Vaca

I wanted to love this place and had high expectations based on the reviews. We came for a date night and I found the restaurant underwhelming in terms of food and vibes. Service was great, but for a place that takes such pride in its meat the steak was a bit underwhelming especially for the price. The tapas we tried were also just lacking a bit in texture and flavor.

We had a 6:30 PM patio reservation and were seated promptly. However, while waiting inside, there was an overwhelming smell of meat, which wasn’t pleasant—better ventilation would definitely help. Service was good, and we ordered two drinks, two steaks, Brussels sprouts, spicy potatoes, and crispy fried artichokes. The steaks took quite a while to arrive, and despite requesting medium well, mine ended up a bit dry. The Brussels sprouts were the best side dish, and the spicy potatoes were tasty too, but the artichokes were overly greasy. The steak quality wasn’t the best I’ve had. The outdoor seating area was well-heated, but the metal chairs were uncomfortable with no cushions. By the end of the meal, my lower back and tailbone were sore—I highly recommend switching to more comfortable seating.

Who knew one of Orange County's best meals would be found in a business park? Hands down: Vaca served up one of the best steaks around. In fact, the quality and flavor was as good as - if not better than - the meals on my recent trip to Argentina. I went with the skirt steak, which was served with both the house steak sauce and a creamy chimichurri. I also got an order to the roasted broccolini. Both were ridiculously good, and I can't to try more items on the next trip!

Wow... simply wow. The service of the waiters are the old school traditional one, if you're used to eat outside often, you know what I'm talking about. Responsive, fast, attentive and straightforward. The food is absolutely delicious, I'm still dreaming about the cheese boars (if you go, don't even think about it, just order it). I wish they would've had more space inside but not a problem at all, we had such a good time that I can't complain about anything. It's worth to mention the parking is accessible and the area is beautiful, very secure and nice for a walk after dinner at night.

This place is truly amazing!! We ordered 5 dishes, and every single dish was perfect. Fried Artichoke was a bit oily for my taste but still it was tasty. Cheese cake was perfection! Small enough to finish. New York strip was perfection!! I’d totally come back.

Loved our experience … sat in the outback patio area. Beautiful and quiet. The food was delicious. We shared 5 tapas and then had to have the paella with a piece of cheesecake to go. Cheesecake was super small … everything else was fabulous.

TL;DR terrible (weird / intentionally unhelpful) service, but good food and drinks. Would not return. Came here last night for a girls night, just me and my friend. Was looking for a place with good food, drinks, and vibe. There were no tables available, so we sat at the bar. The bartender/server was intentionally unhelpful. We each wanted to order one of their specialty gin and tonics from, but usually these are pretty sweet because places overdo the tonic, so we typically ask for half soda half tonic. The bartender rep replies “we don’t modified drinks” with no further explanation. Bars that don’t modify drinks exist but are unusual. So my girlfriend asks if it’s premade, to which the bartender replies no, again with no further explanation. We all look at each other awkwardly. Then she proceeds to tell the bartender why we ask for a half soda (because usually these drinks are very sweet), to which the bartender replies “they’re not sweet to me”, again with no further explanation. interactions like this go on for the whole night. I considered just getting up and leaving because the service was so subpar and intentionally unhelpful. The food was actually good—expensive but good. We got the octopus and bone marrow. The host was very sweet, but unfortunately, you only get to interact with her for a minute. They provide validation for the parking structure.

Vaca Spanish Restaurant offers a delightful culinary experience, highlighted by its commitment to high-quality meats and diverse menu options. The meat selections are impressive, showcasing tender cuts cooked to perfection, each dish seasoned exquisitely to enhance its natural flavors. The desserts are nothing short of fantastic. The ambiance is warm and inviting, making it an ideal spot for both casual dinners and special occasions. Overall, Vaca is a gem for anyone craving authentic Spanish cuisine.

Vaca is hands down one of the best spots for Spanish-inspired cuisine in Costa Mesa! The ambiance is stylish yet welcoming, with a great vibe that makes it perfect for a night out. We started with the croquettas de pollo, which were crispy on the outside and packed with flavor on the inside--so good! The bikini sandwich was another highlight--loaded with Jamón Ibérico, Manchego cheese, and a touch of truffle oil. Every dish was beautifully presented and bursting with flavor. While the tapas can be on the pricier side, it's totally worth it for the quality of the ingredients and the overall experience. The staff was friendly, attentive, and made great wine recommendations to pair with the meal. If you're in the area, definitely check out Vaca for a memorable dining experience!

