Want to be transported to somewhere new, fresh, exciting and to embrace Hispanic culture? Mercado…read moreGonzalez is that. It's not just a grocery store, it's not a place to go in and out (you could if you wanted to), it's a place to enjoy not just the produce, but everything it has to offer! Yes, it is a grocery store, but it's also a place with many food stalls with delicious foods that are made fresh throughout the day! The service is fantastic, everyone is so happy and are eager to help! The ambiance is bustling either music constantly playing and some live music on certain days! I've had their horchata, burritos from one of the stalls, a torta, and a muleta. I've also purchased some fresh guacamole and their freshly made agua frescas!, all of which were great! Some say it's ok or sub par from other places, it could be true, but it's definitely the experience that is hard to match. This isn't just a one and done place, I feel like I haven't fully experienced everything yet and plan to come back multiple times to try out all that this place has to offer!

Our building had a catered event from them, and it was well received overall with a successful…read moreconclusion after some initial challenges. I will use mostly my names for what I tried: "ELEPHANT EAR" BREAD: -- light beige color -- very sweet -- honey taste very pronounced and sticky texture -- great with hot Mexican chocolate or hot coffee with no sugar to offset the sweet RATING = A- "PINKIE LA RUE" (aka Polvorone Rojas): -- semi-crumbly texture -- buttery shortbread -- large size -- dusted w/white table sugar on top which I scraped off to reduce the sweet -- medium sweet or tad more -- not dry nor moist -- very nice tasting, especially w/milk or hot coffee RATING = A "RHINO HORN" bread: -- has some color variance with light brown -- semi-firm texture -- lightly sweet -- best for dipping in hot Mexican chocolate or hot coffee; not ideal to eat plain -- not buttery -- I am not a big "dipper" of cookies or bread into coffee so this is not of much interest to me -- it's okay RATING = B- CUCUMBER/LIME AQUA FRESCA: -- I poured into my water bottle and added half water to get the sweet down. Way too sweet for my palate but nice once I got the ratio right. -- up to medium sweet initially RATING = A- PINEAPPLE/SPINACH AQUA FRESCA: -- above medium sweet but expected for pineapple -- the pineapple defeated anything rough about the spinach for me which was a good thing...not chalky tongue syndrome RATING = B+ WATERMELON AQUA FRESCA: -- medium towards high sweet -- I did 50/50 with water again to get it right -- tasted pretty close to fresh watermelon juice when I did that RATING = A

At the food court, they have amazing food. It is worth it to drive all the way to Costa Mesa to try.read more

One of my fave spots in Orange County. If you go here for groceries, they have amazing selection…read more And if you get hungry, you're in luck because they have amazing food selection. The food court is pretty huge and spacious albeit it gets really packed. However, they have a great system and staff are always proactive in cleaning up the tables as soon as someone's done eating so others can use the table. It is perfect for dinner and hangouts (with food purchase of course) with friends and family. Highly recommend this place!

Such a gorgeous market with a huge selection of gourmet food and wine and craft beer. We selected…read moreseveral types of cheese, all of which were delicious. The olive selection was amazing! We had a gluten-free member of our group and there were lots of options for her. In addition to the wine and beer, there is a nice selection of sparkling waters. Staff was helpful and the store was well-laid out, clean and tidy. Oh! And what a selection of produce! The strawberries were delicious.

I would love to give this little market 5 stars! It's cute, clean, local, and has exactly…read moreeverything you'd need. The staff is super nice too. We live right around the corner from them, and there really isn't another grocery store within an 8 min drive, so I find this place to be super convenient. However, it does come with a price. Everything is about double the price of what you'd find at a Ralph's. For example, a box of plain Cheerios was nearly $10 here whereas it's about $5 at any other chain. I so badly want to support the local business here, but the prices I find aren't worth the trade off. TL;DR - perfect for that one ingredient you didn't have and need to make a pit stop.

So...I went for the healthy food. Stocked at how delicious it was. Chicken chili was to die for and…read morethe tuna melt ditto. If it wasn't a healthy place I would praise how delicious, The reverse osmosis water was delish too. It feels like I'm on some love everything about this place drug. Will become rich to buy everything in this store and fill my house with it all!

Midday munchies. As…read morea lover of kombucha, this place has been on my radar for a couple of years now. I've been obsessed with the coffee shop across the parking lot, and I finally felt that it was time for me to try fermentation farm. Their kombucha hands-down has been some of the best I've ever had. I tried the famous tuna melt and also got a chicken taco. The food was good, but not great in my opinion. At that price point, there are a lot of nearby places with quality ingredients that taste better. I do love the mission and background of this restaurant. I read up a little bit about how the food is sourced. Consumers are definitely getting quality products here, but sometimes quality doesn't always transfer over as deliciousness. Again, the food was good, but not something that I'm going to be yearning for. I would like to come back and try the chocolate cake that is also very popular and perhaps the Ramen. And of course, another flavor of their delicious kombucha.

