The best things we ate at Southern California restaurants in April ...Middle East

If there’s one thing that takes over April in Southern California, it’s festival season. Coachella, Stagecoach, and the Festival of Books, otherwise known as Bookchella, all take place one weekend after another. And once they wrap up, there are more music festivals, food festivals, and even wine festivals taking place throughout the summer in Southern California.

With so many Los Angeles residents flocking to Coachella for weekend one, it typically means an unexpected domino effect for those who stay behind: less traffic and not as many out-the-door lines at trending places to eat, such as Courage Bagels and Community Goods. More and more people have caught onto this trend and utilize the weekend as an opportunity for a local adventure with (hopefully) less wait times.

However, when it comes to Southern California food, the locals will tell you it doesn’t need to be the latest TikTok hot spot to be a solid meal. You can also happen upon a fantastic bite to eat just by walking around town, or perhaps a county fair, and seeing what catches your eye.

This is where our reporters come in to help guide you to some nearby eateries that might not already be on your radar. Here’s a look at the best things we ate throughout Los Angeles, Orange County and the Inland Empire in April.

Related: See the best things we ate in Southern California in 2024.

Miến xào tôm cua (crab and shrimp glass noodles) – Bamboo Bistro, Corona Del Mar

While Little Saigon holds court as Orange County’s Vietnamese food capital (that’s practically scripture), Bamboo Bistro in Corona Del Mar throws a few knockout punches. The miến xào tôm cua, a tangle of crab and rice noodles studded with tiger prawns and slicked with garlic-ginger sauce, competes with the big leagues a few miles north. This dish, a recurring star in my culinary arsenal when I first enjoyed it at the Slanted Door in San Francisco in the early 2000s, has long been a favorite, one that I now get to enjoy with more frequency ever since Bamboo Bistro unveiled its new expansion, allowing for double the customers.

— Brock Keeling, Restaurant Reporter

Jerk Lobster Mac & Cheese – The Jerk, Jamaican Eatery, LA County Fair and restaurant in Temecula

Lobster Mac & Cheese is already elevating a classic comfort food, but Jerk Lobster Mac & Cheese takes it to a whole new level. As part of the Los Angeles County Fair Food Preview, my coworker and I went around to various booths to try samples of some of the new and returning items this year. The Jerk’s Jerk Lobster Mac & Cheese will likely go down as the best thing I ate in 2025. It’s what food fusion is all about: the flavors, the texture, the cheese (the cheese pull alone was a moment). This meal was so good that despite being stuffed, I went back for another bowl to take home and have for dinner. The only warning I will give is if you have a low spice tolerance, be prepared with a beverage on hand (I had a horchata nearby) because there’s definitely a kick to this dish. You can find the Jerk at the Los Angeles County Fair, but they’re also opening a new restaurant location in Temecula.

— Carolyn Burt, Audience Engagement Producer

Short Rib Poutine – Studio 429, Downtown Upland

A delicious pairing of tender short ribs in a delicious gravy and salty French fries made this a perfect appetizer. Though to be fair with its portion size, this could have very well been a meal. Being that I never saw myself as someone who would partake in poutine, this exceeded all of my expectations. Also, if you happen to go during their social hour (happy hour), you can get it at a discount.

— Mercedes Cannon-Tran, Local Reporter

Soft Shell Crab Sandwich – The Market by the Meat Cellar, San Juan Capistrano

Anthony Villegas, meat master and co-founder of the Market by the Meat Cellar — a traditional butchery, cheese shop, boutique and a full-service steakhouse — hosts a “Meat Master Class” dinner series at his new San Juan Capistrano location. Of the eight thrilling courses he prepared and served, ranging from a steamed Wagyu beef cheek taco to a veal schnitzel, his soft shell crab sandwich proved to be the standout. Topped with a Meyer lemon aioli and a calamansi vinaigrette salad, the succulent crustacean is beer-battered and fried to a golden hue. But really, each dish was a knockout, proving Villegas is a major talent for South County. Look for class to resume on June 16.

— Brock Keeling, Restaurant Reporter

Single Burger – Oh My Burger, Gardena

At most music festivals, you will find some burger options, but nothing like Oh My Burger served at the Coachella Courtyard. Even as I write this, my mouth still waters. The center was a smashed patty with cheese, topped with pickles, grilled onions, and a sauce with a savory kick that elevated the smoky grilled taste between two slightly toasted buns. I didn’t get the name of the sauce, but I think about her daily. I will spend the rest of my life searching for her with the same determination Prince Charming did when Cinderella escaped, if I have to. This burger is my glass slipper, and the sauce is my princess, waiting for our fates to cross once again.

– Charlie Vargas, features reporter

Paella de Mariscos – Coco Palm, Pomona

A symphony of flavors comes together in one of the best paellas I have ever had. Seriously, the saffron rice alone is worth its own post. The amount and variety of seafood in this dish make it a crowd pleaser and definitely a dish to share. With lobster, squid, fish, shrimp, and mussels, there is no shortage of variety. Did I mention there were sweeping views of the Pomona Valley at the Cuban restaurant as well? I highly recommend a window seat any time of day alongside one of their delicious passionfruit mojitos. Also, don’t miss out on taking a stroll outside on their veranda for great views and photos.

— Mercedes Cannon-Tran, Local Reporter

Triple-decker sandwich – Benjies NY Deli, Santa Ana

Benjies NY Deli doesn’t just serve a triple-decker sandwich; it stacks a geological wonder of corned beef, pastrami and Swiss — a tall, two-fisted affair in an increasingly dainty-dish world. Forget polite portions here as doggie bags are de rigueur at this 57-year-old institution of hefty fare. And its legacy is safe: Chanele Halkett, who got her start at the Santa Ana eatery as hostess three decades ago, is set to buy the place, ensuring the menu and its gut-busting spirit remain unchanged. Don’t even think about skipping out on the crinkle-cut fries, which are a must, or grabbing a black-and-white cookie on the way out.

— Brock Keeling, Restaurant Reporter

Dr. Bombay Pizza – Made From Scratch, Redlands

Made From Scratch is a one-of-a-kind pizzeria that recently opened at 118 Orange St, Redlands. What makes it unique is its 1980s record store theme, including a disc jockey and square menus inserted into replicas of LP inner sleeves. There’s a good selection of pizza. This is Dr. Bombay, $21, made with tandoori chicken, tzatziki and mozzarella, then topped with cilantro. Also, look for brunch on weekends. I liked the egg white frittata.

— Fielding Buck, Restaurant Reporter

Wild Alaskan Salmon – Studio 429 in Upland, Ca

A crispy and delicate salmon paired with an array of flavors like the salmon caviar and enoki mushrooms really made this dish something special. In fact, I like it so much I have ordered it twice now! This dish really does have a nice balance of being satisfying yet not overwhelmingly heavy. I am also a big fan of the crispy salmon skin in contrast to the vegetables.

— Mercedes Cannon-Tran, Local Reporter

Al pastor taco – Tacos Y Birria La Cascada, Santa Ana

A day in Santa Ana serendipitously led me to Tacos Y Birria La Cascada, a food truck holding court at three locations. While on assignment, I stumbled upon La Cascada and, anticipating a feast later that afternoon, ordered a single al pastor taco as a warmup. The spicy, marinated pork, brightened by peppery radishes and a squeeze of lime, offered me the pre-game savoriness I craved. Served atop two soft tortillas, any stray detritus transformed into an impromptu second taco. You can find La Cascada near the corners of 17th Street and Sycamore, 17th Street and Old Tustin and Warner and Yale.

— 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 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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