50 Best American Restaurants near Laguna Woods

“Great food Spectacular views“

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

“We had another fantastic night at Wine Gallery. The food was amazing, just loved the Coq Au Vin and the Scallops. We also got to do a wine tasting with Hartford Court Wines with the owner on site to talk about the winery. Couldn't have been a better evening. Great food and wine, and as always wonderful service from everyone on Chris' team.“

“Ok, so first up it was a bit pricey. But holy cow the burgers were all amazing, the place was clean, staff was wonderful. If you want ridiculously tasty burgers and don't mind paying for it... I'll give this place 5/5 stars for sure.“

“It's worth your while to come and experience it.“

“If you want a unique dining experience this is the place to go. The wait staff and servers they were all on point very attentive I never had to look around to look for anyone if I raised my head somebody was right at my table to find out what I needed or how they could serve me. Awesome awesome experience wonderful food. I will be back!“

“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.“

“Amazing steaks, the bone in rib ey and filet mignon for my girl was perfect. Barely talked the food was so good haha. Kyle was so gracious and welcoming , it was our first time here. I rarely give full stars but honestly this place and the staff deserve it. Expectations exceeded. Do your self a favor and stop by 🤙“

“The food is amazing here. Always excellent. Always made the same consistent way each time we have been here. The staff is SUPER friendly and they have a beautiful dog-friendly patio. It does get really busy at lunch on Saturdays so be prepared if you come that day. Weekdays tend to be a lot slower. It quickly has become my favorite place to eat and is my go-to place now. The food is just as good delivered as well. Cannot go wrong here. Especially with the Chicken Club. Delicious. Fries are really good too.“

“Traditional American breakfast with all the trimmings. Very hometown vibe. Staff was awesome and the food was fantastic. This place has a time capsule vibe. Frozen in a point in history before computers and smart phones when neighbors became friends, and we all looked out for one another. This will be a regular stop for breakfast and lunch.“

“It was my first time here, and the food is delicious. Love the simple & quaint decor. Definitely will be back!“

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

“We've enjoyed many meals over the last year and always happily return for more. The venue is gorgeous of course and it's difficult to leave roaming the beautiful nursery & craft store area to get to your reservation so give yourself plenty of time during your visit for shopping. The capable service staff is eager to please and every dish is thoughtfully prepared/presented. A couple of our favorite dishes are: the Asian beef short ribs & the Pomegranate & balsamic glazed salmon salad which are reasonably priced and delicious. A bonus for us as Guide Dog puppy raisers is they're dog friendly.“

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

“Delicious healthy food. I highly recommend this restaurant“

“Thee bestest service ever... and the food is AMAZING!!!! The chef took their time making every element of this menu flavorful, and presentable. I only have wondeful things to say about this restaurant. It is an example of what every restaurant should strive to be.“

“Omg the food. 1st time in and I’ll definitely be back. Loved the outdoor seating option.“

“Cool vibe, good food. Happy hour daily from 2-5 with 50% off beer and wine. My only complaint would be the table tops were sticky/dirty looking. Not from lack of cleaning, just seemed to be the varnish they used on the wood. Also, the garlic parm fries are coated in a garlic butter. Very greasy/oily. If you're not into greasy fries, steer clear. Overall though, I would recommend, and I will be back.“

“Súper recomendado muy sabroso 😋 y muy amables todos 💕🙏“

“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.“

“great NY vibe with good food“

“Excellent everything!!!!!“

“I couldn’t wait to share our experience at Benchmark restaurant in Santa Ana California. Everything about this place is perfection! It was a hot day, but the beautiful outdoor dining area was cool and breezy underneath the beautiful trees. Our waitress was knowledgeable, wonderfully friendly, and attended to all our needs. Each of us ordered a different item on the menu and I had to taste everything. I had the Spanish omelette, which was delicious, the burger seems like a very popular item understandably because that along with the delicious fries was exceptional. Enchiladas with mole were a wonderful treat, and the French toast was probably the hit of the table. This wonderful brunch dish was not exceptionally sweet, which made it so perfect. Some places just overdo it with the sweetness. We will definitely be going back many times to tryout dinners and more of the selections on all of the menus. I will also be spreading the word because this is probably my favorite place in Orange County now. Thank you Benchmark for a fantastic experience!“

“First timer drove all the way from Downey worth the drive. I had the blue cheese bacon burger with garlic fries and of course a Dr. Pepper. Very friendly staff they all help out my daughter had the mushroom burger with onion rings and my son had the bacon cheese burger with tots. A must try the only other thing that caught my eye was the hot wings the table next to us ordered Definitely next time“

“Had a wonderful dinner with my family, including 19 month old daughter. The restaurant was super accomodating with the baby and the food was incredible. We had the rotisserie chicken, I always say if the chicken at a restaurant is good then they know what they're doing. The filet was great too, all the sides and even the seared salmon from the kids menu was cooked to perfection. Salmon skin perfectly cooked with a solid crisp and was not overcooked, really easy to overcook salmon. Wine list was fantastic. Pretty extensive between old and new world. We had the Goldeneye Pinot Noir; a favorite...thanks for a great dinner.“

