Good restaurants in the General Irvine Area

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<p>I love the <a href="http://www.veggiegrill.com/">Veggie Grill</a>. Even meat-eaters gotta love the sweet potato fries! The restaurant has earned numerous accolades. The food tastes so good, you won't even realize it's good for you.</p>

<p><img height="168" width="240" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.veggiegrill.com/images/home_botright.jpg" /></p>
 
The best udon, soba, and somen place in Orange county is Fukada on Irvine Center Drive near the Spectrum next to the 24 Hours fitness. They make their soba their each morning. Make sure to come early because the place gets really packed. Reasonably priced.
 
The Basilic on Bolboa Island is a very good French restaurant.





Also, you should try The Winery in Tustin Legacy, it opened a few weeks ago. Good for their wine tastings and excellent food.
 
I like Felix (in the circle, city of Orange) for Cuban.



Tulsa Rib for ribs. I really like BBQ, but I can't find a good BBQ place in OC that I'd recomend. Tulsa's ribs are well prepared and reasonably priced, but I'm looking for pork shoulder or brisket, so if anybody's got a lead, please share.
 
I'd put Tulsa Rib Company in front of both of Lucille's and Johnny Reb's in both quality and price.



I'm really into BBQ (I have my own smoker) so I might be pickier than many.
 
For Baby Backs. Tulsa is a up there. I find that Johnny Rebs is a hit or miss. Sometimes they are fantastic. But every once in awhile the quality seems to drop off. Love the pork sandwich with the Sweet Potatoe fries. But my favorite for pork ribs is Houstons in Irvine. They are a little on the sweet side but they just fall off the bone so easy. And they seem to be consistant in the quality. Went to Lucilles a couple times when it first opened. Thought it was good but nothing special. Guess its time to give them another try. I also want to give another vote to Gabbie`s in the Orange Circle for Mexican. Its does not have a sign. But next door and the same side as the Army/Navy store. This has gotten to be one of our favorite lunch treats for customers at work. Have yet to be disappointed. Just be carefull of the Petron Margaritas. Not advisable during lunch.
 
<p>If you're into Japanese, check out Tomikawa in the Trabuco Grove center off the 5 at Jeffrey and Trabuco. They've got GREAT prices for lunch.</p>
 
Fukada has great noodles, it's more of basic noodles but their sauces and dashi's could use some improvement. The hole in the wall places in Tokyo just have incredible soba that I haven't really found an equivalent here. Nonetheless, Fukada offers a crisp fresh noodle dishes, don't expect heavily seasoned MSG'd up to the ears taste. The soba with fresh mountain vegetables is what I usually get.





Tomikawa is hit and miss and unfortunately I feel it's quality has gone way downhill over the past year. Please don't mention Taiko, I seriously don't understand the popularity of that place. It's like a Tokyo Lobby for those who are familiar with the SGV.
 
+1 on veggie grill. i couldnt bring myself to go there for yrs until one day i noticed someone eating the sweet potato fries. the fries are AWESOME. the crispy "chicken" sandwiches tastes better than any actual chicken sandwich i've ever had.





this place has become a once-a-wk visit at least since i discovered it.
 
If you're looking to impress a date with Viet style Asian-fusion food, try Brodard Chateau in Garden Grove:


http://www.brodard.net/chateau/location.html





The place used to be a steak house and is richly furnished. Get their "brodard rolls" (spring rolls) with special dipping sauce. It's not cheap, they charge $4-5 for just 2 rolls. I've heard that you can get more for your $ at their other restaurant in Westminster, hidden behind the Mall of Fortune:


http://www.brodard.net/location.html





If you go to the more expensive Chateau place, you can custom order some dishes. For example if you order the salad, you can request them to add shrimp for more $$. And I mean the big ones, not the little tiny ones they give you at Red Lobster.





Commenting on previous posts -- Taiko has declined in quality over the past decade. I like the Tulsa Rib Company for their beef ribs dinner special (3 big ribs), tell them not to smother the ribs in sauce. It's $10 and a good deal, however I think their Tulsa potatoes have declined in quality too.





The Shabu Shabu place by Ranch 99 at corner of Jeffery & Walnut is over priced and so-so in quality. But our choices here is rather limited. I like "Little Fat Sheep" at 120 S. Atlantic Blvd, Monterey Park. Their prices aren't cheap, we used to buy their spicy soup base and make the hot pot at home for less $.





I could also recommend Jazz Cat Cafe on 640 W. Valley Blvd, Alhambra. But don't bring young children here because their hot pots have open flame burners under them and the space is cramped. Great place to take a date if you're dating an East-Asian girl in her 20's. They do a good Taiwanese style hot pot. Do not park at the noodle place across the street, or else you'll get a ticket or get towed.





The Korean restaurant across from the Shabu Shabu place by Jeffery & Walnut, and I mean on same side as Ranch 99 center, is decent. The one across the street, in same side as Taiko, I think changed owners and most of their dishes are kinda lame, but they make an OK hot pot (Korean casserole). Walk around the corner to Yogurt Land afterwards and get some Yogurt with mochi toppings.
 
i go to brodards all the time. the OG (original ghetto) one that is, never been to the frou-frou chateau location. the spring rolls sound exactly the same as the ones you mentioned but are around $5 for an order of 4. its the house specialty and you'll see every table gets several orders. their dipping sauce is made from stewed pork and peanut --- it is amazing...





damn i'm so hungry.
 
