Restaurant Recommendations- By City

My top selections for dining out based on popular cities in Orange County.

Irvine/Tustin

  1. Burnt Crumbs – American – $ : World’s best french fries.
  2. Burnt Zilla – American – $ : Sliders, tots, & more. Love the Burnt group.
  3. Stonefire Grill – American/BBQ – $ : You will want at least 6 breadsticks per person- trust me.
  4. CAVA Grill – Mediterranean – $ : Think Chipotle for Mediterranean food.. Make sure to try the pita chips.
  5. Spoleto – Italian – $ : Now think Chipotle for Italian food, and actually delicious, high quality.
  6. TLT Food – American – $ : Peewee Potatoes- one of the greatest creations in terms of food; ever. And some of my favorite nachos in the world.
  7. Puesto! – Mexican – $$ : Quality Mexican food, excellent service, diverse menu.
  8. Angelina’s Pizzeria – $$ : Just see my review.. Heaven.
  9. Sawleaf Cafe – Vietnamese – $ : This is the only Vietnamese food I actually enjoyed. One of my favorite fast-casual places.
  10. Square One Pizza Cafe – American/Italian – $ : Hidden, family-owned pizza place in an Irvine shopping center. Some of the best food around- especially the fries.
  11. Burger Lounge – American – $ : Another burger-concept chain, but probably the best! Super fresh and healthy (for a burger joint). Fries are on point!
  12. Bronx Sandwich Co. – American – $ : Huge sandwiches, fresh baked baguettes, tons of options. If you like sandwiches, this is a must.
  13. Grape Leaf Mediterranean – Mediterranean – $ : One of my two favorite Mediterranean restaurants ever. Lots of options, fresh ingredients, killer pita chips!

Costa Mesa/Newport Beach 

  1. Old Vine Cafe – American – $$/$$$ : Breakfast/brunch, lunch, dinner. Chef-driven. One of my all time favorites.
  2. Pueblo – Spanish Tapas – $$ : Lunch and dinner. Small place, AMAZING food. Make reservations in advance. The queso fundido will change your life.
  3. Bosscat Kitchen & Libations -American – $$ : Great atmosphere & food. Sunday brunch is literally a party (DJ included).
  4. Ecco Pizza – Italian – $$ : Some of the best gnocchi ever here.
  5. The India Cafe – Indian – $$ : Best Indian food around Orange County (outside of Cerritos area).
  6. Xanadu Cafe – Brunch/American – $ : Cute little cafe on Coast Hwy. Love coming here for brunch; especially for the toasts.
  7. Greenleaf Chopshop – American/Healthy – $ : Nice place for a salad, but extremely pricey.
  8. True Food Kitchen – American/Healthy – $$ : If you’re willing to spend a little extra on extremely fresh, high-quality, healthy food… check out TFK at Fashion Island. Lots of AMAZING vegan options, too!
  9. Mustard Cafe – American – $ : Located in a typical, random, Newport/Irvine shopping center, the food here will surprise you! Chef/owner RC serves breakfast all day, as well as paninis/salads/etc. Best of all… he makes fresh cookies and CROISSANTS. Life-changing.
  10. Jan’s Health Bar – American/Healthy – $ : Home of the best avocado – I swear. Many sandwiches, sides, items, etc. come with or have avocado and for some reason it is ESPECIALLY delicious at Jan’s! They also have amazing smoothies and bowls! Perfect spot for breakfast or lunch!

Yorba Linda/Brea 

  1. Eureka Pizza Co. – Italian/Pizza – $ : Pizzas, sandwiches, salads, & even GYRO! Love this place, and love the family that owns it!
  2. Blue Agave – Mexican – $$ : One of the few Mexican restaurants I like. I have been eating here since I was fresh out of the womb. A Yorba Linda staple.
  3. URBAN PLATES – Healthy – $ : This is one of my 2 home-away-from-homes. Omar & Mark always know my salad order, and I have my own table. I love Urban Plates, but only this location!
  4. Vitality Bowls – Acai Bowls/Juice Bar – $ : I have been on an extensive juice bar journey, and Vitality still holds the BEST bowl. I could come here everyday if I had a disposable income.
  5. Cha Cha’s Latin Kitchen – Mexican – $$ : My favorite Mexican restaurant. Happy hour everyday (all day on weekdays), taco Tuesday, and lots of other good happenings! Some of the best jalapeño lime aioli in the World. Everything I have had here has been awesome- but be sure to get the calamari!
  6. Medii Kitchen – Mediterranean – $$ : One of my two favorite Mediterranean restaurants. Everything is amazing; make sure to try the muharmara dip, Caesar salad, and rice.