that wasn’t my favorite but if you love jalapeño it is right up your alley! I would recommend you try it out!! My coworkers and I will be coming back to celebrate their anniversary :)!

Michelle Cho

Google
Beautiful!!! It was our (my mom, my younger brother, and me) first time here. We came here for Tuesday Brunch around 11 am, just when the place opened and it’s been a nice atmosphere with people slowly trickling in for lunch. It was our pleasant surprise to discover it was also Taco Tuesday today! Chips and salsa are provided as you decide on what to eat We asked our waiter what the best dishes would be and we got the following: *small guacamole ($8 because of Happy Hour, originally ~$13) - not needed unless you’re Crazy for guacamole *ceviche campechano - a wonderful appetizer, supposedly better than the ceviche de pescado *fajita steak - good for sharing with family *four tacos ($4 each because of happy hour, you can choose between flour or corn tortillas) - two fish tacos (flour) and two birria tacos (corn) We got to take leftovers home. Thank you for an outstanding meal and service!!! God bless you all. I appreciate the variety of foods, presentation, and intentionality of it all.

Michelle Talaski-Knobloch

Google
We went on a Friday afternoon, there was tuns of open seats, we sat on the patio and the seats were so comfy. Tortilla chips and salsa were delicious and the fried fish tacos were the best I had in America and the rice and beans were sooooo good! Great service!

Shahram Mehraban

Google
Nice Mexican restaurant on the 17th street in the middle of Costa Mesa. Can’t believe that this is the first time after so many years. We sat in the outside patio which was nice and warm and we had our puppy with us. I got the Al pastor plate. It was very tasty and came with beans and pickled onions and raw onions. It tasted great but didn’t seem a lot of food. I had a bit taste of my wife’s carnitas plate that tasted good. Service was on the slow side but our server was great. Will definitely come back again.

Amber Monroee

Google
Not only is the food 5 stars ⭐️JOSELE provided my group with THE BEST SERVICE EVER! We drove all the way from Hollywood and it was worth every minute of traffic, we will definitely be returning soon! Thank you all greatly! ❤️

william webb

Google
Wonderful restaurant, great vibe, great food, great staff. The food is high quality and delicious, without being overly refined. Definitely a step above the average Mexican restaurant. Highly recommend any Al Pastor item on the menu, especially the fajita. Genuinely the best Al pastor I have had outside of Mexico. Make sure to get the corn tortillas, they are perfection. Highly recommend and would visit again.

Justin Branstetter

Google
I’ve always liked Playa Mesa, but my experience on Friday, July 25 left a bad taste. The bartender that evening was shockingly rude and dismissive, both to me and others at the bar. Instead of feeling welcomed, I felt like I was bothering them just by ordering a drink. This is not the level of service I’ve come to expect here, and it really took away from what should have been a great night out. I hope management addresses this, because the atmosphere and food deserve better representation.

Lord Van Cannon

Google
Parking is a nightmare. Be aware of that first. Moving on... Upon walking in we were greeted immediately. Staff is very attentive and helpful. Our waiter was very professional, outgoing and all around made the dining experience better. However.... That's what it was. The dining experience from the ambience, seating and decor was great! And they've got a lot of really amazing tequila options. Largest I've seen in the area. However my food wasn't that great and I couldn't even finish it. Rice was over cooked and under cooked... some were hard some too soft. The cheese in the enchiladas weren't even melted... and the beans had zero flavor. I've heard from other people the food isn't consistent here... and now I believe them. Is there a different chef on different days and times? That's probably it. The bathroom was clean. Entire place was clean and well presented. Would it go back here? Probably not on my own. If someone else said "we're going here" I'd probably go. But I'm not going to go on my own out of my way. If you enjoy tequila check this place out though for sure. HUGE selection.
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Tessia G.

Yelp
When you come here, ask for Josele! He was incredible. My friend and I were well taken care of for our whole experience.

Caleb Y.

Yelp
Best waiter Josele Great service Fun grea conversations positive guy. amazing food We will be back

John A.

Yelp
My amazing beautiful girlfriend took me here for my birthday. It was both our first time here and our server Miguel was very attending and gave great customer service. The food was amazing. Will definitely come back again to try their brunch menu and bottomless mimosas.
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Jen C.

