Tavern House Kitchen + Bar

★★★★☆ 4.3 (918) • $$$

"On a recent trip to Newport Beach, my boss told me he was tired of Nobu and challenged me to find something he'd like better. Fully convinced that both my job and my reputation were on the line, I aggressively researched all options before landing on Tavern House.Spoiler: I was triumphant.From the moment we walked in, the staff were each more pleasant than the last - from the hostesses who knew we were visiting from NC to the absolutely tremendous Nori, we felt cared for and welcomed.The wine list was one of the better curated lists I've seen recently - was absolutely tickled to see my favorite Orin Swift in the bottles (8 Years in the Desert) plus his Prisoner by the glass. We landed on Austin Hope as the ideal complement to our dinners.We started with the barbecued chipotle bourbon oysters, which were *amazing* (and as the thing that made me choose the restaurant initially, they lived up). Around the table, we had the Kurobuta double-cut pork chop, the prime rib dip, the seafood special I forgot, and my own French Onion filet. That filet was the best damn steak I have EVER had. It combined all the wonderful elements of classic French Onion soup with a perfectly seared filet. With frites, y'all!!! We also shared an order of the charred Brussels sprouts, which were also fantastic. Somehow, we saved enough room to risk ordering dessert: a key lime pie martini (dubbed "proper delicious"), the carrot cake (fine. It's dessert laced with vegetables, so), and - drumroll - Bananaggedon. I would come back for that alone and I'm not even a banana fan. So ridiculously over-the-top and easily served our table of four. Even those more excited for carrot cake quickly abandoned that plate in favor of this. Meanwhile, we had a lovely view of the water - complete with fireworks over the Bay! The restaurant was fully decorated for the holidays but I imagine it would have been equally cozy and welcoming even without the seasonal additions. All told, this meal easily crossed into my top 3 for 2024, even accounting for recency bias. It's now a must-visit for every future work trip (we even added it as a top choice in the guidebook we give all visiting execs)."

The Grain Cafe

★★★★☆ 4.3 (870) • $$

"Sooooo good that veganism will be easy for you haha. The strawberry cake was the best strawberry cake I've ever had! I was obsessed with the cute latte art on my moringa latte - my friend who has tried almost every other Grain Cafe locations said she has never seen this cute cat art before hehe maybe the Long Beach location is special~"

Wilma's Patio Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4.1 (952) • $$

"This is a great spot to please a group of people. Some had breakfast and some had lunch. The portions are generous and the food is good quality. It's a cute neighborhood place and I love the front patio. Our server was very attentive handled any request immediately. I always appreciate that!I look forward to coming back when I sm in the area."

Flecha Cantina

★★★★☆ 4.1 (918) • $$$

"This was our first time at Flecha Cantina and let me start off by saying, our server Annabel was amazing! Food was delicious and it came out pretty fast! The atmosphere was great! It felt like you were in a club lol but it's not, great music and drinks! Staff were amazing!Ask for Annabel next time you're there, she'll take care of you!"

Creme De La Crepe

★★★★☆ 3.9 (998) • $$

"This Creme De La Crepe deserves an update. Every time I come here, I receive consistently wonderful friendly service and the food is excellent. My family loves the the different savory crepe dishes for brunch or lunch. I enjoy sitting both inside and outside on the patio to people watch. The food to me is perfection. Metered parking in the village."

Sloopy's Beach Cafe

★★★★☆ 4.1 (879) • $$

"Friendly staff and decent food, my friends and I tried the sushi burrito, zucchini sticks (skippable for me), sweet potato tots (just ok too) on the side, some bacon, waffles with fresh fruits (good if you want something sweet), overall it was an ok experience, we had to keep waving around to get the flies to go away which was a bit annoying. They're also pretty busy so expect some wait time."

No Toro Cafe

★★★★☆ 4.2 (827) • $$

"This place has the best chicken Chilaquiles! Friendly staff, clean environment, and café de olla!"

OEB Breakfast - Newport Beach

★★★★★ 4.6 (676) • $$

"Great food, great service, and great portions!My friend and I were so impressed with this place! We weren't expecting anything too special as it's a chain, but immediately the host and our waiter were very nice and friendly. We ordered The Soul In a Bowl and the French Toast Trifle, both of which again exceeded our expectations. It's a little hard to tell from the pictures, but the portion sizes are very generous and both dishes were super flavorful. I was especially impressed with the french toast as the lemon curd wasn't overly tart like it is in some dishes and there was plenty of fruit, which seems like a rarity at restaurants these days. The torched pavlovas were also a very unique touch and added a nice contrasting texture.We definitely plan to come again!"

