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Honda-Ya: A Japanese Restaurant in Tustin

October 2, 2014 by

Izakaya means “a place to eat, drink, and sit comfortably.” In Japan, it’s roughly similar to a pub: simple food, straightforward drinks, and reasonable prices—a place to shrug off tradition and relax.

Don’t look for chef “performances” or wild menu items at Tustin’s Honda-Ya, just unpretentious decor, home-style food, and lots of good sake. From sushi and sashimi to tebasaki, yakitori, pork belly, and udon, locals can’t praise the big menu enough. Service is fast and efficient, but be prepared to wait; Honda-Ya gets packed, especially on weekends. However, we hear it takes just one visit to become a regular!

Check Honda-Ya’s site for hours, menus, events, and other locations.

Honda-Ya
556 El Camino Real
Tustin, CA 92780
(714) 832-0081
www.izakayahondaya.com
www.yelp.com/biz/honda-ya-tustin

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Don’t Miss the Lunch Specials at Gen Korean BBQ House

September 25, 2014 by

Regulars say that Gen Korean BBQ House stands out for atmosphere and service. If you’ve been to the three other locations, you know what to expect in Tustin: slick, comfortable, traditional-meets-modern decor and staff that anticipates your needs before you ask.

There are no complaints about the food, either. Regulars call the menu fresh, tasty, and traditional, pleasing ex-pats, newcomers to Korean cuisine, and even kids. Add reasonable prices, outstanding lunch specials (all-you-can-eat for $14.99) and deep happy hour discounts, and you’ve found a new spot for your date or business meeting.

Check Gen Korean BBQ House’s website for hours, menus, and specials.

Gen Korean BBQ House
13741 Newport Avenue
Tustin, CA 92780
(714) 505-1800
www.genkoreanbbq.com
www.yelp.com/biz/gen-korean-bbq-house-tustin

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Aloha Hawaiian BBQ: Enjoy Barbecue

August 28, 2014 by

Hawaiian cuisine consists of more than just pineapple, and no place is more dedicated to proving this than Aloha Hawaiian BBQ on Park Avenue. Aloha is known for its plate lunches, which it defines as “a classic Hawaiian meal composed of an entrée or combination of entrées, served with rice and macaroni salad on the side”.

One of their best sellers, the chicken katsu—which is included with BBQ chicken on the chicken combo plate—is particularly excellent, hitting the sweet spot with regards to crunchiness. The spam musubi are also very good and well portioned. The macaroni salad, a big part of every plate lunch, is luckily very good. The decor is predictably Hawaiian but bright and friendly.

Visit Aloha Hawaiian BBQ's website to learn more about this local restaurant!

Aloha Hawaiian BBQ
2336 Park Avenue
Tustin, CA 92782
(714) 258-1888
http://www.yelp.com/biz/aloha-hawaiian-bbq-tustin

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Coffee Is Served Without Gimmicks at The Lost Bean

July 17, 2014 by

We’re not sure where the name “The Lost Bean” came from, but it could refer to the coffeehouses of day's past—those simple, welcoming, unpretentious places that brought you good food and memorable coffee. The Lost Bean won’t try to sell you brand memorabilia or toys; the focus is top-notch organic coffee and tea. That’s it. No tricks, no branded products—just comfortable seats and good drinks, the perfect atmosphere for a casual date, a business meeting, or to kick back with a book.

Blended drinks are made with skill, food is reportedly delicious (don’t miss the broccoli and cheese quiche or the chocolate zucchini bread for dessert), and service comes with a smile. The Lost Bean is the return of the coffeehouse as an art form.

The Lost Bean
13011 Newport Avenue
Tustin, CA 92780
(714) 544-2584
www.thelostbean.com
www.yelp.com/biz/the-lost-bean-tustin

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Lucille’s Smokehouse BBQ: Come for the Ribs, Stay for the Apple Butter Biscuits

May 22, 2014 by

The story goes that Lucille learned to cook at her Granny’s lunch shack in Greenville, South Carolina. After following her husband to California during World War II, she longed for the tastes of home, so she started whipping up the best barbecue this side of Dixie.

Okay, so Lucille is a fictional character, but founder Craig Hofman likes to think he’d make Lucille happy. The product of years spent in barbecue joints “from the Carolinas to Kansas, Texas, to Tennessee,” Hofman serves slow-cooked treats and Southern hospitality.

Californians love it, but more importantly so do exiled Southerners. Visitors from Memphis, Kansas City, and all points rave over Lucille's pulled pork, brisket, chicken, ribs, mac ‘n’ cheese, and apple butter biscuits Note: Resist the temptation to fill up on apple butter biscuits. It’s difficult.

Lucille’s Smokehouse BBQ
The District at Tustin Legacy
2550 Park Avenue
Tustin, CA 92782
(714) 259-1227
www.lucillesbbq.com
www.yelp.com/biz/lucilles-smokehouse-bbq-tustin-4

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Order the Scallop Dynamite Roll at RA Sushi

May 1, 2014 by

Shopping? Hungry after the movie? RA Sushi brings you traditional and modern sushi and Japanese fusion cuisine at The District at Tustin Legacy. Your favorites are here, but the focus is on remixed, reinvented sushi, with bright colors, new textures, and surprising combinations. The Scallop Dynamite Roll, for example, is a mouthful: crab and cream cheese rolled in rice and seaweed, lightly battered and topped with red beet, spinach tempura bits, and sweet eel sauce.

