Dining
Tri-cultural delight
11.19.09
What happens when you have a melding of Japanese, French and Italian cuisine? For starters, there’s sea urchin spaghetti. Osso Bucco with Wagyu beef. Tuna tataki with buffalo mozzarella. At Cafe Hiro in Cypress, chef Hiro Ohiwa has been charming diners for years with his quirkily wonderful (and reasonably-priced!) fare. The small restaurant is adorned with cheerful decor, perfect for a casual date or fun gathering with friends. Don’t forget to save room for the fantastic desserts: the panna cotta, a silky custard that’s not too sweet and studded with fresh berries and the walnut creme brulee is a standout, too.
Be sure to call ahead for reservations as the place gets packed for dinner, especially on the weekends.
Cafe Hiro is located at 10509 Valley View St in Cypress (in the same plaza as Carl’s Jr.)
714.527.6090
Hours:
Closed Mondays
11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.; 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Tues-Thurs
11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.; 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday
Noon to 2:30 p.m.; 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday
Noon to 2:30 p.m.; 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Sunday
www.cafehiro.com
Hidden treasures of the sea
11.12.09
Local foodies—from Chowhound to OC Weekly’s Edwin Goei—have quietly been hailing Mariscos Puerto Esperanza in Orange as one of the best Mexican seafood restaurants around. The family-owned eatery is hidden in a strip plaza and may be a bit hard to find (it’s behind the Chevron gas station), but once you find it, you’ll be rewarded with a bounty of deliciousness from the sea: Grilled rock lobsters in a smoky chipotle sauce, marinated whole striped bass that’s slowly grilled to perfection, calamari tacos, and another must-try: the camarones azados, grilled shrimp slathered in a delectable citrus mustard sauce.
Mariscos Puerto Esperanza is located at 1724 N. Tustin St. in Orange.
714.998.3599
Hours:
11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday to Thursday
11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday
www.mariscospuertoesperanza.com
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