Restaurant in Costa Mesa, United States
OAD-ranked Asian fusion; book before locals do.
ANQI is Chef Tony Nguyen's Asian Fusion restaurant in Costa Mesa's South Coast Plaza, recognized by Opinionated About Dining three consecutive years (2023–2025) and holding a 4.3 Google rating across 850 reviews. Easy to book and suited to serious food travelers, it fills a gap between Costa Mesa's $$$$ tasting-menu venues and casual dining — with national critical credentials at a lower commitment level.
If you're a food-focused traveler passing through Orange County, or a local who takes the Southern California Asian dining scene seriously, ANQI belongs on your list for this season. Chef Tony Nguyen's Asian Fusion restaurant at South Coast Plaza has earned consecutive recognition on the Opinionated About Dining Leading Restaurants in North America list — ranked #462 in 2024 and named a leading pick again in 2025 , which puts it in a very small group of Orange County restaurants that register on a national critical radar. That kind of sustained recognition suggests a kitchen that isn't coasting.
Asian Fusion as a category rewards seasonal attention more than most. The cuisines drawing from across East and Southeast Asia lean heavily on what's fresh and what's in peak condition , and the produce calendar in Southern California runs ahead of most of the country. Right now, late-season stone fruit, summer citrus transitioning to early autumn produce, and the warmth that drives patio dining all make this a strong window to visit. If the kitchen is dialed in seasonally (and OAD-listed restaurants generally are), you want to be there when the market gives them the most to work with.
The atmosphere at ANQI reads as polished without being stiff. South Coast Plaza is upscale retail territory, and ANQI fits the envelope , expect a composed, well-lit room with controlled energy rather than a loud, packed dining bar. It's a setting that works for conversation, which makes it practical for business dinners or dates where you actually want to hear each other. For a high-energy, late-night buzzy experience, this probably isn't your room. For a thoughtful meal with genuine cooking ambition behind it, it is.
Three consecutive years on OAD's North America list , Recommended in 2023, Ranked #462 in 2024, and back on the leading list in 2025 , is a meaningful signal. OAD rankings are driven by diner surveys from a food-serious crowd, so they reflect repeat visits and genuine enthusiasm rather than a single review cycle. A Google rating of 4.3 across 850 reviews adds a broader data point: the kitchen performs consistently for a wide audience, not just the tasting-menu circuit. For comparison, restaurants at this OAD tier in California tend to compete with venues like Single Thread Farm in Healdsburg or Lazy Bear in San Francisco for the attention of serious diners traveling the state , though those are higher-commitment formats. ANQI appears to offer critical credibility at an accessible entry point.
ANQI is located at 3333 Bristol St, Costa Mesa, CA 92626, inside South Coast Plaza. Booking difficulty is low , you should be able to secure a reservation without the weeks-out planning required at harder-to-book venues. Price range data isn't confirmed in our records, but South Coast Plaza positioning and OAD recognition suggest mid-to-upper pricing for the area: plan for a spend comparable to a $$$-tier dinner. Given the location and style, smart casual is a safe dress call , the room will skew put-together rather than casual. For the full picture on dining, drinking, and staying in the area, see our full Costa Mesa restaurants guide and our full Costa Mesa hotels guide.
For diners interested in how Asian Fusion operates at the highest level globally, Dos Palilos in Barcelona and Aalto in Milan offer useful reference points for what the format can achieve at full stretch. ANQI's OAD placement suggests it's operating well above the median for the cuisine type in North America.
Quick reference: Costa Mesa, South Coast Plaza | Asian Fusion | Chef Tony Nguyen | OAD Leading Restaurants 2023–2025 | Google 4.3/5 (850 reviews) | Easy to book.
Against Costa Mesa's most-discussed dining options, ANQI fills a specific gap: serious cooking with national recognition at a format that doesn't require a tasting-menu commitment or a month of advance planning. Knife Pleat is the area's most decorated contemporary restaurant and sits at the $$$$ tier , if a formal French-influenced tasting experience is what you're after, it outranks ANQI for occasion dining. Hana re operates at the $$$$ tier with a focused Japanese format and is the better call if you want a single-cuisine deep dive rather than fusion range. Both are harder to book and higher in total spend.
Vaca at the $$$ tier is a strong alternative if Spanish cooking and an animated room appeal more than Asian Fusion , it's well-regarded locally and easier to book on short notice. Mastro's Ocean Club is the area's most reliable seafood anchor and suits a different occasion: louder, more celebratory, less about cooking finesse. If you want to understand the difference between the two, Mastro's is the room for a group celebration; ANQI is the room for a meal you'll actually remember for what was on the plate.
