The 23 Best Places to Eat and Stay in Santa Ana
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The best places to eat and stay in Santa Ana, according to the experts: the Michelin Guide, Eater, and AAA have all weighed in, and their honors are what rank this list. Omakase by Gino comes out on top.
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Best Western Plus Orange County Airport North and Courtyard by Marriott Costa Mesa South Coast Metro hold the next two places. AAA shows up on more of this list than any other guide, with the Los Angeles Times close behind.
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Rank 1. Omakase by Gino
Sushi
Distressed wood and exposed brick give this intimate Santa Ana sushi counter the feel of a tavern that took a sharp left turn into Japan. Chef Gino Choi runs an omakase where the mood is warm and unhurried, and the courses keep pace with his evident enthusiasm for the form. The Michelin Guide has it listed. Tucked into a quiet stretch of downtown, it draws the kind of crowd that drives past the freeway exits everyone else takes.
The awards
- Michelin Guide Michelin Guide: Selected Restaurant
- Eater Eater: The 38 Essential Orange County Restaurants
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Rank 8. Lola Gaspar
Mexican
Handmade flour tortillas and hand-pressed masa are the foundation at this Mexican gastropub in downtown Santa Ana, where a post-pandemic reset trimmed the menu down to tacos, quekas, and churros and made each one count. The Bib Gourmand reflects that focus. Grilled tomato and dried chili salsa ties the tacos together; habanero salsa does the same for the quekas. Happy hour makes running the whole short list an easy call.
The awards
- Michelin Guide Michelin Guide: Bib Gourmand
- Los Angeles Times Los Angeles Times: Citrus marinated chicken taco · The 101 Best Tacos in Los Angeles
- Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand
- Los Angeles Times Citrus marinated chicken taco · The 101 Best Tacos in Los Angeles
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- US Coffee Championships US Coffee Championships: #3 · U.S. Coffee in Good Spirits Championship · Glen Ackerman
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Rank 10. Antonello Ristorante
Italian
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- AAA AAA: Approved
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Rank 10. Darya Restaurant
Persian
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- AAA AAA: Approved
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Rank 14. Alta Baja Market
Mexican
Part cafe, part specialty grocery, Alta Baja Market anchors downtown Santa Ana with one of the largest selections of Mexican wines you'll find under one roof, alongside heirloom corn, beans, and grains worth browsing. The breakfast and lunch menu leans New Mexican and border-crossing, with green chile eggchiladas built on La Princesita tortillas. Order a michelada and you'll understand why people linger here longer than they planned.
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Rank 14. Tacos Manuel
Mexican
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- Los Angeles Times Los Angeles Times: #69 · The 101 best restaurants in Los Angeles
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Rank 17. Alebrijes Grill
Mexican
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- Los Angeles Times Los Angeles Times: Surtido taco · The 101 Best Tacos in Los Angeles
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Rank 17. Carnitas Uruapan
Mexican
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- Los Angeles Times Los Angeles Times: Carnitas taco · The 101 Best Tacos in Los Angeles
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