Tapas Restaurants near Irvine, CA

“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.“

“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.“

“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!“

“Filling and well prepared!“

“Dj was playing some great early 00's R&B. Had ceviche, and the game changer was the hot honey sweet potato fries with blue cheese! I wish they were open later for a Saturday night (close at 12) but definitely a unique spot in Orange County.“

“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!“

“Tango is an incredible atmosphere, gorgeous design, thoughtful, with an attentive service team, and the food is phenomenal by the way. If this European tapas restaurant and bar was anywhere else, there would be a line at the door, so if you are anywhere near Laguna Beach or Orange County, you should make the trip down. It’s worth every penny. Heart and stomach is full. I recommend Tango Laguna to anyone that ventures near the area.“

“Great service, amazing atmosphere and delicious food.“

“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.“

“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!“

“We definitely will be back, many times. This was a great experience. Jean Claude and the owner Earnest - were fabulous and so friendly. You won’t find another spot with this kind of friendly staff AND excellent food. Thanks for a great night out.“

“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!“

“Love the Brussels sprouts!!!“

“Exelent servís the food is exelent“

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

“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.“

“One of the secret gem in Orange. Delivering the finest Spanish and Italian cuisine. The cocktails and food are out of this world. Friendly service, and always on top of their game. .“

“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.“

“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.“

“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.“

“great place for dining....“

“Came for my moms birthday 🎂. The atmosphere was amazing. The food was delicious. The coffee ☕️ has the perfect amount of canela. They gave my mom a complimentary flan for her birthday and played las mananitas over the speaker. Service was timely. Definitely recommend. You must try. 😁“

“This is easily one of the premier destinations for authentic paella in the United States. I highly recommend the seafood paella, though the Spanish octopus and seared scallops are equally exceptional. Whatever you do, do not skip the Basque cheesecake; it is truly the finest I have ever had.
The patio offers a remarkably cozy and romantic atmosphere, perfect for a special evening. While the service is attentive and professional, please keep in mind that the paella is prepared to order and requires a bit of patience—it is well worth the wait.“

“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.“

“Food was great and service was quick“

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

“Muy buen servicio al cliente“

“So good 😊 5 stars definitely recommend“

“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!“

“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.“

“amazing as always the best“

“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.“

“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.“