Yes, Mercado is a hit, but the rest of OC’s extensive food hall scene is also worth your attention

Mercado Gonzalez Northgate Market has been open since November, but it’s still near capacity on weekends. Yes, it does get many things right, including variety, ambience and family-friendly options, but it comes at a price.

The parking lot can be a circus, and the long lines for certain eats means it’s easy to get hangry.

But there is another direction you can take. Orange County is full of other food hall options that have been around much longer than the new kid on the block and also deserve some respect.

Here's a handy guide to the county’s wide-ranging food hall offerings, that are well into the double digits like L.A. county, but in a more concentrated area.

The OC Mix, Costa Mesa

Birdie Juicery

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Courtesy KTPR

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Flanked by massive home design stores, The Mix is found at the heart of SoCo (South Coast Collection) adjacent to the 405. It is the original food hall concept in Orange County that has turned over several tenants since its opening in 2011.

Portola Coffee is the closest thing to a culinary anchor, having been around since the beginning. Shuck Oyster Bar caters to shellfish aficionados while The Cheese Shop provides a perfect dairy fix (stay for a sandwich and capture a solid cheese pull for your socials).

Birdie Bowl and Juicery, Sunright Tea Studio plus We Olive and Wine Bar are liquid nourishment, with the remainder of available dining including Arc Food and Libations, Butcher’s House and Moulin, which are just outside the food hall.

Packing House, Anaheim

Georgia's gumbo at Packing House

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Courtesy Moxxe PR

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A packed food hall that encompasses two floors plus a wrap around patio, Packing House has been up and running since 2014. The crowded space is occupied by The Blind Rabbit speakeasy, Adya Indian cuisine and Georgia’s for Southern fare, among many others. Parking can get tough, but valet is there to assist.

Vacancies are few and far between at this bustling hall, but once they're in, it's a great place for new brands to get the exposure they need to grow.

4th Street Market, Santa Ana

Dishes from Faka's Island Grill.

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Courtest Upside 365

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One of the sitting areas at the 4th Street Market.

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Courtesy Upside 365

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Introduced to the downtown Santa Ana community in 2015, 4th Street Market is a high-traffic food hall which continually evolves, with new vendors cooking up trending menus or testing a concept before eventually moving into a larger venue.

Alta Baja Market offers casual eats, refreshing sips and products to gift or keep. Faka’s Island Grill puts a twist on familiar Hawaiian flavors. Deli Station caters to sandwich fans, salad lovers and diners who cannot decide.

Union Market, Mission Viejo

This hidden selection of retail and dining has been located on the top level of Kaleidoscope (Crown Valley Parkway/5 Freeway) since 2016. Best known for its special event space, live music, and seasonal family activities, Union Market’s offerings are eclectic. Due to its chill location within the plaza, it's a neighborhood favorite.

Popp’s Booch pours gut-friendly fizzy drinks, while Sana’s Pakistani-Indian cuisine is made with love by the family that operates it. Expansive underground parking and spacious food hall bathrooms make this outlier worth a visit. Additional tenants for both Union Market and Kaleidoscope, including La Patrona Mexican and a coffee concept, are in the works.

The crowd at Sana's Pakistani-Indian cuisine.

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Cassie Sulehri

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Some of the Ethiopian fare at Sana's.

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Cindy Avila

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Lot 579, Huntington Beach

Since opening in 2016, Lot 579 has only had a handful of occupants take up real estate at a time. It is fortunate to have variety, though, with a focus on dessert — like Bella Sophia Chocolates, which are delicately crafted in-house by a husband-and-wife team.

Seeking a proper yet low-key meal? Bear Flag Fish Co. is consistently busy with raw and grilled seafood entrees (plus the best ocean views from its patio), while Phans 55 covers Vietnamese cravings, including steaming pho broth and fresh/crispy spring rolls. Do remember to get parking validated, but also take the time to explore the rest of the plaza known as Pacific City for additional options.

