After 15 years, Kristy’s prepares to say aloha to Malibu
By Barbara Burke · Thu Aug 27 2026
Beloved Trancas restaurant will close Sept. 9, ending a chapter defined by food, friendship, community service, and Kristy Apana’s signature aloha spirit. After gaining loyal customers when she helped operate a pizza trailer at the Malibu Chili-Cookoff, in early 2011, Kristy Apana and her then-husband, Greg Basant, opened Kristy’s Wood Oven & Wine Bar overlooking Zuma Beach within the Malibu Country Inn property. The eatery was open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and immediately attracted visitors and locals, many of whom soon became loyal patrons. For Malibuites, the establishment soon became a regular hangout as well as a venue providing both the ambiance and cuisine to celebrate special occasions.
Kristy vacated its Zuma Beach overlook location and took over the Le Village Cafe space in Trancas Country Market in early 2017. The restaurant’s loyal customers followed the cafe to its new West Malibu location, and soon the patronage level increased.
“Our menu concept focuses primarily on California Coastal with some Chinese specialties, and we also merged some of the Le Village Cafe items into our menu,” Kristy explained. The venue was open for everyday dining and for very special occasions, she noted, adding, “We’ve hosted birthdays, anniversaries, retirement celebrations, wedding proposals, and memorials honoring those we’ve lost.”
Kristy’s has also been open for all holidays, including Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, tailoring special menus for those occasions. Many loyal customers were always excited to read Kristy’s festive posts on social media as she shared Mele Kalikimaka greetings — the festive and joyous holiday spirit of her native Hawaii, and reminded customers, “Don’t forget to come to Kristy’s on Christmas morning for free pajama pancakes for the kids!”
For regular Kristy aficionados such as Craig T. Nelson, Kristy’s has been about much more than enjoying a nice meal. “Kristy’s has been a part of a lot of special moments in many people’s lives,” Nelson shared. “Kristy’s is so wonderful because of its special aloha spirit and its great food. We’ve enjoyed so much of the food, including the Chinese food such as the walnut shrimp and the fresh salads.”
Doria Cook Nelson chimed in, noting that “Kristy always made special cakes for birthdays and other occasions, including a delicious mango coconut cake that was scrumptious! She also accommodated special cuisine requests.”
Elaborating, Doria observed, “Kristy’s became a beacon for Trancas businesses and she fully knew the Malibu community. Her annual community gathering celebrating Chinese New Year was very well attended and it included an incredible dragon dance.” Doria referred to the dancers’ bian lian, the face-changing dance derived from Sichuan opera in China during which performers change out vividly colored masks in the blink of an eye.
Sharing her feelings about Kristy, customer Tiffany Nelson noted, “Kristy has catered for our celebrations providingexactly what we needed and doing so very quickly. Kristy’s is more like a friendly home than a restaurant — we even went to visit Kristy’s mother in Maui!”
Agreeing wholeheartedly, Triston Voetberg stated, “Kristy’s feels like an Auntie’s home and she always makes people feel so important and welcome.”
Randy Wallace, a longtime patron, shared, “Kristy’s is the beating heart of Malibu! When I came to town, I felt broken and alone, and Kristy felt like home.” Wallace summarized a guest’s experience at Kristy’s by stating, “Kristy has such a big heart — you can come here by yourself and leave with your heart full.”
Special guests supporting special causes
Sometimes, Kristy’s would host special dinners to support great causes, such as an event for Jonathan Banks in 2013 when Kristy cleverly posted an invitation for attendees to “Break Bread with 'Breaking Bad' Star Jonathan Banks to support the Sea Save Foundation.”
Kristy’s often offered a delicious culinary refuge to those locals who are famous and only sought to have a regular dining experience sans paparazzi and fans’ signature requests. When The Malibu Times stopped by the restaurant last week, none other than Shirley MacLaine was eating lunch on Kristy’s patio and commenting about what a lovely Malibu day she was enjoying.
When the going got tough in Malibu, Kristy’s got going
Despite the fact that Kristy’s sister restaurant, Kristy’s Roadhouse, which was located at the intersection of Kanan Road and Sierra Creek Road in Agoura Hills, was utterly destroyed in the Woolsey Fire in November 2018, during and after the fire, Kristy’s stepped up and served the community in many ways.
“During the Woolsey Fire, Malibu was not served by organizations such as the World Central Kitchen,” Kristy stated. “Since there was no such help in Malibu, we did everything to help those affected by the fires from a grassroots standpoint and when we fed people, it was out of our own pocket.”
Kristy also noted, “We also fed locals during the fire and for two years thereafter, and we also dropped off lunch for the staff at St. John’s emergency room department in Camarillo because that was the closest emergency room to Kristy’s.”
Clearly, Kristy and her entire team will be missed, with Adrian Casso, manager of Vintage Grocers, sharing laudatory comments similar to remarks made by many whom The Malibu Times interviewed. “Kristy has always been wonderful to Malibu and to our store and she is a hard worker and I hope she and her staff enjoy much success,” Casso stated. Vintage customers will miss Kristy’s and the ability to purchase her popular chicken teriyaki bowls at the grocery, he added.
For many of Kristy’s regular customers who are lamenting the Sept. 9 closure, they will, indeed, cherish the amazing experiences they enjoyed at Kristy’s. For 15 years, along with her team, Kristy has helped to shepherd Malibu through four fires, several mudslides, dangerous highway accidents and so many electrical power shutoffs that no one seems to be able to accurately ascribe an exact number of such incidents.
Beginning her business in the Year of the Rabbit — the Chinese zodiac period symbolizing elegance and prosperity — and unfortunately, closing the business in the Year of the Horse — the year of vitality, freedom, passion, and rapid success — loyal locals and visitors alike wish Kristy and her staff the very best and rapid success.
“Malibu has been an amazing place to have a restaurant!” Kristy declared. Those interested in having Kristy and her team cater for them after the restaurant’s closure can reach her at kristysvillagecafe@yahoo.com. What are Kristy’s next steps? “You never know what the future holds!” she exclaimed. Those who enjoyed the ride with Kristy and her team wish them all, “Aloha nui loa!”