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Food & Drink
Now Open: Ja Jiaozi in Irvine and MORE!
Craftsman Pizza of Placentia has opened a second location in Anaheim. 5645 E La Palma Ave, Anaheim, CA 92807 The first American location of Ja Jiaozi, a Chinese dumpling chain, has opened at The Market Place in Irvine. The 2,954 square foot space has a menu that includes a signature dumpling with pork, dried shrimp […]
OC Cheesecake Factory Restaurants Dinged in $4.5 Million Wage Theft Case
What’s a more staggering number for the Cheesecake Factory than the calorie bomb counts of its namesake desserts? $4.57 million! That’s how much the state of California announced yesterday that it’s holding the company and its subcontractor liable following a three-year wage theft investigation that targeted a number of restaurants in Orange County. The Cheesecake […]
Introducing Beer Baron Greg Nagel to OC Weekly
Ladies and germs, may I have your attention please. Join us here at Weekly World Headquarters in welcoming thee Mr. Gregory P. Nagel to the asylum! Mr. Nagel joins the insanity here at OC Weekly as our latest scribe in the gluttonous side of the paper; our Food & Drink section. He’s as cool as […]
Offshoot Beer Co Relax: Our Beer of the Week!
Still dark in the wee hours of the morning, the sound of my phone vibrating on my nightstand brought me to a gasp. As my phone’s ‘do not disturb’ is set to my immediate family only to ring when enabled, I knew the call was something serious. “Honey, Anthony is dead,” said my out-of-town wife. […]
RIP, Anthony Bourdain
Thankfully, I’m beyond the hero worship phase of my life—at least of nonfictional ones and for sure I generally don’t idolize people I don’t know personally. I dig it: Gandalf and Colonel Kilgore are rad, but outside a few other ethereal examples, I rarely put anyone on a pedestal. The literal handful I do […]
Finding Heaven at the BrewHouse: What the Ale!
South Orange County has established itself as a mecca for award-winning brews, and now there’s a brew-pub spotlighting a rotating menu of local and hard-to-find craft beers. On a recent visit to the BrewHouse SJC, as I sampled some brews from visiting vendor Firestone Walker, I found myself wondering, as though I were in the […]
OC Grub Guide: Father’s Day 2018 Edition
Have you bought a gift for Dad yet? How about a card? Well, you’re in luck. We’ve assembled a list of food-related awesomeness sure to make him smile. And to make things easier, we grouped them based on his preferences. Happy shopping! For the Wine Enthusiast: Hi-Time Wine Cellars Cabernet Promotion – Costa Mesa/Irvine/Newport […]
Channeling Bob’s Burgers, Graze in Santa Ana Does a Great Black Garlic Burger
The first thing I thought of when I saw that Graze—the new 4th Street Market vendor—had a burger with black garlic in it was Bob’s Burgers. If you’re a fan of the show, as I am, you’ll remember that black garlic was what our greasy but earnest burger maker used as a secret ingredient during […]
On the Line: Rolando Rubalcava of Playa Mesa
It was over five years ago when I met and became acquainted with Roland(o) Rubalcava. Much has happened since our initial interview: marriage, changing jobs, fatherhood, etc. With Playa Mesa gearing up to open, another chapter is starting in Chef Rubalcava’s professional life. I gladly took the opportunity to check-in with Rolando and see what’s […]
Eat This Now: Popcorn Shrimp Tacos at Memphis Soul Cafe
Ever since executive chef Diego Velasco began cooking food at Costa Mesa’s Memphis Soul Cafe, I’ve been eating one of his most tastiest creations—the popcorn shrimp tacos—at the rate of about one or two times per week. I have always been a fan of Baja-style shrimp tacos, but Diego’s ingenious twist on the classic Mexican […]
Now Open: Maison de Pho in Mission Viejo and MORE!
