LOVE their NEW location! Such a great restaurant to visit for my seafood cravings. On a whim, decided to stop by before getting on the 55 Freeway to head home. I can only rave about their takeout service thus far. Excellent. HostessHosts/ are always so helpful and welcoming. I don't wait too long for my to-go order despite how busy they are most nights. I get to enjoy a delicious lobster roll on my drives home. read more

Hook & Anchor - 10/2022 Delicious!!! Perfect lobster roll; best I've had in OC - Seafood Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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We came here for lunch on a Saturday. They have a patio outside and it is dog friendly! We ordered the 6oz lobster roll, lobster Mac and cheese and the grilled fish burrito. The lobster roll is poached in butter and not drenched in sauce/mayo. They give a generous amount and it taste pretty decent. The fries were absolutely amazing though! I love the seasoning. This dish is MP and we paid $48. The lobster max and cheese is good too. It's a smaller portion but it does have a decent amount of lobster. The grilled fish burrito was meh, I wouldn't recommend it. The fish was incredibly dry and half the burrito was filled with rice. read more

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April 18, 2025. Lunch. 5 of us. Kids menu. 6 choices incl drink Worth the drive from Newport coast villas. Free parking. Delicious fresh food. Great wait staff. Beautiful more upscale decor. They did a great job with the new location. Moved April 2024. Great clam chowder. Modelo beer and corona with lime. Fish tacos . Fish burrito was huge and yummy. Kids salmon plate outstanding. Kids Mac and cheese was real cheese and best I've ever had. I tasted it. Highly recommend you come and try it ! read more

Hook & Anchor - Lovely blown glass chandelier - Seafood Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

We tried the lobster deviled eggs and they were delicious. They were actually filling and had the right amount of creamy and tart in the egg filling. We also had the lobster bisque and clam chowder. The lobster bisque was definitely the winner. My kids don't eat seafood so they both had the crispy chicken sandwich. It was two big crispy tenders on the bun and tasted pretty good. If we had been more hungry...we would have tried more food. Service was attentive and effective from both host and waiter. read more

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Wonderful first visit! The restaurant is very cozy, clean and has a relaxed but upscale vibe. Not too loud or bright. The service was excellent and I felt very well taken care of. The food was so good and it let us have a fun memory and was a great start to our holiday. The lobster roll was outstanding and the best I've had! Hands down. We also got the ceviche, cioppino, and Mac n cheese. The seafood was fresh and really well flavored, the Mac and cheese was just the right amount of cheesy comfort. The ceviche was bright, fresh and we loved the creamy avocado cream! Plus house made fresh chips. This restaurant was a wonderful experience and we can't wait to return! If you haven't tried it, you won't be let down. read more

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Went out to Costa Mesa for some fish and chips and a tall glass of Guinness which I must say was poured perfectly. My party of 5 (me included) were not disappointed, with the food and service. The sitting (booth) was comfortable and spacious. I will definitely be returning. read more

Hook & Anchor - Tall glass of Guinness beers - Seafood Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

3.8 stars for me. Food was great here, although service needs improvement. It's located in a strip mall with plenty of parking, and we had to try the famous lobster roll and clam chowder. FOOD: - Calamari fries: made to order, crispy, and hot. Paired with a tartar sauce, although a cocktail sauce would have been better, in my opinion. The serving size for this dish is very small for the price. Not worth getting again. - Oysters: they have a wide selection of oysters here, and this was delicious. It took a long wait to get this order out though. The plate was cold, and a dozen was over 40 dollars. The cocktail sauce pairing was delicious and refreshing. Highlight of the night. - Lobster Roll : filled with perfectly cooked lobster, with a rich butter sauce. Fries were perfectly seasoned and the brioche bun was everything one could ask for. It took over an hour to wait for this dish though. - Clam Chowder: super creamy, lots of clams, deep flavor. I can see why every table had an order of this. SERVICE: The waiters were attentive and took our order quickly, but I'm not sure what happened after that. We spent nearly 2 hours here, and most of that was waiting for food. By the time the lobster roll came out, we nearly already left due to the long wait time (an hour in). Everything was made to order and hot, but it wasn't even a full house - so not sure if there was an issue in the kitchen. Even the oysters, which were raw, took over 40 minutes of waiting , and that was the first thing we ordered. The waiters were kind and friendly, but the wait time negatively affected the overall experience. Although the food was tasty, I do think it was overpriced for what you get. The ambiance is more of a casual seafood spot in a strip mall, not a fine dining establishment but the prices do not reflect that. read more