The crispy calamari was light and delicious, and the Brussels sprouts were tasty, though they could go a little lighter on that (admittedly yummy) sauce. The Canelón de pollo didn't look the most appetizing, but wow--it was packed with flavor and totally hit the spot. The seafood paella was good but lacked a bit of depth in flavor. Not bad, but I was hoping for more punch. Now, let's talk about the drinks--absolutely delicious! And that sorbet passionfruit mango? A total standout. Sweet, tangy, and refreshing, it was the perfect way to round out the meal. Service was great--attentive and friendly. The atmosphere was chill but on the loud side, and the seating is really tight. You might end up closer to your neighbor than you'd like. On the plus side, the restrooms were clean, which is always a win! Would I come back? Probably. But I'd love to see a few tweaks to make the experience even better.

The food was absolutely delicious. While the plates are a little small and it is a little pricey it is definitely worth a visit. Parking is very easy as you can park in the parking structure right in front of the venue. The decor was great given the Chinese New Year's occasion. All the butter tenders were very helpful and overall, I would highly recommend this to anybody looking for a nice meal

Visited here prior to going to a show. The food is fun, unique, and so so tasty! Since it was our first time, the waiter recommended a few of the favorites and also how many tapas to order so that everyone enjoys. The cocktails were fun and a nice compliment to the tapas. Seeing that the restaurant is so close to the show the waiter made sure our order was in and we were out in perfect timing.

Always best to make a reservation but we were still able to get a patio seat last minute (90 minutes before showtime). Tapas come out quick and are super tasty. Steaks and paella need 45 minutes on busy nights so be sure to plan ahead if you want to enjoy those dishes. Eat and drink up, then walk to the show!

Still one of my favorite places for tapas. I always tend to get recommendation from my server because they have some items that are new-thus can be a hit or miss. It's a somewhat small space-expect the indoor tables to be very close to one another...and if you come during weekends...book in advance. Mt favorite was their uni, branzino, cheeseboards, duck prosciutto and drinks-depending on your taste, there's always a drink that will aligning with your taste buds.

I recently dined at Vaca in Costa Mesa and, unfortunately, my experience was quite disappointing. Despite the restaurant's reputation, there were several issues that made the visit less than enjoyable. The atmosphere was chaotic and noisy, making it difficult to have a conversation as the seating was so cramped, that the tables were less than a feet away. This made the overall environment felt more stressful than relaxing. The food was a major letdown. The tapas were overpriced for the quality of food that was presented to us. While some dishes like the pulpo and canellon were decent others came out to be nothing special and seemingly just a random assortment of flavors thrown on the plate. We also ordered the vaca tonic but although the taste was decent, the drink itself was so frozen that we couldn't even use the straw to drink it. The service was one of the few redeeming aspects, but even that had its flaws. While the staff were friendly, they seemed overwhelmed and inattentive. We had to wait a long time for our orders to be taken and even longer for the food to arrive which often resulted in lukewarm food brought to our table. Overall for the high prices, the experience did not match up. The food quality and portion sizes did not justify the cost, making it feel like a poor value for money. Given the high expectations, Vaca was a significant disappointment. The combination of mediocre food, high prices, and a chaotic atmosphere means I won't be returning anytime soon. Overall: 1/10

We got a variety of dishes: the seafood paella, prime New York strip, octopus, cheese board with 3 cheeses and 2 meats, roasted cauliflower, oyster mushroom, and the beef cheek toast. The best dishes were the seafood paella, steak, and roasted cauliflower. The beef cheek toast was not very impressionable and too salty for me. Also by the time it came, the toast was kind of soggy and oily. The seafood paella takes about 45 minute to make but it's worth the wait - it was cooked perfectly. Not too soggy or dry. The shrimp was also very good. The steak was also cooked tenderly and salted just enough. Ambiance is very nice, we sat on the patio in the back but it did get a bit windy/cold at times. Overall, the service was very attentive and friendly. Food is great, would recommend to friends and family. There is a self parking structure across the street or valet parking for $10.

