Critic

Brad Johnson

James Beard Award-winning restaurant critic Brad A. Johnson has been writing about food for more than 20 years. A prolific traveler who has dined around the world, he joined the Orange County Register in 2012 to help readers find the best steaks, the strongest margaritas, the freshest sushi, the hottest Thai curries and more. Brad dines incognito and pulls no punches. Although he has yet to find a local restaurant to merit a perfect four-star rating, he remains ever hopeful as the quest continues.

Critic Brad A. Johnson says there’s just no excuse for eating mediocre pizza when all these excellent pizzerias exist.

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Restaurants Food and Drink |
These are the 20 best pizzerias in Orange County in 2022

September 7, 2022 at 2:58 p.m.

Critic Brad A. Johnson says there’s just no excuse for eating mediocre pizza when all these excellent pizzerias exist.

Critic Brad A. Johnson says you’ll probably have to stand in line, even at 3 p.m. on a weekday, but it’ll be worth the wait. Just cross your fingers they don’t run out of banh mi before you can order.

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Restaurants Food and Drink |
Short order: This is the hottest restaurant in OC’S Little Saigon right now

September 1, 2022 at 11:06 a.m.

Critic Brad A. Johnson says you’ll probably have to stand in line, even at 3 p.m. on a weekday, but it’ll be worth the wait. Just cross your fingers they...

Critic Brad A. Johnson says this new Mexican restaurant is very, very slow, but the food is delicious.

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Restaurants Food and Drink |
Best thing I ate: This chile relleno in San Clemente is worth the wait

September 1, 2022 at 11:30 p.m.

Critic Brad A. Johnson says this new Mexican restaurant is very, very slow, but the food is delicious.

Critic Brad A. Johnson says you’ll eat very well at Ini, but you’ll need to let go of any strongly held feelings about Italian cuisine and tradition.

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Restaurants Food and Drink |
Short Order: Fountain Valley’s new Ini Ristorante is Italian in spirit but Japanese at heart

August 27, 2022 at 4:52 p.m.

Critic Brad A. Johnson says you’ll eat very well at Ini, but you’ll need to let go of any strongly held feelings about Italian cuisine and tradition.

Critic Brad A. Johnson says OC’s best Vietnamese clay pot fish isn’t in Little Saigon, it’s in Irvine.

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Restaurants Food and Drink |
Best thing I ate: Sweet, salty, spicy, incredible Chilean sea bass

August 24, 2022 at 11:01 a.m.

Critic Brad A. Johnson says OC’s best Vietnamese clay pot fish isn’t in Little Saigon, it’s in Irvine.

Critic Brad A. Johnson says yet another French restaurant has opened at South Coast Plaza, and it’s unlike anything else in the region.

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Restaurants Food and Drink |
Restaurant Review: South Coast Plaza’s Populaire rewrites the French bistro playbook

August 18, 2022 at 12:02 p.m.

Critic Brad A. Johnson says yet another French restaurant has opened at South Coast Plaza, and it’s unlike anything else in the region.

Critic Brad A. Johnson says the new El Coyotito Mexican restaurant in Orange differs a lot from the original El Coyotito in San Juan Capistrano, but the recipes and hospitality are exactly the same.

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Restaurants Food and Drink |
Short Order: The new El Coyotito is the same, but different

August 18, 2022 at 4:13 p.m.

Critic Brad A. Johnson says the new El Coyotito Mexican restaurant in Orange differs a lot from the original El Coyotito in San Juan Capistrano, but the recipes and hospitality...

Critic Brad A. Johnson says the lamb burger at Zéytoon comes with a side of sunshine and an ocean breeze.

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Restaurants Food and Drink |
Burger of the month: A great lamb burger in Laguna Beach’s Arts District

August 16, 2022 at 3:39 p.m.

Critic Brad A. Johnson says the lamb burger at Zéytoon comes with a side of sunshine and an ocean breeze.

Critic Brad A. Johnson says you might want to stock your fridge with these super-easy flourless chocolate cakes in a jar from a restaurant in Costa Mesa.

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Restaurants Food and Drink |
Critic’s Notebook: Chocolate cake in a jar is my latest obsession

August 16, 2022 at 1:59 p.m.

Critic Brad A. Johnson says you might want to stock your fridge with these super-easy flourless chocolate cakes in a jar from a restaurant in Costa Mesa.

Critic Brad A. Johnson scoured the county in search of the top European-style bakeries. Mission accomplished.

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Restaurants Food and Drink |
Review: These are the 10 best bakeries in Orange County

August 4, 2022 at 11:28 p.m.

Critic Brad A. Johnson scoured the county in search of the top European-style bakeries. Mission accomplished.

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