A Terrific Taqueria in Tustin

 

Taco Chico Taqueria

17582 17th Street 

Tustin, CA 92780

This was another restaurant visit initially made because of where the restaurant is located. Since Katie and I live in South OC and my parents live in North OC, we generally meet in the middle when we make plans. This usually puts us in Irvine, Tustin, or Orange. I always feel like I will run out of restaurants to choose from in these cities, but that has yet to happen, as there are always new restaurants sprouting up. So the newish place we decided to meet for this dinner was Taco Chico Taqueria in Tustin. 

Taco Chico opened for business in May of last year. It's brought to us by the chef and owner of the critically acclaimed Amor y Tacos in Cerritos, Thomas Ortega. He also runs Playa Amor in Long Beach and Amorcito in Costa Mesa. Taco Chico is his version of a fast-casual concept that draws inspiration from parts of Puebla and Tijuana in a comfortable and clean space. His partner in this venture is his long-time cook, Abel Rios, who just happens to be a native of Puebla. 

For reference, this shopping center, which sits at the corner of 17th Street and Prospect, also features a CVS, Flame Broiler, Thai Chaiyo, and other smaller storefronts. Their menu is rather impressive in size. They offer ten kinds of meat options in tacos, burritos, loaded fries, quesadillas, taquitos, sopes, mulitas, tortas, and cemitas.  The combination options are endless, with many proteins and ways to eat them, but we tried our best to make a dent in their menu on our first visit. 

Starting things off is the trendiest taco of the moment, the Quesabirria Style Taco ($4.75). This taco comes with your choice of protein, and Katie naturally went with the beef birria. The taco is dressed with diced onion, cilantro, and a layer of fried cheese lining the double-layered corn tortilla. There are also some sauteed onions, providing a nice sweetness contrasting this savory taco. This birria was very good and a little less wet than most we have encountered. The fried cheese inside of this got a little lost but was present in a few bites that  I had. The tortilla did an admirable job of standing up to the taco's insides. 

Katie is a big fan of taquitos, and she wanted to try this Taquito Combo ($11) at Taco Chico. These taquitos were made by rolling up a large corn tortilla and filling them with shredded chicken, deep frying them, and topping them with cilantro, a sprinkling of cotija cheese, a cilantro crema, onions, pico de Gallo, and a dollop of guacamole on the side to go along with the rice and beans. They were lighter than most taquitos, as they were not oily like other versions. The chicken was pretty mellow, and they could have been helped with a little more of the delicious cilantro crema. The rice and beans were OK. 

I've trained myself that if I see a mulita on the menu anywhere, I need to get one. At Taco Chico, that meant I would be having this Pastor Mulita ($4.95). For those of you who are not sure what a mulita is, it's an unfolded quesadilla. Here they take two corn tortillas and create a sandwich-like concoction with cheese, onions, cilantro, avocado, and your choice of meat. You'd think that the contents of the mulita would spill out, but the cheese helps keep everything together. This was a nicely done version. The pastor meat had a tinge of pineapple, was tender, and paired well with the cheese and smear of avocado. Definitely worth getting. 

Nothing is more beautiful than a plate of tacos coming to your table, knowing that you will soon be consuming them after taking pictures. I tried four different tacos, Asada ($3.65), Saudero ($3.65), Pastor ($2.95), and Carnitas ($2.95). My favorite of this quartet was the Asada. It was dressed with onions, cilantro, and avocado. The asada was tender, and the mesquite-grilled steak left a pleasing tinge to the meat. I am trying to remember ever having saudero before, which is braised beef brisket. It was delicious and earned my second favorite taco on this plate. The pastor was just as good as it was in the mulita. The taco's pineapple was a bit more pronounced, and the marinated pork was tasty. I was also happy that they added the cilantro crema to this taco. The carnitas taco was alright, but it did not wow me like the other three. 

Definitely not the most authentic of Mexican dishes, but I'm always a sucker for Loaded Fries ($12.95). These crinkle-cut fries are piled high on a plate and then topped with melted cheese, pico de Gallo, cilantro crema, cheese sauce, avocado, cotija cheese, and your choice of meat. I went with the carnitas. If we had gotten the asada, these would have been better. Unfortunately, the carnitas did not pop on this, and the fries came out limp and underseasoned. Not my favorite version of loaded fries. 

