Cream Pan

We all, hopefully, have that local bakery that serves great coffee. An establishment where you can sit down and enjoy yourself, or in the company of others, for an hour or two. This one is mine. 

Jamie and I have started to frequent here more often for the past several weeks, as her warm up for the cafe's she'll be visiting in Paris (envious).

But we've been coming here for years, regardless of the practice needed for Europe, because it's just that good. What got us and anyone else hooked to this place is their legendary Strawberry Croissants. Simply put, it has a flaky little buttery crust that oozes sweet cream and strawberries with every bite that makes your mouth project thoughts of a golden choir between bites.

Putting the star attraction to side, you got to respect every single one of their sweet and savory confections ranging from their equally good Azuki Cream Puff all the way over to their Chicken Curry Pan & Soki Soba Sandwich.

As for their coffee's they keep in simple and modest, none of those 5 word concoctions you see at Starbucks. It's simple, tasty, and soul warming. You can never go wrong with a Cafe Au Lait.

602 El Camino Real
Tustin, CA 92780

Habuya Okinawan Dining

This was another hole in the wall that I passed several times, and I never thought twice until I saw it Yelp and of course being something as unique as Okinawan I couldn’t resist. The lady upfront, which I assumed is the owner, is very polite and formal. The vibe here is very casual & relaxed (especially with the old-school Japanese pop playing in the background).

- Goya-Kimchi: It has the classic kimchi spice upfront and then the melon bitterness at the end. If you never had bitter melon before be prepared for a strong kick in your mouth, you’ll love it or you’ll hate. My fave.  

-Cod Rod with Cream Cheese: All that encased in a little fried wonton-eque shell, and after one bite you get a gush warm salty creamy bliss (oh my). Served with a baby spinach salad that covered in a sweet vinaigrette sauce that was sprinkled with something that reminded me of ramen powder. 

- Chicken Gizzard: Little fried pieces of chicken guts that have a snap to the bite and a bit of density as you chew for it. Flavor-wise it’s slightly gamey, but mild. Along side are diced scallops covered in a lemon vinegar sauce. 

- Soki-Soba: The broth has a sweet ginger flavored beef stock to it that warmed me up on the first sip. Noodles where thick and chewy, not in a bad way, trust me. The Pork Rib was sooo tender and flavorful from stewing for so long, that it slips off the bone (which you could chew straight through). I must note that they gave me this pepper-infused sake sauce on the side that packs a punch (use sparingly).

- Pork Belly Ramen: I had a couple tastes from my friends bowl, and my initial thoughts where that they did the broth and noodles justice. The star of the dish, pork belly, was literally melt in your mouth good! They say fat is flavor, but it can also, momentarily, make time slow down too.

- Photos courtesy of J Kao 

14215 Red Hill Ave
Tustin, CA 92780