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    Pasta Viva

    4.0 (147 reviews)
    Closed 10:00 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

    Order Pasta Viva Takeout or Delivery

    Pasta Viva Photos

    Business Info

    PASTA VIVA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Dogs allowed

    Recommended Reviews - Pasta Viva

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    Reviews With Photos

    Anthony M.

    Been wanting to try this spot, finally had a chance to. It's located in a plaza with a lot of food options and plenty of parking. Inside is very modern, and the staff was super friendly and helpful. I was taking a while to decide, and they checked in on me a couple of times to make sure I was good, which I appreciated. They offer a make-your-own pasta option, but I went with the set option, the mushroom and chicken pasta. The pasta is handmade, and the fresh pasta was really good. They mix it in a cheese wheel right in front of you, which was a nice touch, the flavors came together really well and blended nicely with the cheese. Overall it was very flavorful and well balanced. The cheese wasn't overpowering at all. Great experience and I'd definitely come back.

    The Dreamer (AlfredoProsciutto) Pasta
    Jonathan L.

    Located in a busy plaza, we went during lunch and service was really quick and everyone was very welcoming. Everything here is a little pricy but the pasta is tossed in a big cheese wheel and everything came out delicious. We tried the Gladiator, a marinara base, and the Dreamer, an alfredo base. Both very yummy, would definitely get again. The only thing I didn't like was the drinks. They have their own flavors in house but most of them weren't working and the water tasted a little funky. Other than that definitely a solid place for quick pasta!

    Counter
    Elly P.

    Food: - The Gladiator (Bolognese Meatballs) Pasta: noodle consistency was good, however there is only one choice for noodles. Meatballs were standard, not the most flavorful. The dish had too much liquid, perhaps they didn't drain the water from the noodles. It was difficult to taste the cheese flavor from the cheese wheel with the addition of the parmesan cheese. - Basil Babe (PestoChicken) Pasta no chicken: good pesto flavor, but dish had too much liquid making the pasta soggy over time - Plain cheese pasta: cheese flavor was stronger, but salty Ambiance: - Order at the counter and wait for order - Cheese wheel is more for show than addition of flavor

    The Dreamer (AlfredoProsciutto) Pasta
    Gerina O.

    I wanted to like this place, I really did. You order at a kiosk in the restaurant which was fairly easy. The food here is a little expensive and the portions aren't large for pasta. I got the Dreamer bowl - Alfredo and prosciutto. And my food was salty, not just a little but unbearably so. And the worst part was that my pasta was cold. I watched them make it, do the cheese wheel and everything. They handed it to me and I started to eat right away, and it was already cold. The velvet upholstery looks nice in pictures but the seats are all pretty dirty even though the place is pretty new. I hate to leave a bad review, but my meal was pretty much inedible.

    Madeline S.

    My friends and I are calling this place Club Pasta Viva, because they basically have club music in the evening, but we were totally here for it. Theres a very fun and happy vibe. We went for our first time on a Wednesday evening around 6:30pm and it was busy (I guess that's what happens when you go viral on TikTok)! The staff were hustling! It's an open air kitchen and you could see them getting to work, and they still had a smile on their faces. There's kiosks for ordering, and when it got really busy someone on their line would jump up to the cash register. I was worried this place would be just internet hype, but my friends and I all agree that it was actually really delicious. Their Alfredo especially...[insert happy Italian word here]. No one had a dish they did not enjoy. We will be back for sure!

    Dreamer
    Andrew L.

    I tried Pasta Viva and I really enjoyed my experience. Food: I ordered the Dreamer pasta which had prosciutto and pistachios in it. The dish tasted absolutely delicious. The pistachios added a nice crunchy flavor to ot. The menu had a good selection of pasta dishes, sandwiches, and salads. The only con is that the prices are a bit high. I wish my pasta dish had more sauce. Service: The employees are friendly and our food came out quickly. Ambiance: The decor inside is nice. The seating is comfortable.

    Megan S.

    i really like this casual italian diner! normally italian cuisines don't have a lot of good casual restaurants but i feel like this place has a nice interior, fresh, hand made pasta, and overall great taste. service was friendly, would definitely come back to try their tiramisu balls! i got the chicken alfredo and they make it in the cheese wheel so there's a lot of flavor.

    Jenesa B.

