Good Eats

A's- very cheap mexican food and burgers in south Mission Viejo. Known for breakfast burritos and homemade salsa along with great burgers.
Cinnamon Roll Fair- fresh cinnamon rolls, cookies, pastries in the morning (on Balboa Island in Newport Beach) 714-328-6548
Cook's Corner- Spaghetti Wednesday's for $6 in Lake Forest, all you can eat
Daily Grill- $12-$25 for entrees. Excellent food w locations in Irvine and Newport Beach.
Empenada Man- hand-made Argentine empenadas and pizzeria. Good, cheap eats. They even have chimichurri and alfajores.
Crepe Maker- in Irvine. French crepes. $4-6.
Felix Continental Cafe- great Cuban food in charming old town Orange.
Golden Spoon- fat-free frozen yogurt, multiple locations
Inka Mamas- 10 min west in Aliso Viejo. Peruvian food. $12-15/entree.
La Sirena Grill- fresh mexican off PCH in Laguna Beach & Irvine. $8/entree.
Las Golandrinas- (5 locations) cheap but fantastic mexican food. Great guacamole and chips.
PJ's Abbey- originally built in 1891 as Gothic-style Victorian Baptist Church, this American-style restaurant has a great setting in heart of Orange. $15-30/dinner entree.
Rockin' Baja Lobster- great mexican seafood place in Newport Beach, right next to pier. $8-12 per entree.
Skimmer's- panini grill in Mission Viejo- good $6/sandwiches.
Strickland's Ice Cream- located in Irvine. (The only frozen custard place I know of).
Taleo Grill- upscale mexican in Irvine. $15-20 per entree.
The Derby- fun dueling piano restaurant at the Kaleidoscope. Piano playing begins at 9 pm to 1 am Tuesday thru Saturday
The Hat- excellent pastrami burgers and fries in Lake Forest but you'll feel like a beast after eating there. Fast food prices.
CHAINS: Panera/Chipotle/Pei Wei/PF Chang's/Cheesecake Factory/Macaroni Grill/Fatburger/Lucille's BBQ/Claimjumper/In N Out/Oggi's Pizza/Coco's/El Torito Grill/California Pizza Kitchen/Baja Fresh