I was really happy to know that Greenleaf had opened at SoCo. The restaurant is a perfect fit for this Costa Mesa foodie destination, The menu is fresh and healthy while the decor stays true to keeping everything environmentally sound.
I always forget there is a lot more than salads here. I’m not typically a salad person, but if you are, the antioxidant salad is one of the most popular — you can read about it when I reviewed its first OC location.
On this particular visit to the new spot, we started with some cocktails (you can get this sans alcohol too) created with soju, a Korean alcoholic beverage made from potatoes. Pine-Kale-Ada Soju cocktail ($8) is like a spiked adult smoothie, the pineapple gives it sweetness and the kale, a healthy freshness. I could have had a huge glass of it, but it was just as well I didn’t because it would’ve been WAY too easy to drink.
Turkey Burger Sliders ($5) were surprisingly moist and savory. Turkey can often turn out dry, but these bite-sized burgers were perfectly juicy and seasoned well. A great snack for one, or shared as a starter with a friend.
One of my favorites was Meatballs and Toast ($6), smothered in a gorgeously light marinara sauce. The morsels of cheese is oozy melty and the julienned basil adds a lovely freshness to the dish. For $6, the portion size was very generous and enough if I only wanted a light meal.
If you’re looking for something more substantial, Turkey Melt Sandwich ($9.95) is delicious and comes on a lightly toasted pretzel bun. Crispy on the outside, sliced turkey breast and melted cheese is packed between the bun and served with a side of .
I’ve always like the pizzas at Greenleaf and the Wild Mushroom and Truffle Pizza ($9.95) is one of them. What I love most about these pizzas is how thin the crust is.
Another huge perk at Greenleaf is their happy hour. Select items are offered at half price while cocktails and pizzas are only $5 between 3pm and 5pm.
This week I have a $20 giftcard for one lucky reader to win. Please leave me a comment with your FULL name and tell me your experiences with Greenleaf, or if you’ve not yet visited, what are the items you would most like to try. Entries close on Wednesday 25th and a winner will be announced on Thursday 26th. Good luck!
Greenleaf Gourmet Chopshop
3321 Hyland Avenue
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Tel: 714-862-2480
I’ve been wanting to try it for a while. I literally just salivated looking at your photo of the turkey melt! And I just love a good thin crust pizza and that looks great too! ~Adrea Reed
i love the whole soco/oc mix mart area with their shops & restaurants. can’t wait to try greenleaf next. thanks
I’ve never been to a Greenleaf but I’d love to try it! That green soju cocktail would definitely be one of the items–reminds me of a shot called “The Lawnmower” that I used to make with Green Machine and vodka (inspired by a Simpsons episode). And the mushroom truffle pizza is another must-try!
– Stephanie Han
I LOVE Greenleaf but have only been once….it seems to be a great place to either sit, have lunch and get some work done, or a place to meet new people. After looking at the pic of the meatballs…those would be first on my hit list!
I haven’t tried Greenleaf but have always heard such yummy things about them. And Costa Mesa is such a great location! I always meet up there with friends for a good meal 🙂
I haven’t visited Greenleaf but is def one of the restaurants in the OC that is on my list to try. I’m love these healthy menu, farm to table restaurants. When I visit, I would def order one of their sandwiches and an ice cold beer to wash it down.
I have never been to Greenleaf but it looks great. I want to try the Pine-Kale-Ada Soju as it looks so good!
I love their salads in particular. They’re always hefty portions and really good. I also appreciate that they’re dog friendly on the patio.
I really need to eat my way through SoCo. I’ve been wanting to try Greenleaf and those meatballs and toast make it all the more tempting. Looks like a great lunch place.
I absolutely love the Antioxidant Orchard Salad. But that Meatball looks delicious! I will definitely try it next time I am there.
Their kale sale with the lemon olive oil dressing is perfect. I use it as a base for their Greek salad.
Robin Wachner
The wife and I love the salads here. They’re large and delicious. I didn’t care for the pizzas, though. Very small and thin for the price ($9.95). The pizza crust looked more like a flour tortilla. Not filling at all. The sandwiches are very small, too, for what you pay. So we stick to the salads when we come here. I’m glad they changed the confusing traffic flow, too. You used to have to order at one end of the restaurant, and pay at the other end. For a narrow restaurant, it really caused congestion. But like I said, they changed it.
This place sounds great. I haven’t been there yet but would love to try it out. Especially the turkey sandwich. That looks amazing!
Bree Briggs my mother and I call the GreenlLeaf in Costa Mesa “our spot” it would be great to take our first trip to SOCO and try the new GreenLeaf
You had me at Pine Kale Ada Soju!
I work in the area and I am always in search of a healthy lunch alternative to chik fil a and in n out. I saw a write up about Greenleaf and decided to try it out. I love love the antioxidant salad and I also tried the cauliflower soup. YUM!! Both hit the spot for lunch and I felt great for the rest of the day! I really want to try their pizzas next time and their drinks (sans alcohol)
Thanks for the ideas 🙂
Elizabeth Siegel
congratulations you are the winner
I love Greenleaf!! My husbands favorite is the buffalo Wang Salad, and I have serveral. I love the turkey bacon BLT Pizza, the chicken salad sandwich that has the thin slices of Apple in it, and he make it yourself salads!! I use romane lettuce, chicken, celery, apples, pineapples & pecans… Everything I’ve tried there is yummy.
I haven’t been to Greenleaf but it sounds like a great place. I love good thin crust pizzas and the mushroom pizza looks amazing. In fact, everything else looks good too. I should totally eat at this place soon.
I love the antioxidant salad. I look forward to trying breakfast there.