3 New Restaurants Slated For Old Town Temecula: What's New, What's Next

TEMECULA, CA — Old Town Temecula is seeing more changes in the way of new restaurants, according to the City of Temecula Economic Development Manager's office. Three new restaurants are in the process of being built out, or are awaiting ADA upgrades, and liquor licenses in currently empty structures along Old Town Front Street.

Patch spoke with the Economic Development team to gather more information on the long-term process of opening a restaurant in Temecula.

The Gaucho Grill, an Argentine steakhouse, is still working towards its 2025 opening date, according to the City of Temecula and restaurateur/owner Adrian Amosa. The restaurant will be in the former Bank building located at 28645 Old Town Front Street in Temecula.

In April, the Temecula City Council unanimously approved the restaurant's Type 47 Permit, for "on-sale general eating place," issued by the Alcoholic Beverage Control, allowing the restaurant to sell beer, wine, and distilled spirits for on-site consumption. The restaurant continues to refurbish its interior, while maintaining the historical integrity of the building, particularly regarding signage, according to Scott Cooper, the city's Senior Planner.

"They have provided signage for the planning commission to review, and are currently working on their tenant improvement and site work so that they can submit to the Building Department," Cooper told Patch.

Gaucho Grill operates four locations in southern California, including Buena Park, Downey, Pasadena, and West Covina. Their philosophy is that dining should be an experience, not just a meal.

The opening date for this location has not been announced yet. Stay tuned on Patch Temecula for updates.

Across the street, the chain cowboy restaurant, Rodeo Cafe, has announced it will soon be coming to 28636 Old Town Front Street, Unit 109.

The Rodeo Cafe owners are modifying the interior of the location, which was previously owned and operated by Rosa's Cantina and later by Be Good Restaurants, which made extensive modifications to the historic cantina and closed in the summer of 2024.

The Rodeo Cafe restaurant serves breakfast and lunch, and has advertised under the large awning and outdoor seating area that it is "coming soon." Locations are currently open in Corona, Norco, Pinon Hills, Rancho Cucamonga, Rialto, and Riverside. The restaurant, which describes itself as "family-owned, from humble beginnings," serves American traditional breakfasts and lunches, with a touch of Tex-Mex and Mexican Fusion.

The opening date for this location has not been announced yet. Stay tuned on Patch Temecula for updates.

Further south, near the entrance to Old Town Front Street, It's Tabu Sushi is slated to return in the location formerly held by Devilicious, according to Economic Development Manager Christine Damko.

It's Tabu Sushi, owned by Tabu Temecula, Inc., has applied for its Alcoholic Beverage Control license at the location, situated on the front door, according to the county. That license, a business-to-business, person-to-person transfer, is still in the process of being finalized. There was no immediate word on when that would be completed as of this report.

The Sushi restaurant would be Old Town Temecula's only place for cut rolls and sake bombs.

Tabu Sushi, formerly situated in the same Front Street Building, was previously located there before closing in 2024.

The opening date for this location has not been announced yet. Stay tuned on Patch Temecula for updates.

Looking for a new restaurant to try? Be sure and visit the new Ten Hut, in the former Sorro's location, at 28464 Old Town Front Street.

Ten Hut offers Korean-style fried chicken and crispy wings, according to Visit Temecula Valley.

"Ten Hut Temecula, a Korean-style pub on a mission: crispy fried chicken, epic corndogs, and ice-cold beer—a legendary trio known in Korea as 'Chimak.' They offer Kogi tacos and BBQ sliders, and nachos that might just make your regular pub food feel a little underdressed." Learn more at www.visittemeculavalley.com.