Brighten Your Tuesday With These Delicious Bites and Even Better Deals
Taco Tuesday: a timeless tradition that has been tempting taste buds and wallets with weekly wonderment for generations upon generations. But what happens when you take this age-old alliteration and put it mere miles from the cuisine’s cultural origin? The result is a world-class array of delectable Taco Tuesday destinations. From five-star restaurants to the tiniest, most intimate kitchens and stands, nobody does Taco Tuesday quite like Southern California. Here’s 10 of our favorites in Orange County. Taco Tuesday Orange County
Social Cocina y Tequila
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Dancing the night away fueled by margaritas and the DJ’s beats doesn’t have to wait until spring break. Let the rhythm move you (or the $9 1942 tequila shots!) at Social Cocina y Tequila where the high vibes are contagious! Paralleling a tropical Tulum resort, this boho-chic Mexican eatery is earning its name as Huntington’s Taco Tuesday hotspot. DJs take the stage at 6:30 p.m., just in time to enjoy taco specials. Mix and match from selections of wood-fired Wagyu skirt steak tacos dressed in tangy chimichurri, juicy birria atop melty pools of Oaxaca cheese or sweet and spicy al pastor cauliflower fillings. Pair your tacos with one of Social’s elevated cocktails created by Owner Grayson Diercksmeier who believes you “drink with your eyes first, nose second, mouth third”. The result is unique drinks like the Lil’ Beach! Served in a sandbox, the Lil’ Beach blends creamy coconut and zesty lime to balance mezcal’s smoky flavor. Missed Tuesday? Enjoy the same specials during happy hour Sunday through Friday from 4-6 p.m. Social’s vibe is definitely more of a party, but the family-operated restaurant has something for everyone with cozy outdoor fire pits and open lounge seating.
Location: Huntington Beach
Avila’s El Ranchito
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Avila’s El Ranchito has asserted itself as one of the premier sit-down Mexican restaurants in Lake Forest. This location has been operating for 25 years and is owned by Sal Avila and run by daughters Monica and Nathalie, who continue to carry on the family legacy. The building itself features a classic hacienda-style exterior with adobe accents, while the interior is filled with rustic furnishings and suspended plants. But perhaps what this family-owned restaurant is best known for is its oversized margaritas, tableside guacamole and tasty Taco Tuesday specials. Start with a grande El Millionario margarita made with Corralejo 99,000 Horas tequila, Cointreau, Gran Marnier 100 years and sweet and sour, then get ready to savor a side of Guacamole Olé, which is freshly prepared tableside. When it’s time for tacos, choose between shredded beef, shredded chicken, ground beef, potato, carnitas, asada or charbroiled chicken, which are all $3 or $4 on Taco Tuesday. This special is available from 4 p.m. to close, so plan accordingly!
Location: Lake Forest
3/5
Solita Tacos & Margaritas
If it’s a truly decadent experience you seek, then look no further than Solita’s. Offering deals on everything from tacos, tequila, margaritas and amazing appetizers, Solita’s Taco and Tequila Tuesday goes well beyond the confines of the traditional. Our advice? Try their K-38 special offer and sample some of their award-winning creations, including the ever popular Cali Elote and Vampiro tacos.
Location: Huntington Beach
Descanso
Located in Costa Mesa, Descanso is known for their unique plancha-style dining experience. This Costa Mesa restaurant has established an innovative take on delicious Mexican cuisine, giving customers a front-row seat to how their meals are made. However, on Tuesdays, Descanso transforms their plancha room into a streetside taco stand for the beloved Taquero Tuesdays. Come hungry (and thirsty)—customers can expect $2 gourmet street-style tacos, $3 quesadillas and $4-$6 drink specials. Taquero Tuesday starts at 5 p.m., and no reservtions are needed. Any taco connoisseur should place Descanso at the top of their list of places to check out!
Location: Costa Mesa
Playa Mesa
One of the hottest and most decorated places on our list, Playa Mesa has over 1,000 five-star reviews, and it’s not hard to see why. Playa Mesa is as gourmet as it is authentic, but with their incredible Taco Tuesday specials, this world-class restaurant also offers one of the best deals on our list. With incredible eats, such as their buttery grilled shrimp and zesty pollo asada tacos for as little as $3 a piece, Playa Mesa is sure to impress.
Location: Costa Mesa
Taco Tuesday Orange County
Taqueria El Zamorano
Santa Ana is home to some of SoCal’s best Mexican food, so it should come as no shock that it’s also home to one of the best Taco Tuesday deals in the state, courtesy of the highly acclaimed Taqueria El Zamorano. With melt-in-your-mouth el pastor and carne asada as well as some more unique flavors, such as their crispy milanesa, their “three tacos for $6” deal is an absolute steal.
Location: Santa Ana
Taco Tuesday Orange County
Great Mex
Great Mex truly lives up to its name. Offering a simple yet elegant spread of all the quintessential Mexican classics as well as a wonderful, health-conscious “Mexi-lite” menu, this spot has everything one could want in a Taco Tuesday destination. It’s so good they offer it on Fridays, as well. Don’t forget to check out their salsa bar while you wait, as they offer new seasonal salsas and condiments every single day.
Location: Costa Mesa, Newport Beach
Sol Cocina
Nobody does Baja-style cuisine quite like Newport Beach’s Sol Cocina. Inspired by the fresh and lively coastal culinary world of Mexico’s most iconic peninsula, Sol Cocina effortlessly blends traditional, wood-fired favorites with a refreshing, bold SoCal flare. And to make things even better, they offer one of the best Taco Tuesdays around. With live music to complement $5 house margaritas, Sol Cocina will send you and your taste buds soaring across the Mexican coastline.
Location: Newport Beach
La Vida Cantina
Our next pick’s claim to fame is none other than a masterfully crafted mahi mahi taco, and to make things even better, these mouthwatering creations are discounted not once but twice a week for La Vida’s Taco Tuesdays and Taco Thursdays. Pull up a chair and come dive into all the wonderful bites La Vida has to offer. The atmosphere is lively, and you’ll feel like you’re transported to Cabo!
Location: Costa Mesa
El Matador
For over 55 years, El Matador has been serving up some of the most authentic and bold Mexican cuisine in all of Southern California, and they have taco and margarita deals every Tuesday. Their continual dedication to culinary excellence pervades each and every part of their expansive menu, from their tacos and enchiladas to their “Tequila Wall of Fame,” featuring over 400 different tequilas and mezcals that garner love, support and recognition each and every year. One meal at El Matador and it is easy to see why such a seemingly inconspicuous restaurant has acted as the benchmark for high-quality, authentic Mexican food in SoCal for well over five decades.
Location: Costa Mesa
