When a James Beard Award-winning chef says he's finally doing "something big" in the community that raised him, hospitality operators should pay attention. That's exactly what's happening in Orange County.
OCVIBE, the 100-acre mixed-use district reshaping the area around Anaheim's Honda Center, has announced that internationally acclaimed chef Roy Choi will bring his celebrated restaurant concept, Best Friend, to Orange County with an anticipated opening in Fall 2027. It's the first of OCVIBE's forthcoming collection of chef-driven signature restaurants—and a clear signal of the culinary bar the district intends to set.
A Homecoming Rooted in Anaheim
Best Friend is Choi's energetic celebration of Korean barbecue, bold flavors, and the cultural influences that have shaped Southern California's dining scene. Following the success of its flagship at Park MGM in Las Vegas, the Anaheim location will become only the second Best Friend in the country.
The location is deeply personal. Born in Seoul, Choi spent his formative years in Los Angeles and Orange County—including part of his childhood in Anaheim, where his parents owned a Korean restaurant and where he first developed his love of cooking.
"Orange County has always been an important part of my life and my career, and opening Best Friend at OCVIBE feels incredibly meaningful," said chef Roy Choi. "I've always wanted to do something big in Orange County that represented not only my own roots here, but the voices of all that live here. I feel like OC's got something to say to the world! Best Friend is perfect because it has built an incredible following with guests from across Orange County, and now we have the opportunity to create something that's truly for this community and by this community."
A Restaurant Designed Specifically for Orange County
While the Las Vegas location celebrates the spirit of Southern California broadly, the OCVIBE restaurant will evolve to reflect the unique character, diversity, and creativity of Orange County itself. Expect thoughtful design elements, locally inspired storytelling, and community collaborations that celebrate the region's cultural identity and art.
Guests can also anticipate exclusive menu offerings and seasonal features inspired by the region—an experience rooted distinctly in Anaheim while staying true to the vibrant energy that made Best Friend a nationally recognized destination.
Building Orange County's Next Great Culinary Destination
Best Friend is the opening act. It represents the first signature restaurant within OCVIBE's curated collection of chef-driven concepts, with additional acclaimed chefs and restaurant partners to be revealed in the coming months.
"Roy Choi has fundamentally changed the way people think about food, culture and community," said Anthony Olheiser, Senior Vice President of Hospitality at OCVIBE. "From the beginning, our vision for OCVIBE has been to partner with chefs whose restaurants represent more than great dining experiences, they tell authentic stories, celebrate the communities they serve and create places where people genuinely want to gather. Best Friend embodies that philosophy, and we're incredibly proud to welcome Roy as the first chef to join our signature restaurant collection."
The signature restaurants will complement Katella Commons, OCVIBE's 50,000-square-foot chef-driven market hall opening in early 2027—together creating a district with more than 35 food and beverage experiences designed for residents, visitors, and entertainment guests alike.
"Today's travelers are looking for authentic dining experiences that reflect the character of the places they visit," said Mike Waterman, President & CEO of Visit Anaheim. "Chef Roy Choi's Best Friend delivers exactly what many travelers are looking for while adding another exciting culinary experience at OCVIBE."
A New Experiential District for Southern California
Privately funded with a $5 billion commitment by the Samueli Family, OCVIBE is one of the largest private investments ever made in Southern California. Its first phase opens to the public in early 2027 with Katella Commons—a food-driven market hall, public plaza, concert hall, and new office space at The Weave, the county's first mass timber office building in a mixed-use development.
Once fully complete in 2033, the district will bring 20 acres of open space, three miles of connected walking trails, more than 2,000 residences, 35+ dining experiences, and three state-of-the-art entertainment venues to the area surrounding Honda Center, home of the NHL's Anaheim Ducks.
"We want OCVIBE to become part of people's daily lives," said Morell Marean, Senior Vice President of Immersive Entertainment at OCVIBE. "Best Friend is exactly the kind of memorable dining experience that turns a visit into something people will want to come back and experience again and again."
Why It Matters
For food, beverage, and hospitality operators, the OCVIBE model is worth studying closely. This is the anchor-tenant strategy applied to dining: lead with a marquee, story-driven chef to establish credibility, then build a curated collection around that gravity. Choi—the culinary innovator behind Kogi BBQ and the modern food truck movement—gives the district instant national relevance.
A few practical takeaways for operators and buyers watching this space:
- Authenticity is now the anchor. OCVIBE is explicitly selecting concepts that "tell authentic stories" and reflect local community. For restaurateurs, hyper-local storytelling and community partnerships are becoming table stakes at premium destinations.
- Location-specific menus matter. Best Friend isn't being copy-pasted from Las Vegas; it's being re-engineered for Orange County with exclusive dishes and seasonal features. Multi-unit operators should note that guests increasingly reward differentiation over uniformity.
- Mixed-use is the destination play. With 35+ dining experiences woven into entertainment, residences, offices, and public space, OCVIBE reflects the "reason to stay all day" thesis driving development-scale F&B. Suppliers, procurement directors, and institutional buyers should map opportunities as the district's chef roster fills out through 2027.
With Katella Commons opening in early 2027 and Best Friend following in the fall, Anaheim is positioning itself as a serious culinary destination—not just an entertainment hub. Operators eyeing Southern California expansion have a clear new benchmark.
Want more on how top chefs and hospitality groups are building experience-driven dining? Explore our coverage of Lilli by Chef Tyler Vorce and Woodbine Hospitality's strategic growth under new leadership. Then tell us in the comments: which chef-driven concept do you hope lands at OCVIBE next?
Written by Michael Politz, Author of Guide to Restaurant Success: The Proven Process for Starting Any Restaurant Business From Scratch to Success (ISBN: 978-1-119-66896-1), Founder of Food & Beverage Magazine, the leading online magazine and resource in the industry. Designer of the Bluetooth logo and recognized in Entrepreneur Magazine’s “Top 40 Under 40” for founding American Wholesale Floral. Politz is also the founder of the Proof Awards and the CPG Awards and a partner in numerous consumer brands across the food and beverage sector.
