Eight Chef-Led Concepts Announced for Katella Commons OCVIBE, the 100-acre mixed-use development surrounding Honda Center in Anaheim, has unveiled eight chef-driven kitchen concepts for Katella Commons, a 50,000-square-foot, two-story market hall slated to open in early 2027. The lineup includes James Beard semifinalists Danielle Duran Zecca and Alessandro Zecca (Amiga Amore), Michelin Bib Gourmand-recognized Burritos La Palma led by Alberto Bañuelos, Evil Cooks from Alex "Pobre Diablo" Garcia and Elvia "La Bruja" Huerta, Khao Soi by Kanate Ungkasrithongkul and Anita Lin, and two concepts from Chef Zach Scherer focused on elevated pizza and fried chicken.

Market Hall Structure and Vision Katella Commons will house 21 total kitchen concepts and six bar and lounge concepts when it opens. The facility is designed around a "for chef, by chef" partnership model that aims to reduce financial and operational barriers to restaurant ownership. Nick Pacific, Vice President of Katella Commons Development, said: "Katella Commons is built on the belief that great food is inseparable from the people who make it. 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."

Chef Profiles and Accolades Danielle Duran Zecca and Alessandro Zecca brought Amiga Amore to acclaim, earning the restaurant back-to-back James Beard semifinalist nods for Best Emerging Restaurant in 2024, followed by Chef Danielle Duran Zecca's semifinalist recognition for Best Chef: California in 2025. Their new concept will blend Mexican and Italian cuisines. "Our food comes from our own experiences growing up between cultures and finding so many similarities in the way food brings people together," the chefs said. "Katella Commons feels like the right home for us because it's focused on the people and stories behind the food." Burritos La Palma, led by Chef Alberto Bañuelos, earned Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand status for five consecutive years (2019–2023) and regularly appeared on the Los Angeles Times' 101 Best Restaurants list. The concept specializes in slow-simmered beef birria wrapped in fresh-pressed flour tortillas. "Burritos La Palma is about simple food made with care, from fresh-pressed tortillas to slow-simmered fillings," Bañuelos said. "We're proud to partner with Katella Commons because it brings together chefs focused on craft and consistency." Evil Cooks, run by husband-and-wife duo Alex "Pobre Diablo" Garcia and Elvia "La Bruja" Huerta, combines Mexican food with heavy metal and punk rock culture. The concept earned two consecutive James Beard Award nominations and a spot on the Los Angeles Times' 101 Best Restaurants list. "From the beginning, Evil Cooks has been our way of combining Mexican food with the music and culture we grew up around," Garcia and Huerta said. "What attracted us to Katella Commons is that it isn't asking chefs to fit a certain mold." Khao Soi, a new concept from Kanate Ungkasrithongkul and Anita Lin, will focus exclusively on Thai curries. Their existing restaurant, Manaao Thai Comfort Food, earned the Thai SELECT Signature Certification and recognition on the Los Angeles Times' "Best Dishes" list. "Katella Commons gives us the opportunity to share some of our most beloved Thai dishes with a new audience," Ungkasrithongkul said. "To be in the company of so many other respected chefs and operators is inspiring." Chef Zach Scherer, co-founder of DARKROOM Restaurant and Wine Bar (ranked on the Los Angeles Times 101 Best Restaurants list), will operate two concepts: a pizza concept using bakery-level dough techniques and premium ingredients, and a fried chicken sandwich concept drawing on global culinary traditions from American, Asian, European, and Latin American cuisines. "Katella Commons feels like a rare opportunity to be part of something that really matters for Orange County food," Scherer said. "The vision, the people behind it, and the focus on building a true culinary destination make it the perfect place for us to bring these concepts to life."

Project Context Katella Commons is the anchor dining component of OCVIBE's first phase, which opens in early 2027.

The full district, backed by a $5 billion commitment from the Samueli Family, is expected to complete in 2033 and will include 35+ dining venues, three entertainment venues, over 2,000 residences, and 20 acres of open space. OCVIBE plans to announce additional chef partners and concepts in coming months.

Why It Matters Market halls continue to gain traction as a development model that allows operators to enter the restaurant business with reduced overhead while creating curated dining destinations. The depth of accolades among these eight chefs—including James Beard recognition, Michelin acknowledgment, and major publication features—signals that Katella Commons aims to position itself as a serious culinary hub in Southern California's restaurant landscape, not merely a food court.

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Written by FBM Publications Editors