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Soo amazing my favorite place to come to when coming to the beach the lobster rolls are a 10/10 as well as the fish and fries read more

Hook & Anchor - Seafood Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Food service ambiance was perfect. Love it here. Mee Location is much better. We love this spot we always come back. read more

Hook & Anchor - Seafood Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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IMPRESSIVE. I saw the raving reviews. I've been meaning to make my way out to Costa Mesa sooner. Glad I was finally able to! Hook & Anchor exceeded my expectations! My mind was blown. I ordered two menu items that are both highly rated by yelpers: the lobster mac and cheese, and the clam chowder. Both were extraordinary in their own right. The lobster mac and cheese had huge chunks of lobster! I don't know of any lobster mac that has that! The cheese sauce was different than your average rue, but it paired perfectly with the lobster. The clam chowder was hearty and so satisfying! Both bowls were licked clean. Service was great. Lobster Mac & Cheese 10/10 Clam Chowder 10/10 read more

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First time trying hook & anchor and it definitely did not disappoint. Them Baja bois were so balanced and delicious..the Kumiai's were such a killer deal. They were fresh tasting and would've ordered another half dozen if they hadn't run out. And of Course the star of the show was the lobster roll. Bread is definitely a highlight. The lobster roll is for sure an A in my book. Shout out to Brian Coleman and my server Samantha for the excellent service and the exceptional superb hospitality. Will definitely be going back. read more

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First time visit on Christmas day. Staff was very friendly, wishing us a Merry Christmas. Appetizers were amazing, calamari and ceviche. Very fresh. My entree was Seafood Cioppino. The broth was rich with flavor and the seafood in the soup was excellent. Excellent in taste, freshness and variety. Also it was served with a delicious sourdough bread. Everyone in our party enjoyed their plates and we will definitely be returning guests. read more

Hook & Anchor - Seafood Cioppino - Seafood Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

When you first walk in, you greeted by the very nice staff. The decor side is pretty normal so I can't say much about it. However the waiters make the vibe extremely fun and so does the music. They have some TVs playing and had the UFC fights going on, so it was really fun to be in there. I got the clam chowder bread bowl and it was fantastic. It had really good flavor and it was extremely creamy. I would highly recommend it for anybody. read more

Hook & Anchor - Decor - Seafood Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Wow! I pass by this place all the time and was craving a lobster roll... and to take myself out on a date! I have no words to describe how delicious this buttery brioche lobster was!!! I had the 4oz roll but the portion size was great with a side of delicious seasoned fries. The service was phenomenal, shout out to Sam and Alma, everyone worked so well together and smiling! I cannot wait to come back with the family! The ambiance is so open and airy. Love the vibes and decor! 10/10 read more

Hook & Anchor - Seafood Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

We were very disappointed with the cioppino and lobster carbonara pasta we ordered on our 39th Anniversary. The lobster roll was ok but not the best. I have tried cioppino in many locations but never had food poisoning. After around 3-4 hours of having the meal, I had stomach ache, nausea, chills and fever. On the second day I threw up a lot. It's now the 3rd day of the food poisoning and my body still tried to fight it. My husband threw up but he is now ok. As food establishments, it's important for the public to have trust that the food is washed and cooked well before serving. I hope other people will not get food poisoning like us. read more

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The host and server were both amazing. Wonderful service beginning to end. Food: 10/10 Lobster roll (6oz) $49 10/10 kids macaroni and cheese The shrimp po boy had no flavor in the dressing Clam chowder was flavorful not much clams too thick and floury texture Calamari pieces had a weird texture Fries no flavor wish they were made fresh Oysters $22 were melt in your mouth but extremely tiny Poke had a slimy texture wasn't fresh read more

