With June coming to an end, it means summer is in full gear. Which means BBQs with friends, day trips to the fair and theme parks, beach days, after work happy hours and more.
Our reporters are back at it again with a round-up of our favorite eats from June. This month’s guide includes ice cream recommendations for when you’re in need of a sweet treat, sandwich spots for dining in or grabbing to go to, Indian food packed with spices, Japanese staples like ramen and sushi, and other nearby bites if you’re looking to try something new.
Here’s a look from reporters at nearby eateries to try around Los Angeles, Orange County, and the Inland Empire.
Related: See the best things we ate in Southern California in 2024.
Tri-tip fries – SeaSalt Honky Tonk, Huntington Beach
While covering Alicia Cox’s SeaSalt Honky Tonk, the “queen of concessions” latest seaside venture on Bolsa Chica State Beach, I simply had to investigate her new partnership with Heritage Barbecue. Daniel and Brenda Castillo’s acclaimed San Juan Capistrano barbecue joint is running a summer-long pop-up at SeaSalt Honky Tonk, featuring a condensed menu. Among their offerings are fries topped with smoked tri-tip, shredded cheddar, pickled jalapenos and onions. The tri-tip was generously portioned and cooked to tender perfection, smoked on-site, of course. However, the true standout, much to my delight, was the exceedingly crisp and well-seasoned fries. Though I’m far from a beach enthusiast, with the sun god and his punishing rays being my lifelong nemesis, this quintessentially Orange County collaboration between Cox and Castillo might just compel me to brave the sands and sun-kissed throngs with SPF 50 and an oversized hat, all for another taste.
— Brock Keeling, Restaurant Reporter
Eggplant Parm – Ggiata, Studio City
This bread is some of the best sandwich bread I’ve had in my life, and that’s coming from a Bay Area girl who makes dutch crunch her whole personality when she hears you went to Ike’s. If I can grab your attention for one thing about this sandwich, let it be how good the bread was. Ggiata is a name that might ring a bell if you’ve spent recent downtime scrolling on TikTok. The sandwich shop has gained social media fame thanks to a few viral videos, which made me curious to stop by. I ended up going with the eggplant parm, which was one out of a handful of vegetarian options. After opening the to-go box, all I could say was “wow, this smells so good.” And the first bite lived up to every expectation. My parents raised me on eggplant parmesan. They’re big fans of the one from Buca di Beppo, but that’s a whole other story. The flavors, combined with the texture, made it clear that this is where I’ll take them the next time they’re in town. The cheese, sauce and eggplant all felt perfectly portioned, not only to taste, but so you’re not left with parts of the sandwich awkwardly falling out with each bite.
— Carolyn Burt, Audience Engagement Producer
Achari Chicken Tikki – Daddy Ji, Claremont
Daddy Ji, nestled on the west side of Indian Hill in the Claremont Village, is a local favorite. Whether you were planning to grab some Indian street food or not, walking down the block, the spices wafting from the small eatery pull you in, and that’s how my girls and I find ourselves there time after time. Across multiple trips, we haven’t ordered a thing off the menu that we didn’t rave about, but the Achari Chicken Tikki has become a staple dish no matter how much we mix it up from visit to visit. Served on a sizzling hot plate alongside bell peppers and onions, the boneless dark chicken dish is marinated in a blend of spices and light sauce that coats your taste buds like butter. Enjoy alongside some basmati rice or garlic naan, and don’t sleep on the mango lassi to drink.
— Emily St. Martin, Digital Features Editor
Tonkatsu Ramen, USA Roll and Spider Roll – Jikan Japanese Restaurant, Ontario
As the weather takes a warmer turn, there was one thing I was craving…Ramen. A bit wild, I know, but stay with me as I also wanted sushi. Jikan’s Japanese Restaurant in Ontario had everything I was looking for. I shared a bowl of the very large and delicious tonkatsu ramen, which was enough in itself. I also ordered two rolls: the Spider Roll and the USA Roll, both of which were fresh and had large portions. An unexpected star of my meal, though, was the garlic edamame. It was loaded with fresh garlic, and honestly, I couldn’t get enough. For both price and quality, this is a solid choice for Japanese.
— Mercedes Cannon-Tran, Local Reporter
“Anthony’s Special” – McConnell’s Fine Ice Creams, San Juan Capistrano
During a visit to San Juan Capistrano’s River Street Marketplace, I stopped at McConnell’s Fine Ice Creams, hoping to conclude my trip with a frozen fruit-and-cream combination, my second-favorite flavor profile. Anthony, the store’s manager, had different plans for me, subtly guiding me towards an inspired choice: his namesake creation. His clever construction featured two flavors. The first scoop was the double peanut butter chip, a peanut butter-infused ice cream with creamy peanut butter veins and slightly melty bittersweet chocolate shards. This sat atop a scoop of sea salt cream and cookies, a vanilla ice cream spiked with said sea salt and McConnell’s own Guittard chocolate chunk cookies. Anthony’s Special, as he christened it, proved to be the managerial interference I didn’t know I needed. Chocolate and peanut butter, especially with a pop of salt, remains my god-tier flavor combination. Thank you, Anthony.
