Despite being overshadowed by its urban neighbors Los Angeles and San Diego, Orange County restaurants have played a role in the region’s recent culinary rise.
As a result of its pristine coastline and varied local and tourist populations, its once-clean-cut reputation has evolved into one that is more eclectic.
In 2023, there will already be a number of interesting new restaurants that will give the area a unique feel. Orange County has evolved into a premier dining destination, with everything from outstanding new breweries to inventive cocktail bars, killer BBQ to outstanding mariscos. These are Orange County’s top new eateries.
JOEY, Newport Beach
JOEY Newport Beach may be the restaurant that has generated the most hype so far in 2023. The swanky restaurant at Fashion Island is the latest addition to the Canadian restaurant chain’s growing number of US locations. It joins locations in Los Angeles, Seattle, and Houston. Upon arrival, guests are greeted with a glass of champagne and given the option of taking a seat in the elegant dining room or on the wide patio. The area is both stylish and laid-back, with design features like cozy fire pits and a profusion of massive works of art created by local artists. The menu is likewise diverse, with items like chicken, parmesan and sushi. JOEY stays open late, serving food until midnight from Sunday through Thursday and until one in the morning on the weekends, unlike many other restaurants in Orange County.
Beachwood Pizza & Bar, Huntington Beach
Local craft beer enthusiasts already understand how exceptional it is when a brewery ups its culinary game. With a brand-new pizza and beer restaurant in Huntington Beach, award-winning Southern California craft brewery Beachwood Brewing is going even further and giving consumers even more of their company to adore. Just inland from Bolsa Chica State Beach, you may enjoy your hazy beer with a fantastic meatball sando, a 16-inch sourdough pie, or appetizers like fried pickles and smoked wings.
Postino Wine Café, Irvine
Postino is ideal if you want to share filling dishes. Being the chain’s first entry into California, the new eatery at Irvine Place will join others in Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, and Texas. Massive and diverse, the bruschetta boards have traditional flavors like brie, apple, and fig spread, sweet and sour pepper jam and goat cheese, mushroom and mascarpone. The finest seats might be near the bar, where you can quickly learn about Postino’s extensive wine list from the bartenders. Colorful chandeliers, low, curving velvet sofas, and an abundance of burnt orange are all part of the eccentric 1970s design.
Laguna Fish Co., Laguna Beach
Ivan Spiers, who is best known for his restaurants Mozambique and Skyloft, has opened his newest place in Laguna Beach, a cool beach town. With glossy concrete floors, slatted wood ceilings, and walls, Spiers and his crew transformed the previous Tommy Bahama Restaurant space into this new fast-casual seafood restaurant. The result is reminiscent of an old-school fish house that has been updated. Take a seat at the bar and order some seafood nachos, Spanish octopus ceviche, a dozen oysters, or even a seared tuna sandwich. You shouldn’t pass up the house-made Sangria that the carafe is serving to wash it all down.
The Golden Finch, Irvine
On the Irvine Concourse, The Goldfinch is the place to go for business lunches and romantic feasts. The restaurant is a blend of food, design, and energy and is situated at Eighteen Main, a 17,000-square-foot space on the old site of McCormick & Schmick’s. Unreasonably high ceilings provide a contemporary, sterile atmosphere, yet gold fixtures and velvet booths add warmth. Despite the sophisticated atmosphere, the bar takes center stage and keeps everything informal. There are lots of classics on the constantly evolving seasonal menu, like an Iceberg Wedge, a Maple-Glazed Double Pork Chop, and Lobster Mac and Cheese, as well as inventive dishes like a Shrimp Pho Burger.
Bloom Restaurant & Bar, San Juan Capistrano
The Mission San Juan Capistrano is directly across from San Juan Capistrano Bloom Restaurant & Bar, which is also close to the railway station. Although the gorgeous 2,400 square foot room is designed to sustain significant foot traffic from all of those people, food, drink, and style have not been compromised. The restaurant is housed in a brick building from the 1930s, and the contemporary idea beautifully updates the antique setting. A sliding glass exhibition kitchen, vaulted ceilings, and a 10-seat bar with ominous lighting are all present. Diners can see the activity in the center of San Juan Capistrano through the large arched windows, which let in a lot of natural light. With dishes like Crispy Pork Belly with Pumpkin Ricotta Gnocchi, Country-Fried Prime Hanger Steak, and a Wagyu Beef Burger, the menu leans towards comfort food.
The Beach House, Seal Beach
This restaurant is exactly what it says it is: a welcoming, buzzing new place right on the sand. It’s difficult to fathom passing by without stopping for a taste of contemporary California comfort food when window-browsing. The entire establishment feels like the ideal spot for chowing down on oysters on the half shell and sipping a Bloody Mary for Sunday brunch, from the roomy terrace to the warm interior. The ideal time to go, though, could be just before sunset, when you can have cauliflower ceviche, fish and chips, and grilled jumbo shrimp while watching the sun set below the ocean.
Kai Lounge, Huntington Beach
There are plenty of restaurants at Huntington Beach Pacific City Mall, but the indoor/outdoor shopping complex has seen its share of staff changes. On the second floor of the shopping center, the newest dining concept from the Wild Thyme Restaurant Group—known for the regional smash Shorebird—has settled in with popular constants like Tanner’s and Bluegold. It could be difficult to decide what to get from the interesting Japanese-inspired menu because there are so many options. Do you have a platter of vibrant sushi and sashimi on your table? Or do you fill up on wok meals like the Black Angus Shaking Beef and robata skewers? Or, even better, can you put together a team to manage everything? Cocktails are becoming more creative and colourful, like the Green Tea Old Fashioned. Book a table in the Whisky Room for a private 18-course omakase experience if you’re feeling very fancy.
