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Silverado Cafe
The Top List of Best Buy Restaurants - Orange County, CA
Orange County boasts a wide variety of culinary adventures. It is truly a food lover’s paradise, and one that is well within the reach of those looking for a bargain.
by Judy Asman & Catherine Sempepos
While the county features many elegant, expensive restaurants, it’s also full of great eateries where a fabulous breakfasts, lunch or dinner is a real bargain. The many seaside cities offer seafood specialties, while the theme parks and cultural centers inland provide unique and moderately priced offerings. If you’re in to trying new tastes and cuisines, you’re in for a real treat in Orange County, where cultural diversity abounds.
SILVERADO CAFÉ
2872 Silverado Canyon Rd.
Silverado, CA 92676
714-649-2622
Hours: (Tues, Fri, Sat) 7:30 am to 8:30 pm; (Wed, Thu, Sun) 7:30 am to 3 pm
For a one-road highway diner experience, head to Silverado Canyon—an anywhere-USA-type town that’s unique within OC. Located in the Santa Ana mountains, the will canyon greet you with the Silverado Café, a friendly little joint that presents hearty comfort meals, country décor and early Americana wall hangings. Eye openers include the “early bird” breakfast sandwich ($3.50) and biscuits and gravy ($3.75). While, for lunch, you can sink your teeth into the Ortega chili burger ($4.75) or enjoy the grilled chicken salad for $6.50. Young ‘uns can indulge in fun dishes like grilled cheese sandwiches and chicken strips for under $4 and, each week, the Café hosts $1 taco Tuesdays. Eat meat? The best deal in the county is on Friday and Saturday nights when the Café offers 8 oz. New York steaks—tender and cooked to your liking—alongside rice pilaf and cheese bread for $9.95. You can even enjoy your meal with a beer or a glass of wine. The Café is a popular spot for bikers on Sunday mornings so expect worthwhile wait for breakfast.
Estimated price per person: $4 - $15
Holiday Schedule: New Year’s Eve-Open, New Year’s Day-Open, Valentine’s Day-Open, Easter-Closed, Thanksgiving-Closed, Christmas Eve-Open, Christmas Day-Closed
YEN-CHING
574 S. Glassell St.
Orange, CA 92866
714-997-3300
Lunch hours: (Mon-Fri) 11:30 am to 2:30 pm. Dinner: (Mon-Thu) 4:30 pm to 9 pm; (Fri) 4:30 pm to 10 pm. Weekends: (Sat) 11:30 am to 10 pm; (Sun) 11:30 am to 9 pm.
For almost three decades, Yen-Ching has impressed OC residents with high quality, finely prepared and reasonably priced Mandarin and Szechwan cuisine. Weekday lunch specials include Kung Pao shrimp, orange chicken and beef with broccoli ($7.75 - $9.55), each served with house soup (usually sweet and sour or egg drop), a fried wonton and fried rice. For won ton soup fanatics, Yen-Ching’s is one of the best bowl’s in town. Flavored with touches of sesame oil, the soup has chunky pieces of chicken, shrimp, water chestnuts, bamboo shoots, carrots and spinach ($7.25 for two people). On its non-MSG menu, entrées range from $9.75 to $13.55 and with one day’s advance notice, you can order the oh-so traditional Peking duck for $32.05. Dinners can be as romantic as they are tasty. The booths are roomy yet private and the restaurant is spacious and accommodating for large groups and parties.
Estimated price per person: $9 - $16
Holiday Schedule: New Year’s Eve-Open, New Year’s Day-Open, Valentine’s Day-Open, Easter-Open, Thanksgiving-Closed, Christmas Eve-Open, Christmas Day-Open
RUTABEGORZ
158 West Main
Tustin, CA 92780
714-731-9807
Hours: (Mon-Sat) 11 am to 9 pm; (Sun) 11 am to 8 pm
If you’re a big eater but generally veer toward healthy dishes, Ruta’s is the place for you. A quaint establishment located in the heart of Old Town Tustin, Ruta’s offers Claim Jumper-like portions, especially with salads. Creative, international and nourishing, their salad menu ($8.25 - $9.50) bestows favorites like the curry chicken, the apple spinach, and the Mediterranean–a scrumptious assortment of artichoke hearts, feta cheese, salami, olives, lettuce, and veggies. For light and cheap, go for a bowl of homemade soup—like the chicken and rice—for under $5. The wraps are popular and as exotic as the salads ($7.25 - $8.25). But if you’re not on a diet and want to go all out, feast on the enormous plate of nachos that’s anything but modest when it comes to the melted cheese ($6.95). Also locations in Orange and Fullerton.
