El Toro Bravo Tortilleria — Restaurant in Costa Mesa

As a Mexican food-obsessed person, I subscribe to the notion that you're really not going to find better Mexican-food outside of the eastern swath of the greater LA area.

That being said - El Toro Bravo can compete with the best Mexican food I've had in LA. I make sure to stop by here whenever I'm in Costa Mesa. In fact, I've been known to conjure up errands to Costa Mesa just to justify coming here to eat.

The tacos are enormous and phenomenal. Packed with whatever protein you decide upon (you're going to mostly find carne asada, carnitas, cueritos and chicken though more are listed). The Taqueros will take the protein to a cutting board, chop it up, pile it on a couple of in-house tortillas and toss some salsa, cilantro and onion on top. There you go. With something so simple, the proteins have to shine and they do.

I want to single out the cueritos. They're essentially pork rinds stewed until soft (though commercial versions are usually pickled). I've yet to find a taco place anywhere that not only serves cueritos but serves them quite the way El Toro Bravo does. There's an unctuous quality to the skin. The texture might be an acquired taste but I've really yet to find anything as wonderful as the cueritos at El Toro Bravo. They're the stuff that Mexican food dreams are made of.

Not to be overlooked are El Toro Bravo's phenomenal first-rate tortilla chips. Sold in bags along the taco assembly line, the tortilla chips are among the best tortilla chips you will ever have in your life.

I would highly suggest the nachos. They're not the traditional nachos you would find at other establishments. The taquero simply throws a couple of handfuls of El Toro Bravo's amazing tortilla chips into a sytrofoam container, snaps a couple of spoonfuls of beans on them, piles the protein of your choice on top of the beans and chips then finishes everything off with a drizzle of salsa, a sprinkling of cilantro and onion before applying a snowstorm of Cotija cheese.

You'll swear by these nachos from now on.

Look, there's nowhere to sit. Apart from a few metal tables meant for people to stand and eat their food, there is nowhere really to eat this food unless you take it home. The service can be a little "rushed" but you're not there for the service. You're there to stuff your face with Mexican food from the best taqueria in...

Man, I REALLY wanted to love this place. The menu is amazing and the prices are very reasonable. My experience, however, will not lead me back to El Toro Bravo's doors again. After an extremely long day and getting the kids to bed, I headed to El Toro Bravo. We were craving some good Mexican food before heading to bed. I got there about an hour before closing, ordered my food and took it home to devour before one of the kids woke up. When I was halfway through my bean, cheese, and rice burrito, I felt something extremely hard and somewhat sharp in my mouth. I removed the jagged plastic intruder from my mouth before swallowing (thank goodness.) Until then, I was thoroughly enjoying the burrito. At first, I thought it was a tooth, but after closer examination, I feel confident it is a piece of plastic, probably broken from a kitchen utensil. That ended my dinner.

My wife ordered a carne asada quesadilla, which was delicious. Perhaps one of the best ones we've tried. In addition, we ordered some taquitos w/ guacamole and sour cream. Unfortunately, the taquitos were extremely hard and quite uneatable. It seems like they were made earlier in the day, or perhaps the day before, who knows? We just couldn't chomp our way through them.

On a positive note, our negative experiences are correctable: 1. Don't let foreign objects infiltrate delicious food. 2. Don't sell taquitos that have been sitting for an extended...

This is a true hidden gem nestled in Costa Mesa. Tucked away from the bustling streets, this unassuming spot offers some of the best authentic Mexican food you'll find in the area.

As a fan of "holes in the wall" places, El Toro Bravo Tortilleria quickly won me over with its no-frills ambiance and focus on delivering delicious, homemade fare. The moment you step inside, you're greeted by the tantalizing aroma of freshly cooked dishes, setting the stage for a culinary adventure.

While the seating area is limited to to-go orders only, don't let that deter you from experiencing the culinary delights that await. From tacos to burritos, each dish is crafted with care and bursting with flavor. The carne asada tacos are a personal favorite of mine, perfectly grilled and served with all the traditional fixings.

What truly sets El Toro Bravo Tortilleria apart is its commitment to authenticity. The ingredients are fresh, the flavors are bold, and every bite transports you to the streets of Mexico. It's the kind of place where you come for the food and stay for the experience.

El Toro Bravo Tortilleria is a must-visit for anyone craving authentic Mexican cuisine. While the lack of seating may be a drawback for some, it only adds to the charm of this hidden gem. So next time you're in Costa Mesa, be sure to stop by and indulge in a culinary journey you won't...