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    Vaca

    3.9 (2k reviews)
    Closed • 5:00 pm - 9:00 PM

    Vaca Photos

    Business Info

    VACA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Trendy
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Vaca

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    Reviews With Photos

    The Vaca Tonic
    Terri O.

    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!

    Shannon Z.

    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).

    Sat at the bar...nice.
    Michael B.

    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.

    Steak
    Yurie H.

    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!

    Anna V.

    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

    Lauren C.

    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.

    Wagyu oyster cut - too rare
    Stephanie S.

    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.

    Lola G.

    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.

    Lisa K.

    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.

    Yosmar J.

    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

    Omar H.

    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.

    Menu
    Sam S.

    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.

    Seafood paella
    Christina C.

    This is easily one of the premier destinations for authentic paella in the United States. I highly recommend the seafood paella, though the Spanish octopus and seared scallops are equally exceptional. Whatever you do, do not skip the Basque cheesecake; it is truly the finest I have ever had. The patio offers a remarkably cozy and romantic atmosphere, perfect for a special evening. While the service is attentive and professional, please keep in mind that the paella is prepared to order and requires a bit of patience--it is well worth the wait.

    Basque cheesecake

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    5 months ago

    Amazing tapas and paella. Great customer service and ambience fr any occasion. Before or after a concert or play visit this place.

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    Vaca Reviews in Other Languages

    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

    Is there any kind of "kids menu"?

    No it doesn't look like it

    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.

    Hi, do you offer outside seating?

    There are a few tables placed outside. Yes.

    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 corkage fee?

    yes but I forgot how much

    Do they offer any vegan options?

    They offer Falafel which has no meat.

    Can I bring an ice cream cake for the birthday dinner?

    No!

    Is lunch menu back yet?

    Yes.

    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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    Cafe Sevilla - Paella

    Cafe Sevilla

    4.2(1.8k reviews)
    3.9 mi
    •$$

    We went to Cafe Sevilla this weekend to catch the Mexico World Cup game and we had a great…read moreexperience! First, our server was so attentive even though it was a packed house! What we love about this place is they have happy hour everyday from open to I believe 7, you can't beat that! The food and drinks: we got a tamarindo margarita and we liked it a lot. Good flavor although it could have used a bit more alcohol. For tapas we got: croquetas de queso y jamon (we loved them, they were probably our favorite), calamari (it was so good!), empanadas (my boyfriend said they were good), short rib tacos (they were okay but not the greatest), patatas bravas (only thing I wasn't a fan of). Overall, really great food, service and ambiance. We will definitely be back!

    My family and I had dinner here a few nights ago and the overall experience was very underwhelming…read more It was our first time here and as we walked in, we weren't really greeted by the hostess. She didn't really have a friendly nor welcoming demeanor which kind of bummed us out but whatever maybe it just wasn't her day. We were sat inside and our table had a booth area. Well, we sat down and noticed the booth wasn't very clean and there were crumbs in the holes where buttons were missing. My 2 year old even found an earring! They should really consider deep cleaning that thing before they open. We made our way to the restroom to wash our hands and the sink had stones in it. We noticed long strands of hair in there mixed in with the stones. The cleanliness standards were lacking to say the least. The food was OK, service was lacking, probably won't be back.

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    Darkroom - Smoked tuna, beemster, trout roe, broccoli stem, lemon zest

    Darkroom

    4.6(331 reviews)
    2.0 mi
    •$$$$

    We stopped by Dark Room, a new neighborhood spot, just to check it out and have a quick drink and…read moreapp, and we were so impressed! We had the peppers along with some wine and beer, and everything was great. What really made the experience exceptional was Scotty, our bartender/waiter. He was absolutely amazing, warm, attentive, knowledgeable, and genuinely passionate about the restaurant, the food, and what he does. You can tell he truly cares about the experience he creates. Honestly, some of the best service I've had in a very long time. We only planned to stop in briefly, but Scotty made such a great impression that we're already looking forward to coming back for a full dinner and trying more of the menu. Highly recommend checking out Dark Room and if you get Scotty, you're in very good hands!

