Celebrated an early birthday dinner here tonight. Beautiful peaceful pleasant ambiance with excellent service. We had the bread app which was fresh , crisp and flavorful. I had the risotto with scallops which had a bit of spice perfect portions nicely buttered scallops . I had a Cabernet and ended up the meal with the pistachio gelato and the chocolate dessert I forgot the name of: Everything was top notch full of flavor in a pleasant environment. Will be back. read more

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Fantastic owners - the kind that work the bar and know your name. Patio seating is great to pet all the dogs walking by and be out enjoying dinner whilst really getting the feel of balboa. Food is all pretty solid too. read more

had an amazing experience at The Royal Hen! Went with a large group, and they handled everything so smoothly--service was super fast, and the staff was incredibly nice and accommodating. The food was delicious, with great flavors and quality ingredients. Perfect spot for a fun, easygoing night out. Highly recommend! read more

Mother's Day was an epic tour around Newport Beach and Balboa island- this was our last stop for dinner. The tables setup outside have a steady stream of walkers flowing thru as it's on the sidewalk, so we felt inside would be better. We were taken to a bar height table that was right in front of the hostess stand; so they seemed to be planning to pack many in- normal for Mother's Day of course. I ordered the Salmon and husband had the steak tacos. We also ordered the sourdough as a starter. Fantastic warm bread cannot be beat!! I actually took some back to our hotel to have with my morning coffee the next day. The salmon was very good; and I enjoyed the purple cauliflower mix. Very low carb too! Hubs wasn't as impressed with his steak tacos, but after removing the bacon, said it was 'better'. He felt it was just a strange mix- he will get something else next time. Service was very good and it looks like they are a popular spot on balboa island. Cute spot and worth a try! read more

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Being a customer here is a privilege... this adorable sweet piece of heaven is not only adorable but one of the few remaining owner run and owned establishments. Where do I start...the amazing staff or the incredible food. Worldly wines paired with exceptional cuisine... this is a don't miss on balboa island! read more

service is slow, food is average, and I slit my finger open on their bathroom window. the window in the restroom opens up to the area the food runners and hostess use and can look in on bathroom goers. There is no first aid kit on the property and there was no co cern about the issues of safety that happened with the open window in the restroom. I will never come back! read more

Royal Hen - American Near Me - Newport Beach, California

Cute ambiance, but our food was under-seasoned and forgettable. It wasn't bad, just not what I expect when paying high prices for pub food. It should be cravable and inventive. It was just kinda ok. read more

They do an amazing chicken pot pie! We got that and their curry mussels and they were both delicious. The gastropub has an old English feel to it and the service was very friendly. They are located in Balboa Island so parking might be an issue, but if you're in the area I highly recommend strolling in and grabbing a bite! read more

My favorite place on Balboa Island. Always delicious. Don't miss the zucchini blossoms. The Brussels sprouts Caesar salad is fantastic too.

Don't be fooled by the cuisine category in yelp... This restaurant IS NOT your typical american burger joint! This is a gastropub with an innovative and fantastic menu, combining California, Asian and Mexica cuisines and other cuisines as needed... And wine list seems to be carefully curated because the wines are fabulous too! Try the shaved Brussels sprouts Cesar salad... WOW! My favorite Cesar salad from now on! The fish & chips are fabulous too... Not the typical greasy dripping fish & chips. Ask about their seasonal appetizers & main courses. The zucchini blossoms were to die for! The service is off the charts! The staff is super nice and Cynthia, the owner/general manager, makes sure you feel at ease an part of the Royal Hen "club". Royal Hen is definitely a must-go gastropub! We'll keep coming back. Thank you Royal Hen!!!!!! read more

Royal Hen - Craft Ale Fish & Chips - American Near Me - Newport Beach, California

Came here last night while taking a stroll through Balboa Island. We got seated immediately and ordered: 1) chicken pot pie - so good!! Would order again. Cheese was just right! 2) prawn & lobster strudel appetizer - tasty, wish the order had more pieces. Crunchy. Fresh. Very pricey, bUt food was good & ambiance was nice. Yum! read more

