South Coast Plaza is adding several new dining experiences in 2026, giving Costa Mesa visitors more choices beyond traditional shopping center restaurants. New arrivals include Tiny’s Burger, Café Collegium, Pura Vida Miami, and Venchi. Additional concepts involving tea, coffee, juices, and upscale dining are also joining the growing South Coast Plaza food scene.
Why South Coast Plaza Dining Is Growing in 2026
South Coast Plaza has long been one of Costa Mesa’s major destinations for shopping, dining, arts, and entertainment. Its restaurant collection now includes more than 30 eateries, ranging from casual meals and quick bites to upscale dining.
The dining scene is becoming even more varied in 2026. Several recently opened concepts bring burgers, matcha, healthy cafe food, Italian chocolate, and gelato into the mix. Other announced openings add fresh fruit tea, juices, sandwiches, and another destination restaurant experience.
That variety makes the property useful for more than a shopping trip. Visitors can stop for breakfast, spend the afternoon browsing stores, enjoy coffee or dessert, and finish with dinner nearby.
If you want a broader look at the city’s food scene, our Costa Mesa restaurant guide covers additional dining areas and restaurant styles around the city.
New Restaurants at South Coast Plaza to Try in 2026
The newest South Coast Plaza restaurants cover several dining styles. Some work well for a quick meal between stores. Others are designed for a relaxed coffee break, breakfast, dessert, or evening out.
Tiny’s Burger Brings a New Take on the Burger Stand
Tiny’s Burger opened at South Coast Plaza in June 2026. Chef Sang Yoon, known for Father’s Office, developed the concept with chef Nanor Harboyan.
The restaurant draws inspiration from classic American burger stands while incorporating Asian influenced ingredients and flavors. The menu includes burgers, hot dogs, grilled cheese, chili, chicken nuggets, macaroni and cheese, and crispy potato dishes.
Its signature burger uses a dry aged beef patty with a sauce combining ingredients such as gochujang and ssamjang. The Tokyo Dog takes a different approach with toppings including furikake, bonito flakes, sweet soy, and Kewpie mayonnaise.
Guests looking for dessert can also find pineapple Dole Whip. The concept adds a playful fast casual option to an area better known for designer boutiques and sit down dining.
A Restaurant and Snack Shop in One Space
Tiny’s also incorporates a konbini inspired retail area. Visitors can browse packaged snacks, beverages, sandwiches, salads, and other grab and go items.
This setup makes the restaurant useful for different types of visits. You might stop for a full lunch, grab something before leaving the center, or explore the snack selection between stores.
You can find current details through the South Coast Plaza dining guide.
Café Collegium Combines Coffee Matcha and Design
Café Collegium is another recent addition to South Coast Plaza. The cafe comes from Collegium, a Los Angeles based footwear brand that expanded its concept into food and beverage.
The space focuses on carefully sourced coffee and ceremonial grade matcha. Its concept also emphasizes community, craft, and culture, creating a cafe experience that fits naturally into a fashion focused shopping destination.
Café Collegium provides a useful option for shoppers who want a slower break rather than a full restaurant meal. Coffee and matcha also make it practical for morning visits or afternoon stops.
A Good Stop Between Shopping Areas
The cafe sits in the Macy’s Home Store Wing. Its location gives visitors another alternative to larger restaurants when they only want a beverage or short break.
More information about the concept is available on the official Café Collegium directory page.
Pura Vida Miami Adds an All Day Cafe Option
Pura Vida Miami opened its Costa Mesa location at South Coast Plaza in January 2026. The restaurant marks the Miami based cafe brand’s first Orange County location.
The menu focuses on food that works throughout the day. Visitors can find breakfast dishes, smoothies, juices, salads, wraps, bowls, sandwiches, pastries, coffee, and other cafe items.
That broad menu makes Pura Vida useful for groups with different dining preferences. Someone looking for breakfast can choose items such as avocado toast or oats. Another guest might prefer a bowl, wrap, salad, smoothie, or coffee later in the day.
The Costa Mesa location also includes patio space and a bright design influenced by the brand’s coastal style.
Useful for Breakfast Lunch or a Shopping Break
Many South Coast Plaza restaurants become natural lunch or dinner destinations. Pura Vida fills another role by providing food from the morning into the evening.
Visitors arriving early can start here before shopping. Others might use it for a lighter lunch before exploring the rest of South Coast Plaza.
The official South Coast Plaza announcement for Pura Vida Miami provides additional details about the location.
Venchi Brings Italian Chocolate and Gelato to Costa Mesa
Visitors looking for dessert have another new choice with Venchi. The Italian chocolatier opened at South Coast Plaza in Carousel Court.
Venchi traces its history to Italy in the nineteenth century and specializes in chocolate and gelato. Its South Coast Plaza shop adds a dessert focused experience that works well after lunch, dinner, or an afternoon of shopping.
The concept also differs from a typical restaurant because guests can combine an immediate dessert stop with packaged chocolate shopping.
Add Venchi to a Dessert Focused Visit
A gelato stop can easily fit into a South Coast Plaza itinerary without requiring a long meal. Visitors can stop after shopping, before a performance, or after eating elsewhere at the center.
Those interested in the current shop can visit the official Venchi South Coast Plaza page.
More South Coast Plaza Dining Concepts Are Coming
The 2026 dining expansion is not limited to restaurants that have already opened. South Coast Plaza has also announced several concepts expected to arrive later in the year.
