The best things we ate at Southern California restaurants in July

Summer in Southern California is the perfect staycation. And what better way to treat yourself than visiting some local restaurants and enjoying some yummy cuisine?

Read more Average 30-year US mortgage rate rises to highest level in a year at 6.66%

This month’s guide features a variety of tasty options: breakfast bites to start your day, delicious dinners with amazing rooftop views, comfort meals that hit the spot and, dare we say, one of the best hot dogs in Orange County?

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

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

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

Lox Bagel — Rise Bagels, Irvine

Rise Bagels has been on my list for a minute, and I’m already dreaming about my next visit back. I went with the lox bagel, which has citrus-cured salmon, yuzu kosho pickled onion, red onion, tomato, dill, citrus olive oil, lemon schmear and cornichon. The citrusy flavor was front of mind with each bite, which was quite refreshing on a hot summer’s day.

I noticed the bagel was thinner than most and in an oval shape, but that worked well for an open-face bagel as the toppings complemented it without the bagel feeling too heavy. Each ingredient also helped complement the flavor.

An additional bonus was that there was also plenty of outdoor seating in the area, and some nice shaded spots near the fountain area.

— Carolyn Burt, Audience Engagement Producer

Chili Cheese Dog — Portillo’s, Buena Park

Not every estimable hot dog needs to be dolled up “the Chicago way.” Portillo’s chili cheese dog ignores Windy City convention, pairing a snappy, all-beef frank and pillowy poppy seed bun with a generous swipe of hearty chili and slice of American cheese. It’s messy, which is part of its charm, best wolfed down while leaning over the in-house tray.

• ALSO SEE: Seven great hot dogs in Orange County

This version ranks among Orange County’s best, delivering a satisfying snap and enough beefy richness without turning into mush. While it won’t earn high marks for beauty, it managed to win over someone who almost always prefers a cheeseburger instead.

— Brock Keeling, Restaurant Reporter

Butter Chicken — Copper Pot Indian Grill & Cafe, Redondo Beach

There is a familiar comfort when ordering butter chicken at an Indian restaurant. You can always rely on it being delicious and satisfying, but sometimes a place does it just right that it keeps you coming back for their distinct flavor of the classic dish.

That’s Copper Pot Indian Grill & Cafe in Redondo Beach for me. The restaurant’s butter chicken left its mark and makes the drive to the beach city worth it.

The tandoor-skewered boneless chicken is cooked in butter and cream and submerged in a rich tomato gravy. The portion is enough to share with your table or keep it all for yourself.

— Christina Merino, Local Reporter

Amatriciana — Met Him At A Bar, Los Angeles

When you eye Met Him At A Bar on the street at the corner of S. La Brea Avenue and 8th Street, you’ll notice two things: the Italian establishment is jam-packed, and there are a handful of restaurants with “met” in the title – all owned by the same couple. I stuck with a pasta dish, the Amatriciana: a red-sauce dish with casarecce pasta, crispy-rendered pancetta, red pepper and parmesan.

Pasta and ambiance go hand in hand at Met Him At A Bar, and the click of heat from the Amatriciana matches the bustling atmosphere on a Friday night. The pasta was al dente, while the portion was more than enough for two.

— Benjamin Royer, Lakers Reporter

Wagyu Picanha — The Meat Cellar, Claremont

This place had been on my “to try” list for quite some time, and I am so happy to have finally found the time to go. Located right across the street from the Claremont Botanical Gardens, this steakhouse/butcher shop really knows how to serve a great steak. It is more of a laid-back vibe for a steakhouse but serves great food nonetheless.

I chose the Wagyu Pichanha for my first time and the steak was seasoned so well I did not even need the demi-glace sauce. They also provide the most delicious house-made cornbread with honey butter that I could not get enough of. This steakhouse has a great cocktail menu with a little something for everyone.

