Love this place!! The bar tender Nadine is super friendly and so sweet. I will definitely go back again soon. :). Suzanne. read more

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

The food here was excellent, paella was some of the best we had in the area and the steak was done perfectly. I would have given this restaurant 4-5 stars however we had a very mediocre time with the service. First, we were seated outside and the manager was very rude to us when came back to them asking for a table inside. It would have been one thing if they tried to make it more comfortable for us, but she insisted on saying we were wrong. Next we were reviewing the bill and they left off the wine, which was annoying that we had to catch that for them. read more

See all

Service was impeccable but the food I felt was not that great esp for the price. Everything we got is pictured below. There's only one item that I felt had that bomb first taste. The last pic. It was sooo good so if I came back, it would be only for that Ambiance is very chill, dim lights & great. Tables were a bit too close together read more

See all

Finally able to try this place and we went during lunch. I wanted to try their preset menu which is reasonable and a great way to try the place. The week I came, steak wasn't on the menu so I'll have to come back and visit. I had the seabass and everything tasted great! I loved the grilled cauliflower the best! Service was good. It's close to Segerstrom so people go before a show for a nice dinner. I would go back and try again. :) read more

See all

The crispy calamari was light and delicious, and the Brussels sprouts were tasty, though they could go a little lighter on that (admittedly yummy) sauce. The Canelón de pollo didn't look the most appetizing, but wow--it was packed with flavor and totally hit the spot. The seafood paella was good but lacked a bit of depth in flavor. Not bad, but I was hoping for more punch. Now, let's talk about the drinks--absolutely delicious! And that sorbet passionfruit mango? A total standout. Sweet, tangy, and refreshing, it was the perfect way to round out the meal. Service was great--attentive and friendly. The atmosphere was chill but on the loud side, and the seating is really tight. You might end up closer to your neighbor than you'd like. On the plus side, the restrooms were clean, which is always a win! Would I come back? Probably. But I'd love to see a few tweaks to make the experience even better. read more

See all

Will not return. Came this past Monday with a some friends from work. Host was friendly and attentive. Once we got to the table things changed, the pacing of everything was on dreadfully slow. Server didn't come to offer drinks for at least 15 minutes, we felt forgotten already. Then drinks took at least 15 minutes to make, good luck on getting asked for a second round. Drinks were unbalanced and forgettable, whoever is in charge of cocktail development should be fired. Had to ask the busser twice for a server to come by to help us. This was the general service style, server was almost non existent. Not the kind of service you'd expect at a place like VACA, ball officially dropped. I was surprised to even get food, the only person checking on us was the busser who had water refilled at all times. The server on the other hand and the bar staff was not only slow but didn't really check on us or interact with us at all. Food was blah, severely underwhelmed. Only good point was the steak BUT it better be at the prices they charge. $1000 dollars later and we felt like we would've had a better time at anywhere else. Staff 2/10 Food 3/10 Drinks 2/10 Vibe 4/10 Will not return and I recommend going somewhere else, ANYWHERE ELSE. read more

Very attentive service and delicious food. The sangria is my favorite. The only downside is that tapas are not that filling, but there are a lot of interesting flavor combinations and ingredients. The paella is also very good. I appreciate how often they change your plates, silverware, wipe the table, and refill your water. I'd recommend coming for a special meal and making a reservation. The ambiance inside and outside is different, and the outside looks out at the mall and office buildings. But it is nice to be in the patio during nice weather. read more

PARKING (4/5): They have velvet or you can park in the structure a block away, or across the street at South Coast Plaza Mall. SERVICE (4/5): My last visit the service was REALLY SLOW. But they are usually amazing, so I will not judge based on one off night. FOOD (4/5): $26 CARNE CRUDO: ahi + steak tartare (raw). It was good! However, I'd prefer just one or the other. I loved the concept of mixing both! $28 PULPO A LA GALLEGA: octopus with potatoes. Perfectly cooked so it's soft & not chewy. AMAZING everytime we order. $16 ALBONDIGAS: lamb meatballs. These were OK. The yogurt was better than the actual meatball. I'd try the lamb skewer next time. $24 CANELON DE POLLO AHUMADO: smoked chicken, duck liver, Sherry reduction. So much flavor! Must try. $26 RABO DE TORO: braised oxtail with mushrooms. So Flavor, tender & so delicious! One of my favorite dishes! $13 MANCHEGO PANNA COTTA: freshly grated Manchego cheese, crispy coconut flakes on top and custard panna Cotta. It was OK. Very tiny. OVERALL (4/5): Great service. Great ambiance. Great food. read more

