50 Best American Restaurants in Costa Mesa

“This was a wonderful find. The menu and food are simple ingredients but they did a great job with flavor, texture, and temperature. All the dishes we ordered were delicious.

The service was great as well. They treated us like guests at their house.“

“The cheeseburger was AMAZING!!!“

“Great food !! Had no chance to take a picture of the food but I got the chipotle rice bowl! Delicious, big portions. Dad got the pull pork he said it was yummy ! The desserts were AMAZINGLY DELICIOUS! Will definitely be back out next trip to Cali. You will also see the owner greet every table, I think that’s amazing! Makes you feel well taken care of. Thank you !“

“Nice place.“

“Food was delicious champagne was nice we also enjoyed the music“

“Happy hour before OC Fight Night!“

“I was Absolutely impressed by the tasty food here. I went with the fish tacos and the crab cake. I must say one of the best crab cakes I’ve ever had, and the fish tacos were great too. Also the price is very reasonable.Stayed for the night and what a convenient restaurant. Exited to stay again and most certainly try more of the menu.“

“This is a learning experience for chefs and servers. So, knowing that your experience is different every time. It is hard to get reservations, and you need to be added to an email list that goes out and sign up quickly. The meals are themed.“

“Roberto is the best cook! The staff was extremely friendly and accommodating. The best part was the breakfast Saturday morning! Roberto made the best cuisine, the servers Roberto (another) and Adrianna were the most friendly and warm welcoming staff!“

“Great place to watch the games good food“

“Great place for a quiet lunch. Attentive service and good recommendations for wine“

“I tried the Philly cheesesteak, seasoned classic fried and cheesecake. My god was it good. I was visiting from london 🇬🇧, the cheesesteak was so hot, soft and fresh. The bbq sauce dip is a an absolute must! The fries were so damn good, way better than any of the spots I’ve eaten. And the cheesesteak, I’ve had cheesesteak from the cheesecake factory and from bakeries, this was the best! And for $3.99 I’m so happy with the pricing can’t complain. Will absolutely come again. Thank you for lady who served me at the till!“

“manager Saeed is outstanding the coffee was hot the server was very attentive I'll be sure to go back“

“Don’t sleep on the food here. Very tasty! Service could use a little improvement but it wasn’t bad by any means. Just lack of food menu knowledge, lack of wine menu knowledge, and minor service errors that didn’t match the high quality food. Apps were great! Really enjoyed the Ahi Stack and the Loaded Fries. Steaks were cooked perfectly. Chipotle lime corn and brussel sprout sides were good. Parker rolls paired great with the steaks. Dessert menu left a lot to be desired. Underwhelming. We went elsewhere for dessert. We will be back. I recommend giving it a try.“

“The place was packed for lunch on a Tuesday, this fact alone speaks to the quality of the restaurant. The food was excellent and service on point. We had a private room and about 25 guests, yet everything came out together, was hot, and tasted very good.“

“The Duck Confit Spliff is a great representation of the Vietnamese & French cultures “wrapped” up all in one dish. And for a more traditional & fun way to eat it, you definitely have to use your hands. My only wish was for a little more duck in the spliff.

With the Ebelskivers, the concept was again brilliant. The garlic emulsion creates an intense garlic flavor but in a light and airy way. But like takoyaki, I wish there was more escargot in the batter to remind me more of that chewy feel from the traditional dish.

The surprise star of our meal was the Royale with Cheese. The wagyu had great flavor and char. And the sesame seed bun held up well for this napkin-required burger. But those pickles were amazing nuggets of necessity to add balancing acidity to the richness of the dish.

