Resilience has defined Amar Santana’s journey—from immigrant teenager to nationally recognized restaurateur. The co-founder of Vaca and Broadway by Amar Santana is one of OC’s best-known chefs. He recently opened a second Vaca in downtown Los Angeles.
The Business Journal has named him 2026 Chef of the Year. Read the April 6 issue for more on Santana.
Amar Santana: 2026 Chef of the Year
A viral video of Chef Santana cooking a steak helped boost business in Los Angeles
Vaca DTL dining room
The menu in Los Angeles is identical to Vaca Costa Mesa, including this decadent smoked chicken
cannelloni, swimming in duck liver sauce
The Vaca kitchen in downtown Los Angeles is about four times bigger than the one in Costa Mesa
Chef Amar Santana says he’ll spend the next six months working at Vaca Los Angeles
Amar Santana and longtime business partner Ahmed Labbate
Dry age steaks
Amar’s favorite tapas item: pan con tomate
Mama Santana’s flan is inspired by Chef Amar’s mother
The Vaca Tonic paired with a zero-proof drink
Rib eye platter
Tapas: blue cheese stuffed dates
Churros with chocolate sauce
Spanish octopus
Tableside gazpacho pour
Vaca partners: Chef Amar Santana, Pam Roy and Ahmed Labbate
Santana and Labbate were named the Business Journal’s Restaurateurs of the Year for their work opening The Hall Global Eatery, which didn’t survive the COVID-19 pandemic
Santana’s fame skyrocketed after competing in “Top Chef” Season 13
Amar Santana made it to the finals
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Nancy Luna has been the executive editor of the Orange County Business Journal since September 2024. Nancy began her career 30 years ago at the Orange County Register, where she covered a range of beats, including retail, consumer trends, transportation, healthcare, and tourism.
Before coming to the Business Journal, she previously worked as a correspondent for Business Insider’s Retail team, where she specialized in writing about the restaurant and food tech industries. Luna contributed to the Business Insider team that won a 2023 SABEW Award for explanatory journalism for their "Warehouse Nation" project.
From 2018 to 2020, Luna was a senior editor and tech editor at Nation’s Restaurant News. While there, she covered the largest chains in the country including Taco Bell, McDonald's, Chipotle Mexican Grill and Starbucks.
Luna grew up in Orange County and lives in Old Towne Orange with her husband, Brady.