— Brock Keeling, Restaurant Reporter
Chile Coronado Bowl – Miguel’s Jr., Corona
To mark the 50th anniversary of Miguel’s Jr., I visited the chain’s original restaurant at 1039 1039 W. Sixth St, Corona. I ordered Chile Colorado, an exclusive to that location. There were layers of goodness in the bowl, with sour cream and melted cheese on top of shredded stew meat and chunks of potatoes. Try it with house-made strawberry lemonade. Incidentally, I was in line behind the chain’s founder, Mary Vasquez, who ordered a salad to go. At age 82, she recently picked up her high school equivalency diploma at the nearby high school.
— Fielding Buck, Restaurant Reporter
- ALSO SEE: 82-year-old Miguel’s Jr. cofounder earns her high school diploma as her restaurant chain turns 50
The Greyhound – Stray Dog’s Coffee, Riverside
Stray Dogs Coffee was a delightful recent find. Located conveniently in downtown Riverside, parking wasn’t too bad. It was just what I needed for an afternoon pick-me-up. I ordered the Greyhound and it was delicious. An espresso-based iced drink with Earl Grey honey and topped with a vanilla cold foam made all my coffee dreams come true. I rounded out the drink with an Earl Grey crumb cake, and if you can’t tell by now, I am obsessed with Earl Grey. Did I also mention that they are dog-friendly and help local strays find homes? We love a good coffee with an even greater cause.
— Mercedes Cannon-Tran, Local Reporter
Thrifty Chocolate Malted Krunch Ice Cream – Killer Dana Surf Shop, Dana Point
On the other end of the ice cream spectrum, a visit to Killer Dana Surf Shop led to a stop at their Thrifty Ice Cream counter. The surf and clothing retailer wisely retained the beloved sweet-treat pitstop after moving into the former Rite-Aid location in 2024. I chose Chocolate Malted Krunch, the flavor I grew up with, known for its malted-chocolate ice cream, chocolate flecks, and especially its crisped rice balls. While this mass-produced brand doesn’t have the same cachet as McConnell’s or other small-batch ice creams, it’s rich with memories of yore. As a small child, honing my comedic routine, I’d always pick out the rice balls, clean them with my tongue, and then, with my lips covering my teeth, present them in a dish to weary family members, announcing, “Look, my teeth fell outta my mouth.” Thud. Even though the recurring bit never landed with my blood kin (tough crowd), this ice cream remains a personal favorite. And despite what lauded gastronomes might think of the archaic ice cream brand today, some youthful quirks and tastes are better left unexamined by such sophisticated palates.
— Brock Keeling, Restaurant Reporter
The Kate – Something About Her, West Hollywood
Anyone who has watched Vanderpump Rules knows that the bars and restaurants owned and operated by the cast play a huge role in the series. It all kicked off with S.U.R., the restaurant owned by former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Lisa Vanderpump and her husband, Ken Todd, where a group of friends worked as servers, hosts and bartenders while also pursuing their Hollywood dreams. In the 10 years since the series first aired, the cast has made quite a name for themselves as not only Bravolebs and reality TV icons, but also opening up their own local spots. Ariana Madix and Katie Maloney decided to approach things a little differently when it came to opening Something About Her, opting for a chic, feminine sandwich shop rather than a bar. The names of the dishes are all inspired by leading ladies from RomComs (my favorite genre, so already we were off to a good start). The establishment lives up to its tagline of “romanticizing lunch” with its clear attention to detail when it comes to decor and the dining experience. I decided to go with the Kate, a staff favorite that resembles a caprese. The sauces alone live up to the hype, with the pesto aioli being the standout. Each bite was a blend of flavor from the burrata, tomatoes, balsamic glaze and onion marmalade. The ciabatta roll made for some messy pieces at the end, but each one was so tasty that I couldn’t complain. Additional tip: You can forgo the bread on any of their sandwiches and opt for it as a salad instead, which I’m looking forward to trying during my next visit.
— Carolyn Burt, Audience Engagement Producer
Cheesy Garlic Knots – The 4th Horseman in Long Beach
The 4th horseman has long been a favorite little hideaway of mine since my college days in Long Beach. The funky decor, music, and pizza have always kept me coming back for more. I was in the area on Friday the 13th and thought, what better way to end the night? I opted for a slice of pepperoni pizza, but the real star of the show this visit was the cheesy garlic knots. Not only were they piping hot, fresh from the oven, but they were also delectably soft and cheesy. No need to worry about any vampire attacks after these bad boys, as they were loaded with garlic. The portion is also so large that it could be a meal itself!
— Mercedes Cannon-Tran, Local Reporter
See more of our monthly round-ups of the best things we ate in Southern California
The best things we ate at Southern California restaurants in May
The best things we ate at Southern California restaurants in April
The best things we ate at Southern California restaurants in March
The best things we ate at Southern California restaurants in February
The best things we ate at Southern California restaurants in January
The best things we ate at Southern California restaurants in 2024
The best things we ate at Southern California restaurants in November
The best things we ate at Southern California restaurants this October
The best thing we ate at Southern California restaurants in September
The best thing we ate at Southern California restaurants in August