Vaca

"Courtesy of Chef Amar Santana, this cool and rustic tapas bar offers consistently pleasing food and an extensive list of sherries and Spanish wines amid a quirky setting (the banquettes are decorated with jokes). In addition to the beautiful bar area, guests may sit in two outdoor areas or the main dining room with views into the semi-open kitchen. The lunchtime prix fixe is a great deal, though it would mean skipping their wonderful array of tapas and paellas. Standouts include the bikini sandwich, layering cured Jamón Ibérico, Manchego cheese, and a bit of truffle oil into pretty little piping-hot grilled sandwiches. Croquettas de pollo tucked with shredded white meat are perfectly seasoned and fried to a golden crisp." - Michelin Inspector

The 38 Best Orange County Restaurants | Eater LA

"Top Chef: All Stars’ Amar Santana opened this sleek Spanish hideaway in 2016 inside the Segerstrom Performing Arts Center. Aged steaks hang from illuminated cases as if perched in a sleek showroom. For lunch, the lamb burger is punched up with feta, sumac onion, and red pepper jam. Those looking for paella will find options with saffron-hinted bomba rice. But the sharable tapas are the most fun. The chef’s snacks rotate often, but the creamy chicken croquettes and warm pulp with fingerling potatoes drizzled in Spanish olive oil remain mainstays since it opened." - Jenn Tanaka

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"Vaca specializes in Spanish cuisine with Japanese twists."

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"The eight-year-old Spanish restaurant known for its aged steaks." - Jenn Tanaka

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"Amar Santana of Vaca is being very careful with the pandemic and is not reopening his dining rooms immediately." - Farley Elliott