We had such a great experience at The Counter. Our server, Spencer, truly made the…read morevisit--attentive, friendly, and just overall elevated the whole experience. We used to go to their Pasadena location, so we were a little bummed when it closed, but making the drive out to Ladera Ranch was absolutely worth it. The burgers were just as good as we remembered--maybe even better. Everything from the food to the service to the ambiance felt on point, and it honestly gave us a reason to make the trip again. Definitely a spot we'll keep coming back to.

I visited this location of The Counter for lunch on a weekday. It's located in a plaza with plenty…read moreof parking. The interior has several tables and a counter as well as an enormous patio. This is a full-service restaurant where you'll be seated and order taken at the table. They have burgers, sandwiches, salads, and wings on the menu. I was brightly welcomed and seated by an energetic young woman. Various people attended to me at the table during my meal. I wanted to order from their lunch specials but I really wanted a chocolate mint milkshake, which couldn't be added to any of the specials. So I additionally ordered the old-school cheeseburger and tots. The burger, according to the menu, included Tillamook cheddar, lettuce blend, tomatoes, red onions, pickles, and relish between a brioche bun. I requested no onions and the burger cooked medium. As an aside, my first encounter with The Counter was probably 20 years ago at their Santa Monica location, where they introduced a new concept: providing pencil and paper with a long list of ingredients you could check off to build your burger to your specifications. They still have those sheets at the tables here or you can, as I did, just order off the menu. The milkshake was excellent, very chocolatey with a mild mint background flavor. I actually would have liked the mint a bit stronger but it was fine. The tots were superb! Crisp and crunchy outside and soft inside. The beef of the burger was very flavorful, obviously quality meat. I kept thinking the burger was bland though. After I was finished I checked the menu descriptions on their website. I realized my burger, which didn't have onions per my request, also didn't have pickles or relish. I didn't taste any tomato either, although I think there might have been a thin slice. My mind was distracted by other things as I ate so, spaced out as I was, I didn't add up that the lack of pizazz was the lack of ingredients. I had already scarfed the entire thing down so there was no point in complaining. I've always rolled my eyes over people who eat every bite of their meal and then complain and want it comped. I wasn't going to be THAT person. Still, I wonder what happened with the burger. Despite my disappointment I still liked my lunch "okay".

Honestly, dont know where to start! We have been to The stand before but tonight was one to…read moreremember, A 10 plus rating is WAY to low...this was just beyond amazing. My many thanks to Zoey fixing our order, and to Tess the manager. The customer service was excellent and food as Always excellent. We definately will be back! so I have to give Zoey a 100!

Food and service have always been good every time we were here. They have plenty of outdoor sitting…read moreif you prefer fresh air. The workers always brought the things i asked, One time they even brought and cleaned a high chair for baby without me asking. The short rib grilled cheese here is a must have. The menu has a large variety of food options, all reasonably priced.

Hole in the Wall Burger absolutely lives up to its name. Run by a mom, dad, and son, this place is…read morepumping out pure local perfection. We got the Hole in the Wall Burger, Spicy chicken sandwich, and brick fries. They do their own custom blend in the burger so it's perfectly and deliciously fatty. The chicken sandwich was juicy and the cut was thick. The fries are cross cut tempura battered, and the brick style includes the mom's special sauce, grilled onions, and cheese. If you look at the menu from years past, you'll see that the price has only changed by $1 in the past 5 or 6 years. It's very impressive that they can keep the prices low so the average joe isn't priced out of a humble burger joint. Much respect to the family that owns this place. Y'all just earned a customer for life.

Hole in the Wall Burger in Lake Forest is one of those spots that just never misses. The burger is…read morejuicy, packed with flavor, and tastes like everything was prepped fresh and with intention. It always hits. What really takes it over the top though is their house sauce, often called the Hole in the Wall sauce. It is next level. Bold, savory, and way more interesting than your standard burger sauce. Do yourself a favor and order an extra side because dipping the fries in it is non negotiable. My mom went with the spicy chicken sandwich and it was great. The spice level is totally manageable, flavorful without being overpowering. If you like a little more heat, grabbing a side of peppers is the move. It adds that extra kick without drowning out the sandwich. On top of the food, this place really shines because of the people. It is family owned and you can feel it. Everyone is genuinely friendly and excited to serve you, which makes the experience even better. The restaurant itself is clean, quiet, and comfortable with good vibes all around. This is one of those reliable spots you keep coming back to because it just does everything right. Highly recommend.

