There's no better way to the soul than food, but we'd argue hard that it's Italian food that gives us those warm and cozy comfort feelings. With over 20 Italian restaurants in and around Irvine, it's easy to get your pasta fix when you want it. Get ready to carbo-load your way through the city with a visit to one of these three best spots for a delicious Italian meal in Irvine.

North Italia

Using only the freshest ingredients, North Italia creates the most crave-worthy Italian dishes, like the chef's choice daily pizza, the rich made-from-scratch pasta, or the delectable sandwiches served on schiacciata bread. No detail is overlooked with each handmade meal that is served, and that goes for the extensive wine and cocktail list, too, with classics like the 'New Italian Spritz', a 'White Peach Negroni', and the 'Sicilian Margarita'. Start with the 'Chef's Board' to get a taste of the deliciousness at North Italia, and see where the night takes you.

Piadina

A modern take on Italian food, Piadina offers simple recipes with high-quality ingredients, most notably the Piadina, a rustic flatbread sandwich prepared with dough cooked fresh on the griddle filled with meats, cheeses, and vegetables. The restaurant makes their own unique Piadina bread, improving on the traditional Piadina bread but making it lighter while still keeping that sought-after delicious taste. And there's a reason that mozzarella cheese is so good — it's flown in weekly right from the source — Italy. The meat is 100% preservative-free and cured for 24 months in a special facility in Parma, Italy. Try the namesake sandwiches for yourself, and you'll discover just how good real Italian food can be.

II Fornaio

Grab your best date night attire and head over to Il Fornaio Cucina Italiana, an authentic Italian experience outside of Italy, right here in Irvine, CA. Using the freshest ingredients and traditional cooking techniques, each meal is specially prepared to match the desires of patrons who crave warm Italian pasta and thin-crust pizza. Classics like 'Bolognese' and 'Pomodoro' never go out of style, and authentic Italian specialties from the rotisserie and grill, like the 'Pollo Toscano' and 'Brasato Al Vino Rosso' are crowd favorites. Pair it with a glass of wine from the award-winning wine list, and you've got yourself a match made in heaven.

Pasta, bread, pizza … What more could you ask for in life? Check out these top three Italian restaurants in Irvine for your Italian fix. For more Irvine tips and tricks, check out Fusion Apartments' blog.