This has been the best food I have tried in my 24 years of living. On gods green earth I better not see any bad reviews on this place. The service is amazing, they treat you with respect and always check up on you. I 100% recommend. read more

Karl Strauss Brewing Company - Boneless Buffalo Wings Sweet Chili Garlic Wings Asada Fries Lemonade - Pubs Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Great experience. Please mote you have to park near Bloomingdale's since the store doesn't have parking itself. Great atmosphere and incredible vibes. I love brewery's and this one is fantastic. My fav was the boat shoes IPA! The flavor is great and just a great pint! Thank you for the fantastic service! read more

This is a very chill brewery in metro point plaza! We went to watch a soccer game and it was a pleasant enough time! The food was good as was the beers! I tried their cherry cola version and it was SO GOOD! Would have been PERFECT if they had maraschino cherries to add! Overall wasn't busy so getting a table isn't difficult! read more

Stopped in to watch the game. The place was crowded but not overwhelming. Ordered the PORK CHOP entree. It was delicious! Tender pork, well marinated with sides of al-dente zucchini and their yummy fries. I was very surprised how good this was. Not 5 star good but pretty darn lip smacking good! Service was great! The general manager does a great job making sure everything is running smoothly. Our waitress was so sweet and on top of her game. Wine was not too bad. The Federalist for $52. Also, they have TV's on the patio and dogs are allowed. read more

Karl Strauss Brewing Company - Pork chop - Pubs Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

We like Karl's house, good food and good times abound. Solid beer collection that has a winning hand every time. Best deals on happy hour too. The place is hard the find though. Maps usually guide to the wrong side of the shopping mall. We arrived with about one minute to spare on happy hour but our server was quick and kind enough to slide us into the happy hour pricing. read more

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The cheeseburger at Karl Strauss Brewing Company walks into the room like it knows it belongs there confident, polished, paired perfectly with a cold house brew. Visually? Strong. Toasted bun, melted cheese draped properly, solid build integrity. Structurally, it's a well composed burger. But here's the honest take. The patty itself felt like it was holding back. The texture was good juicy enough, cooked properly yet the flavor didn't quite punch the way you expect from a brewery burger. It needed more salt, maybe a stronger sear, maybe even a blend with a bit more fat to bring depth. Right now, it tastes safe. And a place known for bold craft beer shouldn't serve a safe burger. The cheese and toppings carried more personality than the beef did. Every bite had balance, but not enough edge. A sharper cheddar, a house-made sauce with some acidity, or even a slightly more aggressive seasoning profile would elevate it from "good" to "I'm coming back for this." That said, it's not a bad burger. It's dependable. It just hasn't stepped fully into its potential. In a brewery setting where flavor is the brand, the cheeseburger should taste like it belongs next to a flagship IPA not like it's auditioning for it. Room for improvement? Definitely. Foundation to build on? Absolutely read more

Karl Strauss Brewing Company - Cheeseburger with added bacon - Pubs Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Been eating here off and on since the 90's when I lived in Santa Ana. Has a nice atmosphere with good food and drinks. If you're not a beer drinker they have some creative hard seltzers. I loved the cherry cola one. Their made to order duck fat fried pretzel bites are worth every calorie! Delicious! My go to item lately is the sausage platter. Two California made sausages served with grilled zucchini, sweet potato fries, and pickled onion. It's a large portion and really hits the spot. Service has always been good for us. If you go early there is usually parking right by the door but if that's full the parking structure is really close. read more

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Been about 3 years since our last visit. Happy to say they appear to have shifted their ordering business model back to pre-COVID! Thank you! Not sure when they made the shift but so happy they finally did! We arrived a little after 1400 and was surprised how few people there were. That said, the restaurant was clean and well kept! We always like the light industrial feel! After ordering our beverages, we opened with Duck Fat Pretzel Bites. Absolutely delicious! For our main courses my wife ordered their Sausage plate and I the Chop Shop with rare Salmon. Our meals came out relatively quickly and was absolutely delicious! Who knows, perhaps we'll make a return visit before we depart SoCal! read more

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The restaurant has 8 parking spots out front, if they're full you need to park in the lot below. It's really spacious inside with a decent outside area! Ver good for small groups or couples! There is a great food selection with plenty of drink options (beer on tap, wine and specialty cocktails). Our server Natalie was great! She brought samples of beer that paired with our food which we loved! Definitely would come back again. read more

