440 customer reviews
Brian Clarkson
Everything on the menu is both creative and good
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Moe M.
Before a wine tasting at the nearby Hi-Times cellars one day we stopped in to try this place that I have passed a thousand times and never thought twice about. Now, that we have been once I cannot stop myself eating from here. Whether dining in their intimate shop, taking out, or ordering from online the food holds up all the way! I get into a mode once I find a place where I become obsessed with one dish. Currently this is their fantastic Carnitas plate. Stacked high with rice, beans, pico, guac, and their super tasty corn cake I love eating these carnitas directly from the plate, I have no time to make tiny tacos! I devour about half of this plate before realizing they have come with tortillas. I always prefer corn tortillas and theirs are particularly good. The salsa bar is always well stocked and I really enjoy the pickled carrots!Really the only other dish I have tried is the crispy flautas which I saw a picture of on Yelp and had to try. The flautas come with two chicken and two beef unless you specify. I really liked the chicken ones. I will be returning time after time for all of these delicious dishes and I suggest you stop by. More...
Reviewed on Yelp
Kim Haller
Amazing salads! I had the Rajas Salad with shrimp and I was very positively surprised. Only point for improvement is the waiting times. I waited quite a long time to get my food. More...
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Nicholas Steinwachs
Good breakfast, but they were out of the Shaka Sauce I wanted to buy! Bummer brah!
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Debby K.
Most Mexican restaurants serve pretty much identical dishes, but Caliente is a little bit different. Very casual, inexpensive, almost fast food but not what you can find elsewhere. I'm surprised they haven't opened additional branches. Recommended. More...
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Kellie R.
Great food and wonderful staff. Their catering side of the restaurant is just superb.
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Jamia M.
Been coming here for a few years now and have always enjoyed my food. Great flavors, not greasy, and lots of different hot sauce's to choose from. I will continue coming back for three reasons: 1) Really tasty and interesting salad options (Mondays are specials on salads)2) Everything always taste fresh and food is filling 3) This is the only place in OC that I know of that does puffy tacos or what they refer to as cloud 9. These are common in places like San Antonio,TX but less so here in SoCal. Oh, one more reason to come back...4) Nice kid meal options and if you dine in on weekends, kids eat free! More...
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Valerie Cheron
Love love love love love! Best mexican food around. Enchiladas, burritos, staff! All top notch!
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Mark Davis
Picked up a to-go order very small place good food plenty of parking
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Mary Marquez
They have great food there. I enjoyed eating a burrito and taco. They were delicious.
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Rebecca W.
Amazing service and staff. Heather helped me pick a couple dishes for a baby shower, and everyone loved it! I ordered the spinach enchiladas and chicken tacos. The kitchen staff was so friendly when I went to pick up the food (bright and early). The prices are great for such fresh, delicious food!I had multiple people ask me where I picked the food up from, and I'm sure they will be in to try other dishes!P.S I've also had their burritos, salads, and sweet corn dessert at an event. ALL their food is fresh, delicious, and unique. Highly recommend every item I've tasted. More...
Reviewed on Yelp
Paulina A.
Tried this place out today and it did not disappoint! Flavor and present was on point. Portions were generous too. We ordered the wet burrito, chicken quinoa salad, and the street tacos. All were super delicious and filling. They have a variety of salsas as well at the salsa bar, which are all delicious. Prices are super reasonable and staff is friendly. We will definitely be back! More...
Reviewed on Yelp
ES H.
Love the food here! One of the best Mexican food I have tried . Meat and salads always very fresh and tasty. They have taco sauce bar that's always clean and stocked up. They give you free meal after your tenth visit, which is awesome! I work close by here so this is my favorite go to place during lunch. The ladies at the register always friendly and welcoming. 5 stars!!! More...
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Wayne Parks
Great Mexican food!!
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Laurette A.
The Tacos were fresh and rather large. I also had the beans and rice. You can taste the freshness! I was pleasantly surprised at how wonderful the food was. The service was impeccable and the servers were patient and friendly. If you are in the area, stop by. You won't be disappointed + More...
