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.

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
- Denny’s (Yorba Linda)
- Koreatown Pizza Co. (Buena Park)
- Pitfire Pizza (Orange/Stadium Promenade)
- Sessions West Coast Deli (Costa Mesa, Shops at Mission Viejo)
- Wanderlust Creamery (Irvine)
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
- Blossoms and Brass (South Coast Plaza)
- Curry Do (Tustin)
- Pizza Factory (Anaheim)
- Sushi Imari (Yorba Linda/Packing House Square)
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
- Dynasty Restaurant (Orange, CA)
- Luscious Dumplings (Anaheim)
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
- Chicas Tacos (Huntington Beach)
- Mezzo Calzones (Costa Mesa)
- See’s Candies (Dana Point)
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
- Roll Em Up Taquitos (Irvine)
- Steadfast Cafe (Huntington Beach)
- Steady Brewing (Fountain Valley)
Coming Soon
- 101 Burger (Huntington Beach)
- Acai Republic (San Juan Capistrano)
- Angry Chickz (Aliso Viejo/Aliso Viejo Town Center) – Nashville hot chicken concept
- Brazuca Cafe (Costa Mesa)
- The Boil Daddy (Anaheim, Santa Ana)
- Bred Nashville Hot Chicken (San Juan Capistrano)
- Broad Street Oyster Company (Huntington Beach Pier, former Ruby’s location)
- Brodard Express (John Wayne Airport)
- Broken Timbers Brewing (Placentia)
- Bruster’s Ice Cream (Yorba Linda)
- Cha Redefine (Costa Mesa)
- Chip Cookies (Huntington Beach)
- Clydes Hot Chicken (Yorba Linda)
- Communitea (Brea)
- The Craftsman (Anaheim)
- Detention 2.0 (Santa Ana)
- Dutch Bros. (Fountain Valley) – 2 locations, first in OC!
- Earth Bowl Superfoods (Irvine)
- Eggbred (Brea, Huntington Beach/Adams Marketplace)
- Euro Caffe (Orange)
- Flappy’s Amazing Wings and Beer (Garden Grove)
- Fogo de Chão (Huntington Beach (Bella Terra), Brea (Across Brea Mall))
- Fresh Off the Boat Grill (Santa Ana)
- The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill (Santa Ana)
- Great Maple (Disneyland’s Pixar hotel, Anaheim)
- Greenleaf Kitchen & Cocktails (John Wayne Airport)
- HoléSmokes (Costa Mesa)
- Hudson’s Cookies (San Juan Capistrano)
- Ike’s Love & Sandwiches (Huntington Beach/Five Points Plaza)
- In-N-Out (San Juan Capistrano, Anaheim)
- Jalapeños (Yorba Linda)
- JARS Sweets and Things (Laguna Niguel)
- Kozan Teahouse (San Juan Capistrano)
- La Vaquera (San Juan Capistrano)
- Lolo’s Tacos (Huntington Beach)
- The Meat Cellar (San Juan Capistrano)
- McConnell’s Fine Ice Cream (San Juan Capistrano)
- Mendocino Farms (San Juan Capistrano)
- Mercado Taco Shop (Balboa Island)
- Nobibi (Costa Mesa)
- Oakberry Açaí (Huntington Beach)
- Oslo Coffee Co (Ladera Ranch)
- Pandor Artisan Bakery (Mission Viejo)
- The Plot (Costa Mesa/The CAMP)
- Que Vida Tacos (Costa Mesa)
- Riip Beer Company/Magnolia Street Pizzeria (Huntington Beach)
- Salt and Lime Modern Taqueria (17th St/Costa Mesa)
- SAJJ Mediterranean (Lake Forest)
- Schneider Deli (San Juan Capistrano)
- Shake Shack (Costa Mesa, Huntington Beach) – Irvine Spectrum now open!
- Smoking Tiger Coffee & Bread (Irvine, Mission Viejo)
- Sprinkles Cupcakes (Irvine)
- Starfish (Laguna Beach)
- Stone Groove (Anaheim)
- Sugarfish (Corona Del Mar)
- Sweetgreen (Irvine Spectrum/Huntington Beach-5 Points Plaza)
- Taps Fish House (John Wayne Airport)
- Tavern At the Mission (San Juan Capistrano) – Former Cedar Creek inn location
- Truly Pizza (Dana Point)
- Wingstop (Mission Viejo Marketplace)
- Yoshiharu Ramen (Garden Grove, Laguna Niguel)
- Zecto Hot Chicken (Fullerton)
- Zesty Olives (Laguna Niguel)
- Zinc Cafe & Market (Orange)
- Zov’s (San Clemente)
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.