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Thank you so much Karl Strauss staff for the amazing service!! My girlfriend and I decided to go visit Karl Strauss since we were walking around the area trying to find some new dress shoes for myself. It's interesting that they close at 8 PM on weekday but I guess that's kind of good because it makes sure no one gets too crazy on a school night Upon arrival, we were immediately welcomed by the awesome bartender. Enthusiasm absolutely made me wanna come back. We took a seat of the booth and service was pretty quick. I love that we were able to try so many different types of beer. Food: - Brussel Sprouts 10/10 - they were crisp and had awesome textures with the crunchy bacon, feta and balsamic glaze - Beer Sausages - 10/10 - I was amazed by how beautiful the plate looked at a brewery! Presentation was amazing and the sausage was actually very delicious with a heaping side of sweet potato fries. - mac & cheese - 7/10 it was good but I feel like it was the description of the name "The Norm" nothing fancy, but maybe I should've chose the PIG or cioppino. Overall, we had a wonderful time. Service was absolutely amazing. Food and drinks were delicious. Vibes were at an all time high. Everyone was chill. I'll definitely come back to visit if I'm in the area! read more

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Always stop in When in town for business . Their craft beers are top shelf and always pleased with choices of food. Fish tacos are stellar. Their staff is Friendly and helpful . read more

The weight was really long because of the Dodgers game. About an hour or so. However, if you park in the lot, which is $30, you can use that money towards a meal. So it's definitely better than paying for parking at the stadium. The food is surprisingly good. Got the brussels sprouts which were crispy. Also got a ribeye, which was OK, would probably pass on that next time. It was a bit thin and a little overcooked. The duck fat pretzel bites were good, but didn't blow me away. Also got beers. Got a flight of beers, which you can choose 2-6 flavors. I tried guava heffe which was OK. The sour and the sour ale which I loved, but I also love sours. And I tried the coffee infused stout, which was super good. The service was a little slow. But given the volume of people, not too bad. We were able to sit outside, which was nice. read more

Karl Strauss Brewing Company - Beer flight - Pubs Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Stopped by on a Saturday evening for dinner. Found a couple of spots at the bar. Were quickly checked in with and got samples of various beers on tap. Bartender was great. Got the lemongrass chicken appetizer. Appetizer was ok. Would prefer romaine leaves or butter lettuce instead of iceberg. Chicken meatballs were good. Chicken sandwich was outstanding. Great size and plenty of toppings. Fries cooked have been cooked for an extra 30 seconds to give a little crunch. Mac n cheese was excellent. Super creamy and good crunch from the breadcrumbs. Overall great spot. Good environment and would highly recommend. read more

Karl Strauss Brewing Company - Pubs Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

We always have a good time here. Great selection of KS brand beer and decent food for many palette types. Services is always friendly and the seating is comfortable. Lots of TVs if you want to catch the game or an outdoor patio that I assume is dog friendly. Parking can be tough in the small lot, but there's a parking garage nearby. Would recommend. read more

Karl Strauss Brewing Company - Dog-Friendly Outdoor Patio Seating - Pubs Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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I found a new German brewery right across from South coast Plaza. How come I didn't know this restaurant for years even thou I always shopped in South coast Plaza. First, I see the giant beer tanks to make their own taps at the entrance. Second, the happy hour sign, beers $6, appetizers for $10 from 3 to 5 everyday. Third, vibe, energetic, and German style sports bar.... Wow!!!!! I got there during happy hour. Not packed yet for the dinner time. The staff are super super friendly. The menu is quite simple but some appetizers like calamari, beer pretzel, beer sausage as entrée, burgers, some side as french fries, and desserts. We loved their taps, my hubby and I chose 2 flavors to start beers w 2 appetizers, calamari and German beer pretzel, and beer sausages w french fries. For the beer pretzel, the taste is top notch first, really chewy German style, 2 different dipping sauces, one is cheese and another is Dijon mustard spicy. Great presentation too for the huge pretzels....5 stars. For calamari, crunchy and combined w zucchini pickle fries, well done! Last one, beer sausages w fries, amazing flavor like German sausage taste w onions pickles, fries. I give 5 stars. We had $10 for the appetizers, $6 taps during happy hour. The service and quality are super. I checked the bar, canned beer refrigerator, brewery tanks, gift goods like t shirts, sweatshirts, even patio seats. Everything looks great. Loved the interior concepts w high ceiling, wooden tables like German beer restaurant. I felt so comfy, relaxed. Overall experience today was excellent for us, Great service and quality. I can't wait to go back for other foods, other taps. Haha....great happy hour everyday as well. Strongly recommend here "Karl Strauss" brewery. Beautiful location and feel like Pelican Resort New Port beach, very chic. read more

