This place is awesome, I go there once or twice a week for lunch, it's so nice to sit outside and eat. The staff is always very nice, and the food is always great! I always seem to get the tuna Laguna, but I have tried their soup and salads too! Yum! read more

Love this place! Thank you to yelp for directing me here. I wanted to grab lunch with my mom and brother and they both work nearby, but there were restrictions on how far we could go and my mom wanted something light. The place is beautiful and the food is really good for a quick and healthy lunch. There are hot dishes, salads, and salads. I opt for the cafe rose salad, which comes with super yummy oven baked shiitake mushrooms. They're like vegetarian bacon strips. The place has a beautiful rose garden and great outdoor seating. People definitely stop by from the business area and it's pretty hidden from the main road, so you really do need to know to go there. It's not a place you see and decide to drop into. Beware, they close at 2 pm! We just missed it one day which was really sad. I also once got a side of mashed potatoes and green beans (opted not to get the plate since I don't eat meat) and they were only a buck each!! Ridiculous! We come here quite often now and my mom has been raving about it to all her coworkers so we often run into them here. read more

This place is a hidden gem that is great for lunch. It's sort of tucked away between some office buildings, but set right next to a large lawn/park area that is a great backdrop for lunch. Oddly feels like you're at a wedding. The food is delicious and at the right price. I had the Turkey Rustica sandwich and Gumbo Soup. Both were great. The service is also great. My server behind the counter was really nice and gave great recommendations. The guy who brought out my food was also friendly and brought me some silverware when he noticed I didn't get any. And the manager/owner was walking around chatting up the patrons. This is the best lunch spot option in the area. read more

Cafe Rose Express - Turkey rustica - American Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

This place truly is a hidden gem. Great food and even better staff. We were treated like royalty from beginning to end on our first trip. Found it on yelp in a pinch and took my young son for lunch. The man who helped us, who I assume was the manager, was named Nick. He was so sweet to my son and then he ended up buying our lunch! The young ladies that worked there were also so sweet and helpful. Really impressed. Food: we had the chicken panini with no cheese (just YUM) and the half roast beef sandwich/salad combo. Hong Kong salad was great. Sandwich was simple but so flavorful, soft bread and the side zucchini bread was so good that I bought more later. And some yummy blueberry muffins. Nick also gave my son a huge valentines cupcake that we took home. He loved it. Can't wait to go back. Thanks for the great first impression nick and staff! read more

See all

Really good / healthy food ! And super nice people! We also really like the outdoor space.

Came here for lunch today amazing food I tried the Caprese sandwhich. Great atmosphere loved how you could sit outside! We even got a treat to go because they were closing for the day. Will be coming back for sure:) read more

Their regular menu items are a bit pricey but always fresh and good. I often stop in and ask them to customize a menu item to my liking, and they always do it right. Sylvia and Mary are the best! The weekly lunch special is normally the best value, ranging from $11-15, but would normally be about $20 elsewhere for the quality and taste. Either get there before noon to beat the lunch rush or call in your order, because this place can get packed really fast! read more

See all

How would you like to eat lunch outside next to a large beautiful garden with birds singing and pine trees giving you shade? It's nicer than that even, and a great value! Check out the other photos on here for this place and give it a shot! Today was my first try and I love it!!! read more

See all

One of the best location to have lunch. My favorite the smoked Salmon salad. I am going there for years now and the flavors are amazing.

