Fusion cuisine seemed to be at the forefront of our reporter’s minds this month when it came to trying new foods and restaurants across Southern California.
You’ve heard of a hot chicken sandwich, now imagine it with a Vietnamese twist. Apple pie meets pancake breakfast? Yes please. And how about a restaurant that brings together Lebanese and Mexican tastes? And if you’re in the mood for a classic, we tried that too, with the Los Angeles invention: the French Dip sandwich, although the true birthplace of the meal is still up for debate.
Also see: The best things we ate at Southern California restaurants in AprilHere’s our monthly round-up from reporters of nearby eateries to try the next time you find yourself in Los Angeles, Orange County, and the Inland Empire.
Related: See the best things we ate in Southern California in 2024.
The Original Vietnamese Hot Chicken Sandwich at Mama Hieu’s in Westminster. (Photo by Brock Keeling, Orange County Register/SCNG)Vietnamese hot chicken sandwich – Mama Hieu’s, Westminster
Mama Hieu’s, the Westminster chicken spot led by mother-son chefs Jimmy Le and Nho Thi Le, unveiled a new menu item in May: a hot chicken sandwich with a Vietnamese twist. They marinate the breast for 72 hours in a brine of buttermilk, oyster sauce and a secret seasoning blend. After frying, the golden breast is dipped in spicy chili oil and seasoned with a chili blend mix, topped with gỏi – a Vietnamese salad that serves as the sandwich’s slaw. Nestled in Martin’s potato roll, the result is a spicy, umami-packed concoction that’s both exceedingly tender and shatteringly crisp. I wrote about this dish in May, but it bears repeating again and again.
— Brock Keeling, Restaurant Reporter
RELATED: Here, try this: Mama Hieu’s new Vietnamese hot chicken sandwich Apple pancake rolls from the River Belle Terrace at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim. (Carolyn Burt, SCNG) Apple pancake rolls from the River Belle Terrace at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim. (Carolyn Burt, SCNG) Show Caption1 of 2Apple pancake rolls from the River Belle Terrace at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim. (Carolyn Burt, SCNG) ExpandApple pancake rolls – River Belle Terrace in Disneyland, Anaheim
I don’t consider myself to be much of a breakfast person, and even then I tend to lean toward savory meals over sweet, but every now and then something catches my eye that I just have to try, and so was the case with the new apple pancake rolls from River Belle Terrace at Disneyland. They are one of three new pancakes available as part of the brunch menu for the Anaheim Theme Park’s 70th anniversary celebration. The other new pancake options are strawberry and blueberry. Unique to the apple pancakes is that they are served as a roll, meaning that inside the cylinder-like shape is apple pie filling. They are also topped with the apple pie filling, walnut streusel and vanilla chantilly cream.
ALSO SEE: Disneyland rolls out 70 menu items for 70th anniversaryDisneyland has become rather known for its food festivals and seasonal foodie guide for big events such as the 70th Anniversary. Regardless of whether you’re a passholder looking to try a new menu item or someone visiting for just a day who wants to make the most of each meal, these apple pancake rolls should be at the top of everyone’s list.The pancakes themselves are the perfect fluffy consistency and pair beautifully with the apple pieces. Each bite is what I imagine was going through Remy’s mind (from “Ratatouille”) when he experienced cheese and strawberry together for the first time, a fireworks sensation. They are very filling as well, so I would recommend sharing them with a friend, or perhaps mixing and matching the other new pancakes.
— Carolyn Burt, Audience Engagement Producer
@by.carolynRegardless of if you aren’t much of a breakfast person or don’t have a big sweet tooth, these new apple pancake rolls from River Belle Terrace in Disneyland are definitely worth trying. They’re a part of three new pancake options on the brunch menu at the restaurant as part of the Anaheim theme parks 70th anniversary celebration. #disneyland #disneyland70 #riverbelleterrace #disneylandeats #disneylandfood #disneylandfoodie #foodieguide #food #foodtok #disney
♬ Celebrate Happy – Jonas Brothers & Disney
Muhammara Rojo is a shareable at Cedar Agave in Redlands. (Photo by Fielding Buck, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Muhammara Rojo – Cedar Agave, Redlands
Cedar Agave is a fusion Lebanese-Mexican restaurant located in an upstairs room off Orange Street Alley in Redlands. Its menu focuses on small bites and shareables, priced $12-$26. Its roasted red pepper dip is a vegan option, made with toasted walnuts, tahini, pomegranate molasses and achiote rojo. It’s light, tasty and vegan. The address is at 14 E State St.
— Fielding Buck, Restaurant Reporter
The short rib taco and the crispy chicken tender taco at Costa Mesa’s Salt & Lime. (Photo by Brock Keeling, Orange County Register/SCNG)Crispy chicken tender and short rib tacos – Salt & Lime, Costa Mesa
In a culinary landscape teeming with “reinvented” tacos, Zach Ficke’s Salt & Lime in Costa Mesa continues to be a standout in this sub-genre of the Mexico-Southern California staple. His 17th Street spot offers two modern marvels that, among so many on his choice menu, stood out: a crispy chicken tender taco (drizzled with hot honey, crowned with kale slaw and crushed peanuts) and the braised short rib tacos (decked out with baby arugula, horseradish cream, pickled red onions and crispy potato strands). Both are generously sized, boating succulent fillings and a kick of heat that’s just right. All of this was complemented by Ficke’s alchemically good mint limeade.
