Diners' Choice: Best Value restaurants in South Orange County

OpenTable

Updated December 05, 2024

Looking for the best value restaurants in South Orange County? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Bricco Cucina and Wine Bar

4.9

4.9 (64)

$30 and under

Italian

Aliso Viejo / Laguna Niguel

About the restaurant

Owners Jordan and Creig Mullikin love to eat delicious food, drink great wine and be treated like family. They want every bite, every sip, every visit to be delicious and a treat. Our goal is to serve you fresh, homemade, and thoughtful dishes focused on our family's heritage and our customers' needs to make everyone feel like family at our neighborhood spot which sports a modern yet vintage vibe. We have a large outdoor patio that is both heated and covered. One of the more popular things here at Bricco is our live music Friday's and Saturday's with very talented singers and performers.

Top review

Javier

Dined 1 day ago

Good food. Good service. Live music Friday and Saturday nights.

Nirvana by Chef Lindsay

4.9

4.9 (1728)

$31 to $50

Farm-to-table

Laguna Beach

About the restaurant

We are a neighborhood independent restaurant owned by Laguna Beach Native, Executive Chef Lindsay Smith with Wine Country Inspired California Coastal Cuisine in the heart of Downtown Laguna Beach, between Main Beach & the Historic Festival of Arts. Her main focus is to feed our guests the way she chooses for her our own family. In a warm and inviting atmosphere, the hope is that each guests leaves as if she were welcoming friends and family into her home. We take pride in sourcing the freshest ingredients available when creating our menus with Free Range & Organic Poultry, Sustainable Seafood, Antibiotic & Hormone Free Meats, Seasonal, Local and/or Organic Produce. We are conscious about the food we serve, the impact of our waste in lessoning our environmental footprint & supporting the local community we are within. Named one of the Top 10 Chef's in Orange County and Top 5 Chef's in Laguna Beach, Chef prides herself on quality food, friendly service and an experience to return for.

Top review

Stevenvip

Dined 4 days ago

We had our usual delicious meal and come back every time we visit Laguna Beach

The Alley Restaurant

4.8

4.8 (303)

$30 and under

American

Newport Beach

About the restaurant

Serving fine pub cuisine for over 25 years The Alley Restaurant & Bar in Newport Beach is where locals love dining and lounging. Lovingly dubbed by our Alleycats as the "Best Pour by the Shore" for that last drink, The Alley has a late night reputation that is one of legend. See Less

Top review

Renevip

Dined 5 days ago

Monday night rib special is the best. So yummy! Reservations are a must.

Foretti's

4.9

4.9 (1880)

$30 and under

Italian

Corona del Mar

About the restaurant

Foretti’s CDM established itself as a highlight of the Newport Beach dining scene when it opened in 2013. Operating under the new ownership of longtime Restaurateur and Level 1 Sommelier Thaddeus Foret, we continue to prepare our signature recipes, created by the restaurant’s namesake chef and his culinary team—many of whom remain in our kitchen today.

Foretti’s is a celebration of Italian traditions, specializing in authentic Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana-certified wood-fired pizzas baked in a 900 degree oven with the same techniques and ingredients used in Naples, Italy.

We also feature house made pastas and favorite dishes from across Italy, expertly paired with craft cocktails and a curated selection of Italian and California Wines; several from Orange County wine owners.

Thad Foret brings more than 30 years of experience in hospitality to Corona del Mar, and has been a standard bearer for restaurant operations in the region.

Top review

Davevip

Dined 1 day ago

Excellent Italian food at a fair price at a fair price… I will go back and try some more dishes next time I’m in town

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Popular dish

Spaghetti Verde

Wine Gallery

4.9

4.9 (599)

$30 and under

American

Laguna Beach

About the restaurant

The Laguna Beach Wine Gallery is known for an impressive selection of wine, craft beers and wood fired kitchen. Menu options center around our wood fired pizzas, salads, fresh seafood, steaks, small plates and more. We focus on seasonal, sustainable, fresh ingredients with weekly specials based on what's fresh.

With a casual yet cozy ambiance, Wine Gallery will make you feel right at home with our inviting and friendly restaurant staff. Craft Cocktails coming soon.

Top review

Alonavip

Dined 1 day ago

This was our second time at Wine Gallery (the first was two years ago). We came to have a special Friday dinner in celebration of a personal accomplishment, and we're so glad we came back. The food was just as incredible as we remembered - I can't believe there's a place that has mastered both making amazing oven-baked pizza and serving the best (and freshest) seafood I've ever tasted. The wine selection was impressive, but we prefer European style wines and therefore brought our own wine. The ambiance was great and the service was impeccable. We will definitely be back.