A wide variety of healthy meal options is what brings me back every time. I keep telling myself that I'm going to try the paninis. But I'm still enjoying selection of salads Cafe Rose has. read more

Cafe Rose Express - Lemon-Zested Greek Salad - American Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

I really cant say enough good things about Café Rose. I am constantly needing to have meetings catered, last minute lunch pick up, breakfast drive by before work, even a beautiful outdoor space to eat and get away from the office. Food is great, healthy and so many choices plus weekly specials so you never get sick of the same food! You must try Café Rose! read more

When my husband and I lucky enough to have overlapping lunch hours on a workday, this is our go-to spot for lunch. The food is delicious, staff is so friendly and helpful, and the scenery is a nice way to get away from the office. We'll occasionally mix things up if the weekly special or soup catches our eye, but we usually share a California panini and a strawberry spinach toss. And as the wonderfully sweet woman who takes our order knows, we always opt for the side of zucchini bread. read more

Love this hidden gem! I love the strawberry salad and california panini! I crave these two items at least once a week. It's so easy to order since you can place an order online and it'll be ready in thirty minutes. My friend also enjoys the veggie sandwich and zucchini breads. can't wait to try the other items! read more

Do yourself a favor and go for lunch. Nick and the gang will treat you like family. The property is beautiful, the food is plentiful and the daily specials are amazing. Great place nestled inside an industrial area, but don't let that fool you..Go experience for yourself. You won't be disappointed! read more

This place is fantastic! The food is so good, the owner and employees are extremely kind, and it's always. They even have a cute little outside seating area. It's a little on the pricey side, I would say comparable with Panera, but it's so worth it. read more

Hidden gem!! Huge outdoor patio. I had the French Connection sandwich (which was delicious) and a hot Pumpkin Spice Latte(delicious). My GF had the Wet Chicken Burrito which she said was really good. I noticed a lot of people had ordered the daily special which was Fish N Chips. It looked F'N delicious! Huge pieces of Fish with Fries and Coleslaw. I had the Coleslaw as a small side with my sandwich and it was very good. I really enjoyed the food and the relaxed atmosphere of the patio. I'll definitely drive down here again. read more

Service is second to none. The ladies at the counter in the morning always greet me with genuine smiles and a refreshingly upbeat "good morning!". The food portions are on the generous side however I've only ever tried the breakfast wraps so I can't speak to the rest of the menu. The wraps however are fantastic; Filling, reasonably nutritious, and best of all delicious (especially with the included salsa). They also accept take out orders which is very helpful if you're heading to the office. read more

I'm a civil servant. Your tax dollars don't pay for me to have luxuries like a cafeteria, coffee or tissues to blow my nose. However, I do thank you kindly for springing for our 1 ply toilet paper so I don't have to carry around my own. Since we don't have a commissary or cafeteria on site, I pretend that Café Rose Express is our cafeteria even though it's not within walking distance or associated with my employer at all. However if by some miracle we were ever to get one, this is exactly what I would want it to be like. Friendly staff, soups, sandwiches, salads, baked goods, weekly specials and beverages with both Fox News and CNN on with both indoor and outdoor seating and clean restrooms. I even subscribe to their weekly email which tells me what their weekly special and daily soups are. I could eat here for a year straight and not tire of their food. Everything is delicious! read more

The food prices are very reasonable and the quality and flavor of the food Is outstanding !!! Their weekly specials are so tasty and their presentation of the food Is beautiful !the atmospher is relaxed but high end . You can eat inside or outside at a beautiful park . I would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone in the costa Mesa , Santa Ana area.I spend the same amount at a fast food restaurant or pizza place as I do at the Rose Cafe without the great food and beautiful atmosphere ! I guarantee you will not be disappointed !!!! read more

Hidden gem in the middle of a business area. Relaxing lunch on the lawn with great food. Prices are reasonable. ($9 for a salad or a half salad/ sandwich). Try their zucchini bread! read more

I love this place for lunch but was even more impressed when I tried their wet burrito. Who knew that the best chicken burrito I have ever tasted would not be at a Mexican restaurant. I have always considered this a great salad and grilled fish place. I wish it were near my house rather than work so I could enjoy it without having to rush out. I highly recommend this for excellent, well-prepared food and a nice atmosphere. read more

