Old Towne Orange is close to welcoming several new dining destinations: Burritos La Palma, noted for its Zacatecan-style burritos; Paradis, a Danish ice cream brand with locations in Los Angeles; and Centro, an Italian restaurant set to open inside a 119-year-old building.
Burritos La Palma
A brand new construction will rise in the burned out shell of Taco Adobe, which was damaged in a 2022 fire that, in part, led to its closure, with Burritos La Palma laying claim to its newest location.
The brainchild of José de Jesús Bañuelos, Burritos La Palma started as a tortilleria in Jerez, Zacatecas, in the 1980s, followed by an expansion into the U.S. with its first location in El Monte in 2012. The family-owned chain has since grown to five currently open locations.
ALSO SEE: Old Towne Orange has nearly 50 restaurants. How did it become a dining destination?
Noted for its slender, longer burritos compared to the ones commonly found at most California taquerias and restaurants, menu highlights at Burritos La Palma include a birria iteration (acclaimed by many a food scribe, including the late Jonathan Gold, who wrote in 2015 that “the well-toasted tube lies firmly within the minimal aesthetic associated with the Los Angeles burrito — spicy, captivating in its plainness, and almost wholesome”), chicken tinga (shredded chicken, chipotle, potato), chicharron in salsa verde, deshebrada (shredded beef, green chile, potato) and refried beans and cheese.
Burritos La Palma hopes to open its Orange location sometime this year.
Paradis
Moving into the now-closeed Plaza Barbershop next door to the also shuttered Felix Continental Cafe, Paradis Ice Cream will open a new Orange County location in Old Towne Circle.
Paradis Ice Cream originated in Copenhagen, with its first parlor opening in 2003. The company later expanded to the United States, with the first U.S. location opening in 2009 in the La Crescenta-Montrose area. Parlors in Seal Beach and Huntington Beach followed.
ALSO SEE: Filo Dessert Co. brings Middle Eastern ice cream and knafeh to Old Towne Orange
The ice cream purveyor is knowns for its light, gelato-like texture and features a slew of flavors, including Earl Grey, double almond chip, chocolate-dipped strawberry, black currant brownie cheesecake, avocado and lime, Amarena chip and more. Additionally, plant-based, vegan flavors are available.
Look for Paradis to open in Orange sometime in summer 2025.
Centro
The highly anticipated Centro, on the heels of its acclaimed Tustin locations, Centro and Storico Spaghetteria, is poised to open its doors soon. The Italian restaurant from the Pozzuoli family, who also own and operate a namesake winery and brewery in San Miguel, will open inside a renovated, circa-1905 building on Chapman Avenue.
Featuring a basement dining room and wine cellar, Centro will offer Italian fare ranging from salads and antipasto to pizzas and desserts.
Look for the new Centro to open sometime in spring 2025.