Copenhagen Corner
In South OC, this locally-owned Danish and German restaurant offers classic dishes and friendly service
One interesting common thread linking all of Orange County’s German restaurants is a clubbiness – a sense that they’re truly beloved by groups of devoted fans, whose continued patronage and/or imported beer selections keep them going for years despite physically deteriorating locations (see: Jägerhaus) and not necessarily authentic food (sorry, Wursthaus). Laguna Niguel’s Copenhagen Corner benefits from the same sort of fandom despite a somewhat different focus: With a Danish name and a menu that’s partially Nordic and partially German, this restaurant caters to fans of traditional Danish cuisine with some of the dill, rye, and pickle flavors one might expect, while offering schnitzel, bratwurst, and liver dishes as German fare.
A single-page, double-sized menu card includes almost all of Copenhagen Corner’s “lunch” and “dinner” options, though guests at lunchtime can also order dinner dishes including a Danish meat loaf, pork or chicken schnitzel, pan-seared salmon, and a chicken mushroom dish priced from $24 to $29. All-day options include Stjerneskud ($26) – a Danish seafood, vegetable, and sourdough plate – as well as a two-link bratwurst, mashed potato, sauerkraut and cabbage plate ($24), a variety of burgers, and open-faced sandwiches served on a slice of rye bread ($16 to $19). Sliders ($24) enables guests to sample three of the small open-faced sandwiches (including curry herring, marinated herring, boiled egg and shrimp, or creamy chicken salad) on an entree-sized plate. Temporary specials may also be available as advertised through the restaurant’s Instagram page or boards posted near the front door. Eight European beers ($8 to $10), 13 domestic and foreign wines ($9 to $13), lemonades, sodas, coffees and teas ($3 to $6.50) are available as drinks.
The Copenhagen Corner items we tried ranged from “very good” to “pretty good.” Our favorite item was a German classic, jaeger schnitzel ($29), which we’d call the best version we’ve found in Orange County – a large, thin-pounded pork loin that combined perfectly crispy breading and lightly seasoned meat with a (thankfully) not particularly oily crisping process. Additional flavors from sour lemons and savory mushroom gravy made every bite perfect, while just-right roasted potatoes, sweet pickled cucumbers, and red cabbage nicely complemented the cutlet.
We also really enjoyed the Stjerneskud ($26), a mountain of medium-sized shrimp, cooked breaded cod, sliced smoked salmon, and vegetables atop a fine piece of sourdough. Topped with dill, caviar, and a Danish flag, the hot-cold dish was delicious from top to bottom, and a prime example of classic Danish smørrebrød. A garlic jumbo shrimp appetizer ($20) was solid, pairing eight shrimp and thousand island dressing with dill, beets, pickled cabbage, and greens – not as strongly Danish as the Stjerneskud, but another seafood dish that differentiates this menu from local German restaurants.
Three open-faced sandwiches – breaded cod, frikadeller pork meatballs, and smoked salmon – were all in “pretty good” territory. While they were each loaded with their expected signature ingredient and individually garnished with dill, sprouts, pickles, cabbage, tomatoes, and/or avocado, the large flattened meatballs, ample piece of cod, and thin-sliced salmon were each fairly plain. This mildness even extended to the bread underneath, a rye that wasn’t as strong in flavor or thick as we’d hoped. We opted to skip grabbing a danish or cinnamon roll for dessert, though both were on display at the front counter.
Service was a standout element of the Copenhagen Corner experience: The family owners are fully present in the combined kitchen-dining room, engaging with guests and pointing out the growth of their bookshelf-style wall of Danish magazines and flags to embrace German, Finnish, and Swedish influences over the restaurant’s three years in business. More than any specifics of the food, that spirit of togetherness – Danish hygge – appears to be responsible for the restaurant’s popularity, and along with frequent weekly specials, a reason we’d consider returning in the future.
Stats
Price: $$
Service: Table
Open Since: 2022
Addresses
31161 Niguel Road
Laguna Niguel, CA 92677
949.429.7900
Instagram: @copenhagencorneroc