Best Hot Spot Restaurants in Lake Forest

24 restaurants available nearby

A photo of Habana- Irvine Spectrum restaurant

1. Habana- Irvine Spectrum

4.6

Exceptional(4677)

Price: Expensive

• Cuban • Irvine

Booked 150 times today

Originally opened in 1995, Habana has become an Orange County staple, offering the coastal community a Cuban-Inspired experience through its authentic cuisine and cocktail program. Spanning 20 years as a favorite culinary destination, Habana lends itself perfectly for date night, celebrations and simple moments that have created memories for many.

2. Puesto Los Olivos

4.6

Exceptional(1776)

Price: Expensive

• Contemporary Mexican • Irvine

Booked 50 times today

Owned and operated by a Mexican American family whose best memories all include tacos, Puesto is an award-winning Mexican Artisan Kitchen & Bar providing an innovative approach to authentic Mexican flavors. Puesto has garnered national acclaim for its Mexico City-style crispy melted cheese tacos, served on handmade non-GMO, organic, maíz azul stone-ground tortillas. In addition to tacos, offerings include a selection of fresh catch ceviches, guacamoles, starters and ensaladas, courtesy of Chef/Partner Luisteen Gonzales. The bar program showcases the best of Mexico City through the use of fresh ingredients in our hand crafted cocktails and housemade Micheladas, tequilas, mezcals, Baja craft beers, and Valle de Guadalupe wines you can’t find elsewhere We’re honored to have been featured by media outlets nationally and internationally, some of which include National Geographic, Huffington Post, Refinery 29, MSN, Insider, Zagat, Eater, Food and Wine, and LA Times.

A photo of Ironwood, Cellar.Craft.Cook restaurant

3. Ironwood, Cellar.Craft.Cook

4.8

Exceptional(2870)

Price: Moderate

• American • Laguna Hills / Lake Forest / Foothill Ranch

Booked 42 times today

Welcome to Ironwood, Cellar. Craft. Cook. located in Laguna Hills. Our menu features seasonal ingredients of the highest quality and are prepared daily from scratch. Menu selections include exceptional meats, flavorful seafood, handpicked produce from our garden, and diverse beverage selections. We have over 25 wines by the glass, 10 craft beers, and a full bar featuring a wide variety of craft cocktails.

A photo of OPAH Restaurant & Bar @ Town Center Aliso Viejo restaurant

4. OPAH Restaurant & Bar @ Town Center Aliso Viejo

4.8

Exceptional(1596)

Price: Expensive

• Californian • Aliso Viejo / Laguna Niguel

Booked 18 times today

At Opah Restaurant & Bar, we serve the finest fresh fish in Orange County. Carefully hand selected each day to deliver the best quality available. Come in and enjoy the menu created by Marc A. Cohen, One of the Best Chef's in Orange County. The menu is exquisite, featuring edible works of art, that look so good the could be on a magazine cover. Dont forget to try one of our signature Award Winning Martinis. If you wondering how we came up with the name Opah. It comes from the Hawaiian word for Moonfish, which was once viewed as Good Luck by fisherman, & often given away as a gesture of Good Will.

A photo of Mangia Bene Cucina restaurant

5. Mangia Bene Cucina

4.7

Exceptional(673)

Price: Moderate

• Italian • Aliso Viejo / Laguna Niguel

Booked 13 times today

Mangia Bene Cucina is a beloved Italian restaurant in Laguna Niguel, CA. With over 25 years of experience, they are renowned for their 'The Fresh Italian Food Experience'. The reviews are glowing, with guests praising the delicious food, great service, and wonderful ambiance. One review even calls it a 'favorite for the area'. Mangia Bene Cucina is a consistent and value-oriented spot for Italian cuisine.

A photo of Mastro's Ocean Club - Newport Beach restaurant

6. Mastro's Ocean Club - Newport Beach

4.7

Exceptional(8623)

Price: Expensive

• Seafood • Newport Beach

Booked 101 times today

Mastro's collection of sophisticated, classic Steakhouses and Ocean Club seafood locations are recognized for their combination of world-class service, highly acclaimed cuisine, and live entertainment in an elegant yet energetic atmosphere. A truly unparalleled dining experience.

A photo of Beachcomber Cafe - Crystal Cove restaurant

7. Beachcomber Cafe - Crystal Cove

4.8

Exceptional(10458)

Price: Moderate

• Californian • Newport Beach

Booked 71 times today

Voted as one of the "Top 100 Restaurants" for 2023 by OpenTable in the United StatesThe Beachcomber at Crystal Cove provides "world class" ocean front dining in the Historic District of the Crystal Cove State Park with breath taking views of the Newport Coastline and Catalina Island. Situated on the sandy beach, The Beachcomber's outdoor patio provides the perfect spot to enjoy the ocean's breeze while sipping on your favorite cocktail or enjoying one of the many favorite entrees and appetizers. The Beachcomber's outdoor tropical bar 'The Bootlegger' with thatch roofing provides the perfect spot to escape from the world while enjoying one of many tropical libations.

