10/10: The food was AMAZING! Everything we ordered was way better than expected. Service was great! It was quick and personal. Our server helped us take a bunch of cute photos. The ambience was so romantic and the dim lighting along with live vinyl really added to the experience!! Mando stop if you're in Santa Ana. read more

From the moment I walked in, I knew, this was going to be good. The server I think his name was Billy, really did a good job. He recommended some amazing cocktails and really good pre dinner apps. And he delivered. Our favourites were the pork skewers and the smooth operator cocktail. excited to come back here!!! read more

Four of us ate at Sonder last Tuesday for my birthday. We walked in and they didn't even ask my name; they knew which party we were and took us immediately to our table. Our server was friendly and knowledgeable and gave great advice about which dishes to order and whether each would be enough for four. Everything was excellent. In particular we enjoyed the pork belly, the seafood cocktail, and the chicken skewers. We also had the Little Gem salad, the sourdough, and the bone marrow onigiri. We all agreed: "Not a bad bite in the bunch." The cocktails were creative and the wine selection was good, too. Music was good. It wasn't so loud that we couldn't talk. After dinner, they brought a scoop of matcha ice cream with a candle in it for me and there was enough for all of us to have a bite or two. The only drawback was that from my seat, I could see into the kitchen hallway, which wasn't very attractive. They need a noren to block the view. Minor detail, though, and I suppose that would probably make it more difficult to bring food through. Highly recommend. read more

Absolute vibes. Great date spot. Loved the remixed oldies DJ played on Friday. Drinks: Loved the Ascension. Food: Starters - Little Gem Salad 5/5, Sourdough 3/5, Seafood Cocktail 5/5. We ordered all the Skewers - everything was delicious. Cucumber Som Tum also paired well with everything. The roasted half chicken 4/5. Service: Above and beyond - Jenny really took care of us. Owner also came out to say hello. Highly recommend Sonder - a true gem in DTSA. read more

Overall the vibes here are really nice and the food is solid and unique too. Our waiter was also great and kept checking up on us. For the food, we thought that the skewers were really good with unique flavors (especially the beef and pork belly). I would prefer the maitake skewers with a bit more char and less oil but it paired well with the miso butter. The half roasted chicken was also perfectly cooked and full of flavor! read more

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Really enjoyed my time at Sonder. Located in the middle of Downtown Santa Ana. The perfect place to bring some friends to enjoy some good cocktails, chill DJ vibes and a great menu of small tapas and meats. The chicken was amazing here. It's hard to have a chicken breast as tender as a rib eye but somehow they are able to pull it off with their brining process here while having skin that is crispy. The Caesar salad was another must order. My waitress was very helpful with recommendations, including my mezcal sour drink. read more

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Jenny was super sweet and kind. She was very attentive and gave really good recommendations. The clarified cocktail was absolutely delicious! for someone who personally doesn't love sweet things at all it was really good. the banshee wine was really nice as well the salad is just so good we finished that so quickly! the blue corn sourdough was also delicious with the sumac ricotta too! the mushroom skewers were so flavorful and surprisingly meaty texture! pandan butterscotch pudding was sweet but the crème fraise was salty enough to counteract the sweetness. overall the aesthetic was super cute! i love that they had a dj come in around 7 to liven up the space. i love seeing the shelf of records! read more

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Here is the thing, we were looking for a vibe and found it! The Friday feelz were feeling. I love the ambiance, the records as the main attraction was key to the vibe. Yes, the DJ was on point making my night feels great! Okay, food was tasty. Lets talk about it Tapas! My hubby and I shared all of it. Orderd the Maitake mushrooms ( miso butter, oh boy) and Pork belly ( flavors are a good combo) a bit saucy! The flavors are different, that the point! Din din: outside skirt steak. We really enjoyed the cream but again a little to saucy but that is the jist to have new food with a diversity of uniqueness! We would order it again, no doubt! We sat at the bar and enjoy it all. My hubby and I had lots to say. If you want to try this location, you will need to reserve a spot. We walked in around 7pm and sat at the bar! Lucky us! read more

