The food and wellness scene in the OC is beautiful, tasty AF, and vibrant! If you can’t tell from the photos I’m sharing, the food is as delicious as it looks. And if you read my recent post on how to socialize and travel with food allergies, I followed all those steps, and was really successful during my trip to Huntington Beach, California.
It was my first solo mommy vacation with my best friend, and she can also attest to the restaurants I’m about to share with you! The meals we had were fresh, farm-to-table style eats, with so much flavor. Also, I have to say – the servers down there are much friendlier than the ones here in the Bay Area (no joke). Maybe because they’re working in one of the sunniest parts of California with beautiful beaches surrounding them? Who wouldn’t be happy?!
And because I packed accordingly, did my research on all the gluten-free friendly restaurants, made reservations, and let my server know about my allergies, I had one of the best dining experiences I’ve had in a long time. Living gluten-free can be isolating when you’re trying to socialize and eat out, but doing your research goes a long way.
So if you’re planning your next trip to SoCal – Orange County area, be sure to check out these places and share your mouthwatering food photos with me via Instagram @fullasamother.
Here’s a pic of me and my beautiful best friend at our hotel stay in Huntington Beach at the Pasea Hotel & Spa – we loved the hotel and all the amenities, and highly recommend staying here!
GLUTEN-FREE EATS IN ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
BRUNCH:
Malibu Farm | Newport Beach, CA: One of my favorite farm-to-table restaurants with the best gluten-free brunch options. Get the Surfers Rancheros with two sunny side up eggs, crispy corn tortilla, yellow & green zucchini, potatoes, black beans, and butternut squash topped with pickled cabbage, ranchero salsa, feta, sour cream, cilantro. This dish had me full for hours – and don’t forget to order a vitality shot!
Outpost Kitchen | Costa Mesa, CA: The best blueberry pancakes with lemon ricotta, and raspberry sauce & savory individual cast iron skillet options.
Toast Kitchen + Bakery | Costa Mesa, CA: The best breakfast sando with millionnaire’s bacon, soft scrambled eggs, cream cheese, with gluten-free bread. Their oatmilk matcha latte was huge and really tasty too!
Neat Coffee | Costa Mesa, CA: I have a thing for unique and local coffee shops with good coffee and matcha, and this is one of them. Try the oatmilk latte and grab a few Meet the Source Cookie Dough Bliss balls!
DINNER:
Bo-Beau Kitchen & Roof-tap | Long Beach, CA: Their BO-beau Famous Brussels Sprouts with house cured pancetta + parmesan cheese + balsamic glaze is so BOMB! I couldn’t stop eating it. And their Filet Mignon 8 oz filet with bone marrow compound butter, parsnip potato puree, and roasted seasonal vegetables was amazing too.
Pacific Hideaway | Huntington Beach, CA: The Sugarcane Beef Tenderloin with green papaya salad, wasabi butter, and sweet thai glaze and Turmeric Roasted Cauliflower with chipotle hummus, hazelnut crumble, and charred lemon were my favorite dishes here.
Vaca | Costa Mesa, CA: This well-known restaurant with Top Chef – Chef Amar creates the tastiest Spanish cuisine. I wasn’t exactly thrilled with the service we received in the beginning, but the food is highly recommended. I enjoyed the Panza de Cerdo with braised pork belly, apricot jam, poached apricot, fennel salad, and orange supreme, Rabo de Toro with red wine braised beef oxtail and wild mushrooms, and Ensalada de Remolacha with roasted beets, saffron poached pears, caña de cabra, watercress, and caramelized Sherry-honey vinaigrette.
NATURAL FOODS MARKET:
Mother’s Market & Kitchen: And if you’re looking for something quick, easy, healthy and gluten-free, be sure to stop by the cutest natural foods market! I bought a homemade gluten-free & vegan coconut mango bar in the refrigerated bakery section, along with gluten-free alfajores cookies, vitality shots, pre-made canned gin & tonic cocktails, and water. They even have a cute little cafe where you can purchase hot foods, salad, and fresh juice.