JW Hayes Enters the Barbecue Conversation

 JW Hayes BBQ at Minute King Market

3530 Irvine Ave. 

Newport Beach. CA 92660

Barbecue restaurants can be challenging to eat at. I should clarify that delicious barbecue restaurants are challenging to eat at. It's easy to pull up to a mediocre barbecue spot at 6 p.m. on a Saturday, have some bland biscuits with apple butter, and then choke down some dry brisket or small ribs with a minuscule amount of meat. Yes, I'm bashing Lucille's, which far too many people seem to love for some reason. It could be because it's easy to eat there.  

The great barbecue places have the following things in common: They are open for a limited number of hours because once they are out of something, they are out for the day. People usually stand in line well before they are open, and it takes a long while to get in because they have to weigh each order. Lastly, if you spy a smoker on the premises with a strong wood smoke aroma in the air, odds are that you are in for some excellent barbecue. JW Hayes BBQ ticked all of these boxes, and I was excited. 

Jeff Hayes started out on the competitive barbecue circuit back in 2013. He grew a loyal following at barbecue festivals. Still, he yearned to open up his own place where he could have more direct contact with customers and share his barbecue prowess with a more significant number of people. He ordered two 500-gallon smokers and started selling his barbecue out of the Minute King liquor store in February 2023. 

Since then, his Saturday-only stint at the liquor store near the corner of Irvine and Bristol has drawn crowds of barbecue lovers. I had a rare Saturday off from work, so I traveled the twenty minutes from home to try them. I arrived at 11am and was met with a line of twenty people snaking around the inside of the store's perimeter. It took me about 45 minutes from when I got in line until I left with my haul. Next time, I'd get here closer to their opening time of 10am. 

The menu featured ten kinds of meat and five sides when I visited. Meats included barbecue standards like brisket, pulled pork, beef ribs, tri-tip, pork steaks, pork spare ribs, turkey breast, chicken, and a prime brisket burger. The sides offered were sweet corn, coleslaw, mac and cheese, beans with or without brisket, and deviled eggs. Side go for $7 to $12, while the meats range from $16 to $45 a pound for the beef ribs. I made my selections and resisted trying anything until I got home. It was hard because of the wonderful smell of smoked meats coming from my passenger side, but I persevered.  

Let's start with the Beef Brisket ($20 for half a pound) and the Pork Spare Ribs ($18 for a half pound). The menu at JW Hayes is very detailed regarding where they source their meats. A quick Yelp search of their menus over their two-year run shows that they have gotten their meat from the same farms for the brisket Creekstone Farms in Kansas and Compart Family Farms in Minnesota source their pork. Side note, they also haven't raised their prices since they opened for business, which is not something most places could say. 

The brisket here was excellent. A good balance between lean and fatty, a nice looking pink smoke ring in most places, and it was tender without falling apart too easily. Very well done and one of the better briskets you can get in OC. I also was a big fan of the outer edges, which were seasoned very well. A must-get when visiting JW Hayes. 

The pork spare ribs were also a winner. Half a pound will get you about five ribs with plenty of meat. They also had a nice pink smoke ring and were very tender. The pork came off the bone with a slight tug, all in one piece, which signifies they would be good. They were. I should have gotten another half pound. 

Katie is always keen to try a Pulled Pork Sandwich ($15) from any barbecue spot we try for the first time. This pork sandwich came with some coleslaw and a squirt of their barbecue sauce. They did not use a lot of sauce here, so the smokiness of the pork could shine through. The pork was good—not too moist, but not dry either. I can't stand pulled pork that is as wet as a mop. The glossy bun kept everything together while Katie scarfed down this sandwich. She was a big fan. 

I can't remember the last time I had a burger from a barbecue restaurant, but something drew me to this Prime Brisket Burger ($12). I don't know if this burger was one hundred percent brisket or its percentage, but I know it was one of the better burgers I've had in a long while. I'm not sure what kind of cheese was used in this, but I found myself trying to make this burger last as long as possible. Well worth trying this as well. 

I never grew up eating mac and cheese. In fact, to this day, I have never had Kraft mac and cheese out of the blue box. Yes, I know. I was deprived as a child. That's why I always try the Smoked Mac and Cheese ($8) at any barbecue spot I visit, including JW Hayes. The mac and cheese had a smokiness, but I would have liked adding a textural element, especially since it was cheesy. Maybe some bread crumbs or some pieces of brisket. The Coleslaw ($7) was just how I like it; it's very saucy. It had a slight tang to it, but the end of each bite contained a sweetness. Good, but I could see some people not liking this. 