Sidecar Doughnuts and Coffee isn't a dinner alternative but is worth knowing as a morning-after destination if you're staying nearby. For a broader view of what's worth your time in the area, our Costa Mesa bars guide, wineries guide, and experiences guide cover the full picture.
Smart casual is the right call. South Coast Plaza is upscale retail territory and ANQI's OAD recognition signals a room that skews put-together. You won't need a jacket, but overly casual attire would feel out of place. Think dinner-out clothes rather than business formal.
For higher-end occasion dining, Knife Pleat (Contemporary, $$$$) and Hana re (Japanese, $$$$) are the benchmarks. For a more animated, mid-tier experience, Vaca (Spanish, $$$) is the strongest alternative at a lower spend. Mastro's Ocean Club suits group celebrations rather than precision dining. See our full Costa Mesa restaurants guide for the complete picture.
ANQI is an Asian Fusion restaurant in South Coast Plaza, led by Chef Tony Nguyen and recognized by Opinionated About Dining three years running. It operates at a level above the typical mall-adjacent dining option , treat it as a destination rather than a fallback. Price range isn't confirmed in our data, but expect mid-to-upper pricing. Go with an appetite for range across Asian cooking traditions rather than a single cuisine focus.
Booking difficulty is low, which is a useful advantage given its OAD credentials. A few days' notice should be sufficient for most dates. If you're planning around a specific weekend or a larger group, a week out is sensible. You won't need the weeks-in-advance lead time that venues like The French Laundry require.
Yes, with the right framing. ANQI suits a birthday dinner, anniversary, or business dinner where you want a serious meal in a composed setting , not a loud, theatrical celebration. If a flashier occasion experience is what you need, Mastro's Ocean Club or Knife Pleat are better fits. ANQI's three consecutive OAD placements suggest it can anchor a meal that holds up in memory , which is what a special occasion actually needs.
Likely yes. The Asian Fusion format and a polished but not overly formal room make solo dining practical here. OAD-recognized restaurants in this category often have bar or counter seating options that suit solo diners, though seat configuration isn't confirmed in our data. Call ahead if solo counter seating is a priority. The manageable booking window also makes a spontaneous solo visit easy to arrange.
| Venue | Awards | Price | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| ANQI | Opinionated About Dining Top Restaurants in North America (2025); Opinionated About Dining Top Restaurants in North America Ranked #462 (2024); Opinionated About Dining Top Restaurants in North America Recommended (2023) | — | |
| Knife Pleat | Michelin 1 Star | $$$$ | — |
| Mastro’s Ocean Club | — | ||
| Sidecar Doughnuts and Coffee | — | ||
| Hana re | Michelin 1 Star | $$$$ | — |
| Vaca | $$$ | — |
Side-by-side comparison to help you decide where to book.
The South Coast Plaza address and three consecutive OAD North America appearances signal a dining room where guests typically dress up rather than down. Think polished casual at minimum — neat trousers, a clean dress, or a blazer. Activewear or beachwear will feel out of place.
Knife Pleat, also at South Coast Plaza, is the obvious comparison if you want a more formal, French-leaning tasting menu experience. Vaca is a strong alternative for Spanish-influenced cooking with a livelier atmosphere. Hana re is worth considering if you want to stay in the Japanese-focused lane of Asian cuisine with serious culinary intent.
ANQI has held OAD recognition since 2023 and ranked on the Top North America list in both 2024 and 2025 — that's a signal this is not a casual mall restaurant despite the South Coast Plaza location. Chef Tony Nguyen is leading the kitchen, and the Asian Fusion format means the menu pulls from a broad regional range rather than a single country's cuisine. Go with an appetite for variety and an open mind about what the menu is doing.
Booking difficulty is low compared to harder-to-get OAD-ranked restaurants, but that can change as the 2025 list ranking drives more attention. A week to ten days out should be sufficient for most nights; book further ahead for weekend evenings or if you're visiting around a holiday. Confirmation via the restaurant directly is advisable since hours and contact details are not widely published.
Yes, provided Asian Fusion is the right format for your group. The OAD credentials give the dinner a sense of occasion, and South Coast Plaza is a location where a special-night-out context lands naturally. If your party wants a more traditional Western fine-dining structure for a celebration, Knife Pleat nearby may be a closer fit.
Asian Fusion menus often suit solo diners well since the multi-dish format lets one person sample broadly without committing to shared plates. The South Coast Plaza setting also makes it practical — easy parking, a clear destination. That said, confirm seating options directly with the restaurant, as counter or bar availability is not documented in available records.
Keep this venue in your Pearl passport, rate it after you visit, and track it alongside every other place you collect.