Trade Marketplace, Irvine

Trade, the SNA-adjacent food hall, began cooking for the neighborhood in spring 2017, when its al fresco-only dining area was busy every weekday lunch. Over the next seven years, it appears just one brand, the bar Center Hub, has been a permanent fixture. Otherwise nearly every other business has seemed to turnover.

But there are good places to visit currently. Popular (read: enclosed) dining adjacent to Trade include the OG HiroNori Craft Ramen, Krisp Fresh Living for coffee plus snacks and upscale Ootoro Sushi. On a related note, parking at Trade is very limited at lunch. Unless your workplace is walkable from the hall, hail a rideshare.

McFadden Public Market, Santa Ana

Around the same time as Trade, McFadden came onto the scene a few blocks from 4th Street Market. Like Trade, it’s also been a revolving door of eateries, but the upstairs bar known as Mission Control is still buzzing; having an arcade in the watering hole surely helps. Mongiello’s Pizza and Wings plus Tacompadre for Mexican meals rounds out options (if you cannot locate The Twisted Tiki speakeasy downstairs).

Mess Hall Market, Tustin

One of La Sera Pizzeria's offerings at the Mess Hall Market.

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Anne Marie Panoringan

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Mess Hall within the Flight office complex celebrated its official grand opening in 2019. While local favorite The Lost Bean is tucked away, it occupies a generous spot within the food hall’s open layout. Drink Bar’s cocktails (and other beverages) pair well with a slice from La Sera Pizzeria or grilled meats from The Little Greek.

SteelCraft Garden Grove

The exterior of Steelcraft in Garden Grove.

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Courtesy Kitchen Table PR

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SteelCraft expanded into Orange County in 2019, with a Garden Grove outpost that included primarily outdoor seating and a second level of seating for privacy or special events. From burgers by Swagyu to pasta from Aldente, Tea Otter for boba and Dark Horse for coffee, SteelCraft appears to check all the boxes. Live entertainment is a bonus. Pack an extra layer if you visit near sundown.

Herb and Ranch, Irvine

An influencer’s recent social media fullsome praise was a wake up call for foodies who weren’t already aware of Herb and Ranch adjacent to UCI. Created by Chef Brian Malarkey of “Top Chef” fame, and hidden in plain sight at the back of an office complex, the restaurant caters to early breakfast and lunch seekers, and its operating hours (it closes at 3 p.m.) make it ideal for a cup of coffee paired with carbs.

The inside of Herb and Ranch.

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@occomestibles

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Menus are updated with the seasons, but hot sandwiches, creative salads and comforting Hawaiian favorites dominate the selections.

Rodeo 39 Public Market, Stanton

Rodeo 39 shines in the evening.

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Wonho Lee

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Rodeo 39 is the newest market in the county, having opened in 2020. The number 39 represents the street it’s located along, plus what it’s named after, Beach Boulevard, while Rodeo is the name of the chain (there’s another one in Ontario Ranch).

It’s a modern take on shopping mall food courts from decades past. The saving grace of this particular hall (which kept it from being shut down during the pandemic) is its three sizable patios for al fresco dining. Dedicated takeout parking was also added for efficient service.

Coffee Dose may be one of the newer storefronts here, but its humorous take on caffeine, aka “Anti-bitch serum” has inspired a following. Hawaiian-inspired Shootz is the overall favorite, having moved to a larger restaurant pad within Rodeo to accommodate ordering lines crossing into the main walkway. Lines for Phoholic are generally long, but the flavorful broth and properly cooked noodles make it worth the wait.

Collage Culinary Experience, Costa Mesa

A two-story food hall within Bloomingdale’s, Collage is primarily Asian-inspired, with Paradise Dynasty (a direct competitor of Din Tai Fung) and Le Shrimp being popular enough to have lines outside. A third location of Phoholic opened downstairs not too long ago. The fanciest spot inside Collage is Blossoms and Brass with a full bar, abbreviated menu and attention to detail. Younger palettes will go for Bruxie and Cha Redefine Tea.