L.A. Weekly Art Editor Shana Nys Dambrot dives into the unique art culture created by Coachella in her latest piece about the 2022 festival. “Coachella has always been uniquely dedicated to a significant visual art presence at its festivals. From the very beginning, one of its creators — the legendary musician, Lollapalooza guru, and avid art lover and collector Perry Farrell — insisted on it, once describing his vision to me as, “ushering in the era of the Art Star.” The subsequent 15 years have more than proved him right, as the art world embraces wilder ideas and the music/spectacle world makes sure to feature visual artists front and center,” she writes. 

Read more on LAWeekly.com here.

It’s Called the Music and Arts Festival for a Reason

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Join Annette M. Walker, M.H.A., president of City of Hope Orange County, and Tanya Siddiqi, M.D., associate clinical professor and accomplished hematologist, for a virtual community conversation, Tuesday, June 30, 10 – 10:45 a.m., to learn about City of Hope’s response to COVID-19 and its vision for highly specialized cancer care in Orange County. Bryan Starr, president and CEO of the Greater Irvine Chamber, will provide an introduction to the virtual event.

Walker will provide an update on City of Hope’s plans to invest $1 billion to develop and operate a world-class cancer campus of the future at FivePoint Gateway in Irvine. City of Hope recently closed the sale of 11 acres of land and a 190,000-square-foot building from partner FivePoint.

The state-of-the-art campus — Orange County’s only specialty hospital exclusively dedicated to treating and curing cancer, opening in 2025 — will offer:

• Highly specialized cancer care
• Phase I to III clinical trials
• Precision medicine and early detection

City of Hope’s expansion into Orange County is in response to a pressing community need. In January, City of Hope opened its Newport Beach location, the first phase of the expansion.

To join the June 30 virtual conversations, click here.

 

Annette M. Walker, M.H.A.

President, City of Hope Orange County

Annette Walker is the visionary health care leader building City of Hope’s comprehensive cancer campus and regional network in Orange County. Annette believes working with partners, community leaders, health care experts and others to bring City of Hope’s world-class, highly specialized cancer care to Orange County is the most important chapter in her career.

Tanya Siddiqi, M.D.

Director, Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Program, Toni Stephenson Lymphoma Center; Associate Clinical Professor, Department of Hematology & Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation

Tanya Siddiqi, M.D. is an accomplished hematologist-oncologist who specializes in diagnosing and treating blood cancers, particularly chronic lymphocytic leukemia and B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas. In addition to her clinical practice, Dr. Siddiqi is a principal investigator on multiple clinical trials evaluating the role of targeted therapies, including gene therapy (CAR T cell therapy) and other novel agents in these diseases.

Thank you for reading Irvine Weekly.

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With over 280,000 residents, Irvine is one of the most populated cities in California. It’s home to prestigious universities, a vaunted public school system, and thousands of businesses offering a wide array of quality jobs. Irvine is also a diverse city, and home to people and families of all backgrounds and ethnicities. And lucky for us, this diversity is reflected in the established yet consistently evolving food scene.Irvine is now a culinary destination, with its restaurants attracting hungry visitors from across Southern California. In this issue of the Irvine Weekly, we pay homage to the achievements of our local chefs. Welcome to the Best of Irvine: Food and Drink issue.

From bottomless mimosas and Fruity Pebbles French toast, to savory crepes and nitrogen ice cream, we’ve covered our bases when it comes to the cuisine of Irvine. We reveal our favorite tacos, burgers and brunches, among other categories, along with cocktails, vegan-friendly spots and desserts. Some restaurants appear across multiple genres because their offerings are too expansive to box into just one list.

There’s no shortage of international flavors in Irvine: Mexican, Italian, Korean, Mediterranean, Brazilian, French, Latin, Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese, Cuban … the list goes on.

(Irvine is even home to a Hello Kitty-themed speakeasy!)

With sought-after cuisine often comes long lines, so we give you insight into which Irvine restaurants are “Worth the Wait.” It’s often easier to wait for your meal when you know it’ll deliver the goods.

Most Irvine restaurants have origins and stories that go beyond the food they serve. To give you a taste of this unique character, we spotlight the history and mission of Andrei’s Conscious Cuisine, which operates as a nonprofit to support the Andrei Olenicoff Memorial Foundation. We also shed light on the women’s Fantasy Football League of Houston’s, that brings a level of competition to the workplace only regulars, to this point, are aware of.

It’s no easy task to choose the best of what Irvine has to offer, and we recognize the subjectivity of our efforts. But hey, taste in food is inherently subjective, so if you think we snubbed your favorite eatery, let us know! There’s plenty of room in future issues of Irvine Weekly for additional coverage of this city’s exciting and ever-changing culinary landscape.

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CUCINA enoteca

Part of the Urban Kitchen Group family of restaurants, CUCINA enoteca is a modern kitchen focused on creating dishes that bring together the seasonal bounty of Southern California.  We recommend the beet & citrus salad, along with the squid ink linguini. The tasty salad consists of grapefruit, pickled kumquat, mâche, chili granola and labneh. The squid ink linguini is lovingly crafted with muscles, clams, shrimp, fennel soffritto and arrabbiata. As someone who’s not a huge seafood eater, the squid pasta makes me rethink my food preferences because of how delicious all of this seafood is when put together. 532 Spectrum Center Drive, Irvine. —Michael Cooper

Kobe Meatballs (Courtesy of Davio’s Northern Italian Steakhouse)

Davio’s Northern Italian Steakhouse

The menu at Davio’s Northern Italian Steakhouse is inspired from Northern Italian cuisine and includes handmade pasta, seafood and, of course, steak. Favorites include the $100 meatball, which is made of American Kobe Wagyu beef, black truffles and a molten center of truffle cheese and faux gras. It’s then topped with a champagne cream sauce and more shaved black truffles, and served with a glass of Barolo. If meatballs aren’t your thing, go for the crab cake. It’s one of Davio’s signature dishes, consisting of lump crab cake that’s oven baked and topped off with a whole grain mustard sauce. 18420 Von Karman Ave. #100, Irvine. —Michael Cooper

