Visited here prior to going to a show. The food is fun, unique, and so so tasty! Since it was our first time, the waiter recommended a few of the favorites and also how many tapas to order so that everyone enjoys. The cocktails were fun and a nice compliment to the tapas. Seeing that the restaurant is so close to the show the waiter made sure our order was in and we were out in perfect timing. read more

Vaca Costa Mesa - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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9 years later and my review after our visit last night is about the same. I'd probably give it 2.5 stars if I could. Stopped in for an early dinner after a matinee musical. Got seated right on time. Tables are really jammed in there, so you will be cozy with your neighbors. Ordered some tapas - olives, pan con tomate, and the dates. Olives were so so. The pan was good but the tomato sauce was served cold intentionally - that made it just ok. Would've been so much better warm. The dates were great. We had the prime New York and it was good but like my visit 9 years ago, way under seasoned. We definitely needed to use the two steak sauces they brought. The potato side dish was good and the cauliflower was great. For dessert we had the tres leches cake - excellent. Service wasn't perfect. Drink service in particular was painfully slow. We ordered two NA beverages that were great but took forever to get to us. The server asked us if we wanted more bread with the pan con tomate tapa - we said sure. It didn't come. That tapa was taken away to make room for the steaks. Fine. In the middle of eating our steaks, here comes the bread! On top of that, they actually charged us $3 for that bread. I think that's ridiculous. Had we known they were actually charging for extra bread, we would've definitely turned it away considering the dish it was meant to go with was long gone. Last issue - they apparently charge a 3% surcharge for "increased operating costs." I think that is a total BS fee and had I known they charged that, I would've reconsidered going here. It's not on their website anywhere either. Junk fees are unacceptable. Major turn off. Without a 10% off discount for being a Segerstrom season ticket holder and a substantial credit through Resy, I doubt we'd ever come back. read more

We went there for our anniversary with some expectations. everything was fine, but the food was terrible, we had some appetizers and small plate but the main dish was terrible. We ordered Paella and with over $60 cost for one dish, we could not even go beyond two spoons! the flavors were not balanced and was a waste of money! read more

OFF THE MENU. OFF THE CHARTSign up for their special events. Just got educated on different levels of Vermouth, paired with levels of taste, texture and mouth watering appetizers. Small tapas where the mine explodes and the stomach say"BRING IT ON!!! A few pics to share. Gail read more

Vaca Costa Mesa - Dry aged Hamachi Crudo. Grapes, Leche de Tigre, Burnt Serrano - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Having been to Vaca before, I knew enough to plan a couple of hours before the performance at Segerstrom. A couple of hours so that we could enjoy a good Rioja, some Tapas and a Paella. Well, fortunately enough for our party we had the pleasure of being served by Rene. OMG! If the atmosphere and the food wasn't enough of a wonderful experience, add to that the magic that Rene brings to the mix. The next thing you know, you are laughing the night away - except when the bartender with the beautiful hair comes over just to remind you how bald and shiny you are! Except for that, what a wonderful beginning and you can only hope that the performance can equal the time at Vaca before. Do not miss this opportunity (fine print: if you are bald just stay away from the bartender with beautiful hair) read more

Paella took 1 hour to come out and it wasn't even crispy!!! Definitely would not recommend. The rice seasoning l and mariscos were good, I felt that the octopi's was very small and hardly noticeable. Canelon de pollo was delicious, but took 35 minutes to come out. I would recommend the dish though as it's very tasty. We were seated outside and the service was very slow. read more

Vaca Costa Mesa - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Tried 2 tapas, rabo de toro which is braised beef oxtail and gambas al ajillo which is sautéed shrimp & we got the paella de mariscos which is seafood paella. The seafood here was fresh and the paella was very flavorful and creamy. The beef oxtail was very tender. Highly recommend the paella! Pricing is definitely on the higher end. Service was pretty attentive. Restaurant has pretty dim lighting and the inside tables are very close together so you can hear the conversation of the table next to you (which we didn't like) and it's very loud. Parking is only valet which was convenient as the parking structures are far and you have to pay too. read more

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Great place great food great music. Ari was super attentive for our engagement. Def recommend this place.

