Orange County’s dining churn shows little signs of slowing down.
Coming soon: a food hall years in the making, a taco shop taking over a familiar Laguna Hills spot and a tiny omakase counter landing inside a Newport Beach hotel. Add to that a longtime Newport Beach name expanding to Huntington Beach, which is already open for business, and the summer eats keep coming.
As always, keep in mind that, nearly always, opening dates are subject to change.
Coming soon
Miramar Food Hall (San Clemente)
After years in the planning stages, San Clemente’s Miramar Food Hall is, at last, slated to open in early summer. Jim Krieger, chief operating officer with Tiger Hospitality, said, “We are targeting June.”
Initial tenants at the El Camino Real food hall will include eateries with Southern California roots, including San Diego County’s Cosmos Burger, Ricebunn and Immersion Coffee Co. Thyda Sieng, founder of Long Beach’s now-shuttered Fire Bird Nashville Hot Chicken, will open her new concept, Hen Haus, at the food hall. And making its debut outside of Seattle will be Moto Pizza, which specializes in Detroit-style pies.
And be sure to book your Uber rides in advance as the food hall will also feature two dedicated bars.
Miramar Food Hall will open inside the revamped circa-1938 Miramar Theatre, which was once a movie theater and bowling alley.
Find it: 1720 N. El Camino Real, San Clemente
No Más Tacos (Laguna Hills)
Replacing Cecilia’s Tortilla Grill in Laguna Hills, No Más Tacos comes from the team behind Scratch Bakery Cafe, which has locations in Laguna Hills and Newport Beach. Founder Ronnie Givargis said the new restaurant will feature an “authentic Mexican taco truck menu” with a fast-casual feel. Givargis said he hopes to open the new space sometime this summer, possibly in June.
Cecilia’s Tortilla Grill shuttered in 2024.
Find it: La Paz Village, 25250 La Paz Road, Suite 140, Laguna Hills
Kaiya (Newport Beach)
Lido House will debut Kaiya, a 12-seat omakase spot inside the oceanside luxury hotel. While details remain under wraps for now, Lido House executive chef-partner Riley Huddleston (The Mayor’s Table) and chef Brian Kim will be involved.
Kaiya will add another notch to Orange County’s growing omakase lineup, which already includes standouts like Omakase by Gino in Santa Ana, Costa Mesa’s Hana re, Michelin-starred Rebel Omakase in Laguna Beach and newcomer Naisho Omakase in Costa Mesa.
It’s slated to open in early July.
Find it: 3300 Newport Blvd., Newport Beach
Now open
Champagnes Kitchen (Huntington Beach)
More than 40 years after opening its first Newport Beach location, Champagnes Kitchen has debuted a second spot, this one in Huntington Beach.
Leading operations and the kitchen are husband-and-wife team Matt and Winnona Tobey. The duo brings decades of combined culinary experience: Winnona, a pastry chef and Culinary Institute of America graduate, will oversee the menu and kitchen, while Matt, whose background includes Wild Goose, Urth Caffe and Starwood Hotels, will lead operations.
The restaurant is currently in its “soft-opening” stage and official ribbon-cutting ceremony was Friday, May 22. Menu highlights include comfort food galore, like breakfast burritos, brioche french toast, deli sandwiches, shrimp and grits, southern-fried chicken, pan-seared ribeye, chicken pot pie, bread and butter pudding.
Champagnes Kitchen also offers 20 percent off to local law enforcement in uniform and free coffee to first responders.
Find it: 200 Main St., Huntington Beach