Royal Hen - Chicken pot pie - American Near Me - Newport Beach, California

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It's in cute Balboa Island so there's that. Place is very small but quaint but the menu was just okay. A little disappointed as I was expecting more. read more

We came here for my birthday celebration. The significant other made same day reservations thank goodness they take same day reservations because I still have him "in training" for relationship surprises lemme tell you basic reservations for a table for two with no heads up of a special celebration, and they still did a remarkable job! Mickey, our server tolerated our lack of wine knowledge elegantly and delivered impeccable service. His recommendations were both personal and delicious to my stomach and paycheck. Chicken Pot Pie 5/5 stars For a classic, all white meat, light and filling at the same time, this dish comes packed with flavor leaving both of us stuffed with just enough room for dessert berry cheesecake 4.5/5 stars Speaking of dessert, this cheesecake is impeccable. As delicious as a homemade slice, without the density. We found ourselves scraping the dish for the remnants of the tart from the seasonal berries and glaze. The crud was light and decadent, similar to the pot pie, but with a hint of vanilla and cooked perfectly all the way through. At first bite, the anticipation of an overwhelmingly sweet mouthful, made me hesitant. I was prepared to grab my wine or water for support. But as soon as I hit the tang of the berries on top, the sweetness sizzled out and I was hit with a zing of sour. This caused me to crave another bite, and another. Spoonfuls of subtle sweetness and tart made my tastebuds go off like mini firecrackers. #We will be returning for dessert and wine Filet minion While almost every cut of steak this perfect leaves my mouth watering and craving more, this steak left me yearning for the symphony that still dances in my mouth. The meat, cooked to perfection, was drizzled in an umami sauce and drizzle that left me stunned and speechless 13/10 stars wine We recommend literally whatever Mickey our server recommends. Cabernet and a bottle called wonderland are to die for but if you are feeling budget friendly the haven white wine will do the trick. read more

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Had the loveliest Mother's Day lunch here!! Cynthia was kind so kind and accommodating and the food was delish. Amazing location as well.

Wow- the hangar steak tacos were amazing. See you again soon. Sidewalk seating perfect with pups, evening stroll and all around lovely time

Last week, my girlfriend and I had the pleasure of attending the Royal Hen for dinner. We were highly impressed with the service, ambience quality of food and would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone. We had the opportunity to speak with the wonderful owner, Cynthia, who made us feel so welcome. And we loved our waiter, Frank. His recommendations of the short rib pasta and chicken pot pie were amazing as was the chocolate mousse for dessert. A wonderful evening, and we will definitely be back and will tell all of our friends! read more

Royal Hen - Short rib pasta and chicken pot pie. Both were delicious!! - American Near Me - Newport Beach, California

Great food and service. Menu is small but diverse and ambience in and out was great. Easy and no fuss for what I'd call elevated casual.

We liked our food--salmon with risotto and I had what I would call pot roast over fettuccine noodles. Both were good, but I did have to add salt to my beef at least 4 times. It definitely needed more to reach the flavor desired. It's a cute little restaurant, not a pub as some described it. I would recommend reservations bc it is a small space. read more

I wanted to try this place after learning that they won a local award for their signature burger. The restaurant is located in the heart of downtown Balboa Island in the Newport Bay. They have very odd hours of operation, so check before you go. Indoor seating only, but the front half of the restaurant is pretty open so you almost feel like you're outside. There is also a small bar area with a big TV. Probably not the first place you'd think of for a drink and to watch a game, but it's possible. Friendly staff. Classy atmosphere, but you can still dress casual for sure. Definitely a step up in price from what I usually go for, but it's nice to splurge every now and then. I paid $21 for their special burger (as of November 2019), which was delicious and also came with a generous amount of thick (yet still crispy) fries. Only thing I didn't like was that the bottom bun of the burger was super wet. The carmelized onion jam was amazing, not to mention the bacon and cheddar! I also got to try the fried green tomato and avocado as an app. The burger stole the show, but the app was still good. read more

Royal Hen - Fried green tomato and avocado - American Near Me - Newport Beach, California

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My lovely friends and I rsvp to try something new. The ambience of the place was very comforting. Welcoming, and all the staff were on point on their service. Loved the menu was small with great dishes. Owner was very awesome. Her and her staff were awesome. I would recommend. read more

