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Kept seeing this place trending and got to try out the hype myself. What a vibe! My friends and I shared dishes family style and was full by the end of the night. We got Roasted Chicken, Outside Skirt Steak, Voodoo Cocktail, and After Midnight Cocktail. Our server actually recommended the chicken dish and oh man this was not some regular rotisserie chicken dish at all! The seasoned chicken brought out such a unique flavor that was addicting! We kept coming back to it for bites. The steak was also plentiful and filling. As for the drinks, they don't go easy so enjoy LOL Their service is always amazing. Can't wait to come back here again with my friends :)
I've Sonder-ed twice in the past few months and I really like it. They're owned by the same people as Kaizen so the music is on point. The decor is gorgeous and inviting - perfect if you're meeting friends or taking someone on a date. Cocktails are fire, order one. For their starters, I really like the bone marrow onigiri (2 for $20). This dish is constantly reincarnated so you never really know what you're gonna get. On my first visit, it included trout roe which is so decadently delicious paired with the marrow. The rice is proportionally small so each bite captures the decadence. The skewers are pricey, but if you order one, let it be the maitake mushrooms ($7). It's so meaty that you forget that it's not meat at all. Highly recommend. If you're sharing with a group or need some carbs, I recommend ordering the fried rice. I've had the prawn and pork versions and both are great. The fried rice is solid so any added protein is just a bonus. I've met some dishes I didn't love, but I really like that their menu is ever evolving. I'll definitely be back to try some of their specials.
Absolutely loved this place. The vibes are unreal with a live DJ. It is a little hard to hear the people across from you so you do have to speak up a little bit. The drinks were 5/5. Service was 5/5. The food was also a 5/5. Would definitely come back. Great spot for a dinner with friends. We got the pork fried rice and we wanted to get the outside skirt steak but they were out and we were recommended the pork secreto steak which ended up being our favorite dish. The scallop skewers were my 2nd favorite dish with the sichuan chili crunch. The pork fried rice was ok, the rice was a little overcooked imo. The absolute best part though was probably the pandan butterscotch pudding. I never had anything like that before and would come back just for that dessert. I did not love the voodoo drink, but the kokomo my friend got with the ube was really good.
I've had Sonder saved for so long and I'm so glad I finally made it in for a double date, birthday celebration. We had a reservation and got seated immediately. There was a DJ spinning that evening and she was fantastic. I loved having the music going but also feeling like we were able to easily have a conversation. Going off memory I know we got all of the skewers and we struggled going around and what our faves were. Even the mushroom skewer was out of this world. We also got the charred beets which were a fave of mine and the table also enjoyed the pork fried rice. Some outshined others but there was nothing we ordered that were a disappointment. We also had great service and our waitress was very attentive bringing us our different courses and checking in on if we needed refills on our cocktails.
Pro Tip: If you are visiting the restaurant, SIT INSIDE. Outside is not the same vibe. I regrettably was late, and we had to forfeit our inside reservation for an outside reservation. We still enjoyed the food, but the outside lacks ambiance. You cannot hear the music from the outside, the decor is nonexistent, and there aren't any umbrellas available. If you are looking to enjoy the vinyls and the ambiance, sit inside. As for the food, it's mostly very small plates that can be shared, but are small portions, unless you get the limited edition or shared plates. It can get pricey if you try the skewers and appetizers. We got the Bone Marrow Onigiri, Pickled Plate, Pork Belly Skewers, Hanger Steak Skewers, and Scallops, and everything was yummy. I will give this spot another shot and make sure to sit inside before I make up my mind.
Sonder in Downtown Santa Ana is a Southeast Asian fusion restaurant with a lot of Vietnamese influence, but they put their own spin on the flavors and dishes. We sat outside, which was actually really nice and gave us a more relaxed dinner experience. The service was probably what I'll remember most. Our servers were hilarious and had us laughing throughout the meal. They checked on us often, joked around with us, and made the night more fun without being over the top. Even the owner came outside to check on us and see how everything was going. You can tell there's a lot of pride behind this place. The menu is made for sharing, so come with people who don't mind passing plates around. There are a lot of familiar Southeast Asian flavors, but they're presented in ways that are a little different from what you'd normally expect. We had a great time here. Good food is obviously important, but having servers with personality and an owner who takes the time to check on his customers makes a difference. Sonder gave us both.
Wow. Execution of perfectly balanced dishes. Sonder just really impressed me with their balance of light flavors and quality ingredients. No heavy sauces or fillers just delicious dishes to satisfy your craving. Mushroom skewers, steak skewers and the steak plate were my three favorite dishes. The restaurant has a great vibe and is clean with a nice seating area and bar and the staff were all great and service was great.
Wow where do I begin. Sonder really stands out from all of the countless restaurants in OC. The inside is gorgeous; both grand and retro but with a charm. It's perfect for an intimate date or fun night out. I would describe it has a vinyl bar with great cocktails and a unique menu featuring Asian fusion tapas/sharable bites. Fun fact: Sonder is owned by siblings Diane and Lamson and is located right next to Lamson's first restaurant , Kaizen Shabu! This place sometimes gets booked for private events so I HIGHLY recommend making a reservation as to not wait and guarantee it isn't closed the day you want to come. There is also usually events or a live DJ later in the evenings so check their instagram to be up at date @sonderdtsa. The food here is absolutely delicious and flavorful. It tastes both familiar but also new by putting a unique twist on dishes and flavors you already know. Some standout dishes are the little gem salad, dill milk bread, and charred beets. My only complaint is that the Sichuan fries were not as crispy and I would have liked. They are also quite greasy and heavy. But I understand why it is soggy due to being tossed in the Sichuan oil after frying to achieve the numbing flavor. We also tried the black sesame walnut for dessert and it was to die for; such a toasty flavor that paired perfectly with the creamy ice cream. While there are a few staple menu items, the kitchen seems to often be coming out with different dishes so you're sure to not be tired coming here time and time again.
