While Orange County played host to a bonanza of eatery openings in 2023 — most notably, Mercado González in Costa Mesa, Gema in San Clemente and JW Hayes BBQ found inside a liquor store — it also saw a slew of closures, with a handful of cherished restaurants saying farewell after decades in the culinary game.
Owning and operating a successful business, especially one that prepares and sells food, is no easy feat. But in California, it can be a lucrative one. According to an analysis of the most recent U.S. Census Bureau data, Californians spend the most on dining in a two-week period, forking over approximately $140 per consumer. (Only diners in Hawaii spend more than Golden State residents.) But with the price of commercial real estate (some of the highest in the country), labor costs, food service permitting, and state sales and corporate taxes, California is also one of the priciest places to run a restaurant.
Myriad factors went into O.C. restaurant closures of 2023, ranging from temporary pauses and real estate redevelopment to owner retirement and financial strife. Here are some of the eateries we said goodbye to in 2023.
Of this year’s many closures, Taco María — which didn’t close for good, but announced a temporary hiatus in July while chef-owner Carlos Salgado searched for a more suitable location — is the one readers and gastronomes alike ask about the most. One of only three Orange County spots with Michelin-star pedigree, the acclaimed restaurant was located inside the OC Mix at SoCo Collection, a luxury mall abutting the 405. Not the best fit, according to Salgado, who decided to pause service in order to find a more fitting locale. “We’ve known for a few years that Taco Maria has outgrown this space, and it’s become evident that now — at our ten-year mark and the…
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