Costa Mesa’s Culinary Scene Is Heating Up With Bold New Flavors
Costa Mesa’s dining scene is on fire again, and Travel Costa Mesa has the receipts. From precision Japanese cocktails and intimate omakase counters to one-pound breakfast burritos and chef-driven smash burgers, the city’s latest wave of openings covers every craving with style. There’s elevated Southern soul food for the live music lover, coastal California breakfast for the early riser, Lebanese flatbread for the adventurous eater and sun-drenched café culture for anyone who just needs a really good latte. Whether you’re planning a full night out or a quick morning stop, Costa Mesa keeps delivering.
1. The Chef’s Burger Moment
Tiny’s Burger is what happens when the chef behind L.A.’s legendary Father’s Office decides to go fast-casual and have a little fun. Chef Sang Yoon opened this counter-service spot inside South Coast Plaza in June 2026, and it’s already earning a devoted following. The menu is focused and precise: a 4-ounce dry-aged beef patty dressed with a house sauce of gochujang, ssamjang, ketchup and mustard, a Tokyo Dog topped with bonito flakes, Kewpie mayo and furikake, miso mac and cheese, salt and vinegar tots and a Pineapple Dole Whip that’s as fun as it sounds. An attached konbini-style snack shop stocks Japanese and Korean bites alongside grab-and-go sandos. Nostalgic, chef-driven and refreshingly unpretentious.
Tiny’s Burger
3333 Bristol St., Ste 1000
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
949.909.8469
M-Th, 11 a.m.-8 p.m.; F-Sa, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Su, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
2. Feed Your Soul
LJ’s Lounge is the kind of place Orange County has been waiting for. Black and veteran-owned by OC native Kenneth Jackson and named for his mother Linda Jean, this brand-new Triangle Square spot serves elevated Southern comfort food with a coastal California soul. The kitchen, helmed by Chef Justin McNeil, delivers dishes that feel personal and warmly plated. Start with Darlene’s Shrimp and Grits, sautéed shrimp over creamy cheese grits with coastal seasoning, or go straight for the Sunshine Waffle and Soul Stack, a golden Belgian waffle topped with crispy fried chicken and fragrant rosemary syrup. Grannie’s Biscuits and Gravy with grilled Andouille sausage is exactly what it sounds like and worth every bite. The cocktail program is just as thoughtful, with standouts like the Rhythm and Soul (mezcal, Aperol and citrus, with optional jalapeño) and the Georgia on My Mind (Southern Comfort, ripe peach and fresh basil). On weekends the space transforms for Soul to Sole Brunch, with a DJ on Saturdays and live gospel, jazz and reggae on Sundays. Costa Mesa has a new favorite.
LJ’s Lounge
1870 Harbor Blvd, Ste A-211
Costa Mesa, CA 92627
949.791.2022
Hours vary; check ljslounge.com or OpenTable for current schedule.
3. The Pearl of The MET
Pacific Pearl Café landed at The MET in Costa Mesa in January 2026, bringing celebrated OC chef Michael Campbell’s coastal-inspired breakfast and lunch concept to one of the city’s most vibrant lifestyle destinations. Campbell’s culinary journey spans two decades across kitchens in Portland, Avignon, Barcelona, New York and San Francisco, and it shows in every plate. The breakfast menu is fresh, focused and full of character: a Breakfast Burrito packed with smoked carnitas, eggs, sweet potato, queso and pickled zucchini; Foster’s French Toast with salted banana caramel and candied pecan; and Royale with Cheese Egg Bites with smoky bacon, four cheese blend and secret sauce. At lunch, the Smoked Albacore Tuna Melt on rye with Irish white cheddar, mozzarella and zucchini pickles is a standout worth coming back for. Sustainable, thoughtfully sourced ingredients run through everything. A perfect weekday morning stop.
Pacific Pearl Café
575 Anton Blvd
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
714.725.7450
M-F, 7 a.m.-2 p.m.; Sa-Su, closed
4. One-Pound Mornings
Earlybird Breakfast Burritos landed at The LAB Anti-Mall in January 2026 and hasn’t looked back. Founded by Scott Slater, the mind behind Slater’s 50/50, this fast-casual concept is built on one singular mission: the best breakfast burrito in town. Each one-pound burrito is packed with bold flavor combinations and real ingredients, from the K-Town Sunrise bulgogi steak-and-kimchi riff with gochujang aioli (a Costa Mesa exclusive) to the classic Chorizo Campeón with ground pork chorizo, charred serrano salsa and guac. There’s also a Carne Asada option, a Vegan Spicy-Rizo build with soyrizo, and a Crispy Bird Sando for when burritos just aren’t enough. Gluten-free tortillas are on hand, too. This is the spot you’re going to want to get out of bed for early.
Earlybird Breakfast Burritos
2930 Bristol St, Ste C104
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
@thymetoeat.ca
M-F, 7 a.m.-1 p.m.; Sa-Su, 7 a.m.-2 p.m.
5. Flatbread Worth the Find
Thyme To Eat is the kind of spot you stumble onto once and tell everyone about. Tucked along Harbor Blvd, this Lebanese flatbread bakery specializes in authentic saj, a thin, freshly baked bread cooked on a domed griddle and folded around ingredients that have been doing the heavy lifting in Lebanese cuisine for centuries. The menu is focused and confident: a za’atar pie, a za’atar with cheese, and saj wraps stuffed with labneh, tomatoes, cucumbers, olives and fresh mint. There’s also a Nutella saj for the sweet tooth that’s worth saving room for. Small menu, big flavor and a concept Costa Mesa didn’t know it needed until now.
