Tapas Restaurants near Costa Mesa, CA

“Came on a busy day with a reservation. It was busy and a bit slow. But what made up for it was the waitress's great customer service. Even if it may have been stressful for her due to short staff, she was very kind and expressed everything we needed to know. On top of that, the food was excellent. I was so excited to see all the variety of food. Food was pleasant. We sat outside, so it was nice.“

“Love the Brussels sprouts!!!“

“Exelent servís the food is exelent“

“Wonderful servers and the most delicious food. We had braised oxtail which was so tender amd full of flavor. The duck prosciutto was rich, delicte, and a delughtful bite. It had such a luxurious mouthfeel from the layer of cured fat. YUM!!
We also had the octopus, which was very tender though it could have used a tad more flavor.“

“Food was great and service was quick“

“Popped in with my wife for a drink before dinner and I wished we could have stayed longer. We grabbed a seat at the bar and both got the bartenders choice flight, which comes with (3) 2ounce glasses. Edwin picked some solid choices that we both loved. He was also saying they have trivia nights on Thursdays. All in all a solid place to go hang out with a date or even a group of people. Edwin you’ve done an amazing job with the place. Keep up the great work. Thanks for a great evening. Will Definitely be back.“

“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.“

“We had an awesome time there. The bartender was great! She really made us feel at home.“

“Absolutely great food and incredible music. Both rooms offer variety of music and definitely invites you to hit the dance floor to show off your moves. Overall great atmosphere either for some dancing classes, fine dining or social dancing.“

“Alas, a local place with unique charm, expert staff and a creative menu. We will be back often.“

“Trust is a restaurant that redefines all others. The concept of a pre-order and trust-us-you’ll-love-it concept for fine dining is absolutely brilliant. Love the family-dining setup where everybody sits at a L-shaped bar looking into the wonder that is the open style chef’s kitchen. The food is expertly inspired and impossibly delectable. Every dinner is different, and the variety keeps you craving more and more. The fantastic wine (and sometimes cocktail) pairing that goes with each 12+ course means you will need to Uber, because there’s no way you are leaving any of the wine in that glass. Trust’s sommelier is top-notch and paired each wine perfectly. The main draw here though is the chance to be regaled by Chef’s explanation of each course. It’s a night filled with irreverent, comedic, and incredible knowledgeable, such that you will come away feeling like you just attended a brash stand-up comedy about culinary genius. Truly a one-of-a-kind experience!“

“Live music here on Thursdays at 7:30. Hidden upstairs dinning area and outdoor patio seating with heaters. The bar inside has fresh flowers and is candle lit. The Spanish Tapas were all beautiful and thoughtfully crafted. They serve wild seafood and organic vegetables too!“

“Great service, amazing atmosphere and delicious food.“

“This is our favorite place for dinner, cocktails and brunch! We love a date night there but it’s also great for kids too. The food, the cocktails, the atmosphere, the service, etc… I can’t say enough about how wonderful it is!“

“excellent food atmophere and service!“

“This place absolutely blew my mind!! Thank you Scotty for taking care of us the whole evening. The ambience was super cool and intimate. Very trendy and hip. everything we ate was EXCEPTIONAL! We. had the carrots, squash, zucchini bread, swordfish and apple cider doughnuts. I have nothing but amazing things to say about this place and can't wait to return with new friends to introduce to it!“

“When you taste them, you'll know he qualities they possess that you can't resist“

“First night for dinner was AMAZING!! Food was on point!!! Second night…. Both our steaks were cold“

“Excellent restaurant the wine was amazing in the ceviche so delish thank you we will be back“

“Tiny burrito joint with taco in the name, lol. Literally one of my top two burrito joints in the universe. If you are nearby, you are foolish if you don’t stop by and get a tasty meal.“

“Went to Cozy Pine for date night and we enjoyed it. Really feels like you are in a different place, inside a restaurant. Decor, cocktails and food were all great. Definitively worth stopping in.
Food is mostly “snacky” compared to Bacchus outside. We did not have a reservation and we’re still able to get seated, likely because we arrived early in the evening.“

“😃Bonito lugar,muy rica comida,y bonito ambiente,muy buena atención.“

“How have we not noticed this place before now. We took an evening stroll and then stopped by this restaurant. They have 2 window seats which is nice to get some fresh air and people watch.

