5 Upcoming Orange County Restaurants Worth Watching

A bowl of congee arrives at the table, beef rib settled beneath sweet pork floss, crispy onions and a single unbroken egg yolk waiting to be stirred through. That dish belongs to Vox Kitchen, one of five Upcoming Orange County Restaurants reshaping storefronts across the region this fall, as the area's restaurant scene continues its familiar rhythm of closures making way for new arrivals.

Vox Kitchen Stretches South to Aliso Viejo

Vox Kitchen opened its third Orange County location on September 2 at 26511 Aliso Creek Road, extending beyond its Fountain Valley roots. Founded in 2017 by James Beard semifinalist Viet Nguyen, the Kei Concepts restaurant specializes in modern Chifa, the Chinese Peruvian culinary tradition shaped by the Chinese immigrant diaspora in Peru. The 3,298 square foot space seats roughly 80 guests and features Nguyen's signature dishes, filet mignon lomo saltado, filet garlic noodles, garlic chicken wings and Chifa style fried rice, alongside congee variations that include beef rib and crab, among the best the county has to offer. The opening continues a busy expansion streak for Kei Concepts, whose portfolio already includes Nep Cafe, Kei Coffeehouse, ROL Hand Bar and QUA Contemporary Chinese Cuisine.

El Moro Churrería Brings Traditional Craft to La Habra

On September 10, El Moro Churrería will open its second Orange County location at 1327 West Whittier Boulevard in La Habra, following its U.S. debut inside Costa Mesa's Mercado González. The new location sits near Northgate González Market, which is itself being converted into a second Mercado González. Founded in Mexico City in 1935, El Moro makes churros to order in traditional roscas and bite sized moritos, served with dipping sauces including chocolate, cajeta, condensed milk and chocolate hazelnut. Guests can also expect a range of drinking chocolates, from the cinnamon touched Mexicano to the dairy free Oaxaqueño, each served hot or cold alongside churros made for dipping.

Zov's Returns to a Beloved Costa Mesa Corner

Zov's will take over the shuttered Playa Mesa space at 428 East 17th Street in Costa Mesa, with an opening planned for late 2026, marking the fifth location for the nearly 40 year old family run restaurant. Chef Zov Karamardian opened the original Zov's in Tustin in 1987, and today three generations of the Karamardian family remain involved in the business. Mario Marovic, who owns the property with partner Andrew Gabriel, spoke to why the space felt right for this particular concept. "Having operated Playa Mesa in this space, I know firsthand what a special corner of Costa Mesa this is," he said. "Zov's is exactly the kind of restaurant this community deserves, a family concept with real history, real roots, and nearly four decades of doing things the right way." The menu will bring Zov's familiar Mediterranean meets California style, grilled lamb chops, mezze, seafood, flatbreads, pasta and salads.

White Rooster Expands to Corona del Mar

Chef owner Michael Campbell is bringing White Rooster, his Dana Point restaurant that opened in January, to Coast Highway in Corona del Mar, replacing the recently shuttered Mayur Cuisine of India. The move follows closely on the heels of Campbell opening The Shore locations in San Juan Capistrano and Dana Point. White Rooster's broadly defined Comida Californiana menu gives Campbell room to move fluidly between smoked tri tip tacos and chilaquiles, blue corn waffles, seafood and a birria burger. The new location is slated to open in late October or early November.

Scratch Bakery and Cafe Fills a Beloved A-Frame in Dana Point

The distinctive A frame building at 34114 Coast Highway in Dana Point won't stay empty for long. Scratch Bakery and Cafe is taking over the space where JC Beans served its final cup on August 30 after 32 years in business. Scratch currently operates locations in Laguna Hills and Newport Beach's Fashion Island, serving breads, pastries, sandwiches, burritos and salads. According to CEO and president Ronnie Givargis, the plan is to keep the building's drive thru operational, though no opening date has yet been announced.

What Five Different Openings Reveal Together

Taken together, these five openings tell a story less about any single trend and more about Orange County's restaurant ecosystem constantly renewing itself, established groups expanding proven concepts, family restaurants returning to corners that shaped them decades ago, and independent chefs following momentum from one successful location to the next. Whatever draws diners through each new door, the region's appetite for fresh openings shows no sign of slowing.

More information is available on the official website at keiconcepts.com. Further reading on the hospitality industry is available at hospitalitycareerprofile.com.