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! 

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