If you’re looking for a great place for brunch in Orange County, look no further. We’ve compiled a list of some of the best brunch spots in the area. Whether you’re looking for a traditional egg burrito or something a little more creative and unique, there’s something on our list for you.
Anepalco – Orange
3737 W Chapman Avenue, Orange, CA 92868
Brunch is served Tuesday – Saturday 11:00 am – 2:15 pm
Anepalco offers a fusion of traditional Mexican ingredients with modern culinary technique to create unique and exquisite Mexican dishes. The brunch menu includes the famous Mexican Chilaquiles as well as a selection of other mouth-watering options like perdidos with duck, bacon, potatoes, and eggs, and the Nortena Omelette, made with short rib barbacoa, red onion, salsa milpera, oaxaca cheese, and cotija. Looking for something sweet? Try the Guava French Toast with cream cheese, coconut, nance syrup, and strawberries. Anepalco is located inside the ALO Hotel.
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Bosscat Kitchen & Libations – Newport Beach
18169 Von Karman Ave, Irvine, CA 92612
Brunch is served Saturday and Sunday 11:00 am – 3:00 pm
Bosscat Kitchen serves elevated southern classic dishes and truly unique creations in an industrial-chic atmosphere along with a collection of specialty whiskeys. Brunch beverages include mimosas, Bloody Mary’s, Rose Bellini’s, the Breakfast In Bed Shot, and more. But the real stars at Bosscat are the fun and creative food choices. Choose from the Donut Burger, Fruity Pebbles French Toast, Totchos, and the Nutella Smores Pancakes. Looking for something a bit more traditional? They’ve got that, too – go for the Breakfast Sammy, the Meatloaf Hash, Chicken Fried Steak, or the Bosscat Burger.
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The Cannery – Newport Beach
3010 Lafayette Avenue, Newport Beach, CA 92663
Brunch is served Sunday 11 am – 2:30 pm
The Cannery Seafood of the Pacific Restaurant is built in the heart of the commercial fishing area of Newport Beach at Lido Peninsula. The restaurant location was originally the home of Western Canners Company, where fresh local catch was canned and packed. While the building was slated for demolition in 1999, it was purchased in 2000 by a local Jack Sproul who intended to preserve the areas history. Today, the Cannery offers the freshest seafood available using only wild, line-caught fish, and certified Angus beef. Guests will enjoy a selection of delicious brunch offerings including Maine Lobster Benedict, Crystal Maple Fried Chicken with Waffles, Creme Brulee French Toast, Kamayan, and the Lady Larkin Burger. Bloody Mary lovers should try the Cannery Bloody Mary with 1/4 pound of shrimp and house made bacon. The Cannery serves bottomless champagne or seltzer with the purchase of an entrée, and they offer “Dock & Dine Service” with brunch delivered to your boat while docked outside of the restaurant.
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Chapter One: The Modern Local – Santa Ana
227 North Broadway, Santa Ana, CA 92701
Brunch is served Saturday and Sunday 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Chapter One: The Modern Local offers specialty cuisine for brunch with live music and mimosa flights. You’ll find comfort foods with a modern twist and delicious Filipino favorites like Loco Moco and Tapsilog. Fry of the Tiger might be magical, made with thinly sliced sirloin, duck fat fries, sautéed mushrooms, roasted peppers and onions, and topped with House Beer cheese sauce. For an unforgettable breakfast sandwich, try the McGrimace – breakfast sausage, bacon jam, white cheddar, scrambled eggs and santa ana sauce on a bun and served with duck fat tater tots.
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Craft House – Dana Point
34094 Pacific Coast Highway, Dana Point, CA 92629
Brunch is served Sunday 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
The Craft House is the place to go for day drinking and brunch classics. Guests can enjoy bottomless mimosas and bubbly, or opt to enjoy brunch with a different drink. The Best Sangria Ever can be ordered by the glass – or the jar – and is made with white wine, seasonal fruit, and elderflower hibiscus flowers. The menu offers classic and modern favorites so there’s something for everyone. Pick from breakfast tacos or pozole, Eggs Benedict, Fried Chicken & Johnny Cakes, Cinnamon Swirl French Toast, Biscuits and Gravy, and much more.
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Duke’s – Huntington Beach
317 Pacific Coast Highway, Huntington Beach, CA 92648
Brunch is served Sunday 10:00 am – 2:30 pm
Duke’s Sunday Brunch is no longer buffet format, but still includes so much good stuff. Of course you can get the traditional brunch basics like omelets and Eggs Benedict, plus bacon, sausage, scrambled eggs and home style potatoes. You can also choose from aloha-inspired island favorites. Pair your Brunch with a glass of sparkling wine or an island mimosa, fresh juice, and coffee. And the ocean view isn’t bad either. Request a window seat if you call ahead to make reservations.
