50 Best Vegetarian Restaurants in Costa Mesa

“I can't say enough good things about this place! From start to finish, the experience was absolutely amazing. The food? Spectacular. Each dish was a work of art, both in taste and presentation. Every bite was a burst of flavor, and you could tell the chefs put so much thought and care into each plate.

The service was top-notch as well. Our server was not only attentive but also friendly and genuinely seemed to enjoy being there. It really added to the overall warm and welcoming atmosphere.

Whether you're here for a casual meal or celebrating something special, this restaurant nails it on all fronts. Highly recommend—definitely coming back!“

“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.“

“Paradise Dynasty – Truly a Dumpling Lover's Paradise! We absolutely love Paradise Dynasty in Costa Mesa and have been there at least once a month for past few months — it's hands down our family's favorite spot for dumplings! The variety here is incredible, especially for anyone who loves flavor and options. From the moment you sit down, you're welcomed with a menu full of creative dumpling choices that go way beyond the usual. As vegetarians, we're used to seeing just one veggie dumpling option on most menus — but not here! Paradise Dynasty is truly a paradise for vegetarians. There are tons of delicious veggie options, and each one tastes unique and flavorful. It's so refreshing to actually have variety! The noodles are just as impressive — each noodle dish has its own distinct flavor and personality. From spicy to savory to rich and comforting, you can really taste the difference in every bite. Nothing feels repetitive or bland. Our kids adore this place — it's their go-to dumpling restaurant. They always look forward to ending the meal with the warm, gooey chocolate lava buns (a must-try!). And for the grown-ups, the mango pudding is the perfect way to wrap up the meal — light, smooth, and just the right amount of sweetness. If you're a dumpling fan — especially a vegetarian one — this place is a dream. We'll definitely keep coming back again and again! Also the service is great and servers actually pay attention and come check on you. Definitely recommend!“

“Very delicious food ❤️Friendly staff❤️“

“Really enjoyed the noodles and dumplings here. The right balance of noodle to meat to broth. All distinct flavorful. Not mushy at all.
The portions were good. Not too little, not too much that food was wasted.
We got medium spice for everything and it was fine. I saw a woman next to me sweating while eating— it made me very curious about the jump to “extra” spicy.
It’s also for expert level chopstick-age. Between the red sauces, the oil, the slipperiness of the dumplings, and the noodles, the danger of spraying everywhere, or worse yet, dropping something back into the sauce is very real. I’m pretty good but my shirt looked like a scene from Dexter. Luckily it was dark grey, but still.
You’ve. Been. Warned.
Would recommend strongly.“

“Excellent delicious food, the octopus with the eggplant salad and beets is amazing. Heavily recommended.“

“Sushi Shunka is our go-to spot for celebrating special occasions and also our fave sushi spot in OC. Located in a strip mall at the corner of E. 17th Street and Tustin Avenue in Costa Mesa, the restaurant specializes in authentic sushi and Japanese cuisine. "Shunka" means "Flavor of the Season", so they of course select their fish depending on the season and in addition to customer favorites. The sushi chefs are veterans and the wait staff are polite helping to provide an unforgettable dining experience to their customers.

I highly recommend sitting at the sushi bar and ordering one of the omakase options. On our recent visit, I ordered the Chef's Omakase which included 10 pieces of sushi including sea bream, Japanese sea bass, mackerel, amberjack, toro and bluefin tuna among others. The sushi is always top-qualify and practically melts in your mouth. I have a big appetite so I also supplemented my meal with a toro hand roll, blue fin tuna hand roll and fried Hamachi Kama. Everything is made to order and is so oishi! Having said that, this is fine dining so expect to pay a high price but know that it’s worth every penny. As I mentioned before we only visit on special occasions, so I’m already hoping we’ll have a reason to celebrate again soon!“

“Great food! Warm and very friendly greeting at the front. Best dining service provided by the staff.“

