July kept our team busy with various food festivals as well as putting together foodie guides to help you keep your cool with sweet treats across Southern California. This month, our team went to work to bring you a variety of recommendations. From staple restaurants in the region, to up-and-coming spots worth checking out, as well as some new takes on classics you can only get for a limited time at the county fair, there was plenty to write about.
It’s hard to believe, but we’re over halfway through 2025! Which means our reporters have already put together six guides featuring local spots they recommend dining at throughout Southern California. If you need a refresher, we’ve got them all linked at the bottom of each of our “Best Things We Ate” guides.
Here’s a look from reporters at nearby eateries to try around Los Angeles, Orange County, and the Inland Empire.
Related: See the best things we ate in Southern California in 2024.
Five-spice chicken fried “steak” – District 36 in Fountain Valley
District 36 in Fountain Valley is a new eatery that puts a Vietnamese spin on classic diner fare. Their take on chicken-fried steak is a perfect example. Instead of traditional tenderized cube steak, they use a katsu-style chicken cutlet breaded and seasoned with five-spice blend (known in Vietnamese as ngũ vị hương, typically featuring star anise, cloves, Chinese cinnamon, Sichuan pepper and fennel seed). The cutlet gets fried to a golden crisp, smothered in house-made gravy, and topped with pickled onions and a tangle of microgreens. The result is a dish that feels far lighter than its American counterpart. But by no means is it less filling; it comes with two eggs (served however you like) and crispy tater tots or rice.
— Brock Keeling, Restaurant Reporter
Lobster Roll – Circle Hook Fish Company, Newport Beach
If you’re someone who prefers their lobster roll sans mayo, then this is the spot for you. This dish from Circle Hook Fish Company is simple, but delicious. The lobster is coated with butter and served on a “C’est Si bon” baguette rather than your typical brioche roll. But what really makes this experience is the view of Newport Harbor. The outdoor dining lets guests enjoy the breeze as they eat their meal. Definitely a spot to revisit when it comes time for the Newport Beach Boat Parade in December.
— Carolyn Burt, Audience Engagement Producer
Tiramisu latte and coffee cake – Cafe Ruisseau, Santa Monica
Tucked away in a cozy Santa Monica neighborhood is Café Ruisseau. It’s one of three locations of this Black-owned family business. The iced tiramisu latte was perhaps one of the best mocha coffees I’ve had in a long time. The absolute balance of coffee and sweetness. I later dreamt about this coffee. A big mention also goes to the massive slice of coffee cake. It was literally the size of my fist and yet still not large enough once I dug in. While many coffee cakes are dry as the desert, this coffee cake was moist and fresh.
— Timothy Guy, Digital Editor
Matcha Mont Blanc – Matcha Ren inside Mitsuwa Marketplace, Costa Mesa
The Matcha Mont Blanc is a tasty postmodern riff on the classic French dessert. This verdant Japanese soft serve starts with matcha ice cream that gets crowned with a nest of smooth bean paste. What makes it so special? For starters, there’s the taste and texture: The smooth ice cream combined with the denser paste creates a delightful experience for your palate. Then, there’s the unique look; the shades of matcha and forest greens give it an earthy, unusual hue for a dessert (hence why it’s been splashed on social media as of late).
Finally, just before it’s served, you get to watch as a Matcha Ren employee squeezes said bean paste from a special machine that looks like an adult version of a Play-Doh Fun Factory, bringing back memories of childhood. A treat for both your tastebuds and your eyes.
— Brock Keeling, Restaurant Reporter
Mango Sticky Rice Sundae -Kanomwaan Thai Gelato and Dessert Cafe
People were buzzing about this Thai dessert the first day of the festival, so much so that it sold out nearly two hours after the gates opened on the first day. We made sure this was one of the first items we tried, and the hype was well-earned. Kanomwaan takes the best of a traditional mango sticky rice dessert, with coconut sticky white rice topped with dark ripe mangos, and elevates it. The dessert cafe adds a scoop of lilac-colored coconut gelato and another of mango gelato. It was such a cathartic process combining the rice, mango chunks and the gelatos with every bite for the nearly perfect dessert. This mango sticky rice sundae has completely shattered my expectations of every sticky rice I will have in the future, and I am okay with that.
— Charlie Vargas, Features Reporter
- This entry was featured in our best things we ate at the Belly Laughs Comedy and Food Festival
Baja Shrimp Tacos – Casa Vega, Sherman Oaks
I went to Casa Vega to catch up with a friend and enjoy their table-side Caesar Salad (the one that uses the original recipe). Sadly, they were out of it for the night, but I didn’t feel too disappointed because one, it was an excuse to come back, and two the Baja Shrimp Tacos more than made up for it.
