01
Best overall pick
Vaca
Segerstrom Center Area • Spanish Steakhouse And Tapas Bar • Best Overall Experience
Lively, high-energy Spanish cooking with serious steaks, wood-fired flavors, and a strong gin-and-tonic game right by the arts center.
Vaca is where Costa Mesa dresses up for jamón, grilled octopus, and shareable tapas before or after a show at Segerstrom Center. The menu leans rich—think prime cuts, paellas, and buttery potatoes—but the bar keeps things bright with Spanish-style G&Ts and vermouth. Book ahead on weekends; the patio and dining room both fill quickly with locals and theatergoers.
02
Best for groups
Din Tai Fung
South Coast Plaza • Taiwanese Dumpling House • Group-Friendly Favorite
Expect a wait and a buzz for baskets of xiao long bao, noodle dishes, and shareable plates in a polished mall-side setting.
The Costa Mesa outpost of Din Tai Fung is a magnet for families, shoppers, and anyone craving expertly pleated soup dumplings. It’s ideal for groups: you can cover the menu with baskets of pork xiao long bao, spicy wontons, fried rice, and garlicky greens. Put your name in, browse South Coast Plaza while you wait, and come back hungry for a table full of shareable plates.
03
Best plant-based option
Seabirds Kitchen
The Lab Anti-Mall • Plant-Based Comfort Food Cafe • Best For Vegans And Vegetarians
Casual, colorful vegan cooking that leans more toward craveable comfort food than health food sermon.
Tucked into The LAB, Seabirds Kitchen is the kind of place where even meat-eaters get hooked on cauliflower tacos and fried avocado dishes. The menu is fully plant-based, but it’s all about flavor and texture—crispy, saucy, and satisfying rather than austere. Grab a seat on the patio, pair your dishes with a craft beer or kombucha, and linger to people-watch in the SoBeCa arts-and-retail hub.
04
Most refined dining
Knife Pleat
South Coast Metro • Upscale French Tasting-Menu Restaurant • Special-Occasion Splurge
A polished French-inflected dining room turning seasonal ingredients into precise, artful plates for long, celebratory meals.
Knife Pleat sits above the bustle of South Coast Plaza and feels a world away, with crisp white tablecloths, attentive service, and carefully choreographed courses. Expect modern French technique, seasonal tasting menus, and an indulgent lunch option if you want the experience without committing to a full evening. It’s a go-to for anniversaries, big promotions, and anyone who treats dining as a full-on event.
05
Best neighborhood gem
Lemon & Thyme
Westside Costa Mesa • Modern Neighborhood Bistro • Casual Weeknight Pick
Laid-back but polished neighborhood spot with seasonal plates, shareable appetizers, and a cozy bar for a glass of wine or two.
On Costa Mesa’s Westside, Lemon & Thyme feels like the kind of place you wish you had around the corner—friendly, unfussy, and quietly stylish. The menu runs from bright salads and flatbreads to heartier mains, with enough variety to keep both picky eaters and food-lovers happy. It’s an easy call for a relaxed date night, catching up with friends, or a spontaneous dinner when you don’t want a scene.