Diners' Choice: Lively restaurants in Orange County

OpenTable

Updated June 05, 2025

Looking for restaurants that have the most vibrant bar scenes 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!

Station Craft Brewery + Kitchen

4.9

4.9 (180)

$30 and under

Californian

Dana Point / Monarch Beach

About the restaurant

Craft beer and food.

We take a craft approach to everything we do, and we have an overwhelming appreciation for all things Californian.

Station Craft Brewery and Kitchen, nestled in the vibrant Lantern District of Dana Point. We are the coolest spot in town, offering a unique experience that combines delicious craft beer with a coastal vibe. Voted the number one brewery in Dana Point, our eclectic menu and robust cocktails complete the perfect recipe for an unforgettable dining and drinking adventure.

Top review

ChrisVIP

Dined 7 days ago

Overall a good experience. Food was tasty and service was very good too!

Ouzo & Feta - Huntington Beach

4.9

4.9 (20)

$30 and under

Greek

Huntington Beach

About the restaurant

We are Ouzo & Feta, local greek dining with homemade recipes, imported dishes originally from Mykonos, with an ambiance that will make you feel right in Greece.

Top review

Doug

Dined 7 days ago

Friday night music is nice, WAY too loud. In such a relative small area it just doesn’t need to be that loud.

CDM Restaurant

4.8

4.8 (1544)

$30 and under

American

Corona del Mar

About the restaurant

CdM Restaurant is inspired to create an environment that is visually creative and art driven while providing high quality, chef driven cuisine. Hollywood producer McG, partnered with restauranteur Jordan Otterbein, have found success in building the iconic A Restaurant in Newport Beach and are thrilled to bring this new concept to Corona Del Mar. We strive for an establishment that is deeply rooted in the community where all can come to enjoy. CDM has creative American cuisine inspired by Executive Chef Elvis Morales.
Under CDM; is a speakeasy experience taking place right below us. There is no password or reservations required. Our talented mixologists excited to take you on a journey to sipping the perfect cocktail.
Phone Reservations Only. We look forward to your call!

Our bar stays open after dinner service so stop in for a night cap.

Top review

Wendy

Dined 3 days ago

We go to CDM often. It never disappoints. High quality food and exceptional service! Indoor seating reminds me of small hip restaurants in NYC. Outdoor is nice as well with a more casual feel. Food is consistently good. It’s our default when company is in town.

Discover more

Kin Craft Ramen & Izakaya

4.8

4.8 (96)

$30 and under

Asian

Fountain Valley

About the restaurant

An ambitious Japanese eatery featuring a bold arrangement of energetic food choices and thirst-quenching beverages within a comfortable atmosphere that seeks to highlight the best of Japanese dining and the nuances of California culture. A restaurant by Kei Concepts.

Top review

LJVIP

Dined 6 days ago

We were there for a birthday dinner. We enjoyed the friendly service, excellent food & fun atmosphere!

Red Room Speakeasy Supper Lounge

4.8

4.8 (39)

$50 and over

Italian

Costa Mesa

About the restaurant

A seductive speakeasy and supper club where Italian cuisine meets a fusion of bold flavors. Adorned with striking red Venetian stucco walls and matching floor, this intimate space offers the perfect setting for a private party of up to 60 guests. Indulge in handcrafted dishes and decadent desserts while enjoying live music from the Great American Songbook, creating an ambiance of timeless elegance.

The beautiful bar, with luxurious seating, invites you to savor expertly crafted cocktails or explore a superb wine list while enjoying bites from our exceptional menu.

Whether you're seeking a night of fine dining, live music or a stylish private event, The Red Room offers a unique and unforgettable experience.

Top review

MichelleVIP

Dined 6 days ago

Found this amazing place for my friend’s birthday because he’s a big fan of good food and jazz music! He kept telling me throughout the night that this place is awesome and that all our friends should do our birthday here. I guess you can say he was looking for another excuse to come back, but we won’t wait till a birthday because we’ll most likely come back next week! The food was fantastic! We tried 4 different dishes and they were all superb! The live music was so good and even when the owner came to sing. One of the staff said the owner opened the restaurant just so he could sing haha! Service was great and the vibes were on point. Will be back soon!

Discover more

Experience

Soulful Tunes, Unforgettable Food

Cha Cha's Latin Kitchen

4.7

4.7 (1892)

$30 and under

Mexican

Brea / La Habra

About the restaurant

Using only quality seasonal and organic ingredients, our Latin-inspired menu features spectacular Latin food prepared in a wood-fired oven, and a variety of fresh house-made fire-roasted salsas, which hint at the natural and abundant flavor profiles found in every dish.

The same attention to detail carries on to our hand-crafted cocktails; using only fresh-squeezed juices, house-made sour mixes, 100% Blue Agave Tequilas and fresh fruit garnishes for all of our Margaritas. Cha Cha’s House Margarita was named Critics' Choice for the Best Margarita by the Orange County Register.

