Vaca partners: Chef Amar Santana, Pam Roy and Ahmed Labbate
Chef Amar Santana opened a second outpost of his Spanish-themed restaurant, Vaca, in downtown Los Angeles near the popular FIGat7th mall. Pam Roy and Ahmed Labbate are his business partners.
Here’s a closer look at the variety of menu options, which mirrors the Costa Mesa menu.
Amar Santana says you’ll find him nightly at Vaca in LA for the next six months
The Vaca menu in Los Angeles is identical to the Costa Mesa restaurant, including the tempting tapas. Shown: Smoked chicken cannelloni in duck liver sauce, sherry reduction
Dry age steaks
Rib eye platter
Vaca partners: Chef Amar Santana, Pam Roy and Ahmed Labbate
Tapas: blue cheese stuffed dates
Vaca plans to open for lunch later this month
The Vaca Tonic paired with a zero-proof drink
Amar’s favorite tapas item: pan con tomate
This paella dish features scallops, shrimp, chicken, and chorizo with saffron bomba rice
Tableside gazpacho pour
Spanish octopus
Churros with chocolate sauce
Mama Santana’s flan is inspired by Chef Amar’s mother
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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.
