Salt & Lime Modern Taqueria
Restaurant · Costa Mesa ·

Salt & Lime Modern Taqueria

Restaurant · Costa Mesa ·

Eclectic gourmet tacos, handmade tortillas, and fresh lemonade

tacos
ribeye steak taco
short rib taco
chips and guacamole
blue corn tortilla
crispy chicken tender taco
poke nachos
craft cocktails
Salt & Lime Modern Taqueria by null
Salt & Lime Modern Taqueria by null
Salt & Lime Modern Taqueria by null
Salt & Lime Modern Taqueria by null
Salt & Lime Modern Taqueria by null
Salt & Lime Modern Taqueria by null
Salt & Lime Modern Taqueria by null
Salt & Lime Modern Taqueria by null
Salt & Lime Modern Taqueria by null
Salt & Lime Modern Taqueria by null
Salt & Lime Modern Taqueria by null
Salt & Lime Modern Taqueria by null
Salt & Lime Modern Taqueria by null
Salt & Lime Modern Taqueria by null
Salt & Lime Modern Taqueria by null
Salt & Lime Modern Taqueria by null
Salt & Lime Modern Taqueria by null
Salt & Lime Modern Taqueria by null
Salt & Lime Modern Taqueria by null
Salt & Lime Modern Taqueria by null
Salt & Lime Modern Taqueria by null
Salt & Lime Modern Taqueria by null
Salt & Lime Modern Taqueria by null
Salt & Lime Modern Taqueria by null
Salt & Lime Modern Taqueria by null
Salt & Lime Modern Taqueria by null
Salt & Lime Modern Taqueria by null
Salt & Lime Modern Taqueria by null
Salt & Lime Modern Taqueria by null
Salt & Lime Modern Taqueria by null
Salt & Lime Modern Taqueria by null
Salt & Lime Modern Taqueria by null
Salt & Lime Modern Taqueria by null
Salt & Lime Modern Taqueria by null
Salt & Lime Modern Taqueria by null
Salt & Lime Modern Taqueria by null
Salt & Lime Modern Taqueria by null
Salt & Lime Modern Taqueria by null
Salt & Lime Modern Taqueria by null
Salt & Lime Modern Taqueria by null
Salt & Lime Modern Taqueria by null
Salt & Lime Modern Taqueria by null

Information

350 E 17th St #2, Costa Mesa, CA 92627 Get directions

$20–30

Reserve a table
Order delivery
See Menu
Restroom
Popular for lunch
Popular for dinner
Trendy
Family friendly

Information

Static Map

350 E 17th St #2, Costa Mesa, CA 92627 Get directions

+1 949 662 0009
saltandlimetacos.com
@saltandlimetacos

$20–30 · Menu

Reserve a table

Features

•Restroom
•Accepts reservations
•Popular for lunch
•Popular for dinner
•Trendy
•Family friendly
•Good for solo dining
•Vegetarian options

Last updated

Jan 25, 2026

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These Portland Restaurants Have Closed or Delayed Opening for the Snow [Updated] | Eater Portland

"At Tight Tacos, the Jacobsen Salt location is closed for the weather according to the restaurant's Instagram story; there is no word on the status of the SE Hawthorne location." - Brooke Jackson-Glidden

https://pdx.eater.com/2019/2/5/18211840/portland-restaurant-snow-closures-february-5-2019
Salt & Lime Modern Taqueria

Darlo

Google
This place is cute. Really like the indoor/outdoor vibe and second floor seating. Very spacious and dog friendly. The tacos were decent. Appreciate the creativity and many options. Had a total of 4 tacos; the only one that was very memorably bad was the confit of mushroom trio. I would skip the churro sundae too. It took forever to arrive and they were not good. Flavor and texture were way off. The horchata flavor was non-existent. Dulce de leche sauce was watery.

Mizuki S.

Google
These tacos were seriously amazing from the very first bite. The corn tortilla and chips were a standout. The crispy chicken tender taco was hands-down the best. The chicken was golden and crunchy but still juicy, and the sauce tied everything together with this addictive sweet and savory balance that kept you wanting another bite. It wasn’t overpowering—just enough sweetness to complement the seasoning and enough savoriness to make it feel rich and satisfying. The esquites corn was just as impressive. It was creamy, flavorful, and perfectly seasoned, with that subtle sweetness from the corn balanced by savory, tangy notes. It added an extra layer of comfort and freshness that paired amazingly with the tacos.

Bijan R.

Google
Excellent food, great service, highly recommend this restaurant. I got the short-rib burrito which was very filling and delicious. It had a twist with some surprise ingredients (listed in the menu of course), and my wife got what she called the best fish taco of her life. Can’t wait to be back. The Chef and the staff are all wonderful.

