Dining Guide
New Santa Clarita Restaurants: What's Open Now
A lot of doors have opened across the Santa Clarita Valley since the summer, and a few big names are still on the way. Here is Sam's October status check: what is actually open today, where to find it, and what is still coming.
Updated October 6, 2026 · by Sam Silver
Sam Silver
22-year SCV resident · Community advocate
As a real estate agent, the first question every buyer asks me about a neighborhood is still where they'll eat. So I keep a running list of every new door in the valley, and I check on the big-name rumors too. Here is the honest October 2026 picture: CAVA is open in Valencia, Luna Grill is serving Stevenson Ranch, Old Town Newhall keeps adding restaurants, and a few heavily-rumored chains are still under construction. Research done, dates verified.
Now Open · Valencia
CAVA
27055 McBean Parkway, Valencia · Opened 2026
The fast-casual Mediterranean chain CAVA is now serving the valley at 27055 McBean Parkway in Valencia, its first SCV location. Think build-your-own bowls and pitas with grilled chicken, lamb meatballs, crispy falafel, and an entire wall of dips and dressings. It has been one of the most-requested openings I hear from buyers, and it delivers the same reliable quality here as it does across the state.
It sits right in the McBean corridor near the Town Center and the 5, which makes it an easy lunch stop on a homebuying tour of Valencia's central neighborhoods.
Now Open · Stevenson Ranch
Stevenson Ranch
Luna Grill
24943 Pico Canyon Road, Stevenson Ranch · Open since early 2026
Luna Grill has been quietly earning a following at 24943 Pico Canyon Road in Stevenson Ranch since the start of the year, serving its Mediterranean plates, kebabs, salads, and house-made sauces. For the Master's and Pico Canyon neighborhoods, it is a welcome sit-down option that fits the area's family-friendly pace.
Pair it with a drive through the hillside streets that make Stevenson Ranch one of the most popular family neighborhoods in the valley. My full Living in Stevenson Ranch guide covers the schools, parks, and what it is really like day to day.
Old Town Newhall
The Old Town Junction & More on Main Street
24275 Main Street, Newhall
The Old Town Junction (kitchen, bar, and patio at 24275 Main Street) has become one of the newer anchor spots on Main Street, a reliably busy room that feeds into the neighborhood's evening scene. Alongside it, Table 504 continues to be a favorite on the Newhall side of the valley's new-restaurant lists, and the po' boys at Booku Poboys bring New Orleans flavor to the SCV menu mix.
Every meal in Old Town doubles as recovery support: the August fire hit Main Street businesses hard, and patronizing the restaurants, tasting rooms, and shops that remained open is the most direct way to help the neighborhood rebuild. Read verified ways to help Old Town Newhall.
Still Coming
The Status Check on the Big-Name Rumors
A few heavily-rumored names are still on the way, and as of early October 2026, only some of them have cranes in the ground. Here is the honest status:
Announced · Coming Soon
Yard House
The big-format restaurant was announced for the Magic Mountain Parkway / River Oaks area. As of October 2026 it has not opened yet, so keep an eye on the city's announcements for a confirmed timeline.
Announced · Construction
Round1 & KPOT at Valencia Town Center
Round1 (bowling, arcade, and entertainment) and KPOT (Korean BBQ and hot pot) are confirmed Valencia Town Center tenants in the mall's ongoing transformation. They are part of a phased rollout through 2027. See the full lineup in the Valencia Town Center dining guide.
Planned · Unconfirmed
Texas Roadhouse
Texas Roadhouse has been on the valley's wish list for a while, but as of this writing there is no confirmed opening date. Sam's rule: trust the "now open" signs, not the rumor mill.
Recently Covered
Nick the Greek, Jaws Topokki & The Fallen Trident
The September 2026 roundup flagged the newest doors still worth your time. Read the full Fall 2026 restaurant openings guide.
Where You Eat Depends on Where You Live
The best part of tracking openings like these is that they tell you where the valley is growing. Valencia has the McBean corridor filling in, Stevenson Ranch finally has a proper Mediterranean sit-down spot, and Old Town Newhall keeps proving it is the valley's culinary heart. If you are weighing neighborhoods, Sam's neighborhood guides break down the character, schools, parks, and dining of each community, starting with Saugus vs Valencia and Living in Stevenson Ranch.