For Great Food & Fun, Visit Buena Park

A short ride from Huntington Beach and Los Angeles, the city of Buena Park is well-known for its major attractions like Knott’s Berry Farm, Knott’s Soak City and dinner shows, but the excellent and affordable range of food options may be its best-kept secret.

Berry Good

Renowned as the birthplace of the boysenberry, Buena Park hosts Knott’s Boysenberry Festival annually. Since all boysenberries can be traced back to Knott’s, Buena Park celebrates this special fruit in several ways, including the Boysenberry Festival’s Craft Beer and Wine Tasting as well as the creation of over 75 uniquely delicious boysenberry-inspired foods and drinks.

Even with all the boysenberry-themed culinary creations, Buena Park offers plenty of more worldly dining options and award-winning casual dining venues that appeal to a variety of tastes. From sweet treats and savory snacks to flavors from around the globe, Buena Park visitors don’t have to pay a lot to enjoy a wide array of cuisines.

Asian Cuisine

You can find multiple Chinese, Japanese and Vietnamese restaurants in Buena Park.

For authentic Japanese, go for a bowl of Orange County’s Best Ramen at Yoshiharu. This location is known for its delicious broth, which is made from pork bones and boiled for 14 hours to develop a pure, rich flavor. Also one of Buena Park’s top Japanese restaurants, Miss Shabu serves an amazing kimchi broth and is number 30 on Yelp’s Top 100 Places to Eat in the United States.

For Vietnamese-style noodles, try SUP Noodle Bar’s pho, which was voted the OC’s Best Pho by OC Weekly. The highly recommended, “Chef’s Choice” Pho Dak Biet is especially delicious.

Take part in preparing your food by cooking on a tabletop grill at Kang Ho Dong Baekjeong, Grub Street’s Absolute Best Korean BBQ spot. This food is so good, Sunset Magazine said Buena Park has a better Koreatown than Los Angeles.

Uncle Fung, an authentic Borneo eatery, serves tasty traditional dishes like Borneo wok, curry rice and laksa. It was highlighted as one of the Top 10 Places for Cheap Eats in Orange County by the OC Register.

For modern takes of classic Chinese dishes, head to New Moon, which was named one of the Best Chinese Restaurants for 2019 by OC Weekly.

American Cuisine

To enjoy a culinary tradition that’s been around since 1934, check out Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Dinner Restaurant. Located outside the main gate of Knott’s Berry Farm, this spot was named one of the Top 50 Most Kid-Friendly Restaurants in America for 2019 by OpenTable.

For more family fun, John’s Incredible Pizza Company has an all-you-can-eat endless menu, games and amusement rides for one-stop entertainment.

Out-of-state visitors may want to indulge in this West Coast favorite. In-N-Out Burger has won many local and national awards, such as TimesOC’s Readers’ Choice Awards for best hamburger and the fourth Most Craveable Chain Burger by Restaurant Business.

Central American Cuisine

Delicious Cuban and Mexican cuisine can also be found at Buena Park, at spots like Tacos La Calle and Porto’s.

For crave-worthy street tacos, head to Tacos La Calle, one of the Top 10 Best New Restaurants in the OC according to OC Weekly and one of the Top 10 Places for Cheap Eats In Orange County according to the OC Register. Though the entire menu is tasty, the tacos, mulitas and street corn on the cob are a few must-try highlights.

Since its inception in 1960, the world-renowned, family-owned Porto’s Bakery & Café has been a must-visit. Named Yelp’s No. 1 Restaurant in the Country for 2016, Porto’s serves a variety of Cuban food, including delectable desserts, savory sandwiches and authentic Cuban beverages.

European Cuisine

From European-inspired meats to authentic Italian pizza, Buena Park has some infamous eating establishments.

Winner of five Silver Platter Awards, Portillo’s is a Chicago based company that has spread into several states across America. Portillo’s makes the tastiest sausages, Italian beef sandwiches and hamburgers around.

Il Palco, an authentic Italian restaurant located in Buena Park, gets its name from the Italian word meaning “the stage,” and guests will certainly feel treated to an experience. The Orange County Register named the Gorgonzola pizza from this “Italian Restopub” one of the Top 20 Dishes in 2019.

Sweets

Those looking for a treat will have plenty of options in Buena Park.

HoneyMee, famous for its award-winning raw honey and honeycombs, was named one of the Best Spots for Soft Serve and Frozen Custard by Zagat. The cold kosher ice cream is perfect after a long day at Knotts.

If you find yourself in the need of a caffeine boost, head to Coffee Code, named “Best Coffeehouse in Orange County” by OC Weekly. While you’re there, get a decadent dessert waffle to accompany your beverage.

And dessert aficionados can’t miss the impossibly fluffy souffle pancakes at Basilur Tea & Coffee, topped with fresh fruit, whipped cream and maple syrup.

Drinks

Stop in for a spell at The Cauldron, a dark and cozy, witchy spot specializing in fresh quality cocktails, local craft brews and tasty bites.

Or kick back at Rock & Brews, where you can sample from a menu of over 60 different craft beers. From the mind of Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley of KISS, it doesn’t get more rock ‘n’ roll. Munch on wings, burgers and wood-fired barbecue on the patio or around the fire pit, then challenge friends and family to a game of cornhole.

Although Buena Park is known for its major attractions, its diverse food scene is an attraction all its own.

To get your FREE Buena park travel Guide go to VisitBuenaPark.com.