Watch CBS News

Healthy Dining Locations For The New Year

Header (The Beachcomber) Their Ahi Tacos
(credit: The Beachcomber)

It's time for a new you in the New Year. Drive past your favorite fast food restaurants and make a stop at one of these healthy dining destinations in Orange County. Offering a wide variety of farm to fork dining options, these restaurants boost menus with plentiful healthy dining options in 2014.

Garbanzo Mediterranean Grill
(credit: Shelby Barone)

Garbanzo Mediterranean Grill
26541 Aliso Creek Rd.
Aliso Viejo, CA 92656
(949) 297-3633
www.eatgarbanzo.com

Enjoy a meal packed full of fresh vegetables at Garbanzo Mediterranean Grill. The fast casual restaurant has something the entire family will enjoy including pitas that are made from scratch, all-natural chicken and fresh salads. In addition, guests can build their own entrees with a wide variety of proteins and vegetables. Online ordering and catering are available at their Irvine or Aliso Viejo locations in Orange County as well.

The Greek Crispa Crepes (Shelby Barone)
(credit: Shelby Barone)

Crispa Crepes
3945 Irvine Blvd.
Irvine, CA 92602
(714) 389-5711
www.crispacrepes.com

Crispa Crepes is a great family friendly restaurant to enjoy fresh, healthy crepes. Crispa Crepes offers a wide variety of crepes including the option of substituting tofu for a vegetarian option. They have sweet and savory crepes, and the healthiest crepe is the Greek style crepe. It includes grilled chicken, tapenade, fresh tomatoes, red onions, spinach and feta cheese. All of the crepes are made fresh to order, and they are open daily from 11am to 9pm.

The Beachcomber Tuna Stack (The Beachcomber)
(credit: The Beachcomber)

The Beachcomber at Crystal Cove
15 Crystal Cove
Newport Coast, CA 92657
(949) 376-6900
www.thebeachcombercafe.com

Located right on the sandy beach at Crystal Cove guests can enjoy fresh and healthy dishes at The Beachcomber at Crystal Cove. This historic restaurant has a wide variety of healthy dining options including Ahi Tacos, Yellow Fin Ahi, Tamarind Glazed Shrimp and Grilled Salmon. Enjoy dining with a view of the crystalline waters at Crystal Cove Beach.

View from The Deck on Laguna Beach (Shelby Barone)
(credit: Shelby Barone)

The Deck on Laguna Beach
627 Sleepy Hollow Lane
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
(949) 494-6700
www.deckonlaguna.com

The Deck on Laguna Beach is located right on Sleepy Hollow Beach in Laguna Beach. The restaurant features the freshest dishes using seasonal ingredients. One of the highlights on their healthy menu is the New Zealand Ora King Salmon that is rich in omega 3 fatty acids. Or another two healthy dining recommendations are the Steamed Venus Clams & Mussels and the Tuscan Kale Caesar Salad. The Deck is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner offering incredible panoramic ocean views and cool ocean breezes for diners to enjoy.

Sol Cocina Rajas Tacos (Sol Cocina)
(credit Sol Cocina)

Sol Cocina
251 E. Pacific Coast Highway
Newport Beach, CA 92660
(949) 675-9800
www.solcocina.com

Executive Chef Deborah Schneider is ringing in the New Year with a wide variety of healthy menu items at Sol Cocina in Newport Beach. Everything at Sol Cocina is made from scratch using fresh vegetables, fruits and sustainable proteins. The menu features Vegan options that include a Quinoa Cranberry Salad, Rajas Tacos, Ensalada Sol, and more. The Vegetarian menu includes their popular Skinny Burrito, Huevos Mexicanos and Papas Papi. Sol Cocina is located right on the beautiful bay in Newport Beach, and reservations are highly recommended.

Sidedoor Butternut Squash Soup (Shelby Barone)
(credit: Shelby Barone)

Sidedoor
3801 East Coast Highway
Corona del Mar, CA 92625
(949) 717-4322
www.Sidedoorcdm.com

Executive Chef Ryan O'Melveny at Sidedoor in Corona del Mar is creating some of the healthiest farm to table dishes in Orange County. With all of the produce, meats and seafoods purchased daily for the restaurant, the menu changes daily based on available local ingredients. It is a neighborhood English-style restaurant with delicious craft cocktails and unique selection of wines and beers. This is truly a unique gem of Orange County offering truly sustainable dishes to guests of the restaurant.
recommended.

Greenleaf Turkey Burger (Tender Greens)
(credit: Tender Greens)

Tender Greens
Irvine Spectrum
31 Fortune Drive
Irvine, CA 92618
(949) 679-9135
www.tendergreens.com

The popular cafeteria-style restaurant, Tender Greens, is one of the most popular places to get a big fresh salad in Orange County. All of the food is made fresh to order in the modern style restaurant. Our favorite menu item at Tender Greens is the Chipotle Barbecue Chicken Salad that comes packed with freshly cooked chicken, romaine hearts, avocado, queso fresco, crispy tortilla strips, green onion and a cilantro lime dressing. Don't forget to order one of their delicious desserts to go with your meal that are made fresh daily.
recommended.

Shelby is an Orange County Native, and is a freelance writer for multiple magazines and websites around LA and Orange County. She can be found writing daily about the hottest happenings at the OC Mom Blog or on Twitter @OCMomBlog.
View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.