English Bulldog Puppies for Sale in Orange, CA

One of Southern California’s most beloved breakfast burrito spots is coming to Orange! On Friday, November 21 from 8a to 2p, join LJ’s Lil’ Café in celebrating the grand opening of its second location, and first brick-and-mortar store. In addition to indulging in LJ’s cheesy and drool-worthy breakfast burritos at a special ‘buy one entrée, get a second entrée half off’ price, attendees will get to select limited edition LJ’s merch to take home (while supplies last). Plus, there will be a grand prize raffle where three lucky winners will each receive an LJ’s prize bundle.

An official ribbon cutting will take place in collaboration with the City of Orange at 9am where guests will hear from Mayor Slater and LJ’s co-owners Lydia and John Holmes.

Please RSVP by visiting https://www.eventbrite.com/e/l.... Attending is completely free and an RSVP is not required. Parking may be limited, so consider carpooling, arriving early, or using a ride share service.

Lastly, please note that online ordering will be disabled for the Orange location on grand opening day (11/21). It will resume the following day on Saturday, November 22.

More About LJ’s:

LJ’s Lil’ Café is a favorite breakfast and lunch spot in Southern California known for its craveable breakfast burritos. What started as a humble shed outside a Home Depot in Cypress, CA has grown into a viral sensation beloved by foodies and locals alike. With a focus on quality ingredients, homemade sauces, and a ‘treat every guest like family’ approach to hospitality, LJ’s is on a mission to bring genuine connection and a little kindness to every guest.

If there’s one article you’ll want to read thoroughly, it’s this one. There’s sort of this not-too-subtle competition around town to try out the best new restaurants once they hit the scene. Lucky for you, we’re here to dish! Orange County has become a culinary hub for adventurous chefs and rambunctious restaurateurs looking to brand their names onto our forever-hungry hearts. If you’re in need of a date night spot or a place to gather with the gals, we’ve got you covered. Here are 18 new restaurants in Orange County that have us totally obsessed!

Family recipes get a fresh OC debut at Pasta Sisters. Known for their cult-favorite LA locations, the Da Re family brings their hand-rolled pasta, slow-simmered sauces and comforting Italian classics to Costa Mesa. The menu, featuring bolognese, cacio e pepe and spinach lasagna, is crafted with care that you taste in every bite. While the takeout-only setup keeps things casual, the flavors are deeply personal, a direct line from a Padova kitchen to your OC table. It’s a delicious addition to the best new restaurants in OC, and one locals are already lining up for.

Location: Costa Mesa

Fire and flavor meet at Tierra de Fuegos. This Argentine-inspired spot turns dinner into an immersive experience. Their wood-fire cooking infuses smoky depth into every steak, seafood dish and vegetable that hits the grill. The warm, rustic dining room hums with the scent of sizzling chimichurri-drenched ribeyes, while curated South American wines keep the conversation flowing. It’s passionate, hearty and unapologetically bold, exactly what makes it a standout in OC’s 2025 dining scene.

Location: Laguna Niguel

Retro charm takes a modern twist inside Le Hut Dinette. Housed in a restored Quonset hut, the space blends midcentury nostalgia with chef-driven creativity. The menu offers dishes like coconut creamed corn and grilled chicken inasal that pack serious punch. Plus, the bright, laid-back vibe makes it perfect for a solo coffee date or a leisurely brunch with friends. This playful yet skillful approach to casual dining makes Le Hut a must-try among the best new restaurants in OC this year.

Local insight: Stop by at different times to sample all the brunch, lunch and dinner offerings: each mealtime menu is unique!

Location: Santa Ana

Coastal cool comes alive at Casa de Onda in Costa Mesa. Picture palapas, string lights and firepits creating the backdrop for a meal that fuses Mexican and American coastal flavors. Chef Ryan Perez and Karlo Wabe’s sharable menu tempts with seafood tostadas, charred street corn and cocktails begging to be sipped under the stars. And make sure you save room for dessert! The bold tres leches cake with yuzu curd & praline and white chocolate and lime flan are divine. It’s relaxed, stylish and built for everything from date night to post-beach happy hours.

Location: Costa Mesa

A taste of Peru now has a home by the Huntington Beach pier with Rocoto Pesca Bar. This modern, sunlit space is as much about the atmosphere as the food. Peruvian classics take center stage with bright ceviches, flavorful tiraditos and hearty lomo saltado. The beach-adjacent location adds to the allure, inviting you to linger over cappuccino long after the plates are cleared. It’s a vibrant addition to the best new restaurants in OC, marrying Latin American soul with California’s flair.