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Well I was very excited that they had lobster bisque on their menu so, after working a long day at the Hoag Classic in Newport Beach I ordered take out. I got the guacamole and chips which of course was creamy and delicious but, the lobster bisque although creamy was not delicious it was just generic with a fair amount of lobster chunks. I was a little dissatisfied but that's just my tastebuds. read more

Well I really wanted to give this place more stars but I can't at least based on what we ordered. First the positives; great service and a super clean vibe of a restaurant. We showed up with no reservation and were able to be seated right away. There is lots of staff on hand and they are attentive. The food was meh, my daughter ordered the seafood risotto it was a bit under done, but with that said it was loaded with seafood and the flavor was good. I ordered the fish and chips, the chips were good but the fish I was surprised was way fishy....now I know it's "fish" but that's not the point I shouldn't be hit with that "wow this is fishy" thought on the 1st bite. The fish was also not flaky and the batter was dense not fluffy. With this said if you like your fish that way give it a try. If you like oysters they do have a cool looking bar. read more

I think this is my favorite spot for lobster rolls in the Orange County area! The lobster was so juicy and flavorful. I enjoyed getting the sauces on the side to give it that extra flavor punch. The fries were also seasoned well and deliciously crunchy. We also got the clam chowder to share which was nice and creamy. I enjoyed that almost as much as the roll! And we also ate the lobster deviled eggs as we r huge eggy fans: The place was super popular on a Saturday night but we were able to be seated fairly quickly! A sweet date spot for couple and also for a couple of friends. There is a bar so it also looked like ppl had a good time on that side as well. Overall, we are def gonna come back! read more

Hook & Anchor - Seafood Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Great food but service was only ok. That was due in large part that the restaurant transitions the interior from lunch to dinner. So pro tip, don't come from 3-4 or check the website for updates hours because the kitchen closes for an hour or so. Plenty of parking as this place is located in a strip mall. Clean interior. Decent amount of seating but it does look like it can get crowded pretty quick. Ordered the lobster roll, clam chowder (cup), and lobster taco. The clam chowder was phenomenal as it had a good balance of soup, clam, and other ingredients. The taco was ok and was kind of meh to me. The lobster roll was very good and I'd recommend doing it the chefs way. However, it can be pricey as it is market priced. read more

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The food was amazing! We sat at the bar & ordered their seafood tower. We were not disappointed! Service was great as well!

Grabbed some food for takeout so can't share anything about the ambiance or service dining in. Ordered a 4oz lobster roll, which comes with Cajun fries and melted butter on the side. There was plenty of juicy and tender lobster meat piled onto the buttered and grilled Hawaiian-style roll, I liked the meat being left in large chunks rather than chopped up. The lobster was well seasoned, and there was a generous slather of mayo on the bun. I went back and forth from eating the roll as is and picking off meat to dunk in the butter; both methods of eating were delicious! The Cajun fries were good, a bit heavy on the seasoning for my taste. Would definitely consider dining in and trying other things as well! read more

Made a reservation, was timely seating . the service was great . The food was amazing ! Very cute light fixtures and shark statue . Tables are a little to close and the spicy tuna was missing some spice. read more

Hook & Anchor - Warm Lobster roll - Seafood Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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The manager is very, very rude. I asked him very nicely if he could turn on baseball on one of many the TVs they have, and he gave me some attitude and didn't do it. Also, he was extremely rude to my father when he was trying to pay via InKind. He claimed that they were not using InKind anymore and couldn't take our InKind payment, even though they were still on the app. The reason why we went here was to use our InKind benefits, which were available here according to InKind. He then claimed that it was my father's responsibility to contact InKind about this issue and that it was our problem??? No accountability at all from the manager. Grow up. The food is pretty good. Our waitress was also great. But there are major issues besides that. read more