This seems to be the HOT spot in dtsa and I was there for it. Before 10pm it is more of a grown and sexy lounge vibes-- loud music, dark, great drinks and food. The dj's switch over at 10pm and the younger crowd comes and the music goes up even louder. However, I loved the night, lounge feel and the dj's were on point. I recommend reservations by all means! Protip--If you have a reservation before 10 service will continue throughout the night. We stayed until about midnight and our waitress was absolutely lovely. She kept the drinks flowing. We had about 8 drinks from the menu and bill ended at $148. If you are looking for a lounge feel with good music, service and drinks in dtsa this place is it!
I've been a big fan of Kaizen and am so happy I finally got to try out Sonder next door! Sonder is located in DTSA, and there's plenty of street parking plus a parking lot next to it. They took over the old El Mercado restaurant, and while the layout is similar, the vibes are completely different. I love the vinyl DJ setup, along with the colors and lighting they use now. We decided to stop by very last minute, but the host was so gracious to sneak us a spot at the bar. Service here was some of the best I've experienced in OC. Everyone was SO friendly, and made it feel like I was hanging out at a friend's place for great food and drinks. Shoutout to Tony who was taking care of us at the bar, he made the whole experience such a treat. Everyone was super attentive and was on top of everything too, making this such a lovely experience. On the drinks front, this place has one of the best Tequila offerings in the area, and they also have a great selection of unique cocktails to try from. Tony made me something off menu that reminded me of a tequila/gin gimlet, and it was spectacular. On the food front, I enjoyed a lot of the stuff we got, with a few critiques: * 6100 Sourdough: The bread was delicious but the ricotta was completely overpowered by the saffron. If you love saffron then this is for you. * Little Gem Salad: This was a good, standard issue salad. If you're craving some greens it's a nice addition to any meal. * Seafood Cocktail: This was my favorite dish, it was so fresh and flavorful, and all of the seafood was tender. My only critique is I wish that the shrimp was prepared similar to the other seafood instead of being in large chunks, but that's just a personal preference. I will be coming back for this dish again. * Scallop Skewer: Another standout dish, the scallops were perfectly prepared and the sauce used was so good we put it on everything else we ate too. Highly recommend. * Chicken Oyster Skewer: Really tasty, the chicken was perfectly cooked. Wished there was some spice to it, but that's where the scallop sauce came in handy. Overall, Sonder is a welcome addition to the area and I highly recommend checking it out. I think this was easily a 4.5/5 experience, and I have plans of coming back to try more of the food with a larger group.
This was my first visit to sonder and they made a great first impression! Since it was my friends birthday, they brought over birthday shots for both of them. Afterwards, the owner stopped by to say hi and since it was our first visit, he gave us shots for the whole table. Very kind of him. Food was great - we ordered a couple of things to share including the 6100 blue corn sourdough, chicken oysters, pork belly, spring onion pancake, and pork, please and prawn fried rice. My personal favorite was the fried rice, but everything else was tasty too! We also got dessert which was the pandan butterscotch pudding - yummy! Service was wonderful. They were attentive and kind and quick. They brought out some birthday ice cream for the two birthday girls in the party. Ambiance was great. It could be intimate and romantic for couples but also great for celebrations or large groups. I enjoyed sonder very much and will definitely visit again particularly due to their excellent service!
This might be my new favorite spot to grab a bite to eat!! The vibes here are IMMACULATE, and it's evident they carefully craft an energetic atmosphere that really amplifies the dining experience. The decorations, the lights, and the music all come together to give an ambiance that just feels so inviting to where you want to take your time while you're here. The service is top notch, all the staff are lively and accommodating. The menu is very creative including fun drink names and plenty of versatility in the types of dishes you can order. Be on the lookout for special dishes on different days of the week. We ordered the steak and mushroom skewers which are nice appetizers to hold you over until the entrees hit the table. The drinks hit the spot as well and luckily we came during happy hour so we got a little discount on the apps/drinks. We decided to try roasted half chicken with the potato salad which were both absolutely fantastic. The chicken was cooked perfectly, just incredibly tender and juicy. The potato salad was well seasoned, had a great texture, and was a nice compliment to the chicken. As we were eating, a DJ came in and started mixing up some cool tracks which just amplified our experience even more. Also, Sonder is my favorite word so bonus points there (I guess I'm biased). Anyways, I'm thrilled with my first visit here and will undoubtedly be checking this place out again! Would highly recommend you come visit Sonder, you can thank me later!!
