Fat of the Land

Wow! This place was tremendous. Date night during the Art Walk in downtown. Highlights include: The amazing food- we ordered the bread with ham butter ( so yummy), the shrimp was unbelievable, the pork dry rub was so good too. The awesome decor- see my photo, and there was a wonderful poem on the back of the bathroom door that I loved. The great service-with such a small place it's intimate and the staff knocked it out of the park. I think my server was Lee...that team made our night so awesome. Thanks to Fat of the Land for a great date night!!

A fantastic gem in Santa Ana. I was looking for a place to enjoy a quick drink while waiting to pick up my child from a school event and came across this wonderful spot. The decor is beautiful, the service is excellent, and the kitchen is efficient. Samuel was especially courteous and helpful, making the experience even better. I enjoyed a glass of wine with anchovies and will definitely be back for a full meal. This is a place worth saving for future visits.

We've been wanting to check out this tapas spot for awhile and it exceeded our expectations! The restaurant is such a cute, intimate little date spot. Robert (owner) and his wife were so helpful and friendly. Service was amazing! We ordered the octopus, which was very tender, and the squash dish with saffron rice (yum), mushrooms, bread and ham butter, and the rack of pork. The pork was so tender and delicious! You have to try the basque cheesecake as well, which was life changing! It was the best cheesecake I've ever had, so luxurious and rich and delicious! We'll be back again and again!

From the moment I walked into Fat of the Land, I felt warmly welcomed. I was greeted personally by the owner, and every staff member was friendly and clearly knowledgeable about the menu. It's obvious that hospitality is a priority here, which made the entire dining experience even more enjoyable. The decor immediately stood out. It’s classy and upscale, yet still inviting and comfortable. It strikes that rare balance between elegance and warmth, making it perfect for a date night or a casual visit for excellent food. The menu may be small, but it is powerful. Every dish has intention, artistry, and flavor that speaks volumes. You can tell each item was thoughtfully crafted with care and purpose. Everything I tried was incredibly fresh, with well-balanced and creative flavor combinations. As someone who had VSG surgery almost a year ago, I have to be very intentional about what I eat. When you can only enjoy a few bites, every bite has to matter. At Fat of the Land, every bite was absolutely worth it. Nothing felt wasted or ordinary- everything was delicious and satisfying. I also don’t drink alcohol, and I was impressed by their selection of non-alcoholic beverages. The French apple cider I tried was especially amazing and felt just as special as any cocktail or glass of wine. I’ll definitely be back. I want to thank the owner and the entire team for being such gracious and passionate hosts. In a time when every dollar counts, it’s important to support restaurants that truly earn your business. Fat of the Land is worth every penny. Not just for the food, but for the genuine care they put into the entire dining experience. They clearly love what they do, and it shows.

I cannot say enough about our experience… It was wonderful and too short. Need to come back as soon as I can. We came for my girlfriend‘s birthday and had a wonderful time. It is small, quaint, quiet, very intimate and personable.

I was so surprised to find such an amazing spot in Santa Ana! The food was absolutely outstanding. We had the bread with butter and the cheese plate. The ham butter was incredible and the chorizo and manchego cheese was delicious. The Basque cheesecake was also fantastic. I can’t wait to come back and try more dishes. The staff were super friendly and welcoming, too!

I absolutely loved this place. If you haven’t ever been to Spain, or you have and are just missing the vibes, this place gets it right! It has the perfect ambiance, service, food and drinks. We shared a number of things, all of which were really great. The wine and sangria were also sooo good. The basque cheesecake was also top notch. I normally am not a fan of cheesecake but this was out of this world, I’m still thinking about it! We definitely will be coming back for either a full meal or to try some vermouth with appetizers!

A surprising and cozy 20-seat jewel box on an unassuming corner in Santa Ana. The small but thoughtful Spanish tapas-inspired menu is one banger after another, with braised mushrooms with onsen egg and iberco-stuffed piqillo peppers being standouts. Nice wine list included a stylish cava. We didn't order the Basque cheesecake, but the nice waiter brought us a sample anyway. We won't make the mistake of skipping it next time because protein-intensive diets are a lie and you should always support beautiful things, especially those teleported straight from San Sebastián.

We had a fantastic first dinner at Fat Of The Land in Santa Ana. The restaurant has a great, intimate vibe...and it was easy to park. Our party of four loved the sharing-style menu--the bread with Ham Butter and the Iberico pork were both incredible highlights. The staff was knowledgeable, providing spot-on recommendations and a truly personal experience. We'll definitely be back.

