Bristol

DX Peruvian Closes in Santa Ana; Inka Mama's Takes Over

DX Peruvian--the restaurant at the corner of Bristol and Sunflower next to Bella Cuba and technically in Santa Ana although it's directly across from South Coast Plaza--has closed and now become the fourth branch of Inka Mama's. The switch-over happened this week.This INCArnation (sorry, couldn't re ... More >>

On The Line: Alfonso Ramirez Of Pinot Provence, Part One

Ch-ch-ch-changes happen all the time in the restaurant industry. Chefs leave, and are replaced by someone with a vision more aligned with that of the establishment. Alfonso Ramirez helms the kitchen within Westin South Coast Plaza's fine-dining establishment, Pinot Provence. Where have you worked in ... More >>

Danny Godinez, Food Genius

[Best Of 2012] The culinary genius at Anepalco’s shares his favorite things about Orange County

On the Line: Pascal Olhats, Part One

"I think it's time that Orange County made its mark in the country by being a restaurant scene. It's going to take some time. . . It's simmering, but we need to make it boil."It's unfair to associate Pascal Olhats with only one establishment, since he's spent the last 20-something years parlaying hi ... More >>

A Very Brief Review of Starbucks' Cool Lime Refresher

I ended up at the Starbucks on Bristol and Memory Lane today because my favorite Mexican bakery, Las 3 Princesas, didn't make any champurrado today and I needed something to dip their excellent pan de anís in. While I placed my order for a latte, the barista offered me a sample of the new Refresher ... More >>

Potzol den Cano: A Home Run In a Bowl (And On a Plate)

My in-laws make the best pozole in the world. This is not open for discussion; anyone who has ever had it at any Gutierrez family gathering knows the truth. Come Christmas time, certain houses from here to Lake Los Angeles smell like what my sister-in-law graciously refers to as "feet and butt s ... More >>

Battle of the Bristol Street Burgers: Umami Burger vs. TK Burger

South on Bristol, in the middle of Orange County's Hipster Triangle, is a burger place everyone should try. The meat is fresh, the bread is baked specifically for the burger and everything is made to order. It's even in walking distance of the Camp and the LAB, just to give diners a little something ... More >>

Chapman University Religion and Economics Conference Draws Scholars from Far and Wide

​Chapman University today and tomorrow hosts what is billed as "a major international conference" on religion, economics and culture. Participants include Chapman's Nobel laureate in economics Vernon L. Smith and academics not only from the Orange campus and UC Irvine but Yale, Harvard, Notre D ... More >>

Taste Test: Bella & Baja Restaurant "Where Italy Meets Mexico"

​ Baja & Bella. Stella's and Bella. La Fogta Baha Grill. Depending on where you look, these are the many names and aliases that this puzzler of a restaurant that recently opened on MacArthur Blvd. near Bristol uses. But that's not the most beguiling part in all this. The restaurant that can't ... More >>

Sabores Mexican Grill Shutters; Bella Cuba Moves In

Photo by JB​It used to be a Carl's Jr. Then Lani Grille moved in around 2006, trying its best to fill the grand space, the biggest dining room in a restaurant-heavy island at the northwest corner of Bristol and Sunflower. Lani offered Asian-inspired Polynesian food, something the South Coast Plaza ... More >>

Portishead's Geoff Barrow On Touring Third, Misconceptions About Dummy and His Upcoming Hip-Hop Record

​Thirteen years after their last North American tour, pioneering British trio Portishead are back to finally make the rounds in support of their latest album, Third, released in 2008. It's been a while, but for good reason; between having babies and working on new musical projects, they've been qu ... More >>

Sushi Box Is Teriyaki-rific

[Hole In the Wall] Elevating the placing of grilled meat on top of rice to an art form

OC's Only Blimpie Closes

Flickr user mokolabs​Orange County's only outpost of the Blimpie sandwich-shop chain, located at 840 The City Dr. S. in Orange, has closed its doors, part of a reshuffling of businesses that has seen the departure of a doughnut shop, a cell-phone store and a flower shop.Management for the Orange C ... More >>

The Mexican Debated Tom Tancredo, and No Chingazos Were Thrown!

[¡Ask a Mexican!] Also, why Mexicans should learn how to dance to tropical music

Is It Wise for Chick-Fil-A to Donate Their Chicken Sandwiches to the Poor?

​Far from me to criticize charitable efforts in these hard days but forgive me for being a bit cynical with a recent press release announcing that the Chick-Fil-A on Bristol and Macarthur in SanTana wants you to donate $5 so they can, donation by donation, give 30,000 hungry people in Orange Count ... More >>

#1 AKA The Best Dish in Orange County RIGHT NOW: Taco Acorazado at the the Two Alebrije's Grill

Photo by the Elmo Monster...​This is it, cabrones: the best dish in Orange County! Want the best restaurant? You'll have to pick up our Best of OC issue next Thursday. Gracias for all the comments, the criticisms and other randomness. 'Til next year, or the next mass list of something or other!Som ... More >>

Good Shrimp/Fish Tacos, False Advertising at Baja Cachanilla

Cachanilla is also a plant...​I've always enjoyed the shrimp and fish tacos at Baja Cachanilla in SanTana--each juicy, plump, on handmade tortillas and topped with one of the thicker, sweeter fish taco creams you'll find. It's better than Baja Fresh just a couple of blocks down Bristol, and Wahoo' ... More >>

Kogi Truck Sighting Out OC Weekly's Window!