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Friendly service, got to sample a few of the beers of the day. They have happy hour daily but ends early at 5pm. Food came out pretty fast and tasted pretty good. The duck fat pretzel bites was a bit salty and didn't really have a taste of duck. There are no window blinds, so if you are in a booth with the sun shining on you, it gets uncomfortable and may have to switch tables. read more

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Some places are just good beer. This was good beer and great people. Max behind the bar deserves a shoutout. Friendly, sharp, and somehow making a busy bar feel calm and personal at the same time. You don't forget service like that--it's the kind that quietly upgrades your whole experience without making a big show of it. Karl Strauss already has the food and drinks dialed in, but Max is the kind of bartender who makes you want to come back and sit at the bar specifically. Will absolutely be back. read more

Came to celebrate Karl's 36th anniversary with $3.6 beers all day! We also took advantage of the 11-5 pm "burger deal" for $20. We are happy to see their menu has substantially improved! The pizza rolls were the bomb and the burger was a classic, and flavorful: patty was well seasoned, cheese and LTO fresh and sesame seeds on the bun?! Oh yeah! Our server was super attentive and we even took a growler home. We look forward to more of these events! read more

Karl Strauss Brewing Company - Karl's Pub Burger - Pubs Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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I discovered a new German brewery near South coast plaza. The location is quite easy to access from Norstrom Rack. Very nice entrance, huge inside. My wife and I got there at 4. I noticed the happy hour time from 3 to 5 everyday. All beers are $6, $10 for appetizers. Great deal everyday!! We started to try red amber taps, 2 appetizers which are beer pretzels, calamari and one entrée, beer sausages w fries. First, we both got shocked about the quality of foods, the first time I tasted the real German pretzels here since I liked K mart pretzels in the past. Same texture I had in my memory. Loved it!!! 5 stars for the pretzels. 2 appetizers we ordered were great. Calamari and zucchini fries are good, crunchy. For entrée, we chose the beer sausages w fries, zucchinis. Feel like we are in Germany for the beer festival. That good for the taps and foods. Ambiance is comfy, chic, and contemporary. Service is 5 stars. Happy Hour price is great. The parking is huge, we parked in front of Best Buy. My wife said we need to come back next week. She loved the vibes, foods, happy hour deal. We definitely come back to try more beers, burgers. Today we had a great time here and Relaxed w fresh taps. Thanks for the great service. read more

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For the most part everything was good. I expected more flavor for thr smashburgsr considering there was so much on it. Not sure what it lacked, but it was fine. The chili lime fries were amazing. Bowls were good with the sauce. The dip for the pretzel bites is what made it. read more

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Came to Karl Strauss for a business lunch. Since it was work, I did not take any pictures. My colleague and his guest must have been a lot as they were greeted with enthusiasm and the server knew them by name. The menu is elevated bar food, so we shared some boneless buffalo wings. Really good. If this hadn't been work, I think one of their beers would have paired nicely with it. For a main, I decided to try a Korean Rice Bowl with Poke. My colleague recommended it, and I was skeptical at first, but it was great. Definitely will be back for some other eats and some beer. read more

The original review was deleted as it turned out to be a misunderstanding. Below is the revised review after we revisited the restaurant and talked to the managers regarding to the our experience. _________________________________________ One of my favorite bar to hang out. Really great service and care for their customer experience. Kudos to Mike, Randy and Daniel for taking care of their customers and made sure they have great experience when dining in the restaurant. read more

My first time at Karl Strauss and it was delicious!! Came here ravenous after doing some hard shopping with my girlfriends and ordered their truffle fries, duck fat pretzels, pastrami burger, and beer sausage. All amazing. We sat outside on the patio, weather was amazing, ambiance was great. The only thing that kept this from being a 5 star review, is how long it took for us to place our order, then pay for our food before leaving. Seemed they were either short staffed or there was poor scheduling but, after we ordered our appetizers, it took a very long time for our main order to be taken. Then once the appetizers came out, our server was nowhere in sight to be able to ask for condiments or silverware. Luckily we technically ordered finger foods so we just ended up starting that route cuz we were starving! After we finished our meal, it took nearly 10 minutes to be able to flag down a waiter to pay. Ironically enough, the table next to us looked to have pulled a dine and dash (maybe they didn't have the patience we did to pay for their meals) Overall it was a good meal, service needs some attention but, everyone was super friendly and the food was great. read more