Reviewed on Yelp
Clifford Womersley
So Yummy!!! I loved my Nuevo Almond Salad with shrimp.....a tropical treat!! (I've never had pineapple & pineapple dressing! ) I like salads & this one is (1/2 eaten, sorry) So very fresh!!My friend got the Hacienda Black Bean salad (he rarely gets salads....but his was finished before I coukd get a photo!! More...
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Glen Martin
Always great food. Just don't live close enough.
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A K.
I love Caliente, their Wow chicken taco is so delicious! It's super unique and like no other taco you have had before. It always tastes fresh and delicious and never disappoints. The Cloud 9 taco is also awesome. The workers are really nice and friendly. It's a great hole in the wall restaurant with delicious food. I definitely recommend it if you're looking for some great Mexican food. More...
Reviewed on Yelp
Knittin' F.
So Yummy!!! I loved my Nuevo Almond Salad with shrimp.....a tropical treat!! (I've never had pineapple & pineapple dressing! ) I like salads & this one is (1/2 eaten, sorry) So very fresh!!My friend got the Hacienda Black Bean salad (he rarely gets salads....but his was finished before I coukd get a photo!! He loved it! & both are very filling.Plus good iced tea & fun sodas. A tiny place with great layout...look for it, your tummy will appreciate it!! More...
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Brandon A.
Best tacos I've ever had for the price. Wow, they are amazing. Almost as good as Taco Maria's tacos. I wasn't even that hungry and still ate all four. I seriously had dreams about them after dinner. I ordered for the first time from Postmates and was blown away. This place has been here forever and I can't believe I've never been. So good!!! Will be here at least once a week from now on! More...
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Bethany Lopez
Amazing from the first bite had the ranchero crispy and a fish taco..different taste on the ranchero that shocked me into heaven
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jill ricker
Fresh and delicious!
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Jenny L.
Food is authentic and very good! Service is great and they offer beer and wine. Only complaint is that my husband's burrito fell apart because the tortilla broke right when he got it and my rolled quesadilla had a soggy tortilla bottom. But the food was delicious! Just a little messy.. More...
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Cathy H.
Classify this under "Hipster Tacos." Don't get me wrong, it's pretty good, but set your expectations of what type of food to expect. .. although the music playing (Sweet Home Alabama) might be your first clue... More...
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Priyanka Singh
Nice tacos. Must try the corn cake!
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Robert F.
I love their burrito , its usually busy so make sure you call if you dont like to wait
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Tina H.
I love this place so much! I can get something healthy for the kids and something healthy for me. And it still tastes delicious. I love the Bluemoon chicken salad with chicken. My two kids split the kids meal and had some of my salad. Lots of food. More...
Reviewed on Yelp
Jason F.
I love this place. Best tacos around, good service, usually not very crowded. I hope it doesn't get more popular!
Reviewed on Yelp
Amiee L.
Updated: The mushrooms are definitely different than they used to be on this salad. Idk what they do different but the previous mushrooms had a lot more flavor and now the salad is just not that great anymore. 5 star service always. The owner is super nice. 4 stars only for this specific salad.Old review: I used to love this place, but the quality has started to lack.. my usual hacienda black bean salad with chicken had mushrooms that were huge chunks, not seasoned and the chicken was bland. Normally it is marinated or something, the flavor is what makes the salad, and it just takes like grilled chicken, nothing special. Taste like they quit giving a sh*t. More...
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Marc Meredith
Really tasty carnitas burrito and excellent service
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Vanessa Gerrie
Best carnitas tacos around! Cloud tacos are awesome too
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Deisy Castillo
Delicious food!!! Great service! Flautas are my favorite but their salads are just as good!
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Gilbert Z.
This is my favorite place in Costa Mesa!! Food is delicious and their service is excellent as well! I recommend "El Pirata" burrito or "Chicken Southwest" burrito. There is many more great things on their menu to try. They also started a rewards program so don't forget to provide them with you contact number to keep track of your points. Every 10 points (meals) gets you a FREE meal. Totally worth trying this place! More...
