Orange County Register

 12 Comments

• they do it better says:

  April 27, 2007 at 10:02 am

  they do it better at taco adobe in santa ana and ESPECIALLY at the new location in Orange (near the circle).

  try the tacos de pescados.
• Joanna says:

  April 27, 2007 at 10:17 am

  Try the Burrito Arizona and the Chile Relleno. Sooo delicious and you can’t go wrong with either of them!
• Cynthia says:

  April 27, 2007 at 7:59 pm

  I will definitely try the suggestions from the both of you. Thanks for the recommendations and I’ll keep you posted!
• Christian says:

  May 4, 2007 at 3:38 pm

  Tell them to spice it up for you. Also, give their breakfast a try.
• Christian says:

  May 4, 2007 at 3:42 pm

  Have to leave one more comment: I know somebody who constantly talks about how much they hate Taco Rosa because everything they’ve had from there has been too spicy. What is Taco Rosa to do when some people say they aren’t going back because it’s too spicy and some say they aren’t going back because it’s not spicy enough? My guess is that they tone it down for most people, but kick it up a notch for those who request it. Having said that, the tacos aren’t what I usually get there.
• Rolfe says:

  May 16, 2007 at 3:42 pm

  This seems to be a pattern in the Irvine Marketplace, fancy new restaurants that feature lousy and expensive food. The French 75 went through the same thing. It’s just recently, after more than a year open, that their food and menu have started to live up to the prices. Wait a year and maybe Taco Rosa will do the same. In the meantime, it’s probably best to go there just for the drinks.
• beverly says:

  May 25, 2007 at 1:01 pm

  I’ve been to this Taco Rosa several times now, twice with our entire firm. The food has been consistently delicious. I did not find it bland at all, perhaps not as spicy as I prefer, but then again I snack on habaneros. The sauces are subtle. Sometimes this means those with palates more tuned to Doritos and bean dip will find something lacking. Highly recommended by me and our entire firm.
• Sig Hommeland says:

  June 7, 2007 at 4:11 pm

  I could not wait for Taco Rosa to open in Irvine. I have always been a big fan of Taco Mesa in Mission Viejo and I have visited Taco Rosa in Newport. The first time I visited the new Taco Rosa, crowded, but we had a memorable dinner we sat outside near the bar the food was great the prices fair. The second time a differant experience, crowded, we sat inside very dull and plain inside. My wife ordered a burrito and soon discovered she did not get what we ordered. When we informed our waiter, he laughed and said someone else got the wrong burrito too! I wonder why? Well he offered to take 50% off our bill. I think 100% would have been more approriate. So it may be awhile before we go back to Taco Rosa again. I wish them well but customer service is as important as great food and good prices.
• John Olsen says:

  August 17, 2007 at 9:07 am

  I agree Cynthia. If I’m going to pay $17 for an entrée my expectations are higher than a $1 taco from a taqueria. Maybe I’m just a dive Mexican fan but my experiences at dining before and after Taco Rosa (in places who look to have decorated from Salvation Army not Melrose Ave.) were both more memorable and satisfying (save the company). On the high-end/gourmet end of things I really prefer Taco Adobe, Gabbi’s and even Taco Mesa. I went to lunch at El Moctezuma #3 the next day, a total locals-only barrio storefront. They had cloth napkins. But Taco Rosa gives me a cheap paper napkin. The tortillas were too thick, a problem I have never had at Taco Mesa. The center of the churros where uncooked and tasted of poorly mixed pancake batter. Our party had numerous stumbles from the wait staff but those could all just be a waiter on a bad day. Most of the food was quite good and I enjoyed the subtle flavors of the mustard rice and my Camerones Rancheros. They make a very nice margarita but it is pretty small. For a restaurant in this price range I really expect things to be a lot more consistent and more importantly - memorable. The mustard rice is the only thing that sticks out now. Everything else was no different than I have many other places and too much of it was not as good. On the other hand, I can still remember the great tastes of the carnitas and al pastor tacos I had last week at a nearby dive.
• Christian says:

  August 22, 2007 at 11:19 am

  I think I’ve been to Taco Rosa enough that I know the things to get. The churros are the dessert I order the least often (not saying they are always undercooked but I never get them on my own) and I rarely get tacos or burritos. This is why I tell people to not evaluate Taco Rosa until their third visit, hopefully trying different things on each visit and also trying things that they wouldn’t normally think of at a Mexican restaurant. Still, maybe they could have cloth napkins. I guess with my (volunteer) job I know the good and bad about every place and how to hone in on the good.
• Cynthia says:

  August 22, 2007 at 3:16 pm

  I don’t know if i would tell people to try Taco Rosa three times before making a judgment, however. Some people don’t have those resources to spend and they’re better off spending their money elsewhere without having to take those gambles. Taco Rosa isn’t a bad place and it always seems to be crowded. But I think consistency is something they need to work on.
• Christian says:

  August 23, 2007 at 3:04 pm

  I think the solution for a first (and possibly only) visit then is to go for a late lunch or an early dinner (what I usually do) and to not approach it with a taco/burrito/enchilada/fajitas mindset. Some of the best things I’ve had there are not items found on every other Mexican restaurant menu but it might take more than one visit for someone to get used to a different type of menu. My dentist went and said, “I got the steak fajitas and they were just okay but my wife got the salmon and really liked it. Actually my daughter really liked my steak fajitas.” I’ve recommended Taco Rosa to so many people who have loved it (and then have told other people about it) that the 5% who didn’t like it I’m pretty sure happened to catch Taco Rosa on their 5% of downtime or tried the 5% of the menu that might not be up their alley. I’ve had churros there several times. Only one of those times were they undercooked and it convinced the others with me that Taco Rosa must be poor quality. I’ve had 5% negative experiences there myself and 95% positive. As far as expense goes you can get the chili relleno and an aguas fresca plus tax and tip out the door for $15. Some meals will be even less.

  One thing I’ve learned is that with any place some people hate it and some people love it. Some love Gabbi’s/Javier’s/Taleo/(insert other restaurant name) and some can’t see what the fuss is about. Sometimes there’s no swaying people but sometimes giving a place another chance helps.