The 75 Best Places to Eat in Orange County, 2019

This marks the fifth edition of this guide — a roadmap to Orange County’s wildly diverse dining scene. Narrowing this list to 75 recommendations gets harder each year.

How do I compare an intimate, 10-seat oasis like Hana re in Costa Mesa with, say, the chaotic, smoky, steamy, non-air-conditioned El Coyotito in San Juan Capistrano? When you call to make a reservation at Hana re — reservations are essential and available only by phone — the soft voice on the other end will ask, “You are aware that we offer only a chef’s tasting menu, right?” Hana re takes you on an extraordinary journey through the nuances of Japanese cuisine and hospitality. If you’ve been here before, the chef/owner likely remembers exactly what you ate, even if it was two years ago.

At El Coyotito, you push through a squeaky screen door and seat yourself. The staff is too busy pressing tortillas or flipping shrimp on the grill to greet you at the door, but they see you and wave. The restaurants on this list represent every stratum of the dining spectrum, yet they all share the same goals: great food and service, on their own terms.

The price of dinner is not what makes one more important than another, but when organizing this list it’s impossible not to consider the amount of joy received for the price paid. That’s why Studio fell off the list, and it’s why Pho 101 debuted so high. A luxury Korean feast at Kyung Bok Kung might cost $200 while three blocks away at Tacos la Calle a taco sells for $3. Both are places I adore.

Yes, this list is highly personal and subjective but also methodical. Every year I sample hundreds of restaurants in every corner of the county, accumulating a wealth of dining experiences that I mentally compare with the countless memories of meals past, both locally and around the world.

I continue to find flashes of perfection all over the place: the tom yum at Thai Avenue in Garden Grove, the sangrita at Solita in Huntington Beach, the cacio e pepe at Oliver's in Laguna Beach... Here’s where, and what, to eat right now in Orange County: (paywall)