Loaded Cafe Restaurants Lawndale

★★★★☆ 4.2 (807) • $$

"If you live in the South Bay and enjoy a great Cafe, be sure to stop at the Loaded Cafe in Lawndale. Their staff seemed to be very busy but the service was beyond great. They accommodated our family of 4 in 20 minutes.The facility was clean, and their staff was fast to clean and prep tables for the next group. The food was a mixture between Cafe, Mexican and American cuisine. We all enjoyed our first experience at the Loaded Cafe and give it 5/5 rating. I am looking forward to our next visit."

Island Bodega

★★★★★ 4.5 (696) • $$

"Wonderful place for tasty bowls. Super clean place with super friendly staff. Absolutely delicious açaí bowls with fresh, high-quality ingredients and generous portions! The toppings are always fresh, and the flavors are perfectly balanced. Friendly staff and a great atmosphere make this a go-to spot for a refreshing and healthy treat. Highly recommend!"

Creme de La Crepe

★★★★☆ 4.4 (719) • $$

"We were there for my friends 40th birthday. We had the whole restaurant booked for our private party except outside. Cute littel place in Huntington Beach. Parking wasn't too bad located inside the Old World Village. We started with french onion soup which was superb. All the ones from other restaurants were on the salty side but this one from here was super flavorful and not salty at all. They paired all the appetizers with rose to start. The group had three options to pick from but my husband and I both decided to get soup. For our main course we opted in for Chicken Dijon and Beef Bourguignon and our main course was paired with cabernet sauvignon. Last but least for our dessert we got creme brulee and nutella banana and they were both delicious. Creme brulee was another level of creaminess and full of flavor. Glad we were able to try authentic French food and we all walked out happy. They definitely have lot of wine options vs beer options but Spaten beer we got were pretty good (almost tasted like better tasting New Castle beer). Definitely will go back for their breakfast. Cute place and two owners were super friendly and loved the european accent."

Carlitos Diner

★★★★★ 4.5 (680) • $

"Who would have thought a small, rinky, hole in the wall Mexican diner would offer one of the best chicken fried steaks!! Being from the south, I grew up on hearty breakfasts. Everything loaded with gravy. Carlito's CFS did not disappoint!! Crispy chicken steak smothered, no, drowning in sausage gravy! For the price you really get a large portion too. It included 3 eggs made your way, I opted for hashbrowns and a side of toast. The diner itself is very tidy and clean. Excellent customer service. Upon entry, go to the counter to place your order then they will bring your food out."

Eat at Rudy's

★★★★☆ 4.1 (807) • $$

"Came Saturday morning where it was very busy but there were plenty of seats outside to sit with my dog Max. Others had their dogs as well. Nice place in Old Torrance. The food was great! I loved how fluffy the biscuit was and the gravy made it even better. The country fried steak was delicious with just a thin layer of breading. The French toast is an excellent choice as well! Definitely want to come back to the other items on the menu."

Green Street Café

★★★★☆ 4.1 (803) • $$

"Great food so far... I have only had the country fried steak. REAL country fried steak (not that premade frozen crap) with fried chicken style breading, nice and thick. I don't know how they manage to keep the crispy breading from falling off when they plate it. Gravy is also the real deal; just sausage, flour, salt and pepper. If someone complains in their review that it tastes too plain or doesn't taste like gravy, ignore them... they're from California and are expecting it to also include chicken broth and maybe pieces of bacon too. Eggs, hash browns, and biscuit were also goodThe house potatoes looked awesome. I need to try those next time. Prices were decent Eggs Benedict had several options and looked good too."