I have to admit, I really enjoyed JW Hayes BBQ. Is it the best in OC? As Heritage BBQ still holds that title, it's not, but I'd slot them into my number four spot, right behind Heritage, Evan's Smokehouse, and Craft by Smoke and Fire for the best barbecue in OC. I wish they had sausage and were more creative with their sides. For those of you looking to eat here, there are very few tables and chairs out front, so this is definitely a take-out spot during busy hours. Speaking of their hours, as I was writing this review, I saw on Instagram that they will be increasing their days of operation to Wednesday through Friday from 4 to 8pm and keeping their Saturday hours the same (10:30-4pm). So, maybe JW Hayes BBQ will become easier to consume, and more people will see how good this barbecue is. Perhaps someday, people will also learn that Lucille's is not a good barbecue restaurant. I'm not holding my breath, though

Out of five race cars (because this barbecue spot sits at the end of the runway of John Wayne Airport, and in 1950, the abandoned airstrip was used for drag racing until 1959), five being best to zero being worst, JW Hayes BBQ gets 3.5 race cars.  

For more information about JW Hayes BBQ, head to their Instagram page for all the latest about them by clicking here: https://www.instagram.com/jwhayesbbq/?hl=en

Some Brunch Consumption at Tupelo Junction Cafe

 Tupelo Junction Cafe

508 North 29th Street

Newport Beach, CA 92663

Breakfast just tastes better at the beach. Maybe it's the ocean air or the breeze from the water, but it makes everything taste better. The vacation vibe I get when I visit Newport Beach could also contribute to this. My feelings for this seaside paradise are deep-rooted, from when I was a kid and we'd rent a beach house for a week to when I lived here in my 20s. As I have long passed my twenties, Newport is one of our favorite places to get some steps in and grab breakfast. 

After walking between the Balboa and Newport Pier, we were ready to refuel with a good breakfast. Newport has many breakfast spots: Shorebird, The Galley, Wilma's Patio, The Lighthouse, and Cappy's. These are all good places, but of course, I'm always on the hunt for a restaurant we haven't been to yet. A quick Yelp search brought us to Tupelo Junction Cafe. 

Tupelo Junction started in Santa Barbara but moved south to its present home a few blocks east of Newport Boulevard in 2017. It's off by itself, but that hasn't deterred tourists and locals from seeking it out and giving rave reviews on Yelp. They have also been mentioned as being the best all-day cafe in Newport by the OC Register, back when they had a restaurant critic. They've also won raves for their Bloody Mary, which some claim is the best in OC. 

It was just before noon on a cloudy Sunday when we arrived at Tupelo Junction. There were a great many people here enjoying their Sunday Funday, but we were seated right away on their back patio. Their menu is so packed with brunch items that there was no room for double spacing, which made it a little challenging to read, but I powered through. I counted 16 brunch items and four shared plate options. Entrees range between $19 to $32. Opposite the listed food, they also have a large selection of cocktails for those who want to imbibe. 

As is my custom when eating breakfast out, I like to pair my savory meal with something sweet. As soon as I looked at the first item on the menu, these Cinnamon Apple Beignets ($14), I knew this would be my sweet portion of the meal. There were three of them per order, and they were bigger than most beignets I have encountered. They were also more dense on the inside, and the outside was very crunchy. The apple and cinnamon could have been more prominent, and I would have liked more of the caramel, creme anglaise, and powdered sugar to be applied with a much heavier hand. These were not awful, but I've had better beignets. 

Katie was famished after our mile walk and zeroed in on this Smoked Bacon Scramble ($21) to get her refueled. This scramble comprised two eggs, caramelized onion, diced tomato, spinach, gouda, and bacon. She liked the freshness of the ingredients, but she felt the star of the show for her was the biscuit and house-made jam. She would not stop raving about how good both were, which allowed me to snag some bites of her scramble and the potatoes, which I found nicely done. After this meal, she exclaimed that she couldn't wait for a return visit to Tupelo Junction. 

I had a much harder time picking something to eat here, as I had too many options that I wanted to try. I was intrigued by the benedict, scramble, chicken with waffles, and a couple of their lunch selections. I finally went with the Crab Cake Hash ($28). The crab cake was made with Dungeness crab and did not include a lot of filler. The fresh crab was topped with a perfectly poached egg, an avocado salsa with big pieces of avocado included, and a beurre blanc sauce that was very buttery and tied everything together. This was lighter than I expected, but it still had a lot of flavor and was very satisfying. I used some of Katie's jam that she did not use with the grilled toast.   

We were pleased with our visit to Tupelo Junction Cafe, a hidden gem that quite a few people know about, and now you do as well. I liked everything we had and would only ask for more caramel sauce with the beignets to make them more enjoyable. The ambiance was nice and relaxed, and not a boozy brunch spot. Our server was friendly and polite, and the variety of the menu will keep people returning to try more things. It's worth a visit if you find yourself in Newport soaking up the sea breezes and wanting a good place for brunch. 

Out of five buffalo (because the city of Tupelo, Mississippi, is not only the birthplace of Elvis Presley but also the home of Tupelo Buffalo Park, which has over 200 animals, including a herd of buffalo that roam the park's 200 acres), five being best and zero being worst, Tupelo Junction Cafe gets 3.5 buffalos. 

