good places to eat in Huntington Beach CA

[vkck]

Any good places to eat in Huntington Beach Ca? Fresh fish, Mexican, and Chinese would be the best.

[YumYumNo8]

Joe's Sushi (Warner - Goldenwest). All you can eat sushi place. Priced fair for the good quality of fish. Lots of options! Highly recommeded!
It's kind of a hole-in-the-wall place. Staff are extremely friendly. There is a bar as well as tables.
It's located by the radio shack and a karate place on the side of the "Big Lots Building" right off of Goldenwest.

[jaykayen]

Amazing gelato in the last place you'd expect to find it: on Main St.

Mangiamo Gelato Caffe, 122 Main St.

-----
Mangiamo Gelato Cafe
122 Main St, Huntington Beach, CA 92648

[kerryhb]

We went to Vittorio's tonight...despite some old negative reviews on other websites we gave it a try and it was terrific. It was closed for a while but has new owners and a new chef. Everything from the appetizer to the cannoli for desert was delicious. Nice atmosphere and attentive service, too. Definitely worth a visit!

5921 Warner, at Springdale

http://www.vittorios.com/

[OC Mutt]

Vittorios has good old school red-sauce Italian-American food, and excellent Italian bread - which is not easy to find in southern CA. .

[bernardo]

Our picks are Alessa for Italian (Main St near downtown) & Lou's Oak for Santa Maria BBQ (Brookhurst & Hamilton).

King's Fish in Bella Terra is closest to edible in the freeway-close category..

OK in a pinch: Mangia Mangia on GW, Cafe Gazelle on Bolsa Chica & La Fontana on Beach, all Italian/Med.

[Joani Macaroni]

Finally got to Mangia Mangia (which is next to the bridal shop facing Goldenwest). Very good food, friendly and fast service, lively environment. If you're looking for something more relaxed (as in leisurely), a more extensive choice of menu selections, and a bit more romantic, go with Caffe Gazelle. (yes, 2 F's in Caffe).

-----
Caffe Gazelle
16041 Bolsa Chica St, Huntington Beach, CA 92649

[ocshooter]

Mangia Mangia never did it for me. Basic Italian, nothing special.

[bernardo]

Please don't tell anybody because the place is tiny, but Mona Lisa (Adams & Magnolia) has seductive Italian chow at favorable prices with superfriendly service. Beats the pants off of MM (assuming you can find a seat). www.monalisacucina.com

[OC Mutt]

La Fontana Restaurant close to the corner of Beach and Main/Ellis is serves excellent Italian food, a bit more upscale than the red sauce checkered table cloth places, in an odd strip-mall location. It's a hidden gem.

[Frankie D]

I agree with OC Mutt, La Fontana is a hidden Gem. If anyone who reads this has not been, then call and make an appt., you will not be disappointed.

I also think Mangia Mangia is very good as well, but a little more casual. I usually go to Mangia Mangia for lunch.

[OC Mutt]

For a place that no one seems to have heard of, it's surprisingly full all the time and it's been in business for many years.

[Frankie D]

You are right, it has been around for many years. I originally found it back in 2002 when Nichola owned it. He then sold the business to the new owner who has done very well in keeping up with Nichola's quality and taste.

[schrutefarms]

Is La Fontana the place I'm thinking of? Family owned (or at least it used to be), been around since at least '98? Really small, in a strip mall off Beach, shares a parking lot with a Thai place (I think)? Had a dish called something something Luna, pasta, no meat with capers? This is all I remember. If it is the same place, yes it is a gem. Used to go there when I was 19 with my (food snobby) San Franciscan boyfriend. We both really loved it.

-----
San Franciscan
2520 Sepulveda Blvd, Torrance, CA 90505

[janetms383]

For fresh fish, there is the Market Broiler on Brookhurst & Adams or Crabby's in downtown HB - it's got other things on the menu too.
For Mexican, Las Barcas on Beach or La Capilla on Adams
For Chinese - Wow the best in the area! But really Fountain Valley - Fu Wing Low
It looks like a dump but the food is out of this world!!!

