Guidebook for Irvine
Food Scene
Great cup of coffee.
Great people watching.
Great SoCal vibe.
10 locals recommend
Kéan Coffee Artisan Roasters
13681 Newport AveGreat cup of coffee.
Great people watching.
Great SoCal vibe.
Our favorite coffee around.
Great place to hole-up and work.
Great restaurants nearby.
Part of a trendy anti-mall.
23 locals recommend
Portola Coffee Roasters
3313 Hyland AveOur favorite coffee around.
Great place to hole-up and work.
Great restaurants nearby.
Part of a trendy anti-mall.
Fantastic sandwiches and salads.
Family-friendly with corn-hole game, foosball and giant chalk board.
16 locals recommend
Mendocino Farms
450 E 17th StFantastic sandwiches and salads.
Family-friendly with corn-hole game, foosball and giant chalk board.
Fish tacos. Guacamole. Chips. Ahi Poke. Clam chowder. Ocean view. Win. Win. Win.
78 locals recommend
Bear Flag Fish Company
3421 Via LidoFish tacos. Guacamole. Chips. Ahi Poke. Clam chowder. Ocean view. Win. Win. Win.
Burgers, fries and the best milkshake I've had since leaving the Midwest. All overlooking the ocean. This is a family favorite.
32 locals recommend
Crystal Cove Shake Shack
7703 East Coast HwyBurgers, fries and the best milkshake I've had since leaving the Midwest. All overlooking the ocean. This is a family favorite.
Delicious. Classy. Great for dates and business meetings. Highly recommend the Chef Selection, the flat noodles and the spring rolls.
Phans55 Vietnamese Bistro and Bar
6000 ScholarshipDelicious. Classy. Great for dates and business meetings. Highly recommend the Chef Selection, the flat noodles and the spring rolls.
Shopping
Newport Center/Fashion Island
401 Newport Center DrSouth Coast Plaza
3333 Bristol StEssentials
Trader Joes is my favorite grocery store, but it's not a big-chain store. If you're looking for a certain brand of tomato sauce, you'll want to go elsewhere. If you're looking for some of the best produce and frozen/pre-made meals, you're in luck. Find the hidden Anteater stuffed animal, and get a prize.
175 locals recommend
Trader Joe's
3329 S Bristol StTrader Joes is my favorite grocery store, but it's not a big-chain store. If you're looking for a certain brand of tomato sauce, you'll want to go elsewhere. If you're looking for some of the best produce and frozen/pre-made meals, you're in luck. Find the hidden Anteater stuffed animal, and get a prize.
Albertsons
6601 Quail Hill PkwyI go here when I do need brand-name stuff.
Parks & Nature
Newport Beach
100 Civic Center DrGreat family beach. Kid playground off the boardwalk. Good places to eat for families or food lovers alike (try Broadway if you've got a bigger budget and a refined pallet--it's fantastic).
845 locals recommend
Laguna Beach
Great family beach. Kid playground off the boardwalk. Good places to eat for families or food lovers alike (try Broadway if you've got a bigger budget and a refined pallet--it's fantastic).
This biking/walking trail is easily accessible from our house, and it leads to destinations like Kean Coffee, Mendocino Farms (Costa Mesa location) while following a scenic route along the back bay.
Back Bay Loop
Back Bay LoopThis biking/walking trail is easily accessible from our house, and it leads to destinations like Kean Coffee, Mendocino Farms (Costa Mesa location) while following a scenic route along the back bay.
Sightseeing
Balboa Island Ferry
Agate AvenueMake sure to get a frozen banana.
Everything Else
This nifty little shopping center is located five minutes from our house. It features fantastic restaurants like In-n-Out Burger, Chipotle, Chik-Fil-A, Blaze Pizza, Peet's Coffee, Mendocino Farms, Eureka! Burger, Jimmy Johns and some other sit-down, lesser-known places. It also has a movie theatre, a couple shops, a post office and a grocery store.
11 locals recommend
University Town Center
This nifty little shopping center is located five minutes from our house. It features fantastic restaurants like In-n-Out Burger, Chipotle, Chik-Fil-A, Blaze Pizza, Peet's Coffee, Mendocino Farms, Eureka! Burger, Jimmy Johns and some other sit-down, lesser-known places. It also has a movie theatre, a couple shops, a post office and a grocery store.