The Top 100 Places to Eat Near Bourbon Steak
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Rank 1. Bourbon Steak
Steakhouse
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Rank 2. Raya
Pan-Latin
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Rank 3. Kahani
Modern Indian
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Rank 4. Truly Pizza
Californian
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Rank 5. Heritage Barbecue
Texas Barbecue
Barbecue is basically a religion, and Heritage is the kind of church worth making a pilgrimage for. This Michelin Bib Gourmand BBQ spot in San Juan Capistrano does central Texas proud, running on California white oak smoke and pure conviction. Show up early, because the faithful line up before the doors open and the best cuts go fast. The crowd is focused and meat-serious, trays loaded, no small talk until after the brisket.
- James Beard Awards 2025 · Nominee · Best Chef: California · Daniel Castillo
- Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand
- Los Angeles Times 2025 · The 101 Best Restaurants in California
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A Michelin-starred omakase hiding in a strip mall is either a prank or a promise, and this one delivers. The counter seats a small room of people who planned ahead, dressed just right, and are now very glad they did. The chef splits his attention between reverential nigiri and kitchen plates with a little more swagger to them. Service is the kind that refills things without being asked and never interrupts a sentence.
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Rank 7. Selanne Steak Tavern
Steakhouse
Laguna Beach's go-to steakhouse sits in a converted house right on PCH, which already puts it ahead of every cookie-cutter chophouse in a strip mall. The meat is properly marbled and cooked with care, the kind of place where the regulars at the bar look like they never left. Grab a seat on the Sunset Terrace if you can, order the mashed potatoes without overthinking it, and do not skip the monkey bread. You'll be annoyed you only ordered one.
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Rank 8. Shootz
Hawaiian
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Rank 9. Mayfield
Modern Mediterranean
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Rank 10. Oliver's Osteria
Italian
A proper Italian osteria in the heart of Laguna Beach, which sounds like a setup for a punchline but somehow works perfectly. The room is warm and unhurried, with banquettes and art on the walls and a bar that actually welcomes solo diners instead of making them feel like they forgot to bring someone. The pasta is the real reason to show up, and the kitchen makes everything from scratch.
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Rank 11. Marché Moderne
Modern French
Newport Beach has no shortage of places to drop serious money on middling food, which makes Marché Moderne a genuine relief. It's a proper French fine dining restaurant where the kitchen actually knows what it's doing, turning out classic dishes that feel alive rather than museum-worthy. The room is elegant without being stiff, and the crowd tends toward well-dressed locals who clearly come back often. The charcuterie alone sets the tone nicely.
- AAA Four Diamonds
- Michelin Guide Selected Restaurant
- Eater The 38 Essential Orange County Restaurants
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Rank 12. Knife Pleat
Contemporary French
A Michelin-starred French restaurant tucked inside a mall sounds like a punchline, but Knife Pleat absolutely pulls it off. The open kitchen and chef's counter give it real energy, and the prix fixe menu hits the kind of polished, personal notes that explain why the fashion crowd from the stores downstairs keeps coming back upstairs. Dress like you mean it and clear your afternoon.
- AAA Four Diamonds
- Michelin Guide 1 Star
- Los Angeles Times 2025 · The 101 Best Restaurants in California
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Rank 14. Fable & Spirit
Modern New American
A waterfront spot on Via Lido that earns its Bib Gourmand by being genuinely good, not just pretty, which, given the view, it easily could have gotten away with. The crowd is Newport casual, sun-kissed and happy, the kind of people who order another round without checking the time. The menu leans elevated pub grub with enough ambition to keep things interesting. Save room for dessert, which actually delivers.
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Rank 15. CHAAK Kitchen
Yucatán Mexican
Yucatán cooking doesn't get nearly enough love in SoCal, and CHAAK is making a case for why that needs to change. It's a modern Mexican spot in Tustin where the food leans into smoke, spice, and regional depth, the kind of place that earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand without making you feel like you're being educated. Start with a mezcal cocktail and let the cochinita pibil do the rest. The crowd tends to be curious, relaxed, and very glad they drove out here.
- Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand
- Los Angeles Times 2025 · The 101 Best Restaurants in California
- Eater The 38 Essential Orange County Restaurants
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Rank 16. Sushi Ii
Sushi
A sleek omakase counter in Newport Beach where the chef takes the kaiseki approach seriously, building the meal around whatever the season actually has to offer, with fish flown in from Japan alongside good local finds. The room is polished without being stiff, and the crowd dresses the part. It's the kind of place where each course feels considered rather than just plated, which is exactly what you're paying for.
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Rank 17. Hana re
Sushi
Finding this omakase counter requires walking through a Costa Mesa strip mall, which is either a fun secret or mildly disorienting depending on your mood. Once you're inside, though, the ten-seat counter feels genuinely removed from the world. The chef moves through a long, unhurried omakase that builds slowly toward nigiri, with serious seafood at every step. The sake list gives you something to think about between courses.
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Rank 18. Vaca
Rustic Spanish
Rustic Spanish tapas bar in Costa Mesa with a sherry list long enough to make you feel like you actually know what you're ordering. The banquettes have jokes printed on them, which tells you this place doesn't take itself too seriously, even though the food absolutely earns its place. Grab a spot at the bar or out on the patio, order a round of tapas, and let the paella situation sort itself out from there.
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- Eater The 38 Essential Orange County Restaurants
- Los Angeles Times 2025 · #91 · The 101 best restaurants in Los Angeles
- LAist 2024 · Smashburger · Best Bites
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Rank 20. Nep Cafe
Modern Vietnamese
- Eater The 38 Essential Orange County Restaurants
- James Beard Awards 2026 · Semifinalist · Best Chef: California · Viet Nguyen
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Rank 21. Omakase by Gino
Sushi
A proper omakase tucked into a quiet stretch of downtown Santa Ana that you'd probably drive past without a second glance. Inside, exposed brick and distressed wood give it a tavern vibe with Japanese details scattered throughout, and the chef runs the counter with genuine warmth rather than the usual austere theater. The cooking is inventive and playful, the kind of thing that makes you lean forward on your stool. Counter seats fill up fast, so book ahead.
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Rank 22. Lola Gaspar
Mexican
A Bib Gourmand gastropub tucked into downtown Santa Ana where the menu is short on purpose and better for it. The chef took a reset and a trip through Mexico seriously, and the tacos and quekas that came out the other side show it. Handmade tortillas, hand-pressed masa, housemade salsas, the works. Happy hour makes it easy to try everything, which you probably should, because the menu is small enough that you actually can.
- Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand
- Los Angeles Times 2024 · Citrus marinated chicken taco · The 101 Best Tacos in Los Angeles
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Rank 23. Bello by Sandro Nardone
Italian
Upscale Italian fine dining tucked into a Newport Beach strip mall, which sounds like a punchline until you walk in and the low lighting and big art make you feel like you're somewhere in Rome. The open kitchen means the wood fire gets most of the attention, and it earns it. The crowd leans date-night and special-occasion, dressed just enough to feel like the meal matters. The pasta and pizza are both genuinely worth the trip.
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Rank 24. Brodard Vietnamese Cuisine
Traditional Vietnamese
- Los Angeles Times 2025 · The 101 Best Restaurants in California
- Eater The 38 Essential Orange County Restaurants
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Rank 25. PhởHolic
Noodles
A pho shop so well-regarded it spawned two more locations, which tells you everything. This Westminster original draws grandparents and Gen Z in equal measure, all chasing the same deeply fragrant beef broth. The bowls are big, the prices are gentle, and the kitchen clearly cares about what goes in. Newcomers and adventurous eaters each get their own menu, so nobody feels lost. Come hungry, leave extremely full.
- Michelin Guide Selected Restaurant
- Los Angeles Times 2025 · The 101 Best Restaurants in California
- Eater The 38 Essential Orange County Restaurants
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Rank 26. Farmhouse at Roger's Gardens
Californian New American
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Rank 28. A&J Restaurant
Dim Sum Chinese
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Rank 30. A Restaurant
New American
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Rank 31. Hook & Anchor
Seafood
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Rank 32. The Winery Restaurant & Wine Bar
Californian New American Wine Bar
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Rank 33. Nardo
Southern Italian
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Rank 34. LSXO
Vietnamese
Tucked inside Bluegold with Pacific views out the window, LSXO is the cooler, louder sibling that actually has a personality. It's a refined Vietnamese restaurant with a speakeasy vibe, and the food is good enough that you'd go even without the ocean backdrop. The crowd is mostly people who did their homework, dressed just right for somewhere between a date and a flex. Getting a table takes planning, so plan.
