Orange County might be best known for its sunny beaches and theme parks, but it’s also a serious foodie destination. Located between LA and San Diego, this area is packed with cool dining spots that bring a mix of laid-back coastal vibes and upscale flair. As a travel blogger who’s been to 73 countries and spent weeks exploring OC, I can confidently say it holds its own against the best.
From hidden dining rooms with ocean views to hidden gems serving up incredible tacos, Orange County has something for everyone. You’ll find waterfront gastropubs in Newport Beach, trendy brunch spots in Irvine and Santa Ana, and unique, farm-to-table eateries dotted all over. If you’re after dining experiences that are fun, fresh, and totally memorable, these 22 unique restaurants in Orange County are where it’s at!
- 👉 Pro Tip: I HIGHLY recommend doing this Orange County Dinner Cruise from Newport Beach. This 2.5-hour cruise gives you front-row seats to one of California’s prettiest coastlines. You’ll get a private table, a freshly prepared meal, and some seriously gorgeous views as the sun sets and the city lights come alive. After dinner, head up to the open-air deck with a drink in hand and enjoy the breeze off the bay. It’s perfect for date night, a birthday, or even just switching things up midweek. Sailing through Newport Harbor at night is pure magic!
22 Most Unique Restaurants in Orange County at a Glance
If you’re tight on time and just want the highlights, this quick breakdown covers the standout spots from my latest OC food run. It’s an easy way to see what each place does best before getting into the full list.
| Restaurant | Best For | What Makes It Unique | Neighborhood |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. The Hobbit | Special Occasions | A six-course French tasting menu that starts with cocktails in the wine cellar of a 1929 farmhouse. | Orange |
| 2. The Blind Rabbit | Secret Date Nights | A 35-seat speakeasy hidden behind sake barrels, with 90-minute reservations. | Anaheim Packing District |
| 3. Strong Water Anaheim | Tiki Cocktails | A James Beard semifinalist tiki bar built to look like the inside of a sunken ship. | Downtown Anaheim |
| 4. LSXO | Vietnamese With a View | A Michelin-listed, 28-seat Vietnamese restaurant behind an unmarked door inside Bluegold. | Huntington Beach |
| 5. Khan Saab Desi Craft Kitchen | Halal Fine Dining | A Michelin Bib Gourmand Pakistani and Indian kitchen with an alcohol-free mocktail bar. | Downtown Fullerton |
| 6. Fable & Spirit | Waterfront Dinners | A Michelin Bib Gourmand gastropub with Irish folklore design and Guinness brown bread. | Newport Beach |
| 7. Bello by Sandro Nardone | Italian Tasting Menus | A Michelin-recognized kitchen with house-made pasta, a Friday Chef’s Table and a Pizza Omakase. | Newport Beach |
| 8. Cafe Hiro | Adventurous Eaters | A hidden Japanese-European cafe famous for its uni spaghetti since 2002. | Cypress |
| 9. The Vox Kitchen | Group Dinners | A Yelp Top 100 pick serving Chifa, the Peruvian-Chinese style, with lomo saltado and garlic noodles. | Fountain Valley |
| 10. Puesto Anaheim | Tacos Near Disneyland | Hand-pressed blue corn tortilla tacos, a short walk from the Disneyland Resort. | Anaheim Resort District |
These are my go-to picks when I want something solid without overthinking it. If you want the full picture, keep scrolling for all 22 spots and a closer look at what makes each one worth it.
1. The Hobbit
- 📍 Location: 2932 East Chapman Avenue, Orange
- 💲 Price range: $150 per person plus tax and 18% gratuity, $75 wine pairing
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Modern French-Inspired Six-Course Prix Fixe
- 🔥 Standout Features: Wine cellar cocktail hour, 1929 farmhouse setting, seasonal tasting menu, sorbet intermission, strict dress code
- 🎯 Perfect For: Anniversaries, milestone birthdays, wine lovers, and private holiday parties
The Hobbit is my top pick for a special-occasion dinner in Orange County. It has served one prix fixe dinner a night in a 1929 farmhouse since 1972, and the house reopened after a full renovation. I’d arrive around 6 pm, since the evening starts with cocktails down in one of Orange County’s finest wine cellars.
Dinner starts upstairs at 7 pm, Wednesday through Sunday, and lasts about four hours. The modern French menu changes with the seasons, and the late-summer 2026 lineup moves from three small bites and house sparkling to scallop terrine, duck breast, a sorbet break and a filet mignon or sea bass main. Beef Wellington takes over as the main course from October 1 to 18, 2026, and I’d book those dates fast.
Dinner is $150 per person, with tax and an 18% gratuity added, and the sommelier’s wine pairing is $75 more. I recommend calling to book, because phone reservations open three months ahead and OpenTable opens two months out. Expect a deposit, and dress up for the night since jeans, polo shirts, shorts and sneakers aren’t allowed.
