Kat's 9 Lives

Roasting Water has been one of my favorite new go to milk tea places because of their awesomely cute/beautiful bottles! It's become one of my hobbies to get my drinks with the special glass and many places have started this trend.  The best thing about Roasting Water is that all their drinks come in their bottles.  There's no extra charge and the prices are very reasonable.

Who doesn't love ice cream and donuts?  Now imagine them harmoniously together in one bite! I decided to finally try Afters for dessert, even though it is a bit far but worth the trip.  They were pretty packed the night I went and very hard to find.  There isn't really a sign that pops out for them.  I kept circling the plaza and had to look real hard to find them.  What helped that night was that there was a crowd of people waiting.
The line was way out the door but you could tell that it must be good or something special to make it so popular.  Most of the crowd were teenagers and college students.  The interior is very simple and the line wrapped around inside.  They have tables outside for you to sit and eat there if you like.
I liked the variety of ice cream flavors they had.  Not your typical flavors, which is what I love.  My favorite is the Cookie Batter.  It is really good! They have Thai Ice Tea, Vietnamese Ice Coffee, Cookie Monster, and more.
If there isn't too much of a line, I would suggest to ask and try some of their flavors.  You can choose to just eat the ice cream or make it into an ice cream sandwich.  You can either get it glazed or without it.  Personally, I like glazed but it does tend to get heavy because it is all bad sugars for you.  So bad, but so good O=D.
The first time I went, I got two sandwiches and could barely even finish one.  Still, I ate the yummy ice cream! The Cookie Monster is very colorful and just fun to eat but flavor wise, it was just okay.  Surprisingly the Cookie Batter was great and if you add a little Captain Crunch, it would really add to the texture.
All in all I really enjoyed the place because you can't find many good ice cream places in Orange County like you could in San Francisco.  I heard the owner say they are thinking of opening down in Tustin, which would be great and I would go more often.  The sandwiches are more for splurging.  If I went more often, I would just get the ice cream and enjoy a bunch of different flavors.  =)

Afters
18030 Brookhurst St
Fountain Valley, CA 92708

Who doesn't love a refreshing milk or fruit tea to quench your thirst?  After a nice meal, Ms. Lin Guide and our friend decided to grab a drink and chat some more.  We found the closest place that looked good was 7 Leaves Cafe.  They are not your typical Asian milk tea place as they offer a little variety and pizzazz to their menu.
The staff was very friendly and offered samples before the purchase.  We actually got to try a great variety before we ordered.  They were so friendly that my friend and I each ordered 2 drinks.
They have the Strawberry Hibiscus Tea made with real fruits, hibiscus flower and rooibos tea. This was very light and refreshing.  Personally I wished it was a little sweeter as I have a sweet tooth when it comes to my teas.
We tried the Sea Cream Jasmine Tea has a light whipped sea cream on top, which was a little weird for my taste.  I don't think I can quite adapt to the salty cream mixed with the tea as I like drinks of a sweeter nature.  Still, I am glad that I was able to get a small sample to see if this would be a new drink that I might like.
One of their most recommended specialties is the Mung Bean Milk Tea made with mung bean, jasmine tea, and pandan leaves.  I am not a big fan of beans in general but I thought this was the most interesting and tasty drink.  The texture was not overwhelming and nicely flavored.  It was also sweeter than the other drinks so I did enjoy it.
We also tried the Sunset Passion made with hand squeezed passion fruit.  This was a little more on the tart side and didn't have the oomph that I was looking for.  In the end I decided to get the Strawberry Hibiscus Tea and Mung Bean Milk Tea.
Was this place mind blowing?  Not really but I would be willing to come back if I was in the neighborhood to grab a drink.

7 Leaves Cafe 
9786 Westminster Avenue 
Garden Grove, CA 92844
(714) 590-2790

For those in the know, many people come to Brodard for the nem nướng.  It's a very popular Vietnamese restaurant with two locations in Garden Grove.  I have only been to the restaurant that is tucked away in the same plaza behind the 99 cent store.  If you have never been here, go behind the shopping center and you will see a small sign that will lead you the right place.
I have been to Brodard quite a few times and I have to honestly say that I have never really liked their Vietnamese dishes.  There is a plethora of Vietnamese restaurants in this area and I can easily find better places to eat.  The only things that I love at Brodard are the nem nướng, durian macaron, and durian smoothie! Oh man! I cannot get enough of the stinky goodness that is durian.  Yes, I went there.
The durian macarons definitely have the distinct smell and taste of durians.  I don't honestly like the smell of durian but the taste is exotic and flavorful, albeit an acquired taste.  Their macarons are light and chewy.  If you love durian and macarons, it is definitely worth it to come here for a quick grab to satisfy your craving.
Don't forget the full flavored fresh durian smoothie they have.  Be sure that you are with people who love durians when you eat all this because if they don't.... they just might turn around and run away lol.
Brodard does have one of the best nem nướng in town.  I love the crispy bits inside the Vietnamese spring roll.  You can choose to have the grilled pork patty or shrimp paste patty.  I never remember if I like both and order the combo platter.  Their nem nướng is a bit pricier than most outside but the flavor and texture is very good.  They also have a nice hot fish and egg sauce for you to dip in.
Honestly, the pork nem nướng is better but if you haven't had the seafood paste ones then you should try them both out to compare.  After you have some, you can always order more and take some home for later! Although I wouldn't recommend buying too much because you want it fresh when it is still crispy inside to give the spring roll that extra bite!