Angelina’s

A little slice of authentic Naples has found a home in the middle of Irvine. Indeed, Angelina’s Pizzeria in the Los Olivos Marketplace has gone out of its way to provide genuine and delicious Italian fare beyond just pizzas. The establishment is Vera Pizza Napoletana (which translates to Traditional Naples Pizza), or VPN, certified, which means their pizza has met a set of rigorous and delicious standards. Try the vegetariana, a white pizza where the dough and cheese melt in your mouth. Complete with roasted bell peppers, eggplant, onion, mushrooms and basil, it’s the Buffalo mozzarella cooked Napoletana-style combined with the soft crust that really makes this pizza stand out. 8573 Irvine Center Drive, Irvine. —Michael Cooper

Margherita pizza (Courtesy of North Italia)

North Italia

North Italia, the modern Italian concept from restaurateur Sam Fox, has locations in Santa Monica, El Segundo and Irvine. Their variety of pizzas is surely a highlight of the menu. The restaurant makes pizza dough twice daily, and also has gluten-free crust options. Other highlights include the white truffle garlic bread and chicken parmesan. 2957 Michelson Drive, Irvine. —Susan Hornik

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Afters Ice Cream

Afters combines our two loves: doughnuts and ice cream. What sets it apart from most ice cream joints are two key things: their signature milky buns and their unique flavors. Milky buns are handcrafted glazed dough buns that act as the perfect vessel for your ice cream. They are always fresh and hot, providing a nice complement to the cold sensation of the ice cream. Ice cream offerings range from milk and cereal to a twists on classic flavors like Madagascar vanilla. 2738 Alton Parkway, Irvine. —Arielle Roude

(Courtesy of 85 Degrees)

85ºC Bakery

For a sweet pastry, try their choco bun, taro swirl bun or matcha chocolate bun. All these breads burst with sweet flavor whenever you take a bite. They even have a fantastic selection of savory pastries to choose from, including garlic cheese bread, sausage rolls and potato cheese buns. Locals swear by their classic brioche bun roll and their mini cheese tarts. If pastries are not what you’re looking for, the bakery  also offers a large selection of cakes and other sweet treats. You can order anything from full-sized cakes to mango tarts and slices of blueberry cheesecake. 2700 Alton Pkwy, Suite 123, Irvine; 915 Spectrum Drive, Irvine. —Arielle Roude

Meet Fresh

From the moment you enter the door, you immediately feel the coupled sensations of warmth and sophistication. Their many, many options are listed on a backlit board along the wall, including various types of jellies, puddings, shaved ice and red bean dishes, snacks and beverages. We recommend the Q Mochi: the toppings bring the dish to lofty heights, introducing themselves like a fist of flavor pummeling the tongue. Perhaps it’s better described as a bear hug with a running start; it’s intense, but it offers nothing but love.2710 Alton Parkway, Suite 105, Irvine. —Ryan Najjar

(Courtesy of Sweet Combforts)

Sweet Combforts

Sweet Combforts is proving that waffles are much more than breakfast food. By making beautifully sugared handmade waffles and putting them on a popsicle stick, Sweet Combforts has made a dessert that is portable and less messy than most. Try a Bam Bam waffle, their classic Belgian Liègewaffle dipped in white chocolate and topped with fruity pebble cereal, cheesecake bites, powdered sugar and a white chocolate drizzle. Another favorite is their Cookies and Dream waffle. Dipped in Oreo cookie butter, this waffle is then topped off with Oreo cookie crumbles, powdered sugar and chocolate drizzle. 2222 Michelson Drive, Trade Food Court, Irvine. —Arielle Roude

Sunmerry Asian Bakery

For fresh Asian pastries and desserts and a variety of breads and cakes look no further than Sunmerry, where you can find delicacies such as taro milk cake, BBQ pork chashu bolo buns and green tea croissants. Try the matcha daifuku, strawberry Japanese pudding, rainbow roll cake and more.14805 Jeffrey Road, Suite E, Irvine. —Ruksana Hussain

Hello Kitty Cafe

The brand’s first permanent cafe concept, the Hello Kitty Cafe offers both afternoon tea and a cocktail service in its private Bow Room. For the tea service, each customer gets to pick a tea from a list of black, green, oolong, blended or caffeine-free teas. Tea also includes a fairly large selection of snacks — fruit, as well as sweets and savory bites. Once 5 p.m. hits, the lights are dimmed and the tea service becomes a cocktail service. Customers can order drinks with practically any alcohol (vodka, gin, whiskey, mezcal and tequila) as well as wine by the glass or Hello Kitty brand wine by the bottle. 670 Spectrum Center Drive, #860, Irvine. —Michael Cooper

OUTSIDE THE BUBBLE

Downtown Disney’s Black Tap

Known for its award-winning Greg Norman burger and famous CrazyShake milkshakes, Black Tap Craft Burgers & Shakes opened its first California location in Downtown Disney, debuting an enhanced fast-casual service style that is a first for the global brand. The menu includes original flavors like Cotton Candy, Sweet n’ Salty, and Brooklyn Blackout, as well as Gand’s new signature Strawberry Shortcake Shake, a flavor available only at the Anaheim location. The concoction built for two starts as a strawberry shake with a vanilla frosted rim and crumbled cake topped with a strawberry shortcake ice cream bar, pink twisty pop, whipped cream, strawberry drizzle and a cherry on top. 1540 S. Disneyland Drive, Suite 101, Anaheim. —Michele Steven

(Courtesy of The Dirty Cookie)

The Dirty Cookie

The Dirty Cookie is the perfect spot to pick up dessert for your next dinner party. This place gives a whole new angle on what it means to be a cookie. The Dirty Cookie takes different flavors of cookie dough and molds them into a small cup shape. These cookie shots come in classic cookie flavors like chocolate chip, red velvet, churro, and cookies and cream. You can pour milk or any liquid of your choice right into the middle of the cookie. For an adult party, you can even add your favorite type of liquor such as Bailey’s or Kahlua! 2493 Park Ave., Tustin. —Arielle Roude

Basil Eggs Benedict (Courtesy of Sidecar Doughnuts)

Sidecar Doughnuts

Visit Sidecar when you want a unique spin on a glazed doughnut — or any doughnut for that matter. With a revolving door of flavors every month it is hard to pick a favorite, but here are some of the must-tries: their butter and salt doughnut and their signature huckleberry-flavored doughnut. Another unique flavor is their basil eggs Benedict doughnut. It is a savory raised doughnut filled with a poached egg, basil and a delicious sauce. 270 E 17th St., Ste 18, Costa Mesa. —Arielle Roude

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Most people probably regard burgers as a food item that is satisfying, fast and simple. Hamburgers and cheeseburgers alike are frequently a no-brainer for dining on the run and eating cheaply. As in the case of many fast food menu items, however, there are burgers, and then there are burgers. With this list, Irvine Weekly proudly presents a cross-section of the cherished specialty and gourmet burgers that can be enjoyed without leaving the city. With contributions by Scott Feinblatt and Tara Finley.

(Courtesy of S’Wich Bistro)

S’wich Bistro

A great choice for a lunch burger, S’wich’s burgers are definitely on the gourmet side. Check this out: Their “loaded” burger features house glazed bacon, bleu cheese, caramelized onions, wild arugula, house dressing (aka “wink wink” house Thousand Island), and it is served on a potato bun. For the non-carnivore, their veggie burger is a “Sonoma-style” patty with quinoa, legumes, goat cheese and cranberry with pesto, tomato, spring mix and red onions. 16277 Laguna Canyon Road, Unit B, Irvine.

The Burnt Truck

You guessed it: This is a food truck. Their menu is not that extensive, but about 9,000 people keep track of them on Twitter — most likely because of their Angus beef sliders, which are served in a couple of styles: cheeseburger and Mini Mac. Both options of their little-in-size-but-big-in-taste burgers include American cheese and grilled onions; the former is served with an avocado spread and the latter features homemade Thousand Island, shredded lettuce and pickle. They both go great with an order of the fried mozzarella, which is served with basil aioli and tomato jam.

Truffle and Brie Burger (Courtesy of The Cut Handcrafted Burgers)

The Cut

Their menu is the result of the founders’ simple ethos of wanting “to deliver simple burgers without all the gimmicks and overly complicated toppings,” and the culinary acumen of world-class chef Andrés Dangond, as stated on their website. We recommend the Savory Cut, which includes bacon relish, swiss cheese, aioli and “3,000 Island.” Or, if that’s “overly complicated,” the Original Cut, with American cheese, pickles and Cut sauce should do you just fine. 3831 Alton Parkway, Irvine.

Burnt Crumbs

While some people swear by Burnt Crumbs’ unique menu items such as the spaghetti grilled cheese (you heard me right, Pilgrim: spaghetti grilled cheese sandwich), that’s not what we’re about in this issue. So, let’s talk about the Biggie Mac. This mammoth specimen of an Angus burger is comprised of two beef patties, American cheese, Mac sauce, diced onions, house pickles and lettuce. Although Burnt Crumbs does offer hand-cut fries, we recommend a side of the hand-cut chips, which are served with sour cream and onion dip. 8549 Irvine Center Drive, Irvine.

The Stand

The excellent and friendly service at The Stand is just as renowned as their food, and the variety of burgers on their menu run the gamut from the bare-bones essential of the Stand Burger (grilled onions, lettuce, tomato, pickles and Stand sauce) to the Big Blue (bleu cheese, grilled onions, bacon, roasted tomato, arugula and barbeque sauce). Vegetarians that can stand the sight of other people eating meat will probably find delight in the Veggie Goddess (veggie patty, gruyère cheese, red onion, tomato, avocado, arugula and Green Goddess dressing). 5633 Alton Parkway, Bldg. 200, Irvine.

In-N-Out

Although this chain originated in Baldwin Park, their corporate headquarters is in Irvine, so, you know, we’ve gotta own that. While we don’t believe that a description of their menu is required, we’ll give a shout-out to a few of their secret menu items. Naturally, a burger ordered protein style (no bun) will get you through your bout with an Atkins diet; the 3×3 takes the double-double and adds one more patty and slice of cheese; and then there’s the most well-known secret menu item, the animal style burger (pickles, grilled onions, extra dressing and mustard cooked onto the patty). University Center, 4115 Campus Drive, Irvine

Ground House Burger

Easily the most Instagrammable burger around, Ground House Burger’s famed Magical Burger is truly a sight to behold. We’re not sure where to look first, the psychedelic rainbow bun, the splattering of sprinkles, the ooey-gooey sauce waterfalling down the sides — it’s almost too incredible to eat. Almost. Prefer something a little less intimidating? Their Crispie Burger is an O.C. favorite, true to its name with a crisp texture and delicious taste that is melt-in-your-mouth yummy. Don’t miss the Fry Roulette — a smorgasbord of fried sides with every sauce you can imagine. 2222 Michelson Drive, Irvine.

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Are you looking for a relaxing spot to enjoy a nice glass of wine or craft beer? In Orange County alone, you can find dozens of wineries and breweries that offer tap and tasting rooms. We’ve been to all the great beer and wine spots in Irvine and can tell you without a doubt what places should be your first — and maybe only — stops. With Contributions by Arielle Roude and Evan Senn.

(Courtesy of Bacchus)

Bacchus Bar and Bistro

Bacchus Bar and Bistro is the perfect neighborhood hangout spot to have a nice glass of wine. Here you can try one of the 50 wines they offer by the glass. Or if you are looking to commit, you can choose from over 200 bottles to buy and try. With such an extensive collection, Bacchus offers the perfect wine for every occasion. They even have a wine club, so the experience doesn’t have to stop after your first visit. 6735 Quail Hill Parkway, Irvine.

(Courtesy of Left Coast Brewing Co.)

