Native Son is a solid 4/5 stars. Parking is easy to access in the garage behind the building. They don't validate, but the 1st hour is free. To locate the restaurant, go up the stairs on the side. Happy hour is every day, 4-6PM The drinks are good and they have a good selection of beers and cocktails. You order at the bar and the service is quick. The food, however, is underwhelming. Regular fries are not great but the Cajun fries are better. Fries are enough to feed 2-3 people. The chicken tenders on the other hand are very small, and you get more sauce than chicken. The good thing about it is that the food was cheaper during happy hour. Some of the chairs/benches were uncomfortable, but overall, sitting outside is nice. read more

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I've been coming here for years, but after my most recent experience, I will not be returning. I was treated with clear disrespect and unfair service by one of the staff members. I came in with friends and ordered a pitcher along with several shots. The server, a young white male, brought the shots and only one cup of beer. I immediately told him I had ordered a pitcher, but he insisted I never said that -- even though I had already been charged. To avoid arguing, I told him to just bring a pitcher and charge me again respectfully. He refused and told me I would have to go back and wait in line if I wanted one. When I asked to speak with a manager, he said the manager was unavailable. We later noticed him walking around the patio taking pitcher requests from other customers and bringing them directly to their tables without sending them back in line. We politely asked again, and he said "okay," but repeatedly ignored us, walking past our table multiple times. When my friend followed up, he suddenly claimed he couldn't serve us and again told us to get back in line. There was no clear reason for the difference in treatment. Watching others get served while we were repeatedly refused, despite being respectful customers, made the situation feel discriminatory. As Latino customers in a predominantly Latino community, the behavior came across as biased and unacceptable. It's extremely disappointing because I've supported this place for nearly a decade and had never experienced anything like this before. Unfortunately, this interaction completely changed my view of this establishment. I would not recommend coming here if respectful and fair service matters to you. read more

First time checking out Native Son OC in Santa Ana and honestly, it hit exactly what I needed. I barely missed happy hour by like 8 minutes (pain ), but it was still worth it. I grabbed a blonde (#3 on tap) and it was smooth, refreshing, and perfect after a long, stressful Friday at work being short-staffed and drowning with patients. Came in just needing to decompress--met up with a friend, grabbed a booth, and just chilled. The whole place has a very laid-back, local vibes, rooftop. Nothing over-the-top, just good energy and a spot where you can actually sit and talk. I didn't try the food this time, but I asked someone at the bar and they said it's really good--so that's definitely next on my list. Parking is right behind the spot in a structure, which was super convenient. First hour is free, then about $1.75 after that, but no validation--so just plan ahead. I kept it quick since I wasn't trying to turn one drink into a $15 parking night for just one beer. Bartenders were friendly and attentive--they checked in, cleared our glasses, and let us do our thing. No pressure, just good service. Overall, it's a chill, local hangout with solid beer and a relaxed atmosphere. I'll definitely be back--next time for the food and a longer stay. Oh btw, One of the bartenders did confirm that they have happy hour all day on Mondays, I'll be back on a Monday. read more

Native Son OC - Duck Beer - Beer Gardens Near Me - Santa Ana, California

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Parking is street only, found some after looking for a few minutes. It is on a rooftop which is fun. Casual decor, some nice heaters & a fire pit outside. Service was fast & friendly. I got a cocktail that was served in a Chinese to go container, cute & creative! Crowds weren't too busy either read more

Horrible service from the bartender the guy and the heavy set lady are rude, can't even seem to communicate there own rules. Don't recommend this place. Owners need to check their employees they obviously don't know hospitality. The management drinking with customers, I'm sure ABC will like to hear of this. read more

We came in pretty early on Saturday not expecting too much, but MAN, Jordan and Zach made the absolute best espresso martini I have ever had in my life. If you are in the area, it's a must try!!! read more

I have been twice in the last month and can't believe it has taken me so long to check this place out. There is a ton of outdoor space and both times we were able to find a spot inside. Lots of drink options, including an excellent beer selection, which is what we came for (including NA for those in your party that may not drink)! They had multiple hazy ipas on tap from a variety of breweries - and also offer a great happy hour from 4-6! read more

A chill spot with drinks that aren't overly pricey and taste great. Well balanced and not overly sweet. The music isn't so damn loud no one can talk. Love that it's above The Frida. Can watch a movie after lol. Hope to come again and be outside on the balcony. read more