I don't know how they topped themselves from last time, but they did. We arrived 15 minutes early for our reservation, but we were seated right away. Service staff was friendly and attentive, we never felt rushed, and my water glass was never empty for long. PORK LIVER PATE: 4/5. Served with a fig and olive tapenade that complemented each other beautifully. BURRATA: 5/5. The snap peas and mint were an unexpected combo, but it was delicious in a way that was so addictive. Ruined my diet, and I have no regrets. GALACTIAN OCTOPUS: 5/5. The closest I have come in recent days to what I think some people would call a religious experience. The texture was like silky pork belly. BRAISED MUSHROOMS: 5/5. Comes with an onsen egg that you break and mix into a sauce. The mushrooms are an homage to umami, elevated by the tart chimichurri. STEAK TARTARE: 4/5. A flavor adventure, this one. Starts with an herbaceous edge from the caperberries, punctuated with the sharp parmesan, and rounds out with the fatty beef. PIQUILLO PEPPERS: 5/5. A sleeper hit for me. Stuffed with an herby, savory pork, served on top of fennel for that subtly refreshing cut. POLLO EN BRAVAS: 5/5. You know the chicken you see in anime, the one that sparkles and gets sucked off the bone in a single bite? This is the real life equivalent. Impossibly tender and cooked in the most comforting sauce. RACK OF PORK: 5/5. After one bite, I asked out loud to no one in particular, "What's in this sauce?!" and my friend immediately responded, "Heaven." And I think that pretty much sums it up.

Free parking can be a bit challenging if you don't get one of few spots on the side or back of the restaurant. The restaurant is located in an unassuming plaza. There are signs but it can be hard to locate from the street. The inside of the restaurant is very small. There is a bar area and a few tables. It's not ideal for a large party. The food is served on plates that are on the smaller side. I came with four others and depending on the dish, we didn't get much more than a piece each. We ordered the bread, beef tartare, shrimp, octopus, anchovies, and chicken. The shrimp and octopus were great. The rest of the dishes were tasty but not as good as the seafood. The bread comes with a hand butter that's interesting. It reminded me more of a tuna flavor than ham. Service was good. We were checked on often and our waters were always refilled.

Food: My wife and I aren't very familiar with tapas, and while we enjoyed the dishes, nothing was really memorable. We ordered the sausage piquillo peppers, shrimp gambas, beef tartare, and the Basque cheesecake. Our favorite was definitely the pepper and sausage dish; the others didn't quite stand out. For the portions provided, I feel the pricing could be adjusted a bit (lowered). While I like that the menu is simple, the limited options are a bit of a downside, though understandable given the small size of the restaurant. Service: Great service. Our server was a true gentleman who gave a solid wine recommendation and ensured our water was refilled promptly. He was the one who welcomed and sat us down as well. Ambiance: Excellent ambiance. It is a very tiny place but super cozy. It's a perfect date night spot if you aren't craving a heavy meal. Conclusion: I would go back if they update the menu in the future, but I don't think I would visit again anytime soon.

I had to go try the only spot in OC that made the 2026 Yelp Top 100, and what better day to do so than on Valentine's Day. It's an intimate spot and the decor is fabulous. The owner, Robert, runs the restaurant with his wife, and they are such a sweet couple. They were so welcoming and it felt like you were a guest in their home. From start to finish, the service was excellent. We started with bread (of course) that is served with their ham butter. I recommend also ordering their Apero Plate along with the bread. We spread the ham butter on the bread and topped it with everything that was on the board: the chorizo, manchego cheese, peppers, tiny pickles, and what I think was some sort of sweet spread or jam. The flavors were fantastic! My husband really liked their sangria and I had an iced tea that was delicious. My husband had the galacian octopus. It was cooked perfectly, not chewy or tough at all. The green sauce had a nice acidity to it that kept it fresh, and the orange sauce was warm and smokey. We shared the pollo en bravas, which was also delicious. Their only dessert is the basque cheesecake, and with good reason. It's perfection! We had it with their French press coffee, and it was a great way to end the night.

We came here to find out what the hype was about since it's highly rated. We had anticipation walking in the doors reading the reviews they were right about it being a very small restaurant it's just a few tables inside. Our server was sweet and answered any questions we had. We tried five items; cantabrian anchovies, Galician octopus, gambas Al ajillo, braised mushrooms and the Basque cheesecake. The anchovies were delicious and actually tasty with the piquillo pepper being a very nice touch. Anchovies is one of the things we miss from Spain and it hit the spot however $16 for five pieces of anchovies just seemed like a stretch for me. The Galician octopus was good had lots of flavors it did have a bit of fatty pieces yet was presented beautifully but again, $35 for what we had as a tapa was priced high. $35 is almost an entree price and splitting it with another guest wasn't filling. Braised mushrooms seemed like a unique option to try but it was the most let down item of the night. I know there was an onsen egg on top for that creamy silky texture but it was missing all of that. The yolk was watery really runny and not silky at all and the concept of the dish didn't make sense to us. The flavor profile was sour I know this must be a fusion dish but it wasn't really Spanish at all. I would not recommend it was priced at $19 felt like such a waste for just mushrooms and one egg. Gambas al ajillo was next and decently surprised it was at least 5-6 shrimps since other tapas place usually give three/ smaller portions. This one seemed reasonably on board with the price compared to other tapas locations. The shrimp was good but not super flavorful. The shrimp was tender and cooked quite well. The basque cheesecake was awesome not overly sweet. The service I will say was very nice and she was great and always kept waters refilled for us. Overall, I think this place just has too high of prices compared to what is being presented. The prices and food don't seem to quite match. We love Spanish food and are always willing to try new spots but don't think this is a place we'd revisit. We don't mind paying for prices just found it underwhelming. I hope all the best for them!

