5 new Orange County restaurants and food spots to put on your radar
Orange County's dining scene continues to grow this spring. This latest wave of openings and incoming eateries include a pair of ice cream shops battling for frozen dessert dominance in Old Towne, a new pizza chain landing in Tustin, a sprawling seafood buffet taking over a Rite Aid and a Palm Springs restaurant bringing mezcal and modern Mexican cuisine to Costa Mesa.
NOW OPEN
Paradis Ice Cream (Orange)
Old Towne has a new ice cream player on the Circle: Paradis Ice Cream, a Danish-born creamery that got its start in Copenhagen, has finally opened, bringing its lighter, gelato-esque style to the neighborhood. Flavors include Earl Grey, double almond chip, chocolate-dipped strawberry, black currant brownie cheesecake, avocado and lime, and Amarena chip, alongside a rotating selection of plant-based, vegan options.
The new shop takes over the former Plaza Barbershop space, next door to the now-shuttered Felix Continental Cafe.
Find it:30 Plaza Square, Orange, 818-617-0050
The Ice Cream Shack (Orange)
Just a stroll from Paradis (roughly 300 feet along Chapman Avenue) another dessert shop has entered the OId Towne ice cream race. The Ice Cream Shack, which opened in late April from owner Jorge Prado, leans into both scoops and paletas with flavors like cheesecake, Dubai chocolate, Ferrero Rocher, lemon, mango, tres leches and watermelon.
Additional popsicle flavors include Abuelita chocolate, cajeta, chocolate banana, mixed berries, Oreo, rice pudding, strawberries and cream. Beyond frozen treats, the new shop also serves strawberry cups, chamoy apples and mangonada.
Find it:238 W Chapman Ave., #100, Orange, 657-221-0057
Pizza Guys (Tustin)
Located just off the Red Hill Avenue exit right along the 5 Freeway, Tustin's Pizza Guys opened Thursday, May 7. The pizza chain offers a litany of pies, ranging from cup-and-char pepperoni and Texas Barbecue to All-In Stuffed Crust and Spanish Garlic Chicken.
The California-born pizzeria also makes flatbreads, wings, pastas and salads, alongside desserts like an eight-inch chocolate chip cookie and cheesecake from The Cheesecake Factory.
Pizza Guys was founded in Sacramento in 1986. It has since swelled to over 80 locations in California, Nevada and Oregon.
Find it:1450 El Camino Real, Tustin, 657-766-9555
COMING SOON
Maleza (Costa Mesa)
Palm Springs import Maleza is coming to Costa Mesa, where the Mexican restaurant and mezcal bar will open at The CAMP. The restaurant blends Mexican flavors with subtle fusion touches, including ingredients like miso and shoyu folded into dishes across the menu.
Expected offerings include hamachi aguachile, tuna tostadas, grilled maitake mushrooms with salsa macha and smoked trout roe, alongside larger plate and mezcal-heavy cocktails.
It's tentatively expected to open in June.
Shiki Seafood (Orange)
A massive new seafood buffet is preparing to land in Orange. Shiki Seafood is slated to move into the former Rite Aid space along Tustin Street, bringing an all-you-can-eat spread centered on seafood, sushi and hot dishes.
While an official opening date has yet to be announced, signage and build-out activity have been underway for weeks.
Shiki Seafood has a location in Temple City, which features a sprawling buffet of sashimi, sushi rolls, crab legs, shellfish, hot entrees, desserts and a chocolate fountain, among other offerings typical of large-format seafood buffets.
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This story was originally published May 7, 2026 at 10:32 AM.