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Celebrated a birthday here with a group of 9. The seating was very accommodating for our group size. We also saw many tables for smaller groups and cute bar seating. You come here for the vibe, aesthetic, and a good time. The music was great, service was fast and friendly, and food was good. Keep in mind the menu is tapas friendly with some entrees. I'd recommend some apps and drinks on a night out here. A bit pricey but you pay for the experience so we didn't mind. Loved it! read more

Sonder - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Santa Ana, California

Sonder is now one of our favorite restaurants and date night spots! I made a reservation for a Saturday to celebrate my boyfriend's birthday. It was around 5/6 and it was pretty empty. The vibes inside were great, we loved it. To start, we both got drinks. I got the karma chamelon drink with the matcha cold foam and WOW, I wasn't sure I would like it but I loved it! My boyfriend got the smooth operator and we both loved it. They were both not to strong but overall just amazing flavor. For food, we ordered a few things. The bone marrow onigiri - wow, we loved! Pork fried rice - this had such an incredible flavor, and we would get it again! For the skewers we got the hanger steak - wow, overall good flavor. Chicken oysters - we really liked the flavor of these. The stand out of the night and the ones we loved the most - the pork belly. Just wow. The flavor, it melts in your mouth, and they are incredible! I believe this one came with white rice which was perfect. My one note, is that on the reservation I put we were celebrating my boyfriend's bday. Even when we got there they asked if we were celebrating anything and I told them. She then asked if he likes being celebrated and making it a big deal (something like that) and I said yes. I was expecting them to sing happy bday or bring something out cause that's kinda what it was giving but they didn't. So I was thrown off by that. Overall we loved Sonder. We definitely want to come back as we learned they only do the fries on Tuesday with their burger. The service was also top notch! Would definitely recommend. read more

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Having been to Sonder a few times now, it's safe to say it never disappoints! We came in on 8/7 to celebrate a birthday and had another wonderful experience. Every dish hit the spot--from the crisp cucumber peanut salad (huge fave) and flavorful grilled skewers (maitake mushrooms) to the tender roast chicken and sweet pandan dessert in a teacup. Seasonal menu so a couple of our favorites are no longer on the menu (okinawan sweet potato and longanisa). Special thanks to Billy for the outstanding service. Parking in the plaza across can be hit-or-miss depending on your arrival time. There's also paid (used to be free) parking structure nearby. read more

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* only open evenings till late night * hi-fi listening bar (cozy weeknights, lively weekends with local DJs) * evolving seasonal menus that incorporate Southeast Asian flavors * offers small and shared plates * my favorite item was their Dill Milk Bread 7/10 read more

Sonder - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Santa Ana, California

Very very slow, even with reservation. Also quite pricey. $18-22 for most cocktails. read more

Sonder - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Santa Ana, California

Kept seeing this place trending and got to try out the hype myself. What a vibe! My friends and I shared dishes family style and was full by the end of the night. We got Roasted Chicken, Outside Skirt Steak, Voodoo Cocktail, and After Midnight Cocktail. Our server actually recommended the chicken dish and oh man this was not some regular rotisserie chicken dish at all! The seasoned chicken brought out such a unique flavor that was addicting! We kept coming back to it for bites. The steak was also plentiful and filling. As for the drinks, they don't go easy so enjoy LOL Their service is always amazing. Can't wait to come back here again with my friends :) read more

Sonder - Roasted Chicken, Outside Skirt Steak, Voodoo Cocktail, and After Midnight Cocktail - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Santa Ana, California

