The best things we ate at Southern California restaurants in August

After a month of what felt like consistent 90-degree weather across Southern California, it’s safe to say that our team was looking for ways to stay cool this August, and sweet treats played a big role in that. Gelato, shaved ice, milkshakes, mango sticky rice, watermelon covered in fruit roll-up, water ice — you name it and we probably tried it this month.

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• Also see: The best things we ate at Southern California restaurants in July 2026

Here’s a look at nearby eateries to try around Los Angeles and Orange counties and the Inland Empire, according to our reporters.

Related: See the best things we ate in Southern California in 2025.

Ahi Nachos — The Naughty Fox, Avalon – Catalina Island

For my birthday this year, my mom and I decided to go on a fun Southern California getaway and visit Catalina Island together. Despite being a born-and-raised California girl who grew up visiting my grandparents in Orange County and now resides in Los Angeles, this was my first time visiting Catalina Island. I knew that for our itinerary, the top things on the list would be touring the Casino, eating good food, and spending as much time as possible in the ocean.

The Naughty Fox’s Ahi Nachos had popped up on my TikTok algorithm as soon as it realized I was planning a visit to Avalon and started feeding me nonstop videos from Catalina Island. After dropping off our luggage at the Avalon Hotel, we decided to walk down to the restaurant and grab a spot outside with an ocean view. The scenery paired with the breeze and meal made for a perfect way to start the trip.

The ahi was fresh and cut into easy bite-sized pieces, and the crispy wontons were a solid base. The additional toppings of avocado, green onions, and mango made for a scrumptious bite. The sauce had a little bit of a kick to it, which I might opt out of if I got it again, but if you enjoy some heat to your dishes, it packs a nice punch.

— Carolyn Burt, Audience Engagement Producer

Tacos Al Pastor — Taqueria Frontera, Cypress Park

As a tacos aficionado, I am more than serious about al pastor. Taqueria Frontera, a Tijuana-style spot in Cypress Park, is the best I’ve had – and it’s not close.

Shaved off the trompo, with perfectly crispy edges after hitting the griddle below, the al pastor is sweet and smoky and finished with the regular-fare toppings on a freshly-made corn tortilla. Deviating, however, from the norm are two salsas – a crema-like cilantro sauce and a red and tingly house salsa that will clear your senses – dolloped onto each al pastor taco as a regular topping. And you can’t forget the traditional pineapple.

Every time I go, I order three tacos. By the time I’ve finished my second, I’m back in line for more. Yes, cliché – but I mean it. Run, don’t walk.

— Benjamin Royer, Lakers Reporter

Candied Watermelon — The OC Fair, Costa Mesa

Something I’ve always loved about the fair is the handheld foods that are easy to eat while strolling the fairgrounds. The Candied Watermelon at the OC Fair may not have been a convenient dish, but it was tasty and refreshing nonetheless.

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The serving was a massive, juicy slice of watermelon wrapped in Fruit by the Foot, with a drizzle of sweet-and-tangy chamoy and a generous sprinkle of Tajín for a sweet, spicy, salty kick. I firmly believe this was one of the healthiest options at the fair. Was it wrapped in sugar? Sure, but hey, there’s a fruit under there somewhere!

— Charlie Vargas, Features Reporter

Summer In Italy — Goat & Vine, Temecula

Pre-wine tasting meals don’t need to do much more than provide a little something to absorb local vineyards’ specialties, but lunch at Goat & Vine is worth the drive to Temecula alone. The restaurant had me hooked when it had my favorite beer — Russian River’s Blind Pig — on draft and its namesake salad — complete with strawberries, a pecan-encrusted goat cheese medallion and a champagne vinaigrette.

But the Summer In Italy pizza made Goat & Vine a new destination restaurant for us.

