Irvine, California, is about 25 minutes away from San Juan Capistrano, and it has a variety of delicious restaurants. Whether you feel like a burger, some great Asian food, or gourmet dining, you can find it around Irvine. Keep reading to learn more about the excellent places to eat in the region.

Pho Tasia

Pho Tasia serves Pho noodle bowls with thick, tasty noodles and a variety of vegetables. You can choose roasted pork, meatballs, chicken, fish balls, steak, extra vegetables, tofu, or shrimp. Medium and large sizes are available. You can also select egg rolls or spring rolls. Several kids meals are on the menu, including Pho, chicken and rice, pork and rice, and beef and rice. This place also has great teas, smoothies, and other drinks. Try the coconut juice with coconut meat, some jasmine iced tea, or a strawberry or avocado smoothie.

Location: 5329 University Drive, Irvine 

Hours: Sunday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7:30 a.m.

The Avocado Cafe

For fresh, healthy food and drinks, visit The Avocado Cafe in Irvine. It offers many types of coffee, including mocha, espresso, cappuccino, and iced coffee. You can also get a Sunrise Berry Smoothie with blueberry, strawberry, mango, raspberry, honey, and apple juice. The Pineapple Avocado Smoothie has lemon juice, pineapple, mango, avocado, apple juice, and honey.

For breakfast, try the Loaded Grilled Cheese Toast. It has two poached eggs, bacon, provolone and cheddar cheese, avocado, and white bread. You can also choose oatmeal with cinnamon, fresh fruit, honey, and milk. The breakfast burrito comes with three poached eggs, avocado, jack cheese, bacon, potatoes, and a wheat tortilla. 

For lunch, you can try the BLTA with bacon, lettuce, tomato, jalapeno ranch, avocado, and provolone on toasted white bread. The Hot Pressed Cuban comes with Swiss cheese, chicken, ham, pickles, spicy mustard, and wasabi mayonnaise on ciabatta bread. The kids menu includes grilled cheese sandwiches, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, turkey sandwiches, and quesadillas.

Location: 6060 Scholarship, Irvine

Hours: 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays

Craft by Smoke and Fire

Craft by Smoke and Fire is in Anaheim, about 20 minutes away from Irvine, and it offers a variety of gourmet foods. You can start with a giant Bavarian pretzel with honey mustard and house-made cheese sauce. The Harvest Brisket Salad comes with prime brisket, roasted squash, mixed greens, apple vinaigrette, and goat cheese. 

With the Stockburger, you’ll get macaroni and cheese, American cheese, a double Smash burger, brisket, barbecue sauce, burger spread, Texas toast, and campfire onions. The Southern Fried Steak includes a fried prime New York steak, slaw, spicy jam, comeback sauce, bread and butter pickles, and Texas toast. It’s a very popular spot, so we recommend making a reservation to avoid disappointment.

Location: 195 W. Center St. Promenade, Anaheim 

Hours: Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday from 11 a.m. to midnight, Saturday from 10 a.m. to midnight, and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Al Forno Caffe

For great Italian food, check out Al Forno Caffe. It has a relaxed atmosphere, robust food, and more than 70 Italian wines. This place is in Costa Mesa, in the Mesa Verde Plaza. It’s about 10 minutes away from Irvine, near the Costa Mesa Golf Course. It has reclaimed wood tables, a wood-paneled bar, custom wall art, and a brick mural. 

You can start with a Caesar salad or a poached pear salad with gorgonzola cheese, toasted pumpkin seeds, arugula, dried cranberries, and honey vinaigrette dressing. Brussels sprouts, fried artichoke hearts, and steamed clams are available as well. The Pasta Al Forno comes with rigatoni, Bolognese sauce, pulled pork, and Parmesan cheese. For dessert, you can enjoy tiramisu, bread pudding, a chocolate mousse tart, or gelato. 

Location: 1525 Mesa Verde Drive E., Costa Mesa

Hours: Sunday through Thursday from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 4 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Siam Station Thai Street Food

Siam Station  offers a variety of delicious Thai and Asian options. You can start with potstickers, fried tofu or chicken wings with sweet sauce, or egg rolls. The Pineapple Fried Rice comes with pineapple, cashews, raisins, yellow curry, and sweet onion. With the Siam Station Fried Rice, you’ll get onion, tomato, Chinese broccoli, egg, and cucumber. The Tom Yum Noodles have hot and sour soup, chile, lime juice, prawns, ground chicken, wontons, and fish balls. The stir-fried catfish comes with spicy red curry, finger root, garlic, and holy basil. For dessert, you can enjoy sweet rice or mango sticky rice.  

Location: 92 Corporate Park, Irvine

Hours: Every day from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and from 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.

The Cut

For excellent burgers and other American food, you can visit The Cut. Try the bacon and jalapeno macaroni and cheese or the truffle macaroni with smoked mozzarella cheese and house-made breadcrumbs. The Sweet Heat Cutlet sandwich comes with fried chicken, pepper jack cheese, pickles, honey-sriracha sauce, and aioli. The Cut is a burger with 8 ounces of house-ground, dry-aged prime Angus rib eye. It also has white cheddar cheese aged for two years and a black and white sesame potato bun. The Columbian has smoked mozzarella cheese, cilantro chimichurri, and roasted banana. 

Location: 3831 Alton Parkway. Suite C, Irvine

Hours: Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., Friday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Irvine, California, Has Wonderful Restaurants

These are some of the best restaurants in the Irvine area. There are many other great places where you can satisfy your hunger, including excellent sushi restaurants. Contact us at Capistrano Volkswagen and let us know where you like to eat the most. We’re open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. You can visit the service department from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays and from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays.