Last updated: 7/21/17 Latest Orange County restaurant closures

(Note: Information is based on Register staff reporting, and verified reader tips. The date of the closure and the reason for shutting down are listed when available.)

Got a tip on a closure? Post a comment here or email me at nluna@scng.com.

For restaurant closures in 2008, 2009, 2010, go to my closure archive.

CLICK HERE for Listing of O.C. Restaurant Openings

Below is a list of closures in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017:

Sharky’s Woodfired Mexican Grill is closing in Tustin at The District on Sunday, July 23. “The restaurant has been in the shopping center for 10 years and the lease has come to an end,” the company said in a statement. Earlier this year, Panera Bread at the District also closed.

Surfas Culinary District closed its South Coast Collection location Monday, June 5. The company posted the announcement on its website but did not provide a reason for the closure. A sign also was posted on the door. The 18,000-square-foot cooking supply store was a cross between a Williams-Sonoma and a restaurant supply warehouse. It opened at the retail shopping center five years ago. It included a cafe, test kitchen, wine and cheese bar and a cheese and charcuterie department. Representatives for Surfas could not be reached for comment. SoCo sent the Register the following statement: “SOCO is proud to have been home to Surfas Culinary District for the past five years, and to have been part of the rich tradition that Surfas has represented in the restaurant and culinary community for 80 years. We respect the company’s decision to consolidate operations and close its Orange County store, but will miss having Surfas as part of the SOCO family. Surfas Culinary District closed today, June 5. SOCO will be welcoming another esteemed tenant (to be announced shortly) to the Surfas location in the fall. Surfas shoppers with questions regarding pending orders, Test Kitchen classes or gift cards, should contact Surfas’ Culver City Store Manager at (310) 559-4770.”

Landmark Costa Mesa restaurant The Golden Truffle closing after 37 years. CLICK HERE to read full story.

San Giovanni Ristorante: The Trabuco Canyon restaurant, at 31931 Dove Canyon Drive, closed last weekend after more than 25 years in business. In their goodbye note posted on the restaurant’s Facebook page, the owners said the shopping center had been sold “and the future of Dove Canyon Center is uncertain.”

McDonald’s closures: Two fast-food burger restaurants inside Walmart stores in Huntington Beach and Laguna Niguel recently closed. A representative for McDonald’s in Southern California said the decision to close at the end of a lease is up to the franchisee. Other McDonald’s locations continue to operate inside Walmart stores in Southern California, McDonald’s said.

Shinkou Sushi & Poke in Laguna Hills closed in late January. (2017) The restaurant posted a closure note on its Facebook page, thanking customers for their loyalty since they opened nearly six years ago. Owner Veronica Hananto said a few factors contributed to the closure, including the inability to negotiate a new lease in a timely manner and the loss of key employees. “It is a bittersweet feeling. We are sad and yet excited for the future adventures await. We thank you all again for your patronage and love,” the restaurant wrote on its Facebook page. Address: 24881 Alicia Parkway, Laguna Hills.

Mrs Bea’s Louisiana Chicken and Waffles in La Habra, around since 2012, closed its La Habra location. “We are currently looking for another, smaller location,” a representative for the restaurant told the Register in an email. The Harbor Boulevard eatery sold 15 different infused waffle flavors, as well as waffle burgers and waffle sandwiches.

Cinnamon Productions shuttered its last two restaurants in South Orange County. Locations in Rancho Santa Margarita and San Clemente closed over the past two weeks. Owner Randy Farah said in a statement on Facebook that the bakery cafe was unable to negotiate a new lease in Rancho Santa Margarita. He recently closed a Ladera Ranch cafe. A location in Foothill Ranch closed last year. Attempts to reach Farah have been unsuccessful.

Smashburger at Buena Park Downtown closed Jan. 8. “Unfortunately, from time to time, we must close underperforming stores that don’t meet our rigorous performance standards,” a company spokeswoman told the Register on Jan. 20. The better burger chain out of Denver entered the Orange County market in 2012. Last year, a Smashburger in Irvine closed. It is being replaced by The Cut, a gourmet burger eatery that started out as a food truck. The owner of Bistro Bleu in Anaheim closed the French bistro in December after nearly five years in business. Owner David Kesler said he is only “pausing” the business as he needs to take a break to have back surgery. Once he’s recovered, he said he plans to find a new home for Bistro Blue. “I will be focusing mainly on the North Orange County area,” he said.

Curry House in Santa Ana on Memory Lane has closed. Curry House, located next to Mother’s Market in the City Place center, posted a sign on the door thanking customers for visiting them since they opened Jan. 1, 2014. The sign did not state a reason for the closure.

King Lobster Palace in Orange recently closed. A chain link fence surrounds the property on Tustin Street next to Polly’s Pies. The site, at 2045 N. Tustin St., is slated to become Rapids Express Car Wash, according to city documents.

In Yorba Linda, Red Thai Room at 4905 Yorba Ranch Rd. has closed, according to its website. “Our Yorba Linda Location Has Closed! Please add your email address here for future new location,” the website stated.

Seoulmate, known for its Korean-Mexican fusion street food, closed its downtown Fullerton location before Christmas (2016). The original Long Beach restaurant, which opened in 2013, remains open. The restaurant posted the closure on its Facebook page, stating it was bittersweet. However, note did not provide a reason for the closure.

Rubino’s Pizza, a hangout for local high school students for years, has closed its restaurant at 27762 Santa Margarita Pkwy. in Mission Viejo. In a note to loyal customers, Lori Rubino said her father founded the location in 1987. The family sold it, and she did not know why the current owners closed it. Rubino said she continues to own and operate a Rubino’s at 26012 Santa Marguerite in Mission Viejo. The restaurant is in the same center as Von Pavilions.

The Panera Bread at The District in Tustin closed permanently Jan. 1. A Panera Bread representative did not provide the reason for the closure. Representatives for The District shopping center, which turns 10 years old this year, have not returned a request to comment. Panera was one of the first food tenants to open at the District.

Six Round Table Pizza restaurants closed in December (2016) in Orange County.CLICK HERE to read full details.

After a 21-year run in Laguna Niguel Knowlwood closed Nov. 30 at The Center at Rancho Niguel. A representative for developer Buie Stoddard Group said the firm is looking at several restaurants interested in replacing Knowlwood.

