Mexican flavors abound on the Westside

Greer Wylder

On Costa Mesa’s Westside, Mexican food is the winning prize. Prices

are low, and quality is high. Each Mexican restaurant offers

specialty fresh tamales, seafood, carnitas and even health-conscious

meals.

Three of the most popular fast food-style restaurants are El Toro

Bravo Tortilleria, Taco Mesa (both on West 19th Street) and Wahoo’s

Fish Tacos around the corner on Placentia Avenue. If you haven’t

visited these three, you’re missing out on some of the best food in

the area.

EL TORO BRAVO

Irma Murrietta opened El Toro Bravo Tortilleria 25 years ago. It’s

around the corner from El Toro Bravo Market and Costa Brava, a Puerto

Vallarta-style seafood restaurant (her brother owns both.)

Hordes of people stand in line for El Toro Bravo Tortilleria’s

authentic Mexican food. It’s one of the few places that serve

mouth-watering delicacies such as: birria (spicy goat), tripitas

(beef belly), barbecue lengua (beef tongue) and cueritos (beef

tongue).

Simple, delicious meals can serve up to eight for less than $25.

Popular items are the combination de pollo ($4.79) and the especial

de carne ($5.79). Both come with generous portions of salsa fresca,

frijoles rancheros, arroz Mexicano, six tortillas maize and soda.

El Toro Bravo is also a fresh tortilla factory. There is nothing

so delicious as a fresh warm tortilla oozing with butter and a bit of

salt!

Behind the counter, large steels vats of corn are constantly

simmering. The corn is ground into meal for tortillas. (El Toro Bravo

supplies tortillas to local restaurants and upscale delis.)

Fresh tamales are their signature items on Christmas -- 10,000 of

these traditional Christmas Eve meals sell out! Long lines will form

outside as early as 6 a.m.

El Toro Bravo is open daily from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. It’s at 745 W.

19th St. in Costa Mesa. Call (949) 646-4266.

TACO MESA

After working for Larry Cano, founder of El Torito Restaurants,

for more than 20 years, brothers Ivan and Marco Calderon opened Taco

Mesa in 1992. (Now there are six locations in Orange County.) It’s a

casual-style restaurant that offers gourmet cuisine at a low cost. To

keep costs down, there are no servers -- meals are ordered at a

counter. It specializes in authentic, spicy, healthy food. Canned

food, frozen meats and fish are not allowed in the kitchen.

“Mexican food was getting a bad rap for its high fat content.,”

Ivan Calderon said. “Taco Mesa accommodates special diets. Its motto

is, ‘Tell us how you like it, and we will prepare it your way.’”

Any request is granted; they’ll even poach fish.

Chefs develop new ideas to keep the menu fresh. Ivan says they

introduced the stuffed jalapeno that’s been copied everywhere, and

Sunset Magazine named their blackened chicken burrito ($6) the top

burrito on the West Coast! Other specialties are the lobster

enchiladas ($9); grilled blackened calamari served in tacos ($3),

burritos ($6), tostadas ($6) and salads ($7); and from Mexico City,

the taco Alambre. It has cubed steak, grilled bacon, red onion,

pepper and Oaxaca cheese served on white corn tortillas, garnished

with marinated Serrano and red onion ($3).

Prices range from $2 for a beef, chicken or vegetarian taco to $10

for the carne asada special-charbroiled tenderloin served with

grilled onions, avocado and choice of tortillas.

The same menu is offered daily from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. A special “Fiesta” menu offers party platters for large groups. Catering is

also available.

Taco Mesa helps the community by working with local nonprofit

groups, schools and the Latino Business Council.

Its sister restaurant, Taco Rosa, will open in February at the

Newport Hills Shopping Center, in the former space of What’s Cooking?

It will be a casual Mexican fine dining restaurant.

Taco Mesa is at 647 W. 19th St. in Costa Mesa. Call (949) 642-0629

or visit https://www.tacomesa.net.

WAHOOS FISH TACOS

The first Wahoo’s Fish Tacos opened in 1988 at Placentia Avenue.

The incredibly successful taco restaurant boasts more than 30

locations throughout Southern California and Colorado. It serves a

mix of Mexican, Asian and Brazilian-influenced dishes.

Three brothers, Wing Lam, Ed and Mingo Lee, drew from their

background to design the eclectic menu. They were born in Brazil of

Chinese descent and grew up in Orange County.

Their love of surfing took them to Mexico, where they first tasted

fish tacos. Wahoo’s was originally a surfer’s hangout; now, it’s as

popular with families, students and professionals.

Its basic menu has improved. In addition to Ono fish, carne asada,

carnitas and charbroiled chicken prepared for tacos, burritos,

enchiladas, and rice bowls, there are blackened and teriyaki fish and

chicken dishes.

Wahoo’s even uses Polynesian shrimp in its tacos, burritos,

sandwiches and salads. Generous portions of ahi rice, seasoned with

garlic salt, olive oil and parsley come with most dishes, as well as

black beans made with oregano, onion and bay leaf.

Cajun-seasoned navy beans are also available. Wahoo’s is also

health-conscious -- most dishes offer helpful nutritional

information. There are creative appetizers, soup, salads, combination

dishes, a la carte items and a great kids menu.

Easy “party packs” for 10 to 100 people are available. Wahoo’s

helps the community by sponsoring events and donating gift

certificates to local charities.

Wahoo’s Fish Tacos is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through

Saturday; and from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday. It’s at 1862 Placentia

Ave. in Costa Mesa. Call (949) 631-34333 or visit https://www.wahoos.com.

* BEST BITES runs every Friday. Greer Wylder can be reached at

[email protected]; at 330 W. Bay St., Costa Mesa, CA 92627; or by

fax at (949) 646-4170.