Orange feels like the heart of Old California—tree-shaded plazas, Victorian houses, Chapman students, and families from around the world, all converging in “the Circle.”
In Orange, food is as much about maintaining tradition as embracing the future.
1. Citrus City Grille
A Circle stalwart, Citrus City is the place for celebratory brunch with bottomless mimosas, killer happy hour with artichoke dip and sliders, and dinner featuring seared ahi, filet medallions, and rack of lamb with pomegranate sauce.
Their open-air patio lets you soak in the Orange sun, while the “Big City” bar brings life to quiet weeknights.
Service is genteel and never rushed.
2. Haven Craft Kitchen + Bar
Known for its farm-to-table ethos and California-cool cocktails, Haven’s ever-changing menu is driven by OC’s seasons: house charcuterie boards, duck breast, roasted vegetables, and hand-cut pastas.
Rotating local beers, remarkable bartenders, and a brick-walled dining room make it the headquarters for neighborhood movers, creative meetings, and first Tinder dates alike.
3. Gabbi’s Mexican Kitchen
Gabbi’s is like dining in an old hacienda: high ceilings, wall murals, and food that channels Mexico beyond the usual SoCal fare.
Outstanding moles (rojo, negro, verde), braised short ribs, chorizo quesadillas, and vegan tamales.
The bar serves Oaxaca’s best mezcals, and the energy at dinner is always festive while thoughtfully attentive.
4. Anepalco
Anepalco fuses French and Mexican into a stylish, unexpected bistro: duck confit enchiladas, churro French toast with cajeta caramel, pork belly sopes, and chile-tinged house cocktails.
Brunch is an event, and the dinner scene, with patio seating and Edison bulbs, is pure SoCal-cosmopolitan.
5. Felix Continental Café
For over forty years, Felix has anchored the Circle with Cuban and Spanish comfort: black beans and rice, roast pork, paella, garlicky shrimp, and plantains.
The old-world tile, orchestra of regulars, and flan (best in Orange) make this a family ritual across generations. Cuban coffee perks up lunchers and night owls alike.
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