ANQI
Asian Fusion · South Coast Plaza, Costa Mesa
Restaurant in Costa Mesa, United States
Book with PearlThe Read
Precision Asian Fusion
Chef
Tony Nguyen
Dress
Smart Casual
Why go
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. 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.
About ANQI
Who Should Book ANQI; and When
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.
The Case for Booking Now
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, 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, 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.
The atmosphere at ANQI reads as polished without being stiff. South Coast Plaza is upscale retail territory, 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.
What the Awards Tell You
Three consecutive years on OAD's North America list, Recommended in 2023, Ranked #462 in 2024, 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. 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.
Practical Details
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, 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:
How It Compares
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.
Planning details
- Location
- 3333 Bristol St, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
- Reservations
- Book on OpenTable
- Website
- anqibistro.com
- Phone
- (714) 557-5679
The take
The Take
The Vibe
ANQI presents a polished, confident take on Asian fusion that reads as both ambitious and accessible. Located in the South Coast Plaza corridor, it has earned repeat recognition from national dining guides, which positions it as a regional touchstone rather than a novelty. The restaurant leans into serious cooking without becoming forbidding: the kitchen’s technical chops and compositional clarity register alongside a contemporary dining aesthetic. For diners seeking a refined, modern evening out in Costa Mesa, ANQI offers a focused, elevated experience that holds its own next to Michelin-level peers in the neighborhood.
Best For
ANQI is best experienced in the evening and functions as a destination for date nights, special occasions and group dinners. The write-up situates the restaurant among high-caliber peers and highlights multi-year recognition on national lists, which signals consistency that guests can rely on for milestone meals or celebratory outings. Its location in the South Coast Plaza corridor makes it an easy choice for pre- or post-theater dining in the area and for parties that want a restaurant with demonstrable critical heft within Orange County’s dining scene.
Ordering Tips
Look for the signature preparations that have become shorthand for ANQI’s kitchen: Filet Mignon Potstickers, AN's Famous Garlic Noodles and Tombo Tuna Tacos are explicitly called out as standout dishes. These items showcase the restaurant’s fusion approach—combining classical technique with bold, approachable flavors—and make a useful starting point for a meal. If you’re sampling the menu, prioritize those signatures to get a clear sense of what the kitchen does consistently well; they are the dishes repeatedly highlighted in venue materials and descriptions.
Venue details
Ambiance
Beautifully decorated with chic red interior, glamorous lounge-like atmosphere, sophisticated and trendy with live music on select nights.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
Accessibility
At the Table
- Dress Code
- Smart Casual
- Noise Level
- Conversational
- Service Style
- Upscale Casual
- Meal Pacing
- Leisurely
- Capacity
- Large
Signature Dishes
- Filet Mignon Potstickers
- AN's Famous Garlic Noodles
- Tombo Tuna Tacos
Planning details
Location
Recognition and awards
Also consider
Also Consider
- Knife Pleat; Contemporary, $$$$
- Mastro’s Ocean Club; Seafood, Seafood
- Sidecar Doughnuts and Coffee; Doughnuts, Doughnuts
- Hana re; Japanese, $$$$
- Vaca; Spanish, $$$
Restaurant context
Against Costa Mesa's most-discussed dining options, ANQI fills a specific gap: national critical recognition (three consecutive OAD placements) 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 at the $$$$ tier; if a formal, French-influenced tasting experience is the goal, it outranks ANQI for occasion dining and is the stronger pick for a milestone dinner. Hana re also operates at $$$$ with a focused Japanese format and is the better choice if you want single-cuisine depth over fusion range. Both require more advance planning and higher spend than ANQI.
Vaca at the $$$ tier is the most practical alternative if you prefer Spanish cooking and a livelier room. It's well-regarded locally and books easily. Mastro's Ocean Club suits a different occasion entirely: louder, more celebratory, oriented around seafood and spectacle rather than cooking precision. If you're deciding between the two, Mastro's is the room for a group with a reason to be loud; ANQI is the room for a meal where the food is the point.
Sidecar Doughnuts and Coffee isn't a dinner rival but is the obvious morning-after move if you're staying nearby. For the full picture on dining and drinking across Costa Mesa, see our full Costa Mesa restaurants guide.
Explore Costa Mesa
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full ANQI guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare ANQI
| Venue | Awards | Price |
|---|---|---|
| ANQI | 2026 OAD Casual in North America Recommended2026 Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence2025 OAD Top Restaurants in North America2024 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Ranked · #4622023 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Recommended | |
| Knife Pleat | 2026 Michelin Plate2025 LA Times 101 Best Restaurants · #352025 Michelin 1 Star2024 LA Times 101 Best Restaurants · #202024 Michelin 1 Star | $$$$ |
| Mastro’s Ocean Club | No published awards | |
| Sidecar Doughnuts and Coffee | No published awards | |
| Hana re | 2026 Michelin Plate2025 Michelin Plate2024 Michelin 1 Star | $$$$ |
| Vaca | 2026 Michelin Plate2025 Michelin Plate2024 Michelin Plate | $$$ |
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Side-by-side comparison to help you decide where to book.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I wear to ANQI?
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.
What are alternatives to ANQI in Costa Mesa?
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 works if you want to stay in the Japanese-focused lane of Asian cuisine with serious culinary intent.
What should a first-timer know about ANQI?
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, 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.
How far ahead should I book ANQI?
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.
Is ANQI good for a special occasion?
Yes, provided Asian Fusion is the right format for your group. The OAD credentials give the dinner a sense of occasion, 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.
Is ANQI good for solo dining?
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.
