Cabo Grill

Pretty solid experience all around. We just moved into the neighborhood and wanted to find a good Mexican food place that would be easy to pick up and take to go. I got the carnitas burrito which was pretty good. The two red salsas made it much better. I guess they’re known for their salsas and it showed. I’ll definitely try a few more items before making a final decision.

There are two reasons to visit this Mexican restaurant: if you haven’t been to any other Mexican restaurant in Costa Mesa, and you only want carnitas. No other ingredients, just carnitas.
Honestly, the food was bland and the service says: «We really don’t care about our customers.»
Reasons to not eat here:
— The parking is atrocious. Really, the smallest parking spaces I’ve seen in Orange County are in front of Cabo Grill. It doesn’t help that dented up work trucks and mobile painting stations are consistently parked over the stall lines every time I drive here. Don’t try to park next door, according to the Circle-​K that paints «WE WILL TOW YOUR CAR» in front of every space.
— The food is overpriced. I paid almost $ 9 for the contents of the most boring taco salad I’ve ever seen. Are you ready for this ingredients list?
— «Canned» refried beans
— Less than half the meat of an Alberto’s taco. That’s right, taco. Not burrito. For almost $ 9.
— Pre-​shredded cafeteria lettuce
— Half a tomato, chopped
— CARROTS. SO MANY CARROTS. Honestly half of the meal was chewing down huge slices of carrots that look like the chef only owns a potato peeler.
— White cheese. Actually pretty okay cheese.
Want some salsa? Get some from the bar. Oh, you don’t like the taste of Windex in your mild salsa? Oh, that’s what it’s supposed to taste like.
Want some sour cream? That will be $ 0.75. Here’s the smallest cup we can find in the kitchen and we still managed to not fill it up.
Want some space to eat? Sorry, we have 6 barstools and a tiny bar on one side, and 4 wobbly tables for two on the other side.
The owner was texting almost the whole time, and he didn’t acknowledge any customer walking in or out. Take your order, drop your plate on the table, charge extra for sour cream, on to the next customer. This is a restaurant, not a factory, bub.
For a good example of Mexican food in the area, try these first:

I had the chicken fajita plate but it was soooo salty! I think I will try this place again to try other food and hopefully it is not as salty.

This place has the best Mexican food ever ! Too bad the parking is always packed and so I have to always get my food to go since I’m not a local. The chorizo burrito is my all time favorite so perfect in every way cheesey and warm and big lots of meat and eggs mmmmm I’m addicted to this place. Carce asada fries oooo don’t get me started! !! Must go if you want great Mexican authentic food!!! Two thumbs up!!!

The food was good for quick service. Nothing special just ok Mexican food. The service is average.

Cabo Grill has incredible hit or miss food. Their carnitas are spectacular, particularly on their nachos. Their breakfast burritos are some of the best I’ve ever had. Highly recommend.
However like I said they can be hit or miss. On my most recent visit I ordered two steak & egg breakfast burritos and brought them in to work. Unfortunately it seemed that the chef cooked them on the grille immediately after making seafood as the burritos had an overwhelming odor of shrimp or fish or something… fishy. We threw both of them away. what a waste of time and money.
Hopefully the chef will learn to clean the grille when cooking different dishes. I will note though that this was not the typical dude I see each time I go so hopefully this was a fluke. So I’ve got to give 3 stars as they do have great food at times. Just not sure how worth it it is to roll the dice with my money and hunger ;)

This place is good, i dont know why its always empty, maybe the parking, but i’ve eaten here a few times throughout the years and it never dissapoints, today i had the cabo burrito and it was great

Been a fan of cabo grill for years… great food and service. Owner is always super nice and fun to see/​talk to. Food is great for sure. Taco Tuesday cheap and delicious. Burritos very flavorful and delicious — along with the asada fries.

We went there for taco Tuesday in search of a new standard. Unfortunately this will not be our new favorite. The potato taco was pretty good, but not the best. The el pastor was very good. The chicken was greasy and tasteless. The salsas were pretty good flavor wise, but I prefer more chunky style.

Excellent Taco Tuesday special. $ 1.25 for any meat tacos? Yes, please! Even available during lunch. I highly recommend the tacos de al pastor. Great flavor, highly spiced, and very juicy. Only drawback to this place is that they aren’t bigger. They can definitely use more room.

First experience here wasn’t much of an experience at all. Had two blackened fish tacos and the fish was just doused in salt. Should’ve been renamed salt tacos –_–

I order a torta. And let me tell you some thing. Hella good. Orale to the max. The meat was good. They where not cheap on the meat either. Plenty of meat.

Carnitas plate is the bomb! Great tasting salsas. I would give them 5 stars but that leaves no room for improvement.

This place has Delicious Authentic Mexican Food!!! You must try the asada and carnitas tacos. They have $ 1.25 tacos on Tuesday and Friday! Another thing they are known for are their huge burritos; California and the Bacon Breakfast Burrito are my favorite. The owner Carlos is always there to put a smile on your face. Great family owned restaurant :)

Hidden gem. Tough parking. But the carnitas burrito was amazing. Pure beautiful pork. Huge chunks. Had a carne asada taco that was also very delicious. But I would lose the lettuce. Just meat cilantro and onions. Their medium salsa is a true medium. Lips are still tingly. Overall great value. Great food. And I was in a rush. She hooked me up! Awesome service! Be back soon!

Have been here quite a few times for taco Tuesday. It has been some months since my last taco Tuesday visit, but found out that they had raised their prices, charge a $.75 fer to use your debit card for any of the items on their taco Tuesday&Friday menu, flavor of meat has diminished, lastly portions have also been reduced.
I ordered: critique
1 carne asada taco– really bland
1 al pastor taco– bland
1 shrimp taco– fell apart
1 Fried potato taco– was decently tasty
Probably not going back any time soon.

Great custom service. Good salsa and asada. I ordered the Carne asada fries, but they need something perhaps maybe bigger fries or a mild salsa

Great lunch special
Burritio, chips and a small drink for $ 5
Very delicious Chicken, Carnitas or Carne Asada

Cabo Grill made it in the O.C. Register being the restaurant to find O. C’s best salsas!
Click the link to read all about it!

Sorry, Cabo. Gotta downgrade.
I think my Cabo run is over.
Here are some reasons for the downgrade:
1) Employees smoking out in front of the restaurant, causing the entire restaurant to smell like cigarette smoke, thus ruining my fun time. What’s the deal with this? Employees should not smoke in front of any business for which they work, especially if they are wearing their uniforms. There are numerous reasons this should not be a thing employees do, but the main reason is because it’s gross. Stop.
2) Decrease in food quality… not sure what’s going on, but it has just gone downhill. The most recent instances have included full large onions on a single taco. Okay, I am being hyperbolic. There was not a full large onion diced and placed on my taco, but it sure tasted that way. Less and less shrimp/​fish on my taco and an increase in lettuce and onions. WTF!
Sorry, Cabo. I think this is an official break-​up.