Plums Cafe
Eastside Costa Mesa, Costa Mesa
Restaurant in Costa Mesa, United States
Book with PearlThe Read
Dress
Casual
Why go
Plums Cafe is a practical Costa Mesa choice for an easy daytime meal, especially for breakfast, lunch, solo dining, or a casual repeat visit. It is less compelling for a high-stakes occasion; cross-shop Sushi Shunka or Shunka for sushi, Playa Mesa for a fuller sit-down meal, Sidecar Doughnuts and Coffee for a quick coffee-and-sweets stop.
About Plums Cafe
Plums Cafe in Costa Mesa is open during daytime hours every day and lists a casual dress code. That makes it easiest to consider when you want a low-pressure stop in Costa Mesa rather than an evening plan. It is better framed as a casual daytime option than as a special-occasion pick, a specific cuisine destination, or a chef-led dining story.
The ambient read is casual rather than formal, in line with its dress code and hours. The clearest reason to return is convenience: Plums Cafe opens at 8 AM daily, closes at 2 PM Monday through Friday, stays open until 3 PM on Saturday and Sunday.
Book this for an easy daytime stop, not a high-stakes dinner
Service expectations should stay practical. The value case rests on accessibility and daytime usefulness rather than fine-dining signals, awards, a tasting format, or a chef-led story. A venue does not need ceremony to be worth choosing, but the reader should choose it for the right job: a casual daytime stop in Costa Mesa.
For a more deliberate comparison, consider how the timing and tone fit the plan. Sushi Shunka, Shunka, Playa Mesa, Beach Pit BBQ, Sidecar Doughnuts and Coffee may each fit different needs, while Plums Cafe is the simpler choice when the priority is daytime hours and a casual dress code.
Where it sits in the Costa Mesa rotation
Plums Cafe is easiest to recommend when the plan needs low friction. Think of it less as a ceremony-driven restaurant or special-occasion venue, more as a casual Costa Mesa option with morning-to-afternoon hours throughout the week.
If the group is mixed or the occasion has expectations attached, use the broader dining set as the filter. Choose Plums Cafe when the timing and casual setting fit. Consider Beach Pit BBQ, Playa Mesa, Shunka, Sushi Shunka, or Sidecar Doughnuts and Coffee when those venues better match the plan. For a broader scan of the area, Our full Costa Mesa restaurants guide is the better next step.
Planning details
- Location
- 369 E 17th St, Costa Mesa, CA 92627
- Reservations
- Book on OpenTable
- Website
- plumscafe.com
- Phone
- +19497227586
The take
The Take
The Vibe
Plums Cafe reads like a quietly confident neighborhood spot. The copy highlights an "unforced street presence" and a room tuned for regulars, which gives the place a low-key, welcoming personality rather than a theatrical or tourist-facing vibe. Ingredient provenance is central to the cafe’s identity, so the atmosphere pairs relaxed service with a deliberate focus on produce and sourcing. You’ll find a place that favors steady local loyalty over flash—comfortable and approachable, with an undercurrent of culinary seriousness anchored in where the food comes from.
Best For
Plums is best for morning- and midday visits: breakfast, lunch and weekend brunch fit its rhythm. The cafe’s layout and neighborhood setting make it an easy choice for solo diners, families and casual meetups with friends. Because the copy emphasizes regulars and a non-spectacular street presence, it’s a reliable, low-pressure spot for everyday meals rather than formal celebrations. Diners looking for ingredient-forward breakfast plates and straightforward lunch fare will find the format especially well suited to routine visits and neighborhood dining.
Ordering Tips
Prioritize the cafe’s signature egg and breakfast preparations—standouts include the Dutch Baby, Shirred Eggs and the Dungeness Crab Omelet—alongside savory items like the Campfire Rainbow Trout and Oregon Pepper Bacon. The write-up stresses sourcing and proximity to regional producers, so expect seasonal variations and a menu that highlights fresh ingredients; ordering the day’s specials or anything noting local farms is a good way to experience that emphasis. Keep selections simple and focused on the kitchen’s strengths rather than looking for elaborate, multi-course tasting options.
