The Most Delicious American in Irvine

Country Kitchen

★★★★★ 4.7 (311) • $$

"Food was really good and really good service. You have to try the granola pancakes. I will definitely be coming back."

Aces Bar & Grill

★★★★☆ 4.4 (240) • $$

"Came here with Family, First time having the food. Have to say the sampler platter was great!! Onion rings were a wonderful size and tasted good and crunchy. The jalapeño poppers were also great. The Wings had great flavor and really good. The place is fun and the service is wonderful. Nice place hang out with Family and Friends. Very clean and very Welcoming."

Cruisers Pizza Bar Grill - Newport Beach

★★★★☆ 3.8 (717) • $$

"A Stellar Experience with Ron Behind the Bar!I had the pleasure of sitting at the bar and being served by Ron, and I have to say, it was an unforgettable experience! I ordered an Appletini, and not only did Ron craft it perfectly--balanced, crisp, and with just the right amount of sweetness--but he also took the time to educate me on the drink's history and the subtle art of making a great cocktail.Ron's knowledge and passion for his craft really shone through as he explained the origins of the Appletini and how he puts his own twist on it. It was clear that he takes pride in every drink he makes, and his attention to detail elevated my entire visit.On top of his impressive bartending skills, Ron is incredibly personable, making sure every guest feels welcomed and taken care of. If you're ever at the bar, do yourself a favor and ask for Ron--you won't just get a drink, you'll get an experience!"

Fireside Tavern

★★★★☆ 4 (229) • $$

"Awesome food, drinks and service. We got drinks, crab cake bites, burgers and desserts."

Springdale Cafe

★★★★★ 4.7 (244) • $

"I've seen this place for YEARS!! And I always wanted to try it but always forgot. So when I found myself waiting for my tires to get replaced next-door, I hopped on over and tried Springdale Café. The service was friendly and she was very patient with me as I looked over a very extensive breakfast menu. I ordered the French toast, platter and French vanilla iced coffee. At Springdale Café you order at the counter first, find your seat and they bring the food to you. The only issue I had was they used coffee mate for the flavoring of the iced coffee. I wish I would have known this ahead of time I would have just ordered a regular coffee other than that the food was great. What you would expect for a café. They had two TVs on if that's what you want to do maybe catch up on your news and or sports. The tables were clean."

Claim Jumper Steakhouse & Bar - Costa Mesa

★★★☆☆ 3.2 • $$

"I always love coming here because they have a decent happy hour menu. I was already full from eating beforehand but my friends wanted to get a drink and I got one drink but I also had to order the zucchini because it's one of my favorite items they have. I wish I ordered another one but I would definitely be too full. Can't wait to go back for more items. I ordered the Purple Haze and it looked real pretty cuz it was lavender color and it was tasty too. I really want to go back to get more happy hour items another day."

Parkers' Lighthouse

★★★★☆ 3.7 • $$$

"We went here for my moms birthday! It was simple tomake a reservation online and you can put any special requests or messages and I put we were celebrating a birthday and everyone greeted my mom when we got there which was great. Our server was also super helpful with suggestions of the menu. They give complimentary sourdough bread w butter which was delicious. We started off with calamari which was crispy and yummy. I got the salmon which was paired with gnocchi and corn SO GOOD! The salmon piece itself was big enough where I could take it for leftovers. We didn't ask but they ended up giving us a little cake w ice cream and a candle for my mom's birthday which was super sweet."

Spoons Grill & Bar

★★★★★ 4.5 (21)

"Located inside the Ayers Hotel, this bar and grill is great for those staying at the hotel. I was a guest at the hotel with several others for 2 nights. I dined here once for dinner but the others had dined here several times. The vibe was always fun, relaxed and social. The menu was not extensive but I (a vegetarian) managed to find something I liked. On one of nights, I ordered the veggie burger and my friend ordered the salmon. Both entrees were delivered quickly, in decent portion, plated nicely and tasty. Service was outstanding. Our server was super friendly, attentive and helpful. If your staying at the hotel and in need of a drink, this is the perfect place. My friends said the Lemon Drops were amazing."

