Completed in 1985, the Mediterranean Revival-style Santa Ana train station was, at the time, one of the largest train stations in the United States. In addition to Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner and Metrolink’s Orange County Line and Inland Empire–Orange County lines, it also acts as a Greyhound station and hub for international bus service to and from Mexico. Being at the nexus of so much transit, it’s hardly surprising that nearby blocks come with food choices aplenty.
The Santa Ana Regional Transportation Center, as it’s formally called, is served by 20 Amtrak Pacific Surfliner trains (10 in each direction) daily, while 20 Metrolink Orange County Line trains (11 northbound and 9 southbound) run each weekday. Weekend service consists of 8 trains (4 in each direction) on Saturday and Sunday. The station is also served by 14 Metrolink Inland Empire-Orange County Line trains (7 in each direction) on weekdays and 4 trains (2 in each direction) on Saturday and Sunday heading towards Orange County in the morning and towards the Inland Empire in the evening. But that’s not all: OC Bus, the transit bus service operated by the Orange County Transportation Authority, and Greyhound lines to and from Mexico and the United States also board and terminate at the Santa Ana station.
All of this to say that Santa Ana, with an impressive walking score of 89, should be your next vehicular-free dining destination.
Keep in mind that selected venues throughout the series are each within a reasonable distance of their stop, whether on foot or by wheelchair, with no major freeways required to cross. This list doesn’t cover every single Santa Ana bar and restaurant in the area; consider this a guide to our favorites near (or near-ish) the station, or a jumping off point for your layover.
4th Street Market: Noted as one of Orange County’s best food halls, 4th Street Market offers an array of eateries conveniently located in one venue. Here you will find Mexican-Californian specialty grocery store Alta Baja Market, which also serves breakfast and lunch from its cafe; Zacatecas taqueria Burrito La Palma; Daily Kombucha for your daily dose of fermented probiotics; sandwich purveyors Deli Station; contemporary Hawaiian comfort food by Faka’s Island Grill, Gina’s Crepes and Waffles; plant-based, vegan and gluten-free taqueria La Vegana Mexicana, which specializes in (excellent) tamales; Loose Leaf Boba Co.; build-your-own burrito or bowl Mix N’ Bowl Co., Recess by Playground for cocktails, sodas, beers and wines; sushi care of ShariNori; smashburgers and Nashville-style hot chicken at Golden Eatery; Thai-style chicken comfort food from the Chicken Rice; and chef-founder Toto Limsombat’s sublime Tuk Tuk Thai Street Food. Phew. 201 E Fourth St. (at North Bush Street), Santa Ana
Benchmark: A contemporary American casual fine-dining restaurant is noted as being one of the best places to eat al fresco thanks to Benchmark’s expansive patio under a canopy of trees. Menu highlights include hamachi aguachile, gochujang fried chicken, Santa Maria-spiced flat-iron steak, and a roasted citrus half chicken. 601 E Santa Ana Blvd. (at North Minter Street), Santa Ana
Bird and Barrel: As its name suggests, this poultry-forward eatery serves shatteringly-crisp fried chicken sandwiches. They also offer cracklings (fried chicken skins); agave habanero wings with garlic, chives and fish sauce; chicken egg rolls; and a hearty beef noodle soup. Not sure what to order? Try the kitchen’s secret weapon: a fried chicken thigh prepared Japanese katsu-style. 305 E. Fourth St., #105 (at French Street), Santa Ana
Birrieria Jalisco: This birrieria and pupuseria serves Mexican and Central American favorites like burritos, menudo, goat or beef stew, pupusas, seafood, salads, aqua frescas and more. 404 N. Grand Ave. (at East Fourth Street), Santa Ana
Cafe Cultura: Located inside the gorgeous white-and-green brick West End Theater, this self-described contemporary Mexican cafeteria brings its coffee from Chiapas to make cafe de olla, cold brews, Mexi-frapps (in horchata, Mexican chai, Abuelita and rompope). For the 21-and-over set, you can enjoy Modelo, Pacifica and Victoria beers. Don’t miss out on Cafe Cultura’s waffles, especially the churro iteration topped with strawberries, blueberries, whipped cream and caramel. 324 W. Fourth St., #B (at Birch Street), Santa Ana
