Tapas Restaurants near Santa Ana, CA

“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!“

“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!“

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

“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.“

“The menu shifted with the night, but standouts were the sticky pork belly and a vibrant vegetable plate that balanced richness with freshness. Service carried an easy, playful energy, and the bustling room made the dinner feel fun and spontaneous.“

“great place for dining....“

“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.“

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

“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!“

“Great service, amazing atmosphere and delicious food.“

“I’ve been here a couple of times now and have enjoyed our meals each time. The menu changes up so you will find something you like with this freshness and great flavors.

Most recently I came for their set lunch and it was a nice treat in the middle of the day.

Worth a visit!“

“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.“

“Love the Brussels sprouts!!!“

“Exelent servís the food is exelent“

“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.“

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

“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.“

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

“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.“

“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. .“

“Found this place randomly searching for a local Japanese style restaurant and found this Gem. Tried their Chicken Curry plate as it seemed to be there go to with their BOGO promotion. The curry had a phenomenal and savory taste. I'd recommend Level 3 Spice level as it is a great blend of flavor and spice. If you're interested in having great Japanese Curry this is the spot. I also tried their potato croquette which was exquisite I ate it immediately and took a photo part way 🤣 into eating. I also have their Strawberry Matcha Latte which was a great blend and tasted perfect. Definitely coming back to try the Curry Omelet variety. This is a great spot to come with friends or if you just want to enjoy some great Japanese food solo.“

“100/10 would recommend!’ Amazing food and selection as well!“

“Food was great and service was quick“

“By far the BEST Burger & Fries I have had in years. Service was super friendly and accommodating to substitutions and questions. Never felt rushed, food was hot and delicious. Had out of town guests and without planning to ended up here for lunch. What a nice surprise this place was. Will be back soon!“

“So good 😊 5 stars definitely recommend“

“Once you open the front door it's a whole new experience. Curb Appeal is not what brings you in. Had a great starter cocktail- the Velvet Matador was delicious, Tequila with a Red Wine Float and hints of Cinnamon. An unlikely fall duo that didn't disappoint. Fancy Bar Food is always fun. I hear they are changing things up soon, excited to see what's next.“

“This place was surprisingly cool. They don't have a TON of options, which I found strange for a wine-forward place, but the options we got we enjoyed. Unfortunately, there was only one person working there who I guess is in charge of also making food (which I don't totally understand?) so service took forever. As a result, we were charged happy hour prices, which was nice.

We went here waiting for a table next door for pizza, so for that reason it's definitely worth checking out. They had a movie playing on one of the walls, which was cool. And the vibe itself is cool, the inside has a lot going on and a lot to look at. We sat outside, which wasn't the best as it's right next to a parking lot but certainly still a nice option for outdoor seating.

If you're coming to this shopping center to have dinner, I do think it's worth stopping in.“

“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!“

“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.“

“The most incredible bar inside a grocery store I have ever been to. This place has a rotating selection of 30 beers and a spacious seating area. The service was great and all the beers were from the area/west coast, I believe. I can't wait to go back and see what they have on tap next time.“

“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“

“Awesome place for sushi 🍣“

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

“The food was delicious every bite of it 👍😄🥰“

“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!“

“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.“

“Feels like you’re in a NY loft bar and privileged to have the only rooftop view of south Orange County. Bartenders are top notch and make you feel welcome. Food is well planned with a cultured menu emphasizing the Asian diversity of the area. I cannot get enough of the calamari and the Spectrum Sunset cocktail. Also, a lovely hostess named Sasha greets you upon arrival which just sets the mood.“