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Rank 35. Populaire Modern Bistro
Modern French
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Rank 37. Terrace by Mix Mix
French/Italian/Filipino
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Rank 38. Phở 79
Noodles
This old-school pho shop in Garden Grove has been an institution for years, and it earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand without changing a thing about itself. The interior is spartan and the yellow walls are covered in accolades, which tells you everything. Put your name on the clipboard, wait your turn, and order the oxtail pho. The crowd is regulars who already know what they want before they sit down, which is the right energy.
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Rank 39. Alta Baja Market
Mexican
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Rank 40. Tacos Manuel
Mexican
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Rank 41. Gabbi's Mexican Kitchen
Regional Mexican
Tucked among antique shops in Old Orange, this regional Mexican spot takes its food seriously enough to politely refuse substitutions, which should tell you everything. The menu leans into lesser-known dishes from across Mexico, done with real technique and no apology. Backlit tequila shelves keep things warm and loose, and the crowd looks like locals who've already memorized the menu and ordered the tacos anyway.
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Rank 42. The Ranch
Steakhouse
This Anaheim steakhouse leans hard into the ranch aesthetic, which sounds corny until you're eating prime rib so tender it barely needs a knife, with scalloped potatoes bubbling away in a cast-iron skillet beside it. The menu is meat-forward but grounded by produce from their own farm, which keeps things feeling legit rather than themed. The crowd runs business casual with a side of belt buckle appreciation.
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Rank 43. Valle
Modern Mexican
A Michelin-starred tasting menu inside a hotel overlooking the Oceanside Pier sounds like a setup for tourist-trap disappointment, but Valle is the real thing. The chef's vision of modern Mexican is genuinely inventive without feeling like a culinary thesis, and the Baja wine list gives you something interesting to drink while couples in their nicest casual outfits pretend they dine like this every weekend.
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Rank 45. Haven Craft Kitchen + Bar
Californian New American
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Rank 46. Nok's Kitchen
Lao Thai
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- The Pinnacle Guide 2026 · 2 Pins
- James Beard Awards 2024 · Nominee · Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program
- James Beard Awards 2025 · Nominee · Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program
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Don't let the strip mall fool you. This tiny omakase and izakaya spot in Garden Grove is the kind of place where the menu is handwritten fresh each night and the hospitality actually means something. You can do the full omakase or just order around, and either way the fish is treated with real care. The crowd tends to be in-the-know locals who've quietly adopted it as their place. Bring someone you want to impress without making it weird.
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Rank 50. Poppy & Seed
Modern Southern
Fine dining inside a greenhouse, surrounded by citrus trees and herbs, with the kind of farm-to-table commitment that doesn't need to announce itself on a chalkboard. Poppy & Seed is tucked into the Anaheim Packing District and does modern Southern cooking with a serious SoCal glow-up. Sunset on the patio draws the linen-casual crowd who want a nice bottle and food that actually tastes like something grew it.
- Michelin Guide Selected Restaurant
- James Beard Awards 2023 · Semifinalist · Best Chef: California · Michael Reed
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Rank 51. Yigah
Authentic Korean
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Rank 52. Albaraka Restaurant
Palestinian Middle Eastern
- Los Angeles Times 2025 · The 101 Best Restaurants in California
- Eater The 38 Essential Orange County Restaurants
- Los Angeles Times 2025 · #32 · The 101 best restaurants in Los Angeles
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Rank 53. Dija Mara
Indonesian
Dija Mara is an Indonesian restaurant in Oceanside that looks like a cool garage and cooks like it has something to prove. The roll-up door, murals, and dim lighting attract the kind of crowd that orders a second round before finishing the first, and the Michelin Bib Gourmand recognition keeps the food nerds showing up too. The cocktails lean low-ABV and creative, and weekend brunch is genuinely worth the trip down the coast.
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Rank 56. Lilo
New American
Lilo is a Michelin-starred tasting menu spot in Carlsbad that unfolds in stages, starting on a heated patio before pulling you inside to a counter seat where you watch the chef and his team cook like they mean it. The food is ambitious without being stuffy, leaning into serious ingredients done with real finesse. Couples and curious food people fill the room, dressed just nicely enough. The drinks program holds its own too.
