As the great Hilary Duff once said, “let the rain fall down and wake my dreams” and that’s exactly what’s happened this month in Southern California as recent storms have led to rainy weather and with it the return of comfort food classics like soup, hot cocoa, pizza, enchiladas and more.
Here’s a look at nearby eateries to try around Los Angeles, Orange County, and the Inland Empire, according to our reporters.
Related: See the best things we ate in Southern California in 2024.
Breakfast burrito – Angel’s Tijuana Tacos, Anaheim
Angel’s Tijuana Tacos recently introduced its own breakfast burrito, prompting me to make a beeline to its Anaheim location one morning. A staple of SoCal cuisine, I ordered my A.M.-hour beast with a duo of bacon and chorizo, delivering a salty, smoky and slightly spicy bite. The eggs were fluffy, lacking any of the rubbery slop that besmirches lesser breakfast burritos. And best of all, the standard diced or shredded potato was replaced with crisp tater tots that offered a welcome textural crunch against the soft filling. Add cheese, sauce, a sturdy flour tortilla and a hefty size, and my humble breakfast burrito is lunch, too.
— Brock Keeling, Restaurant Reporter
Burrata Queen – Slice House, Studio City
I’ve heard about the wildly popular Slice House by Tony Gemignani for a minute, and have been eager to try it. So when they opened their newest location at Universal CityWalk Hollywood, it felt like the perfect excuse to give it a try. I had just finished watching the re-release of “Wicked” ahead of part two of the film “Wicked: For Good,” at the Universal Cinema AMC. I walked over to Slice House in a state of bliss as it was raining ever so slightly, and I love the pitter-patter sound of raindrops as they land on my umbrella. Walking into Slice House felt like I was being transported to the streets of New York to grab a quick slice. Looking at the display of available options, the Burrata Queen immediately caught my eye. As a girl who has been known to cry over how much she loves cheese, I knew this was the slice for me. Ricotta, Sliced Mozzarella and Burrata Cheese with a pesto drizzle? Say less.
The slice was Detroit-style, meaning it was deep dish, but what stood out to me about the crust was that it was like focaccia bread. The cheese mix was a solid balance of mozzarella to cover it and burrata and ricotta to add variety to each bite. The pesto had a sweet finish, which helped balance the richness of the cheese. But be warned, the grease on top of the pie is no joke. Additionally, I believe ranch goes with pizza, and while I was nervous at first that theirs looked a little too much like Hidden Valley for my liking, the Slice House ranch definitely checks the boxes for both flavor and consistency that every pizza ranch needs.
— Carolyn Burt, Audience Engagement Producer
Cobb Sandwich – Corky’s Homestyle Kitchen & Bakery, Various Locations
Corky’s takes a turkey club sandwich to the next level with its Cobb Sandwich. It features key ingredients in a Cobb Salad, including bacon and avocado. The blue cheese crumbles really set it apart. It runs $18.59 with a choice of sides, including fries and potato salad. Here you see onion straws with ranch dressing. Corky’s is a diner chain based in Rancho Cucamonga with 16 restaurants in Southern California. Its restaurants are often busy.
— Fielding Buck, Restaurant Reporter
Truffle chicken – Qua, Fountain Valley
Qua, billed as the final chapter in Kei Concepts chef-founder Viet Nguyen’s first decade dominating the Orange County food landscape, is one of this year’s must-try spots. While the menu will evolve as part of its concept (the restaurant is an ode to the Chinatown quarter of Saigon, where Nguyen grew up), my eyes honed in on the cold truffle chicken dish. I love a cold savory dish. I’ll always order a cold savory dish. And this one did not disappoint. Featuring succulent, chilled chicken and Chinese celery nestled together with black truffle and crispy onions, this cool umami-bomb will go down as one of my favorites of 2026. If cold poulet isn’t your bag, Qua’s menu is still a stunner, including such dishes as dan dan sesame noodles with pork, oyster pancake and a sweet bolo bao with butter.
— Brock Keeling, Features Reporter
Seafood gumbo, the crescent beet salad with truffle cream, a catfish St. Charles plate with crawfish Étouffée, and warm carrot cake – The Quarter Creole Cuisine, Claremont
As November is coming to a chilly (and, for a while, rainy) end, I had one thing I really craved: some good, hearty Creole food. Luckily, The Quarter in Claremont has just the menu to satisfy. For someone who has been to the Big Easy four times, The Quarter has some of the best Creole food that I have tasted west of the Mississippi River. On my most recent visit, I went with a tasting approach and ordered a cup of their delicious seafood gumbo, the crescent beet salad with truffle cream, a catfish St. Charles plate with crawfish Étouffée, and wrapped it up with a warm carrot cake.
The Quarter has always, in my opinion, done an excellent job of bringing a little bit of the Crescent City to Southern California while adding a bit of innovation to classic New Orleans favorites without compromising authenticity. Their dishes, though hearty, never feel heavy and are always seasoned to perfection.
— Mercedes Cannon-Tran, Local Reporter
Red enchilada plate – Casa de Pancho Mexican Grill & Cantina, Anaheim
When it comes to Mexican cuisine at sit-down restaurants, I tend to choose items I don’t have very often. Enchiladas take quite the effort to perfect and make at home, so that’s usually my go-to when I’m dining out. I went with the red enchiladas with chicken, but when they brought them to my table, I was shocked by how big they were. My rice and beans sides had to be hauled out on a whole other plate because they didn’t fit with the main course. Overall, these were great. The enchiladas were stuffed with chicken and drenched in red sauce and a drizzle of sour cream, and there was no way I wasn’t walking away with a full stomach. The only slight downside of these is that the red sauce wasn’t spicy at all, but shout-out to the server who recommended I try adding salsa. That was the kick that really made the dish a stand-out.
— Charlie Vargas, Features Reporter
Panettone – 61 Hundred Bread, Santa Ana
Hey, so I plowed through 61 Hundred Bread’s panettone in less than 48 hours. It’s large enough to feed a family of five, I suppose, for days, possibly, but I demolished the enriched, triple-chocolate holiday bread solo, in record time. How could I not? Karlo Evaristo uses three iterations of chocolate (semi-sweet, caramelized and white) in his panettone, using a technique he mastered after traveling to Italy to learn the sweet bread’s craft. It certainly helps that Evaristo is one of California’s best bakers. The bread will be available for a limited time only and, much like the bulk of 61 Hundred’s bake, sells out right-quick. Take heed: Follow 61 Hundred Bread’s social and get in line early to get your hands on this bread.
— Brock Keeling, Restaurant Reporter
See more of our monthly round-ups of the best things we ate in Southern California
The best things we ate at Southern California restaurants in October
The best things we ate at Southern California restaurants in September
The best things we ate at Southern California restaurants in August
The best things we ate at Southern California restaurants in July
The best things we ate at Southern California restaurants in June
The best things we ate at Southern California restaurants in May
The best things we ate at Southern California restaurants in April
The best things we ate at Southern California restaurants in March
The best things we ate at Southern California restaurants in February
The best things we ate at Southern California restaurants in January
The best things we ate at Southern California restaurants in 2024
The best things we ate at Southern California restaurants in November
The best things we ate at Southern California restaurants this October
The best thing we ate at Southern California restaurants in September
The best thing we ate at Southern California restaurants in August