Left Coast Brewing Co. & Distillery

Left Coast is new to Irvine, but has been making stellar independent brews out of San Clemente since 2004 and has won over 23 different awards for their full-time beers. Located on Irvine Center Drive, the tasting room offers a great energetic vibe with three main beers brewed onsite — Barranca Brutty, Witty on Wednesday and Big Boy Pete — as well as two craft spirits produced at the location. 6652 Irvine Center Drive, Irvine.

(Courtesy of Backstreet Brewery)

Backstreet Brewery

Originally a microbrewery and pub, Backstreet Brewery opened in Irvine back in 1998 and has become a local favorite ever since. Set inside Lamppost Pizza, Backstreet creates universal craft beers for every palate. This family-owned brewery began with just four different styles of craft beer — Tomahawk Double IPA, Set Sail IPA, Rita Red Ale and Rydin’ Dirty Rye IPA — but has expanded and continues to add new beers to the bottle lineup. We suggest trying Backstreet Brewery’s Rita Red, Oktoberfest Festbier or the Blood Orange Animation IPA. Your taste buds — and your buzz — can thank us later. 14450 Culver Drive, Irvine.

(Courtesy of TAPS)

TAPS Fish House and Brewery

On the higher end of dining destinations, TAPS beer and booze is fairly affordable and on par with the best bars in all of O.C. for craft beer and craft cocktails. TAPS has brought home 103 medals for their craft beer, including a silver medal for their Irish Red at the 2018 Great American Beer Festival. Their reputation for ambiance, service and quality of beer has made them a favorite independent multi-location brewery. If you like a nice red ale, then you should definitely try their Irish Red Ale, but we are also low-key obsessed with their Amend This Prohibition Lager and their Grapefruit American IPA. 13390 Jamboree Road, Irvine.

Old World Liquor

If you’re not in the mood to go out to a brewery but are still craving craft brews, you’ll definitely want to stop by Old World Liquor to pick up a few rare bottles or some of your favorite local beer. A local hidden gem kept afloat by local residents, this spot has a great selection of craft beers from near and far! If you’re in the area, drop by and grab a Firestone Walker Lager, a Bear Republic Racer 5 or an Arrogant Bastard Ale by Stone, and enjoy a craft beer in peace. 4800 Irvine Blvd., Ste. 101, Irvine.

(Courtesy of Anthill Pub & Grille)

Anthill Pub & Grille

Although parking on UCI’s campus is atrocious and makes any quest for beer seem like an epoch, Anthill Pub & Grille on UCI’s campus probably has the best craft beer selection in all of Irvine and is worth the journey. They rotate their tap beers regularly and seem to try and surprise their regular craft beer connoisseurs by getting rare beers that most other beer bars in the O.C. don’t get. We highly suggest the Deschutes Black Butte Porter, the Firestone Walker Leo v. Ursus: Doublus and the Anchor California Lager. 215 Pereira Drive, Irvine.

Outside the Bubble

(Courtesy of Wine Lab)

Wine Lab

Located in Costa Mesa’s anti-mall, Wine Lab is the perfect combination of modern and fresh. It offers two ways to get your wine fix: flights or pours by the glass. Presented in their signature test tubes, Wine Lab offers three- to six-tastings tube flights that showcase different themes of wine. Their wine by the glass menu is a large beautiful variety of wines ranging from bubbly whites to deep reds. Wine Lab also offers a variety of food to go with your wine, including amazing cheeses and meats with which you and your friends can build your cheese and charcuterie boards. 2937 Bristol St., Ste A101B, Costa Mesa.

(Courtesy of The Lost Vine)

The Lost Vine

The Lost Vine proves that coffee and wine are a match made in heaven. This sustainable wine bar has a list that is always rotating, so you will never be bored. The relaxed atmosphere is embedded with fun themed nights for their customers to enjoy. Kick off the week on Tuesday with their Five Tastings at 5 Deal. Here you will be able to enjoy generous tasting pours of five wines for only $12. The Lost Vine also has a fantastic Wine Wednesday deal where if you buy a bottle of wine, your second bottle comes in 50 percent off. 13011 Newport Ave., Tustin.  

(Courtesy of Orange Coast Winery)

Orange Coast Winery

If you are looking for a more traditional winery experience to enjoy a glass of vino, Orange Coast Winery has got you covered. This winery offers the experience of a traditional tasting room that allows both members and non-members to enjoy a variety of wine tastings. Their classic tastings usually include six glasses of a variety of reds, whites, and rosés. If you are ready to jump on the wine train and become a member, you will get to experience tons of exclusive deals, including free cheese boards, guests and significant discounts for wine purchases. 869 W. 16th St., Newport Beach.

(Courtesy of The Winery Restaurant and Wine Bar)

The Winery Restaurant and Wine Bar

This upscale dining experience comes with a side of first-class wines to drink and enjoy. Wine country becomes the focal point of all their menus, allowing every course and every meal to have the perfect counterpart in their magnificent wine cellar. The Winery’s wine list includes over 650 bottles that change weekly. They even take their wine process one step further by ensuring that all of their wines have a home in their climate-controlled cellars. 3131 W. Coast Highway, Newport Beach; 2647 Park Ave., Tustin.

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Best Cheesecake: 85°C

The bakery, whose name comes from the “ideal” temperature for coffee (185°F, for those who are now anxiously wondering whether or not they’re making coffee correctly), has been a worldwide phenomenon since it opened in 2004. 

The Irvine location is 85°C’s first U.S. store. Between the absurdly large array of pastries, the perfectly chewy boba and the absolutely incredible cheesecake, this bakery is bound to make Diamond Jamboree a pastry lover’s pilgrimage site.

The cream cheesecake is the star of the show. It rests on a firm layer of sponge cake and the “cheese” part of the cheesecake is light and smooth and topped with fresh, seasonal fruit. It is unholy, and we would like to eat it for every meal. Multiple locations. —Bret Kavanaugh

Best Garlic Noodles: Anqi

Anqi is an Orange County institution featuring Mama Helene An’s one-of-a-kind recipes. Part of the House of An family of restaurants (which includes Beverly Hills staple Crustacean and San Francisco’s Thanh Long), Anqi features healthy and delicious traditional Asian dishes with a modern twist. Artisanal cocktails (do not miss out on Daughter of the Dragon) and house made desserts make Anqi a not-to-miss experience.