I did want to include my mom's taco selection of the evening, the Carnitas Taco with cheese added ($3.45). She called this the best carnitas taco she had ever had. She loved the plentiful jack cheese and the shredded pork. She did request that this come without onions and cilantro, which they were happy to oblige. 

Last but not least, we also tried the Street Elote ($4.95). The corn was served on the cob with aioli, a chili lime tajin, cilantro, and a sprinkling of cotija cheese. The corn was sweet and contrasted nicely with the condiments on top of the corn. They added the perfect amount of toppings, so they did not overpower the corn. Very nicely done. 

This was an excellent initial visit to Taco Chico. We got a good cross-section of what they offer, and I look forward to getting more in-depth with their menu on future visits. The cemitas, super baked potato, and other protein options piqued my interest. With this location being so close to the freeway, I can see us stopping by on our trips to Ducks games and other meet-ups with my parents. Their service was quick, the restaurant was clean, and the dining area was well-lit and roomy. 

Out of five wildcats (because the mascot for the sports teams of Chico State is Willie the Wildcat), five being best to zero being worst, Taco Chico Taqueria gets 3.5 wildcats. 

For more information about Taco Chico Taqueria, head to their website by clicking here: https://www.tacochico.com/

Crazy Good Katsu in Irvine - CLOSED

 J San Ramen

3972 Barranca Parkway

Irvine, CA 92606

As the calendar turned the page to another year, I decided to leave my comfort zone with my restaurant choices. This became clear to me as I was editing this blog recently. I had become predictable with the food I had been ordering. As a result, way too many Caesar salads and burgers have been written about in this blog. I apologize for that, and I hope 2023 will start a more diverse restaurant blog.  

Japanese food is not something that I actively seek out. But, nevertheless, I fall into having it. Most of the time, Katie craves it, and I finally give in once she mentions it for the 500th time. However, at other times, like this evening, my aunt Hiroko chooses a place that she finds very good. That's what led us to J San Ramen in Irvine. 

From what I've gleaned online, J San Ramen is a mini-chain. There are locations in Yorba Linda, Fullerton, Mission Viejo, and two spots in Irvine. This location in the Crossroads Shopping Center opened in late 2020 during the pandemic. For an exact location, they are situated in front of the LA Fitness but closer to Barranca in the grouping of stores that includes Pete's Coffee, Wingstop, and Cava.  

Our party of five arrived here at half past six on a Saturday evening. We were met with an almost empty restaurant. It was like this during our stay, although there was a trickle of takeout orders being picked up. The dining room was modestly decorated, and the lighting was pleasantly bright. We found a table and made our selections with a server. 

I've studied the menus at all the OC locations of J San, which are all slightly different. This Irvine location breaks down its menu into appetizers, ramen, katsu, and noodles. Prices for ramen hover around the $15 mark, while the katsu is the same, but combo meals go for $23 and include U-don, shrimp, and a croquette. From what I've seen, this is the only J-San offering this combo meal, which you will see below. 

Combo meals are the best way to try as many items as possible on an initial visit to a restaurant, so that's what I always steer towards. The Domkatsu Combo Meal ($23.95) includes a pork cutlet katsu, shrimp tempura, potato croquette, and a small bowl of udon. This meal's highlight was the pork cutlet, which featured a crunchy outer coating that contrasted nicely with the tender pork underneath. Well fried and not oily at all. The potato croquette reminded me of the hashbrowns you get at McDonald's, which is not a knock against them. I loved the crunchy outside of the patty and the fluffy potato underneath. The shrimp was nicely done with the same flaky coating as the katsu. The plate was finished with a salad with a tangy yellow dressing over plenty of shredded cabbage. It was okay. I mostly ate it to counteract all the fried food I had just consumed. 

I am not an expert on udon, but I liked this well enough. It had a pretty mellow flavor, and everything in the bowl complemented each other nicely. 

I did not partake in this Tonkotsu Miso Ramen ($15.95), but my aunt Hiroko did. She grew up in Japan, so I'd consider her a ramen expert. She enjoyed this very much and will try to visit J-San if she gets the chance. This bowl included a creamy pork broth, egg, bean sprouts, seaweed, mushroom, green onion, sliced pork belly, and bamboo shoots. It looked good from across the table. I'd try the spicy version on my next visit. 

