48 Best American Restaurants in Costa Mesa

“Had one of the best dinner’s we’ve had in a VERY long time! Chef’s prix fixe was amazing and filling. The wine pairings with it were really nice. Well done and nuanced.
Curtis our server was absolutely amazing. A ball of charisma and menu knowledge and made the evening truly top notch. You could tell it wasn’t lip service too, as he was equally engaging and personalized his touch with other tables. I hope they take care of this guy, good service is a huge part of what brings people back to restaurants.
That and the to die for food.
Beef cheek done right - move over short rib, the true king of melty fatty connective tissue goodness is here!
Thank you Chef Nick for an amazing dinner. Will try and send more people your way; you’ve made a real gem in an otherwise unassuming location. Nobody misses the Lawry’s….“

“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.“

“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 !“

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

“The cheeseburger was AMAZING!!!“

“Ceviche was crazy good #asianpacificfoodtaste event“

“Nice restaurant in a beautiful yet peaceful location. Not too many food options but every single one of them that we tried was amazing. So relaxing cause there is no live music in the middle of the week but we'd like to try it sometime on a weekend to experience the hype as well.“

“Great place to watch the games good food“

“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!“

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

“This is a wonderful place to dine. I had an artichoke appetizer and the Chilean Sea Bass. I highly recommend both.
You do not go in the mall itself to get to the restaurant, it has doors to it on the outside. Drive around the mall building until you see the restaurants name.

Edir: November 2024I have gone and few times and now they have a gluten free menu and vegetarian one.

This place has quality food and it really isn't a bad price for what you get.“

“Definitely one of the better places to get a cheesesteak in Orange county conveniently located just off the 55 freeway there's only one drawback sometimes it can take a while to get your food especially if you go during lunch time I highly recommend calling in your order“

“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.“

“Again the food was very good.The appetizer was a mini burger made with very good beef. tasty with a surprise of a sweet pickle vs the usual dill. I normally dislike these but in this case it worked well as the pickle was not overly flavored w anise.My daughter had a wedge salad with a dressing much like Boursin cheese in a good way.I had a Turkey horse shoe sandwich ..this is a bit of white toast w a bit of turkey breast a few fries and a white sauce sort of like a taste of an open face roast turkey sand with . it was also very tasty well seasoned the turkey had nice texture was moist not dry. the withe sauce was velvety not starchy.we both had the same main..a Cornish pasty. In Northern Michigan these are as ubiquitous as burgers. normally they are made with a short cut pastry which tend to be sturdy and hard and very filling. this was like a savory flaky pie shell a nice surprise! the filling was proper meat potato and rutabaga well made tender and tasty.the wild rice cake was different. a bit denser than it need be the wild rice was a bit lost.the desert was..godd except I really do not care for buckeyes..I like peanut butter, but not the added stuff. It was well made balanced tasted as it should . Please if you like buckeyes this was a good one, just not my thing. the apple cake was very good rich and the apple had a strong flavor and was tart enough to offset the sweetness.

Parking: lots of close parking.“

“So good!!! I stopped in randomly to get a coffee and they only have Vietnamese coffee and it is probably the best iced coffee I've ever had in my life!! After ever sip im like "how is it this good...like how"... I never post reviews but when it's that good you gotta say something! I'm posting this and going back. mindblowing coffee. I just got the 16oz Vietnamese coffee“

“This is a super cozy place that attracts many big families. I personally only went with my SO, but there was space for both one and two party tables too. The beef schwarma plate was tasty and our host (owner?) was so kind. She noticed one of our drinks was delayed and that we were new, so she ordered us an appetizer as a welcome of sorts. Overall a great family restaurant that feels a bit older but in a cozy way.“

“The management team and the Camp/Lab alone make this complex a great place to live at. Brendan and his team do a fantastic job of making sure that you feel like a valued resident in the community. All maintenance issues I had while living here were quickly resolved.“

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

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

“Fresh produce w great vibes“

“We ordered breakfast burritos and a loaded bagel & all was great. The lady at the front desk had forgotten about my chai latte order and felt bad so she also gave us a free brownie that was delicious. I liked that there was indoor & outdoor seating areas.

