OCVIBE has announced the first wave of chef-driven concepts joining Katella Commons, a 50,000-square-foot market hall slated to open in early 2027 within the 100-acre mixed-use district surrounding Honda Center in Anaheim. The newly announced culinary partners include: Danielle Duran Zecca and Alessandro Zecca will bring their "MexItalian" concept to the hall. The husband-and-wife team, James Beard Award semifinalists, operate Amiga Amore in Highland Park, which was a semifinalist for Best Emerging Restaurant in 2024. Chef Danielle Duran Zecca also earned a semifinalist nod for Best Chef: California in 2025. "Our food comes from our own experiences growing up between cultures and finding so many similarities in the way food brings people together. Katella Commons feels like the right home for us because it's focused on the people and stories behind the food," the chefs said. Alberto Bañuelos will expand Burritos La Palma, his Southern California institution known for handmade flour tortillas and Zacatecan-style beef birria. The concept earned Michelin Bib Gourmand recognition for five consecutive years (2019–2023) and regularly appeared on the Los Angeles Times 101 Best Restaurants list. "Burritos La Palma is about simple food made with care, from fresh-pressed tortillas to slow-simmered fillings. We're proud to partner with Katella Commons because it brings together chefs focused on craft and consistency," Bañuelos said. Alex "Pobre Diablo" Garcia and Elvia "La Bruja" Huerta will operate Evil Cooks, their heavy-metal-themed Mexican taqueria. The couple earned two consecutive James Beard Award nominations and a spot on the Los Angeles Times 101 Best Restaurants list. "What attracted us to Katella Commons is that it isn't asking chefs to fit a certain mold. It's a place for concepts with their own identity, and that's exactly why it felt right for Evil Cooks," they said. Kanate Ungkasrithongkul and Anita Lin will launch Khao Soi, a specialized Thai curry concept spinning off their Manaao Thai Comfort Food brand. The new kitchen will offer a focused menu centered on their signature curries. "Katella Commons gives us the opportunity to share some of our most beloved Thai dishes with a new audience. To be in the company of so many other respected chefs and operators is inspiring, and I cannot wait to open," Ungkasrithongkul said. Zach Scherer, chef and co-founder of DARKROOM in Santa Ana—which ranked on the Los Angeles Times 101 Best Restaurants list—will operate two concepts: an elevated New York-style pizza kitchen using bakery-level dough techniques and premium ingredients, and a fried chicken sandwich concept drawing from global traditions including American, Asian, European, and Latin American influences. "Katella Commons feels like a rare opportunity to be part of something that really matters for Orange County food. 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," Scherer said.
The Vision Katella Commons will feature 21 chef-driven kitchens and six original bar and lounge concepts across its two-story, 50,000-square-foot footprint. The market hall is designed to serve as the social hub for OCVIBE, connecting to the district's central plaza and surrounding entertainment venues. "Katella Commons is built on the belief that great food is inseparable from the people who make it," said Nick Pacific, Vice President, Katella Commons Development. "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." The market hall operates on what OCVIBE calls a "for chef, by chef" partnership model designed to remove financial and operational barriers to restaurant ownership. Additional chef partners will be announced in the months ahead.
Why It Matters
Katella Commons represents a significant investment in chef-driven hospitality in Orange County, with each operator bringing established culinary credentials and community ties. For operators, the market hall model offers access to premium foot traffic within a curated dining destination without the overhead of standalone restaurants. The 2027 opening positions OCVIBE as a major competitive hospitality play in Southern California's dining landscape.
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Written by FBM Publications Editors