Brodard
9892 Westminster Ave 
Garden Grove, CA 92844
(714) 530-1744

With the ever growing popularity of Vietnamese Cajun Seafood in Garden Grove, I am always looking for another tasty place to try. The lines at The Boiling Crab are waaay too long and I have grown tired of that place. It is not worth the long wait and I feel like the flavor has been lacking. One late night we were driving around looking for some delicious Cajun food and unwilling to wait for TBC, I looked up Artist Crawfish Express. Some friends claimed that this is their favorite place, so I had to give it a try. It took me a while to find this location on Trask Ave. because it is tucked away next to a 76.
There wasn't that many people there at night, but service was very friendly. We kind of over ordered. What else is new? I always order to my heart's content. To start off the evening, we had some Garlic Fries that were fresh from the fryer and loaded with garlic. You can't really go wrong with fries and tons of garlic IMHO. On a cold night, this really hit the spot. The extra bonus is they sell Vietnamese Ice Coffee for those who enjoy a refreshingly sweet drink with their heavy meal.
I like that they have Crawfish Egg Rolls. Who doesn't loved fried goodies? They were nicely wrapped and fried well, but they weren't quite what I was looking for. It was more like a Vietnamese egg roll than the flavor of crawfish. For me, I was hoping to taste the savory rich flavor of crawfish embedded inside.
Being as unhealthy as we were, I wanted to try their Artist Wings. This was a lot different from other Vietnamese Cajun restaurants. They used the whole wing here and is glazed versus the other places rub the wings in seasoning then fry it. Personally, I prefer the latter style but I am glad I tried them out. It's good to know for future reference.
My friend wanted to test out her spicy tastebuds and chose to try the Clams in Cajun Garlic Butter. This turned out to be quite spicy for her. I will have to admit that I just sat back and chuckled a little. At that time I wasn't as into clams, aka clammies (what I like to call them endearingly). I thought the flavor could be heavier and have more body. The spices did overpower the overall taste that night.
For me, I wanted the shrimp because you get the most meat/body to eat compared to the weight of the shell. One thing I found odd was they didn't do a combo of flavors so I succumbed to the Texas Cajun in the end. Again, I thought the flavor was only so-so. The shrimps looked nice and plump but I was not amazed by the flavor. It was interesting to see that they are tossed and served in a metal bowl versus the plastic bags I am use to.
This is not the end. We also got a Crawfish Fried Rice, which resembles a jambalaya. It was colorful and full of content. Would I order it again? Nah. Not so impressed.
All in all the food was just so-so to me and not memorable at all. It has been a while since I went there and I am finally able to catch up and review this place. This can also serve as my own reminder when I am pondering where to eat next. While writing this post and looking at all of the pictures, I really really really want some Cajun food to satisfy this hunger but I wouldn't come to this place. I saw online that they offer frozen crawfish for $4 a lb. but I also saw some people saying that it was nasty. If you want to try and report back, you are more than welcome to. One day I might go back to give it another try but currently I will stick with Claws and The Shack. So many better choices around, so keep on searching! =D

Artist Crawfish Express
9041 Trask Ave
Ste A
Garden Grove, CA 92844
(714) 537-7260

Where would be a good place to go after a nice relaxing time at a Korean Bath House? Well for some odd reason I normally get something heavy like Korean BBQ. Not today, I wanted to try something new and tasty. Vientiane Restaurant (Lao & Thai Food) popped up on my radar and I decided that it was time for something new. They are located in a tiny strip mall that can seem a little iffy/sketchy at night, but don't worry there's plenty of parking spaces! Limited seating inside because they are a tiny Mom & Pop shop.
Since I was a bit dehydrated from the bath house, it was nice to have a refreshing glass of Thai Iced Tea.
Their Grilled Marinated Beef (Sua Rong Hai), $5.99, was what really caught my eye. How can I pass up a dish described as grilled tender marinated beef and served with a hot & sour sauce? The meat was very tender but certain chunks had tendons that made it super chewy. Overall the meat was tasty and soft. You pair it with the delectable sauce and wrap the whole thing in a side of cabbage. Normally I don't condone the usage of veggies but the bitterness of the cabbage mixed with the spicy & sour sauce really makes the sweet and savory flavors pop!
No meal is complete without rice and for me at a Thai restaurant it is the Thai Fried Rice! Mmmm! I got the Pork Thai Fried Rice to munch on the side. The rice was very fragrant and nicely stir-fried. A little on the light side but nothing that a little soy sauce couldn't fix. =)
I debated for a while on whether I should get dessert but I caved in the end. The Loti (Thai Crêpes) with Condensed Milk, $1.50, was too great of a deal to pass up! You get a nicely pan-fried crispy pancake rolled with sweet condensed milk. Yummy! One thing though, man this is one OILY dessert! Be sure to use a napkin to absorb the excess oil so you won't feel as guilty. Don't share! Get one for yourself to enjoy! ^_-
All in all I think this a very nice hole in the wall, local place, to enjoy good eats at a great price. Recently I ordered take out and it was just as good. I will definitely be back in the future and most likely after Korean Bath House... come to think of it... that was when I ordered take out too! lol