“Vaca in Costa Mesa offers an extraordinary dining experience with its vibrant Spanish cuisine. The ambiance is warm and inviting, perfect for both casual and special occasions.
Highlights of the meal included:
Coctails all 4 were amazing.
• Tapas: The Scallops , Tuna Tataki, Gem Salad were standout dishes, bursting with flavor.
• Main Course: The Paella de pescado, rich with Large Shrimp , Clams and fish was a generous portion that delighted the palate.
• Dessert: Cheesecake and Tres Leches cake moist and melted in mouth , provided a sweet finish to an unforgettable meal.
Overall, Vaca is a must-visit for tapas lovers and fans of Spanish cuisine“

“Great pizza, came out fast. Went with their most popular and loved it. Even went back to get their chicken pesto, just as good.
It’s a really cool spot and has a speakeasy in the back! Did not expect that.
10/10. I’ll definitely be back“

“Really love this restaurant! Last night was our second visit and every dish was excellent! The outstanding quality of the ingredients stands out in all of the preparations! We started with a peaches/burrata salad and it did not disappoint! Flavorful peaches, high quality burrata and beautiful greens! We had the mushroom risotto for the second time and...perfectly cooked and deep mushroom flavor! The tagliata was also perfectly cooked - al dente pasta in a rich and delicious sauce. And, the branzino (again second time) was over the top fabulous! Honestly a dish Lemon & Thyme does EXTREMELY well! The ambiance is absolutely lovely! Warm and comfortable and the service and staff could not be better! If you haven't been to Lemon & Thyme make a res and go! You won't be disappointed!

Dietary restrictions: Plenty of gluten free options!“

“Absolutely amazing! This is the spot I’ve been taking everyone. Place inside is kinda small but super cozy and cute. You order at the kiosk and it’s super easy/convenient. They make the food in the front and it definitely adds a personalized touch. My favorites are the seared salmon and unagi yubu! They look small but 3 of them is the perfect amount for meal for me

Dietary restrictions: They prepare the food by the kiosk and you can ask them any questions directly“

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

“Excellent taco spot in Costa Mesa. The atmosphere is great and they have delicious food. The poke nachos were a stand out item and I especially loved the ribeye taco. Worth checking out!

Parking: Parking lot behind restaurant“

“Thanks for making my niece Charlie’s 5th birthday 🥳 celebration memorable tonight!! 🪅🎉🎊“

“Really enjoyed my visit to Season 52! The food was fresh and seasonal, and the vibe was relaxed but still nice enough for a special night out. Service was good too, Michael recommended the pork chop which I rarely get, but as he said it was an explosion of flavors, very moist with a perfect cook to it! A must try!!“

“Everything we had was so delicious. My 12 year old non vegan son loved it all too!“

“Great food, friendly service and amazing staff to take care of you“

“Stopped in this cafe on a whim today and was so happy I did. I got the breakfast sandwich with bacon. Everything was cooked to perfection. The sourdough was amazingly good, crisp and chewy, and the eggs were fluffy. The staff was so friendly and nice and the pricing was very reasonable. Wished I took photos but it was too good and I ate it so fast! Highly recommend this spot.“

“It was yummy and fast. Everything was fresh and clean“

“Delicious Italian cuisine! Stylish interior of the Restaurant!“

“Nothing fishy about this place. It's a small family run business. Blame covid for the price increases and there are sign posted to make you aware of the increase. it's the best food and most reasonable prices in town. if you cant afford a 11 dish then don't buy or complain about it. These reviews are for the food not whiners.“

“One of my favorite sushi bars in CM!!! 2 orders 3 roll Maki special Tuna Lover, White Tiger, Shrimp Super Crunch, Soft shell crab, baked scallops, Newport special Salmon 👍🏽“

“This is my 2nd time visiting Meiji. The food was so good and I totally forgot to take some pictures and write the review on my 1st visit. Today I took some pictures and wrote this review. This place has best udon in town. I ordered 4 most popular dishes, beef Shabu Shabu Udon, Shrimp Tempura Udon, Fried Squid Legs, and Fried Chicken. They are all very tasty. Their udon noodles are handmade and the soup broth is so delicious. The restaurant has ambience of Japanese tastes of hometown. This restaurant is not very big but they do offer online waiting list. I would recommend joining their waiting list before you visit the restaurant. Definitely will come back again!“

“THey have great food. Friendly staff Quick service and a clean pleasant eating environment.“

