Costa Mesa Recommendations

Jen
Costa Mesa Recommendations

Costa Mesa Guidebook

Here are our personal recommendations of what Costa Mesa and the surrounding area has to offer! Of course, if you want more in-depth​ reviews and recommendations, please use the Yelp app to go straight to each location's Yelp page.
A wonderful city in sunny Orange County central to many attractions, beaches, restaurants, and fun things to do!
21 lokalinvånare rekommenderar
Costa Mesa
21 lokalinvånare rekommenderar
A wonderful city in sunny Orange County central to many attractions, beaches, restaurants, and fun things to do!

Essentials

The basic places you'll be able to go to get any of your essential items while in town!
Grocery store​ for all your necessities!
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Vons
3650 S Bristol St
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Grocery store​ for all your necessities!
A huge Costco with many essential items!
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Costco Wholesale
2700 Park Ave
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A huge Costco with many essential items!
Long lines (depending on how many cars there are this trip may take anywhere from 10-30 minutes) but prices are much better so worth it!
Costco Gasoline
2700 Park Ave
Long lines (depending on how many cars there are this trip may take anywhere from 10-30 minutes) but prices are much better so worth it!
Another popular grocery store!
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Stater Bros. Markets
2630 W Edinger Ave
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Another popular grocery store!
A common grocery store found in California.
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Albertsons
7201 Yorktown Ave
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A common grocery store found in California.
Huge Walmart for all your grocery needs.
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Walmart Supercenter
16555 Von Karman Ave
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Huge Walmart for all your grocery needs.
Classic grocery store to get all your essentials.
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Target
3030 Harbor Blvd
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Classic grocery store to get all your essentials.

Feed Me!

MEXICAN: This is one of my all-time favorite restaurants. Delicious Mexican food! I recommend getting the carne asada burrito combo plate. The guacamole is also a must!
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Baja Fish Tacos
171 E 17th St
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MEXICAN: This is one of my all-time favorite restaurants. Delicious Mexican food! I recommend getting the carne asada burrito combo plate. The guacamole is also a must!
BRUNCH: One of the most popular brunch places around Costa Mesa!
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Eat Chow
1802 Newport Blvd
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BRUNCH: One of the most popular brunch places around Costa Mesa!
SANDWICHES: This is one of my all time favorite restaurants! Great entrees and sides in one of the cutest locations!
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Mendocino Farms
450 E 17th St
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SANDWICHES: This is one of my all time favorite restaurants! Great entrees and sides in one of the cutest locations!
BREAKFAST: My favorite bagel breakfast place! You can customize your breakfast bagel sandwich to your liking. I recommend trying the hot chocolate!
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Bruegger's Bagels
2743 Pacific Coast Hwy
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BREAKFAST: My favorite bagel breakfast place! You can customize your breakfast bagel sandwich to your liking. I recommend trying the hot chocolate!
CUBAN: Everyone raves about this restaurant for brunch, lunch, and dinner!
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Habana Restaurant
2930 Bristol St
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CUBAN: Everyone raves about this restaurant for brunch, lunch, and dinner!
PIZZA: A unique pizza place where you can customize your pizza from start to finish!
The Pizza Press
901 S Coast Dr
PIZZA: A unique pizza place where you can customize your pizza from start to finish!
FAST FOOD: A trip to OC would definitely not be complete without visiting the classic burger joint. You can look up the secret menu on google to get some special options that many don't know about!
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In-N-Out Burger
2895 Park Ave
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FAST FOOD: A trip to OC would definitely not be complete without visiting the classic burger joint. You can look up the secret menu on google to get some special options that many don't know about!
ASAIN: Delicious!! But beware the wait is long! It is located in the South Coast Plaza mall so it's best to go to South Coast Plaza 2-3 hours before you plan to eat, put your name on the list, do some shopping, and then go the restaurant when they say your table is almost ready. Or you can wait in line for the bar (it's usually a shorter wait). My favorites here are the chicken fried rice, the spicy wonton soup, and the mochi chocolate xiao long bao (to die for!).
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Din Tai Fung
3333 Plaza
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ASAIN: Delicious!! But beware the wait is long! It is located in the South Coast Plaza mall so it's best to go to South Coast Plaza 2-3 hours before you plan to eat, put your name on the list, do some shopping, and then go the restaurant when they say your table is almost ready. Or you can wait in line for the bar (it's usually a shorter wait). My favorites here are the chicken fried rice, the spicy wonton soup, and the mochi chocolate xiao long bao (to die for!).
ITALIAN: Great Italian food and service here! I recommend anything with their pink sauce!
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The Original Mama D's Italian Kitchen
3012 Newport Blvd
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ITALIAN: Great Italian food and service here! I recommend anything with their pink sauce!
MIDDLE EASTERN: The restaurant is on the smaller side but the food is so full of flavor! I recommend getting the Sultani.
House of Kabob
92 Corporate Park
MIDDLE EASTERN: The restaurant is on the smaller side but the food is so full of flavor! I recommend getting the Sultani.
SEAFOOD: Messy because you have to peel all your seafood, but full of flavor. I love getting the shrimp and the cajun fries.
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The Boiling Crab
129 W Main St
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SEAFOOD: Messy because you have to peel all your seafood, but full of flavor. I love getting the shrimp and the cajun fries.
BRUNCH: Foodie option for brunch! Very different but so good!
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Old Vine Kitchen & Bar
2937 Bristol St
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BRUNCH: Foodie option for brunch! Very different but so good!
FAST FOOD: Finger lickin' good chicken tenders. Their sauce is SO good!
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Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers
3150 Harbor Blvd
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FAST FOOD: Finger lickin' good chicken tenders. Their sauce is SO good!