It has been a few months since this visit, and I still think about the crunchy katsu here. If you are a fan of katsu, J-San Ramen is the place for you. This trip has got me curious to see if the Mission Viejo location is as good as this Irvine one. I'll be finding out soon. The prices here were fair for the food you get. The service was friendly and efficient, and the food came out quickly. J-San has definitely piqued my interest in Japanese food. 

Out of five cherry blossoms (because they are the national flower of Japan), five being best to zero being worst, J-San Ramen gets 3 cherry blossoms. 

J-San Ramen does not have an accessible website, so click here to check out their Yelp reviews and other info: https://www.yelp.com/biz/j-san-ramen-katsu-irvine

Browsing at the Kebab Shop

 The Kebab Shop

8687 Irvine Center Drive

Irvine, CA 92618

As the holiday season drifts from memory and the world returns to whatever normal is, I look for foods I may have neglected in the last part of the year. I usually crave Italian and Mexican restaurants near my home to counteract the bland traditional foods we eat during the holidays. With the hustle and bustle of this part of the year, I quickly grab meals to decompress from the stress that comes with extra hours at work, shopping for gifts and family commitments. The new year means more diversity in the foods I eat, which has brought me to The Kebab Shop in Irvine. 

I have to admit that I just recently learned about The Kebab Shop. Yes, I need to catch up on the times. This San Dego based chain has been winning praise and awards for a while now. The Kebab Shop started in 2008 when Wally Sadat, his brother-in-law, and other family members bought a Mediterranean restaurant with little to no food industry experience. However, they were passionate about their doner kebabs and wanted to make them approachable to the people of San Diego. 

Mission accomplished. They have since expanded to 31 storefronts, with locations in San Diego, Los Angeles County, Northern California, Austin, Texas, and four spots in Orange County, with another one planned for Seal Beach very soon. I have now visited this Irvine location twice, and even though it's 15 minutes from our place, I can see The Kebab Shop becoming a regular stop for us for a quick dinner. 

Their menu is simple to navigate. They offer their kebabs in plates, wraps, or boxes. You pick your base and sides and go from there. They have carved chicken doner, carved beef-lamb doner, grilled chicken, grilled beef meatballs, and falafel to choose from. Sides include saffron rice, fries, hummus, and a trio of salads. Entrees hover right around the very affordable $14 mark. Let's see what we partook in on our two visits to The Kebab Shop. 

Loaded fries are my jam, so I knew I'd be getting these Doner Fries ($12.50). These fast food style fries are topped with pickled red onion, garlic yogurt sauce, crumbled feta cheese, and your choice of doner meat. With a suggestion from the guy at the counter, I went with the carved chicken. These were strangely addictive, even though I'm not the biggest fan of feta, and I sometimes find chicken to be a bit bland. That is not the case at The Kebab Shop. The chicken was moist and seasoned well, while the feta and pickled onions added a bit of tang to each bite. The fries did get a bit limp near the end of this, but that's to be expected with loaded fries. 

Not the most picturesque plating job, but I was pleased with this Carved Lamb-Beef Doner Plate ($15.50). The doner meat was shaved off the vertical spit and joined in the to-go container with my choice of two sides: falafel and hummus. The mixture of lamb and beef was nicely done. An excellent texture to it, and it was boosted flavorwise by adding the sauces that The Kebab Shop is famous for. My favorite was the Cilantro Jalapeno which possessed just a hint of spiciness. The Garlic Yogurt was on point flavorwise, but it would have been my favorite of the three if it was thicker. I was also a fan of the Fire Chili, which added just a tiny kick of spice. The hummus and pita tasted freshly made. I was not really into the falafel. They were too hard and bland. I'd probably swap them out for the saffron rice on my next visit. 

Katie's selection was this Carved Chicken Wrap ($14.00 with the dollar upcharge for saffron rice and feta cheese). This wrap was filled with greens, tomato, cucumber, and garlic yogurt sauce. The size of this wrap really took us both by surprise. Unfortunately, it was very long and it was hard to get a good shot of the whole thing with my camera. Even though she was a little overwhelmed with the size of this wrap, Katie enjoyed the mixture of the chicken, rice, and garlic yogurt sauce. She'd definitely get this again. 

