It looks like the Orange County dining scene is playing a round of musical chairs. From Thai staples to Texas steaks and soup dumplings, here’s a look at what is heading to the region over the next few months, with new eateries replacing old spots that, for one reason or another, didn’t pan out.
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The former Hoot Wings in Orange — the PG version of “breastaurant” Hooters that called it quits in February 2025 after a brief 15-month run — is trading chicken wings for something far more aromatic. Hanuman Thai will take over the spot sometime this month, claiming the space with new exterior signage. “If things go as planned, the 20th of February is when we will do the soft opening,” said a spokesperson for the restaurant. Currently Hanuman Thai has two locations in Newport Beach and Costa Mesa.
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If you’re a fan of the classics, its menu is stacked. Expect green papaya salad, glass noodle soup, curries, pad see ew and those rich, savory boat noodles with sliced pork. In his 2021 review of the Costa Mesa spot, critic Brad A. Johnson wrote positively of Hanuman, giving plaudits to the khao soi, calling it “the best of its genre in Orange County,” and “the excellent ‘spicy’ basil stir-fry called pad ga pow.”
Texas Roadhouse in Laguna Hills
The rumors about the old El Torito site at 24301 Avenida de la Carlota in Laguna Hills are getting harder to ignore. While the site has been vacant since 2023, a telling alcohol permit from Texas Roadhouse is now affixed to the building. Though the chain’s corporate team is currently playing it cool, responding to queries that they “cannot confirm this location” just yet, public records show a filing for an on-sale general eating place license back in September, as first reported by 926OC.
If (or let’s be real, when) it opens, this will mark the massive steakhouse chain’s first foray into Orange County. As its name suggests, the restaurant features a menu heavy on steaks, from New York strip to bone-inn ribeye to prime rib, as well as buttered rolls, ribs, burgers, cocktails and more.
Juicy Dumpling Factory in Costa Mesa
Meanwhile, in Costa Mesa, the space formerly occupied by Dave’s Hot Chicken, which closed in October, won’t stay empty for long. A sign for “XL Dumpling, Inc.” at 3030 Harbor Blvd. signaled the change, and a Costa Mesa city planner has since confirmed that Juicy Dumpling Factory will move in. As to when it will open, exactly, remains up in the air.
This marks a solid expansion for the brand, which already has a following at its locations in Cypress, Huntington Beach and Redondo Beach. Menu options include xiao long bao, pork won tons and other assorted dumplings from porn and corn to pan fried. Also available are such dishes as orange chicken, noodle dishes and fried rice.
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