Native Son OC - Beer Gardens Near Me - Santa Ana, California

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I have been a fan of Native Son for years now and although I'm not what you would call a regular I go through periods where I frequent often because the atmosphere is fun and welcoming, and their rooftop patio is perfect during the summer (4th of July Party is fun!) and they have great beer/cocktail selections plus their food is decent considering they are a bar. Last night was different though, we walked in and ordered a pitcher. The bartender wasn't necessarily rude but he also wasn't welcoming, while I was processing payment I noticed they implemented a "10% service charge applied to provide our staff with a living wage" Cool I'm all for fair wages and still tipped 20%. As we were enjoying our first glass we got a "15-minute warning" that they'll be closing from the bartender. So we try to hurry with the first beer and pour the second glass. Then we get the "5 min warning" so here we are chugging our $40 pitcher in 15 minutes while getting warnings like we are school kids during recess. A heads-up while we were ordering would've been nice. Not the experience I am used to and it just left a sour taste in my mouth. Unfortunately I will not be back. read more

Native Son OC - 10% service charge, pre-tax, and pre-gratuity. - Beer Gardens Near Me - Santa Ana, California

I had a really bad experience with this place. I can't speak to the food or drinks, but the lack of professionalism with management is extremely frustrating. I was planning an after-party here and had everything pretty much confirmed with the previous manager. Once he left, the new management became completely unresponsive. I called multiple times, left messages, wrote emails, and even came in person multiple times to speak with staff, all in an attempt to reach the manager or owner -- with no response. I was relying on this location and ended up having to scramble at the last minute to find another spot, which was incredibly stressful and completely avoidable. While I eventually found a much better place for the after-party, this was one of the most frustrating and unprofessional experiences I've had to deal with. I don't write negative reviews lightly, but management and ownership say a lot about a business, and this experience was incredibly frustrating and left a very poor taste in my mouth. I can only assume this reflects how they run things as a whole, and I definitely would not recommend planning any kind of event here. read more

Parking available in structure or meters on street. Go upstairs for a beautiful rooftop experience. Friendly bartenders that will make your evening special. Come for the view, ambiance, and fun! read more

Native Son OC - Beer Gardens Near Me - Santa Ana, California

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Nunca volveré a ese lugar, los empleados son muy stresados, es incómodo, hacer fila para agarrar una cerveza, fila para baño, no podes mover una silla...no lo recomiendo read more

I've been coming to Native Son for brunch with my friends for years! The food never disappoints and I can't even finish the breakfast burrito... it's my go to always with the salsa. Had a cup of coffee on a cold Sunday morning. Bottomless mimosas a must and fun for celebration's birthdays etc. We always grab seating outdoors or the large family table. We go early and at times no wait. Music is a vibe too! They also sell beer and cocktails so tons of drink options. Also they used to sell large chocolate chip cookies... yummy! Not sure if they still do but can't wait for another Sunday Funday here. read more

Native Son OC - Coffee - Beer Gardens Near Me - Santa Ana, California

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AVOID this place!! Unless getting ripped off is your thing. Posted price is not what they charge! My beer was posted at $7.43. We ordered 2 and was charged $20. Plus I gave a $2 tip. Looking back, the rude bartender didn't ring us up, didn't give us a receipt. Told us it was $20, we gave her $22. Watched her put the $20 under the cash drawer of the register. Will the owners of the place ever see that cash or was it pocketed? No trace of it. After finishing our beers I returned to the counter to inquire about how they were $20 and thats when I was told about the 10% charge. 10% living wage charge. WTH??!! Do the math! That doesn't even add up!! 10% is 0.74! The place is a money-grabbing racket. Poor business practice for sure. Won't be back and wouldn't recommend the place! SPEND YOUR HARD-EARNED MONEY ELSEWHERE! read more

WARNING: service charge at the bar and they do NOT inform you about it Headed over for a night out celebrating a friend's accomplishment. I bought a round of shots and cocktails for our group. They do not show you the tab/break down of your order, only charge your card and show you the total+tip screen of the tablets when you close out. THEY ADD A 10% AUTOMATIC SERVICE CHARGE, with no heads up or receipt before payment. Luckily, I texted myself the breakdown of my bill after so that's how I found out. Super super sketchy and unethical way to go about tips, I'm more than happy to pay a service charge (I understand, i'm a server) -- but to strategically take advantage of people who have had a few drinks in does not land well with me. read more