Without a doubt, Anqi makes the best garlic noodles. Hailing from Mama An’s secret kitchen, where only An family members and employees with over 10 years of experience can go, the noodles are soft and supple with the perfect amount of garlic to provide flavor and essence, yet not overpower as one would expect. There is a secret sauce that lightly coats the noodles, taking them to the next level without drowning them. The noodles are delicious on their own, but for those looking for an extra oomph, they can be ordered with a protein such as a perfectly seared shaken beef or Peking roasted chicken. 

In the past 20 years, only 6 dishes have earned a permanent spot on all House of An family restaurants’ menus and it is no surprise that the garlic noodles are one. Make sure you order two portions so you can have leftovers! —Irvine Weekly Staff

(Courtesy of Mr. Crepe)

Best French Crepes: Mr. French Crepe

Admittedly, what initially led me to Mr. French Crepe was their stellar Yelp listing: a full five stars from over 150 reviewing customers. A nondescript kiosk located inside a supermarket, this eatery that has Yelpers raving has only been open since April of this year.

Offering a variety of savory and sweet selections far beyond similarly sized establishments, the crepery’s highlights include the customer-favorite savory crepe, La Parisienne. It includes turkey, tomato, onion, parmesan cheese and béchamel sauce. The crepe was light, fluffy and had the perfect amount of crisp, providing a variety of textures.

Next up: dessert. Like the savory side of the menu, there are a lot of options for sweet delights, each seeming equally appetizing in their own special way. I tried the “Romeo and Juliette,” a beauty of a crepe that comes with freshly sliced bananas, strawberries, nutella, powdered sugar and whipped cream. I highly recommend adding blueberries. 18040 Culver Drive, Irvine. —Ryan Najjar 

(Courtesy of BBQ Chicken)

Best Korean Fried Chicken: BBQ Chicken

BBQ Chicken doesn’t serve the standard style of fried chicken Americans know and love, they offer something better: Korean fried chicken. Korean fried chicken is thinly battered and fried twice. As a result, there’s a light yet satisfyingly crispy crust, moist meat and a refreshing lack of grease. It can be as spicy or mild, and sauces merely add to the flavor, rather than ruin the texture. 

BBQ Chicken claims to serve the best Korean fried chicken in town and, honestly, we agree. They offer flavors and varieties in perfect moderation: there’s original, along with sweet and spicy, soy and garlic, a traditionally Korean variety involving gangjeong sauce, and others with special preparations to make them spicier or crunchier. Our favorite? The soy and garlic wings. The texture of the skin provides the perfect crispy compliment to the tenderness of the chicken inside. 2750 Alton Parkway #111, Irvine. —Ryan Najjar and Bret Kavanaugh

Best Korean-Mexican Fusion: Urban Seoul

Urban Seoul offers a sizable but focused variety of Korean and Mexican inspired dishes. Our favorite is the tteokbokki. A mainstay in Korean bar cuisine, these smooth gnocchi-like shapes made of glutinous rice flour are served in a flavorful and lightly spicy red sauce. The texture of lower-quality tteokbokki can be a detrimental issue, but these glided across the tongue without trouble and held up well in the tasty sauce. 

Along with the spicy rice cakes, we recommend to the kimchi pancake quesadilla, which is a kimchi pancake with filled with grilled chicken, green onions, a combination of mozzarella and cheddar cheese, kimchi sour cream, and, of course, kimchi. Served with a cilantro sauce that we couldn’t get enough of, this is a must-get.

With an extensive drink menu featuring flavored sakes, soju bombs, draft beer and non-alcoholic sips like sakura fruit tea and iced matcha, there is something to please every palate. Urban Seoul: 2750 Alton Parkway, Ste 13, Irvine; Urban Seoul 2.0: 714 Spectrum Center Drive, Irvine. —Ryan Najjar and Bret Kavanaugh

(Courtesy of Mokkoji)

Best Shabu Shabu / Hot Pot: Mokkoji

Mokkoji, located in Cypress Village Shopping Center, is Irvine’s premier hot pot destination. Mokkoji specializes in Japan’s take on it, or shabu shabu, while maintaining a focus on quality ingredients, with all of them being organic and often locally sourced.

When ordering from Mokkoji, you are seated with a boiling hot pot containing one of their delicious broth options — our favorite is their spicy miso. Then you are provided endless protein options, like Scottish salmon, Jidori chicken, zabuton wagyu beef, and more, accompanied with a bountiful vegetable plate containing items like bok choy, tofu, and your choice of glass or udon noodles. Don’t be intimidated by the fact that you are cooking your own food, it is easy, fun and the staff are very helpful in providing shabu shabu cooking techniques. —Ryan Leuteriz

Best Tequila Flights: Puesto

Puesto is well known for their beautiful decor, in addition to their extensive alcohol selection. Their Los Olivos Irvine location, directly across from the Irvine Spectrum, was designed by famed San Diego artist Paul Basile, who credits his design inspiration to Mesoamerican architecture and modern-day Mexico City.

Puesto could be on this list for half of their menu items, but their tequila and mezcal flights are a fan favorite. Each flight comes with three pours of rare and classy Latin liquor, featuring options like Yuu Baal Anejo, a tequila containing notes of honey and smoke, and their Vago Elote, a mezcal with subtle Mexican corn flavor. These flights pair perfectly with Puesto’s expansive gourmet taco selection, and even better with their secret menu (ask your server!). —Ryan Leuteriz

(Courtesy of HiroNori)

Best Ramen: HiroNori

HiroNori Ramen’s popularity speaks for itself, often clogging their Irvine location’s parking lot with hungry ramen fanatics. If you want the best bowl of ramen that Irvine has to offer, make sure to check-in online, because HiroNori is packed almost all the time. 

