My husband and I love to try new dishes and Happy Hour gives us the perfect opportunity. Now we’ve never been to Spain, but its tradition of tapas, or small plates, is said to be a lot like our happy hours here in Orange County, California.
The best part about attending these events is that you get to try food that might otherwise be a bit more expensive when served in the dining room, plus the atmosphere is a bit more relaxed. Sometimes, depending on the restaurants, you even meet very interesting people and have entertainment. Most require you to eat at the bar and order a drink, but I haven’t been to one yet that insists they have an alcohol-based one.
Our frugal college-aged son was the first to introduce us to one of the best deals in Orange County. Unfortunately, even though the restaurant is owned by the same company, they changed the name and walked away with one of the best deals in the county! It was from Thaifoon at the Irvine Spectrum. It was the “1,2,3” deal. Appetizers for literally $1, $2 or $3 from 4 to close! Now the restaurant is called Ling and Louie’s. The menu is still a bargain and the patio is the place to be. The prices have gone up to be 1/2 price. But there are still many options. Service can be spotty, so at this location, I wouldn’t recommend going on a weekend. Too crowded and the staff is overworked!
Any of the county’s Claim Jumper restaurants has a great happy hour menu. If they’re not too busy, they’ll also be happy to grill up some of the fried foods. There’s always free popcorn. The best part, 4-7 are usually $3 off any appetizer, including individual pizzas! If you wish, you can order from the regular menu. Just remember, this is a very popular chain, so get there early and don’t be picky about the table you get, just be glad you can get one!
The Beachfire Grill has two locations. One at Ladera Ranch, another by, what else, one of the many beaches in the county! My husband loves to order the bacon cheddar cheeseburger. It comes with fries for $6. If you order the same thing from the dinner menu in the dining room, double the price. I like some of the salads. The atmosphere is just what you would expect. The Ladera Ranch often has live entertainment. The artwork is for sale. If you love beach scenes, this place is a treasure.
The Yard House has several restaurants in the county. They all have a lively atmosphere, lots of options, and are quite noisy. But there is a lot on the happy hour menu to choose from, all good. This is a great place to take a large group and share.
Most El Toritos, El Torito Grills, Acalpaulco and other Mexican restaurants in Orange County have liberal appetizer/happy hour menus. The most popular: Margarita Monday and Taco Tuesday!
If you’re hungry and looking for something tasty, different and on a budget, be sure to visit Orange County, California!