- Michelin Guide 1 Star
- Wine Enthusiast 2025 · Top 50 New Restaurants
- The New York Times 2025 · The Restaurant List
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Rank 57. Kareem's Falafel
Middle Eastern
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Rank 58. Jeune et Jolie
Nouvelle French
A Michelin-starred nouvelle French spot in Carlsbad that genuinely earns it, Jeune et Jolie is the kind of fine dining that doesn't make you feel like you're at a board meeting. The room is all rose tones and good light, full of couples dressed up just enough. The kitchen handles serious ingredients with a light touch, the prix fixe is the move, and the cocktails are good enough to make you stay longer than planned.
- AAA Four Diamonds
- Michelin Guide 1 Star
- The New York Times 2025 · Fraise · The 14 Best Restaurant Desserts We Ate Across the U.S.
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Rank 59. Matsu
Modern Sushi
- Eater The 38 Best Restaurants in San Diego
- San Diego Magazine 2025 · Best Japanese Restaurant · The Best Restaurants in San Diego
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Rank 60. Khan Saab Desi Craft Kitchen
Pakistani Indian
Pakistani-Indian cooking from a chef with a serious way with spices and red meat, tucked into a bright, hip spot on a block that's otherwise all tacos and tortillerias. It holds a Michelin Bib Gourmand, and beef is unambiguously the star, though nothing on the menu feels like an afterthought. The craft mocktail bar in the back keeps things lively without the booze. Expect a crowd that knows exactly what they ordered and why.
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Rank 61. The Rooftop Bar
Mediterranean
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Rank 62. Ramen & Tsukemen TAO
Noodles
Tucked into an easy-to-miss strip mall in Buena Park, this tiny ramen shop earns its Michelin Bib Gourmand the honest way, through broth that tastes like someone cared deeply about it. Twenty seats, zero pretension, and a short menu that doesn't need to be long. The spicy red miso and the tsukemen both have regulars who'd fight you over them. Go hungry, expect a wait, and don't overthink it.
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Rank 63. 24 Suns
Noodles
Fine dining brain, casual noodle shop body, 24 Suns is the kind of place that makes Oceanside feel like it's getting away with something. It started as a pop-up and still moves like one, with a rotating seasonal menu split between dumplings, snacks, and shareable plates. The crowd leans curious and hungry, the kind who order everything and figure out the bill later. The wine and sake list keeps pace nicely.
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Rank 64. Tanner’s Prime Burgers
American
When a fine dining chef trades white tablecloths for a burger joint, the result is exactly this good. Tanner's is a premium burger shop built around single-source prime beef, and the whole menu feels like someone cared way too much, in the best way. The fries are double-cooked in beef tallow, which tells you everything. Crowds skew local and casual, everyone looking very pleased with their life choices.
- Michelin Guide Selected Restaurant
- Eater The 38 Best Restaurants in San Diego
- San Diego Magazine 2025 · Best Pizza in San Diego · The Best Restaurants in San Diego
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Rank 66. Koi Japanese Cuisine
Japanese
The sashimi and nigiri at this Japanese restaurant in Seal Beach are the real reason to show up. There's no posturing here, just a small room full of regulars who get greeted by name and never bother opening the menu. The chefs have been at this long enough that every cut feels considered. Dress is casual, the vibe is quietly serious about fish, and first-timers tend to leave already planning the next visit.
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Rank 67. Kaori Sushi
Sushi
Tucked into a forgettable strip mall in Fullerton, Kaori is the kind of sushi spot that rewards people who actually pay attention. Inside, it's cozy and lantern-lit with an izakaya feel, and the crowd tends to be locals who figured this out before everyone else. The menu stays tight, leaning on daily sashimi and nigiri that punch well above the setting. Skip the rolls and let the fish do the talking.
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Rank 68. Fuoco Pizzeria Napoletana
Neapolitan Pizza
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Rank 70. Gusto Bread
Mexican
- James Beard Awards 2024 · Nominee · Outstanding Bakery
- James Beard Awards 2025 · Nominee · Outstanding Bakery
- The New York Times 22 of the Best Bakeries Across the U.S. Right Now
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Rank 71. Campfire
Fire-Forward American
Fire is the whole point at this lively Carlsbad restaurant, built inside a midcentury Quonset hut and decorated like someone's very cool camping fantasy, teepee on the patio included. A massive wood-burning hearth anchors the kitchen, lending real smoke to everything from grilled vegetables to brisket to a tomahawk for two. Save room for the DIY s'mores, because finishing dinner over a pile of hot coals is exactly as fun as it sounds.