Tupelo Junction Cafe does not have a functioning website, so follow this link to their Yelp page for more information about them, https://www.yelp.com/biz/tupelo-junction-cafe-newport-beach

A Bird’s Eyed View of Shorebird in Newport Beach

 Shorebird

2220 Newport Boulevard

Newport Beach, CA 92663

Before our Sundays are dominated by football, we try some breakfast/brunch spots on my restaurant wishlist. Because once that calendar flips to September, the last day of the week is dedicated to watching my usually horrible Jaguars. Then, once it's apparent that they will lose, the rest of the day is spent watching other games of interest and finally wrapping up the day with the Sunday night game. It might seem like a wasted day to some, and I feel that way sometimes, but it's how Katie and I relax and gear up for the upcoming workweek. Before the first snap of the ball happened, we headed to Shorebird to experience their Sunday brunch. 

Shorebird came across my radar when I was reading Orange Coast Magazine. Their excellent restaurant critic, Gretchen Kurz, gave them a favorable review. Most of her review was about her dinner experience, but she dedicated a paragraph to what she enjoyed during her brunch visit. A few months later, Orange Coast came out with its brunch issue, which featured more about Shorebird's early weekend menu, and that's when I decided that we needed to try them.  

Even with the Newport Boulevard address, Shorebird is hidden from view from the street. The best way to find them is to look for the iconic Crab Cooker restaurant, turn down the small street, and park in the underground parking lot for the Vue Newport, a mixed-use development. Remember your parking ticket, as Shorebird validates for up to two hours. This good-sized restaurant has excellent marina views that will have you reaching for your phone to snap way more pictures than you will ever need. 

Shorebird is part of the Wild Thyme Restaurant Group. Eight different concepts are currently operating or will soon be operating. Most of their locations are in Sedona, Arizona, or Southern California. I've had only one encounter with one of their restaurants, which could have been better. Last year, we visited Stagecoach, a barbecue spot right across the street from Main Place Mall. The food was subpar. I still have nightmares about their mac and cheese and potato skins. They closed down for good before I could even write my review. I had much higher hopes for Shorebird. 

We arrived at 11 a.m., and the Sunday Funday festivities started slowly. However, the tables around us quickly filled up with large groups, and there was only a smattering of two-person parties eating there. Predictably, the tables closer to the water were more desirable. Still, the openness of the wraparound patio and the sleek vibe of the interior of the dining room ensure that most people will enjoy any seat in the house. 

The brunch menu starts at 10 a.m. on weekends, but I'm unsure of a cutoff time. It is divided into sections: starters, soups and salads, brunch specialties, sandwiches, taco platters, and sides. Entrees hover around the mid-$20 price point, while most starters will set you back less than $20. This is good for this area, where $40 to $80 entrees are commonplace. We quickly made our selections and took in the place's view and upbeat energy while waiting for our food. 

Some good-sounding starters were available here, such as A5 wagyu meatballs, buffalo onion rings, and crispy cauliflower, but we finally decided on the Avocado Fries ($15). These might be misnamed because I expected the avocado to be sliced into thin strips. Fried avocado nuggets might be a better name for these. The avocado wedges were fried in a tempura batter until golden brown. Then, they were placed on top of a green goddess dressing. I enjoyed the contrast between the crunchy outer coating and the creamy avocado. The dressing missed the mark, as I would have preferred ranch dressing instead. A good starter, especially if you are a fan of avocado. 

Katie is predictable when eating brunch. She gets a breakfast burrito almost eighty percent of the time. At Shorebird, she'd have the Knife and Fork Burrito ($20). This hefty burrito has scrambled eggs, bacon, potatoes, cheddar cheese, sour cream inside, and pico de gallo, salsa, and guacamole on the top. If this had been my burrito, I would have liked everything included inside the burrito or on the side so I could combine all the items topping this. Katie called this burrito fine, but there was nothing that wowed her about this. She would get something else on a future visit. 

I've written it before, but taking a bad picture of a benedict is almost impossible. There's just something so eye-popping about how the yellow on the poached egg catches the eye. It's magical. Of course, they are good to eat as well. This Maryland Crab Eggs Benedict ($29) was no exception. Instead of the tired English muffin, Shorebird built this benedict with a slice of sourdough bread as its base, then placed a crab cake on top of that, along with a perfectly poached egg, Hollandaise sauce, and then finished it off with some herbs and asparagus on top. The egg and hollandaise were nicely done here, and I loved the use of sourdough, which is easier to cut through than a typical English muffin. The crab cake was well made with chunks of crab instead of being all filler. I was also a fan of the crispy potatoes, as they were fork-tender, and each bite had a ton of flavor, which was made even better with the provided lemon aioli that came with this plate. Nicely done. 

Shorebird is a welcome addition to Newport Beach's brunch scene. It offers a gorgeous view, a lively atmosphere, and food that merits return visits. The menu is varied enough, with twenty-nine items, so you won't be bored eating through it. We experienced professional service during our stay and had no issues at Shorebird. Some might be put off by the almost party feel of the place, but I rather enjoyed it as it helped distinguish it from our recent Sunday routine. We're looking forward to a return to Shorebird after the football season ends. 

