Top 10 Best Lunch Restaurants in Laguna Beach

Looking for the best lunch spots in Laguna Beach, California? This list is for you! You’ll find the best restaurants in Laguna Beach for lunch in 10 different categories! From best lunch on the beach to best rooftop views, from fine dining to fast food, we have the best Laguna Beach restaurants for the lunch you seek.

There’s no doubt the stunning beauty of Laguna Beach’s coastline makes it the jewel of Orange County. However, in recent years, the city has also attracted renowned chefs like Top Chef star Amar Santana of Broadway Restaurant, and this swanky beach town has transformed into a bona fide foodie destination.

The beautiful coastline of Laguna Beach, California

Unfortunately, Broadway by Amar Santana is not open for lunch, so you’ll have to go enjoy their dinner menu in the evening. But don’t worry, Laguna Beach has plenty of the best lunch restaurants in Southern California.

How do I know? I lived in Los Angeles for more than 20 years and met my parents for lunch in Laguna Beach quite often. In fact, I’ve had lunch in more Laguna Beach restaurants than in San Diego restaurants—the city where I currently live!

Since Laguna Beach is just over an hour away, it may even qualify as a staycation from San Diego. However you might characterize it, I’ve visited more times than I can count, and I don’t travel anywhere without eating!

What makes lunching in Laguna Beach so fabulous? In addition to the delicious food, Laguna Beach has the best patio dining options and the best views among restaurants in all of SoCal. That’s why I included it as a foodie stop on my road trip from San Francisco to San Diego.

Even if you’re only in OC for a day, a couple of hours at one of the Laguna Beach eateries below can feel like a vacation.

Now, let’s find the best lunch in Laguna Beach for you!

A great place for lunch in Laguna Beach, the outdoor patio at Larsen Restaurant

The Deck on Laguna Beach

Best Lunch on the Beach

My favorite place for a lingering lunch in Laguna Beach, The Deck really is a large deck over the sand, so it is literally on the beach. Depending on the crowd, the atmosphere ranges from romantic to beach party, and you’ll consistently find great food and drinks.

The famous Californian dish, Dungeness Crab Louie Salad rivals those from its foodie city of origin, San Francisco. And the Grilled Mahi Mahi Sandwich will not disappoint. Unless you’re ordering the Laguna Cioppino, seafood lovers should start with my go-to Deck appetizer, Venus Clams & Mussels. Pro-tip: Ask for extra bread ($3) when you order; the broth is so delicious, you’ll want enough bread to soak up every single drop!

The Deck doesn’t take reservations, but with a little good luck, you can land a table on the rail. And if you do, you may never want to leave.

If you prefer to reserve, their slightly more upscale sister restaurant, Driftwood Kitchen, is in the white house right next door. It boasts an ocean-to-table dining experience, but has less outdoor seating.

Address: 627 Sleepy Hollow Lane, Laguna Beach, CA 92651
Hours: Sunday through Thursday: 11:00 am–8:00 pm; Friday and Saturday: 11:00 am–9:00 pm

My beloved clams and mussels appetizer at The Deck, which offers the best Laguna Beach lunch on the beach

Las Brisas

Best Fancy Mexican Lunch

I call it fancy Mexican food, Las Brisas calls it Californian Coastal cuisine infused with Mexican flavors. Either way, it’s a great place for lunch in Laguna Beach.

Las Brisas has something for everyone, from seafood dishes to filet steaks. The tacos are tasty and one of the more affordable lunch items. Choose from vegetarian, chicken, pork belly, and fish tacos.

Sit inside or outside of the main restaurant where you’ll have gorgeous views of the ocean. (Just be aware that the lunch menu in the bar restaurant is very limited.) The bar offers a long list of creative cocktails, but margaritas stand out as their specialty.

A long lunch can turn into a lovely long day with a stroll along the Laguna Cliffs at Heisler Park, which is just steps away.

Address: 361 Cliff Drive, Laguna Beach, CA 92651

Hours: Sunday through Thursday: 8:00 am–10:00 pm; Friday and Saturday: 8:00 am–11:00 pm

The fish taco lunch at Las Brisas Restaurant in Laguna Beach

The Rooftop Lounge

Best Rooftop Lunch in Laguna Beach

On the top floor of La Casa del Camino Hotel, you’ll find the perfect place for a Laguna Beach lunch with panoramic views. Bring a hat and sunscreen—sometimes the breeze can be too much for the umbrellas, but don’t let that deter you.

You’re coming for the 180° views of the Pacific Ocean, but good food and handcrafted cocktails from the full bar are added bonuses. The Hamachi Crudo, Fish and Chips, and Hawaiian Ahi Poke win my votes for favorite picks from this Laguna Beach lunch menu. The poke even rivals the version served at one of my favorite restaurants in Honolulu.