So excited I made it here after all these years! From the hostess answering the phone, to the valet, to our waiters, they made our first experience here very enjoyable. Vaca is known for their meats and tapas style plates so we ordered 6 plates between the 2 of us: the octopus, the cannelloni, Wagyu meatball, pork belly, blue cheese stuffed dates wrapped in heavenly heavenly mmmmmmm bacon and the beef oxtail. 10 out 10 for flavor! Every. Single. Dish. I need to come back again to try more plates!! Drinks were tasty too. As the DD, I only had one drink- the manda panda (i think? The one with lychee liqueur in it) and it was quite delicious. And kudos to our waiter Paul for all his recs and being so attentive and hospitable. Ambiance is cute and cozy, ideal for date nights or dinner with the girlfriends. The back patio is nice this time of year bc you can see the giant Xmas tree all lit up. Valet is $10, bring cash for tip.

Every bite was amazing! My favorites were the pork belly, the dates, and the oxtail. The drinks were a bit of a miss for me, but that was personal preference not a quality issue. Price is reasonable for the quality of the amazing food.

Been to vaca a couple times for celebrations. The food and drinks are good. You must get the canelon de pollo. We have also enjoyed the paella both times. Down side is that the restaurant is pretty small so you're seated closely to other parties. Our second time here, the service was not as good as the first time. We came for a birthday both times. First visit was offered a free dessert. Second time the table next to us was offered a free dessert but we were not offered one even though we confirmed with the hostess we were celebrating a birthday. Additionally, the staff kept trying to clear our plates when we were still working on them. And they took our utensils halfway even though we had other dishes coming out. Thought they were going to replace the utensils but we ended up have to ask our waiter for a new set. It was odd and felt like we were being rushed out

Kind of torn about this place. The food was good for the most part but not for the price we paid for it. I really enjoyed the soft scrambled eggs with uni, the dates stuffed with blue cheese wrapped in bacon, and the Jamón ibérico. We also got the shanks, I think they were beef shanks with a demi glaze. They were absolutely bland. The meat was not seasoned at all. The main entree, the paella, was kind of a let down and I barely touched it. The cocktails were not balanced. I ordered two different drinks hoping for a better one and that was a bust. I would recommend sticking with a nice wine. The ambiance of the restaurant is elevated, and yet the service was not. Our server didn't check on us much during the meal, I had to ask someone else for salt to try to flavor my bland shank tapa. I may return and order just the 3 items that were good with a nice glass of wine.

Service was impeccable but the food I felt was not that great esp for the price. Everything we got is pictured below. There's only one item that I felt had that bomb first taste. The last pic. It was sooo good so if I came back, it would be only for that Ambiance is very chill, dim lights & great. Tables were a bit too close together

Came here on a Friday night, with a group done ordered a little of everything. The highlight was probably the paella, but they do have an extensive menu of tapas. We took the waiter's recommendation and ordered a few items, all of which were decent. The restaurant itself it located across from South Coast Plaza, and there is a parking lot nearby or valet.

Vaca in Costa Mesa is a gem! The food, drinks, and service were all top-notch. Everything we tried was delicious, and the drinks were crafted perfectly. The atmosphere at the bar was lively and fun, although the space is a little on the smaller side--so be prepared for a cozy experience. They also tend to get pretty busy so it can be a bit of a wait to get a table. Special shoutout to Manager Donnie, who went above and beyond to make sure everything was perfect, and to our server Juan, who was incredibly kind and attentive throughout the night. Overall, an excellent spot for a great meal and good vibes. We recommend!

The food here was excellent, paella was some of the best we had in the area and the steak was done perfectly. I would have given this restaurant 4-5 stars however we had a very mediocre time with the service. First, we were seated outside and the manager was very rude to us when came back to them asking for a table inside. It would have been one thing if they tried to make it more comfortable for us, but she insisted on saying we were wrong. Next we were reviewing the bill and they left off the wine, which was annoying that we had to catch that for them.