We came here to try their OC Restaurant Week menu items and we were pleasantly surprised. We originally saw this place a few years ago during Taste of Santa Ana. I believe they were servings burgers or something outside, but by the time we had passed by, they had ran out! We had not returned since, but after we saw their menu for Restaurant Week, we decided to give it a try, as we were in the area. For $65, we got the following: Queso Fundido: The chips were very well seasoned. It paired well with the queso and it seemed to taste like pizza! Braised Short Ribs: This came on a bed of mashed potatoes and gravy along with some broccolini. I would have to say that this was pretty good for the price. I have had better, but I did like how much sauce came with it over the gravy, as some places it is a bit lackluster. Flan: This was a bit underwhelming. We asked for it to go and it was pretty small and tough. I am a fa of soft and silky flan, but this was more on the hard and bubbly. It did not have the silky texture that I love. Crawler: The can is super cute and comes in a large portion! We have not tried this yet, but we were able to choose from about 10 Native Son drafts. I am super excited about this, but it is too cute to open! 2 Cocktails of Choice: We tried the Dark Day and Golden Eye. Both were strong and well presented Overall, I really enjoyed our experience. It is downtown, so parking could be a pain, especially with the construction and road closures nearby. We walked up and did not have to wait long to order or receive our food. We were helped by Sky, who had the best energy and service. She seemed like she genuinely enjoys her job, which is something I can particularly appreciate working in the food industry. Would definitely come back to try some of their other drinks and possibly their Happy Hour Menu items! read more

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Overlooking the downtown area, this rooftop bar is probably gunna be a favorite spot of mine for happy hours. They have a lot of brewskis to choose from although it's only 1-2 bucks off, happy hour from 4-6 is always a vibe. So come hang out, enjoy the views, order some fries while you're at it. Fries: Get! For $7, they give you A LOT. However, it's loaded with seasoning and salt so... be prepared to order some more beers and stay awhile lol. Parking is over at a nearby structure and after hanging out for a few hours I only had to pay like a dollar so it was 100% worth it. On colder days there's heat lamps outside too so that's nice but you'll still wanna bring a jacket. read more

Native Son OC - Beer Gardens Near Me - Santa Ana, California

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It's an adequate place for a quick bite and a drink but nothing more. The wine is stale and food offerings are limited and not delicious. Service was fine though far too familiar with each other, not professional and doing the minimum. You need to take stairs to reach it. They do have an outside rooftop hangout with fire. read more

Just got back from Native Son and wow... this place seriously delivered. The rooftop vibes alone are worth the trip--such a cool, laid-back atmosphere with great music and an awesome view of downtown Santa Ana. I had their Nashville hot chicken sandwich and it was next level--crispy, spicy, juicy... everything you want it to be. We ordered a couple of different dishes and we ended up just sharing everything because it was all so good. The cocktails are unreal. Super creative and perfectly mixed! I had an AsomBroso tequila-based one (of course ) and it hit just right. You can tell the bartenders know what they're doing. Service was friendly and fast, even with the place being pretty packed. It just felt like a fun, easy night out with great food and drinks. 10/10 would recommend--can't wait to go back! read more

We've been coming to Native Son for years, and it's always been a fun spot, but lately, the service has gone downhill. We sat at the bar and totally understood that there was only one bartender, so we were patient. We waited about 25 minutes before being helped, which we didn't mind--what upset us was watching the bartender serve multiple people who had just walked up, even though we were clearly next. When we finally got our turn, he took our order and made our drinks, but when we closed out, he practically threw the handheld payment device at us. The whole experience felt cold and dismissive. I don't know if the culture there has shifted or if we were being discriminated against, but it was disappointing and annoying. I believe our bartender's name was Luis, not 100% sure though. Hoping this place turns things around because it used to be great. SERVICE: 1/5 we've been served by almost everyone and no one is that nice, only Jim and Brock. DRINKS: 3/5 tastes good enough PRICES: 2/5 the prices on the menu never match up with your bill, and there's an auto 10% which they used to not mention. It's confusing to know how much to tip. read more

