Best kbbq - Wang Cho in Santa Ana
Best sushi - eats sushi in Costa Mesa (fish is soo fresh!!!)
Best shabu - Mokoji
Best Japanese skewers: Honda-Ya in Tustin OR Kappo Honda in fountain valley (bigger space)
Best American brunch - snooze AM in Tustin
Best fusion brunch - tableau in Costa Mesa
Best Japanese curry - coco ichibanya
Italian Japanese fusion - Ini Ristorante in fountain valley!
These 3 are probably my top when recommending places to visitors from out of town, especially if you’re going for business and have paid for meals:
• Habana (Cuban, Ropa Vieja is my fav there)
• Mokkoji (shabu shabu)
• Kang ho dang baekjong (Korean bbq, not all you can eat- if you want AYCE try…
A few recs actually in Irvine:
Ja Jiaozi - Chinese dumplings
Porch & Swing - southern inspired, great cornbread
Puesto - definitely not authentic Mexican, but I love their mushroom taco
Angelina’s - Neapolitan style pizza. One of 3 pizzerias in OC approved by Italy’s Vera Pizza Napoletana…
Drake, Brussels, Broadway, 230 Forest, Nicks/South of Nick's, La Sirena.
Spend some time just getting lost at Main Beach, Forest/Ocean Ave, stroll up to Heisler Park and check out all of the local beach coves - Fisherman's, Crescent, Shaw's, Diver's. or head south to Moss, TableRock, Thalia, etc.…