Tell the restaurant about allergies when you book, and the chefs can usually swap a course with notice. For a holiday party, The Hobbit opens on Tuesdays throughout December 2026 and has three private dining rooms, including the wine cellar. I’d save it for an anniversary or milestone birthday in 2026 or 2027, when you want the whole night planned for you.
2. Dada Shabu Shabu Buffet
- 📍 Location: 4960 Irvine Boulevard, Irvine
- 💲 Price range: $30 – $40 per person, soft drinks included
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Japanese-Korean Shabu Shabu Buffet
- 🔥 Standout Features: Divided hot pots, unlimited meat by the plate, Korean hot bar, DIY sauce bar, shaved ice dessert
- 🎯 Perfect For: Groups, families, hot pot fans, big appetites, and casual Irvine lunches
Dada Shabu Shabu Buffet is my pick in Irvine for all-you-can-eat hot pot with a group. It sits in the Zion Market plaza on Irvine Boulevard in the Northwood neighborhood, about 4 miles from Irvine Spectrum Center. Each table gets a divided pot on an induction burner, which means you can cook in two different broths at once.
Servers bring the meat to your table two plates at a time, with choices like brisket, pork belly, chicken and fish. The self-serve bar covers vegetables, mushrooms, noodles and tofu, plus hot Korean dishes like japchae, fried rice and chicken wings. I’d mix my own dipping sauce at the sauce bar and save room for the build-your-own Korean shaved ice.
Your broth starts simple, and you season it yourself with garlic, green onion and chili from the bar. On a first visit, I recommend asking your server for a quick walkthrough of how everything works. Unlimited soft drinks, tea and coffee come with the meal, while alcohol costs extra.
Lunch costs less than dinner, and weekends cost a little more than weekdays. Tables have a two-hour limit, and the dining room fills fast with families. I’d arrive at 11:30 am or 5 pm, when lunch and dinner service start, especially on weekends when parking in the plaza gets tight.
3. The Blind Rabbit
- 📍 Location: 440 South Anaheim Boulevard, Suite 104, Anaheim
- 💲 Price range: $40 – $70+ per person
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Craft Cocktails / Upscale Bar Bites
- 🔥 Standout Features: Hidden entrance behind sake barrels, 90-minute reservations, seasonal cocktails, absinthe service, 21+ only
- 🎯 Perfect For: Date nights, cocktail lovers, adult nights out near Disneyland, and small groups
The Blind Rabbit is my favorite speakeasy in Orange County, and I love the hunt for the door. It hides on the ground floor of the Anaheim Packing House, behind a wall of sake barrels near the hot pot counter. Once you check in, the host pulls a small iron rabbit to open the door into a dim, 1920s-style bar with about 35 seats.
Book ahead for Friday and Saturday nights, because weekend reservations fill weeks out and each visit is capped at 90 minutes. Arrive on time, since the bar holds tables for about 15 minutes. Guests must be 21 or older, phone calls aren’t allowed inside, and the dress code rules out shorts, baseball caps and flip-flops.
The cocktail menu changes with the seasons, and the bartenders will happily make something off-menu if you tell them what you like. I’d order one of the flaming or smoked cocktails, or try the absinthe service if you’ve never had one. For food, the duck confit mac and cheese arrives by dumbwaiter from the kitchen upstairs.
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👉 Send me cheap 2026 flightsThe Packing House sits about 2 miles from Disneyland, which makes this an easy adults-only night out during the resort’s holiday season from November 18 to December 31, 2026. I’d come early, grab dinner at one of the food hall stalls, then walk over for your reservation. Look for the Hidden Mickey tucked into the decor while you sip.
4. LSXO
- 📍 Location: 21016 Pacific Coast Highway, Suite D200, Huntington Beach
- 💲 Price range: $40 – $70 per person
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Vietnamese / Family-Style Small Plates
- 🔥 Standout Features: Unmarked entrance inside Bluegold, 28 seats, Michelin Guide listing, ocean views, home-style Vietnamese cooking
- 🎯 Perfect For: Date nights, Vietnamese food lovers, sunset dinners, small groups, and Huntington Beach visits
LSXO is my top pick for Vietnamese food with an ocean view in Orange County. It hides behind an unmarked door next to the wine room inside Bluegold, on the second floor of Pacific City across from the beach. The 28-seat room is darker and louder than Bluegold, and its look takes inspiration from District 5, Saigon’s Chinatown.
Chef Tin Vuong, the founder of Little Sister, built the menu around the home-style Vietnamese cooking he grew up eating with his grandparents. Plates are made for sharing, and I’d start with the pork, shrimp and crab dumplings in a spicy black vinegar dressing loaded with peanuts. For the table, I recommend the chao, a silky rice porridge with crab, salted cod and white fish.
LSXO is listed in the Michelin Guide California, and with only 28 seats, tables go fast. I’d book on OpenTable or call (714) 374-0083 as soon as your dates are set, especially for weekend dinners. Dinner starts at 4 pm daily, and lunch opens at 11 am Thursday through Sunday.
