Vaca

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.

Vaca used to be a favorite place to go before symphony or theater. My visit last night was more than disappointing.
The paella was dry as were the shrimp, clams and mussels. Most of the tapas were not very interesting. The pork belly tapas was my favorite of the night.
Our waiter was disinterested in service, maybe because we were a table of 6 (considered a large party) and he know he was getting a 20% tip regardless of the service.
We asked to have all the food come out at the same time, since some were eating tapas for dinner and others paella.
Most came out at the same time, but the last one was 20 minutes later than the rest of the food. And when we asked
our waiter his only comment was its coming...and walked away.
Probably our last visit to this attractive restaurant.
Bonnie

Outstanding food, beverages and service.
Every bite of everything we ordered was a food-gasim!

We ordered the following:
Red Sangria for both of us, best Sangria I have every had!
Bacon wrapped dates stuffed with blue cheese
"bikini" sandwich (mini ham and cheese panini)
Scallops - omg heaven in a bowl, with an amazing sauce
Filet Mignon - cooked perfectly and melted in my mouth :)
Churro's with chocolate for dessert - perfecet way to finish the meal

We cant wait to come back, eerything was amazing!

Spanish restaurant offering a diverse menu of tapas and large format family style dishes. Located near South Coast Plaza, the interior is clean and contemporary. There is a beautiful bar with ample seating, as well as indoor and outdoor tables. They have a fantastic beverage program, with an extensive list of Spanish wines and sherries.

If you come here in the winter, make a reservation for an indoor table. The outdoor patio was poorly lit, sparsely decorated, and cold, even with the heat lamps. Fortunately, our group of 6 was able to be moved to a table inside.

You must order a cocktail. Their "Espresso Martinez" was the most unique rendition of an espresso martini I've ever had, featuring Brucato Woodland Amaro, barrel aged gin, Black Forest Kirschwasser, and a coffee infusion, as opposed to straight espresso. The result was light and complex, a far cry from the dessert in a glass that this drink often is.

Stand out dishes, beloved by everyone at our table, were the ultra-buttery, melt in your mouth Erizos (sea urchin) Con Huevos, deeply savory Coliflor (cauliflower side dish), and Bacon Wrapped Dates. The Patatas Bravas and Pan Con Tomate were great renditions of classic tapas.

Everything else ranged from just okay to bad. The Piquillos Rellenos were heavily breaded and soaked in oil, encasing slimy peppers and a disproportionate amount of cheese. The Vieiras a la Plancha were candy-sweet, and the charcuterie was low quality for the price. The Churros Con Chocolate were dry but edible, unlike the gummy Basque Cheesecake and completely flavorless Manchego Panna Cotta.

Overall, a good meal, great drinks, great service. I am unsure if we will return, but if you love tapas and cocktails, VACA is certainly worth a try.

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.

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.

Nice tapas and good paella, great for pre-theater dinner! Located by the arts complex the restaurant offers valet and plenty of self-parking in the structure across the street (with validation). Some tapas are definitely smaller than expected like the Jamon but the paella (we had the paella de pescado) was a good portion for two. There is both an inside (more moody) and a front and back patio (with heaters).

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!

The seafood paella here is out of this world good. This place is hipster trendy but nice and cozy. Service can get a bit busy but what understandable since this place gets packed. Had my birthday meal here and I absolutely loved everything about it. Highly recommended!

How to begin. I was super hyped to try Vaca because I love Broadway.

The vibe was cool, service was good, as one would expect.

The food was just alright.

This is Spanish inspired. All the meats and entrees are meant to be shared.

The paellas and large format meats take quite a bit of time to come out of the kitchen, around 45 min, so you are encouraged to order and try many of the tapas.

I felt, though good, the tapas are very very small for the price. We came in a party of 6, and with most of the tapas you need a minimum of 2 to 3 portions for everyone to try some. The same goes for the sides. We weren't sure how much to order and weren't really offered any guidance.

We ordered two steaks, one paella, two sides, two desserts, and 3 tapas (single portions).

We ended up spending quite a bit and when we left our 3 boys were still hungry.

Is it good? Yes. Are you getting a good value? I don't think so.