Dana Point Restaurants

[BarTopDancer]

I need suggestions for hole in the wall type restaurants for friends who are going to be staying in Dana Point in a few weeks.

They have plenty of trendy and chain restaurants at home and are looking for off the beaten path type things. Family friendly is a perk.

[Kevy Baby]

There's a really cool Scottish (http://maps.google.com/maps/place?oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=mcdonalds+dana+point&fb=1&gl=us&hq=mcdonalds&hnear=Dana+Point,+CA&cid=15093991096892721495) place down there.



Seriously, I have some friends who used to live there, I will check with them tonight when I get home.

Also, Laguna Beach has a lot of cool places as well and it is only about a 15 minute drive up the coast - if they are going to be there for a while, I would seriously consider Laguna (personally, I feel Laguna has a much better personality).

[BarTopDancer]

Thanks Kevy. I wish our former DP residents were still around these parts. I miss them :(

I did remember Harbor House has a location in Dana Point but all I know in Laguna is pretty trendy/expensive. Driving up there to eat isn't out of the question. As for where they are staying... it's a family reunion beach house thing; they don't get a say.

[Motorboat Cruiser]

:) Longtime Dana Point resident here...

Lucy's El Patio Restaurant (http://www.elpatiocafe.com/) - great, inexpensive mexican food. Been there for many decades. Very busy on the weekends

Harbor House (http://www.harborhousecafe.com/) - Huge menu, something for everyone, reasonably priced.

Thai Dara (http://www.thai-dara.com/) - Great lunch special, about 6 bucks, lots of food.

Los Golandrinas (http://www.lasgolondrinas.biz/) - Great take out mexican. Check hours first, they close pretty early.

Laguna is very nice, but will be much more expensive, and much busier this time of year. Dana is a much sleepier beach town, with lots of great food. If you need a specific type of cuisine, let me know.

Hope that helps! :)

[BarTopDancer]

Yay you showed up!!!!!!!

Thank you so much!

Now stick around please!!!!

[Motorboat Cruiser]

You're very welcome. :) And yes, I'll try not to be such a stranger.

[Morrigoon]

Yeah Harbor House is good. Is Thai Dara the one over by Chronic Tacos, or is that a different place?

There's also a little French place on Del Prado. A tad pricey for casual food, but the owner is ACTUALLY French and the food measures up. Can't remember the name, but I think it has a yellow awning.

If they do want to head up to Laguna, they could have drinks and bar food out on the patio at Las Brisas. The view is incredible.

[Motorboat Cruiser]

Thai Dara is over by Chronic Tacos. There is another good place in town called Thai This, near Harbor House. I think the lunch special at the former is a better deal though.

Another great place that I forgot about is Peking Dragon (http://www.pekingdragonrestaurant.com/). Again, a little pricey, but wonderful food.

[Kevy Baby]

The Chart-House (http://www.chart-house.com/) is expensive and while not bad, it is not really worth the money. Good Brunch though.

[Tref]

I need suggestions for hole in the wall type restaurants for friends who are going to be staying in Dana Point in a few weeks.

They have plenty of trendy and chain restaurants at home and are looking for off the beaten path type things. Family friendly is a perk.


I was found an off the beaten path, hole in the wall, and I couldn't get anybody to check it out with me. It seemed Family Friendly, too, but mostly it was just dark and the wind whistled through it at night.