Yelp
Delicious! Met a friend for lunch. The place was clean. Everyone was very nice especially our server, his name was Josele R. Very attentive but not overbearing. We both had the new drink they were promoting, the "strawberry dreams forever". It was really good. We had the calamari appetizer and both had the birria tacos. It was my first time here and I can't wait to come back. Found it via Yelp looking for a place in the area.
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Simon K.

Yelp
Happy hour until 6pm with food and drink specials. The Tamarindo Margarita was way better than the House Margarita. The chips are homemade. The salsa is made from scratch. The guacamole and the queso are great. The Camarones al mojo de ajo shrimp was boring. It comes with a lot of vegetables and plain rice. They provide tortillas but what's the point. In that car is rather have fajitas. The Carnitas entree was great.
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Garrett O.

Yelp
My wife and I love coming to Playa Mesa, especially during their generous happy hour from 3 to 6pm. The happy hour menu is one of the biggest we've seen with tons of great food and drink options. Everything we've tried has been delicious. On our most recent visit, we were lucky to have Josele R. as our server and he absolutely made our experience. He went above and beyond with his service and hospitality. It honestly felt like we were guests in his home. Warm, welcoming, attentive, and just top-tier service all around. One of the best parts is that it's never too busy if you come right at 3pm, which makes for a really chill and relaxing meal before the dinner rush. We're regulars here for a reason. Great food, even better service, and always a great vibe. Can't wait to come back again soon!
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Shell S.

Yelp
We used to be regulars at Playa Mesa and I always got the carne asada burrito and loved it! We returned after a while and quality of food was not the same. The burrito was not bad but not as good as before. A lot more rice and bean ratio and not a lot of flavor. The steak was cut very small and not as much as before. It used to be much more steak and larger pieces with less of the rice and beans. They also got my order wrong but we ended up eating it to avoid wasting the food despite our nice server's offer to take it back. The side arugula salad barely had any dressing and it was old/wilted. Overall not our favorite visit to Playa Mesa. Service was great.
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Sepideh S.

Yelp
Came here for brunch on a Sunday. We were a group of 3 and ordered few beers, Micheladas, and margarita flights. Interestingly the cucumber one was the worst and didn't taste like cucumbers at all, more like a fake syrup. On the other hand, the Tamarind and watermelon were good. I ordered the octopus and it tasted good but I wish it had a sauce or some sort of potatoes to eat it with
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Sydney N.

Yelp
Came here to eat with a group of friends and the wait wasn't too long. The valet parking was $5 which made our experience dining here much easier. Since we came on a Friday night, it was pretty busy but it took them a while to get our orders in. Other than that, our server was very attentive and frequently checked up on us. We got an order of their fried calamari and I 10/10 recommend, it was so yummy. I also ordered their steak fajita which was delicious, along with their margarita flight (original, sandia, and spicy cucumber). The drinks were amazing but the spicy cucumber does has a pretty strong kick in it. Overall, I would come back here again due to their ambiance and vibes.
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Tiffany G.

Yelp
Randomly found Playa Mesa on Yelp and decided to stop by after doing some Birthday Kayaking for a friend. I was a little annoyed with the service. It took 30 minutes to place our order and that's only because we decided to wave someone over and have them ask for our waitress. At the end we also had to do the same thing when it came to the check. Heads up - you can only split the check between two cards. When the waitress told us, she couldn't even give us a minute, she just walked away and once again we were left waiting. The food is not bad. I don't know if I would call it authentic Mexican food but they use quality ingredients which I appreciate. I ordered the Enchiladas Suiza con Pollo. I asked for extra sauce inside my enchiladas. They were tasty but I would probably order something else next time. We also ordered guacamole for the table. It was a small portion but I want to say that was my favorite part of the meal. The Spicy Cucumber Margarita was delicious. I do want to mention they have margarita flights. They are a good size and if you feel like drinking you might as well just order the flight. I think the price difference from ordering a single margarita was $8. I'd also like to add that they were nice enough to bring out a Mexican Candy Shot in honor of my friend's birthday. That was really sweet since we only casually mentioned her birthday when we first got seated. She loved it and felt extra special so thank you for that! The ambiance of this restaurant is super cute and the parking situation is super easy. Parking is valet only but for only $5 why not.
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Zara A.

