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“

“It was our first visit to Verde, and absolutely loved it! Everything was amazing including the beet salad, chili, salmon crudo, and the trout entree! Sebastian at the bar provided excellent customer service and made dalish craft cocktails! And a major bonus is that they are a part of the AAdvantage dining program, which is very important for me...“

“Went for lunch with reservation. Server was attentive, knowledgeable on menu and friendly. Everything came out timely from appetizers, to main course, but desert seemed to take a little longer. Shared PESTO CHICKEN AND FRESH MOZZARELLA FLATBREAD, PHILLY CHEESESTEAK FLATBREAD & CHARCUTERIE BOARD. I didn't try charcuterie which looked good, flat read was good but not to die for. Main course had the BRICK-OVEN ROASTED CHILEAN SEA BASS which was also very good, cooked excellent and left me satisfied but not full. Moved on to desert and couldn't decide on KEY LIME PIE (1 MINI) & BLUEBERRY AND LEMON (1 MINI) so got both - have to say I was surprised the key lime pie was not tart enough for liking and the pie crust crumbles fell as I scooped out of the dish with my spoon, the blueberry and lemon was excellent and highly recommended! I would return to this location for lunch or dinner, would love to have had a drink during happy hour to complement the meal.“

“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 !“

“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!!!!!“

“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!“

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

“Variety of international influences…. Gluten Free items (limited), Vegan dishes limited, fresh ingredients (most likely), folks flocked to individual specialty food spots on Saturday & Sunday! If handicapped beware……. Steps, elevators, crowds & elbow room a bit daunting.“

“Such a sweet gem! Great selection of food and baked goods. Best green sauce (made in-house) I’ve ever had. Two separate seating areas in garden setting. One in front and one and back and couple of inside tables. Good amount of shade. A few parking spots in the back. Not crowded. We got here at 9:45 on a Sunday morning. it was the perfect breakfast for a little family.. Great coffee!“

“Happy hour before OC Fight Night!“

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

“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!“

“i've been a big fan of yardhouse happy hour since i started going to it back in 2021 in Long beach. now that i dont frequent the one in LB, this costa mesa location is the closest. the happy hour here is probably my #1, great selection choices, and overall, great beer selection too. highly recommend the chicken tenders, pizzas, and poke nachos!“

“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.“

“Love those breakfast tacos!!!“

“Came in yesterday around 1:30 after doing our taxes a couple blocks away. Ordered the bacon breakfast burrito - no Pico de gallo. Burrito was excellent and portion size was also very good. Salsa that came on the side was really good. We will stop here again when in the area 👍🤙“

“Great place“

“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.“

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

“I love Greek/Mediterranean food. This was the best I've had at a sit down restaurant. The chicken shish kebab rivaled a homemade skewer grilled over charcoal - it was absolutely delicious! I want the garlic sauce that came with it in a bottle. The restaurant had a limited number of menus and I came alone, so I had to wait for someone else at another table to finish with theirs, the food took a little long to come out, and the baseboards in the dining area are a bit dirty. Bathroom was clean and everyone was very kind. Would definitely go back!“

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

“Great place to watch the games good food“

“Had the mushroom burger with fries, it was the best burger I’ve had in a while. The service was great! The music wasn’t for me but wasn’t too loud. I will definitely visit Fireside restaurants again and will tell my friends.“

“Yassena was incredible from greeting to food service, she's friendly and you can tell she really enjoys people! Her service was fast and everything came out as ordered. The decor was stunning. We always enjoy Ruby's but our server made it magical today ty again Yassenna!! Stay blessed 💕“

“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!“

“Do yourself a favor and try this place out if you haven't already. The food is sooooo good. Fresh every time and the best part the prices are great! Amazing food for and amazing price. The people are super nice. This place is a hidden gem in Costa Mesa. I come here for breakfast mostly but they have a great burger for lunch and don't get me started on their coffee. Everything I've had here hits. You will be happy you came here.“

“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.“

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

“We came here for our anniversary. Christian was our waiter. He was very friendly and went out of his way to make sure we had everything we needed the whole time we were there. This was or first time here and here and all the staff made us feel very welcomed.“

“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.“

“Absolutely amazing burritos“

“My brother and his family came into town for his birthday. We took him to Social for his birthday dinner. The atmosphere was fun and lively! The poor server was the only server on the floor that Saturday night because of a sick call. He was swamped and I’m sure stressed out but you couldn’t tell! He made sure the bussers and hostess checked on us throughout the evening to refill drinks, bring out food, and boxes. It really showed the teamwork between all employees that night. The teamwork alone was impressive to me! The Nutella Espresso Martini was soooo good!!! The food was amazing! As busy as our poor server was he still managed to bring out cake with a candle and sing happy birthday to my brother! I definitely plan on going back to Social!“

“It's a bit embarrassing to talk about a brewery without mentioning the beer, but I'll focus on everything else. Everything else was excellent, from the food to the service to the friendly and professional staff.
We had an excellent dinner. And my friends loved the beer“

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

“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.“

“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!“

“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.“

“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.“

“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.❤️“

“I have never wanted so badly to be able to give an experience 10 stars.

The host stand was very helpful and sat us earlier than our reservation time, despite how busy it was.

We ordered the create your own omelette, the cheddar scone, and the biscuit. Everything down to the side salad was fresh and delicious, and I especially recommend the ginger peach tea. Our food came out promptly and I was very impressed.

Our server, Liz, was incredibly attentive and sweet and made our experience even better. She was very accommodating of our requests and gave us lots of good recommendations.

I cannot wait for the next time I'm in Costa Mesa so I can return to Plums.“

“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.“

“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?!?!?“