New year, new places to try! If you’re someone whose New Year’s resolution is to go out to more restaurants or try local spots, this guide might be just what you’re looking for.
Each month our features team shares the best things we ate across Southern California. This month’s picks range from burgers to sushi and include modern takes on classic dishes. The round-up also features main course staples, desserts, appetizers and everything else in between.
Here’s a look at the best things we ate throughout Los Angeles, Orange County and the Inland Empire in January.
Related: See the best things we ate in Southern California in 2024.
Oklahoma onion burger — Lunch Bang, Santa Ana
Lo and behold, the best Oklahoma-style onion burger I stumbled across in OC was at Lunch Bang, a Korean spot in Santa Ana. The regional burger, for the unfamiliar, takes the smash burger to allium heights via a bundle of thinly sliced onions frizzled on a griddle (not caramelized, but gently fried with charred, crispy ends), which then gets pressed into a thin beef patty. The version at Lunch Bang, by chef-owner Doug Chung, gets topped with American cheese. Lunch Bang also serves Korean fare like a galbi plate (short ribs), bulgogi bibimap, tuna bibimap and a bulgogi bowl. An added bonus? “Drop Dead Gorgeous” was playing on the flat screen during a recent visit. “I come from a film background, I have a film degree and want fun movies that are somewhere in the PG-13 area,” he said when I interviewed him in January.
— Brock Keeling, Restaurant Reporter
Ribeye Steak — Descanso, Los Angeles
The Mexican food at Descanso can take street food classics and elevate them in the tastiest ways. The Ribeye Steak was a soft and tender cut of meat seasoned with a bit of Cotija cheese. The meal was a nod to the hot off-the-grill carne asada served at backyard occasions and celebrations. The center cut of meat paired perfectly with the charred onions, fingerling potatoes and spicy guacamole sauce.
— Charlie Vargas, Restaurant Reporter
Fried Shroom Bao — Man Eating Plant (Food Truck)
This food truck caught my eye as I was leaving Downtown Disney. Based on the name, I figured it was a plant-based option which I’m always curious about. After glancing at the menu, I decided to try their Bao Combo which is their Fried Shroom Bao and Char Siu BBQ Bao. Of the two, my favorite was the Fried Shroom Bao. It was crispy, packed with flavor and even had a little bit of a kick to it. These bao’s are a modern take on the culinary classic, where the menu item is in taco form with a bao bun. While Man Eating Plant doesn’t have a set location, they do share updates on where you can find them on their social media.
— Carolyn Burt, Audience Engagement Producer
@by.carolyn The bao combo from @MANEATINGPLANT is a must the next time you’re in Southern California. The food truck shares their weekly schedule on their socials but they’re currently at Downtown Disney each daily as part of the Lunar New Year Celebration happening at the Anaheim resort. Follow along as I bring your more recommendations of places to try as part of @The SoCal Local ‘s monthly round up of the best things we ate. #maneatingplant #bao #baobuns #food #foodie #restaurant #foodtruck #orangecounty #anaheim #downtowndisney #disneyland #lunarnewyear
Smashed Green Olives — Azizam, Los Angeles
As a self-proclaimed olive aficionado, I thought I’d seen it all. Enter Azizam’s smashed green olives, a delicious twist on my go-to light appetizer. The Persian restaurant, tucked in an unassuming section of Silverlake’s Sunset Boulevard, combines green olives with pomegranate molasses, walnut and mint oil for the perfect, tangy Zeytoon Parvardeh (aka Persian marinated olives). It’s a unique flavor profile that compliments anything else you might order at Azizam; during my visit, I got the maman’s fried potatoes, kofteh tabrizi, tumeric braised jidori chicken and the ferni (cardamom and rose milk custard) — all to die for!
— Dorothy Elder, Audience Engagement Producer
Chả giò (fried egg rolls) — Kim Hong Eggrolls, Westminster
Located around the back of a nondescript building in an unassuming part of Westminster, I found some of the best chả giò (fried egg rolls) in OC. Kim Hong Eggrolls, which took off after Joyce Marcellus’ IG post went viral, offers a menu of nine chả giò. Customers park in the back, head to a weathered security door with a square cut out, and wait for the person on the other side to hand you your box of shatteringly crisp chả giò. Iterations include crab pork and shrimp; fish; chicken; and vegetarian, to name a few. A bench table with seating and an umbrella allows you to hang out, while others can eat from the comfort of their cars or take their orders to go. And at a price of around $1 per roll, it’s one of the best, and tastiest, deals going in Orange County. Minimum of 10 egg rolls per order. Word to the wise: Call ahead at 714-895-0030.
