Behold our annual 100 Favorite Dishes countdown! Every day until the publication of our fantabulous Best Of Issue, we'll list our favorite meals this year in descending order. Enjoy, pass it on, and tune in daily!
We had to check our archives to make sure this particular dish wasn't written up yet, since our fellow Weeklings have given accolades to a good portion of Dee Nguyen's Laguna Hills menu already. But can you blame them?
Being closed for three and-a-half months was a lesson in missing something once it's gone. We weren't particularly craving the comfort meals of Break of Dawn until it was no longer available. Then we couldn't wait for it to open again.
]
See also:
Over the years, his menu has changed and evolved. We would split a couple of dishes with a friend each time, slowly maneuvering our way around the selections. Their Hawaiian sausage and rice was a favorite (except when we craved tempura fried eggs). And while sweets aren't a common occurrence, it's always difficult to turn down French toast creme brulee.
The day they reopened, we joined a group bright and early to share a meal. Sunday is not exactly a funday at 8 a.m., but we made the best of it. At our end of the dining room, three of us shared four dishes. Yet it was one specific plate that woke our senses.
You may think that a plate of rice and sausage is nothing to get excited about. Au contraire, my friend. Like all perfect plates, it was the balance, the sum of its parts that pushed this meal towards the top of our list. Sticky onyx rice was a stark contrast to the Calrose variety we're used to washing. A confit of lemon and garlic was prepared with spinach and sun-dried tomato. However, all we could focus on was how delightful the bison would taste– and it delivered. We don't expect to win you over with a description and photo, so hurry up and order it already!
The List:
5. Matcha Soft Serve from Matcha Love
6. Cazuelita Paisa from El Portón Colombiano
7. Meatballs from Pirozzi
8. Ribeye from Selanne Steak Tavern
9. Barra Vieja from Anepalco's Cafe
10. Poki Bowl from PokiNometry
11. Soba Anything at Tanakaya
12. Secret Grilled-Cheese Sandwich from Old Vine Cafe
13. Strawberry Mochi at J. Sweet Bakery
14. Sushi from Del Sushi
15. Kibbeh at Aleppo's Kitchen
16. Cha Ca Thang Long at Vien Dong
17. Turkey Meatloaf Sandwich at Lucca Cafe
18. Catch-Style Carrot Cake at The Catch
19. Chicken, Broccoli and Mushroom Sandwich with Garlic Sauce from Le Diplomat
20. Vietnamese Baguette from Saigon Bakery
21. Whole Roasted Cauliflower from Lark Creek
22. Wagyu Loco Moco Skillet from Urban Seoul 2.0
23. Orange Blossom Honey from Massey Honey Co
24. Duck and Pork Cassoulet from Pinot Provence
25. Hash brown cake at Zov's
26. Poke at Bear Flag Fish Company
27. Avocado Ice Cream at à la minute
28. Icre at Dunarea
29. Milky Bun at Afters Ice Cream
30. Drunken Cow Pie at Pie Not
31. Chamorro al Guajillo at Sabroso!
32. Garbanzos at the North Left
33. Burger at Riders Club Cafe
34. Wraps at Kech Cafe
35. Pupusas de Frijol con Queso at Las Casuelas
36. Chicken Marsala at Aioli
37. Phnom Penh Noodle & Cha-Kwai at Little La Lune
38. Fried Chicken at Disneyland's Plaza Inn
39. Cookie Monster Ice Cream from B. Candy
40. Bento Box from California Gogi Korean Grill
41. Jasmine Milk Tea Ice Cream at Afters Ice Cream
42. 79 Special at Hapi Sushi
43. Chicken Nuggets at The North Left
44. Spicy Lemon Garlic Chicken at Chicken Maison
45. Surround Sound Burrito at the Secret Spot
46. Cheesecake Beignets At Scott's Restaurant
47. Spam and Egg Banh Mi From Tan Hoang Huong
48. Marianne's 10-20 Ice Cream At Ruby's Diner
49. Chile Relleno Pretzel Cheeseburger at OC Fair
50. Lunch at Big Thunder Ranch at Disneyland
51. Pescado A Lo Macho at Muelle Peruvian Cantina
52. Cemita de Milanesa at La Cemita Poblana
53. Meatballs and Polenta at 320 Main
54. Shellfish (Ốc) at Hien Vuong Da Kao
55. Basic Bol at Boldo Bol
56. Bang Bang Shrimp at Bonefish Grill
57. 10-Item Plate at Thuan Kieu Noodle & Grill
58. Leche Frita at Cafe Sevilla
59. Happy Hour Sushi at Ginzaya
60. Red Beans and Rice at Disneyland's French Market
61. Consommé from Tacos y Birria El Güero
62. Fried Chicken Biscuit Sandwich at Little Sparrow
63. Breakfast Taco at Sapphire Laguna
64. Husky Burger at Husky Boy Burgers
65. Love Bagel from Koffee Klatch
66. Kouign Amann From The Crema Cafe & Bakery
67. Chili Lime Popcorn From Green Tomato Grill
68. PB & J At Hopscotch
69. Takuwan Sushi from AnQi by Crustacean
70. Ube Ensaymadas from The Ensaymada Project
71. Pork Bánh Mì at the OC Poultry and Rotisserie Market
72. Tacos Gobernador from Mariscos Los Corales
73. Dutch Baby at the Original Pancake House
74. Doughnuts from Sidecar
75. Lengua Tacos at La Chonita
76. Oysters from Carlsbad Aquafarm at the Orange Homegrown Farmers Market
77. Lemon Miso Crab Melt at Umami Burger in Laguna Beach
78. Pani Puri from Adya
79. The Pocket at the Pocket Burger
80. Gyro Sandwich from Paul's Place
81. Slice of Heaven at Pie-Not
82. Taquitos at El Toro Bravo
83. Peanut Butter and Jelly Donut at the Donuttery
84. Dan Dan Mian at Wei-Shian Noodle
85. Beef Burger at Rider's Club Café
86. Smoked Trout at Provenance
87. Small Plates at A&J Restaurant
88. Corn Cheese at Zoomak Asian Bistro
89. Pumpkin Curry at Bhan Baitong
90. Poke at Costco Tustin II
91. Pambazo at Tacos Radioactivos
92. Beef Pho at Pho Crystal Noodle House
93. Breakfast Burrito from Cafe Calacas
94. Koobideh Plate from Grill Cafe
95. Tacos de Cecina from Alebrije's
97. Breakfast Sausage from Da-Le Ranch
98. Any Special Dinner by Old Vine Cafe's Mark McDonald
99. Tres Amigos Burrito from Piaggio on Wheels
100. Bacon-Wrapped Dates from Lola Gaspar
Follow Stick a Fork in It on Twitter @ocweeklyfood or on Facebook!
A contributing writer for OC Weekly, Anne Marie freelances for multiple online and print publications, and guest judges for culinary competitions. A Bay Area transplant, she graduated with a degree in Hospitality Management from Cal Poly Pomona. Find her on Instagram as brekkiefan.