South Orange County Restaurants
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Miki Sushi & Sake
$$$$•Sushi•4.9(142)Honoring Chef Miki Izumisawa, the female, award-winning sushi artist, originally trained by the one and only Nobu Matsuhisa. Miki was inspired by nature to create unique nigiri, cut rolls and hand rolls that blur the line between art and fusion sushi. Miki's recipes transform elements of the natural world with names such as Lava Flow, Moon and Sun, Feather in the Sky, and Prairie. Before her passing, Miki carefully coached outstanding female-only sushi chefs to execute her masterpieces. Her legacy continues in this romantic styled coastal, intimate sushi bar and cozy 18 window seats with views of Laguna's main beach. Owners Chris Olsen and Greg Washer are longtime locals who appreciate what Miki did for this community with an outstanding Japanese experience pushing the boundaries of tradition. Reservations recommended!Starfish Newport
$$$$•Contemporary Asian•4.9(435)Starfish comes to Newport Beach!
~ Intimate Seating | Sake & Wine Bar | Takeout & Kitchen ~
A tastefully provocative journey through the Coastlines of Asia.
Our menu is rooted in tradition, featuring classic dishes, translated for our modern palate. Discover over 70 shareable plates, paired with our exotic sake libations and extensive wine list, as we become your new beachside, neighborhood go-to. Indulge in our dedication to freshness, quality, ambiance and service.
We offer our full menu for takeout and delivery in partnership with DoorDash and UberEats. To place a pickup order please visit starfishcalifornia.com or call our team at 949.570.3990.
Tierra de Fuegos
$$$$•Argentinean•4.9(61)Tierra de Fuegos, led by Chef Mariano “Maro” Molteni, brings the soul of Argentine wood-fire cooking to Laguna Niguel. Inspired by Chef Maro’s roots in Buenos Aires, his family expeditions through Patagonia, and travels across South America, our open kitchen showcases flames rising over the grill, rotisserie, and wood-fired oven. Guests savor signature dishes like the Hatchet Steak for Two with chimichurri, hand-crafted desserts, house-made empanadas, and a wide selection of wood-grilled proteins with vibrant seasonal vegetables—paired with a curated list of Argentine and California wines. Set in a warm, rustic dining room with a cozy patio perfect for gatherings, Tierra de Fuegos offers fire-driven cuisine, heartfelt hospitality, and the unmistakable flavors of Argentina.
Reserve now and experience why guests call it unforgettable.Truly Pizza - Laguna Beach
$$$$•Pizzeria•4.8(50)Truly Pizza is a loving testament to collaboration, friendship, and respect for the world’s greatest communal food. Founded by Las Vegas hospitality veteran Donna Baldwin and renowned pizza maker and educator John Arena, Truly Pizza is the culmination of their lifetime of shared friendship and love of healthy artisanal handcrafted food. Together with World Pizza Champion teammates Chris Decker and Michael Vakneen, Truly Pizza has set a new standard for culinary excellence and hospitality in the world of pizza.
Ocean 48 - Newport
$$$$•Seafood•4.9(2,018)The Ocean 48 menu is designed with fresh seafood and quality ingredients in mind. The Mastros provide ultra-grade seafood, salmon, lobster, crab, oysters and more. Much of the menu is served a la carte, letting each guest personalize their experience. Ocean 48 is seafood reinvented in a vibrant upscale atmosphere specializing in world-class seafood & great steaks. Different than anything we have done in the past, the fine dining atmosphere blends dramatic and intimate settings. At the core of Ocean 48 is chef sourced, highest graded sustainable fresh seafood from around from the world, enhanced with unique and interesting appetizers and side dishes that go beyond the traditional seafood menu. Newport's best seafood & romantic restaurant.Andrei's Restaurant
$$$$•Californian•4.9(2,023)Modern Californian cuisine utilizing locally grown, sustainably farmed and fair-traded products. Our goal is to not only enhance quality but also to support a new, more responsible attitude toward our community and the world around us. That is why we donate all net profits to chartable causes. Both warm and inviting, nature was the inspiration for Andrei's Restaurant interior; from the soaring two-story waterfall in the lobby to the striking onyx and granite bar and eco-friendly pecan wood floors, every detail was hand-selected for its natural beauty. We welcome you to visit Andrei's Restaurant for a truly special dining experience.
Please note that all special requests may not be honored. We will do our best to provide you with all options to make your dining experience very special.
The Drake in Laguna
$$$$•Contemporary American•4.8(1,797)We offer seating in 3 spaces, including our Bar/Lounge, Dining Room/Chef’s Counter or Intimate fire-wall enclosed Patio. Due to space considerations, please contact us directly for tables of 6 or more guests.
Live entertainment is performed nightly on the main stage in our Dining Room. Tables are by reservation only, for dinner. Hours of Music; Su/M/Tu, 5:30-9:30pm Wed/Thu 6-10pm Fr/Sa 6:30-10:30pm. Valet Parking $11 per vehicle.