We stopped at royal hen for lunch last week because the menu caught our eye. We started with squash blossoms which were amazing. I ordered the Brussels sprouts Ceasar salad and my boyfriend ordered the pot pie. Unfortunately our waiter was in such a rush while taking our order each time that he literally jogged off before my bf could even finish the words pot pie so we didn't get to order the side of Mac and cheese that we wanted with our meal. Other than that the vibe of the restaurant was nice, indoor and outsold seating available. read more

Royal Hen - American Near Me - Newport Beach, California

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My family and I love the Royal Hen. The atmosphere is comfortable European Bistros, meets Newport laid back vibes. The food is always consistent, delicious, and fresh, with a great wine list and creative specials. The Royal Hen has something for everyone, and don't leave without trying their famous sourdough bread, it's next level!! Book a reservation and go., you'll love it! read more

Went here for a romantic dinner to celebrate our anniversary and we were really disappointed with the location of the outdoor tables places on the sidewalk where people were crowding and walking past without masks. Additionally people were mingling with other tables located across from us where they kept crowding the walkway. This restaurant needs to take better precaution for its patrons. The food was mediocre on top of all that. Just disappointed overall. I get that they were making due with the current situation but, they even created tables on a park bench. Strange. read more

Royal Hen - Shishito peppers that were not cooked - American Near Me - Newport Beach, California

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We went to Balboa and was so surprised to see everyone having so much fun at this place. We just had to join in. Reservations are required but the owner found us a seat outside that was so perfect. The server Mickey was so polite and kind. It felt like we knew him. They have chicken pot pie. We had the macaroni and cheese. So creamy and delicious. The scallops and shrimp was outta this world. Short rib fettuccini ragu was out of this world. They have a super good selection of beer and wine which everyone seemed to be enjoying. You must give this place a go! read more

Bad service, rude dismissive staff. Food was mediocre at the most. I ordered the salmon and it was drenched in oil and the cauliflower was so heavy in butter it gave me a terrible stomach ache. Way better options in the area. Won't be returning! read more

We walked in and asked to be seated at the bar. The blonde elderly woman told us there would be a wait & we said that's fine. My friend asked where the restroom was and she said restrooms are for customers only. I politely said we will be ordering a drink once there's room and she immediately snapped and said I don't have time for this you need to leave now. We were appalled. Not sure who hurt her but I feel bad that she's that entitled and unhappy. read more

We had a wonderful dinner here the other night. We weren't planning on going here, but we were walking down the island and saw that there was an open table. Surprise to us it was wonderful. We're going back with friends this weekend. read more

The good-the waitstaff and helpers are very nice. The food is prepared nicely and tastes good. The restaurant is decorated very nicely for the holidays. The bad-the hostess/owner, blonde woman who checks you in, is rude and dismissive! I was waiting in line to check in for our 7:45 reservation. When the hostess/owner finally got off her personal phone call she sat the party in front of me and then proceeded to talk to the party (appeared she knew them) behind me. After they discussed their party, I got her attention and said I had a reservation and wanted to check in. She proceeded to snap and say I will get to you. When she finally did, I asked if we could sit at one of the open tables in the front room. She adamantly said they were for parties larger then 2 (which we were). We then were seated at a table in the back room. Within minutes after we were seated she then seated a party of 2 at one of the tables I inquired about. It is such a shame that she is the one welcoming people in to the restaurant. We have been there several other times and although she has been short, we have returned because the food is good. After tonight's experience I am not sure we will return. read more

Food service and ambiance excellent!!! Upbeat vibes and fantastic drinks . Would definitely recommend making reservations place is always busy. read more

was recommended this restaurant by the lady in a cute boutique called etc. We were visiting from out of town.Texted early morning and got a reply straight away for that night. Service excellent. Ambience lovely and the food was fantastic. Highly recommend the chicken pot pie. read more

Great place to eat dinner on Balboa Island. Parking is not bad, you just need to park on side streets. The owner, Cynthia is a great hands on operator. Their menu is simple, not extensive and very good. Go to for me is their house bread and chicken pot pie. Yum.... read more