Valentine's Day dinner at Fat of the Land was outstanding. This European tapas bar is cozy, charming, and very intimate. My initial judgment after watching videos of this spot was that it might have a pretentious vibe, but I was definitely wrong. Robert and his wife are so friendly and made us feel so welcome. For drinks, we tried the white port + tonic, Negroni, and the Adonis. I loved my white port -- it was light, lemony, and refreshing. My husband was a big fan of the Adonis but didn't like the Negroni as much. Steak tartare 4/5 -- Best bang for your buck. The steak was seasoned well, and it was generously heaped onto the bread. Loved all the different textures of the capers and shredded cheese. Rack of pork 1000/5 -- Absolutely the star of the show. Easily the best pork I've ever had. It was tender, juicy, and extremely flavorful. The sauce is slightly sweet, and the onions were caramelized perfectly. Delicious. Basque cheesecake 5/5 -- Light, airy, and fluffy. This cheesecake was sooo addicting. The best way to end our meal.

It was our first time and we were welcomed by the owner and his wife. They were very pleasant to talk with and recommended us a few things. First ofd, their cocktails were so good. My favorite had to be the white port + tonic. I got two of those. My wife especially enjoyed the sangria. The food was also super delicious. Their octopus, steak tartar, seasonal salad and the rack of pork was amazing. My favorite had to be the rack of pork as they sous vide it, finish it in the oven wne torch it for amazing flavor. We were so full by the end of dinner. Definitely a must try.

Had to try this spot as it's been the latest buzz in OC. We were greeted and seated by the owner who introduced himself and his wife, who was serving the table next to us. Love the hospitality! Our party of 4 ordered pretty much ordered half of what was on the menu. Our favorites- burrata, steak tartar, octopus, garlic shrimp, and peppers. Dishes that didn't stand out- pollo en bravas (overpriced for what it was), pate (mild flavor), and bread and butter (not for $8). Wish they provided bread for the burrata and pate instead of charging us for it. Drinks were nice, they even offered samples of their wine but I do wish they served hard liquor cocktails. Overall, the experience was great. Go with friends so you can try multiple items on the menu.

Have bookmarked Fat of the Land for a couple of months now and after seeing them land the 19th spot on Yelp's "Top 100 Places to Eat" last Friday, I quickly tried to make a reservation for Saturday -- and wow, they deserve every bit of that spotlight. The food is bold, and crafted with the kind of confidence you only get from a team that knows exactly who they are. The menu offers small plates meant to be shared. We ordered: Bread and Ham Butter, Cantabrian Anchovies, Gambas al Ajillo & Pollo en Bravas. Every dish was layered with flavors, and beautiful textures. You can taste the pride in every bite! We enjoyed the experience and the warm service. The vibe is just as memorable -- warm, lively, and full of the kind of hospitality that makes you feel like you're part of the neighborhood even if it's your first visit. The owner Robert and his wife Iris took care of all the guests like members of their own family. The staff carries that Top 100 energy with humility and joy, and it shows. Reservations are highly recommended (on Yelp) as there are only 4 tables for 4, 2 tables for 2 and 8 seats at the bar. There's FREE guest parking on the side of the building.

I can't say enough nice things about Fat of the Land. The food? Delicious. Atmosphere? Immersive. Service? Impeccable. Everything about this experience was 5-stars, making it no surprise that this small biz landed a spot on Yelp's Top 100. I didn't know exactly what to expect out of each dish, but every item exceeded my expectations. Exploring the uniquely curated flavor profile of every dish truly creates a culinary adventure. We ordered the meal family style and shared a number of tapas. My choices included the bread and ham butter, seasonal veggies, braised mushroom, pollos en bravas, and a basque cheesecake slice. My favorites were easily the ham butter and seasonal veggies! The fresh bread was so tasty and I can't stop thinking of this pork infused butter. Service wise, Sam was so incredibly thoughtful throughout our meal. Offering menu recommendations and sharing birthday wishes. Since the space is intimate and cozy, offering less than 10 tables, you'll want to be sure to book a reservation in advance.

RESERVATIONS ARE A MUST: There's a reason this restaurant has almost 5 stars! It's been a while since I've been out for dinner and enjoyed every single plate I tried. FOTL focuses on small plates, tapas and they do it very well. From the Burrata to the stuffed peppers, everything was layered with flavors and textures perfectly. Not a large drink selection but what they do have pairs beautifully. It's a very small place, 25ish people max. We sat at the bar and watched the open kitchen concept. The service was very knowledgeable and friendly. Chill vibes with a moody, almost gothic decor. Loved everything about it and I know for sure we'll be back to try everything else we didn't this time.