See all

We had an incredible server, Larry C. on the night of our visit. Cannot thank him enough for taking the time to explain the menu for us as this was our first visit. Knocking a star for the vegetable paella that was a bit oily and the broccolini that was bit undercooked. Great date night ambiance. read more

Great for tapas and paellas! The cocktails fell short and did not stand out to us. Recommendation: Put in your order for paellas and specialty steak dishes about 20 minutes before ordering tapas. Enrizos con huevos ($28) - scrambled eggs with uni, served on toast. Great flavor but I wish they gave more toast. Canelon de pollo ahumado ($24) - a different take on a chicken enchillada. Very rich in flavor. Paella de mariscos x2 ($61/each) - Woah, the biggest prawns that i've seen on a paella. Must get! I didnt think I would like the white crema thing (garlic aioli) but it really adds. Prime skirt steak ($46) - Super tender and melts in your mouth. I think a little on the pricier side since it doesn't come with any sides, just dipping sauce. Overall, great experience, just a little on the pricier side if you're looking for a special dining experience. Came out to a little over $115/pp. Parking is free at the Segerstrom Arts Center structure across the street. If there's an event, let the parking attendant know that you're dining at Vaca. read more

See all

Service was great! Food was 10/10- I can't wait to go back! The vibes were great- dark environment but edgy. read more

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

Food and drinks were really good! The fresa com crema pancakes were a favorite at our table. Our server was really kind and we enjoyed the atmosphere in the restaurant read more

Amazing service and food definitely recommend. Thanks to Liz was a great server and a welcoming first time. read more

Vaca - Steak and eggs Chilaquiles - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Great food and enjoyed our experience with a big group. We were a party of 5 with a baby. They were able to accommodate our infant with a stroller. However there are no kids menu. We ordered a bunch of tapas (which I'll put in order of preference based on taste below), then ordered the aged ribeye cooked medium, brussel sprouts, and paella valenciana (seafood) to share. Tapas: 1. CARNE CRUDA (steak & ahi tartare): this was the table favorite. Truffle flavor was subtle and just right. 2. HUESOS AL HORNO (bone marrow): Bone marrow was plentiful to share with all 5 adults. The marmalade kinda overpowered the bone marrow so use it sparingly when eating it together. 3. CALAMARES (calamari with shishito peppers): perfectly seasoned and not overly battered. Wishes the calamares were bigger portioned but it was enough. 4. PULPO A LA GALLEGA (octopus): this had a mixed review with the table. Some preferred this over the calamari. 5. Jamon iberico board: it was okay Prime ribeye was perfectly seasoned and cooked. Paired well with the brussel sprouts. Paella valenciana was okay. A lot of seafood with big prawns, great flavor but it was kinda dry and burned at the bottom. The cocktail menu was great. All the servers (including the bar) were very friendly. They made sure we didn't wait for our food/drinks too long and that our experience was going well. We even got to meet Chef Amar who was very approachable and friendly. We enjoyed our first time experience at this restaurant and will definitely return. Great for groups! read more

See all

Lively restaurant to go to before a show. Food's decent, but nothing amazing. Park across at SCP and walk across. 2015

For parking there is valet or if you go further down there is a parking structure where they will validate. We opted for outdoor seating cause of the nice weather. Our waiter explained the menu and made recs on what we were craving. The food was pretty good, but I wasn't blown away. Disappointed by the paella because it was pretty salty. Heard a lot of great things so I guess my expectations were too high. But the restaurant is gorgeous and service was really great. read more