An absolute treasure tucked in Newport Beach' Balboa Island. The romantic and calm ambiance is such an inviting respite. The menu and restaurant is advertised as "American" but it is a fine and eclectic mix of savory delights such Axiote Tacos, to pesto hummus, fish and chips or scallops in a bed of risotto (by the way, the best scallops I've had yet. Beats the ones from Mastros). I wish I'd have pictures to share but the meal was so relaxing, flavorful and the ambiance wonderful that I just didn't even think to take a picture. I can't wait to go back and try their Shishito Peppers and jumbo prawns . read more

Favorite place in all of Orange County. Great food, good ambiance, and the manager Cynthia makes every visit seem like a special occasion

I haven't written a Yelp review in some time, but last night's experience prompts this unfortunately bad review. We came to Balboa on a whim for dinner and this place looked bustling with a promising menu. While I thought it was great we were able to sit outside, with no wait on a Saturday evening, that's where the great ends. We were seated at a bench converted to a table; quite small but doable. Buss-boy brought us waters immediately (he was a gem at this place), but a waiter was nowhere to be found. We waited roughly 10 minutes for the guy to show up. Mind you, he passed by our table a few times already checking on other patrons. His service only got worse. When we asked him if we could order drinks he goes "oh, you're staying here?". I didn't understand that question until later into the meal. He drops off our drinks and dashes. We wanted to order an appetizer, but no luck. He comes around again, later than he should knowing people may want to, you know, order food. We order the sun-dried tomato hummus and tell him to come back for our dinner order. The hummus was just okay. I didn't get any flavor from the supposed sun-dried tomatoes and it was chunky. They served it with tortilla chips...why? For dinner we get the short rib fettuccine, the burger, and a side of mac and cheese. The fettuccine was nothing to write home about. It could be promising if they weren't afraid of seasoning, namely salt. The burger was simply not good. Not only was it well done when we asked for medium, again the food was flavorless! I took two bites and called it a day. The mac and cheese was the worst of them all. Dry noodles, as all the cheese sauce (more like cheese water) sat at the bottom of the dish. I've never had a worse mac and cheese. Our waiter comes around again, and makes this really off-hand comment about how the locals sit where we are and when they saw we were at this table, they went inside to drink. That's hospitality? Telling us where your hostess sat us is usually reserved for locals? I was appalled. The "oh, you're staying here" comment made sense to me now. I just wanted to get out of this place, so we passed on dessert. When our waiter notices we left the mac and cheese relatively untouched, we tell him it's watery. He proceeds to lecture us that this is how it's supposed to be because of the type of cheese they use. I'm sorry sir, but if the type of cheese you use leads to a flavorless and watery dish, maybe use something else. The guy must have never made mac and cheese in his life. I was again appalled. They charge $14 for this! But, he agreed to take it off the bill. We won't be back. The food just isn't good, and the service was worse. Maybe you're treated better if you're a local. How disappointing. read more

Simply fabulous. Don't want to brag too much - but one of thebest Balboa Island places. . Great food and great service and great ownership and management. YUM! And love the vibe! Decor and food! read more

Recently I had my birthday party (8 people) at this restaurant. We were greeted warmly by the staff and were immediately taken care of. Our waiter was always on hand to take our order and refill our drinks. The food was amazing and didn't disappoint. We finished with a sample of several desserts and my favorite was the spiced marcona almond crumble. Overall, my guests were super impressed and we will be back! read more

Had a great dinner here! The food good, and the restaurant was really warm and welcoming. The staff was super friendly and took great care of us. Highly recommend! read more

After reading all these reviews. I was a bit apprehensive to show up. But I'm so glad we did. The food the atmosphere, everything was fabulous. So glad we went. We enjoyed our dinner there. They even took special care of my niece with her allergies. read more

