38 Best American Restaurants in Santa Ana

“Food And Service is always outstanding. One of my favorites here is the hot turkey sandwich. Everyone here is always friendly and very attentive.“

“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!“

“vegetavle beef soup and house salad was good“

“Ian came back for sure , I loved this restaurant. Grate servicios, very clean.“

“great place for dining....“

“Great service nice servers“

“Food is delicious and service is great!“

“Really good sandwiches and beer. Mixed experiences with select staff. A couple awkward - not so welcoming interactions with 2 male staff on two separate days. Did not feel welcomed. Other than those two guys, the rest of the staff are very friendly, prompt, and welcoming.“

“Visite este Dennys y todos los empleados fueron muy amables siempre sonriendo se sentía una atmósfera llena de alegría Alejandra fue nuestra mesera siempre sonriendo y muy atenta a nuestras necesidades el café bien calientito y sabroso no se diga los pancakes de plátano con chocolate todo estuvo muy rico el restaurante estaba muy ocupado pero todo se miraba muy limpio desde el comedor hasta los baños gracias a todos mi familia y yo regresarémos adiós y gracias“

“As it says in the name, it's a nice burger! We stopped in on our way back to the airport, and it was really nice to be able to get a tasty vegan burger! My husband and I both got their fried chicken sandwiches, and I got fries with mine. The fries were just okay, but the sandwich was tasty and satisfying for both of us. The location was clean and well kept when we were there, and as we were there between lunch and dinner, there weren't many other diners, so that was pleasant. The workers are friendly but not super interactive (you order via kiosk), so that can be a plus if you're not feeling chatty. It's not the most convenient location for non-locals (it would be so nice to have this within walking distance of Disneyland or other area attractions for tourists/visitors like us), but I imagine it's great for the local folks. We were in the area for my husband's work conference, and we don't travel to this area for much else, so I don't anticipate being back, but if we do, I would probably try to work in a stop here. It was pretty good!“

“nice well done charbroiled burgers🔥. the breakfast in also 🔥 try it one day“

“Found this place when looking for a lil brunch spot on a Sunday afternoon. Me and the wife swung by, great service. I got a breakfast burrito. Pretty good flavor just wished it was a bit bigger. But it was 9 bucks so I was happy about that. My wife got their basic breakfast food and she thought it was great. Similar to norms or dennys level of breakfast. Overall, we will be back soon!“

“First time here, great service and yummy food. The entire staff was very friendly and helpful. Everyone had a warm smile to welcome us in. We will definitely be back“

“Always love coming out West from the East coast and making our first stop to In-N-Out Burger!“

“Good breakfast. And good service“

“Was looking for a place near John Wayne airport. Food was delicious, and will return when in the area again.“

“It is a lovely zoo. It is small. Perfect for small children. I loved the monkeys.“

“I’ve spent an hour of my lunch break here almost five times a week, and Cafe 201 never disappoints. The service is fast, the staff is very kind, and the atmosphere is friendly and welcoming. It’s located inside a building with plenty of seating, making it a comfortable spot to sit and enjoy your break. My go to is the spicy chai latte extra hot, and it’s always perfect. The food here is absolutely great as well.“

“Let me start out by saying the burgers were delicious! TK Burgers hosted a company lunch for us and we were not disappointed. Tristen and Saul went above and beyond to meet our needs. The fries were cooked perfectly and the vegetables were all fresh. We will definitely be using them for future events.“

“During our recent 3-day weekend getaway, we stumbled upon Citra Bar & Kitchen at the newly renovated Hotel Zessa, and it quickly became our go-to spot for nearly all our meals. This place is truly a hidden gem! From the moment we walked in, we were captivated by the modern yet cozy ambiance. The highlight of our experience was undoubtedly the drinks. The Citra Margarita was refreshingly perfect, and my wife couldn't get enough of the Hibiscus Cooler. We also indulged in the Casamigos Flight, which was a delightful treat. Following our server's recommendations turned out to be the best decision. We tried nearly everything on the lunch and dinner menus, but the Chicken Taquitos stood out as our favorite appetizer—we ordered them multiple times! As for the entrees, you really can't go wrong with anything on the menu, but our top picks were the Chicken A La Brasa, Blackened Mahi Mahi, and Salmon Salad. Each dish was flavorful, fresh, and beautifully presented. Being gluten-free, I was thrilled to find that Citra Bar & Kitchen had plenty of options that catered to my dietary needs without compromising on taste. Overall, our experience at Citra Bar & Kitchen was outstanding. The revitalization of Hotel Zessa and the exceptional dining experience here is a testament to Santa Ana's commitment to enhancing their community. We can't wait to return, and I highly recommend this spot to anyone visiting the area. You will not be disappointed!“

“Good breakfast. And good service“

“Good Friends - Good Food - Live Music - I’m in!!!“

“Best dinner of my life?? I’m too tipsy because I got the wine pairing, but as far as I can remember, yes- best dinner of my life. The sushi was impeccable. The tempura was the best I ever had. The avocado tempura?? A sensual experience. I was SO disappointed to hear they’re closing down permanently by summer. You must try this place before we lose this chef to Spain.“

“the Chow great. the latrine clean“

“Toda su comida es deliciosa y el ecselente trato , muy familiar.“

“Love it my favorite place to eat“

“Games, bar and DJs are cool. Live bands aren't trialed and there's no sound guy. Bathrooms don't work.“

“Really pleased with our food received! The dinner for 2 was plenty for 3 people, great meal selections and the quality was perfect. Our steak was cooked perfectly and the chicken was splendid! Chicken was moist with a nice crispy skin.

