KoJa Kitchen, the San Francisco food truck serving Korean and Japanese food that eventually became a brick-and-mortar there has opened its first Southern California location in Tustin. It takes over the spot vacated by The Melt in The Marketplace. Signature items include Kojas, which are a choice of protein such as Korean BBQ short rib served between lightly fried garlic rice buns. 2943 El Camino Real, Tustin, CA 92782
The Bear Flag Restaurant Group has opened Circle Hook at Lido Marina Village. The menu features locally caught and sustainable seafood, some of which are turned into fish and chips. 3432 Via Oporto Suite 104, Newport Beach, CA 92663
Tienda De El Salvador in Orange is now also a Rio Pupuseria ToGo, serving pupusas, empanadas, and tamales. 3848 E Chapman Ave, Ste C, Orange, CA 92869
Pink’s Hot Dogs, the LA hot dog icon, has opened a location inside Brea Mall food court, taking the spot that used to be Hot Dog on a Stick. There used to be a Pink’s at Knott’s Berry Farm, but it closed in 2014. 2153 Brea Mall, Brea, CA 92821
The new Flipped Donuts in Dana Point serves traditional donuts and waffle fried chicken sandwiches, but also savory donuts that include one with coconut beef curry and shrimp gumbo. 34255 Pacific Coast Hwy Unit 103, Dana Point, CA 92629
Before becoming an award-winning restaurant critic for OC Weekly in 2007, Edwin Goei went by the alias “elmomonster” on his blog Monster Munching, in which he once wrote a whole review in haiku.