Chapter One: At this library-themed gastropub you can find duck fat fries, fried cheese curds, lumpia rolls, blackened shrimp tacos, flatbreads and meat and potatoes. The dessert menu is particularly decadent, featuring a white chocolate souffle, sopapilla cheesecake and house-churned ice cream. While you’re sipping your suds, be sure to pay it forward and buy a round of beer for the kitchen for only $10. 227 N. Broadway (at West Third Street), Santa Ana
Chiva Torta: A family-owned and -operated business for more than 21 years, this food truck offers some of the best torta ahogada (“drowned sandwich” in English) in Orange County. Come for the Guadalajaran pork sandwich drenched in red chili sauce, stay for the refreshing horchata. 514 N Spurgeon St. (at North Bush Street), Santa Ana
Coffee Muse: This small-batch cafe decked out in wood trim is a great pit stop for all your caffeine-related needs. The deeply flavorful cold brews and pour overs are strong, while a series of syrup and mix-in flavors (like dirty vanilla chai, Mexican mocha, Honey Nut Cheerios, lavender, chocolate mint, hazelnut, vanilla, white mocha, caramel or mocha) can be added to espresso drinks. 310 E. Fourth St. (at French Street), Santa Ana
Crave Restaurant: A mom-and-pop restaurant in downtown Santa Ana serving sandwiches, salads, soups, avocado toast, energy bowls, Breakfast burritos and more. 410 W. Fourth St., 2nd floor (at Birch Street), Santa Ana
El Mercado Modern Cuisine: At this contemporary Mexican restaurant, with dim lighting making it ideal for a date night, you can enjoy pork belly estofado, carnitas with house-made tortillas, chicken mole with pea puree, and pulpo a la plancha (octopus marinated with Oaxaca chiles). 301 N. Spurgeon St. (at French Street), Santa Ana
El Rincon Mexicano: Carne asada, chilaquiles, mole, enchiladas verdes and birria can all be found on the menu at this authentic Mexican spot. Order a refreshing michelada while you wait for your order, which is always made fresh in-house. 104 E Fourth St. (at Main Street), Santa Ana
Hammer Burger: At this burger joint you’ll find smashburgers galore, fried chicken sandwiches, fries (ranging from shoestring to chili to sweet potato) and soft-serve ice cream swirled high. 313 N. Bush St. (at East Fourth Street), Santa Ana
Hidden House Coffee: One of Orange County’s best cafes, Hidden House Coffee also has the distinction of being located near two train stops (its first location can be found directly across the tracks in San Juan Capistrano). The coffee purveyor’s flagship Santa Ana location offers small-batch coffees, cold brews and espresso drinks, as well as whole beans that are roasted on-site. While the coffees and pastries (baked in-house daily) are reason enough to make the 10-minute walk from the train station, Hidden House Coffee’s exceedingly charming store, located inside a circa-1914 brick warehouse, is a must for proud design geeks. 511 E. Santa Ana Blvd. (at North Minter Street), Santa Ana
Hopper and Burr: Good coffee. Light fare. Minimalist décor. This cafe located at the corner of Fourth Street and Sycamore offers artisan cafe staples from almond milk lattes to avocado toast. An added bonus: weekly wine tastings on Thursdays. Open daily from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. 202 W. Fourth St. (at Sycamore Street), Santa Ana
I Can Barbecue: Korean Grill, wherein you get to grill your proteins at the table, features a bevy of options, including marinated beef joo mul luk, chadol (thinly sliced brisket), pork belly, pork butt, baby octopus, tofu and more. Halal lunch and dinner menus are also available. 414 W Fourth St. (at North Rose Street), Santa Ana
Kaizen Shabu: One of North County’s best places for shabu-shabu (the other being Shabu Shabu Bar, just on the other side of the 5, hence its omission from the train station-dining guide) where you cook thinly sliced meats and vegetables in a hotpot of flavorful broth. Ideal for group nights out. 303 N Spurgeon St. (at French Street), Santa Ana
La Chiquita Restaurant: Highlights at this Mexican restaurant, a Santa Ana staple since 1950, include a velvety chile con carne, the taco enchilada tostada and margaritas. Of particular importance is the cheese enchilada. As former Orange County Register food critic Brad A. Johnson wrote in 2022, “For several years now I’ve been on a quest to find the best enchiladas in Orange County. …The cheese enchilada at La Chiquita in Santa Ana is perfect in every way.” 906 E. Washington St. (at North Custer Street), Santa Ana
