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2023 Best New Restaurants in Orange County

The Orange County food scene is one of the best things about Orange County. We’ve got so many fantastic restaurants, bars, and breweries and it feels like there is always something new to try out. Here are the best new restaurants, bars and breweries plus a huge list of restaurants opening soon in Orange County.

Have fun exploring the OC’s new restaurants this month. Be sure to tag us on Instagram (@enjoyorangecounty). We can’t wait to hear about your adventures.

Best New Restaurants

May 2023

Rare Society

226 Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente, CA 92672

Trust Restaurant Group, which opened its first steakhouse in San Diego in 2019, has now added its first Orange County location, Rare Society in San Clemente. The 5,500 square foot, two-story restaurant features indoor and outdoor dining with patio seating available on the first and second floors. Inspired by Las Vegas Steakhouses the restaurant has a modern dining aesthetic, featuring a signature style of wood-fired, Santa Maria style-grilling for meats, alongside sustainably-sourced seafoods, and a progressive cocktail program.

Shake Shack

512 Spectrum Center Dr Suite 512, Irvine, CA 92618 (Irvine Spectrum)

New York’s Shake Shack, a popular fast-casual restaurant chain known for its mouthwatering burgers, hand-spun milkshakes made from real ice cream, and crinkle-cut fries, has now made its way to Orange County. The first OC location can be found at the Irvine Spectrum, right next to the Regal Edwards Theater. Exclusive to this location will be the OC Dreamsicle Shake, a vanilla custard and orange soda shake.

Pacific Catch

3040 El Camino Real, Tustin, CA 92782 (Tustin Market Place)

If you’re a Bay Area native or transplant that spent some time in Northern California you might know this place well. The Chestnut St location in San Francisco was one of my regular stops. Now Orange County has its first location with a new store in Tustin at the Market Place. This modern-casual restaurant features sustainable Pacific Rim caught fish combined with a mix of bold flavors. Menu staples include soups and salads, poke and ceviche, surf and turf platters, burgers, and sushi rolls, tacos, “bombs” and bowls.

Marila’s Mexican by Puesto

Bella Terra Center – 7821 Edinger Ave, Huntington Beach, CA 92647

Puesto’s Huntington Beach restaurant is now Marila’s Mexican by Puesto, named after their owners grandmother. However, the new name isn’t the only change. The 7,600-square-foot space features new décor including includes a glass-blown agave-shaped chandelier, a wrought iron rotating bar, and a glass-enclosed open kitchen. Lastly, the biggest change is the menu, with many new items including their signature new dish, fajitas fundido.

Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream

18210 Yorba Linda Blvd, Yorba Linda, CA 92886

The latest Handel’s Ice Cream is opening up near the intersection of Yorba Linda Blvd and the Imperial High. Handel’s started opened their first location Youngstown, Ohio in 1945. Today, Handel’s serves homemade ice cream, frozen yogurt, ice cream pops, malts, floats, ices and fat-free options as well as banana splits, sundaes, smoothies and other treats.

Twisted by Wetzel’s

1331 Imperial Hwy., La Habra, CA 90631

Twisted by Wetzel’s is Wetzel’s Pretzels first stand-alone brick and mortar location and features menu items made from their signature pretzel dough. Menu items includes savory and sweet options like pretzel dough pizza, hot dogs and ice cream cones plus drizzle and inventive toppings over pretzel bites and full sized pretzels. House-made drinks such as lemonade, floats and more are available to wash it all down.

More May Openings

April 2023

Cabo Wabo Beach Club

Waterfront Hotel – 21100 Pacific Coast Highway, Huntington Beach, CA 92648

Sammy Hagar’s Cabo Wabo Beach Club at the Waterfront Hotels serves up coastal Mexican cuisine, handcrafted cocktails and a lively atmosphere. You can dine and drink cocktails at the restaurant’s flaming guitar fire pit at the outdoor palapa bar while enjoying panoramic views of the sun setting. The club is open for breakfast, lunch, dinner and even late night bites and libations.

Ike’s Love & Sandwiches

15062 Goldenwest St., Westminster, CA 92683

Exploding onto the crowded San Francisco food scene in 2007 as a small sandwich shop under the name “Ike’s Place” (founded by Ike Shehadeh), Ike’s Love & Sandwiches features sandwiches for all: meat lovers, vegetarian, vegan, halal, and gluten-free. Every location comes with exclusive sandwich offerings that are eclectically named as a tribute to local celebrities and icons.

