Feasts, Treats, and Decadent Eats in Costa Mesa

Published Feb 26, 2025, 2:15pm

Life’s too short for boring meals. Remember that first unforgettable bite, or the joy of dining out with our favorite people, or even channeling a Roman emperor with an extravagant, over-the-top feast? Costa Mesa’s dining scene delivers big on decadence, and this list of standouts is unapologetically indulgent. These are the kinds of food experiences you talk about, and show off in your photo gallery, for years to come.

Getting to Costa Mesa for your day of indulgence is a breeze, since it’s conveniently situated between L.A. and San Diego. Not driving? Here’s a local tip: fly into OC’s John Wayne Airport (SNA) and beat the stress of LAX.

Destination Decadence

A blue plate holds a tin of caviar on ice, a soft-boiled egg topped with herbs, breadsticks, and thin crackers in white napkins. A closed tin labeled KNIFE & PLEAT is also on the plate. — Photo by @knifepleat

We’re starting strong with a luxurious experience from the Michelin‑recognized French restaurant Knife Pleat. There’s three caviar options for caviar service, each of them more decadent than the last. Savor your buttery, popping bites with a chilled cocktail. We love the Iris Van Herpen for the shiso and plum notes.

Epic Bites

A tray of cheeseburgers with sesame seed buns is displayed above a container filled with French fries in a kitchen setting. — Photo by @mattyspattysburgerclub

Some burgers just hit different. That’s the case at Matty’s Patty’s Burger Club, a Toronto fave with a Costa Mesa location (lucky us!), owned and operated by actor-chef Matty Matheson of The Bear fame. Ooey-gooey poutine is always a solid pick, but the burgers are the superstar of the show here: get yours with Matty’s Patty’s Sauce or Pickled Jalapeño Mayo.

A close-up of a pan filled with clams, noodles, leafy greens, and crispy fried strips, served on a light wooden table with plates in the background. — Photo by @vaca_costamesa

We have one word for you: omakase. The “chef’s table” sushi experience at Michelin‑recognized Hana re, led by Chef Atsushi Yokoyama, is about as intimate an indulgence as you can get, given the limited seating and serene atmosphere. Settle in for fifteen courses of hand-selected fresh seafood.

No Holding Back

A gourmet Japanese dish features a sea snail shell with orange seafood, a glass with soup and vegetables, a white seafood piece with a leaf garnish, and a small red garnish on a white square plate. — Photo by @plumscafe

A bowl of spicy ramen topped with chopped green onions, sliced pork, bamboo shoots, and vegetables, set on a wooden table. The broth appears rich and orange-red with visible oil and seasonings. — Photo by @hana_re_sushi

Locals know about Costa Mesa’s Ramen Row, or the plethora of ramen shops in a three-block radius around Baker Street. Take yourself on a ramen crawl and hit up Hakata Ikkousha for the definitive standard of tonkotsu-style, Kashiwa Ramen for Black Garlic Ramen with roasted garlic oil chicken, Kitakata Ramen Ban Nai for Green Chili Shio Ramen, and Mogumogu for soupless noodles for a novel finish.

Sweet Escapes

Photo by @plumscafe

The two-pound Giant Cinnamon Roll at Plums Cafe is worth a photo opp for sure—how often do we get to try baked goods as big as our heads? But don’t order this scrumptious baked good just for the novelty; it’s unbelievably delicious. We do advise bringing some friends to share the love or asking for a take-home container, so no bite goes to waste.

Three extravagant milkshakes topped with treats: one with whipped cream and a wafer cone, another with whipped cream, toasted marshmallow, and graham crackers, and a third with whipped cream and a churro, all on a black counter. — Photo by @thestrawmilkshakes

Indulge your imagination and your taste buds at Elixir, which serves up whimsy alongside boba and ice cream. Creative drinks (like Labyrinth, a green tea latte with dragon honey and boba), fantasy decor that demands you get your pose on, and magical staff take the vibes from great to extraordinary. Every single drink is alcohol free, so it’s a great spot to hit up if you’re sober or just sober curious.

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Plan Your Visit

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.