4. Restaurants

Pacific Whey Cafe

South Coast Plz,3333 Bear St, Costa Mesa, CA, 92628
  • (714) 641-9911
  • Store is closed

Pacific Whey Cafe Menu

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  • Kathi K.

    All this place has going for it is that it's convenient when you're at South Coast Plaza Crystal Court. The food is sub-par, including the baked goods and the service sucks! It's obvious they are not training their staff because you can't understand them and they don't even look at you when you're ordering. I ordered the Grilled Vegetable Quesadilla and I swear it had been microwaved...ugh! The rice and beans that came with it were meh. I split a fruit tart with my friend and we both said it looked better than it tasted. They're going to have to do better if they want my business again...even if it is convenient.

    (2)

  • Kathleen H.

    I was so incredibly disappointed with this place. The food selection is so so, the taste of the food is worse than so so, and the coffee is just pain disgusting! My dad and I ordered cappuccinos and they tasted like stale old coffee with some hot milk. The foam on the cappuccinos is inadequate and the milk was not even hot enough. The cookies are BAD. I mean, they looked really good over the counter, but boy, they tasted stale and overly sweet and buttery but didn't really have that good bite to it. Very strange... I don't even want to get started on the salad...

    (1)

  • Monica V.

    I like the Pacific Whey chain, and I've been to the Newport locations. This was my first time at the South Coast Plaza location. The pros: The Pacific Whey model works really well for a mall. You order and pay at the counter and they give you a number and bring out your food. Typical stuff, and it works well in a mall because it's nice when you're done to be able to just get up and go without waiting for the check, but at the same time, the food is a cut above "food court". Pacific Whey has never been cheap, and it really has never been consistent either. When it's on, it can be really good. I had an excellent sirloin burger at the San Miguel location once. This time I ordered a sirloin burger, medium, mustard but no mayonaise, and caesar salad, no dressing. I got: sirloin burger, well done, mustard and mayonnaise, caesar salad without dressing. So okay. I should have ordered it rare. And luckily they put mayonnaise all over both sides of the bun but very little on the burger itself, so I just didn't eat the bun. I hate mayonnaise. A lot. It is just hard to understand why such simple instructions are so hard to follow. I would say across all restaurants in all categories, they make mistakes like that 90% of the time. You would think the only interesting part of their hamburger-making job would be to figure out what special requests the customer had ordered on this particular burger. But apparently not. Here's a tip though - with the burgers, you can add special ingredients for another dollar. But if you order the caesar salad, they put so much grated parmesan on it, that you can put that on your burger and have a cheese burger without paying extra. Other observations - there are two pastry counters. The inside counter selection looked a lot sadder than the selection that faces out into the mall. More picked over, more overheated and melting icing. If you want a pastry, walk around to the outside to get one.

    (3)

  • Kevin W.

    It's pretty overpriced for the food that you're paying for. I had a BLT, and it looked like a flimsy piece of bacon sandwiches by 2 puny pieces of bread. If I'm going to spend that type of money for this type of food, I will head to Corner Bakery or Champagne. It's not bad, but not good either.

    (2)

  • Roup P.

    Surprisingly ok. Better than the crystal cove location. Great chicken panini special. Big sandwich with a salad for $7.95. Pretty tasty too! All baked goods 50% off after 6pm.

    (4)

  • Taeleng M.

    Service is not that great but the only thing I come back for is the 50% off bake goods after 5pm peoples that is good stuff.

    (3)

  • Teresa N.

    Pacific Whey Cafe has an extensive menu featuring fresh, homemade ingredients. It's a walk-up and order then seat yourself restaurant, which is great for families that want to pick their favorite spot in the restaurant and get the kids settled in while mom or dad orders. There's plenty of seating and tables can be pushed together to accommodate larger groups. Weekday lunch and weekend afternoons can get busy, but I've always been able to find an available table without hovering or stalking. Highlights: Breakfast Served All Day Enormous homemade cookies In addition, there are plenty of other choices ranging from daily special grilled paninis to salads, steaks, sandwiches, soups, and more. Restless kiddos or babies can be whisked away and taken for a stroll around adjoining Crystal Court or for a ride on the carousel. A bit pricey (easily $10+ per person), but quality and variety of food is good so it earns a solid three stars.

    (3)

  • Kendo U.

    Met a few friends visiting from out of town here for breakfast on Sunday morning. The mall wasn't open yet so we had some time to kill. May as well do it by adding some girth. You'll find this spot on the Crystal Court side of the mall on the first level. Eggs Benedict looked tasty and my bud scarfed it all down. I went with the Roast Beef Hash & Eggs. You get a decent sized portion of shredded roast beef with diced potatoes cut into mini cubes topped with 2 eggs (Sunny Side Up for me) and then smothered with Hollandaise Sauce. Accompanying this are two miniature slices of wheat toast and some fresh fruit. It was a decent sized breakfast but I still had room for 3 tacos from Jack in the Crack on the way home to fully satisfy the beast within. 3-1/2 stars from me. =)

    (4)

  • Danny D.

    Pretty good for Mall Food. Got the veggie quesadilla, which is filled with squash and zuccini. The beans and rice that came with it were nothing impressive, but the quesadilla itself was great. It was hard to find a seat because probably 7 tables had old drinks and food sitting on them, which I thought was pretty gross. Plus I had to get my own silverware... not sure why I left a tip at all.

    (3)

  • Daniel M.

    This review is for one thing.... $4.50 for Creme Brulee Bread Pudding. Awesome! Way better than I expected. They even re-heated it for us!

    (4)

  • Savannah M.

    Great value. Terrific sandwiches. Amazing chocolate chip cookies..and chocolate cupcakes...much better than those at Susie Cakes. Excellent service. Highly recommeded, one of the South Coast Metro's best spots for a snack while shopping.

    (5)

  • Liv E.

    This place is like a higher end Corner Bakery. Some Pros: I LOVE their pastries and dessert I'd rate their pastries at a 4.5 if I could! And I love it more most after 3pm specials all their pastries are 50% off. My boyfriend and I love this place and if we're craving anything sweet we make sure to come here. The cookies are moist and HUGE with a perfect amount of sweet. My boyfriend loves their german chocolate cake it's a mini cake layered with sweet coconut frosting I'm not a german chocolate fan but this is so good wow it has changed my mind. My fav is creme brulee bread pudding it is amazing!! It is super moist and flavored deliciously. There is a large selection of food to eat and pastries to order. Some Cons: I've only been here for breakfast/lunch and the food itself I'd say I'd rate right now is a 3. The food I've ordered is nothing to brag about I may try having lunch there again but I'm in really no rush.

    (3)

  • Ajay G.

    Pacific Whey has excellent, and often healthy or relatively healthy offerings, but they're painfully off-and-on by dish. I'd severely doubt that you could go here once and get an accurate impression of the food -- as opposed to other aspects, which are more consistent. Relax, though. That's what I'm for. This is going to spin together three portions, the breakfast items, the lunch and dinner items, and the bakery items. Fortunately, all three are great if you know what to look for. The bakery plugs their "award-winning chocolate cupcakes" but it's a little dubious if you've read the Register article which even gave the overall to Bristol Farms. Pacific Whey's cupcakes are better than the cupcakes at Bristol Farms. I'd basically rate them a tie for the best in Orange County, but that's not saying much. It's good frosting paired with mediocre, boring cake. It's a waste of time compared to the creme brulee bread pudding, a fantastic concoction that is the best thing I've tasted here. The fat-free mixed berry muffins are also extremely good -- very soft and creamy, inasmuch as muffins can be. I've seen two people try the chocolate torte, on the other hand, excitedly when seeing it and reacting with severe disappointment. The breakfast is served all day (of the hours Pacific Whey is open), and it's hard to go wrong here. What's great about all meals' entrees is that they give you a lot of ways to customize the sides, so there are breakfast options like tomatoes or fruit to avoid the potatoes. I've become a devotee of the buckwheat hot cakes over time, but the omelettes -- available with egg-whites -- can be good, too. The sandwiches are very off-and-on, from the delectable Cajun chicken to the boring turkey that makes you ask why you came there. I've been similarly disappointed with the fajitas, but the savories generally work well, especially the chicken primavera. The prices are generally high (this is South Coast), but worth it, especially for the ambiance. The person who referred to this as dirty must be blind. It's immaculate, and sophisticated in its decor, from the many tables to the counter to the bathroom. The service varies by person -- some of the staff is a little inattentive -- but it's fast casual, so there's some amount of "Who cares?" since they barely do anything. It also tends to have nice instrumental music when it's not too busy to hear it, and it's been surprisingly easy bringing kids here, although it's not like it's a Chuck-E-Cheese's.

    (5)

  • Jeff P.

    Their bakery gets 3.5 stars and their restaurant part gets 2. Prices are a little high, but this place is trying to be trendy. It's also located right in the middle of the Crystal Court section of South Coast Plaza, so I'm sure rent is high. With the open area seating and the fact SCP attracts plenty or pretty people, the people watching tends to be entertaining. We tried the Grilled Atlantic Salmon w/ four citrus sauce. Decent. The sauce was mostly a pineapple with a hint of grapefruit flavor. Couldn't really tell what the other two citruses were. Probably lemon and lime. Didn't ask. The Chicken Piccata was not good. Mostly an overcooked thing resembling a chicken breast with sauce, mashed potatoes and some green beans. At least you could use the chicken as a means to get the sauce to your mouth. Maybe it was made an hour ago and they had to microwave it. Caesar Salad and the Panini were wonderful. I recommend you go that route. The bakery - yum. Tried the bread pudding and some cookies. again, yum. Maybe next time we forgo the leathery chicken ball and just eat the bread pudding. Carbs with a side of fat are yummy.

    (3)

  • Lourdes N.

    "yay! i'm a fan.." of their classic chocolate cake! I just finished eating and was craving some cake for dessert. The cake was moist and not an overwhelming sweet.. it was just right. it's huge for an individual.. so i shared. they are supposedly "home made" the cake sure tasted homie. It's a cute little locacion' in the mall.. it's casual and has dark wood interior. Their menu ranged from chicken strips to chicken fajitas..salmon tacos to omelettes.. but i just had the cake. Everything looked pretty delissh though, when i'm at the mall again i'm going to give the rest of the menu a try.

    (4)

  • Ricky Y.

    Got a Patty Melt... Onions and Peppers were okay. Bread was fine. They asked me how I would like it cooked, which surprised me for counter service. I replied that I'd like it cooked medium. Sat for a few minutes and got up to get silverware, and a water. I saw my food sitting in the window, ready to be run. I sat back down at my table, and waited for another two minutes before my food was delivered to my table. (It was not busy) The burger was very well done, and the salad was 70 percent dressing, 20 percent cheese, 5 percent crutons, and 5 percent lettuce. it was not good.

    (1)

  • Andrea K.

    It's always really busy here but that's probably because it's inside South Coast Plaza, which is ALWAYS busy. Their pastries are good but I've had better. Their actual food is tasty (depends on what you get). The chicken strips are really yummy for some reason. The service can be slow. A table next to us said they had waited 30+ minutes and hadn't received their order yet and were about to leave. It feels kind of sticky and humid in there..maybe it's just me though! It's slightly expensive...same price as a sit down dinner with waiter service would be.

    (3)

  • SoCalSparky o.

    Good for brunch and lunch. Outdoor seating and indoor seating. Service isn't great, but the food is good. Works well if you are at the mall and/or near the mall and don't want to battle the big crowds at the more crowded locations.

    (3)

  • Leslie H.

    Part of this place's fault isn't entirely the individual employees - it's a terrible business model: make customers wait in a long, slow line to order, then sit and wait a long time for person bringing out your food to stumble on your table. The cashier is also doing drinks, creating a major bottleneck at the front. And, the price is about what you'd pay at any other place where you'd be waited on the whole time. Of course, there are plenty of times when the employees were at fault - not staffing correctly (you need more than one cashier/drink person when you have 5 groups in line), no pens at the checkout, exasperated cashier when I wanted to substitute and the chef made terrible food. We ordered hot breakfast food and it was cool by the time it came to us (again, could be biz model of the wanderer). The fruit was good and if you like unmelted butter on cool toast, that was good. Otherwise, the avocado was nasty and the omelette and potatoes were bleh and did I mention cool? The OC really should be able to do better - not sure why a decent breakfast is so hard to manage down here?

    (1)

  • Richard L.

    Really yummy baked goods and eggs Benedict. Their baked goods are 1/2 off after 6pm, woohoo! Great service and location. Great place to stop when shopping at South coast compared to the other expensive choices.

    (4)

  • Keven W.

    I think this place is okay. It is nothing to jump up and down and nothing to say that I would go back and do it all again. It was once in a great whille I would go back. I went for their special of get a free dessert if a dinner is purchased. I ordered the fish and chips, but that was just okay and nothing to jump up and down. They did not give yu too many fish and chips like 4 sticks, but they gave you plenty of fries like half the plate because it was probably cheaper and then the coleslaw on top of that. The desert was good, but probably better fresh. I guess that is why it is half off after 4pn,

    (3)

  • H. B.

    My daughter and I ate here because we somehow missed the Japanese restaurant we wanted and were starving. Daughter had been to Pacific Whey before and said it was okay. They have a large menu for a place of its size and ilk, with lots of traditional breakfast foods as well as salads, soups, burgers and such. My daughter ordered oatmeal while I had a chicken salad sandwich and salad. She said the cereal was good. I thought the chicken salad was a bit on the lemony side, but well prepared, and the Caesar salad it came with (I could have had hand crafted potato chips as an alternative) was surprisingly large and nicely seasoned. This is a restaurant opening out onto the South Coast Mall and an excellent vantage point for watching cougars play. Casual and comfortable. The patron places his own order at the counter and the food is delivered by a waitperson.

    (3)

  • Syd M.

    After a full day of shopping at South Coast Plaza my bff and I decided to grab a quick dinner before heading back to LA. We decided on Pacific Whey. Quite the variety on the menu and they serve breakfast all day. Here you order at the counter and they then bring you the food when ready. I chose the Filet Mignon and Eggs. I figured this was a nice combo for a breakfast/dinner selection. The meal comes with two pieces of filet (The portion would fit in the palm of your hand. Smallish, but just enough) sliced potatoes, eggs (egg whites only for me) , toast and fresh fruit. A nice generous portion for a $14.95 price tag. The meal was ok, nothing spectacular, but this is a "mall restaurant" and for the price it was a good meal to end the day with. There really isn't too much of the service to speak of, but the cashier and the server who brought out our food (one in the same) were pleasant and courteous. I'm not certain that I would revisit when in the area but it's not out of the question.

    (3)

  • Megan M.

    So I've been here twice and it hasn't been that great. I had the burger the first time, ordered it medium and it came over-well and very dry. My dad had an omelet and it was okay, my mom had the meatloaf and it was cut thin, had too many spices, and was dry. My mom did have the chicken potpie once and it was okay. I was excited to see the desserts, but was disappointed. There was nothing fluffy or most about the German Chocolate Cake and the Red Velvet Cupcake tasted like a Yellow cupcake from a Duncan Hines box with red food coloring.

    (1)

  • Diane S.

    Not impressed. Too expensive, food just wasn't that good. Only went since I was at Crystal Court, won't go back.

    (2)

  • lisa n.

    So my friends and i went here after we couldn't decide what to eat after our shopping trip to H&M and we just wanted something where we weren't going to sit down for an hour or more. So we saw Pacific Whey and decided to give it a shot. Since i'm picky about what I eat, I ended up getting breakfast and my friends got lunch. I got the pancake-crepes. These were good. The most fabulous thing about it was the whipped cream. When it came out with and i tried the trawberries and the fresh whipped cream i about died =P even my friends were skeptical but when they tried it--same thing, amazing. The other fruit that came with it was okay, but not the best i've ever had. As for my friend's meals, they both got sandwiches which they both said were pretty good, if just a bit too tall to fit in their mouths. So silverware became necessary and slightly inconvenient. *shrug* but we all dealt with it and came out pretty satisfied at the end of lunch. =) The food did take a bit to come out, and the service was so-so, but overall i was pretty happy with lunch. So the best thing i could say is go in and give it a try, and see what you think. I still want to go back and try more of the menu and really see if the rest is good too. =)

    (4)

  • Mark L.

    Bought a slice of carrot cake yesterday and it had no cream cheese! Just regular white icing. It was also overly sweet so I called the store on Jan 25 and the man who claimed to be in charge just said oh yeah, they changed the recipe and that is how it will be from here on. Because the carrot cake is my favorite I am submitting this protest in the hope they will reverse the change.

    (2)

  • Gabby H.

    I'd give Pacific Whey 3.5 stars. It's basically a higher class Corner Bakery. On a Saturday at lunch time, it was packed and the line to order was long. It did move somewhat quickly though, and we had ample time to make eyes at the amazing pastries and sweets. I was impressed at the menu...they have a lot to chose from! I decided to go with the panini of the day, which was meatloaf. Yes, you read correctly, a meatloaf panini. Who knew! I also ordered an iced tea, which was flavored mildly. For everything, it was about 12 bucks. Not bad at all, but some menu items were way pricier. My panini was good. The meatloaf itself was delish and well flavored. The sandwich also had crispy onion straws and a chipolte aioli. Different! I was with two friends, and we all wanted to try each other's selections. So I also had a quarter of the pastrami sandwich. I really liked that they added lettuce, tomato and onion. It made the usual heavy pastrami lighter. And then I tried the cajun chicken sandwich, which was just alright. I'm not sure what was cajun about it...it seemed like a pretty basic chicken sandwich. We all opted for salad instead of chips, and that was just alright too. All in all, I'd go back if I was hungry and in Crystal Court, but I don't think I would make a special trip just to eat at Pacific Whey.

