Taco Loco ( above ) is slated to close on Sept . 30 while Sept . 5 was the last day for The Stand Natural Foods ( right ).

SAYING GOODBYE Two beloved Laguna Beach hot spots are closing their doors as summer comes to a close . THE STAND NATURAL FOODS , which served up healthy fare in town for nearly 50 years , ended service Sept . 5 to the dismay of many loyal locals . A lot has changed since the counter service restaurant opened in the 1970s , but one thing that never changed was the fact that the eatery offered an entirely vegan menu — long before the term was part of everyday lexicon . Although owner Alizabeth Arciniaga was entertaining offers to purchase the restaurant , as of now there is nothing set in stone . Another local favorite will soon close up shop as well . TACO LOCO opened in 1987 and has since garnered a dedicated following thanks to its extensive offerings of tacos , burritos ,

nachos , quesadillas , fajitas and other Mexican fare . Although the eatery ’ s last day is slated for Sept . 30 , owner Gonzalo “ Gonzo ” Rebollar plans to take some time off before starting a food blog and YouTube channel ; he also plans to put some of his popular recipes into a digital cookbook that can be downloaded from the Taco Loco website in the future . Keep an eye on the brand ’ s social media for news of a closing party . ( The Stand Natural Foods : thestandnaturalfoods . com ) ( Taco Loco : tacoloco . net ) — Ashley Ryan

FARE WITH FLAIR Suenos is out and CABANA RESTAURANT is in : The contemporary Mexican beach-inspired eatery launched in mid-August with an opening celebration all weekend long . Drawing the finest flavors from a variety of cultures , items that grace the menu include saltado fajitas , oysters , birria sopes , ceviche , wagyu sliders , bacon-wrapped shrimp , shredded chicken arepas , filet mignon and sashimi-style yellowfin tuna atop a house-made corn tostada . In addition to its Latin lineup , the restaurant aims to have a high-end craft cocktail program , already offering sips like the mezcal mango margarita , a smoky Old- Fashioned and a cinnamon-filled horchata cocktail . In addition to the stellar food and drink offerings , the eatery is offering live entertainment on the weekends , such as DJs and dancers . Cabana is open for dinner nightly , except on Mondays when it is closed , with expanded hours on the weekends . ( 949-456-9024 ; cabanaoc . com ) — A . R . /

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