Hubby and I stumbled upon this gem after a toy drive down the street. So glad they had a couple of open seats because this place is super cozy and intimate! They completely transformed what used to be a Subway sandwich spot into a scene in Alice in Wonderland with black walls, pink florals, and gold framed mirrors that give an illusive effect. Robert, the owner, greeted us as soon as we entered the door and sat us at the bar, which seats about 6. I felt as if he was welcoming us into his home. He let us try a couple wines before making our decision as he shared that he used to be a photographer and spent much of his career traveling, particularly in Spain. Through his experience, he wanted to bring the flavors and essence here, which he's successfully done with his team. They offer some enticing tapas, hearty entrees, European wine, soju-based cocktails and a delicious basque cheesecake for dessert. We tried: Apple Pear Frisée Salad ($17) with Serrano ham and a light champagne vinaigrette - a good amount of ham with every contrasting and textured bite. Pollo en Bravas ($30)- the juiciest, flavorful Jidori chicken that fell off the bone. The gigante beans and queen olives paired well with the chicken and was truly outstanding. Galician Octopus ($32)- generous portion, great for sharing and I loved the romesco sauce and mojo vinaigrette it came with. Robert claims to have the best basque cheesecake in the area and it did not disappoint! It's amazing to see how they execute these dishes with a small kitchen. Their antique dishware adds to the eclectic home feel too. Reservations are strongly recommended! Plenty of metered street parking and structures in the area.

Overall 4 stars for the food but gave it a 5 because of the staff! Walked in without a res and while contemplating if we should say, the waiter came over and offered us a glass of wine. We didn't get seated until 45 min later, but they kept coming over to check up on us. Both the server and waiter were very informative of the dishes. Though they ran out of pate, they suggested the burrata and even comped our cheesecake. Overall great experience, but it made it more so because of the excellent service! Octopus 5/5 Burrata 4/5 -I wanted more honey or something on top Apple pear salad 5/5 Tartar 3/5 -had a heavy olive taste which wasn't to my liking Cheesecake 4/5 (not pictured)

What a gem this restaurant is! Small and intimate restaurant with tapas style dishes. We didn't have one bad dish! My stand outs were the anchovies, bread and butter and the super tender pork. Def Come with at least 4 people so you can order and try more dishes!

Been eyeing this spot ever since I saw it on my way in to work. The food was delicious between two of us we finished the Pollo en brava, steak tartare, bread and ham Butter and mushrooms. It was perfectly all paired with a glass of Rioja. Love Tapas made right. The service was excellent! All of this with an ambiance that was quiet, intimate and lovely We will be back

Finally got a chance to visit this spot, and would say that it lives up to the hype! Fat of the Land has its own parking lot behind the entrance, but it can get full fairly quick (there's a bunch of street parking near by). The restaurant is very cozy, dark, and moody, which makes for an intimate vibe. I'd recommend making reservations in advance because it gets busy early. Service was great - staff made sure we always had clean plates/silverware, pacing was great, and our waiter was friendly and provided us with plenty of solid recommendations. 5/5 for service and ambiance. On the food front, here's what we got: Castelvetrano Olives: These were good, no complaints. Gambas al Ajillo: This was the weakest dish without a doubt. The bread could use some char, and the shrimp could benefit from some acidity and more herbs to brighten the dish. The garlic was good and the shrimp was fresh, but it was missing something to balance it out. I'd avoid this dish. Octopus Carpaccio: Loved this, easily one of the best octopus dishes I've had in recent memory. The octopus was super tender and well prepared, and the romesco and vinaigrette complimented the dish so well. Bright flavors all around (we actually dipped the shrimp in the sauces and that definitely helped). Piquillo Peppers: I thought the octopus was going to be the highlight of the meal and these peppers stole the damn show. The pork was spiced perfectly; and the fennel salad worked so well. Literally a bite of the pepper and salad together was a perfect bite that I'll be thinking about for a while. Basque Cheesecake: Very good, though I'd personally love some fruit or acidity to cut through the richness of it. That's more-so my personal preference, but it was still very good. Overall for food I'd give it a 4/5 I think this was a fantastic 4.5/5 experience overall, but I'm rounding down to a 4 because the shrimp was such a letdown compared to everything else. Regardless, I absolutely plan to come back and try more items, because this place is great (and because I want more of those peppers). Definitely give this place a try!

Amazing place. Great wine selection, amazing service and dishes are fantastic! Highly recommend!

Made reservations for 4pm on a Saturday night and dined here with my parents and bro. The friendly owner greeted us since we were the first to arrive. We ordered about 5 tapas dishes to share and we also ordered 1 main dish to share. There was plenty of leftover food to take home since we weren't super hungry. The restaurant itself is pretty intimate and cozy. It's great for parties of 6 and under. Perfect for a date night or even 1:1 get together. Check out the photos and be amazed like we were. The food was not greasy or heavy at all. My favorite was the octopus, the stuffed peppers and the braised mushrooms. The main chicken dish was also tender and moist. Thank you, Fat Of The Land!

Wonderful and intimate ambience, delicious food. Great date night. Best for smaller groups. Owners are wonderful people and front and center. Feels like something you wouldn't normally find in OC, a hole in the wall in Europe or San Francisco or down a random alley in Tokyo.