Lola's Mexican Cuisine-Bixby Knolls

★★★★☆ 3.8 (921) • $$

"Lola's 2 days in a row. My coworkers brought back lunch for me, then the next day, we all went together! Lol. This is a cute spot right on the corner with cute patio seating. It was too cold so we decided to eat inside. Their menu is pretty! Leather bound and embossed! Salmon Ceviche Crudo - passion fruit, mango and lime flavors - this was delicious! The flavors all came together really well. My only preference would be to cut the salmon in smaller cubes. Otherwise, a must get! Queso Fundito - everyone loved this! Definitely cheesy with the cheese pull. Comp Chips and Salsa - loved both salsas! The creamy avocado was cooling and the roasted salsa had a great smokey flavor. Chips were fresh! Baja Shrimp Burrito - my coworkers brought this back for me and it was great! It is a huge portion! I probably only ate half the burrito and hunted for the rest of the shrimp. Grilled shrimp were huge and in every bite. The pico is a bit spicy but good. Love the chipotle crema! I'd get this againSurf and Turf Queso Tacos - the steak and grilled shrimp were super yum with the cheese. However, they are pretty greasy. I'd probably get the regular tacos next time. I asked for a side of the chipotle crema and put some on this, yum! Cloud 9 - pink guava and coconut cream with shredded toasted coconut on top. Yum! Parking is street only so we got to park about 2 blocks away. I'd suggest coming at an odd time to get better parking as there were many spots open when we left. Definitely recommended!"

Loaded Cafe - Long Beach

★★★★☆ 3.9 (874) • $$

"The food is INCREDIBLE. We were started with complimentary concha's & got the carne asada chilaquiles platter with beans, instead of hashbrowns... it did not disappoint! Authentic, runny, incredible beans with deliciously flavored asada on top of perfectly crisped tortilla chips. The drinks are yummy, but sweet, so be warned! We came mid morning on a Monday, expecting no wait but there was about 15 minutes until a table opened up. Overall, no complaints! Be patient, and enjoy!!"

O Sea

★★★★★ 4.5 (628) • $$

"O boy am I obsessed with O Sea!! The employees are truly the most friendly and welcoming people! Sarah, the manager was so sweet and checked in on us during our meal. Fillie (may have spelled that wrong), was our server and he was so great, gave yummy suggestions and made sure everything went well throughout our time dining in! Food was very fresh and came out quickly! I want to try everything on the menu! Very open and bright space with plenty of indoor seating. Has a modern coastal vibe. Street parking around the Orange Circle, can get busy on the weekends. Can't wait to come back!"

Good Stuff Restaurant - Palos Verdes

★★★★☆ 4.3 (680) • $$

"So it is my mother's birthday weekend. I decided to give her a treat. 1 night a Terranea ocean front suit + cake and dinner. I was going to a different restaurant but Good Stuff caught my eyes.After browsing the menu, I placed my take out order. My order was an Omelette, Baja fish tacos and a side steamed veggies. The waiting staffs were great. The lady who took my order was quick. After placing the order, i just waited at the restaurant. It didnt take them long to get my order ready. While i was waiting, i had a little fun chat with another waitress, she was friendly, energetic and attentive. Something about her personality is so attractive, not gonna lie, after the chat, she just went to check on my order and she returned with my order. And my food, there were great. Well packaged, nicely seasoned and cooked. Awesome."

Blue Burro

★★★★☆ 4 (774) • $$

"Everytime I come here the food always tastes so good, you'll become a regular for sure!!Always the best service, especially from the Blue Burro baddie Tohko"

The Sandwich Saloon

★★★★☆ 3.8 (854) • $$

"Haven't been here in ages. It was really good "back in the day" and still is. We had a pastrami Ruben and a Chinese chicken salad, happy with both."

Country Cafe

★★★★☆ 4.4 (599) • $$

"My sister & I met for a late lunch the day before 4th of July. Found ourselves checking out Country Cafe referred by friends. They close at 1:30pm. We arrived at 1:00 Thought they might turn us away. We were so wrong. They greeted us cheerfully and never rushed us to order or finish up. Top notch service all around. Sister ordered a 2 egg scramble accompanied by brown rice, bacon and sourdough toast. Homemade strawberry jam. Delish. I ordered machaka - half a plate full of tasty shredded beef scrambled with fluffy eggs. Plentiful. Delicious. Cottage cheese, sourdough toast and brewed coffee completed my meal. So much food. We both took half our meals home for dinner. The cafe is ultra-clean. A wall of philodendron plants look well-loved - healthy, hardy, lacy - allowed filtered light to enter the lovely cafe. Impressive. Country Cafe has been in business for eight years. I live blocks away. I can't believe this was my first visit. It won't be my last."

