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What a fabulous place to celebrate a birthday! We were in the area to see a show at the Segerstrom theatre and Vaca is literally a 4 minute walk away. Which worked out for us since we were able to use the restaurants valet service and leave our car there until after the show. As soon as we walked in, I was in awe of how cool the place looked! The bar located near the front door was very inviting and definitely made me want to go back just to sit there for a couple of cocktails. Speaking of cocktails, their signature, The Vaca Tonic was my favorite cocktail that I tried. It's refreshing, pretty and definitely had me ordering a second one. They have a variety of spirits to choose from, but the Gin cocktails were definitely my favorite. For dinner, my husband and I choose the Tapas route and order a few plates to share. The Carpaccio, Gambas Al Ajillo(sautéed shrimp) and the La Bola(upscale version of potato balls) were my favorite dishes. This isn't to say that our other plates weren't delicious, I'm just saying these plates left me wanting more. Last but not least, we ended the night with a slice of their Basque Cheesecake, and oh my goodness, this had to be hands down, one of the best cheesecakes I've ever had. I was so full, but there was no way we were leaving any piece of the cheesecake uneaten. Now, this restaurant is more on the pricey side. But, I would 100% recommend to try once or make it a priority to check out when you have a special occasion to celebrate!
Food is ok. We had the squash soup, lamb meatballs, red wine oxtail, and paella mariscos. I had high hopes with their paella since it is a spanish restaurant but was a bit dissapointed or maybe I should have opted for steak. Outdoor seating is bad. A lot of mosquitoes. I had my 3-year-old with me so her legs were itching a lot. Next day leg is red and swollen from the bites.
Great restaurant to come with group to try all their tapas and shareable appetizers!! My favorite tapas were the grilled octopus (so flavorful), seared scallops (came with a zesty and creamy sauce), and corn. All the dishes were very flavorful! I also loved the seafood paella, they're very generous with the meats/seafood in the paella. They accommodate larger groups on their outside patio so it was great for a celebration. Service was also great. Parking is either valet for $15 or parking across the street at their parking garage (can validate at restaurant).
I have been a big fan of Amar's for years and have been to Broadway in Laguna Beach a couple of times. I've always wanted to try VACA in Costa Mesa and last night was the night. We took advantage of the Friends and Family menu they provide on Mondays Only from 5:00 to closing. We sat at the beautiful bar and were watched over by Jacob. The wife had some special non-alcoholic drink that was very pretty and tasted great. I went with the VACA Tonic, an icy concoction made with gin. It was super refreshing and a nice way to start. This menu has selected tapas items that range in price from $8 to $19. We ordered the Pan Con Tomate ($8) which comes with sliced toasted bread slices, tomato pulp, a delicious olive oil and a side of sea salt. You take a piece of toast, squirt some of the olive oil on top, then pour on the tomato pulp. Light, tasty and delicious. Next up, the Patatas Bravas ($9). Perfectly roasted spicy potato cubes, slathered with tomato sauce and a garlic aioli. WOW! So simple yet so good. I licked the plate clean. Next up, the Bikini Sandwich ($9). Two small perfectly toasted cheesy sandwich wedges that have Iberico ham, manchego cheese and a hint of truffles. It was really delicious and the special ham was the star of the show. These are great starting items, yet surprisingly filling. I couldn't stop there though and wanted to order some of their famous paella. I decided on the Paella De Carne ($53). This is a meat paella with pork belly, chorizo, blood sausage, duck confit (a leg & thigh), beef cheek, with bomba rice and a garlic aioli. You have to wait about 20 minutes for them to make it but it's worth the wait. It was perfectly cooked and awash in flavor. The special paella pan they prepare the dish in looked well seasoned and I wished I could have taken it home. The menu is extensive with lots of choices to accommodate any palate. The restaurant is beautiful and has a front and back patio seating. If you have a choice, sit on the back patio. There is valet parking for $12, but there is a parking structure right across the street that provides easy access and is free with validation.
