Restaurants in Corona

Ra Pour's executive chef, Greg Stillman, draws upon culinary wisdom culled from stints at famed restaurant The French Laundry to curate upscale renditions of comfort fare, nabbing buzz from Taste Terminal and a dozen other media outlets. An open kitchen affords prime views of chefs as they garnish pizzas with handmade mozzarella and truffle oil before tossing them into a wood-fired oven. Succulent meats from local farms boast exotic flourishes such as North African–style harissa, Buddha’s hand marmalade, and a single unicorn tear. Live beats flow from a raised DJ platform toward the bar, where mixologists fashion original cocktails against a backdrop of dramatic green and purple lighting.

If its bright-orange accent wall and abundant sunlight don't adequately awaken visitors, Berrybean Café's staff will—the knowledgeable baristas and cooks take pride in their ability to recommend the espresso drink, fresh salad, or made-to-order panini a guest is unwittingly craving. Baristas concoct a full menu of iced, blended, and hot beverages with Lavazza coffee, as well as create new caffeine cocktails on the fly for adventurous customers. To put coffee vigor to good use, the shop also invites guests to mouth-trumpet Sousa tunes on open-mic nights.

Sandwiches rarely outlive football teams. But consider The Sub Station an exception, as it was founded in 1972, when UCR's football team was still charging the field and shipping its players off to the pros. Founded by Richard Munio right after he returned from service in Vietnam, the 40-year old eatery boasts a long, proud tradition as a collegiate staple that has endured alongside the shop's chairs, benches, and patio, which were all handcrafted by the owner and his carpenter dad, and remain in the eatery to this very day.

Tradition plays a big role in the menu as well, as the years have overseen generations of "subbers" stuffing bread with capicola, salami, and ham, lining the creations with slices of provolone cheese and topping them all off with their secret Italian-style sauce. Alongside hot and cold subs, vegetarian sandwiches pair marinated cucumbers with avocados and melted cheeses, and salads and soups hover at the periphery of the menu, keeping company with sides such as garlic cheese bread. As diners feast in the original furnishings or gather on the outdoor patio, they can toast bottled and tap beers to the eatery's storied history or ponder a new menu of coffee drinks, available with or without cheese.

Drumrolls of snapping oil drift from skillets full of onions, beef tongue, and shrimp at El Chilitos Mexican Restaurant. Melting cheese in quesadillas and seafood enchiladas slips out into air tinged with the scents of cumin, garlic, and chilis. The staff blends Mexican and American influences in in dishes such as carne asada fries, which arrive under layers of cheese and marinated steak, and marinated shrimp and fish tacos utilize the bounty of the sea, much like Robinson Crusoe building a fax machine from kelp.

In the late 19th century, immigrant steel and coal workers from Italy would enjoy quick pizza lunches, baked in trays and sold by the square. Many things have changed since then, but the pizza hasn't. The cooks at Carlo's Italian Bakery Pizza keep the tradition of bakery-style pizza alive, making fresh dough and sauce in-house each morning. The pizzas are baked until the crust is slightly crunchy and the sauce is piping hot. The grated provolone and toppings are only added once the pie comes out of the oven, cultivating a unique flavor and preventing the discomfort caused by pizza toppings screaming in the oven.

With names like Godzilla, Spider, and Dragon, Sakura Ichi’s sushi rolls sound like something straight out of a horror flick, but nothing could be further from the truth. The decidedly enjoyable rolls include combinations of tuna and salmon, shrimp and crabmeat, or barbecue eel and avocado blended with mango, yellowtail, cucumber, or cream cheese. The menu's hot entrees pull inspiration from pan-Asian culinary traditions and include crispy orange chicken, steak teriyaki, and fried shrimp, which pair well with house sake, martinis, and beer.