These additions continue the trend toward more specialized beverages, cafes, and internationally recognized food brands.
Blue Box Café by Daniel Boulud
One of the most notable announced additions is Blue Box Café by Daniel Boulud at Tiffany and Co. The South Coast Plaza location is scheduled for September 2026.
The concept is expected to offer breakfast, afternoon tea, and all day dining. Its location within Tiffany and Co. makes it different from a conventional shopping center restaurant.
For visitors planning a special meal or a day combining luxury shopping and dining, Blue Box Café could become one of the center’s more distinctive experiences.
Pair the Cafe With an Arts District Evening
South Coast Plaza sits close to Segerstrom Center for the Arts and the Orange County Museum of Art. That proximity makes dinner or afternoon tea easy to combine with a cultural outing.
Visitors planning a complete day can browse our things to do in Costa Mesa guide for more nearby ideas.
Joe and The Juice Adds Another Quick Cafe Choice
Joe and The Juice has also been announced as part of South Coast Plaza’s 2026 dining expansion. The international cafe brand is known for juices, coffee, sandwiches, and quick meals.
This type of concept adds another convenient option for shoppers who want something portable. It also gives visitors more choices between a traditional restaurant and a simple coffee stop.
HEYTEA Brings Modern Tea Culture to South Coast Plaza
HEYTEA is listed as coming soon to Carousel Court. The brand is known for contemporary interpretations of tea and fresh fruit beverages.
The concept originated in China and became closely associated with modern cheese tea. Its menus have since expanded to include fruit based drinks and other modern tea combinations.
HEYTEA should appeal to visitors interested in alternatives to coffee, especially those who enjoy fruit beverages or contemporary Asian tea culture.
South Coast Plaza currently lists the location as coming soon on its official HEYTEA directory page.
CHAGEE Adds Another Contemporary Tea Experience
CHAGEE is another tea brand announced for South Coast Plaza. The concept draws from traditional Chinese tea culture while presenting it in a modern cafe format.
The planned location adds more depth to the beverage choices available at the shopping center. Visitors interested in tea may soon have several different styles to compare during the same trip.
Having multiple specialized tea concepts also reflects a broader shift in mall dining. Beverage destinations now play a larger role alongside restaurants, cafes, bakeries, and dessert shops.
Build a South Coast Plaza Food Itinerary
With so many dining choices, visitors do not need to select only one restaurant. A full day at South Coast Plaza can include several food stops without making every stop a large meal.
Start With Breakfast or Coffee
Morning visitors might begin at Pura Vida Miami for breakfast, smoothies, or coffee. Café Collegium provides another option for visitors mainly interested in matcha or coffee.
Starting early also gives you more time to explore South Coast Plaza before the busiest dining periods.
Choose a Casual Lunch
Tiny’s Burger fits naturally into a casual lunch. The menu is approachable for visitors who want burgers, hot dogs, crispy potatoes, and comfort food with Asian influenced flavors.
South Coast Plaza also has many established restaurants, so diners looking for another cuisine can explore the full dining directory.
Save Room for Gelato or Chocolate
Venchi works particularly well as an afternoon stop. Gelato offers a simple break between shopping areas, while packaged chocolate can double as a gift or something to enjoy later.
Finish With Dinner and Entertainment
Visitors attending a performance nearby can schedule dinner before heading toward Segerstrom Center for the Arts.
South Coast Plaza and the surrounding arts district make this combination relatively simple. Dining, shopping, theater, museums, and public art sit close to one another.
Tips for Visiting New Restaurants at South Coast Plaza
New restaurants often attract extra attention shortly after opening. Checking current hours before visiting can help avoid unexpected schedule changes.
Restaurant hours may also differ from general South Coast Plaza hours. Some sit down restaurants operate later, while cafes and specialty food shops may follow shopping center schedules more closely.
Check Opening Status Before Visiting
This matters especially for concepts announced for later in 2026. Opening dates can change as restaurants complete construction, staffing, training, and final preparations.
Use the official South Coast Plaza dining directory for the latest operating information before planning a visit around a specific restaurant.
Consider the Location Inside the Center
South Coast Plaza is large, and restaurants are spread across several wings and levels. Checking a restaurant’s location before arriving can save unnecessary walking.
This is particularly useful when combining a meal with a specific store, theater performance, or museum visit.
Explore More Costa Mesa Restaurants
South Coast Plaza represents only one part of Costa Mesa’s larger dining scene. The city also has independent restaurants, cafes, pizza shops, international cuisine, food halls, and creative dining areas.
The LAB Anti Mall, The CAMP, and other neighborhoods provide different atmospheres for visitors who want to explore beyond South Coast Metro.
Our local Costa Mesa restaurant guide provides a broader introduction to dining around the city.
Discover What’s New at South Coast Plaza in 2026
The new restaurants at South Coast Plaza make 2026 an interesting year for Costa Mesa dining. Tiny’s Burger brings creative comfort food, while Café Collegium adds specialty coffee and matcha. Pura Vida Miami expands the all day cafe category, and Venchi introduces another destination for chocolate and gelato.
Upcoming concepts such as Blue Box Café, HEYTEA, Joe and The Juice, and CHAGEE add even more variety. Together, these openings give visitors more reasons to include dining in a South Coast Plaza trip.
Whether you are visiting for shopping, a theater performance, an afternoon with friends, or simply a new place to eat, South Coast Plaza continues to offer more ways to build food into a Costa Mesa day.