If you’ve ever walked around “the circle” in Orange, California, odds are you’ve maneuvered your way around the green and silver cafe tables out front of Two’s Company Cafe and Catering. 

Two’s Company Cafe and Catering has been nestled in the south west quadrant of the Orange circle for 26 years. The current owners Elizabeth and Julian Hernandez Sr. bought the restaurant almost 21 years ago and they both work there with their two children.

“One day my dad picked up the newspaper and saw that ‘hey there's this little restaurant that's for sale,’” said Julian Hernandez Jr., who works alongside his parents at Two’s Company. “My mom saw that like ‘Oh yeah there's potential here,’ so they decided to buy it and that was it. Like literally an ad in the newspaper.”

Thanks to Elizabeth Hernandez, Two’s Company is known for its delicious paninis. She says the Pesto Chicken, Chipotle Chicken, and Turkey Cranberry are their most popular menu items. However, if warm sandwiches aren’t your thing, they have a long list of cold sandwiches including egg salad, pastrami, veggie, turkey, ham, and even albacore tuna! They also have soups and salads to accompany your sandwich or to enjoy a la carte.

Hernandez Jr. said the pandemic was tough on business but he’s glad they pushed through despite having to make price adjustments due to the supply chain shortage. 

“Stuff that we would buy all the time is almost double the cost, It's hard. It's hard to find people to work right now, so that's how it's affected us,” said Hernandez Jr. 

The pesto chicken panini is presented on a sand-colored ceramic plate with a side of homemade pasta salad and a small snickerdoodle cookie placed right on the panini. The bread is golden and grilled to create the most satisfying crunch and “cheese pull.” The pasta salad has a nice, almost tangy dressing and pairs well with the sandwich. And what better way to contrast the savory flavors of the main meal than with a small snickerdoodle cookie?

Papa’s Tacos: A Laguna Beach Hidden Gem

Papa’s Tacos is located four miles south of downtown Laguna Beach, California on Pacific Coast Highway (PCH). The shop sits between Eagle Rock Way and 2nd Ave., but if you’re driving with the flow of traffic on PCH, you may miss it. 

Cayentano Perez first opened shop in 1991. And, fun fact, two of the cooks, Enrique Zaragoza Bravo and Vicente Ladislao Cruz, have worked at Papa's for almost 32 years! 

Workers enter the kitchen through a red dutch door and are immediately met with utensils, workstations and the register. Somehow the six members of the Papa’s Tacos staff manage to function in a kitchen that is just 660 square feet. 

Papa’s Tacos cashier, Gale, helps a customer.

When the original owner, Cayentano Perez, left Papa’s Tacos and another owner didn’t work out,   Michael Skerly took over with his business partner Scott Bornstein. Unfortunately in 2018, Bornstein hurt his back and couldn't work any longer. Now, Michael Skerly is the sole owner. 

The restaurant shares six parking spots with The Abbey Beach Market and Liquor Store next door, so customers may have to park a bit down the road or snag a spot on the hill.

“If you come to a place like this and you don’t remember the food, you’re really not going to come back because it’s just too hard. And that is I think one of the special things about Papa’s Tacos,” said Michael Skerly, Papa’s Tacos owner.

There are two green picnic benches just next to the order counter, they probably comfortably fit twelve people total. If the tables are occupied, take a seat on the nearby steps, walk up the hill to a community park or head west just steps away to Table Rock Beach.

The restaurant has a 4.4 / 5 stars rating on Google from 196 customer reviews. 

One customer wrote, “Awesome food. Michael literally put together a beautifully catered lunch for our family gathering of twenty five people in one hour. Everyone was super EXCITED about the presentation, assortment of street tacos, best rice EVER!”

Another customer raved about Papa's Tacos in their review.

“THE BEST TACOS! Great to get something to go before or after heading to the beach, there are also tables there if you would like to sit down and eat,” wrote another customer. “They make them quick, they are cheap and most importantly they are delicious! A hole-in-the-wall place for sure”

When you visit, Skerly recommends the Machaca beef, or carne asada street tacos. I personally would recommend the Bean, Rice & Cheese burrito or any of the enchiladas. You have to get a cold Mexican Coke or a lime Jarritos.

• Machaca beef, or carne asada street tacos

• Bean, Rice & Cheese burrito

• Enchiladas

Pro-tip, ask for two salsa Verdes! They’re delicious. 

Located at 634 Lido Park Dr in Newport Beach, California, Buddha’s Favorite Sushi matches the nautical, laid back vibe of the quaint little beach town. With its main patio overlooking Newport bay, customers can enjoy watching boats sail by while enjoying their meal! Its secluded location, kind staff, fun history, incredible menu, and reasonable prices definitely put “Buddha’s Favorite Sushi” on any “hidden gems” of Orange County list!

Buddha’s Favorite Sushi first opened back in September of 2000 when Masaki “Yoshi” Yoshitsuka opened its doors for the first time. Yoshitsuka wanted the restaurant to blend authentic and traditional Japanese recipes into creative dishes.

In March, 2019, current owners, Nicole and Matt Paskerian, bought Buddha’s from Yoshitsuka and his wife, Miko, after they moved back to Japan. The Paskerians promised to keep the same sushi restaurant they had loved for nearly twenty years (even including much of the same staff).

“[It was my] favorite sushi place, I was even back in L.A. for eight years and still every time I came down on the weekends, I would still come here and everything,” said Paskerian.

“I introduced [my husband] to this place in 2008 when we started dating and he fell in love with it, too.”

Although reservations may be necessary on the weekends, a brief wait in the seating area in the outdoor parking lot is more comfortable and scenic than one might imagine! The atmosphere at Buddha’s Favorite is casual. A dimly lit, pleasant patio overlooking the Newport bay, a fun sushi bar and intimate dining area inside. The staff is dressed in casual black tee shirts and sneakers, the patio furniture is cozy and informal, the general vibes are perfect for a romantic dinner date, a celebration with friends, or even dining by yourself. Your dinner might even be interrupted by Sake Bomb chants every once in a while!

Every dish on the menu is made from fresh ingredients— according to Paskerian, they actually have fish flown in from all over the world every day! Some of the recipes are actually from Yoshitsuka’s mom’s restaurant in Japan! And that couldn’t be more evident.The menu offers a wide range of Japanese appetizers, sushi and entrees, and a wide selection of sake, wine and beer to wash it all down. Oh, and you don't want to miss out on their desserts either!

One Buddha’s Favorite “regular” doesn’t feel like sharing his favorite spot with anyone else.

“Buddha's is great because it's right on the water and you can post on Snapchat,” said Farhan Khan. “A lot of people will be asking you where it is, but just don't tell them.”

The Paskerians were eagerly preparing to celebrate their one year anniversary of owning Buddha's Favorite when it was abruptly canceled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.Although they were upset, Nicole Paskerian was determined to keep their restaurant afloat. 

“That day I told everybody, ‘we’re not closing, nobody’s getting fired, nobody’s getting laid off, we're switching it to to-go.’ We did phenomenal,” said Nicole Paskerian. “We've just been killing it, thankfully! It's just been super fun. [We love] the customers, we love the staff. It's like my other child. I love what I do.”

If you’re planning to go to Buddha’s for the first time, here are some recommendations from Nicole Paskerian:

• Salmon candy

• Stinky roll, a california roll with seared albacore on top, drizzled in garlic butter, garlic chips and garlic ponzu 

• Albacore crispy onions