The OC Dining Scene Keeps Getting Better and Better

If there’s one article you’ll want to read thoroughly, it’s this one. There’s this not-too-subtle competition around town to try out the best new restaurants once they hit the scene. Lucky for you, we’re here to dish! Orange County has become a culinary hub for adventurous chefs and rambunctious restaurateurs looking to brand their names onto our forever-hungry hearts. If you’re in need of a date night spot or a place to gather with the gals, we’ve got you covered. Here are 18 new restaurants in Orange County that have us totally obsessed.

 

Latin American Soul

A taste of Peru now has a home in Huntington Beach with Rocoto Pesca Bar. This modern, sunlit space is as much about the atmosphere as the food. Chef Christian Chan brings his Peruvian, Chinese and Japanese heritage to a menu where bright ceviches, flavorful tiraditos and hearty lomo saltado take center stage. The beach-adjacent location adds to the allure, inviting you to linger over a cappuccino long after the plates are cleared. It’s a vibrant addition to the best new restaurants in OC, marrying Latin American soul with California’s coastal flair. 

Rocoto Pesca Bar
16972 Goldenwest St.
Huntington Beach, CA 92647
714.890.5249
T-F, 11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. & 5 – 9 p.m.; Sa, 12:30 – 9 p.m.; Su, 12:30 – 8:30 p.m.; M, Closed 

 

Seared & Smashed

Small’s Smash Club proves that burgers can be both fun and serious. Their perfectly seared smash patties come stacked as singles, doubles or triples. Get them à la carte or choose a combo with a drink and onion rings or fries deep-fried in beef tallow. The original San Clemente location opened in August of 2025 while a Laguna Beach venue followed in June of this year, both spaces humming with casual energy, making them ideal for group hangs or low-key date nights. For crave-worthy, no-frills-but-all-thrills additions to the new restaurants OC list, Small’s Smash Club is already a fan favorite.

Small’s Smash Club
641 Camino de Los Mares
San Clemente, CA 92673
949.899.4756
San Clemente: T-Th, 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.; F-Sa, 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.; Su, 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.; M, Closed

2794 Coast Highway
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
949.403.4996
Laguna Beach: T-Th, 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.; F-Sa, 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.; Su, 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.; M, Closed

 

Original Omakase

The most coveted reservation in Newport Beach right now seats exactly 12 people, and it lives inside a lighthouse. Kaiya Omakase Sushi + Bar opened this July inside Lido House’s iconic lighthouse turret, and it’s already the kind of place you hear about from someone who got very lucky with OpenTable. Chef Partner Riley Huddleston, the culinary mind behind Lido House’s acclaimed The Mayor’s Table, leads the experience alongside Head Sushi Chef Brian Kim, whose precision behind the counter defines the whole evening. The concept honors the Japanese tradition of omakase, meaning you put yourself entirely in the chef’s hands. Every seating delivers a curated progression of seasonal seafood, with no two experiences exactly alike.

Kaiya Omakase Sushi + Bar
3300 Newport Blvd.
Newport Beach, CA 92663
949.847.4041
W-Su, 5-10 p.m.; M-T, Closed

 

Escape to Greece

When a lifelong Orange County kid fell in love with the Greek islands and refused to keep it to himself, Nēsos Newport Beach was born. Named after the Peloponnēsos peninsula, this Mariner’s Mile debut from owner Vasileos Kotsiovos, who also helms Louká Beverly Hills, brings rustic, soulful Greek cuisine to the former Pizzeria Mozza space on West Coast Highway. The philosophy here is philoxenia: radical hospitality rooted in tradition. Ingredients come directly from Hellenic farms and artisan Greek producers, and the menu honors recipes passed down through generations of small-village kitchens. Think wood-oven cooking, family-forward sharing plates and flavors that make you want to linger.

Nēsos Newport Beach
800 W. Coast Highway
Newport Beach, CA 92663
949.287.6060
T-Sa, 4-10 p.m.; Su-M, Closed

 

Sushi That Comes to You

Think revolving sushi is just a gimmick? Kura Revolving Sushi Bar will change your mind. Orange’s newest food destination brings the nation’s No. 1 revolving sushi brand to the Village at Orange with more than 100 authentic Japanese dishes, all free of artificial sweeteners, seasonings, preservatives and colorings. Highlights include fresh nigiri and sashimi, udon, ramen and some seriously good desserts circling the two-level conveyor belt. Robot drink service from Kur-B keeps the fun coming, and the Bikkura Pon prize machine at the end of your meal is the interactive cherry on top.

