Restaurants

If there is one thing Orange County isn’t lacking, it is an abundance of restaurants with one to fit every craving, occasion, and, most importantly, budget. There are a handful of landmark restaurants, but it’s a culinary merry-go-round trying to stay on top of the competition. Today’s line cook could very well be tomorrow’s celebrity chef, and the restaurant of the moment, the one where it’s almost impossible to get a reservation on a Saturday night, can be quickly relegated to the number two spot as soon as the next best thing opens its doors.

But Orange County isn’t all that fickle when it comes to matters of the palate. Mexican influences have longed played an instrumental role on menus across the county. Giant-size burritos filled with an array of beans, cheese, and meats can be ordered “wet,” with zesty sauce, fresh-made guacamole, and dollops of sour cream crowning the edible work of art. Even restaurants that specialize in some other type of cuisine will have one or two items that speak to the Mexican culture by using spices or condiments typically found in Mexican cooking. With a majority of the county fronting the coast, fresh seafood restaurants and sushi bars are equally popular with restaurant goers.

Orange County is also home to Little Saigon, the nation’s oldest and largest community of Vietnamese Americans. This prominent enclave, located in Westminster and Garden Grove, has an abundance of Vietnamese restaurants and markets. Those who enjoy sampling ethnic fare will also find Persian, Thai, Korean, Brazilian, Indian, Peruvian, Caribbean, Cuban, and Japanese restaurants scattered throughout the county. Of course, Orange County is also rich with Cal-cuisine bistros, intimate wine bars, vegetarian eateries, Spanish tapas, and brew pubs.

Overview

Traveling can be an adventure, but once in a while, it’s comforting to seek out the familiar when on the road. This is especially true when it comes to dining. Those chain restaurants, the Cheesecake Factories, PF Chang’s, and California Pizza Kitchens, are all decent restaurants with little surprise as to what’s on the menu or how it will taste. We’ve decided to omit the chain restaurants because we’re confident that you’ll be able to locate these without our guidance. However, local chains, those found only within Orange County or Southern California, have been included.

While we’ve recommended what we consider to be great dining choices, from casual to elegant, the best indication of an exceptional restaurant is whether or not it’s crowded. If you’re walking by an eatery and see most every table full and a queue of people waiting to be seated, chances are it’s where the locals go and it’s good. Nothing says “great meal” like the clatter of forks and knives resonating from the inside of a restaurant. While we’ve certainly rounded up an impressive and lengthy roster of places to please your palate, it’s impossible to describe each and every restaurant within the confines of Orange County. But we have selected the best based on a number of criteria, including cuisine, location, and service. Some are selected for their convenience, such as those within the Disneyland Resort, while others boast spectacular ocean views that only add to the overall experience. We’ve also plucked out a few landmark restaurants as well as a few that are new to the Orange County dining scene. Keep in mind that restaurants often change their hours and the kitchen door can also become one that revolves when it comes to the comings and goings of chefs. We purposely did not include information such as days of operation and the mastermind under toque unless the chef also happens to be the owner. But we did note in most instances whether a restaurant is open for dinner only, offers all-day dining, or is open on weekends for brunch. Still, it’s best to call ahead and confirm that such information is still the most current and up-to-date.