Came here on our way to Pacific Amphitheater, searched for small plates and Sonder came up. Walked in right around the opening time with no reservation on a weekday night. We were sat at a table to look over their Happy Hour & Dinner Menus. Ordered one of each of the skewers & the pate appetizer. Top plates were the pork belly & scallop skewers as well as the pate pastry with the side of mustard. The entire experience felt like the upscale neighborhood bar that has the vibe of great music to hand out and enjoy lovely bites
16 days ago
Sonder was amazing. We really enjoyed their creative menu and everything we ate was delicious. My favorite would be the pork belly skewer. It was fatty, juicy, and had a slight charred taste. All dishes ordered were done really well. The vibes were fun and upbeat. I really appreciated the design and interior decor of the dining room. Deeper in you will find more seating, the bar, and a live DJ! Service was good. it was a little slow at times but I understand it was a busy night. Staff were friendly and helpful. Great spot for a night out with friends or date night :-) read more
We came here to try this place out. From the photos, the food dishes look different and tasty, so had to come. The restaurant is located in Santa Ana Downtown; it is a town that is pretty rundown. Many retail locations are closed, and the area is not as hype as before. You can see homeless people just hanging out nearby. Once we walked in, the place is well-decorated with unique pieces of Asian decor. There is a DJ area and towards the back of the restaurant is a large size Bar. The Menu has a combination of Southeast Asian dishes, and some Japanese skewers. We ordered a bunch of skewers and a cold appetizer. Everything came out perfect. The flavors were exciting and the meats from the skewers were tender and full of flavor. Loved the scallops. The Hanger Steak was so tender as well. This place really exceeded my expectations. The dishes are unique in flavor and portions were adequate. All the dishes hit the spot. We will definitely be back to dine again. read more
Having been to Sonder a few times now, it's safe to say it never disappoints! We came in on 8/7 to celebrate a birthday and had another wonderful experience. Every dish hit the spot--from the crisp cucumber peanut salad (huge fave) and flavorful grilled skewers (maitake mushrooms) to the tender roast chicken and sweet pandan dessert in a teacup. Seasonal menu so a couple of our favorites are no longer on the menu (okinawan sweet potato and longanisa). Special thanks to Billy for the outstanding service. Parking in the plaza across can be hit-or-miss depending on your arrival time. There's also paid (used to be free) parking structure nearby. read more
5 days ago
Kept seeing this place trending and got to try out the hype myself. What a vibe! My friends and I shared dishes family style and was full by the end of the night. We got Roasted Chicken, Outside Skirt Steak, Voodoo Cocktail, and After Midnight Cocktail. Our server actually recommended the chicken dish and oh man this was not some regular rotisserie chicken dish at all! The seasoned chicken brought out such a unique flavor that was addicting! We kept coming back to it for bites. The steak was also plentiful and filling. As for the drinks, they don't go easy so enjoy LOL Their service is always amazing. Can't wait to come back here again with my friends :) read more
I've Sonder-ed twice in the past few months and I really like it. They're owned by the same people as Kaizen so the music is on point. The decor is gorgeous and inviting - perfect if you're meeting friends or taking someone on a date. Cocktails are fire, order one. For their starters, I really like the bone marrow onigiri (2 for $20). This dish is constantly reincarnated so you never really know what you're gonna get. On my first visit, it included trout roe which is so decadently delicious paired with the marrow. The rice is proportionally small so each bite captures the decadence. The skewers are pricey, but if you order one, let it be the maitake mushrooms ($7). It's so meaty that you forget that it's not meat at all. Highly recommend. If you're sharing with a group or need some carbs, I recommend ordering the fried rice. I've had the prawn and pork versions and both are great. The fried rice is solid so any added protein is just a bonus. I've met some dishes I didn't love, but I really like that their menu is ever evolving. I'll definitely be back to try some of their specials. read more
Absolutely loved this place. The vibes are unreal with a live DJ. It is a little hard to hear the people across from you so you do have to speak up a little bit. The drinks were 5/5. Service was 5/5. The food was also a 5/5. Would definitely come back. Great spot for a dinner with friends. We got the pork fried rice and we wanted to get the outside skirt steak but they were out and we were recommended the pork secreto steak which ended up being our favorite dish. The scallop skewers were my 2nd favorite dish with the sichuan chili crunch. The pork fried rice was ok, the rice was a little overcooked imo. The absolute best part though was probably the pandan butterscotch pudding. I never had anything like that before and would come back just for that dessert. I did not love the voodoo drink, but the kokomo my friend got with the ube was really good. read more
I've had Sonder saved for so long and I'm so glad I finally made it in for a double date, birthday celebration. We had a reservation and got seated immediately. There was a DJ spinning that evening and she was fantastic. I loved having the music going but also feeling like we were able to easily have a conversation. Going off memory I know we got all of the skewers and we struggled going around and what our faves were. Even the mushroom skewer was out of this world. We also got the charred beets which were a fave of mine and the table also enjoyed the pork fried rice. Some outshined others but there was nothing we ordered that were a disappointment. We also had great service and our waitress was very attentive bringing us our different courses and checking in on if we needed refills on our cocktails. read more
2 months ago