For the best views, book a table about an hour before sunset and walk the beach path to the Huntington Beach Pier afterward. There’s no kids’ menu, and the small room works best for adults and small groups. If LSXO is full, Bluegold next door uses the same kitchen but serves its own California-focused menu with the same coastal setting.
5. Strong Water Anaheim
- 📍 Location: 270 South Clementine Street, Anaheim
- 💲 Price range: $18 – $23 cocktails, $14 – $32 plates
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Tiki Bar / Polynesian-Inspired Food & Cocktails
- 🔥 Standout Features: Sunken-ship decor, James Beard Award semifinalist, souvenir tiki mugs, weekend brunch, 21+ indoor seating
- 🎯 Perfect For: Tiki fans, rum lovers, date nights, group celebrations, and adults visiting Disneyland
Strong Water Anaheim is my favorite tiki bar in Southern California. The whole room is built to look like the inside of a sunken ship, with tiki carvings, a fountain and an impressive tiki mug collection. It was named a James Beard Award semifinalist in 2025, which put this downtown Anaheim bar on the national cocktail map.
The menu covers tiki classics and house originals, with cocktails priced from $18 to $23. I’d start with the Painkiller or the Zombie King, and you can take either home in a souvenir mug for $65 or $95. For two or three people, the Serpent’s Grasp arrives in a shared bowl for $65.
The food goes well beyond bar snacks, with Hawaiian garlic shrimp, Filipino grilled pork chops and a loco moco burger topped with Spam and a fried egg. Weekend brunch from noon to 4 pm adds bananas foster pancakes and a sisig breakfast burrito. In October 2026, the bar also pours a special MaHalloween cocktail menu.
Indoor seating is 21 and over, reservations are required, and tables have a two-hour limit. Walk-ins can try the outdoor Shoreside patio Thursday through Sunday, weather permitting. I’d park in Car Park 4 on Center Street Promenade for two free hours with validation, then walk seven minutes to The Blind Rabbit for a second round.
6. The Cut Handcrafted Burgers
- 📍 Location: 3831 Alton Parkway, Suite C, Irvine
- 💲 Price range: $7 happy hour cheeseburger to $40 dry-aged burger
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Gourmet Burgers / American Gastropub
- 🔥 Standout Features: 60-day dry-aged ribeye burger, beef ground in-house, buns baked daily, weekday happy hour, weekend brunch
- 🎯 Perfect For: Burger lovers, casual dinners, families, happy hour, and meals near John Wayne Airport
The Cut is my go-to burger stop in Irvine, and it started as a food truck in 2014 before landing in West Park Plaza. The dining room feels more like a stylish gastropub than a burger counter, and the kitchen grinds its beef in-house and bakes every bun daily. Owner Steve Kim and Executive Chef Ryan Yi offer 10 burgers, from smashburgers to a $40 showstopper.
That showstopper is the namesake Cut burger, made with a 60-day dry-aged ribeye patty, and I’d order it if you’re planning one splurge meal in Orange County. For something richer, the Truffle & Brie burger pairs black truffle aioli and melted Brie with pickled red onion and a drizzle of honey. The Savory Cut with bacon relish is another local favorite.
Happy hour from 2 to 6 pm on weekdays brings $7 cheeseburgers, $5 beers, $7 cocktails and half-off select shareables. Kids eat free on Tuesdays with an adult meal, and wine is half off on Wednesdays. Weekend brunch from 10 am to 2 pm adds breakfast burritos and bottomless mimosas.
I’d also order the bone marrow to share, since few burger spots in Orange County serve it. The Cut is a short drive from John Wayne Airport, which makes it an easy first or last meal on an OC trip. It opens daily at 11 am, or 10 am on weekends, and you can reserve a table online for bigger groups.
7. The Past Memories
- 📍 Location: 9252 Garden Grove Boulevard, Suite 29, Garden Grove
- 💲 Price range: $20 – $40 per person
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Korean Pocha / Bar Food / Soju
- 🔥 Standout Features: Private wooden booths, yogurt soju carafes, retro street decor, table call buttons, late-night hours
- 🎯 Perfect For: Late-night eats, soju with friends, groups, Korean bar food fans, and nights after Korean BBQ
The Past Memories is my favorite late-night soju spot in Orange County’s Koreatown, right on Garden Grove Boulevard. It’s styled after an old-school Korean pocha, with dark wooden booths that give each group its own little hideout. The decor adds telephone poles, traffic lights and old license plates, and a call button at each table brings staff over when you need another round.
Drinks come first here, and I’d order a big carafe of yogurt soju, a sweet mix of soju and a Yakult-style yogurt drink. Flavored soju also comes in lemon, strawberry, grape, mango and lychee, and it goes down easy, which means pacing yourself is smart. Bowls of Korean snack chips arrive free while you look over the menu.
For sharing, I’d get the Korean fried chicken and a sizzling plate of corn cheese, which is sweet corn baked under melted mozzarella. The kalbi comes out on a hot plate of grilled onions, and the menu also has comfort dishes like gomtang, a mild beef bone soup. Plates are sized for groups, and prices stay low for the neighborhood.
