Trabuco Oaks Steakhouse

Trabuco Oaks Steakhouse was founded by Eleanor, Duke, and Randy Sherod in 1968. It opened on June 28 of that year as a snack bar for campers staying at the nearby O'Neill Regional Park. Eventually, the decision was made to convert the snack bar into a dinner restaurant.^[2][3] In 1982, the Southern California Restaurant Writers dubbed the steakhouse "A Legend In Its Own Time," a phrase that was adopted as the slogan of the restaurant.^[4]

Former U.S. president and Orange County native Richard Nixon would frequent the restaurant.^[5] Inside the restaurant is a photo of co-founder Eleanor Sherod cutting off Nixon's tie.

Trabuco Oaks Steakhouse's primarily charcoal grills its T-bone, sirloin, and filet steaks, with dishes such as the two- pound Cowboy Steak to the eight-ounce filet mignon.^[5] Other selections include chicken, fish and vegetarian entrees, salads, baked beans, french fries as well as a selection of California wines.^[5][6] The restaurant is situated in a wooden shack-like building that was constructed around a large tree — its trunk is situated in the dining area. There is no gas in the restaurant.^[4][6]