See all

Such a great find!! Love this place! My friend from out of town came to California to celebrate her birthday. We had a huge lunch so we wanted to do something light.... Which led us to Vaca! We Fell in love with this place... it's tucked away on the opposite side of the mall but it was still standing room only! We were so lucky to find 2 seats at the bar! I read more

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

See all

An EXTRAORDINARY culinary experience... even at opening hour!! We went in for lunch to try the lunch express tasting menu for $41/pp. Short ribs, Paella then Basque Cheesecake Short ribs were delectable, juicy and fell off the bone. Paella had mushrooms which was a nice subtle flavor to the dish. THE BASQUE CHEESECAKE IS TO DIE FOR EVEN AS A LACTOSE INTOLERANT PERSON. Well worth it, olive oil pearls, basil ice cream, supple cheesecake and strawberries. Just amazing!! We also tried the burger which was perfectly cooked to our desired medium. Definitely try the Canelon tapa. Very unique flavors! I wish it came with two instead of one, but still delicious. Ambiance is beautiful, welcoming staff and environment. A must go! read more

See all

It was the worst paella we've ever eaten. Everything else we ordered was overpriced , poorly presented and mediocre to say the best . Very disappointed read more

I absolutely recommend coming to Vaca! The service was great, the design of the restaurant is great, and the food is beyond delicious with a price that is outstanding We came here for food after a play and were exhausted and were still blown away. I highly recommend! read more

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

Vaca is a complete disaster of a restaurant. It's a culinary circus It's making the 1-star restaurants I've reviewed seem like gourmet dining experiences! The chef clearly needs a refresher course in basic cooking skills--taste, plating, coloring, and texturing seem to be completely foreign concepts. This place's survival in OC is a mystery, Maybe the owners are just insanely rich and can afford to keep it running. From the misleading online reservations to the rigid table policies, and the dim, stuffy dining area, the whole experience was a mess. The food arrived in a chaotic order and was largely inedible, with dishes that ranged from overly sweet to extremely sour. Even simple requests, like a lemon wedge, were mishandled. The service was non-existent after the food was delivered, and we were charged for items we didn't order, along with unnecessary surcharges. --+PATATAS BRAVAS* 14 Overly salted, but at least it's the highlight of the night. It's edible. ---GAMBAS AL AJILLO* 18 Sautéed shrimp, olive oil, garlic, chili flakes, grilled bread: It says "gambas," but it's actually shrimp. The menu does state this, but the small print is too hard to read in the dim lighting. The shrimp is overcooked, not fresh, and the sauce is lightly garlicky but extremely sour and swimming in oil. It's the nastiest seafood tapas I've ever had. Charred bread is sticky and tough. ---CANELON DE POLLO AHUMADO* 24 Smoked chicken cannelloni, duck liver sauce, sherry reduction: The worst thing I've ever put in my mouth. The chicken is drenched in an overly sweet, repulsive, gloopy sauce that looks and tastes awful. It's like eating steamed minced chicken in a nutty dessert at a lukewarm temperature. This is chicken dessert. I strongly suspect the chef doesn't know the difference between salt and sugar--seems like they're adding the wrong "salt." It looks as bad as it tastes, with plating that resembles cat vomit. --+ENSALADA DE COGOLLOS: Romain lettuce salad: Nothing to write home about. The charred peach is mushy, the nuts aren't roasted enough, and the dressing is too sour. Overall, Vaca's pretentious claim of authenticity falls flat with their dreadful, poorly executed food and abysmal service. The only redeeming feature was the busboy who kept my water glass full. Seven years ago, I had the worst paella; today, I experienced the worst of everything. What a joke! You are offending my taste buds and my time with your nasty sauce. read more

See all

My husband sat outside and we ordered the Paella that the waiter said was enough for 2-4 people. It came with over cooked rice, which was very dry and included 3 baby clams , 3 muscles and 3 jumbo shrimp. It appeared that everything except the shrimp was overcooked and dried out. The clams and muscles were like tiny little rubber pellets . It definitely was not enough food for 4 people. The ambience was good , but inside tables were very crowded and it was very loud inside. I doubt we would go back . read more