— Mercedes Cannon-Tran, Local Reporter

Chilled Lobster Roll with Mayo and Caviar — Broad Street Oyster Co., Downtown Los Angeles

Just one year after trying Broad Street Oyster Co.’s hot lobster roll with butter, I returned to the establishment at Grand Central Market to try the chilled version with mayo and a bonus of caviar on top.

I was curious if the $15 luxury topping would truly heighten my experience, and while subtle, I did notice a difference for the better. I was glad to see it was a pretty sizable amount of caviar added on top, which made me feel as though I was getting my money’s worth.

I will also say the lobster roll on its own is one of my favorite that I’ve tried. I feel as though next time I go I’ll have to share a hot lobster roll and chilled one with a friend to determine which I prefer of the two options, because both are delightful.

— Carolyn Burt, Audience Engagement Producer

Bacon and cheese sando — Egg Tuck, Koreatown and Anaheim Hills

Egg Tuck has built a successful following due to its reputation for Korean-style egg sandwiches, and after one bite of its bacon and cheese sando, it’s easy to understand why. Pillow brioche, griddled until deeply golden, gives way to fluffy folded eggs, salty bacon and, gloriously, melted American cheese. A swipe of the chain’s signature sauce adds enough tang and sweetness without veering off the cliff into mayo territory.

It is, no doubt, a rich sandwich, but also balanced with buttery toast offering a welcome delicate crunch against the soft eggs. Breakfast sandwiches are everywhere as of late (thank God); this one stands apart due to its simplicity and hefty size. I enjoyed this one in Koreatown, but can grab one closer to home at Egg Tuck’s only Orange County location in Anaheim Hills.

Read more Hope dwindles for rescue in southwestern Japan quake as death toll climbs to 25

— Brock Keeling, Restaurant Reporter

Ube Bun — San & Wolves Bakeshop, Long Beach

One location along Long Beach’s Fourth Street corridor that has become a staple is San & Wolves Bakeshop. The cozy bakery serves Filipino-inspired baked goods that really satisfy that “sweet treat” craving, without actually being too sweet. The bakeshop is also unique because all of its items are scratch-made and 100% vegan, soy-free, and nut-free.

Walking through San & Wolves Bakeshop’s doors, you are hit with a waft of sweet air and come face-to-face with a display of pandesal, buns, tarts, cookies, cakes, and more. Their welcoming environment is only one reason I keep going back; the other is their ube bun. The flaky, sweet bun has house ube halaya as its base and is topped with a vanilla glaze. Each bite is more satisfying than the last as the pastry melts in your mouth.

— Christina Merino, Local Reporter

Gnocchi Pesto with Salmon — Perch, Downtown Los Angeles

One thing about me — I’m a sucker for a good gnocchi. After a matinee showing of “Mamma Mia” at the Ahmanson, my friends and I decided to keep the good times going with an early dinner at Perch. The rooftop bar and dining spot had been on my list for years, and I’m so glad we went because each bite was delightful.

The gnocchi was perfectly doughy and the pesto sauce was scrumptious. I opted to add salmon to the dish, which was cooked to perfection. We also split some appetizers, my favorite of which was the Maryland blue crab cakes.

After we finished our meal, we made our way upstairs to the rooftop bar to take in the views of Downtown LA. The perfect way to close out the evening of an eventful day.

— Carolyn Burt, Audience Engagement Producer

Short Rib and Grazing Plate — Perch, Downtown Los Angeles

It is always a special treat when I get to visit Perch downtown. I opted for their summer prefix menu last visit, and I was delightfully surprised at the amount of food and the options. The grazing board was a great way to start my meal, and I appreciated the variety of accouterments provided, which had a good balance between salty and sweet. For my main meal, I went with the short rib, which was fork-tender and served with delicious garlic mashed potatoes and roasted vegetables.

