The Pacific Rim-Inspired Seafood Restaurant Has Opened Its Newest Location at the Brea Mall
If your idea of a great dinner involves bold Pacific Rim flavors, a tropical cocktail in hand and a vibe that makes you feel like you’ve left the 57 freeway far behind, your table is waiting. Pacific Catch has officially opened its newest location at the Brea Mall, and Orange County is about to have a new obsession.
For anyone not yet familiar with the brand, Pacific Catch has spent years perfecting the art of the coastal escape. The concept is simple but deeply satisfying: take the spirit of Pacific travel (think Hawaii, Japan, Southeast Asia) and translate it into a dining experience that’s equal parts approachable and exciting. Brea is the newest chapter in that story, and it might just be the best one yet.
A Room That Does the Work
Walk through the doors, and the first thing you’ll notice is that someone put serious thought into this space. The Brea location leans fully into modern California coastal living, layering warm natural materials, sandy neutrals, muted greens and ocean-inspired tones. The restaurant somehow manages to feel both elevated and completely relaxed. Wood flooring anchors the space while mixed media art installations, woven elements and patterned tiles keep things visually interesting without veering into sensory overload.
The layout has been designed with intention. An expansive patio offers booths and lounge seating, creating the kind of spot where you linger well past the last bite. Inside, a large bar offers another place to dine, humming with energy that appeals to guests who like their dinner with a side of atmosphere. Intimate two-top tables set the mood for date night while roomy destination corner booths welcome larger groups, families and anyone who is hungry and plans to stay awhile. Standout round quartz tables tucked beneath a leafy trellis add a sculptural moment that’s very Instagram-ready. A custom sunset mural pulls it all together, giving the room a sense of place that feels personal rather than mass-produced.
The Menu Is the Main Event
Pacific Catch has always understood that design only takes you so far. It’s the food that keeps people coming back, and the Brea menu was built to deliver. The small plates menu alone is reason enough to make the trip, offering everything from Housemade Crab Cakes and Hawaiian Kanpachi Crudo to Cabo Calamari for a spread that sets the tone for a very good night. Pair it with a round of tropical cocktails from the open-air bar, and you’ve already got a winning recipe.
Sushi tacos bring the kind of creativity that makes you reconsider the definition of a taco, while the miso black cod delivers deep, umami-rich flavor with the elegance that dish is known for. Newer additions at Brea push the menu further into exciting territory. Kanpachi hand rolls with yuzu koshō and lobster with tobiko also help bring the sushi bar into sharp focus. The Hawaiian Kanpachi Crudo, layered with citrus, chile and macadamia, is the kind of dish that arrives beautiful and disappears quickly. Summer Sea Bass gets a turmeric-coconut treatment that leans tropical without being heavy, while Shrimp “Al Pastor” brings a sweet, smoky twist that reads like a very confident culinary passport stamp.
For those who want something refreshing between bites, the Citrus-Pepita Salad offers vibrant textures and bright flavors that hold their own against the rest of the menu, no afterthought required.
Stop by for Aloha Hour
Let’s talk about Aloha Hour, because it deserves its own moment. Pacific Catch’s spin on happy hour is a full social experience that takes diners beyond mere discounted drinks on a Tuesday. The open-air cocktail bar and heated outdoor patio create a backdrop for what easily becomes one of the better mid-week decisions you’ll make. Come for the cocktails, but stay for the conversation. Doors open to Aloha Hour daily at 3 p.m., giving you every reason to arrive early and linger longer. Order another round of sushi tacos while you’re at it.
The Vision Behind It All
Founded on a love of Pacific destinations and the belief that the flavors of those places deserve a permanent home on the West Coast, Pacific Catch has cultivated a restaurant that embodies that vision through a California coastal lens. The Brea space that feels transportive without being themed, global without being generic.
“It’s designed as both an everyday escape and a destination,” the team shares, “where guests can explore bold, globally influenced flavors in a relaxed, transportive setting.”
That balance of accessible but aspirational is exactly what makes Pacific Catch so easy to love.
It’s also worth noting that sustainability isn’t just a talking point here. Pacific Catch prioritizes responsibly sourced seafood through partnerships with fisheries that meet rigorous environmental standards. Seasonal ingredients drive the menu, which means what you’re eating is fresh, intentional and better for the ocean that inspired it.
Whether working your way through the cocktail list on the heated patio or settling into one of those trellis-side quartz tables for a long, leisurely dinner, Pacific Catch Brea is the kind of place that earns a permanent spot in your rotation. The food is bold, the room is beautiful and the energy? Exactly what it promises. Come hungry. Stay for Aloha Hour. Tell everyone.
Pacific Catch is now open at the Brea Mall in Brea, California.
Ever since she was a child, Ashley Ryan knew she wanted to write. After working on her high school newspaper and college magazine, she graduated with a degree in journalism and anthropology, eager to tell the stories of people and places in Orange County and around the world. Her prolific career as a writer, editor and photographer has led her to write about travel, culture, art, home design and so much more. When not working on her latest piece, she enjoys visiting new places, going to concerts, hiking, doing yoga on the beach, reading, cheering on her favorite sports teams and spending time with beloved friends and family.
