50 Best American Restaurants near Foothill Ranch

“I love going to Islands Restaurant with my younger brother during football season. The atmosphere is perfect for catching a game, and their happy hour is a major win—basically anytime there's an NFL game on, happy hour is going! The menu offers solid options at great prices, and we always have a good time. It's a great spot to kick back, enjoy some food, and watch football. Highly recommend it for game day!“

“Love Urban grill & wine bar. It's one of our go tos all the time. Natalie was our server last night & was a pleasure. I had the lettuce wraps which are so good. Everyone else had the wedge salad with various protein, all enjoyed. Highly recommend. And they are open on Sunday for brunch, did that once & it was great!“

“Well. I Love Red Robin So Much. My Girlfriend Julie & I Love To Go Out To Dinner With Her. We Like To Wear Fancy Formal Outfits & My Shoes & Her Dresses & Her Heels. Jeremy & I Love Food Delivery In Doordash. & I Love Clucks & Fries & Extra Steak Fries So Much.“

“Great food! Friendly staff! And CLEAN!!!!“

“So much fun! Came here for my birthday and they did everything right- food, ambiance, staff, etc“

“I had an amazing experience today at The Stand in Tustin, thanks to a staff member named Evan. I arrived on a busy Friday evening with my three young children, and after sitting down, I realized I had mistakenly left one of their orders off when I placed it. With the long line of people waiting and my three hungry kids, I quickly flagged Evan down for help. I explained my situation and asked if he could bring the missing order, offering to pay him cash on the spot. Without hesitation, Evan stepped up, quickly resolving the issue and bringing our missing order to the table.

As a mom with three little ones, it was a huge relief to be able to stay seated and focus on feeding my kids instead of waiting in line again. Evan's kindness and quick action truly made our dinner experience a great one. Thank you, Evan, for understanding and helping out a forgetful mom!“

“I love this place! I am on an anti-inflammatory diet and this is one of the few places I can eat. Double bonus - they serve grass fed beef, which is the only beef I can have. Their burgers are one of the best I have ever had. My personal favorite is the California Burger. It is amazing!

Dietary restrictions: They have grass fed beef, which is perfect for anti-inflammatory diet.“

“Had a wonderful evening out with my wife at Ironwood Cellars in Laguna Hills. We had reservations for 5:30 p.m. and arrived early. We were greeted by Joe, the manager on duty, who was very kind, professional, and welcoming. Art was our server and is amazingly gifted in customer service professionalism and overall people skills. Yes, showing the love. We started with tequilla drinks from the bar, and we each had a wedge salad. Joe sent us over a wonderful Agnolotti appetizer as well, which was more than kind. The ambiance was positive and upbeat, perfect for the evening. Sergio was also quite attentive in making sure our table was serviced properly. We ordered our entrees with my wife having the halibut dinner, and I had the famous giant meatball dish. Both meals were hot & tasty and presented well. We had a terrific time, and Art surprised us with a complimentary dessert 🍨 with berries. The restaurant is so nice and offers an outdoor patio and bar seating as well. The wine list is extensive, as are the craft beers. Highly recommended.“

“The Chili Fries, and the Stand Burger is the Best.“

“The food is very tasty, good presentation! delicious 😋“

“I use to go to RH with my family in the 70's. Atmosphere always transported us to Hawaii. They were famous for BB ribs, drinks, unique salad (with mayo dressing) and even served a bowl of crudite' with celery, salami, etc. every meal. I didn't like the modern re model, however, NOW THIS RE BUILD iS so cool! Just like the 1970's but better!! Dim lit and Hawaiian music set the mood. I was really anxious to try the ribs again. The service was GREAT appetizer excellent but, ribs, BAD! They were not edible. Hard and chewy, like beef jerky. I was so disappointed and all of our party ordered and received the same. I may try again but won't order ribs!!!“

“Went with my parents for an early Christmas dinner and service was great… food was delicious… and atmosphere was on point!“

“I used to live in Santa Barbara and am a huge fan of Finney’s. Tried Laguna one for the first time.
Service and vibe are very nice but food was bad.
Chicken and waffle taste like precook and coconut shrimp isn’t seasoned. Pizza dough was very dry but taco was excellent.“

“great NY vibe with good food“

“Zach and Robert were so friendly! Great staff!

Vegetarian options: Great options

Dietary restrictions: Really great about food allergy modification

Parking: Easy

Kid-friendliness: Great place for families!