Location: Huntington Beach

At the Pendry’s members-only Elwood Club, Viamara offers Italian coastal elegance with a distinctly Newport Beach sensibility. Sunlit interiors and polished service set the stage for oysters, hand-crafted pastas and high tea that feels like the Italian Riviera. The exclusivity makes each visit feel like a special occasion, but the relaxed, sophisticated vibe keeps it approachable. It’s a hidden gem for those lucky enough to have access, earning a place among the best new restaurants in OC.

Location: Newport Beach

For lovers of refined Italian flavors, Molo in Newport Beach delivers with confidence. This osteria focuses on regional specialties prepared with simple, seasonal ingredients that let the flavors speak for themselves. The chic yet cozy dining room invites lingering over handmade pasta, fresh seafood and an expertly curated wine list. It’s an understated but impactful addition to the 2025 OC dining scene, proving that less can indeed be more.

Local insight: There are gluten-free and vegan options available, just ask your server!

Location: Molo

Barbecue gets a refined yet soulful interpretation at Harper BBQ. Smoked brisket, tender ribs and inventive sides show off pitmaster-level skill while the casual-chic atmosphere makes it fit for a weeknight celebration. The wood smoke aroma hits before you step inside, and the portions ensure no one leaves hungry. For fans of hearty flavors done with finesse, Harper BBQ is a standout in the new restaurants OC lineup.

Local insight: For sandwiches, mac n’ cheese or salted caramel banana pudding, skip the line, and order at the bar!

Location: Costa Mesa

Dumpling devotees have a new temple in Seven Folding Dumpling House. The menu is a love letter to hand-folded perfection. It offers everything from soup dumplings that burst with rich broth to pan-fried varieties with an irresistible crunch. Popular orders include sauteed broccoli with beef, pork wonton soup and beef onion dumplings. As a bonus, the sleek interiors and open kitchen views make the dining experience feel interactive and inviting. It’s the kind of spot where you’ll order “just one more” and plan your next visit before leaving.

Location: Mission Viejo

Laguna Beach’s dining scene feels brighter with Piatti’s arrival. This Italian-inspired restaurant blends seaside views with a menu celebrating coastal Mediterranean cuisine. Enjoy grilled branzino, wood-fired pizzas and pasta dishes layered with fresh herbs and flavor. Not to mention, their Italian wine list has dozens of options! The relaxed elegance makes it a natural fit for everything from a pre-theater bite to a slow weekend dinner. It’s a polished yet unpretentious star in the 2025 OC dining scene.

Location: Laguna Beach

Wooden Pearl serves elevated New American cuisine with global touches in a sleek, modern setting. Expect artful plating, seasonal ingredients and a cocktail program that feels as thoughtfully crafted as the food. You’ll find crab cakes, shrimp scampi, chorizo + clams and so much more! The atmosphere strikes a balance between date-night sophistication and neighborhood warmth, encouraging return visits. It’s a fresh face in OC that delivers both style and substance.

Location: Anaheim

San Clemente’s Smalls Smash Club proves that burgers can be both fun and serious. Their perfectly seared smash patties come stacked as singles, doubles or triples. Get them a la carte or choose a combo with a drink and onion rings or fries deep fried in beef tallow. The space hums with casual energy, making it ideal for group hangs or low-key date nights. For a crave-worthy, no-frills-but-all-thrills addition to the new restaurants OC list, Smalls is already a fan favorite.

Location: San Clemente

Nick’s in Newport? It just makes sense. This South OC favorite expanded north in January. This opening is the SoCal chain’s third location, replacing Gracias Madre on Westcliff Drive. Nick’s is known for American comfort foods and is an upscale spot without being pretentious. This is the kind of place that feels like home. It’s casual enough for working lunches yet elegant enough for a date night dinner. The prime rib sandwich is a fan favorite, and their butter cake is mandatory! Current locations include Laguna Beach and San Clemente.

Location: Newport Beach

For those in search of a cozy yet refined cafe, CasaDamí offers a little slice of Europe in Newport Beach. With an all-day brunch menu, artisanal pastries and a handpicked selection of wines, this charming spot in Peninsula Village is ideal for everything from quiet mornings to late-night conversations. The menu features savory tapas, cured meats and European-style breakfast plates. Meanwhile, the drink program boasts signature lattes with creative flavor profiles. Whether you’re curled up with a book or gathering with friends for Wine Wednesday, CasaDamí is all comfort and sophistication.