Why did the chicken cross the road? To get to Royal Hen. No peckin' and scratchin' for good feed here. It's all terrific. Historically, Chef Goodell has helmed a flock of hits and then sold them off to corporate hospitality groups to everyone's detriment. So, here's hoping that this time the Goodell team will sit on the nest. This spot is beach shack chic open to Balboa's main drag. Think MB Post where you can hear the table conversation. Everything is bite sized except the food which would please any food rooster. There is a no reservation policy which makes it truly Blue in a Red community and then there is parking on the Island which is a challenge at best and involves crawling up and down skinny streets with a wing person spot spotter. The food is all over the place and should be all over your face if you do it right. Everything the Chef cobbles together works and there are always secrets off the menu to make you feel like the A-lister you are. A Paul Bunyon sized Burger (maybe the best in SoCal.), the best Fish and Chips this side of Connie and Ted's, and a Chicken Pot Pie big enough to feed the whole hen house. The Vibe: Resort wear, sunglasses perched on foreheads at night, sockless slip-ons, and enough gold chains to rival a Harry Winston display case. This includes the neighbors who are tired of cocktail hour and cheese cubes on the boat again, or drove the Porsche two days ago and don't want to lose the prime space just to go four blocks. The Staff: Friendly, affable, (better than laughable), helpful, cheerful and knowledgeable about the intricacies of the menu. If you can, snag a seat a the Bar and Chat with Master Nat, the Master Tender of the Bar. He will abide and provide. The Bar Program: A small wine list of odds and ends and all good. Chemistry set cocktails. Yes, the bar stool may make your butt numb, but after a while your brain will follow along so no worries. The Wildflower was wild flower infused Vermouth, Cochi Americano, (Italian Wine?) Lemon Bitters. Two of these and you'll become a wild follower. The Old Fig had Contratto Bianco, (fancy Vermouth) Angostura Bitters, Orange Bitters, Strawberry, and Ginger Beer. This one elevated Cough Syrup to new happy heights. The Food: The menu is the EU for you. Inventive and innovative without being sculpted art work. Just push those Mushy Peas on your Knife with your bare foot and enjoy casual dining on great grub. The Crispy Shrimp Strudel was a nice hook, Chef. I expected a Strudel. Think Splendido sized Shrimp Egg Roll. The body was laid out in a beautiful bath of Avocado gravy. It was not only a throwdown dish but a throwback as well. Red Pearl Kitchen lives on. The Brussel's Sprouts and Baby Arugula Caesar was only missing some Kale, but doesn't that require some liberals as patrons, right? It was a tapestry of textures with real croutons instead of boxed ones and real slivers of Parmesan instead of dust from the Green Can all buried under a bold dressing that could change the way you feel about anchovies. The off menu Burger was a monster of mythical proportions and yet it was still spot on medium rare as a huge hunk of burnin' beef on a bun should be. You'll need a construction permit from City Planning. This is a three hander (you'll need to make a friend) for sure. Strap on a lobster bib to protect that raw silk wrap. This is the best burger since Black Box hit the rocks. Easily the best around. The Fish and Chips, also off the menu, with a Lemon Tartar Sauce was magisterial. Nothing as good this side of Red Fish, Blue Fish which is only open for three months and in Victoria, BC. Royal Hen is much closer unless your boat has that kind of range. Crunchy and waiting patiently even while you work your way through the four pieces. And a cone of Chips to dip too. Yeah, baby! And who could pass up the Buttermilk Fried Poussin? Not me. Tasty, crown cracking coating and juicy baby chick inside all piled up on Creamed Spinach. Double yum. Dessert? Are you kidding? Okay, bring some Shaker Lemon Pie. I like lemons and Shakers too, after finishing two of those at the Bar. Shredded Lemon Zest in a crust. I'm still puckered up and resemble the grill of an Edsel. So full, I needed help off the bar stool, and then there was the 8 blocks of roaming to find the sled on a side street the name of which I'd forgotten. Royal Hen, I gotta a yen to go back quick as possble as it's possibly one of the best in the OC barnyard. read more

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Since people that have responded only focusing on the mask issue, are too ignorant to put together that we were GOING OUT TO SUPPORT small local owned businesses. What we EXPECTED was for the business to be respect the safety standard. But the issue was RUDE service and even though we ordered a bottle of wine we were OVERCHARGED for TWO ALCOHOLIC drinks that my underaged children DID NOT ORDER. It was no mistake. We had specific order requests that were noted. THE MASKS WILL GO AWAY. Rude service and cheating the bill will not. read more