We definitely want to try the Duck Breast, the Spanish Octopus, and the Prix Fixe Meal on future visits. A final thanks to Chef & Curtis for the friendly service and explanation of the menu.“

“Good food, large portions, The best part of Norm's is JUDEE!!! To be totally honest, she is the main reason I eat there.
I have been in the restaurant industry, waitressing, over 12 years. I have not eaten at any restaurant that has a server like JUDEE! She gives the BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE, SHE NORANTICIPATES THE NEEDS OF HER CUSTOMERS, SHE IS SUPER KIND.
Norm's is extremely blessed to have JUDEE!!!
PAM“

“The apartment is in a great location with plenty of dining options nearby. It features a well-maintained gym, pools, and secure gated entry. A lot of people refer to it as “Roachpointe” in the reviews, which isn’t entirely wrong, there have been cockroach issues. However, management responds quickly and takes active steps to address and resolve the problem. The place overall is very clean and parking has not been an issue for me. They have on site workers to fix water, broken toilets, etc. This place isn’t the same place from 5+ years ago (where most the negative reviews are from) which is why I gave it 5 stars.“

“Honestly AMAZING! I was skeptical at first because it was in an office space but MAN that breakfast burrito was soooooo good! Exactly what I wanted. Light, good amount of meat and cheese and not greasy. I got a Vietnamese coffee to go with it and it was also delicious! I will be coming back :)“

“Sunday morning breakfast was excellent. It was my first visit, and Bob introduced me to this charming spot. The Hearty Oats and English Breakfast tea were absolutely delicious. The staff was friendly and helpful, and I really enjoyed the period music.“

“Fantastic service with very a friendly and attentive staff.
Went for my son's birthday as he was craving shawarma. He got the lamb and his girlfriend got the beef shawarma. Both of them said it was very tasty.

I had the chicken curry stew and have leftovers. It came with a Greek green salad and basmati rice. So delicious and such deep flavors.

We'd come back again for sure and since my son and his girlfriend live in the area, they are adding it to their spots too.

Highly recommend it.“

“I have been to the Sessions in Newport beach a few times and I love everything about the place, great food, great service, and the owner greeted me personally! I would 100% recommend this place for a great family meal!“

“Have been a very satisfied regular @EatChow CM for several years. The menu varies seasonally, selections are plated attractively & are always delicious; love the fried green tomatoes😋. Eric & his crew are cordial with the right balance of attentiveness. Undoubtedly authentic, consistently never fails to please & a local, late night favorite🧘🏻‍♀️“

“My favorite spot for wonderful food in a funky, hip atmosphere. Chicken and waffles are a must!“

“Updated review, in all fairness!

So my last review was 3 stars 🌟 because it was not a positive experience, bad service etc... but giving it another chance I've gone back with friends 3-4 times in the past 2 months, had to see if it was a trend in anomaly. I'm happy to say that the service has been great, even greated at the front door, and a thank you on the way out, the food was great, came during Happy Hour and portions are the same, no games! No short order kinda deal, place was packed and food was great! Ill be back for sure and I HIGHLY RECOMMEND“

“Love those breakfast tacos!!!“

“It’s a great atmosphere and the owner Monica is very friendly and welcoming. She makes you feel like your at home .“

“Collage Culinary Experience at South Coast Plaza is one of my favorite dining spots! It perfectly combines high-end and casual dining in one beautiful space, offering something for every mood and occasion. The variety of Asian cuisine is incredible — from Japanese and Korean to Chinese, and Vietnamese, every option is authentic and full of flavor. The atmosphere feels modern and lively, and the service is always friendly and attentive. Whether you’re looking for a quick bite or a special night out, this place has it all.“

“Amazingly wholesome food. I came across this local business and it was so well prepared, you could taste the love and care that goes into their meals. I spoke with the owner as I was waiting for my food and you can tell that he really cares about his customers and preparing quality food. They cater too! If you are staying at the Hilton, you must try out this place!“

“Perfect place for lunch sandwiches and burritos. All Fresh Dailey Patio dining Great.“

“It was first time we went there, food amazing and stuff friendly“

“Love the Chilaquiles and the protein pancakes. Great service of Lucia �“

“1/31/26 Once again very good all the way around!! Highly recommend. .... (the following was from a few months back)Rare 5 stars today! Very good service by Zach!!! My request for over hard egss was perfect; this hardly ever happens. Everything was timely and tasty.“

“Amazing food and atmosphere. We sat at the bar and have to give our bartender/waiter Jake a huge shout out. He was the best! Definitely going back again.“