Quick Treats + Desserts

My favorite places to get a quick refresher or satisfy my sweet tooth.
BOBA A trip to OC wouldn't be complete without some boba tea! The hottest craze in refreshing drinks.
Ding Tea South Coast Metro
3941 S Bristol St
BOBA A trip to OC wouldn't be complete without some boba tea! The hottest craze in refreshing drinks.
So many flavors and toppings to meet your frozen yogurt craving.
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Yogurtland
1450 Baker St
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So many flavors and toppings to meet your frozen yogurt craving.
A popular ice cream shop with unique flavors and donuts!
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Afters Ice Cream
18030 Brookhurst St
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A popular ice cream shop with unique flavors and donuts!
Unique place to eat ice cream!
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Cauldron Ice Cream
1421 W MacArthur Blvd
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Unique place to eat ice cream!
Classic coffee shop!
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Starbucks
3333 Bear St
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Classic coffee shop!

Family Friendly Fun

Of course, this list wouldn't be complete without the happiest place on earth: Disneyland!
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Disneyland Park
1313 Disneyland Dr
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Of course, this list wouldn't be complete without the happiest place on earth: Disneyland!
ARTS Performing arts center that always has amazing programs!
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Segerstrom Center for the Arts
600 Town Center Dr
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ARTS Performing arts center that always has amazing programs!
The Orange Circle is a great place to take a nice stroll and visit all the different boutiques, stores, and restaurants.
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Orange Cirkel
99 Plaza Square
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The Orange Circle is a great place to take a nice stroll and visit all the different boutiques, stores, and restaurants.
One of the most popular beaches!
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Laguna Beach
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One of the most popular beaches!
A cute beach city where you can take the ferry across and rent beach items to partake in fun beach activities.
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Balboa Island Ferry
Agate Avenue
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A cute beach city where you can take the ferry across and rent beach items to partake in fun beach activities.
Where fun meets learning! A super fun museum where kids can enjoy learning science.
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Discovery Cube Orange County
2500 N Main St
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Where fun meets learning! A super fun museum where kids can enjoy learning science.
A huge park with tons of fun for families!
Wakeham Park
3400 Smalley Rd
A huge park with tons of fun for families!
Movies on the big screen!
Edwards Cinemas Stadium
Movies on the big screen!
Another fun amusement park to spend the day at! During Halloween time it becomes Knott's Scary Farm (be prepared to get scared!)
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Knott 'S Berry Farm
8039 Beach Blvd
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Another fun amusement park to spend the day at! During Halloween time it becomes Knott's Scary Farm (be prepared to get scared!)

Night Life + Drinks

Some of the best drinks and nightlife in OC.
A brewery with a great variety of beers and food.
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Karl Strauss Brewing Company Costa Mesa
901 S Coast Dr
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A brewery with a great variety of beers and food.
A brewery, with both inside and outside seating. Has many fun games and a variety of drinks and food.
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Golden Road Brewing Anaheim
2210 E Orangewood Ave
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A brewery, with both inside and outside seating. Has many fun games and a variety of drinks and food.
A unique, serve yourself beer place in the Orange Circle.
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The Wall
80 Plaza Square
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A unique, serve yourself beer place in the Orange Circle.
Light eats and cocktails in a rustic-chic cottage setting with multiple bars, a patio, and ocean views.
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The Bungalow Huntington Beach
21058 CA-1
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Light eats and cocktails in a rustic-chic cottage setting with multiple bars, a patio, and ocean views.
A popular night club with many events and performers!
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Time Nightclub
1875 Newport Blvd
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A popular night club with many events and performers!

Shopping Malls

These are some of the most popular spots to shop, eat, and relax!
An awesome indoor mall that has everything from department stores to luxury stores to splurge!
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South Coast Plaza
3333 Bristol St
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An awesome indoor mall that has everything from department stores to luxury stores to splurge!
This is a great outdoor mall with some of the most popular stores!
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Metro Pointe at South Coast
901 S Coast Dr
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This is a great outdoor mall with some of the most popular stores!
This is such a different mall. Super hipster, good eats, and beautifully decorated!
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The Lab Anti-Mall
2930 Bristol St
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This is such a different mall. Super hipster, good eats, and beautifully decorated!
A huge outdoor shopping mall with many shops, restaurants, and outdoor space to relax and spend time with family and friends.
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Newport Center/Fashion Island
401 Newport Center Dr
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A huge outdoor shopping mall with many shops, restaurants, and outdoor space to relax and spend time with family and friends.
Another hugely popular outside mall with a ferris wheel, stores, and restaurants. A wonderful place to take a stroll and bring the kids to play at the different lounging and playgrounds throughout the mall.
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Irvine Spectrum Center
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Another hugely popular outside mall with a ferris wheel, stores, and restaurants. A wonderful place to take a stroll and bring the kids to play at the different lounging and playgrounds throughout the mall.