This is a great web site! I'm always remembering old restaurants in Orange County that bit the dust years ago. What a time trip!
During the 1960s and 1970s, one of my favorite restaurants was Kono Hawaii. My most vivid memories of that place were the entertainment and the delicious ginger salad dressing. Actually everything they served was of impeccable quality, including the Mai Tais!
In the late 1970s, all the employees at Ford Aerospace would trek over to the Gorda Liz Restaurant in Newport Beach for lunch. I was sad to hear about it's closing. That was truly a one-of-a-kind place! Another popular restaurant with the Ford crowd was Isidore's in Newport Beach on Pacific Coast Hwy. I remember that their buffet was pretty good.
One restaurant no one here mentioned is the old Ricky Rickshaw Chinese restaurant near John Wayne Airport circa mid- to late 1970s. They had a fantastic Chinese chicken salad, and their chicken curry was good, too!
El Paso Cantina on Harbor & Adams had a wonderful chicken enchilada with verde sauce, and my husband still mourns the loss of those perfect flour tortilla chips they would serve with the salsa!
I often went to Baxter's on Walnut Avenue and Culver during the 1980s. I always ordered the "Parisian Picnic," which was a Caesar salad with fried brie, along with Baxter's special sweet bread. (This is making me salivate!)
Over the decades, I've also missed Seafood Broiler, Belgian Waffle, and Jolly Roger.
Mama Cozza's and Salvatore's were mentioned in here, and I remember those as being outstanding restaurants. I remember that Salvatore's would give you food for an army!
Carls Jr. is still with us, but do you remember that Italian baked potato they used to serve at the South Coast Plaza store in the late 1970s? They would mash up the potato, adding butter. Then they would top it with marinara sauce, black olives, green onions, and Italian sausage rounds. Too bad they stopped serving those, but of course, I had to invent my own!
I can add to that list, the original BJ's Pizzeria, on 17th street in Santa Ana, just a block east of Bristol. We used to eat there in the early 1980s. It was the first restaurant in the current BJ's Restaurant and Brewery. That location is no longer there, but they used to have red & white checkered table cloths, and saw dust all over the floor.
Of course, who can't remember The Barn, on Red Hill Ave and Edinger in Tustin?
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57 comments:
I grew up near Buena Park's north border. There was an Italian restaurant named Mario's on Beach north of Rosecrans. I went there with my parents in the mid-60's to early 70's I guess it's gone now. Also the various locations of Love's BBQ. I also liked the Tastee-freezes with the separate sides for ice cream and hot food. We went fairly often to the A&W on Orangethorpe near Knott Ave.
Did anyone go to Beno's Donuts on Tustin in Orange. They had the greatest donuts - and I worked there in 1962 - 1963. When I visited in summer of 1972 (after moving away) I went to visit. They had moved to a building across the street and I think they offered snadwiches too. Pete Beno made the best whipped cream filled chocolate long johns, and the best glazed donuts. And also a cinnamon crumb topped cake donut. I must have gained 20 lbs while working there.
I remember as a kid going to the San Pan (sp?) chinese restaurant in Garden Grove. The had a show there where there was hula dancing. I remember my grandfather being pulled up on stage to dance. Lots of fun.
Adamos on Ball & West (which became Delaney's...another great O.C. relic).
The Glider Inn in Seal Beach on PCH. What a great place to eat!
Does anyone remember "The Burger Chateau", a little burger place at the corner of Harbor and I think, Dale, in Costa Mesa, circa 1960.
I have a vague memory of walking there with my mother and also that it burned down twice. After the second fire, it was never rebuilt.
In the early 1970's, our usual sunday morning ritual was breakfast at STEPP'S COFFEE SHOP. I think it was on a corner on Lincoln Ave. My mom and dad would have a booth of their own. My sister and brother and myself would sit at another booth. This was my folks way of having a "date" without getting a sitter.
Mmmmmm, the Glid'err Inn; cool interior with the old wooden phonebooths inside, great clam chowder, deep fried oysters, and their delicious parslied potatoes! How about the ORIGINAL Knowlwood, back when it was all alone on Imperial; the gravel underfoot, the delicious burgers and ham sandwiches, the cooler holding the soft drinks. That was a big summer night out for my family!
