Tired of the same old same old? Need some new restaurants and creative culinary spots to check out? We suggest starting with these new restaurants, cafes eateries that have come to the Orange County area this fall.
These places have just popped up in the last month or so and they’re definitely worth a visit to wake up your taste buds and shake up your routine. From burgers to breakfast to custom donuts, these places are hot and new in our neck of the woods.
Poqet Donuts
17655 Harvard Ave
Ste B
Irvine, CA 92614
poqetdonuts.com
Whether you’re a raised glazed afficianado or devil’s food donutista, Poqet Donuts is your new donut home away from home. You can go sample their obsessively designed signature donuts or build your own creation at thee donut bar and you’ll quickly see why they’re fast becoming a local favorite. Their amazingly creative menu of custom donuts includes Tiramisu, Pistachio Crème Brulee, Green tea and Campfire.
Tustin Grille
405 El Camino Real
Tustin, CA 92780
tustingrille.com
Located in the heart of historic Old Town Tustin, Tustin Grille is the brainchild of veteran restaurateur Jim Osborn and Culinary Olympic Gold Medal winning Chef Dudley McMahon. Their concept is a made from scratch menu with a modern approach of farm to table. Their custom cocktails made from fresh squeezed juices and house infused liquors set them apart and their selection of steaks is impeccable. They have a brunch, lunch and dinner menu and according to the Yelp reviews, they’re all worth trying!
Raising Cane’s
3150 Harbor Blvd
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
raisingcanes.com
Are chicken fingers your guilty pleasure you never wanna give up? Then you’ve got to try the Southern staple Raising Cane’s that has finally come to Southern California. Texas toast, slaw, and always fresh never frozen chicken finger meals are the standard delicious fare at this quality fast food joint. Raising Cane’s is taking chicken back to the basics and it’s pretty darn good.
Mai’s Kitchen
9039 Bolsa Ave
Ste 101
Westminster, CA 92683
yelp.com/biz/mais-kitchen
This place is cash only so hit the ATM and head on over. This Westminster Vietnamese restaurant has a cute and cozy environment plus good service and food. They serve family style combos which makes it a great place for groups plus the restaurant is definitely kid friendly. The food comes out fast and they’re quickly becoming a great affordable place to get some quality grub. According to the reviews the Banh Beo is a must order!
Hopdoddy Burger Bar
401 Newport Center Dr
Newport Beach, CA 92660
hopdoddy.com
Their slogan is “Tastefully Overthought Carefeullty Crafted Burgers and Beer” and boy are they right. They’ve got a rotating selection of craft brews and the buns are made from scratch and baked fresh all day everyday to create some seriously special meals. The restaurant was named one of Rachel Ray’s best burgers in America and the menu has something for everyone with a selection of crazy concoctions from the K-town Belly Burger with pork belly and Korean rice crispies and the Ahi Tuna Burger including pickled ginger and honey wasabi.
Tice House Café
6591 Beach Blvd
Buena Park, CA 90621
ticehousecafe.com
A creative chef, ample patio space and a friendly neighborhood atmosphere make Tice House Café a fun place to grab breakfast or lunch. The portions are generous, the fare is classic American with a few tasty twists and the restaurant is literally a house turned café which gives it a welcoming vibes and a unique look. We would definitely describe this one as a hidden gem! Did we mention they have mac and cheese balls?
Now let’s venture just outside of Orange County to Long Beach for a couple more brand new finds to satisfy your next foodie fix…
El Pocho Grill
610 E Carson Ave
Long Beach, CA 90807
elpochogrill.com
Fast, fresh, authentic Mexican food. Think, mom-and-pop version of Chipotle. Yelp favorites include the Vampiro and chicken flautas. Owners Armando and Sharole keep the food authentic and the service friendly. If you find yourself in the Bixby Knolls neighborhood, this place is definitely worth a stop. Warning, these guys are closed on Mondays!
Recreational Coffee
237 Long Beach Blvd
Ste A
Long Beach, CA 90802
recreationalcoffee.com
Recreational Coffee is Downtown Long Beach’s long awaited specialty coffee shop aiming to create an amazing coffee shop experience for each and every customer. Currently Recreational Coffee is serving up brews from local lesser-known places like Portola Coffee Lab in Costa Mesa and Case Coffee Roasters in Oregon. Their simple and modern design along with a great selection of sweet and savory pastries sets them apart as something new you’ve got to try. They even have vegan mini donuts!
What’s your latest local obsession? Leave a comment and share the good eats near you.
