Food Critic’s List of the 38 Essential OC Restaurants Includes Three from South Coast Plaza

by Jenn Tanaka  |  Eater Los Angeles

November 01, 2022

Modern Mexican, vibrant Vietnamese, and so much more just south of LA

Once regarded as a secondary market to Los Angeles, Orange County’s food scene has come into its own as of late. Find mom-and-pop shops that have spent decades perfecting a singular dish in areas like Westminster, where Vietnamese food rules, and along Anaheim’s Little Arabia District. For upscale, white-tablecloth dining experiences with higher prices to match are fine dining stalwarts backed by big names. There’s something for everyone in Orange County, and here are the 38 essential restaurants in Orange County.

 

Chef Ross Pangilinan’s sister restaurant to the award-winning, but now-closed Mix Mix Kitchen + Bar is best known for its open-air patio and the chef’s large raviolo. The hand-rolled pasta is stuffed with a cheese-herb filling and a whole egg yolk. Other popular items include an albacore crostini on a crispy corn tostada and brioche french toast for brunch.

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3333 Bear St #316, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
657.231.6447
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This modern French-Californian restaurant from chef Tony Esnault and Yassmin Sarmadi is intended for celebratory meals. Order the lobster Caesar salad and Champagne for lunch and the halibut with braised endive or beef tenderloin with celery root for dinner. A decadent slice of the Louis XV (hazelnut praline layered with chocolate mousse and topped with a gianduja glaze) makes for a great dessert. A pricey but impeccable afternoon tea service is available on Saturdays.

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3333 S Bristol St, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
714.266.3388
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Chefs Nick Weber and Ross Pangilinan’s modern California-French bistro is situated in South Coast Plaza, where fried chicken bites topped with caviar fit perfectly with the glitzy atmosphere. Standout starters include crispy duck “spliffs” and escargot ebelskivers. Populaire’s laid-back decor with black-and-white photos of Johnny Cash and Ramones album covers are offset by dusty pink floral wallpaper and pastel blue walls. The look echoes the food: refined with a touch of rock-and-roll.  

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3333 Bristol St Suite 2601, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
714.760.4555
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