    This was my first time coming here. We were in the area nearby for a tech repair and we got hungry. My friend was craving something noodle-y and this came up in the surrounding area and I'm glad we came. We told the woman at the cashier what she recommended. She gave us a few options of what customers normally get and she also shared a few of her favorite dishes she chooses from. I didn't catch her name but she was really sweet in helping us decide. The establishment is not too large of a space inside. You do have about 5 table spaces that can fit possibly 1-4 persons. Depends how big your group is. There are some tables outside the establishment as well. You'll spend about $15-$30 about. I think it's worth it. The flavors just come through so well. Since I deal with acid reflux, the popular items had mostly tomato based or garlic in the sauce. Nothing against it; trust I love me some pasta, but my stomach would cause discomfort if I took the risk. Anyways aside the point, I did end up ordering their Chicken & Mushroom pasta I believe it was called The Game Changer from their menu and it was delicious! I liked the ground pepper they added into the pasta sauce. The pasta is fresh too. I didn't even feel bloated after eating here. Mind you, the Alfredo sauce comes from spinning the fresh pasta on a cheese wheel. It was an awesome experience to see that in action. Definitely coming back when I'm back in this area.

    Toppings
    Julie N.

    Total impromptu lunch with my (former, but forever) work wife... we tried out a new place today that was recommended by Nate Eats... It was empty when we arrived on a Friday at 11:30, but quickly filled to capacity with a few waiting for a table to sit down for lunch. I ordered the chicken pesto with pasta and my friend ordered the mushroom pasta. I quickly realized that my pasta was cold, but the bottom of the container was warm. After eating a few bites, I was not impressed, so I went to ask if they could somehow warm it up as my friends was steaming hot. The guy at the counter said he could not warm it up, but would make me a new one. I told him that It was ok... I'd just eat it as is cuz I didn't want to waste the food. Shortly thereafter, a lady came to our table and told me she was having a new one made for me and I could take the first one home. That was extremely nice and I enjoyed the hotter version much better. This is a cute, new pasta place in a fresh, nice, mini mall with plenty of parking.

    The Dreamer (AlfredoProsciutto) Pasta
    Valerie N.

    This place is definitely more of a casual food spot as seating is limited! Genuinely one of the most flavorful pastas I've had in a while-- definitely impressed! This spot is a bit pricey but worth for the high quality pasta. Although I wasn't the biggest fan of prosciutto + pasta, I still thought the entree was great! Their bread is extremely fluffy and airy as well. Entree size was big as well, this was enough for two meals for someone who doesn't eat as much. Great pasta spot!

    Hitting that cheese wheel!
    Cynthia C.

    Came in on the recommendation of Yelp friend, Sherry C.(aka IG: aglassofsherry). I'm starting off my weekend of 'YES' with the cheese wheel pasta she highlighted. Hubs just likes the basic, a simple fettuccine Alfredo. Lucky us, that's where Pasta Viva STARTS! A simple house made - of imported Italian Chef's Flour - fettuccine, cooked in creamy Alfredo sauce then tossed in a cheese wheel and drizzled with Parmesan. $10! Hubs gave a satisfied 'Yummy!' when asked for his opinion. I stepped it up juuuust 1 notch and added a 4ct of meatballs for $5. They were good, dense, flavorful and meaty. All in all, a tasty bite. The pasta had a distinctly fresh taste. If you've made pasta from scratch, you know the taste. But this pasta was a bit lighter than I thought it would be and that's due to the imported flour. Yana, one of the owners, was moving around, checking on customers and stopped to ask how we liked the food and if it was our first time in. When we said it was, she was delighted to explain the concept and execution of the cheese wheel and fresh pasta. How they use clean ingredients and import them to replicate the delicious tasting dishes of their European home. Hubs also enjoyed the organic Kola Cola lite fountain drink. Guests have the option of ordering ahead, using the self-serve ordering kiosk, or placing their order w/staff. Justin helped us with our order and made sure our requests were noted accurately to the chef, then delivered our dishes when they were ready. The inside seating consists of a long, velvet covered banquette with small Disneyland Gibson Girl ice cream fountain, marble top, iron base tables in front and cute little upholstered stools. There's plenty of parking in the lot and all-in-all, should we find ourselves back in Irvine, craving scratch-made fettuccine and Alfredo sauce, tossed in a cheesy wheel, we will def head to Pasta Viva. Cheers! "CC"

    Danya S.

    I was really excited to try Pasta Viva, but unfortunately, I left feeling disappointed. On the positive side, the customer service was excellent. The young man working was incredibly kind and took his time answering all of my questions when I called ahead about food allergies. I truly appreciated his patience and professionalism. However, the experience fell short when it came to allergy safety. It doesn't seem like they have a true allergy protocol in place, especially regarding cross-contamination with tree nuts. Although my concern was typed into the system, watching the food being prepared made it feel like it was treated like any other dish. Because of that, my son didn't feel comfortable eating the salad due to the risk. As for the pasta, it was very bland and lacked flavor, which was disappointing given the hype. We spent about $95 (including tip) for three pastas, a salad, and three drinks, and for that price, I expected much more in both taste and overall quality. The cheese wheel presentation may be a fun hook, but I think the restaurant would benefit from focusing more on flavor and food safety rather than the show.