Cham Sut Gol, a popular Korean BBQ restaurant, sits in the same plaza. I’d start with dinner there, then move to a booth here for soju and snacks. The plaza is about a 15-minute drive from Disneyland, which makes this an easy grown-up night off from the parks.
8. Chapter One: the modern local
- 📍 Location: 227 North Broadway, Santa Ana
- 💲 Price range: $14 cocktails, $10 – $38 plates
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Modern American Gastropub / Craft Cocktails
- 🔥 Standout Features: 200+ whiskeys, duck fat fries, Wednesday jazz nights, weekday happy hour, private Red Room
- 🎯 Perfect For: Craft cocktail lovers, whiskey fans, live jazz, weekend brunch, and downtown Santa Ana nights
Chapter One: the modern local has been a downtown Santa Ana favorite since it opened on St. Patrick’s Day in 2011. The industrial-style gastropub sits on North Broadway, and the bar stocks more than 200 whiskeys. Executive Chef Luis Perez builds the menu around local, seasonal ingredients.
I’d start with the duck fat fries, tossed in the house C1 seasoning and served with housemade ketchup for $10. For a main, my picks are the Royale with Cheese burger and the steak frites with chimichurri, and both come with those same fries. The vanilla bread pudding with Belgian chocolate and orange liqueur is my favorite way to finish.
Signature cocktails cost $14, and I’d order the Banana Bread Old Fashioned or the Santa Ana Old Fashioned made with reposado tequila and mezcal. Happy hour from 3 to 6 pm on weekdays brings $8 margaritas and mules and $10 Old Fashioneds. Every Wednesday night, the bar hosts live jazz with no cover charge.
Weekend brunch from 10 am to 3 pm adds mimosa flights, and Taco Tuesday pours $8 margaritas all day. Chapter One stays open until 1 am on Fridays and Saturdays, which makes it a great last stop on a downtown night out. I’d book on OpenTable for weekend dinners, and groups can reserve the private Red Room for parties.
9. The Vox Kitchen
- 📍 Location: 16161 Brookhurst Street, Fountain Valley
- 💲 Price range: $25 – $50 per person
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Chifa / Peruvian-Asian Fusion
- 🔥 Standout Features: Filet mignon lomo saltado, house garlic noodles, open kitchen, Yelp Top 100 pick, three Orange County locations
- 🎯 Perfect For: Fusion fans, group dinners, Little Saigon food crawls, takeout, and South Coast Plaza shoppers
The Vox Kitchen in Fountain Valley is my favorite introduction to Chifa, the Peruvian-Chinese cooking style that grew out of Chinese immigration to Peru. Chef Viet Nguyen opened it in Little Saigon in 2017, and it ranked No. 11 on Yelp’s Top 100 Places to Eat in the US for 2022. The menu also pulls in Vietnamese and pan-Asian flavors, which makes it a fun place to order big and share.
I’d order the filet mignon lomo saltado, a Peruvian beef stir-fry served with fries and rice. The house garlic noodles are the other must, and you can top them with ribeye. Round it out with the parmesan-dusted elote and the burrata pear salad.
A recent remodel added an open kitchen, a bigger dining room and new seafood plates like ceviche and fried calamari with Peruvian aji sauce. The Brookhurst Street restaurant opens at 10 am daily and stays open until 10 pm on Fridays and Saturdays. Weekend dinners fill up fast, and I’d reserve online or order takeout to skip the wait.
Vox Kitchen & Bar opened at South Coast Plaza in April 2025 with a full cocktail program and seafood dishes you won’t find in Fountain Valley. A third location now serves South County diners in Aliso Viejo. I’d pick the Fountain Valley original for a first visit and South Coast Plaza for a date night with cocktails.
10. O SEA | seafood for thought
- 📍 Location: Orange (Orange Circle Area)
- 💲 Price range: $20 – $35 per person
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Sustainable Seafood / California Fresh
- 🔥 Standout Features: Sustainable sourcing, bright airy atmosphere, creative seafood twists, uni specialties, casual welcoming vibe.
- 🎯 Perfect For: Seafood lovers, sustainable dining advocates, healthy eating, Orange Circle shopping, and casual lunch dates.
O SEA in Orange bucks the trend of overly fancy seafood joints. It’s bright and airy, with this welcoming, casual vibe that makes you want to linger. The Alaskan Sockeye Salmon Bowl is a must – bursting with color and fresher than fresh. For something quirky, try the uni avocado toast.
They focus on sustainable, traceable seafood with creative twists you won’t find elsewhere. Perfect for a sunny lunch before exploring the shops and vintage storefronts in Orange Circle. I appreciate how the team here really cares about where their food comes from.