Found myself needing to kill an hour, and not knowing where to go I of course turned to Yelp. Cafe Rose Express popped up as a well recommended and close option. Sort of difficult to find, it's in a one story psuedo office park right off of Harbor and McArthur. Plenty of parking. Walked in and was looking over the menu. A gentleman walked up and proceeded to direct me on all the delicious items on the menu. He also gave me a hug. Because at Cafe Rose Express, hugs are always free. I should also mention he worked there. For $8.35 I got a half salad (Asian Chicken Salad) and a very generous cup of lobster bisque. I don't even like lobster bisque, but the Hugger was so passionate about it I couldn't say no. Wow. First off, the salad dressing was the best Asian sesame dressing I've ever had. Ever. Chicken was tender and fresh. The bisque was AMAZING. So amazing I boxed up what little I had to take home. Huge pieces of perfectly cooked lobster in it! Service was fast and friendly, and prices were def reasonable. I'll definitely be back soon! read more

Close to work, usually fast service but can get a little busy, but they have a great patio to sit down and enjoy your lunch at. They always have a different special for the week and the best soups ever! Love this place! read more

Good for lunch. Healthy spot. Big menu. Large portions. I like the cobb salad. Part of me wishes they served fries, but the other part of me is perfectly happy with zucchini bread. People seem to order burritos + other mexican options but at this point I've only enjoyed the salads. read more

Got the wet burrito and taco salad. Loved them both!! The wet burrito has a big portion so it's more than enough for 2 people. There's an option for all chicken, all beef, or half and half. Friendly prices too! read more

Cafe Rose Express - Wet burrito! Huge - American Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

This is close to work, and while we have many choices in the area, this is the one all my coworkers can agree on going to. Fast, friendly, and good tasting. I wish the menu was a little more varied, but I'm sure they can only do so much. They need a better drink selection. The outdoor seating is beautiful, and faces a tiny, well-maintained park. We recommend it for a good lunch on a short time schedule. read more

I felt a little underwhelmed by the food and combo that I purchased. Nothing too special, nothing stood out, nothing was too bad either though. I wouldn't go again but for no particular reason, there's just better options for lunch out there. read more

Cafe Rose Express - American Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Definitely an "in-the-know" place. Either you KNOW that the Turnip Rose is serving up their catering fare here for breakfast and lunch or you DON'T know. If you do, then you find your way to a corporate park and get in a briskly moving line with all the regulars. Professional crowd seems to thrive here, and most people are getting the combo meal. It's a pretty darn good bargain. Last time, I got the pear/gorgonzola turkey sandwich and a basil/strawberry salad along with zucchini bread. Portions are VERY generous and the flavors are popping. Also, there are some pre-made sandwiches in a cooler that you can grab and those are about $6--cheaper than any drive-through in the vicinity. Plenty of good and comfy seating both inside and on the pretty patio. Be in the know. Bookmark Cafe Rose and swing by on your next lunch break. And then you can teach someone else the secret handshake. read more

I had originally written a 3* review and after another couple of visits to Cafe Rose, I am upping it to 4*'s and starting my draft over. See how considerate I am? :) Here's the scoop, Cafe Rose is a cute little place. They have delicious looking and tasting desserts and baked goods and HUGE sandwiches. My office is literally across the parking lot from them, so we end up using them quite a bit to bring in food for events at our office. The service can be a little slow, so if yo are in a rush this might not be the place for you to go, but if you are in for a leisurely breakfast or lunch, the food really is pretty good. My only complaint is the vegetarian selections. Not a lot of options for a veggiesaur like me. I can get PB&J or a Veggie Sandwich and I don't really care for the mix of vegetables on it. I would prefer to build my own, but again, not a lot of veggie options other than tomatoes and mushrooms. read more

Terrible for breakfast. Never served hit, very limited selection. Came here 2x both so bad i have to say something. Mcdonalds is better. read more