Out of five frequent flyer miles (because the bar-tailed godwit, a shorebird, has the longest migration route of 8000 miles non-stop from Alaska to Australia and back every year), five being best to zero being worst, Shorebird gets 3.5 frequent flyer miles. 

For more information about Shorebird, head to their website by clicking here: https://shorebirdrestaurant.com/

Turning the Balboa Fun Zone Into the Burger Zone

 Irv's Burgers

600 East Bay Avenue

Newport Beach, CA 92661

I love burgers, but finding delicious ones is getting harder and harder. Yes, I could go to a steak house, and I'm sure they will have a good burger, but who wants to get all dressed up for a burger. About ten years ago, I could throw a rock in any direction and hit a restaurant that serves a great burger. We had Slater's 50/50, Burger Parlor, Crow Burger Kitchen, G Burger, Mick's Karma Bar, and Vaka Burger, all serving great burgers, but they have all shuttered. They probably were all replaced with a hot chicken restaurant, or at least it feels that way. 

So when I hear about a new burger place opening up, it piques my interest. When I heard that the new burger place had been around for 78 years, I immediately moved it up in my restaurant queue. What got me moving even faster is that the new burger restaurant is located at one of my favorite places in all of OC, the Balboa Fun Zone. A spot that instantly transforms me into an eight-year-old kid playing skeeball in the arcades, riding the Ferris wheel that I swear used to be taller, and eating as many Balboa Bars as humanly possible. 

Irv's Burgers is the new burger spot in Balboa. They opened their first OC outpost in March of this year. They opened in 1946 as Queen's Burgers alongside Route 66 in West Hollywood. In 1970, a man named Irv bought the place and changed its name. He sold the business to the Hong family in 2005, and they operated it until they had some troubles in 2018 and were forced to close. Food entrepreneur Lawrence Longo entered the picture four years later and, after a rebrand, breathed new life into Irv's. They now have seven locations, including ours at the Balboa Fun Zone. 

I visited Irv's before the busy tourist season in Newport. Although they had been open only a month, they already had a steady stream of customers. They are a mere few feet from the Balboa Ferry and the Ferris Wheel I mentioned before. This used to be a pizza place, but I had never been there, always preferring the Ruby's at the end of the pier or the Orange Julius that used to be on the corner of Balboa Boulevard. The seating at Irv's is limited to six swiveling barstools, and I did not see any seating outside on my visit. Plan ahead and bring a blanket and eat on the sand or in the nearby park. 

The menu at Irv's fits right in with the Fun Zone vibe. They offer burgers, hot dogs, sandwiches, fries, milkshakes, and floats. Burgers go from anywhere between $4.50 to $11, hot dogs are $5 to $8 for a chili cheese dog, and the most expensive thing on their menu is the pastrami sandwich, which will set you back $15. Combo meals are available. This location also serves breakfast sandwiches and burritos until 11am. I was here, of course, to try their burgers, so let's see how my first visit to Irv's went. 

I was lucky enough to snag one of the six sets at the bar, with a window looking out towards the busy boardwalk. It was excellent for people-watching, but once my food tray arrived, I only had eyes for what was on it. Let's start with the burger. When a burger proclaims itself the best, I need to order it, so I got the Best Burger on the Menu ($10.95) on my maiden voyage to Irv's. This double burger comes with American cheese, grilled onions, and Irv's sauce, all on a toasted sesame seed bun. Who needs lettuce and tomato on a burger? Not me. This is no salad bar. I enjoyed this burger but will tweak it on my next visit. The outer edge of the patties had a slight crispness to them, like a smash burger, but to a lesser degree. The patties inside were juicy and more hefty than you get with a smash burger. The gooey cheese provided a nice blanket around each patty. I will ask for extra Irv's sauce next time, as I can not even describe it because they put so little on this burger. I assume it's like a thousand island sauce, but I'll have to make a return visit to confirm that. The bun was loaded with sesame seeds and was nicely toasted. Delicious burger, check. ✅

Hot dogs must be a tough sell. Every time I find an excellent hot dog restaurant, it closes. I guess there are not too many hot dog fans out there. Maybe trying this Chili Cheese Dog ($8) from Irv's might change their minds. Irv's uses Hebrew National all-beef hot dogs and then covers it with chili and shredded cheddar cheese. I loved the meatiness of the hot dog, the flavorful chili, and the fact that they use grated cheddar cheese instead of a cheese sauce. The bun was unique here, reminding me of what they use when making lobster rolls. It was toasted and did a great job keeping everything inside the bun. Delicious chili dog. Check. ✅ 

Since I had gotten chili on my hot dog, I decided against getting the chili fries and just went with Plain Fries ($4). These fries came out of the fryer very hot and were salted nicely. They were a good fast food fry, but nothing that would elevate them more than that. French Fries. 🆗

I left Irv's very satisfied with my food. I included the ala carte menu prices for the things I had here, but I did get the burger, fries, and a drink as a combo meal, which cost me $16.45. The burger and chili dog from Irv's are superb and among OC's best ones. I look forward to revisiting again soon to try their patty melt, pastrami sandwich, and chili cheese fries. Even though this was a counter-service restaurant, I must mention the guy working the register and handing out food on this particular day. I believe his name was Rico, and he was awesome. He not only kept the line moving and delivered the food as soon as it was ready, but he also memorized everyone's name and, on their way out, asked them how their food was. Very impressive, significantly since the lunch rush was ramping up, and they were getting busier by the minute. Hopefully, the arrival of Irv's Burgers will catalyze a new burger renaissance in OC. 