My wife and I have been on a constant search for anything close to a pizza we had in Zagreb, Croatia’s capital, at a packed spot in a pedestrian-only section of the old town: prosciutto, arugula, tomatoes and balsamic vinegar. We’ve found some offerings that hinted at what we’d found, but Summer In Italy is the closest we’ve encountered.

It didn’t have the arugula, but its prosciutto, mozzarella, garlic confit tomatoes, oregano, lemon zest and honey balsamic reduction delivered a complex combination of sweet and savory that some could say was the ideal palate-opener for the wine to come. In reality, it simply was the best pizza we’ve had this year.

— Todd Harmonson, Senior Editor, Orange County Register

A burger, a hot dog and more — Tiny’s Burger, Costa Mesa

Nothing I ate at Tiny’s Burger, chef Sang Yoon’s new spot in Costa Mesa, called for pomp and circumstance. This is food that you can, and should, wolf down with abandon. The burger, in particular, proved an ideal cost-effective oasis within the less-than-hoi-polloi environs of South Coast Plaza. Said burger pairs dry-aged beef with lettuce, dill pickles, grilled onion and gochujang- and ssamjang-spiked sauce, all inside a potato bun. Juicy, tangy and slightly funky.

The mac and cheese combines American and sharp cheddar alongside white and red miso for added depth. Then there’s the Tokyo Dog, a 10-inch Nathan’s frank with Kewpie mayo, pickled ginger and bonito flakes. These paper-thin flakes sway in the heat, making it look as though the frank had come to life – a detail that, unnervingly, made me even hungrier. A welcome addition to my hot dog portfolio.

— Brock Keeling, Features Reporter

Mexican Hot Chocolate French Toast & Chilaquiles — Sunny’s Cafe, Rancho Cucamonga

When I randomly googled breakfast spots near me in Rancho Cucamonga, Sunny’s Cafe was one of the top options on the search page. It is a small shop in the back corner of a parking lot.

We had the Mexican Hot Chocolate French Toast, Chilaquiles, and freshly squeezed orange juice. The French toast was fluffy, the chocolate sauce on top was sweet and the berries were the perfect amount of tart to balance it all out. This was my first time trying chilaquiles, and I am still thinking about them. They were crispy and flavorful. We paired ours with over-easy eggs and the egg yolk really added to it!

— Jordan B. Darling, Local Reporter

Caprese — Pino’s Sandwiches, Los Feliz

Sometimes you see a photo of a food, or it pops into your mind, and you simply cannot go on in life until you satisfy the craving. That was me at the beginning of August, unable to go about my day until I had a schiacciata sandwich on the famous Tuscan bread.

Now, if you aren’t familiar, Los Angeles is now home to Pino’s Sandwiches, which is a popular Florence sandwich shop that originally opened in Italy in 1965. The Los Angeles location is tucked away in Los Feliz near Skylight Books and some other popular restaurants that I’ve saved on my always-growing Google Maps bookmarks.

Upon entering the quick-service eatery, I was immediately welcomed with warm hospitality from the employees. The menu offers a few vegetarian options, but I went with my go-to, the Caprese. I paired it with a Limonata, which made for a refreshing sip as the L.A. heat was finally headed towards cooler degrees for the day.

The sandwich itself was everything I hoped it would be. The bread was lightly toasted, making it warm but not too crunchy. The pesto was perfection, the tomatoes were fresh, and I enjoyed that the mozzarella was sliced thin enough slices as to not overpower the dish.

I also grabbed one of their prepackaged gelato sandwiches I had been eyeing on my way out, a salted caramel flavor. The cookies that wrapped the treat were thin and crisp, and one edge had been dipped in salted caramel as well.

— Carolyn Burt, Audience Engagement Producer

Piña Piña Piña shave ice — The Shore, San Juan Capistrano

The Shore’s chef-owner Michael Campbell wants shave ice fine enough to evoke Winona Ryder in the falling-ice scene in “Edward Scissorhands,” not the rubble produced by a Snoopy Sno-Cone Machine. Such precision is what, in part, makes his shave ice so good.