Estimated price per person: $5 - $12
Holiday Schedule: New Year’s Eve-Closed, New Year’s Day-Closed, Valentine’s Day-Open, Easter-Call first, Thanksgiving-Closed, Christmas Eve-Closed, Christmas Day-Closed
EL MARIACHI
650 N. Tustin St.
Orange, CA 92867
714-532-4001
Hours: (Tues-Wed) 11 am to 8 pm; (Thu) 11:30 am to 11:45 pm; (Fri-Sat) 11 am to 1:30 am; (Sun) 11 am to 12 am
For an authentic Mexican experience, this place can’t be beat. One specialty is the siete mares, a seafood soup that consists of tomato stock and scampi style shrimp. The flame-broiled fajitas are also good standard fare. The Tlapaque Plaque musicians and various Latin bands play on the weekends when things really start hopping. The deep booths and large tables are very popular with the customers, many of whom come to celebrate anniversaries and weddings. The atmosphere is casual, the live entertainment authentic and spirited. During the week, lunch specials range from $3.25 to $4.50 and general menu prices from $4.95 to $10.95. On weekends, when there is entertainment, the food prices include the show and range from $14.95 to $19.95.
Estimated price per person: $5 - $22
Holiday Schedule: New Year’s Eve-Open, New Year’s Day-Open, Valentine’s Day-Open, Easter-Open, Thanksgiving-Closed, Christmas Eve-Open, Christmas Day-Closed
MRS. KNOTT’S CHICKEN DINNER RESTAURANT
8039 Beach Blvd.
Buena Park, CA 90620
714-220-5080
Hours: (Sun-Thu) 7 am to 8:30 pm; (Fri) 7 am to 9 pm; (Sat) 7 am to 9:30 pm
This kid-friendly landmark was there before there was a Knott’s Berry Farm. You don’t have to go into the theme park to enjoy Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Dinner Restaurant, which is located outside Knott’s Berry Farm by the main entrance. The restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner daily, and is very popular with the tourist crowd; there are often long lines during the day. Chicken, biscuits, boysenberry pie and sides such as rhubarb and corn are staples. The famous chicken special costs $10.75 at lunch, and $13.75 for dinner. There is a senior special from 3 pm to 5 pm daily for only $7.35. And, if all that chicken isn’t enough, the restaurant serves a great breakfast daily.
Estimated price per person: $9 - $15
Holiday Schedule: New Year’s Eve-Open, New Year’s Day-Open, Valentine's Day-Open, Easter-Open, Thanksgiving-Open, Christmas Eve-Open, Christmas Day-Closed
RUBY’S
1 Balboa Pier
Balboa, CA 92661
949-675-7829
Hours: (Sun-Thu) 7 am to 8 pm; (Fri-Sat) 7 am to 9 pm
This is the original location of what has become a local chain of restaurants. Still basically a diner, Ruby’s has achieved phenomenal success since it began selling hamburgers, fries, cherry Cokes, and a 1940s atmosphere from the old bait house on the end of the Balboa pier. The more high-tech looking Ruby’s are now virtually everywhere in Orange County. You can get huge salads and sandwiches, hot dogs, soups and chili if you’re not in the mood for burgers. This is also a popular locals hangout for breakfasts, which features many varieties of pancakes, crepes, and egg dishes. The food and hospitality remain timelessly good, at any location. Other locations: RUBY’S AUTODINER, 30622 S. Pacific Coast Hwy., Laguna Beach, CA 92651, 949-497-7829; 1301 S. Harbor Blvd., Fullerton, CA 714-871-7829.
