Diners' Choice: Best Overall restaurants in Orange County

OpenTable

Updated June 05, 2025

Looking for the best overall restaurants in 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!

Il Dolce

5.0

5 (461)

$31 to $50

Italian

Costa Mesa

About the restaurant

Known for using only natural, fresh ingredients, Il Dolce specializes in Italian cuisine. Along with a variety of pastas, salads, patrons can select from a number of pizza menu options. Inspired by authentic pies made in Naples, each pizza at Il Dolce is prepared in a wood-fire oven, giving it an authentic, smoky flavor.Family owned and operated, this award-winning restaurant provides a cozy, comfortable environment where pizza enthusiasts can watch their pies being prepared. Guests dining at Il Dolce can also enjoy a glass of wine, beer or a cocktail. Dessert items along with a special gluten-free menu are also available.

Top review

JamesVIP

Dined 2 days ago

Great find! Wonderful food and service . We will be back for sure!

TAIKUN Omakase - The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel

5.0

5 (15)

$50 and over

Japanese

Dana Point / Monarch Beach

About the restaurant

New York City’s Taikun Sushi has returned to the resort, and Chef Yasu Iwai is delivering a new culinary experience sure to impress. This intimate and immersive 16-course culinary journey sources only the finest ingredients, and a meticulously crafted menu will rotate to showcase the incredible diversity of seasons and textures.

All seats are at the Omakase counter. Two seatings are offered 5:30 pm and 8:00 pm

Top review

AnneVIP

Dined on Jun 8, 2025

This is our favorite sushi restaurant of all time! We have been fortunate enough to dine all over the world and we can’t say enough wonderful things about our experience at Taikun. The host and chef are incredible and the food is out of this world!

Miki Sushi & Sake

5.0

5 (92)

$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

MonicaVIP

Dined 1 day ago

Such an amazing place! Staff and service are great. Food is amazing!! So many awesome flavors and the creativity is fabulous.

Strong Water

4.9

4.9 (77)

$30 and under

Asian

Anaheim

About the restaurant

Strong Water is a nautical-themed tiki bar in Anaheim, California, that immerses guests in the ambiance of a sunken treasure ship. The dimly lit interior, featuring dark wood and rich burgundy décor, feels like a ship's cabin. Enjoy tropical music while sipping drinks served in tiki mugs with umbrella straws. The menu offers Polynesian-inspired dishes and an extensive selection of rum, from spiced to aged. More than just a bar, Strong Water provides an unforgettable experience. Every detail, from the décor to the music and menu, is crafted to transport you to another world. With delicious food, creative drinks, and a captivating atmosphere, Strong Water is perfect for tiki culture enthusiasts or anyone seeking a unique dining experience. Don't miss out on this extraordinary destination.

Top review

Laura

Dined 3 days ago

Great experience. Staff was friendly and the drinks and food were amazing!

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Experience

Reservation for Dinner and/or Cocktails

Experience

Tiki Brunch - Weekend

Experience

Large Party Reservation - 7-12 Guests

Christakis Greek Cuisine

4.9

4.9 (1434)

$31 to $50

Greek

Tustin

About the restaurant

Please contact the restaurant directly for parties of 6 or more.

***** VOTED BEST GREEK RESTAURANT IN OC BY OC WEEKLY (2016)

On April 1, 1996, Yanoula Christakis Wallace opened the doors of Christakis, a restaurant that represented her homeland and the passion she felt towards her culture. Whether you are looking for a quick lunch or celebrating a special event, Christakis Greek Cuisine is the place to enjoy traditional Greek dishes at a reasonable price. Since 1996, we’ve used only the finest and freshest ingredients to create traditional Greek cuisine. Today, the family at Christakis continues to bring the authentic spirit and warmth of Greece to Orange County.

Top review

Carolyn

Dined 1 day ago

Highly recommend! What a memorable gift for my birthday! Exquisite food and beverages. Soothing ambience and dulcet tones of the guitar.

Latte Da Ristorante

4.9

4.9 (226)

$30 and under

Italian

Anaheim Hills

About the restaurant

Homemade Pastas Imported Italian Delicatessens Fresh fish & meats daily Beautiful Ambiance

Top review

SallyVIP

Dined on Jun 16, 2025

Our second time here and our meals were very good, and the staff was very attentive. The only downside was the seating; the two tables fitted together in the back by the fly zapper wasn't ideal. We had a reservation, and there were several tables open that could have been fitted together to accommodate us.

Momoyama

5.0

5 (31)

$50 and over

Sushi

Fountain Valley

About the restaurant

Welcome to Momoyama, a Michelin rated esteemed omakase restaurant nestled in the heart of Fountain Valley, California. Renowned for its exceptional culinary artistry and dedication to authentic Japanese cuisine. Our restaurant offers an intimate and refined dining experience that showcases the finest ingredients and the meticulous craft of our Executive Chef, who brings over 20 years of industry expertise to every dish.

At Momoyama, we believe in the art of omakase, a traditional Japanese dining style where guests entrust the chef to create a bespoke meal that reflects the freshest seasonal ingredients and the chef's creative vision. Our omakase offerings are available for both lunch with options for a la carte and dinner, providing a unique culinary journey that is tailored to delight your senses.

Top review

Victor

Dined on Jun 22, 2025

We were pretty unfortunate to get a VERY annoying and disrespectful customer during our dinner, however, I can’t grade the restaurant lower since the food and service was amazing. Shoutout to chefs Edie and Yoshi for making the best sushi and making the experience as good as it could be. We’re looking forward to coming back soon and try the new menu!

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Bricco Cucina and Wine Bar

4.9

4.9 (97)

$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

vicki

Dined 2 days ago

The homemade pasta and fresh sauces were amazing! The entertainment was also awesome such a great vibe.

The Dock

4.9

4.9 (2121)

$50 and over

Seafood

Newport Beach

About the restaurant

THE DOCK located in NEWPORT BEACH CALIFORNIA requires a valid credit card to book reservations online via OpenTable or call 949-673-3625 to provide your credit card. 24 hr cancellation fee policy. The Dock reserves the right to cancel your reservation if reservation is not CC guaranteed. VOTED TOP 10 RESTAURANTS IN ORANGE COUNTY 2022 and TOP 100 in the US in 2019 and 2023 BY OPENTABLE. Our waterfront covered patio dining and every seat has a bay view, with an infused contemporary American menu. Outstanding wine list and custom craft cocktails.
Reservations are recommended.

Top review

HelaineVIP

Dined 4 days ago

Food and service were wonderful. All in all, a very lovely evening

Wine Gallery

4.9

4.9 (634)

$30 and under

American

Laguna Beach

About the restaurant

The Laguna Beach Wine Gallery is known for an impressive selection of wine, curated cocktails & beers with a 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.
Free Underground Parking off of Pearl Street

Happy Hour Specials Tuesday-Saturday 4:30-5:30pm
Wine Wednesday Specials
Sunday is Industry Night.. 50% Off Food & 25% Off Beverages for all in the Service Industry (dine-in only)
Look out for our biweekly Wine Tasting Tuesdays

Top review

DennisVIP

Dined 3 days ago

Great oven-baked pizzas and other delicious offerings, including shishito peppers and rib-eye tacos, in a welcoming, neighborhood atmosphere, with friendly, attentive service!

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