Fins Poke Fusion, one of dozens of new poke shops to open over the last six months, has closed its Fullerton location. Co-owner Moby Duncan said he and his partners, sushi chefs and brothers Peter and David Cho , made the tough decision to close the poke restaurant Dec. 6 because the restaurant couldn’t sustain itself. CLICK HERE to read more

Supermarket closure: Sam Nayyeri, owner of Wholesome Choice in Laguna Niguel, said he’ll be closing the market at the end of the month. After two years, he said the store, known for selling a wide variety of international foods, couldn’t generate the same kind of foot traffic as his locations in Anaheim Hills and Irvine. “The (Laguna Niguel) demographic didn’t fit our concept.” Nayyeri said. “We tend to flourish more where there is more diversity.” The exact date of the closure has not been set, but Nayyeri said the store will stay open through Thanksgiving.

Candies Apples and Sweets in Old Towne Orange has closed. The owner of the shop, said a “new sweet shop is moving in soon,” according to a post on the shop’s Facebook page. “This new company will have cakes, cake pops, ice cream sandwiches and much much more,” the owner said. The candy shop was tucked in the back of a courtyard on North Glassell Street across from Zito’s Pizza. It was previously a Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory.

East Coast Bagel in Mission Viejo (27726 Santa Margarita Pkwy.) has closed. The storefront has been gutted. No signs were posted announcing a replacement.

Las Playas Family Restaurant in Orange, open for a few months on Tustin Street, has recently in Orange as Earl’s Grill. The new diner represents a comeback for the brand as Earl’s Home Cookin’ operated as a local coffee house for years.

Blakely’s Chicken in Orange has closed. A sign on the store said the eatery, which sold rotisserie chicken on Katella Avenue and Tustin Street, was closed for restructuring.

Cypress-based Real Mex Restaurants confirmed the closure of an El Torito Grill in Sherman Oaks. The restaurant closed Monday. “Real Mex Restaurants closed the El Torito Grill location in Sherman Oaks when the lease expired in October and all team members including management have the opportunity to join Real Mex Restaurants,” the company said in a statement. The first El Torito Grill opened in 1986 in the site of the former Velvet Turtle at Fashion Island in Newport Beach. David Wilhelm, along with longtime El Torito chef Pepe Lopez, developed the original menu. The El Torito spin off was designed to cater to the “next generation” of food lovers – those who would embrace a gourmet flair to Mexican food. Several other Grills opened up. But in recent years, many have closed. The remaining El Torito Grills are in Irvine, Brea and Torrance, according to the website. Last year, Real Mex hired a new chief executive to turn around the company.

A Hometown Buffet in La Habra closed Thursday (9/29). The restaurant’s parent company, Buffets LLC, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy earlier this year. At that time, the company closed other O.C. locations in Laguna Woods and Santa Ana on Bristol. Auction Nation, an online auction site, said Buffets is closing “weaker restaurants” as part of its restructuring strategy. The company is auctioning off remaining assets of the La Habra restaurant, 1901 W. Imperial Hwy.

Daphne’s California Greek in Fullerton has closed. It will be replaced by Ono Hawaiian BBQ, according to a representative for the property owner.

Filomena’s Cafe and Wine Bar,at 23811 Aliso Creek Rd., in Laguna Niguel closed in August. The owner and chef Linda Johnsen said she is refocusing her efforts on opening an Italian deli next to her flagship Italian eatery in Costa Mesa. The deli will be reminiscent of Italian markets in south Philadelphia, where Johnsen grew up. She wants to open the market in time for the holidays. Johnsen’s Filomena’s Italian Kitchen, critically reviewed for its homemade pastas and pizza, is at 2400 Newport Blvd. in Costa Mesa.

A Chili’s at 26782 Portola Pkwy in Foothill Ranch is closing Sept. 28. “We constantly review the performance of our restaurants and from time to time will make the tough decision to close a location based on evaluative criteria. We are very grateful to our team members and the loyal guests of Foothill Ranch who visited this restaurant over the last 21 years,” Chili’s told the Register in a statement.

Manhattan Steak & Seafood in Orange is closing Sept. 1, according to a posting on its Facebook page. “Molly Mahoney will perform August 31, as Manhattan Steak & Seafood closes our doors after 7 years as the last family owned fine dining restaurant in Orange,” the Facebook posting said. The space, at 202 S. Main St., was home to La Brasserie restaurant until it closed in 2007.

Jason’s by the Circle, a global comfort food restaurant in Orange, has closed after a year in business. A sign on the door said the restaurant was permanently closed, but is still available for catering. It’s unclear if the catering business will be operated out of the Chapman Avenue location, which has seen a number of restaurants come and go. Before Jason’s, Ways & Means, an upscale seafood and steak house, operated in that space. It closed and relocated to Huntington Beach. A Greek diner and Coco’s also operated in that location, 513 E. Chapman Ave., Orange.

Oggi’s: The pizzeria and sports bar closed in late August. Represenatives for the San Clemente-based chain said the restaurant was a franchise location and it was unclear to them why the operator closed shut down.

Mi Casa: The Mexican eatery in Rancho Santa Margarita closed this summer. “Our lease was coming up therefore we decided not to renew,” the company told the Register in an email. The restaurant had been in that location for four years. The company referred fans to its Costa Mesa location on 17th Street.

Farrell’s: Orange County-based Parlour Enterprises has closed two Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlour restaurants in California. The locations in Rancho Cucamonga and Sacramento abruptly closed Aug. 1. Investor and landlord issues prompted the closures as the nostalgic brand faces some struggles, said marketing director Shauna Parisi. The closures come after Farrell’s closed its Mission Viejo location in January. Stay tuned for more news on Farrell’s. We’ll tell you what’s happening with the other locations in Buena Park, Brea, Riverside and Santa Clarita.

Kutsi Cocina Bar and Lounge: After opening earlier this year, Kutsi in downtown Santa Ana has closed. It’s unclear what happened. Attempts to reach the owner have been unsuccessful. The restaurant appeared to struggle from onset, having changed its name and executive chefs in the first few months. The restaurant had taken over the prime corner space once occupied by Memphis at the Santora, which closed two years ago. The closure comes amid major changes to downtown Santa Ana over the last several years. The culinary scene has exploded with concepts such as Playground, Chapter One and 4th Street Market making the area a destination. But other restaurants have failed despite having earned good reviews including North Left, Diego’s, Little Sparrow and Paninoteca Maggio.

