Taco Mesa

Taco Mesa
647 W 19th St
Costa Mesa, CA 92627
949-642-0629

Thursday Lunch

Would you say that I ate at one establishment too often if they knew my Thursday order and my name the second that I walked in the door?

If you have not been to Taco Mesa, located just across the street from the DMV in Costa Mesa, Thursday is the day to go. Why? It's simple, it's the Lobster Bisque (or as they call it, crema langosta). Thursday is the only day that it's available, and it's worth the drive. At $1.99 for the 8oz serving and $3.99 for the 16oz, the price is just right. I think of all of the Lobster Bisques that I have tried over the years, paying between $8 and $12 for a small bowl, only to find a tiny piece of lobster hiding at the bottom.

At Taco Mesa you receive a flavorful cup or bowl of lobster with chunks of the little treasure in just about every bite. Topped with home made crutons, it is a must have! The combination of the perfectl-spiced toasted topping and the rich, creamy bisque are just delicious. Yet, there is much more to the menu at Taco Mesa that just the soup of the day.

There daily specials are often delicious as well, such as the Mixed Seafood Crepes and the "Tacos Cangrejos", which are small crab filled tacos with a crispy shell.

The taco and burrito selection has quite a few selections that you do not see on the menus of other local Mexican restaurants. Items such as the Taco Alambre, which is grilled steak, onions, small bits of bacon, peppers, and some sort of crumbly cheese on two small corn tortillas (flour tortillas are optional). Another popular item is the blackened chicken burrito, which is available both wet and on a wheat tortilla. I recommend the wet version, which finds itself covered in a green sauce on one half and a brown tequila sauce on the other. The combination of flavors is spectacular.

On Tuesdays, following in the trend of Taco Tuesday, you will find several $1 specials. I enjoy dining their on the weekends for the Menudo (soup), which is some of the best that I have ever had.

Why do I rave so much about Taco Mesa? It's simnple, the food. For those who are active on on-line dating sites may be familiar with the following question: "given the choice, which type of restaurant would you prefer?" The options include (paraphrased):

1. a 4-star restaurant
2. a basic steak house
3. an unknown gateway
4. a hole-in-the-wall with great food

I always choose option #4. While certainly I can appreciate great atmosphere, I can also appreciate good food.

With this in mind, I recommend Taco Mesa for lunch and dinner. Is it great for a first date? That depends on your date! Being more of a hole-in-the-wall with cardboard cups, hard paper plates, and only about 10 tables, it is right for a romantic Valentine's day dinner, it is great for a regular lunch or dinner.

Until tomorrow, dine on...