The Best Places to Eat in Orange County/LA/IE

Name of restaurant-Location-Recommendations to order/Tips

*Must Try

 

Burger:

*Umami Burger- Santa Ana, CA-Truffle Burger, Umami Burger, Tempura Onion Rings (ask for all the sauces)

*Peters Gourmade Grill-Tustin, CA-ABC Burger, Gyro Fries

*In & Out–multiple locations throughout Orange County-Double Double w/ grilled onions and extra spread, Animal Style Fries

Fuji’s Famous Burger-Huntington Beach, CA-Teri Cheeseburger w/Baco and Avocado

TK Burgers-Costa Mesa, Huntington Beach, CA

Mick’s Karma Bar-Irvine, CA-Karma Burger, Strawberry Basil Lemonade

The Habit Burger-Multiple Locations

25 Degrees-Huntington Beach, CA

 

Bakery:

*85 Degrees-Irvine, CA-Sea Salt Coffee and Various baked goods

*Portos-Glendale, Burbank and Downey, CA-Cheese Rolls and Potato Balls

*Sprinkles-Newport Beach-Red Velvet Cupcakes

*Cream Pan-Tustin, CA-Strawberry Croissant

 

Breakfast:

Blackboard Bistro-Seal Beach, CA-California Eggs Benedict, Around the World Omelette

 

Chicken:

*Zankou Chicken-Anaheim, CA-Get extra garlic sauce for your chicken and pita bread

Chicken Maison-Santa, CA-Spicy Lemon Pepper Chicken

 

Chinese:

Peking Gourmet-Garden Grove-Sweet and Sour Pork (korean Style), Garlic Shrimp

 

Curry:

Coco Ichibanya-Irvine, CA-Ask your waitress about how hot you should get your curry because their hotness factor is way hotter than what you would expect.

 

Dumplings/Dim Sum:

*Din Tai Fung-Arcadia, CA-Soup Dumplings

 

Dessert:

Class 302-Rowland Heights, CA-Shaved Snow

Euroasian:

*Cafe Hiro-Cypress, CA-Uni Spaghetti

 

French

*March Moderne-Costa Mesa, CA-Bone Marrow, Octopus

 

Fusion:

*The Bazaar-Beverly Hills, CA-Cotton Candy Foie Gras, Philly Cheese Steak, Egg dish

 

Gastropub:

*Playground-Santa Ana, CA-Playground Burger

Chapter One-Santa Ana, CA-Scotch Egg, Potato Pear

 

Greek:

Thasos Greek Island Grill-Costa Mesa, CA-Gyro Pita

Healthy:

Sobahn Express-Irvine-Bulgogi Bibimbap and Bulgogi Soon Do Boo (Tofu Soup).  Located inside H-Mart.  add the brown sauce they have on the counter gives it a lot of flavor

Tortillaz-Irvine-Carne Asada Burrito w/ wheat tortilla. Make sure to get a lot of creamy cilantro avocado sauce, this is what makes the burrito.

Veggie Grill-Multiple Locations-Santa Fe Chicken Sandwich and Cauliflower potato mash.  Their chicken sandwich tastes better than a real chicken sandwich.

Italian:

*Angellini Osteria-Beverly Hills, CA-Verde Lasagna

 

Indian:

*Annapoorna-Irvine, CA-Chicken Tikka Masala, Garlic Naan

Tandoori Fresh-Irvine, CA-Chicken Tikka Masala, Garlic Naan, Mango Lassi

 

Japanese BBQ:

*Tsuruhashi-Fountain Valley, CA-Kobe Beef, Beef Yuke, Fried Rice

Anjin-Costa Mesa, CA

 

Japanese:

*New Harima Restaurant-Cypress, CA-Poke Salad, Soft Shelled Crab

*Musha Restaurant-Torrance, CA-Seared Mackerel, Cheese Risotto, Mayo Shrimp

Fukada-Irvine, CA (Irvine Center Drive location is best)-Soba or Udon Combo w/ Katsu Don, Oyako Don, Tentoji Don or Spicy Tuna Don.