Exceptional Tapas at Vaca, Costa Mesa I recently had an incredible dining experience at Vaca in Costa Mesa, and I can't recommend it enough. We ordered a variety of tapas, and every dish exceeded our expectations. The croquettes were perfectly crisp with a rich, creamy filling that was both savory and satisfying. The braised short rib was unbelievably tender and packed with flavor, accompanied by fresh vegetables and a well-balanced sauce. The seared scallops were cooked to perfection, served with a vibrant broth and a refreshing balance of textures. The broccolini dish, garnished with pine nuts and cheese, was another standout with its earthy and crunchy notes. The service at Vaca was top-notch. The staff was attentive, friendly, and clearly knowledgeable about the menu, offering great suggestions. The atmosphere of the restaurant added to the overall experience--it was lively, yet refined, making it the perfect spot for both casual dining and special occasions. If you're looking for delicious Spanish-inspired cuisine in Costa Mesa, Vaca is definitely the place to go. I'll be back for more!

Tapas spot close to the Sergestrom Theater. Came here for a pre-show dinner at 5pm and made a reservation online in advance. It's a short walk away from the theater, so it's a good spot when you're trying to catch a show. Note that the paella does take about 40 minutes to cook, so budget your time accordingly. My family of four shared the following: Bikini sandwich - Simple, but I liked this a lot. Croquettes - standard dish; I was neutral about it Alcachofa (Artichokes) - nicely fried and the aioli was good Lubinda (sea bass) - my mom wanted this one; the sauce is good and it's a healthy option Mollejas (veal sweetbreads) - this was all my dad but he really enjoyed it Jamon Serrano and Sheep's Milk quesos - these came together on a charcuterie board with pickles and marmalades. Paella de carne - very rich and lots of meat. It may be too heavy for some Beef marrow - also very rich - my sister enjoyed it a lot. Churros for dessert - this comes in three and a chocolate sauce on the side. We had leftover paella but unfortunately had to throw it away since Sergestrom doesn't allow outside food. Otherwise, this was an enjoyable meal.

Finally got a chance to visit Vaca. The seating must be very limited as we can never get a table. Instead, they offered us the bar. It was basically, take it or leave it. We decided to try the jamon serrano and a mix of 3 cheeses, good! Iberico shrimp dumplings, very good! Croquetas de pollo was "okay". Gambas al ajillo and arroz frito was good too. Mocktails for $16.xx was highway robbery. Our server was super on it so no complaints about the service. I had to subtract stars for lack of proper seating and they also add a 3% surcharge due to operational cost (give me a break!). We would come back to try again but next time, we will need a table and will order the steak!

I visited Vaca for a friend's birthday and had a decent experience. We were seated outside pretty quickly and had menus in our hands right away. It was a nice evening and the sun was blocked by the bush hedges they have around the outdoor seating area. We ordered drinks and a couple dishes to share. FOOD: Overall the food was good but the portion sizes are small. For the price you're paying, I was hoping for a slightly larger portion. The actual taste and quality of the food is a strong 4.5/5.0 though so come for the taste but not to get filled. The little dessert that they brought out for our friend's bday was a 3 out of 5. Kinda dry. SERVICE: The service was very slow. All night it took forever to place orders and/or get anything we needed. At one point it felt like we were forgotten in our little corner. When we were trying to get out of there and just pay the bill, they pressured us slightly to get dessert off their menu. Summary: I would only go back if I made a lot more money and planned to be there for a couple hours.

We got there early so our table wasn't ready so we had a drink at the bar. My wife a a glass of red wine--Garnacha--and she really enjoyed it. We were talking to the bartender (all three were very friendly and personable) and one of them recommended a few things. We tried some of her recommendations and she did not steer us wrong. We had the duck empanadas, shrimp in a lemon and garlic sauce, wagyu meatballs, and the oxtail. We also split a NY steak. It was an overall great dining experience and can't wait to go back.

They are very helpful with making sure you get to your show on time and provide recommendations. We sat on the patio with the heater, and during the holidays, you can see the Christmas tree lit up. Food were huge portions! With the variety they have, it's best to share dishes too.

Updated review after trying another Spanish restaurant recently and considering the price and flavors, I definitely think there are better alternatives. If you come for the fine dining experience sure, but the dishes, sangria and waiting time for paella can definitely be inproved.

