Dining
Flavorful bet: Bangkok Thai
02.22.10
For years, Bangkok Taste in Santa Ana has quietly been dishing up some of Orange County’s most solid and authentic Thai fare. The strong flavors shine through, from the lemongrass-infused broth of the Tom Yum (hot&sour) soups to the adequately intense heat of traditional offerings like larb, a delicious salad of minced chicken or beef doused in a dressing of fish sauce and lots of lime, accompanied by some cabbage wedges that make for perfect scooping utensils. Thankfully, there’s not much watering down of the flavors—so if you ask for an item to be spicy, it will be.
The $5.95 lunch specials are a big draw here and includes an entree, rice & fried wontons. The small but clean restaurant in tucked away in a nondescript strip mall: it doesn’t get more unassuming than being next to a Big Lots, but the food speaks for itself.
Bangkok Taste is located at 2737 N. Grand Avenue in Santa Ana
714. 532.2216
Dining
Innovative sushi at Ikko
02.22.10
Ikko is for sushi lovers with an open mind. However, it’s not for anyone looking for sushi rolls or even soy sauce on the table. The tiny restaurant is known for its innovative delicacies at the hands of skilled sushi artist Ikko Kobayashi. Sit at the bar and ask for the omakase (chef’s choice), which starts at $60 for six courses and you might wind up with treats such as the steamed egg custard with sea urchin sauce and black truffles, oysters with ponzu mousse or foie gras tacos, and so on and so forth. Otherwise, tasty picks include the salmon nachos (slices of fresh salmon and wasabi cream dotted with salmon roe, all atop crunchy tortilla chips) to spicy tuna with eggplant tempura to prosciutto-wrapped duck salad. Don’t forget to check out the blackboard sushi specials for an array of fish flown in from Japan like whelk, amberjack and barracuda, too.
It can get packed for dinner, reservations are recommended.
Ikko is located at 735 Baker St. in Costa Mesa
714.556.7822
Hours:
Lunch: Noon - 2:00 p.m. Mon-Thu.
Dinner: 6 p.m. - 10 p.m. Mon-Thu.
Lunch: Noon - 2 p.m. Friday
Dinner: 6 p.m. - 11 p.m. Friday
Dinner: 5:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m. Saturday
Dinner: 5:30 p.m. - 10 p.m. Sunday
Photo credit: J. Wesley Brown
Follow Greer on Pinterest
from the blog
- 12.23.24 – Celebrate the New Year with Osechi Ryori at Sushi Ii
- 12.23.24 – Topside ‘Til Midnight: Celebrate New Year’s Eve at Newport’s Only Rooftop Bar
- 12.23.24 – Celebrate the Season: Christmas Eve and Christmas Dinner at The Mayor’s Table
- 12.23.24 – Ring in 2025 with Elegance: New Year’s Soirée at The Mayor’s Table
- 12.23.24 – Toast to 2024: New Year’s Eve Celebrations at Bayside and Bistango
- 12.23.24 – Ring in the New Year Twice at Winter Fest OC!
- 12.23.24 – Better Buzz Coffee Opens in Fullerton with Exciting Grand Opening Celebration!
- 12.23.24 – Good Day & Company: Coastal-Inspired Finds in Downtown Tustin
- 12.20.24 – The Huntington Holiday House: A Festive Winter Wonderland by the Beach!
- 12.19.24 – Four Days Left to Experience The Nutcracker Magic!
- 12.18.24 – Studs Now Open at Irvine Spectrum Center: Your Earscaping® Destination!
- 12.17.24 – Breakfast Republic After Dark: Costa Mesa’s New Evening Hotspot
- 12.17.24 – Celebrate Christmas Eve at Darkroom with Haus of Prime Rib
- 12.16.24 – Traditional Christmas Dinner Made Easy with The Meat Cellar’s To-Go Offerings
- 12.16.24 – Dreamers Market at Anaheim Packing District
- 12.11.24 – 714 Holiday Market at Anaheim Packing District
- 12.11.24 – Warson Wines: Crafted with Passion and Precision
- 12.10.24 – Elevating the Art of Cocktails: SOCIAL Kitchen + Craft Bar Unveils a Bold New Menu
- 12.08.24 – Celebrate the Holidays with Polly’s Pies’ Prime Rib Specials!
- 12.07.24 – Fermentation Farm Expands to San Juan Capistrano – Where Wellness and Flavor Thrive
More Daily Doses
- 12.23.24 – RH Newport Beach: A Masterpiece of Design and Dining at Fashion Island
- 12.23.24 – River Street Marketplace Welcomes First Wave of Shops and Eateries to San Juan Capistrano
- 12.23.24 – Explore, Dine, and Relax: Catalina Island’s Winter Getaway Packages
- 12.20.24 – Restored Crystal Cove Cottages Now Open for Online Reservations
- 12.16.24 – Molly O’Neil Opens Luxury Design Studio and Home Decor Shop in Costa Mesa
- 12.16.24 – Celebrate the Season in Style at RJB Restaurants’ Coastal Favorites
- 12.11.24 – Mercado Mesa: A New Culinary Experience at Paseo 17
- 12.10.24 – Bar Becky Brings Italian-American Innovation to Long Beach Exchange
- 12.08.24 – The Lido Theater’s 12 Days of Christmas Movies: December 11–23, 2024
- 12.06.24 – Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade: 116 Years of Holiday Magic, Lights, and Cheer
- 12.04.24 – Celebrate 10 Years of Holiday Magic at Winter Fest OC!
- 12.02.24 – Exclusive Holiday Event: Beauty, Raffles, and More
- 11.29.24 – Festive Fun at Pete’s Christmas Vacation at Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach!
- 11.26.24 – Newport Dunes’ 34th Annual Lighting of the Bay: Holiday Magic!
- 11.22.24 – Celebrate Thanksgiving in Style at South Coast Plaza
- 11.22.24 – Discover Holiday Magic at Sawdust Art Festival’s Winter Fantasy in Laguna Beach
- 11.20.24 – Festive Holiday Event & Nightly Light Show at The District at Tustin Legacy!
- 11.18.24 – Holiday Magic with the LA Master Chorale: Festival of Carols at Musco Center
- 11.15.24 – The Lido Theater Launches Café Pop-Up Experience
- 11.13.24 – Crews Quarters Moves to Via Lido Plaza: Discover the New Location!
