Top 5 Restaurants In Orange County

Although Orange County has numerous restaurants to choose from when eating out, It can sometimes be hard to decide on just one. For your convenience, here is a list of my personal 10 favorite restaurants in Orange County that not only offer a delicious menu, but are also affordable.

1. Taco Mesa

Taco Mesa is an authentic Mexican restaurant offering many delicious options including burritos, tacos, and enchiladas. The restaurant itself has a cheerful and welcoming atmosphere, with brightly colored murals on the wall. Most of the food items available range from $10 to $20, and come with fairly generous portions, which are more than enough to satisfy one’s appetite. Between the delicious food that is offered, and the affordable price point for a meal, Taco Mesa is a great option for breakfast, lunch, or dinner!

TACO MESA - Updated January 2025 - 417 Photos & 620 Reviews - 22922 Los  Alisos Blvd, Mission Viejo, California - Mexican - Restaurant Reviews -  Phone Number - Yelp

2. Urth Cafe

If you’re looking for a fresh, new dinner option, try visiting Urth Cafe in Orange. Urth Cafe provides a wide variety of coffee, pastries, salads, and even dessert. Urth Cafe also offers many gluten free, vegetarian, vegan, and plant based food options. Urth Cafe also allows online orders. Overall, Urth Cafe is a lively restaurant with so many different food options, available for people with different food preferences or diets.

URTH CAFFÉ ORANGE - Photos & Restaurant Reviews - Order Online Food  Delivery - Tripadvisor

3. Panini Kebab Grill Panini Kebab Grill is a Mediterranean restaurant located in Mission Viejo. There are many types of bowls, plates, and salads available at Panini Kebab Grill, but family meals are also offered here, feeding around four people. This family meal includes generous portions of chicken or beef koobideh, rice, salad, and vegetables. At $54.99, this meal is a great value that fills the whole family’s bellies. In addition to the tremendous value, the food is delicious, making you want to eat here for every meal.

PANINI KABOB GRILL, Mission Viejo - 27741 Crown Valley Pkwy - Menu, Prices  & Restaurant Reviews - Order Online Food Delivery - Tripadvisor

4. Diho Siam

Diho Siam serves a multitude of comforting Thai food, from Pad Thai to Pad See Ew. Furthermore, Diho Siam also offers a refreshing Thai Iced Tea to pair with any meal. Diho Siam serves generous portions of food for their entrees for a more than reasonable price. This restaurant offers food pickup in addition to sit down booths, if you feel like having a warm dinner in the comfort of your home. Overall, Diho Siam is a wonderful option for lunch, dinner, or even a light snack.

DIHO SIAM - Updated February 2025 - 286 Photos & 539 Reviews - 27001 La Paz  Rd 100, Mission Viejo, California - Thai - Restaurant Reviews - Phone  Number - Yelp

5. Delizie Ristorante

The last restaurant which I have included in this list is Delizie Ristorante. This charming Italian restaurant serves authentic Italian food, including pasta, pizza, and even meatballs. While prices are a bit higher than some of the other restaurants included, the portions are extremely generous, leaving you leftovers to eat all week! Delizie Ristorante also offers gluten free options for all of their pastas and spaghetti, making sure that they are considerate of people’s gluten diets or preferences. In addition to the numerous mouthwatering entrees which this restaurant provides, many appetizers are available for purchase, including fried calamari, and a wide selection of salads. Being mostly central to Mission Viejo, Delizie Ristorante is a great decision whether you are dining with a party, or simply enjoying a lunch by yourself.

Delizie Ristorante & Bar Restaurant - Mission Viejo, CA | OpenTable

Overall, Mission Viejo is host to a multitude of restaurants, and whether the restaurant is more formal or casual, all of these restaurants have one thing in common: all of these restaurants serve high quality food and a wonderful dining experience.

A Guide to the Best Unique Restaurants in SOCAL

Lupes

If you live in Southern California or are just visiting for the day, Lupe’s is a local staple you should stop by. Lupe’s offers fresh and delicious Mexican food that is filling and affordable. 

(My family believes this restaurant sells the best burritos in Southern California.) Lupe’s has multiple locations, but customers still get a small business feel in that each dish is cooked to perfection and is consistently delicious. My favorite menu item is the California Burrito. I enjoy this burrito because the meat is juicy, the guac is flavorful, and the french fries are crispy. (My words cannot describe how tasty this burrito is.) While the California Burrito is a great option, Lupe’s tacos are also delicious. So, next time you are in the area, visit Lupe’s!

  • Dana Point: 33621 Del Obispo St, Dana Point, CA 92629
  • Aliso Viejo: 26541 Aliso Creek Rd Ste C, Aliso Viejo, CA 92656
  • Lake Forest: 24531 Trabuco Road Unit E & F, Lake Forest, CA 92630

bb.q Chicken

Are you tired of Chick-fil-A/Canes or want to try something new? Pay a visit to bb.q Chicken! This fast-food restaurant sells Korean Fried Chicken, among other side dishes. The main difference between Korean Fried Chicken and American Fried Chicken is that it is crispier and more flavorful. Bb.q Chicken double fries their chicken to ensure that each piece is crispy and hot.  After frying the chicken, workers coat a sauce of your choice on the chicken. In my opinion, Soy Garlic, Honey Garlic, and Classic are the best flavors. When you are craving chicken, I highly recommend bb.q Chicken.

  • There are many locations, but here are some in Irvine
  • Jamboree (Irvine): 2750 Alton Parkway #111, Irvine, CA 92606
  • Cypress Village (Irvine): 14161 Jeffrey Rd, Irvine, CA 9262

Han’s Homemade Ice Cream

My final recommendation is Han’s Homemade Ice Cream. This small business has been open since 1972 and has remained popular since then. Han’s Homemade Ice Cream has been featured in the Los Angeles Times, and for good reason. This ice cream parlor sells old-school and unique flavors like Black Licorice. In addition to ice cream, Han’s sells sundaes, banana splits, and customizable ice cream sandwiches. When you are craving ice cream or a sweet treat, Han’s Homemade Ice Cream is the place for you!

  • 3640 S. Bristol Street, Santa Ana, CA 92704