— Brock Keeling, Restaurant Reporter
A French Dip, a Pastrami Dip, Pickle, Cup of Chili and a slice of cherry pie from Philippe The Original in Los Angeles on May 17, 2025. (Photo by Mercedes Cannon-Tran/SCNG)French Dip and Pastrami Dip sandwiches, Chili Cup, and Cherry Pie – Philippe The Original in Los Angeles
I should start by saying that I am somewhat of a French Dip sandwich aficionado. That said, as someone who is also a huge fan of local history, I have no idea how I had never made it to Philippe The Original until now. When you walk in, you are greeted by a vintage-style deli with a substantial selection of items. I was there for one thing and one thing only, to try the well-known French Dip. We opted to get a Pastrami Dip as well for comparison sake, and we were not disappointed with either. Ample amounts of delicious roasted meats were piled onto a crispy and fluffy French roll and served with the “gravy,” as they call it, for dipping. Though they did not have any horseradish to pair with the sandwiches, they did have their own hot mustard, which gave the same energy and was delicious. A cup of chili was a great addition, and we rounded it out with one of the best cherry pies I have had in a while. If you’re looking for an affordable yet satisfying throwback meal, Philippe The Original is the perfect place.
— Mercedes Cannon-Tran, Local Reporter
Vanilla funfetti cookie by Cookie Lab OC, found at Grounded Coffee House in Corona Del Mar. (Photo by Brock Keeling, Orange County Register/SCNG)Vanilla funfetti cookie – Cookie Lab OC, Corona Del Mar
Birthday cake stands alongside blue raspberry and artificial banana as one of my favorite synthetic flavors — those modern tastes engineered in a food lab, not found in nature (think ranch). Though birthday cake-tinged sweets (typically vanilla with rainbow sprinkles) are commonplace, from artisan bakeries to major chain stores, a recent stop at Grounded Coffee House along Coast Highway led me to its finest expression yet. The vanilla funfetti cookie from Cookie Lab OC hit all the right notes: thick, soft, generously studded with rainbow sprinkles and finished with a hint of white chocolate. Brittany Hamilton, the founder of both Cookie Lab OC and Grounded Coffee House, also crafts other sublime cookies, like classic chocolate chip or Oreo Chunk, but the multi-hued one truly captured my heart.
— Brock Keeling, Restaurant Reporter
Empanada’s from Lord Empanada in Monrovia (Carolyn Burt, SCNG)Mushroom Empanada – Lord Empanada, Monrovia
There is something comforting about eating a warm empanada on a nice foggy day in Los Angeles. Only people who appreciate May Gray and June Gloom will truly understand that sentiment, but I think most people would agree that empanadas are a top-tier comfort food. While Lord Empanada in Monrovia carries a fair share of scrumptious offerings paired with their chimichurri sauce, taking a bite of their mushroom empanada was like receiving a hug. The swiss cheese pairs beautifully with the mushroom and garlic flavors, a vegetarian’s dream empanada. Another solid option is their spinach and cheese empanada. They also experiment with dessert empanadas such as apple pie, New York cheesecake and Nutella, which I will have to go back and try.
— Carolyn Burt, Audience Engagement Producer
@by.carolynIf you love empanadas as much as I do then you need to visit Lord Empanada in Monrovia. #losangeles #empanadas #empanada #restaurants #larestaurants #foodie #foodieguide #la #thingstodoinla
♬ original sound – Reporter Carolyn
Crispy squash blossoms at Viamara in Newport Beach. (Photo by Brock Keeling, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Crispy squash blossoms stuffed with Boursin – Viamara at the Elwood Club, Newport Beach
One of South County’s most exclusive hideouts, the Elwood Club at Pendry Newport Beach, is about to commit a rare feat of hospitality: briefly flinging open the doors of its restaurant, Viamara, to us common folk. During a recent visit to this ultra-luxe locale to peruse executive chef Ben Martinek’s “local’s menu” (club members, naturally, get their own menu), my gaze honed in on the crispy squash blossoms. The fleeting springtime dish’s appearance on any menu is an automatic “yes” in my book. Beyond the expected ricotta and pesto of fava bean (plucked straight from the Ecology Center a few miles south), Martinek whimsically gilds the lily with a sly twist: an infusion of Boursin cheese. The addition of the herbaceous cheese spread, with its supermarket charm, bridged the gap between the exclusive environs and my everyday palate.
— Brock Keeling, Restaurant Reporter
See more of our monthly round-ups of the best things we ate in Southern California
The best things we ate at Southern California restaurants in April
The best things we ate at Southern California restaurants in March
The best things we ate at Southern California restaurants in February
The best things we ate at Southern California restaurants in January
The best things we ate at Southern California restaurants in 2024
The best things we ate at Southern California restaurants in November
The best things we ate at Southern California restaurants this October
The best thing we ate at Southern California restaurants in September
The best thing we ate at Southern California restaurants in August
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