17 Must-Try Costa Mesa Restaurants: Where the Costa Mesa Locals Eat

One of the many cities in Orange County, Costa Mesa, CA, has a distinct vibe – especially when it comes to the restaurant scene. From trendy brunch spots to classic Mexican restaurants, gastropubs, and Persian restaurants, there’s always a new place to check out. If you’ve recently moved to an apartment in Costa Mesa or have lived in the city for a while, there are plenty of reasons you may be looking for your next favorite restaurant. To help you out, we’ve collected a list of 17 must-try Costa Mesa restaurants to grab a bite at.

#1: Eat Chow

Cuisine: New American restaurant
Address: 1802 Newport Blvd, Costa Mesa, CA 92627
Eat Chow’s Website

Eat Chow is a fantastic spot to have breakfast, lunch, or dinner, whether you’re looking for buttermilk pancakes, egg white omelettes, crispy chicken sandwiches, shrimp tacos, or truffle mac and cheese.

#2: El Matador

Cuisine: Mexican restaurant
Address: 1768 Newport Blvd, Costa Mesa, CA 92627
El Matador’s Website 

Serving authentic Mexican cuisine for 57 years, El Matador’s Costa Mesa location is another option to add to your list of must-visit restaurants. From taco Tuesday and chile relleno, to house margaritas and huevos rancheros, there’s something for everyone.

#3: La Vida Cantina

Cuisine: Mexican restaurant
Address: 1870 Harbor Blvd, Costa Mesa, CA 92627
La Vida Cantina’s Website 

A Mexican restaurant with a modern twist, La Vida Cantina has a lot of dishes for anyone looking for a new place to grab a bite. You can find classics like chicken fajitas and pork chile verde.

#4: Social Costa Mesa

Cuisine: Gastropub and American restaurant
Address: 512 W 19th St, Costa Mesa, CA 92627
Social Costa Mesa’s Website

There are a variety of dishes at Social Costa Mesa – anything from smoked bone marrow and pan fried chicken to lamb lollipops and Chilean sea bass.

#5: Toast

Cuisine: Brunch restaurant
Address: 1769 Newport Blvd, Costa Mesa, CA 92627
Toast’s Website

Another stellar Costa Mesa restaurant is Toast. You’ll find a large array of breakfast and lunch items like avocado toast or Thai chile chilaquiles at their location.

#6: Black Knight Gastro Lounge

Cuisine: Gastropub
Address: 1870 Harbor Blvd, Costa Mesa, CA 92627
Black Knight Lounge’s Website 

If you’re looking for a gastropub serving dishes like poke nachos, fried mozzarella, ahi sandwiches, or coconut curry chicken skewers, be sure to stop by Black Knight Lounge.

#7: Il Dolce Pizzeria & Restaurant

Cuisine: Pizzeria
Address: 1902 Harbor Blvd, Costa Mesa, CA 92627
Il Dolce Pizzeria & Restaurant’s Website

Il Dolce Pizzeria & Restaurant has plenty of options for those looking for a local Italian restaurant serving calamari, bruschetta, or an extensive list of pizzas.

#8: Baja Fish Tacos

Cuisine: Taco and seafood restaurant
Address: 171 E 17th St, Costa Mesa, CA 92627
Baja Fish Tacos’ Website

You can find Baja Fish Tacos located in the heart of downtown Costa Mesa, where there’s a great selection of enchiladas, burritos, and of course, fish tacos.

#9: Pasta Connection

Cuisine: Argentinian and Italian restaurant
Address: 1902 Harbor Blvd, Costa Mesa, CA 92627
Pasta Connection’s Website

Pasta Connection is an Argentinian and Italian restaurant dishing out freshly made pasta like agnelotti, tortellini, and ravioli, along with Argentinian favorites like asado de tiras.

#10: Super Pollo

Cuisine: Mexican restaurant
Address: 1731 Superior Ave Ste A, Costa Mesa, CA 92627
Super Pollo’s Website

Super Pollo is an excellent spot if you’re looking for a flame broiled chicken. Make sure to check out their menu full of breakfast burritos, chicken quesadillas, and more.

#11: The Crack Shack

Cuisine: Restaurant
Address: 196 E 17th St, Costa Mesa, CA 92627
The Crack Shack’s Website

The Crack Shack has an amazing array of gourmet sandwiches, fried chicken, biscuits, fries, and seasonal milkshakes. 

#12: Darbari Persian Grill

Cuisine: Persian restaurant
Address: 1866 Newport Blvd, Costa Mesa, CA 92627
Darbari Persian Grill’s Website

If you’ve recently relocated to Costa Mesa and are searching for a Persian restaurant serving chicken koobideh, kabob barg, and vegetarian ghormeh sabzi, you can find that at Darbari Persian Grill.

#13: Taco Mesa

Cuisine: Mexican restaurant
Address: 647 W 19th St, Costa Mesa, CA 92627
Taco Mesa’s Website

Taco Mesa has some amazing fresh Mexican food whether you’re craving huevos a la Mexicana, tortas, carnitas, or a shrimp quesadilla.

#14: Greenleaf

Cuisine: American restaurant
Address: 234 E 17th St Ste 100, Costa Mesa, CA 92627
Greenleaf’s Website

Greenleaf is the perfect place to grab a bite in Costa Mesa whether you’re vegan, vegetarian, or a meat eater, as they’ve got options for every preference.

#15: Miguel’s Jr

Cuisine: Fast food and Mexican restaurant
Address: 141 E 17th St, Costa Mesa, CA 92627
Miguel’s Jr’s Website

Another one of the many Costa Mesa restaurants to add to your list is Miguel’s Jr. You can find this spot serving lots of great food and drinks, like enchilada combo plates or homemade horchata.

#16: Sidecar Doughnuts & Coffee

Cuisine: Donut shop
Address: 270 E 17th St Ste 18, Costa Mesa, CA 92627
Sidecar Doughnuts & Coffee’s Website

At Sidecar Doughnuts & Coffee, there’s a lot of options to choose from – from daily flavors such as butter & salt or old fashioned to vegan lemonade or a seasonal flavor. And don’t forget to grab a latte or cold brew on the way out.

#17: Jan’s Health Bar

Cuisine: Restaurant 
Address: 250 E 17th St Ste D, Costa Mesa, and CA 92627
Jan’s Health Bar’s Website

Rounding out our list of Costa Mesa restaurants is Jan’s Health Bar, a fast-casual health food spot serving chicken wraps, kale Caesar salads, and smoothies, among many other fresh dishes.

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