11. Goodies in the Pantry
- 📍 Location: 1108 East Katella Avenue, Orange
- 💲 Price range: $15 – $35 per person
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Romanian / Eastern European Butcher & Deli
- 🔥 Standout Features: House-made Romanian sausage, in-house curing and smoking, imported European meats, table service, special-order cuts
- 🎯 Perfect For: Adventurous eaters, sausage lovers, home cooks, casual lunches, and European grocery shopping
Goodies in the Pantry is my favorite hidden European find in Orange County, a Romanian butcher shop and deli on Katella Avenue in Orange. Walking in feels like stepping into an old Eastern European village shop, with shelves of imported jars, biscuits and sodas next to a long meat counter. The team cuts, grinds, stuffs, cures and smokes meat right in front of you.
The house Romanian sausage is the signature, seasoned with garlic and allspice, and I’d buy a few pounds to take home. Regulars from Orange County’s Romanian community order the skinless version ahead of time, and I recommend calling in advance if you want some. The counter also carries hams, salami, pastrami and pâté, plus artisan meats imported from Romania, Hungary and Italy.
Goodies also has a small dining area with table service, where the kitchen grills and slow-roasts meats using family recipes. I’d sit down for a plate of grilled sausage before shopping the counter. Ask the staff what’s fresh from the smoker that day, since the menu changes with the seasons.
Home cooks should know the butchers will special-order hard-to-find cuts of beef, pork and lamb. Beef ranges from everyday cuts to hormone-free, grass-fed Prime. I’d stop here before a backyard barbecue or a holiday dinner, then grab a few European treats from the pantry shelves for later.
12. Khan Saab Desi Craft Kitchen
- 📍 Location: 229 East Commonwealth Avenue, Fullerton
- 💲 Price range: $30 – $50 per person
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Pakistani / Indian / Halal
- 🔥 Standout Features: Michelin Bib Gourmand 2021 to 2025, 100% halal menu, alcohol-free mocktail bar, wagyu and tomahawk steaks, open until 11 pm nightly
- 🎯 Perfect For: South Asian food lovers, halal diners, sober-curious groups, family dinners, and downtown Fullerton nights
Khan Saab Desi Craft Kitchen in downtown Fullerton is my top pick for Pakistani and Indian food in Orange County. Chef Imran Ali Mookhi opened it in 2020, and it earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand every year from 2021 through 2025. The entire menu is halal and the bar is alcohol-free, which makes it a great choice for mixed groups and families.
I’d start with the Sloppy Khan, spiced wagyu beef keema on soft pav buns, plus an order of pani puri to share. For mains, the Khan biryani and Peshawari chicken karahi are the dishes I’d come back for. Beef lovers can go bigger with Australian wagyu or a tomahawk steak, while the butter chicken is a safe bet for milder palates.
The mocktail bar mixes drinks like the Mango Mojito and the Peshawri Mule, made with non-alcoholic spirits. The kitchen doesn’t hold back on spice, and I’d tell your server if you want a dish toned down. Dinner starts at 4 pm on weekdays and 2 pm on weekends, and the restaurant stays open until 11 pm every night.
I recommend booking on OpenTable for Friday and Saturday nights. After dinner, I’d take a walk around downtown Fullerton, where bars and live music sit within a few blocks. If you’re heading to Los Angeles, Khan Saab also has locations in Hawaiian Gardens and Santa Monica.
13. Patagonia Empanadas
- 📍 Location: 2279 North Tustin Street, Orange
- 💲 Price range: $10 – $25 per person
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Argentine Empanadas / Milanesas / Pasta
- 🔥 Standout Features: Hand-folded empanadas, house chimichurri, milanesa plates, homemade pasta, catering
- 🎯 Perfect For: Empanada fans, budget lunches, takeout, family meals, and party catering
Patagonia Empanadas on Tustin Street is my favorite Argentine spot in Orange County, and it serves far more than the name suggests. It started at the back of a liquor store on the Santa Ana and Tustin border before regulars helped it grow into this full restaurant in Orange. Every empanada is folded by hand daily, and the kitchen also turns out Argentine plates, pastas and sandwiches.
I’d order a mix of empanadas to share, starting with the spicy beef, creamy corn and chipotle pork. The beef with jalapeño, cheese and onion is another favorite, and I always ask for extra chimichurri on the side. Two empanadas make a filling lunch on their own.
For a bigger meal, the Milanesa Patagonia comes topped with two fried eggs and a side of salad, potato salad or fries for $22.95. The choripan, Argentine sausage with chimichurri on a French baguette, is the best-selling sandwich at $17.90. Pasta fans should try the homemade spicy fettuccine with Argentine sausage or the spinach ravioli.
Patagonia is open 9 am to 9 pm Tuesday through Saturday, with shorter Sunday hours and no service on Mondays. It also caters, and an empanada platter makes an easy pick for a holiday party in 2026 or a game-day spread in 2027. I’d stop in for lunch before heading to Old Towne Orange, about 10 minutes south.
