---
title: "Nick the Greek Continues Southern California Expansion With New Santa Ana Restaurant"
url: https://burnaze.com/article/e6fc6cba-6dab-474b-a9bc-6f8eceef096d
source: "Franchising.com"
original_url: https://www.franchising.com/news/20260625_nick_the_greek_continues_southern_california_expansion_with_new_santa_ana_r.html
category: "Fast casual"
industry: "Restaurants"
segment: "Fast casual"
topics: ["Development & multi-unit"]
published: 2026-06-25T12:00:00.000Z
modified: 2026-10-31T14:57:30.454Z
image: https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1561758033-d89a9ad46330?w=1600&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop
---

# Nick the Greek Continues Southern California Expansion With New Santa Ana Restaurant

**TL;DR:** Nick the Greek has opened its seventh restaurant in Orange County, California, in the city of Santa Ana, as part of its Southern California expansion. The brand has increased its store count since 2023 and now operates restaurants in eight states.

*originally published in Franchising.com on 2026-06-25. [Read the original](https://www.franchising.com/news/20260625_nick_the_greek_continues_southern_california_expansion_with_new_santa_ana_r.html).*

## Story

“As a franchisee seeking new opportunities, I was drawn to Nick the Greek’s flavorful menu, flexible footprint and strong growth potential,” said Katariya. “Four locations later—and with more to come—I’m confident the brand’s business model will continue to thrive in communities like Santa Ana, where flavor, convenience and authenticity resonate with guests.”

Established in 2014 by cousins Big Nick, Little Nick and Baby Nick Tsigaris — all named after their grandfather per Greek tradition — Nick the Greek satisfies the desire for healthy, flavorful and authentic Greek cuisine in a fast casual environment without compromising quality. Drawing on multigenerational restaurant entrepreneurship and countless visits to Greece, the street-food-inspired menu boasts flavorful gyro meats cooked in-house on a traditional vertical rotisserie, charbroiled souvlaki skewers, zesty sauces, fresh vegetables and authentic Greek treats, including baklava and Greek donuts. In meeting the high demand for Greek street food, Nick the Greek has carved out a sizeable and attractive niche in the ultra-competitive fast casual space — a marketplace differentiator that continues to underpin the brand’s rapid growth.

Since 2023, Nick the Greek has increased its store count and operates restaurants in eight states, including Arizona, California, Kansas, Missouri, Nevada, Tennessee, Texas and Utah. By thoughtfully establishing locations in high-visibility downtown metro areas, Nick the Greek has reached large audiences and steadily developed a diverse and devoted fan base.

Nick the Greek’s new Santa Ana restaurant can be reached by telephone at (657) 232-1271. The restaurant is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Saturday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

## Entities

- Franchising.com (publication)
- unit expansion (topic)
- QSR (sector)
- fast casual (topic)
- restaurant growth (topic)
- Nick the Greek (company)
- greek cuisine (topic)
- Baby Nick Tsigaris (person)
- Big Nick Tsigaris (person)
- Little Nick Tsigaris (person)
- Santa Ana (location)

---
Originally reported by Franchising.com (https://www.franchising.com/news/20260625_nick_the_greek_continues_southern_california_expansion_with_new_santa_ana_r.html). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/e6fc6cba-6dab-474b-a9bc-6f8eceef096d).