Brushfire Kitchen reminds me a bit of Mendocino Farms, but with an upscale vibe. The food was…read moreabsolutely fantastic. Lots of healthy bowls and salads. But, they do have some burgers, fries and other options too. I was really impressed by how tender and flavorful their chicken is. The bowl I got with a side of teriyaki was a perfect dinner. The opposed strawberry salad is quite fantastic as well. Can't wait to come try more menu items soon!

Had lunch here for the first time this week and I was pleasantly surprised how yummy it was! We…read moreshared empanadas and the peri peri chicken and it was all really good! Food came out hot and we got share plates. Ladies taking our order were so kind and informative as well. We sat outside in their patio and it was so comfortable with the breeze and not too busy or over crowded.

A real throwback. Greek-American burger joint. Reminds me of Chronis Burger in Montebello where I…read moregrew up Had burgers there today and pleasant memories flowed with every bite. Keep it up George and Erik. Your Dad would be proud.

My mind is blown reading how many people have given this place 4 stars…read more I wanted to like it here so much. I've always been curious about the food and told my husband it must be good if it's next to In N Out and it's been here for so many years. Today we finally decided to give it a try and honestly were very disappointed. We both got cheeseburgers and an order of half fries half onion rings. The ingredients in the burger look fresh but tasted very underwhelming with a very thin patty, way too much Mayo and overall pretty tasteless. The fries and onions rings were so hard my husband spit them out. They looked like they had been refried several times before reaching our table. Sadly, we won't be returning here. I'm giving 2 stars and not one because the person who took our order was kind and the food came out quickly but perhaps maybe too quickly as it had been sitting there to be reheated.

Just had the Chinese Chicken Sandwich (Wrap). Amazing…read morequality and great ambience! Only one server who triples her duty by manning the register, serving the food and busing. With a smile. Tends to get busy during weekends so you may wait a few minutes. Everything else is self service.

Updating to one star because I was waiting to see if you guys were going to charge me for food I…read morewasn't even allowed to pick up. You guys not only charged me, but the order shows as "picked up" Please ask your employees why they closed the restaurant around 2:15 pm on May 5th. The website (not a food delivery or pickup service, the actual sessions website) allowed the order to be taken, took my money, yet I got no food. As someone that frequents here quite often this is a disappointment. I've put in a dispute with my bank already but I want to know why you charged me for an order that was never even made. What's crazier is there were two men sitting on the outside portion of the restaurant finishing their food while I could see the employee closing up the kitchen. I asked through the closed front door what would happen to my order and your employee said because it wasn't actually made that by the end of the night I wouldn't be charged. I indeed did get charged $24 for a sandwich and fries that I never received, I hope you guys make this right.

If you're looking for the best burger in the area, this place is hands-down the one to beat. From…read morethe first bite, you can tell every ingredient is chosen with care and every burger is crafted with real skill. This isn't your average fast-food patty -- it's the kind of burger that reminds you how great a simple meal can be when it's done right. The patties are perfectly seasoned and cooked just how you like them -- juicy and flavorful with that ideal char on the outside. The buns are soft but sturdy enough to hold everything together, and the toppings are fresh, vibrant, and thoughtfully balanced. Whether it's melted cheese, crisp lettuce, caramelized onions, or tangy house sauce, each component adds something delicious without overpowering the rest. What really makes this place special is consistency and attention to detail. Every visit delivers the same high quality -- hot food, friendly staff, and fast service. The sides are great too -- the fries are crispy and golden, and their milkshakes are rich, creamy perfection. The atmosphere is casual and welcoming, perfect for anything from a quick lunch to a relaxed dinner with friends. It's the kind of local favorite that you want to brag about to everyone you know.

We came here for a fundraiser and wanted to support THHS Boys Volleyball. There were lots of…read moreoptions to choose from for the 5 of us. My 3 boys got burgers - 2 got the jalapeño bacon burger and 1 got the ultimate egg burger. My husband got the short rib grilled cheese, and I got the peri peri chicken bowl and substituted rice with salad greens and kale. We also got large fire fries and chili fries for the boys to share. Mine was wonderful! The peri peri sauce was awesome! I think I want that on EVERYTHING! The boys tried it and wished that sauce was on the fire fries instead. They didn't care for fire sauce - tasted like buffalo chicken sauce to them. My husband thought his sandwich was ok. It was greasy, and he was hoping he had some BBQ sauce with it. Being our first time there, he didn't realize that he could ask for a side of sauce. Burgers were average for my boys. One said he would come back if he wanted something different than In-n-Out. The other said he would return only if friends invited him here or if there was another fundraiser. My third son said he would return and had a decent experience. Overall, we would return and try something different. It may not be our first choice, but we're not opposed to returning.

