New Restaurants in Orange County: 2026 Openings & Coming Soon

Orange County’s restaurant scene keeps changing, with new dining destinations opening from Anaheim and Irvine to Costa Mesa and the coast. This guide highlights notable new Orange County restaurants that opened in 2026, plus confirmed restaurants and cafés that are coming soon. We update it as new openings are announced and verified.

Check out our list of MICHELIN Restaurant Locations too!

Be sure to tag us on Instagram (@enjoyorangecounty). We can’t wait to hear about your adventures.

New Orange County Restaurants at a Glance

Check before you go: New restaurants often adjust hours, menus and opening dates in their first weeks, and coming-soon dates can slip. Check each restaurant’s website or social media before you make the trip.

New Orange County Restaurants - October 2026

Creekside Restaurant & Bar – Rancho Mission Viejo

30865 Gateway Place, Suite E6, Rancho Mission Viejo, CA

Creekside opened October 12, 2026 in Sendero Marketplace, near the San Juan Creek that gives it its name. It is the eighth restaurant from Russ Bendel’s RJB Restaurant Group, whose portfolio includes Sapphire, Parlor Woodfire Kitchen and Bloom, according to the Daily Pilot, and serves American comfort dishes for dinner only, starting at 4 PM daily.

Sushi Blissba – Cypress

5253 Katella Ave, Suite 120, Cypress, CA

Sushi Blissba opened October 1, 2026 from the operators of Sushi Nigiriba in Huntington Beach. The 118-seat Japanese restaurant has a 10-seat sushi bar and a patio, with set-course meals at lunch and dinner alongside an à la carte menu.

Pacific Pearl Café – Irvine

Newport Gateway, 19800 MacArthur Blvd, Irvine, CA

Chef Michael Campbell, the chef behind White Rooster, opened his third Pacific Pearl Café the week of October 12, 2026, inside the Irvine Company’s Newport Gateway office towers. It joins earlier Pacific Pearl locations in San Juan Capistrano and Costa Mesa, per the Orange County Business Journal.

Torikizoku – Anaheim

Center Street Promenade, Downtown Anaheim

Japanese yakitori chain Torikizoku chose Downtown Anaheim for its first U.S. fast-casual, to-go shop, which was set to open October 2, 2026. Look for Japanese comfort food like teriyaki chicken bowls, curry, ramen and skewers.

Ambitious Ales – Costa Mesa

696 Randolph Ave, Suite B, Costa Mesa, CA 92626 (The LAB Anti-Mall)

The Long Beach craft brewery opened its first Orange County taproom at The LAB, with a grand-opening weekend scheduled for October 24–25, 2026. Check its site for current taproom hours.

New Orange County Restaurants - September 2026

Blue Box Café by Daniel Boulud – Costa Mesa

South Coast Plaza (inside Tiffany & Co.), Costa Mesa

Tiffany & Co.’s Blue Box Café opened September 8, 2026 inside the jeweler’s relocated South Coast Plaza store. Before this, the only Blue Box Café was at Tiffany’s New York flagship. Chef Daniel Boulud designed the menu, which covers breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner.

Ari’s Thai Eatery – Anaheim

430 S. Anaheim Blvd, Anaheim, CA 92805 (Anaheim Packing District)

Ari’s Thai Eatery opened in September 2026 at Farmers Park in the Anaheim Packing District. The family-run Thai restaurant is open for lunch and dinner daily.

Maleza - Costa Mesa

2937 Bristol St, Costa Mesa, CA 92626

Maleza opened at The CAMP on September 12, 2026, its first restaurant outside Drift Palm Springs. Executive Chef Marco Arreguín’s modern Mexican menu leans on masa and seasonal produce, and the mezcal bar is a centerpiece of the room. Dinner came first, with lunch added later in September.

El Moro Churrería - La Habra

1327 W. Whittier Blvd, La Habra, CA

El Moro Churrería opened its second Orange County shop on September 10, 2026, following its U.S. debut inside Mercado González in Costa Mesa. The Mexico City churro maker sits near the Northgate González Market in La Habra. Read the OC Register preview.

Mr. Moto Pizza - Irvine

5613 Alton Pkwy, Irvine, CA 92618

Mr. Moto Pizza opened in Irvine on September 8, 2026 in Oak Creek Shopping Center, in the former Brooklyn’s Finest Pizza space. Order New York-style pies whole or by the slice, plus stuffed garlic knots, wings and calzones.

Levain Bakery - Newport Beach

Fashion Island, Newport Beach

Levain Bakery opened at Fashion Island on September 4, 2026, its first Orange County location, on the Macy’s side of the center. Go for the thick, six-ounce cookies; breads, pastries and coffee are also on the counter.

In-N-Out Burger – Irvine (The Canopy at Great Park)

7900 Great Park Blvd, Irvine, CA 92618

In-N-Out opened September 4, 2026 as the first business at The Canopy, the new shopping center in Great Park Neighborhoods. It has indoor and patio seating plus a drive-thru at Great Park Boulevard and Bosque.

Vox Kitchen - Aliso Viejo

26511 Aliso Creek Road, Aliso Viejo, CA

Vox Kitchen, the Fountain Valley original, opened its third Orange County location in Aliso Viejo on September 2, 2026.

New Orange County Restaurants - August 2026

Telefèric Barcelona – Newport Beach

311 Newport Center Dr, Newport Beach, CA 92660

Telefèric Barcelona opened August 20, 2026 at Fashion Island in the former Hopdoddy Burger Bar space, its first Orange County location. The Barcelona-born restaurant focuses on Spanish tapas, paella and jamón.