Eiji S.

Google
Salt and lime is my favorite tacos in orange county. They use exceptional ingredients and beautiful style in everything they make. Our favorite is the corn esquites, and the poke nachos. They make everything from scratch including their nachos and tortillas. Their tacos are insanely delicious and definitely worth every bite.

Davis N.

Google
This is our third time here and Salt and Lime has quickly become our favorite spot in all of Orange County for tacos. The quality is exceptional, Chef Zack brings so many wonderful flavors that you can’t find anywhere else. I just tried his wagyu ribeye burrito for the first time, and the charred shishito peppers were a fantastic addition. It’s an absolute must-try when you’re coming here for the first time. Parking is easy, seating is plentiful inside and outside, and the service is great. The tacos come on fresh handmade blue corn tortillas which are so delicious! There are a bunch of different tacos and we have tried almost the whole menu and loved all of them!

R David Paine I.

Google
The peppered wagyu steak taco was fantastic — juicy, tender steak with super fresh toppings that all worked perfectly together. Easily one of the best tacos I’ve had in a while. Also grabbed a side of chips and salsa, and honestly… the chips were so good we boxed them up and kept snacking on them for the next couple of days. Perfect crunch, not greasy, just done right. The space itself is pretty cool. There’s a loft-style seating area that overlooks the entrance and the restaurant below, which gives it a fun vibe. That said, it’s not a huge place — on a Friday or Saturday I’d expect it to be packed, and takeout might be the move. Totally worth it either way. Would absolutely come back.

Shahram M.

Google
Excellent fast casual Mexican taqueria with beer wine and margaritas. We sat outside on a Saturday night. I had the sweet and spicy chicken burrito and my wife had their shrimp burrito. We also had their Brussels sprouts as an appetizer. Everyone was very friendly and helpful. The Brussels sprouts were nicely cooked and had pomegranate seeds on top which was a nice touch but they were a little too oily and way too much honey on them. It has a lot of potential. The burritos were good side and nicely prepared. I liked the shrimp burrito more than the sweet and spicy chicken. Didn’t taste the kimchi inside at all. It needed a kick that it failed to deliver. It fell flat. I will be back to try a few other items to see what the rest of the menu taste like. I feel like this place can have a lot of potential.

M A S

Google
Salt & Lime provides a delicious variety of tacos; but you really need to taste, try, and sample to figure out which ones fit your pallet. I loved the curry dusted chicken taco and thought the salmon taco was quite good. 📝Note: As of July 2024, they have removed the most delicious crusted chicken tacos from the menu; I hope people petition S&L to bring them back! Normally, I really dig vegan tacos, but their sweet potato taco was too sweet for me and their mushroom taco seemed too marinated for my liking. I look forward to returning and trying more tacos. 📝Note: On taco Tuesdays they have a buy three get the fourth free special 🌮🌮🌮+🌮 I did return and tried more tacos: 🐟Tempura fried halibut taco is delicious, as long as you like fried 🍤 Shrimp taco with guacamole and pineapple was delicious; will get it again 🍆 Eggplant taco was very good; a little bit too much cream sauce for my taste; nonetheless a delicious blend of flavors 🍗 Citrus chicken taco was good, and I might order it again, but it was not nearly as phenomenal as the curry dusted chicken taco

Adamari A.

Yelp
The service was quick and welcoming employees. The drinks were refreshingly delicious and sweet. Inside the restaurant it's very aesthetically appealing and taste wise was amazing :) The guacamole was very delicious and refreshing appetizer !

Otto S.

Yelp
service is so good and so as the food!! The chips are great and so perfect !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Chris P.

Yelp
After seeing some adds on Instagram, I had high expectations. I'm happy to admit I was blown away. The food was plated beautifully but didn't look pretentious, and the balanced flavors in each bite satisfied my "is this as good as it looks" doubts. The owner took the time to guide us through the menu as well as offer some suggestions and we received our salsa and guac tray within just a few minutes of sitting down. (Btw the tray came with a MOUNTAIN of chips) You'd think service would lag for the guests sitting upstairs, but the bartender was happily sprinting up and down those steps as he ran orders to every table. The dining room was decently busy with the late dinner crowd, but the service was on pointe (especially considering this is not a full service restaurant). My one and only con with this place? The music was a touch too loud. Unfortunately, that brings my six star review down to five stars. If you're looking for authentic, familiar, and simple, go somewhere else and take your opinions to a different Yelp page. Salt & Lime offers a casual yet innovative culinary experience where you can taste multi-cultural inspirations that are deeply rooted in nostalgic tradition. This is proud millennial food at its finest.
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Sindy G.

