With four new openings in Orange County, ranging from a San Diego-based coffee staple to the reopening of Coast Highway favorite that shuttered in 2020, here are four spots to put on your radar for your early morning caffeine fix to a late-night bite.
Better Buzz
San Diego’s favorite small-batch coffee outfit has officially arrived in Santa Ana, serving the Floral Park and Washington Square neighborhoods. Since launching its first brick-and-mortar cafe in 2007 in Pacific Beach, Better Buzz has built a following for its creative caffeine concoctions. The menu features on-tap cold brews and single-origin espresso drinks to signature lattes in flavors like honey, white mocha, vanilla bean and snickerdoodle. The famished can enjoy acai bowls, smoothies, toasts (avocado or almond butter and jam), sandwiches, pastries and wraps.
The Santa Ana outpost joins a growing list of Orange County locations, including spots in Anaheim, Costa Mesa, Fullerton, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Orange, Placentia and San Clemente.
Open daily from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Find it: 1601 N. Bristol St., Santa Ana
K’ya Laguna
A Laguna Beach staple makes its long-awaited comeback. After a nearly four-year hiatus, K’ya Laguna (formerly K’ya Bistro) reopened its doors on Feb 12. Located on the ground level of La Casa Del Camino hotel, the restaurant returns with a new look and a heightened culinary direction. The revamped eatery offers Spanish-style shareable plates, cocktails and live music.
Open for dinner Tuesday through Sunday from 5 to 10 p.m.
Find it: 1289 S. Coast Highway, Laguna Beach
Mr. Moto Pizza
Officially opening on Feb. 7, San Diego-based Mr. Moto Pizza (not to be confused with Moto Pizza [stylized MOTO Pizza], a Seattle-based pizzeria set to open at Miramar Food Hall in San Clemente) opened in Costa Mesa. For its opening, the Costa Mesa location is offering a choice deal where $5 gets you two slices and a beverage. Available for a limited time, according to a store employee.
In addition to build-your-own-pizza options, Mr. Moto Pizza features white pie and red pie, as well as garlic knots, chicken wings, salads, stromboli, calzones and more. Its other Orange County locations can be found in Irvine and Orange.
Find it: 259 E. 17th St., Costa Mesa
Wagyu Factory
On the heels of its Lake Forest and Tustin locations, Wagyu Factory opened a new location in Brea. Part of Chubby Group, the restaurant group that operates spots like Chubby Curry and Niku, this all-you-can-eat pit stop offers Japanese wagyu, sushi, Korean barbecue and shabu shabu.
Wagyu Factory moves into the former site of Gyu-Kaku Japanese Barbecue.
Find it: 120 S. Brea Blvd., Brea