Restaurant in Costa Mesa, United States
OAD-ranked doughnuts. Walk in, no fuss.
Sidecar Doughnuts and Coffee is the strongest case for taking a doughnut stop seriously in Orange County. Ranked in the top 10 of Opinionated About Dining's Cheap Eats in North America list three years running (peaking at #6), it earns its reputation without pretension. Walk in, pick from what's in the case, and go early on weekdays or late on weekends when hours extend to 10 PM.
If you are looking for a weekend morning treat in Orange County, Sidecar Doughnuts and Coffee in Costa Mesa is where to go. This is the right call for anyone who takes doughnuts seriously: Opinionated About Dining has ranked it in the top 10 of its Cheap Eats in North America list for three consecutive years, hitting #6 in 2023 and holding at #9 in both 2024 and 2025. That kind of sustained recognition is not common in the doughnut category, and it is the clearest signal that this is not a casual neighborhood coffee shop you happen to pass through. Go early, go hungry, and if you have been once before, this guide will help you get more out of your next visit.
Sidecar is the right call for a relaxed morning with someone you actually want to talk to, a solo breakfast before a day of errands, or a low-key treat stop after the farmers market. It works well for small groups too, but the space and format are not designed around large parties or private dining in the way that a sit-down restaurant would be. If your occasion calls for a private room, a multi-course meal, or wine service, you are looking at the wrong category entirely: consider Knife Pleat or Hana re for that. Sidecar's sweet spot is exactly what it says it is: an outstanding doughnut and a well-made coffee, with no ceremony required.
The extended Friday and Saturday hours (open until 10 PM versus 7 PM on weekdays) are worth noting if you want a low-pressure evening option rather than a morning visit. An evening doughnut run is a genuinely underused way to end a night in Costa Mesa without committing to a full restaurant experience.
Sidecar operates out of a compact retail-format space at 270 E 17th St in Costa Mesa. The physical setup is counter-service and browse-and-order rather than a seated dining room, which means the experience is shaped by the case of doughnuts in front of you and how quickly you make decisions. It is not a linger-over-a-long-meal kind of room. If you are bringing a group, know that coordinating orders at the counter works better with four people than with ten. The setting is unpretentious and functional, which matches the point: the doughnuts are the draw, not the room.
For reference on what a doughnut-focused space can deliver at a similarly serious quality level elsewhere in the West, Dynamo Donut & Coffee in San Francisco and Pip's Original Doughnuts & Chai in Portland operate in the same register. Sidecar holds its own against both when the OAD rankings are the benchmark.
If you visited once and stuck to a classic option, the next move is to pay closer attention to what is in the case that day rather than defaulting to a familiar order. Sidecar rotates its selection, and what is available on a Tuesday morning will differ from a Friday evening. The founders, Sumter and Chi-Lin Pendergrast, have built the menu around variation rather than a fixed permanent lineup, which means repeat visits have a different logic than a restaurant with a stable menu: the leading approach is to arrive with an open mind rather than a predetermined order.
The OAD Cheap Eats recognition is also worth contextualizing for returning visitors: this is a list that evaluates value relative to what you pay, not just quality in absolute terms. The fact that Sidecar has held a top-10 position across three consecutive years suggests the quality has been consistent, not a one-year spike. That is useful information if you visited a while ago and are wondering whether it is worth going back.
Hours: Monday through Thursday and Sunday 6:30 AM–7 PM; Friday and Saturday 6:30 AM–10 PM. Reservations: Not required — walk in. Booking difficulty: Easy; no advance planning needed. Address: 270 E 17th St #18, Costa Mesa, CA 92627. Budget: Priced as Cheap Eats per OAD classification; expect to spend well under $20 per person for doughnuts and coffee. Dress: Casual; no expectations whatsoever. Leading for: Solo visitors, pairs, small groups of up to four.
Opinionated About Dining (OAD) ranked Sidecar #6 on its Cheap Eats in North America list in 2023, then #9 in both 2024 and 2025. OAD rankings are crowd-sourced from a network of serious eaters rather than professional critics, which means they reflect repeat visits and genuine enthusiasm rather than a single review cycle. A Google rating of 4.7 across 2,292 reviews adds a second, volume-weighted data point in the same direction: this is not a place propped up by one favorable press moment. For a Costa Mesa doughnut counter to appear on a North America-wide Cheap Eats list alongside major-city competitors is a meaningful credential. See our full Costa Mesa restaurants guide for how it sits within the broader dining picture here, or explore Costa Mesa bars, hotels, and experiences to plan the rest of your visit.
| Venue | Price | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Sidecar Doughnuts and Coffee | — | |
| Knife Pleat | $$$$ | — |
| Mastro’s Ocean Club | — | |
| Hana re | $$$$ | — |
| Vaca | $$$ | — |
| ANQI | — |
Comparing your options in Costa Mesa for this tier.
Go in the morning. Sidecar is a doughnut shop open from 6:30 AM daily, and the case is fullest early. By the afternoon on busy days, selection thins. Friday and Saturday hours extend to 10 PM if you want a late treat, but the morning window is when you get the most to choose from.
The venue database does not document specific dietary accommodation policies. Counter staff are your best resource on the day. As a doughnut-focused shop, options for vegan or gluten-free diners may be limited, so checking directly before making a trip specifically for dietary needs is advisable.
No reservation needed — walk in, browse the case, and order at the counter. Sidecar has ranked in Opinionated About Dining's Cheap Eats in North America top ten three years in a row (2023, 2024, 2025), so it draws a crowd on weekend mornings. Arriving early gives you the best selection and shortest wait. It is counter-service format, so budget five to ten minutes to get in and out.
The venue database does not list specific menu items, and generating specific dish recommendations without that data would risk inaccuracy. The practical move: scan what is in the case when you arrive rather than coming in with a fixed plan. The rotation is part of the draw, and the OAD recognition across three consecutive years reflects consistent quality across their range rather than a single standout item.
Only if the occasion fits a casual, counter-service format. Sidecar is a well-regarded doughnut shop, not a sit-down experience, so it works well for a birthday morning treat or a low-key celebration. For a dinner or a proper event, Vaca or Knife Pleat in the area are better fits. The OAD ranking signals quality, but the format is decidedly informal.
For a full sit-down meal rather than a quick stop, Vaca (Costa Mesa) covers Spanish-influenced fare and is a stronger option for groups wanting a proper lunch or dinner. Knife Pleat at South Coast Plaza is the area's fine dining reference point. For casual eating in a different format, ANQI offers a different direction. Sidecar has no direct doughnut-category rival with comparable OAD recognition in the immediate area.
Yes — counter-service format makes solo visits easy and unselfconscious. Walk in, order, and go. There is no awkward table-for-one dynamic. It is one of the lower-friction solo breakfast or coffee stops in Costa Mesa, and the no-reservation policy means no planning required.
Keep this venue in your Pearl passport, rate it after you visit, and track it alongside every other place you collect.
