Native Son OC

Simply an incredible place. The music they play is great, and the beer truly impressed us — we really appreciate a good beer. The cheese fries and the chicken were absolutely delicious! We’re from Florida, and we can definitely say we’ll be coming back!

It's an adequate place for a quick bite and a drink but nothing more. The wine is stale and food offerings are limited and not delicious. Service was fine though far too familiar with each other, not professional and doing the minimum. You need to take stairs to reach it. They do have an outside rooftop hangout with fire.

Don’t freely give 5star great reviews - but my family and I love this rooftop bar and restaurant. They have delicious craft cocktails, 20+ craft beer rotating handles and they brew their own beer, brewery is in DTLA! Try their Mexican lager El dojo or IPA circle boy! They have monthly food specials with pasta, burgers, chicken sandwiches, cheese plates, crab cakes, BLT’s, grilled cheese, and burritos with “pig sauce”! Their kitchen is full of creative items. Their Saturday and Sunday brunch is fire and open around 10am. Attentive staff, friendly and knowledgeable. Bottomless mimosas and brunch cocktails. Friendly chill vibes during the week and lively community on Friday and Saturday evenings. They also have fun events and all you can eat BBQs during the holidays: Labor Day, 4th of July and Memorial Day. Safe, family friendly, and enjoyable. Live music and DJ’s on weekends. Don’t walk, run! Love this bar.

I love it her since I first discovered it years back. They have a vast variety of ipa and hazy beer. The view is great to drink and vibe. My favorite thing to do is drink and watch how many cars blow through the stop sign in front of the place. Also their fries are good.

Great restaurant. Great patio. Perfect setting to highlight both the Orange County beer culture and the gentrification of Santa Ana. There is a wide selection of interesting beers on tap. Most are from Southern California. Another interesting feature is the attached BBQ -- famous for its smoked wings. Sweet patio -- with benches that appear to have been made from recycled stadium bleachers -- overlooks the downtown area . It's well-heated for those cold nights. We will return here.

Native Son in DTSA is a great, central rooftop location. There is a great selection of craft brews on tap. The rooftop space is predominately outdoors. It can be nearly standing room only Friday and Saturday nights. They serve a couple of awesome big burgers here. I highly recommend the "Santa Ana Burger". There are a range of vibes at Native Son, depending on the day, time, event, DJ, or band. I most enjoy a beer and burger with a view during off-peak times -- afternoons (especially for sunsets with a full moonrise).

Overlooking the downtown area, this rooftop bar is probably gunna be a favorite spot of mine for happy hours. They have a lot of brewskis to choose from although it's only 1-2 bucks off, happy hour from 4-6 is always a vibe. So come hang out, enjoy the views, order some fries while you're at it. Fries: Get! For $7, they give you A LOT. However, it's loaded with seasoning and salt so... be prepared to order some more beers and stay awhile lol. Parking is over at a nearby structure and after hanging out for a few hours I only had to pay like a dollar so it was 100% worth it. On colder days there's heat lamps outside too so that's nice but you'll still wanna bring a jacket.

Native sons is a cool place to grab a beer or cocktail. They have a nice rooftop patio, a full bar, and indoor seating as well. Service is always good. Staff is friendly.

I've been coming to Native Son for brunch with my friends for years! The food never disappoints and I can't even finish the breakfast burrito... it's my go to always with the salsa. Had a cup of coffee on a cold Sunday morning. Bottomless mimosas a must and fun for celebration's birthdays etc. We always grab seating outdoors or the large family table. We go early and at times no wait. Music is a vibe too! They also sell beer and cocktails so tons of drink options. Also they used to sell large chocolate chip cookies... yummy! Not sure if they still do but can't wait for another Sunday Funday here.