Estimated price per person: $7 - $14
Holiday Schedule: New Year’s Eve-Open, New Year’s Day-Open, Easter-Open, Thanksgiving- Closed, Christmas Eve-Open, Christmas Day-Open half-day
GENGHIS KHAN
23615 El Toro Road, Suite P
Lake Forest, CA 92630
949-951-8296
Hours: (Mon-Thu) 11:30 am to 3 pm and 5 pm to 9:30 pm; (Fri) 11:30 to 3 pm and 5 pm to 10 pm; (Sat-Sun) 11:30 am to 10 pm
This is an all-you-can-eat Mongolian barbeque buffet. It’s great fun to load your bowl with all the lamb, beef, pork, turkey, vegetables, and different kinds of sauces and watch the chef prepare your meal on the iron grill. The food is tasty and it’s a sure bet when you're really hungry. The price at lunch is $8 to $10 and for dinner it goes up to $9 to $13 but it’s a great deal any time!
Estimated price per person - $8 - $15
Holiday Schedule: New Year’s Eve-Open, New Year’s Day-Open, Easter-Open, Thanksgiving- Closed, Christmas Eve-Open, Christmas Day-Closed
ROYAL STREET VERANDA
New Orleans Square
Disneyland
Anaheim, CA 92802
714-781-4565
Hours: 10 am to 8 pm, weekends and holidays open til’ midnight
Located in New Orleans Square near the stairs to the Disney Gallery, Royal Street Veranda is an à la carte café where you can find one of the park's best hot food values. For about $5 you can get a choice of soups - clam chowder, gumbo, steak and vegetable - served in bread bowls. You can also order specialty coffees and drinks and sit in the restaurant or at Café Orleans.
Estimated price per person: $5 - $10
Holiday Schedule: New Year’s Eve-Open, New Year’s Day-Open, Valentine’s Day-Open, Easter-Open, Thanksgiving-Open, Christmas Eve-Open, Christmas Day-Open
THE CRAB COOKER
2200 Newport Blvd.
Newport Beach, CA 92663
949-673-0100
Hours: (Sun-Thurs) 11 am to 9 pm, (Fri-Sat) 11 am to 10 pm
There is an adjacent market selling fish and crabs where you can get great crab legs to go. The restaurant serves seafood for lunch and dinner daily and has become an institution for summer residents. There is always fresh fish of the day and a light menu item. A typical light lunch features shrimp and scallops on a skewer for $10.25. Lunches average from $10.25 to $14, while dinners are in the $11 to $17 range. The Alaskan king crab is the house specialty and costs around $25. But the best deal in the house is their self-proclaimed “world’s best” clam chowder for $1.95. Also a Tustin location, 714-573-1077.
Estimated price per person: $12 - $26
Holiday Schedule: New Year’s Eve-Open, New Year’s Day-Closed, Valentine’s Day-Open, Easter-Open, Thanksgiving-Closed, Christmas Eve-Open, Christmas Day-Closed
EL TAPATIO GRILL
370 W. Warner Avenue
Santa Ana, CA 92704
714-444-2540
Hours: (Mon-Thu) 11 am to 3 pm; (Fri-Sun) 11 am to 12 am (but call for updated hours)
This authentic neighborhood restaurant boasts a traditional colonial Mexican décor and a great selection of fresh seafood and other Mexican specialties. For starters, try the menudo, pozole or the albondigas soup, the traditional meatball soup of Mexico. A hearty beef broth served with hand-patted meatballs, it includes carrots, potato, and zucchini and is served with Mexican rice as well as a choice of tortillas for $3.75 to $5.25. For breakfast, there is a great selection of ten different omelettes, all priced at $5.95 and all served with rice, beans, and tortillas. There is also an all-you-can-eat lunch buffet ($5.95) and dinner combination. Start dinner with one of the specialty margaritas. There are also a wide variety of fresh seafood soups and appetizers. One specialty is the chicken mole, “pollo en mole,” which consists of chicken simmered in a delicious chili-chocolate sauce prepared like they do in Mexico for $8.25.
Estimated price per person: $4 - $12
Holiday Schedule: New Year’s Eve-Open, New Year’s Day-Open, Valentine's Day-Open, Easter-Open, Thanksgiving-Open, Christmas Eve-Open, Christmas Day-Open
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