Out of five lost lids (because 1946 is not only the year that Irv's opened for business, but it's also the year that Tupperware was invented, and many people have lost the lids of these plastic containers over those decades), five being best to zero being worst, Irv's Burgers gets 3.5 lost lids. 

For more information about Irv's Burgers, head to their website by clicking here: https://irvsburgers.com/

A Royal Welcome on Balboa Island

 Royal Hen

311 Marine Avenue

Newport Beach, CA 92662

Well, I just had another trip around the sun, and that's cause for a birthday dinner. I'm not really big into birthdays. No big parties, no presents, just a simple night out trying a restaurant with Katie. Very simple and uncomplicated. Maybe also a trip to Mastros for my favorite dessert of all-time, butter cake. That is if we are not too tired. Yes, getting older definitely zaps all of your energy.  

For this year's birthday extravaganza, I went to my trusty restaurant wishlist to select one of the restaurants that have been on my list the longest. Only six restaurants have been on this list longer than Royal Hen, which I have been meaning to try since 2016. That's when they opened their doors for the first time and almost immediately got praise from the local press and patrons alike for their food. It only took six years, but my 51st birthday seemed the perfect time to visit. 

We had made reservations for 7pm on a Friday evening, and with some good luck with parking on Balboa Island, we arrived about ten minutes early and were sat right away. We were led past the very crowded bar to the back dining room, which was a tad quieter than the front of the restaurant. The room was darkened a bit too much, but it lent to the gastropub vibe they are going for at Royal Hen. In addition, the restaurant exuded friendliness, as our server, manager, and other customers were quick to converse about their love for this restaurant. It really felt like we had just walked into a party in progress. 

The menu at Royal Hen is one page and separated into four sections; snacks, entrees, sides, and desserts. Mains average around the $24 price point, which is not highway robbery when considering this area. The snacks will set you back $15 or so, and two salads are available. They are serving European-sized plates here, meaning portion sizes are curtailed a bit. Something to keep in mind if you are debating whether or not to get a starter or not. We were here celebrating, so let's see what we ended up having. 

The first of our two snacks was the Crispy Wrapped Asparagus ($16). Three asparagus stalks are wrapped in a crispy pastry with prosciutto and herbed cream cheese, with a horseradish yogurt on top. I was not expecting this kind of preparation, but I ended up enjoying this. The outer crunch with the prosciutto and asparagus was a nice contrast in textures that kept me interested. A bit more horseradish yogurt would have raised this even higher. 

Next up was some Warm Miche Bread ($7). Miche is a loaf of sourdough country bread, which was quartered and served with ample salted Sierra Nevada Creamery Butter. Our slice of bread was pretty close to being charred on the outside. However, the inside was dense and light simultaneously, which is precisely what you want with sourdough. Again, the butter was very high quality, and I was pleased they were not stingy with it. 

Katie kept the carbs coming when she selected this Short Rib Fettuccine ($28) for her entree. The fettuccine is made in-house, combined with a great short rib ragu, and topped conservatively with shaved parmesan and fresh basil. We both enjoyed everything about this plate. The pasta was cooked al dente, the ragu was meaty and flavorful, and the only drawback was the smaller than usual portion size. We could have eaten a whole lot more of this. 

When Royal Hen first opened, two items were not on their printed menu that food critics were wild about, the burger and this Chicken Pot Pie ($21). In those days, you just had to know about them to get them, but now they are on the printed menu. People are still crazy about this chicken pot pie, as it's one of their most reviewed dishes on Yelp. I liked it, but I'm not fanatical about it. It's on the smaller side, probably the same circumference as a softball. The inside was not as creamy as others I have had, and the chicken was in tiny pieces, which did not help make it stand out. There were some peas, carrots, and onion in here too. I was a little confused about the small salad on top of this, as it wasn't dressed and not really needed. Once I discarded the salad, it revealed a top crust that was more buttery than other versions. I was happy I tried it, but I'd get the burger the next time I was here. 

As far as birthday dinners, this one was pretty solid. Royal Hen is one of the rare restaurants I've been to that I have liked even more as I'm writing this review. It's not that I wasn't a fan as we walked out, but writing this review has gotten me excited to revisit and try their burger and other items soon. The service was friendly and welcoming, and I did not think the prices were that expensive. The night went perfectly, and we made it to Mastros for that butter cake. 

Out of five college students (because in 1971, the same year as I was born, Cup Noodles was also invented, and many college students have survived their four years on this instant ramen), five being best to zero being worst, Royal Hen gets 3.5 college students. 