Still one of my favorite places for tapas. I always tend to get recommendation from my server because they have some items that are new-thus can be a hit or miss. It's a somewhat small space-expect the indoor tables to be very close to one another...and if you come during weekends...book in advance. Mt favorite was their uni, branzino, cheeseboards, duck prosciutto and drinks-depending on your taste, there's always a drink that will aligning with your taste buds. read more

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Really great food and staff was fantastic. Staff was frequently refilling water, removing unnecessary/dirty plates or utensils, and overall being great. Parking is validated for the structure or $10 valet read more

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Vaca offers a lively and stylish take on Spanish cuisine, with a warm atmosphere that makes it great for sharing plates and enjoying a relaxed night out. The tapas are well executed and flavorful, making them ideal for sampling a variety of dishes. The rabo de toro stood out with its rich, slow-braised depth and tender texture, while the gambas al ajillo delivered classic, garlicky flavor with just the right amount of heat. The paella de mariscos was enjoyable and well presented, though it leaned a bit lighter in intensity than expected, especially considering how bold some of the smaller plates were. Still, it paired nicely with the overall meal and was satisfying to share. Service was friendly and attentive, and the atmosphere felt energetic without being overwhelming. While not every dish fully exceeded expectations, the quality, consistency, and ambiance make Vaca a solid choice for Spanish food in Orange County. read more

Went here for my birthday, the food, the service, the ambiance, all were excellent. Love the tapas here. read more

Vaca Costa Mesa - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

We got a variety of dishes: the seafood paella, prime New York strip, octopus, cheese board with 3 cheeses and 2 meats, roasted cauliflower, oyster mushroom, and the beef cheek toast. The best dishes were the seafood paella, steak, and roasted cauliflower. The beef cheek toast was not very impressionable and too salty for me. Also by the time it came, the toast was kind of soggy and oily. The seafood paella takes about 45 minute to make but it's worth the wait - it was cooked perfectly. Not too soggy or dry. The shrimp was also very good. The steak was also cooked tenderly and salted just enough. Ambiance is very nice, we sat on the patio in the back but it did get a bit windy/cold at times. Overall, the service was very attentive and friendly. Food is great, would recommend to friends and family. There is a self parking structure across the street or valet parking for $10. read more

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So excited I made it here after all these years! From the hostess answering the phone, to the valet, to our waiters, they made our first experience here very enjoyable. Vaca is known for their meats and tapas style plates so we ordered 6 plates between the 2 of us: the octopus, the cannelloni, Wagyu meatball, pork belly, blue cheese stuffed dates wrapped in heavenly heavenly mmmmmmm bacon and the beef oxtail. 10 out 10 for flavor! Every. Single. Dish. I need to come back again to try more plates!! Drinks were tasty too. As the DD, I only had one drink- the manda panda (i think? The one with lychee liqueur in it) and it was quite delicious. And kudos to our waiter Paul for all his recs and being so attentive and hospitable. Ambiance is cute and cozy, ideal for date nights or dinner with the girlfriends. The back patio is nice this time of year bc you can see the giant Xmas tree all lit up. Valet is $10, bring cash for tip. read more

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Came here with my BF for a birthday dinner. We were seated right away and loved the atmosphere. The tables are a bit close together, so it is not as private as we would have liked. We asked our waiter about a few of the drinks and were not given much of a description or recommendation. He didn't seem like he was very interested in helping. Drinks and food were actually really good and we agreed that it was worth coming back, which is a rarity for us. All in all, we enjoyed our dinner, but the service was less than stellar. read more

Food was good, but the service was disappointing. This was an office work dinner, and for a fine dining restaurant the level of service was not what we expected. We were seated outside and after that, no one really checked on us. Our main course took over an hour to come out, and by the time the food arrived we had basically lost our appetite. Despite the many staff members on the floor, we did not even know who our main server was, and while we waited we were often met with blank stares rather than updates or assistance. I also had to walk inside to ask where our food was and how much longer it was going to take. The food itself was enjoyable, but the lack of attention and long delay took away from the overall experience, and I would recommend a different fine dining place. read more

