Hatam 2
24000 alicia parkway. good authentic persian food.
PF Chang's China Bistro
In the shops at mission viejo; authentic chinese cuisine.
Shin Sushi
26002 marguerite. fresh authentic sushi prepared by a master.
Peppinos
27782 vista del lago #26. a family owned italian restaurant with sweeping view of lake mission viejo in plaza del lago.
Tortilla Flats
27792 vista del lago. a delicious mexican restaurant located in plaza del lago with sweeping views. the beautiful spanish building is popular for weddings.
Yama Sushi
27782 vista del lago. one of mission viejo's best japanese restaurants with a unique menu. located in plaza del lago with lake views as well.
Most Mission Viejans shy away from their local restaurants for all but casual dining, and prefer nicer restaurants in adjacent communities. However, it has a few gems:
Thainakorn Restaurant
25482 marguerite pkwy. (http://www.ethai.com/vip/...) "authentic" thai food restaurant where thai folks go to eat. the little sister of the real thainakorn in buena park but great food at the price of under-par customer service. for the uninitiated, chicken satay and pad thai are safe bets.
In-N-Out Burger
28782 camino capistrano. californian readers will agree that this is an american institution. fresh, cheap food in a clean restaurant. the menu is limited, but search online for their "secret code" for access to unlisted items and combinations.
The Cafe at Nordstroms
Also in the shops at mission viejo; excellent pastries, lattes and espressos, far superior to the starbuck's variety prices are reasonable.