Delicious food, lively atmosphere, good ambiance, and steep prices. I dined at Vaca on a Wednesday evening for a friends birthday dinner. We had reservations for 7pm knowing that Vaca is usually crowded on any given day. We were seated promptly upon arrival and wow was the restaurant packed! It made for a fun environment. We ordered a couple cocktails: paper plane and dirty martinis and they did not disappoint. The menu is lengthy so it took us some time to narrow down what we wanted to order to eat. We ended up ordering a handful of tapas to share and each small plate was beyond delicious in its own way! We proceeded to order a second round of tapas and repeated a couple items because they were just that good! The potato beef balls and chicken cannelloni to be specific. They offer valet and there also is a nearby parking structure which they validate for. I recommend parking in the structure! Be prepared for your wallet to take a hit after enjoying a full food and drink meal at Vaca. Definitely a spot for a celebration or treat yo' self type meal. read more

See all

Every bite was amazing! My favorites were the pork belly, the dates, and the oxtail. The drinks were a bit of a miss for me, but that was personal preference not a quality issue. Price is reasonable for the quality of the amazing food. read more

I took my wife to Vaca for her birthday. The food tasted great, especially the beef marrow (Huesos Al Horno) and seafood paellas (Paella de Mariscos). The price wasn't as high as I expected too. it was really fair considering the quality and taste! We even brought our 7-year-old and he had a great time, lol. The only reason I didn't give 5-stars is because I let them know it was a birthday when I made the reservation, and upon arrival, I asked them to do something special at the front desk and they said it would be taken care of. Sadly, nothing happened in the end. We ordered 5 tapas and a paella, and got 2 drinks, so it was a big ticket too. The server was actually a little dismissive when my wife asked questions as well. read more

Walked over from our hotel. Loved Amar from Top Chef Expectations were high and we were not disappointed. It's really nice inside. Dark wood and original artwork on the walls. They also have an outdoor dining area. We were seated right away and looked over the menu while we ordered some drinks. We like to try a lot of stuff so we love a tapas place, cause it allows us to sample a lot of different foods We ordered quite a bit: Coctel de Camaron was very good Sopa de Bacalao y maiz a corn and fish chowder, was my favorite item Erizos con huevos Waygu albondigas Carne Crudo Bikini sandwiches - amazing, second favorite. Perfect balance of salt and sweet Viera a la plancha Albacore tataki We also got a charcuterie plate with Jamon serrano Fermin Iberico chorizo and assorted cheese Drinks were amazing as well. We had the Blossom, yes we have a pink drink and a couple glasses of wine We loved every minute of the experience read more

See all

Fun place to go eat! Everything is mostly tapas style. You can select your own meat- you can walk right up to the refrigerator and select which cut you would like. They will then cook it for you! The rib eye was pretty good! Great drink selections as well. This place does get busy so reservation is a must. Valet parking in the front - that's pretty much your only option. I guess you can park across the street from the mall and walk over. But I dont recommend that since you might get a ticket from the mall bike cop. Albacore tataki - great presentation and tasty. Would o order it again. Maybe. Rib eye- pretty good. Worth sharing its a big portion Erizos con huevos - comes in a real sea urchin. Fun dish to share and mostly eggs topped with sea urchin. I get it every time Vaca tonic- one of the most tastiest and funniest drink around. Perfect for the summer time. Must try! read more

See all

The food needed more seasoning. We had the calamari and the piece of calamari were about 8 pieces with 4 peppers. That dish was $20.00. We then had the seafood patella, $61.00. There was barely any rice and the seafood was very sandy. Overpriced for all the food. I am a foodie and I do not recommend. sorry Vaca. read more

The Horchata Iced Matcha was recommended by the server and is definitely a must try if you like matcha! read more

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

See all

Pricey but excellent!! Tasted great, server was friendly and helpful, vibe was upbeat, setting was nice.