Kura Revolving Sushi Bar
1500 E. Village Way, Ste. 2203
Orange, CA 92865
714.716.5611
Su, 11 a.m. – 9:30 p.m.; M-Th, 11:30 a.m. – 9:30 p.m.; F, 11:30 a.m. – 10 p.m.; Sa, 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. 

 

International Acclaim

The wait times at Din Tai Fung are legendary and, now, so is its OC expansion. The globally acclaimed Taiwanese restaurant officially opened its second Orange County location at Irvine Spectrum Center in March, and the crowds haven’t stopped since. Founded in Taipei in 1958, Din Tai Fung built its empire on the xiao long bao, a paper-thin soup dumpling filled with savory broth and handcrafted with obsessive precision. The open kitchen lets you watch chefs fold every dumpling in real time, which is equal parts mesmerizing and appetite-inducing. Beyond the signature dish, the menu delivers handmade noodles, kurobuta pork buns, wok-fried string beans and even chocolate dumplings for dessert. Can’t get to Irvine? A Brea Mall location is due in late summer 2026.

Din Tai Fung
812 Spectrum Center Drive
Irvine, CA 92618
949.328.7881
M-Th, 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.; F, 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.; Sa, 10 a.m. – 11 p.m.; Su, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. 

 

The Best Pizza in Town

Truly Pizza doesn’t do things halfway. Co-founded by legendary pizzaiolo John Arena, who spent decades perfecting his craft in Las Vegas before bringing it back to California, the Laguna Beach location is the brand’s second spot after its celebrated Dana Point flagship. The open-air setting on North Coast Highway channels an Amalfi-meets-California energy, with patio seating that makes every pizza feel like a vacation. Long-fermented artisan crusts are topped with California red sauce, fresh and whole milk mozzarella and inventive combinations like the Umami Mushroom with smoked mozzarella and toasted sesame oil, the truffle-worthy Potato Bianca with crème fraîche and fontina, or the Truly White loaded with stracciatella and guindilla peppers. Salads, sandwiches and soft-serve round out the menu. 

Truly Pizza
320 N. Coast Highway
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
949.549.4124
W-M, 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.; T, Closed

 

Lush Lunches

MoonGoat Greenhouse is the OC coffee shop upgrade none of us knew we needed. The beloved specialty roaster’s fifth and largest location opened at the Irvine Company’s Pacific Arts Plaza last summer, and it’s a whole experience. Verdant greenery fills the glass-wrapped interior, sunlight pours through a patio that opens directly onto the iconic Noguchi Garden and the coffee is, as always, exceptional. The expanded menu adds breakfast and lunch to the lineup alongside MoonGoat’s signature specialty coffee drinks and matcha options. It’s a world away from a drive-through; this is the kind of place that makes you want to linger, work, meet a friend and come back tomorrow.

MoonGoat Greenhouse
3210 Park Center Drive, Ste. 150
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
949.695.0534
Su-Sa, 6 a.m. – 6 p.m.

 

A Celebrated Chef’s Return

It officially opened July 13, and Gordon Ramsay at The Carnaby is already the buzziest table at the Disneyland Resort. Located above the new Earl of Sandwich on the west end of the Downtown Disney District, this 175-seat gastropub channels the cultural fever of 1960s London, when Carnaby Street was the center of the universe. Plush interiors, bold pop art, a terrace overlooking Downtown Disney and a soundtrack of British Invasion classics set the scene. Then the food arrives. The Beef Wellington is the headliner: crispy, buttery, precise. Fish and chips, tikka masala and a tableside Prime Rib Trolley keep the momentum going while sticky toffee pudding closes the deal. Whether you’re a Disney loyalist or just craving something spectacular in Anaheim, this one is absolutely worth the reservation.

Gordon Ramsay at The Carnaby
1553 S. Disneyland Drive
Anaheim, CA 92802
714.780.3680
Su-Sa, 4-10 p.m.

 

Rich Collisions

One of Southern California’s most quietly beloved restaurants for over a decade, Little Sister has made its Huntington Beach debut. Chef Tin Vuong’s concept, rooted in the “rich collisions” born from the European colonization of Southeast Asia, landed at Pacific City in May with a menu that’s genuinely unlike anything else on the OC coast. French technique meets Vietnamese soul; the restaurant offers dishes like char siu braised short rib noodles; a curried seafood bowl loaded with blue crab, shrimp, mussels and clams; slow-braised pork belly finished with quail egg and supreme soy plus beef tenderloin with tomato fried rice. Banh mi sandwiches and deeply spiced curries round out a menu that rewards adventurous eaters.

Little Sister
21016 Pacific Coast Highway, Ste. D200
Huntington Beach, CA 92648
714.374.0038
M-W, 4-9:30 p.m.; Th-Su, 11 a.m. – 9:30 p.m.