With that being said, their milky tonkotsu ramen is well worth the wait, featuring smooth homemade noodles and slow-cooked pork marrow, boiled for a full 24 hours before being served. HiroNori also prides themselves on their plant based options like their Vegan Ramen, made with grilled tofu and sweet corn. —Ryan Leuteriz

Best Plate of Pasta: North Italia 

At North Italia, phones eat first, meaning customers shouldn’t touch their food without getting an Instagrammable photo of their artfully presented dish, before diving in. North Italia makes their pasta from scratch daily, and in addition to their superior presentation, their pasta dishes are to die for.

One of our favorite dishes is the chicken pesto. This dish is made with fresh gigli pasta, garlic, basil and topped with toasted pine nuts and house made pesto, giving the plate a vibrant green palette. Try enjoying your pasta in North Italia’s shaded patio area, perfect for an afternoon brunch or cocktails at sunset. —Ryan Leuteriz

Best Al Pastor Fries: Taquiero Taco Patio

Taquiero Taco Patio Co-Founders Roberto and Sean are two friends who are on a mission to bring the authentic mexican flavors of Tijuana to Sean’s beloved hometown of Irvine, for their first location. 

Our favorite dish, their al pastor fries, have captured the hearts of Irvine residents and Instagram users alike. One of Sean’s favorites, the al pastor features slow-cooked pork topped with shredded cheddar cheese over a bed of crispy fries, providing an original take on typical loaded fries dishes. —Ryan Leuteriz

Best Pancakes: Stacks Pancake House

Stacks Pancake House, founded by chef Nixon Tanuwidjaja, is known for its decadent breakfast sweets, but Stacks’ roots add another layer to its allure. Chef Tanuwidjaja worked in four Japanese restaurants in L.A., before he and his wife relocated to Hawaii, where they experienced a Hawaiian and Japanese influence on their favorite meal of the day, breakfast. 

Stacks is Irvine’s go-to destination for innovative and delicious Hawaiian-inspired brunch items and their most popular — and our favorite — is the banana macadamia nut pancakes. These pancakes receive universally rave reviews from patrons around Orange County, with many of them citing Stacks’ famous coconut syrup as one of the dish’s standout components. —Ryan Leuteriz

(Courtesy of Avocado Cafe)

Best Avocado Toast: Avocado Cafe

Avocado Cafe is located in a small and quiet retail strip, nestled within luxury condo complex The Plaza,  making it an ideal spot to meet a friend, check a few emails, enjoy a coffee in their spacious patio and, of course, eat avocado toast. —Ryan Leuteriz

Avocado Cafe’s avo toast isn’t your average, avocado, salt and pepper, avo toast. Avocado Cafe’s toast comes with a healthy serving of avocado, freshly sliced tomato, sprouts and even two poached eggs. This avocado toast is more like a meal than a snack, but don’t worry, they can remove both eggs for a delicious vegan entree. —Ryan Leuteriz

(Courtesy of Panini Kabob)

Best kabobs: Panini Kabob Grill

Panini Kabob Grill calls themselves a “scratch kitchen that takes Mediterranean cuisine to the next level” and we couldn’t agree more. Panini Kabob Grill has spent decades serving customers with sizzling kabobs and fresh paninis made with only the finest ingredients, like organic eggs, imported oils and cheeses from Europe, grass-fed and hormone-free meats, and fresh baked bread delivered fresh daily.

Panini Kabob Grill specializes in their kabobs, offering steak, salmon and chicken options, with the latter being most popular. Their chicken kabob, containing 44 grams of protein, is skewered with each piece of chicken separated by fresh and organic bell peppers and onions and then grilled to perfect succulence. Panini Kabob Grill is always hopping, but they also excel in delivery and take out orders, with customers and delivery boys constantly flowing in and out of the restaurant, fresh kabobs in hand. —Ryan Leuteriz

Best Cronut: Jannys Donut

Jannys Donuts is a go-to sweet spot in Irvine. They specialize in sinful breakfast treats, with offerings ranging from favorites like maple bars and bear claws to doughnuts topped with pretzels and even childhood cereals like Captain Crunch and Cinnamon Toast Crunch. 

Our favorite Jannys pastry comes from their selection of croissant donuts, better known as cronuts. The cinnamon apple cronut is a fan favorite, known for its soft texture and sweet apple filling, often compared to that of a homemade apple pie. It’s best described as the lovechild of a croissant, a donut and a bear claw. Imagine the soft flakiness of a croissant, the gooey sweetness of a bear claw, and the indulgent icing of a donut. The best part; you can get this doughnut for free when you check in to Janny’s online. —Ryan Leuteriz

(Courtesy of Bruxie)

Best Chicken and Waffles: Bruxie

When you think of Chicken and Waffles, Bruxie should be your first thought. Bruxie’s fried chicken flies in the face of traditional fried food. All of their chicken is hormone-free and marinated in buttermilk for a full 24 hours before being fried to order. Most of their menu items contain their delicious fried chicken and waffles, but our favorite is The Original.

The Original features their classic seasoned fried chicken breast, fresh cider slaw and Bruxie brand maple syrup. They don’t stop at traditional chicken and waffles and slaw either, they aim to satisfy all of your fried chicken cravings, offering chicken and waffle dishes containing jalapenos and chipotle mayo, mac and cheese, and bacon and eggs. —Ryan Leuteriz

(Courtesy of Sessions)

Best Turkey Sandwich: Sessions West Coast Deli

Sessions West Coast Deli is Irvine’s best destination for hearty and healthy sandwiches, because at Sessions, everything has a healthy and homemade twist. From sides like their chips and guac to sauces and dressings like their habanero-pineapple BBQ sauce, every single ingredient comes from Sessions’ scratch kitchen. Even their coffee is made fresh daily from imported Golden State Co. coffee beans.

Our favorite item on the menu is their turkey sandwich, the Meddock Melee. This exceptional sandwich comes on a squaw roll with turkey, jalapeno jack cheese, sprouts, and adobo buttermilk dressing. Don’t forget: This beautifully crafted sandwich is made entirely in-house, from the squaw roll to the adobo buttermilk dressing.  —Ryan Leuteriz

Best Latte: Coffee Tomo

Coffee Tomo is a relaxing hangout for pour over coffee and special attes, all of which are hand dripped. Tomo’s hand drip technique, as opposed to machine dripped coffee, is what makes their lattes superior to the drive-thru coffee stops of 2019. 

