Twenty years after launching the “Real Housewives” franchise — and spawning a slew of carbon-copy shows, podcasts and conventions — “The Real Housewives of Orange County” wrapped up its milestone 20th season on Thursday, Oct. 29. (The two-part reunion begins Nov. 5.) Along with new and familiar faces, reignited brouhahas and the crushing passing of Archie Beador, the ladies of Orange County made their way through a steady parade of chiefly South County restaurants and bars, where food and drink occasionally took a back seat to the drama.
Huntington Beach, somewhat surprisingly, got its fair share of screen time, with visits to Jolie & the Belle, BLK Earth Sea Spirits and Treehouse on PCH. Meanwhile, familiar Housewives haunts, including The Quiet Woman and The Tea House on Los Rios, made return appearances.
Not every episode featured a restaurant, and not every dining destination made this list. While the cast ventured to Japan and Mexico, with pit stops in Solvang and La Quinta along the way, we’re keeping things local. Only Orange County spots, along with a Long Beach burger joint, are included here with out-of-town stops and episodes without local restaurants scene omitted.
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Episode 1
Palmilla Cocina Y Tequila (Newport Beach): Jenn Pedranti and Emily Simpson meet at this Balboa Peninsula spot to discuss Tamra and last season’s fallout. Palmilla serves Mexican fare ranging from braised rib short taquitos and queso fundido to seafood dishes and grilled meats. 3110 Newport Blvd., Newport Beach.
B.Candy (Corona del Mar): Shannon brings her four-legged companions to this multi-hued candy shop, treating them to pup cones. One of Corona del Mar’s sweetest storefronts, B.Candy offers ice cream, edible gifts and hard-to-find European candies (e.g., the Aero bar). 3100 East Coast Highway, Corona Del Mar.
Rare Society (San Clemente): Tamra and Heather Dubrow sit down for drinks at this swank steakhouse. Tamra orders a glass of chardonnay while Heather opts for an espresso martini, hold the dairy. Located on Avenida Del Mar, this spot specializes in wood-grilled steaks from filet mignon to ribeye. Sides include truffled creamed spinach, whipped potatoes and lobster-and-crab mac and cheese. 226 Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente.
Hamburger Mary’s (Long Beach): Alas, there’s no Hamburger Mary’s, a restaurant noted for its LGBTQ clientele and drag performances, in Orange County so the ladies traverse to Long Beach. Gina Kirschenheiter, Tamra, Shannon, Vicki, Heather, Jenn and new castmate Carmella Garcia hit the downtown Long Beach spot. The menu runs from beef and plant-based burgers to fried pickles, nachos, chicken wings and other pub grub. 330 Pine Ave., Long Beach.
The exterior view of The Quiet Woman restaurant in Corona del Mar on Wednesday, July 17, 2024. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Episode 3
Todos Santos (Rancho Santa Margarita): Vicki, Jenn and Gina meet for breakfast at this Mexican restaurant, giving the inland area its first dining appearance this season. Vicki and Gina order hot coffee while Jenn and Gina choose breakfast burritos. Vicki goes for the enchiladas with chorizo. The morning menu here includes chilaquiles, huevos rancheros, machaca con huevos and more. Lunch and dinner brings tacos, fajitas and other Mexi-Cali staples. 22322 El Paseo, Rancho Santa Margarita.
Brussels Bistro (San Clemente): Gina and her fiance, Travis, order two servings of all-you-can-eat mussels. The Belgian restaurant, which also has a Laguna Beach location, specializes in moules-frites (mussels with fries). Its Tuesday all-you-can-eat special includes said shellfish, fries and baguettes. Other offerings include steak frites, burgers, beef carpaccio and traditional Belgian comfort fare. 218 Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente.
The Quiet Woman (Corona del Mar): Vicki, Shannon and Tamra reunite. VIcki orders an artichoke and steak salad, Shannon gets a burger and Tamra requests the cheese bread. The longtime “Housewives” haunt serves steak, seafood, salads and stiff cocktails often accompanied by live music. This Coast Highway mainstay is the restaurant most synonymous with the franchise, most notably for setting the scene for the series’ most memorable blowup in season 12. 3224 Pacific Coast Highway, Corona del Mar.
Rose Canyon Cantina and Grill (Trabuco Canyon): Vicki meets her son, Michael Wolfsmith, at this tucked-away canyon restaurant. Their table features shrimp ceviche, a carne asada plate, a stinky margarita and a spicy mezcal margarita. The restaurant also serves Mexican and Southwestern-inspired dishes like tacos, fajitas, enchiladas and grilled meats. Its leafy and arboreal outdoor patio is among the more unique settings in Orange County. 20722 Rose Canyon Rd., Trabuco Canyon.