Grater Grilled Cheese

★★★★☆ 4 (356) • $$

"Great spot for grilled cheese. Nice thick bread perfectly toasted. Really like their new breakfast menu but I wish it could be all day because I love eggs. Tried their:Bacon Melt - I really liked it. On par with more egg focused places. LA pastrami - bomb pastrami grilled cheese. Really like the chunks of pickle in it Breakfast Mac - it was okHash rounds - really good. Would prefer some sort of loaded breakfast hash rounds. Definitely pull up if you're in the mood for a good grilled cheese!"

Nick's San Clemente

★★★★☆ 4.4 • $$$

"My first solo dinner was here at Nick's. It was so special to me. Everything went well, from beginning to end. Sat at the bar and was taken care of by the bartenders who also took my order for food. I enjoyed their spicy watermelon margarita and chicken piccata. The ladies that sat on each side of me were so cute and couldn't help but notice my food. They were asking what I had ordered and the lady to my left ended up ordering the same thing! Chicken piccata bursted with flavor, lemony, salty, moist, just perfection. It had 2 chicken fillets and I was only able to finish one so I took the rest to go.I loved the dim lighting and everyone seemed to be having a great time with each other. This dinner encouraged me to go on more solo dates with myself. Thank you for setting the bar, Nick's!"

Sammy's Stackhouse

★★★★☆ 4 (564) • $$

"the service was great, we got seated right away even for it being kind of busy. our waitress oliva was so sweet and attentive! i'm currently 9 months pregnant & really needed my bacon to be extra crispy, oliva had no problem making sure my bacon was perfect!! on top of the good service, our food was sooo yummy! make sure to order the pancakes they are super fluffy!"

The Burnt Truck

★★★★☆ 4.4 (804) • $

"Food is alway on point and today's work lunch was just another home run for fine folks at Burnt! Sliders were the OG size, which i love ... cuz i don't feel as guilty eating 5 of them!The tater tots were super crips and fresh ... could eat a mound of them ... seriously don't know why they don't try of make a nacho plate using tater tots and crumbled angus! Service is always amazing! Super chill and friendly service!PBJ was a wow for me ... first time, but now not the last. Will add to my rotation of sliders from them! Love ya food!!!"

The Lunch Spot OC

★★★★★ 5 (15) • $$

"Great little spot with 4 food trucks. Good variety of food - Mexican, burgers, healthy. Tables and chairs with large canopy available of you prefer to eat there. I tried the Mexican truck Sol Agave which was organic and delicious. I tried 2 fish and 1 chicken tacos a la carte and that came up to $15."

Georgia's Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4.2 (105) • $$

"My favorite soul food restaurant in Irvine. I ordered the smothered chicken with yams and macaroni and cheese. It was a nice surprise that it came with a small piece of cornbread. The chicken had a nice kick to it, and I loved the sweet yams. It was like a dessert in a way.Customer service was excellent and attentive. There is also outdoor seating and plenty of parking in the parking structure."

The Longboard Restaurant & Pub

★★★★☆ 3.5 (589) • $$

"Stopppp! If you're not loving this place, you're drunk (or not drunk enough!). The service is ALWAYS on point and the food is amazing. There are like a million TVs, with different things on for everyone. Do yourself a favor and order the lobster roll... or the burger... or literally anything!"

The Pub At Fiddlers Green

★★★★☆ 4.4 (119) • $$

"This place is an awesome little find. Good place to have a quiet drink and the food is amazing. I didn't know you could come here since it's located on the base - but anyone can come in and go to the pub. I love this place."

Storytellers Cafe

★★★★☆ 3.6 • $$$

"We had a blast celebrating our nephew's first birthday at this place! Breakfast was a delightful. The cafe staff went above and beyond to make us feel welcome, and the Disney characters were simply amazing. Not only did they entertain the little ones, but they also made sure to interact with the adults, adding an extra layer of fun to the whole encounter. They stayed in character & were so full of joy & playfulness. The food was good, can't go wrong with the classics: scrambled eggs, bacon, and sausages, but they also had other options. If you visit, be sure to try the pork belly slices - just make sure to get the soft and juicy ones, as some parts can be a bit dry and tough. Overall, it was an experience that we recommend trying out."

Poppy & Seed

★★★★☆ 3.6 (734) • $$

"Came here for brunch and we all had a great experience. The interior of the greenhouse is very beautiful and has large trees and plants that you can sit around. The servers were really friendly as well. I ordered a Mimosa and Eggs Benedict with Avocado. The eggs were cooked to perfection and the biscuit wasn't soggy or hard. After finishing our food, there was a cute flea market in the courtyard right outside the restaurant, so we walked around for awhile. Parking in Downtown Anaheim is always a nightmare but luckily we parked in a structure about a block down. Overall, great place!"

