Vaca

Love this place!! The bar tender Nadine is super friendly and so sweet. I will definitely go back again soon. :). Suzanne.

Went here to celebrate a birthday and enjoyed the dinner very much. Parking was easy with the parking structure across the street that they validate for. We ordered the brussel sprouts, patatas bravas, paella valenciana, and a New York strip. For two people this was more than enough food, and we had some leftover paella.The brussel sprouts were probably the best I've had at a restaurant. Patatas bravas were also good, but I would want to try something different next time. Steak was cooked well and the paella was delicious. Portion size was large and perfect for sharing. For dessert we had the tres leches and it was amazing, the cake was very moist and I would definitely get it again.Overall it was a great experience and I would not hesitate to return for another meal here.

Vaca is hands down one of the best spots for Spanish-inspired cuisine in Costa Mesa! The ambiance is stylish yet welcoming, with a great vibe that makes it perfect for a night out. We started with the croquettas de pollo, which were crispy on the outside and packed with flavor on the inside--so good! The bikini sandwich was another highlight--loaded with Jamón Ibérico, Manchego cheese, and a touch of truffle oil. Every dish was beautifully presented and bursting with flavor.While the tapas can be on the pricier side, it's totally worth it for the quality of the ingredients and the overall experience. The staff was friendly, attentive, and made great wine recommendations to pair with the meal. If you're in the area, definitely check out Vaca for a memorable dining experience!

Visited here prior to going to a show. The food is fun, unique, and so so tasty! Since it was our first time, the waiter recommended a few of the favorites and also how many tapas to order so that everyone enjoys. The cocktails were fun and a nice compliment to the tapas. Seeing that the restaurant is so close to the show the waiter made sure our order was in and we were out in perfect timing.

Always best to make a reservation but we were still able to get a patio seat last minute (90 minutes before showtime). Tapas come out quick and are super tasty. Steaks and paella need 45 minutes on busy nights so be sure to plan ahead if you want to enjoy those dishes. Eat and drink up, then walk to the show!

Still one of my favorite places for tapas. I always tend to get recommendation from my server because they have some items that are new-thus can be a hit or miss. It's a somewhat small space-expect the indoor tables to be very close to one another...and if you come during weekends...book in advance.Mt favorite was their uni, branzino, cheeseboards, duck prosciutto and drinks-depending on your taste, there's always a drink that will aligning with your taste buds.

I recently dined at Vaca in Costa Mesa and, unfortunately, my experience was quite disappointing. Despite the restaurant's reputation, there were several issues that made the visit less than enjoyable.The atmosphere was chaotic and noisy, making it difficult to have a conversation as the seating was so cramped, that the tables were less than a feet away. This made the overall environment felt more stressful than relaxing.The food was a major letdown. The tapas were overpriced for the quality of food that was presented to us. While some dishes like the pulpo and canellon were decent others came out to be nothing special and seemingly just a random assortment of flavors thrown on the plate. We also ordered the vaca tonic but although the taste was decent, the drink itself was so frozen that we couldn't even use the straw to drink it. The service was one of the few redeeming aspects, but even that had its flaws. While the staff were friendly, they seemed overwhelmed and inattentive. We had to wait a long time for our orders to be taken and even longer for the food to arrive which often resulted in lukewarm food brought to our table. Overall for the high prices, the experience did not match up. The food quality and portion sizes did not justify the cost, making it feel like a poor value for money. Given the high expectations, Vaca was a significant disappointment. The combination of mediocre food, high prices, and a chaotic atmosphere means I won't be returning anytime soon.Overall: 1/10

We got a variety of dishes: the seafood paella, prime New York strip, octopus, cheese board with 3 cheeses and 2 meats, roasted cauliflower, oyster mushroom, and the beef cheek toast. The best dishes were the seafood paella, steak, and roasted cauliflower. The beef cheek toast was not very impressionable and too salty for me. Also by the time it came, the toast was kind of soggy and oily. The seafood paella takes about 45 minute to make but it's worth the wait - it was cooked perfectly. Not too soggy or dry. The shrimp was also very good. The steak was also cooked tenderly and salted just enough. Ambiance is very nice, we sat on the patio in the back but it did get a bit windy/cold at times. Overall, the service was very attentive and friendly. Food is great, would recommend to friends and family. There is a self parking structure across the street or valet parking for $10.

So excited I made it here after all these years! From the hostess answering the phone, to the valet, to our waiters, they made our first experience here very enjoyable. Vaca is known for their meats and tapas style plates so we ordered 6 plates between the 2 of us: the octopus, the cannelloni, Wagyu meatball, pork belly, blue cheese stuffed dates wrapped in heavenly heavenly mmmmmmm bacon and the beef oxtail. 10 out 10 for flavor! Every. Single. Dish. I need to come back again to try more plates!! Drinks were tasty too. As the DD, I only had one drink- the manda panda (i think? The one with lychee liqueur in it) and it was quite delicious. And kudos to our waiter Paul for all his recs and being so attentive and hospitable. Ambiance is cute and cozy, ideal for date nights or dinner with the girlfriends. The back patio is nice this time of year bc you can see the giant Xmas tree all lit up. Valet is $10, bring cash for tip.

The crispy calamari was light and delicious, and the Brussels sprouts were tasty, though they could go a little lighter on that (admittedly yummy) sauce. The Canelón de pollo didn't look the most appetizing, but wow--it was packed with flavor and totally hit the spot.The seafood paella was good but lacked a bit of depth in flavor. Not bad, but I was hoping for more punch.Now, let's talk about the drinks--absolutely delicious! And that sorbet passionfruit mango? A total standout. Sweet, tangy, and refreshing, it was the perfect way to round out the meal.Service was great--attentive and friendly. The atmosphere was chill but on the loud side, and the seating is really tight. You might end up closer to your neighbor than you'd like.On the plus side, the restrooms were clean, which is always a win!Would I come back? Probably. But I'd love to see a few tweaks to make the experience even better.