Pro Tip: If you are visiting the restaurant, SIT INSIDE. Outside is not the same vibe. I regrettably was late, and we had to forfeit our inside reservation for an outside reservation. We still enjoyed the food, but the outside lacks ambiance. You cannot hear the music from the outside, the decor is nonexistent, and there aren't any umbrellas available. If you are looking to enjoy the vinyls and the ambiance, sit inside. As for the food, it's mostly very small plates that can be shared, but are small portions, unless you get the limited edition or shared plates. It can get pricey if you try the skewers and appetizers. We got the Bone Marrow Onigiri, Pickled Plate, Pork Belly Skewers, Hanger Steak Skewers, and Scallops, and everything was yummy. I will give this spot another shot and make sure to sit inside before I make up my mind. read more
Sonder in Downtown Santa Ana is a Southeast Asian fusion restaurant with a lot of Vietnamese influence, but they put their own spin on the flavors and dishes. We sat outside, which was actually really nice and gave us a more relaxed dinner experience. The service was probably what I'll remember most. Our servers were hilarious and had us laughing throughout the meal. They checked on us often, joked around with us, and made the night more fun without being over the top. Even the owner came outside to check on us and see how everything was going. You can tell there's a lot of pride behind this place. The menu is made for sharing, so come with people who don't mind passing plates around. There are a lot of familiar Southeast Asian flavors, but they're presented in ways that are a little different from what you'd normally expect. We had a great time here. Good food is obviously important, but having servers with personality and an owner who takes the time to check on his customers makes a difference. Sonder gave us both. read more
21 days ago
Wow. Execution of perfectly balanced dishes. Sonder just really impressed me with their balance of light flavors and quality ingredients. No heavy sauces or fillers just delicious dishes to satisfy your craving. Mushroom skewers, steak skewers and the steak plate were my three favorite dishes. The restaurant has a great vibe and is clean with a nice seating area and bar and the staff were all great and service was great. read more
Wow where do I begin. Sonder really stands out from all of the countless restaurants in OC. The inside is gorgeous; both grand and retro but with a charm. It's perfect for an intimate date or fun night out. I would describe it has a vinyl bar with great cocktails and a unique menu featuring Asian fusion tapas/sharable bites. Fun fact: Sonder is owned by siblings Diane and Lamson and is located right next to Lamson's first restaurant , Kaizen Shabu! This place sometimes gets booked for private events so I HIGHLY recommend making a reservation as to not wait and guarantee it isn't closed the day you want to come. There is also usually events or a live DJ later in the evenings so check their instagram to be up at date @sonderdtsa. The food here is absolutely delicious and flavorful. It tastes both familiar but also new by putting a unique twist on dishes and flavors you already know. Some standout dishes are the little gem salad, dill milk bread, and charred beets. My only complaint is that the Sichuan fries were not as crispy and I would have liked. They are also quite greasy and heavy. But I understand why it is soggy due to being tossed in the Sichuan oil after frying to achieve the numbing flavor. We also tried the black sesame walnut for dessert and it was to die for; such a toasty flavor that paired perfectly with the creamy ice cream. While there are a few staple menu items, the kitchen seems to often be coming out with different dishes so you're sure to not be tired coming here time and time again. read more
This seems to be the HOT spot in dtsa and I was there for it. Before 10pm it is more of a grown and sexy lounge vibes-- loud music, dark, great drinks and food. The dj's switch over at 10pm and the younger crowd comes and the music goes up even louder. However, I loved the night, lounge feel and the dj's were on point. I recommend reservations by all means! Protip--If you have a reservation before 10 service will continue throughout the night. We stayed until about midnight and our waitress was absolutely lovely. She kept the drinks flowing. We had about 8 drinks from the menu and bill ended at $148. If you are looking for a lounge feel with good music, service and drinks in dtsa this place is it! read more
I've been a big fan of Kaizen and am so happy I finally got to try out Sonder next door! Sonder is located in DTSA, and there's plenty of street parking plus a parking lot next to it. They took over the old El Mercado restaurant, and while the layout is similar, the vibes are completely different. I love the vinyl DJ setup, along with the colors and lighting they use now. We decided to stop by very last minute, but the host was so gracious to sneak us a spot at the bar. Service here was some of the best I've experienced in OC. Everyone was SO friendly, and made it feel like I was hanging out at a friend's place for great food and drinks. Shoutout to Tony who was taking care of us at the bar, he made the whole experience such a treat. Everyone was super attentive and was on top of everything too, making this such a lovely experience. On the drinks front, this place has one of the best Tequila offerings in the area, and they also have a great selection of unique cocktails to try from. Tony made me something off menu that reminded me of a tequila/gin gimlet, and it was spectacular. On the food front, I enjoyed a lot of the stuff we got, with a few critiques: * 6100 Sourdough: The bread was delicious but the ricotta was completely overpowered by the saffron. If you love saffron then this is for you. * Little Gem Salad: This was a good, standard issue salad. If you're craving some greens it's a nice addition to any meal. * Seafood Cocktail: This was my favorite dish, it was so fresh and flavorful, and all of the seafood was tender. My only critique is I wish that the shrimp was prepared similar to the other seafood instead of being in large chunks, but that's just a personal preference. I will be coming back for this dish again. * Scallop Skewer: Another standout dish, the scallops were perfectly prepared and the sauce used was so good we put it on everything else we ate too. Highly recommend. * Chicken Oyster Skewer: Really tasty, the chicken was perfectly cooked. Wished there was some spice to it, but that's where the scallop sauce came in handy. Overall, Sonder is a welcome addition to the area and I highly recommend checking it out. I think this was easily a 4.5/5 experience, and I have plans of coming back to try more of the food with a larger group. read more