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I've Sonder-ed twice in the past few months and I really like it. They're owned by the same people as Kaizen so the music is on point. The decor is gorgeous and inviting - perfect if you're meeting friends or taking someone on a date. Cocktails are fire, order one. For their starters, I really like the bone marrow onigiri (2 for $20). This dish is constantly reincarnated so you never really know what you're gonna get. On my first visit, it included trout roe which is so decadently delicious paired with the marrow. The rice is proportionally small so each bite captures the decadence. The skewers are pricey, but if you order one, let it be the maitake mushrooms ($7). It's so meaty that you forget that it's not meat at all. Highly recommend. If you're sharing with a group or need some carbs, I recommend ordering the fried rice. I've had the prawn and pork versions and both are great. The fried rice is solid so any added protein is just a bonus. I've met some dishes I didn't love, but I really like that their menu is ever evolving. I'll definitely be back to try some of their specials. read more

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I've had Sonder saved for so long and I'm so glad I finally made it in for a double date, birthday celebration. We had a reservation and got seated immediately. There was a DJ spinning that evening and she was fantastic. I loved having the music going but also feeling like we were able to easily have a conversation. Going off memory I know we got all of the skewers and we struggled going around and what our faves were. Even the mushroom skewer was out of this world. We also got the charred beets which were a fave of mine and the table also enjoyed the pork fried rice. Some outshined others but there was nothing we ordered that were a disappointment. We also had great service and our waitress was very attentive bringing us our different courses and checking in on if we needed refills on our cocktails. read more

Sonder - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Santa Ana, California

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my friends and i made reservations for a saturday night. the environment is fun and lively on saturdays. a few of us don't drink but they have a few zero proof drinks to enjoy. i got the letting go (zero proof drink) and really enjoyed it. we ended up sharing all the food. we got the 6100 blue corn sourdough, pate chaud, hanger steak, pork belly, outside skirt steak, pork fried rice, beef & pork banh duc, charred beats, and the pandan butterscotch pudding for dessert. all of the food was really delicious. absolutely no complaints about the food. would definitely come back! read more

Sonder - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Santa Ana, California

Pro Tip: If you are visiting the restaurant, SIT INSIDE. Outside is not the same vibe. I regrettably was late, and we had to forfeit our inside reservation for an outside reservation. We still enjoyed the food, but the outside lacks ambiance. You cannot hear the music from the outside, the decor is nonexistent, and there aren't any umbrellas available. If you are looking to enjoy the vinyls and the ambiance, sit inside. As for the food, it's mostly very small plates that can be shared, but are small portions, unless you get the limited edition or shared plates. It can get pricey if you try the skewers and appetizers. We got the Bone Marrow Onigiri, Pickled Plate, Pork Belly Skewers, Hanger Steak Skewers, and Scallops, and everything was yummy. I will give this spot another shot and make sure to sit inside before I make up my mind. read more

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Wow where do I begin. Sonder really stands out from all of the countless restaurants in OC. The inside is gorgeous; both grand and retro but with a charm. It's perfect for an intimate date or fun night out. I would describe it has a vinyl bar with great cocktails and a unique menu featuring Asian fusion tapas/sharable bites. Fun fact: Sonder is owned by siblings Diane and Lamson and is located right next to Lamson's first restaurant , Kaizen Shabu! This place sometimes gets booked for private events so I HIGHLY recommend making a reservation as to not wait and guarantee it isn't closed the day you want to come. There is also usually events or a live DJ later in the evenings so check their instagram to be up at date @sonderdtsa. The food here is absolutely delicious and flavorful. It tastes both familiar but also new by putting a unique twist on dishes and flavors you already know. Some standout dishes are the little gem salad, dill milk bread, and charred beets. My only complaint is that the Sichuan fries were not as crispy and I would have liked. They are also quite greasy and heavy. But I understand why it is soggy due to being tossed in the Sichuan oil after frying to achieve the numbing flavor. We also tried the black sesame walnut for dessert and it was to die for; such a toasty flavor that paired perfectly with the creamy ice cream. While there are a few staple menu items, the kitchen seems to often be coming out with different dishes so you're sure to not be tired coming here time and time again. read more

