Three friends sit around a table at a stylish lounge, chatting and smiling. Perfect for a Costa Mesa travel blog, two women in red dresses and a man in a denim jacket enjoy drinks, with candles and art on the wall behind them.

10 Costa Mesa Restaurants to Visit for Great Late-Night Bites

Published Aug 2, 2023, 11:41am

With the long summer nights, you’re more likely to stay up late and enjoy the great weather and longer daylight hours. Staying up late sometimes means needing a snack, though! Choose from some of these hot spots in Costa Mesa with late-night bites.

Silver Trumpet

Close-up of glazed chicken drumettes garnished with fresh greens, served on a bed of arugula with a drizzle of sauce on a gray plate.

Silver Trumpet has a great happy hour that they’ve extended to late-night hours, as well. Enjoy late-night snacks like these amazing grilled chicken wings with a passionfruit habanero glaze. The restaurant serves until 11 p.m. every night except Saturday.

Mesa Lounge

People sit around a large bar with a tall, sculptural tree in the center, surrounded by glowing candles. The dimly lit space has green, textured walls decorated with black and white photographs.

Mesa is definitely the place to see and be seen in Costa Mesa. The swanky lounge offers a great charcuterie and pizzas, handcrafted cocktails, all in a chic environment. The kitchen’s open until at least midnight most nights.

Hashigo Korean Kitchen

A rectangular plate with crispy fried chicken pieces sits on a wooden table, surrounded by bowls of various dishes, including vegetables and other side items.

Nothing can hit the spot after a fun evening than a little Korean fried chicken or barbecue! Hashigo‘s kitchen is open until 12:30am nightly.

Cafe Sevilla

A pan of seafood paella with shrimp, mussels, clams, peas, red peppers, and lemon wedges, garnished with a sprig of rosemary, sits on a wooden table.

Cafe Sevilla‘s a great indoor/outdoor spot for some tapas and live music. Sunday-Tuesday the kitchen is open until 11pm, Wednesday and Thursday until 12am, and Friday and Saturday until 1am.

Anjin

A person grills meat and vegetables on a tabletop barbecue, surrounded by plates of raw meat, corn, and greens, with dipping sauces and rice in the background.

Anjin is where the locals go – locals in the know, that is. Their yakinuku is the draw here, but they also offer great ramen and kimchi dishes. The kitchen is open until 1am nightly.

Palenque Kitchen

Three colorful cocktails garnished with cucumber, lime, and a purple orchid sit on a wooden tray, with plates of food including chips, guacamole, and a sandwich in the background.

Palenque Kitchen is serving Oaxaca-style Mexican food along with one of the biggest tequila and mezcal selections in Orange County, in a nightclub atmosphere. Palenque’s kitchen is open until 12:30am on the weekends and until 10 on weeknights.

Oak & Coal

A white oval plate with grilled beef skewers, asparagus, mushrooms, and garnished with microgreens, placed on a wooden table with a menu in the background.

Get delicious bites like this Wagyu beef kushiyaki cooked over a charcoal grill. Oak and Coal‘s kitchen is open until 12am on the weekends and until 11 on weeknights.

Hakata Ikkousha

Three bowls of ramen on a table, with the closest bowl topped with sliced pork, green onions, a boiled egg, bamboo shoots, and a swirl of black garlic oil. The other two bowls are slightly blurred in the background.

This award-winning ramen can hit the spot for a late-night bite. Pictured here is their famous black tonkatsu. Hakata Ikkousha‘s kitchen is open until 11:30pm nightly.

Wild Goose Tavern

A person holds up a close-up of a hamburger with a beef patty, fried topping, melted cheese, sauce, and a brioche bun, with the background slightly blurred.

Wild Goose Tavern is a fun spot in Westside Costa Mesa to have a drink with friends, but stay for a while and have a delicious bite like the Caprese burger while you’re there. The kitchen is open nightly until 12am and on weekends even later.

La Vida Cantina

A vibrant outdoor plaza at sunset features white buildings, colorful lights, and thatched-roof dining areas. The sky is painted with dramatic pink and orange clouds. Signs read “CASA ONDA.”.

La Vida Cantina offers traditional Mexican food and great margaritas plus a full bar on the top level of Triangle Square. Food service Monday-Friday until 12am; Saturday until 1 a.m.

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Four young adults smiling and walking together outside a modern building; one woman in a red hat leads the group, while the others chat and follow, carrying shopping bags.