GrubGirl.

Looks like Ruby’s has taken over management of the beloved Crystal Cove Shake Shack on PCH. I headed there today and was told this happened about a month ago.

Some changes that I noticed:

• Shakes prices have gone up to $4.29
• The shack’s gotten a new paint job
• They’ve installed a POS (point-of-sale) system at the order counter — no more orders written on a scrap of paper in pencil!
• Burgers and other food are served on liners with the Ruby’s logo plastered all over it - I can handle a little corporate sponsorship I suppose…

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Filed under: Orange County Area, USA, Meals from $5-15 per main course | No Comments »

Los Primos Cantina
488 E. 17th Street A-106
(at Irvine Ave. & 17th St.)
Huntington Beach, CA
949-650-1486

In a strip mall lies this non-descript “order at the counter” restaurant. But for $4.49 their Burrito Especial is huge, and their $2.49 Tacos are also a hit.

Chips & salsa are free - just pile on as many chips as you can when you’re ordering at the line.

This place happens to be near a fancy private elementary school in a nearby residential neighborhood (The Pegasus School)…but the location here is definitely down home, and so are the diners.

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Crystal Cove Shake Shack
7703 E. Coasts Highway
Newport Beach, CA

Right off the freeway, near Crystal Cove State Park (a beautiful state beach) is a non-descript lunch spot that serves great shakes.

For $3.25 you can get 1 of several flavors…their famous flavor is supposedly Date, but I didn’t know that until later.

You can also blend up to 3 flavors, for $3.75… and you get one free powder addition: malt, or soy protein.

Check it out and drink it while watching the waves hit the sand below.

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Taco Mesa
Costa Mesa
949-642-0629

Dollar Days on Tuesdays at Taco Mesa means good al pastor, carnitas, veggie, shredded beef, or shredded chicken tacos for $1 each! Mmmm mmm.

They also serve a soup of the day for $1 for 8 ounces.

As I reviewed earlier, it’s a casual “order at the window” joint with good salsas, and fairly decent-sized legit tacos. The chips are a little odd — dark red, perhaps a roasted tomato. If you’re in the OC, definitely hit this spot!

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