Great food and and ambience definitely will be coming back again with the good being phenomenal and great service. read more

Hook & Anchor - Ribeye Steak - Seafood Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

I recently visited the newer and bigger location of Hook & Anchor. The food was just as good as I remembered. Our server was attentive and was helpful when we had some questions and needed help in deciding what to order. I was there during the lunchour on a weekday and it was not crowded and I was able to find parking right out front. read more

The host was one of the most unprofessional and rude people I've encountered at a restaurant. They treated customers differently, clearly giving preferential treatment to certain families while being dismissive toward others. The experience started off so poorly that I decided to leave before even ordering. First impressions matter, and customer service sets the tone for the entire dining experience. If the service is this bad from the moment you walk in, it doesn't leave much confidence in the rest of the experience. Unfortunately, I won't be returning or recommending this place. read more

This is a must when visiting Dana Point! The seafood was so fresh and flavorful. Oysters fresh and delicious, the added salt water was great. Clam chowder was amazing, it's a must!!! Creamy and full of clams. Kama wings was flavorful! We also ordered the lobster roll, 10 out of 10!!! Full of lobster and cooked to perfection. The bun was crispy and held together perfectly. Service was fun a lively. We will be coming back. read more

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The food looked really good and the location seemed inviting. So I finally made it over to H&A to find out! The wait was a bit long but it was a Saturday evening. The review: the service was very friendly and accommodating. The venue was comfortable and nice. The food was decent but not as good as I had expected. It was also a bit pricey for the amount of seafood given but the seafood provided was quality. I would give it a solid 4 out 5. I would have liked to see more lobster in the Lobster Mac & Cheese for the price. I would also have liked the same for the Lobster Roll. However, the quality was seafood was good. Overall taste was decent as well. The best tasting items were the Lobster Mac & Cheese, and the French fries that came with the Lobster roll. Check it out & see for yourself. read more

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WOW! They do not mess around here. Love the booth seating and vibe in here- perfect for casual dining. The clam chowder was so perfect no complaints. The Lobster Roll was the best i've had in California, perfectly buttery, toasty, flavorful. everything. Quick and familial service! The hype here is deserved!! read more

Hook & Anchor - Seafood Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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I love the clam chowder here. I'm a sucker for a place with a bar, good drinks and clam chowder. I can never say no.

Parking is horrific. Took us forever, so we finally left the parking they have right in front of their location and we parked around the corner near the park and had to walk here. For this restaurant it was worth the walk, normally if we have to do that I say lets find something else, but glad we didn't decide on that this time around. We had lobster bisque to share and lobster roll with cajun fries. I had the 4oz and my husband had the 6oz. The brioche bread was so soft and buttery and lobster inside was piled high and so tasty! Came with lemon-herb and a sriacha mayo, that I mostly used to dip my fries. I need to come back and try the Seafood Cioppino and fish n' chips that I saw someone order. Definitely make reservations (we didn't), but we were able to get seated quickly but we had to sit in the bar area. There was a 30 minute wait for the regular seating area. We were from out of town and just ran in to this place, so we didn't know reservations were needed. Inside is what you would think when you hear the name of the place. Very ocean inspired! Can't wait to come back again soon! read more

Hook & Anchor - Seafood Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Went to Hook & Anchor and had a really solid experience. We ordered the lobster roll and lobster mac & cheese -- both were fresh and flavorful. The lobster roll had a good amount of meat and the bread was nicely toasted, not soggy. The fries on the side were crispy and well-seasoned, and the mac & cheese was rich without being too heavy. You can tell they don't skimp on quality here. Service was friendly and attentive, and the vibe is casual but still feels like a nice sit-down spot. Prices are a bit higher, but expected for seafood and the portion/quality makes sense. Would definitely come back, especially for the lobster roll. read more

This is our first time at the new location, but we're regulars at the old Uli what an amazing server we ordered the ceviche, which was absolutely amazing fish and chips again another amazing dish, the calamari, steak fries, the lobster roll. If you really want some fresh fish this is the place. read more

