With Chapman University and Old Towne a stone’s throw away from the platform, the Orange train station, formally known as the Orange Transportation Center, has an abundance of cafes, dessert shops and restaurants within walking distance of the old whistle stop.
Serving transit from Los Angeles, the Inland Empire and San Diego, the Orange station features 20 Metrolink Orange County Line stops each weekday (11 northbound and 9 southbound). Weekend service consists of 4 trains (2 in each direction) on both Saturday and Sunday running in each direction in the morning and evening. The station is also served by 14 Metrolink Inland Empire-Orange County Line trains (7 in each direction) each weekday, with weekend service consisting of 4 trains (2 in each direction) on both Saturday and Sunday. OC Bus routes 54, 56, 59 and 453, as well as a Chapman University shuttle stop here as well.
Built in 1938, the Orange train station, which is recognized as one of Orange’s historic landmarks, acts as a hub for roughly 750 passengers each weekday. From 1971 to 1993, the Santa Fe Railway closed the stop for more than 20 years citing high costs and reduced patronage. Fittingly, a restaurant now occupies the station’s Mission Revival-style building.
Keep in mind that selected dining options throughout the series are each within a reasonable distance of their stop, whether on foot or by wheelchair, with no major thoroughfares or freeways to cross. This list doesn’t cover every single Orange bar and restaurant in the area; consider this a guide to our favorites near the station, or a jumping off point for your layover.
Afters Ice Cream: With flavors like cookie butter, milk and cereal, jasmine milk tea and salty Oreo, this contemporary, Southern California ice cream chain features flavors that go above and beyond your average frozen dessert joint. 117 N. Glassell St. (at Chapman Avenue), Orange
Avila’s El Ranchito: Since 1966, this family-owned restaurant empire has featured such Mexican dishes as crispy carnitas, Shrimp Mojo de Ajo and fresco chile relleno. Mamá Avila’s soup, brimming with chicken, rice, avocado, tomato, cilantro and served with warm tortillas, is a particularly soothing highlight. 182 S. Orange St. (at Almond Avenue), Orange
ALSO SEE: The Orange County train-station dining guide: San Clemente stops
Big Al’s Pizzeria: A pizza and wings joint that features pies like barbecue chicken, Lebanese garlic chicken, carne asada and smoked beef brisket. Wing options include buffalo, habanero, spicy Jamaican and more. Don’t miss out on the cheesecakes, which come in flavors like cinnamon crunch, dulce de leche, red velvet and strawberry Oreo. 396 W. Chapman Ave. (at Cypress Street), Orange
Bosscat Kitchen: With an arsenal of more than 300 bottles of whiskey, this restaurant specializing in American comfort food is mercifully only 7 minutes from the train station, making it an ideal place to eat should you plan on imbibing with abandon. 118 W Chapman Ave. (at Olive Street), Orange
Bruxie: A Southern California chain specializing in fried chicken waffle sandwiches. What more do you need? How about the buttermilk fried chicken sandwich or the spiced mac and cheese studded with bacon and chives? Another bonus: This place has an abundance of patio seating. 292 N. Glassell St. (at Palm Avenue), Orange
Butaton Ramen: Shoyu, tonkotsu, spicy tsukemen and other ramens await at this Japanese eatery. “The tonkotsu broth here is straightforward and fairly light, not heavy or rich like some of the others on this list. And when mixed with their spicy miso paste it becomes something truly special,” wrote former Orange County Register food critic Brad A. Johnson, who also gave high marks to the chashu (braised pork belly). 10 Plaza Square, suite 101 (at East Chapman Avenue), Orange
ALSO SEE: The Orange County train-station dining guide: San Juan Capistrano
Citrus City Grill: For over 25 years, this family-owned restaurant has made a name for itself serving such upscale fare as grilled octopus, charred edamame, prime rib, stuffed chicken breast, Chilean sea bass and other elegant dishes. Open for brunch, lunch and dinner. 122 N. Glassell St. (at Plaza Square), Orange
Chapman Crafted: Part beer hall, part coffeehouse, this community-driven place specializes in two types of brews: micro-craft beer and specialty coffee roasted on the premises. 123 N. Cypress St. (at West Chapman Avenue), Orange