Steak Corral

★★★★☆ 3.7 (477) • $$

"When I walked it there wasn't no one there to greet me as I walked in. Someone eventually came and took our offer. Prices aren't bad since the meal with 2 sides. The food was feeling as I got a New York cut with salad and mashed potatoes. Salad bar is very pathetic. It wasn't enough variety. No water was offered since we didn't purchase a drink. And none came to check on us. Overall 4/10"

Back Alley Bar & Grill

★★★☆☆ 3.2 (267) • $$

"The Alley has had some popular indie bands playing their scene, to be sure. A nice venue. Wahoo!"

StillWater Spirits & Sounds

★★★★☆ 4.1 (936) • $$

"Was staying in the area and decided to have lunch here after reading some glowing reviews on Yelp. We were lucky to get parking in the tiny parking lot right in front, were immediately greeted and seated.We shared the blistered shishito peppers appetizer, which was served piping hot on a cute little iron skillet. My husband had the tri tip sandwich and I chose the spicy seafood pasta. Although my dish was not spicy to me, it was flavorful and delicious; with huge pieces of fish, shrimp, calamari and mussels. Portions are large and pricing is reasonable for the area. Service was great as well. Overall had a nice experience!"

Tantalum Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4 • $$

"First off, there is plenty of parking where they are located. When you first come in the restaurant is very dark with dim lighting. We came on a Saturday at 6pm and they had just started setting up for a live band. We ordered a few appetizers. The calamari was definitely the best one, if you had to choose one appetizer that's the one you need to choose. If you are looking to have a conversation this is not the place to go. The music and noise all around was a bit unbearable at some points. The singer at one point just started to almost yell. Was very confused about what was going on there. I got the ribeye sandwich and my husband got the burger. We both shared and I definitely preferred his burger though the sandwich was delicious. The burger was super juicy and flavorful. The serving size of the skinny fries was crazy! There were so many!The service was great and our server was super helpful and fun. Loved the place, I think I'll just come without the live music and maybe in the morning for some light."

The Wayfarer

★★★★☆ 3.9 (299) • $$

"I don't visit the The Wayfarer often, but when I do I always have a good time.The food is worth a visit in its own right. The pulled pork sliders, for instance, are a thing of beauty. I've never had better pulled pork anywhere and heaven knows I've eaten my share of it over the years. The service is friendly and on the ball every time. Ambience wise, it's a roomy, comfortable place with lots of places to sit. I like to sit at the bar, but that's personal preference. Booze wise its full bar with a nice selection of craft beers. The place attracts some really good bands, including some that tour nationally. Last night, we saw Jerry Joseph. He was great. The Wayfarer is a good place worthy of your attention.Cheers!"

Schooner or Later

★★★★☆ 3.7 • $$

"I went here today for brunch around 1:30 and it was insanely busy but we got in about 20 min. (They told us 30-40) the two people at the front didn't seem happy and didn't acknowledge me or say hi (I was the only one at the desk at the time lol)... I get that your super busy but a friendly smile or "hi be right with you" would suffice. The food was good!! we each had the two egg breakfast and shared the cinnamon roll French toast which was AMAZING. Next time I'll aim to sit outside on the patio since they are right on the water. Maybe not come on a holiday. Not sure if it's this crazy on a regular weekend day."

CDS Skyworks Cafe

★★★★☆ 4.1 (34) • $

"If you work or just visiting the UCI Research Park area and looking for a budget friend breakfast/lunch spot this is one of those hidden gems only the locals know about. The Skyworks Cafe is tucked between Toshiba/Skyworks at the very end of the building. There is plenty of parking in the huge parking lot. The place is family owned by a family of Koreans so you will see a variety of Korean inspired items on the menu. This place has been here for over 15 years but not much has changed since it's built into the Skyworks campus. It feels literally like a cafeteria with office long tables for patrons to eat inside or you can eat in the courtyard outside. The do have weekly rotating "special" menus that you can find on there website. But majority of their items are under $10.The favorite items over the few years are the Korean fried chicken special which comes with spicy fried chicken paired with rice and macaroni salad. You can never go wrong with the many burger/fry options either. Every order is made to order so super fresh. So yes the wait sometimes does get long during peak lunchtime hours. You can pre-order online or call it in if you have meetings. Note the cafe does have a short operating window from 7am-11am for breakfast and then reopens from 11am-1:30pm for lunch. You can either call in for pickup at 949-231-3100 or order online at https://skyworkscafe.com/order-online The homepage will show the weekly daily specials, which are the best values. Overall highly recommended as the aunties and uncles working there are super friendly. They literally have the entire family working there from front to back so a totally family business supporting all the workers in the area. Absolutely recommended for a budget friendly tasty fresh meal."

