Best of Irvine Restaurants
By Irvine City News staff
It’s one of the questions that we’re asked most: What are the best restaurants in Irvine? Our answer is that... it depends.
A cop-out, we know. But not everyone wants cutting-edge cuisine. Some want the comfort of familiar food, others eclectic global dishes. Many seek family-friendly options or best spots when on a budget.
Irvine City News staff writers will provide our list in a future issue, but for now we’ve culled through critic’s picks and online popularity contests from several sources for a selection of local restaurants named “best” by critics or the crowd.
Nextdoor favorites
Popular online social network Nextdoor.com recently launched its Neighborhood Favorites, “an annual awards program that allows neighbors to recommend and recognize the most-loved businesses in and around their neighborhood.”
Here are winners from the Irvine area announced in November 2017.
PIZZA PLACE
Northwood Pizza
4900 Irvine Blvd.
First Class Pizza
6420 Irvine Blvd.
Square One Pizza
5789 Alton Pkwy.
BURGERS
In-N-Out Burger
4115 Campus Dr.
Habit Restaurants
14474 Culver Dr.
The Counter
6416 Irvine Blvd.
MEXICAN
Taco Rosa
13792 Jamboree Rd.
Super Mex
14370 Culver Dr.
Javier’s Restaurant
536 Spectrum Center Dr.
BREAKFAST & BRUNCH
Stacks Pancake House
14421 Culver Dr.
Mimi’s Cafe
4030 Barranca Pkwy. Irvine
ITALIAN
North Italia
2957 Michelson Dr.
CUCINA enoteca Irvine
532 Spectrum Center Dr.
Square One Pizza
5789 Alton Pkwy.
BAKERY
French’s Bakery
14443 Culver Dr.
85C Bakery Cafe - Irvine
2700 Alton Pkwy.
Champagne French Bakery
4628 Barranca Pkwy.
CHINESE
P.F. Chang’s
514 Spectrum Center Dr.
Sam Woo Restaurant
15333 Culver Dr.
Capital Seafood Restaurant - Irvine Alton
2700 Alton Pkwy.
AMERICAN
Urban Plates
13380 Jamboree Rd.
Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar
13290 Jamboree Rd.
California Fish Grill Inc
3988 Barranca Pkwy.
ICE CREAM SHOP
Stricklands Ice Cream
4523 Campus Dr.
Yogurtland
13260 Jamboree Rd.
Creamistry
3972 Barranca Pkwy.
BAR/PUB
Bj’s Restaurant
13130 Jamboree Rd.
Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar
13290 Jamboree Rd.
TAPS Fish House & Brewery
13390 Jamboree Rd.
STEAK HOUSE
Ruth’s Chris Steak House
2961 Michelson Dr.
Houston’s Restaurant
2991 Michelson Dr.
BARBECUE
Wood Ranch BBQ & Grill
57 Fortune Dr.
Lucille’s Smokehouse Barbeque
23760 El Toro Rd.
Famous Dave’s BBQ
13122 Jamboree Rd.
OC Register Bests
In September, the results of OC Register’s Best of Orange County 2017 reader vote named Square One Pizza Café in Irvine for having OC’s best pizza, best happy hour and being the best family friendly restaurant. Other local restaurants that did well in the Best of OC voting include:
Best Sunday Brunch
#1 Taps Fish House & Brewery
13390 Jamboree Rd.
Best Burger
#2 The Cut Handcrafted Burgers
3831 Alton Pkwy.
Best Steakhouse
#3 Ruth’s Chris Steak House
2961 Michelson Dr.
The Register’s award-winning restaurant critic Brad Johnson includes North Italia and Angelina’s Pizzeria Napoletana on his list of best pizza in the county.
Brad Johnson’s authoritative list of the 75 best places to eat in OC included these Irvine restaurants:
19. Ootoro Sushi
2222 Michelson Dr.
23. Bistango
19100 Von Karman Ave.
44. North Italia
2957 Michelson Dr.
OC Weekly Best of OC
Critics and food writers for the alternative weekly included several Irvine restaurants among their 2017 favorites.
BEST DESSERT
Zov’s
“It’s OC dining royalty, of course, but way underrated for its desserts, especially at its Irvine location.”
3915 Portola Pkwy.
BEST CHINESE RESTAURANT
Best Foods
“The sweetbread soup is the best offal dish in Orange County: earthy and milky and delicious.”
2626 Dupont Dr.
BEST MARGARITA
Taco Rosa
“Whether sipping with a gourmet Mexi meal or imbibing during happy hour, Taco Rosa’s slew of margaritas are perfect for whatever the occasion.”
13792 Jamboree Rd.
BEST KOREAN BARBECUE
Kang Ho-dong Baekjeong
“Meats are top-notch, and those grills with the built-in side troughs are a work of genius.”
14160 Culver Dr.
BEST VEGAN RESTAURANT
Butterleaf at TRADE Food Hall
“Vegetarian and vegan cuisine should taste as good as any other, and Butterleaf’s mission is to prove it.”
2222 Michelson Dr.
BEST FARMERS MARKET
Irvine Farmers Market
“With one of the most comprehensive and varied collections of food retailers in SoCal, it’s easy to spend a couple of hours on a Saturday in the Mariners Church parking lot.”
