Mexican, Restaurants

Taco Maria

Every dish is a marvel of deeply considered modern Cal-Mex cuisine from chef-owner and O.C native Carlos Salgado, who parked his esteemed food truck enterprise for this site. Even the stripped-down setting draws all attention to the food. Dinners are four-course prix fixe affairs, with thoughtful wine pairings. Lunch—when the tacos appear—is a more laid-back and affordable way to sample the refined slant that snagged Salgado a James Beard nomination for the 2016 chef awards.

3313 Hyland Ave., Costa Mesa

 714-538-8444

Closed Monday. Sunday brunch.

Wine and beer.

$$$

 

Review here.