Grilled Fresh Fish
Taleo Mexican Grill

Taleo Mexican Grill

3309 Michelson Dr, Irvine, CA 92612, United States

Fish • Meat • Steak • Cheese


"Then came the Ono, Carnitas, and Camarones. Wow! The experience of finding this beautiful food was truly powerful. Don’t let anyone tell you that Taleo Grills lacks presentation skills. The large, juicy shrimp in a rich white wine sauce were a highlight, while the vibrant colors of the vegetables and the velvety sauce that accompanied the fish were striking. The carnitas were a sight to behold—imagine thick, glistening, juicy pork that has been cooked for hours until it's perfectly caramelized at the edges. The tangy sauce, whether smeared on or marinated, was just right. Here, there's no need for knives; the meat falls apart with a fork and melts in your mouth. While this review has focused a lot on the meat, the other dishes also deserve recognition. We had fragrant rice, wonderful roasted corn with herbs, thick slices of grilled bread perfect for soaking up sauces, and refreshing margaritas with just the right amount of bite. Ever tried a cucumber margarita? You can get one here, and you absolutely should, because it works! The rim is dusted with burnt orange spices that complement the cucumber beautifully. Finally, we reached dessert. I’ve never had a flan quite like this one. It was larger than I expected, with a diameter of about six inches, and it shimmered in the sunlight, garnished with a tiny sprig of mint, practically begging for a spoon. It was perfectly creamy and only mildly sweet, without any runniness or icy textures—simply delightful!"

Ooba Tooba

Ooba Tooba

15802 NE 83rd St., Redmond, Washington, 98052, United States

Full • Casual • Mexican • Catering


"When we placed our order, the large male cashier seemed annoyed when my wife asked if the corn tortillas were gluten-free. He was curt with her and made light of her questions. Then, in the middle of taking our order, he abruptly walked away to answer the phone in the kitchen. I couldn’t help but wonder if that call was really more important than finishing our order, especially since there were several kitchen staff who could have answered it. My wife has some digestive issues and needs to be cautious about what she eats, so she tends to ask questions about the preparation and ingredients. During our order, she was asked if she wanted rice and beans, and she replied yes. When our food arrived, the person calling out the names mistakenly called out someone else's name and read off their order. When we confirmed it was likely ours, my wife noticed that rice and beans were missing, so I went inside to mention it to the younger female cashier who was now at the register. The big guy overheard and started insisting that my wife hadn’t ordered the rice and beans. At this point, I was ready to confront him, especially since he had been rude earlier. I asked him to pull up our order so we could check the receipt. While the receipt didn’t show that we had paid for the rice and beans, it wasn’t about the money for me anymore—I just wanted to address his rudeness. As for the food, the burrito was bland and packed with clumpy white rice. My wife ended up leaving the salmon on her plate along with the rice and beans. It was a disappointing $35 spent. This restaurant is just two blocks from my work, and I would have loved to have it as a go-to spot, but after this experience, I won’t be returning. Hope this feedback helps!"