Pop's Café

★★★★☆ 3.8 (799) • $$

"It was a nice small place but very comfortable. The workers were so warm and friendly. The positivity and energy of the atmosphere was very warm and welcoming. I mentioned about the temperature and immediately my words were taken to heart and I got what I needed immediately. Such a nice casual place with a beautiful family atmosphere. I just loved everyone. The atmosphere was actually so nice that it did help open me up better to fellow diners and we all had such beautiful conversations. So i would recommend social . Food Ohoo at breakfast diners I usually order the same thing which is breakfast burritos. It was unique to me be a most breakfast burritos I had would contain chorizo which can be a bit to heavy for me and too salty and yes beans. This was nice and lighter. They also had home made salsa . I'd recommend it. Prices were very nice ."

Xecora Gastronomia Urbana - Downey

★★★★☆ 4.3 (623) • $$$

"Came here for my birthday and we had wonderful service!! The food was outstanding. Standouts are the guac, skewers, and anything with steak! Delish and creative drinks! Absolutely will be returning!"

Amarith Farmhouse Restaurant & Pie Shoppe

★★★★☆ 4.4 (589) • $$

"I am a sucker for a restaurant that makes their own pie! Amarith Farmhouse was just the ticket. We had lunch there on Wednesday. The pies were on full display in the bakery case.They also offered fresh, house-made donuts!!!! It is almost like they planned the food they offer just for me! You can tell already that I really enjoyed my lunch, right?The service included a friendly counter girl, prompt delivery of everything we ordered accurately and quickly. The decor is very homey, and country-casual.My chicken avocado club sandwich was delicious and had plenty of bacon. The onion rings were light, crispy, hot, and perfection. My friend had the Philly cheesesteak. He really knows his cheesesteaks! He said that his was perfect, and he proved it by inhaling the delectable beauty in record time.I can't wait to eat here again! We had a half dozen donut holes as an appetizer while we awaited our order! YUM!!"

TidePoole's

★★★★★ 4.7 (511) • $$

"It's about time. After driving by this Newport Beach gem dozens (if not hundreds) of times I finally had the opportunity to stop by for lunch. Tidepoole is well known to both the locals and tourists of Newport Beach. Their storefront is front and center on PCH, so it's truly hard to miss. I stopped by today after attending a nearby yoga class and grabbed a bite to-go. Their menu was straight forward, with options like sandwiches, pizzas, light sides, etc. I ordered the Charlie Sammy: sourdough, pesto, artichoke, provolone, tomatoes, and arugula. I also paid extra to add chicken as protein. The meal was delicious and served with a sliced pickle. The restaurant was close to empty, but I bet it stays jam packed during the summer months. Despite the slow season, parking is still tough. You'll find street parking available in the nearby residential neighborhoods. Luckily it's a nice walk, so don't let this small hiccup keep you from visiting!"

dPlace Steak & Pasta

★★★★☆ 4.2 (629) • $$$

"Super solid korean italian fusion spot! We came in around 2 and we didn't have to wait. Staff is super friendly and the place is really clean. Food is super yum & the side dishes help balance the flavors. The owner gave us the burrata grapefruit dish on the house and i think it might've been my favorite. The carbonara was really creamy and flavorful i loved that too. Pictured: burrata grapefruit, seafood marinara, carbonara, oc galbi korean"

Hangout Restaurant & Beach Bar

★★★★☆ 4 (687) • $$

"The Hangout HB is bigger than the one inSeal Beach but it's not quite as good. Some dishes are equal---sliders and sides, but mostly the flavor is gone on others. We ate burgers last night (a hangout favorite) and it tasted like three day old meatloaf. It had so many fillers it didn't even taste like beef. Last time we came it was for their signature omlets....Breakfast left us with that "Denny's" taste in our mouth. And it cost waaay too much. Still healthy portions but I think we are over being overstuffed restaurants. Get back to real food quality, especially with the new Inflated prices.I've been eating at this location in HB for about seven months. Maybe it's the trend of prices and cut-backs but going for dinner isn't worth the high price now. $65+ no appetizers and two beers. For meatloaf tasting burgers? I'd rather eat at In-and-Out. Sorry Hangout, still love your ibe, service, appetizers and beer but meals are just too iffy to pay that much."