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Rank 72. Heritage
California New American
A Michelin-starred tasting menu tucked into a converted Craftsman house in a quiet Long Beach neighborhood, and priced like they actually want you to show up. The sibling team grows some of their own produce, and it shows in cooking that tastes genuinely seasonal rather than performatively local. The crowd tends toward relaxed couples and curious food people who did their homework. Leave the blazer at home, but maybe iron your shirt.
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Rank 73. Sababa Falafel Shop
Middle Eastern
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Rank 74. Amor y Tacos
Mexican
A Bib Gourmand taco spot in Cerritos where a chef with fine-dining chops applies that same precision to handmade tortillas and knockout salsas. The result is unmistakably LA, things like Coca-Cola glazed pork belly and Doritos-dusted chilaquiles that sound like a dare but taste like a revelation. Expect a lively, casual crowd who came hungry and ordered more than they planned. The tour de tacos is a solid move if you can't commit.
- Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand
- Los Angeles Times 2024 · Short rib taco · The 101 Best Tacos in Los Angeles
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Rank 75. Fonda Moderna
Modern Mexican
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Rank 76. The Attic
Refined Southern
Southern comfort food done with a little flair, inside a Craftsman bungalow that feels like someone's very stylish grandmother lives there. The rooms have fireplaces, herringbone floors, and floral wallpaper, and the crowd leans date-night and neighborhood regulars who know the fried chicken situation is serious. The menu hits the classics but keeps things interesting, and you're finishing with beignets whether you planned to or not.
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Rank 77. Flying Pig Pub & Kitchen
Southern/Italian
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Rank 78. Taco Mesita
Mexican
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Rank 79. Taco Nazo
Ensenada-Style Mexican
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Rank 80. Alebrijes Grill
Mexican
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Rank 81. Angel's Tijuana Tacos
Tijuana-Style Mexican
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Rank 83. Ammatoli
Modern Middle Eastern
- Los Angeles Times 2025 · The 101 Best Restaurants in California
- Los Angeles Times 2025 · #43 · The 101 best restaurants in Los Angeles
- James Beard Awards 2026 · Semifinalist · Outstanding Hospitality
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Rank 84. Bandito Taqueria
Tijuana-style Mexican
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- LAist 2023 · Totti · Best Bites
- James Beard Awards 2024 · Semifinalist · Best Chef: California · Michael Procaccini and Stefano Procaccini
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Rank 86. Chiang Rai
Northern Thai
Northern Thai done right, tucked inside a strip mall in Tustin that you'd absolutely drive past without a second thought. Inside it's colorful and a little wonderfully weird, with a menu heavy on northern specialties and street food. The kitchen defaults to mild, so speak up if you want heat. The khao soi alone is worth the trip, a northern Thai curry that arrives as an event rather than just a bowl of noodles.
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Rank 87. Carnitas Uruapan
Mexican
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Rank 93. Tiendita
Mexican
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Rank 94. Tacos Los Cholos
Mexican
- LAist 2023 · Tacos · Best Bites
- Los Angeles Times 2024 · Filet mignon tacos · The 101 Best Tacos in Los Angeles
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Rank 95. Atelier Manna
Californian New American
Atelier Manna is a Bib Gourmand brunch spot in Encinitas where the food is way more serious than the laid-back patio vibe lets on. Local, seasonal ingredients get real care from the kitchen, and the result is plates that look like someone actually thought about them. The crowd runs toward sun-faded flannel and tote bags, which fits perfectly. The nonalcoholic drinks menu is genuinely worth exploring, not just an afterthought.
- Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand
- Los Angeles Times 2025 · The 101 Best Restaurants in California
- Eater The 38 Best Restaurants in San Diego
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Rank 96. Leu Leu Leucadia
Global
- Artful Living 2025 · The Top 5 Most Stylish Restaurants in America
- Eater The 38 Best Restaurants in San Diego
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Rank 97. Nettuno
Coastal Italian
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Rank 98. Sushi Nikkei
Nikkei Sushi
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Rank 99. Ponto Lago
Baja Mexican
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