Tapas Bar in the OC?

[NatC]

Business trip end of this month to the Irvine area. Any good tapas bars around? Laguna Beach, etc.. Willing to drive if its worth it!

[ml22]

K'ya - rooftop of Casa Camino hotel 1287 South PCH.
Great sunset view be there early, no reservations allowed

[Das Ubergeek]

There's also k'ya at the Hôtel Ménage at Harbor and Ball in the Anaheim Resort. No sunset view but fireworks instead.

[OCKevin]

I've been to lunch at Tapas in Newport....it's not really a "foodie" place. The food was okay. Nothing that made me jonesing to go back. I think the restaurant is simply called "Tapas" to convey a "Spanish" ambience. There is a wealth of posters and flags from Spain inside. However, the menu seemed a bit light on tapas-style fare. Still, if you're going to hang out with some business folks, the place has a stage and I believe has different events scheduled, like flamenco dancing, salsa etc. I was looking for a website for you, but couldn't find one.

I'm wondering if Habana in Costa Mesa may fit the bill. Again, not "tapas" per se, but fun all the same, and with a better edge in terms of food quality. In the same complex as Habana is Zipangu, a sushi restaurant/bar which serves excellent Japanese fare in a "small plates" style, so you can share with others.

[Das Ubergeek]

Go to Black Sheep Bistro in Tustin. While it's not exactly the tapas bar of your Leonese youth, they have very, very good food and a surprisingly reasonable wine list. It's table service, not bar service.

[cdmedici]

Were you looking for authentic spanish style or just the "small plates" concept?

[NatC]

Authentic would be nice but some place fun, live and upbeat would also do it!

[cdmedici]

There is a place called Tapas in Newport Beach by John Wayne Airport, but I have heard nothing good about the place. If you are looking for the full experience (music & flamenco dancing etc) you might be best heading to Long Beach to a place called Cafe Sevilla. http://www.cafesevilla.com/

There is another tapas place in Long Beach called Alegria...but I hated the food.

[crystaw]

The only Tapas I know near John Wayne Airport is a club and I'm pretty sure they don't have food. (Even if they do, I wouldn't recommend it, heh)

[1000steps]

Cdmedici is correct, there is a place called Tapas in NB by the airport that is one of the worst meals I have ever had (i.e. Do not go!). I think this has been asked in the past so you may want to do a search, though nothing is coming up in my little brain.