Yelp
Ordered take out for coworkers birthday lunch - love any restaurant who puts the time to organize and make large orders easy to distribute. Thank you! I had the lunch special, came with two tacos, chips, salsa, and guacamole. Loved the pork belly and shrimp tacos. Look forward to coming back and trying something new.
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Alicia K.

Yelp
HIGHLY RECOMMEND their taco Tuesday! Tacos are well balanced in flavor, blue corn tortillas are made in house, and portion size is great. My favorite spot for when I want a fancy taco and a marg. Great ambiance with outdoor and indoor seating, friendly and fast service.
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Haley K.

Yelp
Unfortunately I have to give a this place two stars. My fiancé and I were very hopeful but there were too many misses for us and with my reviews I try to always explain the missing stars. We will try again but it's going to be difficult to win us over to be regulars. Positives to start: the margarita was tasty and I enjoyed the vibe and ambiance. It's a well lit spot with an upstairs loft area and some TVs for watching games. Staff were friendly and location was clean. Appreciate both happy hour and taco Tuesday deals! We had the queso, 4 different tacos (citrus chicken, ribeye, shrimp, and yellowtail) and a margarita. The chips were overly salted but great crunch. The queso was gritty, mainly tasted peppers and if you like heat this queso may be for you but unfortunately not for us. The best taco was the ribeye but none of them stood out for how much they cost (cost almost in line with like a Puesto). Also, the texture of the yellowtail taco was gummy with the seared fish. The tacos were unique (other foods in a taco form like a ribeye sandwich or Greek salad) but not memorable and some were ultimately strange. We may come back to try a burrito and the ribeye was a good bite. This leads to a loss of 2 stars... Now food is a big thing but some additional misses for us is for the price to be served in plastic disposables does not land well in our minds and for dining in. We understand the vibe for a unique taco experience but my environmentalist side in me cannot overlook this for dine in and the food would have needed to be unforgettable... this lost the last star. Out of 10 stars we both ranked at a 4.5.
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Bella S.

Yelp
Came at a non-busy time and it was very pretty seating both indoor, outdoor, and indoor upstairs. Austin was SO helpful and gave his recommendations and it was perfect! The poke nachos were so good and had enough toppings. Loved the lime, the blue corn chips were good. The burrito was super interesting and yummy. I love pickled onions The tacos were also great, we got a 4 flight which were the smaller sizes (normal sized tacos). Also, there was such a nice crunch texture with the tortilla. The shrimp was SO YUMMY and the pineapple went so so well with it and I normally don't like pineapple with savory (controversial), MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE MEAT was the ribeye- that's my preferred steak!! I'm getting that in a burrito next time!
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Jessie Z.

Yelp
Pretty good place for $9 margarita on Tuesday. Its quite empty and spacious on a Tuesday. It is verrry gentrified so don't expect an authentic taco. The staff is friendly and everyone is kind of to their own business. There are TVs to watch sports shows and it seems like they have a dedicated chef. You can choose between regular or blue corn tortilla. I got the roasted sweet potato taco and it would be a good option for vegetarians. Sort of like a cheesy sweet potato salad and kind of came together but it would've paired well with some quality salsa. The poke nachos was a decent amount, more mayo than fresh tasting, kinda of like spicy tuna tasting. Chips were fried crispy. I got the spicy guava- not too guava, alcoholic, mixed well in the sense I good actually get the hint of spice at the end. I tried the watermelon one and it just tasted so off putting. Recommend sticking to other flavors. Overall, pretty nice open ambiance yet because it was so empty and everyone was to themselves. I think the food could lean more into tapa like dishes/ carpaccio/toast /seafood finger food as im not sure if vegetarian/fancy seafood tacos are a big enough market.
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Winny K.

