Greer's OC | The latest in Orange County fashion, dining, and trends.

NEW York’s Famed Halal Guys Arrive in Costa Mesa

By Greer Wylder

September 30, 2015

The Halal Guys, New York’s food cart with a cult following, are expanding from New York to its first West Coast brick-and-mortar fast casual location opening Friday, Oct. 2 in Costa Mesa. The famed food cart is known for its gyro sandwiches, chicken-and-rice platters and delicious mystery white sauce. You can also order delicous French french fries, hummus, tahini and pita, olives and baklava. The NYC-based concept signed a deal with Fransmart known for building other popular concepts such as Five Guys, to bring 50 franchised units to Southern California. The Halal Guys grew from a modest food cart on…

Little Sparrow Flies High With New Chef

By Greer Wylder

September 28, 2015

No one wants to see a great chef leave a restaurant, especially one who made a huge mark in such a short time, but a few months ago, Little Sparrow’s chef Eric Samaniego was let go. Thanks to Samaniego culinary talents, Little Sparrow won multiple awards and was featured on Bravo’s “Best New Restaurants.” The good news is that Little Sparrow, a chic bistro in Santa Ana boasts a new ultra talented chef in charge, Melissa Ortiz, formerly Little Sparrow’s sous chef. Ortiz, an Orange County native, served 7 ½ years in the Army and while cooking for fellow soldiers…

Line-up for Sandwiches at The Trough

By Greer Wylder

September 01, 2015

From the same group who brought us the Blind Pig Kitchen + Bar restaurant and the Trough Sandwich Kitchen on the picturesque Lago Santa Margarita in Rancho Santa Margarita comes their first foray into Newport Beach: The Trough Sandwich Kitchen on the Balboa Peninsula, just steps from the beach, Balboa Pier, boardwalk and the Fun Zone. The super casual Trough Sandwich Kitchen in Newport Beach just opened and is serving breakfast all day, as well as lunch and dinner created by Executive Chef Karl Pfleider. With six cold sandwiches and eleven hot sandwiches to choose from all served on OC…

Michoacan Street Food at Urbana

By Greer Wylder

August 28, 2015

Urbana is the latest artisan eatery to open at the Anaheim Packing House. Owner Javier Cuadra was born and raised in Zamora, Mexico and grew up with access to delicious, fresh street food. After exporting seasonal organic berries from Mexico, he eventually yearned to open a restaurant and now with Chef Ernie Alvarado’s culinary artistry he’s bringing hearty and healthy Michoacán street food to the Packing House family. Urbana offers 100% natural and fresh ingredients including handmade tortillas, gourmet tacos such as tinga tu taco with cotija, pickled red onion, and micro cilantro. Other delicious items include snapper ceviche, nachos…

The Best Chicken in OC

By Greer Wylder

August 26, 2015

Crispy, juicy rotisserie chicken, hummus, famous garlic sauce, and freshly baked pita like no other—this is Zankou Chicken. If you haven’t been to Zankou Chicken in Anaheim, you’re missing out on some of the best chicken in Orange County. With roots in Lebanon, the Los Angeles based fast casual eatery with eight locations mostly in the LA area, is affordable, delicious and committed to high quality standards. They do not serve frozen, canned, microwaved or artificial flavored foods. Its famous chicken is delivered fresh every day, beef is high quality USDA and its pita bread is baked fresh daily, too. …