Coastal Orange County
The best spot for breakfast or lunch in Los Rios Historic District, this Old West–flavored, wood-built house from 1881 (with brick patio) does organically…
Must-see restaurants in Orange County
Anaheim
Chef Jimmy, who has worked in some of LA's top kitchens, returned to his Mexican roots to make some of the most gourmet tacos we've ever seen: pineapple…
Coastal Orange County
Everybody’s favorite for fresh fish (some drive in from LA), Walt’s packs them in on weekends. You can’t make reservations for dinner (though they’re…
Coastal Orange County
Brightly painted in Mexican Day of the Dead art, this out-of-the-way stand is a local institution for fresh, healthy, sustainably farmed tacos of steak,…
Laguna Beach
Ocean views and ridiculous sunsets alone ought to be enough to bring folks in, but gourmet Driftwood steps up the food with seasonal menus centered around…
Disneyland Resort
Decked out like a Hollywood country club, new Carthay Circle is the best dining in either park, with seasonal steaks, seafood, pasta, smart service and a…
Orange County
Established 1899, this former drugstore was recently refurbished to a period design (check out the old safe, apothecary cabinets and telephone switchboard…
Newport Beach
This is the place for generously sized, grilled and panko-breaded fish tacos, ahi burritos, spankin’ fresh ceviche and oysters. Pick out what you want…
Orange County
One of the most exciting restaurants – not just Vietnamese – in Orange County. Chef Kristin Nguyen nails the standards and then riffs on share plates like…
Disneyland Resort
High-back arts-and-crafts-style chairs, leaded-glass windows and towering ceilings befit Disneyland Resort’s top-drawer restaurant. On the plate, seasonal…
Huntington Beach
The food court at HB's stunning new ocean-view mall offers some unique and fun restaurants for pressed sandwiches (Burnt Crumbs – the spaghetti grilled…
Coastal Orange County
Raw-fish fans gather barside at this beach-chic sushi bar with live bands some nights in the back room. Baked scallop parmesan, ahi tataki wraps, and…
Coastal Orange County
For real-deal Mexican food, in a strip mall south of the mission, try this multiroom restaurant, panadería (bakery) and mercado (grocery store). Look for…
Anaheim
In Little Arabia, this simple restaurant in a nondescript strip mall ringed by flags of Arab nations has earned accolades from local papers to Saveur…
Orange County
First things first: they're not hot dogs, they're 'haute' dogs, homemade and topped with your choice of combinations (the BBQ, Bacon and Blues comes with…
Huntington Beach
High-school skaters, 30-something beach bums and old-timers mix easily under ramshackle walls slathered with movie posters at this classic neon-lit…
Huntington Beach
There's no shortage of taco stands in HB, but locals are fiercely dedicated to Sancho's, across from the beach. This two-room shack with patio grills…
Disneyland Resort
Nothing at Disneyland is exactly a secret, but this clubby, grown-up hideaway comes pretty darn close. Dry-rubbed, bone-in rib eye, Australian lobster…
Newport Beach
Hidden a block behind W Coast Hwy, Eat Chow's crowd is equal parts tatted hipsters and ladies who lunch, which makes it very Newport indeed. They all…
Laguna Beach
Macaws and toucans welcome you to this trendy, sophisticated, three-level ode to exotically spiced dishes from southern Africa – peri-peri prawns, chicken…
Anaheim
This 1919 former Sunkist orange packing house has a fabulous new life. Over 20 stalls and restaurants sell both sit-down and stroll-around eats and drinks…
Disneyland Resort
Surrounded by the ‘bayou’ inside the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction, this is the top choice for sit-down dining in Disneyland Park and is famous for…
Huntington Beach
Every beach town needs its favorite go-to Italian kitchen. Alessa wins hearts and stomachs with classics like Neapolitan lasagna, butternut-squash ravioli…
Newport Beach
It looks like a beach shack, and you can eat with your toes in the sand, but this is no ordinary beach experience. Chef Brian Huskey, a Top Chef alumnus…
Orange County
This casual restaurant dishes up a variety of sandwiches, noodle rice and vegetable dishes, but the star is pho, noodles in hearty broth made from beef,…
Newport Beach
This hip new beachfront storefront does hot and cold sandwiches like the Rubinstein, Lifeguard Club and the steak-filled Rocky Balboa, plus fresh-caught…
Newport Beach
The atmospheric Beachcomber Café lets you soak up the vintage 1950s beach vibe as you tuck into macadamia-nut pancakes, roasted turkey club sandwiches or…
Disneyland Resort
If you can’t quite swing the Napa Rose or Carthay Circle, this sunny Cal-Italian terrace restaurant is a fine backup. Fork into Italian pastas, salads or…
Coastal Orange County
Locals adore this tiny roadhouse where they grill juicy, messy, hand-packed, quality burgers (served with ka-runchy potato chips and tangy pickled beets),…
Coastal Orange County
Right on the pier, Fisherman's chowders, fish and chips and mesquite-grilled fresh catches come with a side of incomparable ocean views. Generous four…
Coastal Orange County
It may be in the back corner of a nondescript strip mall, but Sidecar's a landmark nonetheless. Crowds line up out the door (especially on weekends) for…
Anaheim
The Anaheim outpost of this LA-based minichain sets the right tone for the Packing District. Burgers span classic to truffled. Try the Hatch burger with…
Orange County
This chain of counter-service shops specializes in Vietnamese banh mi sandwiches served on fresh French baguettes - the popular 'No. 11' comes with ham,…
Coastal Orange County
In a building that traces its origins to 1797, this sprawling, beam-ceilinged 'Mexican steakhouse' and bar does a big business in the standards …
Newport Beach
Who are we to disagree with the Enlightened One? This dockside sushi joint’s Yokohama-born chef has a hipster following for creative hot and cold…
Huntington Beach
A fresh new addition to Sunset Beach's dining scene, this wood-built, indoor-outdoor restaurant serves your choice of fish in tacos, on baguettes with a…
Coastal Orange County
Service can be harried at this breezy, open-air cafe, but all is forgiven after a bite of their sweet and savory French crepes – goat cheese and turkey;…
Coastal Orange County
This hipster gourmet eatery does dishes like rib-eye Thai beef salads, grilled salmon tacos with curry slaw, and bodacious burgers like the Chow BBQ…
Orange County
This longtime favorite spot has a huge menu of salads, sandwiches, soups and rice dishes, but just about every table orders the oddly addictive nem nuong…
Laguna Beach
Birthplace of the smoothie (in the Guinness World Records), this little shop from 1931 continues to pack in surfers fueling up before hitting the waves…