LYFE Kitchen: The fast-casual chain with a wholesome food menu has closed its Irvine Spectrum Center location after two years. A mall representative said the restaurant closed July 28. LYFE has recently closed a few other locations in the Los Angeles area. “Simply put, the decision was made to focus resources on the development and market presence of our top performing restaurants in the area, while we continue to explore the right locations for future expansion,” LYFE senior brand manager Robert Griffin said in a statement. When asked if LYFE broke its lease, the Irvine Co. declined to disclose details. Easther Liu, chief marketing officer for Irvine Company Retail Properties, said in a statement: “Our policy is not to disclose specifics of our leases. At this moment, we are not ready to announce a replacement.

Cabo Kantina : After opening in March, this Laguna Hills restaurant has closed. The “eat well, live well” restaurant was co-founded by Orange County restaurateur Moe Ghazi, formerly of defunct concepts Mosun in Laguna Beach and Taleo Mexican Grill in Irvine. Ghazi also operated Ten Asian Bistro, which he sold a few years ago. Cabo had struggled with finances and getting a liquor license.

Lemon Drop, a juice bar that opened with the debut of the Anaheim Packing House in May 2014, has closed. The space is slated to become I Am, a smoothie and shave ice shop. A representative for the food hall declined to comment on the closure; however, she said the new operation will be run by JK and Chloe Kwak.

Cinnamon Productions in Foothill Ranch closed May 25, 2016. A note on the door states that the bakery-cafe “lost its lease.” “We regret that we were not able to come to terms with the new landlord of this shopping center.”

The Acapulco in Stanton, on Beach Boulevard near the DMV, has closed, said Stephen Greer, vice president of marketing for parent company Real Mex Restaurants of Cypress. The lease expired in June, he said. “A ll team members have the opportunity to join at surrounding Acapulco restaurants,” he said.

Chaparosa Grill is closing this weekend after 15 years at Laguna Heights Marketplace. In a Facebook message to fans, owner Tony Corke said: “Shea Properties (our landlord) will not renew our lease. We have been treated very poorly and I am heartbroken that they would be so unethical. I would like to thank all our customers who are really more like family to me and have given me so much love and kindness over the years.” He said the restaurant will close Sunday, June 26. Shea responded with this statement: “Finding the right mix of tenants at a particular center is always challenging, and often leads to change.”

4th Street Market: Another food hall tenant has closed. Radical Botanicals juice bar closed in late May. Front Porch Pops, in a less visible space inside the Santa Ana marketplace, is relocating to Radical’s space.

Buffalo Wings ‘N Things, an independent wings joint in Hunginton Beach, has closed after more than 26 years in business. In a statement posted on their website, the owners said “business levels and regulation requirements no longer enable serving quality products at reasonable prices. We have held on as long as we could. Improvement does not appear likely in sufficient time to continue.” Over the years, the restaurant has earned critical local praise for its chicken wings. At one point, they were alone in the market until Buffalo Wild Wings and Wingstop began adding more Orange County units several years ago.

George’s Burgers: The longtime burger house, at the corner of Euclid Street and Talbert Avenue, in Fountain Valley has closed. The owner called it “bittersweet” news when making the announcement on the restaurant’s Facebook page in early May. “After 26 years in business, we are permanently closed starting today. We would like to thank you from the bottom of our hearts, from our family to yours.” The restaurant was at 17991 Euclid St.

Maru Sushi: This sushi eatery near Cal State Fullerton has closed. On June 6, the restaurant’s Facebook page states: “Sorry guys but the Business is now closed for good. Thank you for 4 years of business.” Address: 2931 Nutwood Ave., Fullerton.

Marie Callender’s in Orange, at 574 N. Tustin St., has closed. “This was a franchised location that closed on May 31. I do not have any additional specifics on the closure other than the fact that it was a lease expiration,” a company spokeswoman said in an email statement this weekend. Stay tuned for more information.

Kajun Kitchen in Orange has closed.“We sold the business,” the restaurant told the Register. A poke restaurant will be replacing it. The restaurant is at 424 S Main St., near St. Joseph Hospital.

Cafe Lafayette, a French-American bistro in downtown Seal Beach, has closed. “While we’ve tried our best, we are not able to sustain a successful operation. I have met some absolutely wonderful people and shared special moments with many of you, and feel like each of you are family,” owner Tim Liggett posted May 31 on the restaurant’s Facebook page. The restaurant was at 330 Main St.

Ruby’s Dinette on 17th Street closed at the end of May. Read full story

Knowlwood at Fullerton train depot on Harbor Boulevard closed in March. It’s been there since 1994. Owner Thanh D. Nguyen, owner since 1998, said in order to “adjust to the demographic changes, Knowlwood has refocused on a new strategy by scaling down its restaurant size and increasing locations.” A few years ago he tested a smaller restaurant called Knowlwood Café at the Santa Ana Zoo. That proved successful, leading to the opening of two more cafes in the Ronald Reagan Courthouse and in the Santa Ana Federal Building. The Fullerton location is becoming Crawfish Cave, he said.

Buy ’n Bulk and Dark180 Chocolate, original tenants at the Anaheim Packing House, have closed. Dark180 has been replaced by shaved snow concept MINI Monster. Buy ’n Bulk will be replaced by The Doggone Good Soda Co.

Three years after making its West Coast debut, SPIN! Neapolitan Pizza abruptly closed its doors this month at the Stadium Promenade in Orange. Signal Hill-based Hofman Hospitality Group, operators of Hof’s Hut and Lucille’s Smokehouse BBQ, owned the Spin franchise concept. The brand first launched in 2005 in Overland Park, Kansas. The Hofman group had hoped to bring several out West. The family also closed the SPIN! in Los Alamitos. Representatives for Hofman group said that location will become Mighty Kitchen, a full service burger concept with craft cocktails and beer. It is expected to open this summer. SPIN! has one other restaurant in Huntington Beach.

After a 22-year run in Laguna Beach, Cafe Zoolu is closing. The Hawaiian-inspired seafood restaurant is serving its last meals May 29, said chef and co-owner Michael Leech. He and his wife have run the restaurant for more than two decades, offering locals a menu that fuses Hawaiian, Asian, Mexican and Cajun cuisines. The restaurant, at 860 Glenneyre St., is known for its signature baseball cut swordfish. Leech said he and his wife, who live in Laguna Beach, are retiring. It is unclear, at this time, who will take over the space, he said.