14. Puesto Anaheim
- 📍 Location: 1040 West Katella Avenue, Anaheim
- 💲 Price range: $20 – $35 per person
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Modern Mexican / Gourmet Tacos
- 🔥 Standout Features: Hand-pressed blue corn tortillas, walking distance to Disneyland, Basile Studio design, Taco Tuesday deals, validated parking
- 🎯 Perfect For: Disneyland visitors, taco lovers, Convention Center crowds, families, and happy hour
Puesto Anaheim is my top pick for tacos within walking distance of Disneyland. It sits on the grounds of The Westin Anaheim Resort on Katella Avenue, across from the Disneyland Resort and next to the Anaheim Convention Center. Designer Paul Basile built the dining room with walnut, brass and steel, plus a suspended agave sculpture and a video projection that plays across one wall.
Every taco starts with an organic blue corn tortilla pressed in-house daily and a layer of crispy melted cheese. I’d order the award-winning Filet Mignon taco, the Surf & Turf Héroe and the Short Rib Quesabirria to share. Pair them with a margarita or a lager from Puesto Cervecería, the family’s own brewery in San Diego.
Taco Tuesday gets you half off tacos from 3 pm to close for dine-in guests. Happy hour from 3 to 5 pm on weekdays adds margarita deals, shareable snacks and quesadillas you can only order then. Puesto is open daily from 11 am to 10 pm, and the team validates parking in the structure behind the Westin.
I’d book a table before or after a park day, especially during the Disneyland holiday season from November 18 to December 31, 2026. The menu works well for families, with vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options. If you’re staying in Irvine, Puesto has two more Orange County locations at Los Olivos and Park Place.
15. Barolo Italian Cafe
- 📍 Location: 13771 Newport Avenue, Suite 9, Tustin
- 💲 Price range: $30 – $60 per person
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Southern Italian / Family-Owned Trattoria
- 🔥 Standout Features: Chef-owner from Salerno, seafood specialties, open since 1992, daily specials, private parties
- 🎯 Perfect For: Italian food lovers, date nights, seafood fans, Ducks game nights, and family dinners
Barolo Italian Cafe is my favorite old-school Italian restaurant in Tustin, and it’s easy to miss in its Newport Avenue shopping center. Chef and founder Giuseppe Galietta, who comes from Salerno in southern Italy, opened it in 1992 after cooking in France, Monaco and on cruise ships around the world. The small dining room puts tables close together, and you can hear Giuseppe calling out orders from the kitchen.
Seafood is Giuseppe’s specialty, and I’d order the cioppino or the seafood fettuccine loaded with salmon, sea bass, mussels and clams. Ask about the daily specials too, since he loves cooking off-menu dishes for his regulars. Don’t skip the house bread, which comes out crisp, fluffy and soaked in butter.
Lunch is served Tuesday through Friday from 11 am to 2 pm, and dinner starts at 5 pm Tuesday through Sunday. Barolo is closed on Mondays, and reservations are by phone at (714) 734-8882. I’d call ahead for weekend dinners, because the dining room is small.
Barolo is also a pregame tradition for Anaheim Ducks fans. During the 2026–27 NHL season, I’d book an early dinner here before a game at Honda Center, about 15 minutes away. The restaurant also hosts private parties and caters events.
16. Fable & Spirit
- 📍 Location: 3441 Via Lido, Suite A, Newport Beach
- 💲 Price range: $40 – $65 per person
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Californian / Irish-Inspired Gastropub
- 🔥 Standout Features: Michelin Bib Gourmand, Lido Marina Village setting, Guinness brown bread, weekend brunch, harbor views
- 🎯 Perfect For: Date nights, Michelin fans, weekend brunch, marina strolls, and special occasions
Fable & Spirit in Lido Marina Village is my top pick for a stylish dinner on the Newport Beach waterfront. The design nods to Irish folklore, with velvet curtains, floor-to-ceiling windows and views toward the harbor. Chef David Shofner’s kitchen earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand in 2024 and 2025, an award that highlights great cooking at a fair price.
I’d start with the Guinness brown bread, then share the wood-fired octopus and beet agnolotti. The cracked pepper bucatini was the Orange County Register’s Dish of the Year, and I’d order it whenever it’s on the menu. For a main, Michelin’s inspectors single out the 12-hour Kurobuta porchetta with polenta, Calabrian chili and chimichurri.
Small plates come out hot and fast, and I’d order a few at a time to keep the table from crowding. Save room for the brioche bread pudding with blueberry compote when it’s available. The bar mixes creative craft cocktails and pours a solid wine list.
Dinner starts at 5 pm on weekdays, and weekend brunch is served from 10:30 am to 2 pm. I’d book ahead for Friday and Saturday nights, because the dining room stays packed. During the warmer months, Lido Marina Village hosts free live music on its Lido Deck on Wednesday evenings, which makes a fun pre-dinner stop.