A photo of Javier's Crystal Cove restaurant

8. Javier's Crystal Cove

4.7

Exceptional(191)

Price: Expensive

• Mexican • Newport Beach

Booked 357 times today

Artistically designed with unique sculptures, Javier's Crystal Cove provides guests with ocean views in a cozy, contemporary atmosphere to enjoy authentic Mexican cuisine. It opened its doors in 2008 on Newport Beach and is conveniently close to the Crystal Cove Shopping Center. This restaurant offers guests an upscale dining experience with such entrees as the Maine lobster enchilada topped with Monterey jack cheese and grilled chicken breasts braised in chipotle sauce. Javier's Crystal Cove serves a variety of fresh seafood dishes, appetizers and delicious desserts. It has a full bar that features numerous tequilas, cocktails, beers and wine. Javier's Crystal Cove also offers outdoor dining. It accepts reservations over the phone and online.

A photo of Hannas Prime Steak restaurant

9. Hannas Prime Steak

4.9

Exceptional(3505)

Price: Very Expensive

• Steakhouse • Mission Viejo / Rancho Santa Margarita

Booked 32 times today

Hanna’s Restaurant & Bar was established in 2005 and has quickly become one of Orange County’s premiere dining establishments. Named one of the U.S. top 100 restaurants, Hanna's Restaurant & Bar offers modern American Steakhouse cuisine prepared with classic, traditional flair. Our appetite for an exceptional dining experience is rooted deep in our passion for extraordinary culinary creations and exemplified in our award-wining service and ambiance. From our friendly bartenders, vibrant ambiance, outgoing wait staff, and incredible menu, our guests are always embraced in a comforting fashion. And on any given night you can always find owner David Hanna mingling among guests and ensuring that every detail of their experience at Hanna’s is nothing short of extraordinary.

A photo of North Italia – Irvine restaurant

10. North Italia – Irvine

4.5

Awesome(5423)

Price: Moderate

• Italian • Irvine

Booked 205 times today

At North, we focus on what we do best: Italian from scratch. Enjoy any of our handmade pastas and pizzas, created with seasonal ingredients and inventive flavors. Or, try a different signature dish, prepared with our fresh flavors from the garden, farm, and sea. We’ve hand crafted seasonal cocktails that pair great with our food, creating a real modern Italia experiences perfect for any occasion.

‘About the restaurant’ descriptions have been generated using an artificial intelligence model comprised of OpenTable proprietary data that has not been independently verified by OpenTable. The content is presented as-is, for informational purposes only.

See what locals rave about

From verified diners like you

H
Heather
Los Angeles •1 review
5.0
Dined 2 days ago
This is a MUST-GO!!! An amazing, authentic and beyond delicious Cuban restaurant. Our waiter, Tony, was absolutely fabulous and had us laughing the night away. This place was gorgeous with great food and amazing service, I highly recommend.
More info
Habana- Irvine SpectrumPrice: Expensive• Cuban• Irvine
•
4.6
T
Tricia
Orange County •5 reviews
5.0
Dined 4 days ago
My family and I celebrated Christmas Eve at Ironwood. We had a beautiful evening! Our meal was delicious. The surf and turf prawns were huge! The focaccia bread was a hit. The on the wagon mocktail was a special treat! The oysters fresh and tasty. Also, we enjoyed the halibut, salmon, and wedge salad. They accommodated gluten free. Our server was awesome. I'm sorry I didn't catch her name . It was a lovely night for us!
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Ironwood, Cellar.Craft.CookPrice: Moderate• American• Laguna Hills / Lake Forest / Foothill Ranch
•
4.8
N
Nayla
Orange County •4 reviews
5.0
Dined 4 days ago
The food is consistently good. We tried the tuna tartare for appetizer, and it was not good. We will not order that again, but overall great food great service and great place to go for a bite.
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OPAH Restaurant & Bar @ Town Center Aliso ViejoPrice: Expensive• Californian• Aliso Viejo / Laguna Niguel
•
4.8
K
KirkVIP
Los Angeles •9 reviews
5.0
Dined 5 days ago
Mangia Bene is always excellent! Been coming 2x/month at least for thirty years: business meals, family celebrations, meetings with friends, and solo meals. Chris Karas is a wonderful owner, and all the managers are responsive and professional.
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Mangia Bene CucinaPrice: Moderate• Italian• Aliso Viejo / Laguna Niguel
•
4.7
K
kathie
Orange County •9 reviews
5.0
Dined on Dec 21, 2024
Great experience. So glad they added enchiladas to their amazing taco menu. The mole enchilada was delicious.
More info
Puesto Los OlivosPrice: Expensive• Contemporary Mexican• Irvine
•
4.6

Best Hot Spot Restaurants in Lake Forest

Price

Cuisine

Regions

Neighborhoods

Top Rated

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Accessibility

24 restaurants available nearby

1. Habana- Irvine Spectrum

2. Puesto Los Olivos

3. Ironwood, Cellar.Craft.Cook

4. OPAH Restaurant & Bar @ Town Center Aliso Viejo

5. Mangia Bene Cucina

6. Mastro's Ocean Club - Newport Beach

7. Beachcomber Cafe - Crystal Cove

8. Javier's Crystal Cove

9. Hannas Prime Steak

10. North Italia – Irvine

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