A visit to celebrate a birthday. They will seat you as soon as the entire party arrives. No problem! We'll wait at the bar and start with an Apertivo! That was a fortuitous decision. While we were perusing the cocktails menu, the bartender was busy mixing up a carajillo. I'll take me of those! Ooh, a new favorite! The wait staff were friendly and knowledgeable. The bar staff were also helpful and friendly. My favorites of the meal were: Pan con tomate. Deconstructed. I was apprehensive when I first saw this places in our table. Pan con tomate is always a must order for me at a Spanish resto. My apprehension quickly turned to glee! Love this deconstructed version! I would've been happy just eating this and the jamon iberico! Jamon Iberico de belota. So good! The jamon is carved tableside. I could've eaten the whole plate on my own but I had to share! We also ordered paella and steak. Those were good, too. However, they did not stand out in my mind and palate the way the pan con tomate and the jamon iberico did! Enjoy!

Food is excellent. Service is also good, not great but the server or bartenders do a good enough job. Ambiance is nice as well. The restaurant is clean. The reason for the 3 stars is the price. They recently had a big price increase and now they are adding a surcharge to the bill on top of it all. And I am talking about a surcharge for a party of 1 or 2. So for example if you go in for lunch to get their hamburger with fries, that now costs $25 (was $20 less than a month ago) and there is a 3 percent surcharge. I know everything is more expensive now but their prices were already up there. I often brought colleagues and clients here but I think I am done. I cannot justify these prices and there are so many options around this area.

Love Vaca in Costa Mesa; we indulged in the Dry Aged Ribeye Family Meal and Paella and it was spectacular. The ribeye was perfectly cooked, boasting a rich, intense flavor that only dry aging can provide. Every bite was tender, juicy, and bursting with savory goodness. Vaca knows how to handle their steaks. The quality of the meat was top-notch, and it was beautifully seasoned and seared to perfection, creating an unforgettable dining experience. The family meal setup was ideal for sharing, offering generous portions that left everyone satisfied. The drinks are equally as amazing. The service was attentive and friendly. If you're looking for an exceptional steak experience and delicious Paella in Costa Mesa, Vaca is a must-try.

An EXTRAORDINARY culinary experience... even at opening hour!! We went in for lunch to try the lunch express tasting menu for $41/pp. Short ribs, Paella then Basque Cheesecake Short ribs were delectable, juicy and fell off the bone. Paella had mushrooms which was a nice subtle flavor to the dish. THE BASQUE CHEESECAKE IS TO DIE FOR EVEN AS A LACTOSE INTOLERANT PERSON. Well worth it, olive oil pearls, basil ice cream, supple cheesecake and strawberries. Just amazing!! We also tried the burger which was perfectly cooked to our desired medium. Definitely try the Canelon tapa. Very unique flavors! I wish it came with two instead of one, but still delicious. Ambiance is beautiful, welcoming staff and environment. A must go!

I have been coming here for years and have always had some great food and service the drinks are exceptional and the General Manager Donnie welcomes me like a good friend... the server Larry had a great attitude and does everything he can to accommodate us

Nice choices of Tapas plates to please anyone. Thier cocktails are excellent and varied. Service was quick enough and everything cane out hot. Cheese plate is a great choice and we get it each time.

Great experience. Food was amazing and overall great vibes. The pallea was the best food I had. I was also there when it had the Eggnog drink. Phenomenal. Lucio was our server, and he was just the best. His knowledge and service really elevated our experience. Great man.