17. Cafe Hiro
- 📍 Location: 10509 Valley View Street, Cypress
- 💲 Price range: $30 – $55 per person
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Japanese-European Fusion / Yoshoku
- 🔥 Standout Features: Signature uni spaghetti, Michelin-trained chef-owner, daily blackboard specials, soup and salad with entrees, open since 2002
- 🎯 Perfect For: Adventurous eaters, uni lovers, date nights, small groups, and North Orange County food trips
Cafe Hiro is my favorite hidden gem in North Orange County, tucked into a Cypress strip mall you can’t see from Valley View Street. Chef-owner Hiro Ohiwa trained at Michelin-starred restaurants in Japan and France and cooked at Matsuhisa before opening here in 2002. His menu blends French and Italian cooking with Japanese flavors, a style known in Japan as yoshoku.
The uni spaghetti is the dish everyone talks about, with a creamy sea urchin sauce finished with wasabi and nori. I’d also try the seared Hokkaido scallop risotto, or add mentaiko, a spicy cod roe, to your uni pasta for extra punch. Comfort food fans should order the hamburg curry, and Chef Hiro calls the osso bucco the dish that best represents him.
Entrees come with the soup and salad of the day, and the blackboard above the bar lists rotating specials. I always check the board first, since some specials disappear for months. For dessert, the bread pudding with caramel sauce and the walnut crème brûlée are both great finishes.
Cafe Hiro serves lunch from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm and dinner from 5:30 to 8:30 pm, Tuesday through Sunday. The dining room is small, and I’d reserve for weekend dinners or bigger groups. Large parties can also ask about an omakase-style meal chosen by the chef.
18. Bello by Sandro Nardone
- 📍 Location: 1200 Bison Avenue, Suite C2, Newport Beach
- 💲 Price range: $19 – $43 pizzas and pastas, Chef’s Table from $227
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Contemporary Italian / Fine Dining
- 🔥 Standout Features: Michelin Guide 2021 to 2025, house-made pasta, wood-fired pizza, weekly Chef’s Table, Pizza Omakase
- 🎯 Perfect For: Special occasions, Italian food lovers, date nights, tasting menu fans, and Fashion Island dinners
Bello by Sandro Nardone is my favorite Italian restaurant in Newport Beach, and it appeared in the Michelin Guide every year from 2021 through 2025. Chef and co-owner Sandro Nardone comes from a family of chefs and farmers in Atina, Italy, and his kitchen makes every pasta fresh in-house. The open kitchen and low-lit dining room sit about 2 miles from Fashion Island, with a covered, heated patio for cooler nights.
I’d start with a wood-fired pizza, from a $19 Margherita up to a $42 truffle pizza. For pasta, my top picks are the slow-braised beef Bolognese with hand-cut tagliolini and the spicy rigatoni amatriciana. Finish with tiramisu or an affogato, both of which Michelin’s inspectors recommend.
For a special night, the 2026 Chef’s Table serves a multi-course tasting menu with a beverage pairing at the chef’s counter, starting at $227 per person. Chef Sandro and Chef Frankie cook it on Friday evenings, and the menu changes with what they source from local farms. The Pizza Omakase, from $125 per person, turns pizza into a full tasting experience, and both book through Tock.
Bello serves lunch from 11:30 am to 2 pm and dinner from 4:30 pm daily. The bar hosts an aperitivo hour from 4:30 to 6 pm Monday through Thursday, which I’d use for a relaxed pre-dinner drink. I’d book Chef’s Table well ahead for the holidays, since both experiences are scheduled through January 1, 2027.
19. Teddy’s Deli
- 📍 Location: Laguna Hills
- 💲 Price range: $10 – $25 per person
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: American Deli / Sandwiches
- 🔥 Standout Features: Classic deli sandwiches piled high, quality meats/cheeses, casual beach city vibe, satisfying portions.
- 🎯 Perfect For: Huge sandwich lovers, classic deli fans, post-beach eats, casual lunch, and hearty cravings.
Craving a seriously stacked sandwich? Head to Teddy’s Deli, a classic American deli serving massive, satisfying sandwiches in coastal OC. Expect quality deli meats and cheeses piled high on fresh bread, with all the classic fixings. It’s a casual spot known for generous portions.
A towering Reuben sandwich with corned beef, sauerkraut, and Swiss is a popular choice. Their classic Italian sub, or a simple but perfect turkey and avocado sandwich, also hit the spot. Teddy’s delivers that straightforward, delicious deli experience.
20. Green Tomato Grill Orange
- 📍 Location: 1419 North Tustin Street, Orange
- 💲 Price range: $12 – $20 per person
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: California Fresh / Healthy Fast Casual
- 🔥 Standout Features: Fried green tomatoes, house chimichurri, gluten-free friendly menu, seasonal specials, kids eat free nights
- 🎯 Perfect For: Healthy eating, gluten-free and plant-based diners, quick lunches, families, and catering
Green Tomato Grill in Orange is my go-to for a fast, healthy meal that still tastes great. It’s tucked into Orange Park Plaza on North Tustin Street, and the kitchen makes everything from scratch. Every dish on the menu can be made gluten-free, and there’s plenty for vegan, paleo and keto eaters too.
