Craving Something Sweet? Check Out These 10 Local Businesses in Irvine, CA
One of the privileges of living in Southern California is that I have access to such delicious restaurants and businesses with a variety of flavors from different cultures. Many of the popular businesses in Orange County are run by families and/or people of color who add cuisines from their culture onto their menu. You can most commonly find delicious foods of Chinese, Taiwanese, Korean, Japanese, Vietnamese, Persian/Iranian, and Mexican flavors. Here is a list of 10 of my favorite local businesses to get delicious desserts in Irvine, all of which are just a few minutes drive or a bus ride away from the UC Irvine campus.
Saffron & Rose
On Campus Plaza, next to Albertsons and Starbucks on Campus Drive, you’ll find this unique ice cream shop that sell refreshing Persian ice cream. You can get a variety of flavors such as pistachio, rose water, mango,or chocolate — there’s something for everyone! If you have a craving for something sweet that’s a walking distance from campus, this is the place for you.
The Honeymee
Made with fresh Californian milk from a family-owned, kosher certified dairy farm, The Honeymee serves vibrant and creamy matcha soft serves, iced honey tea, hot honey hibiscus tea, milkshakes in flavors such as strawberry, yuzu, or sea salt caramel, and so much more. Their desserts and drinks are topped with raw honey and honeycombs that are 100% pure and natural. The interior of the irvine location is as beautiful as the others in California, so it’s a nice place to work and study.
Bacio di Latte
Located in Newport Beach, but only a 15 minute drive from campus, this gelato shop is a go-to if you’re spending a day at Fashion Island. Their high-quality and rich gelato comes in a variety of flavors such as vanilla and rose, yogurt and berries, Belgian chocolate, hazelnut and many more. It’s a great pick-me-up after a long day of shopping under the hot sun and breezy and salty air.
Hui Lau Shan
Are you a fan of mangos? At Hui Lau Shan, you can get handmade, Hong Kong-style delicacies such as mochi ice cream, pudding, and fruity drinks — all made out of bright and flavorful mangos from the Philippines. I highly recommend their sampler plate if you can’t decide on which one you want to try. This is a great place for anyone who is lactose intolerant as most of their products are dairy-free.
J.J Bakery
I like to consider myself a pastry connoisseur so I am always seeking out new cafes and bakeries with the best pastries in town. The family-run bakery has a variety of Taiwanese baked goods from fresh bread, danishes, and beautiful slices of cakes. Similar to 85°C Bakery Cafe, their pastries are great to snack on while studying.
Layer Cake Bakery
Make sure to stop by at Layer Cake Bakery to grab you or your friend’s birthday necessities such as custom cakes, cupcakes, and macaroons. If you’re tired of boring vanilla-flavored cakes from the grocery store, consider purchasing their cakes with flavors such as Black Forest, Mango Delight, Tiramisu, or Tres Leches. Give them a call in advance to pre-order!
Lady M Cake Boutique
Lady M Cake Boutique is an unique choice for non-traditional birthday cakes, or to satisfy your post-lunch craving with a multi-layered crepe cakes! Their Irvine location is another great for study dates or sessions with friends as they offer free wifi and accessible charging stations for your electronics.
Cheesetella
If you’re not a fan of cakes or crepes, consider stopping by Cheesetella for their moist cheesecakes. Different from a New York-style cheesecake, this Japanese version is baked fresh, doesn’t feel heavy in your stomach afterwards, and the flavors simply melt in your mouth! I highly recommend it to those who have never tried a fluffy cheesecake before.
Assal Pastry
Assal Pastry is a Persian/Iranian-owned and family-run bakery that sells such yummy delights from baklavas, roolbia-bamieh, roulettes, cookies, and slices of cakes. Their too-pretty-to-eat treats are a great gift idea for your roommate who might be having a bad day. Their business is located near popular restaurants and affordable grocery stores on Heritage Plaza on Culver Drive so make sure to bring your friends along to grab lunch or dinner.
MoDo Hawaii
Mochi donuts are my favorite dessert of all-time so I was ecstatic to find out that a MoDo Hawaii opened recently inside the Mitsuwa Marketplace (also on Heritage Plaza). They sell fresh and hot mochi donuts in flavors such as matcha, lilikoi, earl gray, and cookies and cream, and unique drinks such as back sesame and ube soy lattes. There is also a food court with Japanese restaurants next to the shop so you can grab lunch, but don’t forget to check the times the businesses are open because some close early.
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I hope this list of local businesses in Irvine is useful to you as you navigate and explore Orange County as a new resident and student. As the pandemic continues to impact a lot of smaller and family-owned businesses, please take the time to stop by and purchase their products. There are multiple ways you can support them, either by following them on social media, giving them a five-star review on Yelp, and complimenting their work by sending them an email. A little goes a long way! Thank you for reading!