PLEASE NOTE: Cha Cha's automatically adds a 20% gratuity fee for parties of 6 and over.

Top review

mikeVIP

Dined on Jun 22, 2025

Cha Cha’s is our place for comfort food, a great time and great experience. Never fails!!

Descanso - Standard Dining

4.7

4.7 (601)

$30 and under

Mexican

Costa Mesa

About the restaurant

THIS PAGE IS FOR OUR STANDARD DINING TABLES ONLY. For reservations at our Plancha Tables (Where the Chef Cooks at Your Table), please search for DESCANSO PLANCHA DINING on Open Table or call us at 714.486.3798

Descanso is a modern taqueria in that it celebrates authentic Mexican flavors and recipes executed in a lively setting that brings in the smells, sounds and energy of a busy Mexican town.

Types of Dining at Descanso:

PLANCHA
At a Plancha Table, you will receive an intimate experience with our Planchero Chefs. This is a multi-course menu where your meal is cooked in front of you at your table! Please go to our DESCANSO PLANCHA DINING page in order to book for this experience online.

STANDARD DINING
Make a reservation here for our indoor dining room or patio.

TACO BAR
The Taco Bar (Counter) is an a la carte version of the Plancha Experience where one of our chefs cooks in front of you at a counter top.

INDOOR AND OUTDOOR BAR
Bar Top Seating indoor and patio

Top review

Mike

Dined 6 days ago

Chairs inside were hard to sit on for any length of time. We reserved the patio but when we got there, they said they had a huge party that took over the patio so we had to sit inside. Service was slow even though it wasn’t that busy at 5 o’clock in the evening. The food was good, but the prices seemed high. Overall, not unhappy with it, but not thrill to death

Discover more

Scarlet Kitchen and Lounge

4.7

4.7 (774)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Mission Viejo / Rancho Santa Margarita

About the restaurant

Scarlet Kitchen & Lounge is a modern speakeasy with the allure of old Hollywood, offering a menu of east coast classics with west coast flavor and finesse. This chef driven, husband and wife owned restaurant provides a comfortable neighborhood dining experience. Scarlet offers local, quality ingredients carefully curated to meet every diners desires. Scarlet is a place for everyone to enjoy a date night or just a quick bite at the bar. Scarlet introduces a new menu every season courtesy of Chef-Owner Paige Riordan and Chef de Cuisine Daniel Martinez. Enjoy a taste of the season from Scarlet’s dining room or heated canyon-view patio and. Scarlet elevates the plate with a new menu of dishes brimming with bold, finessed flavor highlighting peak-of-season ingredients, humanely raised prime meats, and sustainable seafood, reflective of Riordan’s East Coast roots.

Top review

Annie

Dined on Jun 6, 2025

We came after our son’s graduation this night and celebrated had a dozen oysters and the deviled eggs for appetizers. Both were delicious! For entrees we had the lobster avocado salad, miso salmon and the lamb chops. Each dish was prepared perfectly and tasted great. We also enjoyed mocktails, mellow yellow and the lavender one.

SandBar Huntington Beach

4.7

4.7 (142)

$30 and under

Mexican

Huntington Beach

About the restaurant

Sandbar Cocina y Tequila offers a variety of revamped Mexican food classics, vibrant cocktails, and an extensive range of international tequilas and mezcals.

Our food menu celebrates Mexico’s diverse ingredients through contemporary interpretations of classic dishes, as well as some nostalgic recipes.

The bar program features handcrafted margaritas and creative cocktails, an extensive tequila & mezcal list, including a selection of rare and classic international tequilas and many Mexican, craft and domestic beer selections.

Sandbar’s design incorporates custom materials, lighting, furniture and décor which will transport you to the beautiful coasts of Mexico. With our prime locations just blocks from the Pacific, Sandbar’s Mexican coastal design blends with laid SoCal beach vibes and modern Mexican cool.

Top review

Dana

Dined 7 days ago

Loved our first time at the SandBar! Loved the ambiance and great beachy feel. Our service was great, the cocktails amazing and the food was delicious! We’ll definitely be back!

Perla Mexican Cuisine

4.6

4.6 (237)

$30 and under

Mexican

Santa Ana

About the restaurant

Located in the energetic, historic street of the Downtown Santa Ana on the corner of W Fourth St & N Birch St, Perla is a new authentic, family owned restaurant. Perla is truly an authentic representation of the culinary diversity of Mexico. The main focus is to introduce the traditional Mexican flavors enhanced with a personal touch of long family recipes and traditions.

Top review

LindaVIP

Dined 1 day ago

Delicious Mexican cuisine on 4th Street in Santa Ana, across from the Reagan Federal Building. Hosts and servers are great -- especially Daniel and Vanessa. Shortrib tacos are amazing. Super weekday lunch specials $11 a plate, with many choices. The asada quesadilla and chicken taquitos are tasty and filling. Fully recommend.

Discover more

Experience

Sunday Mariachi Brunch

Explore Diners' Choice best of Orange County