16 Best Gastropubs near Irvine

“Absolutely loved this place. The food was amazing, and every dish we tried was packed with flavor. I also really liked the atmosphere, it felt modern, welcoming, and thoughtfully designed.

The hidden speakeasy concept is such a fun and unique touch. It makes the experience feel much more memorable than just going out for dinner.

It also seems like it may be Asian-owned, and I’d love to see more businesses like this. Great food, creative ideas, and excellent execution. I’ll definitely be coming back and recommending it to friends!“

“Thank you so much for accommodating my event for 70 people! The food was amazing and we impressed our guests!Your service was attentive and food was delicious!Larry & Jackie were fantastic!!Thank you for all your efforts! Keep up the amazing service!!!“

“Stopped in for lunch at the bar inside Whole Foods Market in Irvine and had a much better experience than I ever expected. This isn’t just a typical grocery store café—this is a legit spot for a quality meal and cold draft beer.

We ordered two bacon cheeseburgers and were impressed across the board. The burgers were cooked just right, with thick slices of bacon, crisp lettuce, fresh tomato, and perfectly melted cheese stacked inside a soft, glossy bun. The presentation was great—each burger served on a metal tray lined with custom Whole Foods wrap paper, paired with a mini fryer basket of hot, crispy fries and a stainless ramekin of ketchup. The fries were golden and fresh, with just the right amount of salt and a great texture.

There’s something satisfying about sitting at a clean, well-lit bar with natural light pouring through the windows and a long row of taps behind the counter. The beer selection here is impressive, especially for being inside a market. A wide range of local and craft brews on draft gave us plenty of choices. The pours were cold, crisp, and served in proper pint glasses with just the right head.

The bartender was courteous, quick, and knowledgeable—not just about the beer but also about the menu. Service felt personal and attentive without being overbearing. You can tell they care about maintaining quality here, and it showed in both the food and the way the staff treated us.

All around, this is a great place to sit down for a relaxing lunch or early dinner. Plenty of parking right outside, and you can grab groceries afterward if you need to. Definitely worth a visit if you’re in the area and want something casual but done right. Would absolutely return.“

“The Hangar Steak was delicious as was everything“

“Loved drinking beer out of a boot! Brats and fries were awesome.“

“Good food, great service, nice and cozy atmosphere and the drinks 🍹 were great“

“Amazing experience. Prime rib was tender. Sides were great. Drinks were delicious and refreshing. 5 stars. Will definitely be adding to my favorites.“

“Food was absolutely delicious“

“Amazing atmosphere. Great service. Amazing people.“

“Good beer selection and dog friendly.“

“We relaxed and enjoyed the end of a busy day here and the gentleman who served us let us know as we paid our tab it was his first day. He was professional and very pleasant. Thank you front room for hiring a good quality person in a time when quality people can be hard to find. We enjoyed the time spent there and look forward to a future visit.“

“It is a great place that opens till very late. We came at almost midnight and had some cold beer and authentic food. Some of the food is very authentic such as the blood sausage. We tried that and some fried whole chicken, fried tofu, and squid. It was nice you can just ordered thru the pad and they served quick. They gave us some free orange slices too.“

“amazing atmosphere! the crowd at the bar is the best in orange county. beat prices in town, great community, all the Regulars make you feel welcome!“

“Went in on a Friday night and the place had a nice energy without feeling too crowded. The bartenders were friendly and actually took the time to help me pick a drink I ended up really liking. Prices seemed fair for the area, and the music was at a good volume where you could still have a conversation. Food was decent too, especially the appetizers. Service got a little slow later in the evening, but nothing that really took away from the experience. Overall, it was a pretty good spot to relax with friends and I'd probly come back again.“

“My brother and his family came into town for his birthday. We took him to Social for his birthday dinner. The atmosphere was fun and lively! The poor server was the only server on the floor that Saturday night because of a sick call. He was swamped and I’m sure stressed out but you couldn’t tell! He made sure the bussers and hostess checked on us throughout the evening to refill drinks, bring out food, and boxes. It really showed the teamwork between all employees that night. The teamwork alone was impressive to me! The Nutella Espresso Martini was soooo good!!! The food was amazing! As busy as our poor server was he still managed to bring out cake with a candle and sing happy birthday to my brother! I definitely plan on going back to Social!“

“I got there early before a game against the Rangers. That's the best time to go because its not so busy. I think the food is better early. Later into the game it gets to crowded and the food is not so temperature hot. Its my brothers favorite spot in the stadium. I don't agree with him. The beer was cold though.“