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The Hangout – Seal Beach
901 Ocean Avenue, Seal Beach, CA 90740
Breakfast/Brunch is served Monday – Friday 7:00 am – 12:00 pm, Saturday and Sunday 7:00 am – 2:00 pm
While The Hangout doesn’t have a specific, designated brunch time or special menu, the breakfast food is popular among locals, and they serve it late enough into the day to count it as brunch. The Hangout has a good, solid breakfast selection with classics like biscuits and gravy, chicken and waffles, and Eggs Benedict; but they also offer a good selection of unique southern-themed choices that are delicious and filling like shrimp and grits, country fried chicken and waffles Benedict, and the Texas egg sandwich. They also offer eight different omelets, and all of them will make your mouth water. Once you fill up at the Hangout, take a walk down the quaint Main Street in Seal Beach and a stroll down the wooden pier.
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H.H. Cotton’s – San Clemente
201 Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente, CA
Brunch is served Sunday 9:30 am – 2:00 pm
H.H. Cotton’s American Bar & Grill in San Clemente has a traditional Sunday brunch serving up a little something for everyone with their diverse and delicious menu. They offer several traditional favorites with a twist. Cotton’s Benny which is served with an english muffin, ham, cheddar, rosemary hollandaise, hash browns, and a poached egg. The J. Gable is a cheddar biscuit, brisket, crispy onions, spicy hollandaise, bacon, hash browns, and a poached egg. And The Cotton Bomb is fried chicken tenderloins, a cheddar biscuit, smoked ham gravy, tavern fries, and scrambled eggs. They also offer a selection of lighter options and a kids menu. For day-drinkers, you can choose from bottomless mimosas or bottomless sangria, and the multiple televisions make this a great place to enjoy brunch and the game.
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The Iron Press – Anaheim
440 S. Anaheim Boulevard, Anaheim, CA 92805
Menu is served daily from 11:00 am – 10:00 pm
The Iron Press specializes in waffles and beer. Really, do you need anything else? They don’t offer a special time and menu for brunch, instead, their brunch-esque menu offers a selection of all-day food that includes small bites, burgers, chicken, and waffles. Their breakfast burger is served with a burger patty, fried egg, bacon, pressed tots, pepper jack cheese and chipotle aioli. You’ll definitely want to try the Chick Mac-Net, which is mac and cheese, fried chicken, maple syrup, and a cheddar waffle. For something sweet, check out the Captain Crunch infused waffle served with maple leche drizzle and vanilla ice cream.
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Jimmy’s Famous American Tavern – Dana Point
25001 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point, CA
Brunch is served Saturday & Sunday 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Jimmy’s Famous American Tavern serves re-imagined American favorites with a Southern flair. And it’s all good. The brunch menu includes a variety of entrée choices from salads and scrambles to sandwiches and specialty plates. Brunch specialties include “The Bubba” – a housemade buttermilk biscuit, served with fried chicken, cheddar, applewood smoked bacon, sausage gravy, and a sunny-side up egg. If you like things spicy, order it “Nashville Hot” style. Another house specialty is the buttermilk free range fried chicken and malted ale waffles served with thyme gravy, pecanwood smoked bacon or pepper-sage sausage, and maple syrup.
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La Vida Cantina – Costa Mesa
1870 Harbor Blvd, Costa Mesa, CA
Brunch is served Saturday & Sunday 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
La Vida Cantina offers traditional Mexican cuisine, recreated with a unique and modern flair. Guests can enjoy bottomless Bloody Marys and Mimosas. Brunch favorites include borracho fries – crispy fries topped with fried eggs and carnitas and covered with jack cheese, cotija cheese, queso, guacamole, and pico de gallo; traditional posole soup; and chilaquiles with red or green sauce. Breakfast lovers will enjoy The Farm and La Vida Omlette, and those who love a good breakfast sandwich won’t want to miss the B.A.T.E. Sandwich – Jalapeno bacon, avocado, tomato, and an egg served on multi-grain bread spread with a delicious chipotle aioli.
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Memphis Café – Costa Mesa
2920 Bristol Street, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Brunch is served daily from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm (closed on Mondays)
Memphis Café opened in 1995 and received a 5-star review from an LA Times food critic and they have continued to serve up delicious, high quality, Southern-style fare. Memphis Café now serves brunch every day – because every day of the week is brunch-worthy, as is the soulful, unique brunch menu. Guests will enjoy the crawfish etouffee omelet – a three egg omelet with jalapeno jack cheese and smothered in a cajun crawfish etouffee, scallions, and hoppin’ john. House specialties include southern crab cakes, popcorn shrimp tacos, and southern angus meatloaf. The menu also includes traditional brunch favorites like biscuits and gravy, chicken and waffles, french toast, and eggs benedict.
