The Top 10 Restaurants In Corona, California
![Corona, California](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/20x11/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/CoronaCE.webp)
Modern Mexican food, contemporary American cuisine and gourmet hot dogs are on the menu in Corona — Southern California’s ‘Crown City.’ Here’s our guide to 10 of the city’s best local venues, from lively bar-restaurants to upscale-casual joints.
![Corona, California](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Corona.webp)
1. Luna Modern Mexican Kitchen
Restaurant, Mexican, Vegetarian
Luna Modern Mexican Kitchen specializes in creative and contemporary Mexican fare. Luna’s authentic guacamole prepared tableside is a must while other dishes like tequila-flamed prawns with roasted garlic cream sauce, rice and grilled chayote squash or pibil pork tacos with cabbage kimchi and smoked chile salsa are highly recommended. Authentic desserts include the likes of crispy sweet banana envueltos topped with espresso-piloncillo chocolate sauce, and the restaurant’s huge range of tequilas means plenty of inventive signature margaritas.
2. Live from Memphis
Bar, Restaurant, American, Pub Grub, Contemporary
Part piano bar, part restaurant and part music venue, Live from Memphis is the brainchild of Neil Morrow — a musician who has played with the likes of The Beach Boys and Jerry Lee Lewis. Inside, both its name and its owner’s love of music ring true with a retro rock ‘n’ roll feel and memorabilia that pays homage to music stars like Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley. Casual American dishes make up the menu: try a themed option like The Memphis Kings sandwich (creamy peanut butter, banana, honey and thick-cut bacon on Texas toast).
3. Twisted Gourmet
Restaurant, Italian, Fast Food
Casual Italian staples with an inspired, modern twist is the focus at Twisted Gourmet — a trendy, laid-back venue tucked away in Corona’s Hidden Valley Plaza. Plenty of salads, pasta dishes, stromboli and sandwiches feature on Twisted Gourmet’s menu but for a real taste of what the restaurant is all about, go for one of its pizza pies. With flavors like Love Potion Pie (topped with a secret recipe white sauce, smoked chicken breast, aged gorgonzola, dried cranberry and diced tomato) and Eye of the Tiger (with tiger shrimp, tomato, cilantro, blended cheeses and jalapeño cream sauce), there’s a pizza to suit everyone.
4. Citrus City Grille
Restaurant, American
Since first opening its doors seven years ago, Citrus City Grille has gained quite the reputation for its seasonally inspired menu and elegant, welcoming space. Contemporary American cuisine with a distinctive Mediterranean influence dominates the restaurant’s menu with plenty of small plates — think stuffed dates, crab cakes with charred corn and red bell pepper sauce or sirloin ground beef sliders. Standout entrees include the Chilean bass with asparagus risotto and lemongrass beurre blanc sauce; and pork loin chop with roasted potatoes, caramelized onions and balsamic fig sauce.
5. The Hot Dog Shoppe
Restaurant, American, Fast Food, BBQ
![Eduardo’s chile en nogada](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/2036154.webp)
The Hot Dog Shoppe has a gourmet slant with top quality specialty sausages, a smorgasbord of toppings and sauces, and some of the most inventive recipes in Southern California. Opt for dogs like the Louisiana Slip N’ Swine (a bacon-wrapped Cajun sausage topped with mustard, BBQ sauce, peppers, onions and cheddar) or the Boston Dog (a steamed all-beef hot dog with mustard, Swiss cheese and baked beans), or if you’re feeling really hungry, take up the Homewrecker Big Dog Challenge. Guests have 30 minutes to eat three Angus beef hot dogs topped with a ton of chili cheese, peppers and habanero salsa. Anyone who completes the challenge can design their very own dog for inclusion on The Hot Dog Shoppe menu.
6. Eduardo’s Mexican Restaurant
Restaurant, Mexican
![Mantra Indian Cuisine’s interior](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/2036153.webp)
Eduardo’s Mexican Restaurant is something of a local dining institution, and diners have been flocking to the popular eatery for their fix of authentic Mexican fare since it first opened over 20 years ago. Enjoy appetizers like guacamole or Mexican shrimp cocktail before moving on to entrees like carne asada or Baja tacos with beer-battered fish, cabbage and pico de gallo. Get a taste of southwest Mexico with Eduardo’s Michoacán take on chiles rellenos — roasted poblano peppers stuffed with Cotija and jack cheese and fried in egg batter. Remember to save room for a delicious Mexican dessert of bionico.