    (4)

  • Mia P.

    Good coffee and breakfast. I also love their champange and dessert.

    (3)

  • John A.

    For the value of getting more than what you pay for... plus the consistently good food, this place is the best option at South Coast Plaza. Every time I'm stuck here shopping, I will cross the bridge for Pacific Whey. The best value is the $9.99 dinner and dessert combo. Your choice of a few dinner options (meatloaf and lasagna are awesome) plus any dessert. The food is consistently good and high quality for the price you pay. Desserts have only been bad once out of my many trips here. My only concern is that half the desserts are non-refrigerated and stored exposed to the elements. Not even a sliding glass window protects my chocolate dessert from the elements. However, I've never found any flies around this place.

    (5)

  • Vivan K.

    Do I smell banana pancakes? The ultimate BEST here. After black friday, I got back at 7am from shopping and was craving the banana pancakes. You say Pacific Whey, I say wha wha? BANANA PANCAKES! Breakfast is served ALL DAY. Order at the cashier, take a number, grab your silverware and take a seat. Don't expect full service because it's cafe style. It's more suitable for a mall location anyways. Located in the Crystal Court of South Coast Plaza. Omelettes, sandwiches, pastries, quesadilla, pasta, they've got it and I've tried it. Whichever you decide to order, don't forget a side of the banana pancakes. =) And not to mention, I aLWAYS order the freshly squeezed OJ to go along with my meal.

    (4)

  • Raj R.

    Their chocolate chip cookies ($2) are among the best I've ever had! They are soft and chewy yet still have a little crisp. BTW: 50% off baked items after 4pm. My sister frequently brings me one after she comes back from the mall.

    (5)

  • Kelly N.

    I have yet to be impressed with any of their non-breakfast, non-dessert offerings, but I love their breakfast and dessert offerings so much that I'm giving it 4 stars anyway (but only because breakfast is offered all day!). It's nice that they close a bit later (10pm) than the stores @ South Coast so you can always stop by for a meal after shopping. I die for their eggs benedict and creme brulee bread pudding.

    (4)

  • Don T.

    If Panera Bread and Ihop had an illegitimate child, it would be Pacific Whey. The menu consists of everything from scrambles and pancakes, to new york steak sandwiches. All of these entrees aren't denny's style too. They taste really good and you can tell you're gettin your moneys worth. I had the pastrami sandwich and it was good- quality pastrami. Fellow yelper-friend Jun had the Pacific scramble, and that was good too. Also some guy asked if i wanted a refill on my iced tea which was cool because i'm not used to that service from a Panera-Bread like place where u order and they just give you a number. I didnt get a chance to try the pastries there but from what i saw there was crap load of muffins, bagels, cookies. They looked reaaaaly good too. I dont even remember the names because they were long, but they looked like they took a long time to make. If you're at the Crystal Court side of South Coast Plaza, go here. You wont be dissapointed. Very wide selection of entrees and drinks along with abuncha pastries. In fact, i wanna go there again, rite now.

    (5)

  • Amy Y.

    the baked goods are reasonably priced only when they are on sale, other than that don't even bother looking at them. sometimes they're over-baked and burnt, and at times they're under-cooked. their cakes look delicious but sometimes i question if they've been sitting in the fridge for more than a day and selling old cakes. the quality of food has been cheapened obviously, they're not using their high quality bread anymore. the bread tastes like they're bought whole-sale as opposed to baking them in their own oven. the ingredients taste like any other restaurants i've been to, its not what it used to be 5-6 years ago. the fruits looks bruised and cheap and the quality is not what it used to be. i'm disappointed b/c for the price on the menu this ain't a 5-star cafe anymore. this cafe can do better, and its missing something; originality (it was 3-4 years ago). the employees are decent. i've had better service, but considering how they are managed and how the customers can pull them in so many different ways, the employees are doing the best they can from what i can tell. it doesn't help when your manager is counting tips on the back counter while there's only 1 cashier managing drinks and other registers. it also doesn't help when i see other employees playing with their phone or talking to other employees. i wonder if they know that some customers are watching them. it makes me not want to go back. Plus, there's trash everywhere. I do not want to be seated next to a filthy table with crumbs all over the floor and strawberry jam all over the table. gross. so why the two stars? thanks for the nice ambiance.

    (2)

  • Heather J.

    Not bad for a quick bite to eat while shopping. They have a good selection of sandwiches, burgers, soups, pastas, etc... and the baked goods looked pretty good too!

    (3)

  • Joseph H.

    Hungry at the mall. Wanted sandwich. Decided to live on the wild side and try something new. I got the half sandwich with the chili. The chicken salad sandwich was undoubtedly the best I've had (it wasn't runny)...the chili however claimed to be filled with chunks of Filet Mignon...trust me, it was NOT (and don't dare try it). Was my meal worth the $12.00 I payed for? Probably not. But such are the laws of hungry-shoppers in a mall.

    (3)

  • Robert C.

    Technically I want to give it three and a half stars, but since I can't do that, 4 it is. You know that Old Spice ad with Bruce Campbell? Not the one where he covers Duran Duran, but the one where he starts off "If you have it, you don't need it. If you need it, you don't have it. etc etc etc" The older confirmed established gentleman feel that the room had there? Older oak, brown hues, etc? Yeah, this place is like that, except without the overstuffed chairs. Which is fine, because faded red overstuffed chairs aren't really that comfortable in my opinion, and that noise they make when you sit in them... But I digress. The atmosphere at this... Bakery Cafe(?) is pretty good. Opening up to the ground level of the off site part of South Coast, this is the place to go when you think Panera Bread is played out, but you want good eats, and like to be looked at. Breakfasts here are pretty decent, and fairly tasty. The potatoes on the scramble and omelette plates are ok, but could stand a bit more seasoning. The bacon is nice and crisp, and the dishes that I have ordered here all came with fruit which was good. The sandwiches are pretty good as well. The bread they use is pretty good, and makes the 4 stars stay. Simple food that's done well, and tastes good to boot. Basically, eat here if you go to SouthCoast.

    (4)

  • Cassie P.

    I have been eating at the original Pacific Whey in Newport Beach for many, many years. I have gone to the one in Crystal Cove several times. For the most part, I have eaten many great meals at both locations. We didn't hesitate to try the newest location in Crystal Court. Even though we knew Pacific Whey had changed owners and this new spot has been entirely created by the new team how bad could it be? Hmmmmm.... On a Friday evening there was no line :), counter service was good and efficient. Our food came in a short amount of time and our order was correct. All good stuff. Then we started to eat. YUCK! We all (5 of us) got pretty quiet. This food tasted and looked like food that had been cooked, frozen and reheated. The highlights.....a B.L.A.T. sandwich served w/ unripe avocados, undercooked bacon and a side of Cesar salad that was covered in dressing that resembled anchovie paste. A chicken pot pie that was basically cream of chicken soup w/ some broccoli in it. A beef panini that was just so wrong in so many ways that one bite was taken out of it and left soaking in the oil from the potato chips (?) ......I could go on but my stomach reliving last nites yucky feeling as I type it out. This experience kinda ruined it for us. We won't be back here or to any of the others.

    (2)

  • Shara N.

    **NOTE*** I have only ate the cupcakes from this place. I WILL slowly eat the other foods when I have time. Okay, I just ate one of the worst cupcakes ever. I'm highly disappointed. It looked so good in the window. 3.51 was my total for a cupcake. I'm thinking hey, if it's good then it's worth it! I was so WRONG. I got the red velvet one. Hmms. . the cake part wasn't too airy or fluffy. It really did remind me of muffins, that were left out after a few days. Not so fluffy. Bah Humbug! The frost was the worst. I think it was buttercream. The frost also felt like it was dried up. The outside was hard and the inside was a wierd stiff cream. The worst 4 bucks, I've spent on cupcakes. bah. SOMEONE show me the LIGHT to expensive cupcakes that are heavenly!

    (2)

  • Graham L.

    this place easily wins the record for worst chicken pot pie ever... Its served in a pre-made crust/bowl thing served on a plate.. who thought that was a good idea? anyway this pie/bowl thing taste like it was made a few months ago so maybe i wasn't supposed to try a bite, my mistake.

    (1)

  • Stephanie W.

    My first visit was the Newport Coast location (who can beat that view!) so how happy was I to find this place at Crystal Court before hitting the shops for some serious shopping? Based on a scale between "Yum" and "Yummy Yum Yum", here we go: *Cobb Salad = "Yum". Very tasty, full of flavor. *Cherry/Toffee Cookie = "Yum". I like cherries. I love toffee. Together, what's not to like? *Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie = "Yummy Yum Yum"...can you taste it? Well, you need to. The only downside is this is inside the mall and it got jam packed over the weekend.

    (4)

  • Cayleen O.

    Asked for new york steak medium rare... recieved well done. Bland cesaer salad. What dressing? Tuna sandwhich below par. Watery clam chowder with expected clam chowder taste.

    (2)

  • Sarah G.

    Their iced tea tastes like Robitussin.

    (1)

  • Selena B.

    I just came here today and I was pleasantly surprised. My mom and I were at Crystal Court and couldn't decide between CPK express and Pacific Whey. We decided on Pacific Whey, and I ordered the house salad with grilled chicken. I was a little worried at first, as the place kind of looks like a corner bakery (which I do not like). But surprisingly, the food was very fresh and delicious. The chicken looked and tasted like it had just been grilled, and was moist and warm. Salad was very fresh. I would definitely recommend this place.

    (4)

  • Alina S.

    I want to give this place 3.5 stars but can't, and the only reason I'm not giving 4 stars is because I've been to some extraordinary places in the last couple months that have upped the ante for my pallette. That being said, I have a great first impression of this place. You order at the counter and then they serve you your food after you find a seat. My friend and I had to let a few people go ahead of us to order, because their menu is so wonderfully extensive and enticing that you have a hard time deciding what to order! Anything from breakfast plates, omelettes, or fancier breakfast quesadillas that are served ALL day (YAY), to panini sandwiches or hot plates, to the drool-soliciting desserts on display while you stand in line trying to decide how to not just order EVERYTHING. Ended up getting the Country French Omelette - goat cheese, leeks, oven-roasted tomatoes - delicious! Choice of toast made from bagette bread, either white or whole grain. Loved the bagette bread twist, as opposed to just regular toast. You also get fresh fruit and scallopped potatoes. All this for just $10. Coffee was nothing particularly special, but at least they gave a BIG generous cup. Good stuff, and would definitely come back again! By the way, I'm not sure why this place is listed as being on Bristol. It's really off Bear, inside Crystal Court, next to Borders and Crate and Barrel.

    (3)

  • charles b.

    Great food honestly. I had the grilled chicken fettuccini with tomato cream sauce. It was good and the chicken was juicy. The pasta was cooked perfectly. Having said that I don't think the dish was worth 17 dollars!!! I don't know what I thought I was getting for that amount of money. How stupid of me. Their baked goods are just that. Good. The icing on the cupcakes is reprehensible unless you like unflavored butter as a type of icing. Although I may have gone there on an off day because two coworkers of mine go there all of the time and rave about their frosting. It's nice that after 3:30 all of their baked goods and even their yogurt parfaits get priced at half off. Their coffee drinks are good not great. The service is sweet and simple. They know their stuff I just wish they executed their frosting better. After all aren't cupcakes their claim to fame in these here parts?

    (3)

  • Jonathan T.

    trapped in the furthest corner of South Coast Plaza, past some outdoor 'garden' and a ghost town-like annex building a good 15-20 min walk back to the car on the bloomingdales side (no exaggeration, no bs!) , the hunger pangs set in after shopping. in this remote quadrant of south coast, it was either california pizza cafe/kitchen (blech, i got food poisoning last time i ate there), or some crappy italian place. Pacific Whey looked inviting enough, with a very extensive menu from breakfast to dinner to pastries, which left me suspect 1. it's in a mall 2. it's in a mall well, suspicions were realized. 1. the pacific coast salad---too soggy, much too much dressing, and the 'scoop of tuna' was a heaving thick coat of greasy mayo goop. 2. the salmon in 'citrus sauce' with green beans and mashed potatoes---got like 4 beans and a huge glop of potato goo, waaaay too much. shoulda ordered double green beans and foregone the mash. and the 'citrus sauce' was a heavy molasses glaze of artificially flavored citrus. 3. the Chili side was actually pretty decent, though a bit too salty. Three stars, b/c, like, hellooooo Jonathan you doofus, it's mall food! done.

    (3)

  • Melissa B.

    To me a B.L.T.A would come on "toasted" sourdough bread, but when they brought it to me it was not. Maybe that's just me. The prices are a little high, but I really do love their roast beef sandwhich and potato chips. Never seems all that busy at lunch time when I go with a friend, and they are pretty quick.

    (3)

  • Doc M.

    This place is a joke. I am writing this as I am eating here. I got a sandwich and the gf got chicken tacos. The sandwich is something I could have made at home. The Cesar salad is the highlight and even that is mediocre. The chicken tacos my gf got looked and tasted like they were fresh out of a microwave. Again, the mediocre Cesar salad was the best part. On top of this, the place is filthy. You don't get ice if you only want a water. Everything was just bad. Stay far away. Go to wahoos up the stairs.

    (1)

  • W Y.

    Ate there for the first time today. The service was terrible and the cashier and servers were not very friendly. The food was okay, however, my friend ordered the fish and chips and it came out on the cool side. We told the server and she said "so you want me to take it back" and a few minutes later it came back so we are guessing they just put it in the microwave to warm it up. Also the fish are more like fish sticks, you get 3 of them and not what we expected. I won't be going back to this place.

    (1)

  • Jalop N.

    I will probably spend more time in this review than the time I spent at Pacific Whey Cafe. Went straight to the cafe off the main dining section to get chai latte. It has the same flavor as the better chais; a hint of jasmine that persists to the last drop.

    (3)

  • Jonas T.

    I tried their bread pudding. It was huge, which is a good thing, but it was dry. Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't bread pudding supposed to be soft and moist? This one felt like a brick. I'll have to come back and try their other stuff though, just to be fair.

    (2)

  • Virginia S.

    ok, i am obsessed with this restaurant for lunch! it is really expensive but the food tastes so fresh and every dish i have ordered has been totally awesome. it really is like an upscale corner bakery. their pastries are to die for! try the bitter sweet chocolate rugalach-it made me really really happy. and the pacific coast salad is pretty much amazing. they also have $2 coronas at lunch time-dangerous! havent been here for dinner yet, but i'm sure i will soon!

    (4)

  • Mel C.

    I only grabbed a snack here while I was in the middle of some hardcore shopping at south coast plaza this afternoon. The baked goods looked very tempting- I saw some items that piqued my interest- it was a tough choice between a cherry oatmeal toffee cookie, a bittersweet chocolate espresso cookie, and a bittersweet chocolate walnut rugaleh, but I opted for the rugaleh instead. For $2.95 the rugaleh was huge and tasted like a chocolate croissant. It was delicious and not too sweet -just the way I like it. My friend got a small chai latte for $3 - pretty pricey for such a tiny cup, but it's the OC...

    (4)

  • Judy W.

    My husband and I went here for lunch today and have to say their rating went way down from our last experiences. Don't know if this location has a new manager or what but customer service at this loaction is in the toilet. I ordered the tuna melt on toasted sourdough bread, fries and iced tea with a lot of ice. My husband ordered the mac and cheese and the menu said add a salad or soup for $1.98 more so he chose the chili from the soup menu and iced tea with extra ice. We paid for our meals and the cashier got our teas. Barely any ice in the glass so gave them back to have more ice added. When we sat down I checked our receipt and found she had charged us $6.99 for the chili. Got back in line and when it was my turn again I told the cashier she had overcharged us for the chili. I was then told that my husband had chosen the chili not a soup. I pointed out that chili was listed under soups on their menu board but she said it is not considered a soup so I changed the order to the tomato pepper soup. I asked for a refund of the difference and she said she would have to check. She then left the counter for about 5 mintues...all the while the line was getting longer behind me. When she came back she said to go back to my table and the manager would bring me the refund. Our food arrived and the tuna melt was good but a little odd as it had shreaded carrot in it. The bread was very fresh and the fries were good. My husbands soup was outstanding but the mac and cheese was like Kraft we can make at home. Nothing special about it and tasted very plain. Wasn't even baked, just spooned out of a pan into a dish. We took our time and when we had finished we still hadn't seen the manager or my money. I stopped a server and explained to him that we were waiting for the manager and he suggested I get back in line and let the cashier know. I explained I had already been in that line twice and wasn't getting back in it. He said he would tell the manager. Another 10 - 15 mintues went by with us just sitting there looking atour empty plates and the server finally came by and handed me my money and left. No manager, no apology, just handed mt the money and left. They have a new menu and have dropped the build your own burger as well as the senior menu. They have also raised their prices. You just don't get the same quality for the amount of money you pay. And once you order your food you better hope you don't need anything else. Oh yeah, when the srever brought our food he asked if there was anything else he could get us and I asked for ketsup...he pointed to the other end of the restaurant and said it was down there if I wanted it. Never said he would get it and bring it to me. Why did he ask if there was anything else he could get us??? Like I said, customer service here sucks. We won't be back here since there are a lot of other choices in the mall. Too bad because this used to be one of our favorite lunch or breakfast places when in that area.

