Eat Chow in Costa Mesa is the little bistro that could. Its original location sits on the relatively quiet and unassuming block of 18th Street off Newport Boulevard, just a block north of the bustling haven of some of Newport-Mesa's most popular eateries on 17th Street. It's not the type of location you drive by and decide to try; instead you seek it out, prompted by emphatic recommendations from friends or a certain local alt-weekly fishwrap.
But seek it out and you shall be rewarded. Each of their dishes are made with equal parts caring and daring. You're safe using the Russian roulette method of ordering: blindly circle your finger around the day's offerings, stop and order THAT one. Or you can order using a recommendation and here's what we recommend: the fig and brie panini.
It's a dish of dueling textures and tastes and the winner of the battle is your mouth. The first experience comes just from lifting the slices: The exterior bread is hard and crispy as one would expect from a panini while the interior is filled with warm, melted brie cheese that has the long, stringy pull apart worthy of Foodbeast's ode to cheese, Oozefest.
Take a bite and notice the loud crunch through the slightly charred bread and how it quiets as you make your way to the soft underside of the bread and into the melted cheese. The sweetness of the fig preserves hit your mouth first then the ever-so-slight sharpness of the brie fights back. Light portions of leafy greens and carmelized onions are part of the dish's arsenal as well, but they are mostly there for texture as the fig and cheese are the real draw here.
The sandwich is served alongside a bed of lightly-dressed leafy greens for a simple and airy accompaniment to this rich and filling lunchtime treat. Better yet: Eat Chow's SanTana location is rumored to be opening next month.
The List:
10. Country Ham and Egg Donut at Sidecar Doughnuts
11. Pastrami Tacos at Lola Gaspar
12. Chicken Schnitzel at Ironwood
13. Meatloaf En Croute at Grits Fullerton
14. Lunch Special at Two Brothers Pizza
15. Banh Cuon Thit Nuong at Banh Cuon Luu Luyen
16. Shrimp Quesadilla at Taco Maria
17. Chihuahua at Mercado Modern Cuisine
18. Msabaha at Ishtar Mediterranean Grill
19. Causa (Peruvian Chicken Salad) at Inka Cantina
20. Jajangmyeon at Beijing Wok & Grill
21. Spicy Raw Shrimp at Royal King Elephant
22. Stuffed Croissants at Blackmarket Bakery DTSA
23. Lobster Elote at Dos Chinos
24. Garlic Noodles at the Kickin' Crab
25. Fish Tacos at Anepalco
26. Sauteed Shrimp at Cafe Hiro
27. Uncle Lou's Fried Chicken at Playground
28. Bo Ssam at Mountain
29. Bentos at Tenkatori
30. Pork Belly Bites at Coastal Kitchen
31. Pizza Omelet at Old Vine Cafe
32. Gorgonzola Bacon Burger at Zov's
33. Falafel Taco at Falasophy
34. $10.95 Lunch Special at Istanbul Grill
35. Aporreadillo at El Picante
36: The Big Mike at C4 Deli
37. Crab Jalapeños from Carmelita's Kitchen
38. Combo Plate at Punjabi Tandoor
39. Crepe Cakes at TeaArias
40. Bacon and Eggs at Break of Dawn
41. Combo Platter from The Halal Guys
42. Sunflower Salad from PIE-NOT
43. Watermelon Salad from Barley Forge Brewing Company
44. Breakfast Burrito from Pedro's Tacos
45. Salmon Toast from Haven Gastropub
46. Croque Madame Sandwich at Café Beau Soleil
47. Dean's Thai Curry Chicken Pizza
48. Aguas Frescas at Mar and Terra
49. Bocatas at Olé! Spain Delishop
50. Pan Con Pollo at El Divino Salvador Del Mundo
51. Tacos al Vapor at Tito's La Especial
52. Knafeh at Knafeh Cafe
53. Yakiudon Nikkei at Aji Limon
54. Yakitori at Electric City Butcher
55. Tsukemen at Kitakata Ramen Ban Nai
56. Ten Zaru Soba at Tanakaya
57. Pink Cloud Sandwich at Alicia's Cookery
58. Homemade Super Nachos at Taqueria Los Santos
59. Strawberry Banana Croissant at Cream Pan
60. Pla Duk Phat Phet at Vientiane Thai Laos Restaurant
61. Risotto Con Burrata at Taverna
62. Pineapple Float at Jollibee
63. Szechuan Fries at Wok N Tandoor
64. Banh Xeo at Quan Mii
65. Chanko Nabe at
66. Hamshuka from Hummus Bowl
67. The Reuben at A Market
68. Everything Cake from Slice Deli And Cakery
69. Spicy Shrimp And Eggplant from Brio Tuscan Grille
70. Crawfish Mac & Cheese from The Wharf
71. Malasadas from Dough Doughs Hawaiian Cafe
72. Salsas from Salsa Bandolera
73. Chorizo Breakfast Bagel at
74. Whole Chicken Combo at
75. Toothpick Lamb at Sichuan Impression
76. Hainan Chicken Rice at
77. Fruit- and Ice Cream-Topped Waffles at Crave
78. Garlic Shrimp Poke at Costco
79. Chimichurri Fries at
80. Torta Cubana at Cancun Juice
81. Adobo Bowl at
82. Garlic Noodles at Krave Asian Fusion
83. Broccolini at SeaSalt WoodFire Grill
84. Spicy Tuna Roll at Yard House
85. Amber Roll at Orange Roll and Sushi
86. Frito Chili Cheeseburger at Burger Parlor
87. Maui Sunrise at The Original Banzai Bowls
88. Meals from The Performance Kitchen
89. Pizza-Sized Quesadilla at Los Sanchez
90. Filipino Brunch at EATS Kitchen And Bar
91. Mexican Chocolate at the Pie Hole
92. Biscuits at
93. Mushroom Flatbread with Kale and Kumquat Salad at Lemonade
94. Mexican-Style Gelatins from Santa Ana's
95. Hot Pastrami Caesar Salad at Bruxie
96. Jalapeño Pupusas at Las Cazuelas
97. Meatball Sliders at Fresh Brothers
98. Buffalo Cauliflower at Mead's Green Door Cafe
99. Raindrop Cake at
100. Doughrito at Surfin' Donuts
When not running the OCWeekly.com and OC Weekly’s social media sites, Taylor “Hellcat” Hamby can be found partying like it’s 1899.
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