Yelp
Great spot for BOTTOMLESS mimosas especially when celebrating a birthday!! They had options to choose from like GUAVA, ORANGE, PINEAPPLE, MANGO, TAMARIND, CRANBERRY, and STRAWBERRY!! Bottomless champagne and a juice was $22 which is hard to beat (although extra juice is an add on). We liked strawberry and tamarind. Honestly what made the experience was our server JOSELE !! He was so nice and welcoming and made the experience feel homey and special. We were a large and loud party and he handled us so kindly and patiently which I really appreciated! I got a chorizo burrito which was not my favorite although I loved the pickled sides. It tasted too lean and simple for what I was craving. Although I didn't love the food, the service and bottomless made the experience for me!
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Kristina V.

Yelp
Happy Hour is a must! The prices are awesome and everything we tried was really good. The calamari appetizer was delicious, and the guac and salsa were seriously addicting. The fish tacos were just okay, but all the other tacos were packed with flavor. Our server was super friendly and even brought out a special dessert for a birthday we were celebrating! Parking is valet and not too pricey -- otherwise, you're looking at a bit of a walk to get there.
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Erica A.

Yelp
I have been here in the past and really enjoyed their food and their regular menu! Food and drinks are always so good however this weekend we tried their Easter buffet, first time ever trying their buffet option & it was underwhelming! Food was decent but the place preferred other options for brunch, or truthfully el torito brunch buffet can't be beat.. will definitely return to playa mesa but only for the regular menu! Service was quick and friendly. When we arrived around 10 AM Easter Sunday they weren't busy yet.
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Hunter C.

Yelp
Visited Playa Mesa in Costa Mesa on a Wednesday around 7pm. Valet is $5 (your only clear option if you're driving directly to the location), or you can walk - though where you're supposed to park otherwise is unclear. We were seated right away and chose the bar. Ambiance was cute, and service was fine - nothing stood out, but nothing to complain about either. They start you off with free chips and salsa, which was a nice plus nowadays. We both ordered the Pollo Asada Tacos, which come with rice and beans. The tortillas were good, but that's about where the excitement ended. The rest of the plate felt flat and underwhelming - not bad, just... not worth remembering. Personally wouldn't return or recommend unless you're just going for drinks and the vibe.
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Annie Y.

Yelp
They do valet parking, but you can park on the other side for free. There is plenty of seating inside with a bar as well. They provide salsa and chips as well. I ordered the Enchilada Suiza con Pollo. The enchiladas were good, but the chicken was a bit dry. It does come with salad and Spanish rice & beans. Overall, great vibes in the place and good food. Recommendation(s): - Enchilada Suiza con Pollo Service: 5/5 Tip(s): - If you don't want to do valet parking, park on the other side - Restrooms available
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Karissa C.

Yelp
We reserved a spot on a Saturday at 11am. Came here and waited for the whole party of 5 to arrive to be seated. They gave us chips and salsa which was really good. The server was nice and they occasionally came over to refill the chips (3-4 bowls). The service was a bit slow in refilling the water. --We sat down at 11:30ish. The food came at 1pm-- We came during restaurant week so not sure if it was especially busy but a 1.5hr wait for the food is kinda ridiculous. The chips made it slightly better and held us down for a while but still. I got the eggs benedict on the brunch menu which was super delicious. I think the food is great but seriously that was the longest brunch I've ever had.
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Mary B.

Yelp
My family really enjoyed our lunch at Playa Mesa. Delicious food (highly recommend the Birria tacos!) And our server, Josele, was terrific. He was attentive, helpful, friendly AND kind - doesn't get much better than that!
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Flor P.

Yelp
Went to Playa Mesa to celebrate a birthday. The place is beautiful, well-lit, clean, and featuring a great ambiance with classic Mexican and Spanish music playing in the background. Went on a Saturday morning, not overly crowded. Parking is spacious and offers valet for $5. Our waiter, Scarlett, was amazing. There was a small issue with the kitchen bringing out our appetizers after our main dishes, but Scarlett immediately apologized and offered solutions. While it initially took her a little while to take our orders, she was very attentive overall and had a great, positive attitude. Our group ordered the chilaquiles rojos, pozole, breakfast sandwiches, and the steak and eggs plate. The pozole was my favorite, though every dish was packed with flavor and absolutely delicious. They offer bottomless mimosas and really good drinks. I myself had their michelada and the mix was very tasteful. I was really impressed with the food quality. I would definitely come back, not to mention, the prices were very affordable!
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Tatiana M.

