Tapas Restaurants near Santa Ana, CA

“Best dinner of my life?? I’m too tipsy because I got the wine pairing, but as far as I can remember, yes- best dinner of my life. The sushi was impeccable. The tempura was the best I ever had. The avocado tempura?? A sensual experience. I was SO disappointed to hear they’re closing down permanently by summer. You must try this place before we lose this chef to Spain.“

“This is a restaurant you don’t want to miss!

Celebrated a birthday at Darkroom and honestly it was one of the most distinctive dining experiences we’ve had in Orange County.

The creativity, flavors, and energy of the place feel completely different from anything else in the OC.

I also love they offer a variety of NA options and mocktails. If they keep pushing at this level, a Michelin nomination would not surprise me at all.“

“😃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 food is excellent - and I'm very picky about Mexican. The 3 of us all ordered very different entrees and shared the queso fundido. So so tasty and served with homemade flour tortillas. Thervice hoever, lacked just a tiny bit. Server didn't ask us if we wanted alcohol, and our dishes were not served all together. That was an awkward 5 minute gap. Lastly, asking us if we wanted more water was not asked, and the taking away of dishes meant i could not nibble on the balance of our queso. she was friendly enough and did bring out our dessert promptly. Definitely want to go back and try more dishes.“

“great place for dining....“

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

“Great service, amazing atmosphere and delicious food.“

“Nice little bistro. Food was surprisingly good. Portions on the small side. Goat cheese toast was incredible. Pizzas felt slightly underbaked. Service was slow but friendly. Tap water here had a heavy chlorine taste to it. Not the cheapest menu but interesting dishes. Will be back.“

“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 service, flavorful dish, and an incredible wine selection. The speak easy ambiance adds sophistication. Definitely a spot worth returning too. Cheers!“

“Love the Brussels sprouts!!!“

“Exelent servís the food is exelent“

“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.“

“This is my go to place afterwork with my colleagues! We love the food, ambience and to top it off , the owner is a Dodger fan so he always has the game on. They have a great happy hour. I need a place like this closer to home but till then, love coming here.“

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

“The owner is very sweet, attentive and so polite she is fast and always ready for you when you order with a smile and the food is awesome and she makes my experience better. Since my first experience she has been amazing I come back even by myself and she is the best I definitely recommend this place to for dinner with the fam. Or friends!“

“VACA offers another incredible experience. Their food is simply amazing, and the service is impeccable. The atmosphere is electric, making it a perfect place for a special occasion. I highly recommend making reservations, as it gets packed on weekends. The wine list is extensive and impressive, and the drinks are always top-notch.“

“Food was great and service was quick“

“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.“

“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. .“

“We came on a busy weekend but we found a seat at the bar and we were attended too fairly quickly. We did the recommended wine tasting and we enjoyed each glass. I like the idea of pouring it into a tube to go with the theme but I do enjoy an extra pour when it’s poured by hand to be honest lol but it was a great vibe over all I would highly recommend stopping by for a tasting if you are in the area. Very affordable. Parking can be terrible but it’s worth supporting local businesses I say.“

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

“So good 😊 5 stars definitely recommend“

“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.“

“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!“

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

“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.“

“Discovered this gem while on the search for lunch! Amazing sushi 🍣 sashimi options, and the tempura was fried to perfection (very crispy)! Also tried the non alcoholic Sapporo and it was light and foamy. Miso soup was okay! Loved the restaurant ambiance, very quiet and clean/nice decor, attentive and friendly servers (more upscale than a casual place). I think we found our new sushi 🍣 spot in Irvine 🥰 highly recommend!“

“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!“

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

“amazing as always the best“

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

“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!“

“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!“

“Beautiful rooftop establishment. My cousin's employer celebrated her
She turned 50. The view, food ,vibe,service was on point. It gets a little chily so dress warm and bring a jacket. There's a bar too. I'm not a drinker but from what I hear it's worth your money.“

“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.“