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Absolutely loved this place. The vibes are unreal with a live DJ. It is a little hard to hear the people across from you so you do have to speak up a little bit. The drinks were 5/5. Service was 5/5. The food was also a 5/5. Would definitely come back. Great spot for a dinner with friends. We got the pork fried rice and we wanted to get the outside skirt steak but they were out and we were recommended the pork secreto steak which ended up being our favorite dish. The scallop skewers were my 2nd favorite dish with the sichuan chili crunch. The pork fried rice was ok, the rice was a little overcooked imo. The absolute best part though was probably the pandan butterscotch pudding. I never had anything like that before and would come back just for that dessert. I did not love the voodoo drink, but the kokomo my friend got with the ube was really good. read more

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This seems to be the HOT spot in dtsa and I was there for it. Before 10pm it is more of a grown and sexy lounge vibes-- loud music, dark, great drinks and food. The dj's switch over at 10pm and the younger crowd comes and the music goes up even louder. However, I loved the night, lounge feel and the dj's were on point. I recommend reservations by all means! Protip--If you have a reservation before 10 service will continue throughout the night. We stayed until about midnight and our waitress was absolutely lovely. She kept the drinks flowing. We had about 8 drinks from the menu and bill ended at $148. If you are looking for a lounge feel with good music, service and drinks in dtsa this place is it! read more

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We were pleasantly surprised by our experience here. The food was well seasoned, erring a bit on the salty side at times. The only complaint is that the scallops are a bit lackluster for the price and it's loud. Like really loud. But overall it was a nice evening dinner. read more

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Came here on a Friday and it was... interesting. The place looks amazing. Very dim lit and cute. You walk in and through the first room it looked like sit down service, then you head in the back room where the bar is at w/ a dj. It was packed. They handed out tequila shots on trays and it became clear it was a private bday event. Stood at the bar looking awkward af. The bartenders not greeting us at all. To be fair they were pumping out drinks for the party. Luckily the stressed out waitress stopped and took our order. Bless her. We went and sat down at the first room to wait for our drinks. -side note there was a guy behind the bar that was absolutely wasted... he kept going outside for a smoke and a drink, then headed behind the bar again... not sure what was going on with that.. Forgot what they were but they were.. ok. Nothing great. Then we got a second round of different drinks to give it another try. Had to return the espresso martini for tasting like only cold brew. There was no alcohol in that. Just got something else. Again another mid cocktail that tasted a bit bitter and syrupy. Really wanted to like this place, maybe will give it another try when there isn't a chaotic party. read more

Sonder - Espresso martini and a soju drink. - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Santa Ana, California

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Wow. Execution of perfectly balanced dishes. Sonder just really impressed me with their balance of light flavors and quality ingredients. No heavy sauces or fillers just delicious dishes to satisfy your craving. Mushroom skewers, steak skewers and the steak plate were my three favorite dishes. The restaurant has a great vibe and is clean with a nice seating area and bar and the staff were all great and service was great. read more

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This was my first time in Downtown Santa Ana, and this place definitely gave me a good first impression of the area! I would definitely come back and explore Downtown Santa Ana a little more. The ambiance and customer service were great, and the music was GOOD, thank god lol. Surprisingly, it wasn't that busy when we went, especially since I've been hearing and seeing so much about this place on social media. Our server was amaazziingg! He recommended that I try the Smooth Operator, which I was a little skeptical about because it had Hennessy and rum in it, but OMG- it was good!!! I could barely taste the alcohol, which definitely caught up to me toward the end because I was tipsy lol. As for the food... hm. We tried the Pork Fried Rice, Pork Secreto Steak, Hanger Steak Skewers, and Pork Belly Skewers. Everything was good, but nothing really surprised me except for the Hanger Steak Skewers. Unfortunately, their Outside Skirt Steak was sold out, which I really wanted to try. The fried rice wasn't mind blowing either- it honestly reminded me of Trader Joe's fried rice but with their own sauce, and some lime added lol. Overall, I feel like this place is more about the ambiance and experience. It's definitely cute for a date night, aesthetically presented food, drinks, and social media photos. I'd come back for the vibes and drinks, but the food itself didn't necessarily WOW me. read more

