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Brad A. Johnson

Food & Travel

Brad A Johnson
  • Blog
  • About
  • Photography
    • Food Photography
    • Travel Photography
    • Restaurant Photography
    • Hotel & Resort Photography
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OC’s Best Places to Eat 2020

  • October 9, 2020
  • Brad A. Johnson
The Orange County Register has begun rolling out the sixth edition of my guide to the Best Places to Eat. The previous five iterations have served as an annual scavenger hunt in the form of a bucket-list ranking of the 75 best places to eat in OC. But it looks a bit different this year because 2020 changed the way we eat. Regrettably I am not able to publish the guide on this blog. It is available to Register subscribers only (because that’s what pays my salary). But because a lot of people come to this blog looking for this annual guide, here’s a link and a sneak peek at what’s inside.
Dining on the front lawn of Selanne Steak Tavern in Laguna Beach (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)

Instead of the usual ranking of my 75 favorite restaurants, this year’s Best Places to Eat is roadmap to dining well and putting food on the table during the pandemic (which isn’t going to go away until everyone starts wearing their damn mask and taking it seriously). To that end, this year’s guide features a strong focus on takeout and delivery, ranging from family-style meals to special-occasion splurges. I’ve also ranked my favorite Thai, Chinese, Italian and Japanese ramen restaurants, most of which were already adept at takeout and delivery before the entire industry had to pivot. And for those who need to get out of the house and enjoy the restaurant experience again (something we all need and should take part in with caution), I offer a list of restaurants where you can dine safely outdoors in very 2020 fashion.

So instead of counting backwards from 75, this year the Register is rolling out the guide in themed segments, culminating with the announcement of Restaurant of the Year on Friday, October 16. Here’s the full schedule:

  • Top 5 hot new restaurants (Oct. 6)
  • 5 takeout splurges when you want to celebrate (Oct. 7)
  • Top 5 Italian restaurants (Oct. 8)
  • 10 options for family-style takeout (Oct. 9)
  • Top 5 pizzas (Oct. 10)
  • Top 10 Chinese restaurants (Oct. 11)
  • 20 places to kickstart date night al fresco (Oct. 12)
  • Top 10 Japanese ramen (Oct. 13)
  • Top 5 Thai restaurants (Oct. 14)
  • 5 picks for late-night takeout (Oct. 15)
  • Restaurant of the year (Oct. 16)
Tom yum with freshwater prawns (takeout) from Thai Avenue in Garden Grove. (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)
Smoked brisket and Texas hot links with all the fixin’s from Heritage Barbecue in San Juan Capistrano (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)
Sashimi and sake to go — amaebi, Bafun uni, wild yellowtail, cherry trout, striped Jack, black sea bream, bluefin tuna, octopus, wild amberjack, snapper, black bass, flounder — from Hana re in Costa Mesa (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)
Charred figs, whipped blue cheese and candied walnuts on toast from the takeout menu at Marché Moderne in Newport Beach (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)
Rigatoni cacio e pepe at Oliver’s Osteria in Laguna Beach (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)
Fried tacos with blue corn tortillas, beans, chorizo and ancho chiles from the takeout menu at Taco Maria in Costa Mesa (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)
40 ounce, 28-day dry-aged Delmonico steak from the takeout menu at The Ranch in Anaheim (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)

To view more of my work for the Register, check out the archives. For more dining and travel inspiration, I invite you to follow me and join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. 

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Brad A. Johnson

Brad A. Johnson is a writer and photographer specializing in food and travel. His work has been honored by the Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism Awards, James Beard Awards, World Food Media Awards, Food Photographer of the Year Awards, Society of Features Journalism Awards and others. Based in Southern California, Brad currently serves as Editorial Director of the new luxury consumer travel magazine of the Global Travel Collection (launching Spring 2023).

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My sincerest thanks to the North American Travel Journalists Awards!⁠ 128 19
Hey, OC. FYI in case you missed it, @ryegoods has opened a new location on Red Hill in Tustin, just down the street from Flight/Mess Hall. Same incredible breads and pastries as the original on the peninsula. No lines here, plus a huge seating area. #sourdough #pastries #coffee #orangecounty 331 9
One more post from our lovely stay at @fstokyo. Delicious lunch at @maisonmarunouchi, the casual sibling to @sezannetokyo. Excellent all around. And clearly popular with Tokyo's ladies who lunch: the clientele during our visit, almost entirely women. Quite the see-and-be-seen crowd. 66 1
I’m not sure which I liked better about the @fstokyo, the valet greeter and escort from the train station, the view of the trains from our room, or the super comfy pajamas. Excellent service all around. #Tokyo #Japan #hoteljunkie 83 3
I think @sezannetokyo ⁠has a #footfetish, and I’m ok with that. Truly fantastic lunch. Impeccable service. ⁠ 64 2
We had a really fun "Lost in Translation" moment at @meatman_roppongi. Google Translate failed hilariously. Delicious meat/fat overload anyway. Great staff, charming hospitality. Lots of sake. Thank you, @fstokyo for securing the reservation! #Tokyo #Roppongi #sake 77 1
Brad A. Johnson
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Writer. Photographer. Traveler. Restaurant Critic.

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