Dining
Spiciest City
08.29.14
We just discovered Spicy City in Anaheim Hills, an upscale Chinese restaurant with both American style Chinese foods and traditional Szechuan dishes to satisfy all tastes.
The Anaheim Hills location was formerly Mandarin Taste and is now owned by Tony Xu who hails from Hunan, China. He's bringing a love for his mother’s cooking to Spicy City. He also has a location in Irvine on Culver Drive.
Whether you want to stop by for a lunch buffet or order off the lunch and dinner menu, you can dine on Chinese favorites such as egg rolls, hot and sour soup, Kung Pao chicken, fried shrimp, and moo shu pork, or get more adventurous with brotherhood eel, Hunan style lamb hot pot, pork intestines in dried pot, or frog with chili and hot sauce.
A few favorites include the garlic eggplant and cumin lamb, shredded pork with pickled vegetables, honey walnut shrimp, and Mongolian beef.
Both locations feature a full bar, hardwood floors, traditional Chinese decor, cloth linens and family style dishes.
Open 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday to Sunday.
5555 E. Santa Ana Canyon Road in Anaheim. 714.974.8889.
Open 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday.
14310 Culver Drive, Ste A-100 in Irvine. 949.733.9200
Posh and Delicious Indian Cuisine
08.20.14
The award-winning Tamarind of London at Crystal Cove Promenade isn’t just the most visually stunning contemporary Indian restaurant in OC, it’s also the sister restaurant to the Michelin ranked flagship location in London.
And thanks to their wildly talented Executive Chef Imran Ali, a leader in the Modern Indian Cuisine movement who visits India every year to meditate and charge his culinary creativity, the menu offerings are delectable, some are vegetarian, vegan, gluten and dairy free. Even Los Angeles Times’ restaurant critic, Jonathan Gold named it the “Best Indian Food” of 2013 in Southern California.
Chef Imran’s journeys inspire his elevated, diverse menu creations and sophisticated offerings for every occasion, mood, appetite and palate. He even takes special orders for locals who are craving hard to find dishes.
Tamarind of London’s dishes are visually artistic and colorful, with complex spices and flavors such as the aloo tikki and masala aloo, a grilled potato cake with cumin and ginger; spiced masala-potato croquette with smoked tomato chutney; sweet potato crisps; and lassen jhinga, tandoori grilled prawns with kalonji, garlic, marinade, tulsi salad; and baingan ka salan, a baby eggplant curry with Indian baby eggplant, moilee curry sauce and Indian risotto; tandoori chicken served with a cranberry chutney and cucumber salad; and chicken tikka masala, a chicken breast tikka in makhni sauce with sauteed onions and dried fenugreek leaves.
Other favorites that you must try include the dumpukht biryani, its signature rice biryani, sealed with a pastry lid, with a choice of vegetables, shrimp, chicken or lamb; the goat cheese naan; Safrani Machhi, a Charbroiled Chilean Sea Bass marinated in safron, ginger and green chillies; apricot curry sauce; Indian risotto; and the grilled quinoa with punjabi pyaz; and lastly the mulaim rattan curry, lemon chili scallops simmered in a lemongrass scented coconut curry served with garlic naan
Tamarind of London offers an upscale Indian dining experience, signature cocktails, a generous Happy Hour and it’s open for lunch and dinner daily.
Open for lunch 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday; and for dinner from 5 to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday; open for lunch 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Sunday; and open for dinner 5 to 9 p.m.
Tamarind of London is at Crystal Cove Shopping Center, 7862 East Coast Hwy. in Newport Beach. 949.715.8338.
