CONTACT US

Contact Form

    News Details

    4 new restaurants opening in Orange County
    • April 17, 2026

    Despite a handful of notable closures as of late, including O Sea and Dizz’s As Is, several new restaurants are poised to open across Orange County this spring, including a ramen spot that recently reopened. From a legacy bagel chain expanding its footprint to a buzzy pizzeria heading north, here’s a look at four spots to watch.

    Hungry? Sign up for The Eat Index, our weekly food newsletter, and find out where to eat and get the latest restaurant happenings in Orange County. Subscribe here.

    Einstein Bros. Bagels (Orange)

    With more than a handful of locations across Orange County, Einstein Bros. Bagels will open a new outpost in Orange.

    While not part of the recent bagel boom, a la Rise Bagels and PopUp Bagel, the longtime chain has been a steady presence since 1990. Its lineup leans toward such flavors as asiago cheese, everything, cheddar jalapeño and apple cinnamon, alongside plain, onion and other de rigueur staples.

    The brand, along with Bruegger’s Bagels and Noah’s New York Bagels, falls under Panera Brands. This marks Einstein’s second Orange location; another operates near Chapman University.

    Scheduled to open late spring/early summer.

    Find it: 2094 N. Tustin St., Orange

    Jimmy B’s (San Clemente)

    Taking over the former Daily’s Sports Grill space, Jimmy B’s is slated to open May 1 in San Clemente.

    The concept leans fully into the high-energy sports bar playbook. It’s the brainchild of Jim Bellino (a familiar name to fans of “The Real Housewives of Orange County”) and centers on a sprawling, illuminated bar top and a wall of screens, including eleven 100-inch flat screens.

    While the menu hasn’t been revealed, the existing location in Palm Springs offers a preview of what’s possibly to come: crowd-pleasing fare like eggs benedict, breakfast burritos, wings, burgers, salads, crispy chicken sandwich, steaks, cocktails galore and more. Big-game viewing on the aforementioned screens will also be a draw, especially on game days.

    Find it: 204 S. El Camino Real, San Clemente

    Ramen Akimoto in Fountain Valley, CA, on Thursday, April 16, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
    Ramen Akimoto in Fountain Valley, CA, on Thursday, April 16, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

    Ramen Akimoto (Fountain Valley)

    An already-beloved name in Orange County’s ramen landscape, Ramen Akimoto, formerly located in Yorba Linda until late 2025, has quietly reopened in Fountain Valley.

    Ramen Akimoto is most noted for its chicken paitan ramen, often thought of as tonkotsu’s neglected sibling, featuring a rich, milky broth (paitan translates to “white soup” in Japanese). It also focuses on mazemen (broth-less ramen), cuka soba (soy-based ramen), tsukemen and a limited quantity of ultra-rich, ultra-fatty and ultra-tasty jiro ramen.

    This is yet another welcome addition to the Brookhurst corridor, already dense with Vietnamese and Japanese dining options, and continues to evolve into one of the area’s most compelling dining stretches.

    Ramen Akimoto opened in early April.

    Find it: 18050 Brookhurst St., Fountain Valley, ramenakimoto.com

    The crispy pepperoni pizza at Truly Pizza in Dana Point on Monday, May 5, 2025. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
    The crispy pepperoni pizza at Truly Pizza in Dana Point on Monday, May 5, 2025. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

    Truly Pizza (Laguna Beach)

    After opening its first location in Dana Point in 2024, which helped nudge the coastal enclave into destination-dining territory, Truly Pizza will debut its second outpost in Laguna Beach on May 7.

    As with the original, the menu will center on (award-winning) square and round pies care of pizzaiolo Chris Decker. Standouts include the crispy pepperoni with cup-and-char slices, basil and pecorino Romano; an umami mushroom pie layered with onion and garlic sauce, smoked mozzarella, roasted mushrooms, toasted sesame oil and bonito flakes; and a sweet-and-spicy number finished with hot soppressata, stracciatella and Mike’s Hot Honey.

    And then there’s the soft serve that should never be skipped.

    Unlike the Dana Point location, the Laguna Beach outpost will introduce a full bar and cocktail program. It takes over the former Number Three Restaurant space along Coast Highway.

    Truly Pizza was founded by Donna Baldwin, John Arena, Chris Decker and Michael Vakneen.

    Find it: 320 N. Coast Highway, Laguna Beach, trulypizza.com

     

     Orange County Register 

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    News