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Pasta Viva

4.0 (154 reviews)
Closed 10:00 am - 9:00 pm
Updated 3 months ago

Order Pasta Viva Takeout or Delivery

Pasta Viva Photos

Business Info

PASTA VIVA ATMOSPHERE

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

Recommended Reviews - Pasta Viva

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Reviews With Photos

Evelina C.

Came here cause my man was raving about the basil babe and we were in the area. Honestly I was a little surprised by how much the bowls of pasta were considering this is a fast casual joint. It was like $20 for a bowl of pasta! We ordered the basil babe and it came out fast! Like 5-7 minutes and it came with all the fixings. They leave all the parm and pepper available for you to take as you need and it's definitely a game changer to have the toppings. Their line of drinks are also really good! I was surprised with all the different beverage flavors. Personally the passion fruit was my favorite. All in all it was a great experience. Would def try more flavors.

Dave L.

Okay, so this place is addictive. After a few times eating their The Dreamer, you begin to crave it again and again. This is on the top of our list of places to get dinner or go to lunch. The pasta is so fresh and delicious. If you follow me, or have read my reviews you know I am extremely picky about the taste and quality of the food. Then, you will understand, if I say a place is addictive, then it is really good. Their pasta is home made, their sauces are fresh and made to order. Five stars perfection near the airport.

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!

Cheese Wheel Pasta (Build-Your-Own) Bowl
Dave K.

Pasta was delicious. Better than many well known Italian restaurants. Cheese wheel adds a velvety smooth taste. Everything is customizable including keto and non dairy options. Most importantly the staff here was excellent and so generous and accommodating. Love this place. Well done to the owners and staff. Oh and the chocolate pasta was delicious too.

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.

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.

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"

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!

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16 days ago

Really good pasta. Had the parm and mushroom bowl. Protein is extra charge so beware.

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No flavor and chewey pasta over priced for what you get I don't think I would not come back I have had way better pasta and cost less

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Pasta Viva Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Pasta Viva

North Italia

North Italia

4.2(5.9k reviews)
1.2 mi
$$

Excellent Italian spot from an established chain. Food and service are excellent. Definitely try to…read moreget reservations on peak hours. It's valet parking in the front, and it can be difficult to get parking nearby (but plenty of parking in the parking structure behind the gym). Food- 5 stars wild shrimp scampi- standard but delicious squid ink tonnarelli- perfectly cooked and bright. I would recommend sharing the pasta dishes, especially with contrasting heavy and bright dishes. the squid ink and braised short rib were excellent going back and forth between them braised short rib marsala- buttery, fatty, goodness. salted caramel budino- I couldn't get enough of the dessert. Well balanced and delicious Service- 5 stars Food came out quickly and the servers and bartenders were really attentive. Bottom Line Excellent Italian restaurant from an established chain. Great food and service and always consistent

Great spot for quality Italian food. We came here to celebrate a birthday dinner and it did not…read moredisappoint. The food and ambiance were amazing. Service was also very friendly. We ordered the white truffle garlic bread, which was so flavorful and paired well with the ricotta. For pizza, we got the Margherita, Hot Nashville Chicken, and Chicken Pesto. All were really good. The crust was thin and crispy. All the pastas were also amazing. We ordered the Spicy Rigatoni Vodka, Trottole Chicken Pesto, and Fettuccine Alfredo. The sauces were creamy, and the pasta tasted fresh and high quality. The only downside was that it was definitely on the pricier side, and the portions weren't very large, especially since we were dining with a bigger group. But for an upscale experience, it's a great spot.

Photos
North Italia - NORTH ITALIA - IRVINE

NORTH ITALIA - IRVINE

North Italia
North Italia

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Oliver's Trattoria

Oliver's Trattoria

4.3(427 reviews)
4.9 mi
$$$
Free parking
Outdoor seating

Been wanting to try Oliver's Trattoria in Irvine for a while and finally managed to get a…read morereservation for Friday evening at 6:30pm and the place was packed. We were seated on the outdoor patio, which had the perfect ambience as the evening started to settle in. We started with the Fritto Misto, which was awesome. The calamari and shrimp had just the right amount of breading, and the arrabbiata sauce pairing was spot on. For dinner, the three of us decided to share a few dishes: the Branzino al Sale, Margherita pizza, and Spaghetti allo Scoglio. The Branzino al Sale had a great tableside flame presentation, and they deboned and filleted it for us, which was really impressive. We were super excited for it, but unfortunately it was way too salty for our taste. We mentioned it to our waiter, and he handled it really well by switching it out for the lamb chop special of the day. That ended up being the star of the night, honestly one of the best lamb chops we've had. Perfectly cooked, flavorful, and tender and love the chimichurri sauce with it. The Margherita and Spaghetti allo Scoglio were both very good as well. To finish, we shared the Affogato, Panna Cotta, and Tiramisu, and all three desserts were amazing. Despite the issue with the branzino, the service was excellent, the patio ambience was great, and this is definitely a place we'd come back to.

Food quality - 5/5 Value - 1/5…read moreAmbiance - 5/5 Service - 5/5 Overall - 4/5 Portions are small, and therefore overpriced, and I didn't appreciate the 20% auto gratuity for our table of 4 adults and 2 kids. $210 worth of food was just enough with no leftovers. I will not be going back anytime soon.

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Oliver's Trattoria
Oliver's Trattoria
Oliver's Trattoria

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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

INI Ristorante - Crab Roe Spaghetti. Part of our new Summer Menu.

INI Ristorante

4.5(3.9k reviews)
6.4 mi

Derick T was our server and he went above and beyond to take care of our large party (14+). He and…read morethe rest of the team continuously checked in on us and even took the time to split our check per person. That is something that we truly appreciate as I know it is not easy to do.

Oh Kei Concepts, you've done it again. I've been on a mission to try all of their offerings since…read moregoing to NEP Cafe in Irvine. We made a reservation for a Saturday night and were so excited and it really did not disappoint from start to finish. We got the puff bread with cultured butter with honey and furikake. OMG. I just... how can something so simply taste so delicious? Definitely a must try. We paired it with the salmon crudo and caprese with burrata. The salmon crudo was good, not blown away, but the caprese. Mmm! It came in a ponzu sauce and was this beautiful blend between Italian and Japanese flavors. So good. For our mains, my husband got the Seafood mafaldine and I opted for the Mala lamb pizza. This was such a unique pizza flavor, the hot honey sauce it came with tasted like a spicy, sweet curry and the pizza itself was delicious. Crispy crust, a little bit of cilantro for freshness. So good. To top it all off, we got the Blueberry pavlova and hazelnut cake. Both of these were incredibly indulgent and absolutely worth it. I think we were full for a whole day off this meal. To wash it down, I had the Highball with Suntory whiskey and a Calamansi Sidecar. I loved the assortment of Japanese whisky here, the cocktail menu was more tastefully curated than just trendy. On top of an excellent meal that I will be salivating over for a while, our server Danny was great! Super attentive, friendly, helpful and just a delight. Highly recommend!

Photos
INI Ristorante - Pork Tomahawk (dinner only). Part of our new Summer Menu.

Pork Tomahawk (dinner only). Part of our new Summer Menu.

INI Ristorante - Miso Glazed Black Cod (dinner only). Part of our new Summer Menu.

Miso Glazed Black Cod (dinner only). Part of our new Summer Menu.

INI Ristorante - Matcha Tiramisu. Part of our new Summer Menu.

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Matcha Tiramisu. Part of our new Summer Menu.

Pasta Viva - italian - Updated May 2026

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