James Beard Award-winning chef Roy Choi is bringing his celebrated restaurant concept, Best Friend, to Orange County with an anticipated opening in Fall 2027. It’ll be located at the all-new OCVIBE, the 100-acre mixed-use district transforming the area surrounding Honda Center in Orange County.
Best Friend is an energetic celebration of Korean barbecue, bold flavors, and the cultural influences that have defined Southern California’s dining scene. Following the success of its flagship location at Park MGM in Las Vegas, the Anaheim location will become only the second Best Friend restaurant in the country, bringing the award-winning concept to the community that has long been part of its story. Born in Seoul, South Korea, 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 developed his love of cooking.
Chef Roy Choi said:
Orange County has always been an important part of my life and my career, and opening Best Friend at OCVIBE feels incredibly meaningful.
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. This restaurant will celebrate the neighborhoods, cultures and people that make Orange County special, and I couldn’t imagine a better place to do that than OCVIBE.
While Best Friend‘s Las Vegas location celebrates the spirit of Southern California, the OCVIBE restaurant will evolve to reflect the unique character, diversity and creativity of Orange County.
Inspired by the communities that have shaped the region, the restaurant will incorporate thoughtful design elements, locally inspired storytelling and collaborations that celebrate Orange County’s rich cultural identity and art. Guests can also expect exclusive menu offerings and seasonal features inspired by the region, creating an experience that feels distinctly rooted in Anaheim while remaining true to the vibrant energy that has made Best Friend a nationally recognized destination.
Best Friend represents the first signature restaurant within OCVIBE’s curated collection of chef-driven dining concepts, with additional acclaimed chefs and restaurant partners to be revealed in the coming months. Together, the restaurants will anchor a broader culinary program that showcases some of the country’s most celebrated chefs while highlighting the diversity, innovation, and entrepreneurial spirit that define Southern California.
The 35+ dining establishments that will make up OCVIBE’s culinary ecosystem is just one chapter in the district’s broader vision to create a place where culture is continually shared and discovered through the moments people experience together. Surrounding Honda Center, home of the NHL’s Anaheim Ducks, the district will feature chef-driven eateries, live music venues, immersive entertainment, parks and public gathering spaces, public art, offices, residences, and hotels; all designed to create reasons to visit throughout the day and stay well into the evening.