The only let down was the service was slow. In saying that, our waiter was lovely and helpful.“

“hands down best spot ik n downtown santa ana. great vibes great ppl and staff! 🙌🙌🙌“

“Showed up with my boy who was visiting from out of town. Never been to a lounge or bar in Santa Ana before. This is definitely the neighborhood spot, but they made me and my friend feel like regulars.

Claudia hooked it up with the libations. She made it happen. I mean you won’t get Clase Azul here but you’ll get first class food and service.

I had no idea the food was going to be on point as it was and it surprised me. You expect bar food, but this food is on another level. Fresh made tortilla chips served hot with mouth watering and juicy tacos. I had the asada and al pastor. Served hot and fresh.

Claudia and the chef Josh made it real nice for the experience. I highly recommend if you’re in Santa Ana. It’s dark in there so when we came out the doors at 5p you definitely need sun shades or time to adjust.

It’s a perfect vibe in there. Lookout for the baby giraffe!“

“Raising Canes always delivers the goods! Excellent,Hot,and fresh every visit!“

“It was honestly surprising how much fun and comfort I found inside the iHOP in Santa Ana, CA when I visited yesterday with a couple of teenagers I was hanging out with that day. The whole place had this warm, lively feeling to it that made it really easy to relax, talk, and enjoy the moment in a way that teenagers would definitely appreciate. I didn’t expect a restaurant to feel that welcoming, but something about the atmosphere made it feel like a spot where you could just be yourself without feeling rushed or out of place.

When we first got there, there were three of us, and we were already having a great time just talking, laughing, and enjoying our food. I noticed right away that there were a lot of other teenagers around the restaurant too, which made the whole place feel even more energetic and youthful. It’s the kind of environment where teenagers can hang out without feeling judged or pressured, and that alone makes it a really good place for them to spend time.

After about three hours, two out of the three teenagers I was with had to leave, but I stayed with the last one, and the two of us ended up hanging out for a total of four hours straight. I didn’t even realize how fast the time was going by because we were having such a good time just talking and enjoying the vibe of the place. It’s rare to find a restaurant where you can sit that long and still feel comfortable, but iHOP made it feel completely natural. I really appreciated that I never felt rushed or pushed to leave, even though we were there for a long time.

Even though it was a familiar restaurant to me, I didn’t realize how much there was to enjoy about being there until I actually spent time inside it like that. The experience turned out exactly the way I hoped it would, and I never doubted that it would be a fun place to hang out. It reminded me how much I enjoy places that let you slow down and just enjoy being around people you like.

I’ve only been to that specific iHOP in Santa Ana one time before writing this review, but it honestly became one of the most unexpectedly enjoyable and comfortable places I’ve been to in a long time. I would highly recommend that teenagers go there because it gives them a place where they can hang out, talk for hours, enjoy good food, and feel completely at ease. It’s a great spot for creativity, connection, and just having a genuinely good time with people at the same exact stage of age as you.“

“Love love love. Owners are super nice, prices are reasonable. I love everything I’ve ordered. I eat almost every daily special, except for Friday’s fish taco special because I don’t like fish. Otherwise, I’ve had so many of their menu items and even some of there specialty foods they randomly make in small batches that they sell as ready-to-go (like their homemade potato salad). Love it!!!

Vegetarian options: They have options like their garden burger, potato salad, regular fries and onion rings. There may be more options but those are the ones I know.

Parking: Parking lot is paid, but if you get free monthly parking because you work in the buildings next door then it’s great, because there is plenty of parking, it’s just a bit confusing.
Entry and exit are one-way. When you enter you go only through the C & D sections, & you have to keep turning left to keep going up the levels. If you ever turn right on any level toward the exit sign you’ll be forced to keep going through the A & B sections downward until you exit and have to start over.

Wheelchair accessibility: It’s on the ground floor right by the parking lot. It looks like there should be no issue for wheelchair users to access. No ramp necessary for entry as there are no steps.“

“good not bad have good service“

“Everything was fantastic! The food and the service were both great. Ernesto was our server today, and he was awesome. Very friendly and knowledgeable. I’m so glad he recommended the big steak omelette, because it’s now my new favorite thing on the menu! Thank you so much!“

“This place is truly a hidden gem 💎✨ and I’m so glad I found it! From the moment you walk in, you can tell they really care about their customers. The service is outstanding — friendly, attentive, and welcoming every step of the way 😊🙌

The food is absolutely delicious and priced very reasonably, which makes the experience even better 🍽️🔥 You get great quality without feeling like you overspent. That’s always a win! I also noticed how clean everything was, especially the bathroom 🚻✨ — which honestly says a lot about how well a place is maintained.

The seating area is a bit on the cozy side and can feel slightly cramped at times, but they’ve done a great job making the most of the space they have 🪑👌 It still feels comfortable and inviting. Overall, it’s a wonderful little spot that’s definitely worth visiting again and again! 🌟“

“food was fresh and delicious minus missing hash browns“

“Silva's staff are warm & welcoming making you feel as if you are family with outstanding service from Owner Boss Man "Alex", Bartender/Waitress "Jocelyn Prado", Bartender "Maria C.", Waitress "Diana" (Standouts, just to name a few)...Silva's offers great food & drinks, approximately 14 big screen TVs for sporting events or movies or shows, great music with live DJs or live musicians...Brazilian/Latin style with the best atmosphere & service!!!😁🍺🍺🌷🌹💖🌹🌷🥊🥊“