Skål Pizza

Lido Marina Village – 3400 Via Oporto Suite 104, Newport Beach, CA 92663

Skål Pizza (Skål is the Swedish word for cheers) features a healthy selection of salads, wood fired vegetables, veggie focused pizza and delicious desserts. All dishes are vegetarian and/or vegan but there is an option to add protein to the pasta or pizza. In addition to the food, the waterfront location at Lido Marina Village features a small bar and tables both inside and outside overlooking the bay. Skål is from the mind of Helene Henderson, the founder of Malibu Farm.

More April Openings

March 2023

Eureka!

26541 Aliso Creek Road, Suite F, Aliso Viejo, California 92656

Eureka! offers creative craft beverages plus a collection of the best local craft beers, small-batch whiskeys, and classic cocktails combined with all-American classic food with a modern twist. The 4,900-square foot space includes a lounge area, center bar, and patio plus weekly events like half-off wine on Tuesdays, Steal the Glass on Wednesdays, and Bloody Marys and Mimosas on the weekends.

Fresh Off The Boat Fish Grill (FOB)

South Coast – 1501 W MacArthur Blvd Unit A Santa Ana, CA 92704

IYKYK, South Coast FOB is the third location and for frequent patrons of the Tustin and Placentia it’s a welcome addition to the South Coast area. Serving fresh seafood and a fusion mix of Mediterranean and Mexican dishes, FOB is a hidden gem. The menu features appetizers ranging from ahi poke to dolmas, grilled fish platters, tacos, salads, pita wraps, poke bowls, and lamb gyros.

Taco Mesita

Old Town Tustin – 765 El Camino Real, Tustin, CA 92780

Taco Mesita is a gourmet fast food shop offering woodfired cuisine on homemade corn and flour tortillas with snacks, dessert, and beer and margaritas. The location includes a drive-through, a landscaped patio, and indoor dining area.

Café Bianni’

5120 E La Palma Ave, Ste 101, Anaheim, CA 92807

Café Bianni’ brings Oaxacan culture, experiences and authenticity to Anaheim where visitors can enjoy coffee and breakfast and lunch dishes.

More March Openings

February 2023

Calico Fish House

16600 E Pacific Coast Hwy, Huntington Beach, CA 92649

Slapfish founder Andrew Gruel’s new waterfront location features a huge patio, indoor seating, a raw bar, and a menu that changes daily. The restaurant focuses on sustainably sourced food including poultry, grass-fed organic meat, raised cruelty-free from free range farms throughout California, and organic vegetables sourced from Melissa’s Produce.

Laguna Fish Company

400 S Coast Hwy, Laguna Beach, CA 92651 (corner of PCH and Laguna Ave)

This fast-casual restaurant and bar features an expansive array of fresh seafood dishes, from ceviche to seafood platters to a full cocktail, wine, and beer menu. Breakfast is also served with some seafood offerings. The seafood is all sourced from Canada, Virginia, Maine and elsewhere, to ensure the best and freshest quality.

ROL Hand Bar

16173 Brookhurst St, Fountain Valley, CA 92708

ROL just added a second location in Fountain Valley and features crispy nori hand rolls with melt-in-your-mouth fish plus appetizers, beer, and sake. Bar seating only plus take-out is available.

The Earl of Sandwich Tavern

Downtown Disney – 1565 Disneyland Dr, Anaheim, CA 92802

This location offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner with al fresco seating on the patio and a full indoor cocktail bar.

More February Openings

January 2023

JOEY Newport Beach

Fashion Island – 453 Newport Center Dr, Newport Beach, CA 92660

The 9,367-square foot space features a dining area, lounge, and outdoor bar and patio with a retractable roof and large outdoor fire pit. The menu features small bites, salads, sushi, sandwiches, steaks and desserts. Plus a wide selection of cocktails, wine and beer.

More January Openings

Coming Soon

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.

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Monique McArthur is a mother of two, writer, and creator of delicious recipes. In her spare time she enjoys exploring all that Orange County has to offer, traveling, shopping, running with her dogs and spending time with family.