More Daily Doses
- 04.30.24 – Peel Craftbar & Kitchen’s Cinco de Mayo Specials: Sophisticated Culinary Cocktails
- 04.17.24 – Earth Day Celebration: Vegan Sushi & Organic Cocktails at Ocean Prime Beverly Hills
- 05.24.23 – Rare Society Steakhouse Opens in San Clemente, Blending Vintage Charm with Modern Flair
- 05.22.23 – The Country Club Debuts Vibrant New Seasonal Menus
- 04.13.23 – Sustainable Beast Feast Dinner at CUCINA enoteca
Follow Greer on Pinterest
from the blog
- 08.17.26 – Disney’s Beauty and the Beast Returns to Segerstrom Center for the Arts
- 08.17.26 – Mercado González Brings Mexican Marketplace Experience to La Habra
- 08.17.26 – Habana Turns the Lights Down for Weekly Candlelight Dinners
- 08.14.26 – Jonathan Alcala Named Executive Chef at Temecula Creek Inn
- 08.11.26 – Prince St. Pizza’s Black Currant Big Apple Pie Lands in Costa Mesa
- 08.11.26 – Anaheim White House Marks 39 Years With Italian-Style Anniversary Dinner
- 08.11.26 – Rent The Runway Warehouse Sale Comes to Tustin
- 08.08.26 – Silver Oak Comes to the Pier: 21 Oceanfront’s One-Night Wine Dinner
- 08.07.26 – 8th Annual Gourmet by the Bay Returns to Newport Beach
- 08.07.26 – Library Foundation Brings the Voice Behind Williams’ Music to Witte Hall
- 08.07.26 – Europa Village Unveils Lucia at the Cave, a New Wine Cave Cocktail Lounge
- 08.06.26 – Alisal Ranch Marks 80 Years with a Summer of Celebration
- 07.29.26 – Palm Springs Gets a New Reason to Stay and Stay Awhile
- 07.24.26 – Winter Fest OC Kicks Off Christmas in July Sale
- 07.23.26 – VIII by Selanne Unveils Summer Tasting Menu
- 07.20.26 – One Night, Five Courses, and a Top Chef Canada Champion at Balboa Bay Resort
- 07.17.26 – Voluspa Brings Luxury Home Fragrance to Irvine Spectrum Center
- 07.14.26 – VEA Newport Beach Debuts Chef Angelo Sosa Summer Menu
- 07.13.26 – Amorelia Cocina Artesanal Brings the Flavors of Michoacán to Laguna Beach
- 07.13.26 – Via Lido Plaza Hosts Stars, Stripes & Summer Celebration July 17-18
More Daily Doses
- 08.17.26 – Sweet Arrival: Levain Bakery Opens First Orange County Location at Fashion Island
- 08.16.26 – Pacific Wine & Food Classic Returns to Newport Beach in September
- 08.13.26 – Z SUPPLY Pops Up at Lido Marina Village With New Denim Collection
- 08.11.26 – Inside Eichholtz’s New SOCO Showroom
- 08.10.26 – Good Together House: Laguna Beach’s Home for the Extraordinary and Unexpected
- 08.06.26 – Kei Concepts Expands ROL Hand Roll Bar with New La Habra Location
- 08.04.26 – Anaheim’s Sixth Annual World Taste Returns to the Packing District
- 08.02.26 – ‘Gala of the Stars’ Returns to Segerstrom for 17th Year
- 07.24.26 – LJ’s Lounge Brings Soul-Infused Dining and Music to Triangle Square
- 07.19.26 – Inside Reecess, Newport Beach’s New Wellness Destination
- 07.14.26 – Life Time Opens Resort-Style Athletic Club in Brea
- 07.14.26 – Flea Style Brings Its Hat Bar Concept Home to Laguna Beach
- 07.13.26 – Gordon Ramsay Opens The Carnaby at Downtown Disney
- 07.08.26 – Noble Ace Debuts in Laguna Beach’s Historic Heisler Building
- 07.05.26 – Pageant of the Masters Returns to Laguna Beach With ‘The Greatest of All Time’
- 07.05.26 – Earl of Sandwich Opens New Flagship at Downtown Disney
- 06.30.26 – A Blissful Japanese Head Spa Experience at Invita Costa Mesa
- 06.28.26 – Fourth of July in Orange County: Celebrating America’s 250th Birthday
- 06.23.26 – Del Mar’s 2026 Summer Racing Season Opens July 17
- 06.19.26 – Sherman Library & Gardens Introduces Hazeltine’s and New Afternoon Tea Experience
