Have You Eaten At These 6 OC Michelin-Recognized Affordable And Delightful Eateries?

ORANGE COUNTY, CA —The 2021 Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand list for California was announced this week with 45 restaurants added. Six of these Bib Gourmand California restaurants you'll find in Orange County. If you are not familiar with this list, it is intended to provide you with exceptional dining options without breaking your budget.

Bib Gourmand “restaurants offer a full menu of a starter, main course and dessert, making it possible to order two courses and a glass of wine or dessert for around $40 or less (tax and gratuity not included).”

The list includes casual taquerias, barbecue joints, neighborhood eateries in strip malls, and fine dining establishments. In Orange County, the following six received the highest praise:

• CHAAK Kitchen (Tustin)
• Fable & Spirit (Newport Beach)
• Heritage Barbecue (San Juan Capistrano)
• Khan Saab Desi Craft Kitchen (Fullerton)
• Oliver's Osteria Mare e Monti (Laguna Beach)
• Pho 79 (Garden Grove)

The reviewers notes lavish praise on the selections.

CHAAK Kitchen of Tustin offeres wide outdoor seating and a delectible assortmant of flavors. "The team behind these stoves swimmingly brings the vibrant smoke-and-spice-focused cuisine of the Yucatán Peninsula to life."

Newport Beach's Fable & Spirit received rave reviews in the notes.

"The room is packed with an unmistakable hum of happy diners diving into delicious pub grub," they wrote. "You'll want to order the Guinness brown bread which is an absolute delight, especially paired with plump P.E.I. mussels bathed in a thyme butter."

As for San Juan Capistrano's Heritage Barbecue, punctuality is of the essence.

"Everyone is here, early and eager, for chef and owner, Daniel Castillo's food," they write. "His creations draw inspiration from central Texas, so when that sweet scent of California white oak gets going, find yourself transported on a riotous journey, starting with slices of glistening brisket."

In Fullerton, Khan Saab Desi Craft Kitchen in Fullerton is known for their red meat.

The restaurant is run by Pakistani chef Imran Ali Mookhi. According to reviewers, the restaurant "displays a certain deftness with spices, flavors, and in his handling of red meat at this South Asian gem."

In Laguna Beach, you'll find Oliver's Osteria Mare e Monti just minutes from the Pacific Coast Highway.

"This Italian gem makes a delightful sight. Chef Erik De Marchi's menu has something for everyone," reviewers say. "He takes a range of familiar dishes and enhances them with an authentic flair."

Of Garden Grove's Pho 79, reviewers delighted in "the slurp."

"If you are no stranger to the slurp, then Pho 79 is likely already on your circuit," reviewers wrote. "After all, this place is an institution. Opened in the early 80s, it's widely considered to ladle some of the best and most praiseworthy pho in Southern California."

The list only includes restaurants making their first appearance in 2021. To see the complete list of more than 100 California Bib Gourmand restaurants, download the Michelin app. You will see the updates on Tuesday when Michelin announces its stars for 2021.

Read all of the Michelin Reviewers Notes