Kei Concepts Expands ROL Hand Roll Bar with New La Habra Location

Kei Concepts is bringing its popular ROL Hand Roll Bar to La Habra, marking the hospitality group's third location for the brand and its latest step in a steady expansion across Orange County.

The new restaurant will join existing ROL locations in Fountain Valley and Irvine.

At about 2,450 square feet, the La Habra spot will seat 32 guests around ROL's signature hand roll counter, giving diners a front-row view as chefs prepare each order just before it's served. The layout draws from the Fountain Valley location's modern, intimate design, keeping guests close to the action and highlighting the craftsmanship and immediacy central to Japanese dining.

Since opening its first location, ROL Hand Roll Bar has built a devoted following with a straightforward approach: exceptional ingredients served at their peak. Every hand roll is made to order with warm seasoned rice, crisp nori, and premium seafood, then served right away to keep that signature contrast of texture and flavor intact.

La Habra diners can expect many of ROL's most popular hand rolls, including Uni & Toro, Toro Taku, Scallop, and Truffle Mushroom, along with shareable dishes like Crispy Rice Tartare, Furikake Fries, Chili Garlic Edamame, and donburi bowls.

On the drink side, the menu will include craft cocktails, beer, and sake, plus non-alcoholic sips like the Dragonfruit Lychee Lemonade and Yuzu Guava refresher, all designed to complement the restaurant's fresh, ingredient-forward menu.

Founder Viet Nguyen has racked up plenty of industry recognition along the way, from being named Chef of the Year and winning the Excellence in Entrepreneurship Award, both from the Orange County Business Journal, to landing as a finalist for the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Pacific Southwest Award and a semifinalist for the James Beard Award for Best Chef: California. It's the kind of recognition that speaks to how far Kei Concepts has come, and why it's earned a reputation as one of Orange County's most influential culinary groups.

The timing couldn't be better for either brand. This milestone year has already brought the openings of QUA Contemporary Chinese Cuisine, Kei Coffee House, and a second ROL Hand Roll Bar in Irvine, as Kei Concepts continues building out its footprint across Southern California with intention.

ROL Hand Roll Bar La Habra will be located at 1202 S. Idaho St., Suites E-F, La Habra, CA 90631. 

Palm Springs Gets a New Reason to Stay and Stay Awhile

Palm Springs' famed Palm Canyon Drive just got a stylish new anchor. Thompson Palm Springs, by Hyatt, has paired up with downtown newcomer Bar Issi to give visitors a fresh way to experience the desert: a secluded resort escape by day and a lively coastal Italian dining scene by night.

Perched above downtown with sweeping views of the San Jacinto Mountains, Thompson Palm Springs delivers the kind of desert calm that feels far from everything, even though it's right in the middle of it all. Guests will find lush, open-air walkways, two cabana-lined pools and firepit-warmed lounges made for slowing down. The resort's 168 rooms, including 18 suites, lean into midcentury modern design, and a $4 million art collection turns the property into something of a gallery you can sleep in.

For those craving a quieter corner, Upper Stories offers a "hotel within a hotel," with 42 adults-only rooms and five suites. Think Sonos speakers, a private pool and round-the-clock access to a stocked pantry of complimentary chilled drinks.

Dining is clearly a centerpiece here. Lola Rose Grand Mezze, led by Executive Chef Quentin Garcia, brings Mediterranean flavor to the resort, while The Perch keeps things breezy poolside with cocktails and all-day bites overlooking Palm Canyon Drive. HALL Tasting Room and Wine Lounge rounds out the resort's wine offerings. And when the resort needs a bigger stage, it has one: more than 20,000 square feet of event space across 11 venues for meetings and celebrations.

Then there's Bar Issi, the resort's standalone star. The 180-seat restaurant, designed by acclaimed firm Fettle, channels the Italian coast with bold colors, patterned fabrics and playful, statement-making seating. It's the kind of space that feels both nostalgic and brand new.

The menu matches the mood. Expect house-made pastas, wood-fired pizzas, fresh seafood and raw bar offerings, plus a soft serve dessert that's already earning a following. On the drink side, the L'Italiano Spritz and La Fresa Rosa lead a cocktail list inspired by long European lunches, backed by a wine list pulling from California and beyond. Weekly traditions, including Martini Mondays and a late-night Reverse Happy Hour, keep the energy going well past dinner.

Together, Thompson Palm Springs and Bar Issi capture where Palm Springs travel and dining are headed: relaxed, design-forward and worth lingering over.

414 North Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs.

‘Gala of the Stars’ Returns to Segerstrom for 17th Year

Mark your calendar for Thursday, Aug. 6, when Festival Ballet Theatre brings its beloved "Gala of the Stars" back to the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall for a one-night-only celebration of ballet.

Now in its 17th year, the gala pairs international ballet stars with a select group of young protégés for an evening that's equal parts mentorship and masterclass. This year's headliner is Maria Khoreva, first soloist of the Mariinsky Theatre, who joins guest artists from American Ballet Theatre, Dutch National Ballet, Mariinsky Ballet, New York City Ballet, Stuttgart Ballet, Tulsa Ballet and Vienna State Opera. (Guest artists are subject to change.)

The evening unfolds in two parts. At 6 p.m., the program opens with an optional one act performance from the young protégés, dancers chosen for their exceptional promise who've just wrapped two weeks of intensive training under top artistic directors from the Royal Ballet School, Youth America Grand Prix and San Francisco Ballet Training Program. Then at 7 p.m., the main event takes the stage: a one act performance featuring the world renowned guest artists themselves.

It's a rare chance to watch seasoned stars and rising talent share one stage, all in celebration of the same craft.

This year's gala also marks a bigger milestone: the 38th anniversary of Festival Ballet Theatre, Orange County's premier resident ballet company. The young protégés taking part will be coached by Royal Ballet School Artistic Director Iain Mackay, along with YAGP founders Larissa Saveliev and Gennadi Saveliev, and a roster of esteemed guest faculty.

Tickets are available now at scfta.org.

600 Town Center Dr, Costa Mesa.