Tomo customers love the outdoor patio and are often seen enjoying red bean lattes and large flavored pretzels, but their most popular latte is their house drink, the Tomo Latte. The Tomo Latte is a cafe latte made with medium roasted arabic beans, with condensed milk as an added sweetener. This simple twist on a traditional cafe latte, brings Tomo stans (i know ‘stan’ is informal but it just got added to the dictionary this year) to their Culver Plaza location daily to get their Tomo fix. —Ryan Leuteriz

Best Mojitos: Habana

Irvine’s newest Cuban destination is Habana at the Irvine Spectrum. Habana always offers a lively atmosphere, whether their fall picnic lunch buffet offering steak, seasonal fruit, and Cuban salads, or their weekend Habana nights that pair authentic Latin cocktails with live Cuban music. 

Our favorite happening at Habana also includes our favorite menu on the item. Habana’s Mojito Mondays feature their house mojitos, made with Bacardi Rum, fresh mint and muddled limes at just $6. And don’t worry about the time constraints of a happy hour, Mojito Mondays lasts from 11 a.m. till closing time at midnight. —Ryan Leuteriz

(Courtesy of Hello Kitty Grand Cafe)

Best Speakeasy: Hello Kitty Grand Cafe

Did you know that Irvine is home to one of the most popular speakeasies in Orange County? The Bow Room is a hidden pink paradise within the Hello Kitty Grand Cafe at the Irvine Spectrum. During the day, The Bow Room hosts tea parties, but at night, The Bow Room offers an array of exceptional cocktails.

This speakeasy is an Instagrammers dream, even if you’re not a Hello Kitty fan. Almost everything in the room is pink, from the walls, to their neon signs, to their cocktails, like the Pink Bow, made with gin, raspberry, and aquafaba, an eggwhite foam. Reservations are recommended, but walk-ins are accepted based on availability, as The Bow Room is often booked for weeks at a time. —Ryan Leuteriz

Best Korean BBQ: I Can BBQ

Whether you are a KBBQ first-timer or a seasoned gogi-gui veteran, I Can BBQ is proud to serve all Irvine residents. Offering an extensive grill-your-own menu paired with small gas grills built into your table, I Can BBQ offers guests an ideal KBBQ experience.

Their pork belly is a fan favorite, but you can’t go wrong picking your favorite protein option and cooking it to your satisfaction. I Can BBQ is an easy and fun way to cook and eat your own food and if you are a first timer, servers are more than happy to serve you helpful cooking tips. We also recommend hitting their dual happy hour, featuring 20 percent off alcohol all week, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., and then again from 9 p.m.to close. —Ryan Leuteriz

(Courtesy of Pokeworks)

Best Poke Bowl: Pokeworks

Poke, pronounced poh-kay, is a Hawaiian seafood dish usually featuring raw fish and fresh veggies, on top of a bed of rice. Pokeworks in Irvine aims to give you authentic poke dishes using only fresh and sustainable ingredients. They remains ecologically minded when serving their poke bowls, using only fresh and responsibly-sourced ingredients.

At Pokeworks, they provide you the option to make your own bowl, or choose one of their own classic bowls, like the umami bowl. It boasts freshly caught ahi tuna, green and sweet onions, hijiki seaweed, and umami shoyu sauce. —Ryan Leuteriz

Best Nitrogen Ice Cream: Creamistry

Nitrogen ice cream is the latest advancement in ice cream technology. Creamistry’s “creamologists” are specially trained to use liquid nitrogen to handcraft their premium ice cream. At creamistry, your ice cream is made to order, making it the freshest ice cream option the world has to offer.

It’s hard to pick our favorite Creamistry flavor, as they have over 60 flavor and topping options, including organic and sugar-free selections. One of Creamistry’s most popular creations is the Speculoos Overload. This intensely decadent ice cream dish features layers of Speculoos cookie butter ice cream, mini-marshmallows and Biscoff cookies. —Ryan Leuteriz

Best Grilled Cheese: The Melt

The Melt is Irvine’s gold standard for beautifully golden grilled cheeses. The Melt stands out from other cheesy sandwich spots, as they carefully select each of their ingredients to ensure that they are completely responsibly-sourced, natural and free of any artificial preservatives or colors. 

The Mac Daddy, our favorite sandwich, is aptly named, featuring cheesy mac and cheddar goodness, along with smoked bacon and crispy onions. The Melt doesn’t stop with caloric masterpieces like the Mac Daddy, they also offer burgers, salads and even grilled chicken sandwiches, all made with the Melt’s carefully selected ingredients. —Ryan Leuteriz

Best Veggie Burger: Butterleaf

Butterleaf aims to bring vegetarian and vegan cuisine to the mainstream. Butterleaf bills themselves as a vegetable diner, serving vegetarian food to non-vegetarians. Obviously Butterleaf is a vegetarian favorite in Irvine, but chef Andre Gruel offers an innovative and nontraditional vegetarian menu with items like veggie chowder, along with vegetarian classics like their Scratch Made Veggie Burger.

The Scratch Made Veggie Burger is made entirely in house, with a black bean and grain patty. Butterleaf patrons swear by it, and its size, flavor and $9 dollar price point, make it a go-to for a quick vegetarian meal. Vegans need not worry, most dishes are vegan, aside from their sauces, and Butterleaf servers known to be very attentive to each customer’s dietary restrictions. —Ryan Leuteriz

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The art of a craft cocktail is in the nuanced and careful balance in each concoction. A craft cocktail takes time, often infused with herbs and vapors, and has artistic and thoughtful details in its design and its presentation. There are hundreds of places in Irvine to get a drink that is labeled a “craft cocktail,” but only a few that can prove that their cocktails are crafted with care and thoughtfulness, truly earning that title. 

