And if you have time magpies for dessert.
3 Likes
Add Four Sons, in Huntington Beach.
The Ranch is fabulous and just a few minutes off the Ball exit from the 5 freeway. They offer solid steaks and chops. Their bread service is terrific…with 7 different options sent to your table. The wine list and bar program is solid. We’ve always had great meals there…and oftentimes, lucky enough to not need a reservation.
Kawamata Seafood in Dana Point for poke. Check the hrs b/c I think they close relatively early.
2 Likes
Welcome to the neighborhood!
I will second The Ranch. Their cowboy rib steak is one of the best I’ve ever had.
Taco Maria is outstanding. In the same center, you can also stop for oysters at Shuck, and Pueblo has great sharable small plates.
Playground 2.0 is an invite-only deal, and I’m not sure how to get tickets if you’re not on their list. It’s precursor, Playground, is also very good.
I’ve heard great thnings about Vaca in Costa Mesa. We’re going Friday night, and I can’t wait.
1 Like
playground 2.0 is open to anybody. tickets still available for the holiday weekend.
Pics from my trust dinner last year:
2 Likes
Good to know. Thanks. We were invited onto their mailing list after our first dinner at Playground. I wasn’t aware that they had opened it up. I will stop spreading that piece of disinformation.
I’d add Legends to the mix. We went there on a brewery tour last week and it was phenomenal. The Bruery is indeed fantastic but most of their sours and barrel aged beers are 10%+ ABV with many over 15%+.
The other thing I’d mention is the temperature in each of the breweries if its hot out.
The Bruery (Placentia) - very good AC
Noble (Anaheim) - no AC
Bottle Logic (Anaheim) - smallish room with ok AC
Legends (Anaheim) - ok AC
Bootleggers (Fullerton) - no AC
Haven’t been to Good Beer, Barley Forge, Chapman
3 Likes
Thanks again for all of the great feedback!
Our plans have changed for the better since last night… we’re no longer staying in Anaheim nor are we driving the I5, thankfully! Long story short - our close friend, savior, and true American hero has offered us her beautiful 1930’s apartment off Retro Row in Long Beach for the entirety of the weekend, since she’ll be trading cities with us for the holidays; car and garage included! I’ve just cancelled our dismal hotel in Anaheim along with the Avis rental and I booked roundtrip fare on Jetblue for the equivalent or less than what this trip would have otherwise cost us. Phew!
So here’s the new requirements, according to my wife:
Dinner for a party of 7, under $50 p/p, in any of the following cities:
Anaheim, Laguna, Newport, Costa Mesa, Irvine, Corona del Mar, Orange
Thanks so much everyone!
You gotta get that Orange County stereotype out of your head. Just Taco Maria? LOL
Long Beach is pretty boring for food IMO, Central OC is better.
Pho 79…get any of the pho and add a oxtail (oxtail is while supplies last and $2 more, a bargain)
Pho Dakao…best chicken pho
Brodard…famous spring rolls
Vans Restaurant…banh xeo
Phat Ky Mi Ga…duck noodle soup
Com Tam Thuan Kieu…broken rice plates
Trieu Chau…noodle soups
Rigobertos Tacos…ask for extra crispy tripe tacos
OC Poultry and Rotisserie…roast chicken banh mi’s, yeah in Anaheim btw
El Gaucho Meat Market…also in Anaheim, Argentinian sandwiches and empanadas with best chimichuri
Thanh Tam…spam and eggs banh mi
Cortinas Italian Market…great sandwiches
Angelos Italian Deli…some of the best Italian sandwiches
Mariscos Los Corales…try the gobernador tacos and mixto ceviche.
Chicken Maison…get the garlicky chicken
Han Yang…get any of the beef bone broths
Maitiki Island BBQ…Hawaiian lunch plates, call ahead
Joes Italian Ice…lemon ice is perfect for summer
Ma’s Islamic Chinese…scallion-sesame bread and knife cut noodles
Ohshima…omakase sushi, make sure you get Shige-san
TK Burger…best enjoyed at PCH location
There you go, OC for your booshie tastes
5 Likes
As for LA Chapter/GCM, etc.