    Brian K.

    Stopped by Pasta Viva for an early lunch on what turned out to be the day of their grand opening celebration (I guess they've been in soft-opening stage?). The staff was very friendly and patient, taking time to explain the menu and offer recommendations, which was appreciated. The setup is fast-casual - think Chipotle but for Italian food. You order at the counter, watch them prepare the food in front of you, then grab it and find a table (or find a table first). The menu includes pastas, sandwiches, and a build-your-own pasta option, with the main draw being the parmesan cheese wheel that they use to finish the pastas. They also offer bowls, salads, and desserts, though we didn't try those. We ordered the Blizzard pasta with meatballs and the Parma focaccia sandwich. The house-made pasta itself was excellent, and I loved that it came with lots of whole garlic cloves, a big plus for garlic lovers. However, the dish was noticeably undersalted, and the meatballs were also lacking seasoning and flavor. The focaccia bread was delicious, but the sandwich was overwhelmed by the fig jam, making it far too sweet. I'd recommend asking for less or having it on the side if possible. Overall, we weren't especially impressed with the meal, but since they're just getting started, I'm willing to give them another try as they find their footing. The cheese wheel experience is definitely the main attraction - I just hope they dial in the seasoning, because the potential is there. I'd give 3.5 stars if half stars were possible

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    Pasta Viva Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Pasta Viva

    Il Fornaio

    Il Fornaio

    3.9(1.3k reviews)
    0.5 mi
    $$$

    Il Fornaio in Irvine is one of our favorite Italian restaurants, and we were lucky to get a…read morelast‑minute reservation today on Mother's Day. Parking is easy with the validated structure, and the restaurant's location is beautiful. We were seated right away and placed our drink and food orders. We ordered several appetizers and entrées -- our usual favorites are the calamari, Caesar salad, rigatoni alla vodka, and spaghetti with marinara. Their bread is always delicious. The calamari and salad arrived promptly; the salad was great, but the calamari was only warm and not as crispy as we had requested. Unfortunately, things slipped a bit after that. Our entrées took a very long time to arrive, and only two pastas were brought out -- one of which was the wrong dish. When the manager came by, I clarified what we had ordered and let him know we were still missing a pasta. The remaining dishes eventually arrived and were delicious, but by then the first two people were nearly done eating. Il Fornaio is usually very consistent for us, so I'm hoping this was simply an off night due to the Mother's Day rush.

    Went here for a date and it was a good experience. Parking is in the parking garage and has to be…read morevalidated in order not to pay for it. The restaurant itself is very nice and service is okay, maybe on the slower side if anything. The food was very good, we both got pasta dishes and they came out tasting fresh.

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    Il Fornaio
    Il Fornaio
    Il Fornaio

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    Pasta Sisters - Tomato & Basil Spaghetti with Burrata

    Pasta Sisters

    3.9(56 reviews)
    4.9 mi
    Family-owned & operated
    Locally owned & operated

    I was excited to learn there was a location in Costa Mesa but was disappointed that it was a ghost…read morekitchen and not a real restaurant. The pasta wasn't bad but would probably not visit again.

    My wife and I are fans of the original Pasta Sisters location in Culver City. Their handmade…read morepastas are delicious, and we were excited to try their location on the border of Costa Mesa and Newport Beach. The extraordinary thing about the Pasta Sisters is that they offer house made pastas, which guarantees a higher price point, but offers unparalleled texture. The spaghetti has a "bite" that you get from a true "al dente" pasta. Their cheese tortellini were incredibly rich and cheesy, but a touch salty. The drawback of this location is that it's a ghost kitchen. You order it online and the order will be ready for you when you come in to pick it up. The location does not have seating, and you eat it at your own convenience. If you live/work locally, then this can be definitely worth checking out. Because I live out of town, I have to enjoy it either in my car, after a long drive home, or at my wife's office; however, I want to enjoy these $20 pastas in a restaurant, with wine and good company. A ghost kitchen is very different than a restaurant experience. I hope they do choose to bring their restaurant to the OC one day.

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    Pasta Sisters - Tagliatelle pesto with burrata

    Tagliatelle pesto with burrata

    Pasta Sisters - Spaghetti bottarga

    Spaghetti bottarga

    Pasta Sisters - Pasta with tomato & ricotta

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    Pasta with tomato & ricotta

    Pasta Viva - italian - Updated May 2026

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