Lovely atmosphere, great food and amazing drinks. Our server Tenka was very helpful and very…read morefriendly.

Jereny was amazing serving us this weekend, and the manager Tawny took hospitality to the next…read morelevel with her attentiveness and enthusiasm. The ambiance was like stepping out of OC and into a setting out of a fantasy- intimate, rustic, and romantic. The food was delicious and the cocktails were refreshing. Will be coming back for more memories with the girlfriends!

After craving Jamaican food for what feels like forever, I finally decided to search Yelp on my way…read morehome from working in LA and came across The Taste of the Caribbean in Long Beach - and wow, this hit the spot in a way I've been missing for too long. For context, I've always loved Jamaican food and even have family who make incredible, authentic dishes, but I haven't had anything close to that in a year. So my expectations? High. My craving? Even higher. I ordered the jerk chicken dinner with peas & rice and cabbage medley, and some plantains - to go. First off, the service was amazing. The woman who helped me was genuinely warm and welcoming, and you can tell she cares about what she's serving. When I ordered, she asked if I wanted the jerk sauce on the side and made sure I was okay with the spice level when I said no. That attention to detail matters. The food came out quickly (it was mid-afternoon and not busy), and everything stayed warm all the way home--which is always a win for takeout. Now let's talk about the food: The portion was generous, the flavors were on point, and everything tasted fresh. The jerk chicken had that perfect smoky, spicy kick - exactly what I was hoping for. The rice and peas and cabbage medley were a great balance to the heat, and the plantains were sweet and perfectly cooked. I did notice another review complaining about the spice level being too high... and honestly, I had to laugh a little. Have you had jerk chicken before? It's supposed to be spicy - that's the whole point. Personally, that comment is part of what made me choose this place, and it delivered. If you don't like spice, jerk might not be your thing - but I'm sure there are milder options if you ask. Bonus: they offer online ordering and delivery through Uber Eats and Postmates, which makes it even easier to get your fix. Overall, this place brought back the flavors I've been missing for so long. I'll absolutely be back - and probably sooner rather than later.

Meal prep for the week : curry chicken to go…read more Wow first time here and this is a culinary experienceeeee! Love the flavors Sorrel drink fireeeee Curry chicken fiireeee Roti fiireeee 10/10 coming back

Seriously, you need to come here…read more It's located in a dining hall at the back end. Very hole in the wall type of place. But listen, I don't care where you live; it's worth the trip. The jerk chicken was amazing and very generous, a little spicy, but not you have to down some milk. The cabbage, I feel is the real standout in this meal. Cooked and seasoned perfectly. The chicken curry was also a little spicy but again, you're not drowning in water. Also seasoned to perfection. The service was amazing, and the food was delivered to us very quickly (we ate at the hall). I highly recommend this place and try the grapefruit soda. You'll love it!

5/5 Food - pricing matched with the quality traditional food. Savory and a solid choice whether…read morejerk chicken or curry w roti. 4/5 Ambiance - I mean it's a food hall. 5/5 customer service solid cause we came for dinner and there was an event nearby so place was packed. They handled rush well and I didn't have to wait too long either so the operations move quick

I've been going to Bella Cuba since I've lived in the OC the area for the past few years and…read morediscovered a love for their Cuban food. The high level and consistency of service and amazing food I had every time going to Bella Cuba is truly unique. Regardless if its just a simple lunch break, birthday dinner with friends, or anniversaries; I've spent a lot of time at this restaurant and have never had a bad time. So much so, that when it came time to figure out a caterer for my wedding Bella Cuba was my first phone call. Nick and his father Antonio were upfront with me about having never catered a wedding (we had 150 guests!) before even though they've catered other large events. I was convinced with their food and level of service that they would do an great job, and once the day came they did not disappoint. We got a little bit of everything: salad, garlic bread, beans, rice, garlic shrimp, pollo asado, and the oxtail! Nick coordinated with us every step of the way for months prior to our wedding. He even stayed for the whole wedding to make sure the food was served properly! One of the big takeaways from our wedding from all our guests and vendors was that they've never had better food at a wedding, and I think that's a testament to Nick and the whole staff's work ethic and attention to detail to their level of service and great quality of food and ingredients. My only wish is that my wife and I had more leftovers for ourselves, but the look on our guests faces when they got to take home the extra ox tail was worth it. Now, whenever my wife and I go back to the restaurant we're reminded about our fun wedding, and the food and service is always just as great. My wife highly recommends the oxtail. Being a vegan myself I always go with one of the vegetarian specials (They're vegan!) as I love the beans and yucca. I can't recommend this restaurant enough, 10 out of 10 for everything, you won't be disappointed!

