15 Essential Restaurants in California
15 Essential Restaurants in California-Simply the Best
09.04.2016
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Elise R. Hileman
Writer, Musician, and Altruist
elise.hileman@gmail.com
Los Angeles, CA 90850
You could be sitting at the very table you should be in a restaurant, but how will you know you’ve come to the right place for a sit down breakfast, lunch, dinner, or dessert? You will be surprised when you see just how much there truly is to be admired from your seating-- just looking out the window, or even on the inside of the restaurant you’re sitting in the middle of. You might not have realized that you had come to the right place for a cup of chowder or a classic cooked dish, or even the most famous or classical restaurant in such a classic place unless you’ve read this list. One way for you to believe you’re in the right place for a good meal is to go on vacation in the beautiful and lovely state of California, where you can experience delicious in the most ambient of ways.
From the happiest place on earth to the one of the highest heights in California, I give you this list of 15 of California’s essential Restaurants.
The Blue Buyou, Anaheim, California
I remember once having woken up outside the Disneyland Resort in California, and it was the dawning of my memories as a California explorer where I had not realized at the early age of 5 that staying at a hotel did not mean that we were officially going to be living there at Disney Land. Being THE Disney Land, (known as “The Happiest Place on Earth,”) there is no better place to sit down for a meal than “The Blue Buyou,” with attractions from the ride “Pirates of the Caribbean,” sailing by on their ships as you dine. “A Cajun Evocative Restaurant,” that is fun for the whole family.
2. O’Claire’s, Long Beach, California
Thinking about staying in the Southern California area? Where else could be more fancy than lunch at O’Claires Museum of Art Oceanside Cafe in Long Beach, California. After a day of fun in the sun at the beach, have lunch by the ocean complete with a beautiful structure in the outdoor seating area where service is excellent and the food is delicious.
3. Congregation, Long Beach, California
Looking for heaven in downtown Long Beach? With heavenly design and one hell of a logo, this place will have your mind set on the ideas of the soul while you’re waiting for your food. A nice restaurant to feel at peace at and where, hell, you can also get something to drink at the bar. Themes with stained glass and the appeal of heaven and hell, you might just find your soul food to be delicious. Try intriguing pizzas.
4. Dirt Dog, Los Angeles, California
What better way to begin to understand life as a Los Angeles local, than to believe in the recommendation by a true local himself? Can’t find the right style or taste inside? Try eating a classic bacon wrapped dog, and try “ Dirt Dog.” “The official hot dog of Los Angeles.” Taking the classic street dog off the streets and offering to dress it up to be much fancier than anything you can find on the street, one who can enjoy good old fashion, and truly cares about the classics, and the scenes that the locals are enjoying, might definitely want to try it to fit in, and say they’ve eaten a classic hot dog wrapped in bacon.
5. BJ’s Restaurant and Brew, from Orange County, California
BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse was originally owned by a couple of pizza guys from Chicago, IL, where they had decided to come up with a menu that had more than just pizza: for variety. Known for having their own brewery and the very famous pizookie (the pizza cookie), going to any BJ’s might just do it for the appeal in knowing that you make a difference if you wanted to donate to Cystic Fibrosis Charity Funds. Founded in Orange, County, California, there are now over 45 BJ’s restaurants in California, and they are still advancing across the country. Fun and fancy sports bar with nice screens for you and your family to watch the game at dinner “The very definition of ‘wow’ for the casual dining experience.
6. Fisherman’s Wharf: The Big Fish Grill, Monterey Bay, California
California coast traveling? Try tasting clam chowder in Monterey after visiting one of California’s finest aquariums complete with a gallery by none other than the famous Wyland, whale mural painter, as well as a mural of his you can spot by the peer. Clam chowder is one of those dishes that takes preference to decide. So if you like extra pepper or you’d prefer your chowder thick and amusingly tasteful, make it to the end of the wharf and try a classic clam chowder sourdough bread bowl. Mmmm, and try some fish, Monterey Bay.
7. Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., Monterey Bay, California
Bubba Gump Shrimp Company was founded in California based on the project proposal from the character Bubu from the movie forrest Gump. In Monterey the restaurant is complete with an actor who will play the role outside the restaurant to entertain waiting guests before they are seated as though he is Forrest Gump himself. A fun idea would be to enjoy the seafood here after a trip out on the water. People can enjoy whale watching from these pier ship adventures.
8. Moss Beach Distillery, Half Moon Bay, California
In Half Moon Bay, you’ll find the Moss Beach distillery to have it’s appeal in rich fondness of appeal to history. There’s a dog friendly patio, and round the fire seating as well. Allegedly, there is a ghost called the blue lady which claims have been made by workers and visitors is still wandering the restaurant. The distillery is up on a hill by the oceanside where there is so much fog that during prohibition, bootleggers were able to feel safe transporting the alcohol at it’s sensitive time of being deemed against the law to be distributed. Thanks to the density of the fog, the distillery was ably to remain dependable for selling at’s liqueur long after prohibition ended.
9. King Fish, San Mateo, California
San Mateo, home of a central park in California, has several beautiful attractions to go and visit in the suburban outskirts of the city of San Francisco area, where you might find it dazzling to go and visit a coy fish pond in a Japanese tea garden where feng shui is popular in the name of designing the garden in a way that is zen and with well trimmed bonsai trees. It is well known if you have a chance to visit when the fair is in town, that there artists to be known in the city of San Mateo. At Kingfish restaurant in San Mateo, it would be a wise choice to enjoy the ahi ahi tuna as well as many other sushi treats from such a dazzling restaurant.
10. The Horn Blower, San Francisco, California
San Francisco’s cruise ship, the Horn Blower, isn’t always on a journey and you might just find it a fantastic dining experience to be served by some of California’s finest servers aboard in one of California’s finest gourmet restaurants. The Horn Blower is fine dining in the most exquisite sense of taste in experience.
11. Boudin Bakery, San Francisco, California
Still craving the scenes of San Fancisco? Try asking about the designing of their sourdough bread at Boudin Bakery, where they design intriguing creations of loafs of bread shaped like sea turtles or check out the alligator after visiting San Francisco’s Academy of Science. MMM... and interesting!
12. Cliff House, San Francisco, California
Cliff House is a fine restaurant which offers essential San Francisco ambiance you must see inside and out from the artwork on the walls to the gorgeous view you have from up there. Enjoy San Francisco bay area’s cliff house dining: it’s not only a classic scene, but a phenomenon of San Francisco.
13. Ghirardelli Dessert Restaurant, San Francisco, California
Make room for dessert. If you’re looking at Ghirardelli chocolate turning back and forth by a giant mixer in Ghirardelli Square, you’ll believe in heaven when you see their ice-cream sundaes topped with chocolate syrup and various assortments of other chocolate bits. There’s nothing like the smell of chocolate in the air, a free sample and a fortune of pure chocolate heaven before your very eyes if you visit the famous, Ghirardelli chocolate shop in San Francisco.
14. Broadway Heights Italian, Chico, California
An adorable little old fashion town still centered around restored themes of the pioneer days, equipped with a college town of a bunch of party people who also love to celebrate nature. Chico is home of the Bidwell Mansion where John Bidwell settled and founded the town and equipped the town with more types of trees than any other in California: giving the town it’s key nickname “City of Trees.” Chico is home to a national park “Bidwell Park,” where there are freshwater otters who still dwell in Chico Creek. Check out the giant yo-yo at Bird in Hand, explore Chico’s cafe’s and unique culture, and then head on up stairs for some Italian food at Broadway Heights a fancy restaurant in the center of downtown Chico... on Broadway.
15. North Star Tavern 6330, Tahoe, California
Going skiing or snowboarding in Tahoe? Check out Northstar. Enjoy the rustic cabin scene in Tahoe after a long day of skiing or tarin’ up the mountain on a snow board, where you can enjoy a nice cup of coa coa, sit by a fire, and enjoy a hot sandwich with a cup of soup on a cold winter’s day... when you’ve been having fun in the snow all day long. At one of the highest points you can reach in California, enjoy the comfort and inne style tavern.
