Taco Mesita comes to the heart of Orange County with a vision to redefine fast food. Its flagship location, which softly opened its doors in early February, is nestled at the gateway of Old Town Tustin – a historic downtown experiencing an exciting revival and growing diversity.
The concept was brought to life from a collaboration between award-winning restaurateur, chef Ivan Calderon (founder of Taco Mesa and Taco Rosa) and a next-generation team of blended talent: Calderon’s son and co-founder, Nico, along with distinguished designer and partner, Max Moriyama.
Taco Mesita melds tradition with modernity, achieving an unexpected sophistication through its commitment to a simple yet premium palette of ingredients and materials. Every element of the concept – from the house-made ingredients to the branding and building design – communicates a dedication to quality and authenticity.
“We set out with the intention of creating a restaurant we wanted to eat at ourselves, but hadn’t ever experienced before. We questioned why quality dining experiences were reserved for upscale settings,” says Nico. “We think bringing this experience to a fast food setting is new and surprising and it communicates our ethos to being a place everyone can enjoy.
A streamlined menu offers a carefully curated selection of tacos, burritos, and snacks. Each item’s ingredients are a representation of the brand’s prioritization of a high-quality culinary experience over all else. The menu riffs on and elevates what you might find at a traditional taco stand: charred skirt steak, rotisserie chicken, and al pastor tacos, all topped and garnished with colorful and flavor-packed relishes.
Almost every item in the kitchen crosses paths with woodfire, a cooking method that has as much of a place in traditional campesino cooking as it does in high-brow food culture. The result is meats and vegetables infused with the smoke of citrus and almond wood, providing complex flavors that speak to Taco Mesita’s principles of building on simplicity and tradition to create an unexpected fast food experience. “The food doesn’t overcomplicate things – it finds a balance between premium, unique ingredients and the goodness of a home-cooked meal” explains executive chef and co-founder, Ivan Calderon.
An heirloom mole recipe – passed down generations in the Calderon family – is paired with a blue masa tamal and filled with huitlacoche and shiitake mushrooms. The horchata, a Mexican staple drink, is cleverly dubbed “white gold” to showcase its superfood-driven adaptation, using tiger nut and organic agave nectar, instead of rice and sugar. The corn and flour tortillas are all fresh-pressed and small-batch, using nixtamalized heirloom masa and milled flours. “You’re getting quality over quantity, and you can still feed a family for a fraction of what you’d pay at other restaurants with a menu of this caliber,” says Nico. “That’s what makes us proud of what we’ve done and most excited to share with our community that has so generously welcomed us in.”
Taco Mesita is located at 765 El Camino Real in Tustin and is currently open for limited hours during its Soft Opening from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. In the future, hours of operation will be extended from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
The Latest from greer's oc
Discover Doctor Clean: Your Trusted Cleaning Solution in Orange County
Finding a reliable cleaning service can be challenging, but Doctor Clean simplifies the process. Based in Orange County, Doctor Clean is known for its premium residential and commercial cleaning services. Whether it's a one-time deep clean or ongoing maintenance,…
Cocktails for a Cause: Monthly Fundraisers at The Park Club
The Park Club California, Orange County’s premier private business and social hub, proudly presents Cocktails for a Cause, a monthly fundraising series supporting a diverse range of nonprofit organizations. Organized by the Club’s Philanthropy Committee, this initiative provides a welcoming…
Segerstrom Center for the Arts Continues the 2024 Fall Cabaret Season
This fall, Segerstrom Center for the Arts continues to host legendary Broadway performers at the Samueli Theater as part of their 2024/2025 cabaret series. The series concludes with the dynamic duo Eric McCormack and Laura Bell Bundy from October…
Grand Reopening of Lido Theater: A Celebration of Art Deco Glamour with a Free Sugar Ray Concert
The iconic Lido Theater in Newport Beach is set to reopen on Saturday, Oct. 5, with an exciting celebration from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. The day will feature tours, a DJ, silent movies, food, a ribbon-cutting ceremony, and will…
Follow Greer on Pinterest
from the blog
- 10.07.24 – Discover Doctor Clean: Your Trusted Cleaning Solution in Orange County
- 10.07.24 – Cocktails for a Cause: Monthly Fundraisers at The Park Club
- 10.02.24 – Segerstrom Center for the Arts Continues the 2024 Fall Cabaret Season
- 10.02.24 – Grand Reopening of Lido Theater: A Celebration of Art Deco Glamour with a Free Sugar Ray Concert
- 09.30.24 – Celebrate National Taco Day at Puesto with Golden Ticket Giveaways and Exclusive Specials!