Roundin' 3rd

★★★★☆ 4.4 (367) • $$

"Great local LB sports bar with very solid food. Staff is great. Lots of TV's without feeling like buffalo Wild Wings. Try it. Nice spot with Riley's vibes."

Nick's Newport Beach

★★★★☆ 4.3 (58) • $$$

"I hope my experience reflects the current state of the grand opening. Unfortunately, the valet service was disappointing; I had to wait 20 minutes, and finding self-parking in that strip mall is nearly impossible. The service was slow. Our server made several mistakes and rarely checked in on us, which meant we had to seek her out for assistance. On a positive note, the food was excellent, and the prices were reasonable. I highly recommend the chicken piccata, meatloaf, Thai salad, and the butter cake."

The Local Spot

★★★★☆ 4.4 • $$

"Food was great, atmosphere was awesome. Ambience was good, however it was pretty windy. Service was a let down, we waited 20-30 minutes to get our order in. Eventually a nice lady came and helped us (she was not our server). Portions are huge, coffee is alright."

Ruby's Diner

★★★★☆ 3.5 (292) • $$

"I'm so sad... this place has changed so much. I usually door dash, but today we dined in. All the things I've loved about Ruby's are no more. No juke boxes at the tables, bottomless fries, or what's going on with their cinnamon roll French toast (see image) that has always been a go-to favorite. I've never seen a skinner French toast, it was more like a crepe. I came here with someone who is not from the US, hoping to give them a classic American diner experience and it was a disappointment :( I know it's not their fault, but came for good food, and a full 1950's theme, but no waitress in their cute uniforms and food was mediocre I'll definitely try again, hoping it was just an off day. I will add that I appreciate that they still have the paper cars for the children, the gum ball machine, and the train operating on the ceiling track."

Bluegold

★★★★☆ 3.7 • $$$

"Food was okay to me! It was my first time trying it and I got the pasta which I feel like could have had more flavor. I've never had Brussels sprouts but these were good! The bread was also yummy, it isn't complimentary unfortunately so if you want to purchase it go ahead! Overall I'd give a 7.5/10 I've had better pasta and better bread. But it's all preferences I'm sure many people love this place!"

Gourmet Pie & Cafe

★★★★☆ 3.8 • $$

"I've been here countless times since it's my old stomping ground, and it never disappoints. The food is always hot and delicious, and the service is exceptional. I especially love coming here for breakfast. While I wish I lived closer, it's always a top choice whenever I'm in the area. The pancakes and omelets are amazing, the coffee is perfect, and my companions couldn't stop raving about the mimosas.Make sure to try their pies, deliciousness. 12/27/24"

Rockwell's Bakery, Cafe & Bar

★★★★☆ 3.5 (294) • $$

"Special menu item!! PRIME RIB, eggs, bacon and potatoes. Only served by Tammi while South OC Cars & Coffee aka Cars & Bloodies!! Enjoy A+A+A+"

The Bistro

★★★★☆ 3.8 (22) • $$

"Checked in on 1/3/20 late night. Let me tell you, Janell was awesome with customer service. Answered all question and was super helpful with taking care of us and kids. Highly recommend."

Snooty Fox

★★★★☆ 4 • $$

"Really great breakfast food! We've had the chorizo and eggs, french toast, and more.I don't recommend the chilaquiles because they were very soggy But everything else we've tried was amazing."

Surf Dog's Sports Grill

★★★★☆ 3.9 (315) • $$

"Had an absolute blast coming here with Kailey as our server. Full of recommendations, good energy, and laughs. Would certainly be back for the delightful drinks and Kailey's energy! Thank you surf dogs!!!"