A fast-growing boutique breakfast chain in San Diego is racing north to Orange County.

Breakfast Republic, which has seven locations in the San Diego area, is opening its first Orange County restaurant later this year in Irvine. It’s replacing the Veggie Grill at University Center near UC Irvine.

“Our lease expired after 10 years. We were not able to reach a new lease agreement with the landlord, The Irvine Co.,” Veggie Grill said in a statement. The fast-casual vegan chain, which opened at the center in late 2006, will close end of May, the company said.

Breakfast Republic is a full-service concept by the hospitality firm Rise & Shine Restaurant Group. The first location opened in San Diego in 2015 and quickly grew its fan base with innovative breakfast items such as shrimp & ricotta frittata, mashed potato omelet, Jurassic pork eggs Benedict, Oreo cookie pancakes and breakfast bacon mac ‘n cheese.

The restaurant’s decor is just as whimsical. Waiting room chairs are egg-shaped, walls are covered with rooster artwork and light fixtures look like whisks. The Irvine location will seat roughly 100 diners in a 2,450-square-foot restaurant.

It’s slated to open in the fall at 4213 Campus Drive next to Trader Joe’s.

San Diego-based Rise & Shine also operates three Fig Tree Café restaurants in San Diego.