Where to Eat Tacos, Seafood, Burgers (and Frozen Bananas) in Newport Beach

Newport’s Lido Marina Village has quickly blossomed into a favorite hangout for locals and visitors alike to soak up the sun, relax along the bay, and people watch. But before you do any of that, you’ll want to grab brunch at Malibu Farms. The light-filled, rustic space is perfect for a bowl of açai with seasonal fruit, or the more substantial Surfer’s Ranchero with eggs, tortillas, and extra vegetables. The dinner menu has hearty, healthy comfort fare, like a vegan tofu and zucchini lasagna, miso-tahini salmon, and a mustard-lemon chicken with kale and quinoa.

Fable & Spirit might not look like your stereotypical Irish pub, but its thoroughly modern and refined take was enough to garner a Michelin Bib Gourmand. Saddle up to the bar for a signature cocktail like the Fairy’s Revenge (a blood orange and Suze-ified spin on a Negroni), or settle along one of their plush velvet banquettes for a substantial meal of Wagyu steak with a side of heirloom carrots and chimichurri. If you’re still nursing a hangover in the morning, return for one of their classics, like the house corned beef hash with sweet potatoes.   

Arc Butcher & Baker is the more casual outpost of Arc Food & Libations in neighboring Costa Mesa. But at this airy shop, you’ll find rustic, whitewashed brick walls inside and plenty of patio dining for sunny beach days. The menu has an eclectic mix of small shareable plates like stuffed peppers and salmon tartare, wood oven-fired pizzas and flatbreads, seafood options, and several cuts of steak. If it’s a perfect beachside brunch you’re after, order the croissant French toast and the Summer Seltzer (an aperitif with strawberry and cucumber). For wine lovers, Arc has a short-yet-manicured wine list at the table, but a full bottle shop next door.

For date nights and solo meals alike, Mayor’s Table is a lively addition to Newport Beach’s pub scene, with occasional live music and menus that run from breakfast to nightcaps. Set in the old City Hall (thus the name), Mayor’s Table has a seafood-centric kitchen, so you’ll do well to order a half-dozen oysters with the mezcal hibiscus mignonette, followed by the koji-marinated black cod. If a business lunch is in order, try the lobster doughnuts—have two more delicious words ever been written? Seal the deal with a slice of the decadent Death By Chocolate cake for dessert.

Toward the edge of Lido Peninsula, you’ll find Shorebird and its all-day offerings. The menu leans heavily on tacos and seafood (including sashimi and sushi rolls), which is probably the most Southern Californian combination imaginable. Blue crab is the focus of the handrolls, while nigiri options include fresh scallops and yellowtail. If you’re more in the mood for tacos, try the bison short ribs accented with charred jalapenos. There’s a full drinks menu, too, with plenty of cocktails, wine, beer, and sake.

Within Newport Harbor sits Balboa Island—a small community that can feel like a town unto itself. The Royal Hen stands out here along the few blocks that make up the island’s main drag, for their fine work combining international flavors with fresh local produce. The brunch menu lists duck confit hash next to hanger steak a la Ranchero, while dinner features coconut curry mussels and a chicken pot pie. Whatever your order, the cozy vibe and friendly service erases any line between visitor and local.

While not technically in Newport Beach, a quick ride over to neighboring Costa Mesa is well worth it when the payoff is Taco Maria. Chef/owner Carlos Salgado opened this taqueria a decade ago in homage to one ingredient: corn. In the years since, he’s become a pioneer of Alta California cuisine, which highlights pre-Colombian ingredients native to Central America, and even gone so far as to cultivate a unique heirloom varietal of corn grown by small family farms in Oaxaca. Salgado has been rewarded by Michelin for his efforts and Taco Maria remains one of the most sought-after seats in SoCal.

You’ll find plenty of fresh fish, of course, at Bear Flag Fish Company. Whether that comes in the form of tacos, sushi, ceviche, or a poke bowl is up to you, but the catch was likely made by Bear Flag’s own fishermen just a few miles from where you’re eating. The Tommy Sauce (a sort of secret sauce akin to Russian dressing) sets the tacos and burritos apart, and the extra-crispy tortilla chips make for a truly unstoppable snack when paired with the house-made pico de gallo. Order up a beer and ask yourself why you ever need to leave. 

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Alta Coffee is the sort of cozy cafe that makes you feel at home even on your first visit. There’s the usual array of coffee drinks in the morning, along with some more unique options like an Australian Coffee Shake (a blended affogato). Breakfast is served all day, so feel free to bring a book and stay awhile to finish off their various egg plates or breakfast burritos. Lunch options include plenty of unfussy salad and sandwich options, like the curry chicken salad or a tuna melt with diced apples.

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Placed precariously between the Pacific Coast Highway and a bluff overlooking Crystal Cove State Park’s beach below, this bright yellow shack has been serving up its famous shakes to beachgoers since 1945. The Cove Deluxe Cheeseburger with its secret sauce remains a classic, but breakfast is just as inviting. Grab a spot on the outdoor deck and take in the day with a late breakfast of pancakes and eggs to the sound of the waves below. Find your way back after an afternoon in the water and grab a root beer float as you watch the sun set into the ocean.   

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Tucked away in a nondescript shopping center, Bello offers one of the area’s most interesting (and exclusive, with only six seats) tasting menus. Here, chef Zach Scherer takes classic Italian cooking and plays with it in exciting and delicious ways for a seasonally-inspired, 12-course, $245 menu. Recent highlights have included dry aged tuna on roasted cabbage with dehydrated beet and salmon roe, Maine lobster with peppers fermented two ways, and a dessert of espresso zabaglione with dark chocolate, habanada, and basilicata peppers. Be sure to take advantage of the suggested wine pairings.

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This Balboa Island institution has been memorialized (and parodied) in the TV series Arrested Development for a reason: it’s fed generations of Southern Californians chocolate-dipped frozen bananas that have come to symbolize summer itself. Whether you like yours topped with sprinkles, Oreos crumbs, or toffee bits, you can grab a spot on the benches out front or sit in the shade beneath the awning and chow down as you watch fellow islanders walk by. And if you’re still hungry for something sweet afterwards, Dad’s sells ice cream by the scoop and homemade donuts, too.. 

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Oren Peleg is a journalist and screenwriter. He currently contributes to Eater LA, Los Angeles, The Infatuation, and hosts the Not Billable podcast. You can follow him here. While you’re at it, follow Resy, too.