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This was my first visit to sonder and they made a great first impression! Since it was my friends birthday, they brought over birthday shots for both of them. Afterwards, the owner stopped by to say hi and since it was our first visit, he gave us shots for the whole table. Very kind of him. Food was great - we ordered a couple of things to share including the 6100 blue corn sourdough, chicken oysters, pork belly, spring onion pancake, and pork, please and prawn fried rice. My personal favorite was the fried rice, but everything else was tasty too! We also got dessert which was the pandan butterscotch pudding - yummy! Service was wonderful. They were attentive and kind and quick. They brought out some birthday ice cream for the two birthday girls in the party. Ambiance was great. It could be intimate and romantic for couples but also great for celebrations or large groups. I enjoyed sonder very much and will definitely visit again particularly due to their excellent service! read more

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Sonder in Downtown Santa Ana is a Southeast Asian fusion restaurant with a lot of Vietnamese influence, but they put their own spin on the flavors and dishes. We sat outside, which was actually really nice and gave us a more relaxed dinner experience. The service was probably what I'll remember most. Our servers were hilarious and had us laughing throughout the meal. They checked on us often, joked around with us, and made the night more fun without being over the top. Even the owner came outside to check on us and see how everything was going. You can tell there's a lot of pride behind this place. The menu is made for sharing, so come with people who don't mind passing plates around. There are a lot of familiar Southeast Asian flavors, but they're presented in ways that are a little different from what you'd normally expect. We had a great time here. Good food is obviously important, but having servers with personality and an owner who takes the time to check on his customers makes a difference. Sonder gave us both. read more

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I've been a big fan of Kaizen and am so happy I finally got to try out Sonder next door! Sonder is located in DTSA, and there's plenty of street parking plus a parking lot next to it. They took over the old El Mercado restaurant, and while the layout is similar, the vibes are completely different. I love the vinyl DJ setup, along with the colors and lighting they use now. We decided to stop by very last minute, but the host was so gracious to sneak us a spot at the bar. Service here was some of the best I've experienced in OC. Everyone was SO friendly, and made it feel like I was hanging out at a friend's place for great food and drinks. Shoutout to Tony who was taking care of us at the bar, he made the whole experience such a treat. Everyone was super attentive and was on top of everything too, making this such a lovely experience. On the drinks front, this place has one of the best Tequila offerings in the area, and they also have a great selection of unique cocktails to try from. Tony made me something off menu that reminded me of a tequila/gin gimlet, and it was spectacular. On the food front, I enjoyed a lot of the stuff we got, with a few critiques: * 6100 Sourdough: The bread was delicious but the ricotta was completely overpowered by the saffron. If you love saffron then this is for you. * Little Gem Salad: This was a good, standard issue salad. If you're craving some greens it's a nice addition to any meal. * Seafood Cocktail: This was my favorite dish, it was so fresh and flavorful, and all of the seafood was tender. My only critique is I wish that the shrimp was prepared similar to the other seafood instead of being in large chunks, but that's just a personal preference. I will be coming back for this dish again. * Scallop Skewer: Another standout dish, the scallops were perfectly prepared and the sauce used was so good we put it on everything else we ate too. Highly recommend. * Chicken Oyster Skewer: Really tasty, the chicken was perfectly cooked. Wished there was some spice to it, but that's where the scallop sauce came in handy. Overall, Sonder is a welcome addition to the area and I highly recommend checking it out. I think this was easily a 4.5/5 experience, and I have plans of coming back to try more of the food with a larger group. read more

