As the year reaches its midway point, a far-too-large number of Orange County restaurants have, alas, reached their endpoint. Some closed due to retirement; others were undone by economic pressures, shifting habits or the brutal math of running a restaurant.
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This year has already marked some significant changes, from the slow retreat of big-chain operations to the gone-too-soon farewells of acclaimed spots on hopes might someday be resurrected. While the region played host to the final acts of many eateries, here are some of the 2026 restaurant closures, thus far, that hit the hardest.
January
After more than 20 years on Avenida Del Mar in San Clemente, Captain Mauri’s called it quits at the end of January. Owner Mauricio Gutierrez bought the space (formerly known as Captain Culver’s) and created a family-run operation featuring a menu of healthy, hearty fare.
March
The Market by The Meat Cellar, one of two major tenants to depart River Street Marketplace this year, ended its run on March 1. “As pretty much everyone knows, we are literally a mom and pop restaurant — entirely self-funded with no partners or investors or business loans,” husband-wife owners Owners Anthony and Sara Villegas shared before the closure. “So when December fell wildly short of our projections (and the sales in any of our previous restaurants) we knew it was time to call it.” The venue featured cuts of meat from Premier Meat Company alongside its combined butchery, cheese shop, culinary boutique and a full-service steakhouse format.
After nearly 50 years at the corner of South Coast Highway and Victoria Street in Laguna Beach, Dizz’s As Is bid farewell on March 13. Founded in 1977 by Marcel Pitz, who trained at the Liege Culinary School in Belgium, the restaurant became a local favorite for its whimsical decor and its continental menu. In its place, Small’s Smash Burger, which first opened in San Clemente in 2025, took over the spot to open its second location.
Once seemingly unstoppable, major chain restaurants continued to shut down across Orange County in 2026, including the Brea Outback Steakhouse. Opening in the mid-1990s, the restaurant fried up its last Bloomin’ Onion, the dish for which it’s best known, on March 22. Despite the closure, the Australian-themed steakhouse’s parent company, Bloomin’ Brands, reported its first considerable traffic growth in four years, according to Restaurant Business. The company plans to invest $75 million to further revitalize the brand.
April
After more than 40 years on Bristol Street in Costa Mesa, chain eatery Acapulco said goodbye on April 19. The closure marked the end of Acapulco’s presence in Orange County. The Cali-Mexi fare chain, which started in Pasadena in 1960, once grew to more than 30 locations at its peak.
Opening sometime in 1972, The Brig — a longtime favorite in Dana Point known for its burgers, clam chowder and steaks — ceased operations in late April. Another Dana Point Harbor staple, Beach Harbor Pizza, also going dark during this time, making way for the harbor’s upcoming multimillion-dollar redevelopment.
The El Torito in Tustin shuttered at the end of April. While the chain restaurant has struggled in recent years (with only one left in Orange County, in Cypress, and a Brea El Torito Grill), its Tustin finale, in part, makes way for the Enderle Center’s upcoming multimillion-dollar revamp.
Meanwhile, up in North County, O Sea closed its Glassell Street spot after five years, with its final service happening at month’s end. King’s Seafood Company, a Costa Mesa-based restaurant group, purchased the O Sea brand and its intellectual property. O Sea founder Mike Flynn moved into a senior role at the company as vice president of culinary and brand development.
Known for its burgers, sandwiches, pizza, lobster rolls and cocktails, The Whaler ended its run in Newport Beach just shy of two years in operation. The restaurant’s Santa Monica and Venice venues remain open.
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May
Following four-plus decades at the Dana Point Harbor, Jon’s Fish Market served its last catch on May 3. “While I am devastated to be closing the doors, my health and the daily weight of small business operations have led me to what I feel is the right decision,” said owner Shala Mansur O’Keefe, in a written release. The family-run operation opened in 1980, led by commercial fisherman Jon Mansur and his wife, Sharon. The eatery-market turned into one of the harbor’s defining businesses, a spot that sold and prepared local catches.
Vaquera, the ranchero-style steakhouse led by executive chef Aaron Zimmer, shuttered on May 3. It was part of Santa Barbara-based restaurant group Acme Hospitality, the group behind Paloma Cafe, Lucky Penny and Loquita. The lauded eatery, which opened in late 2024, was one of the major inaugural tenants at River Street Marketplace in San Juan Capistrano. When asked about the decision to close after less than two years, Sherry Villanueva, founder and managing partner of Acme Hospitality, explained, “We’ve decided to sell the restaurant to a local Orange County operator so we can focus our energy closer to home.” In its stead, Cowboy by Nick’s, a thematic concept by Nick’s Restaurants, led by fourth-generation restaurateur Nick Nickoloff, will open at the vacant space. The Western-themed spot is targeting a fall-winter opening this year.
Helping usher in San Clemente’s gastropub era, MRK Public closed after 12 years. “It is time for me to pack up my knives,” said chef and co-founder Rayne Frey, in an announcement. “As much as you have a passion for something, it’s just time to step down and focus on what matters most.” Dishes like pork belly banh mi, short rib sandwiches, Vietnamese-style chicken wings and lemon ricotta beignets became menu staples, with the restaurant’s patio turning into a popular spot for families.
A decades-old El Torito restaurant in Irvine said goodbye on May 30. In recent years, the once-popular Cali-Mex chain spot has shut down locations in Dana Point, Laguna Hills, Orange, Westminster and Tustin.
After three decades at Tustin’s Enderle Center, The Crab Cooker closed on May 31, ending an impressive 33-year run. “It is with a very heavy heart that we share this news with our staff,” said owner Jim Wasko, in a written statement. “Many of our employees have been with us since we opened 33 years ago, and some have been a part of The Crab Cooker family for over 40 years.” The seafood eatery acted as a gathering space for families marking milestones.
June
One of the biggest closures so far in 2026 was the finale of Gulliver’s, the storied steakhouse in Irvine, bowing out after a nearly six-decade run near John Wayne Airport. Founded by Al Levie and Hans Prager, the restaurateur behind the Ritz in Newport Beach, opened in 1970. Named after Jonathan Swift’s “Gulliver’s Travels,” the eatery featured a display of illustrated prints from the book and other 18th century flourishes. Speaking of “The Duke,” the late actor and Orange County denizen was reportedly a Gulliver’s regular, too.
After almost two decades at The District at Tustin Legacy, The Winery Restaurant & Wine Bar, which, as its name suggests, was a wine country-themed restaurant, went dark on June 13. JC Clow and William Lewis opened the original Tustin spot, with executive chef Yvon Goetz leading the kitchen, in 2005. The reason for the closure was not disclosed. The Winery Restaurant & Wine Bar’s Newport Beach location remains open.
Less than one year after opening, Monaco Italian Kitchen, from restaurateur Tony Monaco, closed in Irvine at the end of June. Spanish-style restaurant Fat of the Land, which already has a location in Santa Ana, will take over the site this summer.
Reunion Kitchen + Drink shuttered its Laguna Beach location the last weekend in June. In addition to American comfort fare, the local chain also makes a mighty fine patty melt. The restaurant maintains open spots in Anaheim Hills, Brea, Corona and Santa Barbara.
To end on a celebratory note: Shortly after announcing the impending end of its Orange location, French’s Pastry Bakery has decided to it keep it open for the foreseeable future.
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