Wheelchair accessibility: Yes“

“It was my first time here, and I found this place while searching for a restaurant nearby. I was curious, so I decided to check it out. I was amazed by the delicious food and professional service. I especially loved the vibe of the place; it was really great! Definitely worth the visit!“

“The Lumberyard located in beautiful downtown Laguna Beach is a great place to have lunch or dinner. There is a new $16 lunch menu and I decided to try the fish tacos. There was a choice between salmon or halibut for the tacos which included shredded cabbage with a pink cream sauce and a side of black bean and corn salad. I chose the halibut for my taco and it was cooked perfectly. It was a generous portion of fish in each of the tacos so it could easily be split with a friend. The service was excellent. Our orders were taken within about five minutes of sitting down and the food came out quickly after we ordered. I would recommend the Lumberyard if you are visiting Laguna Beach. You will need to have reservations during the Art Festivals or when there is a play at the Playhouse.“

“My wife and I love this place! The food is great and the service is good too. I would have given the service 5 stars, but they get so busy on the weekends that sometimes you wait a while. The servers themselves are very cool and accommodating though.“

“Ate at the Jamboree location in Tustin and cashier Ali was courteous, kind, knowledgeable and very helpful in helping us understand the menu options. Even offered a couple samples to make sure we ordered something we’d enjoy. Great customer service!“

“Lovely experience Charming All around and great food 💕“

“Fresh, tasty, great combination of flavors and options on both salads and sammies. The natural sodas are a nice touch. Gotta try a cookie!💛 Staff has been consistently courteous and responsive. I’ve been three times. I CRAVE their salads.“

“Always great wine and food here!“

“This place has become one of my favorites. I love the muffins and the cream puffs the most for take home. All food items are tasty and the staff go above and beyond to make customers happy, which is not easy especially with a very demanding eater like me who makes a lot of modifications in my orders. We had breakfast here yesterday and I just want to say that I received one of the best customer service I ever did in a restaurant.“

“For the best pizza, look no further but go to OC PIZZA, Mission Viejo! the pizza is made with high quality cheese and ingredients, perfectly baked! loved their OC signature pizza and Tomato Basil pizza! Don’t forget to try their wings and mozerella sticks! Great atmosphere, awesome sitting by the bar (great selection on beers and wines), great staff and service! Great place for families with kids who can play inside at arcade setup within the restaurant! oh yeah what more could one ask with football live streaming and delicious breakfast to dinner menu with happy hours?! place is LIT! 🔥

Vegetarian options: They have vegetarian delight and l BYO (Build your own) option with many vegetables ingredients. Their margherita pizza is soooo good! Must try! They also have Gluten free base.

Parking: It’s by the Ralphs store, very huge parking lot and easy to find a parking spot and dine in and get groceries from Ralph’s.

Kid-friendliness: Our kids love this place! Huge arcade inside for them to stay entertained and the best part is arcade is not in isolated place/dark room walls. So kids can play while you can watch them without getting up from your tables and while eating. They have atleast 7 game machines (or more) for kids.“

“It was our first choice for our anniversary dinner! Good decision!!“

“….Eureka!

That’s what I wanted to say when I discovered the place..Eureka! …From the outside, you’d never guess this place existed. But once I stepped through the front door, I was pleasantly surprised. The atmosphere was captivating, and, believe it or not, they backed it up with great food.

Our server, Carissa, was perfect through our Labor Day lunch!, so I tipped her generously—she earned it.

I kicked off the feast with a Mexican beer called Explorado Lager. I lost count of how many I had, but it was something special—fruity, as my date noted, and I have to agree. It was different, in the best way!

We shared a plate of slow-roasted pork nachos and a plate of wings, they were definitely worth it.
I wrapped things up with the Napa chicken sandwich, which was spot on—the sauce was a perfect hit. Honestly, it felt like I was dining in a four-star restaurant. These folks really know their sauces.

Background Story

Will Adler and Jack Montero, childhood friends turned entrepreneurial duo, founded Eureka! in Napa Valley, driven by their shared love for California’s landscapes and culinary traditions. Will, an architect, and Jack, a chef with Michelin-star experience, combined their talents to create a restaurant that embodies the spirit of discovery. Eureka! features farm-to-table cuisine with modern twists, designed with a blend of rustic charm and contemporary elegance—a true celebration of California’s heritage in both food and design.

Eureka’s innovations lie in their seamless fusion of farm-to-table cuisine with modern culinary techniques, creating dishes that surprise and delight. Signature offerings like the “Gold Rush Burger” and the “Sequoia Salad” elevate classic flavors with local, seasonal ingredients. Their philosophy centers on discovery and creativity, celebrating California’s rich heritage while pushing culinary boundaries. Eureka! isn’t just about food; it’s about crafting an experience where every detail, from the architecture to the wine list, tells a story of innovation and a deep respect for the land.“

“We eat at Polly’s Yorba Linda quote often and are always happy with our food and the great service! However, recently we have been very disappointed that Polly’s has discontinued two menu items that we always enjoy! We love your dinner salads and always try to include one with our meals! But, recently you have stopped offering ITALIAN DRESSING, and that was a horrible decision, as far as we are concerned! Couldn’t you at least have some little single serve packets of it available, when someone requests it? The second choice that we are missing is ENGLISH MUFFINS, which used to be offered with the breakfast menu as a bread choice! These were bad decisions, as far as we are concerned, and has made us choose another restaurant on a few occasions, now! Especially, for the Italian dressing!“