3 months ago
This was my first visit to sonder and they made a great first impression! Since it was my friends birthday, they brought over birthday shots for both of them. Afterwards, the owner stopped by to say hi and since it was our first visit, he gave us shots for the whole table. Very kind of him. Food was great - we ordered a couple of things to share including the 6100 blue corn sourdough, chicken oysters, pork belly, spring onion pancake, and pork, please and prawn fried rice. My personal favorite was the fried rice, but everything else was tasty too! We also got dessert which was the pandan butterscotch pudding - yummy! Service was wonderful. They were attentive and kind and quick. They brought out some birthday ice cream for the two birthday girls in the party. Ambiance was great. It could be intimate and romantic for couples but also great for celebrations or large groups. I enjoyed sonder very much and will definitely visit again particularly due to their excellent service! read more
This might be my new favorite spot to grab a bite to eat!! The vibes here are IMMACULATE, and it's evident they carefully craft an energetic atmosphere that really amplifies the dining experience. The decorations, the lights, and the music all come together to give an ambiance that just feels so inviting to where you want to take your time while you're here. The service is top notch, all the staff are lively and accommodating. The menu is very creative including fun drink names and plenty of versatility in the types of dishes you can order. Be on the lookout for special dishes on different days of the week. We ordered the steak and mushroom skewers which are nice appetizers to hold you over until the entrees hit the table. The drinks hit the spot as well and luckily we came during happy hour so we got a little discount on the apps/drinks. We decided to try roasted half chicken with the potato salad which were both absolutely fantastic. The chicken was cooked perfectly, just incredibly tender and juicy. The potato salad was well seasoned, had a great texture, and was a nice compliment to the chicken. As we were eating, a DJ came in and started mixing up some cool tracks which just amplified our experience even more. Also, Sonder is my favorite word so bonus points there (I guess I'm biased). Anyways, I'm thrilled with my first visit here and will undoubtedly be checking this place out again! Would highly recommend you come visit Sonder, you can thank me later!! read more
25 days ago
Came here on our way to Pacific Amphitheater, searched for small plates and Sonder came up. Walked in right around the opening time with no reservation on a weekday night. We were sat at a table to look over their Happy Hour & Dinner Menus. Ordered one of each of the skewers & the pate appetizer. Top plates were the pork belly & scallop skewers as well as the pate pastry with the side of mustard. The entire experience felt like the upscale neighborhood bar that has the vibe of great music to hand out and enjoy lovely bites read more
5 days ago
I came in with my family for a birthday and ordered the outside skirt steak which happened to be my favorite!. It was cooked perfectly with such good flavor. I love the cocktail names and how they're based off of music like the White Ferrari cocktail. Service was great, the servers were so kind, although we sat at the edge near the door and didn't have much chances to catch our waiter when we wanted to order more. Other than that, the interior is truly beautiful and one of a kind! read more
Came to Sonder for my birthday. Had an amazing experience. From Matt who helped us. To Lamson the owner who checked up on us. Food was excellent especially the mains. Loved short rib. So much meat. So tender. Flavorful. Pork over fish sauce was also great. Sauce was on point. Not salty or sweet. Drinks were really good. Had the clarified cocktail and another chef special drink. Both so good. Music was so good also. Fun older jams great vibes. Fun spot in downtown Santa Ana to hang out. read more
2 days ago
7 months ago
Fairly new place that just opened up about 8 months ago as its sister restaurant to shabu spot next door. Sat at the bar for happy hour. Love the vintage feel of the place. Food: our bartender gave great recommendations where I enjoyed the Caesar salad and Wagyu skewer He was also well versed on flavor profile on cocktails. I will definitely be going back to this spot to try other items read more
my girls and i wanted to have a nice dinner and chose sonder since the menu looked interesting and the interior looked really pretty. i hate giving low reviews for local businesses, but we felt that the food was overall not good, especially for how expensive the total was. things we ordered: - 6100 blue corn sourdough w/ goat butter: i was excited about this one bc i haven't had the chance to try the 6100 blue corn sourdough yet, but our bread came out with a really burnt crust that made it hard to eat. the goat butter helped a little bit, but overall could not mask the burnt flavor. - little gem salad: this was honestly the best thing that we had! a pretty yummy caesar salad that was slightly tangy from the vinegar and lemon. - hanger steak skewer: meat was pretty tender and flavorful, and this was the best skewer out of the ones we ordered. - scallop skewer: the sichuan chili crunch sounded like a really yummy and unique idea, but the chili crunch ended up tasting very bitter to us and did not go well with the scallop - pork belly skewer: i didn't expect this to have a really sweet glaze since i didn't see it mentioned on the menu, but it was fine. i liked eating it with the rice and didn't mind the sweetness, but my friends were not a fan of how sweet it was. - maitake mushroom skewer: the mushroom was cooked well and the miso butter was good, but i feel like $7 for a mushroom skewer is a bit pricey. - spring onion pancake: we did not enjoy this at all :( i imagined it to be like a scallion pancake or korean green onion pancake, but we got a pancake with a mix of textures and flavors that didn't go well together. the pancake was crispy on the outside but really doughy on the inside, and the fish roe was salty and did not pair well with the pancake. we couldn't finish it bc we did not like the flavors at all :( - zero proof tidal wave: this was a unique mocktail, but i feel like $12 for a mocktail is a bit much LOL i really appreciated the service though and how kind all of the workers were! they gave us a lot of recommendations and explained the menu well and tried to make the environment very cozy and lively. i think the food overall just did not mesh well with my friend group. read more