On my second visit to The Kebab Shop, I got the Doner Fries ($12.50) with the carved lamb-beef instead of the chicken. This version was even better than the one from before. The beef and lamb stood out more than the chicken, and I used more of their sauces to achieve even greater satisfaction. The fries got a little soggy near the end, but that might be due to my 15-minute drive back home, taking my pictures, and finally getting down to eating. Again, I found these even more addictive than my previous version. 

I had planned on having this Grilled Chicken Doner Plate ($15.75) for dinner, but I ate half of it for lunch and let Katie have the other half for dinner. We both enjoyed the chicken, which was grilled expertly and went well with the saffron rice and spicy hummus. The hummus had an excellent texture to it and really provided more spiciness than I was expecting. Nicely done. 

The Kebab Shop really hit the spot after our hectic holiday season. I see this place becoming one of our usual spots when we are in the area and want a quick bite. Their food was freshly made and tasted great, and I enjoyed all the customization you could opt for. The Doner Fries are a must-get; for most people, they would be enough to fill you up. On my second visit, I used their website to order my food for pickup, and it was a seamless transaction. My food was waiting for me when I arrived, and I could feel the heat coming off the bag as I quickly made my way home to partake in it. I'm glad the holidays are over so I can get out and try more places that I have been putting off trying during the busy holiday season. 

Out of five gray wolves (because the kebab originated in Tukey, and the national animal of that country is the gray wolf), five being best to zero being worst, The Kebab Shop gets 3 gray wolves. 

For more information about The Kebab Shop, head to their website by clicking here: https://thekebabshop.com/

Something to Write Home About at Sandwich House

 Sandwich House

9187 Valley View St. 

Cypress, CA 90630

Yes, two reviews in a row for the city of Cypress. We were sitting at two restaurant reviews for 12 years, so we'd double that with this single trip to one of the most northern cities in our grand county. We had just had one of the better breakfast burritos in OC, and I was already thinking about lunch. Yes, I might have a problem. 

Right around the corner from where we had breakfast was Sandwich House. What drew me here was their impressive four-and-a-half-star rating on Yelp, with over 1,600 reviews. Another driving force for this visit was that I last had a Banh Mi sandwich in what seemed like forever. I'm a big fan of these Vietnamese sandwiches, but only a few places where I live have good ones. So, I was hoping that Sandwich House was going to be able to provide me a very good one. 

Feuling my excitement about Sandwich House was some of the research I had done about this restaurant. Not only was their Yelp rating and reviews very promising, but in 2018 they were situated at number 53 on Yelp's top 100 places to eat in the US that year. That is very lofty praise. Other than that, I learned that they have been in business since 2011 and were an instant hit with the students from Cypress College, located right across the street. 

The menu at Sandwich House is pretty straightforward. They offer 14 sandwiches on french bread, ten on a croissant, and three entree items for those who are not fans of sandwiches. There are also hot and cold drinks, smoothies, and various coffee options are also available. Most sandwiches hover around the $10 price point and go up depending on any optional add-ons you may want. 

We arrived at Sandwich House just before the lunch rush at half past eleven. The inside of the shop is cluttered, with plenty of chips, snacks, and baked goods for sale. There was also a good-sized collection of chef figurines throughout the tiny space. Ordering was done at the counter, and then they asked us politely to wait in our car for our sandwiches. It could be a holdover from the pandemic days, or it's more convenient because the restaurant is so tiny. The nice man behind the counter brought two Jasmin iced teas to our car while we were waiting for our food. Very lovely and not unexpected, especially if you read their reviews on Yelp. Within ten minutes or so, we were headed back home with dinner. Let's see if my good feeling about Sandwich House came true.  

Here's a look at Katie's selection this afternoon, the Grilled Chicken Sandwich ($8.75). Each sandwich here comes with shredded carrots, cucumbers, a touch of mayo, cilantro, onion, jalapeno, a bit of soy sauce, and in this case, some chicken. The bread tasted freshly made, had a good texture, and held the contents of the sandwich admirably. Katie thought this might have been the best banh mi sandwich she had ever had. She loved the fresh veggies, the crunchy bread, and the savory tender chicken.  

