Santa Ana is getting a fresh hit of Greek street food next week, as Nick the Greek sets up shop on the West 17th Street corridor with a free lunch that is likely to pack the sidewalk. The fast-casual chain will hand out one complimentary entree per person in line from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on opening day, a move that keeps the San Jose-founded brand’s growth streak rolling across California and the wider Sun Belt.
According to the Los Angeles Times, the Santa Ana restaurant officially opens June 25 at 1313 West 17th St., with the free-lunch promotion running from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The Times reports that this will be Nick the Greek’s seventh Orange County location. Co-founder Nick “Baby Nick” Tsigaris told the paper, “We can’t wait to celebrate this new location.” The piece also directs readers to the restaurant’s website for full menu and ordering details.
From San Jose Roots To Street-Food Fixture
Nick the Greek traces its origin to San Jose in 2014, when three cousins all named Nick turned memories of summers spent in Greece into a fast-casual concept. The brand leans on the idea of “filotimo” – described on the company’s website as a guiding ethic of pride and responsibility – to shape both its menu and service style. As Nick the Greek recounts, the cousins built the operation around fresh pita, gyros and quick-serve bowls.
Hitting The 100-Store Milestone
The growth curve has been steep. QSR Magazine reported that Nick the Greek reached its 100th restaurant systemwide in May 2026, after a burst of openings last year. That milestone helps explain why the company is pushing further into Orange County, with industry coverage framing the rollout as part of a broader franchising strategy across multiple states.
Deepening Its Orange County Footprint
The Times notes that Nick the Greek already operates in Irvine, Newport Beach, Laguna Niguel, San Clemente, Fullerton and Yorba Linda, and that the Santa Ana location is opening in partnership with multi-unit franchisee Vipul Katariya. Diners who already swear by customizable bowls and pita-wrapped gyros at the chain’s other outposts should find a familiar setup at the new counter, the Los Angeles Times reported.
What To Expect At The Counter…