Just moved to Costa Mesa near the Fair...

[raidahguy]

so I need food recomendations in Costa Mesa or the surrounding areas. I used to live in Mission Viejo and would hate how there wasnt anything really good to eat since it is more of a Suburan paradise (chain restaurant hell). I picked Costa Mesa as the next place to live because it was close to the beach and more of a cosmopolitan city. I would be happy with recommendations ranging from inexpensive to expensive. I don't care, I want them all as long as they rock. Ive already been to Habana, Shibucho, Santouka, TK Burgers, Hashigo Korean Kitchen, and Orchid Restaurant. I think the Golden Truffle is next on my list to go to, but please hit me with all kinds of recommendations. Im open to everything...

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Santouka
3760 S Centinela Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90066

Habana
2930 Bristol St Ste A110, Costa Mesa, CA 92626

Shibucho
3114 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90057

Golden Truffle
1767 Newport Blvd., Costa Mesa, CA 92627

Korean Kitchen
2975 Harbor Blvd, Costa Mesa, CA 92626

[bigdead1]

If you like pho just a short drive to westminster and you have about a hundred great choices one of my favs right now is pho 79 on brookhurst and hazard behind the liquor store

[OC Mutt]

Greek Island Grill - corner of Bristol and Sunflower. One of my favorites.

[ns1]

85' Bakery on the border of Irvine/Tustin

[terramassu]

Pupusas/ El Salvadorean
Pupuseria San Sivar
1940 Harbor Blvd
Costa Mesa, CA 92627
[phone]

Vegan
Native Foods
2937 Bristol St # E100
Costa Mesa, CA 92626-7997
[phone]

Organic/ Wines/ Cheeses/ Pastas/Breakfast
Old Vine Cafe
2937 Bristol St # A102
Costa Mesa, CA 92626-7993
[phone]

Mexican/Tortillas/Tacos
El Toro Bravo
739 W 19th St
Costa Mesa, CA 92627
[phone]

Rotisserie Chicken/Hummus/Meditteranean
Chicken Maison
3332 S Bristol St
Santa Ana, CA 92704
[phone]

Ice Cream Closer than Strickland's
Hans' Homemade Ice Cream
3640 S Bristol St
Santa Ana, CA 92704
[phone]

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San Sivar Restaurant
1940 Harbor Blvd, Costa Mesa, CA 92627

Old Vine Cafe
2937 Bristol St # A102, Costa Mesa, CA

[terramassu]

Also
Californian/Vegan/Vegetarian
Avanti Cafe
259 E. 17th St
Costa Mesa, CA 92627
[phone]

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Avanti Cafe
259 E 17th St, Costa Mesa, CA 92627

[Wonginator]

Chicken Coop for broasted chicken.

Chicago's Best for Italian beef sandwiches and great baby back ribs.

Onotria for northern Italian.

Plums Cafe for the Dutch Baby.

S W Seafood for authentic Cantonese food.

Chef Chen's for the braised pork shank.

Philly's Best, Frank's Philadelphia, and John's Philly Grill for Philly cheesesteaks.

Jerry's Dogs for the Jalapeno hot links and bratwursts, and homemade potato chips.

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Jerry's Dogs
2276 E 17th St, Santa Ana, CA 92705

Chicago's Best
2540 Main St, Irvine, CA 92614

Chicken Coop
414 Old Newport Blvd, Newport Beach, CA 92663

Chef Chen's Restaurant
5408 Walnut Ave, Irvine, CA 92604

Plums Cafe
369 E 17th St, Costa Mesa, CA 92627

S W Seafood & BBQ Restaurant
5406 Walnut Ave Ste A, Irvine, CA 92604

Frank's Philadelphia
2244 Fairview Rd, Costa Mesa, CA 92627

John's Philly Grille
16061 Goldenwest St, Huntington Beach, CA 92647

Onotria Restaurant
2831 Bristol St Ste A, Costa Mesa, CA 92626

[Funwithfood]

I LOVE Jerry's Dogs (I go to the one in La Habra). Their sprial dog and made to order potato chips totally rock!

(Plum's Greek omelet is delish)

[I got nothin]

Nick's Pizza - pizza, pasta, and meatball subs (lunch only for the sandwiches)
Vietnam Pearl - Pretty decent vietnamese food if you don't want to go all the way to Little Saigon
Marche Moderne - one of the best french spots in the area, surprised that hasn't been listed yet
Jugos Acapulco - one of many good mexican places along 19th street (several of which have already been listed). I usually get a torta or one of their specials for the day.

[OCAnn]

ECCO & Old Vine Cafe, both @ The Camp in Costa Mesa.

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Old Vine Cafe
2937 Bristol St, Costa Mesa, CA 92626

[MissyAsh]

Shin Sen Gumi - Japanese Ramen
Kairakutei - Japanese Ramen
Moscow Deli - Odessa Sandwich
5 guys Burgers
Thai Nakorn - Garden Grove Location
85 Degrees Bakery
Marche Modern - South Coast Plaza
Dosa House - Indian
Charlie Palmer - South Coast Plaza
Tabento - Best Sushi I've had in the OC

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Thai Nakorn Restaurant
12532 Garden Grove Blvd, Garden Grove, CA 92843

Moscow Deli
3015 Harbor Blvd, Costa Mesa, CA 92626

Tabento
1525 Mesa Verde Dr E Ste 112, Costa Mesa, CA 92626

Kairakutei
17292 McFadden Ave Ste L, Tustin, CA 92780

[Paolorichard]

Oki Doki (two doors fown from Hashigo)- asian fushion...try vermicelli w/ bbq and eggroll
Pizzeria Ortica- Best Authentic Pizza in OC
Daria's-delicious Persian food (by Antonellos Italian crapy food)
Tandoori Fresh-Best Indian food in OC

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Oki Doki
3033 S Bristol St, Costa Mesa, CA 92626

Pizzeria Ortica
650 Anton Boulevard, Costa Mesa, CA 92626

[adamclyde]

The worlds of Mexico and Vietnam are as close as Westminster and Santa Ana, so thats a huge benefit to living in Costa Mesa. But some specifically in the town that I've enjoyed since moving nearby a few months ago (most of which I have to thank others kn chow hound for):

- DX Restaurant. really nice Peruvian, at the corner of bristol and sunflower. Pollo ala bras a is very good there.
- mitsuwa marketplace. Good Japanese in the food court in the back. Santouka for ramen. And can't remember the udon place, but it's also quite good.
- el toro bravo, as others mentioned above. Really nice tamales and tacos. The carnets taco could feed two. Fresh tortillas from freshly ground masa.

Again, Santa Ana and westminster is where I spend most of my eating time, but that's a thread all in itself.

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Santouka
3760 S Centinela Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90066

[kc girl]

You're in the mecca of Orange County there.
Add these tree when you want to visit the beach areas:
(1) Sabatino's ~ Friday Clam Chowder
http://www.sabatinoschicagosausage.com/
(hard to find for fist timers because it looks like you're driving into private property - in the shipyards

)

(2) Ho Sum Bistro ~ light and fresh "Califoriental"
http://www.hosumbistro.com/

(3) The Side Door ~ high-end comfort food on small plates
http://www.sidedoorcdm.com/site/

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Sabatino's
251 Shipyard Way, Newport Beach, CA 92663

Ho Sum Bistro
3112 Newport Blvd, Newport Beach, CA 92663