- 09.30.24 – Get Behind the Wheel at the Orange County Auto Show
- 09.27.24 – An Evening of Musical Masterpieces: Rachmaninoff, Beethoven & More
- 09.26.24 – Step into ‘The Gathering’ at Roger’s Gardens Halloween Boutique
- 09.24.24 – Flora Avocado Farm: A Scenic Venue for Private Events and Photoshoots
- 09.23.24 – Support Local Hairstylists Battling Breast Cancer: Enter The Jill Foundation’s Fundraiser Today!
- 09.23.24 – Market Broiler Celebrates 35th Anniversary with Exclusive Tasting Dinners
- 09.22.24 – Oktoberfest Menu at Bayside: New for 2024
- 09.18.24 – Transformative Currents: Where Art Meets Ocean Action at Crystal Cove
- 09.18.24 – Empowering People to Change the World at the 4th Annual Mother Earth Market
- 09.17.24 – Frankies Bikinis Warehouse Sale in Tustin
- 09.17.24 – Sweetgreen’s New Fall Harvest Menu
- 09.16.24 – Celebrate LEGO Fest at Sgt. Pepperoni’s on 9/18 Benefitting CHOC!
- 09.16.24 – Pacific Airshow Huntington Beach - Class Pass Promotion
- 09.16.24 – Gutzy Pet: Empowering Animal Lovers, Healing Pets One Gut at a Time
- 09.13.24 – Fleur De Lys Celebrates 20 Years with a Day of Festivities, Freebies, and Fun!
More Daily Doses
- 10.08.24 – Global Gelato Brand Expands to Orange County
- 10.07.24 – The Market by The Meat Cellar Opens in San Juan Capistrano This Fall
- 10.06.24 – StyleWeekOC Returns to Fashion Island on October 16-20
- 10.02.24 – Pop Pie Co. Celebrates 8th Anniversary with Exclusive Chef Collaborations and Special Giveaways
- 10.02.24 – Renaissance ClubSport Hotel & Fitness Resort Completes Renovations
- 09.30.24 – Verde: A New Destination for California Cuisine and Crafted Libations
- 09.30.24 – Pacific Airshow Huntington Beach 2024: Aerial Thrills and New Beachside Action
- 09.27.24 – McG Ushers in New Era for The Lido Theater with Restoration and Expanded Entertainment
- 09.24.24 – 2024 Newport Beach Film Festival Honors Nicolas Cage, Colman Domingo, June Squibb and More
- 09.23.24 – Newport Beach Film Festival Kicks Off 25th Anniversary with World Premiere of ‘Old Guy’
- 09.18.24 – Paddle Up Pickleball Tournament to Fight Cancer
- 09.18.24 – ROL Hand Roll Bar Opens Third OC Location in Irvine
- 09.17.24 – All-New IMAX with Laser Now Open at AMC Tustin 14 at The District at Tustin Legacy
- 09.16.24 – Discover Six New Exciting Additions at The District at Tustin Legacy
- 09.16.24 – OCAPICA – An Evening with Tastemakers of Orange County
- 09.13.24 – Preservation Hall Jazz Band at Musco Center
- 09.11.24 – Learn & Grow Family Fair: Free Fun, Live Entertainment, and Activities at The District
- 09.08.24 – Darkroom: OC’s Newest Everyday Fine Dining Destination with a Vinyl Twist
- 09.06.24 – Project Playhouse: Tour, Bid, and Support HomeAid at Irvine Spectrum
- 09.04.24 – 28th Season of The Witte Lectures