Me at the Bread Crumb Ohana Cafe eating the Ohana Special
California,  Food Reviews

The Best Brunch In Orange County?

I am always looking for a great breakfast or brunch spot, and I have recently began to look in my own backyard for some good Orange County brunch.

Why drive all the way to Los Angeles or Long Beach, if I can find a perfect location right here in Huntington Beach?

Bread Crumb Ohana Cafe

Based on the high ratings online and close proximity to home, I decided upon Bread Crumb Ohana Cafe. It can be described as a casual Hawaiian Style comfort food restaurant, serving breakfast, lunch, and brunch options.

What is brunch anyways, besides a later breakfast? Or I suppose its just a meal time that replaces lunch and breakfast and usually involves a long wait time with an Instagram-worthy food presentation. I guess that is for you to decide.

The exterior of Orange County best brunch restaurant Bread Crumb Ohana Cafe
The Exterior of Bread Crumb Ohana Cafe

Upon arrival, the wait time turned out to be 45 minutes. This did not deter me, as I figured this may be a great indicator of a quality meal.

Now normally, I do research before going to any restaurant by looking at the menu online in advance. But coming here was a spontaneous decision and I decided to just go with the flow.

While we sat and waited for the server to take our order, I noticed that three tables around me ordered the same thing, which turned out to be the Ohana Special, and featured the Hawaiian French Toast. It smelled heavenly and it seemed like too much food for one person, but I thought I would go with the crowd and order the same.

picture of Hawaiian French toast with syrup
Ohana Special: 2 Slices of Hawaiian French Toast

The Hawaiian French Toast was perfectly…okay. Is it something that I would order again or travel for? No. It was just a thicker piece of toast and some powdered sugar, and it smelled far more delightful than it tasted. The Ohana Special also came with eggs, hash browns, and a choice between bacon and sausage. The hash browns were strange in that they were perfectly crispy on the outside but undercooked on the inside. It would have been a much better texture if the hash browns were not cut so thick, so as to allow for more even cooking.

Ohana Special with two over easy eggs, bacon and hashbrowns
Ohana Special: 2 slices of bacon, 2 over. easy eggs, and hash browns

Next up, the entree that Rob ordered, the Loco Moco. Now, I love spam. And I encouraged him to order it so we could basically share both dishes. Overall, the dish was kind of plain and heavy. Now, don’t get me wrong. I was not expecting something light. This is not an unfamiliar dish to me. But, as a personal preference, I enjoy eating meals that won’t make me want to immediately take a nap after. If you have eaten this dish before, the Loco Moco at Bread Crumb Cafe will be nothing new.

Loco Moco with rice, spam, eggs over hard, and brown gravy
Loco Moco: Rice, 2 eggs, brown gravy, and a choice between spam, Portuguese sausage, or a hamburger patty.

The Service

Moving on to the service! It was very prompt and relaxed. The overall vibe in the restaurant is welcoming and casual, which is what I usually find (and appreciate) when eating in places that specialize in Hawaiian-style food.

Me at the Bread Crumb Ohana Cafe eating the Ohana Special
I may or may not be wearing yesterday’s makeup, while recovering from a nasty hangover…anyways! Shout out to the fresh squeezed orange juice which may have been my favorite part of the meal.

Will this be my new go-to breakfast or brunch spot? Sadly no, but if I was prompted to eat here by a friend, I would not necessarily turn down the invite.

The Cost

The receipt, with a total of $37.20 before tip.

Final Thoughts

This post is not a condemnation of the establishment, which I considered to be perfectly fine for the average person looking for a casual meal.

I think there is something to be said for a place like this. Kind of like a Denny’s or an Applebee’s, although it is not a chain restaurant so I wouldn’t quite put it in the same category. You know exactly what to expect. Not every culinary experience has to be groundbreaking. Sometimes we just want to fill our bellies in a nice, unpretentious, clean establishment and then go on about our day. So if THAT is what you are looking for, I could not recommend the Bread Crumb Ohana Cafe more.

Is this Orange County brunch spot a place you’d want to try? Are their any Orange County brunch places you would suggest I try next? I would love to hear your feedback in the comments below!

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