Skip the glasses of wine; the bottles are reasonably priced, and you’ll want to stay and soak up the ambience as long as you can.

The setting is so inviting, it comes as no surprise that in addition to lunch and dinner, The Rooftop Lounge is available for private parties and special events of all sorts.

Address: 1289 South Coast Highway, 4th floor, Laguna Beach, CA 92651

Hours: Sunday through Thursday: 11:00 am–9:00 pm; Friday and Saturday: 11:00 am–10:00 pm

Ahi Poke with a view at The Rooftop Lounge at La Casa del Camino Hotel

Laguna Beach Beer Company

Best Brewery in Laguna Beach

This is hands down the locals’ favorite spot for craft beers and casual food at reasonable prices. At any given time, Laguna Beach Beer Company pours 15 to 20 of their own brews plus a handful of carefully selected guest beers.

If you’ve read my Best Mendocino Restaurants article, you may know I prefer Belgian-style beers to typical American IPAs. Luckily, in addition to IPAs, barleywines, stouts, lagers, and blondes, LBBC makes a strong Belgian (9% ABV)—Golden Poppy—that I highly recommend.

Belgian monks may call beer lunch, but I suggest eating some food with your brews. The menu consists of pizzas, poppers, pretzels, and typical bar nibbles.

Address: 859 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, CA 92651

Hours: Monday through Thursday: Noon–9:00 pm; Friday: Noon–10:00 pm; Saturday: 11:00 am–10:00 pm; Sunday: 11:00 am–9:00 pm

The outdoor mural at Laguna Beach Beer Company

Penguin Cafe

Best Diner in Laguna Beach

Penguin Cafe has been slinging casual fare since 1942. This popular lunch spot in Laguna Beach is THE place for classic American comfort food like hamburgers, hotdogs, chili, and even PB&J sandwiches.

Hearty portions of home-style cooking fill the tables, and no one leaves hungry. As decadent as Penguin Cafe sounds, vegetarians and vegans have lots of options, and the restaurant does not shy away from special orders.

You may want to leave room for dessert. If you have a hankering for homemade pie or an old fashioned malt, this Laguna Beach cafe will satisfy your craving. It was, after all, originally a malt shop.

Address: 981 South Coast Highway, Laguna Beach, CA 92651

Hours: Thursday through Tuesday: 7:00 am–1:30 pm

Burger at the popular Laguna Beach lunch restaurant, the Penguin Café — A burger at the popular Laguna Beach lunch restaurant Penguin Cafe

C’est La Vie

Best French Lunch in Laguna Beach

Located on Pacific Coast Highway in the heart of downtown, C’est La Vie has been serving up tasty fare with French flair for 40 years. Whether in the dining room that resembles a pink Parisian café, or on the deck with its romantic views of the Pacific, this Laguna institution is still tickling the taste buds of life-long customers and first-time visitors.

The restaurant’s California French cuisine includes an extensive array of fine lunch choices. Gallic favorites include French Onion Soup, Croque Monsieur, and such savory crepes as Dungeness Crab with Bechamel Sauce and Seafood with Lobster Sauce. Quiche Lorraine and Quiche Florentine are just two of the delicious quiche options. Cajun Jambalaya, the restaurant’s most popular dish, earns its spicy reputation.

Cap off your meal with a French dessert from the restaurant’s amazing bakery, whose delicious creations are made from scratch every day. If you can’t make it for lunch, this is also a great spot for its daily Happy Hour or yummy roll-out-of-bed Sunday morning French breakfast with lots of French breakfast pastry offerings.

Address: 373 South Coast Highway, Laguna Beach, CA 92651

Hours: Daily: 8:00 am–9:00 pm

C’est la Vie, the best lunch restaurant in Laguna Beach for French food

The Greeter’s Corner Restaurant

Best Breakfast for Lunch

Greeter’s Corner marks the spot where Eiler Larsen, a gregarious Dane who came to Orange County in the 1930s, would stand and offer hardy welcome greetings to passersby for the 40 years he made Laguna Beach his home.

Today, Greeter’s Corner welcomes visitors from around the world to its beachfront setting. The restaurant and spacious patio look out onto Laguna’s iconic Main Beach, sporting its trademark lifeguard tower and sun-soaked basketball and volleyball courts, with the sparkling Pacific beyond.

Lunch begins at 11:00, but the breakfast menu runs til 1:30. This means such local breakfast favorites as the Avocado Toast, French Toast, and extensive omelet choices can be had well past noon.

Lunch offerings are also numerous. A seafood standout is the Crab & Avocado Sandwich. The signature Laguna Burger is one of a kind: A patty on marble rye, topped with caramelized onions, jack cheese, poblano chiles, and a mustard-based BBQ sauce with Thousand Island dressing. Their small plates work well for a quick bite or a group nosh session.