Vaca Costa Mesa - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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wow! very pleased with the food and service! my better half wanted us to go here for VDay since i booked a concert next door. they were very welcoming and attentive to our evening with a concert afterwards. they made sure we got our food before the concert and was very accommodating. they gave the ladies a rose at the end of the meal. read more

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Tapas spot close to the Sergestrom Theater. Came here for a pre-show dinner at 5pm and made a reservation online in advance. It's a short walk away from the theater, so it's a good spot when you're trying to catch a show. Note that the paella does take about 40 minutes to cook, so budget your time accordingly. My family of four shared the following: Bikini sandwich - Simple, but I liked this a lot. Croquettes - standard dish; I was neutral about it Alcachofa (Artichokes) - nicely fried and the aioli was good Lubinda (sea bass) - my mom wanted this one; the sauce is good and it's a healthy option Mollejas (veal sweetbreads) - this was all my dad but he really enjoyed it Jamon Serrano and Sheep's Milk quesos - these came together on a charcuterie board with pickles and marmalades. Paella de carne - very rich and lots of meat. It may be too heavy for some Beef marrow - also very rich - my sister enjoyed it a lot. Churros for dessert - this comes in three and a chocolate sauce on the side. We had leftover paella but unfortunately had to throw it away since Sergestrom doesn't allow outside food. Otherwise, this was an enjoyable meal. read more

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Kind of torn about this place. The food was good for the most part but not for the price we paid for it. I really enjoyed the soft scrambled eggs with uni, the dates stuffed with blue cheese wrapped in bacon, and the Jamón ibérico. We also got the shanks, I think they were beef shanks with a demi glaze. They were absolutely bland. The meat was not seasoned at all. The main entree, the paella, was kind of a let down and I barely touched it. The cocktails were not balanced. I ordered two different drinks hoping for a better one and that was a bust. I would recommend sticking with a nice wine. The ambiance of the restaurant is elevated, and yet the service was not. Our server didn't check on us much during the meal, I had to ask someone else for salt to try to flavor my bland shank tapa. I may return and order just the 3 items that were good with a nice glass of wine. read more

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Great spot for after or before a show at Segerstrom. Opens at 5pm but we totally came in at 4:50pm and people were already sat at the bar. Good service and tasty read more

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Rey and Juan were absolutely incredible. Wow. I would recommend this place to ANYONE in California. Make the drive!!! It's worth it :)

The food was okay but this place doesn't call my name. Would I come back? I would, only because maybe today was just a bad day, but the first impression was definitely below par. The main reason is the price doesn't justify the food or service here, I'd recommend going a city or two over to the RANCH or a couple blocks away to ARC as the service and food can justify their prices. Takes forever to refill waters, didn't ask us if we wanted to order another drink, couldn't care to see how the food was, took forever to even bring the food out despite it not being busy at all, the quickest reaction I got was them taking my card for the bill lol. Service 3/10 Food 8/10 Overall 6/10 Breakdown Brussels sprouts 9/10 Fried rice 6/10 Patatas bravas 4/10 the flavor just wasn't it Asparagus 9/10 Hangar steak 3/10 asked for medium rare it came out ultra rare Oxtail 7/10 the mushrooms made the dish better Potato balls 9/10 would recommend Flan 9/10 perfect consistency Cheesecake 7/10 not a fan it's missing the signature cheesecake breading Edit: Just now realized I got charged 20% gratuity despite being a party of four (their policy states gratuity is charged for parties of 6 or more?) review went down due to this read more

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Been here few times and tried their amazing Tapas and also steak. It's not for the faint of heart ($$$) but it's worth it. Drinks are also pretty good and well balanced. Service is always great and inside its nice and lovely atmosphere. read more

Another great experience at my favorite restaurant! Kat was an amazing server with great recommendations. They also gave us a complimentary almond cake to celebrate our anniversary. I love this place! read more