BLK Earth Sea Spirits (Huntington Beach): Tamra, Carmella and Jenn get together at this eatery, ordering espresso martinis. Carmella orders a steak sliced for the table. As its name suggests, BLK divides its menu between land and sea. Filet mignon, ribeye and tomahawk share billing with Chilean seabass, scallops and other seafood. The restaurant, near the Huntington Beach Pier, also serves brunch and cocktails with oceanic views. 300 Pacific Coast Highway, Suite 202, Huntington Beach.
“Chicken parm” at Ospi in Costa Mesa. (Photo by Brock Keeling, SCNG)
Episode 5
Jolie & the Belle (Huntington Beach): It’s a steak-heavy affair when Heather, Vicki, Shannon and Gina gather at this sleek Huntington Beach spot. Gina orders the house-butchered rib-eye, Shannon chooses a filet mignon (medium-well, thank you), Vicki gets the flat iron steak and Heather goes for the New York strip. Located along Pacific Coast Highway, Jolie (sister restaurant to The Goldfinch in Irvine, which also appears this season) serves American fare with a steakhouse bent, including prime rib, tomahawk ribeye, seafood, burgers and cocktails. Also of note is its rooftop dining area. 300 Pacific Coast Highway, Suite 220, Huntington Beach.
Ospi (Costa Mesa): Shannon takes her father out for Italian. She orders a Ketel One and soda and the (highly recommended) chicken parm, while her father opts for sole and a glass of Prosecco. The Costa Mesa restaurant from chef Jackson Kalb features Italian-American fare, including spic rigatoni alla vodka, tonnarelli cacio e pepe, Neapolitian meatballs (also highly recommended) and more. Pizzas round out the menu. 234 E. 17th St., Suite 100, Costa Mesa.
Rancho Capistrano Winery (San Juan Capistrano): The entire cast gathers at this downtown San Juan Capistrano winery and restaurant. Steak and the restaurant’s avocado crunch salad make appearances. Owners Kyle and Sylvia Franson even get a name-check and appear on camera. The family-owned winery produces more than 40 wines, pairing them with steaks, seafood and other California-inspired dishes. Its avocado crunch salad features romaine, corn, tomatoes, cucumber, avocado, pepitas and cotija. 26755 Verdugo St., San Juan Capistrano.
Javier Catalan serves lunch guests on the patio at Goldfinch in Irvine on Tuesday, October 20, 2026. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Episode 6
The Goldfinch (Irvine): Heather, Carmella and Gina meet for lunch at this Irvine spot, where the orders skew toward salads. Gina selects an iceberg wedge, Heather gets a simple salad topped with grilled chicken and Carmella orders both a wedge and a burger. The Goldfinch (which recently opened a Rancho Santa Margarita location) serves contemporary American fare, including burgers, prime rib, seafood and steaks. The wedge comes with blue cheese, bacon, tomato, and red onion. 2000 Main St., Suite 200, Irvine.
Benny and Mary’s (Irvine): Vicki’s newfound — and ironic — status as a Mexican resident calls for celebration, where she gathers with Heather, Heather’s mother and Shannon. Shannon orders a Mediterranean bowl, Heather chooses the classic breakfast and her mother goes for pancakes. Located near John Wayne Airport, the eatery, which has appeared on the show before, offers brunch favorites like eggs Benedict, biscuits and gravy, and chilaquiles, alongside an American lunch and dinner menu. 18420 Von Karman Ave., Suite 100, Irvine.
Oliver’s Trattoria (Irvine): Emily and her husband, Shane, celebrate their anniversary with an Italian dinner here. “What’s a trattoria?” asks Shane. “I don’t know,” replies Emily. (Answer: An Italian eatery that serves casual fare; more formal than an osteria, less formal than a ristorante.) Terminology aside, Emily orders an Aperol spritz and a medium-cooked filet mignon, while Shane goes for chicken alfredo. The Irvine sibling to Oliver’s Osteria in Laguna Beach, the menu includes in-house pasta, risotto, lasagna (highly recommended), meatballs and more. 6511 Quail Hill Parkway, Irvine.
The ocean view from the bar at Driftwood Kitchen in Laguna Beach on Wednesday, May 6, 2026. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Episode 9
Driftwood Kitchen (Laguna Beach): The recently shuttered Driftwood Kitchen makes a final appearance on the series. Emily, Gina and Tamra arrive here for a chat. Gina and Emily order burgers cooked medium. Noted as one of Orange County’s best restaurants when it comes to jaw-dropping views, it closed its doors in early September after more than a decade on Sleepy Hollow Lane. 619 Sleepy Hollow Lane, Laguna Beach.
