Opening in 1996, the Anaheim Canyon station serves the Anaheim Hills, Placentia, Yorba Linda and Villa Park communities. More importantly, it serves starving passengers breweries and eateries not too far from its platform.
The Anaheim Canyon station sees 14 Metrolink Inland Empire-Orange County Line trains (7 in each direction) on weekdays, with weekend service consisting of 4 trains (2 in each direction) on both Saturday and Sunday, heading towards Orange County in the morning and towards the Inland Empire in the afternoon and evening.
For the sake of pedestrian accessibility and safety, this guide doesn’t feature places that would require crossing freeways or major highways, with the boundary being south of Miraloma Avenue. This list doesn’t cover every single Anaheim Canyon bar and restaurant in the area; consider it a guide to our favorites near (or near-ish) the station, or a jumping off point for your layover.
All American Brew Works: A veteran-owned brewery brimming with USA bravado, this place features signature brews like Rank and File (an American light lager), Trophy Wife (golden lager with strawberry puree), Liberty or Death (brown porter with peanut butter), and the Screaming Eagle (milk stout with coffee), to name a few. To help soak up the suds, patriotic patrons can grab a bite at the in-house deli, Co-Pilots Deli, which makes such aviation-themed sandwiches as the A10 Warthog (smoked turkey breast and pastrami) or the F-14 Tomcat (bacon, turkey, provolone). 5120 E. La Palma Ave., #103, Anaheim
The Beer Co.: Cashless taproom features 13 beers on tap, including ales, seltzers, shandy-style beverages and more. Tacos available care of Golden Bear Grill. Bonus: Canine family members are always welcome. (According to Metrolink pet policy, small animals are allowed on trains, but they must be in a small pet carrier under the seat or on your lap. Large pets are not allowed on board Metrolink trains.) 3910 E. Coronado St., suite G, Anaheim
Blake’s Place: Slow-cooked barbecue joint featuring pork spare ribs, beef brisket, pulled pork, slabs of baby back ribs, smoked wings and more. Don’t forget such sides as baked beans, mac and cheese, coleslaw and potato salad. 2901 E. Miraloma Ave., Anaheim
Bodhi Leaf Coffee Traders: Coffee roaster (with locations throughout Southern California) excels in pour-overs, French press, single-origin espresso drinks, nitro cold brews, teas, smoothies and more. Food options include breakfast burritos, breakfast sandwiches, and avocado toast. 8163 E. Kaiser Blvd., suite C, Anaheim
Bottle Logic Brewing: Named best craft brewery by the Orange County Register in 2017, this Anaheim spot features a revolving draft list with experimental beers (a recent highlight being the bourbon barrel-aged peanut butter cup-inspired stout) brewed in-house in small quantities. As is custom with many breweries, which don’t come equipped with kitchens, food can be found from assorted food trucks, like Messi Burger and Burning Buns, parked outside. 1072 N. Armando St., Anaheim
ALSO SEE: The Orange County train-station dining guide: Anaheim
Brewery X: Noted as one of the best — not to mention largest — biergartens in Orange County, this expansive and pet-friendly space offers dozens of beers to go or to sip on the patio. Dining options include charcuterie boards (with prosciutto di parma, genoa salami, cheeses, olives, pepper jelly and potato chips), burgers, poutine made with duck fat fries and pork belly, and acclaimed pizzas. 3191 E. La Palma Ave., Anaheim
Broken Timbers Brewing Company: offers delicious lager, pale ale or stout among its tight list of brews, including the Caretaker (an American porter with cherries), the Bulette Blonde (blonde ale), the Tunnel One (American red ale) and Cordelia’s Gold (kölsch). While no food is prepared and served at this charming boutique brewery, the owner says guests are more than welcome to bring in their own fare. 2910 E. La Palma Ave., suite D, Anaheim
Bun World: Asian bakery/restaurant creates colorful dumplings and adorable buns as well as more hearty fare like pork bone soup with pan fried buns, xiao long bao, jajiang noodles, fried chicken and sausage fried rice. Of particular importance are the anthropomorphic red bean Piglet steamed buns. Downright adorable. 1071 N. Tustin Ave., suite 107, Anaheim
Byblos Mediterranean Grill: Lebanese restaurant offers such staples as fattoush salad, pita wrap sandwiches, kabab and shawarma platters, mango salad and more. 1071 N. Tustin Ave., suite 110, Anaheim
Camelot Golfland Pizza Parlor: While this castle-themed restaurant’s main draw are decidedly unroyal activities like mini golf, arcade games, bumper cars, laser tag, and even a water slide, it also has pizza (as its name suggests) and other sodium- and sugar-laced snacks like nachos, wings, fries, ice cream and other indulgent grub fit for a family outing. 3200 Carpenter Ave., Anaheim
ALSO SEE: The Orange County train-station dining guide: Orange
Flame Broiler: Korean-inspired restaurant chain offers rice and veggie bowls with chicken, beef and tofu options. A side of tangy kimchi is a must. 1039 N. Tustin Ave., Anaheim
J&Q Vietnamese Sandwiches and Cafe: Vietnamese spot has banh mi galore (char sui,spam and eggs, cold cut pork, pork meatloaf and more) rice noodles (grilled pork with imperial roll, beef, tofu) pho, shaken beef rice and bo kho stew. For an added jolt, grab a cup of Vietnamese coffee or Thai tea. And for what it’s worth, J&Q has garnered rave reviews on Yelp. 1071 N. Tustin Ave., suite 106, Anaheim
Pizza X: Pizza place located inside Brewery X (see above) offers some of the city’s best slices. In fact, Pizza X claims it has, arguably, “the most authentic New York pizza that exists on the West Coast” wherein it recreates “NYC’s signature water composition by partnering with Brewery X’s world class brewing team and state of the art equipment.” Fighting words. But the char-and-cup pepperoni pie is definitely worth a second and third trip. 3191 E. La Palma Ave., Anaheim
Spin Poke and Grill: Like the name says, this joint specializes in all things poke, from nachos (salmon and ahi tuna mixed with onions, jalapeño, cilantro in house spicy mayo, crab meat, avocado, and salsa fresca) to the crunch bowls (crabmeat, shrimp tempura, fried onions and garlic). Grilled options include chicken, beef, salmon, shrimp, pork katsu or seared tofu. Udon and tacos are also available. 1081 N. Tustin Ave., suite 120, Anaheim
Stereo Brewing: Owner Rick Smets combined his two favorite things, music and beer, into an independent brewery. His brewing/aural skills have created such suds as Hazey Jane II, a ginger beer; Blonde on Blonde Kölsch, named after the Bob Dylan album; and Perfect Day IPA, a citrus-pine tip of the hat to Lou Reed. Stereo Brewing also has a revolving list of food trucks like Tacos By Saul and the Viking Truck. In keeping with the theme, vinyl records from Smets’ own collection provide the soundtrack. 950 S .Vía Rodeo, Placentia
Top Class Pizza: Low-key pizza joint offers more than two dozen pizzas, meatball sliders, wings, toasted ravioli, baby back ribs, salads and more. 1026 N. Tustin Ave., Anaheim
Tom’s Place: Casual, counter service-style spot serves breakfast burritos, burgers, French toast, chili fries, biscuits and gravy, hot dogs, patty melts, salads, grilled cheese and more. 4477 E. La Palma Ave., Anaheim
Want to take the OC Metrolink to other stops? Check out other train-station dining guides for San Clemente; San Juan Capistrano; Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo, Irvine, Tustin; Santa Ana; and Orange.