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Christina W.
This is our new favorite quick meal place. It is fresh, healthy and a great value. Our favorite is the grilled fish taco and the shrimp bowl, you get a lot of quality food for the cost and it is great tasting. The staff is always helpful and friendly, I have food allergies and they are very accommodating. For a healthy, fresh meal, you won't be disappointed. More...
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Roxanne D.
I get the most basic burrito - Californian with no meat - and it's absolutely my favorite in SoCal. It's huge, packed with taste, and delicious ingredients. Loveeeee this place and wish one would open in Long Beach so I could eat it more often! More...
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Mike Sisco
Fresh scratch made with love! Caliente is high quality without breaking the bank.
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C. L.
Oh my gosh yes you need to come here food is fabulous and a great Italian so much food I had to take it all. So good even my dog loves it.
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Alice Toth
I am writing this review based on 3 experiences I have had at Caliente. I LOVE everything about this place! On today’s visit, I got a wet black & pinto bean burrito with grilled peppers, onions, salsa and rice. The same gal who has taken all 3 of my orders has been super friendly and accommodating to my vegan requests and she even gave me a great suggestion today of half green sauce and red sauce on my burrito! It was so delicious, I couldn’t decide which sauce I liked better. The chips are good and they have a self serve fresh salsa bar. Guacamole is fantastic too. It is decorated very cute and has always been very clean! I like how fresh everything is and that they are environmentally conscience as well. The guy next to me had a salad that looked really yummy and I will probably try that next time. Limited indoor and outdoor seating but nice to have an option of both. ❤️ More...
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Nicole J.
Love coming here! Especially for thee incredible gold toilet. Have considered getting one of my own. The spinach enchiladas are very rich and filling. Love the sweet corn for dessert and often order their tacos. They have an entire wall dedicated to a variety of hot sauces. It's a cute small place to have lunch with a friend! More...
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Gabriela P.
Just had the best cloud tacos rancheros. Perfect tortilla crunch and really good shredded beef. BIG TIP! Ask for your Chile Toreado bomb Martha you are best
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Charlotte E.
By far my favorite restaurant! southwestern plate and all the other plates are amazing. Their salsa is to die for.
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Patty H.
Really fresh and good food! A nice selection of southwest grilled faire, salads, tacos, burritos and enchiladas. Some of my favorites are the blue moon salad, cloud taco and mahi burrito. This place has a huge local following on a street with a ton of other choices, but this place rises to the top. More...
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Robb W.
This hidden gem was recommended by a local bartender and, wow, was it ever a great suggestion. The street tacos were great, as was the shrimp taco! They even stayed around after hours when I forgot my phone, ensuring that I got it back the same night I left it in their restaurant. More...
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Tonshea M.
The food was great and service was awesome. We stopped here after a day of some beach fun and we ordered a fish taco, carnitas tacos and the southwest steak burrito. It was all very good and fresh! The fish taco was one of the best I've ever had. The steak was a little tough but still well seasoned and very tasty. Can't wait to go back the next time we're out that way! More...
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Lori Whalen
Love their food, good service and sustainability.
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Juan Pelaez
I can't remember ever having a bad meal here. Food is fresh, portions great, prices fair and although I had a mahi mahi rice bowl on my last visit, the carnitas here are my favorite.
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Scott R.
5 stars this place is the best! Me and gf love eating here all the time and we love getting to try all the dank hot sauces like ANAL ANGST! I am obsessed with the southwest chicken burrito and she loves the wow chicken tacos all we can say is WOWWWWWWWWW!!!!! More...
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Lauren B.
Such a fun secret in Costa Mesa! With fresh ingredients and delicious colors and great portions, we were so surprised to have such a great place near by! We loved their Mahi mahi tacos and mahi blue moon salad, as well as their guacamole! We will be back! More...
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Michelle Getz
Cloud 9 taco...the best!
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ryan lucas
Soda is organic and good. Food very good. Service very good on time and friendly. Environment is small but nice with outside seating as well.
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