For more information about Royal Hen, head to their website by clicking here: https://www.theroyalhen.com/

Breakfast, Courtesy of the Great White North

OEB Breakfast Co. 

1104 Irvine, Ave. 

Newport Beach, CA 92660

I enjoy it when breakfast restaurants break out of the same old egg dishes, pancakes, and french toast options. When they bring something new and different to the table, literally and figuratively. Breaking the mold to make themselves stand out. So when I started following OEB Breakfast Company on Instagram, I knew I would move it up on my restaurant wishlist. 

OEB, which stands for over easy breakfast, opened in The Counter's former spot in the corner pocket of the Westcliff Plaza, situated at the corner of Irvine and Westcliff Drive. Opened in May, OEB Breakfast Company comes to us from the great white north, otherwise known as Canada. There are several locations spread across Canada, and the only other one in the US is situated in Scottsdale, Arizona. 

This chef-driven concept is helmed by Mauro Martina, a classically trained chef who has built this restaurant from a small 1,000-square-foot space in Calgary. He grew up in Italy and moved to Canada in 1992 to pursue his dream of becoming an executive chef, which he accomplished at age 21. The natural progression for him was restaurant ownership, which he achieved in 2009, sharing his vision for a farm-to-table breakfast experience. 

That experience has created a unique and playful menu with many whimsical names for his dishes. The menu is divided into blue plate specials, breakfast bowls, benny's, scram-blettes,  sandwiches, sweet items, and more. As with most new breakfast/brunch restaurants, there's a full bar, which goes well beyond the usual bloody mary and mimosa offerings. 

We arrived at EOB at half past 11 on a recent Sunday and had a twenty-minute wait for a table. We passed the time by getting a chocolate croissant for later at Pandor and people-watching. When we were texted that our table was ready, we hurried back to the hostess stand. The dining room seats 100, which seemed like a lot for the size of it, but the flow of people was nice and orderly. The predominant color is bright white, with booths, stand-alone tables, and a communal table filling the space. We were seated on the 25-seat patio in front of the restaurant. Now that we were sitting, let's see what OEB had to offer foodwise. 

First was Katie's selection, the Gotta Chick This Out ($18.50). This giant egg concoction was filled with some pulled chicken, spinach, semi-dried tomatoes, and mozzarella. Katie liked this well enough but thinks there's a reason why chicken isn't in more omelets. It's kind of bland. That, and the fact that there wasn't a lot of cheese present in this kind of made it fall flat. She'd get something else on her next visit. The scramblettes all come with duck-fat fried potatoes, fruit, and a choice of toast. Online reviews for the potatoes are glowing, but we found them underseasoned and not as crisp as we expected. On the other hand, the fruit was fresh, and the toast was fine.  

This was the first time I had seen pierogies on a breakfast menu, so I was intrigued enough to try the Pierogies and Duck ($22). The pierogies were filled with a potato mixture and placed on the plate with thick hardwood smoked bacon, pulled duck confit, a drizzle of raspberry vinaigrette, and two sunny-side-up eggs at the top of the pile. This was a vibrant dish. The pierogies were lightly fried but not rubbery like a lot of them tend to be. The bacon was very smokey, and the duck was done perfectly. The egg yolk, when pierced, tied everything together nicely. I did not get much from the raspberry vinaigrette, as it got lost here. A very filling breakfast plate.  

Ever since the pandemic started, I have been crazy about anything with bananas. I've made countless banana chocolate chip bread loaves, had too many slices of banana cream pie to count, and even made a delicious dessert called Banana Lasanga. So I was naturally drawn to this Banana Cream Pie French Toast ($18). With brioche as its base, this is layered with banana cream, sliced bananas, whipped cream, and toasted almonds. Unfortunately, this was a miss from me. It was not anywhere close to sweet, and after a few bites, it became pretty dull. I expected some sweetness from the banana or whipped cream but was let down. I'd skip these in favor of maybe the Nutella french toast or the buttermilk griddle cakes next time. 

OEB made a good first impression, even with the french toast misstep and Katie's choice of an egg dish. The plates in front of us were unique, made with great technique, and visually stunning. My plate was as delicious as it looked. I'd describe OEB as a breakfast restaurant that we'd hit only on special occasions. It was pretty expensive, as we spent $72 plus tip for the two of us, which is a lot for the day's first meal. However, most people around this area don't seem deterred by the prices here, as they have a four-and-a-half-star Yelp rating after only two months. Part of that might be due to the friendly service we observed on this visit, but the kitchen still had a few kinks to work out with promptly getting meals to the tables. Still, OEB is a breakfast restaurant worth checking out if you are tired of the same old breakfast.  

Out of five lassos (because this restaurant chain started in Calgary, Canada, which is also home to the largest rodeo in the world, the Calgary Stampede), five being best to zero being worst, OEB Breakfast Co. gets 3 lassos. 