    (2)

  • Michele U.

    yummy sandwiches with either homemade potato chips or a great side ceasar salad. tasty baked good too.

    (4)

  • Andru P.

    why!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    (1)

  • Corie P.

    I am sick and tired of getting a cold breakfast!!!!!!!!! For the last two times I have been, I have ordered Eggs Benadict. Both times it has come out cold!!! Don't you think if your're going to spend $13 for breakfast the damn thing should come out hot? Teach the cooks - and I mean cooks, NOT chefs how to cook. How to use a flippin' microwave. It's called HEAT. If your gonna fake the breakfast by having it already done, then at least heat it up. Seems to me for the prices they're charging, the food should taste better and be hot when it's supposed to be hot. Truly disappointed in this place. I won't order breakfast again. The cookies are good and The lunch is okay, but I think I'll stick with Cosi. At least for their prices you get pretty good food. Pacific Whey, you lost some very valuable business.

    (2)

  • Molly H.

    Just finished a quick "business breakfast" here and was very disappointed. The eggs (scrambled) tasted "off" -- really, to the point that I took two bites and left the rest. The sausage was like eating a stick of lard. No flavor, just salty and fatty. Two teeny-tiny "hotcakes" and a mini piece of toast. I had opted to skip the potatoes. OK fruit salad as a side dish. My friend had the chocolate chip pancakes and said they were fine. Nothing to write home about, and it's in a mall. I guess you get what you pay for.

    (2)

  • Ingrid V.

    The Mushroom Brie Soup was phenomenal!! It was so earthy and savory and creamy. One of the best soups I've tried recently. Sadly, the rest of the meal was pretty underwhelming. I tried the southwest salad with grilled chicken. The chicken was dry and overcooked, the salad was doused in more oil than vinaigrette. My guy got the pastrami panini. He will usually let me know what he likes about something (since he knows I'm on Yelp all the time lol) but all he could say was, "It was Meh." It's the kind of place that is set up so you grab a menu and wait in line to order with the cashier, then find a seat and put a table number up for the food runner to deliver your food. However they didn't have a drink station for refills (just water) so you'd have to try and flag someone down to get a refill. 4 Stars on the Mushroom Soup. 2 Stars on everything else. Glad I tried it, but probably wont be back... there are much better options in South Coast Plaza for the the prices.

    (3)

  • Alisea G.

    The caprese was awesome and the fries were just right. The quesadilla had to much green bell paper and the ham and Swiss sandwich wasn't toasted sourdough and the cheese was unmelted. But the atmosphere was nice. The staff was very attentive.

    (4)

  • Edward K.

    Had half of a tuna salad sandwich on a baguette. Problem was the baguette was not. It was a soft,not crisp, roll. The salad was a Caesar and it was good, nice crisp lettuce. But beware the inappropriately named baguette. Corner Bakery is vastly superior.

    (1)

  • Kathy T.

    BLAHHH! I got a Groupon for this place. Thank goodness I did because I would not want to pay full price for the food here! Patty Melt - bland, greasy sandwich. Each bite was oozing with fatty juices. It was disgusting. My sandwich came out a bit soggy and the flavoring was so bland. Lasagna with meat - This came out a hot mess. Sauce everywhere. Can't even tell where the lasagna started or ended. It was as if they just took all the ingredients to lasagna and dumped it into a bowl. Flavoring wasn't BAD, but wasn't great either. You'd be better off with a frozen Stouffer's lasagna. I won't be coming back for sure...

    (2)

  • Debby L.

    I've only been here twice, once for breakfast and once for dinner. I think this place deserves only 3 stars because of its price. The food isn't bad, but it isn't worth 20 dollars a meal! The atmosphere is nice and the layout is good for a mall. I've been to the Pacific Whey in Irvine, and they have the best muesli. [I think they put honey in it] so we came to this location for breakfast, thinking the menu is the same. It's not. They have breakfast here, but no muesli!! WHY? I don't know, but I was sad and it lost a star for that. The other day, I came back for dinner because my friend said they had good salads. I got the Pacific Coast salad with added chicken and a cappuccino. The salad was good, but the chicken was not. It was so dry and I barely ate any. Not only that, but it costs about 4 dollars more to add chicken! The cappuccino was below par, a bit burnt. Total bill: 19 dollars. Yeeesh. My friend ordered a similar salad but with salmon. We also ordered the Friexenet champagne, but it was expensive for half a bottle. It costs the same for a full bottle at Ralphs. The champagne was good, but then, I knew that already since I buy the full bottle often at the grocery store. Overall, Overpriced.

    (3)

  • Levi L.

    Really great location in the Costa mesa mall first of all. This place reminds me of corner bakery but better.there cookies and pastries are great and I recommend for pasta lovers a creamy tomatoes pasta.enjoy.

    (5)

  • Jerome W.

    Casual eatery conveniently located in Crystal Court (South Coast Plaza). But after eating here, I wasn't very impressed with the food. They have a wide variety of baked goods like cookies, danishes, cupcakes, and even a barista if you're on-the-go. You have to wait in line and sometimes the line can be LONG. They have soups, hot and cold sandwiches, and a variety of dishes. You order at the counter and they bring you your food. I had the Roast Beef Sandwich and there was more lettuce on my plate and maybe two slivers of roast beef. They should call it a lettuce sandwich with roast beef sprinkles. Ryan M. got the patty melt and it was decent. The fries were really good too. My nephew got the chicken tenders with fries, which is a good dish for the kids. Overall, the food was hit and miss. I find this place to be almost like step up from Panera Bread or maybe a Corner Bakery. Their prices are a bit high, but I don't blame them based on their location. Rent must not be cheap. They seem understaffed as many of the tables in the seating area weren't clean and the condiment station looked used and abused. Still, the folks that were working there were trying to hustle. Overall, it's a good place to try for a quick bite, but don't expect greatness.

    (3)

  • Swatee G.

    So for lunch one day, I ended up here for lack of other(Quicker)options at the South Coast Plaza mall. I ordered a Veggie Burger (NOT the best of chocies I have been told by Patrons of this place), but it was NOT good! It was under-seasoned, not well cooked, and the burger itself looked like a sloppy, hurriedly put together job. Needless to say, I did not eat the whole thing, and vowed not to visit again! Well, my co workers inisisted I visit the place once more, just to change my opinion, and I was like .. wwhat the hell, let's give it another try! So this time, I opted for the grilled salmon on a bed of mashed potatoes and a side Salad. The Grilled Salmon was actually pretty good, and my mash potatoes had a nice flavour to them! I must say I was plesantly surprised. So well, as a rule I usually skip mash potaties, but I decided to get them anyways, and they were really good! They had a nice tangy yet creamy flavour to them (tonnes of butter and a bit of lemon I am guessing). The Salmon was nicely done, seasoned REALLY Well, and had an awesome flavor to it. May I Suggest they take the Veggie Burger OFF their Menu and do things they can actully do well! So though I am not a fan of the place, and would not come here again specially to eat food, I probably may visit the place again when I am at the mall and need to grab grub!

    (3)

  • Ben F.

    The French Toast Pockets sounded so good. -stuffed w/ raspberry cream cheese and topped with seasonal mixed berry sauce. It looked good when it came out. Um... Where is the maple syrup? French toast... No maple syrup?? No powdered sugar?? Thats the way I like it. Without the gf whipped cream that she didnt want or the side of maple syrup that we had to ask for, not too sure if I would have liked the french toast at all. The seasonal mixed berry sauce was just too sour for my taste. The bakery section looked awesome though. Ill save that for next time.

    (2)

  • Tricia M.

    A nice, typical cafe that offers a variety of soups, sandwiches, burgers, salads, and pastries that give you the fuel to continue shopping around South Coast. If we need a mid-afternoon snack, we usually stop by Pacific Whey. Nothing too amazing, but the quality and quantity still hits the spot. The cinnamon roll pastry is really good as well.

    (3)

  • JJ R.

    This place is great spot to eat if you don't mind waiting a bit during busy lunch time. Overall this place has great food n a chilled Vibe. I ordered the Grilled Cajun Chicken sandwich w/wheat bread. IT WAS THE BOmB.

    (4)

  • Reza N.

    We eat there almost every time we go to SCP. Their burgers are amazing, especially the Mushroom Burger. I only give them 4 star because of the couple times they miss took my order, otherwise I love this place.

    (4)

  • Anh N.

    overall not too bad. salads fairly priced for the half + soup. nothing special. pros salad is tasty cons quality is mediocre p whey doesn't really leave any impression on you once you're done dining. it always feels a bit empty but $6 for a nicely sized half salad and bowl of tomato bisque is fair enough. beers are $2 after 5PM for their happy hour, which is a pretty fair price as well! you could eat at worse places, pacific whey is right there in the middle of the road quality.

    (3)

  • Wendy N.

    This place is like a Boudin's reject! My dining guest and I split the meat lasagna & "famous" chicken pot pie. Both items were SO disappointing! It was another case of "beauty is only skin deep," 'cause both items looked great, but tasted like ugly! The lasagna barely had any cheese--and yes, meat lasagna should still have a hearty amount of cheese. However, what really sucked was the sauce, which was too tart and acidic (tasted like canned sauce.) As for the pot pie, the presentation was cool--it looked like an upside down pot pie. That must have been why it tasted the opposite of how pot pie usually tastes, though. o_o The cream of chicken base was too salty, there wasn't enough chicken in it, and the crust, although crisp and flaky, didn't have much flavor. So why did I give it two stars? One word: Cupcakes. The entrees came with one free dessert each, so I choose the chocolate cupcake w/ chocolate frosting, while dining guest chose the the red velvet cupcake. Both were very moist and flavorful. A solid 4 by themselves. So, although I wouldn't come back to dine here again, I'd still come back for the bakery items! (1/2 off after 5pm @ this location! ^_^) P.S. Their eclairs are also excellent, so it's too bad they can't make their entrees as good as their desserts!

    (2)

  • Maggie Y.

    This place is really great for brunch and for dessert. I'm a huge fan of their breakfast burrito, although it's kinda pricey because you have to pay for each ingredient you add, it's worth the price because they make everything from scratch and use the freshest ingredients! They also have delicious sandwiches, salads and pastries. If you want something light I recommend getting their fresh fruit parfait. If you want something sweet, I recommend their custard pastry.

    (4)

  • Matt H.

    Maybe it was what I ordered, but the best thing on the plate of my caprese pannini and fries were the fries. The sandwich was just not flavorful and it was only lightly grilled.

    (2)

  • Julie L.

    Bakery only: I arrived right after 5 PM when all their desserts are half off. The apple crumble was good. The cupcake wasn't too bad but just the top; the rest of it was easily neglectible. Lastly, the pumpkin cookie was pretty disappointing and I absolutely pumpkin anything. There wasn't much taste nor was it very moist like pumpkin cookies should be. Go for some of their more sugary items otherwise it's more bland.

    (2)

  • Anita L.

    Just wanted to grab a quick snack from here since I was right in front of it. You can either grab it through the take out line or go inside. I went inside. The board selection is pretty big but since I only wanted a snack I opted for the chicken salad. You order, pay and they give you a number and they'll bring your food out. I liked how the cashier reminds you to grab silverware BEFORE sitting down. Everything was so far so good. Then the food came and it was tasteless. It was like mushy cardboard. UGH!!

    (2)

  • Lawrence L.

    I would give it 5 stars but I haven't tried anything but the dessert. I had a really rich, dense, slice of chocolate cake although it wasn't like cake... it was more like a flourless cake or torte... with confectioners sugar dusted on the top... oh man, it was goooood!! I shared this with my better half and she thought it was great too. We also bought an expresso dark chocolate cookie for later that evening. I had a bite later with some ice cold milk... omg... Oh yeah... I order a large blended expresso mocha beverage with easy whip... nothing special. We asked for a cup of water and the person serving us told us we could get it inside(?). I don't know if it's ok but we would up squatting a table inside and helped ourselves to the (self serve) water. There was a tv on inside with the food network on... it was Guy Fieri... for some reason I thought this was kinda funny. I think this is a good deal for 50% off... we were first attracted to this because there was a line forming for the pastries. So remember, wait til after 5pm.

    (4)

  • Justin S.

    Avocado with the rind on it in my salad; undercooked chicken? No thanks. Not coming back here.

    (1)

  • Nina T.

    I die for their creme brulee bread pudding! It's good portion and not too sweet. YUM!!!

    (5)

  • ßenjämin Ä.

    Fish and chips were great. Well the fish was great but the fries served were of the same variety as those disgusting fries from In N Out. Apple cinnamon slaw was tasty.

    (4)

  • George S.

    Good prices, one of the few places that have great flourless cake and above all the great service. You order at the counter but their servers do more than drop off the food. Every time my wife and I eat here, they always do "whey" more for us than a lot of fancier places. She loves the salmon sandwich and I eat the Cobb. Both delicious.

    (5)

  • Cat F.

    I want to rewrite the review on the chocolate chip cookies alone. This place is the best place for chocolate chip cookies. Call them in advance and let them know if you want to order half doze, or a dozen etc.. they will have it fresh bake and it will blow your mind away. I've been calling this place and ordered it a few time.

    (5)

  • Brian P.

    Not bad a place. I ordered the tuna melt and it was pretty delicious. It didn't WOW me like Earl of Sandwich's melt, but definitely good enough to smack a smile on me before leaving the plaza. Great location just before taking the escalators to the parking garage. Good service! The ladies operating the kitchen and the girl at the register were very helpful and seemingly knew the entire menu in detail by memory. I forgot what my friend got, but he didn't talk one bit while scarfing down his whatever...a good sign that whatever he ordered was pretty damn good.

    (3)

  • Lynn C.

    Ugh! I shop at Crystal Court about once a month and have passed by this attractive bakery many times and wanted to try it...oops now I'm sorry. First off the female cashier and the two male employees seemed more interested in sharing jokes with each other than helping me and FYI it kind of negates the fact that you are wearing food service gloves when you keep chuckling and covering your mouth with your gloved hand...ewwww. On to the food. I ordered the Mozzarella, Tomato and Basil Panini with the fries. Mr. Chuckles was kind enough to tell me not to get the horrible chips because the fries were better, thanks for that small tip. After waiting for my order it was brought out on a plate after I had clearly stated it was "to go" although it's hard to pay attention with two boys distracting you when you are ringing customer's order. The person who brought out the order said. "no problem" and quickly boxed it up for me. The sandwch itself? After two bites I threw it away. The bread was soggy with nasty pesto mayo (emphasis on mayo) and the cheese was like silly putty. Oh and the tomatoes...almost non existant. The fries were good however I wouldn't have paid almost nine dollars for just french fries. Today I called the corporate office twice to try and talk to someopne about my experience. No one answers the phone, just a voicemail option. So then I tried to fill out the web form on the site to give me feedback, upon entering it I got the message "server not found". FAIL! Run don't walk and eat somewhere else!

    (1)

  • Kressler N.

    I guess it's more like two and a half stars. Shopping at Crystal Court can be discouraging for some of us that make less than spectacular wages but it's getting better. I mean, I can go to H&M, the Apple Store, Borders and I get giddy over the idea of buying something at Crate & Barrel. In terms of food though, there's not a lot for a budget conscious person beside CPK (which I don't like at all) and Ruby's (which is not what I always feel like). I decided that I'd try Pacific Whey Cafe since I really felt like a simple sandwich and soup - I was hoping for Corner Bakery tastiness but I was wrong. I will say that for being one of the few "casual" places to eat in Crystal Court, it is nice to just sit and chat there. The menu comes off as being "fancy" cafe food...I finally decided on a half turkey sandwich and a small bowl of chili. The place was less than half full but it took a long time for me to receive my meal. The turkey sandwich was not that impressive - the dressing that was on it made it taste funny. The meat in the chili was really tender but it was incredibly salty - and I like salty food but this was just too much. This and a drink cost me between 10-15 dollars. It's completely overpriced for the food you get. I'm not really a fan and I think I'd rather drive five minutes to go get Chick-Fil-A.

    (2)

  • Brinda J.

    Apart from their 5pm happy hour half off pastries, there is ABSOLUTELY no reason to eat here. Stopped by and had their tuna salad sandwich and I had to put a lot of Dijon mustard on it for it to taste good. The tuna itself was really dry!! The fries that came with it weren't a big deal at all. Marie Callendar's is WHEY better than this! Also their cupcakes don't taste like they used to. Something with the topping is different....Well whatever the case there you have it.

    (2)

  • Traci D.