I’d start with the fried green tomatoes, the signature side, marinated, coated and fried until crisp. For a main, my favorites are the Greek Mezze Bowl with chimichurri hummus and the Chimichurri Chicken Melt with bacon and grilled veggies. Ask for extra chimichurri, which the kitchen makes fresh daily and sells more of than any other sauce.
The fall 2026 menu adds butternut squash soup, crispy Brussels sprouts with bacon and a pumpkin spice horchata for a limited time. The lemonade refreshers use only lemon, fresh fruit and agave, and the cucumber ginger mint is a great pick on a hot day. Kids eat free on Tuesday and Saturday nights when you dine in and order an adult entrée.
Green Tomato Grill also serves breakfast and caters office lunches and parties. If you’re in north or coastal Orange County, there are two more locations in Brea and Huntington Beach. I’d grab lunch here before exploring Old Towne Orange, about 10 minutes south.
- Visit the Green Tomato Grill website
- Read reviews of Green Tomato Grill
- Read Next: 12 Lesser-Known Places in Southern California
21. Andrei’s Conscious Cuisine & Cocktails
- 📍 Location: 2607 Main Street, Irvine
- 💲 Price range: $21 – $55 plates, $15 craft cocktails
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Californian-Mediterranean / Sustainable Fine Dining
- 🔥 Standout Features: Local and organic sourcing, Andrei Foundation charity mission, two-story waterfall, weekday happy hour, zero-proof cocktails
- 🎯 Perfect For: Business dinners, sustainable dining fans, special occasions, happy hour, and meals near John Wayne Airport
Andrei’s Conscious Cuisine & Cocktails is my pick for a polished dinner in Irvine that does some good too. Owner Natalia Olenicoff named it for her late brother Andrei, and the restaurant has donated its net proceeds through the Andrei Foundation to local charities. The dining room greets you with a two-story waterfall, an onyx and granite bar and floors made from sustainably harvested pecan wood.
Executive Chef Porfirio Gomez cooks with local, organic produce, naturally raised meats and sustainable seafood, and the menu changes with the seasons. I’d share the lamb lollipops with cumin-coriander yogurt and the panko-crusted portobello steak fries to start. For a main, my picks are the slow-braised short ribs over poblano whipped potatoes and the pan-roasted white sea bass.
Happy hour from 4 to 6 pm on weekdays brings $11 cocktails and wines, plus small plates like chicken kebabs and ceviche for about $12. Craft cocktails cost $15, and the zero-proof list includes a cucumber and blackberry drink made with non-alcoholic tequila. Finish with the campfire affogato, vanilla gelato and espresso topped with crumbled s’mores cookie and salted caramel.
Andrei’s sits on Main Street in the Irvine business district, about 5 minutes from John Wayne Airport. It opens at 11:30 am on weekdays, and its private rooms can host anything from a small dinner to a party of 300. For a quick breakfast or lunch, its sister spot Dandelion Conscious Café follows the same sourcing approach.
- Visit the Andrei’s Conscious Cuisine & Cocktails website
- Read reviews of Andrei’s Conscious Cuisine & Cocktails
22. The Black Trumpet Bistro Tapas & Wine Bar
- 📍 Location: 7041 Yorktown Avenue, Huntington Beach
- 💲 Price range: $30 – $60 per person
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Mediterranean Tapas / Small Plates / Wine Bar
- 🔥 Standout Features: Jazz-themed candlelit room, seafood paella, house-made sangria, monthly winemaker dinners, family-run since 2012
- 🎯 Perfect For: Date nights, tapas lovers, wine fans, small groups, and Huntington Beach evenings
The Black Trumpet Bistro is my favorite date-night spot in Huntington Beach away from the Main Street crowds. Chef Dino Ferraro opened it on Yorktown Avenue in 2012, and his family also runs Capone’s Italian Cucina in town. The candlelit room has a jazz theme, with paintings of Miles Davis, Louis Armstrong and John Coltrane, and several mains are named after jazz legends.
The menu pulls small plates from Italy, France, Spain, Greece and Morocco, and I’d order several to share. My go-to tapas are the house risotto, truffle fries, tuna tartare and Brussels sprouts with chorizo. For a bigger plate, the seafood paella with mussels, clams, shrimp and calamari is my pick, with the Ella lamb shank in red wine fig reduction a close second.
Pair dinner with a bottle from the wine list or a glass of house-made sangria. On the last Monday of each month, Chef Dino hosts a winemaker dinner series that regulars love. Save room for dessert, since the kitchen makes its sauces, soups and desserts fresh every day.
Black Trumpet opens for lunch at 11:30 am every day except Monday, when dinner starts at 4 pm. It stays open until 10 pm Wednesday through Saturday. I’d reserve on OpenTable for weekend nights and head to the beach about 10 minutes away for a sunset walk before dinner.
- Visit The Black Trumpet Bistro website
- Read reviews of The Black Trumpet Bistro
- Read Next: 12 Stunning Hidden Gems in California
Global Viewpoint is a personal blog. All content is for informational and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute professional financial, medical, or legal advice.