Koi Sushi-Seal Beach, CA

 

Korean:

*Gin Korean BBQ-Tusin, CA-All you can eat

Kaju Tofu-Garden Grove, CA-Soon Do Boo

 

Mediterranean:

Open Sesame-Long Beach, CA

 

Mexican:

* Los Jilbertos-Riverside, CA-Carne Asada Burrito, Fish Burrito, Breakfast Burrito, California Burrito, NAK Burrito, Carne Asada Fries,  Carne Asada Chimichanga

*Los Cotijas-Garden Grove, CA-Fish Burritos, Fish Tacos

Soho Gourmet Taco Truck-Orange County-Various Tacos

 

New Orleans:

*The Boiler-Chino Hills, CA-Pan Roast

 

Pizza:

*Mozza-Newport Beach, CA

Blaze Pizza-Irvine, CA-White Out Pizza and add Pesto sauce

 

Ramen:

*Ramen Yamadaya-Costa Mesa-Tonkatsu Kotteri Ramen with Yamadaya topping

*Foo Foo Tei-Hacienda Heights-#17

Shin Sen Gumi-Fountain Valley, Los Angeles, CA

Santouka-Costa Mesa, CA-Shio Ramen with Special Pork

 

Rice Bowl:

*Chego-Los Angeles, CA-Pork Belly Bowl, Oooey Gooey Fries

 

Sandwiches:

*Bay City Deli-Santa Monica, CA-The Godmother

*Le Diplomate-Irvine, CA-Cordon Bleu Sandwich, Chicken Garlic

*Earl of Sandwich-Anaheim-Tuna Melt, Holiday Turkey (most sandwiches are really good here)

*Mendocino Farms-Los Angeles, CA-Pork Belly

*El Gallo Giro-Santa Ana, CA-Torta Cubana (there is a lady in the parking lot that sells really good tamales for really cheap)

*Bruxie-Orange, CA

Capriotti’s-Tustin, CA-The Bobbie, Roast beef with Coleslaw

Claros Italian Market-Tustin, CA

Moscow Deli-Costa Mesa, CA

John’s Philly Grille-Huntington Beach, CA

 

Seafood:

Bear Flag Fish Company-Newport Beach, CA-Poke Taco

 

Shabu Shabu/Hot Pot

Shabu Shabu Bar-Santa Ana, CA-Rib Eye, Spicy Cheese dumpling, They have a yelp check in for 12 free shots and you can do it for each person in your party!

 

Steak/Prime Rib:

*Lawry’s-Beverly Hills, CA-Prime Rib

Mastros-Costa Mesa, CA

Houston’s-Irvine, CA-Hawaiian Rib Eye, Smoked Salmon Appetizer, French Dip Sandwich

Clearman’s Steak & Stein-Prime Rib

 

Sushi (highend):

*Ohshima-Orange, CA-Omakase

San Shi Go-Newport Beach, CA-Omakase

Ikko-Costa Mesa, CA-Omakase

Masa Sushi-Newport, CA-Omakase

 

Sushi (inexpensive):

*Sushi Koto-Fountain Valley, CA-Chiraishi Zen by far the best thing on the menu

Akasaka-Hacienda Heights-Chiraishi Bowl

Sushi Town-Newport Beach, CA

Cali Beach-Newport Beach, CA-All you can eat

Sushi Shogun-Anaheim, CA-All you can eat

 

Thai:

* Siam Taste of Asia-Santa Ana, CA-Garlic Tofu, Chilean Sea Bass w/ Green Curry-Cash Only

 

Vietnamese:

*Brodards-Westminster, Garden Grove, CA-Nem Nuong

Pholicious-Irvine, CA-Pho

 

Vegetarian:

Veggie Grill-Irvine, CA-Santa Fe Crispy Chicken Sandwich

 

Vietnamese Sandwich/Banh Mi

*Banh Mi Che Cali-Fountain Valley, CA-Banh mi w/ meatloaf and fried egg

*Sasha Deli-Westminster-Sasha Philly Cheese steak, Banh Mi Thit

Top Baguette-Westminster, CA

Tip Top-Westminster, CA

 

Wine Bar

*Twisted Wine-Fullerton, CA-Bake Brie, Apple Beer