Truth matters. Community matters. Your support makes both possible. LAist is one of the few places where news remains independent and free from political and corporate influence. Stand up for truth and for LAist. Make your year-end tax-deductible gift now.
Why The OC Food Scene Deserves Your Attention
A feast of food at Heritage BBQ.
(
Ron de Angelis
/
Courtesy Heritage BBQ
)
Over the past few decades, Orange County’s dining culture has witnessed steady growth and visibility, transitioning from a notoriously chain-driven area of Southern California (hello, Irvine!) to Michelin and James Beard-recognized establishments such as Knife Pleat and Pho 79.
Which is why The Splendid Table, the beloved public radio show about all things food and cooking, is coming to SoCal on Sunday, Feb. 4, for a live LAist event and taping with host Francis Lam at South Coast Repertory in Costa Mesa.
We thought it gives us an opportunity to check in with the region. Here’s what you need to know right now.
-
Explore the differences between traditions, from Sichuan’s spicy mala to Japan’s delicate shabu-shabu and Korea’s hearty jeongol. -
These LA-area restaurants could also receive a Bib Gourmand affordable dining award or even a star at the awards event in August. -
Feeling beachy, even if you're not near the ocean? Maybe a quality fish taco could hit the spot.
Food halls
Food halls like Collage Culinary Experience in Bloomingdale’s South Coast Plaza have taken off in recent years throughout the O.C. with eclectic tenants like Paradise Dynasty hailing from Singapore, home-grown waffle sandwich brand Bruxie, and curated cocktail specialist Blossoms & Brass.
Paradise Dynasty
(
Ron De Angelis
/
Courtesy Paradise Dynasty
)
Sponsored message
San Juan Capistrano: no longer a sleepy mission town
San Juan Capistrano has transformed in recent years from a quiet California mission stopover to a dining destination with lauded eateries such as Bloom Restaurant and Bar, Mayfield, and FKN Bread.
Last year Daniel Castillo of Heritage Barbecue was given a Michelin Bib Gourmand award, official recognition of the town's culinary ascendance.
Daniel Castillo of Heritage BBQ
(
Katrina Frederick
/
Courtesy Heritage BBQ
)
Night market
The 626 Night Market is held at the O.C. Fairgrounds multiple times a year. It's introduced locals to a breadth of San Gabriel Valley and L.A.-centric food stalls, performers, and retail, meaning there's no longer any need to brave the traffic to sample SGV cuisine.
Diverse cuisines
- Reliable luxe lonchera eats have led to taco pop-ups beyond Santa Ana boundaries and into more suburban areas such as Tustin.
- Chef Henry Pineda’s dual concept spot Lola’s (daytime brunch) and Pacitas (dinner only) in Anaheim reminds O.C. that Filipino cuisine is on the verge of blowing up the same way Korean food culture has in recent years.
- BLK Dot Coffee’s strategically placed 10th location in Newport Beach demonstrates the strong demand for Vietnamese coffee in Orange County.
Tastiest palace on earth
Post-pandemic, the wave of change has even made its way to the Happiest Place on Earth. L.A. County powerhouse Porto’s Bakery and internationally recognized Din Tai Fung are in the works to revitalize Downtown Disney, with Paseo from Chicago-based Chef Carlos Gaytán as the upscale Mexican dining option.
Sponsored message
In Disney California Adventure, festivals revolve around seasons, with dishes such as Filipino adobo during the Festival of Holidays in the winter and countless churro creations throughout the year, with regularly updated menus on the theme park’s app.
Hyphenated cuisines
Vietnamese restaurant group Kei Concepts has not only made Vietnamese cuisine more visible, it's also successfully branched out beyond it, embracing the diversity of Orange County. It now oversees Kin Izakaya (Japanese), The Vox Kitchen (Chinese-Peruvian), Ini Ristorante (Italian-Japanese), and the newly opened Kei Supper Club (progressive Asian), among others.
The table is set in Costa Mesa
For the Splendid Table live-taping, host Francis Lam will be joined by a quartet of industry veterans, including:
Kenneth Nguyen, co-founder of East Films and host of The Vietnamese podcast, which highlights Vietnamese experiences and culture worldwide.
Patricia Huang, the former general manager of 626 Night Market.
Sponsored message
Daniel Castillo, Heritage Barbecue’s pitmaster, commands hungry lines in San Juan Capistrano and Oceanside.
Gustavo Arellano, a lifelong O.C. resident, former publisher and editor of OC Weekly, and a Los Angeles Times columnist.
Interesting in attending? Visit the event page for more info.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our connected community. We are free to tell the full truth, to hold power to account without fear or favor, and to follow facts wherever they lead. Our only loyalty is to our audiences and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen our community.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive before year-end will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive before year-end will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
