Katella Commons, a fifty thousand square foot, two-story food hall, is set to open its doors in early 2027, according to the L.A. Times. The new culinary space is part of the OCVIBE development project, transforming the heart of Anaheim into a lively entertainment district.
The dining complex will include 21 chefs serving a variety of cuisines from Mexico to Thailand, bringing together highly-regarded chefs from the local Orange County and Los Angeles area. What makes Katella Commons different from many other food courts in Orange County is its mission to showcase chef-driven concepts unique to the Orange County area.
“Katella Commons is built on the belief that great food is inseparable from the people who make it,” vice president of Katella Commons, Nick Pacific said in a statement. “Every concept we bring into this space is chosen because it represents a genuine culinary voice, with chefs and operators who have something real to say.”
First on the culinary roster is the husband-wife duo Danielle Duran Zecca and Alessandro Zecca, known for their popular Los Angeles restaurant, Amiga Amore. These chefs bring a “Mexitalian” concept to the table, combining “Latin American warmth with Italian tradition,” according to the OCVIBE website. Also on the menu are Zacatecas-style burritos from the Michelin-rated Burritos La Palma, founded by Alberto Bañuelos.
For a more Asian approach, husband-and-wife chefs Kanate Ungkasrithongkul and Anita Lin have planned a specialized menu centering on Thai cuisine. Their celebrated Tustin restaurant, Manaao Thai Comfort Food, features several Thai dishes from Ungkasrithongkul’s childhood. However, their kitchen at Katella Commons will exclusively serve “khao soi,” a noodle soup in curry broth.
“In Thailand it’s really common to see small restaurants that offer only a few specific items. Here in the States, Thai restaurants try to offer everything,” Ungkasrithongkul said. “Khao soi gives us the chance to focus on one area of Thai cuisine, curries and hopefully take execution to the next level. It’s an honor to be invited to join a group that includes such impressive culinary talent.”
Co-chef and co-founder of Darkroom Zach Scherer, expressed a similar sentiment about being invited to the culinary team.
“Katella Commons feels like a rare opportunity to be part of something that matters for Orange County food,” said Scherer in a written release. His concept for the new food hall proposes two unique concepts reimagining the comfort foods of pizza and fried chicken. These involve an elevated presentation of New York-style pizza and fried chicken sandwiches taken from American, Asian, European and Latin American inspirations.
In talking about his direction in selecting chefs for Katella Commons, Chef Rémi Lauvand said that “some are already beloved by Orange County diners, while others will introduce exciting new flavors to OCVIBE.” He shares that showcasing local culinary talent will curate authentic dining experiences in line with OCVIBE’s vision. “Together, they represent the creativity, diversity and energy that will define Katella Commons,” said Lauvand.
In addition to dining experiences, Katella Commons will also feature six bars and lounges. Notable standouts include the Starluxe Lounge, a “late ’70s glamour and early ’80s maximalism” pavilion bar and Vesper, a cocktail lounge inspired by Japanese and Scandinavian influences, according to the OCVIBE website.
Katella Commons will be centrally located in OCVIBE, an under-construction entertainment and lifestyle district next to Honda Center. According to CBS News, this $4 billion project is projected to feature “a 5,500-seat concert hall, 20 acres of parks and plazas, 1,500 apartments, two hotels, 30 restaurants and an office space.” The district will also have free parking for guests. The concert hall and Urban Park are expected to open along with Katella Commons in 2027.
Pacific expressed his vision for Orange County residents to interact with the space as part of their everyday life, “whether it’s early in the morning for coffee, or late at night to have a drink on the roof deck.”
As the food hall prepares to open its doors, more culinary concepts and chefs will be announced by OCVIBE as Katella Common’s full roster gradually takes shape.
Nevaeh Medina is a News Intern for the summer 2026 quarter. She can be reached at nevaem1@uci.edu.
Edited by Konstantin Diatlov and Tracy Sandoval.
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