 

Nikkei by Heart

Konpa Nikkei may be the most quietly exciting restaurant to open in OC this past year. Tucked into Corona del Mar’s East Coast Highway, Chef Jason Yamaguchi’s fast-casual gem is one of the only restaurants in Orange County entirely dedicated to Nikkei cuisine, the vibrant harmony of Japanese technique and Peruvian ingredients. Yamaguchi, who trained under his uncle, the celebrated Chef Roy Yamaguchi, brings deep personal history to the menu. The restaurant’s name is a marriage of two cultures: “Konpa-Konpa,” a Japanese phrase his grandmother used to call family to the table, and “compa,” Peruvian slang for friend. Tiraditos infused with aji amarillo, signature sushi-style rice wraps with kanpachi and aji verde crema, Nikkei bowls and house-made sauces make every visit feel fresh and genuinely one of a kind.

Konpa Nikkei
3333 E. Coast Highway
Corona del Mar, CA 92625
949.847.5555
Su-Sa, 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.

 

A Burger Worth the Trip

Tiny’s Burger is the OC debut nobody saw coming, and everyone is now obsessed. Chef Sang Yoon, the legendary mind behind Father’s Office, finally made his Orange County move in June 2026, opening this tribute to the American burger stand inside South Coast Plaza’s Carousel Court with a distinctly Asian-inflected twist. Named after his late Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, the concept is part nostalgic fast-casual, part Japanese konbini snack shop. The signature dry-aged beef burger comes loaded with Yoon’s gochujang-ssamjang sauce, the Tokyo Dog arrives dressed in bonito flakes and furikake, and the miso mac and cheese and salt and vinegar tots round out a menu that rewards every detour. Simple, smart and completely delicious.

Tiny’s Burger
3333 Bristol St., Ste. 1000
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
949.909.8469
M-Th, 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.; F-Sa, 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.; Su, 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.

 

COMING SOON:

Sustainable Seafood

A Newport Beach institution since 2007, Bear Flag Fish Co. is a local, sustainably sourced, wild-caught seafood company with its own processing facility in Costa Mesa. This summer, the beloved brand is finally opening a dedicated restaurant in Costa Mesa, bringing its legendary ahi poke burritos, fish tacos, fresh sashimi and poke bowls to the inland side of town. Bear Flag’s commitment to freshness is the whole story: their seafood comes in daily, gets processed and goes straight to your plate. No middlemen, no shortcuts, just spectacularly fresh fish in a casual, come-as-you-are setting. Keep an eye on their socials for the grand opening announcement.

Bear Flag Fish Co.
154 E. 17th St.
Costa Mesa, CA 92627
Opening Late Summer 2026 

 

Cheese-Centric Sips

HeyTea is bringing its cheese foam, fruit teas and wildly photogenic drinks to South Coast Plaza, and it can’t open soon enough. The Chinese brand that popularized the “cheese tea” craze back in 2012 has become a global force with thousands of locations worldwide, and Costa Mesa will soon be home to Orange County’s first location. Frustrated by powders and non-dairy creamers, founder Neo Nie Yunchen created something entirely new: fresh tea topped with silky cheese foam made from real milk. Today, HeyTea’s menu spans signature fruit teas, milk teas, boba drinks and seasonal specials crafted with high-quality, natural ingredients. It will open this summer on Level 1, Carousel Court of the mall.

HeyTea
3333 Bristol St.
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Opening Late Summer 2026

 

Mafia-Inspired Meals

West Hollywood’s most impossibly cool Italian restaurant is making its Orange County debut. The Nice Guy is a moody, vintage-glam hotspot from the h.wood Group, the team behind Delilah and Bootsy Bellows, and it’s taking over the former GuacAmigos space. The concept is practically cinematic: brass and marble bars, plush banquette seating, dim lighting and an atmosphere that splits the difference between an Italian trattoria and a Scorsese film. The menu delivers Italian comfort food with a modern edge. Think chicken parm, rigatoni bolognese, cacio e pepe, specialty pizzas and burrata, all supported by a craft cocktail program built for lingering.

The Nice Guy
2607 W. Coast Highway
Newport Beach, CA 92663
Opening 2026

 

Dinner with a View

Mark Wahlberg is coming to Newport Beach, and he’s bringing margaritas. Flecha Cantina, the actor’s growing Mexican restaurant brand, is set to open its latest location in the iconic space formerly home to The Whaler along Mariner’s Mile. This will be Flecha’s fourth location, joining outposts in Huntington Beach, Las Vegas and San Diego, and its first with a Newport Harbor view. The concept bills itself as “Mexican redefined,” bringing handmade corn tortilla tacos, ceviches, seafood enchiladas, churro French toast at brunch and an extensive tequila and mezcal program built around Wahlberg’s own Flecha Azul Tequila. The waterfront setting is already doing the heavy lifting atmosphere-wise. Add a signature margarita and a harbor sunset, and you’ll soon have an OC dinner plan that writes itself.