Yelp
I'd give this place 10 stars if I could! This past Thursday, my husband and I went to Orange Coast Magazine's Best of 2025 Party at South Coast Plaza and our favorite dish from that event was the Truffle Chicken Taco from Salt + Lime! As a result, I was super excited to check out Salt + Lime. Here's what we ordered on our first visit: The chips and guacamole had such a generous portion of deliciously crunchy and savory house-made blue corn chips! Guac was very well-balanced, and we loved the texture of the chips so much and eagerly took home leftovers. Citrus Marinated Chicken taco with house-made blue corn tortilla, shredded romaine, pico de gallo, cotija, micro cilantro: this was a delicious start to our mix-and-match full size taco flight. Slow Braised Short Rib taco with house-made flour tortilla, baby arugula, horseradish cream, pickled red onion, and crispy potato: the short rib was complex, rich, and super delicious. Chef Zach is an absolute genius to pair the short rib with arugula, horseradish cream, and pickled red onion to cut some of the richness of the short rib and balance out the flavors. The crispy potato is incredibly delicious and adds the most satisfying texture to this taco. A must-order! I really want to try this in burrito form too. Apple Braised Pork Belly taco with house-made blue corn tortilla, carrot slaw, pea shoots, and crispy shallots: this was a fun, creative, and savory taco with a hint of sweetness. The crispy shallots made the taco sing. Peppered Wagyu Ribeye Steak taco with house-made flour tortilla, pickled shallots, garlic aioli, lemon arugula, topped with a blistered shishito: WOW was this taco amazingly delicious and satisfying! The ribeye steak was tender and a perfect medium-rare (what we asked for), and complemented well by the other ingredients. I would definitely order this again too. Citrus Chipotle Shrimp taco with house-made blue corn tortilla, shredded romaine, guac, cotija, and charred pineapple: tropical vibes in taco form because of the citrus and pineapple flavors that played well with the savoriness of the other ingredients. Transported me to an island vacation. Chef Zach is super friendly and hard-working, and you can tell he puts a lot of thought and effort into each ingredient that makes up each taco. From reading reviews, I see some folks had comments on the pricing, but based on the size of the taco, as well as the quality of ingredients, these are worth every penny! 5 tacos were great for the 2 of us to share and enjoy, especially since we got chips and guac too. Loved the interior design and plentiful seating and parking too. Can't wait to visit again and explore more menu items!
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Peter D.

Yelp
This is a great spot to grab lunch with your coworkers! I really enjoyed the grilled salmon burrito.
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Valentina L.

Yelp
Food is so good. I love the tacos. Order a seared yellowtail, short rib pork and Wagyu beef? I think I got that right haha. It's super good. Love the blue corn tortilla. Habanero sauce was super spicy and delicious. Service was quick. Lots of room and seating. Modern vibes .
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Tatyana T.

Yelp
I came to Salt & Lime for taco Tuesday. Cocktails were $9 and deliciously strong. I think beers were going for $5. I really enjoyed the poke nachos and small batch of guacamole. The tacos were bigger than I thought they'd be, I was expecting street tacos. Although I liked the size, I enjoyed the apps more than the tacos. Service was great and the ambiance was chill, it's not a sit down restaurant. You order and then find a seat. Overall I enjoyed it, there's parking in the back which is convenient. I'd definitely return here!
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Adam Z.

Yelp
Not bad. Fun atmosphere, went during lunch on a weekend and it was pretty dead only me for take out and one family who walked in after. Got 3 tacos. Didn't mind them at all no amazing but not horrible. Overall a solid spot for tacos.
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Natasha B.

Yelp
Average tacos and overpriced. The staff were great, answered the questions we had about the menu. So that was good. The food was just ok especially for $25 for three mini tacos. The best one was the halibut taco, fish was fresh and tasted nice and light. But I wouldn't come back just for that unfortunately.
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Claudia C.

Yelp
Salt and Lime is a solid spot in Costa Mesa for tacos and drinks. The food was really good--the tacos stood out with unique combinations and a great balance of flavor, fat, and acidity. Drinks were also tasty and paired well with the food. The space itself is clean and modern, with plenty of comfortable seating that makes it easy to enjoy a relaxed meal. Prices are on the higher side for tacos (7-8 dollars for their full portion size), and service was a little slow which is the main reason I'd give it four 1/2 stars instead of five. That said, the quality makes it worth it, and I'd definitely come back.
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Kaia H.

Yelp
This place is super cute! I went on a Thursday night and it wasn't busy at all, which made for a chill, laid-back vibe. The drinks were pretty good, but the tacos were definitely the highlight! Really flavorful with a ton of creative options. I loved that you could watch them make everything through this little clear window, which added a nice touch. The taco combinations were unique and well thought out like the chicken taco with kimchi, which was surprisingly delicious. I think my favorites were the local halibut and the short rib taco. Definitely worth checking out!
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Kristen W.

Yelp
Always an amazing time at salt + lime! Great food, great service & great atmosphere! Especially love the churro sundae as a sweet treat to end the meal!

Veracious V.

Yelp
I went to Lime & Salt not expecting much after reading the one and two star reviews -- but holy airball, was I wrong! I was completely blown away. I went on a Monday early evening (happy hour is daily until 6, but definitely call to confirm). The tacos were MUCH larger than what's pictured online -- maybe because it wasn't busy, but no complaints here. The space is super cute, plenty of seating, and has a full bar. I had a $6 classic margarita that hit perfectly, and my daughter had a $4 fudge cookie that was insanely good -- like, way better than expected. Service was fast, friendly, and I noticed the kitchen staff wearing gloves (unlike one of the older reviews mentioned). Overall, it was a great surprise. Clean, cozy, and delicious -- definitely worth giving this spot another chance! The potato taco was good. The citrus chicken taco was my daughter's favorite and the waygu taco was insane. Worth the price!

