King's Seafood Acquires O Sea Brand as Founder Mike Flynn Joins Executive Team

O Sea, the fine casual seafood restaurant at 109 South Glassell in Old Towne Orange, will serve its final meal on Thursday, April 30, 2026. Costa Mesa-based King’s Seafood Company has acquired the O Sea brand and its intellectual property, and founder Mike Flynn is moving into a senior role at King’s as Vice President of Culinary and Brand Development.

Flynn opened O Sea in 2021 inside a 110-year-old former grocery building in Old Towne Orange. The restaurant ran as a counter-service concept at a fine casual price point, with a seasonal menu sourced in part through the Orange Home Grown farmers market and an emphasis on sustainable fish.

King’s Seafood Company founder Sam King described the transaction as a “proud and full-circle moment,” noting that Flynn began his career at King’s early on. Flynn’s return places him on a team that directs the culinary and brand strategy across the group’s full portfolio.

What The Deal Includes

King’s Seafood acquired O Sea’s brand and its intellectual property. Financial terms were not disclosed. O Sea’s general manager is also transitioning to King’s, moving into a leadership training and development role inside the parent company’s operations.

Staff from O Sea have been offered the opportunity to interview for positions across King’s Seafood’s portfolio of restaurants, which includes Water Grill, King’s Fish House, 555 East Steakhouse, and Lou and Mickey’s.

Background On Both Companies

King’s Seafood Company is a Costa Mesa-based restaurant group that runs multiple seafood-focused concepts across California. Water Grill operates fine-dining seafood locations in downtown Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Costa Mesa, San Diego, and other markets. King’s Fish House runs a broader casual seafood format across Southern California and Nevada. Lou and Mickey’s and 555 East Steakhouse round out the group’s full-service portfolio.

Flynn, a Newport Beach native, entered the restaurant industry after briefly considering law school. He has described his path into food service as a “lightning bolt moment,” and worked across Chicago, San Francisco, downtown Los Angeles, and Orange County before launching O Sea in 2021. His stated goal for the concept was to open a restaurant of his own in Orange County to serve his family and local community.

Sources
Patch, Beloved Orange County Seafood Restaurant Shuts Down Service
Orange Plaza Review, O Sea, Seafood For Thought With Mike Flynn
I Heart Old Towne Orange, O Sea Is Coming To OC