5001 Newport Coast Dr.
A cop-out, we know. But not everyone wants cutting-edge cuisine. Some want the comfort of familiar food, others eclectic global dishes. Many seek family-friendly options or best spots when on a budget.
Irvine City News staff writers will provide our list in a future issue, but for now we’ve culled through critic’s picks and online popularity contests from several sources for a selection of local restaurants named “best” by critics or the crowd.
Nextdoor favorites
Popular online social network Nextdoor.com recently launched its Neighborhood Favorites, “an annual awards program that allows neighbors to recommend and recognize the most-loved businesses in and around their neighborhood.”
Here are winners from the Irvine area announced in November 2017.
PIZZA PLACE
Northwood Pizza
4900 Irvine Blvd.
First Class Pizza
6420 Irvine Blvd.
Square One Pizza
5789 Alton Pkwy.
BURGERS
In-N-Out Burger
4115 Campus Dr.
Habit Restaurants
14474 Culver Dr.
The Counter
6416 Irvine Blvd.
MEXICAN
Taco Rosa
13792 Jamboree Rd.
Super Mex
14370 Culver Dr.
Javier’s Restaurant
536 Spectrum Center Dr.
BREAKFAST & BRUNCH
Stacks Pancake House
14421 Culver Dr.
Mimi’s Cafe
4030 Barranca Pkwy. Irvine
ITALIAN
North Italia
2957 Michelson Dr.
CUCINA enoteca Irvine
532 Spectrum Center Dr.
Square One Pizza
5789 Alton Pkwy.
BAKERY
French’s Bakery
14443 Culver Dr.
85C Bakery Cafe - Irvine
2700 Alton Pkwy.
Champagne French Bakery
4628 Barranca Pkwy.
CHINESE
P.F. Chang’s
514 Spectrum Center Dr.
Sam Woo Restaurant
15333 Culver Dr.
Capital Seafood Restaurant - Irvine Alton
2700 Alton Pkwy.
AMERICAN
Urban Plates
13380 Jamboree Rd.
Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar
13290 Jamboree Rd.
California Fish Grill Inc
3988 Barranca Pkwy.
ICE CREAM SHOP
Stricklands Ice Cream
4523 Campus Dr.
Yogurtland
13260 Jamboree Rd.
Creamistry
3972 Barranca Pkwy.
BAR/PUB
Bj’s Restaurant
13130 Jamboree Rd.
Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar
13290 Jamboree Rd.
TAPS Fish House & Brewery
13390 Jamboree Rd.
STEAK HOUSE
Ruth’s Chris Steak House
2961 Michelson Dr.
Houston’s Restaurant
2991 Michelson Dr.
BARBECUE
Wood Ranch BBQ & Grill
57 Fortune Dr.
Lucille’s Smokehouse Barbeque
23760 El Toro Rd.
Famous Dave’s BBQ
13122 Jamboree Rd.
OC Register Bests
In September, the results of OC Register’s Best of Orange County 2017 reader vote named Square One Pizza Café in Irvine for having OC’s best pizza, best happy hour and being the best family friendly restaurant. Other local restaurants that did well in the Best of OC voting include:
Best Sunday Brunch
#1 Taps Fish House & Brewery
13390 Jamboree Rd.
Best Burger
#2 The Cut Handcrafted Burgers
3831 Alton Pkwy.
Best Steakhouse
#3 Ruth’s Chris Steak House
2961 Michelson Dr.
The Register’s award-winning restaurant critic Brad Johnson includes North Italia and Angelina’s Pizzeria Napoletana on his list of best pizza in the county.
Brad Johnson’s authoritative list of the 75 best places to eat in OC included these Irvine restaurants:
19. Ootoro Sushi
2222 Michelson Dr.
23. Bistango
19100 Von Karman Ave.
44. North Italia
2957 Michelson Dr.
OC Weekly Best of OC
Critics and food writers for the alternative weekly included several Irvine restaurants among their 2017 favorites.
BEST DESSERT
Zov’s
“It’s OC dining royalty, of course, but way underrated for its desserts, especially at its Irvine location.”
3915 Portola Pkwy.
BEST CHINESE RESTAURANT
Best Foods
“The sweetbread soup is the best offal dish in Orange County: earthy and milky and delicious.”
2626 Dupont Dr.
BEST MARGARITA
Taco Rosa
“Whether sipping with a gourmet Mexi meal or imbibing during happy hour, Taco Rosa’s slew of margaritas are perfect for whatever the occasion.”
13792 Jamboree Rd.
BEST KOREAN BARBECUE
Kang Ho-dong Baekjeong
“Meats are top-notch, and those grills with the built-in side troughs are a work of genius.”
14160 Culver Dr.
BEST VEGAN RESTAURANT
Butterleaf at TRADE Food Hall
“Vegetarian and vegan cuisine should taste as good as any other, and Butterleaf’s mission is to prove it.”
2222 Michelson Dr.
BEST FARMERS MARKET
Irvine Farmers Market
“With one of the most comprehensive and varied collections of food retailers in SoCal, it’s easy to spend a couple of hours on a Saturday in the Mariners Church parking lot.”
5001 Newport Coast Dr.