After a car crashed into the business earlier this year, Nudo Nudo owners decided to close the pho and ramen shop in Westminster, co-owner Andy Nguyen said. Nguyen is keeping busy. He co-owns Afters Ice Cream, Try-it or Diet, Passion Chasers, GD Bro Burger, U Jelly and Pig Pen Delicacy at 4th Street Market.

On Wednesday, The Original Tommy’s in La Habra closed after a 30-year run. A new landlord bought the center, and opted not to renew the burger chain’s lease “because we didn’t fit with their redevelopment plans,” said Tommy’s spokesman Robert Castaneda. Tommy’s, famous for its chili-slathered burgers, is planning a new La Habra restaurant at the northwest corner of Imperial Highway and Beach Boulevard, he said. The new landlord is Northgate Market, he added. The Anaheim-based Hispanic market plans to open a store there,Castaneda said.

Another local food institution unable to keep its lease is Original Pancake House in Yorba Linda. The the family-run breakfast eatery has been operating at that location for 32 years. Yorba Linda Community Development Director David Brantley said the restaurant has had a “month to month” lease with the Pancake House for four years. “This has allowed the restaurant to remain in operation for as long as feasibly possible, prior to commencement of the Town Center retail project,” he said in an email. The city sold the Town Center to Zelman Retail Partners. Pancake House owner Gary Hill said the new landlord wants a restaurant with a nightlife. “We didn’t fit,” said Hill, adding that he wanted to stay. However, Hill said he was able to find a new location to open at 1454 North Kraemer Blvd. in Placentia. Hill and his family have been long-time franchise operators of the Original Pancake House restaurants. His brother opened the first one in Southern California in Anaheim in 1958. The Original Pancake House debuted in Portland, Ore., in 1953 under owners Les Highet and Erma Hueneke. Hill hopes to reopen the breakfast eatery later this summer after he finds financing to renovate the new space, which is a former bank.

The Coco’s on Harbor in Fullerton closed in mid-April. The closure comes a year after Zensho Holdings Co., Japan’s largest operator of restaurant chains, sold Carlsbad-based Catalina Restaurant Group to Food Management Partners of San Antonio, Texas. When the deal closed last year, Food Management shuttered dozens of Coco’s Bakery Restaurants and Carrows Restaurants.

Sarducci’s Capistrano Depot closed April 18. The restaurant, at 26701 Verdugo St., is under new ownership. It will reopen later this summer as Trevor’s at the Tracks. “ After a long prosperous run, Sarducci’s will undergo some new enhancements in the coming months with new ownership. The same landmark location will still keep it’s iconic, historical charm, yet receive a much needed face lift with some great new additions,” according to the restaurant’s new website. Sarducci’s, located in San Juan Capistrano’s retired train depot alongside the main rail line between San Diego and Los Angeles, was known for its classic Italian dishes, steak and seafood.

Baja Fresh at Oak Creek Shopping Center is closing at the end of the month, a representative for the Irvine Co. said. The location at The Market Place will remain open. The Irvine Co. has not named a replacement tenant.

Tomgirl Baking Company, a popular local bakery in Huntington Beach, has closed. “We have closed our doors here at the bakery. Thank you all for the generous support over the years,” according to the bakery’s website. No other details were provided. The bakery and breakfast cafe, known for its luscious desserts and lemon-ricotta hotcakes, was owned by Jeff Littlefield and Wonyee Tom. It was a dream for the culinary duo. She was a former pastry chef at the Water Grill in Los Angeles and he ran the kitchen at Waterfront Beach Resort in Huntington Beach. Stay tuned for more details.

Pinkberry at The Tustin District has closed. This is third Pinkberry to close in recent months. In November and December, two Pinkberry shops closed in Brea and Santa Ana. In mid-December, the froyo brand, founded in Los Angeles in 2005, was purchased by Arizona-based owner Kahala Brands.

Jamba Juice at the Market Place in Tustin closed March 1. It will be replaced by Nektar Juice Bar this summer, Irvine Co. officials told the Register.

Old Towne Eatery, which opened in August 2014, is closing Monday. In an Instagram announcement, owner Ralph Sandoval said Sunday would be the restaurant’s last day. “My partners and I have decided to sell,” he said. “It was not an easy decision but ultimately it was in all of our best interest.” Sandoval, who previously owned Los Cabos Mexican restaurant in Orange, said a Thai eatery is taking over the space. Old Towne Eatery was tucked in the alley of The Clark Building in downtown Orange, next to Jalapenos and Zito’s Pizza.

The owners of Little Sparrow, a highly praised downtown Santa Ana bistro when it opened in 2013, closed the restaurant over the weekend. I ts last day of service was April 17. The news comes four months after Little Sparrow was listed for sale on BizBuySell.com , an online real estate site for buying and selling small companies. At the time, the listing described the “profitable” and “busy” bistro as “one of the hottest restaurants in Orange County.” The owners said it would reopen the restaurant as BlackBox. It “will retain Little Sparrow’s award-winning craft cocktail program,” the owners said in an annoucement made Friday, April 15. They said more details would be revealed later this week, according to the BlackBox website . The link indicates that the new restaurant will focus on burgers and beer.

Finbar’s Italian Kitchen, which used to operate a handful of casual restaurants in Orange County, closed its Costa Mesa location in late March. The old-school Italian restaurant previously operated in Seal Beach and Rancho Santa Margarita. Those locations have since closed. The Metro Pointe restaurant closed because the landlord did not renew its lease, Finbar’s stated on its Facebook page. The restaurant plans to make a Seal Beach comeback by reopening in April to a location at 1041 Pacific Coast Highway, the company said.

TGI Friday’s in Laguna Niguel is closing in late April. A manager answering the phone said the last day of operation is April 25. She cited a lease issue for the closure. She referred questions to the franchisee’s parent company The Briard Group. The company operates several Friday’s restaurants in Southern California. According to state employment records, the closure impacts 51 employees.