Location: Newport Beach

Located in the heart of downtown Laguna Beach, Oto Sushi is redefining the sushi experience with a focus on sustainability and creativity. Chef Connor Mathison, a Portland transplant with a deep commitment to eco-friendly practices, presents a menu that caters to all tastes, from sushi lovers to vegetarian diners.

The sushi offerings include 20 nigiri and sashimi options. Meanwhile, the Robatayaki Sticks section features dishes like Jidori chicken and smoked mackerel served with dramatic flair. Rolls like the Tidal Viper (spicy tuna and tempura shishito) and the citrusy Eternal Stream (steelhead, avocado, kumquat yuzu) highlight Oto’s adventurous spirit. The sake and soju-based cocktails, like the floral Dragonfly, round out the experience.

Location: Laguna Beach

Dana Point’s Lantern’s Edge combines stunning ocean views with a modern Mediterranean menu crafted by Chef Kristine Davis. Located at the Laguna Cliffs Marriott, the restaurant offers a unique al fresco experience with dishes inspired by the California coast. Start with the bright and refreshing hamachi crudo or the earthy grilled maitake mushrooms. Then, dive into mains like charcoal-grilled branzino. For brunch, indulge in the Endless Brunch, featuring a seafood bar, carving station and bottomless mimosas.

Location: Dana Point

In Dana Point, seafood lovers have found their new altar to flavor. Hook & Anchor pairs ocean-view romance with a menu that reads like a love poem to the sea. You’ll find lobster roll legends, oyster rockefeller and a seafood risotto that’s practically a hug in a bowl. The rotating raw bar ensures each visit tastes fresh and unexpected, while sunset patio seats make every bite feel like a celebration. Between the warm, personable service and cocktails designed for lingering, this coastal darling is already topping the list of the best new restaurants in OC.

Location: Dana Point

Stepping into Monaco Italian Kitchen feels like crossing into a dream somewhere between Naples and Newport. Opened in April 2025, Tony Monaco’s latest venture blends Italian heritage with California ease, serving house-made pastas, Neapolitan-style pizzas and risottos worth writing home about. The space is chic yet warm, with its wraparound bar, black-and-white tiles and golden lighting setting the mood for leisurely dinners. Signature plates like the lamb bolognese and spaghetti alle vongole pair beautifully with cocktails. Try the aperol spritz or the “Over The Rainbow”, and the result is pure magic in OC’s 2025 dining scene.

Local insight: Do not skip the $12 cocktails and pizzas under $15 during Happy Hour!

LJ’s Lil’ Cafe, the viral breakfast burrito joint that started as a humble shed outside a Home Depot in Cypress, CA, announced today the opening of its second location in Orange, CA. This first brick-and-mortar restaurant for the brand offers hungry customers a comfortable indoor dining area to indulge in one of the best breakfast burritos in Orange County.

LJ’s has quickly secured a loyal following among foodies and SoCal locals for its monstrous breakfast burritos that feature the ultimate Instagram-worthy cheese pull. Each burrito is made fresh to order with the perfect ratio of crispy tater tots, scrambled eggs, and premium meats, resulting in a flavor and texture combo that’s nothing short of incredible. The LJ’s burrito experience is elevated even further with a lineup of homemade sauces and salsas. Guests can choose from Creamy Cilantro Crema for an herbaceous flair, Spicy Habanero for a fiery kick, or LJ’s Signature for a tangy, yet sweet, finish. Beyond the sauces, LJ’s uses only the freshest, high-quality ingredients, even sourcing some signature items, like handmade tortillas and Portuguese Hawaiian sausage, from local vendors.

LJ’s is co-owned by Lydia and John Clarke who met working in the restaurant industry and bonded over a shared passion for food. They had always dreamed of opening a restaurant, and when a shed outside a Home Depot went on sale, the couple jumped at the opportunity to make their dream come to life and opened LJ’s Lil’ Cafe to the public in September 2021.

“As two people who had never owned a restaurant, starting out in a shed felt like the perfect way to dip our toes in,” said John Clarke, co-founder of LJ’s Lil’ Cafe in a statement. “It gave us the chance to learn, grow, and watch our business come to life right in front of our eyes. We’re so thankful for the community’s support in helping us reach this next milestone. LJ’s has always been about connection, family, and good food, and we’re thrilled to now share these values with more of the Orange County community.”

The foundation of LJ’s has always been family. The inspiration for its popular breakfast burritos comes from Lydia’s mom, who used to make them for Lydia as a child long before they became the cultural phenomenon they are today. That sense of family carried into the business itself, with siblings and cousins on both sides holding various roles across the front and back of house at each location, many doing so without any previous restaurant industry experience.