Venue details
Ambiance
Warm, inviting coastal California ambiance with comfortable, contemporary Pacific Northwest influences.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
At the Table
- Dress Code
- Casual
- Noise Level
- Conversational
- Service Style
- Upscale Casual
- Meal Pacing
- Standard
- Capacity
- Medium
Signature Dishes
- Dutch Baby
- Campfire Rainbow Trout
- Dungeness Crab Omelet
- Shirred Eggs
- Oregon Pepper Bacon
Planning details
Location
Also consider
Also Consider
- Sushi Shunka, Notable alternative
- Shunka, Notable alternative
- Beach Pit BBQ, Notable alternative
- Sidecar Doughnuts and Coffee, Doughnuts, Doughnuts
- Playa Mesa, Notable alternative
Restaurant context
How Plums Cafe compares in Costa Mesa
Plums Cafe is the easier daytime choice in this set: lower friction, better suited to breakfast or lunch, less dependent on advance planning than Sushi Shunka or Shunka. Pick the sushi peers when the meal itself is the event; pick Plums Cafe when the priority is a casual Costa Mesa stop without turning the outing into a production.
Against Beach Pit BBQ and Playa Mesa, the choice comes down to meal format. Beach Pit BBQ reads better for a filling casual group meal, while Playa Mesa is the stronger option when the group wants a livelier sit-down occasion. Plums Cafe is better for daytime ease than for dinner-energy ambiance.
Sidecar Doughnuts and Coffee is the better move for coffee and doughnuts rather than a seated meal. If the plan is a quick stop, go Sidecar. If the plan needs a more complete breakfast or lunch setting, Plums Cafe is the more useful pick.
Explore Costa Mesa
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full Plums Cafe guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare Plums Cafe
| Venue | Location | Cuisine | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plums Cafe | Costa Mesa | ; | No published awards |
| Sushi Shunka | Costa Mesa | ; | No published awards |
| Shunka | Costa Mesa | ; | No published awards |
| Beach Pit BBQ | Costa Mesa | ; | No published awards |
| Sidecar Doughnuts and Coffee | Costa Mesa | Doughnuts | No published awards |
| Playa Mesa | Costa Mesa | ; | No published awards |
How Plums Cafe Costa Mesa compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What are alternatives to Plums Cafe?
Other options to compare include Playa Mesa, Beach Pit BBQ, Shunka, Sushi Shunka, Sidecar Doughnuts and Coffee. Plums Cafe is the easier daytime choice if the hours fit your plan: 8 AM to 2 PM Monday through Friday and 8 AM to 3 PM on Saturday and Sunday.
Is Plums Cafe good for solo dining?
It may be a practical choice for one person if you want a casual daytime stop in Costa Mesa. Its practical strengths are its casual dress code and daytime hours.
What should a first-timer know about Plums Cafe?
Treat it as a daytime venue, not an evening venue, since it opens at 8 AM and closes by midafternoon. The main practical point is timing: it closes at 2 PM Monday through Friday and 3 PM on Saturday and Sunday.
Can Plums Cafe accommodate groups?
Is Plums Cafe good for a special occasion?
Not if the goal is a formal or high-ceremony meal. Its casual dress code and daytime hours make Plums Cafe a better fit for a relaxed Costa Mesa stop than for a special-occasion dinner.
What time of day is best for Plums Cafe?
Plan for daytime rather than dinner. Plums Cafe runs 8 AM to 2 PM Monday through Friday and 8 AM to 3 PM on Saturday and Sunday, so plan around its daytime schedule.
What should I wear to Plums Cafe?
Keep it casual. The dress code for Plums Cafe in Costa Mesa is casual.
