Taco Mesita — Restaurant in Tustin

A perfectly placed taco stand. I used to pass by the old place but the food then was not great. Glad that new ownership, new food and new everything improved the experience.

So eating here dine in is great, service is polite and friendly and very helpful. The place is tidy and even drive thru experience was great.

Foodwise, the food is decent except for my own personal caveats. For one I thought the Jamaica was too strong and not very sweet. Needed more of the agave sweetener to make it tasty and maybe less brewing time? (I make my own at home so I know what makes Jamaica taste a certain way, i wonder if they cold brew it, because i have found it makes it taste more floral cold brewed and not bitter, maybe the mixture needed less of the concentrated tea...) the last time I was there they forgot to put cinnamon on top of my horchata, be sure they do this because it makes an otherwise normal horchata stellar by adding that nice cinnamon topper. (Its real cinnamon! You will know what i mean if you're into spices like me)

Makes it smell great too. By the way, the horchata is made Spanish style, with tiger nuts. So it isn't made in any of the new world styles like Mexican, Central American, or South American horchatas. And with no dairy. This restaurant gets a high rating for having friendly horchata to lactose intolerant people like me. (Thank you so much for that!!!) The horchata is definitely thirst quenching. So for me the expense of this is justified because it's made with real quality stuff.

The blue corn tamale with huitlacoche was too sour and dry for me. Not sure if it was because I haven't had too many opportunities to eat huitlacoche, but I didn't like it, maybe it needed to be paired with something to balance it.

The corn on the cob.... I wouldn't pay that much for it. I make my own at home, but I guess if you don't like grilling your own, you can buy it here.

The tacos and burritos are good, but i agree, the tacos are small, but i think thats what this place is going for, more street taco style, though i myself like having a more decently larger sized tortilla. (What can i say, corn is in my blood.) I appreciate the wood fired taste to the food. While I think the food is pricy, you kind of pay for these little extra things, that's how I see it.

Overall this place has been good so far. The burrito by itself will fill you up, but you may need to order quite a few tacos to whet your appetite. And the food is tasty....

Taco Mesita is a standout new addition to Old Town Tustin. The owners transformed a rundown Mexican drive-through into a high-end fast food gem.

The drive-through is still in place and makes picking up a tasty, portable bite really easy. However, don't sleep on dining in! The restaurant seating is mostly outdoors in a little cove-like space and provides a nice relaxing area to eat.

So how is the food you ask? Chef's kiss. We tried their new breakfast menu on their first day serving breakfast and tried:

Chorizo Burrito - with egg, potatoes, and handmade chorizo sausages, this burrito has a great balance of savory flavors with a mild spicy kick. It was so satisfying that we got a second one in the same sitting. The green sauce (whipped jalapeno salsa, or their version of salsa verde) is creamy goodness and complimented the burrito incredibly well.

Masa Quesadilla - shaped like a mini empanada, the granules of masa gave this pocket meal a nice variance in texture. The Oaxaca cheese was warm, gooey and delicious inside. One of the many tasty "Snacks" sized items on the menu. This dish was enhanced with the smoky tomato salsa, which brought a nice, bright note to the baby quesadilla.

Egg Torta - fluffy eggs, tasty guac sauce and chili mayo, grilled onions, plus tomatoes. Delicious, and the torta bread's crispy crust provided texture to an otherwise delicate combination of flavors. Would love to be able to add meat to the sandwich, but this is a nice vegetarian friendly addition.

White Gold Horchata - we learned that once upon a time, the Horchata (originally from Valencia, Spain) was made with tiger nut legumes (a super food) instead of milk and rice. This homage to the OG Horchata was creamy, surprisingly "milky", and delicious.

The staff here is incredibly friendly, and one of the owners (Nico) was attentively checking in on folks throughout service. You can tell this place was built with love and passion. What I especially love about this place is you can get a meal for under $15 pp! That's unheard of nowadays! While the portions are smaller, the menu is clearly meant to allow you to experience a generous variety of flavors. The value is fantastic considering the quality of ingredients used as well.

Roll yourself up into the best new burrito (and other Mexican-inspired bites) joint in the OC. But fair warning, you may end up ordering more than you came for - it's...

Taco Mesita is the newest gem for anyone who likes to eat, in Tustin and beyond. The restaurant has a really modern aesthetic and is outfitted with state-of-the-art heat warmers and beautiful plants. I think this is the first place that has found a way to deliver the highest-quality culinary experience while also accommodating to the customer's schedule with the drive through option. I enjoyed my first meal dining-in on the heated patio area. The massive front windows give a panoramic snapshot of the kitchen that gives your food a personal touch, and lets you witness for yourself the care and attention put into every order. Outdoor seating is always nice, but it goes one step further at Taco Mesita because the architecture and floor plan make you feel like you are in the heartbeat of Old Town Tustin's close-knit community, yet nestled in the sweetspot-comfort that our favorite nooks mean to all of us.

Ok, the food... I was so hungry on my first visit that my stomach ordered before my brain had a chance to think. I was expecting your normal chicken street tacos to satisfy, but the presentation and taste can only be described as gourmet. Every ingredient complements the other with almost scientific-precision - the chicken was moist, juicy, and packed with flavor, and the fire-roasted corn kept my mouth watering.

For my second visit, I did the drive through option and went for the steak burrito. Now that I have experienced firsthand getting something of that quality through a drive through, I can honestly say that I can never look at any cheap thrill drive through the same again. I think I've only had steak that tender at a Korean BBQ or 5-star steakhouse. And if you are like me and enjoy your cheese, you know you've found heaven when the cheese literally strings you along back for your next bite.

Old Town Tustin is blessed to...