• ALSO SEE: The Shore in San Juan Capistrano opens with shave ice and musubi

His Piña Piña Piña combines that feathery pineapple ice with Dole Whip and diced pineapple, hibiscus and salted plum powder. It’s icy, creamy, juicy and just salty enough to rein in the fruity onslaught. Large enough to share, but not necessary.

— Brock Keeling, Restaurant Reporter

BLT — Arcade Downtown, Riverside

This may be the first BLT I’ve ever eaten that’s bigger than my mouth. You can get it at Arcade Downtown, one of Arcade Coffee Roasters’ three eateries in Riverside. This sandwich is made with romaine lettuce, heirloom tomato and chipotle mayo on thickly sliced bakehouse sourdough. The bacon was exactly the way I like it, thick and crispy and flavorful. I added avocado, and the total came to $18.

— Fielding Buck, Restaurant Reporter

Guinness BBQ Burger — The Auld Dubliner, Long Beach

I’ve visited several Irish pubs, but none with a kitchen menu as exciting as The Auld Dubliner in Long Beach. My mouth watered as I narrowed down the Irish food I thought of ordering. To my disappointment, on the Sunday I visited, many of those items weren’t available, something the server told me happens from time to time. So I went with the safe option: a burger. Still, I wanted to stay a little adventurous and opted for the Guinness BBQ Burger.

The disappointment I felt from the lack of Irish food melted away with each bite of the sandwich. The patty had a smoky char from the grill and was cooked medium-rare. It was topped with Guinness BBQ sauce, a sticky cheddar, crunchy lettuce and juicy tomatoes, but what truly made me forget this wasn’t what I initially wanted was the thinly sliced rasher. This was easily among the best things I ate this year.

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— Charlie Vargas, Features Reporter

Mango Sticky Rice — Thai Diamond Bar.B.Q., Rancho Cucamonga

I love mango sticky rice. After a trip to Thailand two years ago, it has become a must-have in my house whenever we go out for Thai food, which may be basic, but during the summer it is the best dessert I can think of. Sticky rice topped with condensed milk, surrounded by thin slices of fresh mango, and they even put it in the shape of a heart; it’s beautiful, delicious, and refreshing.

— Jordan B. Darling, Local Reporter

El Rey del Humo — Lola Gaspar, Santa Ana

Taco Tuesdays and mezcal-forward cocktails on a Santa Ana patio are enough to draw anyone with discerning tastes to Lola Gaspar, one of only six restaurants in Orange County with a Michelin Bib Gourmand distinction.

But a dinner with friends offered opportunities to explore chef Luis Perez’s menu that is loaded with enticing options. Perez’s bocaditos del amor – his chorizo-stuffed dates – and Joya del Pacífico – a bluefin tuna tostada – got the table off to a strong start, though my main topped everything that preceded it.

Perez promised a lot when he named his dish El Rey del Humo – the king of smoke – and he lived up to it with a short rib dish that could be turned into tacos or enjoyed on its own. The healthy portion of smoked short rib is accompanied by a Japanese sweet potato puree that adds to its richness, making it an ideal shareable option when paired with a salad or one of the taco options (shrimp was the top choice this time).

The ultimate pairing with the smoky short rib, of course, came from the cocktails; I simply turned myself over to the bartender, asked for something with mezcal and enjoyed.

— Todd Harmonson, Senior Editor, Orange County Register

Scallops Avalon Style — Steve’s Steakhouse, Avalon on Catalina Island

After perusing the menus of nearby restaurants in the area, the Scallops at Steve’s Steakhouse in Avalon caught my eye for the final dinner of my recent Catalina Island trip.

Noted as a house favorite, the dish is basically the restaurant’s version of scampi-style, served over garlic sourdough French bread. The dish can be had with either shrimp or scallops, but my mom and I opted for the scallops. It was the right choice because both of us agreed this was one of the best meals we’ve ever had.