— Mercedes Cannon-Tran, Local Reporter

Heirloom tomato panzanella — Bourbon Steak, Dana Point

Peak tomato season doesn’t last long, making this panzanella at Bourbon Steak all the more worth ordering while summer’s wrath lingers. Thick wedges of colorful heirloom tomatoes share the plate with kernels of fresh corn, torn basil and a small tangle of pickled shallots to brighten each bite. Croutons soak up the tomato juices without losing too much of their texture, while a generous swoosh of whipped ricotta underneath it all adds richness and turns the salad into something more substantial.

Basically, it lets the ingredients do what they do best: shine. In a restaurant (and resort, located inside the Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach) known for indulgence, steaks and lobster pot pie, this was the humble little dish that ran away with the whole show.

— Brock Keeling, Restaurant Reporter

Oyster Mushroom Calamari — The Butcher’s Daughter, West Hollywood

The Butcher’s Daughter is a vegetarian’s dream. This was my second time dining at the West Hollywood restaurant and it was just as delicious as I remembered. The highlight of the visit had to be the oyster mushroom calamari. I seriously could not get enough of it and the Calabrian aioli paired with it was delightful.

Bonus: my friend that I was dining with, who does eat meat, said that she preferred the dish over traditional calamari.

— Carolyn Burt, Audience Engagement Producer

Ricotta Jam Toast — Bricks and Birch, Redlands

Independent coffee shops in Redlands and Riverside have upped their game when it comes to baked goods. Bricks and Birch, which also does wood-fired pizza, does nice toast. Its Ricotta Jam Toast is thickly smeared with whipped ricotta and then topped with house-made jam, usually tasty strawberry.

The bread is nicely crisp. It pairs well with a summer lineup of summer beverages, including Galaxy Cold Brew, made with cream cheese cold brew and Cocoa Puffs.

— Fielding Buck Restaurant Reporter

Calabacitas — The Ecology Center’s Community Table Dinner Series, San Juan Capistrano

Daniel Castillo may be best known for Central Texas-style barbecue at Heritage Barbecue, but this opening course proved he’s just as deft with vegetables. Served at one of the Ecology Center’s Community Table Dinners, the calabacitas dish joins pattypan squash, baby squash and sweet peppers with a silky, smoked corn cream that tasted like the peak of summer distilled into a dish. Salsa macha added a welcome smoky heat and crunch, while crumbled queso fresco brought enough salty bite to tie it all together.

It was a deceptively simple dish, letting peak-season produce do most of the legwork while layering in restricted touches of smoke and spice. At a dinner packed with memorial courses, this was the one I thought about most the next day.

— Brock Keeling, Restaurant Reporter

Boba milk tea — L’Moon Creamery, Upland

L’Moon has long been a favorite of mine for a late-night boba run. They are known for their Thai tea, for which they have perfected the recipe, and thick housemade cookies. On my last visit, we went for their “fire” version of their milk teas, which includes a brulee-style whipped foam on top that is, oh so delicious. They also serve unique boba sundaes with their signature Thai tea soft serve.

— Mercedes Cannon-Tran, Local Reporter

Fried Goat Cheese Balls — SUR, West Hollywood

It feels as though most of my evening outings for the last month have centered around “Love Island USA” watch parties, and thankfully Los Angeles was not short of options. One in particular that intrigued me was the watch party hosted at SUR, where “Love Island USA’s” host Ariana Maddix used to work as a bartender during her time on “Vanderpump Rules.”

While I’ve been to my fair share of VPR-related establishments (Something About Her, TomTom, Jax’s Studio City and Schwartz & Sandy’s), this was actually my first time at the Bravo-famed restaurant, having binged the reality TV show a few years prior in the midst of Scandoval. I knew the top of my list had to be the fried goat cheese balls, made famous by former cast member and SUR-ver Stassi Schroeder.

I have had another variation of the fried goat cheese balls at TomTom, but preferred the ones at SUR. They were tasty, and the mango chutney and crostini really elevated the dish.

Read more Trump says he may pull Blanche’s attorney general nomination until dissenting senators leave office

— 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 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