- RELATED: Casa Vega marks the 100-year anniversary of the Caesar Salad by adding original recipe to the menu
The tacos were filling, and combined with the Mexican slaw, pickled red onion, guacamole and chipotle crema, each bite was a mouthwatering experience. The tacos also come with Spanish rice and refried beans, adding to the overall experience.
This LA restaurant is a must-visit the next time you’re in the Valley, not only for the food and drinks, but because of the local history of the establishment. There’s a reason why it has a long list of celebrity patrons.
— Carolyn Burt, Audience Engagement Producer
Hainanese chicken rice – Nam An, Westminster
When Winnie Yee, the pitmaster behind Smoke Queen Barbecue, calls a place one of the best in Orange County, you have to try it. That’s what led me to Nam An and its glorious Hainanese chicken rice. This dish is a study in simplicity, featuring a chicken (white or/or dark, your choice) that’s been poached in an aromatic stock, resulting in tender, perfumed meat. The chicken is sliced and served alongside a half-dome of rice, which is cooked in chicken fat for maximum flavor. You also get three traditional dipping sauces: a chili-based sauce with sweet and sour notes, a hella zesty ginger-scallion sauce with the right amount of kick and a sweet-savory soy sauce blended in-house. As Tin Tran, whose family owns and operates the restaurant, explained, “With the Vietnamese variation, I think we value the freshness and we don’t want it to have too heavy of a mouthfeel.”
— Brock Keeling, Restaurant Reporter
Redlands Orange Sorbet – Happy Camper Creamery, Redlands
Every now and then reporters get assignments that seem too good to be true. In July, mine was sampling ice cream throughout the Inland Empire. I discovered Happy Camper Creamery, a small scoop shop at 721 Nevada St., Suite 208, Redlands.
Owner Erica Horan makes small-batch gelato and sorbet in the back. One of her most popular products is Redlands Orange Sorbet. It tastes like a perfect glass of fresh-squeezed orange juice. It’s dairy-free and amazingly guilt-free for a sweet treat. It sells for $9 a pint.
I also loved the Dark Stracciatella Gelato, made with a dark chocolate base and finely chopped white chocolate chips.
— Fielding Buck, Restaurant Reporter
Biergarten Brat – The Back Abbey, Upland
When the Back Abbey opened their second location in Upland a little over 2 years ago, I definitely knew it was going to become a go-to spot. They have done such a great job of hybridizing bar comfort food with old-world favorites. I got the biergarten brat with sautéed peppers and caramelized onions and also opted for a side of sauerkraut. A visit to the back Abby would not be complete without getting at least a half cone of their pomme frites with their signature dipping sauces. Along with delicious food are great craft cocktails and mocktails, and an impressive beer selection sure to please any beer snob.
— Mercedes Cannon-Tran, Local Reporter
The Beef Noodle Sandwich – Bopomofo Cafe
The Bopomofo Cafe has established itself as a Taiwanese, Chinese and American blend of flavors, which the restaurant incorporates into its food items and beverages. When I saw the booth was offering its beef noodle sandwich, I was intrigued. The sandwich combines elements of beef noodle soup inspired by Birria consomé and a French Dip. It consists of a homemade Chinese braised beef shank, stacked on a toasted hoagie with melted Havarti and crispy green onions. Let me tell you, it was love at first dip. The bread was toasted enough to withstand multiple dunks without becoming soggy and compromising its signature crunch. The dip also had a beef noodle soup flavor that resembled consomé and worked with the melty Havarti cheese like a quesabirria taco would with its respective broth. I am here for this crossover sandwich.
— Charlie Vargas, Features Reporter
- This entry was also featured in Here’s the 6 best things we ate at the Belly Laughs Comedy & Food Festival
Gyro – Mangal, Anaheim
Don’t you dare miss this gyro at Mangal, a Syrian spot found inside the Anaheim Packing District. It’s a standout in a world of dry, forgettable gyros. Mangal’s version features a blend of spiced beef and lamb, thinly sliced and piled high into warm pita bread. It’s then packed alongside romaine, tomatoes, red onion and tzatziki. After a quick grill and wrap in tin foil, you are rewarded with a surprisingly tender gyro. I enjoyed it on its own, but it’s also available as a plate with rice, salad and hummus.
— Brock Keeling, Restaurant Reporter
Albacore roll and Seared Salmon roll – Imari Sashimi and Sushi, Upland
When I found out Imari was rated the #2 out of 100 sushi restaurants in the country, I knew they were going to be insanely busy for quite a while. I waited almost a year to try them, and I’m so happy that I finally had a chance to. Although they were take-out, I didn’t mind much. I ordered the albacore roll and the seared salmon roll, and both exceeded my expectations. Not only were they fresh and made to order, but they were also quite flavorful and delicious. They don’t have an expansive menu like some other sushi restaurants, but the items they offer are consistently well-prepared.
— Mercedes Cannon-Tran, Local 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 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