    (TLDR: Came here around the beginning of the month; it's the perfect spot for a date night. Great…read moreservice and very unique dishes through which you can tell the chef-owners love their craft. Even for the dishes that weren't a perfect hit, we appreciated their artistry and saw the vision they were trying to implement. Darkroom's concept as a restaurant is hard to find in Orange County: not only does this establishment gather inspiration from various influences, but also has fun with it by producing distinct, original plates.) Located in an unassuming strip mall, Darkroom is a chef-driven restaurant with a dimly lit, moody atmosphere. Reminiscent of its photographic namesake, the restaurant is literally a dark room lit with soft red lights. The bar area looked especially cool and edgy with its unique lighting and design. Another nice touch was the menus, which appeared to be printed daily to reflect the revolving offerings. The vinyls were also changed by hand after each song. Seating was prompt with a reservation on a Saturday night. Service was A+. The staff here are so on top of things that, when I twisted myself to observe the bar behind me, some staff rushed over thinking I was looking for my server (oops). Waters were constantly refilled. I also saw one of the chefs checking in on tables; he told us he was one of the two chef-owners. Now, onto the food. I averaged our ratings and included our separate ratings when we didn't agree: little gem caesar salad // 7 // Pretty tasty. Some pieces were a bit bitter, which brought down the overall taste. The bitterness was masked with enough dressing and parm (would've been nicer w/ more dressing). We did finish the dish and appreciate its unique handheld plating though. wagyu tartare // 2 // 0, 4 // The herbs and shiso leaf concept was unique, but it was a bit plain and dry as a whole. We mixed thoroughly as instructed yet still couldn't detect the sauce at the bottom. Maybe they forgot it or didn't add enough? They kindly took it off the tab without us asking. potatoes // 8.75 // 8.5, 9 // Very good: the potatoes had crispy skin and a fluffy interior while the tobiko added "crunchy" pops. The dish was finished w/ a creamy sauce, and had umami and smoky notes. Pro tip: there is extra sauce at the bottom. My bf didn't like the roe, hence his lower rating. Delicious overall. lasagna // 9 // I'm usually not drawn to pasta, so this was my bf's pick. The pasta was both soft and crispy, paired with a creamy orange Calabrian chili sauce and a heap of parmesan. the wanderer steak // 8 // Sesame chili crisp added crunch, while the sauce complemented shishito peppers and tender steak. We enjoyed it; our server said it's a menu mainstay. pork tomahawk // 9.4 // 9.25, 9.5 // Five words: crispy, fatty, tender, tangy, juicy. Thai-inspired and apparently a recent addition. Perfect ratio of fat to lean meat. Tangy sauce with papaya salad balanced the pork. Personally, I prefer unripened mango over papaya for more tartness/depth; something in the papaya salad felt slightly missing for me. Still our favorite dish of the night. ricotta donuts // 8 // Creamy ricotta balls reminiscent of donut holes. If I were a Food Network contestant, I'd call it a deconstructed jelly donut with ricotta balls, cream, and fig jam. Not mind-blowing but good, and we finished them. drink 108 frosé // 7.5 // A strong, bright, citrusy slushy cocktail. I liked it more when melted, probably because I don't like alcohol. My bf said he "see[s] the vision." We got two free drinks for our anniversary, one non-alcoholic and one wine. Surprisingly, the non-alcoholic drink (a sharp, refreshing herbal tea from China) tasted better to us than the wines. Take that with a grain of salt since we don't like alcohol. Now that I've experienced Darkroom, I plan on booking Chrysalis sometime. Even for anything we didn't find perfectly to our liking, we appreciated the artistic vision and understood what the components were trying to accomplish. I would definitely recommend Darkroom to others -- especially if you want fun, highly creative dishes.

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    Darkroom - Inside ambiance

    Inside ambiance

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    VOX Kitchen - Fountain Valley - Corn Ribs, Carne Asada Fries, Hamachi Tostada, Carne Asada Tostada

    VOX Kitchen - Fountain Valley

    4.5(8.3k reviews)
    4.8 mi
    •$$
    Established in 2017
    Pet friendly

    Overall great experience!…read more Food - everything was cooked well. Loved the char on the prawns with our garlic noodles. The bone soup was rich and love that they refill your broth for you! Garlic wings were perfectly crispy. For the calamari ask for the green sauce instead, they were good just really tiny. Lomo saltado was my favorite. The beef was so perfectly cooked and not chewy. Great flavors! Service - our server was so nice! She was great with the kids and also very attentive. Knew exactly when to bring more broth and more lychee lemonade refills. We sat out in the enclosed patio area for first available and it was sooooo hot. Definitely need some sort of air flow in there. Parking - large busy free parking lot