On Yelp, this House Special Sandwich ($8.75 +$2 for extra meat) kept appearing in every positive review, so I decided to give it a shot. This came with all the same things as Katie's sandwich above, but instead of chicken, it came with pate, pork meatloaf, and french style ham. This was a little out of my usual comfort zone, but it was a good sandwich. The pate added a lovely richness, while the ham and pork worked well with the rest of the fillings. I would have liked a bit more mayo, but it was a nicely crafted sandwich and was one of the better banh mi sandwiches I have had. It was worth two dollars to get extra meat on this. 

My sandwich was a fantastic introduction to Sandwich House and whetted my appetite to try more of their sandwiches when we return to the area. It will be hard not to order the special house sandwich, but I have my eye on the grilled pork or one of their croissant sandwiches on future visits. Adding to the good vibes we have about this spot was the warm and inviting welcome we got from who I presume was the owner. We were two for two on this trip to Cypress, picking good places to eat. It makes me wonder what else this city has to offer. Stay tuned. 

Out of five electric outlets (because the sports teams of nearby Cypress College are the Chargers, and if you stick your finger in an outlet, it will definitely give you a charge), five being best to zero being worst, Sandwich House gets 3.5 electric outlets. 

For more information about Sandwich House, head to their website by clicking here: https://website--6800858471984551692101-sandwichshop.business.site/

Building a Better Breakfast Burrito at the Home Depot?

 LJ's Lil Cafe

5800 Lincoln Avenue

Cypress, CA 90630

I know. This blog has gotten a little breakfast-heavy the last few weeks. Except for my year-end post, my previous three reviews have been about the day's first meal. I promise more diversity in the upcoming reviews, but this is a breakfast spot that I'm very passionate about. More specifically, I'm excited about the breakfast burritos LJ's Lil Cafe is churning out. 

LJ's is situated in a small space in front of the Home Depot on Lincoln Avenue in Cypress. They opened in September of 2021 by a couple who had met while working at Seasons 52 in Costa Mesa. When this place was available, they snatched it up rather quickly because of the heavy foot traffic in the area and the fact that Cypress College is right across the street. 

They are closed on Sundays and Mondays and are only open for business from 7:30 to 2pm the rest of the week. They start serving a lunch menu of sausages, hot dogs, a hamburger, and a foot-long queso cheesesteak after 11:30. Breakfast, which has gotten them the most press, consists of four breakfast burritos to choose from and a lone breakfast sandwich. 

We were meeting our good friends Melissa, Kyle, and Melissa's mom Irene here for a mid-week meetup at 10am, but Melissa was predictably late, even though she lives nearby in the beautiful city of Whittier. When they finally arrived, we quickly ordered and were met with a quoted time of half an hour for our food. No problem, as we had not seen each other for a while and spent the time chatting about things important to Melissa; her love of the city of Yorba Linda, how she believed that her beloved Rams were going to win the SuperBowl this year, (ha!), and her aquatic dog named Pugsley. 

There's only a little seating here, as there are a couple of picnic tables to the left of the ordering window. Unfortunately, these were occupied when we got here, so we improvised and sat at the picnic table, which was the display model for Home Depot. No one seemed to care, but we made sure to not make a big mess and cleaned up after ourselves once we were done with our meal. Speaking of the meal, let's see if the hype for the breakfast burritos at LJ's is warranted. 

Of course, with all this talk about breakfast burritos, Katie decided to try the LJ's Breakwich ($7.99 + $2 for both bacon and sausage + .75 for grilled onions). This comes with your choice of cheese, two eggs, bacon or sausage, LJ's sauce (a spicy mayo), and salsa, all on a brioche bun. The egg was nicely folded into the bun and had a good cohesion with the swiss cheese, the bacon, and the sausage, a Portuguese-Hawaiian sausage, which was a nice departure from the everyday breakfast sausage most places use. Even with the close to $11 charge for this sandwich, Katie felt it was well worth it. She loved the high-quality ingredients used and savored every bite. The Tater Tots ($4.49) had a good crunch and was an excellent side item for the sandwich. 

