Terrace by Mix Mix

We almost never go out of our way to eat at a shopping mall – in fact, we actively avoid eating at some shopping malls – but South Coast Plaza is a major exception. From Din Tai Fung and Paradise Dynasty to Mian and Moulin, we’ve had a lot of great meals at that Costa Mesa destination, and we’re always willing to explore something new there.

One place that was on our list for a long time was Terrace by Mix Mix, which not coincidentally is located on a terrace overlooking the sky bridge that connects two of the mall’s buildings. Terrace’s tropical-looking space always caught our eyes as we walked the bridge for exercise, so we naturally wanted to see what was going on there from a culinary standpoint.

Terrace is a restaurant from a previously successful chef, Ross Pangilinan, who opened Santa Ana’s Mix Mix Kitchen Bar in 2016. serving fusion food inspired by French, Italian, and Filipino cuisines. The South Coast Plaza location opened in 2018, referencing Mix Mix’s name to build on its success, and serves a mix of dishes ranging from Filipino to European and American food, plus fusion items in between. For example, the menu advertised a longanisa pizza with Filipino sausage that we were excited to try; unfortunately, our server said it (and other dishes) had been pulled off the menu for a refresh just prior to our visit.

The plates we sampled were a mixed bag, but overall more positive than not. We started with some tasty bacon-wrapped dates that arrived sitting in a puddle of lime yogurt – a nice flavor, but one that would have worked better off to the side as a dip. Next up was a perfectly tenderized Filipino-style pork cheek adobo, garnished with fried shallots and chimichurri, sitting on a bed of marinade-absorbing garlic rice. Each of these items was a winner.