Diners' Choice: Best Overall restaurants in South Orange County

OpenTable

Updated 05 March 2025

Looking for the best overall restaurants in South Orange County? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyses nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favourite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Miki Sushi & Sake

5.0

5 (65)

$31 to $50

Sushi

Laguna Beach

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

About the restaurant

Honoring Chef Miki Izumisawa, the female, award-winning sushi artist, originally trained by the one and only Nobu Matsuhisa. Miki was inspired by nature to create unique nigiri, cut rolls and hand rolls that blur the line between art and fusion sushi. Miki's recipes transform elements of the natural world with names such as Lava Flow, Moon and Sun, Feather in the Sky, and Prairie. Before her passing, Miki carefully coached outstanding female-only sushi chefs to execute her masterpieces. Her legacy continues in this romantic styled coastal, intimate sushi bar and cozy 18 window seats with views of Laguna's main beach. Owners Chris Olsen and Greg Washer are longtime locals who appreciate what Miki did for this community with an outstanding Japanese experience pushing the boundaries of tradition. Reservations recommended!

Top review

Savannah

Dined 2 days ago

We can’t stop raving about this place! We take all our friends here and truly ooh and aah the food. Staff is amazing and always so great.

O Fine Japanese Cuisine - Laguna Beach

4.9

4.9 (339)

$31 to $50

Japanese

Laguna Beach

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

About the restaurant

Welcome to O Fine Japanese Cuisine, the restaurant serves contemporary Japanese cuisine and traditional sushi in an elegant and comfortable setting. Explore beyond the sushi and sashimi such wonderful dishes as Chillean Sea Bass Misoyaki, Boneless Short Rib or Baked Lobster Tail. A must try is our signature Sashimi Sampler which has Halibut with truffle oil, Salmon with garlic ponzu, Albacore with crispy garlic, Peach Scallp, Tuna with sesame dressing and crispy onion, and Yellowtail with jalapeno. There is something for everyone from our one item entree to a variety of sushi, sashimi and fusion cuisines. We are conveniently located inside the Albertson shopping center with plenty of parking spaces for local residents or visitors. Please join us for the wonderful, exciting, O experience. We look forward to serving you soon!

Top review

MichaelVIP

Dined on 2 Mar 2025

Excellent and reliable. Great service outstanding food.

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5.0

5 (2069)

$50 and over

Seafood

Newport Beach

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

About the restaurant

THE DOCK located in NEWPORT BEACH CALIFORNIA requires a valid credit card to book reservations online via OpenTable or call 949-673-3625 to provide your credit card. 24 hr cancellation fee policy. The Dock reserves the right to cancel your reservation if reservation is not CC guaranteed. VOTED TOP 10 RESTAURANTS IN ORANGE COUNTY 2022 and TOP 100 in the US in 2019 and 2023 BY OPENTABLE. Our waterfront covered patio dining and every seat has a bay view, with an infused contemporary American menu. Outstanding wine list and custom craft cocktails.
Reservations are recommended.

Top review

BethY

Dined 1 day ago

Always excellent! It is a privilege to be able to go there! I feel very fortunate to have access to such delicious food!

Hannas Prime Steak

4.9

4.9 (3542)

$50 and over

Steakhouse

Mission Viejo / Rancho Santa Margarita

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

About the restaurant

Hanna’s Restaurant & Bar was established in 2005 and has quickly become one of Orange County’s premiere dining establishments. Named one of the U.S. top 100 restaurants, Hanna's Restaurant & Bar offers modern American Steakhouse cuisine prepared with classic, traditional flair. Our appetite for an exceptional dining experience is rooted deep in our passion for extraordinary culinary creations and exemplified in our award-wining service and ambiance. From our friendly bartenders, vibrant ambiance, outgoing wait staff, and incredible menu, our guests are always embraced in a comforting fashion. And on any given night you can always find owner David Hanna mingling among guests and ensuring that every detail of their experience at Hanna’s is nothing short of extraordinary.

Top review

LisaVIP

Dined 4 days ago

Great place for our business lunch, we normally come for dinner or happy hour but it was a perfect fit for lunch too. The paleo bowl with salmon was delicious - we both ended up having the same thing and agreed it was great, and very filling. The service was prompt but not too much which allowed us to have a great conversation. I'll be back!

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4.9

4.9 (237)

$50 and over

Sushi

Laguna Beach

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

About the restaurant

PLEASE READ BEFORE BOOKING
WE ONLY OFFER AN OMAKASE PRE-FIXED MENU
We put all our heart and soul into a creative and unique experience. Our Omakase is a pre-fixed menu based on raw fish and shellfish. All ingredients come from Japan, prepared with Japanese techniques and elements. Our Omakase is a fine dining, intimate experience, prepared in front of our guests to highlight the integrity of our dishes.
DIETARY RESTRICTIONS must be communicated in advance through TEXT MESSAGE. Please note that we are unable to substitute for no-shellfish, raw fish, meat, gluten or dairy.
Seating at the BAR or at the TABLE menu are identical, our servers will be happy to explain the details and nuances of each dish
BE ON TIME Late arrivals will miss the first courses
CANCELLATION varies based on the size of the group and Omakase experience selected. Due to the nature of our restaurant and the impact of late cancellations, a fee equivalent to the full price of the meal will be applied
TEXT (949) 664-3186

Top review

Jclaude

Dined on 2 Mar 2025

It was a delightful experience. Every bite was full of flavor and provided something unique. I look forward to returning to try their next omakase menu, as it changes every time.

