62722 Wed Sep 01 02:03:49 -0700 2004 10 2 Los Angeles Area 0 335228 Hi, I need help finding good eats in Orange County. Not glitzy and expensive - tasty, fresh and real. Saw an article somewhere out there with down home/road food kind of places but can't locate that web site anymore..Any suggestions??????? Thanks!! Wed Sep 01 02:03:49 -0700 2004 0 suzieq 1 335243 Any particular part of OC? Where are you staying? Wed Sep 01 09:20:54 -0700 2004 335228 0 Dorothy 1 335247 If you like Thai, Thai Nakorn has two locations (actually three, but I don't count Mission Viejo). It, along with Renu Nakorn in Norwalk, is always rated as a top Issan spot. Knott's Chicken Dinner Restaurant has been "down home" for decades. Link: http://home.pacbell.net/dagravy/html/tn.html Wed Sep 01 10:31:50 -0700 2004 335228 0 Curt 1 335260 Here's a few suggestions to experience the OC coast N to S on PCH while masticating moderately priced fun chow & soaking in local color & ambience: Seal Beach: After walking the pier & mingling with locals & tourists in the small downtown, enjoy ultrafresh seafood at Walt's Wharf on Main St. Sunset Beach: Drive thru the myriad establishments & biker hangouts on PCH, chow down for more seafood at Jack's if you're still hungry after Walt's (unlikely). Huntington Beach: Watch the surfers from the pier, mingle with the beachies on Main but shun the overpriced establishments near the water for simple BBQ at Mo's or Asian fusion at Red Pearl. Newport Beach: Drive down PCH & take Newport Blvd toward Lido Island. Dine or snack al fresco at Bluewater Seafood on the water near the Cannery, stay with simple choices. If you like Italian, especially homemade sausages, let the family at Sabatino's do you in, or go with their excellent seafood if you're eating lighter. Continue all the way to the end of Balboa & find the beach access among the exclusive houses & relax on a nearly empty beach before heading back to the short ferry ride to Balboa Island. Roam Balboa Island & have sand dabs at Amelia's if it's dinner time. Back to PCH, continue south & stop in Fashion Island for some quintessential OC shopping & grazing. Bargain happy hour at Daily Grill & an assortment of good, bad & ugly in the Atrium Court. The hand carved prime rib sandwich for $9 is usually tasty & quite filling. Mosy over to Avocado Ave & the shopping center near PCH to Bristol Farms, taste some samples & chow down on sushi or My Chef entrees in their Cafe, or order off their Cafe menu. Corona del Mar: Drive thru on PCH but stick to Starbucks or Seattle's best for coffeee, other than Zinc, skip the chow for better pickings elsewhere. Instead turn south at Marguerite to the ocean & enjoy the vistas & walks in the conservatory before returning to PCH. Newport Coast: Driving S on PCH, soak in the vistas & stop at the State Park if you have time to relax on the sand. Have a date shake on the stand near the top of the hill on PCH, and continue down PCH to the Crystal Cove shopping center, where an outpost of Sage & Pacific Whey beckon, bask in the setting & utter profligacy. Laguna Beach: Continue on PCH to Laguna, stop at Las Brisas for a drink on their patio (avoid the chow) & excellent views of various types, afterward roam along the coast path. Further down, stop in Hotel Laguna for more drinks & snacks on their sandside patio. If in the mood for Mex, get an open window table at Javier's on PCH for fun chow & excellent people watching. For a mixed bag of casual but funky food try Zinc or Zoolu in town. Dana Point: Drive down PCH, stopping in the Ritz Carlton & St Regis Monarch to see how the other half lives along with the views, but do not eat or libate at these prices. San Juan & San Clemente: Continuing S on PCH, stop at Olamendi's for Mex & nice moles if so inclined, otherwise continue to downtown SC & wend your way to the pier. Have a drink & snacks at the Fisherman on the pier, where the views in all directions including striaght down are outstanding. Well, that concludes your jaunt down PCH. Other posters will tell you how to do the return trip with entirely different choices from mine, whic I guess is what makes us all true hounds in the first place. Wed Sep 01 11:41:23 -0700 2004 335228 0 bernardo 2 335356 What a fantastic post! Thank you for the creativity. Wed Sep 01 20:05:59 -0700 2004 335260 0 Sarahpet 3 335365 You're very welcome, always glad of be of service. Wed Sep 01 20:33:28 -0700 2004 335356 0 bernardo 2 335423 You people are fantastic! I was feelingly really pessimistic about the food situation in Orange county. Now I'm excited! Thu Sep 02 01:24:35 -0700 2004 335260 0 suzieq 3 335434 No need to feel pessimistic. It's not NY, but we have some good chow here. Only problem is that so much of it requires driving all around town. Thu Sep 02 02:03:28 -0700 2004 335423 0 Samantha 1 335269 This may not be the article you were looking for, but it has a pretty good list of O.C. good and cheap eats - by Gustavo Arellano of OC Weekly Link: http://www.ocweekly.com/ink/04/45/cover-arellano.php Wed Sep 01 12:17:49 -0700 2004 335228 0 elmomonster 2 335421 Thanks so much for the link to the article!!!! It's perfect - exactly the types of places I was hoping to find!!!! And thanks for everyone's help and suggestions. This is a real God-send! I'm already hungry. Thanks! Thu Sep 02 01:22:21 -0700 2004 335269 0 suzieq 1 335274 Here are 5 of my personal favorites in O.C. for eats. 1. CAFE HIRO in Cypress - Japanese, Italian and French fusion. Favorite dishes; scallop risotto, and the salmon. Great soup of the days too. Typical price for a meal for two $30-35. http://www.ocweekly.com/ink/04/50/food-reyes.php 2. THAI NAKORN in Buena Park or Garden Grove. Garden Grove location is less crowded. Favorites dishes; deep fried fish with mango salad, tom kha kai. Typical dish is about $6-8 dollars. 3. BANH MI CHE CALI in Westminster (Brookhurst location) - Vietnamese sandwiches and others. Favorite sandwich; chicken. Each sandwich costs $1.25. They have a deal where you buy 3 of the smaller hoagie style sandwiches for $3. 4. HONDA YA in Tustin. My favorite Japanese food place period. Favorite dishes; spinach garlic, soft shell crab. Each small dish ranges between $3 to $10 dollars. 5. INKA ANAHEIM in Anaheim. Great Peruvian specialities. Favorite dishes; saltado de pollo. Each dish is about $9-10. Wed Sep 01 12:34:32 -0700 2004 335228 0 elmomonster