Did you forget to pick up a hard copy? Do you prefer to just read about it on your phone? We understand. So this is the quick and dirty (dry) summary that you’ll browse while standing in line for whatever meal you’re about to ingest. To view complete descriptions of the winners (including their respective […]
Best Of
Behold OC Weekly’s 2017 Best Of Issue!
For whatever crazy reason, the biggest issue of the year—184 pages!—is hidden behind a tab deep down on the left side of our homepage. Hopefully by now, anyone reading this post has already picked up a copy of the Best of 2017 edition. But we wanted to show this whopping endeavor the love it deserves […]
Best Neighborhood Park
Take the tablets out of your kids’ hands, and watch them improve their muscle strength, coordination and cognitive-reasoning skills. This Cypress greenspace boasts three slides, a rope ladder and semifunctional chimes. Tucked into a neighborhood off Knott Avenue, you barely hear the sounds of traffic through the fence. There’s no bathroom, and weirdos are a […]
Best Day Trip
You don’t need to be religious to find this sprawling slab of adobe worthy of pilgrimage. This psychedelic monument to God was built by Leonard Knight, considered to be either a passionate artist, a religious fanatic, or both. But once you arrive and are witness to the labor of love Knight spent years creating (and […]
Best Malaysian Restaurant
The Chinese Malaysian place Khim and Soon Teoh opened in Anaheim isn’t the only restaurant to serve Malaysian food in the county. It’s actually the second. But Seasons Kitchen USA might just be the only one that matters. The char siu that tops the oil-dressed noodle is pork candy. The traditional Malaysian desserts are sublime. […]
Best Actor
There were lots of riveting performances in Brian Newell’s adaptation of Michael Shaara’s novel about the Battle of Gettysburg, Killer Angels, at the Maverick Theater, from Brian Kojac’s General Robert E. Lee on the kind-of-loser side to Frank Tryon’s Colonel Joshua Chamberlain on the kind-of winning side. But it was Joseph’s complicated and empathetic performance […]
Best Nontraditional Burger
While hipster joints try every which way to reinvent the classic American burger, the resurrection of Naugles brings back its Mexican take. Sure, there are great beef-patty pleasers on the menu, from the Ortega to the Naugleburger, but none offers the peculiarity that is the Bun Taco. It’s everything the name implies, with all of […]
Best Coffee
Founders Julie Nguyen and Paul Del Mundo first got attention in OC’s cutthroat caffeine scene with unique creations such as Dirty Horchata and li’l fizz orange soda, all served from a cute van. It’s Contra Coffee & Tea’s individualistic style and innovative approach that recently landed them a brick-and-mortar tasting room within the 1888 Cultural […]
Best Frozen Yogurt
As with its many competitors, Joghurt’s setup is a self-serve dessert station. But that’s where the similarities end. Offering bonus options such as waffle cones and even Dole or root beer floats is what sets them apart. Throw in a sunny interior and kind service, and those fro-yo flavors (including cake batter and peanut butter) […]
Best Steak
You’re going to have to cook it yourself, but ask the helpful butchers here after you buy one of the grass-fed beauts, and they’ll tell you how to prepare the most spectacular slab of beef you’ll ever have. 201 E. Fourth St., Santa Ana, (714) 474-9096; www.electriccitybutcher.com. Readers’ Choice: Prime Cut Cafe & Wine Bar
Best Ice Cream
This legitimate mom-and-pop shop features a plethora of delicious, natural ice creams made in-house. In the news last year for demanding a crappy human who berated two Muslim customers leave the premises, Andrew’s proves the Martin Luther King Jr. posters inside aren’t just wall decorations. Good people doing the right thing and making our hearts […]
Best Rock Club
DUH . . . 3503 S. Harbor Blvd., Santa Ana, (714) 957-0600; www.observatoryoc.com. Readers’ Choice: House of Blues
Best Place for Site-Specific Art
Though the onetime home of San Clemente founder Ole Hanson has dedicated gallery space and an outdoor amphitheater, the most thrilling work at 1927 Spanish Revival Casa Romantica is created specifically for its every nook and cranny. Enter through the old mansion’s keyhole-shaped door for dance and theater performances anywhere from a beehive hearth or […]
Best Venue for Live Music
Even if there’s not many other reasons to visit GardenWalk (see Best Art Gallery and Best Public Art), it’s less of a pain to go to a concert here than when the House of Blues was at Downtown Disney. Combine that with the variety of room sizes and venues, the ability to actually eat a […]
Best Local Celebrity
It’s a testament to Ngo’s acting determination that this summer, the product of UC Irvine and Cal State Fullerton turned down an opportunity to audition for an upcoming Sylvester Stallone film. He was already booked for a supporting role in Boy Erased, a future production directed by actor Joel Edgerton (Star Wars: Episode II, Zero […]
Best Place for Shopping
Anaheim Indoor Marketplace boasts it has everything under one roof—and it’s true! Each weekend, la naranja‘s Mexicans roam its aisles for deals on classic Vans, Stetsons, quinceañera dresses, Pepe Aguilar CDs y más! The swap meet first opened in 1990 with only 20 vendors. Now, with Anaheim’s raza as a majority, it’s become the largest—and […]
Best Bookstore
Sarah Rafael García’s tiny bookstore popup in a stairway between Alta Baja Market and 4th Street Market offers affordable books by writers of color; bilingual and Spanish books for children, youth and adults; as well as books that speak to culture and social-justice issues relevant to the local community. And thanks to generous donors, LibroMobile […]
Best Costume Store
Orange used to house a few mom-and-pop costume shops, but just one remains: Gasoline Alley, tucked in the corner of a tiny strip mall. It’s a treasure trove overflowing with theater-quality costumes and authentic vintage pieces. Most items are available for both rent and purchase. Its selection of well-made pieces will make you never want […]
Best Live Resin
The rustic packaging initially grabs your attention, but after a dab of Gorilla Glue live resin, it’s obvious the cute container it came in is just for looks. Wyldeheart’s concentrates are produced with flower from its own farms. It strives to provide patients with resin that offers maximum relief from a company they can trust. […]
