Forget your usual haunts. When you need more than just dinner, Orange County delivers a roster of truly festive, wild and idiosyncratic restaurants. This isn’t only about a good meal (which, of course, you will find at the following spots), it’s about a dining break from the norm. From the fantasy of an $18,000 multi-course feast high above Disneyland’s New Orleans Square to a tucked-away, gated Westminster place serving up perfect chả giò (fried egg rolls), here are nine one-of-a-kind eateries that promise an escape from the mundane.
Hungry? Sign up for The Eat Index, our weekly food newsletter, and find out where to eat and get the latest restaurant happenings in Orange County. Subscribe here.Keep in mind that these are only a few of the unique eateries Orange County has to offer; let them be your jumping-off point to discovering even more creative and unusual dining digs.
21 Royal
Disneyland, 1313 Disneyland Drive, Anaheim; disneyexperiences.com/disneyland/tag/21-royal/
Originally envisioned as an apartment for Walt Disney and his family, the hidden space found above Pirates of the Caribbean in New Orleans Square is a dining venue that provides parkgoers access to Disneyland’s most exclusive experience. Priced at $18,000 per seating, 21 Royal offers you and up to 12 guests of your choice a chance to experience a multicourse meal from executive chef Gloria Tae.
And this meal is pinkies up all the way: large table covered in white linens, fresh flowers adorn the space, gold-plated dinnerware and fine crystal. According to food writer Anne Marie Panoringan, who ate at the lavish spot, the cost “also provides valet service at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel and Spa for the entire day. Why the day? Because each diner receives a single-day park hopper ticket valid for the date of your dining reservation.” Reservations required. Bookings available for Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
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The Cellar in Fullerton is an underground restaurant whose interior was designed by a Disney Imagineer who worked on Pirates of the Caribbean. (File photo by Cindy Yamanaka, Orange County Register/SCNG) Spirits Director Dustin Adams prepares drink orders at The Cellar in Fullerton, CA, on Thursday, January 7, 2021. The drink is available for take-out orders at The Cellar and their sister restaurant, Hidalgo’s. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG) Drinks made for to-go orders at The Cellar in Fullerton, CA, on Thursday, January 7, 2021. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG) Show Caption1 of 3The Cellar in Fullerton is an underground restaurant whose interior was designed by a Disney Imagineer who worked on Pirates of the Caribbean. (File photo by Cindy Yamanaka, Orange County Register/SCNG) ExpandThe Cellar
305 N. Harbor Blvd, Fullerton; www.cellardining.com
This subterranean restaurant, found under the Del Sol Hotel, was designed by a former Disney Imagineer who helped create the Pirates of the Caribbean ride, resulting in an imaginative and romantic getaway.
Decor highlights include brick archways, semi-private banquettes, circular booth seating and red velvet all of which pair nicely with its French-forward menu that includes chateaubriand steak tartare, escargot, shrimp cocktail, duck breast, bouillabaisse, souffles, champagne floats and other high-end fare.
The Cellar also holds the distinction of being the first U.S. restaurant to become an ambassador of Barons de Rothschild Wines and Champagnes.
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Diners at Ruby’s Crystal Cove Shake Shack on Pacific Coast Highway in Newport Beach have a view of the ocean and cottages in Crystal Cove State Park. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)Crystal Cove Shake Shack
7703 East Coast Highway, Newport Beach; crystalcoveshakeshack.com
Not to be confused with the national chain bearing a similar name, Crystal Cove Shake Shack features a menu of tasty burgers, sandwiches, soups, hot dogs, fish and chips, fries and more. But what makes this Pacific Coast Highway spot unique is its location and standout views, with the 180-degree vista of the Pacific and Crystal Cove State Beach. And with no other restaurant within the vicinity, it provides a moment of tranquility while you enjoy your titular shake.