Locals are generally pleased with the food, service, and atmosphere, especially given how busy it gets. Be prepared to wait, especially on weekends. Beer, sake, and wine lists are a mile long, and cocktails are reportedly stiff. Check RA Sushi’s website for hours, menus, and generous happy hour deals.

RA Sushi
The District at Tustin Legacy
2401 Park Avenue
Tustin, CA 92782
(714) 566-1700
www.rasushi.com
www.yelp.com/biz/ra-sushi-bar-restaurant-tustin

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Perk Up Your Taste Buds at Grape Leaf Mediterranean Grill

April 24, 2014 by

Get out of your burger and fries routine and take a culinary trip to Greece at Grape Leaf Mediterranean Grill. It’s a cozy, friendly spot with a wide assortment of authentic Greek dishes that'll perk up your taste buds.

Settle in with a beer or glass of wine and a flavorful appetizer like spanikopita, stuffed grape leaves, fried cauliflower, hummus, grilled halloumi cheese, or grilled pita bread. Some yummy soups and salads are also on the menu. Pita wraps are a great choice, stuffed with a variety of fillings, including falafel, chicken shawarma, and beef and lamb. Entree choices include beef, shrimp, or chicken kabobs, chicken souvlaki, chicken or steak shawarma, and salmon tahini filet. Conclude your meal with a sweet taste of baklava or the banana banoffi, a pie of whipped cream, caramelized milk, and bananas.

Grape Leaf Mediterranean Grill is open every day.

Grape Leaf Mediterranean Grill
17582 E. 17th Street
Tustin, CA 92780
(714) 544-1900
www.grapeleafgrill.com
www.yelp.com/biz/grape-leaf-mediterranean-grill-tustin

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Espresso Drinks Are Made With Care at Kéan Coffee

April 3, 2014 by

You could say that coffee is in Martin Diedrich’s blood. The coffee entrepreneur traces his roots to Costa Rican and Guatemalan coffee plantations, and his family started importing beans to California in 1972.

After building the internationally successful Diedrich Coffee chain in the 1980s and 90s, Diedrich founded Kéan Coffee to put the focus back on the beans. From roasting to pouring to maintenance, Diedrich talks about coffee with the love, care, and detail usually reserved for fine wine. The goal, he says, is to restore “coffee culture,” the leisurely appreciation of coffee in all its mystery—coffee as the center of family, business, and relaxation. Coffee beans, many of which are organic and fair-trade, are roasted on-site at Diedrich's cafe, imparting a whole-bodied, nuanced flavor to Kéan's coffee drinks.

Kéan Coffee's Tustin location is open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.

Kéan Coffee
13861 Newport Avenue
Tustin, CA 92780
(714) 838-5326
www.keancoffee.com
www.yelp.com/biz/kean-coffee-tustin

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Native Foods Café: Vegan Delights in Tustin

March 27, 2014 by

Vegan meals aren’t all celery sticks and tofu. The best vegan fare can fool—or convert—meat eaters, but they require creativity, versatility, bravery. That’s what you’ll find at Native Foods Café. Founded in Palm Springs in 1994, the chain is now America’s top fast-casual vegan restaurant, serving fresh and memorable international cuisine. From tempeh and seitan to cheese, sauces, drinks, dressings, and desserts, everything is totally plant-based, made fresh daily. Locals find it hard to pick favorites from the big menu, so check the site and drop in for a new perspective on vegan cooking. You’ll find slick, modern tastes for the whole family.

Prices are a bit higher than comparable restaurants, but that reflects the fresh ingredients and from-scratch process. Service is top-notch.

Native Foods Café
2453 Park Avenue
Tustin, CA 92782
(714) 259-0400
http://www.nativefoods.com
http://www.yelp.com/biz/native-foods-cafe-tustin

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Pina’s Bistro: Authentic Italian Dishes in a Cozy Setting

March 6, 2014 by

This intimate little Italian eatery has quickly become a favorite stopping spot for scrumptious authentic dishes in a cozy, relaxing setting with friendly, attentive service. Maybe part of the reason fans of the place love it so much is because owner and chef Pina makes all of the sausage, manicotti, cannelloni, lasagna, gnocchi, bread, sauces, and desserts in-house.

Settle in with a glass or bottle of wine and an antipasto like calamari fritti, Atlantic littleneck clams with garlic sauce, or a caprese salad. Move on to the main event with a pasta dish like cheese ravioli marinara, penne with sausage and peppers, spaghetti bolognaise, and penne with sauteed sausage and asparagus. Chicken marsala, grilled pork chops and veal parmigiana are also served.

Pina's Bistro is open Tuesday through Saturday in Tustin.

Pina's Bistro
640 W. 1st Street
Tustin, CA 92780
(714) 730-5442
pinasbistro.com

Read the reviews on Yelp.

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/Kanko*

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