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Where to Eat in Irvine CA: A Foodie's Dream Itinerary

Huge thanks to Destination Irvine for hosting our visit and sponsoring this post.

benDecember 25, 20250 comments

Huge thanks to Destination Irvine for hosting our visit and sponsoring this post. As always, every thought shared here is entirely our own. We appreciate the brands that keep Local Adventurer running.

There I was, slumped in my chair with a stuffed belly and a scraped-clean ramen bowl in front of me. We had just wrapped up our second dinner, and somehow dessert stops were still on the agenda. The pants definitely needed loosening.

13 PLACES TO EAT IN IRVINE CALIFORNIA

Irvine, California is packed with dining options, and the Asian food scene is especially outstanding. Throughout our visit, we ate ourselves silly trying to power through our list. Coming off our time living in Portland, we were thrilled by the sheer volume of Asian cuisine on offer. Diamond Jamboree Shopping Center, one of the most beloved food destinations in town, brings together Chinese, Korean, Japanese, and Taiwanese eats all in one convenient stretch.

To make your trip planning easier, we've rounded up the top places to eat in Irvine, California.

1. 85°C Bakery (Bakeries, $)

This Taiwanese bakery launched its very first U.S. outpost in Irvine, and the opening day lines stretched around the block. Even when we stopped by, it was still buzzing, though nowhere near as chaotic as that initial rush. The menu covers coffee, cakes, pastries, and more. We grabbed the sea salt coffee along with a sampler of pastries, and the Taro Bread was the clear winner. (2700 Alton Pkwy Ste 123, Irvine; 949.553.8585)

2. A&J Restaurant (Taiwanese, $)

Part of a Taiwanese chain, this is the spot our friends insist on whenever beef noodle soup is on the table. Be sure to add the scallion pancakes and cucumber salad tossed in hot garlic sauce to your order. (14805 Jeffrey Rd Ste D, Irvine; 949.786.3585)

3. Andrei's Conscious Cuisine & Cocktails (New American, $$)

Searching for a feel-good dining experience? One hundred percent of Andrei's profits go toward research for a cure for Retinitis Pigmentosa. We can't judge the food since we stopped in just for cocktails, but their barrel-aged Manhattan absolutely delivered. (2607 Main Street, Irvine; 949.387.8887)

4. Bruxie (Breakfast & Brunch, $)

Bruxie operates several locations, and it's a must-visit for anyone who craves the sweet-savory combo. Their lineup of chicken and waffle sandwiches makes for a much tidier fork-and-knife affair. The waffle sandwiches weren't quite as memorable as the first time around, but their custard still hit the spot. (14376 Culver Dr, Irvine, 949.556.4894)

5. Eats Kitchen and Bar (New American, $$)

Having a restaurant right inside Hotel Irvine, where we were staying, was an absolute lifesaver. The place was slammed when we walked in. Hotel restaurants tend to be hit-or-miss, but we were genuinely impressed with both the drinks and the food. The grilled shrimp and boozy bread pudding stole the show. (17900 Jamboree Rd, Irvine; 949.225.6780)

6. Fukada (Japanese, $$)

Right now, this place is getting tons of buzz. The menu keeps things beautifully simple with udon, soba, and rice bowl options. We rolled in for lunch and split a soba plus unagidon combo. YUM! (8683 Irvine Center Dr, Irvine; 949.341.0111)

7. HiroNori Craft Ramen (Ramen, $$)

We ended up eating here twice during our entire SoCal trip! The broth is wonderfully rich and creamy, and the pork is bursting with flavor. We also sampled their fried chicken and rice bowls. If you could only pick one place to eat during your visit, HiroNori is my pick. (2222 Michelson Dr #234, Irvine; 949.536.5800)

8. In-n-Out (Burgers, $)

If you haven't satisfied your In-N-Out craving yet, Irvine has plenty of locations. The company is also headquartered here. Funny enough, when we lived in SoCal, we almost never went, but there's no arguing that for the price, those burgers are tough to beat. (4115 Campus Dr, Irvine; 800.786.1000)

9. Puesto (Tacos, $$)

We didn't make it to the Irvine location, but if elevated tacos are calling your name, Puesto is the move. You can read our full take on the San Diego location. Our top picks are the Tamarindo Shrimp Tacos and the Mexican Street Bowl. (8577 Irvine Center Dr, Irvine; 949.608.9990)

10. Snow Monster (Desserts, $)

For picture-perfect desserts and drinks, Snow Monster is the place. We ordered the lightbulb glass topped with a cotton candy cloud, though they also serve up a 70-200mm lens glass. The Thai tea and lemonade leaned sweeter than we prefer, but the lightbulbs were too adorable to pass up. (4255 Campus Dr A124, Irvine; 714.582.6023)

11. Sweet Combforts (Desserts, $)

They take waffles to a whole new level by artfully decorating them and serving them on a stick. They've also got a lineup of eye-catching shakes worth checking out. (2222 Michelson Dr, Irvine; 562.569.2530)

12. Temakira Hand Rolls (Sushi, $)

We don't typically order hand rolls when sushi is on the menu, but these were so beautifully presented we couldn't say no. The good news is they tasted just as good as they looked. There's a wide range of options, and the specials rotate frequently. (4237 Campus Dr Suite B164, Irvine; 949.387.9444)

13. Urban Seoul (Asian Fusion, $$)

Looking for a trendy spot pouring beer and slinging fusion fare? Urban Seoul fits the bill. The menu mashes up Korean and Mexican flavors in shareable portions. We ordered a spread to share, and every dish landed well. If you're flying solo or in a pair, here's how we'd rank everything: Elote > Pork Belly Tacos > Loaded Fries > Gogi sliders > Kimchi fried rice. (2750 Alton Pkwy, Irvine; 949.553.0188)

MORE PLACES TO EAT

We left with full bellies, but there are still plenty of spots on our radar for next time.

Bistango (New American / Tapas, $$$) – CLOSED SUNDAYS
Boiling Point (Taiwanese Hot Pot, $$)
Burntzilla Modern Eats (Hot Dogs, $)
Caspian Hookah Lounge (Hookah Bars, $$) – persian food, live music, belly dance performances
Class 302 (Bubble Tea, $) – self serve boba
Clay Oven (Indian, $$)
East Coast Bagel (Bagels, $) – decent bagel sandwiches considering they're on the west coast.
EMC Seafood & Raw Bar (Seafood, $$)
Honey & Butter Macarons (Macarons, $) – Cute character macarons, they come out at noon, so we didn't get to try them since our flight was around then.
Le Diplomate Cafe (Bakeries, $)
Mick's Karma Bar (New American / Burgers, $)
Mokkoji Shabu Shabu Bar (Japanese / Hot Pot, $$)
North Italia (Pizza, Italian, $$)
OoToro Sushi (Sushi, $$$)
Panini Cafe – our friend who went to school here says they have the best kebabs.
Red Bar & Lounge (Lounges / Cocktail Bars, $$) – sweet potato fries
Scoops N Scoops Creamery (Ice Cream, $$) – nitrogen infused ice cream
Shik Do Rak (Korean BBQ, $$)- all you can eat KBQQ
Twenty Eight Restaurant & Lounge (New American, $$$)- CLOSED SUNDAYS
Y.N.K. (Lounge, $$) – our friend's favorite place to get cocktails.

MAP TO HELP YOU GET AROUND

WHERE TO STAY

We stayed at Hotel Irvine and even grabbed dinner at the restaurant downstairs. The location couldn't be more convenient, and reaching everywhere on our list was a breeze. While you're there, make sure to check out Club 12. They put on evening drinks and bites as well as breakfast.

Hotel Irvine 17900 Jamboree Road Irvine, California 92614

Drop us a note if you make it to any of these places or if there are others we should add to the list.

If you enjoyed this post, we'd appreciate you pinning it for later.

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"Discovery consists not of seeking new lands but in seeing with new eyes" – M. Proust

ESTHER + JACOB

Esther and Jacob are the founders of Local Adventurer, which ranks among the top 50 travel blogs worldwide. They're firm believers that adventure awaits both nearby and far-flung, and they hope to spark a sense of exploration close to home in everyone who reads their work. They relocate to a new city every year and currently call Portland, Oregon home.