Greer's OC

Our latest mission is to try new restaurants off the beaten path to us. We feel like we’ve been in a food rut, and it’s time to venture out to delicious eateries that we’ve been meaning to get to. Each week, we’ll be reporting where we went and what we think you should try.

Japanese food is one of our favorite cuisines, and that normally means we’re going out for sushi. But at Kappo Honda in Fountain Valley you can experience a traditional izakaya, which translates to something like a pub with bar food, or small plates.

There’s a lot to choose from on Kappo’s extensive menu that includes grilled, fried and steamed offerings, as well as sushi! Unless you know what you’re doing you could get lost. We recommend asking your server what to order, and share everything.

Kappo Honda is known for its yakitori, and yet its udon and ramen is pretty amazing too. From the yakitori menu you have to pork belly, lamb chop, and Japanese beef and bacon-wrapped asparagus. Other favorites were the Shishito peppers with miso; the comfort food, Tanuki Udon, with tempura pieces; Poki Don with tuna, salmon, octopus, and avocado over rice; nasu miso, eggplant with ground beef in a sweet miso sauce; and the negi-yakii, a vegetable pancake with okonomi sauce and rich mayo.  

Beer and wine only and they’re pushing the Kirin Free if you want to try an alcohol free beer.

Open 5:30 to 12:30 a.m. daily.

18450 Brookhurst St. in Fountain Valley. 714.964.4629.

Costa Mesa Restaurant Week!

The third annual Costa Mesa Restaurant Week kicks off today through Friday, Aug. 23. For seven days you can enjoy special prix fixe lunch and dinner menus at 40 of Costa Mesa's top restaurants. (You just need to ask for the CMRW menu.)

The savings during Costa Mesa Restaurant Week are up to 40% off regular prices.  Favorites include Charlie Palmer at Bloomindgale’s South Coast Plaza prix fixe menu for $20.13; breakfast Happy Hour at Blackmarket Bakery; and Mesa’s three course menu with Rib-eye Steak for $30.

For more details on participating restaurants and menus visit CostaMesaRestaurantWeek.org