{"id":158339,"date":"2026-01-31T20:13:10","date_gmt":"2026-01-31T20:13:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/158339\/"},"modified":"2026-01-31T20:13:10","modified_gmt":"2026-01-31T20:13:10","slug":"the-best-things-we-ate-at-southern-california-restaurants-in-january-whittier-daily-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/158339\/","title":{"rendered":"The best things we ate at Southern California restaurants in January \u2013 Whittier Daily News"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s a new year, and with it comes new year\u2019s resolutions. If one of your goals is to try new food at top local spots, we\u2019ve got you covered with some recommendations.<\/p>\n

These days, if you\u2019re splurging to dine out, you want the whole package. Not just incredible food, but the atmosphere \u2014 A place that\u2019s worth meeting up with friends to catch up over a bite, or the ideal detour on a day trip. From seafood platters to elevated pizzas and breakfast bites, January did not disappoint.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a look at nearby eateries to try around Los Angeles, Orange County, and the Inland Empire, according to our reporters.<\/p>\n

Related: See the best things we ate in Southern California in 2025<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Neptune'sNeptune\u2019s Net Sampler from Neptune\u2019s Net in Malibu. (Carolyn Burt, SCNG)
\nNeptune\u2019s Net Sampler \u2013 Neptune\u2019s Net, Malibu<\/p>\n

For the entirety of my friend\u2019s bachelorette party weekend in Ventura, all she could talk about was the van ride back home. The plan was to stop in Malibu for some of the best seafood in California. As soon as I stepped onto the patio for Neptune\u2019s Net<\/a>, I realized we weren\u2019t just at a cute roadside restaurant with a great view of the coast. We were at a reality TV landmark.<\/p>\n

Unbeknownst to my friends who steer clear of the \u201cBravosphere,\u201d we were at the very location where Jax and Brittany from \u201cVanderpump Rules<\/a>\u201d got engaged during season seven. While their marriage might not have lived up to the hype, the food at Neptune\u2019s Net certainly does.<\/p>\n

The sampler platter we ordered included fried fish, shrimp, calamari, clam strips, scallops, a crab cake, and fries. While the ranch dip was extra, it was worth it. The four of us shared the platter, and it was so massive that we still couldn\u2019t finish. It was a tasty way to end the weekend with the warm California weather and sun beaming down on our faces, despite it being the middle of winter.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Carolyn Burt, Audience Engagement Producer<\/p>\n

\"TheThe meatball hero at Johnny\u2019s the Bronx in Corona Del Mar. (Photo by Brock Keeling, Orange County Register\/SCNG)
\nMeatball hero \u2013 Johnny\u2019s the Bronx, Corona Del Mar<\/p>\n

Johnny\u2019s the Bronx<\/a> on Coast Highway offers some of the best slices in Orange County<\/a> \u2014so much so that, after a few years of working through the pies, I failed to pursue the rest of the menu. Good thing I did: the meatball hero sandwich here is a champ. First, let\u2019s start with the bread. The problem befalling many a meatball sub is the roll. Too tough, too chewy, too eager to shred your mouth before you\u2019ve even reached the meat. Not here. The bread is plush and pillowy, with a delicate crisp crust toasted just right, plus a bit of the crumb removed to make way for the good stuff \u2014 plump, tender meatballs tucked into a bright, zippy marinara that pulls the whole thing together. (I order extra cheese; you should order extra cheese.) It doesn\u2019t reinvent the wheel, but it does earn the \u201chero\u201d part.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Brock Keeling, Restaurant Reporter<\/p>\n

\"HatchHatch Chile Honey Chicken Pizza from The Goat & Vine in Temecula, CA. (Toni Sciacqua, SCNG)
\nHatch Chile Honey Chicken Pizza \u2013 The Goat & Vine, Temecula<\/p>\n