“Breezy Experience #breezy #goodfood #filipinofusion #brunch #familybusiness“

“Solid lunch spot after spending enough time at tj maxx. I always get the grilled steak or Caesar wrap, and urban plates has been very consistent with their food quality. Erika and Luis were incredibly kind and patience. Would come back when I'm in the area!“

“This place is amazing. I go with with SHORT RIB MELT every time, the BEST sandwich I have ever had!!“

“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!!!“

“Lovely experience Charming All around and great food 💕“

“I just discovered the most incredible hidden gem and I have to share it—because it might just be my new favorite restaurant in the world! 🌟 This place is a dedicated gluten free restaurant (yes, you read that right!) and every single dish blew me away. I honestly still can’t believe how amazing the food was. The croissant was so buttery, flaky, and perfect I had to double check that it was really gluten free—it’s a dream come true. 🥐 The popovers with house-made jam and honey butter were out-of-this-world delicious, the Brisket Benedict was rich and comforting with perfectly poached eggs, and the Steak Frites rivaled any French bistro. Every bite was pure heaven. But what really makes this place so special are the wonderful owners, Laura and Michael. Their passion, warmth, and dedication show in everything they do. Laura is a true genius—she spent 7 years perfecting her very own gluten free flour blend and dough, and you can even buy it to take home for fresh bread, pizza, or cinnamon rolls. It rises and bakes like traditional dough, and the flavor is unbelievable. 🍞✨ The restaurant itself is gorgeous, the service was wonderful, and the food… I’ll be dreaming about it until I can go back. We went for brunch, but I can’t wait to try dinner next. If you’re gluten free, this is your paradise. If you’re not gluten free, I challenge you to come here and tell me you can tell the difference. You can’t. That’s how good it is. 🙌 Run, don’t walk—this is one of those rare places that feels like magic. ✨“

“Great food, especially for the price in Laguna.

This Finneys location is particularly enjoyable, being one of the only 'watering holes' in Laguna, comprised of 30% locals every night.

They have great bar tenders overall, however there is high turnover. You'll be lucky if Kelsie is at the bar to serve you. The group of locals that rack it up 6-7 days a week were extremely disappointed to learn that she is temporarily only working 1 day per week. She contributed greatly to building the community here and its unfortunate that I won't be seeing as many locals as a result.“

“Easter Brunch 2023 was outstanding! So many options for a Starter, Entree and Dessert. Frankly, when our beautiful server came over to see what I wanted, I wanted ALL the starters as I have enjoyed them for years! The Filet Mignon eggs Benedict was perfect. The bottomless, large mimosas were so fun with choices of orange juice, pineapple or watermelon; I tried them all😊 We all passed around our desserts. The Crème Brûlée and Flowerless Chocolate Cake were standouts for sure“

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

“Phenomenal food and creative, cocktails and mocktails. We got drinks at the bar because we arrived early for our reservation. The bar was super lively, though a bit loud.  For dinner, we were seated at a table overlooking the surf. Such a stunning setting. We had absolutely amazing service from Nicole & Richard. Absolutely everything we were served from the drinks & popcorn in the bar, to our appetizers, mains, and dessert in the restaurant was absolutely phenomenal.“

“The entrance of this café is a bit tricky to find, so I’ve decided to share a photo to help others find it. The food and drinks here are both healthy and delicious, and the owner is incredibly friendly and welcoming. We absolutely love the atmosphere and the lifestyle vibes of this place. Wishing them all the best and continued success!“

“A Crystal Cove Restaurant in Newport Coast is a great place to eat. The food is consistently good, the atmosphere is beautiful, and the overall environment is very relaxing. The service is excellent—attentive, friendly, and professional. We really enjoyed our experience, and everyone we interacted with was genuinely nice. A wonderful spot that we're always happy to visit.“

“This place blew me away. First you are greeted with free valet parking. Next you see the stunning views of the luscious green mountains overhead. The staff are wonderful, very professional and greeting you by your last name. The texture of the menu is the best I have ever felt. The food is fantastic too, large portions and high quality. Be sure to walk around and enjoy the views after eating.“

“When you taste them, you'll know he qualities they possess that you can't resist“

“Always great wine and food here!“

“I like stopping there on bike rides“

“We got the out of sight out or mind or someone had a late night, service. Our server was nice but not really present. Sat outside and there were 3 other tables that were already eating. Not busy, but took 15+ min to get a menu and another 20 min to order. The food was great & will give it another try.“

“Love the pastries and bought a cake“

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

“Great food, highly recommend the fried chicken. Servers are fantastic.“

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

“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.“

“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!“

“Iris, the owner and the main man in the kitchen are nothing short of awesome. Happy hour rules, food is great, and the best service. Love this place and I encourage everyone to come try at least twice.

By far the best place in MV for beers and a game. Kids will have fun too!“