More recently, Sid's steakhouse off Newport Blvd, no sign out front, CHEAP good steaks, and brown sugar carrots...yum!
our family gathering every sunday night at o,garitys irish rest.pos. in bauna park.o great times in the seventies.
any one remember la cocina mex. rest on manchester or jerrys bar b que next to the five fwy.near the(now gone) nabisco plant.gone but will never forget!both were in buena park
O'garity's rest on Lincoln just west of Beach was built and owned by Lou and Dolly O'garity who lived on San Martin Way. They had two sons, Jerry and Richard who both worked as hosts while attending Western High School in the early 60s. They eventually moved to So. Oregon.
Jerry's BBQ was a a staple. The open pit BBQ in the dining room gave the place an authentic feel. They always made a big deal out of their
"Wood Pit BBQ" but if you looked they always had the same two fake logs under the spit.I never saw a real piece of wood in there. They still made a fine sandwich though. Before the Nabisco Plant was built, a huge mountain of dirt was built up on the sight and remained there a year before the plant was actually built. We always figured it had to do with compacting the ground for a good foundation. The plant was quite a large structure. One of the roads just west of the plant was a common place for street racers in the seventies. Ford pre-delivery was back there and most of the young guys working there were muscle car owners. The Tastee Freeze on Western ave just north of Orangethorpe was the scene of one of the weirdest events in Buena Park history. Sometime around 1972-73 The Buena Park Police recieved a call from a hysterical young girl working alone in the Tastee-Freeze. She screamed that "Monks in robes are pounding on the windows". The dispatcher managed to calm her a bit and she went on to describe them as having "Large red crosses on the front and rear of their robes" and "I think ones a hunchback".
From the girls description,the astute dispatcher decided that they weren't monks but probably Crusaders. And that's how the call went out "Crusaders in the parking lot". The Police arrived rather quickly but found no one except a terrified girl hiding behind a fryer trying to call her mom to come pick her up. The police upon seeing the girls condition had no doubt she had been telling the truth. The area was saturated with patrols for the next two hours but nothing out of the ordinary was found or seen.It is still the only report of Crusaders
in the history of Buena Park.
Maybe the were from Crescent Jr High at the Anaheim Buena Park border...Home of the Crusaders.
how about rikios in anaheim it was a japanese resteraunt great food owners were cosco and rikio, marvin was the bartender his drinks were awsome, there was a waitress judy she was crazy but fun
I remember Kono Hawaii, went there a few times. Oddley enough, my mom married a Hawaiian the second time around! The Glider Inn is still there, (plane in the roof and all), now it's called Mahi's, still on PCH. I went there last month to watch a band play. It's very small and more of a pick up place than anyone interested in music. Does anyone remember a restaurant called T.C. Peppercorn's? I used to go there often with my late wife and brother and sister in-law in the late '70s, early '80s. Nice place, like a big house with seperate rooms, most with a fire place. They had good steaks, and cold beer. We went so often and tipped well. We always asked for the same waiter, he would see us on the reservation list and would meet us outdoors to take us in. We always had a blast there.
Sorry, TC Peppercorns was on Beach 1 light south of the 405. about where the sports store is now. Sports Authority I think.
The original Claim Jumper in Los Alamitos was a fun place with all kinds of great food.Anyone remember the huge sandwiches they made... I think one was called the motherlode. A favorite of my parents was the Chicken Dinner Restaurant at Knott's Berry Farm.
Belisle's restaurant on Harbor was the bomb. I used to go there late at night. They had the biggest portions of food I've even seen...still to this day. I remember the case in the front when you would walk in. It was loaded with pies, cakes, etc.. and they had Belisle's eggs in them too which were twice the size of a regular egg. The pancakes were the size of a seat cushion. Ah....I miss that place.
Does anyone remember a little Mexican Restaurant in Costa Mesa in the late 1960's to early 1970's called La Cocinita? It may have moved several times, but the location I remember was possibly on Fairview or Newport Blvd. The food was excellent, especially the house salad which was simple, but had a great vinegarette and salsa and grated cheese on top. Wish I had those receipes!
I also remember a great Costa Mesa fast food hamburger joint called the Burger Corral, on Fairview and Newport Blvd.
does anyone remember the name of a restaurant in Enderle Center that specialized in omelettes? It was open and popular in the 1970s.
How about Miako's in Town and Country Plaza, across from Fashion Square. A great Japanese place.
My favorite memory of Orange County was going to Balboa Beach. I'd lay in the sand just long enough to burn, then I would stroll on down to the Fun Zone for frozen yogurt. At night it was B.J.s for pizza and beer then a moonlight walk on the pier. That was during the '90s and early '10s.
