Which Fried Chicken Reigns Supreme in OC? A Crispy Quest Breaks Down Four Local Favorites
Fried chicken doesn’t need fancy toppings or hype to shine. Anne Marie Panoringan sampled four popular O.C. destinations to determine which dish offered the juiciest meat, crispest skin and most satisfying bite.
November 26, 2025
Shelley and Pacific Symphony Impress with ‘Daphnis and Chloé’
REVIEW: Ravel’s complete masterpiece is well served with assistance of Pacific Chorale, though some obstacles remained.
November 21, 2025
Where Italy Meets Japan, and Lunch Comes at a Discount
REVIEW: Japanese-Italian fusion gets another spin in Fountain Valley at Momonoki, where a miso carbonara shines and a $28 lunch deal draws crowds.
November 7, 2025
Shelley and Pacific Symphony Excel in a Program of Light Classics
REVIEW: The new music director designate rejuvenates Rimsky-Korsakov’s “Scheherazade.”
October 17, 2025
At Soka, Trifonov Argues His Case for Neglected Repertoire
REVIEW: The celebrated virtuoso pianist had trouble putting across the program of German and Russian composers.
September 28, 2025
Keep Calm and Curry On at Chiang Rai
REVIEW: Chiang Rai, Long Beach’s Michelin-mentioned Thai restaurant, opened a Tustin branch that replaced my local Indonesian spot – but I’m not mad about it.
September 22, 2025
Tokyo Central’s Viral Conveyor Belt Sushi Restaurant Waka Sakura Arrives in Irvine
REVIEW: The reasonably priced sushi at Waka Sakura is worth the wait, even with a standby list that tests your patience and plating that sometimes feels rushed.
September 5, 2025
Urth Caffé: Is It Worth the Hype?
REVIEW: Here’s the tea: The service is unorthodox, the lines can be long, but the food is fantastic.
August 8, 2025
Double the Drama: New Swan’s Shakespeare Season Embraces Romance, Wit and Reinvention
REVIEW: From a Romantic-era “All’s Well” to a Wild West “Much Ado,” this season’s festival proves why its intimate, open-air productions remain one of Southern California’s most inventive and engaging takes on the Bard.
July 14, 2025
In Final Act, St.Clair and the Pacific Symphony Ponder Verdi’s Requiem
REVIEW: The departing music director, avoiding goodbyes, sticks to the music Thursday, in the first of his farewell concerts.
June 6, 2025
L.A. Philharmonic Visits Orange County with Glowing Herrmann and Tchaikovsky
REVIEW: Joseph Pereira’s new percussion concerto also gets an impressive airing.
June 1, 2025
‘Fences’ Stands Tall as a Sad, Bitter Portrait of ’50s Black America
REVIEW: Laguna Playhouse softens the edges, but Wilson’s masterpiece is still as harsh as ever.
May 7, 2025