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Experience

Dinner Omakase (5pm or 7:30pm)

Experience

Lunch Omakase (12:30pm)

Experience

Sunday Nigiri Omakase (12:30pm)

Eat Chow - Newport Beach

4.8

4.8 (22)

$30 and under

American

Newport Beach

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

About the restaurant

Eat Chow is your go-to destination for all things comfort. Come stop by at one of our locations for a phenomenal dining experience with your loved ones. On the weekends you can find us slinging brunch and pouring you Mimosas to help ward of those Sunday Scaries. On weekday days and nights expect to sit among locals who have made us a neighborhood favorite!

Serving Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Daily.

Established in 2012.
We started in December of 2008 in a little spot in Costa Mesa.. We are locally owned and operated and have become a local's favorite! Located in the heart on Newport Shores!

Top review

Scott

Dined on 14 Feb 2025

Excellent breakfast this morning. Will definitely return for more meals here.

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4.9

4.9 (18)

$31 to $50

Indian

Laguna Hills / Lake Forest / Foothill Ranch

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

About the restaurant

Mint restaurant looks forward to welcoming you soon!

Top review

SaharVIP

Dined on 22 Feb 2025

The food was excellent! We started with the samosas and ordered the lamb and chicken karaies, along with the chicken tikka masalas. We accompanied these dishes with the plain and garlic naans. Everything we tried were excellent, full of flavor and great portions. Definitely coming back!

Cruisers Pizza Bar Grill - Newport Beach

4.9

4.9 (93)

$30 and under

Sports Bar

Newport Beach

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

About the restaurant

We pride ourselves in being your Sports Bar. A place where you can always watch your team with your family, your friends, and with your fellow fans. We have 30 big screen HDTVs throughout the bar and a 4K projector that makes our sports room the Manliest of all Caves.

With the addition of GIANT outdoor beer garden we now have even more space for large groups and outdoor dining!

We have four different rooms and you can hear four different games in four different zones!. With such a vibrant and diverse atmosphere, it's no wonder professional athletes often stop by when they're in town. If you are here for a game you will have plenty of time to get your pizza fix with one of our Chicago Stuffed Pizzas - the best you can get outside of Chicago! Break in the action for halftime? Head out to the Party Patio where you can play beer pong, corn home and giant Jenga and still keep an eye on the highlights replaying on our outside TVs.

Top review

JeffVIP

Dined on 1 Mar 2025

This was a pleasant surprise! First - the pizza was AWESOME. Thin crispy crust, real mozzarella, nice sauce and the toppings (pepperoni and sausage) were plentiful. It’s a pizza place near the boardwalk so it’s not fancy but it’s NICE, clean, love the app and the service was solid! We’ll be back for SURE

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Experience

Happy Hour 3pm - 6pm Monday - Friday!

Wine Gallery

4.9

4.9 (614)

$30 and under

American

Laguna Beach

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

About the restaurant

The Laguna Beach Wine Gallery is known for an impressive selection of wine, craft beers and wood fired kitchen. Menu options center around our wood fired pizzas, salads, fresh seafood, steaks, small plates and more. We focus on seasonal, sustainable, fresh ingredients with weekly specials based on what's fresh.

With a casual yet cozy ambiance, Wine Gallery will make you feel right at home with our inviting and friendly restaurant staff. Craft Cocktails coming soon.

Top review

LeoVIP

Dined on 6 Mar 2025

Love this place ! Cozy casual vibe with good food and friendly service. Of course nice wine selection too !

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Experience

A Very Happy Hour

Andrei's Conscious Cuisine & Cocktails

4.8

4.8 (1979)

$31 to $50

Californian

Irvine

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

About the restaurant

Modern Californian cuisine utilizing locally grown, sustainably farmed and fair-traded products. Our goal is to not only enhance quality but also to support a new, more responsible attitude toward our community and the world around us. That is why we donate all net profits to chartable causes. Both warm and inviting, nature was the inspiration for Andrei's Conscious Cuisine & Cocktails interior; from the soaring two-story waterfall in the lobby to the striking onyx and granite bar and eco-friendly pecan wood floors, every detail was hand-selected for its natural beauty. We welcome you to visit Andrei's Conscious Cuisine & Cocktails for a truly special dining experience.

Please note that all special requests may not be honored. We will do our best to provide you with all options to make your dining experience very special.

Top review

Candi1stVIP

Dined on 6 Mar 2025

What hair today for birthday lunch, first time here and will definitely be back. Service was excellent. Restaurant is beautiful and food was delicious.

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