Saw yelps top 100 in the United States This restaurant was number 19 nationally OMG one of a kind you're not going to find a place like this in every city great reason to visit Santa Ana Tapas style dining; I ordered just about everything on the menu literally, There were five of us and it was such a great time. I remember the pork was world class anchovies like nothing I've ever seen before; wow Burratta as good as you'll find anywhere A Frisée salad I think with pear that was superb; So fresh very farm to table feel Great great wine from Spain Everything was amazing. Sam was a great, great representative. Wonderful service and his backup lead was very friendly and warm, I think his name was Lee Going back tonight at 4 o'clock with my lovely wife for an early Valentines dinner Look forward to meeting the owners ; great story about how they built this place that Sam shared Do yourself a favor make a reservation and enjoy a very creative experience with someone you love Anytime anyone comes to town moving forward I'm taking them to the one of the best restaurants in Orange County : fat of the land

Saw this spot pop up about a year ago here and there. Had this on my to do list for a little while and took the last rsvp available which was pretty much an early dinner. I walk in and found the cutest interior design so unexpected given where it sits right off Main Street. The moment you enter you feel its coziness the hospitality and feel like you're in a little restaurant in Spain. From start to finish tapas were delicious. The baguette with ham butter, frisée pear salad, garlic gamba, iberico board paired with the best fine manchego and basque cheese cake were all just superb. To cap it off with a vermouth cocktail feels like a little slice of Spain. Plan to return to taste the rest of the menu. More important being raised in Santa Ana feels great to go back recently to support many of the local businesses popping back up! The epitome of don't judge a book by its cover

It's a good date night spot because it's intimate and you can talk to your date without shouting. I went with a friend who loves food just as much as me. The octopus was really worth every penny! We also got the shrimp dish and the stuffed pepper dish.... both were equally outstanding!!! Our glasses of water were never empty and this was ninja level service. I really enjoyed this place for the food, the service, and the ambiance. All of the above was above expectations!

Hidden gem! Such a great find in Santa Ana. We made reservations, glad we did since restaurant is very small and cozy. The ambiance is beautiful and moody. The service was attentive and friendly, able to easily banter and chat. We ordered the anchovies, octopus, steak tartare, and basque cheesecake. Holy moly. The anchovies were perfect, not fishy, super tender and delicious. Highly recommend it. The octopus was super flavorful and tender, not chewy at all. The steak tartare was really good, great flavors. The basque cheesecake was creamy and light. Wine selection was good, great pairing recommendations from the server. Highly recommend this spot!

Went to Fat of the Land last night and was blown away! We started with the bread and ham butter, then tried the Bellota de Ibérico, Cantabrian anchovies, piquillo peppers, gambas al ajillo, and octopus carpaccio every single dish was flavorful and perfectly prepared. The ambience is cozy and intimate, making it a great date night spot or a girls' night out destination if you're looking to enjoy amazing food with some good wine or beer. Our server was fantastic and even surprised us with a complimentary Basque cheesecake, which was absolutely delicious. The only small downside is that parking is limited, so plan accordingly but trust me, it's worth it. I highly recommend this place for anyone who loves thoughtful, well-executed Spanish dishes and a warm, welcoming vibe.

Every dish felt special and presented different flavors which we hadn't tried before, from the little pickled peppers served with the Iberico ham to the crunchy fennel slaw paired with the smoky stuffed guajillo peppers. The seasonal veggies were colorful and crunchy (just the way I like them) with the exception of the squash. The meat stuffed into the peppers was so tender and the bite of the fennel slaw provided a nice contrast. My favorite dish was the burrata because I really enjoyed the warmth and flavor that the autumn spices added to the pepitas and squash. We also ordered the bread and ham butter, which were good but stood out the least among the other items we tried. Really enjoyed the sangria and a nice red wine which Robert recommended to us. No outstanding comments about the service. It's a smaller restaurant and there will definitely be "noise pollution" from other tables, but nothing serious that would get in the way of anyone having a good time. :)

Four friends had an amazing dinner at this small, charming, warm and welcoming restaurant. The variety of menu items was extensive. We ordered many items to share. Each item was picture perfect and delicious. My guest from Spain assured us that the food was authentic. This is a gem of a restaurant for special occasions. Nice wine selection. Everyone wanted to return for another dinner.

Randomly walked in on a Friday night at "Fat of the Land". I've been meaning to try this gem every since it got converted from Subway. The space is small and feels intimate. Highly recommend reservations even on weekdays as they only have about 5 or 6 'four top' tables and a small table for two. Theres also a bar that has about 7 or 8 spots. The menu is small but curated carefuly and intentionally chef driven. I decided on the Jidori Chicken, Anchovies, Cheesecake, and a bottle of Wine. Everything was exceptional - the cheesecake was nothing short of being out of this world. Best Cheesecake Ive had so far!