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This Karl Strauss location is close to the Nordstrom Rack location off the 405 fwy. There's plenty of parking directly up front. We came during the week during lunch and we got seated right away. Ambiance was casual, restrooms are in the back and are clean and customer service, Satchel, was amazingly attentive, great vibes, great attitude! We ordered the Ahi Poke Nachos, Old Bay Calamari and a burger that isn't pictured. The Ahi Poke Nachos totally hit the spot and the serving size was so big I had it as my entree. I would definitely recommend! read more

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New to the area so wanted to explore the local beer options and this will definitely remain on our rotation. They have a solid amount of rotating and guest beers, which we appreciate. Bar seating was easy to get and pleasant. Parking can be a bit meh but there is a mall garage almost immediately outside to resort to instead. Staff super friendly. The beers were pretty mid but will be back just because of easy of convenience and the vibe. read more

Classic brewery near South Coast Plaza. Been going to this place for years (for the food, not the booze lol) and always enjoy it. Their piggy bank is a classic, though admittedly I feel like I leave on the verge of a food coma after ordering it, so proceed with caution there. This time we ordered the Harissa Humus as a started which was super good. The hummus was tasty and came with pita chips, carrots, and celery. I feel like they didn't really include a lot, so that would be my only criticism. I ordered the Mesquite chicken sandwich which was BOMB!! Easily one of the best chicken sandwiches I've ever had. It wasn't too heavy, the ingredients had a perfect balance, the chicken was cooked to absolute perfection, and it was super flavorful. Highly recommend you try this if you haven't before!! I got the side salad with blue cheese which was a nice option to balance out the savory & smoky flavor profiles from the sammy. Our server was friendly, patient, and attentive. We went for lunch on a weekday (day after MLK day) and it was dead, so can't speak much for the ambiance but I have been for dinner on the weekends and the place is usually pretty lively. Friends of mine speak very highly of their beers, so definitely give them a shot too when you come here. If you see me while you're there, buy me a drink too! Cheers read more

Karl Strauss Brewing Company - Harissa Hummus - Pubs Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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So I have to admit I had limited expectations for this location. I think their beer is just OK so wasnt expecting much in terms of food. I stand corrected. They had a lunch special for a beer and burger all for $20.00 and to my surprise the burger really was noteworthy. It came medium rare as ordered and was actually delicious. It seriously was one of the better burgers i've had in many months. While the parking is a bit of a PITA....I will be back. read more

We came here during the week with some friends and found the place to be pretty empty. The menu is pretty odd and really expensive also. We did not enjoy any of our dishes and would honestly not recommend unless you REALLY like beer. The service was also just OK. read more

Came in to have a beer and watch the football game at the bar. There were only a few other patrons at the bar. I sat at the bar without the bartender ever acknowledging I was there. I asked if I could get a beer, but he ignored me completely. Had the place been crowded I might understand, but there were only 3 others at the bar and only a few occupied tables. (At 7:30 on a Saturday night mind you.) I walked out. read more

Hands down one of the best service experiences we've had in a long time--thanks to Max! From the moment we sat down, he was attentive, friendly, and genuinely cared about making our experience great. He knew the menu inside and out, gave excellent recommendations, and checked in just the right amount without ever being intrusive. You can tell Max takes pride in what he does. His positive energy, professionalism, and attention to detail truly elevated our meal. Great service like this is hard to find, and Max absolutely nailed it. We'll definitely be back and will be asking for him again! read more

Service and food was amazing especially the Korean rice bowl! I loved how low key and relaxed the atmosphere was. My friends and I will definitely be coming back read more

Karl Strauss Brewing Company - Menu - Pubs Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

We were a party of 12 people, so we sat outside on the patio. And watched the Saturday football wildcard games. Our server was great and very friendly. The servers are trained to call everyone friend. The beers are great and the food is good too. Although, we had a hiccup with the two orders of house made sausages. Both were undercooked and were a little pink inside. One of the servers said it has happened before. However, she said that they are fully cooked. It may be because of the sodium nitrites (curing salt) that they appear pink inside. Anyway, we started with a few appetizers tuna tartar w/wonton chips, fries, and brussell sprouts. Then most of the party ordered burgers and turkey burgers. A couple of people had the pork chops. It wasn't packed and that busy, but, it was great to have the patio by ourselves. read more

Karl Strauss Brewing Company - Wind and Sea Wheat - Pubs Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Food is still GREAT, service always GREAT, and it's always clean inside. The best part, is now they have a rewards program. read more