Kid-friendliness: Kids & pets welcomed on patio“

“Delightful hidden gem! The Spinach Feta Omelet was fresh and delicious. The cheddar chive biscuit was one of the best biscuits I ever had. The small secret garden vibe of the patio seating was enchanting. Breakfast was so good we had to buy one of their "over the top" pastry items to go.“

“Chef deserves Michelin status! Everything is sooooo delicious! Tonight makes 3 nights in a row“

“Good food, friendly atmosphere and the waitresses are always nice to our crew. Keep up the amazing service.“

“This is a restaurant I stopped by on my way from Los Angeles to San Diego.
I visited right at opening time, and when I asked kindly to wait a little longer, they gave me a menu.
We ordered a variety of menu items and, as expected from America, the BBQ was so delicious!!!
The owner kindly recommended travel destinations, telling me to go somewhere, and it was very pleasant and nice.
If the weather is nice, it would be nice to eat outside!“

“I visited Yard House on a Thursday night, which wasn't too busy, but still kinda hyped. I was greeted by the host and sat at the Bar. The drinks were so good. I tried the Lavender lemon drop Martini, and it was amazing. The host recommended their whiskey glazed salmon, and it was absolutely delicious. All the staff were super friendly and I had a great experience at this location.“

“The food at Plums Cafe was amazing. My husband and I absolutely loved our dishes, and all the food coming out of the kitchen looked superb. The food was delicious and high quality with generous portions. The service was prompt and friendly as well. We will definitely come back!“

“Irish pub food, a bonus! My favorite are the Shephard's pie or the Irish stew - both are yummy! Awesome bar selections... Great atmosphere, friendly staff with great service! Karaoke Thursday, Friday, Saturday... always a good time.

Kid-friendliness: Restaurant seating available for under 21

Wheelchair accessibility: Ramp and handicap parking accessible. Wheelchair friendly establishment! All are welcome 😁👍“

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

“Absolutely amazing burritos“

“Love those breakfast tacos!!!“

“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.“

“While staying in Huntington Beach this week we felt overwhelmed by the crowds so we went off in search of something off the beach neighborhood. My brother had told me about Norms so we decided to check it out. Parking was easy and once inside we walked in to a short wait that ended up being longer because they seemed to have no hostess. Once seated by what ended up being our waiter our drink order was taken and of course our food moments after. Portions were good size and our waiter was great. They may want to spray for ants though. Halfway through our meal we saw quite a few tiny ones making their way in through the window seal. Other than that place was clean. You pay up front when you’re done.“

“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?!?!?“

“The Collage Culinary Experience in Costa Mesa is a unique, elevated food court aimed at pleasing the most skeptical palates. It's located at the south side of Bloomingdale's, and it may be hard to find if you don't know it's there, which would be a shame because you would be missing out on some great restaurant options aside from the usual chain restaurants at South Coast. Be sure to hit both floors because downstairs holds most of the restaurants, and there is limited seating upstairs. On the weekends, expect to wait a little longer, but my recommendation is. for the best experience, go during the week and take your time to enjoy all of it!“

“Seems like a very popular place. We came on a weekday after the breakfast rush with only 1 waitress - it was kind of slow. The menu options were great. The was very tasty and fresh + but it came out kind of cold. The waitress does not bring the food which is confusing sometimes since the person delivering doesn't know who ordered what. Other than that everything was awesome.

Parking: It's a tight fit“

“Social in Costa Mesa has been a must-visit for us on every trip to SoCal since 2018, and it never disappoints. We were sad to see the Huntington location close, but the Costa Mesa spot still delivers an incredible experience. Gabriel took amazing care of us during our visit—his service was attentive and made the night extra special. The atmosphere was lively, and the food was fantastic as always. Social continues to be a highlight of our trips, and we can’t recommend it enough!“

“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 always thought this was purely a bar, but I can tell you that they have a pretty mean brunch menu! I would highly recommend coming here. It’s dog friendly, the servers are amazing, and despite being so close to Harbor it’s quite quiet.“

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

“Love love love this place and their staff is amazing. The food is high quality and tasty. We spend all our money here and it’s worth it. Saved us time in our busy lives but keeps us healthy. No seed oils or bad stuff in their food which is so important these days. I never feel gross after I eat here or bloated. I feel great and full of energy.“

“Been to pretty much every Ruby's Diner there is... This one... Well.. Hands down is the best. Why? Easy. Clean, well decorated, great food and really good service all wrapped up in a fabulous mall location. As you make your way into this location, you are immediately wowed with the beautiful wood accents and antique style decor from the 40's and 50's style diner experience of the past. Classic Ruby's Diner food, including some scrumptious shakes and chili cheese fries! Worth the visit for sure.

Kid-friendliness: Kids love the menu and great family friendly environment“

“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.❤️“

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

“Karl Strauss is 5 stars I don’t care who you are! 3 of us had dinner and drinks. Blackened Tuna tacos are big and tasty. The pub burger was a good burger. The food truck burger also good. Mac and cheese a treat. However the boneless sweet Chile garlic wing stole the show.For drinks we had the Poseidon stout - awesome smooth stout!“

“I really liked it, thank you! The food was unusual for me, but very tasty: it was interestingly spicy, it opened softly, the meat was well cooked, I liked the sauces. Separate five stars for the interior, the slab tables fit very well. And for your friendliness also!!! ?“

“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“

“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“