Award-winning Mexican Artisan Kitchen + Bar
My husband and I live for a good party. We love hubbub. Give us a guest list and free reign to plan a night out, and we’ll strive to toss together the exact mix of elements to create a memorable experience for all. Like a craft cocktail, it takes a specific blend of atmosphere, energy and calories to mix a group up the right way and leave without a hangover.
So when we found our way to Puesto Los Olivos Irvine, we knew we had stumbled upon the ideal dining destination for future soirees of all sorts – family gatherings, fun date nights – and the perfect place for an elevated evening on the town with a few of our favorite foodie friends. As a group, we are particularly partial to Mexican fare – so much so that one friend claims it would top the list if he were ever stranded on a deserted island with only a single choice of cuisine. Luckily if the menu were provided by Puesto, he’d happily live out his days noshing on an array of award-winning artisan tacos.
Puesto’s Mexico City-style tacos and other dishes are defined by all-natural proteins, super tasty housemade, organic blue corn tortillas, salsas and other authentic and gourmet condiments and toppings. The chefs change the menu often based on seasonal ingredients and culinary inspiration.
Among our recent faves? Crispy Tamarindo Mexican shrimp with classic guacamole, Shortrib Quesabirria which combines crispy melted cheese, braised short rib, Jalisco salsa and pickled radish and the marinated ribeye with avocado, asada pico, tomatillo arbol salsa and queso fresco. Order a side of herb lime rice and traditional black beans for an especially flavorful (and filling) meal, particularly when paired with the Puesto Perfect, the eatery’s signature margarita crafted from Pueblo Viejo reposada tequila, fresh lime and organic agave nectar. Another popular pick is Puesto’s spin on the Old Fashioned made with Buffalo Trace bourbon, bitters, sugar and nothing else.
Drawing inspiration from monumental Mesoamerican architecture while also paying homage to today’s Mexico City, famed San Diego artist Paul Basile designed a space that transports diners to a modern Mexican jungle where light pours through a golden skylight onto lush greenery and thousands of hand-poured concrete tiles that surround the dining space. The black and gold quartzite bar connects the dining room to an expansive patio enhanced by a grove of olive trees.