Yelp
Came for OC Restaurant week and it was awesome! The deal was $25 and I had: *Hamachi crudo sliced sushi grade hamachi, pineapple & lime citrus marinade, avocados, petit micro greens, caramelized pineapple, sliced radish and chile oil. *Grilled salmon tacos: citrus slaw, pico de gallo, morita sauce, pickled fresno peppers. served with rice & beans And the churros - FRESHLY MADE, and are served with a cafe de olla syrup... while the syrup was good, I'm more of a dulce de leche or ice cream person hehe. We also made it during happy hr so we got rally good Margaritas for $12. I definitely recommend!
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Jennifer D.

Yelp
Fantastic menu options, very fresh & flavorful food! I had the Birria Tacos plate, juicy tender meat, generous portions. I also ordered the calamari and shishito peppers plate...yummy :) I will definitely return and I highly recommend this restaurant. The dining area was clean and nicely decorated. The staff I interacted with were very friendly, our server was great! Thank you Playa Mesa for a great first experience.
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James L.

Yelp
Playa Mesa is a lively Mexican spot with a great atmosphere and a beautiful bar. I came here for my birthday with a large group, and they accommodated us really well -- perfect place to celebrate something special. The vibes were fun, the drinks were solid, and the tacos tasted authentic and fresh. Always a good time and a good date option too! Bonus: valet parking is only $5 on weekends, which made things easy. Definitely a go-to for good food, drinks, and a fun night out.
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Amy N.

Yelp
It's been years since I have eaten here and drinks are still good but the food is blah and especially for the price. It's also very loud in here so if you want to talk to the person/people you came with this is not the place. You also need to valet since there's no parking what so ever. The valet wait time was a while as well.
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Patience M.

Yelp
The food was good, definitely needed some salt and their salsas just weren't very spicy but I am not even taking off any points for that. We were in for a Sunday brunch and in the middle of our service they let our waiter go because it was slow. We were still drinking and eating but they brought the check and did not even have another waiter introduced to us. We had to flag someone down to get Togo boxes. Just left a bad taste in my mouth. I wish we had a better experience because I've been here before and remember it being good. Not sure if I'll be returning.

Ocean K.

Yelp
Aguachile was a bit too spicy for my gf, but our server, Josele was one of the sweetest, most kind hearted people we've ever come across. He went above and beyond to take care of us. From giving us recommendations to making jokes, he was a breath of fresh air. Will come back just to see him again.
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Michael S.

Yelp
This restaurant gives me similar vibes as Palmilla Cocina in Newport, but for a better price. Took my mom here for dinner and she loved the whole experience. She honestly felt like she was in Cabo with all the nice Latin inspired decor. Thank you for making it a pleasant night for us! We started with the shrimp ceviches as appetizers. The shrimp was meaty and the crisp of the chip was crunchy. 5/5. As for the entrees, we ordered the fish tacos and the chicken enchiladas. The chicken enchiladas is freakin delicious. I enjoyed eating the brown rice and the beans it came with. Very savory and flavorful. 5/5. It was a lot of food so we had it for togo. The fish tacos were good, but not crazy good to talk about. Just glad it was crispy then soggy. 4/5. We also ordered the jalapeño margarita and the Paloma Mesa cocktail. Both tasted good; barely taste the alcohol which can be dangerous lol. The bill wasn't too bad. I feel like it was worth it. Will come back again!
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Alexandra O.

Yelp
The restaurant is buzzing when you come in! It's on the louder side and very lively! The room has cute decor up for cinco de Mayo, including a photo backdrop! So cute! The food was amazing and so was the service! We would definitely come back again next time we're in town!

J B.