I had a really bad experience with this place. I can't speak to the food or drinks, but the lack of professionalism with management is extremely frustrating. I was planning an after-party here and had everything pretty much confirmed with the previous manager. Once he left, the new management became completely unresponsive. I called multiple times, left messages, wrote emails, and even came in person multiple times to speak with staff, all in an attempt to reach the manager or owner -- with no response. I was relying on this location and ended up having to scramble at the last minute to find another spot, which was incredibly stressful and completely avoidable. While I eventually found a much better place for the after-party, this was one of the most frustrating and unprofessional experiences I've had to deal with. I don't write negative reviews lightly, but management and ownership say a lot about a business, and this experience was incredibly frustrating and left a very poor taste in my mouth. I can only assume this reflects how they run things as a whole, and I definitely would not recommend planning any kind of event here.

AVOID this place!! Unless getting ripped off is your thing. Posted price is not what they charge! My beer was posted at $7.43. We ordered 2 and was charged $20. Plus I gave a $2 tip. Looking back, the rude bartender didn't ring us up, didn't give us a receipt. Told us it was $20, we gave her $22. Watched her put the $20 under the cash drawer of the register. Will the owners of the place ever see that cash or was it pocketed? No trace of it. After finishing our beers I returned to the counter to inquire about how they were $20 and thats when I was told about the 10% charge. 10% living wage charge. WTH??!! Do the math! That doesn't even add up!! 10% is 0.74! The place is a money-grabbing racket. Poor business practice for sure. Won't be back and wouldn't recommend the place! SPEND YOUR HARD-EARNED MONEY ELSEWHERE!

A chill spot with drinks that aren't overly pricey and taste great. Well balanced and not overly sweet. The music isn't so damn loud no one can talk. Love that it's above The Frida. Can watch a movie after lol. Hope to come again and be outside on the balcony.

I have been a fan of Native Son for years now and although I'm not what you would call a regular I go through periods where I frequent often because the atmosphere is fun and welcoming, and their rooftop patio is perfect during the summer (4th of July Party is fun!) and they have great beer/cocktail selections plus their food is decent considering they are a bar. Last night was different though, we walked in and ordered a pitcher. The bartender wasn't necessarily rude but he also wasn't welcoming, while I was processing payment I noticed they implemented a "10% service charge applied to provide our staff with a living wage" Cool I'm all for fair wages and still tipped 20%. As we were enjoying our first glass we got a "15-minute warning" that they'll be closing from the bartender. So we try to hurry with the first beer and pour the second glass. Then we get the "5 min warning" so here we are chugging our $40 pitcher in 15 minutes while getting warnings like we are school kids during recess. A heads-up while we were ordering would've been nice. Not the experience I am used to and it just left a sour taste in my mouth. Unfortunately I will not be back.

Parking available in structure or meters on street. Go upstairs for a beautiful rooftop experience. Friendly bartenders that will make your evening special. Come for the view, ambiance, and fun!

WARNING: service charge at the bar and they do NOT inform you about it Headed over for a night out celebrating a friend's accomplishment. I bought a round of shots and cocktails for our group. They do not show you the tab/break down of your order, only charge your card and show you the total+tip screen of the tablets when you close out. THEY ADD A 10% AUTOMATIC SERVICE CHARGE, with no heads up or receipt before payment. Luckily, I texted myself the breakdown of my bill after so that's how I found out. Super super sketchy and unethical way to go about tips, I'm more than happy to pay a service charge (I understand, i'm a server) -- but to strategically take advantage of people who have had a few drinks in does not land well with me.

First time checking out this spot, I went on a weeknight. It's located upstairs with outdoor seating and a good selection of beers. The bartender was new but very friendly. Parking was convenient; I used the nearby structure and the first hour was free. The ambiance is chill and relaxed. I was in the mood for a cocktail instead of a beer, so I tried their seasonal white sangria. It wasn't good, the menu listed brandy, but it had a smoky mezcal-like taste. The bartender wasn't sure since he was new. I mentioned it to another employee who suggested I try the Yuzu Collins, and that drink was great. I didn't try their food, just had two cocktails. My total was $34.34. One thing to note, there's a 10% service charge, and my friend (who ordered food) noticed an additional "delivery fee." On top of that, when closing my tab, it listed a recommended 20% tip, which feels excessive considering the service was limited. The bar was understaffed, with one new bartender handling everything on a weeknight. I understand small businesses add service fees, but between the delivery fee and high tip recommendations, it adds up. The owner may want to reevaluate these charges. Overall, it's a nice atmosphere and friendly staff, but the fees and inconsistency in drinks make me unsure if I would return.

how the native son fries had me. thank you to the puerto rican working there for recommending them

this place is RAD. rooftop bar with a fire-pit, all kinds of craft beer, ciders and seltzers; avant-guarde cocktail program, great service, specials, local sports on the TVs - sometimes soccer - DJs on the weekend, beautiful people, local fare fried in beef tallow. they charge a service fee but you can always opt out (just let your server know at close out). this is hands down the best bar in Santa Ana!

