36 Best American Restaurants in Santa Ana

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

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

“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“

“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“

“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!“

“Good breakfast. And good service“

“great place for dining....“

“Great service nice servers“

“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“

“Food is delicious and service is great!“

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

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

“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.“

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

“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!“

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

“the Chow great. the latrine clean“

“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.“

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

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

“Love it my favorite place to eat“

“It was a calm atmosphere, the manager Memo greeted me and told me to wait since there were not any booths available, however another gentlemen by the name of Guillermo approached me and asked if I was seated and got me a booth right away. He seated me and asked what would I like to drink. He served me the kettle of coffee and brought me the milks that came with it. Soon after Fernanda my server came by and asked for my order, she was a delight as she was calm, patient and overall very polite. My food came in fast and delicious. Fernanda would continue to come in by ask how I was doing. From beginning to end Fernanda took care of me and was amazing!.“

“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!“

“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.“

“Been coming to this IHOP for years and today was a great reminder of why. Our waiter was genuinely friendly and even brought me an iced coffee refill I didn't know I could get — small thing, but it's the kind of attentive service that stands out. Food came out fast and the whole staff was welcoming. Consistent, friendly, and quick. Highly recommend.“

“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.“

“Good breakfast. And good service“

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

“We very much enjoy going to Black Angus. The food is always good, and if you use a coupon or redeem a Club reward for the Campfire Feast, the value is pretty decent. Unfortunately, this visit had some flaws, mostly that the A/C wasn't working too well on a very hot day, so it was a bit uncomfortable in there. Also, they seemed understaffed, and this caused us to be there a lot longer than we had planned. We'll return, of course, and I'm sure it will turn.out better next time.“

“good not bad have good service“

“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!“

“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.“

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

“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“