Vaca Costa Mesa - complimentary almond cake - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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We came to Vaca for date night, and overall it was a great experience. Food Rundown: * Albacora Tataki - 10/10 Absolutely incredible. The flavor was fresh, balanced, and the ponzu + sesame combo was so good. Hands down the best dish of the night. * Panza De Cerdo (Pork Belly) - 9/10 Super tender and rich, with a nice crisp on the outside. The strawberry pairing was unexpected but worked so well. Sweet and savory done right. * Broccolini a la Parilla - 8/10 Surprisingly flavorful. Loved the touch of cheese, the pickled shallots, and the pine nuts. A solid veggie option that didn't feel like filler. * Rabo de Toro (Oxtail) - 7/10 Good texture and comforting, but a bit heavy and the flavor didn't evolve much. Worth trying, but not a standout. * Paella de Mariscos - 6/10 The seafood itself was cooked well--clams, prawns, mussels, and octopus were all fresh--but the rice was underwhelming. It lacked depth and didn't have the signature crisp or richness that makes paella special. * Churros con Chocolate - 3/10 Unfortunately dry and flavorless. The chocolate sauce was decent, but the churros didn't hit the mark--definitely skippable. Service & Ambiance: Our server was great--super warm and accommodating. When it got cold outside, they were quick to turn on the heaters, which we appreciated. The patio had a cute vibe, but we were seated next to a large party with kids yelling and throwing rocks at the glass, which definitely affected the ambiance and made it harder to enjoy the meal. That was the only real bummer atmosphere-wise. Final Thoughts: The meal came out to around $170 for two people, which felt fair. There were some standout dishes we'd come back for, but also a couple that didn't quite justify the price (especially the paella). That said, I think if we had ordered more tapas instead of the paella, were seated away from the loud group, and the food came out just a bit faster--this easily could've been a 5-star experience. read more

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Diferrent types of steak, potato, paella , brussel sprouts, limon shrimp, and chicken potatos vaca restaurant read more

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The food was absolutely delicious. While the plates are a little small and it is a little pricey it is definitely worth a visit. Parking is very easy as you can park in the parking structure right in front of the venue. The decor was great given the Chinese New Year's occasion. All the butter tenders were very helpful and overall, I would highly recommend this to anybody looking for a nice meal read more

Good meal (although expensive) but I feel they should be publicly shamed for trying to tack on a random 3% fee to your bill because "doing business in Costa Mesa is expensive". If it's expensive then up your prices vs taking advantage of people who aren't paying attention or unwilling to say something. At least they give you the option to decline to pay more, but the whole thing feels low class and predatory. We need better consumer protections to prevent this nonsense. In addition, we played $14 to self park in a 99% lot directly across from the restaurant. Basically, I'd be prepared to be dramatically overcharged for a pretty nice meal, and much of that charge be from surprise fees. read more

The ambiance is busy but it's a nice place. This was our second time here. First time for drinks which are excellent. The bar has exceptional mixologists.. the second was for food and I have to say very disappointing. We ordered the seafood paella it look good but far from it. It lack taste. Wife ordered the oxtail and also lack flavor. Now we did try their charcuterie board the which turned out to be better the food. Been to Spain and the ham was delicious. read more

We just visited here before the ballet and have to say it was a great surprise. The bar was comfortable, drinks were delicious, and the tapas were well made. The bartenders were nice and attentive. We enjoyed the ambiance of the entire place. Only one thing that was difficult was getting to the entry, it felt like I was walking into a back door walkway. Maybe having a clear sign to show how to find the host stand would be slightly helpful. But again nothing to decrease stars for. Looking forward to coming back. read more

Smaller menu but delicious. Can be pricey. Paella was perfect. Good ambience and service.