Wao, I can't think of a single thing they need to improve on. Wine was great; every bite of food was a unique flavor bomb; service was great, the vibe is vintage with a hint of eccentricity. We ordered the octopus, stone fruit salad, and stuffed peppers. Everything was amazing. The octopus was the most tender octopus I've had, but the star of the dish was the divorciado sauce. The stone fruit salad with ricotta was light, sweet, and herby. My favorite was the stuffed peppers. I don't really know how to describe the flavors but the filling was full of unique spices. It kinda reminds me of the Vietnamese grilled beef in grape leaves. I asked for a wine that's similar to a Cabernet and the owner recommended just the right one. We concluded our wonderful dinner and anniversary celebration with the best basque cheesecake.

Bread + ham butter 2/5 This dish was a very one dimensional to me and didn't have much going on for it. I thought the butter needed more depth to it with more salt or a sweet element. Bread wasn't anything outstanding as they just slice the loaf and put it in a toaster from what I saw. Gambas 2/5 Classic tapas staple and nothing extraordinary here. Nice juicy well cooked shrimp, with pretty normal flavors as any other Gambas. Braised mushrooms 4/5 Really enjoyed this dish. Great medly of textures from the assortment of diced/chopped/whole mushrooms. The onsen egg gave it a bit more body too. Pork rack 10/5 If you don't get this dish you're doing a disservice to yourself. It's worth the splurge if you can get it because the flavor and texture is out of the world. The onions complement the pork so well and it's just an ephemeral experience to eat this. The whole restaurant is very charming and intimate. Service is on point, with water always refilled, and never felt I had to ask for anything proactively. Great anniversary spot.

Found this place through a friend as we were celebrating a milestone. Small restaurant, but quaint. Staff were friendly and attentive and I can't stop raving about the food to others. The tapas style was great for our table of 4 and we got to try so many things. Delicious all around and would totally come back again.

Trendy, fun vibes and tasty food await you in this tiny tapas bar. My friend made a reservation for 3 on a Sat night, which was perfect for this cozy spot. There were a few tables of 2-4 and 6-seats (approx) at the bar. It was lovely sitting at the end of the bar and chatting a little bit with the owner, who apparently plays Magic the Gathering. Although we did not have drinks, they have quite the selection of wines, beer, and more. The mocktail was refreshing and enjoyable. Tapas were fun and high-quality, with various cheese and meat options. My favorite dishes were the stuffed peppers and stone fruit salad--both with amazing combinations of textures and flavors. I rarely eat fennel, so that was a fancy touch under the peppers. My only amateur criticism is that the food felt overall too salty. Caveat: I usually prefer light salt. Overall a high-quality experience and would recommend to tapas lovers or as a nice date/friend spot.

Man... I don't even know where to start. Reading the other reviews, it makes me wonder if we're even talking about the same restaurant here. I knew it was too good to be true to have a legit tapas bar in DTSA... Food was for the most part very disappointing. I had recently spent couple weeks in Spain and probably had unrealistic expectations when it came to tapas. Octopus carpaccio and steak tartare were mid at best, the different parts of the dish did not really gel and come together. I was really hoping the gambas would save the day but to my surprise the shrimps were undercooked! Should've said something but I noticed they were cooking for quite a while on the induction stove, I wonder if they were having issues that day. It's too bad because they were thick juicy shrimps! I didn't have the balls to order the iberico so I got the serrano and it was no bueno, like the packaged ones from the market. I did enjoy the complementary Basque cheesecake, so at least that worked out. I was so happy when I heard about this place and I live super close but I don't think I can bring myself back here.