-----
La Capilla
807 E Adams Ave, Huntington Beach, CA 92648

Fu Wing Low
16545 Brookhurst St, Fountain Valley, CA 92708

Las Barcas
21032 Beach Blvd, Huntington Beach, CA 92648

[marti]

Avoid the Market Broiler at all costs!! Went there today, first time in a year or so. Never overly impressed there but today was the final visit. The only edible items on the whole plate were the coleslaw and the bread. Shimp, potatoes were in edible. Mentioned it to waiter. Also, told the hostess. As we were getting in car, Mgr. ranout and said was sorry but he would give us gift certificates to come again.! What a joke. They were for 7.99 for a meal! We had only paid 8.99 at full price!! Never again!!

[Joani Macaroni]

We were there last week end and the food was pretty decent - the coconut shrimp were really tasty. Most of the meals I saw on the menu were $15 and up - and of the four of us, we had no complaints, other than our waitress seemed to disappear (it was busy) and we had to snag a passing waiter for assistance. Oddly, though I generally like coleslaw, I found theirs rather disappointing.

[hbgypsy]

you are absolutely right, Janet. not much in the way of good food in HB. but I do agree with your choices. (La Choza is nasty> can't believe they are still in business, as well as Marios, Don Ramons and Don Joses) Market Broiler is a good stand by.

Buon Gusto is my new favorite on Warner and Bolsa Chica.

[schrutefarms]

I LOVE Seacliff liquer for their deli, and there's a pretty good Mexican place in the same strip mall (17th/Orange). Also Jans on Main st (a bit north of all the madness) is a terrific health food place. TK Burger is solid, and the shakes at the pizza place on PCH are great. Wahoo's is a chain, but still good for fish tacos, and I'd agree with the recs of Mangia Mangia.

[bohemianbailie]

In regards to sushi Sango Sushi in the shopping area on Goldenwest and Yorktown has great prices and is very fresh tasting to me.

-----
Sango Sushi Restaurant
27261A La Paz Rd, Laguna Niguel, CA 92677

[BlackTruckCatering]

I totally forgot about Mckenna's on the Bay! They have dining right on the water and offer seafood, sushi, sashimi, an oyster bar, steaks, and more. As with my other suggestion, this restaurant is kind of upscale casual and very comfortable.

[BlackTruckCatering]

The Spark Woodfire Grill has seafood, but is a contemporary American restaurant. The food is good and you'll have a nice view of the ocean and pier, as the restaurant is located upstairs. If you go there just make sure to make reservations beforehand.

[mdpilam]

I figure this might be a good place to ask this question:

Has anyone been to Ra Sushi (in HB)? I have a friend's birthday dinner there this weekend, and she guaranteed that the restaurant doesn't have a fishy/seafood smell (I don't know how it can't...) and that it has non-fish/seafood options. I don't doubt that it has non-fish/seafood options, but the non-fishy smell at a sushi restaurant, I am very doubtful of - I think she just wants me to be there. Can anyone let me know if the above are true? I HATE fish/seafood, and can't stand to be around the smell, let alone eat with it....

Thanks.

[Das Ubergeek]

It doesn't smell like fish. It smells like culinary disappointment.

[I got nothin]

A very apt description by DU, I must say. The last time we were meeting up with NC friends at the Ra in Tustin for dinner, I went to Maki Zushi beforehand.
Although mdpilam may end up liking Ra since their menu is filled with "sushi" rolls and other items that have no fish whatsoever in them.

-----
Maki Zushi
1641 Edinger Ave # 101, Tustin, CA

[mdpilam]

Ha! Thanks for the response. I had already lowered my expectations in terms of quality. :)

[LittleRed1]

If you're willing to try sushi/Japanese, I just came across a good find; in a strip mall no less. It's called Slow Fish and it's menu is an excellent mix of sushi and Japanese. Very good quality. Very nice people. Nice atmosphere. It's located at Bolsa Chica and Edinger.