Splurge restaurant but food is very solid! My husband and I came here for date night and had a great experience~ Vaca is located next to south coast, interior has tall ceilings and have a small indoor and outdoor seating. They have Spanish menu items, several tapas and main dishes. We got 4 wines and both loved with whites and reds! La bola (8.5/10)-the meat inside was delicious wasn't overly crispy, sauce on top was too much but a classed dish Pani puri (9/10)-interesting concept scallop was delicious and sauce was rich, shell was crispy Cauliflower (7/10)-bit too salty and rich but they give you a good portion Steak (7.5/10)-we asked for medium but it was more in medium rare, good quality but small for price Churro (9/10)-cant beat a piping hot churro with chocolate sauce portion not too large Our server was friendly and vibe was classy Would love to try the paella my next visit!
great service and food was great! i loved the la bola and patatas bravas most but everything else was also very good as well! portions were filling despite it being small, staff were prompt and very nice restaurant was a little warm inside but nice ambiance and good vibes
I really wanted to like this place but not sure if I would go back... The tapas were average at most. No richness of spices and overall pretty simple. The paella was too salty and had no crunch to it. Very inflated prices. Service was not very attentive. I literally left hungry and got In n Out after.
I was so excited to finally dine at Vaca -- it's been on my list for so long. The ambience is cozy with a date‑night feel, and the service was friendly and attentive. Our food also came out fairly quickly, which I appreciated. I started with the Vaca Tonic which was delicious. For food, the standout was the La Bola -- a crispy potato ball with flavorful ground meat inside. I'd come back just for that. The scallops, however, were just okay. They were very small for "sea" or "diver" scallops, and the menu didn't specify what kind they were. The sauce was fine but nothing memorable. I was most excited for the wagyu oyster cut steak and ordered it medium, but it arrived more rare than expected and was surprisingly chewy rather than tender. Overall, the experience didn't quite live up to the hype for me. I love tapas, but this spot fell short.
Vaca is a Spanish tapas style restaurant with great meat and cocktails. Some of my meal highlights was the bikini sandwich and the night's special, which was a perfectly cut piece of steak. I was disappointed in the patatas bravas, however, which I felt lacked much flavor. The cocktails were exceptional. I enjoyed a classic dirty martini, their specialty vaca tonic (A+ cocktail), and had their non-alcoholic drink called Starry Night (very delicious, but not worth $16). The setting is quite breath-taking, with the restaurant decorated with elaborate cuts of meat and wine bottles. The lighting is very warm-toned and elegant. Overall, we had a delicious meal and cocktails before heading to the Segerstrom (just a quick walk away). The service was excellent and the meal great, but I think the whole experience was heavily overpriced for what you get.
Had a friend in town so we decided to check out Vaca. I had heard great things so really wanted to love this place, but it was a bit short of my expectations given the prices. First off, my friends had sat at the bar for a good 20 min before the bartender finally acknowledged them and took our drink order. Even then she was not very nice and totally made other patrons orders who had sat down after us before even trying to deliver our drinks to us. Once the drinks were delivered, they were pretty much slammed onto the bar counter rather than being delivered with care. Yikes. I had asked for a bar napkin because the rim was sticky and she completely ignored me. So rude. Our reservation on a Friday night with a show happening at Segerstrom was at 7:45pm which means the show crowd should have already left by this point. We easily didn't get seated until 8:15-8:20pm for a 7:45pm reservation because our table was lingering. Seems like poor table management on the restaurant's part to be that far behind schedule. Once we sat down, we did our best to order right away as we were starving and was pretty sure it would take awhile for the food to come out. Our server greeted us within a few min of sitting down and since we were ready to order by the time she showed up, we ordered everything from appetizers to full meal. Started with the croquetas and gambas. Both were good but honestly I've had better. The sauce for the gambas felt like the ratio of the sherry was a bit much and not enough spice. Ended up with the Paella Valenciana which was okay, but the flavors felt kind of bland and the scallops and shrimp inside seemed like they could have been cooked more thoroughly. I believe we got the 12oz New York Steak to share, and it felt the meat itself was super tender but lacked a bit of flavor for my liking. We wanted the broccolini but they ran out so ended up with the Brussel sprouts instead which were very good. Overall the ambiance inside the restaurant is a bit tight and chaotic for my liking. I definitely like the bar area better than the tables which were very close together, so may have to try dining at the bar next time.
