Restaurants in Lake Forest
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Best Restaurants
“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.”
“I love coming to this location. My go to meal is the chicken and koobideh plate. Every time I order it it taste so good and fresh. Their service is great, they have a good attitude and the food is always ready pretty fast.”
“Great local neighbor feel bar. Had a few beers and enjoy some local karaoke talent. Great people watching. Reasonable prices and food quality. Feels like a friendly dive bar. Had to leave before the live band.”
Restaurants by Cuisine
“We were visiting from Scotland, having previously lived in NYC for many years, and were desperate for a nice Italian meal like we used to get when we lived in the States. We could not have been more impressed with the food and the service, and made sure we got a second visit in before we returned to Scotland - I just wish we could have gone back a third time… and fourth !!!! Highly recommend !!!”
“Thai Garden Restaurant offers an exceptional dining experience that’s hard to beat. The Thai tea here is a must-try—smooth, flavorful, and perfectly balanced, making it a great start to any meal. The food is amazing, with standout dishes like the chicken dim sum, which was deliciously tender and packed with flavor. The drunken noodles were equally impressive—perfectly spiced and full of vibrant textures. Beyond the food, the service was attentive and friendly, enhancing the overall experience. The restaurant itself was spotless, maintaining a welcoming and clean atmosphere throughout. On a Tuesday evening, the place was bustling with patrons, a testament to its popularity. This speaks volumes about the quality of food and service they offer. With such a positive experience, I’ll be back. Highly recommend Thai Garden Restaurant for anyone craving authentic Thai cuisine in a comfortable setting.”
Restaurants with Delivery
“Amazing and cute little restaurant. Three servers were like hawks (in a good way) and instantly on top of anything and extremely efficient. The food was great, the cheese bread with garlic and Tiramisu were especially notable. We paid under $80 (before tip) for two meals, drinks, the cheese bread side, and desert, and one of the meals was the special which included a salad for $30. Plenty of food, very good food, cute and efficient restaurant, and a great price (let alone for being in Irvine these days). 10/10 would eat at again.”
“This joint is serving up real ingredients prepared like that Peruvian uncle I never had. I was impressed by the actual hand cut yucca vs some other joints precut yucca. That green sauce is obviously made in house and done right. The ceviche isn’t the prettiest I’ve eaten, but ranks high in the yum factor. Definitely a restaurant worth another visit.”
“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.”
“EVERYONE WHOM NOT BEEN HERE BEFORE!!! YOURE MISSING OUT!!! Delicious food and huge portion for what you pay!!! My large fries was tripled lithe fries compared to other places n my burgers were twice the size of any regular burger places around here. Damn I love it. Absolutely you need to give it a try .”
“I love how this location hardly ever runs out of their flavors and special cookies of the week. If you ever run into that problem at different locations, I guarantee you’ll find it at this one. These cookies are delicious and they taste amazing! My favorite is a pink sugar cookie”
“The service was very good, and the overall taste was impeccable; the food was delicious and well-balanced, but it lacked the authentic and refined Japanese flavor. It was also unusual that the rolls fell apart. They gave us two eggs with the oden... The bonito broth tasted exactly like the one from Lawson convenience store, haha. The sake-steamed clams really tasted strongly of sake! The sukiyaki was quite impressive, a huge bowl! The only downside was the lack of a raw egg accompaniment, which felt like something essential was missing”
“It's one of me and my fiancé Denise's favorite place. We go there all the time and it's always awesome. I highly recommend it to anyone that lives in the area. We absolutely love it and they take care of you like family.”
“Love going to Morena‘s for lunch and brunch. The food is as good as any I’ve had in Southern California and the service is better than most places. Prices are acceptable. If you want a real experience go for brunch the staff is so friendly and warm. It’s hard to come away with a bad experience”
Outdoor Dining
“I had an outstanding experience at DonerG, where they beautifully blend the authentic flavors of Turkish cuisine with vibrant Mediterranean and Middle Eastern influences. I opted for the Original Fladenbrot sandwich with beef, and added chicken as well. Both meats were incredibly well-seasoned, tender, and bursting with flavor. You can truly appreciate the freshness and quality of the ingredients in every bite. The ambiance of the restaurant was welcoming and warm, making it an ideal spot whether you're grabbing a quick bite or enjoying a meal with a larger group. Special mention to Eduardo and Saadi, who were attentive and provided excellent service, making the entire experience even more enjoyable. I’ll definitely be returning for another delicious meal!”