Here's one for you - The Jolly Roger on Balboa Island - My first job back in the 1960's -
Anyone remember the Villa Marina? Located on PCH entrance to Balboa Island. I think it was torn down in the 60's
I believe that restaurant at Enderle Center was called The Egg and I.
I remember the Snack Shop, Fiddler's Three, Copper Penny and Jolly Roger restaurants. All good for a family on a budget!
Miako's was where our friends with money went to dine. Sigh!
Beno's was just down the street from us. As was Carnation Ice Cream.
I worked at Fiddler's Three for years! Oh, the cheeses soup and squaw bread. The great REAL milkshakes and yummy pies. Their Fiddler Burger was fantastic.
Al at good prices! Fun times...
My parents owned La Cocinita and I have most of the recipes. The Burgar Corral was next door on Fairview Blvd. Man how i miss those days!!
For those of you who missed the earlier version, you have to read these oldies but goodies:
http://www.octhen.com/2006/01/my-favorite-orange-county-restaurants.htm
To above:
Sampam Restaurant resided off Euclid and ?? N/of Ball Rd.. it was a BIG TREAT to walk over the little bridge and look at the huge carp in there.
My sis also said now it's some Mexican Restaurant.. YECK!!
MMM, Knowlwood's.. I think of them often! The best salads, lemon meringue pie and filling burgers! I still think they made THE VERY BEST fried zucchini - would kill for THEIR recipe!
Also good was a place up in Placentia, off Yorba Linda Blvd.. it was a guys name, oh, "Brian's." One bldg was a laundrymat and adjacent was a bar.. While you ate and drank, you could watch for your washer/dryer number to show up that it was done.
They had KILLER zucchini there eoo!
From circa 77-85, I lived in Friendly Village (mobile home park e/of Imperial Hwy.. we went there a lot, and later, when we lived near Laguna Niguel, we patronized that one a lot.
Oh, go back.. waaay back.. the restaurant in BP? Stanton? GG??
It was the place that cut off a man's tie.. a steakhouse.. my parents went a lot.. we kids never did.
Decades later, my DH took us one night: worse steaks ever!
Claim Jumper - there is exactly ONE here in Highlands Ranch - near Denver.. just one in the state!
The Motherlode is like a 12 layer fudge cake with walnuts.
Wow, The Egg & I is a chain current here in CO..
DOES ANYONE KNOW IF BOBBY MCGEES RESTAURANT ON THE COAST HWY IN NEWPORT BEACH WAS CLOSE TO ISIDORE'S RESTAURANT? THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN BACK IN THE MID TO LATE 1970'S.
i can shed some light on the steakhouse on Beach Blvd in Garden Grove...Pinnacle Peaks. Greatest place ever in the 70's and beyond. What fun we used to have bringing the unsuspecting to this restaurant. AND... Bobby McGees used to be on PCH across the street from Isidore"s. Great place to dance and meet the locals. It is now a strip mall...booo
Check out Jerry's Bar-B-Que on face book. Post your memories and storys. A lot of crazy went down there. The Restaurant was open 24/7 and my first waitressing job at the age of 16 was the grave yard shift. You people were crazy:)
In Santa Ana we ate at Pop's Steak house near the rr tracks. Yummies on 17th and Bristol. Snack Shop 17th and Flower. Koo's chinese. The original Marie Callander's in Orange. Chung King chinese in Anaheim. Kono Hawaii. La Cave or Rueben E Lee or Ancient Mariner for lunch. My family are original members of Club 33 in Disneyland, and still are (expensive now, ouch).
I grew up in Cypress during late 60's early 70's and it was a wonderful place to have childhood memories. After I grew up, I used to eat at the Skinny Haven in Cypress or Anaheim, not sure which city it was in. Loved their low-cal ice cream and their oatmeal muffins and the pasta dish with walnuts in it. Anyone have those recipes?
Bobby McGees was on the corner of PCH and Bayside drive. Last I saw (2000) the Porsche dealer was there. RGBJ.
I can think of so many great places growing up. My mom was a waitress in the 60's at Sambo's across from Knotts berry farm, what great pancakes. She also worked at Jerry's Bar-B-Que on Westminster, I think it was in Santa Ana. But my favorite place was The Brewster's Rooster (Broasted Chicken) and Blinky's Pizza both on Westminster Near Brookhurst. We lived near the Fosters Freeze @ Swan & Westminster across from Bolsa Grande High.
