50 Best American Restaurants in Costa Mesa

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

“Absolutely wonderful food. The portions are on the small side. So you will need at least one appetizer and an entree. The appetizers were delightful, we had the cauliflower, the shishito peppers, the fries and the snap peas. For entrees we had the atlantic salmon, the rainbow trout and the steak chili. The sauces were amazing. The salmon was so small. That was my only complaint.“

“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 !“

“Excellent variety with fresh tastes and reasonable portions. Seafood (seared scallops and grilled shrimp) was delightful. Flatbreads were really flat, but very tasty. Appreciated the variety of light dessert offerings. Great place to go before the Segerstrom theater.“

“A real gem. The food is top notch, from an extremely talented owner and chef. Everything - and I mean everything - made on site, including the breads and desserts. The Ratatouille may very well be one of the best things you will ever eat. Come back if it is sold out - actually, keep coming back until you have it, and then you will keep coming back on autopilot. Good, if smaller, wine list. Sole drawback is that it is located in a (very high end) mall. Who cares. A true gem, owned and operated by a very nice couple. Solid wait staff, good vibes all around. Don't miss this one.“

“I stayed here for 5 years in Costa Mesa! The area is beautiful and it is conveniently located in the heart of Orange County! I am appreciative for all the time that I was here! I am also appreciative of the staff such as Brendan, Xochilt, Ramon, Christian, Alfonso, etc. Thank you very much for everything South Pointe! I truly appreciate you all for everything forever!!!!!“

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

“Happy hour before OC Fight Night!“

“Take your baddie here! I’m serious. This place is awesome for a date. There’s boba, ramen, mochinuts, K-food…and did I mention BOBA??? If you want a chance at that second date, The Collage is the place to go. Don’t trust me? Ask Tiffany and Chelsea!“

“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.“

“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 :)“

“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!“

“This was the best breakfast experience I've had in a long time. A coworker and I were in town for travel and happened to stop in. Crocker's had amazing food, fantastic customer service and the cutest atmosphere. The bakery items were fresh and warm and their chilaquiles were delicious!“

“Shout out to the entire team. Xavier did a stellar job as our host: attentive, responsive, fast, and very friendly. My whole family felt welcomed.
From making a reservation to getting seated and the actual dinner my experience was great. I will definitely return.“

“Some of the best hotel food in LA. Literally great. Thank you for caring about your guests so much. Service could have been better but not bad by any means. But it might take 4 or 5 minutes for a bartender/server to show up. Worth the wait.“

“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🧘🏻‍♀️“

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

“Great atmosphere, great service and excellent food. The 38oz Porterhouse 🥩was delicious and split between 4 people We will definitely be back.“

“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!“

“The owner, Kev is absolutely accomodating! Not to mention every time I've gotten my lunch, the food is so tasty and fresh! They are truly a lifesaver - given I'm at work and always on calls. A lot of their food has a middle eastern twist and it taste soooo good! Its a must-try. You won't be dissapointed at all!“

“Really, really good food and an affordable price. Clean dining area with helpful service from the staff. Temporary construction on the building next door makes it a bit challenging to park but well worth it. Had the chicken swarma plate, a good size portion of seasoned chicken with delicious fluffy rice and tasty salad.“

“Love those breakfast tacos!!!“

“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!“

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

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

“Great place“

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

“Great place to watch the games good food“

“The last time we ate at Ruby's SCP, the restaurant was so cold that our hands were like ice. I wrote a review and requested the managers take control of the thermostat and make the restaurant more comfortable. Today, the temperature was very comfortable, and our hands did not get cold. Thank you, Ruby's SCP for listening to your customers.“

“Beach Pit BBQ knocked it out of the park.
I ordered the brisket sandwich with a side of mac and cheese, and from the first bite it was clear this place understands barbecue. The brisket was incredibly tender with a beautiful smoke-kissed flavor and a well-developed bark. What I really liked was that it wasn't soaking wet or dripping with grease. Instead, it had that burnt-end style character with rich, concentrated beef flavor and those slightly caramelized edges that BBQ lovers appreciate. Every bite delivered a perfect balance of smoke, seasoning, and beef.
The sandwich itself let the brisket be the star. No need to drown it in sauce when the meat is cooked this well. The brisket had great texture, pulled apart easily, and tasted like it had spent the proper amount of time in the smoker.
The mac and cheese was the perfect companion. It was creamy and silky smooth without being overly rich or loaded with cheese to the point of becoming heavy. The cheese flavor was balanced and comforting, coating the pasta perfectly while still allowing the dish to remain light enough to complement the barbecue.
I ordered my meal to go, and the customer service was excellent. The person who took my order over the phone was patient, friendly, and very helpful. They answered my questions and made the ordering process easy and enjoyable.
Good BBQ takes time, attention to detail, and respect for the meat. Beach Pit BBQ clearly has all three. Between the properly smoked brisket, the outstanding mac and cheese, and the great customer service, this was a meal worth coming back for. If you're a brisket fan, this place deserves a spot on your BBQ rotation.“

“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.“

“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.“

“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!“

“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.❤️“

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

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

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

“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“

“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.“

“Highly recommended!
I was in Costa Mesa for work and went here for dinner. I don’t drink, but we ordered food, and it was great! I very much would recommend getting the grilled zucchini and the Brussels sprouts. Both were exceptional.“

“Can not get any better. Chef Ross and his team absolutely exceeded all expectations this past Friday. Every dish was beyond delicious with incredible flavors and impeccable presentations. We loved every bite and seriously enjoyed the maestro at his creative best. This was a seven course Omakase style dinner - virtually free (for special dinner offering) with major league portions Immaculate restaurant - seating inside or outside via an elegant and very comfortable Terrace seating. This was a special dinner which Terrace offers frequently. Service is fantastic! Great restaurant - great location with convenient parking.“

“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.“

“I had a great experience at The Social in Costa Mesa. The atmosphere was beautiful, with a very aesthetically pleasing design that made the entire experience enjoyable from the moment we walked in.
What really made the evening stand out was the service from the bartender, John. He was charismatic, friendly, and genuinely enjoyable to talk with. His recommendations were excellent, and everything he suggested exceeded our expectations. The drinks were crafted perfectly, and his attention to detail and customer service made a great experience even better.
I highly recommend stopping by and, if you can, asking for John. He truly helped make our visit memorable.“

“This is such a cute café. I’ve been here several times, I love their selection on all the different options they have. The workers are really nice and friendly. I’ve never had a bad experience coming here before. I’ve tried many other different items and never have been disappointed. It’s a good safe to café to visit if you’re looking for something consistent and always good.“

“Plums in Costa Mesa is a neighborhood gem for breakfast, brunch or lunch. There are a variety of menu items from the famous dutch baby pancake, to any kind of benedict or omelette to sandwiches and salads. Hashbrowns and sweet potato fries will not disappoint. Service is prompt, professional and friendly.“

“This is my go-to fast food on super busy days. I like the 1/2 and 1/2 with white rice. I've also tried the veggie one and the white meat chicken one. They're all good. Service is friendly and fast and healthier than other fast food choices.

Kid-friendliness: They have child size meals

Parking: Parking is available in front of store

Wheelchair accessibility: They are accessible for wheelchairs, and although the door is heavy, they can accommodate“

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

“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?!?!?“