After running LJ’s as a family operation for two years, Lydia and John’s young son started facing health challenges that required countless hours in the hospital. Determined to stay present for their son without giving up their dream, Lydia and John sought outside help for the first time and hired Joy Wilson as General Manager. Leveraging her extensive restaurant industry experience at nationally and locally recognized brands like Chick-fil-A and Sessions West Coast Deli, Joy helped catapult LJ’s into the OC staple it is today, increasing the restaurant’s sales by 30% in her first year. The teamwork, trust, and family bond at the heart of LJ’s remain its secret ingredient for bringing people together over simple food done right.

LJ’s hosted a grand opening event on Friday, November 21.

LJ’s Orange location offers the same breakfast burritos as in Cypress, with the addition of a gourmet coffee bar and new handheld lunch offerings.

Chapman University President Matt Parlow said his first month on the job has been “everything I could hope for and more,” as the private university in the heart of Orange marked his formal investiture Friday, Oct. 10.

The ceremony, held at Chapman’s Musco Center for the Arts, drew two former university presidents, dozens of delegates from sister institutions, and a packed crowd of faculty, students, alumni and community leaders.

Under former presidents Jim Doti and Daniele Struppa, “the university has grown in reputation, impact and scope,” Chapman Board of Trustees Chair James Burra told the audience. “And now, Matt, the torch is passing to you.”

Parlow took over the presidency on Sept. 2 after Struppa stepped down to return to the faculty. He used his inaugural address to deliver what he called a “full-throated defense of higher education.”

“It is an interesting time to be becoming a university president,” Parlow told the audience. “Higher education is under great scrutiny, and there’s doubt and skepticism in the public narrative around the value and wisdom of a college degree. But I couldn’t be more optimistic about Chapman’s future.”

That optimism comes directly from his family’s own story.

Parlow, a Los Angeles native and Yale-educated lawyer, previously served as the university’s law school dean and chief fundraiser. He now leads a campus of more than 10,000 students with an endowment topping $800 million. Chapman employs more than 2,000 faculty and staff across 11 schools and colleges, including nationally recognized programs in film, law, business and health sciences.

But for all the power and prestige of his position, Parlow’s own story has far more modest beginnings.

Both sets of Parlow’s grandparents immigrated to the United States about 100 years ago “to pursue opportunities unavailable to them in their home countries,” he said.

But those dreams didn’t materialize. Parlow said they became so destitute they had to give up his parents — his mother to a foster home, his father to a Jewish orphanage.

His parents clawed their way to college degrees and became public school teachers in Los Angeles, instilling in their children, he said, “a reverence for education and what it can mean for a family’s future.”

“What is the difference between growing up in an orphanage or a foster home and becoming president of Chapman University? One generation, and an education,” Parlow said, quoting Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

His family story, he said, underpins his focus on making Chapman more accessible.

In an interview prior to his investiture, Parlow said he began his presidency with what he called a listening tour of students, faculty, staff and community members to set priorities for the years ahead.

“The beauty of the long transition time that we had,” he said, “really helped inform how I was thinking and allowed me the space to go have those conversations about where are we, what are our goals, what are our aspirations.”

He said he identified five key areas of focus based on those conversations: deepening Chapman’s student-centered mission, continuing its academic trajectory, supporting free speech and civil discourse and expanding interdisciplinary initiatives and “bridge building” across programs and with outside partners.

Affordability, he said, is central to that mission.

“As we’ve been building our endowment, a super majority of it is focused on support for student financial aid,” Parlow said, pointing to new programs that aim to make Chapman more accessible to students from lower-income backgrounds.

That includes a new partnership with the nonprofit Marymount Education Foundation, which will bring the Marymount Scholars Program to Chapman. The initiative, created to continue the legacy of Marymount California University after its 2022 closure, offers financial aid and mentorship for lower-income and first-generation students, connecting them with Chapman’s “Promising Futures” program for professional development, graduate school prep and peer and faculty mentoring.

Parlow said Chapman is also increasing aid through its budget, “not just proportional to increase in tuition, but increasing it even above that so that the best and brightest students from all over Southern California and beyond” can attend. The university is also working with donors to provide housing support for students who receive aid, but may not be able to afford to live on campus, he said.

“My family’s story illustrates the importance of higher education in providing meaningful opportunity, the most meaningful opportunity for social mobility,” Parlow said in his address Friday. “Indeed, it is my family’s experience that inspired me to devote my career to higher education.”

He also pointed to potential growth at Chapman’s Graduate Health Sciences Campus in Irvine, which houses the pharmacy school, physician’s assistant program and physical therapy program. He believes the school is well-positioned to meet the region’s healthcare workforce needs.

