If you’ve been to any quaint Mexican town, chances are that you’ve come face to face with a street-side Taquero, or Taco Man, grilling up meats and vegetables on the plancha and serving up the freshest, most flavorful tacos.
There is no arguing that this facet of Mexican cuisine and culture is one of the most romanticized and sought-after experiences for anyone who has been fortunate enough to indulge in it.
What if you could bring the flavor and charm of the beloved Mexican taco stand – and even the taco stand itself – into a full-service restaurant setting? What if you could preserve the tradition and authenticity of the foods and recipes, but present them in a modern setting that fits our lifestyle and how we live and eat today? What if you could have someone familiar with the original experience execute it with the utmost quality and finesse, in an intriguing and comfortable setting?
The answer is Descanso Mexican Restaurant.
THE CONCEPT
Descanso is a modern taqueria in that it celebrates authentic Mexican flavors and recipes executed on a traditional plancha and prepared a la minute in front of you, in a full- service setting. Concept creator Rob Arellano pulled from his own Mexican heritage to create a never-before-seen restaurant experience rooted in nostalgia and comfort, that speaks to how we live and eat today. You, our guest, will come face to face with the chef as Mexican classics are made to order in a lively setting that brings in the smells, sounds and energy of a busy Mexican town.
With Chef Fonzy De Zuniga at the helm in the Kitchen, Descanso presents Classic Central Mexican street-inspired cuisine, rife with bold flavors and the freshest, seasonal ingredients in dishes that are complex and layered with history and flavor.
THE MENU
The menu features artful dishes that successfully marry tradition with modernity. The cuisine is inspired by the Taquerias of central west Mexico. Our culinary team is dedicated to cooking with seasonal ingredients, sustainable seafood and humanely raised meats. Salsas are made fresh daily. Meats and vegetables are cooked in front of guests on a traditional plancha. Guests can enjoy tacos, quesadillas, and alambres; made with options ranging from steak, carnitas, pollo and al pastor, to mahi mahi, shrimp and relleno chile.
The menu is not limited to the plancha – Descanso offers small plates, soups, salads and entrees from the cocina. Small Plates feature light, fresh dishes like Ceviche and a Mexican interpretation of poké featuring the freshest Ahi Tuna, to richer dishes like Choriqueso Verde and Sopes de Nopales. Chef utilizes family recipes to create fresh soups, including Pozole, in which ingredients change with the seasons and Fideo, a traditional Mexican toasted noodle soup.
Guests may opt for Plancha entrees. Among the tempting options are Short Rib Estofado; Agave Glazed Salmon, Pollo & Carnitas Skillets and the delectable California Burrito! You can’t forget about Brunch with classic Mexican breakfast dishes prepared in the kitchen or at your table via the plancha or taco bar.
THE BAR
Descanso features a full-service bar that contains Mexican & Spanish wines and craft beers, as well as local SoCal favorites. The bar highlights only quality tequilas and mezcals that help in making up the restaurant’s fresh and unique margaritas and specialty cocktails. Margaritas simultaneously celebrate creativity and simplicity, utilizing only fresh- squeezed lime juice as the house mix. At the hands of resident mixologist, culinary elements are showcased as they incorporate ingredients from the kitchen.
The list features the Bad Hombre, a margarita made with our hand picked Double Barrel Herradura Reposado Tequila, pineapple, agave, serrano chiles, lime, salt and pepper; Hibiscus Smash, a mojito like cocktail made with Tito’s Vodka, hibiscus syrup, mint and lemon; and the Zorro, a Mezcal based cocktail made with Illegal Joven Mezcal, Cointreau, lime juice, blackberry thyme cordial, Peychaud’s bitters, black salt and blackberry.