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Experience

A Very Happy Hour

Rebel Omakase

4.9

4.9 (226)

$50 and over

Sushi

Laguna Beach

About the restaurant

PLEASE READ BEFORE BOOKING
We put all our heart and soul into a creative and unique experience. Our Omakase is a pre-fixed menu based on raw fish and shellfish. All ingredients come from Japan, prepared with Japanese techniques and elements. Our Omakase is a fine dining, intimate experience, prepared in front of our guests to highlight the integrity of our dishes.
CANCELLATIONS AND MODIFICATIONS are allowed 72 hours in advance. Less than 72 hours will be charged for the full price of Omakase per guest plus tax
TEXT MESSAGE with full information (949) 664-3186
DIETARY RESTRICTIONS must be informed in advance, we CANNOT accommodate no shellfish, no gluten, no dairy, or no meat requests
NO outside food or wine
THE SUSHI BAR AND TABLE SERVICE are the same menu; our servers will explain the intricacy of every dish
BE ON TIME Service starts in unison at the time of reservation if you are late, you will miss some courses
CHILDREN age 5+ are welcome, but they must order the full menu

Top review

Mae

Dined on Dec 5, 2024

We've been to R/O multiple times since their opening in August of 2021. We are so happy that R/O was awarded their Michelin one star. We've been to many sushi restaurants in NorCal and SoCal during our lifetime and without any hesitation, R/O has it all with the ambience, service, presentation and chef Jordan's amazing creations.

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Experience

5:00pm & 7:30pm Omakase Experience

Experience

12:30pm - Lunch Omakase

Experience

12:30pm - Sunday Nigiri Omakase

Eat Chow - Newport Beach

4.8

4.8 (17)

$30 and under

American

Newport Beach

About the restaurant

Eat Chow is your go-to destination for all things comfort. Come stop by at one of our locations for a phenomenal dining experience with your loved ones. On the weekends you can find us slinging brunch and pouring you Mimosas to help ward of those Sunday Scaries. On weekday days and nights expect to sit among locals who have made us a neighborhood favorite!

Serving Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Daily.

Established in 2012.
We started in December of 2008 in a little spot in Costa Mesa.. We are locally owned and operated and have become a local's favorite! Located in the heart on Newport Shores!

Top review

Tricia

Dined on Sep 30, 2024

The 4 of us enjoyed our breakfasts very much, great food, and service was excellent. Thank you!

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4.8

4.8 (535)

$30 and under

Mediterranean

Corona del Mar

About the restaurant

Zov’s Newport Coast is South County's premiere upscale, family-focused dining establishment. Open to serve breakfast, lunch, brunch and dinner, Zov's in Newport Coast is your neighborhood kitchen & bar. As the first expansion of renowned Zov's Bistro & Bakery in Tustin, Zov's Newport Coast carries on the tradition of serving Eastern Mediterranean inspired cuisine and craft cocktails in an upscale, yet casual cafe atmosphere--complete with al fresco patio dining.
Guests with families are welcome to order a craft cocktails and award winning tarts for dessert! Zov's specialties include items unique to Newport, including Tahini Taco's, Signature Salads, Two Way Kebobs, and the comforting family favorite Rotisserie Chicken. Don't forget Zov's wine list, where you will find award winning favorites that will have you coming back for romantic dinners for two or a night out with the family. Gourmet Take Out & Catering is available

Top review

Robvip

Dined 7 days ago

Always love Zov's. One of our favorite places. James is a very attentive server and always helpful.

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5.0

5 (47)

$31 to $50

Sushi

Laguna Beach

About the restaurant

Honoring Chef Miki Izumisawa, the female, award-winning sushi artist, originally trained by the one and only Nobu Matsuhisa. Miki was inspired by nature to create unique nigiri, cut rolls and hand rolls that blur the line between art and fusion sushi. Miki's recipes transform elements of the natural world with names such as Lava Flow, Moon and Sun, Feather in the Sky, and Prairie. Before her passing, Miki carefully coached outstanding female-only sushi chefs to execute her masterpieces. Her legacy continues in this romantic styled coastal, intimate sushi bar and cozy 18 window seats with views of Laguna's main beach. Owners Chris Olsen and Greg Washer are longtime locals who appreciate what Miki did for this community with an outstanding Japanese experience pushing the boundaries of tradition. Reservations recommended!

Top review

Chad

Dined 2 days ago

Our old favorite sushi spot is now our new favorite! The new owners have done exactly what they needed to, same menu but upgraded decor, ambiance etc. great job!!

Pronto Cucina Italiana

4.9

4.9 (49)

$30 and under

Italian

San Clemente

About the restaurant

Indulge in our authentic Italian cuisine and experience the taste of Italy right here in San Clemente, CA on the famous Avenida Del Mar. Our family, originally from Sicily, has been proudly owning and operating Pronto Cucina Italiana since April 2021, bringing you the finest dishes made with imported Italian ingredients and locally sourced produce. Specializing in pasta and pizza, from different regions in Italy. Menu and wine list curated by Ole award-winning Chef Adriano Piazza.

Top review

Stephany

Dined on Dec 6, 2024

Amazing food 🫶🏻 truly my one of my favorite pasta places and the energy in the restaurant is divine ✨

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