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This might be my new favorite spot to grab a bite to eat!! The vibes here are IMMACULATE, and it's evident they carefully craft an energetic atmosphere that really amplifies the dining experience. The decorations, the lights, and the music all come together to give an ambiance that just feels so inviting to where you want to take your time while you're here. The service is top notch, all the staff are lively and accommodating. The menu is very creative including fun drink names and plenty of versatility in the types of dishes you can order. Be on the lookout for special dishes on different days of the week. We ordered the steak and mushroom skewers which are nice appetizers to hold you over until the entrees hit the table. The drinks hit the spot as well and luckily we came during happy hour so we got a little discount on the apps/drinks. We decided to try roasted half chicken with the potato salad which were both absolutely fantastic. The chicken was cooked perfectly, just incredibly tender and juicy. The potato salad was well seasoned, had a great texture, and was a nice compliment to the chicken. As we were eating, a DJ came in and started mixing up some cool tracks which just amplified our experience even more. Also, Sonder is my favorite word so bonus points there (I guess I'm biased). Anyways, I'm thrilled with my first visit here and will undoubtedly be checking this place out again! Would highly recommend you come visit Sonder, you can thank me later!! read more

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Sonder was amazing. We really enjoyed their creative menu and everything we ate was delicious. My favorite would be the pork belly skewer. It was fatty, juicy, and had a slight charred taste. All dishes ordered were done really well. The vibes were fun and upbeat. I really appreciated the design and interior decor of the dining room. Deeper in you will find more seating, the bar, and a live DJ! Service was good. it was a little slow at times but I understand it was a busy night. Staff were friendly and helpful. Great spot for a night out with friends or date night :-) read more

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Came here on our way to Pacific Amphitheater, searched for small plates and Sonder came up. Walked in right around the opening time with no reservation on a weekday night. We were sat at a table to look over their Happy Hour & Dinner Menus. Ordered one of each of the skewers & the pate appetizer. Top plates were the pork belly & scallop skewers as well as the pate pastry with the side of mustard. The entire experience felt like the upscale neighborhood bar that has the vibe of great music to hand out and enjoy lovely bites read more

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Came to Sonder for my birthday. Had an amazing experience. From Matt who helped us. To Lamson the owner who checked up on us. Food was excellent especially the mains. Loved short rib. So much meat. So tender. Flavorful. Pork over fish sauce was also great. Sauce was on point. Not salty or sweet. Drinks were really good. Had the clarified cocktail and another chef special drink. Both so good. Music was so good also. Fun older jams great vibes. Fun spot in downtown Santa Ana to hang out. read more

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Fairly new place that just opened up about 8 months ago as its sister restaurant to shabu spot next door. Sat at the bar for happy hour. Love the vintage feel of the place. Food: our bartender gave great recommendations where I enjoyed the Caesar salad and Wagyu skewer He was also well versed on flavor profile on cocktails. I will definitely be going back to this spot to try other items read more

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i came here recently for dinner with girlfriends. i think my overall experience was ok. the customer service is super. i just really dislike the area and location. parking sucks and their menu could be more expansive and dj/music got REALLY loud later at night. but a really neat spot and beautiful interior with cute vibes. read more

We came here to try this place out. From the photos, the food dishes look different and tasty, so had to come. The restaurant is located in Santa Ana Downtown; it is a town that is pretty rundown. Many retail locations are closed, and the area is not as hype as before. You can see homeless people just hanging out nearby. Once we walked in, the place is well-decorated with unique pieces of Asian decor. There is a DJ area and towards the back of the restaurant is a large size Bar. The Menu has a combination of Southeast Asian dishes, and some Japanese skewers. We ordered a bunch of skewers and a cold appetizer. Everything came out perfect. The flavors were exciting and the meats from the skewers were tender and full of flavor. Loved the scallops. The Hanger Steak was so tender as well. This place really exceeded my expectations. The dishes are unique in flavor and portions were adequate. All the dishes hit the spot. We will definitely be back to dine again. read more

Sonder - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Santa Ana, California