Foothill Ranch’s Maison de Pho has expanded to Mission Viejo. The menu features the noodle soup, rice dishes, stir-fried noodles, and egg rolls. 26861 Trabuco Rd De, Ste D&E, Mission Viejo, CA 92691 HOK Pizza & Stuffed Potatoes has opened in Lake Forest in the space that used to be Pizza Studio. Specialties include […]
OC Movers & Shakers: Summer 2018 Edition
There’s been a whole lotta shakin’ going on in Orange County this past month. Fortunately, we’re here to give you a proper rundown of what’s new. Don’t be surprised if you recognize a few names. Angelina’s Pizzeria Napoletana – Irvine/Dana Point Chef Jonah Amodt, formerly linked to Andrea at the Resort at Pelican Hill, […]
Drink of the Week: Sergio Smash at Pueblo
As days get warmer, we suggest you sit at Pueblo’s small bar—or even better, at one of the counters out front—as you enjoy a steady stream of classic tapas, including the charred goat cheese, queso fundido spread with black truffle and honey, and the crunchy bite-sized croquetas with creamed cod and potato topped with manchego. […]
Beer Fest Hopes to Save Long Beach’s Beleaguered Sunnyside Cemetery: What the Ale!
It’s not every day that you can drink craft beer to bring a 112-year-old cemetery back to life. But that’s exactly what Ryan Hughes and Martin Svab of Phantom Carriage Brewery want to you to do at their dark-arts beer fest that aims to #SaveSunnyside. Dubbed “A Celebration at Sunnyside Cemetery,” the June 30 event […]
Mamón Hillside Eatery Serves Comfort Food With Hints of Inka Mama’s Peruvian Flavor
It may not be obvious, but the new restaurant Mamón Hillside Eatery, located just a few doors down from the Inka Mama’s flagship location in Foothill Ranch, is also a Peruvian restaurant. Well, sort of. There are hints of Peru everywhere, but only if you’re paying attention. I’m pretty sure I saw bottles of Inka […]
OC Grub Guide 5/31-6/6: Sidecar, Stamps and Scones
Savory and sweet. Tea and cocktails. Heck, we’ve even got an art installation in this week’s guide. Our plan to help you think ahead is working. You may need to wear comfy shoes for some of these, but you’ve been warned. Now excuse us while we get back to our Negroni. Save the Date: […]
ETN: Cold Noodle Salad at Fleenor’s On 4th
Since Judy Fleenor (of Crave Restaurant) opened Fleenor’s On 4th in Santa Ana, it has quickly become a local favorite for lunch and dinner thanks to chef Linh Nguyen (formerly of the Crosby and Foodbeast). Among his array of tasty entrées is a refreshing cold noodle salad, featuring springy mung bean noodles tossed with mixed […]
Funk Salad Belgian-Style Sour From Beachwood Blendery: Our Beer of the Week!
The neighborhood butcher shop has practically disappeared with the emergence of the modern supermarket, but we are now seeing a resurgence in the craft and appreciation of meat cutting, with customers loving every juicy morsel. The Butchery Quality Meats is a great example, with three stores—in Costa Mesa, Brea and Newport Coast—offering choice, […]
Now Open: Top Chef Opens New Restaurant in Costa Mesa and MORE!
Top Chef Brian Huskey has opened a second location of his Corona Del Mar eatery Tackle Box. The new restaurant is located in Costa Mesa’s SOCO. 3321 Hyland Ave., Costa Mesa, CA 92626 The Island Cinema at Fashion Island is now The Lot, an upscale movie theater brand from San Diego. The upgraded theaters now […]
Home Brewing with the Homies at Coldchela 2018: What the Ale!
At the 1988 World Series, Kurt Gibson, came off the bench in the bottom of the ninth to hit a home run and beat the mighty Oakland A’s in front of a crowd of 55,983 fans (but there’s at least a million Angeleno’s who will claim they were at that game). On May 12, 350 […]
Long Beach Newcomer Lacquered Needs to Rethink Prices on its Great Food
Of all the recent restaurant openings in Long Beach, none has caused quite as many conflicting opinions as Lacquered. On the one hand, it’s a small counter-service restaurant owned by an enthusiastic Harbor Area husband and wife team who parlayed their respective fine-dining experiences (him: The Fifth Restaurant in Toronto; her: Wolfgang Puck) first into […]