“Been coming here recently. Their combo portions are really generous. You can get a bunch of protein and four side orders! And there area bunch of sides to choose from including kimchi, chapchae, fish cake and macaroni salad. Service is fast and friendly. It's been part of our regular rotation for a while now. Always a treat to come to Ummas!”
“Thai Garden Restaurant offers an exceptional dining experience that’s hard to beat. The Thai tea here is a must-try—smooth, flavorful, and perfectly balanced, making it a great start to any meal. The food is amazing, with standout dishes like the chicken dim sum, which was deliciously tender and packed with flavor. The drunken noodles were equally impressive—perfectly spiced and full of vibrant textures. Beyond the food, the service was attentive and friendly, enhancing the overall experience. The restaurant itself was spotless, maintaining a welcoming and clean atmosphere throughout. On a Tuesday evening, the place was bustling with patrons, a testament to its popularity. This speaks volumes about the quality of food and service they offer. With such a positive experience, I’ll be back. Highly recommend Thai Garden Restaurant for anyone craving authentic Thai cuisine in a comfortable setting.”
“Hidden gem for Thai food. The quiet and nondescript building doesn't bear witness to the quality of food served.
Very genuine food and polite servers who aim to please.
We shared the Pad See-Ew with Pork and Yellow Curry with Chicken and rice. We also ordered the rare Mango Sticky Rice.
This is highly recommended but save room for dessert. The meals are hearty and the mango and sticky rice are plentious.
Service is excellent and helpful.
The atmosphere is very authentic with the ongoing elephant theme throughout.”
“Bravo 👏🏼 the perfect combination of amazing pasta and shrimp. I love dining in different cafes and restaurants, but Jennifer amazed me with her kindness and attentiveness. I felt right at home. If you value delicious food and a”
“I've basically tried all the AYCE options in the area, and Fat Fish was by far the best. Service was lovely, the fish and sushi were absolutely delicious, and sauces were incredible. It's become my instant go to spot now.”
“Inka Grill provides an authentic Peruvian dining experience that truly stands out in Orange County. The flavors and dishes transport you straight to Peru, making it a must-visit for anyone craving genuine Peruvian cuisine. The ambiance, service, and food quality are exceptional, offering a delightful escape to South America right in California. Highly recommended!”
Online Reservation Available
“Love going to Morena‘s for lunch and brunch. The food is as good as any I’ve had in Southern California and the service is better than most places. Prices are acceptable. If you want a real experience go for brunch the staff is so friendly and warm. It’s hard to come away with a bad experience”
“Plan being to go today and read the recent 3 reviews but have been in their buffet multiple times. My daughter love their shahi paneer and palak paneer with Bhindi and I like their butter chicken to go. That is all happened very frequently up until last 2 weeks. I will share another note after I am done today with my and 2 of my friends and family!!”
“Best Chinese food ever! My family and I have been coming here for over 20 plus years and we would never go anywhere else to get Chinese food! Amazing food and amazing people who work here!! Anne and family are the most amazing people we have ever met! You must try!! Best Chinese food there is!! Thank you for everything you all do we love you guys!! 💕🥰🥳😁😋”
“I've eaten at a few Amecis over the decades, but the pizza I picked up from this location, was far and away the best one I've ever had from them. As a matter of fact, we were looking for a new pizza place and the family all loved the pizzas I picked up, so I think we've found our new pizza place!”
“Great outdoor Funktions, chillin with some fresh air. 🍺 the staff is always great, food is amazing. Friday nights live dj nicknik and dj mark.”