This is the third time coming here and I've loved it every time. The service is usually amazing, food doesn't take 30-40 minutes, and drinks come usually fairly quickly. This time around the service was not great, drinks too forger, and the waiter seemed too busy with other tables. Forgetting our orders and forgetting we were there. We were also celebrating something special and the waiter didn't bother to acknowledge it despite the hostess's asking if we were celebrating something special. This time around our experience was okay, definitely not the vaca we know. I do however recommend their chicken croquettas
Outstanding Spanish food in a beautiful, contemporary setting. Right next to the Segestrom Center, this restaurant has both indoor and outdoor seating. Service is friendly and efficient and the food was excellent. We had a reservation but we still had a 15 minute wait, as they were swamped on a Saturday evening. However it became quieter after 7:30 pm. Their corkage ($40) is steep, but they have a decent wine selection and great cocktails. We ordered a bottle of Tempranillo ($60), which was very good. Menu is expansive. We had 4-5 tapas and a paella. The Pan con Tomato, the meatballs, the chicken croquettes and the Patatas Bravas were excellent. The Valencia paella was to die for. Definitely consider going here or to their sister location in LA. Great for date night. Parking in the lot across the street is validated, otherwise valet parking is $12.
Ok! Well Vaca is a great spot and I would come back here again anytime. The fried calamari is memorable because it's not supposed to taste like that but honestly it's a hellof a great dining experience.
Excellent service. To me the level of service staff directly affects your dining experience. Begins with checking in with the host, all the way to receiving your car from the valet, the service staffs were professional through and through. Having a quality well-run staff makes it so much more pleasant. Now onto the food. I don't think there were anything that I felt was average. Everything tasted great. The duck was perfectly balanced. The paella was exceptional and the seafood was extremely fresh. We also tried the scallop, and the braised oxtail - which melts in your mouth. The goat cheese accompanied the beets wonderfully. Everything was well balanced from taste to texture. We were seated out in the back which was pleasantly nice. I was impressed when walking through the restaurant looking at the meat locker with the dry-aged beef. We didn't get a chance to try any of the steaks, and definitely will on the next outing. This is a definite repeat read more
4 years ago
Service Solid with everyone. Our server Catiosca was great and thorough - definitely trained well and overall helpful during a busy dinner hour. Food This was listed in the top 10 restaurants in OC. Lmao. I literally have profile picture of a dog getting hit in the face with a frisbee but understand depth of flavor. Canelon - 2/5. Most overrated food I've had in a while. Slightly too salty and sweet. Unbalanced. Mid depth of flavor. Paella - 2/5. Shrimp was tasty but a bit salty. Rest of the dish was bland and underseasoned. For $60 you'd think you'd get rice that had a good stock flavor. Just literally add some generic bouillon or something. Nope. Ultra bland and dry. Needed to add salt and pepper. Needs chili flake or a spicy sauce. House hot sauce - 1/5. There was ZERO spice on the paella so I got some of this. It was the worst hot sauce I've had in my life. Hilariously awful - just hits you straight in the face with tons of chili and doesn't give a f***. Unpalatable. $100 down the drain. Could get tons of delicious food in OC for this price. read more
2 years ago
I love everything about this place! Every dish is a flavor bomb. They have a nice little patio area because of Covid. My favorite dishes were the Canelon De Pollo and the hanger steak. The canelon de pollo is smothered in this highly addictive sauce. I dipped every bite of the canelon in the sauce until the plate was clean lol. The hanger steak comes with a green sauce and a red sauce (their super delicious homemade bbq sauce). The meat was very juicy and well seasoned. I also ordered the fried avocado, albacore Tataki, Pulpo a La Gallega, and churros cin chocolate, all of which were very good. The octopus is slightly salty. Can't wait to come back and sit inside! read more
3 years ago
3 years ago
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2 years ago
Came here on a Friday night, with a group done ordered a little of everything. The highlight was probably the paella, but they do have an extensive menu of tapas. We took the waiter's recommendation and ordered a few items, all of which were decent. The restaurant itself it located across from South Coast Plaza, and there is a parking lot nearby or valet. read more
3 years ago
2 years ago
