Exceptional experience tonight. Found restaurant on open table but decided to just drop in, was…read moreseated immediately. Sam our waiter was very attentive. Food was good value and excellent. The manager checked in with us which elevated our evening. I would highly recommend!!

Hook & Anchor in Costa Mesa just hits…read more Oysters on the half shell were super fresh and clean. Then the lobster roll stole the show. Pure, generous, and ridiculously good. Fresh seafood, no pretension. Go for the oysters and that lobster roll.

I have been here four times in the past month and absolutely loved it, great food, and drinks. The…read moreAl pastor tacos were delicious and full! I've got the yuzu matcha, the homemade sarsaparilla and the marshmallow foam cold brew before, all drinks were delicious! The line gets really long after 10am but there is pretty decent seating all outside though and it does get really busy. The only reason why I am knocking down a star and leaving this review is because my celiac partner went and got a burrito and was told the spinach wrap was gluten-free and safe. We even asked the girl taking our order to check with the chef and she went back and said the chef said it was gluten free. The next day my partner had celiac symptoms and was sick. We went back to get breakfast another day and he was told the spinach was not gluten-free by the manager. So just leaving this here to let everyone know the spinach wrap is not celiac safe/gluten free.

OC needed more good brunch spots, so I'm glad we have Salty Horse! There always seems to be a line…read morehere, so try to get there early. Went at 9am on a Saturday and there was already a line out the door. "Steak and Eggs': loved the flavor of the steak, it was cooked perfectly! Eggs are cooked your way and it comes with avocado and a sourdough slice as well. 'Hawaiian Cowboy: coffee flavor wasn't that strong, it almost tasted watered down, and there was this floraly taste that I didn't expect Breakfast options are delicious, love the portion sizes (definitely will have leftovers), and they have such a cute and cozy outdoor seating area! I will say tho I'm kind of disappointed with the drinks here, and I've tried both their coffee and matcha....but I would recommend this place for their food!

I'm not vegan, but this place has completely won me over. The food is so good that I honestly don't…read moremiss the meat. We always order the beer-battered tacos, purple taquitos, and the Brussels sprouts--they're all incredible. The jackfruit is top-notch and absolutely shines in the nachos. Beyond the food, the atmosphere is what keeps me coming back. The outdoor patio is beautiful, the indoor décor is warm and inviting, and the whole restaurant feels like a welcoming community rather than just somewhere to eat. The staff deserves a special shout-out. Tanner is hardworking, creative, hilarious, and somehow manages to make every visit more fun while providing excellent service. Manager Yassi is an absolute delight and helps create the positive, welcoming vibe that makes this place so special.

My sister and I decided to grab a quick bite at Seabirds after spending the afternoon walking…read morearound and shopping at The LAB Anti-Mall. Since it's a vegetarian restaurant, I was excited to give it a try, and it definitely exceeded my expectations. We ordered three different tacos, and they were all delicious. My absolute favorite was the Beer Battered Avocado Taco. It was packed with flavor, perfectly crispy on the outside, and the creamy avocado inside made every bite amazing. If no one told me it was vegetarian, I probably wouldn't have even noticed because it was that satisfying. We also tried their house-made Fig Vanilla Iced Tea, which was so refreshing and unique. It paired perfectly with the tacos and was a great choice for a warm California afternoon. To start, we ordered the chips and guacamole, which were fresh, light, and the perfect snack while waiting for our food. Everything tasted fresh and made with quality ingredients. We sat outside under the large umbrellas, and the outdoor seating area had such a relaxing atmosphere. It almost felt like we were having a little picnic while enjoying the beautiful weather and people watching around The LAB. The service was also fantastic. Our server was incredibly friendly, welcoming, and attentive throughout our visit. Whether you're vegetarian, vegan, or just looking to try something different, this spot is definitely worth checking out!

Let me first say, if you are being seated at the corner tables by the big windows on the back…read moreside.....GOOD LUCK! The sun beamed directly on our party of 9, and every single one of us were super hot the entire time. You'd think a place that has huge windows would invest in shades of some sort. Secondly, the food was pretty basic for the most part. The chicken parm was not seasoned at all, and was too tender. The filet mignon was good, and the caramelized mushrooms were a really good pair with it. I recommend that dish. Overall, the experience was just okay, nothing to write home about. But seriously, wear something breathable just incase you're shoved against those big windows, because my goodness.

Had reservations for a party of 9 on a Monday at 6:45 pm. They have their own parking lot so…read moreparking was super easy. We were seated outside on their patio which was really nice since the weather had cooled down for the day. Our waitress was amazing and recommended so many good dishes for us to try. We basically got every single appetizer but my favorites were the crispy provolone and Japanese eggplant. We also got a couple kale salads which were very light and refreshing, perfect to cut the heaviness of all the carbs. To share, we got two pizzas (marinara and copione) and a bunch of different pastas. The pizzas had super thin crust which I loved. The two pastas that stood out to me were the spicy rigatoni and raschiatelli. Both were absolutely perfect. I also got the light & stormy mocktail and it was a great addition to the meal. We had a few dietary restrictions / allergies within our group and our waitress did an amazing job making sure everything was made right which we so appreciated. I definitely recommend this place!