    I always pass by Pacific Whey Cafe after I am done running with the Nike Run Clubs and there are always good smells coming from the joint. My friend Steph and I decided to give it a try for brunch (she got lunch and I got breakfast). I got the veggie omelet and asked for tomatillo sauce on top. It was good and the sauce was spicy. My omelet came with a side of potatoes, toast and fruit. The fruit was a mix of melon, raspberries, strawberries, grapes and oranges. My wheat toast was this cute small artisan style bread. My friend enjoyed her chicken panini that came with caesar side salad (you can also opt for chips). Overall Pacific Whey Cafe is your typical chain cafe. The food is good but not worth what you are paying. But it is a good place to keep in the mix.

    (3)

  • ibrahim A.

    Well, i will make short: Pros: - good sandwiches (my wife tried one) Cons: - bad service, they gave us the sandwich and forgot my coffee, my cake, and my wife's drink! i had to go ask for each of those. - Cake tastes horrible! no kidding. i tried one of their chocolate cakes, and it was recommended by the cashier. Conclusion: i can never come here again, it is not a very good spot; niether good service. If you're going for a quick lunch, maybe, otherwise i don't recommmend at all.

    (2)

  • Erin M.

    I'm never impressed with this location. I went for lunch today and asked for a tuna sandwich and add onions. The sandwich came out wrong three times. And even then was only mediocre. They brought my friend the wrong soup too. For the price, just go to Panera.

    (1)

  • Duke D.

    Really, really good omelettes! And I love the ocean view during breakfast.

    (5)

  • Diego K.

    The food is typical cafe style. Nothing special about this place besides there cookies. The best thing is there BBQ chicken salad besides that everything else is a 2/5 stars. The service great. Get a cookie you will be impress.

    (3)

  • Mel L.

    I was waddling around crystal court looking for a birthday gift, and hunger strike at 6:15pm, right before dinner. what's a girl to do? why, eat a cupcake, of course. stood in line to get my sweet confection, and the vast selection really made it hard to decide. alas i got the peanut butter cupcake & peanut butter cookie. yes, i have a weakness for peanut butter. the cupcake was super moist, and not too sweet. can't comment too much on the frosting bc i typically scoot that aside (dont judge -- a minute on the lips is a lifetime on the hips). the cookie was just as delectable. it was baked at the perfect temperature -- no crispy bottom or burnt top, just perfect. when it came time to paying, it was 50% off? what? that's insane! i guess there was a sign that offered a half discount after 6pm. so what if i had my dessert before dinner? rules are meant to be broken.

    (4)

  • Kate M.

    UGHHHH! I wish that was all I had to type, but I cannot shut up about how painful my visits here are, so here it goes. These are my accounts of numerous short comings at Pacific Whey, NOT just one bad visit. Multiples. I actually am not even writing about every bad interaction with them. Here is a taste: Fuck You #1 Ok so, they have a cookie club card. Its a punch card that for every 12 cookies you buy, you get one free. This should be really simple right? One day, I go buy a cookie. I proudly hand over my club card to be stamped with cookie #12, which means... next cookie is free! The kid behind the counter tells me they are no longer doing the cookie club. I was bummed. He says, I will take the card and throw it away. I hand it to him, saddened, but ok whatever I cant argue right? So fast forward to 2 days later, I go buy a cookie. The girl behind the counter asks me if I want to start a cookie club card. I looked at her with horror and tell her the guy 2 days ago told me you no longer did the club card, and he trashed my card. Her response was......."sometimes we lose the hole puncher" FUCKING WOW WHAT? So I tell her my card had 12 punches and I want my card back! She says she cant do it! I stormed away in total fucking disbelief of how I was totally had buy a flock of seagulls lookin ass douche bag kid. FUCK. I GIVE UP. Fuck You #2 When Pacific Whey gets busy, and you are trying to call your order in to pick up, a few things will happen. Either someone will pick up, and hang up on you, numerous times. Or sometimes they dont answer at all. Other times they simply put you on hold for an ungodly amount of time. The super shitty part is they only seem to have one phone line. If you call and get placed on hold for 13 minutes, you cant hang up and call back because the line is busy! Advice- STAFF ENOUGH PEOPLE TO TAKE TO_GO ORDERS. Fuck You #3 Do not ever order coffee here. Especially if there is more than half a person in front of you. They have 2 sides of their cafe. There is the walk up coffee part, where you can order pastries and coffee while your still in the mall, which lures you into thinking its faster. Or you can get in the other line, to order the full food menu, and have it brought to your table. The coffee bar side, only has 1 barista. ONE. It is about as efficient as a blind monkey on bath salts. They have no concept of time. Sometimes I have walked up when there is no line, only to find, there is also no barista! They will randomly disappear to chit chat with coworkers regularly. Last Fuck You I got into an argument with the girl at the register one day, because I handed her a 20$ for my purchase, and she gave me change back as though it was a 10$. I was beyond blown away with her inability to distinguish or remember bills she touched less than 10 seconds prior to our debate. In the end, I won. Recap Their cookies are great and I dig their sandwiches. The coffee, cappucinos, and lattes are total shit though. They taste radioactive. I have never had a worse latte in my life. They are lacking staff. I cannot figure out who actually runs this place. It seems to be run by all people under 20 who could give 2 shits about my free cookie, or properly made coffee, or even basic customer service. I have seen a couple manager types float around from time to time, but they too see quite unprofessional, in terms of either what they are wearing, or the conversations I have overheard. They seem to operate like a poorly run summer camp. I have absolutely no idea why this place is in South Coast Plaza. A Starbucks on this side of the mall would probably crush them. I am crossing my fingers for that day.

    (2)

  • Christine N.

    Their breakfast omelets and orange juice are uber yummy. We enjoy their fresh pastries, too, especially the cookies and cinnamon rolls. They used to be half off after 3pm, but it is now after 6pm. Lines are long once 6pm hits! This is one of the best places to go for desserts during their happy hour!! Their cookies rank at my top of the list along with Panera Bread's!

    (4)

  • Jerry H.

    This restaurant gets five stars because of one person, Adrian! His personable and efficient service -with -a -smile that he gives each customer is truly outstanding. The people who take the orders don't always get your food request correctly. But... no worries--Adrian is there to save the day! Thanks, Adrian for your wonderful service.

    (5)

  • Pam S.

    Very disappointed in the service and in presentation. We went on this past Saturday and sat outside... well most people know when you sit outside anywhere odds are you will be forgotten so okay I did think this as we made our way outside, BUT there was a server out there on break so I thought A HA! he will at least notice that we have been out here a while with no food. Not true, sadly not true we got our food (seemed like it took a while) we both ordered salads - his a Cobb Salad, mine a Summer salad with grilled chicken my friend also ordered an expresso maybe I am being overly particular but they didn't ask him if he wanted it NOW (while we sat outside) or with his meal hmmm anyhoo they finally bring our entrees and we tell the server that we are still waiting on his double expresso... my friend is nearly done with his salad and still no expresso so he walks in himself and wait while they make it for him. For the money that was spent we expected better service and I expected a better product. Come on we are at the South Coast Plaza for goodness sake!! My salad was okay the chicken was on the dry side but I had plenty of candied walnuts (delish), dates and strawberries. My friend said we will not be back =/ Respectfully Reviewed

    (2)

  • Johnny K.

    Great burritos and burgers. It's a little pricey but the food is worth it

    (4)

  • Elizabeth D.

    4 stars for quality of food and price. 2 stars for service and cleanliness. The tables at this place are always dirty when I come in! The wait staff seem more preoccupied with chit chatting than doing their work.

    (2)

  • Addison S.

    Time in Line waiting to order = 15 minutes Cost of food on menu = Equivalent to a nice sit-down cafe with a waiter. Quality, Temperature and Flavor of food = Institutional, Tepid (toast was served cold) and Nonexistent. Returning soon = Not a Chance

    (1)

  • Sherryl C.

    Love this place for lunch or dessert! The coffee is good too. My favorites are the cookies! The entrees are good, but I'd go somewhere else for dinner.

    (4)

  • Jun H.

    This location is relatively new as it opened late January (if I remember correctly). Upon entrance, I was warmly greeted by a man distributing menus and informing everyone that they serve 'breakfast, lunch, and dinner' all around the clock. In a way, it was sort of like an upscale Denny's. I visited on a Sunday morning and the line was rather tolerable. But the wait for the food was horrendous. Even though the place was really packed, we were still able to find seats. I just have to mention that the tables and chairs are packed very tightly into the restaurant space. It's not that the space is small - there's just too many tables and chairs. This place operates like that of Panera Bread in that you order your food with the cashier, take a number and wait at your table for your food. However, you have to pick up your own silverware and napkins. And when you're in line, waiting to place your order, they make you walk by glass cases of scrumptious-looking pastries. I ordered a School Boy Breakfast (two eggs, ham/bacon/sausage, pancakes, fruit, potatoes, and toast) for $10. I think it's a good deal in that you get a lot of variety - it really is a complete breakfast! And I couldn't resist the heart-shaped sugar cookie. The fruits were fresh and you actually get a really good variety of fruits (just to name a few: blueberry, papaya, pineapple). The pancakes were really small but they were topped with powdered sugar and delicious nonetheless. Best of all, my poached eggs were as runny as could be. The sugar cookie was okay; as un-gourmet as it sounds, I prefer the DIY Pillsbury sugar cookies. It's probably because this one wasn't warm or soft. If you're only interested in the pastries, there's a counter on the side of the restaurant for faster service. This is easily one of my favorite breakfast spots.

    (4)

  • Thomas C.

    Not a bad choice for lunch if you HAVE to stay in the mall. A large menu, pricing is decent, and food is mediocre. I'd rather hit up Panera though.

    (3)

  • Keri M.

    I work in the mall so I go here on my break a lot. Some of the staff are very courteous, however, there are a few who only seem to work the quick counter and are very inattentive, uninformative, and often times rude. Most of their baked goods are really dry. The only "pastry" I will buy here are cookies and even their cookies taste gross after a day. And no one told me pastries are half off after 7... Thumbs up for the sit down section, thumbs down for the quick counter.

    (3)

  • Nikki P.

    I'm giving this place two stars because of the service not the food. It appears like the food would be good but it's pretty mediocre. I ordered the mushroom burger and my friend ordered the bacon bleu burger. Food came out quick which was good. They only can cook the burgers to medium. I would say it's more Iike medium well. The burger was just ok if that. Maybe it was just the one I ordered? Fries seemed stale and soggy almost. Will not be coming back here again. Not acceptable for the price. I would rather go to a fast food place than to come here again.

    (2)

  • Toby W.

    Had the salmon and it was a very small portion. The staff was friendly except for one immature cashier. The desserts and pastries looks huge. Would go back and try those next time if I'm in the area.

    (3)

  • LT H.

    It is very rare that I give 1 star here on yelp... but PACIFIC WHEY SUCKS. I tried out their breakfast a few months ago and everything on my plate was pretty cold. The pancakes looked and tasted like Krusteaz brand microwave pancakes (except not as warm as when I get them fresh out of my own microwave). I figured maybe it was just an off morning. They were pretty busy. My husband got a groupon for this place so we decided to give it another try. We were the first people there at 9am. I figured, how can they bring us cold food if we are the first people there ordering?? Not only were both our plates full of cold food, some of it was absolutely inedible. The eggs were like dry cardboard, the bacon was clearly heated in the microwave instead of cooked to order, toast was cold (and the butter was practically frozen), and the "fresh" fruit salad looked a few days old. For $10 I expect a much better breakfast. This was shit on a plate. AND the girl at the register was not friendly and had on clown make-up. Tone it down, lady. They get 1 star because the one thing I liked on my plate was their raspberry jam. Too bad I had to spread it on cold toast.

    (1)

  • Matthew D.

    Their food is pretty good. I work next door and have tried several things from there menu. However, the service is absolutely terrible. I can't remember how many times my order was never placed, was wrong or they forgot something. The staff is really young and management is rarely present. Everything seems to be disorganized and it seems to be because the staff is more interested in themselves rather than their jobs.

    (1)

  • Joan T.

    Ordered pasta, they forgot that I ordered it or never put it in to be processed so still waiting for the food after 25 minutes. Don't come here if you're in a hurry!

    (1)

  • Barry H.

    Pacific Whey, I LOVE YOU! You are my favorite go to breakfast place when I am in and around SCP or the infamous Apple Store where I hunt for my next ex-girlfriends. Omelets are amazing. ABC (Avacado Bacon Cheese) be my fave. Top it off with a cup of hot coffee and you've got an amazing breakfast. Like most things in South County, it is a bit pricey, but for some reason it never stops me from slapping down the plastic for another round of high interest credit card payments. I've dug myself this deep so I may as well enjoy a big portion breakfast while I am at it. SHOOT IT!

    (4)

  • Thy L.

    Here are things I love: Pancakes/hotcakes- the best I've ever had. It jst melts in your mouth Favorite breakfast must have- school boy breakfast, you get everything from eggs, sausage, fresh fruits, potatoes and bread. Don't get their steak and eggs, the steak is very chewy. I love love their sausages for breakfast.

    (4)

  • Katherine P.

    Not the greatest experience I had. The food was okay. I only came because I was too lazy to walk elsewhere while shopping and didn't care for the other neighboring restaurants. I wanted something fast and easy to eat. I had the panini of the day, which was just mediocre. I could've made a better sandwich!! Dessert display looked delicious, but I tend to stay away from all that. Service is slow, and workers seemed to have more fun with each other than with their job and their customers. Sigh.... Next time i'll go to a different cafe and walk the extra ten feet. My review is based solely on the service I had when trying to order a sandwich and was charged a whole dollar and something extra to replace whatever for fruit and got a stingy amount of it! Not coming back here for a sandwich, ever.

    (2)

  • Del C.

    I've stopped coming at this Pacific Whey for their food. And I know it won't be long before I stop coming all together. The only reason why I venture over here is that after 5PM, all their sweets are 50% off. They do have good patries and sweets, but the rest of their menu is just OK. I don't know why, but the one in Crystal Cove seem so much better in my recollection. What happened? Why the mediocrity here guys? Help us shoppers who not only need sustenance to continue to drive our credit card limits to the max, but at least feed us good food! We'll even pay the premium for that!

    (2)

  • Anna S.

    I was excited to try this place out because it is always crowded whenever I pass by it but I was very disappointed. My boyfriend ordered a sandwich and the meat was really dry! I on the other hand ordered a grilled cheese sandwich because... I mean, how could you go wrong with a grilled cheese sandwich right? I was very wrong. Something in the bread was off and the cheese was gross. It didn't even taste like a grilled cheese sandwich. The bread was like rubber in consistency. I could've saved myself an extra few bucks by going home and making it myself. I wanted to love you Pacific Whey Cafe. Perhaps I'll give you another try sometime in the future.

    (1)

  • Jocelyn C.

    Bakery: - 50% off 5PM. The rest of the menu is OK. Go to Corner Bakery across the street instead.

    (2)

  • Katie L.

    I kinda like this place for their pastries, but it's really pricey unless you get it 50% off. Used to be 50% off AFTER 5PM...then recently, they changed it to 6PM. WHAT THE HECK!!! now you have to wait for the pastries to get one hour older to get it at half off. So I decided, NO MORE! I ain't going back, not even at half off. So that's my review. Pastries ain't THAT good to pay full price, or worth waiting even longer to get half price. Go to VIe De France instead, at least the chocolate croissant is worth it.

    (1)

  • Jim N.

    Good food, quickly... The wife and I went for a late lunch (3pm-ish). I liked the roll my pulled pork came on, I think it was homemade / in-store made, you know what I mean.... It was good.

    (3)

  • Burrito M.

    The food and pastries here are mediocre...Which is self evident when you walk by and see NO ONE in the restaurant. I hear there is a long line everyday at 5pm because all of the pastries are 50% off at that time.

    (3)

  • Yuki M.

    Came here with a couple of church ladies one morning, and then with my godsister on another morning, and then with some random friends on another afternoon, and then again with someone else that I forget at the moment on another afternoon. After all these visits, I've determined that Pacific Whey Cafe is entirely unimpressive and I'll take my patronage elsewhere. Small portions but halfway decent tasting food. A bit high on the price list but it's Crystal Courts and it's South Coast territory. The food isn't bad, nor are the pastries, but definitely consider going to Nello's if you can for food and then down the hall to Champagne for pastries and other desserts. Seriously, the food here is pretty generic and not enough to fill you up (in my opinion, but then again I'm a whale), so the price you pay should result in more food, but it doesn't. Honestly, I'd rather Ruby's than this place, but it's a nice setting with really crammed together tables. If you like dark wood furniture, flooring, and walls, this is your place. Come here for the Boston Cream Pie and the Velvet Cupcake then drag your ass to any of the other joints for food.

    (2)

  • Eric T.

    It's just convenient, I had sandwiches, fish and chips, salads etc. I would expect it to be better since I like the one by Laguna Beach.

    (3)

  • Shannon G.

    Nothing too special, had a taste of the caprese sandwich it was ok. The fries and the chips taste exactly the same it is weird. They have $2 domestics or imports after 5pm.

