Chapter One: the modern local is one of The 15 Best Places for Southern Food in Santa Ana.

1. Chapter One: the modern local

7.8
227 N Broadway (3rd Street), Santa Ana, CA
Gastropub · Downtown Santa Ana · 91 tips and reviews

MatMat: Skirt steak, duck fries, Mac and cheese. Stick with those as they are outstanding. Loud loud loud but damn the music is fantastic! Frank, Dean, Buble.

Kimberly S.Kimberly Shelton: Try the Mini Mac & Cheese - I wanted to steal from my child

Fallon | S.Fallon | Sage + Sparkle: The fried Cornish hen with kale and jalapeño grits was out of this world amazing! Go on Wednesdays for half off a bottle of wine, free bottle of champagne and live jazz :)

Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen is one of The 15 Best Places for Southern Food in Santa Ana.

2. Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen

7.9
1244 E 17th St (N Grand Ave), Santa Ana, CA
Fried Chicken Joint · 22 tips and reviews

Frank N.Frank Ngo: Southern soul food <3

Siomara M.Siomara Magana: The biscuits are the best part.. The chicken is to crunchy and hard no chicken ! To much gravy on the mashed potatoes taste like beans .. I'll stick with KFC . Dissapointed

Derek W.Derek Wohland: Great place to go after class at SAC. Chicken does have a unique Southern ting to it and very crispy.

Black Bear Diner is one of The 15 Best Places for Southern Food in Santa Ana.

3. Black Bear Diner

7.5
3355 S Bristol St, Santa Ana, CA
Diner · South Coast · 8 tips and reviews

Krizia B.Krizia Borrayo: Try the cornbread muffin, it's so good!

Carrie J.Carrie Jaimes: Everything is great here. The only thing that I have to say is their biscuits are kinda hard. But everything else is awesome. Good size portions of food. Definitely recommend it.

Kate K.Kate Klampe: Everything on the menu is great. Especially love the fit and focused veggie hash.

Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen is one of The 15 Best Places for Southern Food in Santa Ana.

4. Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen

7.2
3825 W 1st St (at Harbor Blvd), Santa Ana, CA
Fried Chicken Joint · 7 tips and reviews

Fast Food P.Fast Food Patriot: Try the Cajun Fish Fillets & Biscuit for $3.99 Read more.

Fast Food P.Fast Food Patriot: Try the Spicy Chicken Breast, Biscuit and Mac & Cheese for $4.78 Read more.

Parra "el Mazizo"Parra "el Mazizo": I like it all but usually stick to the chicken n mac n cheese. Most Popeyes that ive been to are a bit nasty but this one is new n nice. I'll keep comin as long as it remains clean.

Chick-fil-A is one of The 15 Best Places for Southern Food in Santa Ana.

5. Chick-fil-A

8.1
3601 S Bristol St, Santa Ana, CA
Fast Food Restaurant · South Coast · 31 tips and reviews

Jase L.Jase Laudadio: They might be known for their fried chicken sandwich... but I LOVE their grilled chicken on a wheat bun.

Taylor N.Taylor Nelson: Amazing service. They bring stuff to you, always say "my pleasure" and offer extras all the time. Definitely competing on service.

Jamie L.Jamie Lowry: Follow them on Twitter for special offers and free food: @cfasantaana

Benjie's Deli is one of The 15 Best Places for Southern Food in Santa Ana.

6. Benjie's Deli

8.1
1828 N Tustin Ave, Santa Ana, CA
Deli · 31 tips and reviews

Alijah S.Alijah SanAgustin: Their Fried Chicken with Mashed Potatoes and Gravy was delicious!

The T.The Termite Guy: Get the Benjie's Special pastrami sandwich with Swiss cheese and a vanilla egg cream to drink!

OC WeeklyOC Weekly: Voted Best Bagels in OC Weekly's Best Of 2011 Issue! Get your bagel with lox, capers, and cream cheese! Click the link to download the Best Of app and view more winners! Read more.

Polly's Pies is one of The 15 Best Places for Southern Food in Santa Ana.

7. Polly's Pies

7.7
2660 N Main St (at E Memory Ln), Santa Ana, CA
American Restaurant · North Main · 21 tips and reviews

Jase L.Jase Laudadio: When you get a to-go order... why are the rolls and cornbread cold?

Matthew C.Matthew Cox: Great pecan pie and the apple crumble is perfect.

Nathan I.Nathan Isler: I ate the Tuna salad sandwich. It was pretty tasty and it tastes like a cross between that and an egg salad sandwich. I loved the wheat bread and also fries and side salad.

Pop's Cafe is one of The 15 Best Places for Southern Food in Santa Ana.

