After 20 years in Orange, Taco Mesa on Chapman Avenue is marking the anniversary with a major milestone.

The restaurant, owned by Ivan Calderon, is moving into a larger space in the same center. The new 4,000-square-foot location will nearly double in size and include a small tortilla factory for making GMO-free corn tortillas.

Calderon, who opened the first Taco Mesa in Costa Mesa in January 1992, is renaming the restaurant Taco Mesa – Tortilleria Orgánica & Cafè to emphasize the store’s focus on using healthy ingredients in its authentic Mexican dishes. Once the tortilleria opens in late April, he’ll be serving his own corn tortillas for tacos and burritos. Calderon, who also owns Taco Rosa in Irvine and Newport Beach, also plans to use the scratch masa for gorditas, tamales and sopes.

Making his own tortillas is part of the evolution of Calderon’s restaurants, where the menus have always been centered on using fresh, wholesome ingredients. The brand’s signature chicken, shrimp, calamari and fish tacos are prepared blackened and served with cabbage relish and crema fresca. A few years ago, he added an organic juice bar.

In early February, Taco Mesa and Taco Rosa restaurants in Orange County made the switch to using non-GMO corn tortillas and tortilla chips. Flour tortillas are available upon request at no extra charge.

Calderon, 62, also redesigned the Taco Mesa menus. They now emphasize shared or tapas style plates and call out a large number of gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian meals.

Once the larger Taco Mesa in Orange opens next month, Calderon said the tortilla factory will produce corn tortillas for all six of his restaurants. He also plans to sell the packaged tortillas at the remodeled Orange restaurant. The cafe section of the eatery will feature coffee from Portland roaster Stumptown Coffee.

The current Taco Mesa remains open. The new location is slated to open next month. Stay tuned for more details.

The new restaurant is taking over the space once occupied by Bagel Me on Chapman Avenue. Bagel Me relocated a few blocks east on Chapman Avenue to the closed White Tortilla restaurant.

Taco Mesa is at 3533 E. Chapman Ave. Suite C, Orange. (It’s the same center as In-N-Out Burger)

Contact the writer: nluna@scng.com