New 'Real Food' Eatery Opens In Laguna Niguel

LAGUNA NIGUEL, CA — Sweetgreen, the mission-driven restaurant brand connecting more people to real food, just opened a brand new location in Laguna Niguel.

The eatery held its grand opening ceremony on Tuesday at its new location in Laguna Niguel’s Plaza de la Paz center.

The launch was celebrated with complimentary activities with local partners and an opportunity to give back to the community, with Sweetgreen matching every meal sold with a donated meal to Laguna Food Pantry.

Local resident Jason Cochran, Sweetgreen Chief Operating Officer, told Patch that the county's response to the eatery has been "incredibly warm."

"Guests are excited about having a place where they can grab something fast and delicious without compromising on quality," Cochran said. "Being an Orange County local myself, this is an especially fun opening for us."

The Los Angeles-based eatery is known for its menu offerings include salads, warm bowls, protein plates, and sides, including longtime favorites like the Harvest Bowl and Crispy Rice Bowl, and protein-packed offerings like Caramelized Garlic Steak and Miso Glazed Salmon. The New Haven restaurant will also feature Sweetgreen’s limited-time KBBQ menu, showcasing a new KBBQ-glazed steak in bold new bowl and plate options — plus a salad packed with spicy, Korean-inspired flavor — all created in collaboration with the Michelin-starred Korean steakhouse, COTE.

Sweetgreen's offerings differ greatly from your usual fast-casual dining experience, Cochran said.

"We start with real food, sourced from farmers and growers we know and trust — then we bring those ingredients to life through bold flavors, seasonal creativity and a lot of intention," he said. "That's what makes the Sweetgreen experience different. It's thoughtful from the ground up and designed to make eating both exciting and accessible."

Sweetgreen Laguna Niguel is located in Laguna Niguel’s Plaza de la Paz center at 27221 La Paz Road. The new restaurant will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., seating 43 diners indoors and 42 diners on the patio.

For more information, visit Sweetgreen's website.