For more information about OEB Breakfast Co., head to their website by clicking here: https://us.eatoeb.com/

Ho Sum? More Like Ho Hum Bistro

 Ho Sum Bistro

3112 Newport Blvd. 

Newport Beach, CA 92663

Every so often there's a restaurant that I have to double-check to make sure I haven't written a review for yet. After nearly 950 different restaurant reviews on this blog in 13 years, it's possible I could have forgotten one or two, especially at my advanced age. I did double-check, and this is definitely my first review on this blog of Ho Sum Bistro in Newport Beach. 

You'll have to excuse me for thinking I've reviewed this restaurant before. Back about twenty years ago, I spent quite a lot of time on the Balboa Peninsula hopping from bar to bar at least three to four times a week. Yes, it was great fun, but now that I'm older I love my quiet nights on the couch. Back then with all of the beverages I consumed, it was imperative that I get a good base of food before imbibing with too many cocktails. One spot that was in my heavy rotation was Ho Sum Bistro. 

It has been about 15 or so years since I have eaten here. During that time they had a fire that closed them for over a year, but they have been back from that setback for four years now. Ho Sum is kind of stuck in a time warp. Their website uses Mapquest to share their location, they have two newspaper reviews that they proudly share on their website, from 2002 and 2005, and they use the term 'Califoriental' to describe their food, which some might find offensive in this day and age. 

The Ho Sum Bistro menu is divided into salads, soups, veggie dishes, noodles, dim sum, mu shu, rice options, and other specialties. Only one item on their very big menu will set you back more than $17, which could be considered a steal in this neighborhood. Ho Sum is also well known for its Sunday champagne brunch, an all-you-can-eat affair, with unlimited veggie fried rice, salads, and six of their most popular dim sum offerings for $20 a person. Unfortunately, we were not here during brunch hours, so it would be the regular menu for us. Let's see if Ho Sum Bistro is just as good as I remember it from back in the day. 

The six of us decided to divide and conquer the menu at Ho Sum Bistro. For the most part, we ordered what we wanted and decided to eat family-style. I do not recall which one of us picked these Crispy Crab Bellies ($10.25), but they should not be allowed to pick the next time the six of us go out. These reminded me of Hot Pockets filled with cream cheese and what I believe was imitation crab meat. This was served with a citrus-ginger sauce, which did these no favors. I had one bite and discarded the rest. One of my worst bites of 2022 so far. 

My dad is not really a big fan of family-style eating, so he ordered this Small Hot and Sour Soup ($6.49) for himself. He called this great. He loved the veggies and flavor of it. It was filled with vegetables and had a very pleasing sour taste, which he really enjoyed. It did look good from across the table. 

Katie was excited to try these Cha Sui Bao ($11.25 each). This was another thing that I was less than thrilled about. The bao was very doughy and the ratio of dough to pork was way off. I could not even get a good taste of the barbecued pork inside. Another miss for me. 

No one will confuse these Ho Sum Dumplings ($9.75) with anything that you could get at Din Tai Fung or any other place serving dumplings. They were filled with very little chicken and the promised spicy cilantro sauce was anything but spicy. These were okay, but if you are a fan of dumplings at more famous spots, you will be disappointed by these. 

Forget for a minute that Ho Sum Bistro still calls this an Oriental Artichoke ($9.25). What makes this Asian? It's basically a halved steamed artichoke with sweet and sour sauce poured over it with some sesame seeds thrown in. Not exactly the most authentic Asian food I've ever seen, and not even really a good-tasting item. The sweet and sour sauce was very overpowering and it did not really inspire me to eat much of this. Skip it. 

When these Crispy Filled Chicken Wontons ($9.75) first hit the table I thought they had made a mistake and given us coconut shrimp instead, but these were indeed chicken. The breading was very thick but was crispy. There was not a lot of chicken in here, but this was still the best starter that we had this evening.  

When you go on Yelp and check out Ho Sum Bistro, you will see that they get a lot of love for two things, their combo salad, and their fried rice. My brother-in-law selected the Large Shrimp Fried Rice ($14.25). This was very large portion size and with the price of shrimp these days, a very reasonably priced entree. Along with the rather large shrimp, they added bean sprouts, mushrooms, shredded carrots, and cabbage to the brown-tinged rice. This was not very greasy or oily and was enough for lunch the next day for Jarrod. 

Another Katie pick was this Greg's Garlic Chicken ($14.25). Lightly fried chicken pieces were served with a whole cavalcade of vegetables. This was fine, but I was definitely hoping for a lot more garlic, as I did not detect any in the bites I had. Not an awful dish, but just a little bland. 

As I was eating this Half Combo Salad ($9.95) I was confused as to why I liked it so much. I couldn't stop shoveling it in. It's a mix of their chicken and sesame salads. It has not changed in the fifteen years since I had it, and I had forgotten how much I enjoyed it since I last had it fifteen years ago. The red ginger and sesame oil and vinegar dressings work well together, coating the shredded chicken and lettuce perfectly so each bite is balanced nicely. This was the half version, which is enough for three adults, so unless you are hosting a football team, there's probably no need to order the full-sized salad. I took the rest of mine home, and it did not really keep too well the next day.  

