The Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center (ARTIC), a steel-and-glass ode to public transit that opened in 2014, doesn’t have the abundance of tertiary dining options as its sister stations in Orange, Santa Ana or San Juan Capistrano. While the food options aren’t as plentiful, they’re by no means less destination-worthy with plenty of breweries not too far from the platforms.
Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center sees 20 Amtrak Pacific Surfliner trains (10 in each direction) each day. It also serves 19 Metrolink Orange County Line trains (10 northbound and 9 southbound) each weekday. Weekend service consists of 4 trains in each direction on weekends. And 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.
Angel Stadium, which includes restaurants like Brewery X, Crèmily Frozen Yogurt and Chronic Tacos, and the Honda Center, featuring lofty joints like Brewery X Biergarten and Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 Club, will not be featured in this guide. The no-freeway rule has been temporarily lifted only for the 57, with Ball Road acting as a border to the north. Keep in mind, some of the restaurants and watering holes might require jumping on a bus or ordering an Uber to save you from a 30-plus minute trek by foot or wheelchair.
This list doesn’t cover every single Anaheim bar and restaurant in the area; consider this a guide to our favorites near the station, or a jumping off point for your next layover.
Auntie Anne’s: One of two food venues located inside ARTIC, this chain offers weary travelers starchy sustenance care of hand-baked pretzels, mini pretzel dogs, pepperoni nuggets and lemonades. 2626 E. Katella Ave., Anaheim
Brewheim: With an impressive tap list, which includes the brewery’s own pilsners, lagers, IPAs, ales, the culinary highlights here include a smashburger on brioche bun; “beast fries” layered with meat, grilled mozzarella, pico de gailo, and cotija cheese; anal pastor banh mi, flatbreads, a Reuben sandwich, hot dogs and more.1931 E. Wright Circle, Anaheim
ALSO SEE: The Orange County train-station dining guide: Orange
Golden Road Brewing: The crown jewel of Anaheim’s beer scene, Golden Road Brewing, a beloved Los Angeles label since 2011, offers hearty fare to soak up its popular suds. Highlights include fried fish tacos (crispy flour tortilla, cabbage in chipotle aioli, beer-battered cod), braised short rib tacos topped with chipotle salsa, vegan chili cheese fries, mango habanero wings and a barbecue bacon cheeseburger made with angus beef, onion strings and Sweet Baby Ray’s. The sprawling 40,000-square-foot indoor-outdoor brewery houses more than 30 rotating taps. Golden Road Brewing also has locations in Atwater Village, Downtown LA, Huntington Harbor and Sacramento. 2210 E. Orangewood Ave., Anaheim
Iguana’s Mexican Food: Burritos, sope, tostadas, tacos, carne asada fries and more can be found at this Mexican restaurant. 2115 E. Ball Road, Anaheim
JT Schmid’s Restaurant and Brewery: Although its Tustin location closed in 2020 after 13 years, the Anaheim JT Schmid’s Restaurant and Brewery keeps going strong. The comfort food-forward menu here includes fried mac and cheese with panko and barbecue spiced ranch; Texas Twinkies, a savory concoction of roasted bacon-wrapped jalapeños stuffed with brisket, cream cheese and cheddar; Frito pie; Nashville hot chicken with garlic aioli and hot honey sauce; a horseradish-laced beef dip sandwich; steak frites; and four different pizzas. Suds include Route 57 IPA, a light-bodied IPA with fruity notes and the Bossman Brown Ale, an English-style dark ale with malty flavor and notes of chocolate and honey. 2610 E. Katella Ave., Anaheim
Karl Strauss Brewing Company: This brewery and restaurant, with an industrial décor to match its expansive space, offers more food of the comfort variety. Highlights are chili-lime fries, duck fat pretzel bites, fish and chips and blackened mahi. The burger menu includes a pub burger with ground steak, cheddar, chipotle ale mayo; a meat-free Beyond burger; and a “food truck burger” that comes with caramelized onions, pickled jalapeño, gruyere and Korean barbecue sauce. In addition to Karl Strauss’ own beers, be on the lookout for the upcoming holiday series suds, like This One Goes To Eleven (an imperial red ale), 8 Merry Merman IIIPA, the eighth installment in its Twelve Days brews and the Brewer’s Dozen Imperial Cookie Stout. 2390 E. Orangewood Ave., suite 100, Anaheim
