ANAHEIM — Orange County’s finest places to eat, shop and play, as chosen by Orange County Register readers, were honored in a celebration Wednesday, Sept. 20 at the City National Grove of Anaheim.

Best of Orange County, an annual publication of the Register now in its 24th year, collected 120,000 votes in nearly 100 categories this year. Topics included the wide-reaching, such as the best city to live in or the hottest places to eat and shop, to the very specific – the best places to buy new blinds and shutters, for example.

BEST OF ORANGE COUNTY: See the full list of winners

The evening’s awards were presented by a host of local celebrities with close ties to Orange County – including Olympic swimming gold medalist Janet Evans; co-star of HGTV’s “Flip or Flop,” Christina El Moussa; star of Bravo TV’s “Real Estate Wars,” Joele “JoJo” Romeo-Watson; Irvine-based recording artist Skylar Stecker; renowned marine life artist Wyland and Chef Amar Santana.

Big winners of the night included the City of Irvine being voted the best city to live in, with Orange reigning as the king of downtowns.

Joele ÒJoJoÓ Romeo-Watson and the stars of Bravo TV’s Real Estate Wars, which debuts Oct. 5, announce winners during The Orange County Register’s Best of Orange County event at City National Grove in Anaheim on Wednesday, September 20, 2017. (Photo by Matt Masin, Orange County Register, SCNG)

The Register's Director of Communications Eric Morgan kicks things off during The Orange County Register’s Best of Orange County event at City National Grove in Anaheim on Wednesday, September 20, 2017. (Photo by Matt Masin, Orange County Register, SCNG)

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Publisher Ron Hasse welcomes guests during The Orange County Register’s Best of Orange County event at City National Grove in Anaheim on Wednesday, September 20, 2017. (Photo by Matt Masin, Orange County Register, SCNG)

The Register’s Paul Hodgins announces winners during The Orange County Register’s Best of Orange County event at City National Grove in Anaheim on Wednesday, September 20, 2017. (Photo by Matt Masin, Orange County Register, SCNG)

The Register’s Nancy Luna announces winners during The Orange County Register’s Best of Orange County event at City National Grove in Anaheim on Wednesday, September 20, 2017. (Photo by Matt Masin, Orange County Register, SCNG)



French’s Pastry Bakery is awarded best bakery during The Orange County Register’s Best of Orange County event at City National Grove in Anaheim on Wednesday, September 20, 2017. (Photo by Matt Masin, Orange County Register, SCNG)

Amar Santana announces winners during The Orange County Register’s Best of Orange County event at City National Grove in Anaheim on Wednesday, September 20, 2017. (Photo by Matt Masin, Orange County Register, SCNG)

The Black Marlin is awarded best seafood during The Orange County Register’s Best of Orange County event at City National Grove in Anaheim on Wednesday, September 20, 2017. (Photo by Matt Masin, Orange County Register, SCNG)

Skylar Stecker performs during The Orange County Register’s Best of Orange County event at City National Grove in Anaheim on Wednesday, September 20, 2017. (Photo by Matt Masin, Orange County Register, SCNG)

Skylar Stecker announces winners during The Orange County Register’s Best of Orange County event at City National Grove in Anaheim on Wednesday, September 20, 2017. (Photo by Matt Masin, Orange County Register, SCNG)



The Register’s Laylan Connelly greets artist Wyland on the stage during The Orange County Register’s Best of Orange County event at City National Grove in Anaheim on Wednesday, September 20, 2017. (Photo by Matt Masin, Orange County Register, SCNG)

Wyland announces winners during The Orange County Register’s Best of Orange County event at City National Grove in Anaheim on Wednesday, September 20, 2017. (Photo by Matt Masin, Orange County Register, SCNG)

The Register’s Samantha Dunn announces winners during The Orange County Register’s Best of Orange County event at City National Grove in Anaheim on Wednesday, September 20, 2017. (Photo by Matt Masin, Orange County Register, SCNG)

Christina El Moussa announces winners during The Orange County Register’s Best of Orange County event at City National Grove in Anaheim on Wednesday, September 20, 2017. (Photo by Matt Masin, Orange County Register, SCNG)

Montage Laguna Beach is awarded best O.C. resort during The Orange County Register’s Best of Orange County event at City National Grove in Anaheim on Wednesday, September 20, 2017. (Photo by Matt Masin, Orange County Register, SCNG)



MastroÕs Steakhouse is awarded best Splurge Restaurant during The Orange County Register’s Best of Orange County event at City National Grove in Anaheim on Wednesday, September 20, 2017. (Photo by Matt Masin, Orange County Register, SCNG)

Sit ‘n Sleep is awarded best mattress store during The Orange County Register’s Best of Orange County event at City National Grove in Anaheim on Wednesday, September 20, 2017. (Photo by Matt Masin, Orange County Register, SCNG)

Los Olivos Apartment Village wins best apartment community during The Orange County Register’s Best of Orange County event at City National Grove in Anaheim on Wednesday, September 20, 2017. (Photo by Matt Masin, Orange County Register, SCNG)

Joele ÒJoJoÓ Romeo-Watson and the stars of Bravo TV’s Real Estate Wars, which debuts Oct. 5 during The Orange County Register’s Best of Orange County event at City National Grove in Anaheim on Wednesday, September 20, 2017. (Photo by Matt Masin, Orange County Register, SCNG)

Irvine is awarded best city to live during The Orange County Register’s Best of Orange County event at City National Grove in Anaheim on Wednesday, September 20, 2017. (Photo by Matt Masin, Orange County Register, SCNG)



Food and drink favorites included Yen Ching Restaurant in Orange for Best Chinese Food, Haven Gastropub as Best Gastropub, Bottle Logic Brewing for Best Craft Brewery, Avila’s El Ranchito for Best Mexican Food, and Yama Sushi & Grill for Best Sushi.

Ron Hasse, president and publisher of Southern California News Group, said Best of Orange County is a representation of the Register’s dedication to engaging members of its local communities, a chance for readers to have their voices heard and for smaller businesses to receive recognition from patrons.

“This is the best kind of recognition because it comes directly from their customers,” Hasse said. “We believe that the more informed people are about Orange County, the better equipped we all are to discover new things in our county, to rally people to solve problems and live life to the fullest.”

Advance copies of this year’s 180-page, glossy magazine were given out to attendees at the end of the event – the publication will head to the homes of Register subscribers on Sunday, Sept. 24.

See here for a complete list of this year’s winners.