This is my second Time at Tokyo central and my first time at this location in Costa Mesa…read more It is a big market with absolutely everything you can imagine. From the seafood department to the meat department, to the produce department. And so much more. Everything looks fresh and the displays are well presented. I've never been to Japan but i can imagine that i would find a lot of the same products in a Japanese market in Japan. The store is lively with a nice energy. The service is friendly. I did not purchase anything this time as i was accompanying some friends but I recommend checking it out.

Update since my last review... back in 2015!…read more Tokyo Central is where the old Marukai used to be. Everything has been upgraded - the store is newer, brighter, shinier! Sure, prices have caught up with inflation - but not by much. Prices here for fresh sushi/sashimi are very competitive compared to your sushi restaurant. The biggest draw/benefit since the Marukai rebrand/refresh? THE EPIC FOOD COURT! Literally, one of the best Japanese/Hawaiian prepared food offerings in Orange County. You've got everything from fresh sashimi party trays, to fresh cut sushi and hand rolls, all sorts of Japanese style sandwiches (egg salad, chicken katsu, etc.), fresh bakery breads, mochi, bento boxes featuring teriyaki chicken to chicken karaage, ramen bowls (these are amazingly good for store-bought ramen), poke bowls, and a hot food buffet bar - $10.99/lb. Service is always a plus, from the friendly security guard (whose been there since they were Marukai), to the cashiers that remember to offer you chopsticks. Store environment is clean, uncluttered, plenty of spaces to roam around. Parking sucks - especially if you come during lunch time and/or the weekend. Check out my photos!

This place was quite a surprise for me. I except it to be so expensive compared to other brunch…read moreplaces but it was about the same or even cheaper. The quality of the food was great and I appreciate how clean the ingredients were. With that it also made the food almost dry. Seemed like they only had one server and she was so sweet when she helped us but we didn't see her often. It was a quiet and calm in there.

This review is aimed a the horrible restaurant service. I've run restaurants a couple times in my…read morelife, and I'm always in shock how disgusting this place is. You routinely find tables covered in at least one previous customers mess. The non-waiters ALWAYS attempt to place your table mat on top of the previous patrons toxic spill. Getting anyone to ask you if you want anything is a miracle. The food takes forever to be brought out, not made, but brought out. How can one tell? Because its so often cold. Beautifully made, but cold. If a Health Inspector attempted to eat lunch here, they'd be cited and possibly shut down until they could prove they have a staff trained to keep the place clean. CORPORATE: You need to GUT the staff. Hire people with experience serving people. People who know how to hustle for a tip. We will reward them well. The mystery of how so many Mother's have closed has been solved. Seal Beach, Manhattan Beach, it all makes sense now. Your competitors have moved in with SERVICE. Stop hiring entitled rich kids. A players hire A players. B players hire D players. Which are you?

Pavilions is a solid grocery store in a very convenient location…read more I really like the produce section, especially the organic vegetables, which are consistently fresh and well stocked. It is an easy stop when I need to grab groceries after the beach.

This Pavilions gave me one of the worst experiences I've ever had as a customer with a service dog…read more My service dog accidentally urinated in the store. A male employee politely helped me clean it up, but the female greeter at the entrance (Asian appearance) made nasty remarks and looked at me and my service dog with open disgust. Later at checkout, about five or six employees stood around one register, stared at me with cold, judgmental looks, and not a single person said "thank you" or "have a good day." The whole atmosphere felt openly hostile and, in my opinion, discriminatory toward a customer with a legitimate service animal. I will be filing a formal complaint with Pavilions corporate and considering further action.

Best location i've personally been to, the store is clean and sufficiently stocked with all the…read morefood being fresh and up to quality. The employees have great customer service skills and are very attentive, being willing to assist you with your needs. Overall, an absolutely amazing store.