“The atmosphere is a wonderful and relaxing change from the high tech look of too many restaurants today. It's softly lit and comforting. The food is excellent. The branzino was cooked perfectly, the side dish of french lentils was a treat and the apple pie delicious. It's a treasure.“

“I had been eating lunch there for over eight years before our office relocated. The prices are great, the staff is friendly and remembers your preferences, and the food is both tasty and cleanly prepared. Order ahead from their app would help you skip the lunch time wait.“

“Went with my parents for an early Christmas dinner and service was great… food was delicious… and atmosphere was on point!“

“Food was awesome! Husband got a mushroom swiss burger and said it was amazing ... daughter had a side of Mac and Cheese which she loved and it wasn't a box kraft like some restaurants try to do. I had tomato soup and it was creamy and not to acidic! Yum!
Service was pretty none existent since u order on a machine and then go uo can get your own food after the buzzer and tables we were able to find pretty well on a Sunday afternoon.
Overall great experience“

“Each dish is spectacular. Love the calamari ….can be an appetizer to share or eat on your own with a salad. 230:Forest Avenue never disappoints!!!“

“Very long wait times. Terrible customer service and overall, one of the worst dining experiences I’ve ever had in my life. The waiter messed up our order and argued with my wife about how he did not mess up the order and continued to argue with my wife, which further upset me and my parents. I asked the waiter to leave and requested to speak with the manager. I had explained everything to the manager and told the manager that because the food came out wrong and the waiter argued with my wife, that it was time to go because the waiter ruined our meal and our experience. After paying for 3 meals that we did not eat, the restaurant manager was extremely rude, told us to leave, and to never come back. We left very angry and upset. This restaurant ruined our entire afternoon. I do not recommend this restaurant because of the terrible customer service. If you make a mistake, own it, and make it right. Not the case here, they just want your money and send you on your way as fast as possible. If you’re looking for a nice dining experience there are far better options than this place.“

“Deanne and Jose were fabulous servers. The quiet atmosphere was so nice and refreshing. Happy Hour was great, the food and drinks were a great deal kand we really enjoyed ourselves. The food was good and we will definitely come back to try other options!“

“All the staff are friendly efficient. It is a joy to come regularly. The young waitresses Ally & Cameron are full of energy & smiles thanks“

“Wonderful time with grandson“

“Cinnamon roll French toast!“

“Great comfort food, excellent service from Julio as always. He's friendly, polite, and welcoming. We like to eat here when Julio's around and the other gentleman at the cashier.“

“The staff here is excellent!!!! These guys are always running around doing their best to serve people. I FORGOT you okay it the front so bring cash for a tip. I felt I didnt5 leave as much as I sgould have, I'm sorry. Really awesome and welcoming. Haven't been here since I was a kid. Totally fun for the nostaliga love. The salad bar was awesome, glad to see it open again. Good prices for everything as well. Life you get tons of healthy options here! They still have the cheese toast! That was my treat with the salad. The food is good and simple. Perfect spot for picky eaters, I saw plenty of kids getting food and actually eating it.“

“Excellent food, accommodations for dietary restrictions, kind employees and good for families.We've been coming here for about 9 years. It's just as good as the first time we had food there.

Dietary restrictions: Gluten free options, Nut free options“

“I highly recommend In n Out Burger. I love their burgers, fries and Root Beer when I go. But why can't I get a burger well-done late night? With the patties nice and thin, I should never bite into a burger that's red or pink inside. I even tell them to burn it a little bit. But that doesn't change a thing. I'm not going to stop eating here. I'll just aim for earlier when not at a peak rush with a long line. Wish me luck!“

“This place has one of the best pastrami sandwiches in Orange county, they've been around forever and their prices are still reasonable. The typical pastrami sandwich can easily be for two people, it's extremely big and very very filling so just be careful if you end up ordering two thinking you will finish them because it is way too big“

“Great food Spectacular views“

“Cooks is a staple in the biker community of So Cal. The food is awesome and beer is cold… Almost always live music too.“

“Always a great experience here. Staff is so polite and friendly. Food is amazing and portions always require a to go bag. Highly recommend“

“Not 5 stars because they list salad bar on their website and on the recently updated Google menu, and there is no salad bar. Plus, religious music is annoying. I got the spinach tortilla wrap with lettuce, avocado, and tomatoes. Good size and seemed fresh. Also had the zucchini fries which were perfectly done and plentiful. The two young ladies who helped me were very nice and definitely assets to this business.“

“Loved their chocolate desert!“

“Phenomenal experience every time! If you are not a member of the Rancho Capistrano wine club you are missing out!!!!“