The sauce was buttery and lemony, which perfectly complemented the scallops. The scallops were also seared and had a delicious taste to them, with the bread, which was nicely toasted. The dish was topped with green onions and tomatoes, which added some additional flavor. The rice pilaf we had as a side dish was also a win, as was the sunset view we had of the bay.

— Carolyn Burt, Audience Engagement Producer

BBQ Pork Muenster Grill Cheese and Pandan Cooler  — Disneyland & Disney California Adventure, Anaheim

On the first hot weekend of “Augustween” at the Disney parks, which started in late August we had to try the goofy-looking BBQ Pork Muenster grill cheese sandwich, available at Pym Test Kitchen on Avengers Campus in Disney California Adventure. This thing was huge — and heavy. The pork belly and jalapeño flavors come through, but with the cheese and toasted bread the meal is definitely on the “fattier” end, so hard to finish alone. We washed it down with the Oktoberfest lager from Route 30 Brewing Co. and the yummy pork-cheddar Oktoberfest hot dog, both from Award Weiners in Hollywood Land. (Bonus: Add in the Horchata Whiskey Cocktail, made with rumchata and cinnamon whiskey, at Hollywood Lounge, and it’s a full meal/party!)

• RELATED: The 10 best things to eat during Halloween time at Disneyland

At Disneyland’s Bengal Barbecue in Adventureland, we got the Iced Pandan Cooler as a sweet, cooling treat at the end of the night, and it was DELICIOUS. As a SoCal Asian American and lifelong boba fanatic (and critic/self-titled expert), I was pleasantly surprised at the warmth of the tapioca boba balls and the refreshingly sweet mixture of the ube with the pandan flavor.

— Allyson Vergara, Local Reporter

The Peach Cobbler Shaved Snow — Vampire Penguin, Ontario

I came for the unusual name and cartoon penguin on the side of the building, and I stayed for the soft texture, light flavors, and perfect amount of sweetness.

Shaved snow is softer than shaved ice and more solid than soft serve. I had one of their seasonal offerings, a peach cobbler, which is a mix of peach and vanilla flavors, topped with whipped cream, crushed graham crackers, and chunks of peach. Overall, the dessert paired with the atmosphere was so fun. The walls were covered in cartoon animals and the patio had giant Jenga and cornhole boards available to keep you occupied while you were waiting.

— Jordan B. Darling, Local Reporter

Majoon shake — Yummy Land, Laguna Hills

Top honors this month go to the majoon shake at Yummy Land, a small Iranian dessert shop in Laguna Hills. Its stellar rendition of the Persian treat blends bananas, dates, milk and vanilla ice cream with cashews, pistachios and walnuts, some blitzed into the drink and the rest scattered atop a crown of whipped cream. With its density and heft, it lands somewhere between a sundae and, if you will, a highly-effective meal replacement.

• RELATED: 7 very, very good milkshakes in Orange County

The dates bring a deep, caramel-like sweetness while the nuts keep the whole thing from turning cloying. Hadley Fruit Orchards may own the Southern California date-shake mythology, but Yummy Lands’ majoon has more texture and dimension. I had planned on drinking half and saving the rest for later. A very unserious lie.

— Brock Keeling, Restaurant Reporter

Okonomiyaki & Tonkostu Ramen — Ramen Masuta, Rancho Cucamonga

Ramen Masuta is in a small shop off Foothill and Rochester in Rancho Cucamonga. My husband has been on a kick of trying the local spots in our area before our baby arrives at the end of September, and when I requested ramen in the dead of August, this is the one he picked. We started with okonomiyaki, a savory pancake-style dish, gyoza, and takoyaki. They were all warm, crispy, and exactly what I was looking for. We followed up with the ramen and karaage. The chicken was crispy and the dipping sauce had the perfect spice. The ramen broth was rich and spicy and the noodles were the right amount of firm.