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Mozambique – Laguna Beach
1740 South Coast Highway, Laguna Beach, CA 92651
Brunch is served Saturday and Sunday 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
Mozambique is an upscale restaurant and bar in Laguna Beach with an eclectic menu that includes South-African inspired cuisine. The weekend brunch at Mozambique offers a selection of traditional breakfast items like belgian waffles and eggs benedict plus a variety of other delicious dishes such as ceviche, soups and salads, burgers, and sandwiches. Guests will enjoy unique menu items like the traditional South-African Pie – a golden-brown puff pastry with onion and garlic served with french fries and curry gravy, prepared with your choice of feta and spinach, chicken and mushroom, or beef and mushroom. Another dish to try is the Breakfast Tower prepared with crabmeat, an egg-battered tomato, spinach, Swiss cheese, and cilantro lime aioli, all served on toasted ciabatta bread. The Breakfast Tower is served with fruit and home style potatoes. Mozambique offers $7 mimosas and $9 Bloody Marys with the purchase of an entree during brunch hours.
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Orange County Mining Company – Santa Ana
10000 South Crawford Canyon Road, Santa Ana, CA 92705
Brunch is served Sunday 10 am – 3:00 pm
The Orange County Mining Company is an upscale-casual traditional steakhouse that offers an extraordinary brunch and breath-taking panoramic views of Orange County from its perch on a hillside in Santa Ana. The Orange County Mining Company has recently modified their brunch service. Buffet service is no longer available, but the new menu is equally as exciting. You’ll start with champagne and cinnamon rolls, then choose three entrée items for $29 per person, with the option of adding additional items for $5 each. Options include chicken fried steak, carved prime rib, eggs benedict, a mexican platter, and traditional breakfast favorites. They also have seafood platters, menudo, and of course, dessert.
Orange Hill – Orange
6410 East Chapman Avenue, Orange, CA 92869
Brunch is served Saturday and Sunday 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Orange Hill served an award-winning weekend champagne brunch with unmatched views of Orange County every Saturday and Sunday. The restaurant has been voted #1 Brunch by the Orange County Register and Best of OC. Due to COVID, Orange Hill has modified their brunch service to an ala cart entrée service. Items include traditional brunch favorites, seafood specialties, signature brunch platter for two, charcuterie, and of course bottomless mimosas.
Plums Cafe – Costa Mesa
369 East 17th Street, Costa Mesa, CA 92627
Brunch is served Saturday and Sunday from 8:00 am – 3:00 pm
Plums Cafe is a small location with big flavor. They serve delicious dishes that are inspired by the distinctive flavors of Pacific Northwest cuisine. They only serve breakfast and lunch, so it’s a natural go-to for all things brunch every day of the week, but they offer a special brunch menu on the weekends and for $10 you can add coffee or tea and one glass of champagne, a mimosa, or a bloody mary to your meal. Brunch specialties include Plum’s Famous Dutch Baby – A deep dish pancake skillet baked and topped with powdered sugar and lemon, and you can add two strips of Oregon pepper bacon for $2.50. They also offer a Santa Fe Eggs Benedict, a Dungeness Crab Omelet, and a Vietnamese pork and egg bowl. Brunchers with a sweet tooth should try the Northwest berry waffle or the raspberry pancakes. Plums also offers a variety of burgers, sandwiches, and salads for brunch.
Honorable Mention
- Aveo Table & Bar
- Chapter One
- Farmhouse at Roger’s Gardens
- Malibu Farm
- Marche Moderne
- Selanne Steak Tavern
- Reunion Kitchen + Drink
Sunday Brunch Buffets in Orange County
- Back Bay Bistro – Newport Beach
- Balboa Bay Resort Sunday Seafood Brunch – Newport Beach
- BLK Earth Sea Spirits – Huntington Beach
- Carmelitas – Rancho Santa Margarita
- Citrus City Grille – Orange
- Habana – Irvine & Costa Mesa
- House of Blues Gospel Brunch – Anaheim
- Las Brisas – Laguna Beach
- Laguna Hills Hotel – Laguna Hills
- Newport Landing – Newport Beach
- Orange Hill Restaurant – Orange
- Royal Khyber – Costa Mesa
- Taco Rosa – Irvine & Newport Beach
- Taps Fish House & Brewery – Brea & Irvine
Heidi Deal is the author of the Newcomers Handbook to Living In Los Angeles & Orange County, and a children’s book author specializing in history and human rights.