Maz Cafe Con Leche: Coffee house that serves Hispanic-inspired specialty drinks like agua de mazapán, Abuelita chocolate, horchata, coconut and dulce de leche lattes. Don’t miss out on seasonal treats, like the pumpkin cream chai or the galletas Maria latte, and impressive selection of ice cream. (Bonus points for the pink pastel-hued decor.) 608 N Lacy St. (at E Sixth St.), Santa Ana
Omakase by Gino: Chef Choi Jinho takes center stage at this omakase restaurant with only 10 seats per serving inside a shoebox-sized space. What it lacks in size and seating it more than makes up for with flavor by way of precision sushi prowess. Highlights could include anything from potent uni, torched wagyu tataki, hotaruika (firefly squid) and more. Available Wednesday to Saturday, with two seatings per night at 5:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. 304 N Main St. (at East Third Street), Santa Ana
Perla Mexican Cuisine: Dishes at this Downtown Santa Ana spot include short rib tacos, shredded beef flautas, grilled octopus marinated in Zarandeado sauce, five types of enchiladas, prime skirt arrachera steak, chilaquiles and more. Don’t skip the pastel de elote, a Mexican corn cake with a spoon bread-like consistency. 400 W. Fourth St. (at Birch Strreet), Santa Ana
The Pizza Press: This national pizza chain, noted for its 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), is open seven days a week. 117 W. Fourth St., #101 (at Sycamore Street), Santa Ana
Tacompadre: Brothers Jermaine and Alejandro Sanchez bring the flavors of Mexico City, where they spent much of their childhood, to their Santa Ana restaurant. One plate comes with three tacos with your choice of asada, pastor, birria, suadero, cochinita (sweet pulled pork), chicken, chorizo or veggie/vegan. They also serve a mean burrito and quesadilla. Dessert highlights include rice pudding, flan de la abuela, mosaico Jell-o, and chocoflan. 515 N. Main St., #A (at East Fifth Street), Santa Ana
Taqueria El Gordito: This downright charming taqueria with counter seating serves up breakfast burritos, street-style tacos and burritos (the birria mini taco and toasted burrito are particularly noteworthy here), tamales and so much more. Shout out to the impressive array of Jarritos soft drinks and real Mexican Coca-Cola. 415 N Grand Ave. (at East Fourth Street), Santa Ana
Taqueria Hoy!: Operating since 1980 by owner Rafael De Anda (and now his sons, Christian and Raphael), this Santa Ana staple, which underwent a rebranding in 2020, offers build-your-own tacos and burritos with carne asda, lengua, chicken, buche, al pastor, cabeza, carnitas, chorizo and more. Don’t miss out on the cheesy quesadillas too. 1029 E. Fourth St. (at Poinsettia Street), Santa Ana
Trust: Chef Justin Werner (who honed his skills within the Tom Colicchio collective of restaurants and at the now-shuttered Norma in Denmark, once considered to be the greatest restaurant in the world) and his omakase-structured restaurant invite guests to experience a myriad of flavors drawn from a variety of worldwide locations. “It’s not a dinner, it’s a dinner party,” he explains. The premise is that a handful of diners (18 seats per seating) come in and “trust” the chef’s menu that night, which could range anywhere from French to Italian to Spanish to anything from anywhere. Two seatings per evening at 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. The immersive dining experience lasts anywhere from two to two-and-a-half hours. 220 E. Fourth St. (at North Spurgeon Street), Santa Ana
Waba Grill: Rice-bowl chain featuring chicken, beef, Plantspired steak (aka vegan meat), salmon and tofu. Also of note are sides like dumplings, edamame kimchi and jalapeño carrots. 431 E. First Ave. (at North Spurgeon Street), Santa Ana
Wursthaus: This European-inspired gastropub serves hand-made sausages — ranging from classics like spicy Polish and pork-veal Nernbergers to exotic tubesteaks made from kangaroo and alligator meat — and 20 draught German and Belgian beers. Wursthaus’ happy hours are gleefully long, from 6 p.m. to close Tuesdays through Thursdays and all day on Sundays. 305 E Fourth St., #106 (at French Street), Santa Ana
