El Gallo Giro is a Mexican Food restaurant located in Santa Ana, Orange County, California.  If you're from Southern California, then you know how much we like our Mexican Food.  If you're not, then you need to be sampling the variety of Mexican food Orange County has to offer.  You can pick almost any commercial street, drive a few blocks, and find a hole in the wall Mexican restaurant.  They're not always great, but in general, they're pretty good.

But you don't have to guess now, head down to Santa Ana on the corner of Bristol and Edinger and have yourself a Torta from El Gallo Giro.

Must Try Fast Food (Mexican) - Del Taco

If you're visiting Orange County, or Southern California in general, you must try one of our fast food restaurants called Del Taco.  There are a few locations outside Southern California, but they're everywhere in the OC.  The food isn't the best in the world, nor is the restaurant anything special, but it's a fast food mecha in Orange County, especially late at night.

You get all sorts of junk food at Del Taco, and it's fairly cheap.  Tuesday evenings they have a Taco Tuesday with discount hard shell and soft tacos.

Authentic Cuban Food: Felix Continental Cafe in Orange

If you're looking for a great place to eat, check out Felix Cafe in Old Town Orange.  Delicious Cuban food in a great location with comfortable outdoor seating, all for a reasonable price.  It's hard to find a tasty meal when you're actually in Cuba, however Felix's brings that Cuban flavor to you and does it well.  One of the best restaurants in Orange County.

From the Felix Cafe website:
Since the late 70s, Felix Continental Cafe has been serving the most authentic food from Cuba and Spain in the city Orange, California. Felix Continental Cafe is also known as La Casa de la Paella (The House of the Paella.)

For its high-quality cooking, services and good prices, Felix Continental Cafe has received outstanding reviews from Los Angeles Times, The Orange County Register, Los Angeles Magazine, Westways magazine, and other publications. It has also been included in Elmer Dills' book "Best Restaurants Under $10.00."

The Beach of Newport Beach

Growing up in Orange County, Newport has always been my beach of choice. From when I was 10 years old bodyboarding and spending summer days with my mom, to when I was 15 getting dropped off for a few hours with my friends to go surfing, and when I was 16 and driving myself to go surfing, to when I turned 21 and could start going to the heaps of bars in the area, and still to this day for a nice relaxing day of people watching, body surfing, and sun bathing.

There's a lot to do in Newport Beach, great food, nice sandy beaches, good waves, good nightlife. You can go whale watching, rent a boat and cruise the harbor, or spend your day at the Balboa Fun Center playing games. It's a great place for people of all ages. The best time of the year for peak crowds is July to September (Labor Day), however if you want to enjoy the beach with fewer people, spring and fall are generally still great times to visit. Just last week in the middle of October we had clear skies and temperatures in the 80's in Newport. Spring Break generally finds good weather as well, then it tends to get a bit cloudy for a while before summer is in full swing.

Old Town Orange

Old Town Orange is essentially the beginning of Orange County, and it's heart. Most of the buildings were built between 1888 and 1940, making it one of the older cities in California. For this reason movies such as Fallen Angel, Gumball Rally, Gentleman's Club, Big Mama's House, That Thing You Do, Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle, The Last Dance, and more have all had scenes in or around the Orange Circle in Old Town Orange.

When in the area, Old Town Orange is a great place to visit, it has some great food including Felix's Cafe (Cuban food) and Watson's Drug & Soda (good for a sandwich at lunch).  Old Town Orange is also known for its shopping, mainly Antique shops, if that's what you're in to.  By night the area changes over and becomes an active bar zone, with bars such as District Lounge, Pauls, and O'haras.

The largest mall in California - South Coast Plaza

Orange County is a shopper's mecha if you know where to go.  South Coast plaza is the biggest mall in California, and with sales of over 1.5 billion dollars annually, it rakes in the most cash of any mall in the United States.  South Coast Plaza has over 250 retailers and 30 restaurants, and the area around the mall has a lot more shopping as well.  If you're looking for a luxurious, high end mall, with all the top brands, and world class boutique stores, this is your mall.

From the website:
South Coast Plaza defines the luxury shopping experience with extraordinary boutiques, personal shopping service, and upscale amenities all within a short distance of the world's most magnificent vacation resorts. South Coast Plaza is recognized internationally for its unparalleled retail collection and award-winning restaurants.

Pirates Dinner Adventure, Buena Park

Members of the audience brought on to be part of the show

In Buena Park, next to Knott's Berry Farm and Medieval Times, there is a dinner theater called Pirates Dinner Adventure. This is basically the same concept as Medieval Times with a different theme. It's a dinner show, featuring pirates, acrobatics, and mediocre food.  It is fun though to go with a group of friends, especially if you load up on booze beforehand.  Also suits families with kids.

"Thrills, excitement and laughter abound at this swashbuckling Buena Park Dinner Show, Pirate's Dinner Adventure!
This Broadway-quality show is presented on an authentically replicated 18th century Spanish galleon anchored in a 250,000 gallon indoor lagoon, setting the stage for an astonishing display of special effects, wizardry, aerial artistry, swashbuckling swordplay, dynamic duels and a hearty feast. The elaborate dinner theater set provides the backdrop for action, acrobatics, romance, comedy and a hearty feast!" - from the website