My cousin and I are foodie buddies so for his birthday I picked a few unique spots for him to choose from and he decided on Fat of the Land. I made reservations for us on a weekday for dinner through Yelp. Reservations are not required but recommended since they have an intimate seating area and they are really popular. When we glanced at the map they are located in the Downtown Santa Ana area do we decided to come a little early to look for parking. However it was a welcomed surprise that they have a private lot for the restaurant. The interior was super cute. There were a few small tables and seating at the counter. The decor was a very warm and inviting. Chris who was the front of house staff who helped us for the evening told us how Fat of the Land is the owner Robert's passion project. This restaurant is found on his experience of exploring restaurants and bars in Spain. He even hand picks the wine selection to pair well with the menu and spends a lot of thought into this hidden gem. We really appreciated this intimate European ambiance. The menu rotated based on fresh seasonal ingredients. Shout out to Chef Van for a delicious menu and well balanced dishes. These tapas or small dishes are meant to be shared family style, which I really like. They course it out for you and will bring the lighter items out first so you can enjoy each dish and make it to the end. My cousin and I shared a bottle of wine to go with our glorious meal. We got the bottle of Priorat, Caster dels Olivers 2020 - Catalonia, Spain ($64). Chris was really nice to let us sample a tasting to make sure we liked it before opening a whole bottom. Bread + Ham Butter ($8) - Yumm! Their bread is delicious, super soft and warm inside but with a crispy exterior. The ham butter was savory and addicting. Also it really makes sense to get bread to dip into the sauce and broth of the other items. Cantabrian Anchovies ($16) - Served with piquillo peppers, shallots, lemon and parsley. Very well balanced between the salty savory taste of the anchovies and the sweet of the pepper and the tang of the lemon. A very small light light bite. This is something you get if you want to try more items but not if you like heavier more filling items. Summer Squash Salad ($19) - Super light and refreshing and a healthy pick to keep it light and fresh. The squash was cut into ribbons with manchego cheese, a light vinaigrette and sunflower seeds. So tasty! Braised Mushroom ($19) - Wow it comes with an egg yolk in the middle that you can mix in and it combines with the braised mushroom and gives it a sauce coating. Very rich and decadent. Octopus Carpaccio ($32) - The texture of this octopus was perfectly soft and easy to chew. The acidity in the sauce went very well with the octopus. We found ourselves sweeping up the sauce with our bread cause it was so tasty. Gambas al Ajillo ($21) - This is the classic shrimp with butter, garlic, chili and parsley. They give you 2 slices of bread to go with the shrimp cause theres butter sauce you can dip into and soak up into the bread. The shrimps were huge, juicy and flavorful. Basque Cheesecake (complimentary birthday dessert) - Their only dessert and a real winner. This is both of our first time trying a Basque cheesecake. It doesn't have a crust but the exterior has a caramelization and the cheesecake itself is rich and creamy like a custard. What a feast!! My cousin and I enjoyed all of the food we orders and of course the wine too. Service was on point, even as they got busy. I could feel that Chris really cared that we enjoyed our experience. We would definitely want to come back to try out more of their menu. Until next time!

Fantastic tiny spot. It popped up in my Yelp feed and looked interesting, so I grabbed a reservation and my wife and I checked it out. As I said, it is a tiny spot. 6 tables (+/- 1) plus a counter. It isn't crowded, just small. The menu is also small, but everything we had that night was excellent. The olives were... olives. The bread was very good. The steak tartar was really tasty. The chicken was fantastic. Mushrooms were yummy. It was all good, very good. We also picked up a bottle of wine, which was also... yummy.

Someone canceled so I got a table last night the vibe in this place is cool, love the decor and great music ... started with bread basket and the tastiest ham or meat butter ??? Gambas al ajillo yum! The octopus most tender and tastiest! And the basque cheesecake like biting into a cloud defffff coming back thanks to our server for his recommendations

I've been wanting to go for a long time and saw an insta post where they'd made yelp's top 100 places to eat list so had to go. Had a reservation for last night for 4. Loved the vibe. The restaurant is small and it could have been super loud but somehow it wasn't. The service was great. Sam sat us and waited on us. The cocktails and food were great. We sampled the Yuste Pedro and Alessio vermouth, the White Port +Tonic and a delicious red wine whose name escapes me. We had the Apero Plate, Bread and Ham butter, Gambas Al Ajillo, Braised Mushroom, Piquillo Peppers and Pollo en Bravas. The presentation was lovely. The garlic in the shrimp was subtle yet delicious (I put way more garlic in mine). The braised mushroom was like nothing we'd tasted. It was out of this world. The piquillo peppers were just yum. The chicken was tender and flavorful. For us our favorites were the braised mushroom and piquillo peppers. Would definitely make a reservation as the place is intimate enough that every seat was full from when we got there until after we left. So glad we finally went. We will definitely be going back. I'd love to sit at the bar when it's not too busy and watch the action. It was wonderful absolutely worth every penny.

Looking for an intimate tapas bar with curate wine selection? You're at the right place! I had: 1. Castelvetrano olives 2. Bread + ham butter 3. Apero plate - soria chorizo, manchego cheese, accoutrements 4. Burrata - Snap Peas, Serrano Ham, Mint Oil 5. Piquillo Peppers 6. Iberian pork 7. Gambas al Ajillo - Shrimp, Garlic, Chili, Parsley 8. Steak Tartare - Multigrain bread, Capers, Parmesan, Shallot

This is a cute little restaurant serving tapa style, we had a reservation and was seated right away. The food portion of the menu was actually pretty small selection, so we followed our waiters suggestion to order 2-3 from each category with a few glasses of wine. To our pleasant surprise, their tapa portion was very generous, we got the beef tartar, octopus and a pear salad, thinking later on we can place a second order for the hot portion of the food category. Well, we never got there as we were so full between the two of us. So probably would have to come back to try other stuff. The only thing was that we came here to celebrate a birthday, it was nice that they comp us a slice of dessert. But we noticed all the other birthday tables got a candle on top and they simply forgot about our table despite knowing we came here for a birthday, so the service portion just fell slightly short on that. Otherwise, we would still come back to try other food when we get a chance next time.

In a very unassuming corner of Santa Ana sits this delicious cute and intimate restaurant. There's a small lot behind it as well as street parking nearby. I love the decor inside and the staff were very attentive and kind. I got their sangria and would definitely recommend that of you're having trouble deciding between wines. I'd recommend a group of 6 at largest. We got their steak tartar, octopus carpaccio and a mushroom dish that I forgot the name of. All of them were delicious though and I'd definitely come back. Overall, it's a great date night spot or a good catchup between a small friend group.