Speaking of which, the exceedingly charming roadside stand whips up 24 shakes, including such flavors as date, orangesicle, strawberry banana, Butterfinger and salted caramel, to name a few. But the uniqueness comes at a cost: Parking here is notoriously difficult. Expect to wait in a car line during the summer months for a spot at the eatery’s spare parking lot.
The five-spice chicken fried steak at District 36 in Fountain Valley. (Photo by Brock Keeling, Orange County Register/SCNG) District 36 in Fountain Valley. (Photo by Brock Keeling, Orange County Register/SCNG) Mama’s crispy rolls at District 36 in Fountain Valley. (Photo by Brock Keeling, Orange County Register/SCNG) District 36 in Fountain Valley. (Photo by Brock Keeling, Orange County Register/SCNG) District 36’s prop telephone invites customers to listen to a riddle for the chance at a discount. (Photo by Brock Keeling, Orange County Register/SCNG) Show Caption1 of 5The five-spice chicken fried steak at District 36 in Fountain Valley. (Photo by Brock Keeling, Orange County Register/SCNG) ExpandDistrict 36
18912 Brookhurst St., Fountain Valley; district36diner.com
This newcomer in Fountain Valley stands out by seamlessly fusing the classic Americana diner with distinct Vietnamese influences. Such a successful reimaging of Americana can be seen in dishes like the five-spice chicken “fried” steak — a katsu-style cutlet with savory gravy, pickled onions and a side of crispy tater tots.
The menu also features a cha hash bowl with lemongrass and fish sauce, plus items like pho and Vietnamese coffee. Tucked in a shopping center, the atmosphere nods to diner culture while incorporating Vietnamese design elements, creating an experience that feels both deeply familiar and distinctly new. Also of note: A prop telephone in the back challenges guests to listen to a riddle, the solving of which earns a decent discount.
Entrance to the Hobbit. (File photo by Cindy Yamanaka, Orange County Register/SCNG) Show Caption1 of 1Entrance to the Hobbit. (File photo by Cindy Yamanaka, Orange County Register/SCNG) ExpandThe Hobbit
2932 E. Chapman Ave., Orange; www.hobbitrestaurant.com
The three-act, event-style dining experience within a beautifully remodeled 1930s farmhouse has been wowing guests since 1972. The fine-dining staple, which nods to J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic, now boasts revamped interiors bringing the decades-old space into today.
Dinner here offers a seasonally changing six-course prix fixe menu. The evening (with only one seating per night at 7 p.m., cocktails start at 6 p.m.) begins with cocktail hour and hors d’oeuvres in the wine cellar, followed by the courses in the dining room. An intermission with sorbet allows guests to relax and mingle with one another before the main dish is served.
The approximately four-hour dinner costs $150 per person, and a dress code is thankfully enforced, so leave your denim jeans, polo shirts, shorts, tennis shoes and/or flip flops at home.
Chả giò, or Vietnamese egg rolls, at Kim Hong Egg Rolls in Westminster. (Photo by Brock Keeling / SCNG) Orders at Kim Hong Eggrolls can be picked up on the backside of the restaurant located on Goldenwest Street in Westminster. (Photo by Brock Keeling / SCNG) Show Caption1 of 2Chả giò, or Vietnamese egg rolls, at Kim Hong Egg Rolls in Westminster. (Photo by Brock Keeling / SCNG) ExpandKim Hong Egg Rolls
14115 Goldenwest St. (in the back), Westminster; www.kimseggrolls.com
Found on the backside of a building along Goldenwest Street, with only a handful of available parking spots, a weathered table with a faded green umbrella for shade and a gated door with a cut out, this Westminster standout features some of Orange County’s best chả giò (fried egg rolls).
Here’s how it works: Call in advance (ideally one day prior, but they’re accommodating depending on business), with a minimum order of 20 egg rolls; saunter up to the window, exchange payment with the worker on the other side of the gate’s cutout in exchange for a bag and then enjoy Kim Hong’s shatteringly crisp chả giò.
The signature chao gio dac biet, packed tight with crab, pork and shrimp, is particularly noteworthy.
