A Costa Mesa burger joint has paused service, a Fullerton Mexican restaurant closes after 45 years and two longtime Dana Point Harbor spots prepare to sail off into the sunset come Halloween. Here’s what to know about the latest restaurant closures in Orange County.
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Matty’s Patty’s Burger Club (Costa Mesa)
After nearly two years, smash burger joint Matty’s Patty’s Burger Club has stopped flipping burgers in Costa Mesa — at least for now. The Newport Boulevard eatery, from chef and “The Bear” actor Matty Matheson and RVCA co-founder Pat Tenore, announced a temporary closure effective Thursday, Oct. 22.
“We’re proud of what we’ve built here and so grateful for everyone who’s been part of it,” read an announcement the company posted to its socials. “From our dedicated team to the regulars who became familiar faces and the guests who stopped by along the way, you’ve made these past two years truly special.”
The message concluded with a possible hint at a future return, saying, “We look forward to finding our way back to Costa Mesa when the time is right.”
The Costa Mesa location, the first in the United States, opened in December 2024.
Don Carlos (Fullerton)
After 45 years in business, Don Carlos closed its doors at 300 E. Commonwealth Ave. According to a relative, the 84-year-old owner, Guillermo Pulido, is “ready for retirement,” which, in part, prompted the closure.
“We are now closed,” read an announcement the restaurant owners posted to Facebook on Oct. 19.
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Known for burritos, pozole, tacos, cheese enchiladas and more, the restaurant previously operated near the corner of Orangethorpe Avenue and Euclid Street. A development project forced it to leave that location in 2007 and move to Commonwealth Avenue.
No dining replacement, if any, has been announced.
Pound Mary’s and Turk’s (Dana Point)
Two more longtime Dana Point Harbor fixtures will say goodbye on Oct. 31, when Proud Mary’s and Turk’s close their current locations as redevelopment reaches the wharf. Their departures follow Wind and Sea’s Sept. 15 closure.
Founded in 1977, Proud Mary’s is known for its waterfront breakfast, lunch and Bloody Marys. The restaurant survived a 2007 blaze that destroyed its building and prompted a rebuild.
Neighboring Turk’s, which opened in 1984, has spent decades accumulating old photographs, bric-a-brac and a devoted legion of regulars.
In July, Turk’s was among the businesses in discussion with harbor developers about returning once the project completed. A return has yet to be announced. For now, its final day will be on Halloween, Oct. 31.
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