[kelsos1]

I will second the Slofish recommendation. Very nice people and inventive dishes. The best deal is lunch. You can get an excellent spicy seafood ramen for $6. Also try the braised short ribs. I think they are $8 and come with rice and a salad. It’s as good as any $25 plate elsewhere. Another great spot in HB is La Choza Mexican rest. They make their own tortillas and the food is very yummy. They are on Edinger across from the old Levitz. Other than that it is kind of a wasteland.

-----
La Choza
7402 Edinger Ave, Huntington Beach, CA 92647

Slow Fish
16051 Bolsa Chica St, Huntington Beach, CA 92649

[JeetJet]

This is my list for the area. Park Ave is not in HB but very close and well worth going to. Call for the time they are open.

Park Ave. (Steaks, Chops, Shrimp, Chopped sirloin burger, Medallions of filet mignon, New York Strip, fruit crumble dessert is a must, All at good prices in a Googie Dream setting).
11200 Beach Blvd.
Stanton, CA 90860
[phone]
http://www.parkavedining.com/

T K Burger (A great burger and really great buns too
)110 Pacific Coast Highway
Huntington Beach, California 92648
[phone]

Wings N Things Restaurant (Buffalo wings --Mild, Hot, Extra Hot, Beyond Hot , Beef on Weck, Ribs)
18302 Beach Blvd
Huntington Beach, CA 92648
[phone]
Cross Street: Between Ellis Ave and Taylor Dr

Alertos Mexican Food (Asada or Carnitas Nachos plus...)
17225 Brookhurst Street
Fountain Valley, CA 92708
[phone]

Lotus Chinese Eatery (Not sure whether this placed is still there? Islamic Chinese food).
16883 Beach Blvd.
Hinington Beach, CA
[phone]

[I got nothin]

Fish: There's a Kings Fish House in the Bella Terra Center. But personally, I would head down to Newport Beach (the Cannery or Blue Water Grill) or up to Seal Beach (Walt's Wharf). If by Fresh Fish, you also mean sushi, then there are several good places in huntington
Mexican: Mario's (two different locations) is pretty reliable, nothing extraordinary, but you'll get a good meal for a decent price.
Chinese: Lotus Chinese, for Islamic Chinese food. I've yet to try it, but heard good things about it
Others: I'll 2nd Mangia Mangia. Peruvian Kitchen, try the Seco.

[cdmedici]

In about a month Takashi Abe of Bluefin will open a new izakaya place were Red Pearl was. It is going to be called Izakaya Zero.

[thericequeen]

Huntington Beach, as fond as I am of the place, is sort of a culinary wasteland. There are a few decent places but you have to hunt. That said: Mangia Mangia, good little Italian restaurant in the strip mall on the corner of Golden West Street and Edinger. I remember both their salmon and gelato fondly.

If you've got company and want to eat near the water, you're best bet is probably Duke's by the Huntington Pier. Food's okay but nothing to write home about, scenery if you get a window table is spectacular!

[flyerfan182]

Its not great but Huntington Beach Beer Factory have some Garlic Cheese Bread that is to die for good. They also have a really good Thai Chicken Pasta. Plus its right above Main St. and never really busy so don't have to worry about the heavy heavy crowds to watch some baseball.

I also enjoy Z Pizza on Golden West and Garfield. Its a chain pizza place but this certain establishment has good pizza.

In the Post Office Strip Mall on Warner between Springdale and Golden West (not sure exactly) is a health food store in the strip mall. Def. hole-in-the-wall. There is a sandwhich shop inside that has amazing sandwhiches served by a nice Asian lady who dresses up pretty hardcore for work, her name is Esther and she will guaranteed remember you if you come back more then once!