    (3)

  • Carolyn C.

    hmmmm no. the boyfriend and I came here for a quick lunch before our appointment at the apple store. the line was loooong & the joy of finding a place that sells breakfast at noon was VERY appealing. the food looked amazing too as we stole glances as the food runners delivered the food to your table. the boyfriends french toast pockets looked amazing but tasted...a-ok & my belgium waffles that werent BELGIUM waffles were alright. they came with a side of whip cream that i tossed over to the boyfriends plate and i had to call for some maple syrup when i couldnt find it anywhere. thats when they brought me the tiniest togo cup of maple syrup that the bf & i had to share. maybeeeee breakfast isnt their thing here and maybeee a cup of coffee and a pastry would have been a better choice cuz the things were ordered were disappointing to say the least

    (2)

  • Kristen E.

    Great place to stop for lunch when you're shopping at South Coast Plaza. It's like a slightly fancier Panera or Corner Bakery. They have a lot of great baked goods. I like to stop and get their salads. The prices are decent considering the location. It's pretty easy to stop and grab a bite and then head back out to the mall for more shopping.

    (4)

  • Sandy V.

    I just finished a yellow cupcake that I picked up from the cafe about 15 minutes ago. I'm not a big sweets person but this cupcake hit the spot!! (icing was a bit sweet but bareable) AND it was half the price!..only $1.50. I originally wanted a chocolate croissant but they ran out :[

    (3)

  • Jerad A.

    The cream cheese Danish is legendary!!! School boy breakfast is good too. Overpriced, but otherwise very good.

    (4)

  • Jessica A.

    I just heart Pacific Whey! I miss this place so much and wish they would open one in Northern Cal. We came in on Saturday morning for breakfast. I had a latte and the breakfast quesadilla, which was perfect. I love the fresh fruit that comes with most of the breakfast options, always a hit at the end of my meal! Can't wait to return to South Coast Plaza to eat at Pacific Whey again sometime soon.

    (5)

  • shopaholic v.

    I always stop by Pacfic Whye Cafe in Crystal Court when I'm getting my hair cut at Aveda Richard Michael Salon or when I'm shopping at the home stores. The Pacific Salad with the Champagne vinaigrette is amazing! I loved my Beef Stew too! Yesterday though, they really won me over! I forgot my wallet and went to look for change in my car. The guy behind the counter, seeing my issue, gives me a 20% discount! Thankfully I had just enough with a few dimes to spare. Quality and service are always very good at this fast-food sit-down establishment.

    (5)

  • Steve W.

    I really like this place the food is great. You can get a Sandwich, Breakfast, a Meatloaf dinner, a Pastry, a piece of Cake, a Salad, or Soup. Grab any kind of Coffee combo. Some of the best by the way. I'm not a fan of their cakes though. A little too rich for my taste. If you're in Fashion Island, I recommend you try this place.

    (4)

  • Michelle V.

    This cute cafe is located in Crystal Court at South Coast Plaza. My coworkers and I enjoy lunch here from time to time. Their sandwiches are delicious. Soups are good as well. Desserts are really awesome! I've had the bread pudding and red velvet cupcake here...the BOMB dot COM! Champagne here is fun with lunch too!

    (4)

  • Miriam B.

    This is one of my favorite places for breakfast and lunch! Everything is made from scratch and you can taste the quality of the food! I love everything from their french toasts to their sandwiches and salads. Best of all, It's in South Coast at Crystal Court. If you're there, try stoping by for a dessert if you're on shopping mode! You will not be disappointed. They have the best red velvet cupcakes and after 5 pm all their pastries are half off! Love it!

    (5)

  • X B.

    cappuccino is solid YUMMY! didn't eat food here, sorry

    (3)

  • Summer W.

    Arnold Palmer, and chocolate chip cookie after a long day of shopping....is so rewarding!

    (4)

  • LFoer F.

    I used to go to the one in Newport and was happy that the Costa Mesa location opened up. I have given it many chances but today was it for me! They took forever to clean their tables and my daughters and I were waiting for a table-any table. Then, we waited for our food and when we were about to eat, I had to take my young children to the restroom. I had a few bites of my sandwich and two tablespoons of soup. When we returned after 7 minutes, our entire table was cleaned up, food gone! I went and told them they threw it away and they reimbursed me for the children's meals ONLY because I had eaten some of my soup and sandwich. I will never go there again. Never.

    (1)

  • Jimmy N.

    I gotta say, as a mall employee, we could not have waited for new food to open up faster! I'm giving this lil bistro four stars based solely on the fact that I have gotten everything I can out of CPK, Ruby's, Wahoo's, and Champagne (and what used to be Bangkok Four). So this review is mainly based on the food compared to the rest of the food that SCP West offers. Food quality: Really really good. Fresh ingredients day in and day out. They do get a little confused (read: Cay O.'s review) on steak, I've also ordered things medium well and gotten way well done.. maybe I should order rare and get it medium? Shrugs. Decor: It's interesting.. the decor.. painted stripes on the wall, dark furniture.. moody feeling.. love the silver tin ceiling tiles though. The take-out order section has really grand waiting chairs in black leather with silver frames.. they look like they belong at King Arthur's table. The outdoor seating patio is quaint and cute. There is plenty of seating throughout the entire restaurant. If you happen to go one random day and don't know what to order, may I suggest their daily panini specials. Each day they have a different panini special, and they're all $8.25, and you get a salad with it. That type of item usually would run you a good $10+ regularly.

    (4)

  • Vanessa L.

    I have only had the Summer Salad but I love the salad so much that I return here to eat it whenever I get the chance. I love the combination of fresh strawberries, dates, goat cheese and the sweet and tangy strawberry vinaigrette. I also tried the flourless chocolate torte (it was magnificent). A bit on the pricey side, but it is what it is - a bougie, convenient place to eat at South Coast Plaza.

    (4)

  • Amanda W.

    Not so good. This was my first visit. Not much else to choose from on that side of the mall, so I can imagine they do ok. It wasn't that busy. My tuna melt was bland. The fries were horrible. Didn't eat much of either. Did try some kind of cheese danish shaped like a slice of pizza, and that was pretty good. Prices were good from what I saw on the menu. I'm not planning on going back, it just wasn't good. Service was ok, didn't have a problem with that.

    (2)

  • Maki N.

    After a long interview, I stopped by here to get some snacks. I tried the mac and cheese, which was sadly nothing special. However the cookies were SOOOOO yummy! My sister raves about all their cookies, but my personal favorite is the peanut butter one. All in all, if you're craving something sweet stop by here.

    (3)

  • Larry Z.

    Wow, to call the experience garbage, would be an insult to garbage. I went there for lunch with a few co-workers on a rainy day. The place was packed. With this, I was hopeful that the food would be good. After a week of consuming mass quantities of food, I thought that it would be good to go with a salad. The Cobb salad was $9. After trolling around the floor, we did end up finding a table. My salad arrived about 5 minutes later. It basically looks like the mesclun salad mix from Costco with pieces of turkey, bacon about 3 tiny slices of avocado. All in all, it probably cost about 90 cents to make. Not to be rude, I waited for the others food to arrive. Tik-tok. Tik-tok (I hate that song...) It finally came out 23 minutes later! This was for 2 burgers and beef stew. It was really evident that the burger patties were preformed and frozen. I know because I've purchased them from Costco as well (recurring Costco theme!!!). Both agreed that they've tasted better burgers in jail. Maybe they're kidding... But it looked bad. the fries were very well seasoned, but tasted stale and nothing like potato. The last person in our group ordered the beef stew. I've seen stuff come out of Dinty Moore cans that was better looking. I felt bad for 2 ladies next to us. One of them ordered the salad and it came out quickly (The salad station guy is killing it!). Then they waited and waited and waited. At this time, we finally got our burgers. Finally the other lady gets up to see what's going on. At that moment, the server was bringing over her order. A bowl of soup. It looked like some kind of minestrone. I kid you not. I'm definitely adding PWC to my list of places never to go to again.

    (2)

  • Jesse N.

    awesome grub! I think it was the manager who took my order... Staff was very pleasant and there were no hiccups in the exchange as far as describing some of the food to me... I had myself a bowl of chili and half a sandwich with a rootbeer for about 10bucks... the chili was beanless(my FAVORITE) i hate beans haha... and the sandwich had the perfect texture. Nothing was too much or too little, perfect amount of food for the day to get me going. I normally frequent the Corner Bakery down the street but I think i may have found a new location... Great work!!!

    (5)

  • Ash W.

    3.5 stars This is place has pretty decent desserts. Make sure you go after 5 pm b/c it's half off all pastries. Anyways, their red velvet cupcakes are disgusting, so don't even try. Their carrot cake cream cheese muffin looks better than it tastes...a bit dry, but decent for the price you pay. They have this cinnamon pudding pastry that is in a form of a slice of pizza...quite interesting, a bit sweet, but not bad if you put it in the oven to warm it up a bit; Just make sure you drink tea with it haha. But the one thing that is just oh so fabulous is their bread pudding! I usually don't like bread pudding, but I have to say it is pretty good. It isn't too sweet, which I like. It is firm, but moist at the same time. So deliche! Probably would go back again just for the bread pudding. Btw, I think they also have beer on tap for like 3 bucks or something.

    (3)

  • Dina Y.

    Pacific Whey is great but they used to have beignets on the weekends, and it seems like they don't have them anymore. For anyone who has tried a good beignet, you know that they are like heaven melting in your mouth. A french donut with powdered sugar. It was favorite thing to order when I came here, but the last few times, I have been sadly disappointed by the lack of beignets. Other than that I LOVE their breakfast burritos, It comes with 3 diff kinds of salsa. Everything is really fresh and comes with healthy fruit.

    (4)

  • Fadi F.

    This place has the best breakfast ever. Coffee is well brewed n there r lots of ppl who go there. I dropped in early Saturday morning n it's absolutely good place to catch breakfast or lunch with friends . Price wise is not that expensive . Tables outside for good breakfast n some fresh air. Goode if my favorite spots in OC

    (5)

  • Steve C.

    My first visit left me disappointed. We split a pastrami sandwich and the chili bowl. The $7.95 "bowl" was really a cup, served with a handful of tortilla chips. It had very good quality meat and no beans, but was a bit bland despite the menu saying it had "some heat". After splitting it we had just a few good spoonfuls each. The pastrami sandwich was just ok. It included lettuce, tomato, and red onion, I think to help cover the fact that the pastrami portion was small. It was served with some homemade chips that we ok. With two sodas, the $24 price seemed very high given the portion issues. The indoor seating area is very cramped. They could have planned the space better, for instance they have both a coffee/pastry counter facing the mall and a full takeout counter near the mall entrance that has quite a bit of dead space around it. In summary, I think these guys will find Wahoo's upstairs and Ruby's next door tough competition in the long run.

    (2)

  • Jo Ann G.

    This place has awesome granolas and fruit! Their hot chocolate was smooth and rich to taste and the atmosphere is open and airy! They had interesting menu items that I wanted to try but will have to wait for next time...

    (5)

  • Kat N.

    I almost feel like I can't yet rate this place because I've only eaten there twice, but I can always update later ... What first lured me in were the tempting pastries and sweets in the glass display. I ordered almost one of everything. The oatmeal chocolate chip cookie is heavenly, as is the Brownie Cookie and Snickerdoodle. I especially enjoyed the Pullapart Cinnamon pastry thingy! I came back a second time for the sweets and to have breakfast-for-dinner. I ordered the School Boy Breakfast, two eggs any style, with bacon, mini pancakes and potatoes. While the eggs were fine, the potatoes lacked any seasoning or flavor and the mini pancakes were rather bland. For two cookies and the breakfast, the $20 wasn't worth it. Were it not for the terrific baked goods, I would have given it 2-stars. I would have rather spent the same amount at Plum's Cafe in Costa Mesa for a swanky but absolutely fail-proof breakfast. I'll come back and try again.

    (3)

  • B C.

    The food is bland and unimaginable.

    (2)

  • Dave C.

    Oi Vey, Pacific Whey, how far you have fallen. My wife and I have been going to PW since they opened the shop on Coast Highway. Albeit a bit pricey, the meals were always tasty, coffee satisfying and pastries to die for. I salivate thinking of the fresh beignets with powdered sugar. On a recent trip to Crystal Court, my wife and I decided to hit them up for a late dinner, about 8pm. When we walked in, there was no staff to be found except a cook that I could see through the kitchen. We finally did find someone hiding out behind the high counter near the coffee machine and she finally took our order. My wife ordered the caprese sandwich and and I ordered one of my favorites, the filet mignon with biscuits and bernaise. In the past, the filet was like warm, buttered heaven over crispy and fluffy discs of love. It was always one of the pricier items on the menu, but worth the price for an occassional splurge. Jump ahead to our recent trip and a higher $16 price tag for the filet. The meat was tender, but more rare than I asked.The biscuits tasted like something you buy off the supermarket shelf, generic brand. The bernaise was just ok, a bit salty, and the mash potatoes were almost definitely Potato Buds or some alternative. I can't speak to my wife's Caprese sandwich because she really didn't say much about it, which really is saying something. All in all, the meal was just OK, but absolutely not worth the money we paid for it, especially considering the sparse service. For that kind of money, I should be getting full service. You're better off with heading upstairs to Wahoo's or across the hall to Ruby's. You'll get a better meal and pay less.

    (3)

  • Dana H.

    Used to frequent this place often during my lunch break - great salads and sandwiches, not to mention treats. However, I am sorry to say that this location in particular has a huge gnat problem - gnats fly around the desserts, and even worse fly out of my salad while I'm eating it. I let it go the first time or two that it occurred, as it was hard to tell if they flew in while I was eating or were there the whole time. However, I finally decided that it didn't matter after it happened to me so many times - they just can't shake the gnats at this place. Sorry Pacific Whey, but gross!

    (2)

  • Joyce D.

    Expensive food. I've had their pancakes and it cost me about $10. It wasn't that great. However, I love their bakery section!!! Don't get the coffee/mocha it's not that great, go to Seattle's Best inside of Borders. What's good!? After 3:00pm bakery items are 50% off for now. Cookies! - Oatmeal Walnut Chocolate Chip - Peanut Butter (heat it up for about 25 secs - it's gooey and good) - Chocolate Chip - Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cupcakes!! - Red Velvet Cup Cake - Chocolate Cake Pastry!!! - Cinnamon Custrad Slice (I forget the exact name, but it looks like a pizza slice) - Bread Pudding They're Large sodas are refillable, just FYI for those who work in the mall. The OJ is fresh and good too. Yum.

    (5)

  • Jas H S.

    Nestled in the "other" side of South Coast Plaza, Pacific Whey is a fancier, pricier version of mall food. I had the Belgium waffle and my life partner had the hungry boy. The food was delicious and very well presented. The fruit on the side was the freshest fruit I've had in a long time. They do lose 1 star for being more expensive than most. I don't think Pacific Whey is a restaurant you "go to", but would stop by if I'm stranded on the "other" side.

    (3)

  • Tiffany Y.

    Happy Hour after 6pm means 50% off pastries?! Sign me up for those baked goodies! A biiig almond twist and oatmeal walnut chocolate chip cookie for less than $3. Such a steal with this deal ;)

    (4)

  • Johnson L.

    This was one of the most disgusting sandwiches I had - I got the Cajun Chicken Sandwich and it had way too much cheese, bell peppers, and all sorts of weird stuff in it. Basically, I felt like I was eating a gooey chicken with bell peppers. the "caesar salad" was a collection of plain lettuce strips and a very bland sauce. Very sad. I rarely leave food unfinished, but I could not finish this sandwich. Won't be coming back

    (1)

  • Kristy N.

    Stopped by here after dinner for a coffee, and of course i couldnt help but pick up a few pasties as well. The freshly brewed coffee here is good, they pick their beans well. I drink coffee quite often; usually after breakfast or after dinner. I have yet to try the bread pudding here because they seem to be sold out often. I had tried: Oatmeal raisin cookie Oatmeal chocolatw chip cookie (my favorite) Snickerdoodle (boyfriends favorite) Almond twice (moms favorite) Chocolate chip cookie Coffee Muffins Old fashion apple muffin If the cookie breaks they will give you two cookies instead, isnt that nice?! Their cookies are soft so they easily break. I have yet to try any actual meals here. I have only had pastries and coffee.

    (4)

  • Lara D.

    They have half price desserts and pastries after 530 or so. You can inquire about it theyre my moms favorite. Located in crystal court in south coast plaza by the merry go around. They have nice seating area and couches chairs as well. Have yet to try their food

    (3)

  • Yazmin F.

    Great food It has a cute little set up but the customer service isn't the best but everything else is good You get what you pay for here Except customer service

    (3)

  • Sherry K.

    #100Reviews2015 -Review No. 14 I work pretty much right across from this little café, so I'm here pretty often for coffee, or a bottle of water, or even one of their tasty cookies :) I would definitely give the pastries and coffee almost 4 stars - I'm not a fan of the express side though, because it's not really express when it takes them forever to make an espresso drink, is it? The restaurant side of the business is where you order at the counter, pay, take a number, and have a seat. Your order is then brought to you. Numerous options are available, and the fare is pretty standard; soups, salads, sammiches, pastas. The food isn't terrible, but it's not great either. It's ok if you're hangry and need something right away; they typically serve the food within a couple of minutes of you taking your seat, so that's a bonus. Service tends to be decent, not great, and that's ok, as it's in very close proximity to where I toil :) If you work in the mall, and if you remember to ask, they do give you a 10% mall employee discount, but you do have to ask, since they won't bother otherwise, no matter ho often they see your smiling face. Ohh.. and I nearly forgot.. they do serve this pastry (Danish?) that's looks like a cross between a Danish and a custard wedge, in the shape of a piece of pizza, really, that is realllllly damned good, and worth checking them out because of it. You're welcome.