Pepper Lunch – Stanton

12885 Beach Blvd, Suite 7, Stanton, CA 90680

Pepper Lunch opened at Rodeo 39 Public Market with a grand-opening weekend August 8–9, 2026. Meals arrive on sizzling iron plates, so you stir the rice, meat and sauce together at the table while it cooks.

Earlier 2026 Openings

Exit 8 Bodega – Costa Mesa

270 E 17th Street, Suite 12B, Costa Mesa, CA 92627

Exit 8 Bodega opened in late July 2026 next door to ʻAi Pono Cafe on East 17th Street. It’s a grab-and-go Hawaiian stop for poke, bento boxes, breakfast sandwiches and island snacks.

Gordon Ramsay at The Carnaby – Anaheim

1553 S Disneyland Drive, Anaheim, CA 92802

Gordon Ramsay at The Carnaby opened July 13, 2026 in the Downtown Disney District, Ramsay’s first restaurant in Orange County and on a Disney property. The swinging-’60s London pub serves beef Wellington, fish and chips and sticky toffee pudding.

Tiny’s Burger – Costa Mesa

3333 Bristol St #1000, Costa Mesa, CA 92626

Chef Sang Yoon of Father’s Office opened Tiny’s Burger at South Coast Plaza on June 15, 2026. It pairs dry-aged burgers in a gochujang-ssamjang sauce with a Japanese-style snack shop; salt-and-vinegar tots and the Tokyo Dog are popular sides.

Noble Ace – Laguna Beach

400 S. Coast Hwy, Laguna Beach, CA (Heisler Building)

Noble Ace opened June 29, 2026 across from Main Beach, in the Heisler Building space that sat empty after Bodega closed. The old-Hollywood-themed room serves American dinner plates and cocktails, and the Laguna Beach Tribune reports a weekend brunch as well.

La La Land Kind Cafe – Newport Beach & Irvine

Lido Marina Village, Newport Beach; 756 Spectrum Center Drive, Irvine

La La Land Kind Cafe opened at Lido Marina Village in March 2026 and at Irvine Spectrum in May, serving lattes, matcha and toast.

Restaurants Opening Soon

These Orange County restaurants have been announced or are in active planning. Opening dates can change, so check with each business before you go.

White Rooster - Corona del Mar

2931 East Coast Hwy, Corona del Mar, CA

Chef-owner Michael Campbell is bringing a second White Rooster to Corona del Mar, in the former Mayur Cuisine of India space. The Dana Point original serves coastal California cooking with Mexican influences. The OC Register reported a late October or early November target; that window has passed, and no opening date has been confirmed yet.

Zov’s - Costa Mesa

428 E. 17th St, Costa Mesa, CA

Zov’s, the longtime Orange County Mediterranean favorite, is taking over the former Playa Mesa space on East 17th Street, with an opening planned for late 2026.

Array 36 - Tustin

The District at Tustin Legacy, Park Avenue, Tustin

Array 36 is bringing its upscale Chinese dining room to The District at Tustin Legacy, its second Southern California location. The center lists it as coming soon; no opening date has been announced.

Pho N Mor - Tustin

The District at Tustin Legacy, Park Avenue, Tustin

Pho N Mor, a Southern California Vietnamese chain, is adding its first Tustin location at The District for pho, bún, rice plates and grilled meats. No opening date has been announced.

More Tenants at The Canopy - Irvine

Great Park Blvd, Irvine (Great Park Neighborhoods)

Following In-N-Out, The Canopy has announced McConnell’s Fine Ice Creams, Baba’s Hot Chicken and Palmetto Superfoods among its next tenants. Opening dates vary by business.

Cowboy by Nick’s - San Juan Capistrano

31904 Paseo Adelanto, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675

A new concept from the Nick’s Restaurant group, Cowboy by Nick’s is set for River Street Marketplace by the end of 2026, with steaks cooked over fire, cocktails and Western-inspired hospitality.

Wild Strawberry Café - Newport Beach

520 Newport Center Dr, Newport Beach, CA

Wild Strawberry Café is planning another Newport Beach location at 520 Newport Center Drive. County plan-review records identify the proposed location, but no public opening date has been announced.

Onigilly Japanese Kitchen - Brea

1065 Brea Mall, Unit 2022A, Brea, CA 92821

Onigilly, a chain built around Japanese onigiri rice balls, is coming to Brea Mall. The Brea Chamber of Commerce lists a ribbon cutting for November 18, 2026; confirm the public opening date before you go.

Scratch Bakery and Cafe - Dana Point

34114 Coast Hwy, Dana Point, CA

Scratch, which already has bakery-cafés in Laguna Hills and at Fashion Island, is moving into the A-frame building JC Beans left in August. The OC Register says the drive-thru is staying; no opening date has been announced.

Restaurant owners: Let us know if you're opening a location in Orange County or if you would like to feature a recipe on our site.

New Orange County Restaurants FAQ

What are the newest restaurants in Orange County?

Recent openings on this list include Creekside Restaurant & Bar in Rancho Mission Viejo, Sushi Blissba in Cypress, Pacific Pearl Café in Irvine, Torikizoku in Anaheim and Ambitious Ales in Costa Mesa, all in October 2026.

Which new Orange County restaurants are coming soon?

Announced openings include White Rooster in Corona del Mar, Zov’s in Costa Mesa, Array 36 and Pho N Mor in Tustin, Cowboy by Nick’s in San Juan Capistrano, Onigilly at Brea Mall and Scratch Bakery and Cafe in Dana Point. Dates can change.

What new restaurants opened at South Coast Plaza in 2026?

Tiny’s Burger opened in June 2026, and Tiffany & Co.’s Blue Box Café opened in September 2026.

Are there new restaurants at Fashion Island?

Yes. Telefèric Barcelona opened in August 2026 and Levain Bakery opened in September 2026.

Related Articles