HOW THEY FIX MISTAKES AND MADE THINGS RIGHT…read more I eat here from time to time and the food is excellent as well as the customer service which is second to none. I ordered the garlic chicken to go. However, when I got to work I realized they accidently have me two boxes of rice and and beans. I gave them a call, told them about it, and it was no big deal. I totally understand the lunch rush and all the boxes look the same. We're all human. This isn't the zombie apocalypse. I'll survive . That being said it was it was really how well they handled the situation. I returned there after work and we had a good laugh about it. Not only did they gave me the full correct order but also realized I like that lemony flavor of Cuba, but they also have a me a really nice dinner to go for me evening. And yes the lemony pork was absolutely delicious. There was no hesitation, no dispute, just all smiles acne appreciation from both of us. So to sum it up it really wasn't the mistake. It was HOW THEY MAKE YOU FEEL and how they take care of you as a customer. a now loyal custom for years to come.

If i could give 10 i would! We stumbled upon this gem on accident. The oxtail plate was a big…read moreportion. But the flavor was even bigger! The oxtail empanada makes me want to cryyyy. It's perfectly crisp and the meat inside is absolutely delicious. All i know is they didn't skimp out on their portions and their flavors and we will definitely be regulars!

Followed them from the farmers market to now their own restaurant. It was nice and clean good music…read morewas playing. We walked in and walked right up to order. We got both of the lunch specials and since we saw people outside we figured it would take a while, it didn't at all. Wait time was less than 10 minutes. The oxtail plate was tender and had plantains just the way I like them. The curry shrimp dish was great in flavor. I love the fact that you can get an empanada with the meal, I got beef, and got a bite of the chicken they were both so good. Please DO NOT bypass the lemonade. I got the colada my guest got what the person behind the counter recommended it was mango pineapple. Both drinks were refreshing. Not too sweet just right and they had several flavors to choose from and you can have more than 1 flavor. Would definitely come back here.

Highly recommended!! The food was great, flavorful variety. The atmosphere and service was amazing,…read morethanks to Many Ramirez, our server!! Definitely coming back to enjoy more of what this pkace has to offer!!.

Emmanuel Ramirez amazing service very nice guy. Always right on time. Made us feel like at home.read more

Splurge restaurant but food is very solid! My husband and I…read morecame here for date night and had a great experience~ Vaca is located next to south coast, interior has tall ceilings and have a small indoor and outdoor seating. They have Spanish menu items, several tapas and main dishes. We got 4 wines and both loved with whites and reds! La bola (8.5/10)-the meat inside was delicious wasn't overly crispy, sauce on top was too much but a classed dish Pani puri (9/10)-interesting concept scallop was delicious and sauce was rich, shell was crispy Cauliflower (7/10)-bit too salty and rich but they give you a good portion Steak (7.5/10)-we asked for medium but it was more in medium rare, good quality but small for price Churro (9/10)-cant beat a piping hot churro with chocolate sauce portion not too large Our server was friendly and vibe was classy Would love to try the paella my next visit!

Vaca is one of the best dining experiences in Orange County. The Spanish-inspired menu strikes a…read moregreat balance between traditional flavors and creative execution, and every dish we ordered felt thoughtfully prepared. The tapas are perfect for sharing, with standout flavors that make it hard to pick favorites, and the paella is worth the wait. The atmosphere is lively and energetic without feeling pretentious, making it a great spot for a date night, celebration, or dinner with friends. Service was attentive, knowledgeable, and helped guide us through the menu. Chef Amar Santana's influence is clear throughout the restaurant, and it's easy to see why Vaca has built such a strong reputation. Not the cheapest meal in Costa Mesa, but the quality, creativity, and overall experience make it well worth it. I'll definitely be back.

Great spot for authentic Jamaican food. Staff is amazing and extremely helpful. Loved every dish…read moreI've had so far.

We found this place after it was recommended by the staff at the American Museum of Ceramic Art…read moredown the street, and we're glad we stopped in. The jerk chicken burrito portion is large, so I'd recommend splitting it if you also want to try the meat pies. You could easily make a meal out of the pies alone. The chicken curry pie was good, but the beef pie stole the show. It had a nice kick and was wrapped in a perfectly crisp, turmeric-stained crust. Even my six-year-old, who usually avoids anything spicy, enjoyed the beef stew, which was nice and moist without being spicy. Next time, I'm definitely coming back for the goat curry. The owner/chef was incredibly friendly and came by to check on us during our meal. The air conditioning was struggling a bit, so it was warm inside, making it like we were eating in humid Jamaica!