Maki Maki

Maki Maki has one of the best sushi happy hours around Irvine. 50% off of select sushi and maki rolls. $5 rice bowls (featuring chicken, salmon, etc.) and beers from $2.75 to cocktails, which top out at only $5.
The shrimp tempura maki is a unique blend of sushi and other japanese cuisine that makes for a great snack. The rice bowls make for a good dish that compliments the other selections. (my table enjoyed the salmon and chicken teriyaki bowls) like a roll or other food item, such as the $1 chicken skewers. However, it is worth noting that the bowls featuring seafood (i.e. salmon) don't hold that much of the fish selection. Also, the beer featured includes Hefeweizen, Newcastle and Blue Moon. The sushi rolls featured aren't anything too special, just your run of the mill salmon, tuna and shrimp type rolls. However, the price is what makes them worth getting, most priced at around $2.75.
Beer and sushi make a surprisingly good combination for anyone who has never tried them together before. Or for anyone who enjoys Japanese food and draft beers. Making Maki Maki a happy hour not to miss.

Maki Maki at the Irvine Spectrum has Happy Hour Monday from 3:30 to close and Tues-Thurs, 3:30-6:00pm.

TGI Friday's

TGIF's is a nice place to go for a relaxing and fun atmosphere to hang out with your friends without trying to do anything really fancy. Happy Hour consists of half off appetizers, $1.50 burger sliders and 1/2 off cocktails. Also, they have a daily $5 specialty cocktail every day of the week. In addition, they have a daily special on a bucket of beer. The bucket is $10 and holds 5 different beer bottles ranging from Corona to Pacifico.
The most popular appetizer ordered by by table was the Sesame Jack chicken strips. Also, my table tried the Buffalo Wings and Loaded Potato Skins. All of which were well liked by those that ordered them and at the prices were a great value. The burger sliders were also a popular dish, however even though they are only $1.50, most felt that there still wasn't enough in them to make them worth that price.
Different drinks that were ordered included the bucket of beer with Heineken, Pacifico and Corona. These were not special beers in any way, other than the fact that they were immensely cheaper than at any other restaurant or bar, coming out to just $2 each. Specialty cocktails that were ordered included Sex on the Beach, Tennessee Peach and the Strawberry Lynchburg Lemonade. All of which were liked by those that had ordered them, with Sex on the Beach cocktail on the top of the list preferred by those that got drinks.
The bucket of beer and half off appetizers together make TGIF's a great casual happy hour to hit up with your friends whenever you feel like just having fun and hang out with your friends.

Happy Hour at TGIF's occurs Mon-Fri from 4 to 7pm in the bar area only.

McCormick and Schmick's Seafood Restaurant

McCormick and Schmick's seafood restaurant, located off of Main Street in Irvine, has great Happy Hour offerings. However, its worth noting that this is a happy hour purely based on food being a great deal and not drinks.
In order to qualify for the Happy Hour menu, (4-6:30pm and 9-11pm M-Thurs), one must purchase at least one drink. This drink does not have to be alcoholic in nature and is usually around $3.
After your purchase your drink you are eligible for the World Famous Happy Hour menu, featuring items such as the $1.95 bar food that includes food such as Hummus. Then there's the $2.95 portion of the menu featuring a cheeseburger and fries (best deal). The $4.95 menu features pot stickers and calamari.
Everyone that tried the dishes agreed that the best deal for the price was the cheeseburger and fries. The burger's are a little on the dry side, but it may have just been a fluke that night. The pot stickers are nicely presented but were nothing special in quality or taste according to those at my table. However, all of the meals that people ordered were good overall and filled everyone up, making McCormick's a great happy hour for food prices.