Nello Cucina, a popular Italian eatery at South Coast Plaza, has closed. It will be replaced by Mezzet, a Middle Eastern small plates concept. Slated to open in May, the casual dining restaurant will feature a menu of fish, lamb, flatbreads, couscous and kebabs made with fresh herbs and Middle-Eastern spices. The restaurant is located in the Crate and Barrel/Macy’s Home Store wing, formerly known as Crystal Court. The restaurant is on the lower level, across from Ruby’s Diner.

La Perlita Mexican Food in Foothill Ranch has closed. It has been converted to an Avila’s El Ranchito.

A representative for Dickey’s Barbecue Pit confirmed the closure of the Brea and Laguna Niguel locations “due to unforeseen circumstances.” Both were owned by the same franchisee. No other information was provided. The chain operates other O.C. locations in Ladera Ranch, Fullerton, Buena Park and Tustin. A new store is slated to open soon in Lake Forest, at 23633 Rockfield Blvd., the company said.

Hometown Buffet locations in Laguna Woods and Santa Ana (on Bristol) have closed. In early March, the company filed for Ch. 11 bankruptcy protection.

North Left, a downtown Santa Ana restaurant, has closed. The eatery, formerly The Crosby, was forced to reinvent itself after a deadly beating occurred outside the restaurant/nightclub in 2014. At the time, owners Phil Nisco, Chris Alfaro and Marc Yamaoka tapped Laguna Beach chef Ryan Adams of Three Seventy Common to oversee operations of the revamped concept.

Nearly two years after reopening in Orange, The White Tortilla Kitchen has closed. The Mexican restaurant earned major buzz in the El Modena community when it made a comeback in 2014. The traditional Mexican restaurant had been closed for more than two decades. When it reopened, it was operated by the same family who used the same recipes. On Feb. 7, the family posted this message on its Facebook page. “We’re sad to announce that the White Tortilla Kitchen will be closing down business today. We’re thankful for the many wonderful guest who we’ve had the pleasure to serve. My dad and I are very proud of the job we’ve done, but have decided it was time to move on to new opportunities. Best wishes, the Gomez Family.”

Paninoteca Maggio closed in mid-December (2015) at its new location in downtown Santa Ana. The premium sandwich shop and Italian cafe had relocated early last year from the City Place in Santa Ana to 304 Main St. It’s unclear why it closed. The owner made the announcement on the restaurant’s Facebook page, thanking fans for supporting the 4-year-old concept.

Jerry’s Wood-Fired Dogs recently closed its Santa Ana location on Tustin and 17th Street. A “for lease” sign is up on the property. Jerry’s owner could not be reached for comment.

Boldo Bol on 4 th Street in downtown Santa Ana closed recently. It will be replaced by a hand-roll concept by Leonard Chan, who owns several food concepts in Orange County, including The Iron Press.

A Taco Bell that has served Fountain Valley teenagers for nearly 30 years closed Tuesday, Dec. 7. Franchise owner Steve Smith said he had to shutter the restaurant, at Bushard and Talbert, after its lease expired. The property owner had asked for “four times” the amount of rent, which was not sustainable for the small Taco Bell stand. The tiny 1,200-square foot eatery, a former Pup ‘N’ Taco, had a walk-up window with patio seating and a drive-through. The fast food restaurant, a Taco Bell since 1985, had no dining room. “It’s been servicing Fountain Valley High School for years,” said Smith, who owns eight Taco Bell restaurants. Most are in Orange County. All employees were offered jobs at his other restaurants, he said.

Farrell’s plans to close its Mission Viejo location. Read full story

Pinkberryat City Place in Santa Ana closed. It is the third food shop to close at that location in recent months. Last year, zpizza and McCormick & Schmick’s closed.

Marie Callender’s in Irvine said it closed at the end of the year (2015) because its lease was not renewed by the Irvine Co.

Freebirds, the assembly line fast-casual fresh-Mex restaurant, has closed its last location in Orange County. A notice on the door in the Orange store thanks customers and refers them to their Redondo Beach location.

zPizza in Santa Ana at City Place closed in mid-November.

PdM Cafe in Irvine has closed. A sign on the door said the cafe is regretfully closing. They thanked customers for their loyalty and encouraged them to visit other cafe locations in Newport Beach, Dana Point and Corona Del Mar.

Tamarind of London closed in early October after a four year run in Newport Beach. Read full story

Native Foods at the Tustin District retail center has closed.

Chapman Coffee House in Orange near Chapman University closed this summer. It could be replaced by a Subway. Read full story

Capriotti’s Sandwich Shops in Irvine, Tustin, Newport Beach and Fountain Valley closed at the end of business Sept. 16. Read full story

Fred’s Mexican Grill in Laguna Niguel has closed.

SPIN! Neapolitan Pizza has closed in Los Alamitos. The franchise restaurant was operated by Hofman Hospitality Group — the same owners of Hof’s Hut and Lucille’s Smokehouse BBQ. The company is planning a new concept for the Los Alamitos location. Concept details have not been revealed. Its SPIN locations in Orange and Huntington Beach will remain open. Gail and Richard Lozoff and Edwin Brownell, who founded the bagel chain that eventually became Einstein Bros., launched SPIN in 2005 in Overland Park, Kansas. As it grew popular, it began to franchise. The Hofman group had cut a deal to develop 37 SPIN! restaurants in Southern California. The first one opened in Orange in May 2013. “At this time the company doesn’t have plans to add more locations,” the Hofman group told the Register.

Regional burger sensation Slater’s 50/50 announced plans to close its Lake Forest location. “It was a poor location,” owner Scott Slater said. “Our other locations are still going great.” Slater said the Lake Forest restaurant’s last day is Sept. 7. It opened in early 2013 in space once occupied by Hooters at 24356 Swartz Ave. The closure comes as the premium burger chain, known for its bacon and beef blended patties, embarks on a major menu change. On Sept. 16, tweaks include adding three new 50/50 burger blends: beef/sausage, chorizo/beef and a sriracha infused bacon/beef patty. The restaurants, with local locations in Anaheim Hills and Huntington Beach, also plan to scrap Happy Hour in favor of a new all-day dining menu called Day Drinking. The 11-6 Monday – Friday program will consist of $4/$5/$6 deals offered in the bar area. ($4 rotating craft beers: $5 exclusive off-menu bar food like the deviled egg rolls and “shmanimal” fries: $6 premium wells/signature cocktails and wine.) The restaurants are also adding 22 new cocktails to the bar menu, including four “awesome” bacon cocktails, Slater said.