Contributions by Evan Senn and Arielle Roude

Paul Martin’s

Paul Martin’s is a high-end classic American restaurant and bar with international inspiration in its cuisine. Paul Martin’s bar, however, is even better. With classic pre-prohibition era craft cocktails and a flare for presentation and customer service, this is our high-end favorite. With your choice of drinking on sofas, private high-tops, at the bar, or at one of the many communal tables, this is a bar for every kind of drinker, but with a special gift for classic craft cocktails. We recommend the Chilton, the Vesper Martini or the Manhattan. 534 Spectrum Center Drive, Irvine.

(Courtesy of Y.N.K.)

Y.N.K.

Y.N.K., aka You Never Know, is an eclectic micro-bar inside the lobby of the Irvine Marriott. Alongside its charming and quirky design, this speakeasy-inspired bar also serves delicious craft cocktails for every kind of taste. Not all their drinks are winners, but their bartenders are experienced and passionate mixologists that are not afraid to wow customers. With rotating seasonal craft cocktails and a “pick your poison” option where you get to choose every detail that goes into your cocktail — including the garnish — Y.N.K. is an intimate and enchanting little gem that will satiate your craft cocktail cravings without any fuss. 18000 Von Karman Ave., Irvine.

Fall winter 2019 cocktails (Courtesy of Andrei’s Conscious Cuisine)

Andrei’s Conscious Cuisine and Cocktails

Andrei’s Conscious Cuisine and Cocktails is an enjoyable high-end experience in a very a strange space. A spacious second floor restaurant and bar, Andrei’s cuisine is health-conscious high-end omnivorous food, but their bar program is classically inspired by international craft cocktails and spirit-forward American tastes. Each drink is crafted with care and designed with nuanced details that light up in your mouth. The environment is relaxed and elegant with an open floor plan and central bar. The Elsa’s Revenge and Sage Advice are some of the best craft cocktails we’ve had in a long time. 2607 Main St., Irvine.

The IRV

A surprising find in the craft cocktail search is The IRV at Whole Foods Market. This casual café and bar is always busy, covered in televisions and has become a favorite daytime spot, but if you go toward the end of the night, you’ll be pleasantly surprised at the friendly service and interesting concoctions available at The IRV. Their craft cocktails are balanced, subtle and often made with organic spirits. The Carrot Top, Honey Fennel Smash and Beet Gimlet will clean your internal organs while treating your taste buds and fulfilling that deep desire for a nuanced craft cocktail. 8525 Irvine Center Drive, Irvine.

Tokyo Table

Celebrating their 10th anniversary this year, Tokyo Table offers a huge menu of cocktails including many easy-drinking Tokyo-style mojitos, Japanese margaritas, Geisha Saketinis, and a number of different Japanese-tinged infused mules. But, they also offer a handful of new classic Japanese craft cocktails that are balanced and thoughtful. Their Tokyo Old Fashioned is a perfect, spirit-forward classic cocktail with a contemporary twist, and they can also make you a custom craft cocktail with meticulous care. 2710 Alton Parkway, Irvine.

Puesto Margarita (Courtesy of Puesto)

Puesto

Start off with their Puesto Perfect Margarita, which is a great rendition of everything found in a classic margarita. If you are looking to add a little kick to your drink, try their Spicy Margarita. It is one of the best spicy margaritas out there and provides just the right amount of heat without being too overwhelming. Are you on the adventurous side? Then try the La Verdad Margarita. Its notes of cucumber, cactus and lime will have you forgetting that you are drinking a margarita and instead have you believing you are drinking a healthy juice from Whole Foods. Los Olivos Irvine, 8577 Irvine Center Drive, Irvine; Park Place Irvine, 3311 Michelson Drive, Irvine.

Javier’s

A local favorite, Javier’s has the perfect mix of ambiance and classic margarita options, making it the ultimate romantic night out on the town. Try their Granada Margarita that adds a kick of pomegranate liquor to their classic margarita mix. Its sunset colors are almost too pretty to drink. Or try a more tropical flavor with their Pina Margarita. This margarita is so refreshing with fresh pineapple and a splash of St. Germain. Another local favorite is their Jalapeño Margarita. This margarita brings the heat with pieces of jalapeño added right into the drink. Irvine Spectrum, 536 Spectrum Center Drive, Irvine.

Outside Irvine

Wild Taco 

This beach town hang-out spot offers margarita cocktails made with Sabe Blanco, a white tequila infused with sake. These flavor combinations are unique and add the ultimate flavor punch to the classic tequila margarita. It is the perfect margarita for anyone who is looking for a classic margarita but without the harsh tequila aftertaste. With refreshing fruit flavors like pineapple and watermelon, it’s hard not to love these margaritas. If you are looking to add an extra kick of heat to your drink, you have the option to make these concoctions spicy. 407 31st St., Newport Beach.

(Courtesy of Mi Casa)

Mi Casa

Having been a locals’ spot for over 40 years, Mi Casa infuses both tradition and flavor into their margaritas. All of their margaritas are made with fresh and seasonal fruits. Their house margarita includes an award-winning mix that has been a family secret since opening in 1972. Some favorite flavors are the Ultimate Cadillac Margarita, which uses their famous home-made margarita mix. We recommend the Coco-Rita Margarita, a blend of two classic drinks that seamlessly combines the flavors of pineapple, coconut and tequila. 296 E 17th St., Costa Mesa.

Mango Con Chile (Courtesy of SOL Mexican Cocina)

SOL Mexican Cocina

SOL has endless options when it comes to their margarita menu. They have frozen margaritas, skinny margaritas and about any flavor of margarita you can think of. Their frozen mango chili margarita is definitely a crowd favorite. It’s the perfect mix of both sweet and savory with its added chili-salted rim. Another fan favorite is their watermelon margarita that is the prettiest shade of pink. Their classic margarita is one of the best in town — made with house-made sour mix and fresh-squeezed orange juice, this cocktail is so smooth and delicious you can easily forget you are even sipping on an alcoholic beverage. 251 E. Coast Highway, Newport Beach.

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