Takeout Restaurants
“This is our family's favorite taco place. I haven't had anything bad so far. The hot salsa is fire, and the guacamole is delicious. The tacos are generously filled. Two tacos wothout rice and beans are usually more than enough for me. The staff just makes it all the better. Our kids always love seeing Mrs. G. Don't let the low-key location fool you - this place is top-notch.”
“We were visiting from Scotland, having previously lived in NYC for many years, and were desperate for a nice Italian meal like we used to get when we lived in the States. We could not have been more impressed with the food and the service, and made sure we got a second visit in before we returned to Scotland - I just wish we could have gone back a third time… and fourth !!!! Highly recommend !!!”
“One of the most authentic and yummy XLB places. The waitlist can be a bit long during peak hours, but their system takes care of it. Services are fine too, just sometimes a bit monotone as they are very focused on their tasks. Simple and clean environment while we can also buy togo frozen XLB to steam at home. All their greens and veggies dishes are wonderful!”
“First time to come here and the place is very clean and organize. I met Evelyn and she is so nice to welcome new customer. I like the food ( first try BBQ and dinuguan), it’s delicious and their Halo-halo my favorite is super tasty, love it. Looking forward to taste all the food and delicacies they serve.”
“Nothing is better than fresh croissant! Great family owned place. Very friendly prices. Signature Butter Croissants baked daily. The taste is balances, very mild sweet as I like, texture is between the super fluffy croissant and the bun, I really liked it. The chocolate croissant was a totally different story, check the picture. The taste was like it was baked sometime this week :) and the texture was like it is a bun with chocolate. So do not expect the same excitement from their chocolate croissant as from their signature plain croissants, which are super awesome and could be used for French toast and sandwiches as well and any filling. Next time I will take fresh plain croissant and fill it with chocolates home :) Next time we will try their breakfast / lunch menu. It looks awesome and the customers I met were happy. Update: amazing place with unique home character, loving breakfast here”
“The food was good took Chingon there on our first date it was so romantic I wouldn’t change a thing the lady was throwing food at us telling us to get out Chingon ate everything 5 out five me and him are now 10 years toghter with our first born named Ramirez”
“I love this place! Food is always great and you pick what you want!!”
“Me and my girlfriend love this place, all the staff and waiters are super nice and friendly, and that's not even begging to say how good the food is, best rolls i have ever tried. AND amazing prices. Amazing presentation and the look of all the meals. love love love this spot and recommend to everyone.”
Drive-Thru Restaurants
“I can’t believe I have never tried this place before, especially living walking distance from it… crazy lol.
Awesome place! Awesome drinks, awesome flavor.
We were on our walk yesterday, Wednesday around 2 pm. No vehicles on the drive thru yet, so we just walked up to the window.
I got the Caramel Granita with oat-milk, it is like medium sweet drink, nice and refreshing.
The girl at the window was so patient, great suggestions, excellent customer service.
Will have to come by more often!”
“The cake had a simple appearance, and she could only write “Happy Birthday” in brown, which I found odd. I was initially a bit concerned—it was a thin, two-layer 8” cake for $50. However, the taste more than made up for it! It wasn’t overly sweet, and the strawberry filling with whipped cream frosting was absolutely delicious. I would absolutely order another cake from Bye Bye Sugar!!!👍🏾”
“This is my second time having their pizzas after a great first experience, and they were just as delicious! We tried the butter chicken and chili paneer pizzas—both were bursting with flavor. You can tell they use very fresh ingredients, and the dough was perfectly soft, even the crust was amazing.
Definitely give this place a try—you won’t be disappointed! The service is excellent, and the staff are wonderfully friendly and knowledgeable about their menu.... They were the ones that recommended the chilli paneer and I'm so glad they did.”
“Good place to grab their famous chili style menu. Great tasting food that can be messy to to eat but thats OK. Good flavor. Service is a tab slow so anticipate a small wait. Fries are average until you get chili cheese on them, then their sensational. Good place to try if you desire a different style of burger”
“I took advantage of Arby’s $1 shake with purchase meal deal they have going on through Arby’s Rewards. I originally wanted to get curly fries but with the coupon I had to spend at least $10, so I decided to try their new Pulled Pork BBQ Sandwich with curly fries and a chocolate shake.