Pasta Connection in Orange closed July 30 after three decades in business. The restaurant, which served Argentine and Italian cuisine, did not disclose a reaqson for the closure. The owners referred diners to their Costa Mesa location on Harbor, according a Facebook posting.

The Old Towne Grinder sandwich shop in downtown Orange has closed. The shop had been operating in Old Towne Orange for seven years. “We are closing and moving in to a new adventure,” the shop posted on its Facebook page in July. The shop also sold ice cream and old fashioned sodas.

The El Torito in Fullerton closed July 26. The restaurant’s lease was ending and the landlord plans to redevelop the building, said Jared Dougherty, spokesman for owners Real Mex. All the employees kept jobs with the company, transferring to other El Torito locations, he said.

Following a bankruptcy filing by its parent company, Z’Tejas at South Coast Plaza is closing. The restaurant’s last day of operation is Aug. 29, according to a manager answering the phone on Wednesday. Stay tuned for more information.

Corner Office Sports Bar and Grill in Costa Mesa closed at the end of July. According to a memo on its Facebook page, the closure was tied to a new developer taking over its property. “Our land was acquired by a development company,” the note said. “What was once the local spot for Sunday football, karaoke, UFC fights and all-around shenanigans will be no longer. We would like to extend our thanks to everyone that loved us, maybe liked us, and even those who hated and even loathed us enough to write the ever so entertaining rants on YELP that we’ve come to adore.”

N’ice Cream at SoCo closed last month. It will be replaced by Temakira, which serves custom made-to-order and signature sushi rolls ($4-$5), poke salads and appetizers in a fast-casual setting.

The A&W restaurant at 27622 Antonio Pkwy, Ladera Ranch has closed. Signs indicate that a Starbucks is coming soon to that location.

Roma D’Italia has closed its Orange location. The family-run Italian restaurant has a flagship restaurant in Tustin, which has been operating since the 1960s. The Orange location, opened in 2010, and was meant to be a fast-casual version of the Tustin institution.

Watson Drugs & Soda Fountain, considered one of the longest running businesses in Orange County, has changed ownership. Scott Parker, the owner since 1986, has sold the business to Rockwell’s Bakery in Villa Park. As part of the ownership change, Front Porch Pops has been asked to vacate its space in the adjacent USA-themed gift shop that was also run by Parker. The new owners plan to temporarily close Watson’s Sept. 1 for remodel. Read full story here: Watson’s Soda Fountain reborn

Freebirds, home to the Super Monster burrito, has closed its three-year-old Huntington Beach location. A company spokeswoman said the restaurant on Beach Boulevard “just wasn’t a good fit for Freebirds. We

hope that our loyal fanatics will visit us at our other Orange County

restaurant or any of our other locations nationwide.”The first funky Freebirds opened in the UC Santa Barbara party town of Isla Vista in 1987 – six years before Chipotle conquered the world with its foil-wrapped burritos. In 2011, the chain’s new owner, Tavistock Restaurants in Emeryville, Ca., began expanding the concept in the West Coast. It’s first Orange County restaurant opened in Orange in 2011. That shop remains open.

A representative for Tabu Grill confirms that the Laguna Beach restaurant closed this week. The restaurant’s investors thanked customers for “11 great years,” according to banner listed on the website. As new restaurants came on board, it was difficult for the Tabu to sustain business, the rep told the Register.

Tony Roma’s has closed its Fullerton location. The Harbor Boulevard restaurant thanked customers for their loyalty in an email and referred them to the chain’s Anaheim location. The Anaheim restaurant is the only Tony Roma’s left in Orange County, according to the chain’s website directory.

Il Barone Pizza e Pastarecently closed in Newport Beach. The tiny food shop will become a gourmet sandwich shop by the operators of Trough Sandwich Kitchen and The Blind Pig and Bar in Rancho Santa Margarita.

Baja Fresh in Rancho Santa Margarita has closed.

Jalapeños at Westpark Plaza in Irvine has closed. It’s unclear what prompted the closure. The Irvine Co. has not revealed a replacement as of mid-May.

The Irvine Co. also confirms that Swiss chocolate shop Teuscher closed April 4 at Fashion Island. It will be replaced by a Los Angeles juice shop. Stay tuned for more.

The first casualty of the one of Orange County’s most ambitious food projects, Anaheim Packing House, has confirmed its closure. Wheat & Sons owner Nate Overstreet said he closed his butcher shop at the end of business April 12. “It turned out that the clientele at the packing house were not interested in what we were doing,” Overstreet told the Register. “We were hoping it was going to be more of a marketplace.” Overstreet’s shop tried to adapt to the food hall atmosphere by offering sandwiches. But, in the end, it was too hard to run both a butcher shop and small food operation. He plans to open a restaurant in Orange County with a menu of “plated dishes” and maybe “one or two” of Wheat & Sons’ famous sandwiches. “Of course we will not stray from sourcing the best quality meats and produce from small local farms and breaking them down in house. It is undecided if we will sell raw cuts but we have not thrown it out the window,” he said. Representatives for the Packing House have not returned requests for comment. Stay tuned for more updates on the packing house, which is expected to open two more restaurants.

Mimi’s Cafe, which relocated its Irvine headquarters to Texas last year, abruptly closed two restaurants in Rancho Mirage and Temecula this week. Bill Schaffler, executive vice president of Mimi’s Café, said it was a “difficult decision to close” the locations. He declined to provide a reason for the closures.Last year, Mimi’s Café ended its 36 years of corporate ties to Orange County. It relocated its Irvine offices to Dallas – home to its parent company Le Duff America. The French company purchased Mimi’s in early 2013 and recently unveiled a major revamp of the French- inspired menu. Ten corporate positions were eliminated during the move.

RA Sushi Bar Restaurant closed its Huntington Beach location on April 12. “This decision was one that we did not take lightly and was based on financial and growth objectives,” the company told the Register in a statement. “We sincerely thank the local community for their loyal patronage and support throughout the past seven years.” The company’s other regional locations in Tustin, Torrance, Chino Hills, Marina Del Rey will remain open.Harlow’s Kitchen & Craft Bar in San Juan Capistrano closed April 1. The fine dining and seasonally-focused restaurant, at 31111 Rancho Viejo Road, left a message on its phone line stating that it has “permanently closed its doors.” The message, which thanked guests, did not include a reason for the closure.

