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Best Margarita’s in Orange County

In honor of National Tequila Day, I thought I would write about my favorite margaritas in Orange County. There are so many to choose from but, obviously I can only speak to the ones I’ve tried. Since that list is long too, I’ll mentioned the ones that left a lasting impression.

 

For me, what sets a good margarita apart from a GREAT margarita is the mix, tequila ratio and tequila quality.

  1. Fresh is best! Any bar or restaurant using store bought mix is committing a cocktail crime. It is such a disservice to the tequila and the customer. Since I identify as a “foodie”, I understand that there is a segment of the population who doesn’t mind the sad sweet and sour margarita. That said, I am willing to pay a few extra dollars for the higher quality rita.
  2. Don’t be stingy with the booze! So many times I’ve ordered a margarita and wondered if they thought I said virgin. Either it tastes watered down, super sweet or so acidic you get heartburn.
  3. Use top shelf! The quality of the tequila is so important. I know some people feel you shouldn’t waste the good tequila on a margarita. I say, don’t ever serve a margarita with low grade tequila. As I’ve said, I’m willing to pay more for a better drink.

 

With that, I will say when a restaurant serves their best margarita at a great price, I will be back and tell all of my friends! Here are my Best Margarita’s in Orange County:

  • Cha Cha’s Latin Kitchen (2 Locations: Downtown Brea and Irvine) The Best House Margarita
  • Carmelita’s (2 Locations: Laguna Beach and Rancho Santa Margarita) The Best Strawberry Jalapeno
  • South of Nicks (San Clemente) The Best Skinny
  • SOL (Newport Beach) The Best Jalapeno

 

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Cha Cha’s Latin Kitchen

Summers in Southern California have been getting hotter over the last few years. The sunshine is abundant and the food delectable. One of my favorite ways to cool off and relax is over food, drinks and live music.

In June of 2017, a new Latin restaurant opened in a shopping center where there used to be the International House of Pancakes. I admit that I was reluctant to try it because of the two aforementioned reasons. How good could it be? Growing bored of our usual dinner spots, we decided to try Cha Cha’s Latin Kitchen. Boy, was I surprised.

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Rancho Capistrano Winery

Rancho Capistrano Winery (RCW)  boasts the largest winery in Orange County. They are located in the heart of San Juan Capistrano. SJC is a cute little city with boutiques, coffee shops, a small petting zoo for the young ones and the famous Mission San Juan Capistrano. It makes for a great day trip on the train (Metrolink OR Amtrak). Keep an eye on the schedule though, you may find yourself spending the night in San Juan.

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Burger Boss

January is almost over now. All those resolutions to eat right and stay fit should be yielding results. I decided a long time ago I wouldn’t make resolutions or diet because those are temporary. Changing your lifestyle is the only way to make things stick. That doesn’t mean you have to suffer or never splurge…a little. I recently tried Burger Boss in Tustin. The offer all natural grass fed beef burgers that you can customize or “Boss” your way. Don’t hate me when I say, I’m not a big burger fan. I am into trying new eateries. With that said, I tried the 100% Ground Turkey Breast burger on a Gluten Free bun. (Gluten is a whole other post for me!)

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Tokyo Table

Diamond Jamboree shopping center in Irvine has a plethora of great Asian dining choices. I had the pleasure of a “date” lunch with my husband a few days ago. We decided on Tokyo Table. It wasn’t the first time we tried it but the previous two times we did take out. This was the first time actually dining in the restaurant. To me, a great experience involves amazing food, excellent customer service and an ambiance that complements everything else. Walking in we were pleasantly surprised at the decor. An amazing chandelier hung near the bar. (So bummed I missed getting the pic!) I kept hearing Sia in my head. As we walked to our table, I loved the artwork depicting downtown Tokyo including the famous Tokyo Tower. (That is pictured above.)

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