* Price: $$$$. Tax, 3% added for surcharges, 20% added for 6 persons (although we had only 4). 2 star. * Ambiance: nice and chi decor dining area, nice and spacious outdoor dining. 4 star. * Location: town center in Cosa Mesa. Not far from South Coast plaza. Valet parking for $10. They validate 2 hour service parking in a nearby garage. 3 star. * Meals: good but not blown away. 4 star. * Service: so so, deceiving. 2 star This total is 15 points or averaged to 3 stars. I'm perplexed to rate this restaurant since I was so hyped up to dine here. Vaca was on my bookmarks to check out for a while. Also, I like chef Amar on Top Chef's. But the service and food are not up to par for what we paid for! I picked this restaurant to meet up with our cousins visiting from out of town and stayed at Huntington Beach. We booked a table for 5 people, but one could not make it (it is Monday night!). We had: 1. Pan con tomato $9: toasted bread, garlic, tomato, olive oil. 2. Panza de credo $18: braised pork belly. 3. Pulpo a la gallela $28: octopus, fingerling potatoes, olive oil. 4. Ensalada Picada $15: cabbage, romaine, beet goat cheese salad with Dijon vinaigrette x2 5. 50+ day age ribeye steak, $89 for 1oz. $180 for 2 oz. 6. Paella valenciana $60, shrimp, scallop, chorizo, chicken, and saffron rice. 7. For desert, we have churro $14, tart $12, ice cream $13 (2 scoop), 1 coffee $4 We also have one glass of Spanish wine and ice tea. Our check came as $540 with $12 surcharges, $90 gratuity, and $40 tax. Since our cousins got there first, they ordered 3 dishes from the tapas section. I did not try pork belly since the portion is quite small. The octopus is moist and tender but very fishy. The toast is ordinary. Salad is fresh but very small. So, we ordered 2 salads to share between 4 people. The ribeye steak has good flavor but not worth $180. We did not realize $89 for one oz... they did put that on the menu fine print... but with our old vision (none of us bring our reading glasses!!!). We did ask our server, and he said the serving is 2 oz (we assumed $89 per dish!). Paella is good but relative small portion. The deserts are probably the best of the entire dinner. Churio is crunchy, not too sweet, and can be eat alone or dipped in chocolate. Cognac ice cream is to die for! Overall, we did enjoy our meals, but we will not hurry coming back. We should have skipped expensive items like steak and paella and spend on other dishes on their tapas list. We asked our server about the already added 20% gratuity. He said nothing added at first. When we pointed out the receipt, he said because we reserved the table for 6 (even though we only reserved for 5 and only 4 came to dinner). We did not want to make a big deal and paid. However, the service was lacking. We had to ask our servers a few times to get our drinks refilled. read more

See all

We ordered 2 tapas, wagyu steak and paella. None of the dishes would lure us pay a second visit. The wagyu steak was barely warm, with edges chewy like bubble gum. The paella is not cooked in the traditional way where you can tell from the color,they are not using the real saffron. They also sneak in a 5% optional hidden fee in the check. If you don't read carefully and ask to remove it specifically, you then will pay for it. read more

Vaca - This is a mediocre pork belly. It's weird to go with strawberries. - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