J K.

Yelp
Everything we ordered was incredible. Zach was an incredible host. We will be back for sure.
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Shahram M.

Yelp
Excellent fast casual Mexican taqueria with beer wine and margaritas. We sat outside on a Saturday night. I had the sweet and spicy chicken burrito and my wife had their shrimp burrito. We also had their Brussels sprouts as an appetizer. Everyone was very friendly and helpful. The Brussels sprouts were nicely cooked and had pomegranate seeds on top which was a nice touch but they were a little too oily and way too much honey on them. It has a lot of potential. The burritos were good side and nicely prepared. I liked the shrimp burrito more than the sweet and spicy chicken. Didn't taste the kimchi inside at all. It needed a kick that it failed to deliver. It fell flat. I wiould typically be back to try a few other items to see what the rest of the menu taste like but not sure at this point. I feel like this place can have a lot of potential.
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Cassie H.

Yelp
Only knocking a star because of the service and cost. The food is delicious! We also had their frozen mango margarita for $12 which was really good. Be advised that their tacos are NOT street tacos. I get that they need to price it higher because of that, so trust me when I say 2-3 tacos WILL fill you up! They're extremely creative with their combinations for flavor and the meat quality is great. They could work on their friendliness and customer service a little more. But still highly recommend to come out and try because you. Can't get these tacos anywhere else!
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Mak D.

Yelp
Love this place! This was our third visit here and we can't get enough of the poke nachos! The nachos have a great flavor profile and the chips they use are very light and crisp! We also got the Peppered Waygu Ribeye Steak, and Slow-Braised Short Rib tacos (our favorite choices!) Restaurant has a peaceful atmosphere, parking lot is located in the back!

Kevin S.

Yelp
Really tasty and unique tacos. They have a subtle artistry to them. We got the taco flight to try as many as we could. They were all tasty in their own way, I'd shout out the Peppered Wagyu Ribeye Steak as my favorite. The margaritas were so good. We got the Costal Mezcal Paloma that was perfectly smokey and sweet, and Spicy Guava Margarita which was sweet and tasty. Honestly couldn't figure out which one we liked more. If you like a smokey Mescal, definitely try the Paloma. Not everywhere gets it right like this.
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Brandi C.

Yelp
I found this place because of their hilarious Instagram reels. And it did not disappoint. We got the taco flight and got to try so many different tacos with such unique flavors. They were all fantastic and the margaritas were TOP NOTCH. The service was great. Speedy and attentive. And the vibe was very chill and trendy. My husband and I went for an early dinner on a beautiful sunny day and had a wonderful experience!

Luis M.

Yelp
Food is always amazing!! Toasted coconut a must have! Service is prompt, music is right on for the setting.
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Mel S.

Yelp
Salt & Lime is a MUST! Their food is incredible, each taco has a distinct flavor and different toppings that just are so delicious. I came here last week with some girlfriends and then brought my sisters back here yesterday. Prices are decent, the food is worth it. But not only that, the staff are very nice, helpful and thoughtful! We were very impressed! It's a cute little spot kinda hidden but they have plenty of tables to accommodate all of you. Looking forward to taking my husband back soon! Date night!!!
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Carlos A.

Yelp
Okay so here's the thing. The tacos are INSANE. Super good. High quality. Obviously not that authentic but very delicious. I would give 5 stars, but there's a problem. They put wasabi in one of the steak burritos. I speak on behalf of all Latinos everywhere: wasabi belongs nowhere NEAR a steak burrito.. That said, I do admire the creativity all the same. Just tell the chef that.. that ain't it! And don't take my word for it.. the whole office hated it! I spoke so highly of this place not knowing they were gonna pull this stunt lmao and now they're killing me :(
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Jamie L.

Yelp
The smell got me from the parking lot to choose the spot! Super neat layout and sweet staff. I got the queso chips which sounded and was rly good. There's a rly cool loft with good amount of seating! There's also a first responder discount which was also a neat plus! Would def recommend and come again. Also- THEYRE CHURROS ICE CREAM COMBO IS TOOOOO GOOD

Sean L.

Yelp
First time trying on a taco tuesday and it was super underwhelming. Tortilla was cold and broke at first touch. Taco had minimal to no flavor. To top it off the chef was seen washing what seemed to be chicken in a hand washing sink, and carried on cooking with only taking off their gloves. Would only recommend if you want some instagram worthy pictures or videos.
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Magnolia P.