This was almost like eating a green chile chicken enchilada in pizza form<\/a>. It had a perfectly crisp crust topped by tender shredded chicken and chewy cheeses. Then a pile of fresh tomatoes, avocado and cilantro with a drizzle of hot honey on top. We also had a festive Orange Blossom Spritz mocktail that was crisp, refreshing and made us appreciate a bar that takes time to craft a mocktail worth ordering.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Toni Sciacqua, Managing Editor for Digital<\/p>\n

\"TheThe Green Enchilada Breakfast Bowl from EggSactly in La Verne was the perfect power food to scarf down ahead of my Sunday hike. (Staff photo by Emily St. Martin, SCNG)
\nEnchilada Bowl \u2013 EggSactly, La Verne<\/p>\n

The Green Enchilada Breakfast Bowl from EggSactly (by Chase\u2019s) in La Verne was the perfect pregame meal ahead of my San Dimas hike at the Walnut Creek trail. Packed with smoked pulled pork, breakfast potatoes, black beans, avocado cream, salsa verde, pickled onions, pico de gallo, cotija cheese, crispy tortilla strips, and an over-medium egg, this bowl was ooey-gooey goodness. The breakfast spot, helmed by the chefs at Chase\u2019s restaurant, boasts locally sourced eggs and flavors developed from the restaurant\u2019s herb garden. The menu\u2019s offerings resemble those of the cult favorite Egg Slut, featuring egg sandwiches with fried chicken and gravy, brisket, crab, and more. If you want to give it a try, make sure to head over early in the day; they close at 11 a.m. on weekdays and noon on weekends.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Emily St. Martin, Digital Features Editor<\/p>\n

\"ChickenChicken salad is one of the sandwiches on the new lunch menu at The Overland in Redlands. (Photo by Fielding Buck, The Press-Enterprise\/SCNG)
\nChicken Salad \u2013 The Overland, Redlands<\/p>\n

Sides make a meal, don\u2019t you think? This is a chicken salad sandwich at The Overland<\/a>, a cocktail lounge and vinyl listening space in Redlands. It recently expanded its food menu and began serving lunch. New items are satisfying, simple, and well-presented. But what I really loved was the cup of corn chowder with cauliflower.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Fielding Buck, Restaurant Reporter<\/p>\n

\"TheThe Anaheim Taco at Tacos Los Cholos\u2019 Santa Ana location. (Photo by Brock Keeling, Orange County Register\/SCNG)
\nAnaheim taco \u2013 Tacos Los Cholos, Santa Ana<\/p>\n

The new year\u2019s first heavyweight opening arrived with Tacos Los Cholos<\/a> in Santa Ana. What began in 2019 as a scrappy front yard operation in Anaheim, helmed by Josue Maldonado and Michael Alvarado, has since evolved into a bona fide Southern California powerhouse<\/a>. During my inaugural visit, the kitchen\u2019s Santa Maria grill served as a fiery altar, charring a litany of premium meats over an open flame. While the burrito and chorizo quesadilla were superb, the big revelation for me was the Anaheim taco. Featuring a corn tortilla piled with a mound of pork belly, the dish is anchored by a blistered, chargrilled Anaheim pepper stuffed with cheese. This smoky, salty masterclass of balance is, in part, why this empire continues its triumphant march in Southern California. Look for locations in Anaheim, Huntington Beach, Huntington Park and Eastvale.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Brock Keeling, Restaurant Reporter<\/p>\n

\"TheThe mac & cheese from SunCafe Organic in Studio City. (Carolyn Burt, SCNG)
\nThe Mac & Cheese \u2013 SunCafe Organic, Studio City<\/p>\n

As someone who is known to cry over how much I love cheese, seriously the stinkier the better, you might be surprised to discover that I also enjoy some good vegan alternatives. One of these comes from SunCafe Organic<\/a> in Studio City with their Mac & Cheese. Made with quinoa pasta with cashew mac sauce, the dish is baked and served in a cast iron skillet, which adds a nice crispiness to it.<\/p>\n

