Orange County Lunch - Recs Needed

VACA is even better than Pueblo. Corkage is absurd though at $25 for 2 and then $10 for each subsequent. To their credit they do have a nice very well priced Spanish list.

Taco Maria in the same center as Pueblo is excellent for haute Mexican like you’ve never had before in LA. It’s been a while so I don’t know their most current corkage policy. But it was very generous when they first started. Go Wed-Sat for the 4 course menu. (dinner rec)

Kasen is still the best in quality for sushi. Shunka the best for variety.

Marche Moderne is also very good with a nice wine list and corkage policy. Get the langoustines if available.

Kitakata ramen for excellent ramen without that heavy tonkotsu broth. Ask for the noodles extra chewy or it will be on the soft side. My current favorite ramen in town (including LA).

J Zhou for high end Cantonese seafood. Highly recommended for both dinner and dim sum.

Casa Inka for excellent Peruvian food. Especially the arroz con mariscos, seco de carne, and chupe camarones.

El Porton for Colombian food. Try their tamales.

Da Hawaiian for lau lau.

101 noodle express for dumplings

Social does a half pig head and has a very good craft beer/cocktail program. Go early if you want to avoid the scene. (think dinner only)

Jong Ro Shul Lung Tang for killer pork neck stew.

Bella Cuba for excellent Cuban food. Far better than the Versailles branches in LA. Arroz con pollo and the rabo never miss.

Istanbul Grill California for a great lunch special. 3 courses $9.99. Kofte kebab is superb.

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