Yelp
From left to right: rib eye steak, apple-braised pork belly, and finally the short rib -- a culinary lineup with special sauce.. Every bite was a perfect explosion of flavor. Tender, juicy, boldly seasoned, and cooked to absolute perfection. My husband, normally a man of many words, could only manage one: "Wow." That's it. Just... wow. And the poke nachos? YES, PLEASE. Blue corn chips stacked with thick, glistening chunks of fresh tuna, topped with just the right zing and crunch. Generous doesn't even begin to describe the portion -- they're not skimping here. Do yourself a favor: go hungry, order everything, and maybe bring someone who won't talk too much so you can properly savor the moment.
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Heather D.

Yelp
Amazing local spot!! I can't believe I haven't tried this sooner! To begin, the owner was really nice and helpful. The presentation of the cocktails was super cute and tasted great. Highly recommend the Toasted Coconut Margarita. We tried to Ribeye taco which had a yummy creamy sauce on it. I can't wait to come back and try more, and check out the Taco Tuesday menu. Lastly, the music playing was 10/10!
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Doug D.

Yelp
It was October 1st and the wife asked me to find us a place for lunch a new restaurant. I went to google and I saw salt and lime for the first time. We said let's give it a try. We are so happy that we did first of all the Ambiance absolutely excellent having lunch overlooking 17th St. the food was absolutely amazing. We had the ribeye tacos. We had the shrimp taco we also enjoyed the Yellowtail taco it was a flight of tacos. We decided to order two tropical mules they were made excellent and they tasted great. We will definitely be back and I highly recommend this restaurant to anybody out there looking for some great tacos a great place to have lunch or dinner. Enjoy.
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Celina B.

Yelp
I didn't expect to find such amazing food at this cute, modern taqueria on 17th Street, Costa Mesa Ca -- but Salt & Lime absolutely delivers. First off, the vibe is on point: tropical, airy, and Instagram-worthy without trying too hard. Great second floor view-Think Tulum-meets-Costa-Mesa -- wicker lights, pops of greenery, open-air seating, and a casual-but-polished. For the food... Fire! Every taco we tried had great taste: * Braised Short Rib - melt-in-your-mouth tender with this subtle sweetness that balanced perfectly with arugula, horseradish and pickled onions. * Wagyu Ribeye Steak - Perfect harmony with garlic aioli, lemon arugula, and shishito peppers. * Citrus Chipotle Shrimp - Light-smoky with a touch of pineapple chunks. To die for, totally satisfying! We also shared the white Queso with chips- perfectly married flavors of Thai chili, cilantro, mint, and green onions -- basically a flavor fire bomb 10/10. The Esquites didn't disappoint either, the cotija, lime, and smoke flavors were off the charts! Cocktails? YES. We had the Toasted Coconut Margarita and Island Piña Colada for the full Tulum vibes! So good, wished they came with free refills! The Service was fast, friendly, and everyone seemed genuinely excited about the food.. Don't be surprised to catch Chef Zach Ficke greeting you, he is warm and welcoming! Salt and Lime Modern Taqueria is a bit more elevated than your typical taqueria, but still relaxed enough for a casual dinner or date night. Be sure to come hungry and try at least 2 different tacos -- they're creative, but still hit those comforting flavors you expect. Don't skip dessert either -- the churro sundae is worth the splurge.
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Daniel F.

Yelp
Amazing staff and amazing food! They were so kind and helpful! I will be back 100% Had the short rib burrito and subbed the horseradish for garlic aioli and it was the best!
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Stephen Z.

Yelp
No salsa available. Everyone else outstanding. Thank you for responding. I really enjoyed the food and your guacamole was amazing. I will ask for extra salsa next time. Recommending to all of my friends
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Trisha V.

Yelp
Ok i've been dying to try this place because this spot literally rotates with so many other restaurants and none of them stick. It was really empty, more people were going to CAVA. I got 3 tacos and I have to say it was really tasty and big. I really liked the flavors and would actually get them again. The only downside was that each taco was so expensive. I think that's why there weren't that many customers. It was about $8 a taco. Other than that, i wanted a certain taco but it wasn't available, I think it was the pork belly.
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Ashley H.