— Brock Keeling, Restaurant Reporter
Arroz Con Leche Cheesecake — Descanso, Los Angeles
This cheesecake dessert is a twist on the classic Mexican rice pudding (arroz con leche) and tastes just like the traditional dish. The difference is in the texture, where the creaminess of the cheesecake dominates but still keeps that milky rice foundation in the overall taste. My favorite part was the crust, made with Maria cookies. The combination of the flavors results in a heavenly cheesecake.
— Charlie Vargas, Restaurant Reporter
Dave’s “Not” Chicken Slider — Dave’s Hot Chicken (Multiple locations)
Last year Dave’s Hot Chicken introduced a limited-time vegetarian alternative to its hot chicken made out of cauliflower. I tend to think cauliflower is a little overdone as a chicken alternative, but Dave’s hit it out of the park with this. There is so much flavor, a good amount of crunch, and you can adjust the heat level like you would with their regular menu items. They offer cauliflower tenders, bites and a slider. Personally, I think the slider is the way to go. It pairs nicely with their Dave’s sauce, condiments and potato bun. I also like to drizzle some honey inside to add a little sweet to it.
— Carolyn Burt, Audience Engagement Producer
Baklava ice cream — Wally’s Cafe, Costa Mesa
At the new Wally’s Cafe in Costa Mesa, the third location of Walid “Wally” Matar’s popular Lebanese eatery that got its start in Emeryville, a bevy of scratch-made fare awaits, including this surprise hit. The baklava ice cream here was conceived when the chef-owner wasn’t exactly sure what to do with all of the crispy, caramelized remnants left over from the baklava baking process. In lieu of tossing out the sweet detritus, Wally’s folds the baklava shards of flakey dough, pistachios and cashews into its vanilla ice cream. The result is a textually diverse sweet treat. Other highlights here include the chicken or beef shawarma plates, a chicken pomegranate plate with sliced chicken marinated in pomegranate molasses, tzatziki sauce, garlic sauce and pita bread.
— Brock Keeling, Restaurant Reporter
Big Dude Sandwich — Sub Station, Riverside
The Sub Station is approaching its 53rd anniversary at UC Riverside. The shop still makes sandwiches the way it did in 1972, wrapped in butcher paper and always with carrot sticks and peppers on the side. It is known for the Big Dude, made with cappocolla, ham, dry salami, pepperoni and cheese. But this is one of its vegetarian options, avocado and cheese. A 7-inch sandwich costs $10.
— Fielding Buck, Restaurant Reporter
Crunchy Roll — Bear Flag Fish Co., Newport Beach
Bear Flag Fish Co. is a local favorite in Newport Beach. Their menu has a variety of seafood items, including poke, tacos, and sushi. As a tempura fan, I decided to try the Crunchy Roll. It’s a tempura roll with tempura shrimp inside, plus some veggies. The sauce also pairs nicely. Additionally, as far as restaurant atmospheres go, this is a fun one. It’s a great spot to meet up with friends, and if you choose to sit outside at sunset, they turn on the heater for those slightly chilly Southern California winter nights.
— Carolyn Burt, Audience Engagement Producer
@by.carolyn Follow along as I try out different restaurants across Southern California as part of our features team monthly guide of the best things we ate across Los Angeles, Orange County & the Inland Empire. If you want to see our recap of the best things we are in 2024 head over to @The SoCal Local #foodie #foodguide #foodieguide #bearflagfishcompany #bearflagfishco #newportbeach #orangecounty #ocrestaurants #restaurant #restaurantguide
Duck fat fries, Ceasar salad and an espresso martini — The Back Abbey, Claremont
This gastropub nestled in the Claremont Village offers what I consider the elevated version of “girl lunch.” The fries are double-fried in duck fat and served with a variety of dipping sauces: ketchup, horseradish chive, and a creamy remoulade ranch. The Caesar salad is served with some kind of sweet, rosemary croutons that are to die for, and the espresso martini has chocolate bitters — the three combined are what perfect days are made of. I’ll often pop in and have this before I catch a movie at Laemmle next door, or enjoy this meal alongside live music on the patio on Saturday evenings. It’s not just my favorite thing I ate in January, but up there with my favorite thing to eat ever.
— Emily St. Martin, Digital Features Editor
See more of our monthly round-ups of the best things we ate in Southern California
The best things we ate at Southern California restaurants in 2024
The best things we ate at Southern California restaurants in November
The best things we ate at Southern California restaurants this October
The best thing we ate at Southern California restaurants in September
The best thing we ate at Southern California restaurants in August