Gabe such an amazing commodity to this business, great ambiance and service!!! Will be coming back and bringing friends:)

I came here before viewing the American Football Live in Los Angeles concert film at the Frida. And i definitely don't regret it. Staff recommended my friend and i drinks and they did not disappoint. The food was on point as well. It was quite a laidback environment and i look forward to going there again. read more

First time checking out this spot, I went on a weeknight. It's located upstairs with outdoor seating and a good selection of beers. The bartender was new but very friendly. Parking was convenient; I used the nearby structure and the first hour was free. The ambiance is chill and relaxed. I was in the mood for a cocktail instead of a beer, so I tried their seasonal white sangria. It wasn't good, the menu listed brandy, but it had a smoky mezcal-like taste. The bartender wasn't sure since he was new. I mentioned it to another employee who suggested I try the Yuzu Collins, and that drink was great. I didn't try their food, just had two cocktails. My total was $34.34. One thing to note, there's a 10% service charge, and my friend (who ordered food) noticed an additional "delivery fee." On top of that, when closing my tab, it listed a recommended 20% tip, which feels excessive considering the service was limited. The bar was understaffed, with one new bartender handling everything on a weeknight. I understand small businesses add service fees, but between the delivery fee and high tip recommendations, it adds up. The owner may want to reevaluate these charges. Overall, it's a nice atmosphere and friendly staff, but the fees and inconsistency in drinks make me unsure if I would return. read more

Came here to celebrate my 50th birthday. Had a blast. The staff were so friendly (Brandon, Desi and Lisa)! I appreciate your hospitality with the cake etc. The night was cozy with a fire pit table and friendly smiles. Thank you! read more

0 stars if possible! As a REAL native of OC, born and raised in Santa Ana. Avoid this place at all cost. From leaking ceilings to employees who walk around with entitlement and judgment against Hispanic minority. Where a place that's suppose to be a judgmental free zone full of "pride"........but the reality it's the total opposite. Explains why they are doing last call at 12:40 PM. read more

we used to LOVE coming to native son for brunch. We loved the burritos it came with their house salsa and syrup, menu has definitely changed (which honestly I'm pretty bummed about the burritos because they used to be fire). Last time I was here they had servers for brunch & now you have to go up and order yourself which is okay other places are like this BUT the servers are now hella rude and dismissive AND in addition to that they charge a 10% service fee except you don't get that service anymore (the service we used to love) on top of the tip and they don't disclose the 10% "service fee" on the menu or at anytime upon arrival. We wished we knew this before tipping 20% after such horrible service ... pretty disappointing. I used to rave to all my friends and family about how amazing this place WAS sad to say this isn't the go to anymore. read more

Great spot to cater to all beverage lovers. Tap list is long and rotates. They also have cans to consume on site and purchase to go. Cocktail specials and a full bar. Mimosas for brunch. More than just bar food. You can grab a meal here. It gets a little confusing with going up to the bar and having waiter service. Maybe that's a good thing. We normally start a tab at the bar and while they pick up empty glasses we'll order more. It's very easy to pay as you go as they have their mobile registers in hand. TVs inside to watch sports things. Dog friendly patio. Parking can be tricky if you're trying to avoid paying for parking. The public garage is free for two hours (double check me though). read more

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Don't waste your time coming here. The service is terrible. There were about five bartenders behind the bar, but only one was actually helping customers. The rest were just standing around and wouldn't serve anyone unless you got in a long line. I was sitting right at the bar and asked one of them (a male bartender, maybe late 20s) if he could help, and he told me to "get in line." It ended up taking me about 15 minutes just to get one drink. Super unorganized and not worth the wait. read more

After a bad experience I decided to come back and give the good Native bar a try. I have to shoutout Kennedy for being such a wonderful Bartender and keep. She was very attentive and was very respectful to my lady. That impression can go a long way. I had a few beers and a wonderful Pisco Sour. Ambiance was very nice as well. I love loved that they had a huge selection of Saint Patrick Day decorations ! Kennedy you rock ! read more

how the native son fries had me. thank you to the puerto rican working there for recommending them read more