Here's what we drove nearly forty minutes for, the OG Breakfast Burrito ($11.25). I posted the first picture with the dollar bill so you could see what we are dealing with size-wise. Regarding breakfast burritos, this one falls right in the middle of the pack based on size. It's not going to overwhelm you and make you skip dinner, but it's also going to keep you completely satisfied through lunchtime. The OG is filled with three eggs, Portugese-Hawaiian sausage, bacon, cheese, tater tots, and LJ's sauce. I really enjoyed the inclusion of the crunchy tater tots, which kept their crispness remarkably well while I was eating this. The ratio of ingredients was also a bright spot for this breakfast burrito. There was plenty of cheese, and the eggs and cheese worked perfectly together. If I had to say one negative thing about this, the bacon could have been a bit more prominent, and a little more of the LJ's sauce wouldn't have hurt. 

Kyle, who had the nickname hot tamale in high school, lived up to his nickname by trying the OG Spicy Breakfast Burrito ($10.99). This differs from the burrito above by adding jalapenos, omitting the bacon, and substituting the Portuguese sausage for a hotlink. Not overly spicy, just enough to give it a slight kick. This will be the burrito I will get the next time I visit LJ's. Unfortunately, I didn't have the opportunity to try this, but Kyle enjoyed it. 

These burritos were both the OG burritos we had seen earlier. I am highlighting the excellent hand-modeling job done by Melissa and her mom. Great job, ladies, and consider a career change to hand modeling soon. 

The breakfast burritos at LJ's are worthy of all the hype they receive. These are one of the top three breakfast burritos in OC. Like my other two favorites, the ones from Nate's Korner and Ham N' Scram, I'm more than a little bummed that these spots are more than thirty minutes away from where I live, even with early morning light weekend freeway traffic. LJ's is worth a little extended drive time. I've also made a mental note to try their lunch very soon. Again, I'm sorry for all the breakfast reviews lately, but LJ's is one place you will definitely not want to miss, especially if you are a fan of breakfast burritos. 

Out of five centurions (because the mascot of Cypress High School is the Roman centurion), five being best to zero being worst, LJ's Lil Cafe gets 3.5 centurions. 

LJ's Lil Cafe does not have a website, but you can stay up to date with them by checking out their Yelp page by clicking here: https://www.yelp.com/biz/lj-s-lil-cafe-cypress?osq=best+breakfast+burrito

Straightforward Breakfast at SC Cafe in San Clemente

 SC Cafe

1810 South El Camino Real

San Clemente, CA 92672

Sometimes you just want a straightforward breakfast joint. In recent years boozy brunches, healthy options for the first meal of the day, and places that focus on locally sourced ingredients have become all the rage regarding breakfast eateries. Most of these restaurants are fine, but sometimes I'm just in the mood for good, solid, not-too-fancy breakfast foods. After we walked on the San Clemente Beach Trail, I wanted a no-frills meal at the nearby SC Cafe. 

This spot is off the beaten path. It's situated right next to the Northbound 5 offramp and next to Surfin Donuts on the bottom floor of a small non-descript office building. Parking is definitely at a premium at SC Cafe, as they have about five or six parking spots available to their customers. The parking situation kept us from visiting earlier, as we could not find a place to park about a year earlier. However, we were more determined to eat here this time, so we parked a quarter mile away and walked to and from the restaurant. 

I don't know much about the origins of SC Cafe. They have no website, and I could not find anything about them in the local press. However, their Yelp page reveals that they have been in business since at least 2007 and have a pretty impressive four-and-a-half-star rating with over 200 reviews. This is the true definition of a local place. We arrived at half past 11 on a Sunday and were met with about a ten-minute wait for a table. 

The inside features a beachy vibe, with six booths, a smattering of tables, and counter seating for four. There's also a patio in the front of the restaurant, a holdover from the pandemic times. The menu is a good size for such a small place. Breakfast options include egg basics, griddle offerings, Baja breakfasts, and SC Cafe favorites. As they are open until 2pm every day, there are plenty of sandwiches and Mexican fare to choose from. We, of course, veered towards breakfast. Let's check out what we partook of after our not-very-strenuous beach walk. 