One of the best meals I've experienced! Not to mention our service was also I 10/10 recommend Vaca in Costa Mesa. We had the Huesos Al Horno (roasted bone marrow) and the Paella Valenciana (made with scallops, shrimp, chicken, chorizo, saffron rice and aioli) which had such a good flavor profile combination it made me tear up I be loving food like that. Refreshments were marvelous and beautifully composed! I loved the Disco Lemonade with its lemon-olive oil foam on top?! Absolutely lovely, I'm excited to come back to try all the cured meats and cheese and Spanish wine @vaca_costamesa read more
3 years ago
Service: 5 stars Food: 4 stars. We loved all the dishes we ordered. However, there's the new dish that is some sort of crabs/scallops patties on a bed of papaya salad, which is very fusion (hint Thai papaya salad). That dish threw us off because we had yummy Spanish cheese, charcuterie and wine to go with with Spanish dishes. Ambiance: 5 stars Price: 4 stars. It is pricey read more
4 years ago
I treated a friend out for her birthday here this week. It's my third time here, and I love introducing my friends/family to this place for a nice, quality dinner as the chefs and staff maintain good quality food and service, and has been consistent since pre-covid to now. We had initially reserved for the patio, but they were able to accommodate when we asked for indoors when we got there since it was super cold and windy. Wished I remembered the server's name as he made some great recommendations and also had a bit of humor which made the overall experience pleasant and easy. Service was impeccable in terms of their timing - water refilled before needing to be asked, plates cleared away at appropriate times, and check given in a way where we didn't feel rushed to leave. All done subtly without being overbearing and making their presence known every 5 minutes. We ordered the following: - Pulpo a la Gallega: 4/5 the seasoning wasn't too overwhelming, which I liked - Erizos con Huevos: 3/5 I reordered this as I had good memory of it, and it's still good but loses a lot of its merits when it gets cold, and was my least favorite from this list - Coliflor: 5/5 unexpectedly amazing! Ordered based on server's recommendation, and I'm glad we listened haha. The sauce was what made it special for me. It was a creamy citrus-y sauce so if you're not a fan of tart food, wouldn't recommend. - Canelon de Pollo Ahumado: 4/5 love introducing first timers to this dish, chicken wrapped in crepe doesn't sound all that special, but it's the sauce that makes it special. - Prime NY strip: 5/5 also recommended by the server. If you're looking for steak that's less pricier than the prime ribeye steak, try this! We got it medium rare, and It was so tender and juicy. They accidentally charged me with gratuity (which I just paid since i wanted to tip them that much anyways), but they went beyond to give me a call to apologize after I left and presented options to revert their mistake. Mistakes happen, it's how they deal with it that makes me want to come back + their food and drinks (from previous visits) are solid. Note: they validate so get your ticket validated! Or you can always park at south coast plaza parking lot and walk over. read more
2 years ago
2 years ago
The food and service is always excellent, management & staff treats my family like we are family, one of my favorite dinner spots! read more
2 years ago
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5 years ago
Very disappointing and underwhelming. The establishment pretty much ruined our anniversary and left us wondering if they dropped the ball or were prejudice against us for some reason. First, they sat us at a wobbly table that caused food and drinks and spill everywhere. It took us 25 minutes and repeated requests to get sugar packets or a napkin to try and fix the table. The food in general is bland. The beet salad was mushy (although the cheese on top was ok). The chicken fritters had absolutely zero flavor. It's as if they went through extra length to extract the flavor from it. The ribs were nearly all fat. The hangar steak we ordered medium rare plus and it came seared black and blue. When we asked for it to be cooked to the temp we asked for, we were met with attitude. Meatballs and corn were okay. The kicker is that the host and server knew it was our anniversary. I asked for them to do a little something for my partner and also mentioned that I would love to pay for whatever they did. Not only did our server basically ignore us most of the time, we had to constantly flag him over for things, he was giving literally every table around us desserts/ice creams. We just sat there perplexed until we asked for our check so we could leave. They clearly did not want us there. Asked for the manager Donnie's so I could figure out what is going on. Was ignored so had to take a card from the front myself. There is also a ridiculous 3% up charge to maintain your server's attitude and lifestyle. This is in addition to the tip you leave. read more