Multiple Carrows and Coco’s restaurants closed in early April. The closures come after Carlsbad-based Catalina Restaurant Group was bought by a Texas company. Read full story: Coco’s , Carrows closures

The Sliding Door Cafe, a bistro discovered by the Register during the 2014 Newport Beach Restaurant Week, has closed. Chef and owner Kevin Cahalan said the restaurant, which served American regional comfort food, was a “ stepping stone to our next opportunity. We have begun a search for the next location.” The restaurant, at 704 E. Balboa Blvd., served its last meal Feb. 8.

Quinn’s Old Town Grill in Tustin abruptly closed after business last night. The owners left this statement on the restaurant’s Facebook page. “We regret to inform you that as of March 23 Quinn’s Old Town Grill has closed. We are extremely grateful to our loyal customers over the last eight years and to Quinn’s staff both past and present who’ve always excelled in personal service and attitude. We will miss you all and appreciate your patronage.” A representative for Quinn’s, reached Monday morning, was unable to provide more details beyond this statement.

The Fresh Market, a European-inspired marketplace that opened last summer in Laguna Hills, is closing. The last day is March 14. The store was the third Fresh Market in California, and the first in Orange County. The Virginia-based grocery chain is pulling out of California, where it had two other stores in Santa Barbara and Palo Alto. “ The Fresh Market has decided to withdraw from the California market. This decision is consistent with the company’s previously announced real estate strategy to focus more on store development in the eastern U.S., and we believe that our resources will be used more productively elsewhere at this stage of the company’s development,” the company said in a statement. The 23,900-square foot Laguna Hills store opened at the renovated The Village at Nellie Gail Ranch last year. It offered an assortment of bakery goods, a meat counter, and a wide range of produce.

Marie Callender’s Grill in Seal Beach closed on Sunday. The restaurant was a franchise location and one of two “Grill concepts” left in Southern California. Promo: The restaurant’s pie sale is ongoing through March 1. Most pies are $7.99. This year, the company is trying to engage consumers via social media by promoting a “ selfie pie” contest on Facebook. Follow the hashtag # MCPieSelfie for more details.

A Baskin-Robbins in Orange, on Tustin Street, has closed.

Main Street Waffle at 5 Points Plaza in Huntington Beach closed a couple of weeks ago, according to the retail center. It is being replaced by Go Salad, which expects to open in April.

Anaheim-based Bruxie closed its out-of-state operation in Colorado in January. Newcomer Gaüfreé in Irvine, run by former circus performers, has also closed. Read full story here: Bruxie, Gaufree close locations

Nieuport 17 in Tustin is closing after 45 years. Read full story

Berkeley Dog closed its last location in Orange County last week (Jan. 23). The sausage eatery at University Center lost its lease, owner John Chi said. Chi opened his first location in Mission Viejo about five years ago, earning buzz for serving links from Bay Area institution Top Dog. After expanding to Brea and Irvine, he closed the Mission Viejo restaurant. The downtown Brea also closed. “We would like to thank all of our customers who have supported us in the past five years. Our menu didn’t fit the current trend,” he said.

Johnnie’s New York Pizzeria has closed at Orchard Hills Village Center in Irvine. The pizzeria, at 3939 Portola Pkwy, was one of the original tenants of the Irvine Company-owned center when it opened in 2007. The pizza joint is not affiliated with Johnny’s Real New York Pizza, which has locations in Irvine (Quail Hill), Corona del Mar and Newport Beach. The Orchard Hills location is expected to be replaced by Ugly Pie Co., a build-your-own pizza joint from El Segundo, according to the Irvine Co.

Peet’s Coffee & Tea at The District in Tustin has closed. The cafe is across from Union Market, a food hall that will soon be home to Portola Coffee Lab. A rep for the District declined to comment on the vacancy, referring all questions to Peet’s. In mid-December, the coffee chain announced plans to dial back aggressive expansion that started in 2013. That led to 11 cafe closures in the Midwest. Amy Lester, a spokeswoman for the Bay Area chain, said the Tustin closure is unrelated to the downsizing in Ohio, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. “As part of our retail business, we continually monitor existing markets, and sometimes make adjustments, based on store performance. We continue to focus on and invest in our current stores in Orange County/Southern California,” she said.

Downtown Santa Ana is expected to usher in several new restaurants in 2015. But with nationwide restaurant visits growing at a slow pace (only 1 percent forecast for this year), some eateries will likely become victims of the still sluggish industry. In Santa Ana, city representative Tanya Lyon confirms the recent closures of two restaurants that opened in 2014: Vineyard Roz on Broadway and Tabu Burgers on Fourth Street. It is unclear why they closed. Both venues opened in 2014, and closed in November and December, respectively, Lyon said.

Mimi’s Cafe in Garden Grove closed in late December. The chain has not returned several requests for comment on why the location shut down. The closure comes a month after Mimi’s closed a restaurant in Frederick, Maryland. At that time, a corporate executive told the Register that the company remains “tenaciously focused on positive financial results” and will continue to assess where the chain is “best positioned for long-term success.” Last year, the Orange County chain moved its local headquarters to Dallas, home of its parent company LeDuff America.

Has Burger King given up on Orange County, which has seen dozens of “better burger” concepts open in recent years? Burger King has closed locations in Rancho Santa Margarita, Dana Point, Aliso Viejo, Orange and Huntington Beach. In a statement sent to the Register, Burger King said in January 2015: “In the course of normal business, BKC continuously reviews its restaurant portfolio and makes strategic decisions based on many factors, including development opportunities, market conditions, restaurant profitability, lease length and overall brand presence. At this time, we don’t have any additional information to share regarding the restaurant closures.”(Note: First entry of 2015)

McDonald’s restaurants in Brea (on Imperial Highway) and Huntington Beach (Brookhurst and Garfield) are closed for remodeling. The Huntington Beach location is expected to re-open by late December, according to a Southern California rep for McDonald’s. (Note: This is last entry for 2014)

The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf inside the Ralphs in Tustin, 13321 Jamboree Rd., has closed. It will reopen as a Starbucks on Nov. 24, according to Ralphs.