Don't waste your time coming here. The service is terrible. There were about five bartenders behind the bar, but only one was actually helping customers. The rest were just standing around and wouldn't serve anyone unless you got in a long line. I was sitting right at the bar and asked one of them (a male bartender, maybe late 20s) if he could help, and he told me to "get in line." It ended up taking me about 15 minutes just to get one drink. Super unorganized and not worth the wait.

We came here to try their OC Restaurant Week menu items and we were pleasantly surprised. We originally saw this place a few years ago during Taste of Santa Ana. I believe they were servings burgers or something outside, but by the time we had passed by, they had ran out! We had not returned since, but after we saw their menu for Restaurant Week, we decided to give it a try, as we were in the area. For $65, we got the following: Queso Fundido: The chips were very well seasoned. It paired well with the queso and it seemed to taste like pizza! Braised Short Ribs: This came on a bed of mashed potatoes and gravy along with some broccolini. I would have to say that this was pretty good for the price. I have had better, but I did like how much sauce came with it over the gravy, as some places it is a bit lackluster. Flan: This was a bit underwhelming. We asked for it to go and it was pretty small and tough. I am a fa of soft and silky flan, but this was more on the hard and bubbly. It did not have the silky texture that I love. Crawler: The can is super cute and comes in a large portion! We have not tried this yet, but we were able to choose from about 10 Native Son drafts. I am super excited about this, but it is too cute to open! 2 Cocktails of Choice: We tried the Dark Day and Golden Eye. Both were strong and well presented Overall, I really enjoyed our experience. It is downtown, so parking could be a pain, especially with the construction and road closures nearby. We walked up and did not have to wait long to order or receive our food. We were helped by Sky, who had the best energy and service. She seemed like she genuinely enjoys her job, which is something I can particularly appreciate working in the food industry. Would definitely come back to try some of their other drinks and possibly their Happy Hour Menu items!

It's an adequate place for a quick bite and a drink but nothing more. The wine is stale and food offerings are limited and not delicious. Service was fine though far too familiar with each other, not professional and doing the minimum. You need to take stairs to reach it. They do have an outside rooftop hangout with fire.

Gabe such an amazing commodity to this business, great ambiance and service!!! Will be coming back and bringing friends:)

I love native son! The drinks and staff are awesome! Except today, the lady with short hair and a costume goatee. She was beyond insufferable and rude the whole time we were there.

I came here before viewing the American Football Live in Los Angeles concert film at the Frida. And i definitely don't regret it. Staff recommended my friend and i drinks and they did not disappoint. The food was on point as well. It was quite a laidback environment and i look forward to going there again.

Just got back from Native Son and wow... this place seriously delivered. The rooftop vibes alone are worth the trip--such a cool, laid-back atmosphere with great music and an awesome view of downtown Santa Ana. I had their Nashville hot chicken sandwich and it was next level--crispy, spicy, juicy... everything you want it to be. We ordered a couple of different dishes and we ended up just sharing everything because it was all so good. The cocktails are unreal. Super creative and perfectly mixed! I had an AsomBroso tequila-based one (of course ) and it hit just right. You can tell the bartenders know what they're doing. Service was friendly and fast, even with the place being pretty packed. It just felt like a fun, easy night out with great food and drinks. 10/10 would recommend--can't wait to go back!