Try out Lupita’s in Cypress Park, this is one of the best Mexican restaurants that no one mentions, and get very little Yelp/social media love, but the neighborhood comes out for the menudo, and scrambled eggs/cactus.
El Huarachito in Lincoln Heights does a great chilequiles, one of the best I had.
If on the weekend, head over to LAX-C and try the warm, fresh Thai coconut cakes at Mae Ting’s in the same plaza is Chimney Coffee House, the sandwiches and drinks are great.
Our swing by Nicks Cafe, get a ham, eggs, and biscuits plate, use the house salsa and house jam, sit at the U, and rub elbows with city workers, and lawyers.
Or Kim Chuy for fish ball noodle soup and leek cakes, than wait in line for Howlin Rays.
That’s just me. Eggslut and the Arts District coffee places are cool, a good chance you get to see Emily Ratajowski in person.
Great list. Plus one on Chicken Maison
I would add:
Bella Cuba for really good Cuban;
Ritters SKK for great pan roasts;
25° in HB for burgers;
Taqueria Zamora for Mexican;
Taqueria El Zamorano for Mexican;
Nate’s Korner for breakfast burritos;
Kitakata Ramen Ban Nai for ramen.
1 Like
If you still find yourself in Rancho Santa Margarita the Cismontane brewery there is pretty tasty and can make the suburban hell that is back-OC somewhat more manageable.
Hi @oliver,
Welcome to FTC! 
To help us help you better, since you’re no longer in Anaheim, but are now in Long Beach, is there a reason why you can only dine in the 7 Orange County cities you just listed?
Long Beach grants you much closer access to places like Torrance / Gardena (treasure trove of great Japanese eateries), Manhattan Beach, or a closer shot up to Downtown LA.
And in your original post on the other board, did you mean you’re planning on hitting up places like the Pantry, GCM, etc.? or that you already visited them before in the past (and are not going there)?
Thanks.
1 Like
Their Haze Shift is amazing.
1 Like
Hi Chowseeker,
The post linked above where I asked about LA Chapter was concerning a completely different trip where we’re staying in the Downtown/K-Town area. It was just an inquiry about brunch at that specific spot. We’ve stayed at the Biltmore, Ace, Normandie, etc. on past trips and have walked by so many times. I’ve always been curious about it. We’ll be back in Downtown LA later this year so I thought I’d check in to see whether it was worth squeezing into our itinerary. We’ve been to all those other places mentioned countless times, I was just pointing out that I’m familiar with the area and many of the old landmark eateries in the neighborhood.
The reason why we’re relegated to the above mentioned cities for this upcoming trip is because we’re visiting family, and even though we’re shacking up in Long Beach (another area we’re pretty familiar with- long live Joe Jost’s! 
) we’re going to be spending most of our time in these parts of OC.
Thanks!
2 Likes
Hi @oliver,
Ah thanks for clearing that up, makes more sense now. 
I think @JeetKuneBao @OCSteve have some great recs (and I don’t know OC that well). Some suggestions on my part:
- Marche Moderne (in South Coast Plaza): For a “fancy” sitdown style meal. Classic French.
- Kitakata Ramen Bannai (Costa Mesa): Thanks again to @OCSteve @Porthos (where is Porthos these days?) and others for the great rec. Amazing Kitakata style lighter Ramen Noodles. Best Chashu around.
- OC Poultry and Rotisserie Market: As @JeetKuneBao and @Ns1 recommended, some great Rotisserie Chicken Banh Mi.
Jeet’s list has plenty of Little Saigon recs worth checking out.
Good luck!
2 Likes
Anepalco.
Their version of Chilaquiles is one of the best dishes in OC!
If this was in LA, it would get all kinds of coverage
2 Likes
I agree. I just had them for lunch last week. The sauce they put on the plate is addicting. Caveat: if you’re expecting the traditional pile of tortillas and eggs, you’re in for a surprise…
8 Likes
Do you mean Harlowe in West Hollywood? They have good drinks and a party vibe on weekends. Not sure about food.
LA Chapter is…not super reliable. It’s a decent hotel restaurant.