Yelp
This was by far the best food and experience we have had while in Newport!! The service by Josele R was fantastic and so personal. He was so kind and friendly with his suggestions and great manners. I don't leave a lot of reviews but absolutely had to mention the service and amazing food. The fajitas were cooked perfectly and the drink and atmosphere was great. MUST VISIT
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Matt G.

Yelp
Great casual/nicer spot for some Mexican in Costa Mesa! Waiter was nice but we really wish he would have spaced out our food. We ordered apps and food all at once and had it all at our table at the same time.... And it was a small table... Recommendacione: - tortilla soup - warms the soul - carne asado tacos - only 2 but they were full of meat :P - guac - good and at any good Mexican spot you need to get it. But I've had better Overall, go here with friends or fam! Fills up so make a reservation!
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Christina G.

Yelp
Great location. (Check) Beautiful inside. (Check) Fantastic cocktails. (check) Amazing table service (check) Good food. (Check) It's big n ample indoor and outdoor seating. I recommend a reservation on a weekend. This place can get very busy. The margarita says is the best in California. And it was very good. The chips and salsa doesn't ever stop coming out haha! So be careful not to fill up on those or you will miss out of some good food. Go and enjoy!
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Clayton M.

Yelp
Carne asada plate went crazy. Best thing we had no doubt. Chicken enchiladas were also in the top tier. I'd get it again. We tried the margarita flight just for fun. The watermelon one was suuuuuper good. The house was also classic. Good marg if that's your thing. Service was friendly & helpful! Threw in a free marg on the house for our table. And it was on Halloween weekend so all of the servers were dressed as Luigi. Wa-ha! It's got a great vibe in there. Pretty loud and buzzin'. Dim lighting. Fun spot for a fun date. The noise makes it a little hard to have a more intimate convo I suppose. But definitely fun in there, with sports on the tvs too.
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Rangie T.

Yelp
This was probably our last chance to experience another new OC restaurant for this 2025 OCRW so we finished it off at Playa Mesa Costa Mesa, California. Immediate impressions of excellent service was met as soon as we entered. The female bartender saw us come in and she stopped what she was doing at the bar, met us, sat us, got us waters, and served us chips and salsa, all within the first two minutes. That is impressive. Our server Maria introduced herself to us shortly and before we could ask for the OCRW menu, she was handling it over. Our choices were: Course-1 Hamachi Crudo and the Carnitas Taquitos. Course-2 I ordered the Birria Enchilada's with no refried beans since I can't eat it and my wife got the Al Pastor tacos. For Course-3 we got each of the dessert which were the churro's con cafe Olla and the Benuelos. Everything tasted delicious. The only small infraction is they still gave me refried beans on my plate, but I didn't fuss about it because my wife ate them instead. Everything on our plates is made with fresh ingredients. I can tell, just in the red enchilada sauce that it was scratch made and nothing from a can. Lupe, the Assistant General Manager came over to talk to us. She is a wonderful lady and along with everyone here, they have an awesome crew. I love to see restaurants with customer service, food quality, hospitality, cleanliness and achieving to make everyone's experience at Playa Mesa memorable to want to come back. For myself and my wife, this was a five star experience.
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Bernadette V.

Yelp
Such a cute and friendly ambiance. We had the best service with Josele. He was so happy and attentive. We had a great time. Their happy hour is terrific. The food and drinks didn't disappoint. Would definitely come back to try more things on the menu.
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Michelle C.

Yelp
Beautiful!!! It was our (my mom, my younger brother, and me) first time here. We came here for Tuesday Brunch around 11 am, just when the place opened and it's been a nice atmosphere with people slowly trickling in for lunch. It was our pleasant surprise to discover it was also Taco Tuesday today! Chips and salsa are provided as you decide on what to eat We asked our waiter what the best dishes would be and we got the following: *small guacamole ($8 because of Happy Hour, originally ~$13) - not needed unless you're Crazy for guacamole *ceviche campechano - a wonderful appetizer, supposedly better than the ceviche de pescado *fajita steak - good for sharing with family *four tacos ($4 each because of happy hour, you can choose between flour or corn tortillas) - two fish tacos (flour) and two birria tacos (corn) We got to take leftovers home. Thank you for an outstanding meal and service!!! God bless you all. I appreciate the variety of foods, presentation, and intentionality of it all.
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Xenia A.