Vientiane Restaurant (Lao & Thai Food)
10262 Westminster Avenue
Garden Grove, CA 92843
(714) 530-7523

Need to get away? Well I do! It's not that far away from home but I was GLAD to be away. If someone told me that the Hyatt Regency Orange County is really nice, I wouldn't have really listened or believed until now... I was lucky enough to be invited to stay at the Hyatt Regency Orange County. Ms. Lin and I were looking forward to a nice and relaxing stay followed by dinner at TusCA. Growing up in OC, I have stayed at a few hotels but none were as nice as the Hyatt Regency Orange County.
They had just recently spent $25 million renovating the entire place and it shows! On the ground floor they added two new restaurants, TusCA and OC Brewhouse. To sweeten the deal there is a Starbucks open late near the North Tower elevators. After a long day of fun at Disneyland or any other attractions nearby, it is nice to have most everything you need right inside your hotel. Both TusCA and OC Brewhouse are open past 9PM.
As soon as the doors opened I was astonished. The inside atrium looked great. From the outside you wouldn't be able to tell that inside the glass structure was a whole other world. The sun illuminated the atrium. Standing at the bottom, I look up and gaze upon the windows and balconies of the hotel rooms. It's as if I was up in Malibu by the beach with all the palm trees around.
If anyone is as curious as I am... later that night I finally met one of the managers on-site and found out that you can go out on those balconies! The whole day I kept asking Ms. Lin what she thought about them. I was sad that we weren't staying in one of those rooms because it would be so fun! Apparently the balcony doors have sensors and an alert is sent to security if you step out! lol They freak out, but you are allowed to go out... don't know what you would do about security, but I guess it is for your own safety. If I had one of those rooms, I'd be out there all the time scaring them out of their minds. O=D
There are plenty of seating areas for you to relax, unwind, and enjoy the view. Soak in the vibrant colors. The palm trees everywhere embodies the Californian and Los Angeles vibe. Keep a look out for the check-in area because many people over look it. They are not behind the traditional counter here.
I was given a suite with two queen beds. Inside we had a surprise waiting for us. They have a really nice set up for the room. I wish I knew about the VGA and Audio inputs to the TV. Could have watched all the stuff on my laptop on the TV. O=) They offer wireless internet in the hotel that's provided by T-mobile hot spot for $9.99 a day, 24hr-cycle. Another great feature of the room is that they provide a microwave and fridge, which would be very convenient for those who stay longer than a day. I wished I was staying there longer so I can use all the features of the room and to check out their complimentary StayFit Fitness Center. Oh well, maybe next time.
The suite is compartmentalized into two rooms. Instead of a wall separating the two rooms, a glass window allows you to view the entire space in one shot. Ms. Lin and I joked about the glass separator and how you must be really comfortable with your guest because there wouldn't be any privacy. Don't worry, I discovered that it is like a window because it comes with a pull down shade. Of course if there is an exhibitionist within you, feel free to utilize the glass window. ^_-
I enjoyed a nice night of sleep, when I finally went to bed of course. That's when the sun rises, but we were not bothered by the sun since the curtains kept the room dark. I sunk into the soft yet supportive pillows and melted away. When it was time for check out at noon, we were in a deep sleep and didn't want to leave. We called for late check out and stayed until 1pm, which was nice.
The bathroom as nice and clean. They had a variety of amenities, mostly the typical ones you get at every hotel but here they also give toothpaste! YAY! A good one too, which was very convenient. I wished all hotels gave the toothpaste to save me the trouble of carrying one. O=p The shower pressure was good so that we could get squeaky clean.
All in all it was a very enjoyable stay. I am still amazed at how nice the hotel looks from the inside. They are very kid friendly too! Apparently the have "Kid Suites" that have bunk beds. Not that I would want those rooms but very convenient for families visiting and vacationing. I saw in the elevator that they offer free dining for kids under 12 yrs old at TusCA with each adult meal purchased. What a great deal! If I were a parent planning a family trip to Disneyland, this would definitely be a great hotel to stay at. It's close and offers complimentary shuttle service. Beats paying the parking fee at Disneyland. Ms. Lin and I both really enjoyed our stay. She will now be thinking about booking at the Hyatt Regency when they have their annual training at the convention center! Be sure to check it out if you need a place to stay around there as well as walk on down to Joe's Italian Ice. =)
Hyatt Regency Orange County
11999 Harbor Blvd
Garden Grove, CA 92840
(714) 750-1234
www.orangecounty.hyatt.com