First, we'll look at Katie's meal, Nicole's Mix ($13.95 + $2 for avocado and sour cream). I'm still determining who Nicole is, but she has to be a fan of spinach, eggs, and onions mixed with hashbrowns and topped with jack cheese and avocado slices. Katie called this delicious. She enjoyed the alternating crispy and tender parts of the hashbrowns and the very liberal amount of cheese they used here. However, she felt that the eggs were indiscernible as they got pushed to the side by the other ingredients on the plate. Nonetheless, she would get this again on future visits to SC Cafe. 

I have recently been on a real Chilaquiles ($16.95 + $2 for two eggs) kick. I can't get enough of this traditional Mexican breakfast dish. However, the one here is a little different than most. The tortilla chips are not fried in red or green salsa but in a jalapeno-cilantro sauce and then topped with chicken, avocado, crema, and cheese. Even though this was not traditional, I found it tasty. The flavorful sauce was not too spicy, went well with the rest of the dish, and kept me interested from my first bite to my last. I had planned on only eating half of this and taking the rest home for dinner later, but it was so good, and my willpower was not the best, so I did end up eating all of it. 

As is my routine when eating breakfast out, I always like to pair savory and sweet. That meant I had to try the Short Stack of Chocolate Chip Pancakes ($6.95 + $1 for the chocolate chips). These were solid pancakes on their own, but they were made even better with the suitable amount of chocolate chips they provided. A perfect companion to the savory part of my meal. 

I was stoked with our food at SC Cafe this early afternoon. But is it drive-worthy for the rest of OC? Sadly, it's not, but if you are in the area, or since they are so close to the freeway, driving through, SC Cafe will give you the fuel needed to jumpstart your day. This is a no-nonsense breakfast spot serving up some solid food with a competent crew serving you. It's easily in the top 5 breakfast restaurants in San Clemente and will be in our rotation of places we hit up after our walks on the San Clemente Beach Trail. 

Out of five pool noodles (because the city of San Clemente was founded by Ole Hanson in 1925, and his name still adorns the Beach Club, which features a pool that I'm sure has seen its fair share of pool noodles), five being best to zero being worst, SC Cafe gets 3 pool noodles. 

SC Cafe does not have a website, but you can find out more about them by clicking here to visit their Yelp page: https://www.yelp.com/biz/sc-cafe-san-clemente?sort_by=date_asc

Best Restaurants of 2022

We made it! 2022 has now been whittled down to a few more hours. Thankfully, this year has been a closer return to normal. People are back out going to sporting events, amusement parks, traveling, and most importantly, eating in restaurants. With all that has gone on in the world over the last two years, I'm so happy for the restaurants that have persevered through all of this, and I still mourn the restaurants we've lost, even the bad ones. 

With the upcoming new year, it's the natural time to reflect on the past. It's hard to believe that I've been at this for 13 years. When I started this restaurant review blog in 2009, I had no idea I would still be doing this and enjoying it as much as I do. My last review was for restaurant number 980. That makes this coming year the moment I will finally fulfill one of my goals of 1,000 different restaurant reviews on this blog. I have a few plans for that milestone, but I will wait to reveal them. 

As most of my contemporaries in the blogging world have ditched their websites, stopped writing about food for other pursuits, or gone on to bigger and greater things, I have no plans on stopping my quest for great eats in Orange County and beyond. I have always envisioned this website as a resource tool for all of you. A place where you can see pictures of the food, get a little insight from me, and then decide if you want to spend your hard-earned money at the places I visit. As time marches, this site will become a time capsule for restaurants no longer in business and what foods were hot at a particular time. Like, remember when quinoa was all the rage? Good times. 

I hit my modest goal of writing at least one restaurant review weekly in 2022, which will become my norm. Unfortunately, as it sits now, I'm running a couple of months behind from when I visit a restaurant to when I finish a review. I plan to rectify that timespan in the future, as I'll skip binge-watching TV shows, abstain from social media as much, and be more focused when I sit down at my desk to write. We'll see how that all works out. 

Before I get to the best 10 restaurants I ate at this year, I'd like to thank my family and friends who supported my modest hobby of eating out in restaurants over the years. I'd also like to thank Katie, my forever dining companion, for her continued support not only of this blog but in everything that I do. Lastly, I'd like to express gratitude to all of you who have taken the time to read or at least checked out the pictures of what I've eaten over the last 13 years. You all mean the world to me. Happiest of New Year to all of you!