— Jordan B. Darling, Local Reporter

Rainbow Rocket Water Ice — Happy Ice, Downtown Disney in Anaheim

Happy Ice recently opened an outdoor booth at Downtown Disney near Din Tai Fung. The sweet shop specializes in water ice, which is a popular dessert in Philadelphia and similar to Italian ice. As a bonus, Happy Ice is also vegan and nut-free.

On a hot summer day — because has there really been a day in August that hasn’t felt like a heat wave — I decided to treat myself to the Rainbow Rocket. The sweet treat is described as all of the world-famous flavors in one, which adds to its colorful appearance. I opted to add chamoy and Tajín to it, which, transparently, for the $2 upcharge, I didn’t think was worth the price for the topping, as it was a very minor amount.

The water ice itself was the perfect dessert to help me stay cool as I walked around the shops of Downtown Disney. The flavorful frozen delicacy is a welcome addition to the new eateries and shops in the area, arguably giving the nearby Dole Whip a run for its money.

— Carolyn Burt, Audience Engagement Reporter

A big box of doughnuts — The Donuttery, Huntington Beach

Few disappointments prove more crushing than opening a doughnut box, either at work or a large event, and discovering that its glistening contents have been massacred, cut into halves or quarters. A pastry crime scene I uncovered in August.

The idea that this will somehow prevent me from taking the equivalent of two full doughnuts – at least – is laughable. I mean, I get it: The doughnuts are cut up for sharing. But any thoughts of altruism fly out the window when, as happened this month, those doughnuts come from The Donuttery in Huntington Beach.

Truly among the finest specimens in Orange County, these dunkers straddle the line between classic and newfangled without losing any of their soul. I went for my favorite, a maple bar, snatching its delicious, vivisected carcass, blanketed in a thick coating of glaze. After devouring the maple, I moved on to the chocolate bar’s body parts. Ditto. Phenomenal. Even the plain old fashion, arguably the bottom rung of the doughnut hierarchy, was top-notch.

— Brock Keeling, Restaurant Reporter

Make it Bougie — Moon Grill Hawaiian BBQ, Ontario

On a random doomscroll, an influencer showed me Make it Bougie from Moon Grill Hawaiian BBQ in Ontario. Needless to say, I was influenced, and for once it had a stellar payout. I immediately saved the video and sent it to my husband to add to our ever-growing list of food in the Inland Empire.

The takeout box came with one lobster tail paired with a beef rib, four pieces of Cajun garlic shrimp, and Hawaiian BBQ chicken paired with a side of rice and mac salad. There were so many flavors happening, and it was a huge amount of food, which made it worth the price. My favorites were the lobster and the chicken.

— Jordan B. Darling, Local Reporter

Bacio di Latte (Sweet Cream) and Giandujotto (Hazelnut & Chocolate) Gelato — Bacio di Latte, Encino

I feel like the ultimate praise to give a restaurant is that after the first bite, you know it’s one you can take your family to visit.

The gelato from Bacio di Latte is small but mighty, and packed with flavor. Each bite is both rich and decadent. I opted to go with the sweet cream paired with the chocolate hazelnut. The two flavors complemented. each other nicely, and while not competing, the chocolate hazelnut was the winner in my eyes.

Sometimes food allows you to day dream and travel, and as I took a bite of this gelato I felt like I was no longer in a midst of a heat wave in the Valley, but rather on a vacation in Italy, living my Lizzie McGuire Movie dreams, ready to hop on a red moped as “Volare” covered by Vitamin C plays to the soundtrack of my life.

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— Carolyn Burt, Audience Engagement Producer

See more of our round-ups of the best things we ate in Southern California.

The best things we ate at Southern California restaurants in July

The best things we ate at Southern California restaurants in June

The best things we ate at Southern California restaurants in May

The best things we ate at Southern California restaurants in April

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 2025

The best things we ate at Southern California restaurants in 2024