TACO ASYLUM LAUNCHES STEAK TACOS AND SIDES

Review by Joanne Tucker

Located at The Camp, Costa Mesa’s urban hipster green mall, taco asylum recently broadened its internationally-inspired menu to include a south-of-the-border grilled $5 steak taco (with fresh Argentinean chimichurri,buttermilk fried onions, potato hash) and healthy (and yummy!) new side dishes for tortilla-less bowls and more filling combination plates.

How can rice and beans be low calorie and still taste good? When the rice is not rice, but a deliciously light cilantro-and-lime-flavored Israel couscous ($3). And when the beans are not beans, but a cold lentil salad ($3) with carrots, shallots, fennel and garlic in a red wine vinaigrette topped with a hint of fluffy goat cheese

Want both sides and two tacos?  Then, order the new “combo” plate. For $14, you now get two of taco asylum’s fresh-and-tasty tacos along with both sides. Add a $3 draft beer during happy hour (Mon.-Fri. 2-6 p.m. and 9-11 p.m.) and that’s just $17 for a hearty meal in one of OC’s most chill eateries.

What makes taco asylum just a cool place to hang out by yourself (with your laptop or smartphone) or with your friends? This sparse indoor-outdoor taqueria has a totally laid back modern style with restored wooden tables, steel chairs and a concrete floor. The breezy, casual feel of the place is palpable and so is the relaxing vibe here that seems to say: “Sit down, chill out and have a good time, man!”

Tasting the New Steak Taco

Taco asylum finally introduced its first new taco since it opened last year. Yes, we highly enjoyed the new juicy-and-spicy chimichurri steak taco as well as the classic pork belly taco, which is garnished with Vietnamese-style crunchy-and-sweet pickled daikon, carrot and cilantro.

We also love the all-veg earthy wild mushroom taco with chickpea purée, parsley salad and crispy fried chickpeas.  But then, it’s so difficult to pass up the Provence-style braised lamb chunks over garlicky ratatouille with olive tapenade or succulent short ribs with pickled red onions, salsa verde, cotiga cheese and cilantro.

Can’t make up your mind? Bring some friends and order a flight of eight tacos for $18. Add  a side of Israeli couscous, a cold lentil salador a mixed green salad. Yummy!

Wine in Mini Tanks!

Ready for a glass of wine to pair with your indulgent taco flight?  Taco asylum recently introduced MÁS Wine Company’s award-winning draft wines served out of stand-alone mini tanks that keep the wine fresh for up to 60 days.

Also, taco asylum features a choice from more than 30 canned beers or gourmet sodas. Another addition to its brew menu is five Belgian beers, which are available in large 25.4 oz. (Blanche de Bruxelles, Chimay Grand Reserve Blue, Unibroue La Fin Du Monde, Bruery Saison Rue and Bruery Trade Wind Triple).

We love tacos, beer and The Camp and we can’t wait until our next visit to this awesome independent OC eatery.

Hours:11am-11pm daily

Happy Hour:$3 drafts, $2 off canned beer, $1 off tacos, Mon.-Fri. 2-6 p.m. and 9-11 p.m

taco asylum, 2937 S Bristol St., Costa Mesa, 714-922-6010, www.tacoasylum.com

Joanne Tucker is a freelance dining and travel writer based in Costa Mesa, California.