Reporter

Brock Keeling

Brock Keeling writes about the food and restaurant industry. He has also covered design, LGBTQ issues, and urbanism for various publications. His work has been featured in Eater, the San Francisco Chronicle, Curbed, Alta Journal, and New York magazine. He has held editorial roles at Curbed and 7x7 Magazine. Keeling is a graduate of the University of California at Santa Cruz.

Chef-owner Christian Chan stands in the dining room of his Japanese-Peruvian Rocoto Pesca Bar, which offers Nikkei-style seafood and cocktails, in Huntington Beach on Thursday, August 27, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Former Taco María line cook opens Nikkei seafood spot in Huntington Beach

August 31, 2026 at 8:29 a.m.

“My biggest influence is my dad,” said chef-owner Christian Chan. "I always saw my dad cooking when I was a young kid."

Chrysalis at Darkroom in Santa Ana. (Photo courtesy of Chrysalis/Darkroom)

5 Orange County tasting menus that are too good to miss

August 28, 2026 at 8:18 p.m.

Michelin stars or trips to glittering metropolises aren't required for you to enjoy a tasting-menu experience. These five restaurants prove it.

The line to order food stretches past the Oyharzabal Barn at Heritage Barbecue in San Juan Capistrano on August 22, 2026. (Photo by Erin Burk, Contributing Photographer)

Heritage Barbecue restores historic San Juan Capistrano barn for indoor dining

August 25, 2026 at 4:18 p.m.

'We've talked for years about being able to host more gatherings here — family celebrations, holiday parties, collaborative dinners with chefs and pitmasters we love and maybe even a few...

Kailey Standley serves customers drinks during opening day of Dutch Bros coffee in Fountain Valley, CA on Friday, Feb. 9, 2024. This is Dutch Bros first location in Orange County. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Here’s where Dutch Bros is opening in Santa Ana

August 24, 2026 at 12:24 p.m.

The cult-favorite, drive-through cafe will open along an already-busy stretch near In-N-Out and Chick-fil-A.

Jaime Nuñoz-Gomez (pictured here at his Santa Ana restaurant) and his brother, Ricky, will open a Don Churros Gomez at Katella Commons in Anaheim. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Second wave of chef names announced for OCVibe’s Katella Commons food hall

August 24, 2026 at 8:01 a.m.

An Orange County churros staple, the return of a Filipino favorite, two Northern Chinese concepts and small-batch gelato will head to the multi-use complex in Anaheim.

Dave’s Hot Chicken is one of TK food-and-drink vendors that will be at the Daisy Chain Fields Music Festival in Irvine. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Everything you can eat at the Daisy Chain Fields Music Festival

August 20, 2026 at 11:15 a.m.

A slew of mostly women-owned vendors will help feed roughly 45,000 attendees during the inaugural music fest.

Habana at The LAB Anti-Mall launches La Candela candlelight dinners. (Courtesy of Habana)

Dine with more than 600 candles at Habana in Costa Mesa

August 19, 2026 at 2:25 p.m.

Scores of flickering candles provide a warm, moody glow at the 31-year-old Cuban restaurant.

Spaghetti al pomodoro at Oliver’s Osteria in Laguna Beach. (Photo by Brad A. Johnson, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Oliver’s Osteria in Laguna Beach temporarily closes again

August 18, 2026 at 3:15 p.m.

The Emilia-Romagna restaurant on Laguna Canyon Road announces possibly brief closure days after reopening.

Rancho Capistrano Winery in San Clemente closes after 10 years. (Photo by Brock Keeling, Orange County Register/SCNG)

3 Orange County restaurant closures, from San Clemente to Orange

August 18, 2026 at 3:28 p.m.

A handful of closures to note, including a beloved winery restaurant's San Clemente location.

The Northgate Gonzalez Market in La Habra on Monday, August 17, 2026. Northgate is transforming this location in to their “Mercado González experience” – including El Moro Churrería. Bar, gathering space and sit-down restaurant. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Northgate bringing its Mercado González food hall to La Habra

August 18, 2026 at 9:33 a.m.

A tamalería, paletería, pastelería, tortilleria and aguas frescas stand will join a slew of puestos at the reimagined space.

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