Overlooking the downtown area, this rooftop bar is probably gunna be a favorite spot of mine for happy hours. They have a lot of brewskis to choose from although it's only 1-2 bucks off, happy hour from 4-6 is always a vibe. So come hang out, enjoy the views, order some fries while you're at it. Fries: Get! For $7, they give you A LOT. However, it's loaded with seasoning and salt so... be prepared to order some more beers and stay awhile lol. Parking is over at a nearby structure and after hanging out for a few hours I only had to pay like a dollar so it was 100% worth it. On colder days there's heat lamps outside too so that's nice but you'll still wanna bring a jacket.

We've been coming to Native Son for years, and it's always been a fun spot, but lately, the service has gone downhill. We sat at the bar and totally understood that there was only one bartender, so we were patient. We waited about 25 minutes before being helped, which we didn't mind--what upset us was watching the bartender serve multiple people who had just walked up, even though we were clearly next. When we finally got our turn, he took our order and made our drinks, but when we closed out, he practically threw the handheld payment device at us. The whole experience felt cold and dismissive. I don't know if the culture there has shifted or if we were being discriminated against, but it was disappointing and annoying. I believe our bartender's name was Luis, not 100% sure though. Hoping this place turns things around because it used to be great. SERVICE: 1/5 we've been served by almost everyone and no one is that nice, only Jim and Brock. DRINKS: 3/5 tastes good enough PRICES: 2/5 the prices on the menu never match up with your bill, and there's an auto 10% which they used to not mention. It's confusing to know how much to tip.

Shady!! They charge a "delivery charge" for dine-in service...an additional charge...check your receipt...they will refund. The charge shows up on the printed version...print out your receipt (or just don't go).

*This review is based on brunch only* We made a reservation for brunch at 10am. We thought it was weird that they charged $5 per person (to be applied to your bill) plus a $1 service charge... odd, but we wanted the peace of mind of having a reservation. We arrived a few minutes early. By 10:05, the door to get in was still locked, so we called. Someone came down and apologized and opened up... she was our waitress throughout brunch and was incredibly friendly. Absolutely nothing bad to say about the service. We were told we could sit wherever we liked, so we chose a booth indoors because it was too hot to sit on the rooftop. After sitting, our waitress brought waters and told us that the air conditioning unit is right above out table and it leaks... we appreciated the head up so that we could move to a table we would not get water dripping on us at, but still an odd thing for a food establishment not to fix... We each ordered a mimosa to drink. It was a good ration of champagne to OJ and filled to the brim. I ordered the Native Slam (eggs, bacon, sausage, potatoes, and toast.) It was a lot of food and everything was good. My friend ordered the Santa Ana burger and enjoyed it as well. The portions are huge and anything is easy to split. They were having trouble with their reservation system, so closing our bill was a bit weird trying to make sure the $10 we had paid to reserve the table would be applied... but it ended up working out. I think overall, this place is probably more enjoyable to come have a beer on their awesome rooftop rather than brunch. It wasn't bad, it just also wasn't amazing. I do have to give big props to our server who was absolutely wonderful.

Alex was the best server! It was my first time coming to DT Santa Ana and she definitely made me feel more than welcome. Other servers tried to match the vibe but none came close! I'd definitely come back just for her. She made our work group feel right at home. Thank you Alex! We appreciate you!

Came here to celebrate my 50th birthday. Had a blast. The staff were so friendly (Brandon, Desi and Lisa)! I appreciate your hospitality with the cake etc. The night was cozy with a fire pit table and friendly smiles. Thank you!

0 stars if possible! As a REAL native of OC, born and raised in Santa Ana. Avoid this place at all cost. From leaking ceilings to employees who walk around with entitlement and judgment against Hispanic minority. Where a place that's suppose to be a judgmental free zone full of "pride"........but the reality it's the total opposite. Explains why they are doing last call at 12:40 PM.

We had a group of 10 and Alex took care of us. She s went way beyond any of our expectations and made for a super fun night! Brandon killed it too. They made us feel like we were super welcome.

we used to LOVE coming to native son for brunch. We loved the burritos it came with their house salsa and syrup, menu has definitely changed (which honestly I'm pretty bummed about the burritos because they used to be fire). Last time I was here they had servers for brunch & now you have to go up and order yourself which is okay other places are like this BUT the servers are now hella rude and dismissive AND in addition to that they charge a 10% service fee except you don't get that service anymore (the service we used to love) on top of the tip and they don't disclose the 10% "service fee" on the menu or at anytime upon arrival. We wished we knew this before tipping 20% after such horrible service ... pretty disappointing. I used to rave to all my friends and family about how amazing this place WAS sad to say this isn't the go to anymore.

