Corona, the seventh largest city in Southern California's Inland Empire, is primarily known for the three-and-a-half mile circular grand boulevard that occupies the heart of downtown. Primarily residential, the city is an eclectic collection of all the best that the Inland Empire has to offer. With great shopping, family-friendly activities, and a number of outdoor pursuits (it doesn't hurt being surrounded by more than 15,000 acres of regional and state parks), this is a community that’s constantly on the go.
But amidst the active lifestyle, one tends to get hungry. Thankfully, Corona doesn't miss a beat when it's time for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
Whether you are a long-time local wanting to get reacquainted with an old favorite or a new resident of Corona, ready to taste the city's best flavors, these are the six best restaurants in Corona, California to try this year.
Baco Wine and Grill
2795 Cabot Drive, STE 180, Shops at Dos Lagos
Photo courtesy of Unsplash
There is no better spot to begin a tour of the best restaurants in Corona, CA than at one of the local food scenes' most vibrant and stylish establishments: Baco Wine and Grill. Trendy beyond measure, Baco welcomes patrons into a space that is part restaurant, part bar, and part nightclub. It all works, thanks to savory dishes as modern and eclectic as the space in which they're served.
The Mexican-inspired menu starts with creative new takes on old favorites and doesn't let up until the meal is done. Riley guacamole, steak fried calamari, chips, and the three cheese queso fundido start the evening in a festive manner before the main dishes hit the table. The Baco kitchen is masterful in its steak preparation, with filet and ribeye earning a special distinction. Elsewhere on the menu, the Baco Tacos garner the headlines, but the bacon-wrapped octopus in the Jack Sparrow Taco deserves your attention. Best of all, however, is the bar's lengthy list of signature cocktails, including the cucumber kiwi refresher, Ibiza margarita, and Newton old fashion, all of which pair well with Baco's live music schedule. Bruch is available from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM every Saturday and Sunday.
Con Amore Ristorante
2630 Tuscany St #103, Corona, CA 92881
When your appetite demands excellent Italian food, it's a craving that's difficult to quell. There's only one way to fully satisfy such a need: to seek out the best, most authentic Italian fare you can find. In Corona, that search has a singular destination — Con Amore Ristorante. Located in the Crossings at Corona, the family-owned and operated eatery first opened its doors in 2016. Translated from Italian, Con Amore means "with love," and the owners, Donna and Alfredo, both originally from Southern Italy, have been fulfilling that promise for the past six years.
The menu boasts a phenomenal array of classic Italian dishes, the majority of which were personally cultivated by Donna, herself a self-taught culinary artist and hand baker of Con Amore's outstanding assortment of bread. Without a misstep on the menu, there's no such thing as an off-night dining at Con Amore. Any one of the ravioli dishes, paired with a bold red wine and topped off with one of Con Amore's signature desserts, elevates the evening.
King’s Fish House
2530 Tuscany Road, Crossings at Corona
Photo courtesy of Pexels
Finding the perfect seafood restaurant is always challenging when dining miles inland from the Pacific Ocean. In Corona's case, that's roughly 45 minutes to an hour and a half, depending on the path you traverse. Corona is fortunate enough to have two outstanding seafood establishments, the first being King's Fish House. The Southern California chain, which also features outposts in Henderson, Nevada, and Tempe, Arizona, has long been a stellar SoCal purveyor of all things aquatic.
The King's Fish Distribution team carries the heavy lifting of seafood procurement. The three-generation-strong family establishment crafts a menu that is a study in fresh water-bound flavors. If it's edible and swims, there's probably an option on the well-appointed menu. From their raw bar offerings, featuring various varieties of oysters and chilled shellfish, to an array of sushi, dinner plates, platters, and grilled wild catches, few oceanfront establishments can compete with the outstanding commitment and fresh seafood offerings from King's Fish House.
Luna Modern Mexican Kitchen
980 Montecito Drive, Corona Pointe
Photo courtesy of Unsplash
When you consider that Corona and the surrounding area feature over 25 Mexican restaurants, we'd be remiss if we didn't include at least one more in addition to Boca Wine and Grill, which isn't always recognized as a genuine Mexican establishment. One that is, however, even as it places its own twist on classic Mexican cuisine, is Luna Modern Mexican Kitchen. According to the vast majority of diners in Corona, Luna Modern is hands-down the best Mexican food in the city.
Family-owned and operated since 2011, the award-winning, upscale restaurant spins classic Mexican recipes into a hyper-modern presentation. Mexican food is art, but at the same time, it’s art that is incredibly delicious. The staples are all accounted for — freshly made guacamole, tamales, enchiladas and tacos, and signature margaritas that elevate every last savory bite. Luna Modern also hosts a weekly Sunday brunch.
Silver Dollar Pancake House
710 East Sixth Street, Corona
You can't have a “best-of-restaurants” list without carving out space for everyone's favorite breakfast spot. Located at the intersection of East 6th Street and East Grand Boulevard, the Silver Dollar Pancake House is a callback to classic diners of the 1950s and 60s — a time when the food was simple, straightforward, and absolutely delicious. Built in 1922, everything about the Silver Dollar screams vintage, from the exterior stonework and curved facade to the lime-green booths, dining counter, and old-school banquet chairs.
As Corona's oldest restaurant, the Silver Dollar Pancake House has been serving hungry locals and visitors since the Harding administration. Seventeen presidents later, the generous breakfast menu continues to satisfy. The main attraction is, of course, the 15 varieties of pancakes, including those topped with bananas, chocolate, chili, or just plain butter and syrup. The nine waffle options and eight types of omelets are also noteworthy, but wise patrons don't sleep on the post-breakfast menu, either. Outstanding hot and cold sandwiches, burgers, and even a tidy dinner selection of steak, pork chops, and fried chicken make the Silver Dollar an all-day dining treat.
TAPS Fish House & Brewery
2745 Lakeshore Drive, Shops at Dos Lagos
The second of our two seafood restaurants offers an entirely different vibe while showcasing a seafood-heavy menu. Located in a bold, stand-alone building overlooking Dos Lagos Lakeside and twisty signature Bamboo bridge, just stepping inside TAPS puts you in a festive mood. Take a break from touring homes for sale in Corona to find a menu that touches on a wide selection of seafood.
As a self-proclaimed "celebration of seafood,” TAPS serves up influences from California Coastal, the Pacific Rim and South Pacific, Cajun and Creole cooking, and familiar cuisine from the East Coast, Midwest, and Canada. Sushi and oysters start the proceedings, with entrees ensuring plenty of choices from the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. TAPS also features a stellar, award-winning Sunday brunch from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM.
Of course, as the name suggests, there is another side to this upscale establishment: the Brewery. From a tempting list of signature cocktails to a vast selection of wines, you won't soon run out of pairing options. But the real prize is the beer on tap: up to 35 at any given time, all brewed on-site. The selection includes American, Belgian, English, and German-style ales and lagers. There are few better ways to spend a late afternoon or early evening than sitting on TAPS' expansive outdoor patio, sipping ale of your choosing, and awaiting a standout seafood platter.
