Travel Santa Ana Launches Michelada Guide and Culinary Passport
Santa Ana is having a moment, and it tastes like lime and spice. This spring, Travel Santa Ana is doubling down on the city’s culinary cred with two new experiences designed to turn casual visits into full-on flavor excursions: the Michelada Guide and the Culinary Passport.
Consider this your official invitation to eat and sip your way through one of Orange County’s most culturally rich food scenes.
“Our Michelada Guide and Culinary Passport are an ode to Santa Ana’s rich history and mixing pot of cultures,” says Wendy Haase-Roberts, president and CEO of Travel Santa Ana, in a recent press release. And she’s not exaggerating. Santa Ana has long been a place where global flavors collide in the best way possible. And now, there’s a roadmap to explore it all.
Let’s start with the Michelada Guide, because frankly, we’re thirsty. This curated lineup highlights more than 20 local spots serving up their take on the beloved Mexican cocktail. Traditionally made with beer, lime, salt and spice, the michelada has evolved into a full-blown canvas for creativity, and Santa Ana’s versions don’t hold back.
At Mission Bar and Santa Ana River Brewing, you’ll find vegan micheladas that pack just as much punch as their classic counterparts. Café Cultura ups the ante with michelada flights, perfect for those who like options and maybe a little friendly debate. And if you’re skipping alcohol, Alta Baja Market delivers a zero-proof version so satisfying you won’t feel like you’re missing a thing.
The drink itself has a story worth sipping on. Many trace its origins back to Michel Ésper in 1960s San Luis Potosí, Mexico, where a simple request for beer with lime, salt and ice sparked a movement. Today, that humble order has turned into a cultural staple and, in Santa Ana, it’s practically an art form.
But don’t stop at the bar. The newly launched Culinary Passport invites you to explore 40 restaurants that define Santa Ana’s dynamic dining landscape. Think of it as your edible itinerary, guiding you through everything from longtime institutions to buzzy newcomers.
Craving comfort with history? Benjies New York-inspired deli has been serving deli classics since 1967 and continues to draw loyal crowds, especially after its heartfelt 2025 transition to longtime waitress-turned-owner Chanele Halkett. For something timeless and Italian, Antonello Ristorante has spent over two decades perfecting traditional dishes under chef Salvatore Ferrara.
Then there’s the global tour element. Dip into Japanese hot pot at Kaizen Shabu, explore Filipino flavors at Lutong Pinoy OC or indulge in Argentine-Uruguayan cuisine at Puerto Madero. Each stop adds another layer to Santa Ana’s culinary identity as it refuses to be boxed into a single category.
And because no modern food crawl is complete without a little social buzz, both programs come with built-in incentives. Tag @TravelSantaAna and use #MicheladaManiaSA while exploring the Michelada Guide, and you might score an exclusive enamel pin. Meanwhile, Culinary Passport participants can post with #CulinaryPassportSA for a shot at quarterly prizes, including a $50 gift card to 4th Street Market, arguably one of the city’s tastiest gathering spots.
The real reward, though, is discovering just how much Santa Ana has to offer. This isn’t a one-and-done destination. It’s a place that invites you to stay a little longer, order one more round and maybe even book that overnight stay you hadn’t planned on. Because in Santa Ana, flavor isn’t just on the menu; it’s the whole experience.
Ever since she was a child, Ashley Ryan knew she wanted to write. After working on her high school newspaper and college magazine, she graduated with a degree in journalism and anthropology, eager to tell the stories of people and places in Orange County and around the world. Her prolific career as a writer, editor and photographer has led her to write about travel, culture, art, home design and so much more. When not working on her latest piece, she enjoys visiting new places, going to concerts, hiking, doing yoga on the beach, reading, cheering on her favorite sports teams and spending time with beloved friends and family.