King’s Fish House: Just over the city border in Orange, this seafood spot serves oysters from 13 different locales; a selection of chilled shellfish like lobster, Dungeness crab and littleneck clams; and sushi rolls. House favorites include trout Amandine, shrimp bucatini, cioppino and parmesan-crusted sand dabs. Also of note: The neon crab sign outside is a whimsical, down-to-earth touch. 1521 W. Katella Ave., Orange
LA Mill Coffee: The Los Angeles-based coffee roaster, which started in Silverlake before expanding to Anaheim and L.A., pours artisan brews, ranging from expertly made espressos and macchiatos and specialty drinks (the Valrhona chocolate ganache mocha is worth the train ride alone). Don’t miss out on the selection of pasties and cakes. 2420 E. Katella Ave., Anaheim
Lazy Dog Restaurant and Bar: The chain restaurant’s Orange location includes such dishes as cheese curds, crispy deviled eggs, sweet potato tots, burgers, soups, salads, desserts and more. For a nostalgic kick, you can also order to-go TV dinner trays, which are prepared in-house, frozen in retro-style trays, and ready to pop in the oven when hunger pangs strike. 1623 W. Katella Ave., Orange
Lolas by MFK: Open for brunch and dinner, Chef Henry Pineda’s Filipino and Latin menu includes an adobo fried rice omelet, ube pancakes, bang-silog (fried fish with garlic rice), ube tres leches French toast and a country-fried-steak breakfast sandwich for brunch. The dinner options include coconut chicken adobo, roasted lechon manok, barbecue pork belly, crispy pork sisig and more. With 72 hours notice, you can also order a Kamayan feast ($49.95 per person) that comes with six entrees (tocino, longanisa, beef tapa, spam, bacon and chicken adobo), lumpia, garlic rice, sunny side up eggs, dipping sauces, fruit and banana leaves. 2410 E. Katella Ave., Anaheim
Lopez and Lefty’s: Sports bar features a tap list that includes pilsners, IPAs, stouts and light beers. The comfort food-forward menu features all of the usual suspects like stuffed jalapeños, chicken taquitos, nachos, wings, ceviche, soups, flatbreads, sliders, burritos and more. Patio dining available. Plenty of TVs inside in case you can’t catch a game at the Angels’ nearby stadium. 1759 S. Claudina Way, Anaheim
ALSO SEE: The Orange County train-station dining guide: San Juan Capistrano
Noble Ale Works: A tasting room in a warehouse space at the Stadium Plaza Business Park, it’s grown to become one of Orange County’s largest and most popular craft breweries. In 2016, it was named the World Beer Cup’s champion small brewing company and earned a gold medal for one of its IPAs, named I Love It. In addition to dozens of beers on tap, food trucks make regular appearances here. 1621 Sinclair St. B, Anaheim
Pinkberry: Although the frozen yogurt trend has subsided in recent years, there’s no denying the joy of a chilly sweet treat from Pinkberry, the only other food stop inside the ARTIC. An ideal place to take your kids who might be a bit weary after the train ride. 2626 E. Katella Ave., Anaheim
Rad Beer Company: Located in the 4,550-square foot space that used to be Legends Craft Brewery, this venue has 20 taps specializing in craft brews. The scene here features an unpretentious vibe and, according to the owners, “the aesthetic of a ’90s skate shop and beloved record store.” 1301 S. Lewis St., Anaheim
The Ranch Restaurant: Led by Executive Chef Pedro Garcia and Chef de Cuisine Raul Garcia, this Michelin Guide-mentioned restaurant offers contemporary fare like country-fried quail, miso-glazed salmon, a BLT wedge salad and sticky toffee pudding. Dimly lit, warm interiors make it an ideal date-night or celebration spot. 1025 E. Ball Road, suite 101A, Anaheim
Tru Grits: A fusion joint featuring such fare as a gochujang fried chicken burger, lobster ravioli, chicken and waffles and more. Located inside Four Points by Sheraton Anaheim. 1221 S. Harbor Blvd., Anaheim
Valencia’s at The Viv: Open breakfast, lunch and dinner, here you can find salads flatbreads sandwiches burgers and tacos. Bonus here for the sleek al fresco dining seating. 1601 S. Anaheim Blvd., Anaheim