Claim Jumper- Irvine

Claim Jumper- not normally a name associated with Happy Hour, but rather with large gourmet meals like steak and seafood. However, their happy hour is worth checking out. During their late night Saturday HH, there is not a large crowd at all, so you and your friends have a large area to relax and hang out. Beer ranges from $3.25 to $4.25 per pint from a selection ranging from Coors Light to the CJ Hefeweizen. Martinis and other specialty drinks are $5.95 during this time and appetizers range from $3.50 to $7.25.
Those at my table ordered the Claim Jumper Martini, CJ Hefeweizen and the Tropical Hooter. The martini is very strong and was a little too strong for some. CJ Hefeweizen was very good, it was a citrus like wheat beer that went down smoothly. The Tropical Hooter tasted great and also had a good amount of alcohol in it as well.
For appetizers, the personal BBQ chicken pizza and Halibut Fish Tacos were tried by my table. The pizza was good, but small. And the fish tacos were good as well, but not that filling, given that you only get two of them.
For a light snack and a good drink, Claim Jumper's Happy Hour is one to check out.

Claim Jumper's HH is from 3 to 7pm Mon-Friday and 9:30pm to close on Saturdays in the saloon area.

Islands- Newport Beach

Islands, located in The Bluffs in Newport Beach, is a nice relaxing place to have a few appetizers and drinks with your friends. The atmosphere is very laid back and is designed to look like what else? an island. Appetizers are half off, and are a great deal. For one person, an appetizer is like a meal and is very reasonably priced during happy hour. I ordered the Quesadilla, while others at my table ordered the Tiki Tenders and Beachside Sliders (4 mini burgers). All of which were very well received by everyone who ate them.
Free chips and salsa for your table are also served during happy hour.
Beer and wine are $1 off. The Islands Golden Ale has a sweet taste to it, but also tastes a lot like Coors Light. In my opinion, Islands has a great happy hour for food, but better beer can be found elsewhere.

Islands Happy Hour is 4 to 7pm Monday through Friday. Please note: Happy Hour in the bar area only.

Karl Strauss Brewing Company- Costa Mesa

The main reason that my friends and I decided to try the Happy Hour at Karl Strauss, was due to the fact that it is known for its excellent selection of beers. Individual beers at Karl Strauss Brewery are reasonably priced during happy hour at $3.50 a pint. At this location, you're also able to sample the different types of beer before making your selection. The beers that our table decided to try were the Woodie Gold, Endless Summer Light and the Windansea Wheat Hefeweizen. The Woodie Gold and Endless Summer Light are obviously light beers, and everyone who had them liked them. the Hefeweizen was slightly darker, and had a unique citrus like taste to it without adding any sort of fruit.
Appetizers are on special too, however not always half off, in fact some are discounted by as little as a dollar. The best appetizer that my table tried was the brewhouse nachos ($7). They had a mix of cheese, thousand island dressing and beans and were well liked by everyone at the table. Garlic fries and the cajun fries were also on special for $4 each. These each were ok, but the nachos were the best overall appetizer.
When checking out the Happy Hour at Karl Strauss, definately make it a trip for the drinks and not the appetizers.

Kimera Restaurant and Lounge- Irvine

Kimera, sounds like an Asian restaurant of some kind from its name. However, it actually serves mainly American style cuisine. Their happy hour menu is served only in the lounge and bar area and includes food dishes ranging from $5 to $8 each. Also, well drinks are on sale for $5.
It's worth noting that Kimera is in the middle of a business district and requires parking in a garage, which gives you a ticket that you can have validated for free parking after eating. In addition, there is no dress code, however it is also notable that the majority of customers are dressed in nicer clothes, given that the atmosphere is more like that of a lounge than just a generic bar.
Well drinks include Rum and Coke and Vodka and cranberry juice (pictured). Both of which are good tasting and strong at the same time.
$5 entrees include garlic fries, $7 include different pizzas and for $8 you can get a small steak.
The Carne pizza and shrimp pizza were tried by those at my table and were both a good size and were of a gourmet quality.
If you're looking for an upscale place in Irvine that has a unique and upscale atmosphere, then hit up Kimera. But if you're looking for your more laid back college hang out, then pass on this one.