Contra Coffee and Tea: Small-batch coffee and tea house offers jolt-inducing drinks like a horchata with espresso, Vietnamese-style iced coffee and coffee with oolong milk tea. Also on the cafe’s roster are iced shaken specials like toasted black sesame, caramel vanilla oat milk, ube, and brown sugar latte. An ideal spot for working on your laptop or reading one of the many books available from its library. 115 N. Orange St. (at East Chapman Avenue), Orange
Felix Continental Cafe: If you’re craving Cuban or Spanish food, this place has you covered, from croquettes to empanadas. The tamal Cubano, a mix of cream of corn and pork cooked in a Cuban sofrito and baked, is particularly noteworthy. 36 Plaza Square (at Glassell Street), Orange
The Filling Station: Named in honor of its past life as a gas station, this breakfast and lunch spot serves pancakes and omelets galore, as well as even heartier fare like biscuits and gravy or a breakfast burrito. Bonus: Plenty of outdoor seating under colorful umbrellas. 201 N. Glassell St. (at Maple Avenue), Orange
Finney’s Crafthouse: This corner restaurant features a dizzying menu of more than 50 items, including bacon deviled eggs, cheesesteak egg rolls, an onion ring tower, salads, pizzas, hot wings, sandwiches, burgers, tacos and more. Phew. 204 W. Chapman Ave. (at Olive Street), Orange
Gabbi’s Mexican Kitchen: Gabbi Patrick’s gorgeous restaurant (from the brickwork to the wooden bar to the glass pieces adorning the wall, don’t forget to take it all in) specializes in standout Mexican food. Highlights include mole tostaditas with shredded Jidori chicken; and cabbage, queso fundido con chorizo featuring Oaxacan cheese, shiitake mushroom and red chorizo; and carnitas norteñas with braised Berkshire pork, pico de gallo, guacamole and chicharrones. For private parties, book the underground cellar that offers private dining for 8 to 12 guests. 141 S. Glassell St. (at Almond Avenue), Orange
ALSO SEE: The Orange County train-station dining guide: Santa Ana
Hanano Ramen: Ramen iterations like dan dan men, red garlic, vegan or even build-your-own can be found here. Same goes for spicy pork fried rice, eggrolls, dumplings, tempura and mochi bites. 161 N. Glassell St. (at Maple Avenue),Orange
Haven Craft Kitchen: A brunch-lunch-dinner spot that specializes in indulgent gastropub fare, including black truffle mac and cheese, Spanish confit baby artichoke, pork belly tacos, grilled octopus, ribeye, pappardelle pesto, Basque cheesecake and (arguably one the greatest dessert ever created) sticky toffee pudding. 190 S. Glassell St. (at Almond Avenue), Orange
Hector’s On the Circle: Lively chips-and-salsa spot that serves seafood and Mexican fare. Enchiladas, chile relleno, flautas, tacos galore, and hearty entrees, like ribeye steak or carne asada, can be found at this spot right off the Plaza Square roundabout. 116 E. Chapman Ave. (at Orange Street), Orange
Mi Casa Authentic Mexican Food: A choice spot to go for quick Mexican food, this exceedingly charming spot features interiors with loads of Western memorabilia and an enclosed patio displaying model revolvers, cowboy hats, old tools and horse tack. Serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Guests can order to-go, or eat inside at a handful of tables. 1231 W. Chapman Ave. (at Jewell Place),Orange
O Sea: Cleverly named, subtly chic seafood spot just announced a new executive chef and partner, German Mejia, a Le Cordon Bleu graduate who honed his skills at South Coast Plaza’s Water Grill. Open for lunch and dinner, fall menu highlights include sea bass al pastor, fish tacos, wild-caught spiny lobster with furikake butter and Alaskan black cod with sweet potato puree and charred broccolini. The salmon ceviche, replete with coconut leche de tigre, habanero oil and taro chips, is also another standout. 109 S. Glassell St. (at Chapman Avenue), Orange
Oiio Cafe: Bubble tea shop offers Instagram-worthy swirled drinks like matcha blast, black strawberry banana and brown sugar tiger milk tea.162 N. Glassell St., suite #A (at Maple Avenue), Orange
Omega Drive-In: Just like the same suggests, a classic drive-in joint serving up burgers, fries and onion rings (don’t forget a side of ranch!), shakes, sodas and more. 309 W Chapman Ave. (at Lemon Street), Orange
Ostioneria Siete Mares: For more than 38 years, this Orange staple has served Mexican food with a seafood bent. Highlights include fish tacos; a molcajete moreliano with 12 grilled shrimp, ribeye steak, grilled chicken, sausage, grilled cactus and more; shrimp aguachile, oysters, abalone, scallops and more. Bonus points here for the patio seating. 540 W. Chapman Ave. (at Pixley Street), Orange