    (3)

  • Kristen M.

    I ordered a Pacific Cobb sandwich with a mixed green salad. When I was almost done eating my salad I noticed a large horse fly soaked in dressing. I felt sick to my stomach. I was given a refund, but I don't feel like that was enough. Since it is an indoor establishment at South Coast Plaza, there should not be any flies in the food. I will not be returning.

    (1)

  • Chris A.

    In a word, lousy. I ordered the two egg breakfast and a diet coke. What did I get for my $14.95? eggs, cold pre-cooked bacon, flavorless undercooked potatoes, barely toasted wheat bread, some fruit, and the diet coke. I left most of it on the plate.

    (2)

  • Walter M.

    There are some dishes that require a review unto themselves . My company has been using Pacific Whey for a few years now and I recently started ordering my own meals from them from time to time, but this is specifically for their Bread Pudding. Change your life good. Make you question the God you worship good. Like the first time you ever had coke...... I'll follow up this review in due time with an in depth detail of their menu, but for the time being bear witness to something that should shame most any pastry. It's chocolate topped, soft, not gooey. Almost doughy, sugar coated and though no drizzle or sauced topping, it doesn't need it. It's a stand alone work of art worth sacrificing your 1st born. It's pretty thick and hearty, fills you like a Costco muffin (don't worry I'll describe their muffins here later)

    (5)

  • Matthew Y.

    Best coffee according to my wife. She perfers PWC over Starbucks!

    (5)

  • Sepi D.

    Cute little place ! I had given this place a shot while going to the Apple Store. I ordered the chicken panini on sourdough, cheese and a little bit of pesto garlic spread it tasted like. Lots of thick chicken breast. Great sandwich, but they do need to slice the chicken thinner so it doesn't fall out and it's easier to chew.. I'm a huge fan of sourdough grilled sandwiches but I will say that the same sandwich at the Corner Bakery wins simply because of thin slices of chicken .. This sandwich is huge, which is good, you get your money's worth! But it's enough for two people if you indulge in the semi soft amazing fries like I did... I gave it 3 stars because I did go back and indulge in the red velvet cupcake , and for $3.50 you threw your money down the drain.. It looks amazing , but the cake part was bone dry!! Never had a cupcake so dry in my entire life... Don't know what went wrong with them. Made me sad.. They have a large variety of delicious looking treats that now I'm afraid to buy.. I do plan to return with a friend for more meal items.

    (3)

  • Katherine A.

    Usually when I see huge portions for the same price as other cafes that would give much smaller size pastries, I would think they're not good, but this is incredibly tasty.. I had gotten their sig. danish and german muffin cake. Both good but I prefer the latter. Also 4stars were for the Kean coffee they used.. The mocha is great.. And when I spilled mine, they were kind to refill it for me. Would i make a special trip just for here again? No. But if am in the area, yes, this is the cafe, it's quiet and relaxing to study away from the students crowd at UCI.

    (4)

  • Vy T.

    Coookiesss!! I come here after 6 PM, because all the pastries in the display case is 50% off. How coudl you resist ordering 1, or 2, or 3! I've tried their muffins, crossaints and cookies. Everyhting has been okay, but the cookies are to die for!! I love the chocolate ones!! It's slightly crunchy on the outiside and soft on the inside. Also, they're huge!! I knwo I shoudl share one, but I always end up getting one all to myself!

    (4)

  • Jennifer F.

    The cafe is in the second building of South Coast plaza . After 6:00 , they have half off the wonderful pastries. Each one is baked here and worth all the calories. I have not yet eaten a real meal here but by the looks of everyone ears food it looks great ! This is just my spot for dessert or the occasional sweet tooth craving.

    (3)

  • Cindy L.

    I came here this past weekend for lunch, and had a good time. My boyfriend had the baja burger and I had the albacore tuna melt. I thought the buger was MASSIVE and the caesar salad was great! My tuna melt was good, but definitely a little different with carrot shreds in it. Had I known there were carrots in the tuna mix I probably would have ordered something else since I'm mildly allergic. The crust on the melt was nice, crunchy, and the perfect amount of salty. To top it off, we had to get a snickerdoodle cookie on our way out, because I just HAD to! and I was pleasantly surprised at how soft and chewy the center was. All in all, I thought it was great -- very similar to a Panera or Corner Bakery, but almost twice the price. If I were at this part of South Coast, I'd consider coming here again --but for now, I think I've had my fill.

    (3)

  • Laina A.

    Good but not great. Staff unfortunately "did not know their stuff" and aside from having Sunday brunch with my daughters, I was getting a few goodies to go and that was on the right and the cashier is down the way on the left and instead of just walking over and telling me what they had, I had to walk back and forth. So the cashier really wasn't very helpful either. :( The breakfast and lunch options are fairly typical and the taste and portions were also typical. Fine to good, but nothing stood out. You order, you pay and you get a number and your food is brought to your table. Refills on soda are included, you just need to bring your to-go cup back up to cashier. There are so many cafes and the competition can be fierce so you'd better Bring It! Unfortunately Pacific Whey Café lands smack dab in the middle of the pack and really doesn't do much to shine and the location equals high rent, which is passed on to you the customer. Overall, you are not really getting what you paid for. I will say that the baked goods that I had and that were brought home to others were very tasty. High marks for the oatmeal walnut chocolate chip cookie, with the walnuts being very finely chopped and plenty of chips and overall a soft and very tasty cookie. Pacific Whey offers 50% off after 6:00 pm during the week on pastries and baked goods, so that is a bargain and I'll definitely need to be checking that out!

    (3)

  • Phil C.

    This review is mainly for the breakfast. PW is a nice breakfast spot on the weekends (which is the time I usually come) with friends. Early morning isn't busy at all so it's a nice quiet atmosphere. My usuals are either the one of the scrabbles or the omelets. My favorites being the Farmers and Chorizo scrambles. My friends usually get the School Boy breakfast. Pastries in the display look pretty good, but haven't tried any just yet. Overall, the food is good, nothing too fancy and it usually arrives fairly quickly for us after ordering. Slightly higher price point than other breakfast joints around is expected being in Crystal Court and portions aren't huge, but just about right for me. Service has always been friendly and attentive. A lot of seating inside and out in the patio. Since it's located in the mall, it's the perfect area to get in a nice walk and window shop after. Same level as the Apple store.. dangerous. 3.5 stars!

    (3)

  • Lori M.

    If you are hungry, stuck in this end of the mall, and don't mind a cafeteria, the perhaps the Pacific Whey Cafe will work for you. The good: It's fast. The food is brought to your table. Folks are friendly. The bad: The food is meh. The atmosphere is definitely cafeteria. In the end, I think it comes down to ordering the right thing. I would imagine that their baked goods are fine. The salads are probably a hit. My fish & chips were so-so. Based on other reviews, it sounds like breakfast is this place's best time of the day.

    (3)

  • Hamidreza M.

    Waste of time. Using wrong breads for sandwiches and there's no taste in their food. The bakery is a little bette but in general is a waste.

    (1)

  • Sherri G.

    AAAAAAWWWWWW man. I really wanted to like this place and give it raving reviews. If the first thing you're hit with is poor service, that sticks with you the entire experience regardless of quality of food. We stopped by on a weekend just after the lunch rush. We inched our way to the cashier to order our lunch while reading the overhead menu - items looked yummy! The bakery items looked delish! So we get to the cashier, who doesn't greet us or really look at us at all. She then is interrupted by another cashier to pounds away at the keyboard ringing up an invisible customer. Then she rings up another invisible customer. Neither one of them acknowledge us, tell us it will be just a minute...nothing. I look at my husband, he looks at me knowing I want to Yelp this miserable experience as soon as I sit down. The food was very good. I had the bbq chicken salad. My hubs had the ham and swiss. Get rid of the knuckleheads at the counter and hire those interested in quality customer service experiences. I'll give you another star if that happens.

    (3)

  • Brianna V.

    Nice sized portions, no skimping out on the meat and avocado, they are definitely generous. The wait was quick and there was no line during peak hours weekday lunch. I liked the atmosphere of the outdoor seating area more so than the inside. They also have a very large display of gorgeous glossy looking pastries and other sweet treats that looked so amazing too bad I can't have anything like that but they really look quite nice very appetizing. I was greeted right away upon entry and also although I had several substitutions and special requests for my order they got it right the first time no mistakes or confusion or additional charge. Totally makes me happy when that happens and I can have my order just the way I want it without worrying if there's going to be some type of problem.

    (4)

  • Cat C.

    Friendly service Relaxing music GREAT FOOD & DESSERTS!!!! If you love to people watch....this is the perfect place! !!! It's inside Southcoast plaza.....I always stop in for a quick bite after a shopping spree at Lululemon! !!!

    (5)

  • Sato I.

    Not bad, but nothing to crave or make me absolutely have to go back. My wife got the fish and chips ($14) and I got a house salad + grilled chicken ($11 + $4) My kids got the chicken tenders and the jr burger ($8 each) 2 adults and 2 kids set us back 53 dollars. The food here was just standard but I definitely think it is too expensive for what it is. The Jr chicken tenders were a good size with 3 pieces of panko crusted chicken and a bunch of fries. The Jr Burger was just a single slider with fries. For 8 bucks, I could have gotten a much bigger kids meal at the Habit. We only went there because the kids were hungry and we were at the mall. I don't think I'd make a special trip out just to eat here. Actually, I think even if I was at the mall, I'd make an effort to eat somewhere else because the food was too expensive.

    (2)

  • Don H.

    Service was fine, menu was fine, pastries looked pretty good, food tasted fine, environment was nice. Why the one star rating then? I question the general cleanliness of this place. When I got there I noticed a fly in the pastry display. No big deal I thought, bugs exist. They fly around and get stuck all over the place. Im not so squeamish to be disgusted by a fly. However in the middle of my meal I noticed something wriggling around next to my quesadilla. It was a meal worm. That grossed me out. I draw a line in the sand at squiggly squishy animals in my food. This shit probably happens more often than you'd think at restaurants all over but, it's still not excusable. Proceed with caution my friends.

    (1)

  • Grace C.

    Good-size cafe. Haven't eaten in here, but did get drinks at their side area. I got their lemonade. If you like your lemonade to be super-sweet, then this lemonade may not be for you unless you tell them uber-sweetened or you put in a lot of sugar yourself. It's a bit sour, and they do put in a lot of ice. Price is around $2.59 for a small one. The bf got one of their crazy, deluxe frappuccinos. It wasn't bad, and it's not diabetic-inducingly sweet. You can also ask for whipped cream if you want to be that much more decadent. Service was pretty quick. We got both of our drinks in the span of under 10 minutes. Will probably be back whenever we're around or need something quick.

    (3)

  • Jen C.

    Stopped in for breakfast and we found that it was hearty portions with great flavor! I had the ABC omelette and it was super good! Also ordered a zucchini muffin that was light and fluffy

    (4)

  • Nina V.

    I absolutely LOVE pasta here. It is divine and honestly the best pasta I have ever had. Bread pudding is delicious. The bakers/chefs here l, at least for pasta, really nail it here! The only reason why it's not 5 stars is due to service. I've had a gentleman at the register storm off, exclaiming, "Everybody eats cheese with their pasta!!" after I came back to make sure he didn't put that down. Yep, that's all I did - made sure, and he storms off like a heavily pregnant woman who just found out the bakery is out of cinnamon rolls. While it was amusing and I couldn't help but chuckle, it wasn't the first encounter with uncalled for attitude.

    (4)

  • Michelle T.

    I really enjoy this place because the menu is so extensive. From sandwiches to pasta to seafood this place has something for almost anyone. You can either order at the food counter or the drinks counter if you are just wanting a beverage. I like to get a lunch here and get the chicken and chips. Love the chicken strips breading. They also have a huge bakery selection and sometimes I just can't resist. Large seating area. You order at the counter and they bring the food to you. Park in the back of the shipping center instead of the underground parking structure for quick access.

    (4)

  • Calvary D.

    After 6 pm. Bakery is half off. We always go here for the chocolate chip cookies and carrot muffin. Blueberry muffin is loaded with fruits also. They have regular restaurant food also but quite expensive for my taste even though meat loaf is good.

    (4)

  • Kristin B.

    Horrible first impression. I ordered a caprese panini sandwich to go but it was extremely caked with the mayo and oil/butter. I couldn't even pick it up it was so soggy. I had to trash it and get something else. Such a bummer.

    (1)

  • John B.

    I go here anytime my wife drags me to South Coast Plaza. I absolutely love their coffee, their pastries are delicious, and their food is not greasy. We have always had great service here, I can highly recommend it. Again, I strongly recommend their coffee.

    (5)

  • Negin I.

    Not friendly people , cashier can't even greet , smile or guide you !! First and last time experience

    (1)

  • Tony B.

    Today's experience was not the best. The salad my partner had was full of browned lettuce. My Cobb sandwich had more lettuce than turkey. I had an iced tea and was pointed to where the sugar packs were and had to get them myself! Did not talk to a manager for the fear of getting my food spat on.

    (2)

  • Ella M.

    We've only gone here for breakfast and we love it. We've tried several of their items and have been pleased with all. The absolute best part is the fresh fruit that comes with your meal. Obviously it's locally grown...I just wish other restaurants had access to such great fruit. It's $30 for the two of us and more expensive breakfast spots didn't have fruit this fresh! Shame on them. Their lunch items look really good and we're planning on coming back for it.

    (4)

  • Sarah G.

    Their food is mediocre, more towards the bad side. I had a simple turkey sandwich and it was so dry and plain. There was hardly and vinaigrette and one little piece of mozzarella that only was in one bite of the sandwich. The potatoes chips here are good they are super crispy and there's some sort of flavor or spice in it that hits the spot. Overall i probably wouldn't come here for a meal but make just grab a dessert and chips to go.

    (2)

  • Jeannie C.

    Went here with my mom for lunch a couple months back just to try it. My mom got a grilled chicken wrap and I got a chicken pesto panini. Both came with side salads. The sandwich and wraps were ok, but their salads were very disappointing. The wraps looked and tasted good and the panini sandwich had chopped up chicken instead of the normal chicken strip like chicken. It looked more like a chicken salad pesto mix. It was still good, but after a while it got a bit overwhelming. My mom got the mixed greens salad and I got their caesar salad, but the lettuce and everything was wilted, going bad (brown/yellow) and just really poor quality. My mom complained to them about it and the staff just said, "ok. do you want a new one?" No apology. We were just really disappointed.

    (2)

  • Raymond H.

    Breakfast is like eating at an airport joint. It's not horrific and it's not great it's just average and like an airport your dining options are limited, same thing at this part of SC plaza. They don't need to be any better than they are as there is nobody else but Ruby's serving breakfast. I can't imagine Ruby's being a 3 star but I'd probably go there next time.

    (2)

  • Christine K.

    My mom and I have been to almost all the restaurants inside the South Coast Plaza mall, but this was our first time giving Pacific Whey Cafe a try. It's tucked away into the desolate, unfrequented corner of the mall that's over the bridge. If you're in the mall and need a place to grab a light meal but don't want to spoil your stomach with mediocre Italian or disappointing steak/fish, then I would recommend the Nordstrom Cafe, Vie De France (nowadays, you have to be lucky to score a scrumptious bowl of French onion soup; otherwise, it'll taste either too salty or too burnt), or Pacific Whey Cafe. We were pleasantly surprised to be greeted by such a friendly staff! Our cashier (I wish I knew her name because she deserves an award) was all smiles and so welcoming. The rest of the staff willingly attended to our needs as well. The caprese panini here tasted shockingly...good. By all means, it's not as stellar as what you'd have at home with some quality fresh mozzarella and basil, but you can actually taste real tomatoes and basil. To sum it up, Pacific Whey's mozzarella panini is much better than Panera's or Corner Bakery's, but I personally prefer Nordstrom Cafe's over the rest. What really impressed us, though, was the fresh ingredients used for the salad. The lettuce (romaine and baby lettuce), carrots, and tomatoes were so fresh and delicious! Would I visit, again, if I need a quick meal? I would most definitely go to Pacific Whey over Zcafe... :)

    (4)

  • Melissa Z.

    This is the place to go whenever you cannot decided where to eat. They have a little bit of everything! Vegetarian substitute options too!

    (5)

  • Ken C.

    You would think a restaurant in South Coast Plaza mall would be good. You might even stop by Pacific Whey Cafe's coffee bar and get the really good pastries and have a cup of coffee. ( The only reason I would give them a 1 is the pastries otherwise the restaurant deserves a zero). I've eaten here 7 times and held back a review hoping they were just flukes. While the coffee bar should stay open. Close down your bad restaurant. Today I'll give them credit for decent service usually that is less than stellar. So I decided how can a restaurant screw up breakfast? The components of the Farmer Scramble with out sausage and adding avocado had no flavor. The Potatoes were cold and I could taste the grease. I'm generally easy going with a restaurant for being a foodie. But this restaurant is seriously a waste of Mall space. What ever you are doing in the kitchen stop and hire a cook. Such a huge disappointment. I know why would a fool go back 7 times. Well I'm the fool and I own it. But Bad food is bad food. On a good day it mediocre.