The parking lot is tiny -- narrow and cramped. It's not exactly a good feeling to park and watch the car next to you get towed right before you walk into the restaurant. The bar is tiny, the tables are spacious, but the room is far too dark. Dozens of thick gold-framed mirrors hang around, reflecting shadows instead of light -- giving the space a mystic, almost creepy vibe. It aims for fancy and intimate, but lands somewhere between haunted and heavy. The owner has the charm of a car salesman -- performative service, quick reactions, friendly on the surface but hardly attentive. He listens just long enough to hand you samples and push a sale, but the moment you mention a flaw, he brushes it off and still charges full price with a grin. Plating looks cute, and food pacing is on time. The wine list is solid, but the second pour is noticeably smaller than the first. They don't measure -- they just pour freely, which makes each glass look inconsistent. Every dish arrives lukewarm, sitting awkwardly between room temperature and "just cooked." The prawn is practically raw -- likely just blanched and topped with garlic and oil. The entire dish is drenched in vegetable oil with no depth of flavor; all the taste sits in the garlic. Even worse, the bowl is cold, not sizzling hot as proper tapas should be. The green mazzetta olives are nice, but they're mixed with overly salted yellow ones. Anchovies are clean but tough to lift, like the bland, lukewarm shrimp and mushrooms that follow. The egg looks beautiful but tastes like nothing. The cheesecake has a lovely fluffy edge but is soggy in the center and cloyingly sweet. Two snacks, three lukewarm small plates, three cheap wines, and people vaping around you -- even in the restroom and right in front of the owner, who does nothing to stop it. $200 later, it's just another heavily Instagram-hyped spot.

This quaint restaurant was pleasant experience! Parking was no issue, but we did have an earlier reservation (5:45). The lot was packed when we left. We were not rushed from dinner even when folks were waiting to be seated which I appreciated! When arrived, we were quickly greeted by the owner and he was quick with recommendations for wine and food. Our water cup was always filled! It's a tad chilly inside so bring sweater if you're cold easily. Noise level is med high as everyone is enjoying themselves and music is playing in the background. Out of the dishes we ordered, I'd highly recommend the steak tartare! And the rack of pork was very good. Did think the price was steep on the pork but still good to try. Cheesecake was fluffy and light! Overall, would recommend folks to give this place a try!

We had brunch and we tried a variety of different items. Nothing disappointment and each item was well made and tasted delicious. We originally were concerned with getting the anchovies, but that dish turned out to be one of our favorites of the brunch. We paired the meal with their Red Sangria and the Sangria was so good, we ordered another round. We wrapped up our meal with their Orange Cream French Toast and it was hefty and rich. Definitely a dish to share. I will definitely be returning to Fat of the Land to try their dinner menu.

Great ambience and excellent service. Perfect for a date night setting. Food was unique and delicious! Will definitely be back again!

Our experience was very pleasant. Truly the best sangria, excellent tapas, wonderful ambiance, and Sam was the perfect cherry on top. Exceptional service and genuine kindness throughout the evening.

Hate to ruin your 5 stars but Sam really cold Octopus! I would chat with your customer in the future and let them know the $35 dinner meal is cold. Chef said that's the correct temperature and you handed my meal back to me! Maybe you could have asked me if I would like something else. I am sure you noticed I asked for my bill and had more than 3/4 of my meal left. I paid you in full and didn't ask you for anything and tipped you over 20% so you can't say I wanted anything. Would not recommend this place dark tiny and fair service. My guess is my experience isn't normal but I definitely would never go back.

This is such a hidden gem in Santa Ana! I've worked around here for years and never realized it was here because it's not very obvious when you're walking by. The food was so delicious. Out favorites were the burrata, ibérico ham, and piquillo peppers, but everything else was really good too. The basque cheesecake was amazing. The ambience was also lovely. I really felt like I was transported to Spain. It's a lovely little intimate space but it didn't feel too loud despite everyone talking too. Overall lovely experience for a date night (as long as you're okay with the higher end prices).

It was a beautifully detailed small restaurant. Staff was super friendly met the owner and his wife which were absolutely so kind and lovely. Got dressed up to celebrate my friends birthday and it did not disappoint such a vibe. The food was not only visually beautiful but delicious. Stand out things were the octopus and braised mushroom and the basque cheesecake was literally so good

Had a great time celebrating Mother's Day at Fat of The Land! Fat of The Land is a cozy restaurant serving delicious Spanish food in Santa Ana. We ordered a handful of dishes and shared it amongst ourselves. All the food was well executed and tasted great. The service that we received was on the caliber of a Michelin star restaurant. For dessert we ordered the basque cheesecake. The cheesecake was AMAZING! I have such great appreciation for the cheesecake because I've made basque cheesecake at home before, and it wasn't anywhere near as enjoyable to eat as the one at Fat of The Land. I'll definitely be back. We had an amazing experience, it was the perfect way to celebrate Mother's Day.