There's something special about walking into Trader Joe's that makes grocery shopping feel less…read morelike a chore and more like a small adventure -- and the Costa Mesa location is the perfect example of why this brand has such a loyal following. Every visit reminds me why I drive past several other grocery stores just to come here. From the upbeat team members to the unique products you can't find anywhere else, this Trader Joe's always delivers a five-star experience. Let's start with the vibe. The moment you walk through the doors, you're greeted with friendly smiles, upbeat energy, and those colorful hand-drawn signs that give the place a neighborhood-market feel instead of a corporate chain. The employees are genuinely helpful -- not just polite because they have to be. They actually seem happy to be there. Whether it's recommending a new snack, sharing a recipe idea, or tracking down that last bag of cauliflower gnocchi, the staff here go out of their way to make shopping feel personal and enjoyable. Now let's talk about the products, because this is where Trader Joe's really shines. Every aisle has something new, clever, or just plain delicious. I love that the store manages to be both practical and exciting -- you can pick up everyday essentials like milk, bread, and eggs, but right next to them are things you didn't know you needed: chili-lime cashews, cookie butter, unexpected cheddar cheese, or frozen croissants that make your kitchen smell like a French bakery. And unlike other grocery chains, everything here feels curated -- not overwhelming, but carefully chosen. The produce section is always fresh and well stocked. The fruits and vegetables are vibrant and affordable, and I appreciate that the store sources seasonally so there's always something new to try. Their floral section is also a hidden gem -- reasonably priced and perfect for brightening up the house without breaking the budget. The frozen food section deserves its own standing ovation. From their orange chicken to the vegan pasta bolognese, every item tastes like something from a real kitchen, not a factory. I've built entire dinners out of Trader Joe's frozen meals that taste homemade in under 20 minutes -- which is priceless on busy weeknights. Customer service here is consistently excellent. I've seen employees go out of their way to open extra registers when the line starts forming, walk a customer to a product instead of just pointing, and even replace an item that broke on the way out -- no questions asked. It's those small, human moments that make this store feel like more than a grocery stop. The prices are another reason this location earns five stars. You get premium-quality food for everyday-person prices, which is rare. You don't need coupons or loyalty cards -- the value is built right in. Every checkout experience is fast, smooth, and usually ends with a cheerful conversation that reminds you why this store has such a loyal fanbase. Even the parking situation, which can be a challenge at some Trader Joe's, is managed well here. It gets busy, but there's usually a quick turnover, and the staff outside help keep things moving safely and efficiently. What keeps me coming back most, though, is the feeling this place gives you. Trader Joe's Costa Mesa doesn't just sell groceries -- it sells convenience, creativity, and community. It's the kind of store where you discover something new each visit, chat with friendly staff who remember you, and leave feeling a little happier than when you walked in. If Yelp allowed six stars, this location would get them all. It's everything you want in a neighborhood market -- affordable, friendly, creative, and full of genuinely good food. Trader Joe's Costa Mesa is easily one of my favorite stops in town, and it's the reason I'll never go back to ordinary grocery shopping again.

I've moved to Costa Mesa for the last 12 months and this has always been my go-to for groceries…read more Management has been helpful in making my experience extremely satisfying. Highly recommend this store.

I'll be honest Stater Bros. has never really been my go-to. From the outside, it felt a bit…read moreoutdated, so I didn't expect much. But I was pleasantly surprised. A friend brought me in, and the first thing I noticed was the meat section. They had fresh-cut meats and butchers right there, ready to help. I chatted with them a bit, and they were helpful and friendly. We grabbed some ice cream and a few other items, and the selection was actually pretty solid. It's not a huge store, but for its size, it's well stocked and easy to navigate. Overall, I had a pretty good experience and it definitely changed my mind about Stater Bros. Good location right off the freeway.

I have to thank Les S. for his review on Seiwa Market in Costa Mesa. They are a small Japanese…read moregrocery store that took over a Fresh and Easy location, conveniently off the 405 at Harbor. Easy parking lot, not too crowded. Super friendly nice staff. I specifically came here because Les S. mentioned a good deal for their sliced meat for DIY hot pot/shabu shabu. On the day of my visit, there was a deal for $14.99 American Wagyu Chuck Roll. Significantly cheaper than other markets on sliced meats. I also got some sliced angus beef and sliced pork while I was in the meat area. There was staff refilling the meats and he was super friendly and nice. Ohh and 20% off meats on Fridays! They also had pre-cut Kabocha Squash for $1.99/lb. Wow I loveeee the kabocha squash but I dread cutting it. It's like a vigorous work out cause this squash has a thick skin and I struggle each time. I was sooooo happy it was pre-cut so I can eat to my heart's delight. I also saw the Akai Kitsune Udon noodles on sale for $2.99 so I got a few of those too. All of the ingredients were delicious for our New Years Eve DIY hot pot feast at home. Very quality :) A small market with good deals. As Les S. mentioned there are some items that go for about average pricing, but they have some killer deals. I especially love how their staff was so nice. As I was browsing around they were friendly and welcoming, and as I checked out they were courteous and helpful. Feels like a community around here. I will definitely be coming back now that I know about this gem.

Before you head out to any other Japanese markets, stop by at this lovely market since they pretty…read moremuch have all Japanese products and the price is more reasonable. The store may not be fancy but it is very practical shopping here. From fresh produce to beautiful Made in Japan dishes, you will feel like you're in Japan. Everything is displayed neatly and nicely, which is easy to find and the products are cleaned and packed well. Colorful bottle of beverages and various frozen sweets are so attractive that it is hard not to pick one up. The staff are diligently either restocking or organizing so it is great seeing the store is well kept. At the check-out, the casher was friendly and the other staff was quick on bagging the products that I purchased.