    (1)

  • Nancy A.

    I went here a couple days ago for dinner and okay, I did not take a picture which I can't believe but I guess I was so hungry there was no time. Anyway, great location (crystal court) great staff, good service. I had a delicious salad. The Pacific Whey Summer Salad. It had strawberries, walnuts, goat cheese, dates and grapes. And for $6 added salmon. It was a good portion of Salmon.

    (3)

  • Natel A.

    Service was great, & so was the food & coffee!!! Having been to the Midwest where eggs Benedict are common & to Italy where coffee is amazing, let me tell ya' the eggs & sauce were on point & the coffee ( caffe au lait ) immediately took me back to Europe! Will definitely be returning for some more :)

    (5)

  • Julie F.

    This is a popular place, but I miss some of their old menu items. I tried the fish and chips and it was just okay. The fish was panko crusted and came with fries and slaw. My lunch mate ordered a BLTA (bacon, lettuce, tomato, and avocado) sandwich and it looked excellent. It came with a bowl of chicken vegetable soup which was apparently tasty. The sweets at the counter looked very yummy and appetizing, but we showed restraint and didn't get any.

    (3)

  • David V.

    Horrible. Horrible. Horrible. I don't know what else to say. I ordered the chicken fingers with French fries for my son...nasty. No flavor. The batter was bland and the chicken had no flavor. I ordered the fish n chips. I don't even know if that was real fish. Fish sticks are 1000% times better than this. To top it all off, the French fries had an orange glow to them, which led me to believe that they had been refried. So I asked for another order of fries. They gave them to me and they looked the same. Now I realized that they probably haven't changed the oil in a few days and they probably deep fry the French fries in the same frier along with the chicken fingers, fish, and anything else that is fried. My plate came with coleslaw...if you can even call it that. It was cabbage with sugar...no slaw...it was dry. Oh! And before I forget, I had a bowl of chili with my meal. Chili is what I wanted, but I received a bowl of shredded beef with cheese on top. No beans, no onions. Wtf. Worst place I have ever eaten. Please beware before you eat here. Read the other reviews, I made the mistake of not checking Yelp and it cost me $40.38!

    (1)

  • Kristin Leigh M.

    Good portion sizes, good flavor, I'm happy we stopped in. Popped in here after some morning shopping at South Coast. Hubby had the breakfast sandwich, and I had one of the omelettes. Breakfast sandwich looked GOOD, I did get a bit of food envy, to be quite honest. I got the cheese omelette and added mushrooms to it. Cheese was plentiful but not overbearing. Not skimpy on the mushrooms, by any means. Served with potatoes and fruit. Fruit looked nice and fresh, and tasted the same. I appreciated this place for the fact that nothing seemed overly greasy. Even though what I was eating wouldn't make a diet list, it tasted good and not like it would clog my arteries!

    (4)

  • A R.

    Great food, great value and great place. They serve breakfast food options all day and that matters a lot. We had a delicious cheese omelette with the swiss cheese draped on top. We also sampled the fresh fruit, moist berry scones and it was all top class. While this is an order at the register type of establishment, the service by the servers was also good. It's a bit of a hike from the main part of South Coast Plaza, but worth the walk!

    (5)

  • Estela B.

    This review is for the coffee and pastries: I'm in love with this cafe! The pastries are freshly baked and HUGE!!! And absolutely delicious! The coffee is also great! I haven't tried the food yet but I'm looking forward to it!!

    (5)

  • Shalizeh D.

    I am only reviewing the service and pastries as I did not order breakfast. The creme brulee bread pudding warmed up was out of this world. It was a block of deliciousness. It was not overly sweet, it was executed very well. We also shared a danish pastry that had a layer of creamy pudding in the middle. Requested both to be served warm but they honestly would have been great either way. The staff is very friendly and accommodating. My friend ordered eggs a certain way and they made sure that combination was available. The breakfast dishes are large, served with fruit and toast. I will be back for lunch, the pannini looked appetizing!

    (4)

  • Julie N.

    We saw a lot of people eating here, so we figured it had to be good. We were wrong. We ordered the Pacific Cobb sandwich and Pacific Whey Sliders. Both were very bland and I had to add ketchup and mustard on my sliders to try to get it some flavor. It didn't help. We never like to waste food and always take home any leftovers. This was the first time in a long time we didn't bother to take home the leftovers. It just wasn't worth it.

    (2)

  • Jocelyn J.

    Got their signature custard danish and Arnold Palmer. Custard danish.. was stale and cinnamon taste overpowered other flavors. Really disappointing. The Arnold Palmer tasted like just sour iced tea. No sweetness whatsoever of the lemonade. It might b my bad luck with whoever was making the drinks and pastries so if I ever do try it again and like it, review may change but for me it was definitely less than mediocre.

    (2)

  • Susan Y.

    I come here for two things 99% of the time - coffee and cookies. I work in the mall so it's nice to be able to get some yummy cookie goodness when I need a recharge during my break! lol Snickerdoodle, chocolate chip and brownie walnut have all been delicious - not too sweet, not too hard, not bland and definitely worth the price. ^_^ Coffee is always on the spot. Cashiers are super nice too.

    (4)

  • Mariel C.

    The negative review is regarding the food not the service! I got the grilled chicken panini and Ceasar salad for $12 he sandwich tasted like a lean cuisine panini sandwich it tasted like fake ingredients and the salad dressing had no flavor it was like mayonnaise on my salad.. Probably won't come back here especially won't order the same thing

    (2)

  • Shiva A.

    Below average. How do you mess up a tuna salad sandwich? Boyfriend liked his burger but my sandwich was very bland and dry. Menu is similar to Corner Bakery and Panera Bread. I probably won't be coming back here again.

    (2)

  • Merrill M.

    Rubys was packed so we decide to try this place out. Honestly there's nothing fancy or anything that stands out about this place. If you need a quick bite this place has good decent food and not to pricey. I tried their Chili fries and it was pretty good with chunks of shredded beef and veggies. My daughter liked their grilled cheese. Its a ok for that fast quick bite within Crystal Court side.

    (3)

  • James A.

    Had chicken n chips, cajun chicken and kids Mac n Cheese for lunch. Results: Chicken strips were crispy and most and tender inside. cole slaw that came with it was very strangely concocted with a cinnamon-flavored dressing. Couldn't understand that. When we brought it up with the Server she said "sorry". Fries were bland...no salt. Cajun sandwich was pretty good but home made chips were also bland and unsalted...why? Mac and Cheese was good portioned for a kid's dish and tasted fairly ok. Uhm, there are other places to eat near by. Try Lawrys. For the price paid here, you'll fare better.

    (2)

  • Nancy T.

    My fiance and I always pass by this place whenever we visit South Coast Plaza. We typically buy a drink here whenever we get thirsty. Their Arnold Palmers are especially good and fairly reasonably priced. One day, we got super hungry and actually decided to eat here. We really wanted to eat elsewhere, but we were looking for a quick meal, so we just decided to go here out of sheer convenience. The inside of the cafe is surprisingly pretty nice and clean, plus the location allows for easy people watching. As for the food, it's alright. It's not the best, but it's not the worst. We split a panini, which came with really yummy fries - perfect texture, not too big or small, and just the right amount of crispiness. Yum!! The panini was decent, but I've definitely had waaaay better. One thing that I liked about dining in... we got FREE refills on our drinks! All in all, would I come back? Probably not, unless I needed to make a convenient stop.

    (3)

  • Diana R.

    Salads are great! Had a cajun chicken sandwich and it was okay. It felt a little greasy but it was good. Service was good too. Im a coke addict (by coke i mean the drink-cola/pepsi) and theres something about their coke that i just love. I know it sounds crazy, but i guess its just the perfect setting wth the gas and syrup. Anywho, i would recommend this place to anyone. Pastries are awesome too ((:

    (3)

  • Butters L.

    Some of the best breakfast food in OC.

    (4)

  • Juanita D.

    This place reminds me of Disneyland, there's just something about it. It's not amazing, but not horrible - just about average. Think of a fancy/mall version of Corner Bakery. I went here during the weekend and it was packed beyond belief. Be prepared to wait in line - check out the menu on the wall for what you want that way it's fast when you order. Plus you have to keep an eye out for the "food courtyard" little area thats fenced off, you'll feel like a hawk waiting for a spot to open up. The food was pretty good. 1/2 a BLTA with fries was only $4.95, score! Their burgers were juicy & not greasy & their paninis were so cheesy! Overall I liked it but wouldn't run back here. It's a great option for the mall & at a great price! Their service? The bussers/runners are super cool. The counter staff, not so much.

    (3)

  • Kelley U.

    Met up with a friend and decided to stop at Pacific Whey Cafe to grab something to eat before trekking off into the mall. This is one of those places where you order at the counter and then you sit down and they bring out your food to you. Very similar to the many restaurants around like Panera Bread, Champagne Bakery and Corner Bakery. It was 11:00 a.m. My friend decided to get just a muffin and a coffee and I decided to get some lunch and ordered the roast beef and feta sandwich. I was perusing all the pastries, cookies, cakes and muffins in the bakery case but decided to wait and may be order something sweet for later. The first thing I noticed when I got my lunch was the side Caesar salad that I chose as my side order with my roast beef sandwich. The salad had a lot of romaine lettuce that was brown. Not good. When it is 11:00 a.m. and basically the beginning of your lunch crowd and your lettuce is brown, that is pretty bad. I was basically picking out good pieces of romaine out of my salad to eat which is a shame because I really like Caesar salad. The sandwich was just okay. There was not a lot of roast beef in the sandwich and nothing really impressive about it. If I go to Panera or Corner Bakery, I order the roast beef sandwich often at both of those places and they are just better sandwiches. I also ordered an ice tea which they forgot to bring out and I had to remind the server about that. By the point I was done with my meal, I really did not want to order any dessert. All in all, a very disappointing meal. With so many choices of places to eat at South Coast Plaza, I don't think I will be back again especially since there are two Champagne Bakeries and a Corner Bakery here, if I want a quick bite to eat.

    (2)

  • Nikki T.

    Their bakery has some amazing goodies! Three things I can't get enough of: almond pastry (I think it's called the cinnamon twist), chocolate chip oatmeal cookie, and I don't know the name, but it's a small round cake-like baked goodie with powdered sugar on top and a hint of apple in the center. Delicious!

    (4)

  • Robert. A.

    We love this place! Everything is fresh! The summer salad is very good, a lot going on. The mushroom soup is one of the best we have had. The pastas are fresh and big enough to share that comes with a pizza style warm bread that is delicious. We love fresh food that taste like it is organic and not processed. Good place for lunch or to go.

    (5)

  • Debbie R.

    I want to like this place, but the past 2 dinners I've had here were meh. I first came here a few years ago with my family. I don't quite remember what I ordered, so it wasn't memorable in a good or bad way. Since then, I've ordered the Grilled Atlantic Salmon: Fresh Atlantic Salmon Filet topped with a Four-Citrus Sauce, with Steamed Rice and Broccolini. The salmon was drenched with this overly tangy and unappealing sauce, masking the flavor of the fish. I scraped most of it off and finished the plate 'cause I didn't want to waste my money. A couple weeks ago, I thought I'd give the place another try and ordered the Turkey & Brie Panini: Sliced Oven Roasted Turkey Breast, Baby Spinach, Caramelized Onions, Creamy Brie, and Garlic Aioli. It looked great. Yet the caramelized onions were pretty overpowering, and I love onions. Again, I found myself scraping off most of the onions, but then the panini lacked punch. I didn't taste any of the garlic aioli. I took half of it home and it's actually still sitting in the fridge (I should throw it out). On the good side, I've had nothing but good service here. The 1/2 off cookies after a certain time (5:00pm? 6:00pm? don't remember the exact time) is nice. Other than that, I don't think I'll be coming here for food any time soon.

    (3)

  • Anh ..

    Pretty bad when Panera is better - we got sliders and some pasta thing with feta cheese.

    (3)

  • Jonathan S.

    A tip for you guys, first of all: Do not attempt to eat here if you have more than 3-5 people in your party (Vie de France across the bridge has the same issue). They don't have enough seats per table (or booth) to accommodate such large parties!! Now that we got that out of the way, let's review, shall we? Like I said, I have already given out a "warning" to those who want to seat more than how many seats each table they have. Example: If you have 6 people in your party, you will have a pretty hard time finding a table (unless you are willing to squeeze two tables in). Next point is the food: They're....reasonably priced if you want good quality food. I usually get their pulled pork sandwich, and yes, I realize that the portions are humongo, but I manage to chow down that whole pulled pork sandwich (was I hungry that time? LOL) in one sitting. Yes, it was THAT good! The fried onion strings (or so I'd like to call it) were crisp enough to sink my teeth into, and the pulled pork itself were juicy (from the sauce) and tender; the sauce itself? It was a bit salty, but hey, at least it was smokey enough to my expectations. :P The service that time was great. Everyone was really friendly, and they are willing to give you free refills on your drinks if you request it (yes, they are complimentary). I took off 1 star in this review because of how "crowded" it may get if you have a lot of people in your party, and there are not that many tables to seat that many guests. But overall, the food was good, staff is friendly, what's not to love? :) 4/5 stars

    (4)

  • Jay L.

    Tried this place for dinner with my family. Need to mention that there was a group of four next to us and they left early and it barely looked like they ate their food, which kind of worried me as we waited for ours. The service was so-so. I had the salmon sandwich with side salad. The bun was think but the salmon was cooked well and tasted decent, nothing spectacular. The kids had the chicken fingers with fries and they were pretty. I think both my kids could have shared this plate. Overall the place is decent and service can better.

    (3)

  • Elroy B.

    Such a great looking sit down coffee shop environment. It's a pity they can't serve coffee in porcelain cups. Even the brownie and cake we ordered were handed over the counter as if for take aways.

    (1)

  • Arianne N.

    Pretty noisy, as it's in the middle of a busy part of a mall, but the food was good and they offered us many different options for swapping high carb sides for low. We both had omelets with fruit on the side. Very tasty. Kinda pricey for a noisy, messy little cafe in the middle of a mall, but still delicious.

    (4)

  • Renee G.

    Dog friendly if you eat on the patio. We enjoy going for breakfast, so far everything on the menu is delicious. They also have a salad that has figs in it and it is my new favorite salad.

    (5)

  • Miriam G.

    I come here once in a while with my hubby and we always enjoy the breakfast food here. We both love their omelettes... I always order the smoc (spinach, mushroom, onion and cheese) it comes with bread and fruit. It's a good size portion. It's a clean restaurant and the price is reasonable. You order at the register and they bring you your food... There Are no waiters but they do have workers going around clearing tables and will get you ketchup or whatever condiment you need - we always leave tips for them.

    (4)

  • Ryan D.

    Had their tossed pasta and it was very refreshing! Their creamy tomato pasta was also good. Love grabbing their half priced pasties after 6

    (4)

  • Roxanne F.

    This place is pretty good. I stopped here after an evening of shopping at South Coast. I had a sandwich and it was a really large portion. The thing I like the most about this place is the environment. It has an open seating area, which allows you to view the mall. It's a nice place to stop after shopping, but I don't think I would go out of my way to come eat here. One cool thing about this place is that the bakery goods are 50% off after 5 PM.

    (3)

  • Harby A.

    This review is for the coffee menu. I have ordered a large latte and it was for here. First, the guy was like didnt want to serve anything, anyway, the latte was not hot nor warm, it was room temperature steamed milk with a shot of espresso. The milk was not non-fat as I ordered and was served in a cartoon cup while I ordered a mug. It was not the best latte I drunk therefore, I am not comming back .

    (1)

  • Will M.

    No Whey, yes whey..but hey, it's Pacific Whey. Is it good? No. Is it bad? No. Overall the entire dining experience was lukewarm. But they've got their catering stamp all over the food we had. At 8 PM on a Friday night while shopping in the smaller end of South Coast Plaza, they are a convenient stop in the mid court area. If you sit by the railing closest to the mall walkway, expect shoppers to stop and gawk at your food or the TV...or that night, the scantilly clad women who looked like they were "proud of her upper torso area" and competing for the best one LOL. The clientele are mostly shoppers and mall employees when we were there. It's got a busy sports bar and cafe feel with dark wood tables and chairs. It's kind of dark, so you may not see what made your table sticky. Overall, it's got a Nordstrom cafe style "pay before you get your food" but food is not as good. Or as my yelp friend Wendy C. says, it's a Boudin's reject. The tables and chairs weren't as clean as you'd expect. The bathrooms had pieces of paper towel all over the men's room. Looked like slobs after drinking beer missing the waste basket. OK so on to the food. Like most catered food, eye appeal was good. I opted for the Pan baked chicken that come with broccoli florets and rice ($14) and my friend had salmon with the same sides ($16). The salmon was nicely seared and moist and not fishy. The chicken had lots of mushrooms and gravy on it though slightly rubbery texture. Not bad, but it was the saltiest gravy I've had in a while. The rice was good, too but it came out with a an upside down cup shape...like I said, pre portioned like a caterer. The broccoli florets were bland like most catering companies serve at weddings. The thing I HATE is when restaurants boil or microwave beautiful vegetables and do nothing else with it. Please butter it, add salt, or something. One chef on the TV show The Chew said, "If you sear vegetables and meat, it's magic". Side dishes are every bit part of the meal as the meat, and often ignored. I expect it at Denny's but not at supposedly better restaurants. At Nordstrom, their Tuscan chicken and their veggies are buttered and chargrilled and costs less. We didn't go there because we wanted to try something different. It was a filling meal, portion size for the chicken was good and OK for the salmon. Too bad we didn't try the pastries because they looked good. As we were done eating, a whole group of bulimic looking women came in and bought all of the cheesecakes, croissants, and cupcakes. That's probably all I'll want if I come back here.