Sonder is seriously one of my favorite date night spots in the OC. It is the perfect mix of classy, casual, adventurous, and delicious. I think it's one of the best additions to the OC food scene in 2025. The cocktail service is always just amazing. They change their drink menu so often that I don't see the drink I ordered on the menu anymore and I don't remember what it was called. It has beets and a foam that looks like it has egg white in it as well. Hopefully they bring it back, delicious!! For food I got the charred cabbage skewer, pork belly skewer, hangar steak skewer, sichuan fries, and curry mussels. I love the cabbage at Sonder. It's sweet from the char, has so much umami from the koji butter, some bright citrus notes, and a crispness from the puffed rice. My favorite dish from the night was actually the Sichuan fries. They are crispy fries sauced up in the tingly, numbing, spicy sichuan sauce and topped with kewpie mayo. I would love to sit at the bar with a cocktail, these fries, and listen to vinyl all night. I also got dessert this time-- the pear and black pepper pie. This was great. Not too sweet, and the pears were not too mushy. Start to finish, I had a wonderful meal at Sonder. I recommend this spot to all of my friends for date night. I cannot wait to come back for brunch! read more
Love love love the ambience. Not sure if it was grad night last Sat but the guests were dressed ti the nine. Our server was so friendly and attentive. Now let's get to the amazing dishes qe ordered. For appetizer, we ordered the Little Gem Salad with black vinegar cesar and it was super tasty. It was crunchy and refreshing. I highly recommend it. Next was the chicken wings with chili which was so favorable with every bite. For entree we ordered shared plate of beef short ribs and spring onion pancake. We have been to many restaurants around town and I find the dishes here has its own unique taste in a fantastic way. We plan on coming back with friends next time so we can tey out more dishes on the menu. The atmosphere and interior of the restaurant is sleek, cozy and feels rustic. Thank you for such an awesome dining experience. read more
Went to Sonder for a comedy show and the vibe was already set for a night full of laughs and good company! Wow, it did not disappoint! I was in for a whole treat. The comedians were HILARIOUS and the place was seriously packed. Love a full house energy! Our host Bree was amazinggg!!! She was out there gracefully maneuvering through the crowd with our bottle of wine and the most delicious truffle fries. Bree also told us they have an R&B brunch happening and l I will absolutely be back for that! Good food, good drinks, and comedy? That's a win every time! read more
Came during their soft opening and only had cocktails, so I was excited to come back for food. Kian was our server and did a great job with drink recommendations. We loved all our cocktails, especially the Stay for Awhile with its creamy foam. We also had the Balance, Kozmic Blues, and London Stock, all solid. Food was hit or miss. The maitake skewer and escargot & pork belly fried rice were good, and the little gem salad was solid. Unfortunately, the baby beets were so over-charred they were inedible, which was really disappointing. My friend enjoyed the shrimp and pork belly. Vibe is a 10/10. Great space and energy. Overall solid, but the price increase since the soft opening, plus still being annoyed about the burnt beets, makes it hard to rush back. I'd consider returning when the menu changes. read more
Business owner information
Lamson N.
Hey Linda!…
3.75 Good but could be better. Feel like the prawn could have had more of the yuzu flavor. Generally everything was solid but ultimately not very memorable. I did really enjoy the fried rice and desserts. In fact, I think the desserts were the most unique part of the meal. Drinks were ok. I think I enjoyed the candy-o the most. Overall, enjoyed the concept but I would like to see them lean more into it and come up with dishes just as creative as the desserts. read more
Business owner information
Lamson N.
Hi Frank!…
I've been wanting to eat here for a while. They specialize in Asian Fusion and the food was quite unique. However, it was hit and miss due to some dishes being too salty or too sour. With some seasoning adjustments, their food would be much better. Service-wise, the staff was very attentive and friendly. The restaurant had a nice atmosphere. They also played good music, but it was way too loud to have a conversation across the table. It'll be nice if they can turn it down. * The Croque 5/5 - This was one of my favorite dishes. The bread was soft and fluffy. The poached egg, mornay cheese sauce, and ham all combined to make a tasty explosion of flavor. * Karaage Fried Chicken & Waffle 3/5 - The chicken was very crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside (4/5). Unfortunately, the waffle was dry, dense, and hard (1/5). The homemade Sriracha sauce tasted bad, very sour and vinegary. * Sichuan Fries 3/5 - Good combination of flavors but way too salty. * Scallops 4.5/5 - Really good scallop in terms of flavor and texture, topped with crisped garlic and sesame. Some of the toppings were burnt, though, so there was a slight bitter flavor. * Pork Belly Porridge 0/5 - Intensely sour. Like someone squeezed 10 lemons into a single bowl. The pork belly was charred to the point of tasting burnt and bitter. The salted egg was very salty. * Hangar Steak 3/5 - Very salty. It was also not tender or juicy. * Longanisa and Eggs 2/5 - The sausage longanisa just didn't taste good. * Pandan French Toast 4/5 - Pretty simple but good. I didn't taste a lot of pandan flavor, though. The French toast was soft, topped with whipped creme fraiche (similar to sour cream, but less sour) and banana. * Baked eggs 3/5 - Interesting dish filled with silky eggs. The drawback was that it was very sour from the tomatoes. read more
Business owner information
Lamson N.
