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.

The Best Museums in Orange County

Museums are good places to spend time at, especially on rainy days. There are many museums in Orange County to go to and you might be wondering which are the best to visit. Here are some museums that I enjoyed going to and would recommend as well.

1. The Orange County Museum of Art

One of my favorite museums to visit is the Orange County Museum of Art in Costa Mesa. They have many interesting pieces of art there, as well as displays and different themes by different artists that change monthly. I have found it helpful to try and get there earlier in the morning as it gets very busy in the afternoon.

2. The Marconi Automotive Museum

Another great museum to go to is the Marconi Automotive Museum in Tustin. It has many historical and exotic cars that have been restored, as well as the original cars from many different movies, and it is overall a very interesting place to go.

3. Heritage Hill Museum

Another interesting and historical museum is the Heritage Hill Museum in Lake Forest. It has many restored historical buildings including several adobes from the 1800s. The park has guided tours of the buildings and also teaches about county history, and I found it to be an educational and fun experience.

4. Richard Nixon Museum

Another museum that I enjoyed visiting was the Richard Nixon Museum in Yorba Linda in Northern Orange County. It has the site of Richard Nixon’s birthplace, and also gives historical information about Nixon. It is a great place to go for the day and is a great way to learn more about history.

5. Lyon Air Museum

One of the best museums to go to in Orange County is the Lyon Air Museum. It is an enjoyable place for people of all ages and has many rare and historic planes that are in good condition. It is also close by, in Irvine, and is a good size to explore, and it is a very good way to spend an afternoon.

6. Mission San Juan Capistrano

Mission San Juan Capistrano is one of the best museums and historical sites to visit nearby. The mission is open so you can walk through and see the various areas, and it is very large, with many tunnels and paths to explore. It also has exhibits that give a large amount of historical information about the mission, and there are also activities and special guided tours that allow you to visit private areas of the mission.

These are some of the most fun and educational museums to visit in Orange County that will be sure to give you a very interesting experience. So be sure to go and visit these museums-they’re sure to give you a good time!

Best Hikes and Camping for the New Year

The new year has come around, and it’s a great time to get some exercise and go outdoors. A great way that I enjoy getting outdoors and getting some exercise is by going on hikes as well as going camping. There are many great spots to camp and hike in Orange County, so here are a few ones that I would recommend to start out your new year on a positive note.

  1. O’Neill Park

One of the best places in Orange County for outdoor activities is O’Neill Park. It is located in Trabuco Canyon near the foothills of the Saddleback Mountains and it has great nature and scenery. It is very easy to access and it has many great spots for camping, as well as a large variety of trails and hikes for all skill levels and ages. I personally would recommend bringing water and a snack for the longer hikes, and to try the flat trails first if you are a beginner.

2. Carbon Canyon

Another great spot for hiking and camping is in Carbon Canyon in northeastern Orange County, about 40 minutes from Mission Viejo. It is very beautiful and has a large grove of redwood trees, the only redwood trees in Southern California. It also has several good lakes for fishing, as well as great views. I would recommend the scenic nature trails in the park which are great for beginners. The park has guided hikes and many other events as well.

3. Aliso Wood Canyon Park

Aliso Wood Canyon Park is also a great place to visit. It is near Laguna Beach and it has many miles of well-maintained trails that are great even for beginners. It also has great views of the ocean and has a variety of plants and wildlife. A hike that I would suggest is to Dripping Cave, a large natural cave in the area. The hike is very flat and largely paved, and is great for everyone. Another great hike is the Top of the World hike, which is also fairly easy and has great views and scenery, however, it often gets hot especially in the summertime, so I would recommend bringing a water bottle.

4. Niguel Botanical Preserve

The Niguel Botanical Preserve, an 18-acre botanical garden in Laguna Niguel, is also a great spot for your outdoor adventures. It has an enormous variety of beautiful, well-kept plants, and it is a good place for taking a walk. It is a very short and easy walk and is very accessible and not very remote. I also saw a variety of wildlife and the preserve overall is a great spot for nature. The preserve is located on a small hill, and I would recommend hiking to the top as it has a great view. It also has many other features, such as a butterfly and rose garden and a vista overlooking the preserve. It also has a variety of rare and interesting plants and is a great activity for everyone.

These are a few of the best options for outdoor activities in Orange County for anyone who is interested in hiking or camping to start the new year. So be sure to try these fun hikes, campgrounds, and outdoor activities for yourself to kick off your new year!