The Todai at the Westminster Mall closed Sept. 30 when its lease expired. That leaves Orange as the only location left in Orange County. (Update: The Orange location closed nearly a year later in fall 2015)

Zito’s Pizza in Anaheim closed late last month because it couldn’t renegotiate its lease. Marketing executive Kelley MacGregor said the rent was too high and non-negotiable with the landlord. “We loved that store and it was a great location for Zito’s Pizza but after several attempts of negotiating we decided to move that store to a different area,” she said. Zito’s is looking for a new location, but doesn’t expect to relocate for another six months, MacGregor said. The local pizza chain operates restaurants in Orange and Anaheim Hills, and a Zito’s Bar & Grill in Tustin

The Cherry on Top in Fullerton (on Malvern) closed Oct. 22, according to the shop’s Facebook page. “We appreciate all the love and support over these four years and thank the staff members that have been with us through this journey,” the owner said.

Ways & Means Oyster House in Orange closed Sunday, Oct. 26. Jennifer Delcham, who co-founded the restaurant last year in Old Towne Orange, said she is relocating the brand to Newport Beach. She didn’t disclose the name of the location, which is currently home to another restaurant. Over the last year, Ways & Means had developed strong support from neighbors, who enjoyed the restaurant’s weeknight specials. Many diners came from as far away as Laguna Beach to visit the restaurant. One of the most popular dining deals was the $9.99 Maine Lobster special every Monday night. Still, the economics didn’t align — as the foot traffic to the restaurant couldn’t sustain the level of rent being charged for the old Coco’s space, Delcham said. “We were super excited to move to Orange,” she said. “We were having a blast here.” Ways & Means opened last year with a menu developed by Michelin-honored chef Conrad Gallagher. The current culinary team led by Justin Odegard and Ben Wallenbeck will move to the Newport Beach location when it opens by the end of the year, Delcham said. “Unfortunately, the economics of the location just do not enable us to continue operations there,” the restaurant posted on its Facebook page on Monday. Stay tuned for more updates as the Register learns about the relocation of Ways and Means.

The Burger King on Beach Boulevard in Huntington Beach, between Yorktown and Adams, has closed. A banner outside the restaurant states that a Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf is coming soon. Reps for the cafe chain said the coffee house should open by December.

OC Sports Grill in Orange closed in mid-October. “We would like to officially announce that OC Sports Grill is permanently closed. We would like to thank all of our customers who have visited OC Sports Grill over the last six years. We appreciate your patronage,” the company said in an email blast to customers.

The Melting Pot in Brea closed Sunday. “There are no plans to re-open the Brea restaurant or open a new Melting Pot restaurant in the Los Angeles metro area at this time,” the fondue chain said on its website. The company asked diners to visit locations in Irvine, Pasadena, Torrance and Thousand Oaks.

Indie pizza concept Creations Pizzeria has closed. A hand-written note on the door of the Newport Boulevard eatery said the restaurant was reopening under new owners. It will become Bronx Sandwich Co. Creations, which opened in early 2014, sold 11-inch pizzas with unlimited sauces, meats, cheeses and toppings for $8.95. It was one of the few independently-run fast-casual custom pizza restaurants in Orange County, where chains like Pieology , Blaze Pizza and Pizza Studio are ramping up locations.

Florida-based Firehouse Subs is replacing a closed Quiznos in Santa Ana, at 2266 E. 17 th St. Firehouse Subs, which began its California expansion in 2012, has plans to open dozens of units in the region. To date, the 800-unit chain has added local locations in Orange, Laguna Woods and Costa Mesa.

Less than a year after opening at the Honda Center, the 260-seat Puck’s Tavern by Wolfgang Puck has closed. It will be replaced by Standing ‘O’ – a new eatery run by the venue’s in-house food and beverage team. The craft beer and burger restaurant is expected to open Friday, Oct. 17, said Tracy Richmond, a spokeswoman for the center. Wolfgang Puck Catering said the tavern and The Window at Puck’s Tavern, were not viable options at the center. The celebrity chef-run company and Honda Center “mutually agreed” to close the restaurants in August. The closure comes a year after the arena unveiled a major makeover of its food operations. Stay tuned for more details on Standing ‘O.”

A Cherry on Top in Mission Viejo, on Santa Margarita Parkway, recently closed after more than six years in operation. A sign on the door said the operator had been experiencing financial problems since June 2013.

Jin Jin at the Market Place in Tustin has closed, the Irvine Co. confirms. The developer has not announced a replacement tenant.

Dolcissimo bake shop at the Mainplace has closed.

The Burger King at Aliso Viejo Town Center has closed, according to Yelp and various reader reports. The phone is also disconnected.

The last two On the Border Grill & Mexican Cantina restaurants in Orange County have closed. The Irvine and Aliso Viejo restaurants, owned by the same franchisee, closed last weekend, according to the Tex-Mex company. A representative for the Irvine Co. said “no one is lined up yet,” to replace the Market Place restaurant in Irvine. The closures come about three months after Argonne Capital Group purchased On the Border from Golden Gate Capital. Roughly 153 On the Border Grill restaurants operate in the U.S.

Buca di Beppo closed over the summer (2014) to make room for Orange County’s next Taps Fish House. “We thank Buca di Beppo for their time at The Market Place and wish them continued success with their other Orange County locations. The dining mix at our centers is always changing to stay fresh, and we look forward to welcoming Taps Fish House & Brewery in 2015,” the Irvine Co. said. This will be TAPS’ third location, and second in Orange County.

Tap Shack in Newport Beach and Tap House in Huntington Beach have closed. The sports bars opened two years ago, boasting a unique self-serving beer tap system. Customers using the self-pour beer taps were charged per ounce. According to information posted on the restaurant’s website, the Huntington Beach location was forced to close amid a legal dispute it is having with its landlord, Huntington Partners. Local real estate developer Frank Jao also is named in the lawsuit.The Newport Beach location closed due to a lease dispute with its landlord, which is different than the one in Huntington Beach.

If you’re craving buttery breadsticks by the operators of the old Pat & Oscar’s, you’re out of luck. O’s American Kitchen, the rebranded name of the old Pat & Oscar’s, has closed its final Orange County location. The restaurant in Orange closed over the July 4 weekend, according to marketing representative Terri Henry. “The lease came up for renewal and they couldn’t come to an agreement on renewing it with the landlord,” Henry said. On top of that, the restaurant continued to ex