    I am combining my two Yelp accounts, so this review is dated 11/28/2018…read more"My first time here and we decided to get a few things that they are known for. 1. The wings were hot and fresh and very flavorful. 2. The tofu app was interesting with the pork floss on top, but probably won't order that again. 3. The salmon and garlic spaghetti was pretty good. The salmon was cooked perfectly with a crispy skin. The noodles were a little too over cooked for my taste. 4. The star of the show was by far the short rib soup. It was packed with flavor and the meat was fall off the bone tender. In conclusion: I will be visiting this establishment in the near future..."

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    VOX Kitchen - Fountain Valley - Carne Asada Fries

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    Habana - outdoor patio, late night dining and cocktails by the fire pit

    Habana

    4.1(6.1k reviews)
    1.0 mi
    •$$$
    Hipster vibe
    Outdoor seating

    Love this restaurant. Best vibes and ambiance. Dim, patio is super cute! I recommend sitting in the…read morepatio vs inside. The chorizo mussel clams steamer is so flavorful and good! Order an extra side of bread and dip it!! Perfect appy! Espresso martini was made to perfection. The filet was perfectly cooked and seasoned. Comes normally with fries but I got the garlic mashed potatoes instead. Service was great! Highly recommend this spot! Great for dates, girls date night and it's the perfect vibe!

    I want to begin with an important distinction: my two-star rating is not meant to suggest that the…read morefood was terrible, the service was bad, or the restaurant unpleasant. It reflects something a little harder to quantify: value. The amount a restaurant asks me to pay inevitably creates a certain expectation. Food, service, atmosphere and price don't exist independently of one another; they form a package. And for me, the package simply didn't come together here. There were things I genuinely liked. We sat outside, beneath a corrugated metal covering, and I actually enjoyed the design of the space. The tables and chairs are a refreshing departure from the polished, corporate, "haven't I seen this in twelve other restaurants?" look. And the candle wall at the far end of the patio is simply wonderful--warm, cozy and genuinely beautiful. Unfortunately, the food didn't live up to the setting or the prices. We each had a beer: an 11.16-ounce can for $10. It was cold, fresh and perfectly drinkable. It also wasn't particularly good. Obviously, the restaurant didn't brew it, but ultimately they chose it, priced it and served it. We also shared the Chicken Empanadas ($18) and Mariscos Fritos ($22). The empanadas were... meh. Nothing particularly wrong with them, but nothing that made me want another one, either. The Mariscos Fritos were the bigger disappointment. The menu promises calamari and shrimp, although I honestly had trouble identifying much of either. There was plenty of fennel, which was far too raw for my taste, and the dish was a considerable distance from what I would describe as "cooked to perfection." And I want to be fair here: nothing tasted spoiled. Nothing appeared to have been fried in old oil. Nothing was inedible. We finished the plate. It simply wasn't enjoyable. The service was perfectly fine and, frankly, perfectly forgettable--and I don't necessarily mean that as criticism. Good service can be a little like music in a movie: sometimes you barely notice it, but you'd certainly notice if it weren't there. Nothing about the service bothered me, and nothing particularly stood out. What finally crystallized my feelings was looking to my right from our table and seeing a parking lot. At one point I was being blinded by the headlights of a car whose driver needed about four attempts to park. Had I been looking at the Caribbean Sea, I might have sipped my $10 canned beer, eaten my rather ordinary appetizers and thought, Well... I'm paying for the whole experience. But I wasn't looking at the Caribbean Sea. I was looking at a parking lot. And perhaps that's the best way I can explain the two stars. Two $10 beers and two appetizers brought us to $60 before tax and tip. That amount, by itself, doesn't offend me. I've happily spent similar amounts elsewhere and walked away thinking, Worth it. Here, I didn't. The food wasn't terrible. The service wasn't bad. The setting had some genuinely lovely touches. And the prices, considered in isolation, aren't outrageous. They simply didn't belong together. For what we ate, where we ate it, and the overall experience we received, I left feeling that what I had paid and what I had received were too far apart. And ultimately, that's what I'm rating.

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    Habana
    Habana - Outdoor patio

    Outdoor patio

    Habana - Habana costa mesa patio

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    Habana costa mesa patio

    Vaca - tapasmallplates - Updated September 2026

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