Your friend wants carne asada tacos, but you want a steaming bowl of pho. What do you do? Go to a food hall, of course! Food halls are modern food courts offering a wide variety of food vendors and they are the hot, new trend in Orange County! Take a look at the following guide for five of the best food halls in Orange County. Your stomach and Instagram followers will thank us later!

TRADE

2222 Michelson Dr.

Irvine, CA 92612

One of the newest food halls in Orange County, TRADE has taken over Irvine by storm. Located near John Wayne Airport, TRADE is Irvine’s first food hall and home to tasty vendors like Dos Chinos, Slapfish, Afters Ice Cream, Two Birds, Butterleaf, and GD Bro Burger. TRADE has eight restaurants and one bar serving simple, classic cocktails, boutique wines, and 10 taps of craft beer. The open-air concept gives the food hall a fresh vibe, while the delicious food keeps visitors coming back for more.

Must try:

• Avocado Bombs at Butterleaf: diced avocados rolled in crushed corn chips, deep fried and topped with kimchi tiger sauce
• Maple Bacon Jam Burger at Pig Pen Delicacy: a beef patty topped with swiss cheese, maple bacon jam, chive aioli, crispy onion strings, and a pan fried egg
• Calamari Bowl at Portside: fresh calamari topped with a bright array of peppers and onions

Anaheim Packing House

440 S. Anaheim Blvd

Anaheim, CA 92805

Built in 1919 along the Southern Pacific rail line in downtown Anaheim, the Anaheim Packing House is a historic landmark where local farmers would pack their freshly picked citrus to be sold around the country. The restored Packing House is now home to modern cuisine, live entertainment, and so much more. This two-story food hall features a huge central atrium with communal dining surrounded by a variety of vendors as well as outdoor picnic gardens and a huge porch overlooking Farmers’ Park. The Anaheim Packing House contains 25 delicious vendors and a secret bar that you’ve got to check out.

Must try:

• Orange Mocha Chip Ice Cream at Hans Homemade Ice Cream: This unique blend of ice cream is one of their signature creations and just one of their 50 distinct flavors.
• Short Rib Poutine at The Kroft: french fries and braised short rib topped with short rib gravy, mushrooms, pickled red onions, cheese curds, and parsley
• Jardiniere Savory Crepe at Pandor Bakery: a crepe stuffed with roasted eggplant, zucchini, bell peppers, goat cheese, pesto, portobello mushrooms, tomatoes, and onions

4th Street Market

201 E 4th St.

Santa Ana, CA 92701

With 15 different vendors like Falasophy, Chunk N Chip, and Jinny’s Pizzeria, 4th Street Market is the ideal place for foodies. Located in downtown Santa Ana, 4th Street Market offers innovative food, open kitchens, and a fun community space. 4th Street Market also offers movie and trivia nights and tennis table tournaments. So grab your friends and enjoy a fun night with mouthwatering food.

Must try:

• Stoner Papas at Dos Chinos: shoestring french fries piled with carne asada, bolsa roast pork belly, chorizo fried rice, a sunny side up fried egg, salsa verde, onions, and cilantro
• Alchemistic Blend at Portola Coffee Lab: a blend of the Nicaraguan and Helsar de Zacero blends roasted a smidge darker with distinct notes of baker’s chocolate, dried fruit, toasted almonds and spice.
• Hawaiian Punch Pop at Front Porch Pops: a seasonal blend of mango, strawberry, and orange on a stick

The Camp

2937 Bristol St.

Costa Mesa, CA 92626

Located across the street from The Lab in Costa Mesa, The Camp is the ideal spot for health and wellness with a hipster vibe. With unique spots like Milk and Honey, Umami Burger, and Black Market Bakery, The Camp provides visitors with a culinary experience. The Camp also offers more than just yummy food as locals enjoy purposeful shopping at various stores and monthly “Last Tuesday’s” Sobeca ARTwalk, film screenings, and special events.

Must try:

• Wine Flight at Wine Lab: three organic red or white wine samples picked specifically for you and poured into picturesque test tubes. Hint: Go during happy hour for $2 off select wine and beer.
• Bacon PB and J Tacos at Taco Asylum: roasted peanut butter, carrot-ginger jam, fresh greens, sweet and spicy bacon, and pickled fresno chili served on a 5” flour tortilla made from scratch
• Sesame Kale Macro Bowl at Native Foods Café: seared tempeh atop creamy tahini sauce, tangy sauerkraut, steamed kale and organic brown rice served with toasted sesame seeds, green onions and crunchy cucumber salad

Lot 579

21010 Pacific Coast Hwy

Huntington Beach, CA 92648

Located in Huntington Beach’s fun, new entertainment complex, Pacific City, Lot 579 is named after the three lifeguard towers on the beach directly across the street from the complex. With a variety of vendors, Lot 579 serves everything from Australian meat pies to fresh seafood and more. Pick up a delightful snack after a day at the beach or grab lunch to go as you shop at the nearby stores. Lot 579 has it all!

Must try:

• Spaghetti Grilled Cheese Sandwich at Burnt Crumbs: pressed spaghetti, fresh mozzarella, and meat sauce in between slices of sourdough bread with a marinara dipping sauce
• Grilled Seafood Sandwich at Bear Flag Fish Co.: your choice of fish served with lettuce, tomato, onion & Tommy sauce on a C’est Si Bon baguette
• California at The Dudes’ Brewing Company: This local IPA is just one of 24 different brews on tap at their new tasting room.

With all the delicious food halls in Orange County, what’s not to love? Orange County is the ideal place to live! Contact Stacy and Nicole to make Orange County your home today!

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Photo Credit: Shutterstock,Anna Azimi