It’s a savory and sweet wonderland in our Grub Guide this week. From Buena Park to Laguna Hills and beyond, we’re digging into deals and grand openings like it’s nobody’s business. The best part: these are well into the future, meaning you haven’t missed out on a thing. Have a good holiday weekend, wherever you end up.
Knott’s Merry Farm in Full Swing – Buena Park
From Red Hot Cheetos, Takis and Boysenberry mayo elote, to deep fried turkey egg rolls (both found at Santa’s Cabin), Knott’s continues the annual merrymaking through January 6. Their Merry Christmas, Snoopy! ice skating spectacular made us all nostalgic, while a quartet of carolers got us in the holiday spirit. Even the lumberjack chic motif on their seasonal items caught our attention. However, we kept going back for more eats. Calico Fry Company carries a turkey poutine with cheese curds, cranberry sauce and gravy; pumpkin pie milkshake is at both Ghost Town Grill and Coasters Diner. Happy dining! 8039 Beach Blvd., (714) 220-5200; www.knotts.com.
Save the Date: GameCraft Brewing – Laguna Hills
Furniture shops along Avenida de la Carlota are what The Row is commonly known for. Yet GameCraft’s new brewery and tasting room has enjoyed a soft opening since September along the same strip. Now that they’ve worked out the kinks, it’s time for a proper celebration. Mark your calendar for Saturday, December 8. We dropped in recently for a sip, and were pleasantly surprised by the welcome vibe and creatively designed space. Their menu is definitely something we’ll head back for, with chewy pretzel bites and fried wontons both made in-house. Meatatarians will approve of their juicy karaage chicken (heat-seekers should request the hyper-spice) as well as both savory and sweet empanadas, supplied by The Empanada Maker. 23301 Avenida de la Carlota, (949) 734-0910; www.gamecraftbrewing.com.
Union Market Loves Weeknights – Mission Viejo
Featuring Happy Hour deals Monday through Friday at Dry Society bar, Sol Agave’s sophomore location and RTE (a.k.a. Ready To Eat, pictured), you can fill your belly for not a lot of dough between 3-6 p.m. If it’s a Tuesday, catch some trivia and treat the kiddos to a free dinner. Stopping by on a Friday? Live music kicks off at sundown. Having this food hall directly across from a movie theater means never needing to move your car to dine before or after a film; find them upstairs at Kaleidoscope. 27741 Crown Valley Pkwy, (714) 454-4465; www.unionmarketmissionviejo.com.
Dunkin’ Donuts Deals – Participating locations
A discount is a discount, whether it’s from a family-owned spot or big corporate chain. Dunkin’ is massively excited over their new espresso drinks, so they’ve got related deals that last well into December. For example, from now through the 25th, medium lattes and espressos are $2 morning, noon and night at participating locations. On Black Friday, add an espresso shot to any drink for only 50 cents. Finally, from November 26 through December 30, the $2 specials are back between the hours of 2-6 p.m. Sip on an Iced Cappuccino or Iced Americano while you plot your next move. Be sure to phone ahead to confirm if your location is participating. www.dunkindonuts.com.
The Pickled Monk Opening Soon – Fullerton
We spotted you over the weekend, new kid in town. Wreckless was our main course, but we wouldn’t mind checking out the new digs when they grand open on November 27. The brainchild of Chef David Fune, Pickled Monk is a beers and bites menu meant to rival the rest of the neighborhood. 20% of all proceeds on opening day will benefit the Boys and Girls Clubs of Fullerton. Visit the new gastropub the next time you’re in the DTF. 101 N. Harbor Blvd., (714) 793-9100; www.pickledmonk.com.
National French Toast Day at Farmer Boys – Participating locations
The boys at Farmer have a duo of exciting news, so consider this your two-fer. Stop by any branch on November 28 to order $1 French Toast. Drive-thru and third party delivery services don’t count, so be sure to step foot in participating locations. Limit one order per menu item purchase. If brekkie isn’t your thing, check out the new and improved crispy fries. Try them topped with chili and/or cheese, or stick to a piping hot batch with a side of ketchup. Either way, you win. www.farmerboys.com.
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.