Here are the best ten restaurants I've eaten at in 2022. 

#10 - PorchBox - Laguna Hills

PorchBox makes this list because I love their concept. Their menu changes with the seasons. You get the main course and three sides to choose from, all for $15, or what you'd spend at your local fast food spot, and this tastes like food should taste. A very convenient place to pick up dinner for you or the family, and something you will feel good about giving to your loved ones. 

#9 - Mattern's Sausage and Deli - Orange

German food is not readily available as much in OC these days, with the recent closing of Jagerhaus and the Phoenix Club, but Mattern's is still churning out sausages, smoked pork chops, and one heck of a Reuben sandwich. They also have a small market, where you can find some hard-to-find German specialty items. Definitely worth a stop. 

#8 - Vox Kitchen - Foutain Valley

One of the most reviewed OC restaurants on Yelp, and with a mighty 4.5-star rating, I'm ashamed I didn't make it here sooner. Vox Kitchen serves up Asian comfort food with a Peruvian influence. Their food has broad appeal, and they get it to your table almost at warp speed. Slow it down, guys. We want to enjoy your delicious cuisine. 

#7 - La Super Birria - Santa Ana

2022 continued the birria trend that has taken hold of OC. The best we had this year was from La Super Birria, a mini-chain that has now sprouted to four locations. The quesabirria and all the tacos are stellar but don't sleep on the birria ramen, which is delicious, and not just a novelty dish to show off on Instagram. 

#6 - Folks Pizzeria - Costa Mesa

The best pizza we had this year can be found at Folks Pizzeria, located at The Camp. It's easy to see why this place always seems to have a long wait. High-quality pizza, their chopped salad with a lot of shaved parmesan, and their bread and butter to start will make any time you have to wait worth it. 

#5 - Solstice - Irvine

Another fine dining gem for the city of Irvine. Solstice is predictably a seasonally driven restaurant. Their menu changes four times a year, highlighting what's fresh during each quarter of the year. Unfortunately, they had to delay their opening due to pandemic material shortages, but the management team and their staff hit their stride during our visit in June. 

 #4 - 17th Street Deli - Costa Mesa

Every neighborhood needs an excellent deli, and Costa Mesa is lucky to have this one. 17th Street Deli makes some killer sandwiches, but the best I've had so far is the Bomb Pastrami. Made with Boar's Head pastrami, sauerkraut, coleslaw, and swiss cheese, all on rye bread, this is one explosive sandwich. Easy online ordering and excellent friendly service are just an added bonus. Well worth navigating the busy 17th Street traffic. 

#3 - Centro Storico Spaghetteria - Tustin

You won't find fresh pasta at most places, but it has made Centro Storico popular. After your first bite, you can taste the quality. There are sixteen pasta dishes to choose from, along with eight more substantial main dishes which look amazing. I'm waiting to try them after I eat through all the pasta options. After eating here, it's easy to see why they were on so many best-of lists last year and now they are featured on my list this year. 

#2 - Mario's Butcher Shop - Newport Beach

I rarely make return visits to the same restaurant, especially if I live forty minutes away. That should tell you how much I enjoyed Mario's Butcher Shop. It's a butcher shop, but since I don't own a barbecue, it's way more convenient to have Mario and his team make my burgers, sandwiches, and the best potato salad you will ever put in your mouth. The pastrami sandwich has already reached legendary status, and keep an eye out for their rotating specials, especially their Cuban sandwich. 

#1 - Craft by Smoke and Fire - Anaheim

The only four-star restaurant I dined at this year in OC. Their Mac Rib sandwich, equal parts grilled cheese, smash burger, and barbecue platter, will set you back over $30, but you will not eat a better sandwich in OC. The rest of the menu exudes comfort food that you just gotta have right now. The Brisket Grilled Cheese, Birria Quesadilla, Short Rib Burrito, and barbecue platters are all beckoning me to return soon. 

2022 is now in the books. I look forward to sharing many more excellent restaurants like these with you well into 2023 and beyond. Happy new year and have a delicious 2023.