I would definitely try this new sandwich again! The meat and barbecue sauce tasted REALLY good! Their curly fries were on point. I think the milkshake made my stomach hurt a bit, I noticed there was an excess of chocolate sauce at the bottom. But overall, I would try it again (the sandwich).”
“Went through drive through. Drive through menu looked a little worse for the wear but was readable. Place looked clean and the lady was very quick and efficient.
$8.50 for a breakfast burrito; it was huge and fed 3. The Pico de Gallo is great; I recommend three for this monster of a burrito though.
Definitely recommend driving through if you need breakfast.”
“Best lunch bento box. Miso soup was very tasty. Spicy tuna roll was delicious!”
Cheap Eats
“I absolutely love Itz A Deli! The woman who works there is so sweet and welcoming! you can tell it’s a small, family-run place made with love. The food is incredible… their healthy tuna and tuna melt are honestly the best sandwiches I’ve ever had in my life. Everything is fresh, flavorful, and made with care. Easily one of my favorite local spots!”
“One of the few places in town where you can get very good craft beer, with a great selection and friendly servers. Atmosphere is great with the unique colors, surfers theme, indoor and outdoor seating, and the food is amazing. The pastrami sandwiche is better than The Hat, just completely blows them away. All of the sandwiches are pretty amazing.
They just know how to do sandwiches. My favorite is the Baja beef with banana peppers and jalapeno. Just so good, it's not even funny.”
“Love this place there food is so clean and tasty. Best chicken spot I have been to. I have been to almost all of them from Dave’s to hotties to Breds. But this one by far is the tastiest and most juicy. If you like your chicken juicy and crispy this is the place to try. Try them out asap if you havnt yet.”
“Some of the best Chinese takeout in OC! Fast, friendly service and inexpensive to boot! The staff are very kind and will make dishes to order if the food you want isn't laid out when you order. Delicious, huge portions, always a great meal with leftovers after. Definitely recommend the Kung Pao Chicken! (They'll make it for you if you ask! ?)”
“I eat at this subway often, I've never had any issues.Food quality is good, the place is clean and was recently updated.Staff is friendly and quick.Only downsides: parking lot is small and can get busy (so often I'll just walk over) and I wish they had Diet Dr. Pepper”
“Delicious food! I highly recommend the filet mignon over fried rice. Excellent fried rice! Also, I am not usually into chicken nuggets but here they are extremely crunchy, juicy and the taste of the fried batter was addictive. Very casual basic atmosphere but do not be fooled!”
“I recommend the AYCE. All You Can Eat for a great price. The Sushi was very fresh and flavorful, the service very good and the Price was very reasonable. I would try the Jalapeño Poppers if you like a bite of spice and uniqueness! The Melon Soda was really good. Enjoy!!!”
“I genuinely enjoyed The Honey baked Smoked Turkey 🦃 Dinner and stuffing and Cheese potatoes 🥔 and Green beans 🥗 salad and especially The Team players Ms Faith 🙏 and her Best friend 🙏 and, This Lake Forrest location is one of the best in Orange county!!
Thank you 🙏 and Happy Holidays 🎄⛄ to all Honey Baked Staff and Support.
Thee Counselor”
“Everytime I come here the service food & Atmosphere is the best. I went there just before Christmas and got both of my daughters 2 $20.00 gift cards if you use them by February you can get an extra &10.00 each on top of the cards, Last week my daughter's went there and they said there were only $10.00 on each card. I don't know what happened but we can't complain since Everytime we go back my family is happy with the service and food.”
Latest Reviews
“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.”
“Plan being to go today and read the recent 3 reviews but have been in their buffet multiple times. My daughter love their shahi paneer and palak paneer with Bhindi and I like their butter chicken to go. That is all happened very frequently up until last 2 weeks. I will share another note after I am done today with my and 2 of my friends and family!!”
“Love this place there food is so clean and tasty. Best chicken spot I have been to. I have been to almost all of them from Dave’s to hotties to Breds. But this one by far is the tastiest and most juicy. If you like your chicken juicy and crispy this is the place to try. Try them out asap if you havnt yet.”