After a bad experience I decided to come back and give the good Native bar a try. I have to shoutout Kennedy for being such a wonderful Bartender and keep. She was very attentive and was very respectful to my lady. That impression can go a long way. I had a few beers and a wonderful Pisco Sour. Ambiance was very nice as well. I love loved that they had a huge selection of Saint Patrick Day decorations ! Kennedy you rock !

Came here for a quick beer last night and boy did I have a great time. Bartender Brandon was very knowledgeable and accommodating. Made my night, thanks Native Son!

Nice environment - good music playing - paloma tasted great - food was typical bar'ish food. Would go back!

Nice place but low key racist homophobe vibes from the white bartender wearing a sailor hat. We asked for a few tasters of beer and his answers were short and dismissive like "well that one comes in a can...so no" Understandable. So my gf decided to just order the pint called "Open Mind" ironically lol The dude just stayed there annoyed that we were still deciding on what to order so i decided to order a taste of the same beer bc this interaction was already feeling uncomfortable. He comes back with my gfs pint only...so I asked for my taster again and he just stared at us silently and with a weird blank stare. My gf basically reiterated that I asked for a taster of the same beer at which point he finally grabbed it. I drank it and decided to not purchase a drink for myself bc why would I want to spend my money after receiving terrible service and all the ugly vibes. Gross. I hope he learns to be more open minded for his sake, he looks like a miserable dude.

keep the dippppppppppp dips are the best please dont get rid of them i come here just for the spinach dip and the sexy bartenders

Solid views, good margs. We always start the night off here. Love the roof top and relaxed vibe.

Great spot to cater to all beverage lovers. Tap list is long and rotates. They also have cans to consume on site and purchase to go. Cocktail specials and a full bar. Mimosas for brunch. More than just bar food. You can grab a meal here. It gets a little confusing with going up to the bar and having waiter service. Maybe that's a good thing. We normally start a tab at the bar and while they pick up empty glasses we'll order more. It's very easy to pay as you go as they have their mobile registers in hand. TVs inside to watch sports things. Dog friendly patio. Parking can be tricky if you're trying to avoid paying for parking. The public garage is free for two hours (double check me though).

I usually come here for brunch and I've always loved this place plus the bartenders. I recently went again and was having a great time UNTIL this bartender Alex came on shift. Every interaction with her was terrible. I had already been there for an hour and spent a lot of money on my group. We planned on staying a little longer but we couldn't take it anymore. I want to go back just not when she's there. Hopefully I'll go again maybe earlier in the am.

Friday night! I went with my boyfriend, and the DJ was great. There were fewer people than usual (surprising). The bartender wasn't very friendly to us, but it was weird that we were socializing wiht other people . We waited forever for our drinks, which almost ruined our night. After we ordered, the bartender didn't make us the drinks we were expecting.

Came here on a whim and it happened taco Tuesday! Great deal on tacos and they had vegetarian! I got two soyrizo tacos, delicious but definitely on the greasier side so not the most amazing but hey on taco Tuesday they're sooo cheap and paired with some yummy tortilla chips too. I didn't try any other food (fries for $15? No thank you) and I didn't like that they had no prices on their food menu so you had to ask. Service is super friendly. They let me try all 3 sours on tap when I had trouble deciding. The native son sour is def the most sour but I like it that way. Outdoor seating is not very optimal because they don't have all the outdoor heating lamps near where people sit so there's many tables that just get cold. Inside is open to the outdoor so not much warmer. Probably not great for nighttime in the winter months.