ALSO SEE: The Orange County train-station dining guide: Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo, Irvine, Tustin
Pandor Bakery: Charming eatery dishing out omelets, sandwiches, salads (like niçoise, salmon, caesar), banana-pudding french toast, paninis, quiche and more. Being a bakery, it also specializes in a bevy of bakes, including mille-feuille, eclairs, macarons, and tarte tropezienne. 106 N. Glassell St. (at Plaza Square), Orange
Philz: San Francisco-based coffee shop does pour-over brews like no other. Don’t forget to grab a bag of beans and some choice grub while you wait for your coffee order to drip to rich, nutty perfection. 202 N. Glassell St. (at Maple Avenue), Orange
The Pie Hole: A sweet-and-savory pie shop first made popular in downtown Los Angeles, Among it many pies, one of its best is the Earl Grey tea pie, which features a layer of tea infused dark chocolate ganache, salty pistachios, tea-infused white chocolate mousse, house-made vanilla whipped cream and topped with pistachios. 177 N. Glassell St. (at Maple Avenue), Orange
The Pizza Press: Branded with newspaper industry-themed dishes, like the Herald (topped with white sauce, mozzarella, chicken breast), the Times (olive oil, chicken, red onion, barbecue sauce), the Tribune (red sauce, pepperoni, sausage, kalamata olives, ricotta), or the Jr. Editor (small pizzas for kids 12 and under), this national pizza chain is open seven days a week. 155 N. Glassell St. (at Maple Avenue), Orange
Play Coffee: Play Coffee’s delightfully contrasting architecture, located inside the old Wells Fargo Bank in Old Towne’s plaza, is reason enough to pay this coffee spot a visit. Design excellence notwithstanding, the coffee and espresso drinks at this cafe, which uses beans by local roasters, are some of the best in town. 101 E. Chapman Ave. (at Plaza Square), Orange
Renata’s Cafe: Red-sauce Italian joint serving more than 20 types of pasta, seafood, steak, and poultry. The expansive wine list is impressive. 227 E. Chapman Ave., suite F (at Grand Street), Orange
Smoqued California Barbecue: Comfort food galore can be found at this barbecue spot, featuring avocado fries, “420 mac” (a cannabis-free concoction of Cornbread, mac and cheese, Texas chili, pork, bacon, corn, tomatoes, onions, cheese blend, sour cream, BBQ sauce and caramelized onions), burnt ends, brisket plates, pork plates, pulled-pork sandwiches and more. 128 N. Glassell St. (at Maple Avenue), Orange
Snooze, an A.M. Eatery: Breakfast-brunch chain restaurant with all the usual suspects: bloody marys, omelets, pancakes, and sandwiches. 240 W. Chapman Ave., suite 101 (at Lemon Street), Orange
Streamliner Diner: Located inside the old Orange train station, a visit alone is worth checking out the architectural history. Dine right by the tracks on spicy fried cauliflower, fish and chips, grilled ribeye, more than 10 burgers, hot dogs, tacos and suds on tap. 186 N Atchison St. (at Chapman Avenue), Orange
Super Antojitos: This family-owned Mexican restaurant, going strong since 1985 when it opened its first location in Santa Ana, serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. The extensive menu features favorites like carne asada, tamales, barbacoa de res, burritos, seafood galore, tortas, ceviche and much more. 642 W. Chapman Ave. (at Parket Street), Orange
Two’s Company Cafe: Quaint little eatery offering breakfast sandwiches (egg, bacon and cheddar or egg, ham and cheddar), BLTs and panini sandwiches like pesto chicken, roast beef, chicken chipotle, or turkey cranberry. 22 Plaza Square (at Glassell Street), Orange
Urth Caffe: A boutique chain of Southern California restaurants known for choice coffee, organic menus, settings in historic locations (this one is inside a 1888 building smack dab on the plaza). The 5,000-square foot, 250-seat space with indoor and outdoor seating is perfect for noshing on latkes, green tea pancakes, caramelized banana pancakes, Nutella buns, prosciutto and cheese panini sandwiches and more. 100 W. Chapman Ave. (at Plaza Square), Orange
Wahoo’s Fish Tacos: This taco chain (more than 40 locations nationwide) serves tacos, bowls, soups, salads, nachos, quesadilla, burritos and more. 234 W. Chapman Ave. (at Lemon Street), Orange
Zito’s Pizza: This Orange County-born slice joint (with three Orange locations and one in Anaheim) offers pizzas, calzones, salads and sandwiches. 156 N Glassell St. (at Maple Avenue) and 1716 W. Chapman Ave. (at Feldner Road), Orange
UPDATE: An earlier version of this story featured The Wall on Plaza Square, but the alehouse has recently closed.
