A center of taste for Newport-Mesa

THE PLACE

Wahoo’s Fish Tacos

THE JUDGE

S.J. Cahn, managing editor of the Pilot

THE MEAL

Combo No. 2, with fish tacos

SPEED

Given the volume of people coming through, the Wahoo’s folks

manage to get the food out quickly. One tip -- ordering chips and

salsa breaks up the brief wait even more, as it comes out first. Tip

No. 2 -- call in your order first, and it will be ready when you get

there. Still, be prepared to stand in a bit of a line if you show up

right at noon, especially at the Costa Mesa No. 1 restaurant. Plain

and simple: You won’t be alone.

SERVICE

It’s friendly and helpful, and there are always plenty of folks to

help out. If you’re enough of a regular, they’ll even start

remembering your name and what you order, which can be a nice touch

when trying to impress your dining companions. Refills of drinks are

taken not long after you start wishing for more. Tables are cleaned

up fast (often a necessity during lunch hours).

VERDICT

For lunches with out-of-town clients, Wahoo’s offers about the

perfect, “here’s what it’s like in SoCal” meal. And if you’re all

from around here, it’s Wahoo’s, so use that as an excuse for a south

of the border lunch. Add in that the meals are pretty healthy -- a

fish taco has about 225 calories and 4.6 grams of fat -- and you’ve

got a tasty place to break up the workday. The Combo No. 2 runs

$4.95. Other delights, such as the Kahuna -- which includes a burrito

and taco -- run $6.75, and the Combo No. 1, which is just $3.25.

Wahoo’s now has three locations in Costa Mesa: Store No. 1 at 1862

Placentia Ave. (949) 631-3433; Store No. 2 at 3000 Bristol Ave. (714)

435-0130; and the newest, in South Coast Plaza’s Crate & Barrel Wing,

on the second floor (714) 549-0565.