Yelp
This trendy place had fast service and pretty decent food. They give you chips and salsa to start which I always appreciate. My partner had the fish taco plate and he enjoyed it as it had good portions and filled him up. I got the seafood burrito but wished I could actually taste the lobster. Not much seafood flavor but still yummy. I also got the lychee cocktail and was my fave part aside from the salsa and chips. I was kinda shocked we had to pay for parking even tho it wasn't packed or anything. But it was only $5. You could have it valeted or u hold the keys yourself, which we did. Either way, yummy spot if you are in the area
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Eve N.

Yelp
Exceptional! Service was fast and super accommodating. Food came out hot and ready! The Al pastor was so flavorful and the corn tortillas were exceptional. Made right in the back. Homemade as they come. The ceviche was outstanding! Make sure to ask for the homemade salsa and be cautious with the serving as it is spicy with a punch! Ambiance is fire! Come sit and get a Jamaica margarita! Ask for Rochelle!
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sophie d.

Yelp
I've come here for happy hour & taco tuesday a handful of times it's become a habit. Their esquites is to die for it's amazing!! I've tried plenty of items off of the happy hour menu, and I have not been disappointed once. The menu is priced well, and the margaritas on happy hour are $10, such a great deal. The bartenders Edgar and Rachelle are the best, they are attentive and kind. There's lots of seating and the place is super cute, love it!
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Kaloni S.

Yelp
This is my second time here and it definitely didn't disappoint! There is plenty of parking in the lot, everyone is very friendly and attentive, and the ambiance is super cute! We came during happy hour 3-6pm and got the tacos and some margaritas. Simple and delicious! Definitely worth a try if you're in the area. Food review: Chips & salsa: (5/5) | love a complimentary chips and salsa. The salsa is delicious. I literally slurped it down on my tacos. Calamari: (5/5) super tasty and crispy. Good dipping sauce. Tortilla soup: (5/5) small portion, but comes with lots of yummy toppings! Cucumber margarita: (10/5) this was one of the best damn margaritas l've had. It's refreshing with a little spice. Definitely worth a try. Casa margarita: (5/5) who doesn't love a classic margarita? It was tasty. Tacos: (5/5) These are a great size, I was expecting small tacos. 3 was more than enough! We tried the carnitas, carne asada, and birria. Birria and carne asada were definitely our favorites and the tortillas are soooo fresh and tasty.
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Caitlin L.

Yelp
I came here for a friends birthday dinner and it was super easy to make a reservation the day before. We were able to be sat before our entire party arrived which was much appreciated. Our server was very kind and gave us all complimentary chips and salsa. I personally thought the chips were just okay but the rest of the group really enjoyed them. I had the birria taco plata. It was a perfect portion, the tacos were delicious and the consome paired really well with it. I liked how it didn't come with a massive cup of consome and I always feel bad wasting. The rice was fluffy and delicious. The interior was nice, it was a lively environment and all in all everyone really enjoyed their meal. I would recommend!
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John A.

Yelp
We've been here several times and it's always great food. All the taco options are top notch. Service is always quick and the bartenders are great! Highly recommend.
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Jennifer T.

Yelp
First time eating here for a birthday brunch everything was so delicious. I got the fish tacos and they were so good. Also would recommend the shishito calamari! Super unique flavor and it was so crispy! The service was amazing. Miguel, our waiter was really hospitable and on top of it! Would definitely come here again.
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Paul C.

Yelp
Cazuela De Camaron It has tiger shrimp, fish, and bell peppers stewed together. It is served with fresh avocado, kimchi, and Mexican rice. It also comes with corn tortillas. You can roll the vegetables together. It is very refreshing and delicious. Taco Combo I ordered two flavors, beef and fish. The fish is amazing. It is super big. The flour is just a thin layer. It is really different from the 4 or 5 dollar tacos sold in Mexican restaurants outside. And the portion is very large. pancakes Pancakes are relatively mediocre in the weekend brunch menu. They are not the best pancakes I have ever eaten. You can pass it. We ordered a cocktail espresso yourself (coffee vodka) and a non-alcoholic guava mimosa. Both tasted good!
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Johnny G.

