[ DINING ]
THE RICH MOSAIC OF ORANGE COUNTY RESTAURANTS
OUT AND ABOUT AGAIN EXPLORING THE O . C . DINING SCENE
BY LANA SILLS
Tableau Korean Fried Chicken
It ’ s time ! We ’ re all hungry to explore the diverse culinary scene that Orange County has to offer . Dine out at your favorite treasured eatery , discover a new restaurant and support local . Kudos to the brave new restaurants that opened in 2021 … my list is a mix of favorites and newbies , and I love them all for their scrumptious cuisine , the artisanal drinks , the ambience , the service and the extravaganza that is dining out . To celebrate my distinct pleasure of writing for Bay Window Magazine for six wonderful years , come on a food run with me !
Orange County is made up of cities of vibrant ethnic enclaves . Being adventurous helps ! You can find good eats on Coast Highway , but I
Knife Pleat Vegetable Salad
recommend heading to ANJIN in Costa Mesa for authentic Japanese style BBQ . Scoring a reservation at OMAKASE BY GINO in Santa Ana will reward you with his Sushi craftsmanship and attention to detail with just two seating ’ s a night , jazz music and soft lighting . Visiting EL MATADOR to grab some tongue tacos and SABROSO ! MEXICAN GRILL for the Pork Tamale and their Chili Verde Nachos from the secret menu will ignite your taste buds ... you can thank me later . Because , if you ’ re looking for a cool vibe , modern cuisine , authentic mom-andpop or just spectacular food , it ’ s here in Orange County .
From the culinary geniuses behind Toast
Kitchen and Wahoo ’ s Fish Tacos , Restaurateur Ed Lee and Chef John Park have created a dining experience at South Coast Plaza called TABLEAU KITCHEN + BAR and it will fill you with delicious memories . They serve up a fabulous array of divine dishes . Start the day with Ube ( totally trending and my favorite dessert flavor ); their Ube Blueberry Almond Croissant is a must try flavor of Filipino sweet yam ripe in dark-purple . Don ’ t miss the Mushroom Toast , House-made Everything Spice Bagel and Citrus Cured Lox ; Chef John ’ s Skuna Bay Salmon with Misugaru Gnocchi , Curry Mussels , Shrimp and Grits with a glass of Les Terres Blanches BB Rosé ( or a bottle of Whispering Angel Rosé ) and the Korean Fried Chicken . The pastries , breakfast , brunch , lunch , dinner , cocktails and soon to be added , afternoon tea service , will tempt you any hour of the day . And to give back , they have designated a 12-person “ Giving Table ” with 10 % of the profits slated for local causes as well as reserved for a monthly charity dinner .
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