We've been coming to Vaca for some time now, and this review is long overdue. With their creative cocktails, impressive sherry menu and and a laundry list of tapas to choose from you will not leave here disappointed. The Mrs. and I had a laugh when the table next to us asked why the octopus with potatoes tapas didn't "come with the tail" (I'm assuming they meant tentacles) and the tomato puree with toasted bread, olive oil and flaky salt is maddingly delicious and addictive for something so simple and much better than the bad dad jokes written on the banquette side of the seating that we only recently noticed. The shrimp in garlic sauce was just too overpowering with vinegar this time around but the devils on horseback were some of the best we've ever had. The paellas here are spot on and super impressive and the meat paella is pretty epic with pork belly, chorizo, blood sausage, duck confit and beef cheek, amazing saffron laced crusty rice. Where VACA truly stands out is it's steaks, as VACA in Spanish means cow. The dry age glass meat locker is truly a sight to behold and from the moment you pull up to the place that amazing smell of wood fire tells you you're in for something special. The 2 pound bone in rib eye is a bucket list steak and even just gnawing on some of the meat on the bone after pulling the left-over out of my refrigerator the next day was still simply spectacular. I've been on a bit of a blue cheese kick lately and last night they melted some cabrales on my NY Strip and let me tell you that was a beefy umami flavor bomb of dry aged goodness. There are plenty of options for a good steak here in Orange County, but I would say VACA has to be one of the most underrated steakhouses in Orange County while also being the best steakhouse in Orange County. Coming from the restaurant business, I always appreciate seeing a manager on the floor, sleeves rolled up, running food, bussing tables, refilling water glasses and helping the team when they're in the weeds so imagine my surprise to learn that the guy wasn't the manager he's one of the owners (along with Top Chef's Amar Santana) and that's something you rarely see these days so hat's off Ahmed. A word of advice, if you're unable to get a reservation, don't fret as VACA seems to be one of the latest targets of "reservation scalping"; where unscrupulous people use bots to book reservations then sell them on 3rd party websites for hundreds of dollars. This practice not only hurts us customers but the restaurant as well as unsold reservations equals no shows for the restaurant. Hopefully between the reservation companies, the restaurants themselves and the California Restaurant Association will put this on our elected official's radars so they can ban it here like they recently did in New York. (Shout out to Audri who found us a spot when we called and explained the situation and she found us a great table) I'm looking super forward to my next visit!

For parking there is valet or if you go further down there is a parking structure where they will validate. We opted for outdoor seating cause of the nice weather. Our waiter explained the menu and made recs on what we were craving. The food was pretty good, but I wasn't blown away. Disappointed by the paella because it was pretty salty. Heard a lot of great things so I guess my expectations were too high. But the restaurant is gorgeous and service was really great.

The food was okay but this place doesn't call my name. Would I come back? I would, only because maybe today was just a bad day, but the first impression was definitely below par. The main reason is the price doesn't justify the food or service here, I'd recommend going a city or two over to the RANCH or a couple blocks away to ARC as the service and food can justify their prices. Takes forever to refill waters, didn't ask us if we wanted to order another drink, couldn't care to see how the food was, took forever to even bring the food out despite it not being busy at all, the quickest reaction I got was them taking my card for the bill lol. Service 3/10 Food 8/10 Overall 6/10 Breakdown Brussels sprouts 9/10 Fried rice 6/10 Patatas bravas 4/10 the flavor just wasn't it Asparagus 9/10 Hangar steak 3/10 asked for medium rare it came out ultra rare Oxtail 7/10 the mushrooms made the dish better Potato balls 9/10 would recommend Flan 9/10 perfect consistency Cheesecake 7/10 not a fan it's missing the signature cheesecake breading Edit: Just now realized I got charged 20% gratuity despite being a party of four (their policy states gratuity is charged for parties of 6 or more?) review went down due to this

Authentic Spanish selections with a variety of tapas and Spanish wines. I have been here three times and never disappointed.

Delicious tapas and paella! The paellas plate was huge, so one paella plus one tapas dish was enough to fill up two bellies. Paella de carne was so smoky and flavorful with the variety of meat, and the panza de cerdo pork belly was so tender and delicious. It was my birthday and they brought me complementary dessert, which was so nice of them! Nice restaurant for a birthday celebration!

I was going to dine at the restaurant with my disabled father. When we parked and heading into the restaurant, the valet told us that parking in disabled is the same amount as having it valet! Decided to dine somewhere else. I will make sure everyone I know that this restaurant treats the disabled with no respect. I will never dine here again!

PARKING (4/5): They have velvet or you can park in the structure a block away, or across the street at South Coast Plaza Mall. SERVICE (4/5): My last visit the service was REALLY SLOW. But they are usually amazing, so I will not judge based on one off night. FOOD (4/5): $26 CARNE CRUDO: ahi + steak tartare (raw). It was good! However, I'd prefer just one or the other. I loved the concept of mixing both! $28 PULPO A LA GALLEGA: octopus with potatoes. Perfectly cooked so it's soft & not chewy. AMAZING everytime we order. $16 ALBONDIGAS: lamb meatballs. These were OK. The yogurt was better than the actual meatball. I'd try the lamb skewer next time. $24 CANELON DE POLLO AHUMADO: smoked chicken, duck liver, Sherry reduction. So much flavor! Must try. $26 RABO DE TORO: braised oxtail with mushrooms. So Flavor, tender & so delicious! One of my favorite dishes! $13 MANCHEGO PANNA COTTA: freshly grated Manchego cheese, crispy coconut flakes on top and custard panna Cotta. It was OK. Very tiny. OVERALL (4/5): Great service. Great ambiance. Great food.