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Sonder is seriously one of my favorite date night spots in the OC. It is the perfect mix of classy, casual, adventurous, and delicious. I think it's one of the best additions to the OC food scene in 2025. The cocktail service is always just amazing. They change their drink menu so often that I don't see the drink I ordered on the menu anymore and I don't remember what it was called. It has beets and a foam that looks like it has egg white in it as well. Hopefully they bring it back, delicious!! For food I got the charred cabbage skewer, pork belly skewer, hangar steak skewer, sichuan fries, and curry mussels. I love the cabbage at Sonder. It's sweet from the char, has so much umami from the koji butter, some bright citrus notes, and a crispness from the puffed rice. My favorite dish from the night was actually the Sichuan fries. They are crispy fries sauced up in the tingly, numbing, spicy sichuan sauce and topped with kewpie mayo. I would love to sit at the bar with a cocktail, these fries, and listen to vinyl all night. I also got dessert this time-- the pear and black pepper pie. This was great. Not too sweet, and the pears were not too mushy. Start to finish, I had a wonderful meal at Sonder. I recommend this spot to all of my friends for date night. I cannot wait to come back for brunch! read more

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Went to Sonder for a comedy show and the vibe was already set for a night full of laughs and good company! Wow, it did not disappoint! I was in for a whole treat. The comedians were HILARIOUS and the place was seriously packed. Love a full house energy! Our host Bree was amazinggg!!! She was out there gracefully maneuvering through the crowd with our bottle of wine and the most delicious truffle fries. Bree also told us they have an R&B brunch happening and l I will absolutely be back for that! Good food, good drinks, and comedy? That's a win every time! read more

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Downtown Santa Ana is home to gem of a restaurant. Sonder is a fusion of various Asian Pacific cuisine. We were there because we were invited to a birthday party and this gave us the opportunity to sample a wide variety of their unique offerings. Excellent salads, appetizers and main courses. Portions are smaller than most restaurants but focus on providing a delicious tasting experience. If you looking for an evening adventure you will find it here. The staff went out of their way to make the experience grand. Bring some friends and discover the breadth of their offerings. read more

Came during their soft opening and only had cocktails, so I was excited to come back for food. Kian was our server and did a great job with drink recommendations. We loved all our cocktails, especially the Stay for Awhile with its creamy foam. We also had the Balance, Kozmic Blues, and London Stock, all solid. Food was hit or miss. The maitake skewer and escargot & pork belly fried rice were good, and the little gem salad was solid. Unfortunately, the baby beets were so over-charred they were inedible, which was really disappointing. My friend enjoyed the shrimp and pork belly. Vibe is a 10/10. Great space and energy. Overall solid, but the price increase since the soft opening, plus still being annoyed about the burnt beets, makes it hard to rush back. I'd consider returning when the menu changes. read more

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Food: 4 Service: 4 Ambiance: 4 It's been a while since my visit, as the last time I went was back in August during their soft opening, but it was an experience that definitely stuck with me. I specifically made a trip to Santa Ana to check out Sonder, and I'm really glad I did. We made reservations right before sunset, so when we first arrived it was still fairly bright inside. As the evening went on, it naturally transitioned into a darker, moodier, sultry ambience, which I really loved. Upon entering, we were greeted quickly and made to feel welcome. As the night went on, the restaurant filled up and became lively, but it still maintained that cozy, dimly lit atmosphere. This is definitely a small-plates type of restaurant, so we ordered a variety of dishes to share. We tried the cucumber salad, pork belly, pork belly escargot fried rice, skirt steak, grilled octopus, and I also ordered the little gem salad. We ordered a couple of drinks as well, and while I don't remember the exact names, they were both beautiful and tasty. As for the food, everything was delicious, though I did find some dishes a bit saltier than what I'm used to. There was a noticeable fish sauce-type flavor in some items, which I actually enjoy, but it did lean on the salty side overall. The little gem salad stood out to me -- it was beautifully plated and very tasty. The grilled octopus was also delicious, the cucumber salad was refreshing, and the skirt steak was cooked well and full of flavor. Because the menu focuses on small plates, this is a place you come to enjoy the food, the drinks, the ambience, and the company rather than to leave feeling overly full. One thing I really appreciated was that the owner stopped by our table to greet us, which was a very nice personal touch. The waitstaff also checked in on us often and were attentive throughout the night. Overall, we had a really great time. I would recommend Sonder for a nice date night or a dinner with friends. The drinks were flowing, the food was delicious, the vibe was on point, and I would definitely return read more

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