Address: 329 South Coast Highway, Laguna Beach, CA 92651

Hours: Daily: 8:00 am–10:00 pm

The Greeter’s Corner, a Laguna Beach restaurant with an iconic location and fun backstory

Larsen

Best Patio Lunch

Located in the heart of downtown Laguna Beach is the landmark Hotel Laguna. And within the hotel is Larsen, the sparkling new restaurant opened by Michelin-starred Chef Craig Strong in October 2021.

Chef Strong has created a fun, inventive menu that pairs perfectly with the breathtaking ocean views provided on the restaurant’s patio.

Local produce, meats, and fish are showcased in a setting that is tough to beat for delicious outdoor dining. Fresh oysters, chilled jumbo shrimp, and poached lobster are some of the best seafood starters on offer. And the Short Rib Cigars are as creative as they are tasty.

I especially loved my Open-Faced Tuna Tartine—a main course that was a real kaleidoscope of colors and flavors. The Grilled Salmon Niçoise and Steak Frites are both tasty treats from the charbroiler.

Address: 425 South Coast Highway, Laguna Beach, CA 92651

Hours: Daily: 11:00 am–10:00 pm

Short Rib Cigars at one of the best lunch spots in Laguna Beach, Larsen

Splashes Restaurant

Best Fine Dining Vibe at Lunch

Splashes has long been on my short list of best places in SoCal to celebrate special occasions—even dating back to when I lived in Los Angeles. It’s an excellent spot for a romantic dinner, and I’ve enjoyed several birthday lunches there as well.

Twenty-five feet above sea level, the airy dining room looks out through giant open windows onto the Pacific, while terrace seating offers jaw-dropping views al fresco. I love Splashes because the food sparkles as much as the sun bouncing off the waves below.

Fresh seafood and seasonal ingredients are expertly prepared, and an extensive wine list ensures that you’ll always have something delicious to pair with your meal. Whether you’re toasting a loved one or just clinking to celebrate your good fortune to be eating at such a lovely spot, raising a glass here is always a delightful pleasure.

Weekend brunch includes most of the weekday lunch options but also adds an appetizing selection of breakfast choices.

Address: 1555 South Coast Highway, Laguna Beach, CA 92651

Hours: Daily: Breakfast: 7:00 am–11:00 am; Lunch: 11:30 am–3:00 pm (Brunch on Sat/Sun); Dinner: 5:00 pm–9:00 pm

Beet Cured Hamachi, a lovely lunch offering at Splashes Restaurant

La Sirena Grill

Best Laguna Beach Fast Food

When originally opened in 1999, La Sirena was determined to make fine food—fast. They’ve been succeeding ever since, making them a local favorite.

Their “Mexeco” cuisine is not only delicious but focused on sustainability. They rely on local ingredients. There are no antibiotics or hormones in any of their meats. Their beef is grass fed; their chicken, free range; their fish, wild caught. Their packaging is Earth-friendly. Even the wood in their dining room is all reclaimed.

Their commitment to high quality and freshness also comes through in every bite. Their extensive offerings include a wide variety of salads, quesadillas, tacos, enchiladas, burritos—and much more.

Their downtown location is tiny, with just a few tables outside, so take-away is your most reliable option there. Their South Laguna location, on the other hand, is large, with plenty of indoor and outdoor seating—and over 20 craft beers on tap, with wines available as well.

Addresses: Downtown: 347 Mermaid Street, Laguna Beach, CA 92651; South Laguna: 30862 South Coast Highway, Laguna Beach, CA 92651

Hours: Downtown: Monday through Saturday: 8 am–9 pm; Sunday: CLOSED; South Laguna: Monday through Thursday: 11:00 am–8:00 pm; Friday through Sunday: 11:00 am–9:00 pm

A Carnitas Burrito at my pick for Best Laguna Beach fast food, La Sirena Grill

Tips for Laguna Beach Restaurants

Although Laguna Beach has lots of restaurants, they do fill up, even for lunch. So, if you know where you want to go, make a reservation if you can.

Like in many cities across the U.S., restaurants are still recovering from staff shortages caused by the pandemic. Please remember this if things take a little longer than usual. Packing a little extra patience for every outing these days seems like a really good idea.

We update this blog often, but please double-check the hours as restaurants do not let us know when they change. Also, I’ve seen a lot of misinformation out there on outdated blogs with recommendations for restaurants that have permanently closed, like the Royal Hawaiian. So, always check the restaurant’s website if possible before heading over.

Now that you know my Laguna Beach favorites, which will you choose? Let me know in the comments below!