<p>I have found this website, its called <a href="http://www.yelp.com">yelp</a>, which is a city guide/reviews of everything in a city. </p>

<p><em>"You already know that asking friends is the best way to find restaurants, dentists, hairstylists, and anything local. Yelp makes it fast and easy by collecting and organizing your friends' recommendations in one convenient place."</em></p>

<p>I find it very useful in finding new places to eat or avoid.</p>
 
Hey guys, first post by the way.



I want to IMPLORE you to hit up Honda-ya as suggested by the author, go there on a monday, tuesday or wednesday at about 6-7pm - they are only open for dinner by the way. Forget friday, saturday, 1 hour wait if you're lucky.



[Edit] Do not underestimate the power of Honda-ya. Order a Nigori sake (a sweet, smooooooth sake), get some yakitori items (try the special heart if you dare), broiled squid is fantastic, mix and match - try something new every time you go - stay away from the standard-fare items like teriyaki beef.. you can get that anywhere! Get the weird stuff like pickled squid, or octopus balls (don't ask, but they are friggin heavenly). Drink, chat, eat, drink some more. I love this place.



Also, if you're a Japanese food junkie like myself, take a peek at Goro Sushi next to Albertsons in the itsct. of Alton and Culver. Not so much for the atmosphere, but the brolied mackerel is de-lish.



If you wanna head outside of Tustin/Irvine, roll down to the PCH for Royal Thai (between Newport and Balboa), try the thai basil or the yellow curry. Wicked BBQ at the Beach Pit BBQ at 1676 Tustin Ave, near 17th/Tustin. George's Thai bistro is also a long time favorite of mine, it's on 3732 Bristol up by South Coast Plaza, while there, shake up Hans' Ice Cream and Deli for a Liquorishe Milkshake. wowza!



Farther off, try Taal indian food on 2720 Nutwood Ave, by CSUF. WICKED indian food!!!!



[edit 2]

Forgot to add:



- Costa Mesa Omelet Parlor on 17th and Orange (nestled in the back) -- Absolutely fantastic american breakfast food!



- Avila's El Ranchito, Tustin on 1st street/55 fwy, and Costa Mesa on valencia i think. Superb Mexican food! GO FOR THE BRUNCH ON SUNDAYS! Menudo out of your ears!! yummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
 
<p>Something I usually browse (in addition to IrvineHousingBlog..)


When I'm not looking at homes, I'm looking at food.. (sigh)</p>

<p>* User uploaded photos from their cameras of dishes they ate from various restraunts


(contains reviews, comments, location, price)


* Food social network - mainly southern california users


* #2 City w/ most uploads - Irvine!


* Founded by 3 UCI grads</p>

<p>BiggestMenu - <a href="http://www.biggestmenu.com">http://www.biggestmenu.com</a> </p>

<p> </p>
 
For those who like "Oki Doki" in Costa Mesa, they've opened another restaurant in Garden Grove. It's much easier to get a seat at the Garden Grove location.
 
Don't forget <a href="http://www.chowhound.com/" target="_blank">http://www.chowhound.com/</a> - the authority in food reviews. Not so much for Irvine, but that's because it pales in comparison to greater Los Angeles (in food choices, that is). Then again, it's user driven so it's all about participation.
 
<p>Taps in Brea</p>

<p>El Matador on Newport Blvd in Costa Mesa is a little hole in the wall place. Awesome hot salsa.</p>

<p>Gulfstream</p>

<p>Turner New Zealand has the best filet you will ever eat in your friggin life. I am not exaggerating. I don't poultry (protein allergy not religious choice) so I am a big red meat fan and Turner's blows everyone away. I am salivating just thinking about it.</p>

<p>Actually in Irvine I eat @ Pho Bac on barranca at least once every other week. I only get one thing, the beef pho. Very good, cheap, always busy.</p>

<p> </p>
 
<p>I agree with El Matador. My bosses take the associates out for lunch there every few weeks. You can test the lard in their chips.</p>

<p>Turners is just okay for me. Something about grass-fed beef that I just do not enjoy. Want to try maestros and flemings.</p>

<p>Roy's is our favorite upscale restaurant right now. Really good seafood.</p>

<p>The Korean places are pretty good in Irvine/Tustin. There is a tofu place in the Culver/Walnut center near Ralphs and L & L's. THere is a pretty good all-you-can-eat Korean BBQ place near red hill. We usually end up going to GG for Vietnamese food. Will agree with Brodard but it is getting expensive there. </p>

<p>Did not like Shabu Shabu at all. . . 60 bucks and came out hungry. Felt cheated. Same with the Sumo place near Culver. $30 a person and got served hard rice and leftover fish.</p>

<p>Just found a pretty good Thai place near the airport (and my work) call Kitma. Small place that is well-decorated. </p>

<p>No good chinese food in Irvine. . . have to go to San Gabriel Valley. Momopi, is little sheep still around in MP? I read somewhere that it closed up. They have one up in the Bay Area and my wife and I loved it.</p>
 
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