Hook & Anchor - Seafood Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

I had read about the lobster roll and had the place on my bucket list for the year. I invited a few other friends and we all had a great time. Although it was busy, I had reservations and we were greeted and sat quickly. The restaurant is charming with a definite seafood restaurant feel with a modern twist. It was once a Hennessey's, but has been completely remodeled and feels new. Several of us ordered the lobster roll and were not disappointed. I also got the lobster pasta, which was also delicious. There is some sticker shock paying $40+ for a lobster roll, but it's real lobster and they do pile it on. As the old adage goes, "you get what you pay for!" It's worth it for a splurge night out with friends. read more

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We stopped by for a late lunch on a recent Saturday and had a fantastic meal. Although the main dining room was closed, we were seated at the bar, where our server provided outstanding service. She was incredibly knowledgeable, answering all our questions and even suggesting sauce pairings for our dishes. We started by sharing a cup (which was more like a bowl!) of clam chowder before ordering two Hook plates--one with lobster tail and the other with scallops. The lobster tail was delicious, especially with the yuzu sauce, and I paired it with a mushroom medley and roasted vegetables. The portion was so generous that I couldn't even finish it! The scallop plate came with five perfectly cooked scallops, complemented by fingerling potatoes and the mushroom medley. We were too full for dessert this time, but the bread pudding sounded incredible--definitely something to look forward to on our next visit. read more

Hook & Anchor - Lobster Hook Plate - Seafood Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Delicious, high quality food. Excellent, attentive, friendly service. Went here for the first time for dinner tonight, and had such a pleasant meal and experience. The restaurant is in a row of storefronts, which was unexpected, but wasn't a problem. It has patio seating in the front, but, due to the rain, we sat inside. The black leather booths are large, plush, and comfy. The space isn't huge (there's the area with the tables, a bar, and the small entryway), by the tables are spaced out enough to give a sense of privacy. There were a few TVs on, and pop music playing, so the atmosphere was upbeat without being overpowering or overwhelming. My party had the calamari fries, fish & chips, seafood risotto, and lobster roll. (Plus bread pudding and lemon meringue for dessert.) Everything was fresh, tasty, and well-seasoned. The host and waitstaff were so friendly and attentive. They came by at just the right cadence to check on us, and were proactive about drink refills and clearing plates. We'll definitely eat here again. read more

Fabulous fresh seafood!! Mind blowing quality, how did I not come sooner? - 12.5/10 lobster bisque, with lobster chunks and croutons that took the lobster bisque from 10/10 to 12.5/10 (and we don't even like croutons) 10/10 Newport's Finest Salad: had lobster meat and crab meat, and 3 large delicious pieces of shrimp. The lobster meat was so sweet and fresh - the meat was perfectly fresh and soft but firm. The crab was so mouthwateringly fresh and sweet! This salad really is Newport's finest. 10/10 lobster roll, seriously they should not be called "Hook & Anchor", they should be called "Get you hooked on lobster" 12.5/10 fries, deliciously crispy and well seasoned Service: good Parking: Ample Food: mind blowing TLDR: I wish I had a paycheck that could support my dream of coming to eat here every week. read more

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Definitely one of the best seafood spots I've tried in Costa Mesa! We ordered the lobster roll, lobster bisque, clam chowder in a bread bowl, crab cakes, and cioppino -- every dish was spot on. The standouts for me were the rich and flavorful clam chowder, the hearty cioppino, and the creamy lobster bisque. Great ambience, fast and friendly service, and overall a fantastic experience. Will definitely be coming back! read more

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We're always on the lookout for good places in our neck of the woods. For my son's birthday, we thought we'd try Hook & Anchor. Located in a Costa Mesa strip mall off of Newport Boulevard, they offer a selection of solid seafood meals. Between the three of us we ordered the Cioppino (paired with a glass of Scarpetta Pino Grigio), Grilled Fish Sandwich (substituting the Mushroom Medley for French Fries), and Lobster Roll. Each was delicious and satisfying. No notes. Highly recommend! read more

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