Hey, thanks so much for coming in and taking the time to write such a…
7 months ago
The food, music, ambience and the drinks. Insane dopamine rush. Such a lovely lit and designed restaurant, with smooth tunes playing. Their BYOVinyl nights sound amazing I must come back for! The scallops and caesar salad were my favorites. All the cocktails are amazingly intricate as well. However the service was non-existent unfortunately. One gentleman came up to us with no introduction and asked if we were ready and then a different gentleman brought us our food and check. Our chicken oysters took 55 minutes to finally come out (30 minutes after the rest of our dishes) and not a busy appearing night. Not that I am expecting a comp, but almost charging us twice as much for the dish, because they had to fire it twice, was a wild mistake. No interest or attempt in making anything better unfortunately. read more
8 months ago
Food: 4 Service: 4 Ambiance: 4 It's been a while since my visit, as the last time I went was back in August during their soft opening, but it was an experience that definitely stuck with me. I specifically made a trip to Santa Ana to check out Sonder, and I'm really glad I did. We made reservations right before sunset, so when we first arrived it was still fairly bright inside. As the evening went on, it naturally transitioned into a darker, moodier, sultry ambience, which I really loved. Upon entering, we were greeted quickly and made to feel welcome. As the night went on, the restaurant filled up and became lively, but it still maintained that cozy, dimly lit atmosphere. This is definitely a small-plates type of restaurant, so we ordered a variety of dishes to share. We tried the cucumber salad, pork belly, pork belly escargot fried rice, skirt steak, grilled octopus, and I also ordered the little gem salad. We ordered a couple of drinks as well, and while I don't remember the exact names, they were both beautiful and tasty. As for the food, everything was delicious, though I did find some dishes a bit saltier than what I'm used to. There was a noticeable fish sauce-type flavor in some items, which I actually enjoy, but it did lean on the salty side overall. The little gem salad stood out to me -- it was beautifully plated and very tasty. The grilled octopus was also delicious, the cucumber salad was refreshing, and the skirt steak was cooked well and full of flavor. Because the menu focuses on small plates, this is a place you come to enjoy the food, the drinks, the ambience, and the company rather than to leave feeling overly full. One thing I really appreciated was that the owner stopped by our table to greet us, which was a very nice personal touch. The waitstaff also checked in on us often and were attentive throughout the night. Overall, we had a really great time. I would recommend Sonder for a nice date night or a dinner with friends. The drinks were flowing, the food was delicious, the vibe was on point, and I would definitely return read more
Had a reservation for Friday, 6:30PM for a girl's night out and didn't have to wait too long to get seated. The interior is beautiful. I love the rich green upholstery and the bookshelves and vintage wallpaper. We were seated near the entrance, which is much quieter than the interior near the bar. The staff forgot to bring drink menus at first, but once we received them, we were ready and placed our full order with the server. We ordered a lot. Here's the rundown of what stood out and what didn't: From the Binchotan Charcoal Grill *Maitake Mushrooms: DELISH. Super buttery, rich, and packed with umami flavor from the miso butter. My favorite bite of the night. *Scallops: Buttery soft and perfectly cooked. 10/10 Shared Plates * Chicken Wings: would not order again. Wing sauce is mild, and the wings don't taste good once they get a little cold. * Pork Belly & Escargot Fried Rice: this was surprisingly better than I expected, though I wouldn't reorder. It leans salty and doesn't need the extra fish sauce on the side, but the rice itself is crispy and flavorful. * Little Gem Salad: delicious, great crunch texture, and snowing with pecorino! I love when salads are served with the leaves intact. * Green Curry Mussels: Crowd favorite among us. I've only ever had mussels in white wine sauce, so the curry version was new to me and really good. The broth is sooo good and we loved soaking it up with bread (which they also did a great job on!) Truly a dish that keeps on giving:) * Barramundi Crudo: First bite of the night. Light, mild, and forgettable compared to everything else. Sides * Dill Milk Bread: omg I love bread so of course we had to get this. Pillowy soft, fragrant with fresh dill, and their butter!! It's creamy, the right amount of saltiness, and silky smooth!! I ate this shit up!! Must order!! We also opted for the caviar bumps ($20/person) and they were served in heart-shaped bowls, which was a cute touch. Fun, but I probably wouldn't do it again lol Desserts * Miso Ice Cream- birthday dessert that was fascinating to eat because we could not figure out the flavor. Guesses included crème brûlée, some sort of cake flavor, panna cotta, salted caramel. There's a cake-like, grainy texture and salty flavor that we couldn't put our finger on. But delicious! * Pandan Butterscotch Pudding: honestly, I was not intrigued by this since I feel like most pandan desserts are a miss for me, but I'm glad we got it. Our server said it's his favorite. Portion is a lot since it's served in a deep teacup. Pandan flavor is very prominent. It's sweet, fragrant, nutty, and lush. It has the texture that's in between a mousse and a custard. I wouldn't call it a pudding because it was more airy in my opinion. The salty butterscotch crème fraîche on top was a nice touch to balance the pandan. Cocktails * Rose Garden: Very floral and delicious. I don't like Blanco, so I substituted to Ocho Reposado, but wish they'd mentioned the $4 surcharge beforehand. * Velvet Underground: a popular pick, seems like everyone had one at their table. I think it's a perfect autumn drink. Very spiced but smooth. * Candy-O: apparently the sweetest drink on the menu (my friend's request). Not a fan of the egg white foam; #3 ranked out of the drinks we ordered. The beginning of our meal easily felt like a 5-star experience. The food came out quickly and everything tasted great! I'm not a fan of Asian fusion, but Sonder does a great job in showcasing the Asian influence synergistically. We were ready to leave at 8PM, but once the restaurant got busy, things slowed down significantly. It took about 30 minutes for our dessert to be ordered and served, and then another 30 minutes just to receive the check, which ended up being miscalculated and had to be corrected. That stretched-out ending brought the experience down to more of a 4-star one. That said, the food was amazing, and the way they infuse Asian flavors throughout the menu is impressive. I'll definitely be back, but I'm a little less inclined to return soon after how long the end of the meal dragged on. read more