Vaca was decorated for the xmas holidays, with some large ornaments hanging down over the bar. Service was great, we received our food pretty quickly, water refilled regularly, and we got a complimentary dessert for celebrating an occasion with them. We opted for tapas, so it was recommended to get at least two tapas per person, and I will say the portion sizes were small! Some tapas were more filling than others. Of the dishes we got, I would recommend the salmon -- it had a great crispy skin and was in a bright, tasty sauce. I also enjoyed the tartare, which came with a few small slices of bread. The oxtail with mushrooms was pretty rich/savory and salty. I wish that came with some toast to help give the dish more volume and to help with the savory-ness. Lastly, we had the chicken cannoli. It was very sweet (sherry reduction) -- sweeter than I expected a chicken dish would be. Juxtaposed with the other dishes, I didn't feel like it fit with the rest of what we ordered so personally would skip it next time around. This was the largest tapas of the 4 we ordered and given the creaminess of the duck liver sauce, it was also more filling than any of our other tapas. We debated adding another dish bc we weren't quite full, but then decided we weren't quite willing to add another small tapas dish given the size for price, nor order a full-on entree. We discussed that next time we'd share an entree and maybe get two tapas and/or sides since the entrees are sized to share! Oh, and we got a complimentary little almond cake topped with ice cream bc we were celebrating our anniversary. Such a nice thing for them to do, and it made us feel a bit fuller before we left!

Great for tapas and paellas! The cocktails fell short and did not stand out to us. Recommendation: Put in your order for paellas and specialty steak dishes about 20 minutes before ordering tapas. Enrizos con huevos ($28) - scrambled eggs with uni, served on toast. Great flavor but I wish they gave more toast. Canelon de pollo ahumado ($24) - a different take on a chicken enchillada. Very rich in flavor. Paella de mariscos x2 ($61/each) - Woah, the biggest prawns that i've seen on a paella. Must get! I didnt think I would like the white crema thing (garlic aioli) but it really adds. Prime skirt steak ($46) - Super tender and melts in your mouth. I think a little on the pricier side since it doesn't come with any sides, just dipping sauce. Overall, great experience, just a little on the pricier side if you're looking for a special dining experience. Came out to a little over $115/pp. Parking is free at the Segerstrom Arts Center structure across the street. If there's an event, let the parking attendant know that you're dining at Vaca.

Vaca is a complete disaster of a restaurant. It's a culinary circus It's making the 1-star restaurants I've reviewed seem like gourmet dining experiences! The chef clearly needs a refresher course in basic cooking skills--taste, plating, coloring, and texturing seem to be completely foreign concepts. This place's survival in OC is a mystery, Maybe the owners are just insanely rich and can afford to keep it running. From the misleading online reservations to the rigid table policies, and the dim, stuffy dining area, the whole experience was a mess. The food arrived in a chaotic order and was largely inedible, with dishes that ranged from overly sweet to extremely sour. Even simple requests, like a lemon wedge, were mishandled. The service was non-existent after the food was delivered, and we were charged for items we didn't order, along with unnecessary surcharges. --+PATATAS BRAVAS* 14 Overly salted, but at least it's the highlight of the night. It's edible. ---GAMBAS AL AJILLO* 18 Sautéed shrimp, olive oil, garlic, chili flakes, grilled bread: It says "gambas," but it's actually shrimp. The menu does state this, but the small print is too hard to read in the dim lighting. The shrimp is overcooked, not fresh, and the sauce is lightly garlicky but extremely sour and swimming in oil. It's the nastiest seafood tapas I've ever had. Charred bread is sticky and tough. ---CANELON DE POLLO AHUMADO* 24 Smoked chicken cannelloni, duck liver sauce, sherry reduction: The worst thing I've ever put in my mouth. The chicken is drenched in an overly sweet, repulsive, gloopy sauce that looks and tastes awful. It's like eating steamed minced chicken in a nutty dessert at a lukewarm temperature. This is chicken dessert. I strongly suspect the chef doesn't know the difference between salt and sugar--seems like they're adding the wrong "salt." It looks as bad as it tastes, with plating that resembles cat vomit. --+ENSALADA DE COGOLLOS: Romain lettuce salad: Nothing to write home about. The charred peach is mushy, the nuts aren't roasted enough, and the dressing is too sour. Overall, Vaca's pretentious claim of authenticity falls flat with their dreadful, poorly executed food and abysmal service. The only redeeming feature was the busboy who kept my water glass full. Seven years ago, I had the worst paella; today, I experienced the worst of everything. What a joke! You are offending my taste buds and my time with your nasty sauce.