“Ive been in alot of BBQ places...seriously..ALOT...this is the very best and my ranked #1 place for BBQ ever...they amaze me every time....quick and tasty...since I found this gem I finding myself here every single day...I really wanted to so you guys my appreciation...Beach Pit BBQ - 100/100❤️“

“Great so fun very accomidating for large parties nice on the water view and great appetizers Sara Alex amazing jeri hawkins wonderful and so many friends valet Parker didn’t want to get out of my car he was so funny“

“Absolutely amazing burritos“

“delicious food. all fresh ingredients. reasonable prices. outside dining is a beautiful courtyard with a fountain centerpiece - a tranquil oasis. the wait staff makes me feel welcome and at home. I have severe food allergies and the chef has been very accommodating.“

“Whatta wonderful treat to be at this fabulous place! Such great classic dishes that you don’t see anymore on menus like King crab legs & all the different types of steaks. The lights are low & the service is impeccable. A gem in the coastal cities of the OC.❤️“

“It was chill, not too crowded, great music. I didnt eat anything, just came for the music.“

“Absolutely love Fuelbar! The meals are consistently delicious, fresh, and full of flavor—and I’m genuinely shocked they’ve managed to get me to eat sweet potatoes. The rotating weekly menu is a game changer; it keeps things exciting and prevents that dreaded meal fatigue. Everything is so easy too—just heat it in the microwave and enjoy. FuelBar has made healthy eating not only convenient but something I actually look forward to. Highly recommend!“

“This outdoor cafe in the middle of the performing arts center is convenient and reasonably priced. The drinks are certainly cheaper than inside. Also the bartenders are excellent and will make you any cocktail they have the ingredients for. The food menu is updated regularly. Currently they have a nice mix of sandwiches, flatbreads, and salads.

Parking: Free parking is nowhere near by“

“Enjoyed a side of breakfast sausages and bacon. Sausages were a good size and had a little spice/pepper... Just the right amount. Bacon was crispy & nice and salty.Ordered both at the aMuse restaurant inside the Marriott, but cost wise it's better to pay for the buffet (which is in a separate room). The only downside for the buffet is the sausage/bacon/ham rotates each day.Nice service, clean and bright space.“

“Had a good time , food was really good , Angel the server was excellent Amazing costumer service .“

“Hands down one of the best service experiences we’ve had in a long time—thanks to Max! From the moment we sat down, he was attentive, friendly, and genuinely cared about making our experience great. He knew the menu inside and out, gave excellent recommendations, and checked in just the right amount without ever being intrusive.

You can tell Max takes pride in what he does. His positive energy, professionalism, and attention to detail truly elevated our meal. Great service like this is hard to find, and Max absolutely nailed it. We’ll definitely be back and will be asking for him again!“

“Nice little bistro. Food was surprisingly good. Portions on the small side. Goat cheese toast was incredible. Pizzas felt slightly underbaked. Service was slow but friendly. Tap water here had a heavy chlorine taste to it. Not the cheapest menu but interesting dishes. Will be back.“

“We always eat here before the theatre. Food is great, service is great, and very convenient. I like dining and then walking over to the theatre.“

“Stopped in at Social in Costa Mesa while spending a weekend down in Orange County, and I’m so glad we did. I’d heard great things from friends, and this place definitely didn’t disappoint. The food was absolutely amazing, the atmosphere was spot-on, and the service was just as good.

It wasn’t too busy when we arrived—probably because it’s Christmas season and everyone’s out shopping—so we got in right before the lunch crowd. I heard it was packed the night before, and I can see why. Everything we tried was top-notch.“

“Okay, I thought this was one of this joints where you order “Xtra Crack” in the comments and you get some smoking crack. Imagine my disappointment when I opened my bag and all I had was delicious chicken, fries and amazing coleslaw. Honestly though, I think that chicken has smoking crack in it cause I just finished eating and I’m already itching for some more…. Maybe you could help a fella out and get me some chicken? Come on man! Please?!?!?“