Visiting Disneyland and stopped here for a late anniversary dinner. Cool restaurant with a lively vibe and very friendly nice staff. All the food was good some dishes better than others. Our fave was the veal sweetbreads and we were both underwhelmed with the seafood paella unfortunately. It had good flavor but all the seafood was a little over cooked for us. The cocktails were on point and we finished with the chocolate budin and a complimentary almond cookie and ice cream treat. read more
We had a great meal here and the service we received from Alondra was outstanding. Donny came out and introduced himself which was a great touch. We were having a business dinner and the service was well executed. Food quality was excellent. I'd recommend Vaca to anyone who wants quality food and service. read more
There is valet parking or self parking to the left. We self parked and it was a short walk. The ambience was nice as well as casual. The server was chill. However, he did asked multiple times if we were done with our dish, which we weren't. We ordered drinks and started off with some beef tartar. The bread was slightly burnt. The beef tartar was decent, but I would skip it. We also tried the potatoes, paella, and ribeye steak (2lb and 3oz). We shared all dishes with 4 people and it was perfect. The potatoes were delicious! The paella was amazing as well. One of the best paellas I have ever had! The ribeye was also cooked perfectly. However, it was a tad expensive. It was $60+ per pound. In addition, it had a whole slice of fat. Not worth it. At the end of the night, the server bought out a complimentary birthday dessert for my sister, which was nice :)) Bill: $400+ Food overall: 3.5/5 Ambience: 4/5 Customer service: 4/5 read more
A hidden yet widely known gem in OC. [ Parking ] Valet or self parking. If you choose self parking, then don't turn into the VACA plaza and turn left at the stop sign instead. The parking structure is right around the corner. Remember to request for validation from your server before you leave! I left at 10pm and the gate was actually left open so I didn't even need to validate. [ Service ] I've actually had this place bookmarked for years and finally decided to give it a try. Overall, service was decent but expect a LONG wait after your tapas if you ordered any paellas or steaks (which is why I docked off a star). The tapas came out fairly fast one after another. Then we waited a good 20-30min after just for our entree dishes. I noticed that they had the steak ready, but it was just sitting under the heat lamp for the entire wait time until our paella is ready. At the end of the meal, I had to wait to flag down our server AND I had to wait again for him to take our credit card. Please note that they will add an "optional" 3% surcharge to support the wages of their non-tipped employees. You could ask the server to remove this charge if you want to. [ Food/Drink ] - Vaca Tonic $14 -- I love this drink! highly recommend as it was delicious and well made. - Pork Belly special $22 -- they ran out of "Panza de Cerdo" so our server recommended another pork belly special and it did not disappoint. Unfortunately, I do not know what it is called but I thoroughly enjoyed it. I have heard that the original Panza de Cerdo is amazing as well, so I would recommend it regardless. - Pulpo A La Gallegos $18 -- Spanish octopus with fingerling potatoes. Great tapas to start, but I did wish it was grilled instead. - Rambo de Toro $18 -- Red wine braised beef oxtail with wild mushrooms. DELICIOUS. The meat was super tender where it just falls off the bone. Great flavor, especially the red wine sauce with the mushroom. HIGHLY recommend this dish! - Paella de Mariscos $58 -- the main reason why I'm here! We ordered their seafood paella and it was so good, we almost finished the whole thing between the 2 of us. Huge prawns on top to make up for the tiny clams they mixed in. They actually ran out of octopus, so they substituted scallops instead. GREAT choice in the scallops! I must say, I think I enjoyed this dish more because of the scallops. Overall, this dish is a MUST and it does not disappoint. - Strauss Grass Fed New York Strip $54 -- cooked perfectly with a side of coleslaw. We wanted to order the aged ribeye steak, but it's minimum 2lbs per order and that was impossible to finish between the 2 of us. I will definitely come back with more people to try that though! Overall, I loved everything except for the wait in the middle of my meal. Will definitely come back to try the other dishes! read more
2 years ago