Spencer KornhaberThis looks vaguely familiar...​Just goes to show you, if you write ninety hellazillion stories & blog posts about them, they will come. Yes, that is the Kogi Korean BBQ truck. And yes, that is the parking lot of the John Wayne-adjacent cluster of battleship-gray office buildin ... More >>

Santa Ana's Yogurt Bar Offers a Taste of the Caribbean in a Cup

​So you didn't manage a vacation (or even a staycation) this summer? Try a taste of this froyo café's pineapple and coconut flavor. As you take your first spoonful, you're transported (mentally, at least) to a palm-fringed island--Antigua, perchance--the water lapping at your toes. You can almost ... More >>

The ampm on Bristol and Red Hill Sells Expired Kit-Kats

​Yes, the title of this blog is a serious charge. I realize that. But it's one that I'm able to back up.Last week, I went to the ampm (that's the "official" way to spell the name of the place, I know it looks weird all lower-case, but take it up with them) on the corner of Bristol and Red Hill on ... More >>

Kogi BBQ Truck Scheduled To Do Costa Mesa This Saturday Night

Keith May​In case you haven't noticed, Kogi has been making routine weekend stops in O.C. this month.Two Saturdays ago, it was Fullerton.  This past Saturday, it was Orange.  This coming Saturday, it will be Costa Mesa, at the Holiday Inn on Bristol near the 405, from 6 p.m.-midnight.When I rend ... More >>

[Hole in the Wall] Say Mucho Domo Arigato to Wafu of Japan

O.C. Restaurants With No Corkage Fees

I got the following e-mail from a reader named Dorn: I know you are not an alcohol drinker, but I suspect many of your foodie fans love wine. I would love to see a topic covered on OC restaurants that do not charge a corkage fee. Considering that most restaurants mark-up their wines 200% - 300 ... More >>

To Do This Weekend 11/21 - 11/23

Coats for Cubs, until April 22 Bring in your real fur clothing, including trims, accessories and shearling to any Buffalo Exchange and let them know it's a donation for Coats for Cubs. Condition is unimportant. Donations will be given to the Humane Society to provide bedding and comfort to orphaned ... More >>

To Do This Weekend 5/23 - 5/26

Memorial Day Weekend Sales at the LAB, Friday-Monday Sidewalk sales by Urban Outfitters, Harlow's, Carve & Blends and Habit The Lab 2930 Bristol St. Costa Mesa, CA 92626 Standing Up for Justice and Peace, Friday 5 p.m. Peacefully protest the wrongs of the world Outside South Coast Plaza Corner of B ... More >>

Off to Meet the Wizard of Irvine Co.

Apparently there were 500 of them, a swarm of janitors in purple and yellow t-shirts making their way around the sprawling headache known lovingly as South Coast Plaza. They were scheduled to gather at noon on the corner of Sunflower and Bristol and then march to some undisclosed location and hold a ... More >>

What You Missed Over The Weekend Part XV

On Friday night, Dave Segal watched London duo, Black Ghosts, put on one of the better hipster-dance live shows he's seen in a while. Saying, "It was kind of like a combination of Daft Punk and Chemical Brothers, full of aggressive beats, filthy synth textures and sing-along tunes." Saturday found ... More >>

SanTana Cruises into the Past

News this afternoon that the SanTana police department will shut down most of northbound Bristol Street until tomorrow morning to stem off car cruising is about as breaking as that the city is mostly Mexican. The city has unsuccessfully battled cruisers on Bristol for almost 20 years. In 1989, the c ... More >>

Friday - 11/16

The Rocky Horror Show at the Maverick Theater, Orange County Peace & Justice protest in Costa Mesa, “Shag: The World, the Flesh & the Devil” at Pure Color

Summer Grub Guide

Your guide to the best damn eats in OC

Grub Guide

This week in Randomness

Police Put the Smackdown on Mexican Kids

Getting calls from my various Chicano yaktivist pals, and they're saying the kids are marching out of Westminster, Garden Grove, and Anacrime. Reports of police beating up kids on Bristol and Warner in SanTana, although the kids supposedly through rocks. Pendejos. Off to take pictures. . .

This Week in Pork

Burger Safari

Ground beef well-done with a side of amnesia

Art for Arts Sake

Graffiti is the real deal

This Week in Weekling Haunts

Ramen Wars!

Slurping through Orange Countys steamiest Ramen bowls

Eight Days

No Blood for Wesson Oil!

The futures so fried youve gotta drive green

Give the Satyr a Brew

Scouting Santa Ana for superior lunches

Anti-War Fun

What Are We Doing There?

How to fight the war from home

Belated thanks for the Xmas candy, Luther of Orange

T

Get Involved

New War, Old Protest

Where are the goddamned donuts?

Flat Cat

Now Sample Free!

Drum-and-bass perfectionists. Roni Size/Reprazent get real.

Where Is Nozolle?

St Capriccio Italiano

Guilty Pleasures

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