Yelp
This place was perfect. We had a party of 13 and were able to book reservations day of. Immediately walking in the ambiance was very nice. Tons of celebrations all around- girl's night, birthdays and saw a bridal shower. The staff was great and attentive with our large group. I saw someone order the dramatic steak fajitas and I had to go with the same. I got it medium rare and it was a perfect cook. The food was delicious and flavorful. My friends enjoyed their cocktails, I had a Cava which was good. We didn't itemize the bill but we had chip guacamole appetizers for the table, our entrees, and everyone had roughly 2 drinks and it came out to 64 a person! Extremely reasonable. One of my friends and I even stayed at the bar after. I cant remember her name but a new bartender - she was absolute gem. This place was literally spectacular on all fronts (ambience, food, service and drinks).

Brianna L.

Yelp
Today I came in to have a family brunch , I was looking forward to it , everything went well until my waiter Scarlet just kept chit chatting with a male server. She would look at our table , trying to signal her to refill my water, but she looked away and continued talking. I had to physically go up to her to ask her to refill my water , along with bringing condiments. Sad to say I will have Saturday brunch elsewhere, where employees are more attentive instead of getting paid to chit chat and mingle with male servers.
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Arn L.

Yelp
This was our first visit. We were immediately seated and brought chips and salsa. They were very good. Fresh chips and salsa not too hot. I loved their salsa. I ordered the enchiladas de mar which was a lobster and shrimp enchilada. It was made with a freshly made tortilla. I loved their green sauce they put on them. My wife ordered a chicken enchilada. She also enjoyed her meal. The restaurant was clean and had a nice atmosphere. Service was excellent. We will definitely come again.
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Gohar K.

Yelp
While driving home from Newport Beach we stopped by Playa Mesa to have dinner. We walked in and were greeted by the most friendly hostess ever. I requested a booth and she said no problem at all. It was around 5 pm so a bit early for dinner so the place was just filling up. As soon as we sat down our waiter approached us and took our drink order. He was very friendly, welcoming , helpful and attention. I ordered a tamarind margarita and loved it. The Birria tacos were the best I ever had and the carne asada my husband and daughter ordered was amazing. Full of grilled steak , avocado, rice , grilled pepper etc. served over a red sauce and topped with sour cream. We all loved our dishes and were very happy with the ambiance and the service. We will definitely be back next time we are around this area. Great great customer service.... The parking is valet only and it's $5 .... I can't believe people are complaining about a parking fee as if the shopping centers and other restaurants don't charge parking fees. Overall a great place to hang out with friends or family. Lots of indoor and outdoor seating.
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Cathy L.

Yelp
I went here for a friend's birthday and we all had a great time. The food was delicious and so were the drinks. I loved the ambiance and decor as well! Miguel, our server, was so attentive and made the experience great!

Jennifer B.

Yelp
To go salad. Missing avocado and dressing. Called and they had little help on that. "Come back and we will give it to you." Not happy.
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Zarifa A.

Yelp
We came here to celebrate a friend's recent engagement and what better way is there to celebrate than Mexican food?! Playa Mesa has a decent amount of variety in their menu which would help satisfy any Mexican craving you may have. I ended up ordering the enchilada combo plate with a birria enchilada and a shrimp enchilada. I would say both enchiladas are solid but didn't really blow me away. From the two, I enjoyed the shrimp one more. The plate also came with an arugula salad, Spanish rice, and beans, which I felt really completed the meal. Overall, a plate is a lot of food and I ended up having leftovers. The ambiance here is really nice and what makes the restaurant stand out and our server was very friendly too. The store itself has a dedicated parking lot, however, it is valet only, but it was $4 which is pretty inexpensive. Overall, I'd say that this restaurant is more for the vibes than the food, but with that being said, I would be open to coming back if I was in the area!

M B.

Yelp
Josele was the best waiter! He was so kind and attentive, never let our chips or drinks get low - 10 star service. The restaurant is gorgeous. Beautiful designs and brick throughout the interior and exterior. And of course.. the food. We were a table of 4 and all of our food was fantastic. I got the ceviche with octopus and it was so tender and flavorful, my niece got the fajitas and the steak was like a prime cut of meat, way better than what is usually used on fajitas. We will be back!