Splashes (Laguna Beach): Tamra and her husband, Eddie, share champagne at this seaside restaurant. Located inside the Surf & Sand Laguna Beach resort, Splashes specializes in contemporary coastal cuisine, with a menu highlighting fresh seafood and seasonal produce. 1555 S. Coast Highway, Laguna Beach.
Javier’s (Newport Beach): Heather, Emily, Jenna and Tamra convene at this Crystal Cove RHOC staple. Javier’s serves pricey Mexican-American fare, from ceviche and seafood enchiladas to grilled steaks and fajitas. It’s also known for its extensive tequila section and see-and-be-scene South County crowd. 7832 E. Coast Highway, Newport Beach.
Treehouse on PCH (Huntington Beach): Vicki and Shannon celebrate Vicki’s birthday at this rooftop bar, marking the occasion with a margarita sporting a Tajín rim. Located atop the Paséa Hotel and Spa, this 21-and-over lounge features cocktails and a selection of snacks and light bites. 21080 Pacific Coast Highway, Huntington Beach.
Outside Mozambique in Laguna Beach on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. (Photo by Rebecca Villagracia, Contributing Photographer)
Episode 11
Mozambique (Laguna Beach): Another franchise regular, this Coast Highway mainstay makes another appearance this season, this time with Jenn and Tamra. Mozambique offers a menu influenced by South African and Portuguese cooking, with dishes like peri-peri chicken, samosas, prawns, grilled steaks and more. The multi level restaurant also features rooftop dining. 1740 S. Coast Highway, Laguna Beach.
The Tea House on Los Rios (San Juan Capistrano): Carmella, Emily and Shannon trade cocktails for afternoon tea at this historic cottage located in California’s oldest continuously inhabited residential neighborhood dating back to 1794. Their table features an assortment of dainty sweets and savories, including macarons and scones. The Tea House specializes in afternoon tea replete with pots of loose-leaf tea, finger sandwiches and more inside a garden setting. 31731 Los Rios St., San Juan Capistrano.
Hacienda on the Lake (Mission Viejo): Carmella meets her boyfriend, Danny, at this recently shuttered lakeside Mexican restaurant. In September, it closed its doors for good. 27792 Vista Del Lago, Mission Viejo.
Billy’s at the Beach in Newport Beach appeared in season 20 of “The Real Housewives of Orange County.” (Courtesy of Bravo)
Episode 12
Billy’s at the Beach (Newport Beach): The entire crew gathers at this longtime waterfront haunt. Located along Newport Harbor, Billy’s has been pouring its Mai Tais and serving Hawaiian-inspired food for more than three decades. The menu includes pupu platters, coconut shrimp, ahi tuna tacos, teriyaki-glazed beef skewers, seafood and steaks. 2751 W. Coast Highway, Newport Beach.
Avila’s El Ranchito (Corona del Mar): Heather, Tamra and Vicki meet at this longtime Mexican restaurant. Their meal includes margaritas, sliced chicken breast and flat iron steak. Part of the family-owned Avila’s El Ranchito restaurant group, the Corona del Mar location serves Mexican cooking inspired by family recipes from Guanajuato, Mexico. Mama Avila’s chicken soup is, notably, a favorite among many regulars. 2515 East Coast Highway, Corona del Mar.
7 Hills Pizzeria (Rancho Mission Viejo): Gina and Travis, her fiancé, gather with Gina’s ex-husband and his partner for a pizza-stacked outing. This pizzeria offers Roman-style pies made with dough fermented for at least 72 hours. Iterations range from classic pepperoni and margherita to more inventive combinations featuring Calabrian chilies, sausage and pesto. 28362 Airoso St., Rancho Mission Viejo.
Stag Bar and Kitchen (Newport Beach): Heather, Shannon and Emily hit this historic Balboa Peninsula watering hole during a bar crawl in an effort to find Shannon a beaux. Heather and Emily refer to it as a “dive bar,” a decidedly different setting from Heather’s champagne-soaked spots. Dating back to the early 1900s, the Stag is among Orange County’s oldest bars., known for its lengthy copper-topped bar and whiskey selection. 121 Mc Fadden Place, Newport Beach.
Beach Ball (Newport Beach): The trio continue their crawl at this local institution, with the evening’s mission to find Shannon a suitor. Mission accomplished, sort of. At the Newport Beach bar, Shannon meets a guy named — what else? — Chad. Beach Ball has been around since 1969. It opens at 6 a.m. for anyone looking to get things started early. 2116 W. Oceanfront, Newport Beach.