Native Son OC - Beer Gardens Near Me - Santa Ana, California

Came here on a whim and it happened taco Tuesday! Great deal on tacos and they had vegetarian! I got two soyrizo tacos, delicious but definitely on the greasier side so not the most amazing but hey on taco Tuesday they're sooo cheap and paired with some yummy tortilla chips too. I didn't try any other food (fries for $15? No thank you) and I didn't like that they had no prices on their food menu so you had to ask. Service is super friendly. They let me try all 3 sours on tap when I had trouble deciding. The native son sour is def the most sour but I like it that way. Outdoor seating is not very optimal because they don't have all the outdoor heating lamps near where people sit so there's many tables that just get cold. Inside is open to the outdoor so not much warmer. Probably not great for nighttime in the winter months. read more

I love native son! The drinks and staff are awesome! Except today, the lady with short hair and a costume goatee. She was beyond insufferable and rude the whole time we were there. read more

Nice environment - good music playing - paloma tasted great - food was typical bar'ish food. Would go back!

Nice place but low key racist homophobe vibes from the white bartender wearing a sailor hat. We asked for a few tasters of beer and his answers were short and dismissive like "well that one comes in a can...so no" Understandable. So my gf decided to just order the pint called "Open Mind" ironically lol The dude just stayed there annoyed that we were still deciding on what to order so i decided to order a taste of the same beer bc this interaction was already feeling uncomfortable. He comes back with my gfs pint only...so I asked for my taster again and he just stared at us silently and with a weird blank stare. My gf basically reiterated that I asked for a taster of the same beer at which point he finally grabbed it. I drank it and decided to not purchase a drink for myself bc why would I want to spend my money after receiving terrible service and all the ugly vibes. Gross. I hope he learns to be more open minded for his sake, he looks like a miserable dude. read more

keep the dippppppppppp dips are the best please dont get rid of them i come here just for the spinach dip and the sexy bartenders read more

*This review is based on brunch only* We made a reservation for brunch at 10am. We thought it was weird that they charged $5 per person (to be applied to your bill) plus a $1 service charge... odd, but we wanted the peace of mind of having a reservation. We arrived a few minutes early. By 10:05, the door to get in was still locked, so we called. Someone came down and apologized and opened up... she was our waitress throughout brunch and was incredibly friendly. Absolutely nothing bad to say about the service. We were told we could sit wherever we liked, so we chose a booth indoors because it was too hot to sit on the rooftop. After sitting, our waitress brought waters and told us that the air conditioning unit is right above out table and it leaks... we appreciated the head up so that we could move to a table we would not get water dripping on us at, but still an odd thing for a food establishment not to fix... We each ordered a mimosa to drink. It was a good ration of champagne to OJ and filled to the brim. I ordered the Native Slam (eggs, bacon, sausage, potatoes, and toast.) It was a lot of food and everything was good. My friend ordered the Santa Ana burger and enjoyed it as well. The portions are huge and anything is easy to split. They were having trouble with their reservation system, so closing our bill was a bit weird trying to make sure the $10 we had paid to reserve the table would be applied... but it ended up working out. I think overall, this place is probably more enjoyable to come have a beer on their awesome rooftop rather than brunch. It wasn't bad, it just also wasn't amazing. I do have to give big props to our server who was absolutely wonderful. read more

Native Son OC - Native Slam and a mimosa - Beer Gardens Near Me - Santa Ana, California

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Alex was the best server! It was my first time coming to DT Santa Ana and she definitely made me feel more than welcome. Other servers tried to match the vibe but none came close! I'd definitely come back just for her. She made our work group feel right at home. Thank you Alex! We appreciate you! read more

Shady!! They charge a "delivery charge" for dine-in service...an additional charge...check your receipt...they will refund. The charge shows up on the printed version...print out your receipt (or just don't go). read more

We had a group of 10 and Alex took care of us. She s went way beyond any of our expectations and made for a super fun night! Brandon killed it too. They made us feel like we were super welcome. read more

Came here with a friend. This bar is located upstairs in downtown Santa Ana. Parking is in the structure. First two hours free. We found seats at the bar counters. Looks like many locals come here and bartenders know them by name. They serve food here but we didn't order any. I ordered the Hefe everywhere first time for everything on tap and my friend ordered their canned WeldWerks Apricot Gose. Drinks were good. Interesting pricing they have here. They have two restrooms. read more

Native Son OC - Beers on tap - Beer Gardens Near Me - Santa Ana, California