Even if you\u2019re not someone who subscribes to a vegan diet, SunCafe Organic is just solid, tasty food. It\u2019s tucked away on Ventura Boulevard, just a short drive from Universal Studios Hollywood. The atmosphere feels similar to a home and they have a nice fire pit outside if you\u2019d rather enjoy your meal with some fresh Southern California air.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Carolyn Burt, Audience Engagement Producer<\/p>\n

\"NavaNava Sausage Co. makes its own chili for its Nava\u2019s Chili Cheese Bomb. (Photo by Fielding Buck, The Press-Enterprise\/SCNG)
\nNava\u2019s Chili Cheese Bomb \u2013 Nava Sausage, Redlands<\/p>\n

A chilly January calls for chili, and have you ever seen prettier chili cheese fries? Nava Sausage Co.<\/a> is a tenant in Redlands Public Market<\/a>, which opened nearly a year ago, and specializes in bratwurst, hot links, Polish \u2014 all kinds of sausage. It also makes a mean chili with beef and tomato sauce \u2014 no beans. The fries are thick and crispy, and the portion is ample.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Fielding Buck, Restaurant Reporter<\/p>\n

\"TheThe miso sea bass at Terrace by Mix Mix. (Photo by Brock Keeling, Orange County Register\/SCNG)
\nMiso sea bass \u2013 Terrace by Mix Mix, Costa Mesa<\/p>\n

A riff on Nobu Matsuhisa\u2019s legendary miso-marinated black cod, the miso sea bass at Terrace by Mix Mix<\/a> proved to be the ideal cure for post-holiday bacchanalia. The rich, flaky, umami-packed dish is perfectly complemented by a tangle of chilled soba noodle salad. Chef Ross Pangilina continues his winning streak at this South Coast Plaza spot, which, in addition to that stellar Neptunian standout, features hits like shrimp lumpia and a wagyu smashburger tinged with black garlic truffle aioli. Then there\u2019s his artful sticky toffee pudding, cemented as the third greatest dessert ever created, trailing closely behind key lime pie and Reese\u2019s Peanut Butter Cups.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Brock Keeling, Restaurant Reporter<\/p>\n

\"TheThe Slice & Pint in El Segundo serves its Grand Ave. Pizza with white sauce by the slice on Saturdays. (Photo by Fielding Buck, The Press-Enterprise\/SCNG)
\nGrand Ave. Pizza \u2013 The Slice & Pint, El Segundo<\/p>\n

When I\u2019m traveling and want something fast and simple yet exciting, I look for pizza by the slice. Recently, I spent a day in Redondo Beach for In-N-Out Burger\u2019s annual car show<\/a> and made a side trip to El Segundo, where a watering hole called The Slice & Pint<\/a> serves incredibly tasty pizza with incredibly thin crusts. It will mark its seventh anniversary on Jan. 31. This is the Grand Ave., made with mozzarella, white sauce, roasted garlic, spinach, leeks, Fresno chiles that give it a bit of heat.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Fielding Buck, Restaurant Reporter<\/p>\n

See more of our round-ups of the best things we ate in Southern California<\/p>\n

The best things we ate at Southern California restaurants in 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

The best things we ate at Southern California restaurants in 2024<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"It\u2019s a new year, and with it comes new year\u2019s resolutions. If one of your goals is to…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":158340,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[7,48,52,51,47,137,50,49,611,412,580,612,5518,23914,420,136],"class_list":{"0":"post-158339","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-los-angeles","8":"tag-california","9":"tag-la","10":"tag-la-headlines","11":"tag-la-news","12":"tag-los-angeles","13":"tag-los-angeles-county","14":"tag-los-angeles-headlines","15":"tag-los-angeles-news","16":"tag-orange-county","17":"tag-restaurants","18":"tag-restaurants-food-and-drink","19":"tag-riverside-county","20":"tag-san-bernardino-county","21":"tag-studio-city","22":"tag-things-to-do","23":"tag-top-stories"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/158339","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=158339"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/158339\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/158340"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=158339"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=158339"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=158339"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}