I was craving hash browns that morning and this place has really crispy hash browns without being…read moretoo oily. We got the country fried chicken with hash browns and it was enough for 2 people. The steak was ok but the hash browns really hit the spot for me. You order at the counter, find a table, and they bring the food out to you. The food came out quick and they were pretty quick about cleaning the tables for the next guests. Good amount of parking in this plaza.

We came here on a Friday evening. Parking was good. Everything looked clean. Staff were polite…read moreand helpful when we ordered at the counter. Our food was delivered quickly to our table. My wife had steak fajitas. They were still sizzling after they were delivered to our table. Rice, beans, toppings, tortillas and a huge platter of steak and grilled veggies. So much food. She said that it was a great tasting dish. I had the Chili Verde for the first time. The first bite was a bit off-putting. The meat seemed a bit off. Then I realized that most of the pieces of meat had a large amount of fat on them. I tried to trim off the fat as I ate the meat. The Verde sauce in this dish kind of shimmered from all the fat. There were beans, rice and tortillas accompanying this. The beans and tortillas were good. The rice was just ok. One of the workers was walking by. I asked him to come over and pointed to a large glob of fat on my plate. I told him that my food had lots of fat in it. He did not say anything. My wife then raved about how wonderful her fajitas were. I am not sure if he related my dissatisfaction to anyone but nobody came to our table to talk to me. I was very dissatisfied.

The best donuts around. I love how soft and fresh they are. The chocolate bar and maple bar are my…read morefaves.

Stopped by Royal Donuts in Mission Viejo and tried their Royal Special -- and it's such a great…read moredeal. It comes with burgers, donuts, French fries, and a drink, which makes it perfect for sharing. The burgers were surprisingly good, especially the extra cheeseburger with plenty of melted cheese, and the fries were hot and crispy. Of course, the donuts were fresh and delicious too. Everything together makes a really satisfying combo whether you're grabbing a quick bite or sharing with someone. Friendly service and generous portions. Definitely a spot I'll come back to when I'm craving both sweet and savory in one meal!

It looks like they're hiding my review on your Yelp with the hair in the photo let me know if you…read moresee it. They must be desperate they swamp Facebook with ads that they're good yeah right. Good riddance heard you close I'm surprised you lasted this long! Mediocre food and drinks... lucky there's a lot of wannabes who like to drink and listen to music bad covers you can tell they're not from Orange County!

I am leaving a 4 star because I really want this restaurant to do well but honestly this would be a…read more1 or 2 star at any other restaurant. We came late on a weeknight. Their hours said they were open until 9. We were tying to eat out before the local restaurants closed and arrived just before 830. When we walked up it appeared closed and a gentleman was cleaning the patio. We asked if they were open and he said yes come on in. As we walked in a woman got up from a table (maybe owner or manager) and we again asked if they were open and that we recognized it was late. She enthusiastically told us to come in with a big smile. We sat at the bar. Great 5 for 5 in service so far. Keep in mind the restaurant has maybe 2 tables at this point. The bartender is cleaning up and doesn't acknowledge us. After waiting a reasonable amount of time I tried flagging him over. He completely ignores me so I get up and walk down to the other end of the bar to ask for service. His first comment to us was "last call was 10 minutes ago if you want a drink you need to order it right now and the kitchen's already closed." Well that was disappointing so we just ordered drinks. In hindsight we should have just gone to the Mexican restaurant next door. Before he brought the drinks he brought us the check. Probably the least welcomed I've felt in a restaurant. I acknowledge we got there late and if they would have said, "hey sorry we are already shutting down for the day" then we would have been on our way. The reason I am a little more critical is because this was our second straight time with less than acceptable service. A few months ago we came and sat on the patio. We got waters but no server came. After a while I went inside to tell the host that we didn't get service and she said sorry someone would be right there. Well still nobody came so I went back to the host a second time and said we will need to leave if we don't get service immediately. Finally a server came over and she apologized and said the servers each thought it was the other's table. I understand how hard food service is but incidents like this shouldn't occur. With that said, I love having a local independent, non chain restaurant, close by and I REALLY want this restaurant to do well. Pros: Beautiful restaurant Wonderful location Great live music Food is good quality Cons: Service and management