Yelp
Got to try Salt & Lime Modern Taqueria as part of OC Restaurant week. Food: 4/5 + $35 Dinn special (guac/chips starter, Citrus Chipotle Shrimp & Slow Braised Short Rib entree, churro sundae) + Happy hour tacos: Crispy Chicken Tender, Charred Sweet Potato + Peppered Ribeye Steak We opted to try the $35 dinner special with several happy hour tacos to share. Starting off, the chips and dip appetizer set up the meal, with freshly made guac and crunchy blue corn tortilla chips that perfectly paired. The chips were so good that I ended up asking the server where they were from, only to find out they were baked in house. When I ordered the tacos I was initially first skeptical about the price but quickly found out why the prices were set when our entree came out. I totally didn't expect the tacos to be THAT big, filled to the brim with condiments, garnishes, and meat. My personal favorites were the Crunchy Chicken Tender and Slow Braised Short Rib - both of them which had a modern unique twist to what you would traditionally consider for a taco. For example, the Crunchy Chicken tender had your standard lettuce garnishes but had a sweet syrup sauce that made biting into the fried chicken piece so divine. Definitely these tacos are an experience to have! (Although personally, I would want a small taco and see if maybe they can provide a sampler meal for those who maybe are unsure about committing to a giant taco.) Service: 4/5 Service is quick, efficient, and friendly! It was my first time visiting and my server kindly recommended me his personal favorites not only regarding specific tacos but also which tortillas to pair them with. Seating is ample and clean with plenty of booths on the first floor, outside on the front patio, and additional seating on another level. Ambience is also terrific for a date/hang out spot with modern, fun music to boot. Although Salt & Lime shares company with other busy restaurants/bar, I didn't have any trouble with parking in the back lot. Overall, I can definitely see Salt & Lime as a great happy hour spot to catch up over drinks and music and would love to come back and try more!
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Kshama P.

Yelp
Went in to try their OC restaurant week menu, which seemed like great value for money. The fluff: No reservations, walk in only. There's a lot behind for parking. Ease access, restrooms available. Indoor outdoor bar and loft seating (has stairs). Food n bev: They don't have a full liq license but drink program is not bad. They have cocktails, mocktails, beer. The OCR menu had two options - a lunch/dinner variant 35$pp for dinner and a date night variant 75$ for two. The dinner included a starter,3 tacos, 1 dessert and the date night had an additional salad, two drinks, albeit 2 less tacos. We went w the latter. They were accommodating of our modification requests. We got chips salsa elote and their seasonal salad to start, all minus cotija. For tacos, they had 6-7 options. Now the great thing abt this place is they do have 3 vegetarian options,but on the general menu. This prefix had only 1 vegetarian option which was a downer and they said to get any other variety we would be paying full price of the add on taco. I would have prefered if their menu provided 2 vege variants over 5 seafood,1 chicken, 1 red meat.. but that's just coming from someone with restrictions/dietary needs. Maybe the future menus can consider more vegetarian options,if that's their desired clientele. They were nice enough to also let me do lettuce wraps. The drinks included a signature and seasonal variant. And the shared dessert was large / plentiful. The other thing to note is while the quality is great/ food tastes fine, the flavors are not super authentic, they're more catered to american tastebuds. The salsa was super mild and the taco flavors also seemed to be more in line with classic flavors like fried chicken, seared fish ..etc. sans MX spice/flavor. Overall 3.5/5, would probably want to return when they have their whole program up and running and to try all their veg options.
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Tim K.

Yelp
Tried Salt & Lime at the Orange Coast Best of 2025 event at South Coast plaza and loved their offering so had to try it at the actual restaurant too and it didn't disappoint. First off - at the event at SCP they clearly brought more effort than a lot of the more high profile presenters - they were making fresh unique tacos (chicken truffle with crispy potatoes) and those were amazing. Those tacos weren't even on their menu when we went but what we had was excellent. It's not a classic or authentic taco place, I would call it more gourmet with a unique touch. It's a bit on the pricier side but the preparation and ingredient quality is amazing. To be honest though these days the prices aren't that different from a lot of fast casual spots and the quality is way better. Tortillas both flour and blue corn are made in house. We had the short rib, shrimp, citrus marinated chicken, pork belly, and wagyu tacos and all were amazing. The short rib stood out along with the wagyu tacos because of the textures and flavor profiles, you can tell they pay attention to details because the sauces/toppings complement the protein. For example the short rib had crispy potato sticks (for texture) and a horse radish style sauce to cut through the fat. Definitely will revisit and encourage everyone to check it out!
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M R.

Yelp
Fun Taco Spot in Costa Mesa! Fun vibe & Great decor. Clean place too! Chicken tacos with blue corn tortillas were great. Chicken was tender, & blue tortillas were soft & tasty. Mild salsa was ok, but too much cumin flavor - not a cumin spice lover. However, Loved the spicy hot Habanero sauce. Also ordered the Corn Esquite. (Wish it had cream served on top fresh grilled corn & not mixed in.) But overall good experience. We will be back to try other tacos ;) PS quick and friendly service! Thank you Salt & Lime!
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Brigitte F.