Vaca is a cozy little Spanish restaurant and bar near south coast plaza, we came in for an early dinner after some shopping. I haven't had Spanish tapas for a while that's why I wanted to give this restaurant a try. This place is fairly small so the tables are tight and a bit cramped to my liking. The menu was extensive with good seafood choices, decent wine list and creative cocktails. I tried some Mezcal cocktails, followed by Grey Goose martinis and espresso martini. Hubby had Vesper martini and a few Cabernets. Drinks were very well made and strong, but the Mezcal cocktails were a little bit on the sweeter side. I decided to try tapas only cause I wanted a whole bunch of different things. Hubby really wanted a big steak so he ordered 10oz New York strip, side of cauliflowers. Also duck ham with goat cheese a la carte. I tried scallops, sautéed shrimps, sea urchin scrambled eggs, shrimp & wild rice stuffed calamari, Spanish octopus and shishito peppers. Tapa portions were decent and I got pretty full in the end. Hubby didn't eat much of tapas cause he was waiting for his steak. The New York strip was one of the best steak he's ever had, it was perfected seasoned on the outside, rare enough and very tender on the inside. I liked all my tapas but nothing really stood out and some dishes were overly salty. Actually Spanish tapas are always on the salty side for some reason. We got a complimentary dessert and it was OK, I was too full to order another dessert though. Our server Leo was so friendly and attentive, all staff members were very professional. Service was one of the best for sure! Think I will try big plates like seafood paella or fish next time! read more
3 years ago
2 years ago
I personally haven't had much Spanish food in my life. I've always wanted to try paella and Spanish tapas. When I saw the menu of this restaurant, I was really excited to try this place and went with several friends from work. One of the main benefits of eating with so many people is that you're able to sample so many things off of a menu; and that's exactly what we did. The drinks were spot on, the ambience was dim and intimate, and the service was very attentive. A couple of my favorite dishes of the night were from the Erizos con Huevos, Pulpo a la Gallega, and Huesos al Horno. For Erizos con Huevos, the scrambled eggs and chives topped with salmon eggs and uni was great with the miso toast on the side. For Huesos al Horno, the bite with bone marrow, citrus salad, and beef cheek toast absolutely hit the spot. And for the Pulpo a la Gallega, the octopus was cooked perfectly, very tender and not rubbery at all, with the warm fingerling potatoes with pimenton and Spanish olive oil making it all an amazing dish together. The one dish that I didn't quite like was the beef tartare. I felt that the mustard overpowered a lot of the other ingredients in the tartare, this sadly includes the beef itself. The taste wasn't bad, but I wish I was able to taste more of the other flavor components of the tartare rather than have mustard dominate my palette. After all the tapas dishes, the paellas were next. We ordered Paella de Mariscos, which was primarily seafood, and Paella de Carne, which was primarily meat. I primarily had the Paella de Mariscos. Besides the seafood, I was really excited to try the socarrat, which is the bottom of the paella, mainly rice, that becomes caramelized and crispy from the cooking. The dish was stained a beautiful red/orange hue from the saffron, and the seafood was all cooked to perfection. Overall, our whole group was very satisfied with our meal and left with happy bellies. This was a great introduction to Spanish cuisine for me, I definitely recommend this place! read more
A stone throw away from South Coast Plaza was a perfect place get a bite to eat after fighting the crowds on Black Friday at the mall. Vaca offers an expansive menu including tapas, paellas, and various prime steaks. We enjoyed pretty much all of the 14 tapas we ordered. Our favorites were: Bikini sandwich filled with paleta Iberica, manchego , and truffle. Erizos con Huevo. The uni was sweet and the scrambled egg perfectly done. Canelon de Pollo Ahumado, and Datiles con Jamon Serrano. The paella was just ok. It could've used a bit more saffron and it lacked that tasty socarrat, which is the crusty crispy bottom that is an important key of a properly cooked paella. read more
4 years ago
Okay, I had been wanting to dine here for some time, for one reason or another I had to cancel. It's very busy, very loud and very yummy. Great cocktails and amazing food. I don't normally eat steak so I did not get a steak. I do love the tapas. I had the bone marrow and patatas and a couple other things. Great atmosphere! I would definitely come back;) read more
4 years ago
I went to Vaca recently for an early birthday dinner. They asked for the occasion both when I was making my reservation and when I checked in at the hostess stand, but I found that odd since they didn't do anything like a complimentary dessert. The waiter didn't even wish me happy birthday and was honestly generally inattentive throughout the night. The food itself is good, but sub-par compared to other Spanish restaurants I've tried, like Bellota in SF. The paella was kind of soggy, though my sister did say the seafood was excellent. Considering the OC dining scene though, Vaca still gets 4 stars from me. My group of 4 ordered 2 drinks, espresso, 2 paellas, and 2 tapas. We found this to be more than enough food and took some leftovers home. read more
