ORANGE COUNTY, CA

When I get company they always want to try a Mexican Restaurant. They are always disappointed with real Mexican food. There is a chain of Mexican restaurants ( for American tastes ) that have really good food. One is "Acalpulco Mexican Restaurant", they have great Margaritas, appetizers, desserts, and the food is good also.


Southwestern: "El Torito Grill" is fantastic, you can watch them make their tortillas, they come hot to the table with fresh made salsas & honey butter ( you spread a tiny bit of the butter on the tortillas, then add salsa roll and eat ) . Margaritas are great, food is very good. This is what most of the people I know think Mexican is.
Don't confuse it with El Torito Mexican Restaurant, it good but it's Mexican.

We have a lot of chain restaurants here that are very good.

"Claim Jumper" is the #1 money maker in CA. They have a little bit of everything, Super Large portions, food is really good.

"Souplantation" is a large salad bar, soup bar, pasta bar, bread/pizza/muffin bar, potato bar, yogurt/dessert bar place. Good food.

"Cheesecake Factory" good food, Wonderful cheesecakes.
"California Pizza Kitchen" has more than pizza, pasta, salads.
"Corner Bakery" panini sandwiches, salads.
"Ruby's Burger chain, good food, good breakfasts.
"Marie Callenders" Started out as a pie shop. Pies are Wonderful ! Food is good.
"Rainforest Cafe" will make the kids happy.
"P.F.Chang's China Bistro. Good, lot's of garlic, not cheap.
"The Old Spaghetti Factory" not as cheap as it use to be, but still a good deal. Food is very good. Opens at 5PM.

"Mimi's Cafe" French bistro. Best Breakfast ! Carrot bread is fantastic, yummy muffins, good lunch.

"Islands" Best Burgers !Gourmet Burgers, they are 1/2 lb. and Fantastic. They also have good salads, taco etc. Fries come in a big basket, not frozen, Nachos. Large Portions.

Not a Chain. The best Seafood around is in Los Alamitos " The Original Fish CO " there's a wait and lunch is much cheaper than dinner. Sour dough rolls are to-die-for. New England clam chowder isn't really authentic, they put lots of celery in it, But it is the BEST I've ever tasted.

If you are ever in Huntington Beach ( Beach Blvd & Atlanta, near the beach ) we have a small Mexican Restaurant nearby, take out, small dining area, called " Las Barcas " they use only canola oil, top quality lean chicken & beef, they make their own salsa, prices are good. Food is Wonderful !

For real family style Mexican you can try " La Capilla Mexican Restaurant " on Adams at Beach Blvd. my favorite is the Chili rellinos, DH always gets the chicken Fajitas. LOL !

Fast Food Chains here besides McD's are Carl's JR ( good chicken sandwiches ) Wienerschnitzel (lots of different kinds of hotdogs) burgers.

Well that's all I can think of for now. I hope this helps.