Hospitality and entertainment district OCVIBE has selected chef Roy Choi's Korean barbecue concept, Best Friend, as the debut signature restaurant for its 100-acre mixed-use development surrounding the Honda Center in Anaheim, California.
Scheduled to open in autumn 2027, the venue represents the second location for the concept following its initial launch at Park MGM in Las Vegas. The announcement establishes the primary anchor for OCVIBE’s planned signature dining portfolio, which will sit alongside Katella Commons, an upcoming 50,000-square-foot market hall.
Experiential Hospitality and District Strategy
The addition of Best Friend represents the first confirmed operator in a planned collection of chef-driven signature concepts within the USD $4 billion OCVIBE master development. Surrounding the Honda Center, home to the NHL’s Anaheim Ducks, the district is engineered to combine live entertainment, commercial office space, residential units, hotels, and public parklands.
The broader food and beverage ecosystem is planned to feature more than 35 distinct dining and drinking venues, aiming to capture extended dwell times from stadium attendees, tourists, and local residents.
Anthony Olheiser, Senior Vice President of Hospitality at OCVIBE, stated that the leasing strategy focuses on securing operators whose concepts deliver authentic storytelling and community engagement. Olheiser noted that Best Friend was selected to set the benchmark for quality and operational identity across the development's signature restaurant collection.
Mike Waterman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Visit Anaheim, expressed that the integration of recognised culinary talent supports regional tourism goals by providing experiential dining options for domestic and international visitors.
Concept Adaptation and Regional Focus
While the original Las Vegas location celebrates broader Southern California street food culture, the Anaheim venue is being designed with localised features tailored to Orange County demographics.
The venue will incorporate several distinct operational and design elements:
🔥 Korean Barbecue Core: A high-energy menu combining traditional Korean barbecue profiles with Los Angeles street food influences.
🎨 Local Design Integration: Custom interior design, architectural storytelling, and art installations created in collaboration with local Orange County creators.
🍋 Regional Menu Adaptations: Exclusive seasonal dishes and localised beverage programs developed specifically for the Anaheim location.
Roy Choi, creator of Best Friend and co-founder of Kogi BBQ, stated that expanding the brand to Anaheim allows the concept to return to his developmental roots. Choi highlighted that the restaurant will reflect the distinct neighbourhood cultures of Orange County while operating as an anchor for the new entertainment district.
Destination Dining and Development Timeline
The announcement marks a key milestone in OCVIBE's phased rollout. Two primary anchors will support the hospitality infrastructure:
Katella Commons: A 50,000-square-foot chef-driven market hall scheduled to open in early 2027, serving as the high-density casual dining core for the district.
Signature Restaurant Collection: A curated lineup of full-service, chef-driven concepts, led by Best Friend's opening in autumn 2027.
Morell Marean, Senior Vice President of Immersive Entertainment at OCVIBE, noted that the district's layout is engineered to generate daily repeat visitation rather than relying solely on event-day traffic from the adjacent arena.
About the Companies
OCVIBE: OCVIBE is a 100-acre immersive entertainment and mixed-use district under development in Anaheim, California. Centred around the Honda Center, the project incorporates live music venues, public parks, office space, residential units, hotels, and more than 35 food and beverage concepts.
Roy Choi: James Beard Award-winning chef Roy Choi is an entrepreneur credited with pioneering the modern food truck movement through Kogi BBQ. He has expanded his culinary portfolio into brick-and-mortar restaurants, television production, and hospitality ventures, including his flagship Best Friend concept in Las Vegas.
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