5 Best Restaurants in Tustin, California to Try

Tustin’s tree-lined avenues, historic Old Town, and central Orange County blend make for a food scene where classic Americana, Asian influences, and SoCal inventiveness shine.

The city’s restaurants reflect its rich heritage and lively, suburban energy.

Honda-Ya Japanese Restaurant

In an understated plaza, Honda-Ya is a portal straight to Tokyo izakaya culture. Locals and OC foodies pack in for yakitori skewers, sizzling chicken karaage, and unconventional items like grilled beef tongue or takoyaki.

The sake list is deep, the lighting is low, and the open kitchen’s shouts add to the authenticity.

Toyota engineers, families, and wandering food writers all find their comfort here.

Rutabegorz

Since 1978, “Ruta’s” has fed generations of Tustin locals with massive salads, creamy soups, classic quiches, and house-baked desserts.

Vegetarians and the health-conscious are especially drawn to the granola, hearty veggie chili, and homemade sandwiches with sprouts and guac.

The dining room and patio hum with weekend crowds—from yogis and lawyers to Tustin’s oldest families.

Roma D’Italia

This red-sauce joint is Tustin’s answer to true Italian-American comfort. With a lineage stretching back to 1961, Roma’s serves up mozzarella-stuffed garlic bread, massive plates of spaghetti and meatballs, and veal piccata fragrant with lemon and capers.

Servers know regulars, and family photos crowd the walls. Every meal ends with a checkered-tablecloth sense of nostalgia.

Anepalco

Tucked just off Newport Avenue, Anepalco blends French technique with Mexican roots—a marriage of chilaquiles with duck confit, tres leches pancakes with dulce de leche and fresh berries, and an award-winning mole negro.

Weekend brunches bring out OC’s best-dressed, and the chill patio is prime for dates, meetings, and celebrations.

Cha2o

Instantly popular for boba teas and creative Asian fusion, Cha2o’s neon-lit, ultra-modern space is pure Southern California energy.

The menu travels through Vietnamese banh mi, Korean BBQ bowls, Thai garlic noodles, and inventive drinks topped with cheese foam or dragon fruit. A magnet for students, Tustin teens, and “foodie” Instagrammers.