Wally's Cafe — Restaurant in Costa Mesa

Wally’s Café – A Flavor-Packed Layover in Lebanon (Without Leaving Costa Mesa)

We’re visiting from Florida, and let me tell you—we came hungry. I’m talking big eaters here: my husband and my son, who usually treat “serves 4” as a warm-up. But even they had to wave the white flag by the end of this meal.

We stopped by Wally’s Café, a small, tucked-away spot in Costa Mesa that looks unassuming from the outside but delivers a flavor experience that feels like you’ve taken a direct flight to Beirut—no passport required. It’s cozy, it’s casual, and it’s serving up serious flavor.

We ordered the chicken shawarma, beef shawarma, lamb kebab, lentil soup, salad, baklava, and the berry lemonade (because hydration should be delicious, too). Every single bite was a hit. The meat was seasoned with precision—juicy, flavorful, no shortcuts. The lentil soup was so good they offered us a free sample just to make sure we knew what we were getting into (spoiler: we ordered it immediately).

The rice? I don’t even know how to explain it. It was so fluffy it could’ve had its own bounce house. I’ve never had rice like that before—each grain was light and buttery, but still filling, like a magic trick in starch form. And the portions? Let’s just say we all ate like we were preparing for hibernation and still walked out with leftovers.

Now, let’s talk about that berry and lemonade drink. Divine. Nectar-of-the-angels kind of good. It was the perfect balance of tart and sweet, and it somehow tied the whole meal together like the final note in a song.

On top of it all, the team at Wally’s was so kind and welcoming. You can feel the love in the kitchen and in the customer service. This isn’t just food—it’s hospitality, culture, and comfort all in one.

Bottom line: If you’re in Costa Mesa (or within a 30-mile radius, honestly), do yourself a favor. Wally’s Café is a must. This place fed three grown adults with appetites like linebackers, and still gave us leftovers. That’s not just good food—that’s miraculous.

PS there was so much more food than in the picture , but I had to take the picture before they scarfed that...

Got to eat at SoCal’s first Wally’s location today! So clutch to have one locally. When I lived in San Francisco, Wally’s original location in Emeryville was one of my favorite hole in the wall local foodie spots. For those in the know, they’ve been recognized as being one of Yelp’s Top 100 Restaurants for many years! Their pomegranate chicken and lamb kabob were incredibly flavorful and perfectly juicy. The owners were there today and were really welcoming and served us themselves. I drove down an hour from Los Angeles to try it - can’t wait til they hopefully open one closer in LA sometime soon! Best Lebanese food I’ve ever had. Insider tip - they could create an entirely separate business selling their special new Bakalava ice cream, the creamy flavor and slight crunch of the pistachios hits the perfect note. Don’t miss out on trying this...

SO GOOD!!!

Being from metro Detroit where there is a a plethora of incredible Lebanese restaurants to choose from, I’ve been missing quality, authentic Lebanese food here in OC.

When I found out about Wally’s, I immediately added it to Google Maps. My husband and I were in the area recently and finally got to try it, and let me tell you- it did not disappoint. The combo shawarma plate was fantastic, the fattoush was perfect (it’s hard to get the dressing right!!), the hummus was phenomenal, and the staff was lovely.

The portions are also a great size, so my husband and I were able to split the combo plate and hummus appetizer and still have some leftovers.

This is exactly what I have been craving since moving to California 4 years ago. We finally found out go-to...