Guidebook for Santa Ana
Food Scene
These are the restaurants we have visited and like nearby.
Great sushi and sashimi, friendly staff. This is our absolute favorite restaurant in Orange County. Located at Bristol and Sunflower on the right (west) down in the shops on the corner.
San Kai Japanese Restaurant
3940 S Bristol StGreat sushi and sashimi, friendly staff. This is our absolute favorite restaurant in Orange County. Located at Bristol and Sunflower on the right (west) down in the shops on the corner.
3 minutes away at the corner of Bristol and MacArthur Our favorite order is two 3x2's, raw onion, protein style, fries light well and a large Neapolitan milk shake. OK to eat there, but we always do take-out because we don't like those little ketchup packs and prefer softer lighting. There's ketchup for you in the fridge.
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In-N-Out Burger
2895 Park Ave3 minutes away at the corner of Bristol and MacArthur Our favorite order is two 3x2's, raw onion, protein style, fries light well and a large Neapolitan milk shake. OK to eat there, but we always do take-out because we don't like those little ketchup packs and prefer softer lighting. There's ketchup for you in the fridge.
We like the legs and thighs 19-24 pc meal deal with sides all coleslaw. It lasts us for several meals.
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KFC
17901 Colima RdWe like the legs and thighs 19-24 pc meal deal with sides all coleslaw. It lasts us for several meals.
This is the best place from which to get a pizza delivered. We usually order online.
Round Table Pizza
2860 S Bristol StThis is the best place from which to get a pizza delivered. We usually order online.
Down-home breakfast on the sidewalk in Huntington Beach. This is a favorite, but a long way to go just for breakfast. We go there in conjunction with other fun plans.
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Sugar Shack Cafe
213 Main StDown-home breakfast on the sidewalk in Huntington Beach. This is a favorite, but a long way to go just for breakfast. We go there in conjunction with other fun plans.
Great beer and deep dish pizza. Super friendly staff.
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Rance's Chicago Pizza
5258 2nd StGreat beer and deep dish pizza. Super friendly staff.
Close by at Bristol and MacArthur. Good chain breakfast. Can be slow.
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Black Bear Diner
1000 S Beach BlvdClose by at Bristol and MacArthur. Good chain breakfast. Can be slow.
At Beach and Warner is closest. Also on Main St. in HB and one near Balboa Pier. The original BJ's was on Bristol where Papa Johns is now. It was better when it was family run, but still good and the menu is hugely expanded. Their Imperial Stout is really good. Also see Rance's for similar pizza.
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BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse
6000 Sepulveda BlvdAt Beach and Warner is closest. Also on Main St. in HB and one near Balboa Pier. The original BJ's was on Bristol where Papa Johns is now. It was better when it was family run, but still good and the menu is hugely expanded. Their Imperial Stout is really good. Also see Rance's for similar pizza.
Cannery Seafood of the Pacific
3010 Lafayette AveBluewater Grill
630 Lido Park Dr
Duke's Huntington Beach
317 Pacific Coast HwyRight on the corner of Cliff Drive overlooking Laguna Beach. Great place for a stroll. We recommend the crab enchiladas.
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Las Brisas
361 Cliff DrRight on the corner of Cliff Drive overlooking Laguna Beach. Great place for a stroll. We recommend the crab enchiladas.
Cheap. We do take out here almost every Tuesday. With senior discount, survey coupon and taco Tuesday, we can bring home 12 value tacos for $4.78. The tacos are OK, more like an appetizer than a meal, but six of them are pretty satisfying. We put 2 Del Scorcho packs on each taco. Take out only. There is a 7-eleven next door.
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Del Taco
213 E Katella AveCheap. We do take out here almost every Tuesday. With senior discount, survey coupon and taco Tuesday, we can bring home 12 value tacos for $4.78. The tacos are OK, more like an appetizer than a meal, but six of them are pretty satisfying. We put 2 Del Scorcho packs on each taco. Take out only. There is a 7-eleven next door.
There is a Rubio's catercorner near Main and MacArthur that is a great lunch place or early dinner. My favorite fish tacos. Paula get shrimp burrito with beans and rice on the outside. There is one open later at MacArthur and Fairview. This used to be our Tuesday goto, but now do take-home from Del Scorcho.
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Rubio's Coastal Grill
18517 Brookhurst StThere is a Rubio's catercorner near Main and MacArthur that is a great lunch place or early dinner. My favorite fish tacos. Paula get shrimp burrito with beans and rice on the outside. There is one open later at MacArthur and Fairview. This used to be our Tuesday goto, but now do take-home from Del Scorcho.
Great Mexican Restaurant for any size group. Super friendly staff. The table-side guacamole is a must do. Take Main to Redhill, turn right, turn right again on Bristol. It's on the left.
Acapulco
9021 Firestone BoulevardGreat Mexican Restaurant for any size group. Super friendly staff. The table-side guacamole is a must do. Take Main to Redhill, turn right, turn right again on Bristol. It's on the left.
This is an upscale steakhouse with fabulous cuts of meat. My favorite on the corporate dime.
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Vaca
695 Town Center DrThis is an upscale steakhouse with fabulous cuts of meat. My favorite on the corporate dime.
This would be your go to place for an anniversary or high end entertainment for corporate guests. Probably OC's best ocean view restaurant.
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Mastro's Ocean Club
8112 East Coast HwyThis would be your go to place for an anniversary or high end entertainment for corporate guests. Probably OC's best ocean view restaurant.
Great bar and Ahi tacos. Located in the "Y" at Irvine Spectrum.