We've been coming to Vaca for some time now, and this review is long overdue. With their creative cocktails, impressive sherry menu and and a laundry list of tapas to choose from you will not leave here disappointed. The Mrs. and I had a laugh when the table next to us asked why the octopus with potatoes tapas didn't "come with the tail" (I'm assuming they meant tentacles) and the tomato puree with toasted bread, olive oil and flaky salt is maddingly delicious and addictive for something so simple and much better than the bad dad jokes written on the banquette side of the seating that we only recently noticed. The shrimp in garlic sauce was just too overpowering with vinegar this time around but the devils on horseback were some of the best we've ever had. The paellas here are spot on and super impressive and the meat paella is pretty epic with pork belly, chorizo, blood sausage, duck confit and beef cheek, amazing saffron laced crusty rice. Where VACA truly stands out is it's steaks, as VACA in Spanish means cow. The dry age glass meat locker is truly a sight to behold and from the moment you pull up to the place that amazing smell of wood fire tells you you're in for something special. The 2 pound bone in rib eye is a bucket list steak and even just gnawing on some of the meat on the bone after pulling the left-over out of my refrigerator the next day was still simply spectacular. I've been on a bit of a blue cheese kick lately and last night they melted some cabrales on my NY Strip and let me tell you that was a beefy umami flavor bomb of dry aged goodness. There are plenty of options for a good steak here in Orange County, but I would say VACA has to be one of the most underrated steakhouses in Orange County while also being the best steakhouse in Orange County. Coming from the restaurant business, I always appreciate seeing a manager on the floor, sleeves rolled up, running food, bussing tables, refilling water glasses and helping the team when they're in the weeds so imagine my surprise to learn that the guy wasn't the manager he's one of the owners (along with Top Chef's Amar Santana) and that's something you rarely see these days so hat's off Ahmed. A word of advice, if you're unable to get a reservation, don't fret as VACA seems to be one of the latest targets of "reservation scalping"; where unscrupulous people use bots to book reservations then sell them on 3rd party websites for hundreds of dollars. This practice not only hurts us customers but the restaurant as well as unsold reservations equals no shows for the restaurant. Hopefully between the reservation companies, the restaurants themselves and the California Restaurant Association will put this on our elected official's radars so they can ban it here like they recently did in New York. (Shout out to Audri who found us a spot when we called and explained the situation and she found us a great table) I'm looking super forward to my next visit! read more

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

Meh. For the prices and ambiance I would expect a lot more out of this place. The service was great but the food was very lackluster. The pulpo is mostly potatoes and honestly the canned octopus from Trader Joe's is more flavorful (and you get more octopus) Paella was extremely salty and nearly inedible. Was not wowed. read more

3.5 stars? The dishes I enjoyed the most were the ribeye and the Canelon de Pollo Ahumado and the Cava Vilarnau. But for spending close to $600 I would have expected a much higher level for the dishes. It was also quite warm inside so not sure if the air conditioning was completely off? Don't get me wrong the food is good, it just wasn't great, especially for that price. Also the corkage fee of $40 seemed pretty high especially if you are already spending a pretty penny on the food. read more

See all

This place is a must try. Everything is good here especially their steaks. Nicely decorated. Valet parking or park for free with validation at the parking structure across the street. Fun date night. Always a good time. read more

See all

This is my second time to Vaca and I won't be returning. I was seeing Moulan Rouge last night so my friend and I decided to get a bite to eat before the show as it's conveniently located next door. The menu is tapas style so you can share a few small plates. The entrees are very expensive, so we went for the tapas. We ordered a chicken croquet app, a tuna tataki app, and a potato app. The food was ok, but the portion is extremely small and doesn't fill you up. Ordering 3 appetizers at a regular restaurant should fill you up, but it wasn't enough and we were left hungry. Additionally, my friend ordered a red wine, the bartender did not clarify different types or price points and she just chose a $25 glass of red wine that we had no idea how expensive it was until we got the bill. My friend didn't complain, but I felt ripped off and hungry & regretted my choice to dine there. Next time I see a play at the Seagrams performing art center I'll go to a restaurant in the area or cook dinner at home before. Very disappointed. read more

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

We had a tapas dinner there before a show. The patio outside was really nice, the service was good and the food absolutely delicious. Highly recommend. read more

Another fine jewel from chef Amar! The food is unparalleled to anything around. The steaks here are the best and my god the duck roll! Chef, you're killing me. I can't stop eating your delicious food! Ambiance is perfect with a lot of dry aging meat going on. If you leave here without feeling satisfied, sounds like a personal problem to me. read more

Came here for a date night! We had reservations at 9pm on a Saturday but they were able to seat us sooner. Parking is across the street in the structure, but they validate parking so it was free :) My boyfriend and I were a bit scared because we weren't fans of the previous tapas restaurants we've visited, but we loved vaca! Ordered the beef cheek toast, Gambas Al Ajillo, and New York Steak. Food was so fresh and flavorful. We especially liked the beef cheek toast. Finished it off with tres leches cake, which was nothing special but still hit all the marks for a slice of cake. Would definitely come back. read more

See all