There is always a wait for Hanuman but it's so worth it. This is one of their 3 locations with the…read moreother two in Orange and Newport Blvd. I also believe that it is a sister business to the restaurant next door Etc Bar x Thaizakaya as you can order off of that menu as well. They don't take reservations. But once you put your name down on the waitlist you will get a text when your table is ready. The staff/service here is incredibly sweet, attentive and personable. The food here never disappoints. Everything is so flavorful and the perfect balance of savory, sweet and sour. The pad see ew has that strong smokey wok-hei aroma that I look for in any stir fried dish. I lovvveee my sweets and I'm a huge fan of the coconut ice cream that's on the dessert menu. The housemade coconut ice cream is so rich and not icy and pairs so well with the sticky rice.

My cousins and i decided to come eat dinner at hanuman! Wait was an hour so highly recommend…read morejoining the waitlist before arriving! We ordered the ceviche,crying tiger,pad see ew, spicy basil (mild) Drinks: thai tea and coco mango mocktail 5/5 Service is friendly, food did take a while to come out but it's definitely worth it! Crying Tiger portion is very little but the meat was sooo tender. Definitely coming back!

Shorebird in Newport Beach is such a great spot, though service could've been a bit better and more…read moreattentive given the price point. We kicked off dinner with a round of drinks: an espresso martini with a nice touch of cinnamon, a refreshing margarita, a tall draft beer, and a tequila margarita. Everything from the bar was top-notch. The seafood was definitely the highlight. We ordered a massive spread of oysters on the half shell, both classic and dressed with ponzu, scallions, and tobiko. We also shared a fantastic salmon and avocado specialty roll, along with sashimi and crudo plates that tasted super fresh. Overall, the coastal vibe is fantastic and the food and drinks are great, but hopefully service is a bit sharper next time!

Brought a friend and her family here to celebrate a milestone birthday on a Saturday afternoon…read more We were really hoping to sit in the patio, or at least near it but, unfortunately we were sat at a booth alongside the interior wall. Totally understandable as it's peak summer, and a weekend, they get busy. The restaurant was hot and humid. Now I'm sure they have AC, and even with all the windows and patio doors being open, they really should have opted to use the AC. The entire dining experience was uncomfortable. We ate our meal literally sweating. Even our server was sweating lol All our drinks went room temp in a matter of 10 minutes, we had to repeatedly ask for glasses of ice from the bar just to try and mitigate our body temperatures somehow. Also, the booth itself was incredibly tacky. And I don't mean visually tacky, I mean the texture. The feeling of plastic when it gets really old and it feels sticky to the touch, that tacky. You couldn't slide in or out of that booth if your life depended on it. And again, considering how humid and hot the interior was, it only made it worse. The lighting was also so dim that it gave the vibes of being sat in the corner of a musky Denny's diner lol. Halfway through our meal they turned the lights off for dinner service (I get it, to set the mood) but it made the table so dark we had to ask them to turn them back on so we could see the food on our plates. It wasn't that the entire restaurant was dim, it's certain tables (and sadly ours was definitely one of them) We had a party of 6, and one person got their meal well before the rest of the table. We of course insisted she begin eating, which she did, and our remaining meals came out as soon as she was done with hers. The waiter removed her plate as he set down everyone else's lol. The food was good, but, again with how uncomfortable the environment was, it was hard to enjoy. The restaurant was also fairly empty throughout our meal. We got there before 5 so that awkward "linner" time frame. Even so, we had to flag down our waiter for another round of drinks, water, etc. The Shorebird absolutely has stunning views, and that's what they're known for. Their food is solid, mist dishes fairly justifies the high price point. This visit was just not their best. Overall service and ambiance, fell extremely flat. I set the bar high for my guests, as they traveled in from out of town and I raved about my experience from a few months back. Granted, I was sat at the patio, overlooking the beautiful view, and the service was impeccable. With all the stellar dining options in Newport, unless you find yourself at a table on the balcony, I don't think Shorebird is the obvious choice. You'll end up spending the money regardless so you may as well look for a spot that is guaranteed to meet the expectations of the price point without having to be dependent on a view.

The Chicken Shop is one of my favorite places to get wraps. The standout here is easily the OG…read moreWrap. It's always nicely toasted and has a good amount of chicken. I then douse it with the chili garlic sauce, which I think is a must have; however, there is still garlic inside the wrap, so you may smell like garlic for the rest of the day. If you are looking for a solid wrap that never disappoints, this place is a dependable option. The workers are also very nice and welcoming. Pro Tip: It gets busy during peak meal times, so order ahead online to skip the wait.

The good is the food worthy of a four. Service is minimal ,…read morereally should ask each person Dark meat or white. There is no ambiance to speak of just a storefront with some seating. I was disappointed considering the ratings I had seen

I have been looking for Ramen places that serve vegan options, and so happy to stumble upon this…read moreone. The broth is very flavorful and happy to see vegan appetizers on the menu too. I also loved the fries that had sea weed seasoning. The service was friendly and warm and no hiccups getting seated quickly. Definitely worth visiting. My non vegan friends enjoyed their meal too.

The service here was fast and efficient, and one of the first things I noticed was how spacious the…read morerestaurant is. There are plenty of seating areas, so it never felt too crowded or cramped. I ordered the Tokyo Mazemen and the Deluxe Mazemen, and both were delicious. My favorite part was the texture of the noodles, they had the perfect chew and held onto the sauce really well. The flavors were rich and balanced, and everything paired perfectly with the tender pork and toppings. Overall, it was a satisfying meal, and I would definitely come back the next time I'm craving mazemen.