Most Popular Restaurants
“I had an outstanding experience at DonerG, where they beautifully blend the authentic flavors of Turkish cuisine with vibrant Mediterranean and Middle Eastern influences. I opted for the Original Fladenbrot sandwich with beef, and added chicken as well. Both meats were incredibly well-seasoned, tender, and bursting with flavor. You can truly appreciate the freshness and quality of the ingredients in every bite. The ambiance of the restaurant was welcoming and warm, making it an ideal spot whether you're grabbing a quick bite or enjoying a meal with a larger group. Special mention to Eduardo and Saadi, who were attentive and provided excellent service, making the entire experience even more enjoyable. I’ll definitely be returning for another delicious meal!”
“EVERYONE WHOM NOT BEEN HERE BEFORE!!! YOURE MISSING OUT!!! Delicious food and huge portion for what you pay!!! My large fries was tripled lithe fries compared to other places n my burgers were twice the size of any regular burger places around here. Damn I love it. Absolutely you need to give it a try .”
“I love how this location hardly ever runs out of their flavors and special cookies of the week. If you ever run into that problem at different locations, I guarantee you’ll find it at this one. These cookies are delicious and they taste amazing! My favorite is a pink sugar cookie”
“This joint is serving up real ingredients prepared like that Peruvian uncle I never had. I was impressed by the actual hand cut yucca vs some other joints precut yucca. That green sauce is obviously made in house and done right. The ceviche isn’t the prettiest I’ve eaten, but ranks high in the yum factor. Definitely a restaurant worth another visit.”
New Restaurants
“I was here on a rainy day last week and can say how this lab curated the most nourishing pho broth I’ve ever tasted! Ever in the Huntington Beach area? Give it a try! Lifted my mood and gave my body back some life. The banh mi was also great - fresh crunchy bread with a soft inside filled with freshly cooked yummies! Enjoy 👩🏻🍳”
“Impressive array of barista skills, matcha, espresso, classy layers and latte art! It's all rolled into a rather dull and pale inside unable to match atmosphere to coffee craft. Us two went for a banana latte, fancy green tea, and a breakfast bagel. The colors! No wonder Yelp puts this tops for the area. If only I could order from Indiana.”
“During this sweltering winter heat wave in Southern California, it was nice to enter this chic and cool restaurant. The AC was definitely a sigh of relief. This small restaurant had about 12 tables and largest table seated up to 6, so I don’t recommend large groups. The paper menu is just like DTF with similar, popular menu options plus common Chinese restaurant dishes like Kung Pao Chicken. The food was very good and portions were bigger than DTF. I will definitely come back to try their other dishes. If they offer chicken xiao long bao, it would widen their customer base.”
“I order poke quite often from different places, and I’ve never felt the need to leave a review before - until now. This is honestly the best poke I’ve ever had.
Everything was incredibly fresh and high-quality. The flavor balance is perfect, and there’s clear attention to detail in every ingredient. The presentation was beautiful, and the portion size was just right.
This was my first time ordering from you, and I can already say I’ll definitely be coming back. You’ve just earned a loyal customer!
Highly recommend!”
“I am SO GLAD Ono Hawaiian came to my city ( Lake Forest)! We have L&L near us, Nalu's and Aloha BBQ, but been there, done that. Ono brings prime flavor for the Hawaiian BBQ must haves. They pack it in the flavor and is so worth the trip! And, the staff are super duper nice. We've been here three times and their excellent customer service is consistent. My family is hooked and wouldn't go anywhere else.”
“Amazing and cute little restaurant. Three servers were like hawks (in a good way) and instantly on top of anything and extremely efficient. The food was great, the cheese bread with garlic and Tiramisu were especially notable. We paid under $80 (before tip) for two meals, drinks, the cheese bread side, and desert, and one of the meals was the special which included a salad for $30. Plenty of food, very good food, cute and efficient restaurant, and a great price (let alone for being in Irvine these days). 10/10 would eat at again.”