Flecha Cantina
2800 W. Coast Highway
Newport Beach, CA 92663
Opening September 2026

 

Unconventional Sushi

When James Beard Award winner Chef Tyson Cole announces his acclaimed Japanese concept is coming to your city, you pay attention. Uchi Newport Beach will land in a brand-new mixed-use building on Mariner’s Mile, the first Orange County location for the Austin-born restaurant group Hai Hospitality. Expect Cole’s signature non-traditional take on Japanese cuisine: seasonal omakase, handcrafted sushi, sashimi, makimono, yakimono, tempura and Newport-exclusive menu items. The 175-seat space will include bar seating, designed for both intimate evenings and memorable gatherings. This is destination dining of the highest order, and it’s planting its second West Coast flag right here in Newport Beach.

Uchi Newport Beach
2510 W. Coast Highway
Newport Beach, CA 92663
Opening in 2026

 

The Perfect Cookie

There are few food pilgrimages more devotional than a trip to Levain Bakery. The New York institution, founded in 1995 on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, built its reputation on one extraordinary thing: a six-ounce, thick-as-a-brick chocolate chip walnut cookie that’s crisp on the outside and gloriously molten in the middle. Now that cookie is coming to Fashion Island. The Newport Beach location will mark Levain’s first Orange County outpost. Expect the full lineup of signature flavors: chocolate chip walnut, dark chocolate chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin and rotating seasonal flavors. The bakery will also serve fresh breads, scones, muffins and coffee, and the anticipation alone deserves a spot on your calendar.

Levain Bakery
315 Newport Center Drive
Newport Beach, CA 92660
Opening in 2026

 

Q&A

Q: What is the best new restaurant in Orange County right now?

A: It depends on what you’re after, but a few standouts from the 2026 class are earning serious buzz. Kaiya Omakase Sushi + Bar at Lido House in Newport Beach is already one of the hardest reservations to land, with just 12 seats inside a lighthouse. Gordon Ramsay at The Carnaby at Downtown Disney opened in July 2026 and is drawing crowds for its Beef Wellington and tableside Prime Rib Trolley. And Nēsos Newport Beach on Mariner’s Mile has quickly become the most talked-about Greek restaurant the OC has seen in years. 

 

Q: What new restaurants opened in Orange County in 2026?

A: OC’s 2026 dining class is stacked. Highlights include Kura Revolving Sushi Bar at the Village at Orange, Din Tai Fung at Irvine Spectrum, Truly Pizza in Laguna Beach, Little Sister at Pacific City in Huntington Beach and MoonGoat Greenhouse at Pacific Arts Plaza in Costa Mesa. Still to come later this year: Flecha Cantina and The Nice Guy on Newport’s Mariner’s Mile. 

 

Q: What new restaurants are coming soon to Orange County in 2026?

A: Several highly anticipated openings are still on the horizon. Uchi Newport Beach will bring James Beard Award-winning chef Tyson Cole’s acclaimed Japanese concept to Mariner’s Mile. Levain Bakery is bringing its legendary six-ounce cookies to Fashion Island. HeyTea is heading to South Coast Plaza, and Bear Flag Fish Co. is set to open a dedicated Costa Mesa restaurant this summer. 

 

Q: Where can I find new date night restaurants in Orange County?

A: OC’s newest date night options are exceptional. For a truly special evening, Kaiya Omakase Sushi + Bar in Newport Beach seats just 12 guests for a curated progression of seasonal seafood. Nēsos Newport Beach delivers intimate Greek dining with ingredients sourced directly from Hellenic farms. Gordon Ramsay at The Carnaby at Downtown Disney makes for an unforgettable night out, and Little Sister in Huntington Beach brings bold Southeast Asian flavors to Pacific City with coastal views. 

 

Q: What are the best new restaurants in Newport Beach in 2026?

A: Newport Beach is having a major dining moment. Kaiya Omakase Sushi + Bar inside Lido House’s lighthouse is already one of the city’s most coveted reservations. Nēsos Newport Beach on Mariner’s Mile is drawing fans of authentic Greek cuisine. And later in 2026, expect Uchi Newport Beach, Flecha Cantina and The Nice Guy to join the conversation as three of the most anticipated openings on the coast.