Papa's Tacos — Restaurant in Laguna Beach

There is excellent, and there is EXCELLENT! Papa's is EXCELLENT!!

My wife and I found this place 4 years ago, on a recommendation from the Best Western. The clerk said it was REALLY good. We went there twice on our stay in Orange County.

FLASH FORWARD 4 YEARS TO 2015....

We are back in the OC again on vacation. We have been dreaming about coming here to revisit this mecca of taco goodness. We just stopped in tonight, and met the owner, who was SUPER friendly, and we were dying to try the food we loved so much on our last trip. I ordered two BIG TACO ASADOS, with guacamole, and one CARNITAS BIG TACO. There must have been 2lbs of food in just three items, if not more! It was so fresh, hot, and made to order, it puts every other Mexican food place in the OC, to shame! My wife ordered the BIG FISH TACO MAHI MAHI, and one STREET TACO ASADO. Over the top excellent! The salsa verde, and pico de gallo sauces were so delicious, as was the entire meal.

We came a LONG way from the East Coast, and made this a "must do", on our list. I envy people who can visit this great Mexican take out restaurant when ever they can. I asked for a LARGE SIDE ORDER OF CALIFORNIA WEATHER TO GO, but alas, there are some limitations to this establishment LOL. Go here, go here...

We're locals who have been coming here for many many years and the consistency is always spot on! I've read a few reviews about 'staying away' but I think those people probably don't know how to order correctly or just had a bad day! The breakfast burritos are huge and filling. The chorizo, egg, and rice is so tasty and filling and we like that chorizo isn't greasy or spicy. The chicken taquitos are the BEST around; shredded chicken simmered in light red ranchero sauce wrapped around corn tortillas and fried. We dip them in their delicious (some of the best around) guacamole! The tortilla soup is FRESHLY MADE in house and has a light broth and it's filled chicken and veggies, my winter staple! Gail is wonderful, friendly, and expedites the orders with a smile! This place is a treasure in South Laguna. No, it's not dirty nor fancy and it's pick up only but we...

Fresh off earning my sailing license at Del Mar Marina — because apparently I’m a man of the sea now — I followed my shipmate Josh’s advice and set course for Papa’s Tacos.

The man did not steer me wrong.

I ordered the tacos al pastor, the mahi mahi, and the carnitas quesadilla — and let me tell you, each bite tasted like it was blessed by Neptune himself. The al pastor had that perfect crispy-sweet edge like it had bartered with fire. The mahi mahi was so fresh I’m pretty sure it still had stories to tell. And the carnitas quesadilla? A slow dance between cheese, pork, and divine...