Trying this restaurant for the 1st time. If you make reservations, I highly recommend specify you want indoor seating. Otherwise they will seat you outdoor. They have great service and cocktail. In my opinion the tapa is taste better than the paella. read more

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I visited Vaca for a friend's birthday and had a decent experience. We were seated outside pretty quickly and had menus in our hands right away. It was a nice evening and the sun was blocked by the bush hedges they have around the outdoor seating area. We ordered drinks and a couple dishes to share. FOOD: Overall the food was good but the portion sizes are small. For the price you're paying, I was hoping for a slightly larger portion. The actual taste and quality of the food is a strong 4.5/5.0 though so come for the taste but not to get filled. The little dessert that they brought out for our friend's bday was a 3 out of 5. Kinda dry. SERVICE: The service was very slow. All night it took forever to place orders and/or get anything we needed. At one point it felt like we were forgotten in our little corner. When we were trying to get out of there and just pay the bill, they pressured us slightly to get dessert off their menu. Summary: I would only go back if I made a lot more money and planned to be there for a couple hours. read more

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Been to vaca a couple times for celebrations. The food and drinks are good. You must get the canelon de pollo. We have also enjoyed the paella both times. Down side is that the restaurant is pretty small so you're seated closely to other parties. Our second time here, the service was not as good as the first time. We came for a birthday both times. First visit was offered a free dessert. Second time the table next to us was offered a free dessert but we were not offered one even though we confirmed with the hostess we were celebrating a birthday. Additionally, the staff kept trying to clear our plates when we were still working on them. And they took our utensils halfway even though we had other dishes coming out. Thought they were going to replace the utensils but we ended up have to ask our waiter for a new set. It was odd and felt like we were being rushed out read more

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Updated review after trying another Spanish restaurant recently and considering the price and flavors, I definitely think there are better alternatives. If you come for the fine dining experience sure, but the dishes, sangria and waiting time for paella can definitely be inproved. read more

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They are very helpful with making sure you get to your show on time and provide recommendations. We sat on the patio with the heater, and during the holidays, you can see the Christmas tree lit up. Food were huge portions! With the variety they have, it's best to share dishes too. read more

Vaca Costa Mesa - Ribeye ~2 lbs - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Delicious tapas and paella! The paellas plate was huge, so one paella plus one tapas dish was enough to fill up two bellies. Paella de carne was so smoky and flavorful with the variety of meat, and the panza de cerdo pork belly was so tender and delicious. It was my birthday and they brought me complementary dessert, which was so nice of them! Nice restaurant for a birthday celebration! read more

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A visit to celebrate a birthday. They will seat you as soon as the entire party arrives. No problem! We'll wait at the bar and start with an Apertivo! That was a fortuitous decision. While we were perusing the cocktails menu, the bartender was busy mixing up a carajillo. I'll take me of those! Ooh, a new favorite! The wait staff were friendly and knowledgeable. The bar staff were also helpful and friendly. My favorites of the meal were: Pan con tomate. Deconstructed. I was apprehensive when I first saw this places in our table. Pan con tomate is always a must order for me at a Spanish resto. My apprehension quickly turned to glee! Love this deconstructed version! I would've been happy just eating this and the jamon iberico! Jamon Iberico de belota. So good! The jamon is carved tableside. I could've eaten the whole plate on my own but I had to share! We also ordered paella and steak. Those were good, too. However, they did not stand out in my mind and palate the way the pan con tomate and the jamon iberico did! Enjoy! read more

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Starting off the service is to die for. It was very professional and courteous that really allowed us to enjoy a nice weekend dinner out. They were very helpful in explaining the various options and allowed us to really have an awesome time. Our table got seated outside, it was pretty chilly though even with the outdoor heaters on so I would say for dinner try and get an inside table. The whole place was kept very clean and tidy as well. Moving onto the food. It's great and is pretty tasty. I definitely would say this place is try once and never come back though because even though I understand it's a more bougie kind of establishment, I feel as if there are better places. The food was great though, but as expected the portions are small yet expensive. I would recommend if you want to try this certain cuisine but otherwise, be ready to leave not full. Also they do have an additional 3% surcharge that you can ask to get removed. Strange how they can't just pay their workers more instead of adding a surcharge. I really dislike surcharges so this was kind of a strike for me as well. read more

Vaca Costa Mesa - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

We came here for our sister's birthday and had such a delicious meal. We sat out in the patio and it was just the perfect setting. The staff were super attentive and friendly. We loved the food. We would definitely come back. read more

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