Four New Foodie Spots To Try in Orange County This Month (November 2019)

Quarters Kitchen

Korean barbecue restaurant spins off this fast-casual concept in Yorba Linda.

Quarters Barbecue is a bustling cornerstone of L.A.’s Koreatown, replete with a full bar, prime cuts of meat, and loads of celebration. Its Yorba Linda spinoff, Quarters Kitchen, promises a more casual concept that focuses on quicker Korean meals. There’s a fusion-minded bulgogi burger alongside traditional rice bowls (think bibimbap) and Korean dumplings. 4901 Valencia Ave., Yorba Linda, 714-485-2515

Culichi Town

Santa Ana nabs this seafood chain serving Sinaloa-style sushi alongside traditional mariscos.

Culichi Town is an ever-expanding homage (there are a dozen locations in California alone) to the cooking of Culiacán in the Mexican state of Sinaloa. Sushi here is of the fusion sort, with breaded and deep-fried rolls and others slicked with cream cheese. But there are traditional mariscos, too, in case you’re hungry for scallop aguachile or a bountiful tostada instead. 2158 Bristol St., Santa Ana, 714-698-4661

Marugame Udon

Udon specialist with branches around L.A. makes its O.C. debut at South Coast Plaza.

Udon is Marugame’s namesake, but the restaurant is a tempura specialist, too. It’s all the more obvious because of the restaurant’s setup—after choosing a bowl of house-made noodles, you scoot a tray past an array of a la carte tempura. Complement a bowl of steamy curry udon with pieces of pumpkin and shrimp tempura. 3333 Bristol St., Costa Mesa, 714-619-5688

Photographs courtesy of Terra Wood-Fired Ktichen

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Terra Wood-Fired Kitchen

Catering favorite lands a prime spot in Yorba Linda’s downtown.

Terra turned a catering business into a full-service restaurant in a new space on Yorba Linda’s historic Main Street. The menu focuses on wood-fired pizzas with toppings that include Spanish chorizo, house-dried tomatoes, and raw honey, but don’t skip the limited selections of main dishes, especially the Jidori chicken and wild salmon. 4884 Main St., Yorba Linda, 714-463-4424

DRINK OF THE MONTH

Brown Bitter Stirred at 320 Main

A pioneer in the local craft cocktail scene, 320 Main celebrated its 10th anniversary this year. In honor of the occasion, the restaurant and bar brought forth some of its greatest sips. Try the stiff Brown Bitter Stirred, which is exactly as its name implies: rye whiskey, sweet vermouth, Cynar, orange curacao, and bitters. It’s elegant in its simplicity and equally potent.