Kevin Joseph, founder and CEO of Empire Oyster, is bringing his innovative culinary experience RAW Bar to Laguna Beach in early 2025. Located in a space previously occupied by Thai by the Sea, at 31715 Coast Hwy, it will offer an intimate Omakase-style menu.
RAW Bar will have a prix-fixe menu. This 10- to 12-seat space will feature a raw bar served on crushed ice, where patrons can indulge in ultra-premium oysters, caviar, and curated wine pairings. It will reportedly launch in Q1 of 2025, according to Best of Laguna Beach.
Following the success of the RAW Bar’s Charleston, South Carolina location — where it consistently sells out at $320 per seat — Joseph is expanding the concept to California’s luxury coastline. The new Laguna Beach location is expected to generate substantial growth, with projections on the website estimating $300,000 EBITDA.
It will be part of Joseph’s multi-concept space that also includes Little Fish, a seafood-focused lunch and dinner restaurant, and Urchin, a coffee shop and juice bar. These concepts will operate from 7 AM to 11 PM, sharing the space space and an outdoor courtyard.