“I could see growing the PA program,” Parlow said of the highly competitive program. “We’ve got the space, we’ve got the talent, we’ve got the synergy. So it’ll be exploring which ones make the most sense for us. But I’m very optimistic on that over time.”

A recent partnership with the city of Orange will also be a focus, he said. The city and Chapman announced the collaboration to “explore innovative ways that the two entities can work together to create a thriving, equitable, and sustainable college town that all residents can take pride in and enjoy,” according to a city news release.

Parlow said the new partnership with the city opens the door to “a lot of opportunities” for collaboration that would benefit both students and the city, including internship programs that could give students real-world experience and lead to local hiring.

“One example for us on our side, we have some really talented economics faculty, real estate faculty that might be able to be helpful as they’re thinking about a larger plan around economic development for the city,” Parlow said.

Asked about challenges ahead, Parlow pointed to shifting demographics in higher education. He alluded to projections showing the number of 18-year-old high school graduates will peak this year at about 3.9 million, then drop steadily over the next 15 years. By 2041, that number is expected to shrink by roughly 13%, or nearly half a million students nationwide.

“Higher ed is headed into interesting times, particularly around the demographics of high school graduating, college-bound cohorts going down and being less affluent,” he said. “So the socioeconomic constitution of them is going to look a little different.”

Parlow said he is confident that, even with some “hiccups and bumps along the road,” Chapman is well positioned to keep growing.

“We have strong programs. We’ve got decades of transformational growth and momentum that I think will continue to take us higher and to stronger places,” he said.

The university announced last month that Chapman jumped 11 spots in the U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings, placing it in the top quarter of national universities. Officials attributed the rise to improved graduation and retention rates, as well as stronger social mobility outcomes for lower-income students.

Parlow described his favorite part of the job as spending time with students and being part of the campus community.

“Honestly, it’s those day-to-day interactions and feeling a part of a community, the special ecosystem, and seeing the results of that ecosystem really help students, faculty, staff flourish, alumni partners, all that,” he said. “It’s why I get up in the morning. I really enjoy that.”

His family, Parlow said, has embraced this new chapter, though he added with a laugh that he doesn’t think his teenage daughters “fully grasp what it means to be a college president.”

During Friday’s ceremony, his older daughter, Maya, read an excerpt from Sweezy v. New Hampshire, a landmark case on academic freedom.

“They’re really excited. And they love being a part of Chapman events. My daughters will join me sometimes for our masterclasses in (the Dodge College of Film and Media Arts), especially if there’s an actor or actress they really like,” he said.

On Friday, 40 years of combined presidential experience and a deep well of scholarship filled the Musco Center stage, joined by former Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, who lightened the pageantry with baseball metaphors. Garcetti attended the ceremony as a representative of Parlow’s hometown, Los Angeles.

“In baseball terms … it feels like the bottom of the 11th, with the game on the line, with all that is at stake in the world today, Chapman could not have chosen a better closer, as opposed to the Phillies,” Garcetti said, alluding to the Philadelphia team that lost to the Dodgers the night before.

A lifelong Dodgers fan, Parlow smiled as Garcetti’s line drew laughter from the crowd.

A rare, early-season storm has already dumped a month's worth of rain in one morning. See how much rain fell near you.

ORANGE COUNTY, CA — The first hard-hitting storm of the season came early this year, delivering a month's worth of rain in one morning to parts of the Southland.

Along with the rain, came hazards in parts of wildfire-scarred Orange County, where those living in high-risk areas were forced to evacuate amid the threat of mudslides and dangerous flooding.

As the storm bore down on the region Tuesday — anticipated to bring the first and only day of heavy rain and wind — river rescues, road closures, power outages, traffic accidents, and other hazards were reported across several counties by midmorning.

So far, many areas have already received at least an inch of rain.

According to the National Weather Service, that is "more than enough to create flooding and debris flows over and near...burn scars."

"A flash flood watch for these burn scars is in effect and people who live near by must pay close attention to the weather and emergency officials," forecasters said Tuesday morning.

In the Trabuco Creek area, where the Airport Fire left a massive burn scar, mandatory evacuation orders were issued, according to the Orange County Sheriff's Department. A flood watch was expected to expire at 5 p.m. on Tuesday in Orange County, the National Weather Service said.

As for the rest of SoCal, at least two tornado warnings were issued and rockslides were reported, but there was no immediate word of major damage. More than 21,000 customers in Southern and central California had already lost power, according to PowerOutage.us.

(All totals in inches)

These totals come from a 24 hour tally released Tuesday afternoon by the NWS.