Taco Mesa

Top choice


Brightly painted in Mexican Day of the Dead art, this out-of-the-way stand is a local institution for fresh, healthy, sustainably farmed tacos of steak, beer-battered fish and more, with an awesome salsa bar. We like the tacos blackened, with cheese, chipotle sauce, cabbage relish and crema fresca. The niños (kids) menu offers quesadillas and such.

For dessert, share a massive slice of almond tres leches cake with someone you (want to) love.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Mothers Beach

2.39 MILES

This calm beach, known as Mothers Beach for its kid-friendly currents, has a lifeguard, restrooms and a shower.

2. Muth Interpretive Center

2.4 MILES

This 10,000 sq ft center in the Upper Newport Bay Ecological Preserve is made from sustainable materials. Inside, you’ll find displays and information…

3. Upper Newport Bay Ecological Preserve

2.44 MILES

The brackish water of this 752-acre reserve, where runoff from the San Bernardino Mountains meets the sea, supports more than 200 species of birds. This…

4. Lovell Beach House

2.61 MILES

For a striking architectural specimen, stroll past the 1926 Lovell House, designed by seminal modernist architect Rudolf Schindler, a student of Frank…

5. Balboa Peninsula

2.95 MILES

Four miles long but less than a half-mile wide, the Balboa Peninsula has a white-sand beach on its ocean side and countless stylish homes, including the…

6. Orange County Museum of Art

3.08 MILES

This engaging museum highlights California art and cutting-edge contemporary artists, with exhibitions rotating through two large spaces. Recent…

7. Discovery Cube's Ocean Quest

3.11 MILES

In the Balboa Fun Zone, this newly refurbished museum was recently taken over by Santa Ana's Discovery Cube and runs educational programs for local…

8. Balboa Fun Zone

3.12 MILES

On the harbor side of Balboa Peninsula, the Fun Zone has delighted locals and visitors since 1936. There’s a small Ferris wheel (where Ryan and Marissa…