“Very good“

“Love the Brussels sprouts!!!“

“Food was so delicious recommended for who hasn’t tried it , and great service as well my first time. I would come back, but I’m too far. I’m from San Antonio Texas. Thumbs up 👍 👍“

“I haven’t been disappointed when I crave a cheat burger, fries (and tots!) and drink. This place gives it to you messy, like those old Carls Jr. commercials, and I love every bit of the cheeze and sauce all over my face. I try and order something new every time bc it’s all good.“

“Found by accident great food and service excellent. Patio and in four dining. Had beef teriyaki with tempura and miso soup and salad and California roll. ReAsonable priced too“

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

“άψογο μαγαζί και άψογη εξυπηρέτηση“

“So happy they finally opened! Always great service! Amazing quality meat and fresh veggies!“

“I came to Tabu Shabu on a Friday right before happy hour ended, and they were kind enough to still honor it—great service! This spot has been hyped a lot, and I’d say it’s worth the visit, especially with the happy hour discount. Without it, the prices are a bit on the higher side, but the quality makes up for it.

I ordered the lamb and beef, both of which were flavorful and satisfying. The highlight was definitely the service of turning my leftover hot pot into porridge—it made for a delicious and hearty late-night meal. It’s a lot of food, so you definitely get your fill.

Overall, a solid spot for hot pot if you’re looking for good quality and unique offerings. Definitely recommend catching happy hour if you can!“

“This is an excellent spot for date night. Drinks are great and the ceviche was so good - very refreshing with so much flavor. We also couldn't pass up on the papa rellenas!“

“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“

“Staff was super friendly, service was quick, and the food was great. fresh large portions. highly recommended putting it in your dining rotation.“

“Todo esta riquisimo especialmente las quesadillas son mis favoritas“

“The pizza is indeed delicious and they have very innovative flavors, such as potato pizza, pear and Gorgonzola, etc. I wish the place was better kept, it has very limited tables, they don’t offer fountain drinks, just drinks by the can and the variety is limited. If you live far from this place and takeout is not an option, you may end up eating the pizza standing up.“

“It was lunch time and I wanted something tasty and light. I found this sushi spot in a shopping center. There was a lot of parking and I came in to get a to go order. The place looked nice inside, trendy, and clean. There were sushi bar chefs making the food fresh on the spot. I ordered the ponzu roll for myself and crunchy roll for my fiancé. The host was nice he took my order and gave me the extra sauces I asked for. It was a 10-15 minute wait. They were both good rolls, I really liked the ponzu roll with the sauce. The crunch roll was basic. Although these 2 rolls were good, I don’t think it should be $20/roll. That’s pretty pricey for rolls I can get just as good somewhere else. But besides the price, everything else was good!

Parking: A lot of parking“

“The service was great and the sushi was delish! Great job redecorating and the music was nice too! 👍✌️🍣“

“Nice place.“

“This place is added to my go to ramen restaurants. I ordered spicy miso, and it was a bit salty for me but still very delicious! I forgot what my family ordered, but I think 1 of them ordered the Tonkotsu, though I still think spicy miso was the best option. The line and waiting are not that bad. The only problem is if you go as a group of 4+ people during busy hours like dinner time, it might be a bit difficult to find a parking and seating spot. The staff is really nice and friendly.
Overall, would recommend trying this place if you like ramen!“

“I ordered a dozen empanadas, mixed. they were made fresh and they were made fast and they were all delicious. I will be back and I will definitely be recommending this place to friends and family.“

“Authentic, great service, fun staff!“

“Excellent quality food. The filet mignon was perfect. Not fancy but very nice.“

“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.“

“牛たん司美味いです😋Absolutely delicious 🇯🇵🐂👅🥩🍚“

“Could not ask for a better dinner spot to end the day!!!“

“Cashiers and managers are very helpful giving me a discount being a worker of South Coast Plaza Mall. All crews are greeting and friendly all the time. I'm happy that they let the to go order be done straight to the Cashier and not deal with a very long line of undecided customer . They let me do the half and half matcha and calamansi. Yesterday was not that great since Cashier misunderstanding me. I've paid 2 drinks yet got 1 free so I got 3 total for the price of 2. Not too bad“