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Del Frisco's Grille
772 Spectrum Center DrGreat bar and Ahi tacos. Located in the "Y" at Irvine Spectrum.
Fun small busy place great for breakfast and a bloody mary while you wait for a table.
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Memphis Soul Cafe & Bar
2920 Bristol StFun small busy place great for breakfast and a bloody mary while you wait for a table.
The Taco Stand
240 W Chapman AveDrinks & Nightlife
Huntington Beach Beer Company
201 Main StGood food, good beer, fun area
It's our old downtown. The heart of Orange County. It is unique multi cultural, multi generational community that embraces the enjoyment of diversity.
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Downtown Santa Ana Historic District
It's our old downtown. The heart of Orange County. It is unique multi cultural, multi generational community that embraces the enjoyment of diversity.
HB is our closest beach and being smaller than Newport has a great local scene. I think most guests visit HB.
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Downtown HB
California 1HB is our closest beach and being smaller than Newport has a great local scene. I think most guests visit HB.
Sightseeing
Balboa Ferry, Beaches and Piers. This is some of the best of OC. Use your GPS to hug the coast from one end to the other and take neighborhood routes where ever possible like Cliff Dr. at Corona Beach.
Over 100 years old. Holds 3 cars. Go either way to/from Balboa Island/Newport Beach peninsula. Great fun.
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Traghetto di Balboa Island
510 S Bay FrontOver 100 years old. Holds 3 cars. Go either way to/from Balboa Island/Newport Beach peninsula. Great fun.
My great grandfather and his brothers built this pier. It used to much longer and berthed lumber schooners that brought lumber from the north to build Orange County.
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Newport Beach Pier
1 Newport PierMy great grandfather and his brothers built this pier. It used to much longer and berthed lumber schooners that brought lumber from the north to build Orange County.
Fun little Main Street and walk on the pier. This is on the beach across from the ferry.
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Balboa Pier
Balboa PierFun little Main Street and walk on the pier. This is on the beach across from the ferry.
Laguna Beach
Local favorite for a down the coast cruise
Arts & Culture
Museo Bowers
2002 N Main StAlways interesting.
Shopping
Well, because it's South Coast Plaza. Fabulous selection of stores.
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South Coast Plaza
3333 Bristol StWell, because it's South Coast Plaza. Fabulous selection of stores.
There is this one and one down MacArthur on the other side of the Santa Ana River. Cheap gas, food and everything else. There is another one in Tustin at The District.
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Costco Wholesale
2700 Park AveThere is this one and one down MacArthur on the other side of the Santa Ana River. Cheap gas, food and everything else. There is another one in Tustin at The District.
Indoor / Outdoor Mall. Nice stores Nordstrom's to Neiman Marcus. Many restaurants too.
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Newport Center/Fashion Island
401 Newport Center DrIndoor / Outdoor Mall. Nice stores Nordstrom's to Neiman Marcus. Many restaurants too.
Walmart is better than Santa Ana stores for any taxable items at 7.75% rather than 9.25%. Their groceries are OK and usually cheaper than elsewhere except for alcohol. Very good place for cosmetics.
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Walmart Supercenter
16555 Von Karman AveWalmart is better than Santa Ana stores for any taxable items at 7.75% rather than 9.25%. Their groceries are OK and usually cheaper than elsewhere except for alcohol. Very good place for cosmetics.
Essentials
These are our local grocery stores and pharmacies
This is our closest large grocery store. We shop the sale items.
They have the best vanilla ice cream "Signature Select Home Style Vanilla Ice Cream" - just like out of grandma's churn. There is dark Hershey's and heavy whip cream in the fridge that you'll need to make this the perfect desert.
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Vons
3650 S Bristol StThis is our closest large grocery store. We shop the sale items.
They have the best vanilla ice cream "Signature Select Home Style Vanilla Ice Cream" - just like out of grandma's churn. There is dark Hershey's and heavy whip cream in the fridge that you'll need to make this the perfect desert.
At the corner of Bristol and MacArthur on the right (north). 3 minutes away. Trader Joe's is great for small meal planning.
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Trader Joe's
3329 S Bristol StAt the corner of Bristol and MacArthur on the right (north). 3 minutes away. Trader Joe's is great for small meal planning.
Ahi tuna, better prices than TJ's but significantly further away. Harbor Blvd, is a nice cruise. Take MacArthur to Harbor.
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Sprouts Farmers Market
9861 Adams AveAhi tuna, better prices than TJ's but significantly further away. Harbor Blvd, is a nice cruise. Take MacArthur to Harbor.
Stater Bros is better than the others. This is our very best grocery store except for vanilla ice cream that is a Vons only item. The meat market is the best around. Great beer/wine selections.
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Stater Bros. Markets
2630 W Edinger AveStater Bros is better than the others. This is our very best grocery store except for vanilla ice cream that is a Vons only item. The meat market is the best around. Great beer/wine selections.
Best local pharmacy. Located on Bristol below MacArthur on the left (east side). Store open 24 hours. Pharmacy open 9:00 - 6:00 Sat-Sun and 9:00 - 9:00 M-F. There is also Rite Aid on the other side of MacArthur.
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CVS
2521 Eastbluff DrBest local pharmacy. Located on Bristol below MacArthur on the left (east side). Store open 24 hours. Pharmacy open 9:00 - 6:00 Sat-Sun and 9:00 - 9:00 M-F. There is also Rite Aid on the other side of MacArthur.
Getting Around
Train Station
Amtrak and Metrolink