Thyme To Eat
1951 Harbor Blvd
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
714.733.7555
Daily, 11 a.m.-11 p.m.
6. Cocktails With Intention
The most intentional new cocktail bar in SoCal doesn’t take reservations. You walk in, you wait and you trust it’s worth it. Highball opened in March 2026 as a tribute to the Japanese “Authentic Bar,” a tradition rooted in precision, ritual and the art of monozukuri, or making things with deep intention. The bar is intimate, walk-in only and capped at four guests per table. Every cocktail begins before the pour, with hand-carved ice, Japanese ingredients and technique that would make any Ginza bartender proud. Tell the bartenders what you like, and they’ll choose your drink. That’s Japanese hospitality, Costa Mesa edition, and it’s one of the most memorable bar experiences in OC right now. Tucked just behind Highball’s velvet curtain is its counterpart, Naisho Omakase (see below). Consider the full evening: cocktails at Highball, then dinner at Naisho. You won’t regret it.
Highball
3033 Bristol St, Ste 117
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
949.390.8377
Daily, 5-11 p.m.
7. The Secret’s Out
“Naisho” of Naisho Omakase means “secret” in Japanese, and for a 14-seat sushi counter tucked behind a velvet curtain inside Highball, the name fits. Chef Shimpei Shinohara leads guests on an hour-long multi-course omakase journey focused on nigiri, where each piece is an exercise in seasonality, technique and restraint. Nothing feels overdone. The progression moves from lighter fish to heavier, with standout bites like chutoro and black cod earning raves from regulars who’ve already made this one of OC’s most talked-about dinner experiences. Reservations open on a rolling two-week basis via OpenTable, and spots go fast. Book early, arrive at Highball first and let the whole evening unfold exactly as it was designed to.
Naisho Omakase
3033 Bristol St, Ste 117
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
949.390.8377
Daily, 6-9:30 p.m.
8. Brunch, But Make It a Moment
Pradera Brunch brought its vibrant Mexican brunch energy to Costa Mesa’s Harbor Blvd and the neighborhood took notice fast. Step inside and the space earns its reputation immediately: a star-lit chandelier overhead, artisanal Tlaquepaque furniture and a menu that makes brunch feel genuinely festive. Start sweet with fresas con crema waffles or molletes dulces, then go savory with a smoked brisket Benedict or a birria braised beef omelet that’s as rich as it sounds. The licuados, milk-based smoothies served in classic plastic bags, are a must. Handcrafted cocktails and mimosas round out the experience. It’s colorful, generous and exactly the kind of brunch spot a neighborhood deserves.
Pradera Brunch
2300 Harbor Blvd, Ste C
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
949.991.2007
M-F, 7 a.m.-3 p.m.; Sa-Su, 7 a.m.-8 p.m.
If You’re in the Mood for Coffee
Coffee & Chaos
Don’t let the name fool you, Gremlin Garage is exactly the kind of place you’ll want to find. This woman-owned coffee speakeasy is tucked inside a converted garage on Enterprise Street, and it delivers on every level: raw industrial aesthetic, vintage moto vibes, delicious pastries and drinks that genuinely surprise. The Caramel Banana Latte has a cult following, the Burnt Honey Latte converts even the most committed non-latte drinkers and the Chocolate Pistachio Shakerato is a stunner worth tracking down. The space doubles as an event venue, with a 1963 Piaggio Ape mobile coffee bar available for off-site bookings. It’s dog-friendly, community-rooted and proudly powered by Captain + Stoker Coffee out of Monterey.
Gremlin Garage
3019 Enterprise St
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
714.714.0145
M, Th-F, 7 a.m.-3 p.m.; Sa-Su, 8 a.m.-3 p.m.
Q&A
Q: What are the newest restaurants in Costa Mesa in 2026?
A: Some of the most buzzed-about new openings include Earlybird Breakfast Burritos at The LAB Anti-Mall, Highball and Naisho Omakase on Bristol Street, Tiny’s Burger at South Coast Plaza, LJ’s Lounge at Triangle Square and Pacific Pearl Café at The MET.
Q: Where should I go for brunch in Costa Mesa?
A: Pradera Brunch on Harbor Blvd serves a vibrant Mexican brunch daily with fresas con crema waffles, smoked brisket Benedict and fresh licuados. LJ’s Lounge at Triangle Square brings Southern soul to the weekend with its Soul to Sole Brunch featuring live music and a DJ. Pacific Pearl Café at The MET is the weekday morning move, with Foster’s French Toast and a Smoked Albacore Tuna Melt worth the stop.
Q: Is there a Japanese omakase restaurant in Costa Mesa?
A: Yes! Naisho Omakase at 3033 Bristol St offers an intimate 14-seat counter experience with an hour-long multi-course nigiri tasting menu. It’s located inside Highball cocktail bar, making for a seamless cocktails-to-omakase evening.
Q: What are the best new cafés in Costa Mesa?
A: Gremlin Garage on Enterprise Street is a woman-owned coffee speakeasy tucked inside a converted garage, with cult-favorite lattes and a 1963 Piaggio Ape mobile bar. For a full breakfast, Pacific Pearl Café at The MET and Earlybird Breakfast Burritos at The LAB Anti-Mall also round out the morning scene.
Q: What new burger spots have opened in Costa Mesa?
A: Tiny’s Burger at South Coast Plaza brings chef Sang Yoon’s fast-casual vision to Costa Mesa, with a dry-aged beef burger dressed in gochujang and ssamjang sauce, a Tokyo Dog and a konbini-style snack shop alongside. It’s the most talked-about new burger concept in OC right now.
