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Margarita Flight in Orange County - La Vida Cantina, Costa Mesa, CA

La Vida Cantina

4.8
4.8
333 Reviews
$30 and under
Mexican

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 2 times today
  • Great for brunch
  • Charming
  • Great for creative cocktails
La Vida Cantina, proud recipient of both the 2024 Best Bar and three-time Best Happy Hour awards from the Orange County Register, offers a unique blend of vibrant nightlife and authentic Mexican ambiance. Our expansive patio, the largest in Orange County, features five cozy fire pits and stunning palapas that make you feel like you're in Mexico. Sip on handcrafted margaritas while enjoying our sizzling fajitas, expertly prepared by Executive Chef Juan Martinez. Whether you're planning a large party or looking for the perfect spot to relax, La Vida Cantina promises an unforgettable experience with exceptional food, drinks, and atmosphere.

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Mexican
  • Hours of operation
    Brunch Sat, Sun 10:00 am–2:00 pm Lunch Mon–Fri 11:00 am–4:00 pm Sat, Sun 10:00 am–4:00 pm Dinner Mon, Wed, Thu 4:00 pm–12:00 am Tue, Fri, Sat 4:00 pm–2:00 am Sun 4:00 pm–1:00 am
  • Phone number
    (949) 612-2349
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive chef
    Juan Martinez
  • Private party facilities
    At La Vida Cantina in Costa Mesa, we host private events for up to 150 guests, perfect for holiday parties, birthdays, or corporate events. Our space features a dedicated bar, and we create custom menus for every occasion, ensuring your celebration is unique, festive, and unforgettable. Let us elevate your next event!
  • Neighborhood
    Costa Mesa
  • Cross street
    19th Street
  • Parking details
    7 levels of convenient, free self-parking is available in the center's parking structure. Valet parking is also available.
  • Entertainment
    Live music every Tuesday, Thursday & Friday!More to come!
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Dancing, Delivery, Dog Friendly, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Indoor Fireplace, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Outdoor Firepit, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, View, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 333 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.8
4.8 based on recent ratings
  • 4.5Food
  • 4.7Service
  • 4.7Ambience
  • 4.4Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • Orange County

    Best Ambiance

  • North Orange County

    Best Ambiance

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
La Vida Cantina offers a vibrant atmosphere and a large outdoor patio bar perfect for gatherings. Guests rave about the "best guacamole ever" and "amazing" food flavors. While service can vary, the friendly staff and lively vibe with DJs make it a fun spot for drinks and dining.

333 Reviews
  1. Missy

    Orange County

    9 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    9 reviews

    Dined on October 23, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    Noise level a little bit too much to carry on a conversation with friend's. Music a bit too loud

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  2. Summer

    Orange County

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on October 16, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great food and great drinks. Server was awesome too!!

    Is this helpful?

  3. Robert

    Orange County

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on October 6, 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great place we’ve enjoyed for a good while now Menu selection quite limited compared to years ago? Nice fun friendly atmosphere Very nice friendly and professional staff I will continue going to Vida Cantina

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  4. MICHELE

    Los Angeles

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on August 18, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    everything we had was amazing! wonderful flavors and sitting outside was nice. we will be back next year when we come back for pageant.

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  5. Amanda

    Orange County

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on August 4, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Has a blast! Bottomless mimosas did exactly what needed to be done. They were constantly topping us off I wasn’t able to keep count of how many I had. The food was really good. It was such a vibe!

    Is this helpful?

  6. OpenTable Diner

    Philadelphia

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on July 27, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I made a last minute reservation and was no issue. We got sat as soon as we got there. Our server was very attentive and super friendly. My husband and I are not big on entrees and prefer getting several apps and sharing and she never made us feel like we were wasting her time. The atmosphere and vibe was super chill. We don't drink but if you are into margaritas they have several which sounded delicious. Chips and salsa and taquitos were excellent but let me just tell you about the posole. Posole is probably my most favorite food on the planet, I was raised in Albuquerque, NM and have had my share of great posole but this was probably the best I have ever had! On a scale from 1-10 its about a 20!! We will definitely be going back!

    Is this helpful?

  7. RyanL

    San Diego

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on July 20, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The food was outstanding! Service was good. The best guacamole ever! The four of us came to eat before the concert at Pacific amphitheater OC fair grounds. Would definitely eat here again.

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  8. OpenTable Diner

    Orange County

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on July 13, 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    Had a great time. DJ was good and service was great.

    Is this helpful?

  9. OpenTable Diner

    Sacramento

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on June 23, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Nice out door environment. Easy to just chill and watch a game in the TVs. Food was delicious.

    Is this helpful?

  10. gw630

    Los Angeles

    5 reviews

    2.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on June 15, 2024

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 2
    I didn't think it was anything special except for the outdoor patio. The services weren't great or attentive and the food was okay. I think you can get better quality Mexican food in other places.

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

La Vida Cantina offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (949) 612-2349.

La Vida Cantina is rated 4.8 stars by 333 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 2 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Google Map for La Vida Cantina

1870 Harbor Blvd, Costa Mesa, CA 92627

Additional information

  • Cross street
    19th Street
  • Neighborhood
    Costa Mesa
  • Hours of operation
    Brunch Sat, Sun 10:00 am–2:00 pm Lunch Mon–Fri 11:00 am–4:00 pm Sat, Sun 10:00 am–4:00 pm Dinner Mon, Wed, Thu 4:00 pm–12:00 am Tue, Fri, Sat 4:00 pm–2:00 am Sun 4:00 pm–1:00 am
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Mexican
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    7 levels of convenient, free self-parking is available in the center's parking structure. Valet parking is also available.
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive chef
    Juan Martinez
  • Entertainment
    Live music every Tuesday, Thursday & Friday!More to come!
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Dancing, Delivery, Dog Friendly, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Indoor Fireplace, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Outdoor Firepit, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, View, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Phone number
    (949) 612-2349
  • Private party facilities
    At La Vida Cantina in Costa Mesa, we host private events for up to 150 guests, perfect for holiday parties, birthdays, or corporate events. Our space features a dedicated bar, and we create custom menus for every occasion, ensuring your celebration is unique, festive, and unforgettable. Let us elevate your next event!
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