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First time visiting this Karl Strauss location and similar to their other location it has a brewery theme. We were in the area and were planning to fill up some growlers and grab a quick bite. Parking was easy as this location is at the Metro Pointe at South Coast plaza. There was no line when we came in, so we were shown to our table in no time. They didn't appear to be too busy that night. We were given plenty of time to look through the menu. Drinks were ordered first and after a fairly long wait, our server came back to take our food order. The drinks came shortly after that. Even more waiting was involved before our food arrived at our table; before that, we were mistakenly given someone else's order. The food order consisted of Asada Fries and Buffalo Wings. We asked for the buffalo sauce to be on the side so we can control how much sauce was on the wings. Unfortunately, they coated the wings with sauce and ended up giving us even more sauce on the side. Overall, we had a decent experience. There was quite a bit of waiting before our food came; to the point where we started getting pretty bored and extra hungry. Compared to the Karl Strauss location in Anaheim, I felt that the food and drinks came out a lot slower here. Staff members were still friendly and came by to check up on us every so often. read more

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Found this place on a whim while doing some shopping with a friend. Sporty vibe, multiple large screens for a the sports fanatics to dine and watch their favorite teams! Server was incredible, he recommended a few items and the food was tasty! I CLEANED my plate unabashedly! read more

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My boyfriend wanted to watch the game somewhere so we ended up here because I remember they had a bunch of TV's. We weren't super hungry so we got appetizers and beers. I tried quite a few of the beers and didn't really like any of them too much. The bartender was super patient with me because he gave me quiiite a few to taste and didn't get annoyed by it. It really felt like he wanted me to get something I liked. I finally said that I wanted something a little sweeter so he suggested the cider. Omg it was so good! It was refreshing while being sweet. It tasted like an alcoholic spiced cider. I'd definitely get this again. We started with the poke nachos because I'm always a fan of poke nachos. Although when looking at it on the menu - I didn't see that it's with tortilla chips. When it came out, I was a bit let down because I was hoping for wonton chips but that's my fault for not reading the description. It definitely is not the same with tortilla chips - it feels very disjointed. Most poke nachos COME with avocado and here they make you pay $1.50 extra which I thought was silly. We also got the brussel sprouts and those were good! They were crispy and savory. read more

Karl Strauss Brewing Company - Ahi Poke Nachos - Pubs Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Got there after dark. Parking lot is super small. Not sure where the additional parking was. Sad didn't get to try it.

So first time here - was suggested by friends. OMG everything from the service to the food. .. excellent! My girlfriend at the luncheon suggested we come back for Happy Hour which is Held all week! 3-6pm. As you can tell by the name of the restaurant- they specialize in beer. Yummy. Food over the top! read more

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Karl Strauss is a classic and I feel should be added into our rotation more often! The firecracker porkchops were FANTASTIC. I know it is a seasonal item but I hope it is here to stay! Juicy chops with beautiful grill marks and extremely flavorful sauce. We chose coleslaw and grilled zucchini for the sides which went well with the dish. The chop chop salad is another staple - a salad that is chock full of deliciously fresh ingredients. Extremely filling and yummy. I love the creamy sauce, the crunchy poblanos, and crunchy tortilla strips in it. As always, we got the double truffle fries which is phenomenally garlicky (I LOVE garlic). You're going to leave with garlic breath so hopefully you won't be doing too much kissing afterwards haha. And of course, we enjoyed some beers. I found a new favorite, Brisky Business! It's floral, citrusy, and a little sweet/fruity. Even though we were one of the stragglers at the end of the night, we didn't feel too rushed. Please come visit and support Karl Strauss at Metro Pointe! :) read more

Karl Strauss Brewing Company - Porkchops, chop chop salad, double truffle fries - Pubs Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

I am not the biggest fan of beer, but all the ones I tasted were very enjoyable! I got a "mixtape beer flight" and chose "follow the sun", "windansea wheat", "house blonde", and "red trolley". All except the last one was very light and refreshing; "red trolley" was darker and a bit more bitter. The vibes inside were nice and chill, and the staff was friendly and welcoming. Service was quick and efficient as well. We ordered 3 items to share: duck fat pretzel bites ($13.50), sweet chili garlic wings ($15.50), and beer sausages ($17.50). The pretzel bites were phenomenal--lightly crunchy on the outside and soft and airy on the inside--and went perfectly with the truffle dip. I 100% would get this again. I did not realize that the wings would be boneless; I am more of a bone-in fan, but they were moist and well-flavored. This dish was not bad but just paled in comparison to the other two. The beer sausages were great--savory, well-made, and went well with the spicy honey-sriracha mustard--and I really enjoyed the sweet potato fries, grilled zucchini, and pickled onions. The food was kind of pricy in my opinion, so I'd probably go back during happy hours (: The staff told me that all of the dishes we got are half-off then. read more

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