3.5 stars? The dishes I enjoyed the most were the ribeye and the Canelon de Pollo Ahumado and the Cava Vilarnau. But for spending close to $600 I would have expected a much higher level for the dishes. It was also quite warm inside so not sure if the air conditioning was completely off? Don't get me wrong the food is good, it just wasn't great, especially for that price. Also the corkage fee of $40 seemed pretty high especially if you are already spending a pretty penny on the food.

Vaca is a high end Spanish restaurant that aims to transport customers to Spain. The service and ambiance are definitely nice as everything felt very high end. However, the main part of the experience was the most disappointing, as the food was expensive and mediocre. The Pan con Tomate that was served first definitely set our expectations to the floor as this joke of a dish was basically store bought marinara sauce, olive oil, salt, and barely toasted bread. The next two appetizers were passable but could not remove the disappointment the previous dish caused. The Paella de Mariscos was the only thing I would even remotely consider recommending, as the flavors were nice. I would say for the price, the portion size on the paella was a bit disappointing. Overall, it would be rather difficult to convince me to come back and give Vaca another chance.

Thank you for an unforgettable evening! The food was beyond incredible, and the service was top notch. Every dish was a delight, and the entire experience left us so happy and satisfied. Chef Amar's passion truly shines through in every aspect. Looking forward to the next visit!

I absolutely recommend coming to Vaca! The service was great, the design of the restaurant is great, and the food is beyond delicious with a price that is outstanding We came here for food after a play and were exhausted and were still blown away. I highly recommend!

This is my favorite restaurant! Their food is amazing. Every single thing I order exceeds my expectations. They also have amazing service, Lydia gives the best recommendations which we always love. I will come back again & again!

It's really disturbing to go to a restaurant from Spain where there's 0 spaniards to be found. Only Mexicans working there. I guess real Spaniards are not part of the diversity program in LA. For the owner: An idea maybe it would be interesting to have a cook and a server that is actually from Spain. Since you are selling products that belongs to our culture, is an insult for me to go there and still be served by a Mexican again when I'm looking for something different. As a Spaniard from Spain I was really dissati

Patatas bravas and in-house ice cream were good. Star for that. Where was the dry age beef tallow in the Arroz Frito? Tasted like straight sesame oil. We get tapas, but yikes, one oxtail for $26! They did remove the curdled cocktail from the bill --it was so off putting, looked like pus. Mentioned they plan to remove it from menu. Star for that. PpWb do not recommend, which is unfortunate because the space is nice.

Delicious food, lively atmosphere, good ambiance, and steep prices. I dined at Vaca on a Wednesday evening for a friends birthday dinner. We had reservations for 7pm knowing that Vaca is usually crowded on any given day. We were seated promptly upon arrival and wow was the restaurant packed! It made for a fun environment. We ordered a couple cocktails: paper plane and dirty martinis and they did not disappoint. The menu is lengthy so it took us some time to narrow down what we wanted to order to eat. We ended up ordering a handful of tapas to share and each small plate was beyond delicious in its own way! We proceeded to order a second round of tapas and repeated a couple items because they were just that good! The potato beef balls and chicken cannelloni to be specific. They offer valet and there also is a nearby parking structure which they validate for. I recommend parking in the structure! Be prepared for your wallet to take a hit after enjoying a full food and drink meal at Vaca. Definitely a spot for a celebration or treat yo' self type meal.

I really enjoyed my first time at Vaca. The roasted cauliflower was incredible. I can't wait to have it again. The paellas are shareable. The restaurant gets really busy during happy hour. A lot of people stop by before walking over to Segerstrom Center for the Arts. Make sure to get there early or make a reservation.