This place is a hidden little gem! In the middle of a corporate park you'd never know it was there if you didn't know it was there. A co-worker had been once years ago so I got lucky! There was a line out the door but it moves quickly. The food was absolutely fresh and excellent quality!! The options they serve are creative and delicious--not your typical run of the mill lunch place. Very excited to have landed here for lunch!! read more

Cafe Rose Express - Half zesty Greek salad and half French connection!! It was delicious!!!!!!!!! - American Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Awesome awesome awesome service, I wish everyone has the same level of friendliness and professionalism this place has. The food is good too, but they got 5 stars from me because of the awesome staff. read more

Cafe Rose Express - 2 item combo w/chicken "fat taco" (it really lives up to its name) and half of a "big mouth hoagie" sandwich - American Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

I haven't been there since COVID started. I was so happy that they were opened. The food was excellent and the patio seating was nice and relaxing. The staff was very friendly too. The bathroom was very cleaned. It was such a great lunch spot! read more

Can't beat the power of Yelp. My first choice for lunch was closed so I came across Cafe Rose Express for other cafes in the area. I'm really happy my first choice was closed now. We were greeted by Kelly who did everything to make us comfortable and went through every item on the menu with us. We didn't realize it was an event hall at the time but he gave us a private tour of the property. Customer service A+. Food was excellent, dessert was incredible. We will definitely be back. read more

Cafe Rose Express - Lunch combo - American Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

See all

I'm a bit surprised that this place doesn't have more reviews. This place is just great. The food is not only very high quality, but generally leans on the healthy side. Plus, if you see something you like, they are receptive towards substitutions ("I'll take that fatty sandwich, on wheat please"). To top it off, the prices are fair; if you're going to pay a small premium, it might as well be for quality of food. The service is great. The people are very nice in terms of explaining the specials and such, even letting you sample sometimes before you buy. It gets so crowded at lunch, since its smack dab in the middle of offices in Costa Mesa. Because of their insane lunch rush, they don't take phone orders from 11am to 1pm or something like that, which is understandable (but still kind of sucks...). Overall, great lunch spot. Come here again and again. read more

OK PEOPLE! I just dropped in to Cafe Rose to see what all the fuss was about. I had already eaten this morning but I figured I would give one of their egg sandwiches a shot. I went with the egg provalone bacon on squaw. OMG!!!!! STOP THE PRESSES! Blow me away DEEEEEEEELICIOUS! And HUGE also! The squaw bread was perfectly toasted, the beacon was crisp and full of flavor and the eggs were perfect! I also picked up a slice of the Rocky Road Cheesecake to go...........OMG! It's a toe curler people! I mean BIG TIME! THANK YOU AND GREAT JOB CAFE ROSE!!!!!! read more

What a hidden gem! The food, service and coffee were superb! The employees were so friendly and very helpful :) I was able to work in a very relaxing atmosphere. I will definitely be back!!!!! read more

This place is an awesome hidden gem for the work week lunch. I have yet to have a bad experience at this place. MY TIP: Try the lunch combo with the salad and sandwich. They have tons of options to choose from so you could probably go a hundred times without having the same combination. read more

This is by far one of the best experiences I've had a eatery ever possibly. The manager greeted my girlfriend and I with a smile and ran down the whole display of food items. The staff was very inviting and friendly as well. The food was amazing. I ordered the Strawberry Toss which was an excellent choice. The salad was so fresh and it was a great combo of fruit and veggies. My GF ordered the Greek salad and soup of the day (Cream of Asparagus) she loved every bite. It's a must that you try the Zucchini Bread and the cheddar potato. We will definitely be back. Don't hesitate try it out!!! read more

If you ever come to Cafe Rose when they have their "Jewels of the sea brochette", GET IT! The sauce is delicious, the fish and shrimp are perfectly cooked and the rice and spinach salad compliment the flavors perfectly. You can thank me later. read more

Cafe Rose Express - "Jewels of the sea brochette" DELICIOUS - American Near Me - Costa Mesa, California