The 10 Best Restaurants In Orange County, California

Jenni Chattaway

Orange County, a county in the U.S state of California is one of the most populated counties in the United States. For this reason there is so much wonderful art, culture and restaurants in Orange County to be appreciated. We curated a list of the County’s top 10 restaurants you should try.

Tabu Grill

Located in Laguna Beach, Tabu Grill is a open kitchen where guests can watch the chefs creating some of their delicacies. Their menu includes plenty of meat and seafood dishes such as prime ribeye, mero seabass marinated in miso sauce and served with asparagus, as well as seared New England scallops with potato puree and a tangerine beurre blanc. The Tabu Grill is based in a beautiful setting with a ring of exotic plants surrounding the front patio entrance. The restaurant also boasts of seagrass chairs, stonewalls, and dozens of candles making the Tabu Grill feel like an oceanic oasis to indulge yourself in.
Tabu Grill, 2892 South Coast Highway, Laguna Beach, Orange County, CA, USA +1 94 9494 7743

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CentralAmerica

GORGEOUS GUATEMALA

Gorgeous Guatemala

5 days . Mini
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1. Guatemala

An express adventure for those with limited time off. Prepare yourself incredible experiences. You will hike a volcano, visit mayan temples and witness a ceremony and take in beautiful colonial Antigua.

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CentralAmerica

BEACHY BELIZE

Beachy Belize

5 days . Mini
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2. Belize

A quick trip not too far away for those seeking a relaxing mini break. You will have plenty of free time to relax but also some awesome activities to experience the rainforest and the caribbean sea.
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CentralAmerica

COLONIAL MEXICO

Colonial Mexico

5 days . Mini
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3. Mexico

An exciting mini trip exploring the lesser known colonial towns of central Mexico. This is hte perfect trip for someone with limited time off and still wants to turn on explorer mode and do something different.
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SouthAmerica

ADVENTUROUS ECUADOR

Adventurous Ecuador

8 days . Epic
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1. Ecuador

A remarkable 8 days adventure through the Andes and the Amazon rainforest. The best choice for adventure seekers wishing to visit the 2 most iconic areas of South America, in only 1 week and no flights.

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SouthAmerica

ANCIENT PERU

Ancient Peru

9 days . Epic
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2. Peru

An alternative itinerary to classic Peru, from Cusco to Arequipa. This itinerary is great combination of highlights Cusco and Machu Picchu with the lesser known Arequipa and Colca Canyon.
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Europe

SEDUCTIVE SOUTHERN ITALY

Seductive Southern Italy

10 days . Epic
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1. Italy

The ultimate Italian experience from the vibrant streets of Naples to the breathtaking sceneries of the Amalfi Coast followed by Matera and down to Puglia with its golden beaches, intense flavours and fascinating destinations.

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Europe

EDINBURGH AND THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS BY TRAIN

Edinburgh And The Scottish Highlands By Train

7 days . Culture
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2. Scotland

Embark on this great adventure starting from London all the way to Scotland with a true Scottish experience made of breathtaking sceneries, whisky tasting and ..lots of fun! Ideal for train lovers and explorers.
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Europe

COMPLETE PORTUGAL BY TRAIN

Complete Portugal By Train

8 days . Culture
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3. Portugal

A wonderful train journey around Portugal, from the romantic city of Porto to the Douro Valley, to the beautiful Aveiro all the way to Lisbon and Sintra. The perfect trip to train, culinary and culture lovers.
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Asia

SOULFUL SOUTH KOREA

Soulful South Korea

10 days . Epic
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1. South Korea

Discover incredible temples, mountains and modern cities on this 10 day adventure. This trip is perfect for those seeking immersion in the cuisine, culture and natural wonders of South Korea.

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Asia

THAILAND, CAMBODIA & VIETNAM

Thailand, Cambodia & Vietnam

11 days . Epic
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2. Thailand

From Bankgok to Angkor Wat to Ho Chi Minh City and everything in between - adventure through the heart of South-East Asia. Taste the delights, see history brought to life and unwind on a Mekong River cruise.
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Asia

SECRETS OF SRI LANKA BY TRAIN

Secrets Of Sri Lanka By Train

10 days . Culture
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3. Sri Lanka

A fantastic adventure that showcases Sri Lanka's fantastic landscapes, wildlife and flavours. With 3 epic rail journeys, 3 UNESCO heritage sites and time to relax, this trip has loads to offer at a great price
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Africa

EPIC MOROCCO

Epic Morocco

11 days . Epic
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1. Morocco

An epic journey across Morocco: from Casablanca to Marrakech, through the blue city of Chefchaouen to the wonders of the desert and deep to the High Atlas Mountains - this trip has it all! Ideal for true explorers!

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Africa

ULTIMATE EGYPT

Ultimate Egypt

9 days . Epic
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2. Egypt

From Cairo to Aswan, this trip brings the land of the pharaohs to life. You'll visit the Pyramids, Valley of the Kings and Luxor Temple and cruise down the Nile in style. This is the perfect way to explore Egypt.
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Africa

IMMERSIVE KENYA

Immersive Kenya

8 days . Epic
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3. Kenya

An immersive blend of culture and wildlife for first time travelers to Africa. Learn about Nairobi, sample local coffee in the Aberdares and finish up with a fantastic safari stay in the Masai Mara.
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Baci Di Firenze Trattoria