All Tables in Main Room or Patio, Th/Fr/Sa, are subject to a $10 per person Live music charge, on top of dinner tab. Our dynamic musical line-up of Jazz, R&B, Soul & Contemporary artists, provides an interactive yet intimate experience, in an elegant yet relaxed setting.
The Drake features New American cuisine prepared by Award Winning Chef team Paul & Nick Gstrein. Seasonal offerings encompass an ever-evolving menu of unique small plates, steaks, chops, fresh seafood & desserts. Our curated Wine & Spirits selections serve to enhance the dining experience.Truly Pizza - Dana Point
$$$$•Pizzeria•4.8(1,148)Located in the heart of the Lantern District in Dana Point, Truly Pizza is an artisanal neighborhood pizzeria where friends and family can relax and enjoy the fellowship of sharing pizza - the world's greatest communal food.
Our outdoor garden design, rooftop wine experience and nurturing service style promote a welcoming sense of community by offering friends and neighbors a casual dining environment filled with personal touch points every step of the way.
*We are an outdoor restaurant with patio & rooftop dining only. We provide blankets and heaters for guests*
Please note 20% gratuity is added for parties of 8 or larger.
Drift Distillery and Smokehouse
$$$$•Barbecue•4.9(98)We are an award winning craft distillery and bbq smokehouse located in the heart of San Clemente.
All of our spirits are handcrafted here in San Clemente with grain from our parents' farm in Kansas, making us a true grain to bottle distillery. We are also proud to serve KC style inspired bbq with a SoCal twist.Bricco Cucina and Wine Bar
$$$$•Italian•4.8(159)Owners Jordan and Creig Mullikin love to eat delicious food, drink great wine and be treated like family. They want every bite, every sip, every visit to be delicious and a treat. Our goal is to serve you fresh, homemade, and thoughtful dishes focused on our family's heritage and our customers' needs to make everyone feel like family at our neighborhood spot which sports a modern yet vintage vibe. We have a large outdoor patio that is both heated and covered. One of the more popular things here at Bricco is our live music Friday's and Saturday's with very talented singers and performers.
Outdoor dining in Orange County
See what locals rave about in South Orange County
From verified diners like you
From verified diners like you
- JJeffreyNew York City •1 review5.0Dined 2 days agoIt was awesome! Had a table on the patio. Henry was an incredible waiter. Had the filet and seabass. Everything was spectacular!More infoMastro's Ocean Club - Newport Beach$$$$• Seafood• Newport Beach•4.8
- AAnnOrange County •4 reviews5.0Dined 2 days agoWe had a really beautiful dinner! The service was great. The food was great. The cocktails were great and we ended the night with the beignets for dessert and they were delicious!!!More infoBeachcomber Cafe - Crystal Cove$$$$• Californian• Newport Beach•4.7
- SShariGoldNew York City •10 reviews5.0Dined 2 days agoI took my mom for her birthday and we had a marvelous experience from start to finish! Everyone and everything was so wonderful! It was our first time and we are definitely going back! Highly recommend!More infoFarmhouse at Rogers Gardens$$$$• American• Corona del Mar•4.7
- MMSan Diego •8 reviews5.0Dined 3 days agoWe had never been here before and what a treat!!! Irvinelocation was lovely. Excellent and professional service, food and drinks were outstanding. We cannot wait to go back!More infoJavier's Irvine Spectrum$$$$• Mexican• Irvine•4.6
- SSusanGoldHouston •27 reviews5.0Dined 4 days agoExcellent restaurant and amazing food and service.More infoJavier's Crystal Cove$$$$• Mexican• Newport Beach•4.7
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Discover South Orange County
With more than a thousand restaurants to choose from in the Orange County area, there is something to suit every taste when dining out. Orange County is best known for its coastal location, and many burger joints, seafood restaurants, and other eateries feature amazing beach views that you can enjoy while you dine. Seafood caught from the Pacific Ocean is dominant in local dishes, and this includes everything from sushi to sweet and sour shrimp. Because Orange County is located very close to the Mexico–United States border, you can also find incredible Mexican restaurants, and many serve homemade tortillas and hand-rolled tamales. Orange County restaurants serve American fare as well as international cuisine like Thai and Japanese dishes.
Dining around South Orange County Hot Spots
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Frequently asked questions
Celebrate special occasion at the best restaurants in South Orange County. Our customers recommend Beachcomber Cafe - Crystal Cove, Ocean 48 - Newport and JOEY Newport Beach
As of May 11, 2026 there are 312 restaurants in South Orange County. Filter by “outdoor dining”, “romantic” or “dog friendly”.
On OpenTable we support all cuisines. Find American, Italian, Seafood, Mexican, Steakhouse and more. Use our filters to find exactly what you’re looking for and make your reservation today.
Yes! We partner with restaurants in South Orange County who deliver with Olo, ChowNow, Toast, Uber Eats, Postmates.
Yes, you can also see restaurants near you offering takeout.
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