We were told that the food was great so we decided to sit down. They have a wide variety of food items and I'm sure the drinks are good but we don't drink.

I opted for the ahi sandwich and I could get it protein style which I appreciate with a side salad. It was really tasty. The ahi wasn't fishy. The thicker section did get a little chewy but that was the next day since I couldn't finish it all. I wish I had more sauce though since it was tasty. My friend got the burger with fries and thought it was good as well.

It can get loud when the middle table has guests, something w/the acoustics. But a fun vibe. There was a waitlist when we left.“

“great place for dining....“

“Muy buen servicio al cliente“

“I went to Europe for two weeks and my entire time there I ate at a lot of tapas places. The only way to describe those places is that they felt like home, they felt warm and places that after a busy and stressful day of work you just want to sit there, rest, replenish and build back the courage to get back to business. Element felt just like that. In the heart of Santa Ana, the heart of Orange County, this place allows you to slow down through the business of life and recharge, laugh, connect with the local community and get right back to it. You can enjoy some incredible food that is cooked with precision and by a chief that enjoys his craft, you can drink some cocktails that have been carefully crafted to suit your needs and you can enjoy a community that cares about you and is proud of their upbringing. If you want to feel at home, if you want to feel refreshed and want to get a taste of the European fun while being close to home, Element is the place to be.“

“amazing atmosphere! the crowd at the bar is the best in orange county. beat prices in town, great community, all the Regulars make you feel welcome!“

“My husband and I decided to host our courthouse wedding reception at Perla. This was an easy decision after only one afternoon of dining there with family, and meeting with Daniel, the manager.
From the first time we were guests at Perla, the staff treated us very well and did not hesitate to help us when it came to this special event. We loved everything. The food at Perla reminded me of food I used to have at families houses, it had that same kind of specialties to it. Our favorites foods that we had were the guacamole, the short rib tacos, salad, and the rice and beans. Daniel was super helpful and went above and beyond setting an intimate dinner for our families up. When we asked at the last minute if they were going to be able to hold a wedding cake for us, they didn’t hesitate to help even in the last hours before our event. When we were frank with them and told them we didn’t have any decorations due to budget issues, they surprised us with simple yet elegant decorations for the tables and everything looked wonderful coming together. The music they played in general was fun and not too loud for an intimate dinner. The whole staff on board was incredibly kind as well. My family and I would definitely make a trip to Perla anytime, and I encourage anyone who is thinking of having an event or even a meal down in Santa Ana to choose Perla.“

“I sometimes stop by this bar after work — either to grab a drink or have dinner after picking up groceries. Great atmosphere, wide selection of drinks, and it’s very convenient being right inside the same building. Always a nice spot to relax for a bit.“

“Gurume has become a place we go to at least once a week, especially for lunch. Their lunch specials are a great deal, and most importantly, their food is very good. High quality at a great price. They are very accommodating for my son’s diet. Staff and service are always wonderful.“

“Food is great and staff is fabulous!!!“

“Enjoyed delicious burgers and fries. They really were exceptional, great flavor and we loved the sauces for the fries. Had their brown sugar butter cake ala mode….cleaned the plate. Delicious adult beverages too!“

“amazing as always the best“

“great eats cool people the beach within walking distance... what's not to love“

“Such nice service and delicious sushi, udon/soba, sake, yam fries, edamame and tempura! (pictured is the Tekka naki and Unagi and California , crunchy eel roll, and spicy tuna roll!“

“Tiny burrito joint with taco in the name, lol. Literally one of my top two burrito joints in the universe. If you are nearby, you are foolish if you don’t stop by and get a tasty meal.“

“Filling and well prepared!“

“Great place to dive n drink“