El Toro Bravo Tortilleria

745 W 19th St ste h, Costa Mesa - 92627
281 reviews
Mexican
(949) 631-4464

It saddens me to say, this place has recently gone down hill. I purchased carnitas by the pound with salsa and chips on the side. The chips were already stale (uncommon as they are supposed to be freshly made) maybe due to the oil they used or maybe they were just old. The salsa was already turning. The cilantro was fine but the onion was already turning as well making the whole thing smell funky. Normally one of these per visit I wouldn’t mind. However it feels like I hit the negative jackpot this time. Because of the history I have coming here and the great food from previous times I don’t believe it warrants a 1 star. 2 MAYBE 3. If my next visit isn’t better then I’ll have to jump ship. Fingers crossed

Excellent and friendly service. Tasty tacos, tortillas and always need to grab a bag of chips. My father brought to this place as a kid and now I bring my boy. So yes this place been here for a long time and that tells you something is good..Also, they sale masa for tamales or for you're homemade tortillas.Give this place a try, you won't be disappointed.

I was super stoked to try these tacos and was left pretty disappointed. Sometimes more really is less. The tacos are HUGE and you’re given lots of meat and a hefty amount in two big tortillas, however the meat is pounded and cut up almost like “cold stone style” and I am not familiar with this style, so by the time I ate my taco the meat had a mushy and dry texture to it, almost like lengua, but not quite there. I feel like the meat lacks flavor and I tried the chicken, steak and carnitas just to try a variety. These are good tacos if you love salsa and don’t mind slathering they tacos with salsa and toppings to hide the dryness and blandness. I’m all for supporting a small business, but I just left feeling like I’m not missing much, and I much rather eat tacos elsewhere, even if there’s less meat and smaller portions, the flavor is what’s important to me.

The food is consistently delicious and the portions are huge. This is my favorite place for tacos. Their chips and guacamole are great too.

I tried the carnitas taco, costillas taco, barbacoa burrito, and cueritos burrito with my friends.Each meat was really lacking in flavor and salt. I'm not picky, i eat del taco and taco bell. This place was pretty bland. Salsa did not save the food either.

The birria (barbacoa) is not bad I'd say a 7.5 outta ten some consome (broth) would really make it a lot better. Asada was maybe a 8 it's pretty good the tacos are on a regular size tortilla and they packed! One thing tho is make sure to clearly tellem what you want they work fast and sometimes don't give you what u asked for or how u asked for it. I also tried the Horchata and I'd say it's on the good side of average.Edit: thank you for the response I've since been back again and am happy with the service I did ask for consome and it appears they did not have any

I had previously given this place a five-star because I have been coming here since I was younger but probably about the last five or six times that I have gone the salsa has been bad before I even get home and I usually order anywhere from $30-$100 in food which I usually call and pay in advance. It's a real bummer when we are not able to enjoy the meal with the salsa that is included and we have to wait extra time to make our own fresh salsa. Today my husband was picking up an order after work and when I was speaking to them on the phone I had asked them to please make sure the salsa was fresh because I've been having this issue so many times all she could tell me was it was it was made "today" I would have hoped with me bringing that up that she would have made sure they made fresh salsa but no my husband got home and the salsa was bad... Again..

I mainly came here to try the tamales and they didn't disappoint. Also got a burrito and it was very tasty. Face masks are required currently.

The staff are excellent all the way from the guys who chops up the beef and prepare the food to the women who run the register and salsa. The food is the best mexican food in town. They deserve 7 stars but I can only give 5

The chicken plate is what i recommend. You get a drink with it. It's a bit noisy but hey, it's a factory. It's a good place. FYI, They accept atm and cash.