Yelp
This place is amazing!! The tacos are interesting and unique. I got the ribeye with garlic aioli and a hot honey chicken and peanuts on top! The patio is cute and perfect to sit outside under the umbrella on a sunny day!!
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Andrea C.

Yelp
Super yummy food and the ambience is so cute! They even have an upstairs where you can eat. There's a kids menu and a happy hour menu! Service was great and easy would absolutely come again!!
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Per J.

Yelp
Great place with fabulous food. We have been here a few times and the service and food quality has been impeccable each time. Worth a visit. We are for sure coming back.
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Jeff H.

Yelp
Amazing tacos! The ribeye and halibut were my favorite. Chips and queso were also delish!
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Hannah W.

Yelp
Amazing food and service!! We got 3 appetizers and drinks and had a divine time. The ambiance is immaculate!
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Brittney L.

Yelp
this place has been on my list of taco places to try for a while now due to their unique flavors, such as the slow braised short rub, apple braised pork belly, and more taco creations i haven't heard of! and they have happy hour EVERY DAY along with taco tuesday deals! the prices are a bit on the steep end, but i will tell you IT IS WORTH IT LOL THESE TACOS ARE HUGE. the diameter of the tortillas were probably as long as my hand and the homemade blue corn tortillas are a game changer!!! they turned out MUCH BIGGER than i could even expect. i normally eat 2 tijuana style or 3 street tacos but at this place i could've easily just eaten 1 and been full. we came here around 5pm on a saturday night and there were already people inside eating but no one in line so we took our order right away. this place is pretty casual, as you order at the counter and they bring out your food to you. we ordered the small batch guacamole, a citrus marinaded chicken taco, a crispy chicken tender taco, a peppered ribeye steak taco, and a citrus chipotle shrimp taco. all of our food came out pretty fast too! the chips with guac came out first and they are PHENOMENAL! you can't go wrong with chips and guac and this place executes it well. they handmake/handfry their tortilla chips using blue corn tortilla and the chips were sooo thin and crispy and light. the guac was also very well made, good seasoning and fresh avocado! they also give a LOT of chips for how much it costs and we had a lot of leftovers when shared among 2 people. next, the tacos. i got the crispy chicken tender taco and the citrus chipotle shrimp tacos, which were both sooo big and tasty. i got both of them with the blue corn tortilla (you can also get white flour tortilla if you want) the crispy chicken tender taco was surprisingly really good. it's your perfect taco if you love chicken tenders, hot honey, and tacos (which i do LOL). it only comes with one chicken tender but it's a big boy that takes up the entire taco; very juicy and freshly fried! the hot honey always elevates chicken tenders and the kaleslaw was a nice refreshing bite to the warm, hearty taco. the citrus chipotle shrimp taco was also really good! it came with a lot of shrimp that was cooked perfectly and seasoned well. it also came with a generous glob of guacamole and some charred pineapple that went well with the shrimp. my boyfriend got the citrus marinaded chicken taco and peppered ribeye steak taco and also liked both!! i tried a bit of the ribeye steak taco and it was soo good, definitely worth the $9. they give a lot of steak and its cooked perfectly medium rare. he said this one was definitely his favorite. the citrus marinaded chicken taco was also really tasty and well seasoned.. if im ever in the mood for some modern taqueria style tacos with interesting creations this would be the place to go! next time i would definitely order only tacos or 1 taco and an app to share, as the servings here are massive and definitely shareable. we saw someone else order the poke nachos which looked really good and plentiful so might have to come back to get that!

Zafar K.

Yelp
This might be the best tacos I have ever had. This place is a hidden gem. Amazing flavors!!! I would recommend the Caesar salad and the taco flight..the short rib taco is the greatest
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Alaina F.

Yelp
This was AMAZINGG!! The ribeye taco was my favorite and the sauce inside was insane. The chips had the perfect saltiness. The only thing I would say is the guacamole was a little too "limey". Service was great, I could tell there wasnt many people working and it was so busy! Outside seating was chill and relaxing. Coming here again for sure.
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Kristina B.

Yelp
All I can say is. "Wow!" Well, I guess I need to say more, I guess. We had a Topr Chico, Diet Coke and $6 Marg as it's Marg Monday. Yummy! We ordered Chips & Salsa which was Fresh & Delish! Then Shut the Front Door Brussels Sprouts! Freaking Ahhhhmazing! We ordered 10 street tacos for 3 of us and it was 2 too many. Short Rib, Steak, Chicken & Shrimp tacos. 2 each would have been enough with the chips & Brussels. But we would all say this is a must-go and would come back tomorrow. Service was great, also. Side note: I saw them pop up on Insta and the Ads were so fun. The good reviews are spot-on. De-lish!