    (3)

  • Judi S.

    I love eating breakfast on the weekends. it's just something I enjoy doing. I don't have to rush, I can get what I want and I can enjoy a good meal. Pacific Whey, for someone who lives with dietary restrictions as I do, seems to be the last place on earth I'd ever want to eat at especially with the word "whey" in the name. I mean, just the two bakery cases that are to the right of counter where you order were absolutely chalk full of every muffin, cookie, pastry and cupcake one could ever want and a challenge for me to pass up. But I found they had a 2 eggs plate, any style with toast, bacon, a variety of fresh fruit and fried potatoes which worked for me just fine. Breakfast was $8 and some change which included Earl Gray tea.

    (3)

  • Heather B.

    Came here for lunch and was charged $16 for a salad and iced tea! For that price, at a walk up/order at the counter restaurant, I am expecting this salad to be amazing and it wasn't... It was dry and had no flavor... They even forgot the cilantro. The iced tea tasted old... Very unpleasant experience, I will not be coming back.

    (1)

  • Jessica S.

    We really like this place! We've been here a few times and so far have tried the following: Spinach and Feta Scramble - Came with fresh fruit, red potatoes, and toast. The scramble was really really good. It had a lot of feta and a lot of spinach, was seasoned perfectly, and the eggs were really moist. Definitely recommend this if you like the spinach and feta combination! ABC Omelette - Came with Avocado, Bacon, and cheese. Also came with red potatoes, fresh fruit and toast. I've NEVER had an omelette with so much bacon in it! It was seasoned and cooked perfectly! The bill for the above two items was $20 (we just had water), so it's really reasonably priced! We've also tried the Cobb Salad which was excellent! Other pros for us is that it has outside seating with PLENTY of shade. The service is extremely fast and they also have coffee and pastries! The only reason I knocked off one star was because the fruit could have been fresher. Especially because we came on a Sunday morning at 11am! The weekend is the busiest time for Cafe's like this and is he start of a new week. But, we will be back to try other things :)

    (4)

  • Erin W.

    I always love it here. Good food at good prices and always friendly service. The busser that is always here is super friendly.

    (5)

  • Anisa T.

    I have been disappointed... Looking at the reviews... This had high hopes... I was mainly going for the cupcakes... But all they had was huge dry ones the size of jumbo muffins... What we ordered: Waffle breakfast: it was ok nothing really to write home about... It was kinda soggy and the fruit was not ripe so it was hard and not sweet The RV cupcake was dry and huge... The frosting was grainy and not good I couldnt swallow more than 1bite.. The club sandwich: it was dry and flavorless... All in all this place is not good... Maybe it was an off day but I don't think I will return... :(

    (2)

  • john k.

    I stopped by recently while shopping in the mall and wanted to get a pick me up so I asked what a cookie cost. The girl said $2.50. It's not a big cookie, just a regular size cookie and they want $2.50. Give me a break! I can get 2 dozen for $6. at Costco. No wonder the place was empty.

    (1)

  • Jill M.

    YUM YUM YUM YUM YUM YUM YUM YUM YUM YUM YUM YUM YUM YUM YUM YUM YUM YUM YUM YUM. Ok, enough of that. Just came back from Pacific Whey where I enjoyed their BBQ Chicken Salad. Came with your basic mixed greens, chopped BBQ chicken, avocado, corn, tomato, carrots, cilantro, and crisp tortilla strips, and ranch. (what ISN'T good with Ranch?) Delicious, filling and flavorful. Was tired and feeling anti-social, so I ate it in my car while listening to NPR. (don't be a hater). Not 'completely' healthy with the BBQ sauce, tortilla strips and Ranch, but not horrible either. However, I did skip the free roll. Good stuff. Nice escape from the usual chain food joints in the mall. They seemed a bit short-staffed, as I was in line for about 10-15 mins, but after I ordered, my food came out pretty quickly. Bon appetit!

    (4)

  • Mai N.

    My bf and I came here for lunch today with a coupon. It was crowded but we were able to snag a seat. I ordered the Broccoli Cheese soup with half an Oven Turkey Sandwich. The soup was very different from other broccoli cheese soups I've had before; It was cheesier than usual. I woulda liked it much better if there was more broccoli but it was still good. My sandwich was only okay because I felt that it it lacked flavor. My bf got the BLT plus guacamole and a side of greens. His sandwich, on the other hand, was delicious. Add some bacon to almost anything and it'll make it taste that much better! His salad was good too. It had a good amount of dressing. This place is pretty cheap and a good place to swing in for food while shopping in the area. I definitely want to try breakfast...it looked quite appetizing.

    (3)

  • Jay Y.

    to keep it simple, as i said in my previous review of this place.. Roast Beef and Feta sandwich. can't go wrong. it was delicious a year and a half ago and it's still delicious now. i drool and the mere thought of the combination of roast beef, feta cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, red onions, avocado, and balsamic vinaigrette -- all wrapped up neatly in a whole wheat bun. my gf ended up getting eggs benedict this time around. it looked pretty delicious and she seconded that thought. with the ham done right, poached eggs cooked to perfection and that Hollandaise sauce -- yum. fresh fruit adorned the dish making the plate look like it came straight out of a magazine. the service here is friendly, the food is awesome, the desserts look deadly and i am at a loss for words. Pacific Whey is not necessarily one of those places you go out of your way to go to -- but it is definitely one of the spots you strongly consider when you're shopping in or around South Coast Plaza. i know there are a lot of good food choices in SCP and Costa Mesa, but Pacific Whey -- good brunch/lunch eats!

    (4)

  • Alexis K.

    Oh pacific whey. First of all, I'll start with my one SINGLE positive: it's conveniently located across from where my best friend works, and i often visit her. That's it. Seriously. If you are looking for a decent chocolate chip cookie, look elsewhere. The semi sweet chocolate chips overpower your taste buds, and you end up really hating yourself for wasting calories on such a D grade cookie. The breakfast burritos are usually soggy (upon delivery to the table) and the place is whey over priced! The other major downside is the service. Recently it seems as if every familiar face has disappeared and been replaced with a new staff who has no idea what they are doing, and is on their phones! Like, in front of my face while I'm ordering the chick was straight up reading a text from someone. She asked me to repeat my order because she didn't get it. Gee, and then my order was wrong! I asked for no capers -_- there were so many capers -_- Regardless of all of this, I give it two stars because what kind of hypocrite would I be givin this place one star, and then I occasionally (when there is no where else to run) grab something light there. So, find another place in south coast to dine.

    (2)

  • Chris M.

    Order at the counter and they bring your food out. Service is just fine. Cajun chicken sandwich, cob salad and chicken vegetable soup hit the spot after shopping. Tons of food for under $20. Very tasty and great to share. And they have organic coffee. Check it out next time your at SCP.

    (4)

  • Yareli M.

    First of all its not far from work, I'd say 10 mins. Second of all I like the atmosphere and service. However the line at lunch time gets ridiculously long...therefore the wait to order your food is long. The portions are generous, yes it is a little on the pricey side, depending on what you get. I really like their breakfast menu. I had the veggie omelet with red potatoes it was very delicious and fulfilling. But it can get very crowded and if your going with a group of friends it might be hard to find a table. But they do serve breakfast all day! Overall I'd recommend Pacific Whey, specially because its located inside South Coast (across the bridge - where the apple store and Macy's Home is located) and you can go shopping afterward or before whichever you prefer :)

    (3)

  • David A.

    Food is amazing! Went on a date night with my family and enjoyed every part! Atmosphere was quiet and private enough yet good spot to people watch! I had their Pablo crusted chick n chips and was made a happy man! My wife's pasta was amazing as well!!! Great portions and their baked goods are awesome! Can't wait to come back and eat more!!!!

    (5)

  • Nick L.

    They don't even have my favorite roast beef sandwich here and the cream cheese carrot muffins are very dry. I guess I just have to go back to the Newport Beach location.

    (3)

  • Will H.

    Honestly no different from a Corner Bakery except they make burgers and pastas. Not worth the prices they advertise either.

    (2)

  • Darryl B.

    I have eaten here so many times and never noticed i have never done a review. I happen to be fond of their burgers. I like this place because if your shopping in south coast plaza its a great place to sit down and enjoy a salad, burger or chicken sandwich. The customer service is excellent, but people pleaseeeee when your done eating please leave a small tip on the table. $1.00 at least. I say that because this place is somewhere you go up and order your food, they give you a number to place at your table. They then bring your food to you with excellent customer service. Then when your done, this place encourages you to leave everything behind and they in turn clean up your table, while you continue on with your shopping. So pleaseeee leave a tip.

    (4)

  • Edward T.

    Went for breakfast. Got the ABC omelet, which was overcooked, dry and rubbery. It came with potatoes, which were undercooked, and fruit, which wasn't ripe. Their pastries are hit and miss. Most are OK, but none exceptional. I prefer light, flakey style pastries. Theirs tend to be heavy and doughy. The quality seems to be better at their Newport location. It's sad that as they have expanded that they have not kept their eye on quality.

    (2)

  • Noell S.

    Favorite place to eat at South Coast. I get the salmon sandwich... So yummy! And their custard Danish is to die for. My hubby comes just for the flourless chocolate cake (paleo!!) The service is great every time. Perfect lunch break from shopping.

    (5)

  • John S.

    where to start : / First off..place was empty. Should of been a red flag. Ordered food, drinks, came out to be $30. Ok. Cashier did not seem very happy. Food was served to us. My gf ordered the "school boy" breakfast. Server made a awkward creepy remark saying, "or should I say school girl breakfast." (Lucky I didn't drop you when you said that) but I stayed cool and collective. Pancakes had powder sugar on them. MY GF HATES POWDER SUGAR. The potatoes were cold. English muffins were the type you buy straight out of the grocery store. NO ONE CHECKED UP ON US to see if we were doing OK. We actually witnessed a employee walking by us while talking on her phone. REALLY??? Another employee fooling around behind the county while the "manager" told him to stop there are customers around. Get your shit together pacific whey. The food is over priced and your customer service is very unprofessional. I would not be going on about this rant but I chose to take my gf here for her last meal in Cali as she is leaving out of the country. A very, very bad decision on my part. No wonder the one in Ladera Ranch closed down. Best advice. Step your customer service up. Serve your food hot. And be happy to see a customer who actually wants to taste your food.

    (1)

  • Dana U.

    Food was good, turkey with brie and cobb salad with blue cheese dressing. Asked for ranch dressing for the fries-dressing was really bad, no flavor at all. Standard "order at the counter" service.

    (3)

  • Phuong K.

    Since I am usually at SCP a few days out of the week I like trying out different places to eat for lunch. So I decided to check out Pacific Whey. They have a pretty big menu here. They serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner items; they also have a large pastry/bakery selection. The first time I went here I tried the cajun chicken sandwich, which had chipotle aioli and peperjack cheese. I liked this a lot and the salad they give you is good. Their portions are pretty generous here. I have also tried the eggs benedict and it was alright its not that great...I definitely had better. Nowadays, since I am on a budget I get their kids Mac and cheese and surprisingly it is amazing and cheap! I am extremely picky about mac and cheese and trust me theirs tastes very gourmet and yummy. They use bow tie pasta with a light creamy cheese sauce. It is enough for me ( I actually can't even finish it most of the time) and it costs about $3! I have also gotten a few items from the bakery and its a hit or miss. I got the chocolate brownie cookie and It was nice, warm, and yummy and another time I got the same item and it was hard as a rock..I think they might've changed bakers or recipes. Because cookies aren't as yum as I remembered them to be anymore. After 6 o clock I believe all pastries items are half off though.

    (3)

  • Cat N.

    Because the espresso machine broke at champagne bakery I decided to come here... I ordered a small soy latte with hazelnut. It was satisfying and didnt taste too acidic. YUM! My total was $4.10 for a small with added soy. Not bad. Their cakes look delicious. I will be back for some treats =)

    (4)

  • Lisa S.

    After walking what seemed like 3 miles at the awesomeness that is South Coast Plaza, a friend & I had worked up a healthy appetite. She ordered the veggie omelet with sourdough that comes with cheesy potatoes & fresh fruit and I got the ABC omelet (avocado, bacon, & cheddar cheese) with the same. The things we liked about this place were: breakfast is served all day, the beautiful cherry wood everywhere, the nice cooks & servers, the amazing cheesy potatoes, and the fruit that tasted like it was picked fresh from garden out back. lol The things we didn't like were: the rude gal at the counter, the dry & bland omelets, the funky tropical iced tea that tasted odd even with 4 sugars, lol (no regular iced tea), the bland sourdough toast & the only avocado on my omelet was a lil' slice on top. It was a cool little option for a mall meal and very affordably priced. Lots of people were there, a good sign, and a lot were eating the enticing pastries. Maybe I'll give those a shot next time.

    (3)

  • Joanna L.

    This is the next best cafe in the South Cost Plaza (Champagne Bakery being the first) We came here for lunch around noon on Saturday and surprisingly it wasn't all that packed. They have a all-day breakfast menu which was nice since sometimes you just want breakfast for lunch! =) So I ordered an omelet with sausage, pepper jack cheese, basil, avocado, and mushrooms. mMmMm! also came with a side of fruit and wheat toast. My bf had the two egg, sausage and potato with sour dough bread and a side of fruits....two dishes for about $17 bucks....maybe a little on the expensive side but the food is really tasty and fresh and service wasn't really good too....some waiter came alone to ask if we needed anything and asked us about the food....usually they don't do this at a regular bakery cafe like Panera or corner bakery so that was a little plus. Overall really like this place, more for their breakfast menu than anything because well the pastries on display didn't look as appealing to me....Champagne Bakery pastries on the other hand was very appealing and attractive. lol but yeah for a good breakfast for lunch or for breakfast I would come here anytime.

    (4)

  • Esther J.

    Do I have to give it a star? I would give it a negative star. First of all, the other Pacific Whey Cafe in Crystal Cove is decent and I've never had any problems with the place. It's not a five star restaurant more like a Corner Bakery or just a quick bite type of place. The one in Costa Mesa made me flip my lid. I never or rarely try to find the owner or get crazy at the corporate level but man was it AWFUL. We ordered two decent meals, drinks, and even a glass of wine. The guy at the cashier reread our orders back to us. Nothing crazy, very simple. Couple things like dressing on the side and no buns and no sauce. Not hard at all. We get our orders and it was all wrong. The girl immediately takes the salad back to change it. Then my burger comes out with bun and sauces. I ask the waitress nicely, if the manager was there since it's definitely not the delivery person's problem. It happened in the kitchen. Let me just cut to the chase... The manager was an A**hole and he was rude and dismissive and told us he would refund instead of solving the issue and then he shorted me a dollar so I had to deal with that. After talking to the owner he informed me that he was there at the time! WTF? Anyways the owner was nice but who would ever go to that place.... Stay away.

    (1)

  • Roland L.

    I've been to this Pacific Whey Cafe about a half dozen times to eat while shopping at the South Coast Plaza. The highlight, right off the bat is the 1/2 priced bakery items after 5pm! I cannot speak so much for their breakfast, but their sandwiches and baked items are pretty good, on par with the other Pacific Whey location I've patronized at Newport Coast. Grilled Cajun Chicken Breast Sandwich: 5/5 Burgers Your Whey: 3/5 Fish n' Chips: 4/5 Pacific Whey Pot Pie: 3/5 Ceasar Salad: 4/5 Latte: 3/5 Chocolate Cake: 4/5 Red Velvet Cake: 3:5 Crème Brûlée Bread Pudding 5/5 Definitely order the Grilled Cajun Chicken Breast Sandwich on Marble Rye and a side of Caesar Salad! And for dessert, definitely order the Crème Brûlée Bread Pudding...but have them warm it up for you!

    (4)

  • Ivy N.

    Go after 5 pm for the guilty pleasure items. Cookies, pastries are all half off! The cakes are 3.99 but they are not half off. The strawberry cake was super good. It's a white cake filled with chopped strawberries n cream. It's a light cake.

    (5)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :8:30 am - 9:00pm

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : No
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : Yes
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Lunch
    Parking : Garage, Private Lot
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
    Good for Kids : Yes
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Casual
    Noise Level : Average
    Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
    Outdoor Seating : Yes
    Wi-Fi : Free
    Has TV : Yes
    Dogs Allowed : No
    Waiter Service : No
    Caters : Yes

Pacific Whey Cafe

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