Strong Water Anaheim offers no alcohol drinks including Anana Rising, with pineapple, lemon, cinnamon and walnut bitters, left, and Tarobi Colada, with pineapple, lime, coconut, taro cream and cane on Monday, December 30, 2024. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG) Show Caption1 of 1Strong Water Anaheim offers no alcohol drinks including Anana Rising, with pineapple, lemon, cinnamon and walnut bitters, left, and Tarobi Colada, with pineapple, lime, coconut, taro cream and cane on Monday, December 30, 2024. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG) ExpandStrong Water
270 S. Clementine Blvd, Anaheim; www.strongwateranaheim.com
Ying Chang and Robert Adamson’s shipwreck-themed space, which offers a sublime cocktail program and a dining menu, is a destination spot for a good reason. There’s simply nothing else quite like it.
The entire bar and restaurant is designed to mimic the cabin of the fictional Clementine, a treasure ship from 1884. Dark plank wood on the walls and a curved, beamed ceiling that forms a canopy give the space its maritime vibe, with seafaring adornments completing the theme throughout.
Its wizardry with rum keeps lines out the door. (The Blue Hawaii, for example, comes with coconut fat-washed overproof white rum, vodka, blue curacao, falernum and pineapple. And some drinks can be ordered to come inside a ceramic skull-shaped Zombie King mug.) Adding to Strong Water’s distinction in the dining landscape? It has received two James Beard Award nominations in a row for Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program.
The Tea House on Los Rios is located in the historic district in San Juan Capistrano. (Photo by Jody Collins/SCNG) Tea sandwiches and scones are served with fresh fruit at the Tea House on Los Rios in San Juan Capistrano. (Photo by Jody Collins/SCNG) Mismatched tea pots and fresh flowers are part of the charm when taking tea at the Tea House on Los Rios in San Juan Capistrano. (Photo by Jody Collins/SCNG) There is plenty of fresh decor at the Tea House on Los Rios in San Juan Capistrano. (Photo by Jody Collins/SCNG) Show Caption1 of 4The Tea House on Los Rios is located in the historic district in San Juan Capistrano. (Photo by Jody Collins/SCNG) ExpandThe Tea House on Los Rios
31731 Los Rios St, San Juan Capistrano; theteahouseonlosrios.com
Steps away from the San Juan Capistrano train station platform, this tea spot inside a circa-1911 cottage offers a storybook afternoon tea experience.
In addition to an array of tiny tea sandwiches, sweets and other treats, as well as a full luncheon menu and a weekend brunch menu, guests can look forward to lush outdoor gardens, seating under a 150-year-old sycamore tree, brick patios and a classic, vintage aesthetic incorporating real china and tea-themed curiosities. Its prime location on the historic Los Rios gives it a very real fictional feel.
Most recently, the lauded spot made a cinematic splash on the “Real Housewives of Orange County” in 2024. Another bonus? It’s a great place for an autumn outing.
Steamed king crab with olive oil and kaluga-osetra hybrid caviar at Trust in Santa Ana. (Photo by Brad A. Johnson, Orange County Register/SCNG)Trust
300 N. Spurgeon St., Santa Ana; trustdtsa.com
While Jason Quinn’s omakase-style restaurant of note might bid adieu sometime in 2026, it still remains one of Orange County’s most distinctive dining experiences. The 18-seat culinary theater next to Detention in downtown Santa Ana, is a ticketed dinner where guests sit at the counter overlooking the kitchen as the chef hosts a multicourse, prix-fixe dinner party.
In addition to enjoying some of the region’s most innovative fare (Trust landed on the 75 best restaurants in Orange County in 2022), the experience is also a night of bawdy comedy. In his review of the restaurant, critic Brad A. Johnson wrote, “Guests must also endure hours of the chef’s vulgar Andrew Dice Clay-style comedy act, which includes a barrage of f-bombs and lewd, suggestive comments.” Count me in.
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