The Califoriental Rice ($10.95) was our last item of the evening. This chicken, vegetable, and rice dish was pretty uninspiring. It was really quite plain tasting, it needed some textural contrasts, and required some soy sauce to wake it up a bit. Not a big fan. 

If it wasn't for the combo salad and the shrimp fried rice, this visit to Ho Sum Bistro would have been a complete waste. Yes, the prices here are low and the portion sizes are way more than generous, but if those two things mean more to you than quality, you may have found your new favorite restaurant. Ho Sum Bistro has been around since 1987, and maybe back then people did not know what Asian food should taste like. I'm hoping that in the 34 years since then we have evolved a bit, but I have my doubts. 

Out of five lollipops, (because Shirley Temple used to vacation in Newport Beach during the summer when she was a kid, and she sang the song Good Ship Lollipop in her movie Bright Eyes back in 1934), five being best to zero being worst, Ho Sum Bistro gets 1.5 lollipops. 

For more information about Ho Sum Bistro, head to their website by clicking here: http://www.hosumbistro.com/index.html

Shedding Some Light on Brunch at Lighthouse Café

 Lighthouse Cafe

1600 West Balboa Blvd. 

Newport Beach, CA 92663

This is a review a few years in the making. For a while, it seemed like we were never going to get the chance to eat here. It felt like the odds were against us. We had come down to the beach three times to have brunch and were met with crazy long wait times of multiple hours. It seems that when the weather is beautiful, the ocean is like a magnet to people. They want to be near it when they eat. After multiple false starts, we finally made it to the Lighthouse Cafe. 

What was the secret to our success? I finally got smart and added my name to the Yelp waitlist. Even if you are not signed into the Yelp app, you can still get your place in line at the Lighthouse, without even being there. Since we live about half an hour away, and Katie has an affinity for sleeping in on Sunday mornings, I selected a convenient time that we could arrive by. It worked like a charm. When we arrived at half-past ten, we were alerted that our table was ready. At that time they were quoting wait times at the hostess podium of nearly two hours. 

Lighthouse Cafe is a two-story restaurant, which overlooks picturesque Newport Bay. The restaurant is located in Marina Park, which has plenty of pay parking available most of the time. We were seated inside the dining room, which I did not mind, as we were going to get to enjoy the outside environment on our planned walk after brunch. The dining space here has a very beachy, relaxed vibe that creates a vacation feeling that washes over you, even if you are only a half-hour from home. 

The brunch menu at Lighthouse truly has something for everyone. There are a dozen starters to choose from, and the entrees number close to twenty, with plenty of breakfast and more of what I'd consider lunch options to choose from. All the starters and most of the entrees do not eclipse the $20 price point, which is pretty impressive, especially in this part of town. Most restaurants that have amazing views try to get by with mediocre food, so I was hoping that Lighthouse Cafe would buck that trend. Let's see if that is the case. 

If you are eating here for brunch, you will be hard-pressed to find a table that does not have these Beignets ($7.99) placed prominently. These little puffs of pastry are probably the signature items at Lighthouse Cafe. These dozen or so beignets came to our table piping hot, dusted with a little cinnamon sugar, and drizzled with icing. These little pillows are hollow inside, which helps keep them light and airy as you find yourself on your sixth one in about two minutes. Definitely worth getting, especially if you like pairing sweet and savory for your first meal of the day like I do. 

Katie is drawn to breakfast burritos almost every time we head out to breakfast. The Breakfast Burrito ($15.99) at Lighthouse Cafe comes with a whole cavalcade of items; both bacon and sausage, scrambled eggs, cheddar cheese, potatoes, avocado, crema, and pico de gallo topping this good sized burrito. Katie loved the lightness of the burrito and the avocado crema the best, but she did wish this had more cheese included. 

I really hesitated to order the Steak Chilaquiles ($18.99) here. I've been burned so many times getting chilaquiles at non-Mexican restaurants, but this actually turned out to be a pretty solid choice this morning. The housemade, red-hued tortilla chips were pretty crisp, the flank steak was not only plentiful, but tender, and the two sunny-side-up eggs tied everything together nicely. This dish had a gradual spiciness that intensified as I went along devouring the chilaquiles. Nicely done. 

This visit to Lighthouse Cafe showed me that restaurants with a spectacular view can serve some pretty good food. It's really no surprise that they have such long waits on weekends for tables outside, but even if you have to sit indoors, you will be treated to a pretty solid brunch. I look forward to trying more off of their brunch menu, or maybe even venturing over this way for dinner in the very near future. Our server Haley was a delight from start to finish, and she helped add to the vacation feeling we had throughout our visit to Lighthouse Cafe. Glad we persevered to eat here, and very thankful that I finally used the Yelp waitlist to make it happen.  

Out of five dragons, (because whenever I think about lighthouses it reminds me of Pete's Dragon, a 1977 Disney film, which featured not only a lighthouse but an animated dragon), five being best to zero being worst, Lighthouse Cafe gets 3.5 dragons. 

For more information about Lighthouse Cafe, head to their website here: https://lighthousenb.com/