Chef Charbel Hayek’s Orange County debut delivers standout seafood, bold flavors, and a refined coastal dining experience.
Left: Grilled Octopus, Right: Barramundi CarpaccioCredit: Irvin Rivera
Guests began filling the house as soon as the San Clemente newcomer opened its doors in December, but you’d expect that from a restaurant conceived by a celebrity chef. ILYA is Charbel Hayek’s third restaurant—his first in Orange County. A “Top Chef” alum, he won the “Middle East + North Africa” competition in 2021 and went up against O.C.’s celebrated Amar Santana in “World All-Stars” in 2023. A year later, he opened Ladyhawk at the Kimpton La Peer in West Hollywood, followed by Laya, in Hollywood.
For ILYA, he channels the cuisine of the Mediterranean coast with offerings like grilled octopus and prawns, lobster spaghetti and spicy rigatoni, beef tartare and barramundi carpaccio—a terrific selection of seafood and steaks, as well as pork, lamb, and poultry. The bar program taps into the Mediterranean spirit, too. For example, the vermouth in the martini is infused with za’atar, while the old fashioned uses house-made date syrup instead of simple syrup.
Everything—the food, the drinks—is beautifully presented. The grilled octopus is a standout. With a pleasant bite and just the right amount of char, it’s served alongside a scoop of romesco and pickled radish. Crave-worthy, the meatballs made of ground beef chuck and pork shoulder arrive in a skillet, resting in a bright marinara sauce with a dusting of Parmesan. And for the adventuresome, there’s escargot, prepared with garlic and maître d’hotel butter (butter blended with parsley, lemon juice, salt, and pepper).
Other winners: the barramundi carpaccio, bathed in a light, bright sauce of lemon dotted with a basil-olive oil emulsion; Australian wagyu with chimichurri; and the lobster spaghetti tossed in a tasty tomato-basil sauce. And do not pass on dessert. The lemon tart is my favorite.
ILYA RESTAURANT
1502 S. El Camino Real, San Clemente
ilyarestaurant.com
Dining and Cooking