Orange County’s fabulous fine Italian dining restaurant Baci Di Firenze Trattoria is located near the beautiful setting of the Anaheim Hills and Santa Ana river. Vittorio, chef and owner, brings traditional dishes from Northern, Central and Southern Italy straight to Orange County. His menu includes dishes such as rigatoni amatriciana (tube pasta with onion, mariana sauce and pecorino cheese) or thin sliced veal in a masala sauce mushrooms. Baci also has an extensive wine list full of Tuscan and Sicilian wines.
Baci Di Firenze Trattoria, 416 Lakeview Avenue, Anaheim, Orange County, CA, USA +1 71 4282 2220

Watermarc Restaurant

Restaurant, American, Seafood, Healthy

Courtesy of Sealegs
Watermarc Restaurant is a perfect destination if you are looking for a restaurant with views. Located on Pacific Coast Highway, the restaurant has its own patio that opens directly onto Peppertree Lane. Executive chef Marc Cohen is renowned in Orange County for his exceptional cuisine. The restaurant also has a wine list stating over 239 different ways to enjoy wine with food. This can be enjoyed with one of their famous cocktails. The restaurant is open for both lunch and dinner and has been known to be a favorite with a few local celebrities.

Sealegs

Sealegs, California’s top wine bar and restaurant has won awards such as Best Californian cuisine by Goodie Foodie Awards as well as labeled one of the top 10 restaurants in the O.C by Gayot. Sealegs, located by the beautiful Huntington Beach offers a Hamptons kind of ambiance serving hand picked cheese and wine pairings, as well as tapas and a mixture of Californian and New England dinners. The Sealegs Wine bar houses over 2000 unique bottles as well as an extensive beer collection. World-renowned designer, Kenneth Ussenko, turned Sealegs into a cozy, fireplace lit restaurant with vintage photos and handicraft pieces.
Sealegs, 105, Beach Blvd, Huntington Beach, Orange County, CA, USA +1 71 4536 5700

The Original Fish Company

Open since 1981 by the Rothman family, the Original Fish Company has been a valued part of Orange County’s community, winning numerous awards across the years. Vanessa Rothman Travis who has overseen the restaurant for the past 15 years, makes sure the Original Fish Company serve only the finest quality seafood, flown in daily from all over the world. The fish is cooked in view of the whole restaurant on a mesquite broiler, so the guests can have their say on how they like their fish to be prepared. The Original Fish Company take special pride in their oysters, which they serve daily or at their in-house fish market.
The Original Fish Company, Los Alamitos Blvd, Orange County, CA, USA +1 562-594-4553

The Studio at Montage Hotel

The Montage Hotel in California has a hidden gem in The Studio restaurant. The cuisine of Studio is typically modern French but with Californian influences. The restaurant serves food selected from their region’s fertile valleys, ranches, orchards, farms and ocean waters. All ingredients are hand-selected to meet with the Studio’s high standards. Just outside of the Studio is a beautiful garden where they grow seasonal delights such as fruit trees, berry bushes and own raised planter beds to provide homegrown produce such as pole beans, potatoes and seascape strawberries, as well as herbs such as lavender and chamomile. Studio focuses on the organic and the exceptional.
Studio at the Montage Hotel, South Coast Highway, Laguna Beach, Orange County, CA, USA +1 94 9715 6420

Courtesy of Duke’s Huntington Beach

Duke’s Huntington Beach

Winner of a number of awards, Duke’s Huntington Beach provides a Hawaiian seafood menu with surfside views. Serving a range of exceptional cuisine from a Tahitan shrimp cocktail served with grilled papaya, coconut milk, avocado, tomato, and shaved peppers, to sesame hibachi grilled and glazed with hoisin BBQ sauce over udon noodles. Duke’s is named after Duke Paoa Kahanamoku, the ‘father of international surfing’ who was born in 1890 in Honolulu in Hawaii and went on to represent the United States in the Olympics for 20 years, winning his first gold medal at the age of 21.
Duke’s Huntington Beach, 317 Pacific Coast Highway, Huntington Beach, Orange County, CA, USA +1 71 4374 6446

Agora Churrascaria

Agora Churrascaria takes it influences directly from Southern Brazil. The kitchens at Agora focus on an ancient way of cooking where large portions of beef, pork, lamb and poultry are spit-roasted over coal on an open fire. This technique manages to preserve the meat’s natural juices and flavours. Agora Churrascaria offers a set menu that includes filet wrapped bacon, sirloin steak, lamb chops, pork loin, sausages and chicken served with Brazilian cheese bread, black bean stew, fried bananas as well as an extensive salad bar.
Agora Churrascaria, 1830 Main Street, Irvine, Orange County, CA, USA +1 94 9222 9910

Oceanfront Restaurant

Restaurant, Seafood, American

Known as the most romantic restaurant in Orange County, 21 Oceanfront Restaurant is the perfect location to watch the sunset. The Restaurant is based on an old-fashioned dining club located in the historical McFadden building. 21 Oceanfront serves a classic continental selection of fresh fish, seafood and prime meats. The restaurant also has is own extensive private wine cellar. The team at 21 Oceanfront offer live entertainment evenings, happy hour, wine dinners, lobster special evenings as well as a nearby Hotel Dorymons for when those evenings get later than planned.

Bayside Restaurant

Located just off Newport Beach, Bayside Restaurant looks over the harbour. Award winning Chef Paul Gstrein creates some fabulous lunch and dinner options as well as his popular Champagne Sunday Brunch. The Restaurant is designed so that guests can enjoy their meals outside on a patio that has built in heaters and sun protectors. A particular bonus of the Bayside Restaurant is that it houses its own art exhibit with work that is available to purchase, as well as hosting many jazz evenings.
Bayside Restaurant, 900, Bayside Drive, Newport Beach, Orange County, CA, USA +1 94 9721 1222

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