Taco Mesita

★★★★☆ 4.2 (619) • $$

"OVERALL : A new gem we just discovered and are dying to go back to! Taco Mesita is a casual shop serving high quality Mexican food such as tacos, burritos, taquitos, elote, and even breakfast! They serve housemade everything and use high quality ingredients. I like that the prices are low and that it's a "fast-food" option, but so much more delicious. Def see myself coming here when I want a snack / small meal without breaking the bank! The ambiance is casual with an outdoor seating patio / ordering at the counter, but service was so friendly and helpful when we told them it was our first time. Def need to come back and try their happy hour! PARKING : This spot is located in Old Town Tustin, so parking can be limited. They do have a small parking lot though, and if you don't go during peak hours it won't be too hectic. They also have a drive thru which really helps if you don't want to worry about parking! FOOD/DRINKS :- Woodfire Steak Taco - 5 hr skirt steak cooked in puree of 5 chiles, finished on woodfire, topped with salsa macha, onion and cilantro - Al Pastor - 18 hr port shoulder finished on woodfire, cascabel adobo cactus, pineapple, tomato, red onion, cilantro Both tacos were delicious. The organic fresh made blue corn tortillas were excellent and the meats / sauces were all very flavorful! - Chips and Salsa - whipped jalapeño and smoky tomato salsasThis was so yum! The portion was huge for only $3.25 and the chips were warm, fresh, and seasoned. The salsas were unique and def housemade! Jalapeño creamy sauce did have a kick to it. The smokiness in the tomato one made it my fav!"

Rey's Little Kitchen

★★★★☆ 4.2 (606) • $$

"Got hungry while in King Richard's and luckily the hours for this place on yelp are wrong (open to 4 on weekends)The cinna sticks were so good. Crisp but soft, sweet but not too sweet. Get them."

Hot N Tot

★★★★☆ 4 (647) • $$

"Still a local favorite. Had a vegetable omelette that I requested turn into a scramble with a side of hot links. Service and food are always on point."

zinc@shade

★★★★☆ 4.3 (559) • $$

"This past holiday season, my wife and I decided that instead of cooking on Christmas, we would do a dine out. We got an email from Shade/Zinc saying that there were doing a dinner and we thought that would be fun! We're locals and have been there for happy hour and the food (and drinks) were always pretty good. When we made a reservation, we asked to be inside since it was a bit cold that day and it gets chilly and damp in MB at night. When we got there, the guy at the front started to seat us outside. Luckily, the manager was there and changed things for us back to the inside. When we sat down, the wait staff we had was a bit rushed (but at least nice). The menu was $95 for 3 courses (bread, salad, main and dessert). We ordered drinks (pretty good) and then had to wait a bit to order. When we were sitting there with our drinks, we noticed that it was pretty cold inside. People were all wearing jackets - including us. Why? Both entry doors were propped open creating a nice cold breeze. We asked the waitstaff to please consider closing at least one of the doors and they said they would "try". Sigh.Next, the food came out. Bread was meh and the salad was miniscule. When the mains came, at that point I asked for another cocktail. My wife had the polenta (didn't finish) and I had one of the meat dishes. Pretty unforgettable and a bit tough (I can't even remember what it was lol). once we finished the main, the wait person came back and said my cocktail was on the way. I had them cancel it since it was so late in arriving. For dessert I has the cake popsicles (3 tiny ones). The dessert reminded us of what we could get at Peet's Coffee. Sigh. At this point, they finally closed the entry doors, nearly 90 minutes later. Maybe the baby in a carriage bundled up in blankets in the middle of the dining area got it done. It was a very funny Christmas experience. We laughed quite a bit on the way home."

Tableau

★★★★☆ 4.3 (551) • $$

"Great place for pastries and coffee, all day breakfast and dinner. They have an awesome happy hour during the week!"

Sacks On the Beach

★★★★☆ 4.1 (603) • $$

"The man behind counter was super nice. Lovely little outdoor tables with an ocean view! My breakfast burrito was VERY tasty. On the smaller size which I like. Next time I'll come a bit later in the morning and rent a beach cruiser next door. I also want to try the cool tea place."

Loaded Cafe-Santa Ana McFadden Ave

★★★★☆ 3.9 (659) • $$

"Buen servicio, buena comida, las atenciones al cliente fue excelente, me gustan las crepas de aqui muy ricas lo recomi"

5th Ave Bagelry

★★★★☆ 4 (626) • $

"I absolutely love this place! I was craving a bagel while in the area, and ever since I discovered it, I've been coming back every weekend. There's usually a bit of a line on weekend mornings, but it's well worth the wait. Their fresh orange juice is a must-try. Definitely a spot you don't want to miss!"