2 years ago
Stopped in for lunch. Staff got us seated quickly, but that was the only thing they did quick. Took almost 10 minutes to bring 2 drinks to the table. The atmosphere is really chill and interesting. Lots to look at and take in. We were able to see the kitchen from where we are sitting, so that was an experience. The Wagu steak was amazing and full of flavor. Always wanted to try it, and it did not disappoint. Very delicious and soft. The appetizer the waiter recommend was awesome. It looks like just potatoes, but everyone was raving about that dish. Great restaurant, but make sure you have time and patience if you come here. Great food for sure. Give it a try! read more
Hands down my favorite restaurant in Orange County. We are regulars here and go every chance we get. Great vibe for a date or for a group of friends. After traveling all over Spain can say this place is very authentic when it comes to Spanish food. Go to items 1. Patatas bravas- perfectly crisp potatoes drizzled with the perfect sauce that's spicy but not overwhelming. As good as the ones we had in Spain! 2. Jamon iberico- they have many varieties to fit your budget and taste. The cinco jotas is the most expensive if you want to splurge. I would recommend one ounce per two people. 3. Pan con tomato- pieces of toasted ciabatta bread toasted and served with a side of fresh tomato purée, salt and olive oil. Usually add all of the ingredients do the break and top with a piece of jamon for an amazing bite 4. Gambas ajillo- shrimp sizzling on a small plate with a tasty broth and toasted bread to dip. What more can I say. 4. Steaks- many varieties and all a perfect complex to the above dishes. 5. Paella- very good but to be honest not the best I've ever had. Would say 4 out of 5 stars. 6. Drinks- always rotating, inventive craft cocktails. If you haven't been here put it on top of your list ASAP! read more
1 year ago
2 years ago
Delicious food and great service! I've been dying to try Vaca ever since I went to the Segerstrom hall! Definitely coming back thank you read more
More info about Vaca
695 Town Center Dr
Ste 170
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Directions
(714) 463-6060
Call Now
Visit Website
https://vacarestaurant.com
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Ask the Community - Vaca
We plan to eat at Vaca, get the parking validated by Vaca, then go to watch a show at Sergstrom. Do I need to pay for parking since the parking ticket is validated much earlier than the exit time?
Yes, Vaca restaurant in Costa Mesa validates parking in the nearby parking structure. Guests can either use valet parking or self-park in the structure. If self-parking, you'll need to bring your parking ticket to the restaurant for validation.…
Do they take reservations for small groups?
Yes they do- however they've been victims of reservation swatting lately so best to call to make a reservation
Does Vaca offer a Thanksgiving menu, dine in and/or takeout, and what is included?
I doubt that. But, it's April. There's a lot of time for things to change lol
How many people do you need to get a paella? Could a person eat one all by himself?
2. 3 if you order other tapas. 1 is doable if you're a big eater or you are willing to take leftovers.
What meat is in the Spanish platter?
Best parking if seeing a play at seger storm after diner?
Absolutely yes! That's what we always do. Park at Vaca, eat there, go to theater, then pickup car afterwards.
Hi, is the menu different if you sit at the bar?
I don't believe so. I think they only use the one paper folded menu.
Does the Lunch menu offer tapas as well or is that only for dinner?
We went for lunch and decided to do only the tapas.. You can mix and match
What is the corkage fee for a magnum?
Their corkage fee is listed in FAQ...$30 for one bottle and need to contact them for additional bottles.
Which seating area is better: indoor or outdoor? If outdoor, by the front or the back?
If it's just two, I'd sit at the bar. Otherwise a table in the back. Outside lacks the vibe.
Is there a dress code?
It's like fun-upscale but basically just shoes shirt and pants. :)
What fully vegan options are there?
There's a paella there with noodles and veggies.
During this covid season, are they open for lunch? I heard they had lunch specials, are there any right now?
Should I bother eating here if I can't eat dairy? Food looks great but it looks like most items have cheese
This place is a meat eater's paradise. Especially if you like Spanish cured meats i.e. Jambon. All things Spanish are available here especially a wide array of Spanish cheeses, but dairy would be a small part of what you could order here. This place…
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