Last night I went in with my fiancé to grab a drink and the bartender saw my passport and said straight up you can't be in here your passports expired How?!? My passport doesn't expire till 2029 She seemed racially motivated didn't even have the time to actually look at my passport to see that the day it was given to me was the year 2019 I told her if she can look at it again and she proceeded to tell me I needed to leave the bar because my ID was expired, which it was not in fact Need to go ahead and talk to the bartender from last night and make sure she goes ahead and takes the course again to read IDs because she didn't care about checking mine to correct herself one bit Won't be coming back here

Relaxed atmosphere. Friendly staff. Quick service...and the food delish! I met up with a few friends for an impromptu chill moment. We opted to hang inside but outside with heating lamps was an awesome vibe. Will definitely return.

My go-to spot for drinks. Love the vibes and area. The food here is really good too. The burgers are way better than any fast food place. The breakfast burrito actually blows my mind. Good balance of ingredients and full of flavor. Not too dry, and not too greasy. My main downside about this spot is the lack of transparency with drink prices. I've caught some discrepancies between what is displayed on their menu and what I'm being charged. I was paying stadium prices for some beers. $30+ for two beers (including at least a 10% tip)... not cool. I will return in hope that they are at least transparent about prices.

I'm saddened to write this review, even though it's a little late--it's been stuck in my mind since my visit. This is specifically about the upkeep and lack of attention to the establishment. Last month, I came here as I have many times before, but after finishing my food and drink, I was dismayed when I used the restroom. There was a thick layer of dirt throughout the entire bathroom, and, to make matters worse, there was dried vomit on the walls that had clearly been ignored. It made me feel gross knowing I had just eaten there. A restaurant's bathroom reflects directly on the cleanliness of the kitchen. If the bathroom is in such poor condition, I can't help but wonder what the state of the kitchen might be. I hope management can take efforts to improve the hygiene of their establishment for a more enjoyable experience in the future.

Came here to have drinks with my friend and we loved it. We try the fish tacos. They were amazing. The music is awesome and the vibe too easy parking access and good prices. Great customer service.

Customer service sucks. No one greeted us or showed us to a table. Employee would rather watch a football game than work. But food is pretty Good.

My friends and I have been coming here for years and it truly feels like home. We love everything about it and always have a good time. Food is great, we usually get the chicken tenders and fries. The service is exceptional, bartender Brandon is always a pleasure to be seen and served by.

Came here with a friend. This bar is located upstairs in downtown Santa Ana. Parking is in the structure. First two hours free. We found seats at the bar counters. Looks like many locals come here and bartenders know them by name. They serve food here but we didn't order any. I ordered the Hefe everywhere first time for everything on tap and my friend ordered their canned WeldWerks Apricot Gose. Drinks were good. Interesting pricing they have here. They have two restrooms.

I was a regular here for brunch but unfortunately the service has taken a nose dive. Bartenders were pretty rude and dismissive. We felt like a nuisance just to get refills on our bottomless mimosas. No more servers for brunch just ordering at the bar which is ok but throwing a 10% service charge on top of that and no signage or notice that there is a 10% service charge is wild. Unfortunately this place is not the same native son that I used to love.

Been coming here for about 6-7 years. Disappointed in how customer service has just disappeared in this place, makes customers feel unwanted. It's not just one bad experience, it's been multiple visits that made me send this review. Just reading through reviews and I'm not the only one experiencing the downfall of this place. Hope they turn it around or sale to someone who enjoys being in the customer service business. Great drinks, good food, horrible service. Make prices make sense to your customer service!

10/10 experience. My friends and I spent a few hours at native son & we loved it! Let me tell you from the staff to the music and the Food everything was great!. We started at their outside patio high tables and ended up at the fire pit which they turned on as soon as the sun went down. The music is a nice touch they keep it at a minimum level to where you can still have a conversation with your friends. 10/10 will be back! (;

The ambiance is super chill and the food is amazing especially hamburger. Service is amazing as well, everyone is so nice and easygoing. I highly recommend for a good time with friends.

The volume of the music that is played on their patio for some events is insanely loud. It is so loud that you cannot hear anything and you need earplugs just to survive. This is outdoors! Not only that it is so loud that it hurts my ears while walking down the street, it across the street, and even sitting at other restaurants. their music is blasting so loud that it affects the ambience of their neighbors business on a negative way. I cannot support a business that behaves this way and thinks it's OK.