8. Pop's Cafe

8.3
112 E 9th St (at Main St), Santa Ana, CA
Diner · Downtown Santa Ana · 10 tips and reviews

OC WeeklyOC Weekly: Pop's Cafe is a great casual and friendly diner with tasty breakfast and brunch items on their menu. Don't forget to enjoy their outdoor seating!

OC WeeklyOC Weekly: Make sure you get the Hash Browns! What Pop's Cafe in Santa Ana does with hash browns approaches the soft, gooey beauty of the best mac-'n'-cheese. So good! Read more.

Jason I.Jason Isley: Make sure you ask for my special "Jason's Special "blueberry pancakes with whip cream ...

El Pollo Loco is one of The 15 Best Places for Southern Food in Santa Ana.

9. El Pollo Loco

7.6
1720 E Edinger Ave (at S Lyon St), Santa Ana, CA
Fast Food Restaurant · 2 tips and reviews

Harvey G.Harvey Gutierrez: Spicy chipotle. Burrito

Luciô H.Luciô Hendz: Si esta muy vien ese burrito

Morton's The Steakhouse is one of The 15 Best Places for Southern Food in Santa Ana.

10. Morton's The Steakhouse

8.3
1641 W Sunflower Ave (S. Plaza Drive), Santa Ana, CA
Steakhouse · South Coast · 20 tips and reviews

Luis Javier R.Luis Javier Robles: Many sorts of Prime steaks and premium dishes. Excellent wine selection, smooth music. Awesome restaurant with many choices.

orangecounty.comorangecounty.com: Features a Power Hour which is a late night Happy Hour starting at 9 p.m. Mon-Fri. Discounted prices on food and this location only includes wines, beers, and martini's when you sit at the bar. Read more.

Selene S.Selene S: Happy Hour 7 days a week, twice a day 4:30-6:30 & 9-close

Ritter's Steam Kettle Cooking is one of The 15 Best Places for Southern Food in Santa Ana.

11. Ritter's Steam Kettle Cooking

7.9
1421 W MacArthur Blvd Ste G, Santa Ana, CA
Cajun and Creole Restaurant · South Coast · 26 tips and reviews

Kt S.Kt Squyres-Haberlein: I was there today and had etoufee and rice it was delicious ,spicy lots of crawfish the bread is outstanding and we also tried the bacon wrapped shrimp .. good we enjoyed it but shrimp is frozen..

Kristine A.Kristine Armosilla: The food is good but the service really sucks. It took an hour to get seated and once we were seated it took 30 mins to even get bread and water when other tables were immediately served.

Becky K.Becky Kim: One hour later still waiting for food... isnt it known that five hangry girls result in bad consequences?

Panera Bread is one of The 15 Best Places for Southern Food in Santa Ana.

12. Panera Bread

7.3
3941 S Bristol St, Santa Ana, CA
Bakery · South Coast · 38 tips and reviews

John T.John Torres: Their mac & cheese is outta control! Beware: This joint is high salary. 50cent couldn't afford a full meal here without breaking his piggy bank. Better food & prices at Nordstrom Cafe down the street!

Tiffany S.Tiffany Savinon: I'm a vegetarian very picky but I love how you can sub avocado for any meat on a salad! Hmmm sooo bomb!

Ahmet K.Ahmet KABALAK: The Manager is very kind. Super

Denny's is one of The 15 Best Places for Southern Food in Santa Ana.

13. Denny's

7.1
2530 S Bristol St, Santa Ana, CA
Breakfast Spot · South Coast · 5 tips and reviews

Joel R.Joel R.: Very nice Denny's. They did a good job with the old Marie Calendars place. VERY clean

Alfonso C.Alfonso Cervantes: Very nice staff and attentive

Anton P.Anton Paz: Morning service the best in this Dennis's get the fit slam mmm

Mother's Market & Kitchen is one of The 15 Best Places for Southern Food in Santa Ana.

14. Mother's Market & Kitchen

7.7
151 E Memory Ln (at Main St), Santa Ana, CA
Grocery Store · 24 tips and reviews

Diana ..Diana .: Best vegan cheesecake in OC!

Mike L.Mike Loop (The Clinton Medium): Really good food. Also great selection of organic foods & Natural remedies

LisaLisa: Delicious food in the grab and go section. However, not impressed with the staff that tells me they were all out of forks in the entire store. How am I supposed to eat my food?

Casa Oaxaca is one of The 15 Best Places for Southern Food in Santa Ana.

15. Casa Oaxaca

7.2
3317 W 1st St (Harbor St.), Santa Ana, CA
Mexican Restaurant · 4 tips and reviews

Amy C.Amy Cook: Yummy seasonal juice - cantaloupe, food is fresh, will be back! Specialize in mole sauce.

Saul F.Saul Fuerte: The micheladas and all food

Neal R.Neal R: Best Mexican place!!! South Mexican food is awesome, so different from the "regular" stuff!!!