I need help with my memory, there was a popular restaurant at the very end of Tustin Blvd, I guess the city would be Santa Ana or Tusin, it was right next to the freeway and was always crowded. I ate there many time as a youngster and for the life of me cannot remember the name. It later turned into a mexican restaurant and has been boarded up for the last 5 years or so. Does anyone remember this places name?
Maybe you're thinking of the Revere House next to the freeway on Tustin Blvd.
Anonymous said...
does anyone remember the name of a restaurant in Enderle Center that specialized in omelettes? It was open and popular in the 1970s.
Was it The Cook Book?
I remember a Mexican Restaurant called La Posada near Bristol and Mcffaden in Santa ana in the 70`s right up from the Licorace Pizza.
Re: TC Peppercorn, I helped launch that place with its owners DM & CL. I was a holdover employee from Granny's Attic - anyone remember that place? - which before that was a Jolly Ox (both GA and JO were owned by Steak & Ale Corp) - not sure if they exist either. I worked in the kitchen and eventually helped run the front of the house. It was a great place if I remember just the good times ;) We opened a second location in Palm Springs in, about, 78 or 79. I helped open that location with DH...anyone remember that place? Formerly the California Cable Car? Or, how about Francois? I ended up as a Maitre 'D there for a year or so, then went over to JC McLin's ... anyone remember this stuff?
I went to high school with the daughter of the owners of Francois. They lived in a house on the same property as the restaurant. I believe her name was Alicia.
Love's BBQ.
Oh, those beans...
Anyone remember the Ha' Penny Inn? In Westminster on Beach Blvd.
Three OC restaurants come to mind that I used to visit as a kid.
Belisle's - on the corner of Chapman & Harbor. There's a Red Robin and Joe's Crab Shack there now. For a locally owned greasy spoon, they were pretty good.
Bobby McGee's - the mugs were toilet bowls.
Chris and Pitts - my mom loved this place. So did I. BBQ goodness.
The "Ancient Mariner" was at the end of Tustin Ave on the left if you were headed south/ north of 4th. It is now a mexican restaurant.
When I was a kid early 60's, I'd ride my bike to the Foster Freeze just off Edingeer, near Smedley Jr High for the shrimp plate. 3 fried shrimp, french fries & a little salad for 75 cents. Later when I could drive, mid 70's, I'd go to Rick's Garage in the Kmart shopping center at Edinger & Bristol for the shisk-a-bob. It burned down
Anyone remember the burger joint on Los alimitos blvd close to Rossmoor. I can remember a happy face with its tounge sticking out.???
I just came across this site, wow, what memories! I remember my hang outs in the 70s were, Pup n Taco in Westminster, Angelo's in Anaheim, Marra's Pizza also in Anaheim, Whimpys in HB, Chris & Pitts BBQ in Garden Grove, and so many other places! I got my first car in 1975 and that was it! We cruised eveywhere!
Does anyone remember in Fullerton the Velvet Turtle or the Del Rae, they were the bomb back in the 60's and 70's and the VT went to the early 80's I believe, sadly its a Auto club office now.
Yes I do remember the Velvet Turtle very well. You felt very special and it was so romantic. Well that is my memory. Loved it. Some one mentioned Ricky's Rickshaw in an earlier post. That was the best place and yes that chicken salad! I have never had anything to compare, great place.
Hi, everyone, I'm looking information about a Mexican restaurant in Anaheim. I'm not sure about the name. I think is Señor Desi, located in State College Blvd, close to the Angels' Stadium. The reason is that my in-laws remembered that place when they were dating back in the 70's.
:Anonymous said...
Oh, go back.. waaay back.. the restaurant in BP? Stanton? GG??
It was the place that cut off a man's tie.. a steakhouse.. my parents went a lot.. we kids never did.
Decades later, my DH took us one night: worse steaks ever!:
That restaurant was on beach blvd. and the garden grover freeway. I believe it was called Pinnacle Petes or Pinnacle Peak
Was the velvet turtle the restaurant that had the curtains you could close at your table, so it was more private? I cant remember the name of that place...
Anyone remember the Van De Kamps restaurant that was near Knotts Berry Farm? It was right in the middle of where the road split, it had a giant windmill on top...
Does anyone remember Ted and Zella's restaurant in Santa Ana on north main in the 50's. It was my parents and I remember people waiting outside to get in. My Mom made pecan pies from scratch and my Dad made the salad dressings and cooked. If a customer could not drive my dad would go get them and take them home. Later they had a restaurant in Fullerton on Harbor also called Ted and Zella's.
Shirley Solomon Clark
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