Are you headed to US Masters Nationals in Irvine, CA? Do you know where you are going to eat or how to properly fuel? Don’t worry, the Beine Wellness Team is here to help! This event is taking place at the William Woolett Aquatic Center on April 27-30. Below you will find some great restaurant recommendations to try during your stay in Southern California for this competition.
True Food Kitchen
451 Newport Center Dr, Newport Beach, CA 92660-6936
True Food Kitchen is a great American style restaurant with tons of healthy options! Here are some things on the menu to try and will help aid your recovery.
Grilled Sustainable Salmon
Smoked grains, cilantro pumpkin seed pesto, broccolini, charred onion, basil
Teriyaki Quinoa Bowl
Broccoli, rainbow carrot, bok choy, green bean, snap pea, pickled shiitake, brown rice, avocado, Chef Matt’s Magical Dust
Ancient Grains Bowl
Miso Sesame Glazed Sweet potato, turmeric, charred onion, snap pea, portobello, avocado, hemp seed, cilantro pumpkin seed pesto
Lemonade
987 Newport Center Dr, Newport Beach, CA 92660
This is a great quick place to eat! With its american style you can choose your entree and sides similar to Urban Plates! Below are some recommendations for you. They even have some delicious flavors of lemonade!
Mango Chicken Bowl
Grilled all natural chicken, thai honey mango sauce, honey roasted brussel sprouts, purple kale & carrot salad, herb red rice
Chicken Pesto Mozzarella Sandwich
Antibiotic free roasted chicken breast, mozzarella, nut free basil pesto aioli, beefsteak tomato, arugula, rockenwagner ciabatta
Grilled Sustainable Salmon Plate
You can choose a base of heirloom red rice, sushi rice, or cauliflower rice, choose a sauce, and pick any two marketplace sides or hot sides. Some choices for sauces are thai mango honey, spicy piri piri, roasted pineapple salsa and more. Then some of the choices for sides are roasted broccoli, creamy mashed potatoes, snap pea edamame and so much more.
Puesto Tacos
8577 Irvine Center Dr, Irvine CA 92618
If you love tacos, Puesto is the restaurant for you! FYI their menu changes based on season and location, so what I have put down for recommendations might not be there. Heads up!
Choose three different tacos and enjoy with chips and guacamole.
Choices of tacos are as follows, Chicken al Pastor, Tamrindo Shrimp, Carnitas, Ribeye, Mushrooms, Filet Mignon, Verduras, Pozole, Baja Fish, Short Rib Quesabirria, and Spring Lamb Barbacao
Il Fornaio Cucina Italiana
3972 Barranca Parkway N, Irvine CA 92612
This is a very nice Italian and seafood restaurant. You can find outdoor and indoor seating available. Here are some things on the menu for you to consider trying.
Casarecce Pesto E Pollo
Short pasta twists with sauteed chicken, sun dried tomatoes and traditional pesto cream
Fusilloni
Large corkscrew pasta with roasted tomato sauce and burrata with your choice of protein: chicken, salmon, or shrimp
Pollo Toscano
Free range chicken seasoned with rosemary, served with sauteed haricots verts and yukon gold potatoes
Poached Kitchen
17595 Harvard Ave Unit 4, Irvine CA 92614
Poached Kitchen is a great restaurant for breakfast, brunch or lunch! Who doesn’t love brunch post prelims, for lunch after a few swim races? This could also be a place you stop for a small hot oatmeal before you race in the morning. Below are some things to try from the menu.
Hot Oatmeal
Organic rolled oats, fresh berries, nuts and oat granola, greek honey
Avocado Toast
Poached egg, toasted rustic sourdough, avocado, pico de gallo, organic greek feta, chives, extra virgin olive oil
Huevos Rancheros
2 Eggs any style, 2 corn tostadas, black beans, chorizo, crema, queso, salsa fresca, cilantro, and hashbrowns
**Fan Picks**
In & Out Burgers
4115 Campus Dr, Irvine
What’s not to love about In & Out? This is one of the best places to go for an end of competition meal. You can get a burger, fries and a milkshake. All anyone craves or wants by the time they are done racing!
85℃ Bakery
2700 Alton Parkway, Irvine CA
This is an amazing Taiwanese Bakery located in Irvine that serves pastries, cakes, coffee, tea and more. The best pastry to try is the taro bread and the most delicious coffee is the sea salt coffee.
Another good thing to keep in mind for swimmers attending this meet. You will more than likely be having breakfast buffet style at their hotel. It is important to choose breakfast foods with high-carbohydrate and protein combinations. Here are some good breakfast buffet ideas:
Oatmeal with toppings (banana, nuts, any nut butter, chia seeds, flax seeds etc)
Eggs with toast along with some oatmeal
Bagel with nut butter, banana, mixed berries (some sort of fruit option)
Waffle with eggs and fruit option (banana, apple, berries, orange)
Don’t forget 10-20 oz of water
If your hotel does not provide breakfast, make sure to stop by the nearest grocery store. Your room should have a microwave and hopefully a fridge. Try one of the above breakfast ideas for a quick easy meal before you head to the pool for prelims.
Pre-Meet & During Meet Fuel:
Banana
Orange
Pack of Honey Stinger Chews
Superhero Muffin
Crackers
Rice Cake
HU Crackers
Handful of Grapes
½ Lara Bar
Nuts
Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich
Hydrate: Water, Nuun Electrolyte Drink, or Harmless Harvest Coconut Water
***Note: Recovery food is very important post-race. Immediately after your last race of the session be sure to have a protein shake or bar with equal carbs and equal protein. Good options are: Lara Protein Bar, Primal Kitchen Protein Bar and RX Layers Bar. You can even pick up some protein shakes from the grocery store. Look for the brands Evolve and Core Power.
Also, please refer to the link below for a previous blog by our Ambassador Jordan Kelly from Phillips Nationals Irvine CA 7/26 2022 for more information on places to eat.
This concludes our restaurant recommendations for US Masters Nationals in Irvine, CA. We hope you try some of these places and let us know how they are by posting your meal on social media and tagging @ericabeine on instagram. Best of luck to all of you racing!