This is one of my new favorite spots! From the food to the ambience to the drinks. Everything was great from start to finish. We came on a Thursday which is BYOV (bring your own vinyl) night so we brought 2 vinyls. They ask you if there's any specific songs from the vinyl you'd like played and then they play it. This spot is very vibey, the DJ plays great music. I was lip syncing almost the entire dinner because I loved the songs haha. The decor is cool as well! We started with a couple drinks. We had The Roots & the Spy. The Roots was really good! Both drinks were strong in a good way - balanced well between slightly sweet but tasting the alcohol. We got the chicken oysters which were juicy & the sauce was sweet & tangy. The We also got the cucumber salad but peanuts on the side. It had cucumbers, onions & tomatoes. It was so citrusy yet had a good kick. I could eat a bunch of this. The pork belly was crispy on the outside yet still succulent on the inside and it comes with a side of rice. Our favorite dish was actually the charred cabbage! It had this miso butter on it that was umami & the cabbage melted in your mouth. The steak was great as well! It was tender and flavorful. The fried rice really stood out. It had these crispy rice bits in it that gave for a nice crunch to the dish. It sort of reminded me of Thai rice dish that has pork in it and crispy rice. THE DESSERT WAS INCREDIBLE. It was a pandan toffee pudding that tasted like Cap'N'Crunch in the best way and the salt added to it. Everyone should order their own - it's that good. The server was very nice & helpful with all our questions/whatever we needed! read more
I was so excited to finally experience Sonder when Lamson first told me about it one night while I was at Kaizen. I had been meaning to come out during their soft opening phase, but never really found the time until this past Friday which coincidentally happened to be the official grand opening night! It was meant to be. Since I had just wrapped up dinner next door I was pretty full, but naturally I always save room at the end of my meals. Not for dessert, but for more food. I ordered the pork belly skewer, Thai pork sausage, and chicken oysters. All three were excellent and grilled to perfection. All the flavors were distinguishable and balanced. Nothing was too overpowering or lacking. My favorite? The pork belly skewer. Personally I *love* umami/funky flavors and the nam jim jaew they use on the pork belly delivered on that detail. I haven't even gotten to the best part yet: It comes with a bowl of rice. When the server dropped off the rice I was like, "Oh, sorry. I didn't order rice," and she's like, "It comes with it!" A bowl of rice included with the skewer? In this economy? In this day and age? Anyway, a bite of the pork belly with a bite of plain white rice is just so peak. The umami flavors of the nam jim jaew, the fatty richness from the pork belly, and plain white rice to cut through all the bold and strong flavors going on all at the same time. Too. Good. The chicken oysters were delicious! The pork sausage was good, but my least favorite out of the 3, but just to be clear: There was nothing wrong with it. I simply enjoyed the other 2 more. I LOVE the space and decor in Sonder. Clean lines, modern, upscale, tastefully decorated, the colors, the vibes. It's immaculate. I love the dinnerware they use too. Lots of details going on at Sonder and they nailed each and every single one. Can't wait to come back on Thursdays to bring my own vinyl!! read more
9 months ago
Japanese-Vietnamese fusion! We had 4 plates: Duck Breast : was soft, juicy, & flavorful Hangar Steak : was strong & tender Gem Salad : Had light vinegrette & crunch Beets : My new favorite vegetable! Mussels & Bread with Milk Curry : A fiesta! Pear Pie : We ended up feeling like we should've tried both desserts Staff was lovely& friendly on Wednesday night there was a birthday some people at the bar and a family having some late dinner. And a couple on a first date...us! read more
Its a beautiful place located right at downtown Santa Ana, next to the Shabu place- Kaizen. Apparently it's the same owner and was still during soft opening. It specialize in Asian fusion flavors, tapas or izakaya small plate style. We kept ordering more to try since everything was so good. It just opened our appetite to try more of their dishes! Hangar steak- the best! Wow it's cooked perfectly medium rare , with perfect light seasoning and tender meat. 10/10 Chicken oysters- too much sauce but really good and juicy 8/10 Prawns- clean and cooked perfectly 9/10 Bone marrow onigiri- unique and really good. oily from the bone marrow, and includes caviar 8/10 Pork belly escargot fried rice- so yummy! Reminds me of teppanyaki flavorful fried rice. It's unique with the cooked escargot but I rather have it baked in butter and garlic. Pork belly was crispy with the rice. 9/10 Scallops- perfectly cooked and not rubbery , with chili oil 8/10 Pickled Beef tongue- a bit weird since it's a whole piece of tongue. I prefer and would say beef tongue in thin slices is better. It was tougher to cut in pieces and was somewhat dry. 4/10 Order the hangar steak, so good! read more
Cute spot!!!! The aesthetic is so beyond perfect, I could hang out here all day!! Good job owner :) the food is good! There were some items that I wasn't a fan, the sichuan fries, were too wet, I wasn't a fan . The cucumber som tum was just super sour but good! Im not sure if I'd over it again. WHAT WAS GOOD: 10/10 LITTLE GEM SALAD 10/10 Hanger steak 10/10 Okinawan sweet potato 8/10 whole salted prawn Very small portions but so tasty! The drink was a mocktail, with egg white. Omg it was amazing, I could lick the cup hahaha regardless of what wasn't our fave, they made it better and thats all that matters. Check out this place, just reminder small portions. read more
I came here on a whim since I knew my sister was going for her wedding anniversary so my husband and I decided to crash it. They arrived first and sat on a table for 2. When we arrived, the owner was kind enough to seat us near my sister. The atmosphere is dark and trendy, good for dates. Families came to dine here as well. Our server was friendly and gave recommendations. There were some items we wanted to try that were unavailable which was a bummer but considering it was a soft opening, that's understandable. My most favorite item was the dessert. I loved the pandan butterscotch pudding! As for savory, I enjoyed the hangar steak. Fresh Dill Milk Bread: doesn't taste like dill at all. Nothing special. Cucumber Som Tum: very flavorful but can get salty Bone Marrow Onigiri: delicious! I would recommend this Maitake Mushroom: full of flavor, it's tasty. Hangar Steak: 10/10 Pandan Butterscotch Pudding: to die for! 1000/10 read more
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301 N Spurgeon St
Santa Ana, CA 92701
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http://www.sonderdtsa.com
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Sonder - tapasmallplates - Updated August 2026
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