Lots of interesting vendors with interesting things. Hardly any places to sit and eat, but very…read morespacious at the same time. Things are not cheap, so expect to pay a little extra compared to what you would find outside of the market.

We LOVE coming to 626 OC!!! We look forward to it all year. Great food choices. Some were better…read morethan others (I have edited my food post after a further review). Thumbs up to Cafe 949 (great lobster and garlic noodles) and MJ's Bellychon Basket for excellent lechon, Daddy's Catch for great dusted fries and lemonade, Molly Kitchen for grilled octopus, HGG Tanghulu for interesting sugar glazed fruits on a stick. Thumbs sideways for New England Seafood for lack of flavored oysters, and Bonanza Bakery and Cafe for creepy realistic animal shaped mousse cakes. Thumbs down for Kanto Filipino Street Food for chewy (not in a good way) fried chicken skin (old and rubbery probably leftovers from the previous day) and lack luster flavorless lechon. Overall 626 is an experience too good to pass up even though some foods are a disappointment. Atmosphere here is great, service is excellent! Just be choosy when making your selections. There were more to tastes we wanted to try, but our bellies and take home bag was stuffed.

It's a traditional for VNese folks to go here either for selfies or trying to get flowers or decks…read moreor clothing for Tet. Quite fun and festive, went during the weekday daytime so less traffic and easy to shop. Got some traditional flowers and that is pretty much it. Vendors are nice and kind and friendly. A lot of vendors to choose from a bargain too if you know how, so the value can depending on how good you can bargain. I parked on next street but they do have the back mall parking lot. Overall it was festive and happens once a year plus great to support the community.

Yelp must have reminded me 50x to review this so here it is:…read more Unfortunately the Asian Garden Flower festival only happens once a year about 3 to 4 weeks before the lunar new year "TET" n ends about a week later, it's better than the NGUYEN HUE STREET Flower market IN SAIGON. Why? As I recall Nguyen hue didn't have a food court. This had a food court which took over a side street n boy was that fun, they had my favorite "banh khot fr Vung Tau" grilled lobster tail. Soups, pancakes etc.. all the yummy street food you can afford wo having to sell your house these days. The flowers were amazing orchids, gladiolus there were many juicery stands, beef jerky stores, I bought a nice fake Chanel sweater only $25 just as good as the real thing. They also sell red envelopes for "lixi" happy or lucky money, on week ends they had live music n lion dance. I love the Asian Garden mall the only indoor mall we have here. Vietnamese from 49 states came here every year n most will immediately make plan to move to this land of milk n honey, it used to be really easy to move here n so cheap too. An average home I used to sell for $140k is now $1.4 million in Little Saigon so most VN tourists will just hang out here enjoy the ambiance, the food n have to go home, even then it's so worth it to visit a home away from home.

This year, the Original Lobster Festival moved from Long Beach to Fountain Valley, and it was very…read moresuccessful. The venue was spacious and clean. Lots of room for entertainment, with the same delicious fresh lobster. We had a great time. We decided to spend a few more bucks and try the VIP experience this time, all four of us thought it was a good move. We would have enjoyed without it but this VIP seating and expedited service made it extra enjoyable. The lobster was amazing, they were flown from Maine, steamed lived, came out amazingly fresh and tasty. The staff cut and prepared for us. Music entertainment was excellent this year, too. We enjoyed both the Bruno Mars and Michael Jackson tributes. The DJ also played great music in-between. We danced a lot on the dance floor and had a great time. Other food and merchandise booths were also fun to walk around and visit. We bought kettle corns, Korean BBQ squid and meats. My wife also bought a pair of pants that was pretty unique.

I guess this festival is hit-and-miss. Some have a good time, others don't…read more.. ... luckily, we had a great time! It's been decades since I've been, and it was back at the Long Beach spot. I went more than enough times that I felt it was enough for a lifetime. BUT! Cuzzo-in-law sorta twisted everyone's arms to go - she went as far as paying for everyone's entrance tickets. (There were 14 of us) AND told us about it after, so we didn't really have a choice. We're so glad we went, though, because we really had fun! Our tickets were pre-paid so all we had to do was show up with our QR codes and in we were. We came through on that scheduled Saturday afternoon. I was pleasantly surprised it wasn't as crowded as I anticipated, so yay for that. I was a bit hungry and couldn't wait for the rest of my party to come through to feast on the lobster combo all together, all at the same time. I made the mistake of stopping by one of the vendors for alligator bites, catfish/shrimp combo and sweet tea for the unbargain price of $56 (see attached pictures.) Too many fillers (fries) and tea had way too much ice. I guess that's what I get for being impatient. Don't get me wrong: the catfish, gator and shrimp were delicious, just not $56 delicious. Party complete meant lobster combos! We all went for the 1.5lb'ers that came with a slice of watermelon, butter, bread and coleslaw. Also a slice of lemon, if that's your thing. For the most part, it was easy to crack the shells for the lobster meat, but some parts were tougher than others. We had the option of 2.5 pounders but we figure that's too much especially when we wanted to try other eats. We had a kid with us, so I treated him to some popcorn and deep fried Oreos. Those were bargain buys! Someone also got funnel cake which cleansed the palate for the next grub! We got to try some shumai and potstickers and beer to wash it all down. There was a stage for karaoke and another for shows. There were carnival rides. Tons of vendors for unique souvenirs as well as common ones. Plenty to see for sure. Oh, and how cool is it that they provided paper towels at all the tables! (Wanna give my Auntie GodMom for shouldering ALL the expenses because she just generous like that! Oh, what a treat!) Parking wasn't too far - about the distance of two average long blocks. Street parking is also available if you're lucky to find one. But it is green PRICING? $15 to get in, $38 for the lobster combo. So glad it wasn't a miss for us! I had such a great time that I might reconsider going annually now... maybe at the Long Beach location since it's closer to home.

The annual Tet Festival is hosted and sponsored by various organizations for the community. This…read morewas my first time and "wow"!!! From what I understand the location varies between Mile Square Park, Garden Grove Park or OC Fairgrounds-- so look for flyers, announcements or communication each year. The 2025 Year of Snake festival was held at Garden Grove Park. The place was PACKED. I had to do several U-turns and drove rounds to locate the entrance due the congestion and lack of signage to direct traffic. Once a parking space is secured, the lines to purchased tickets were disorganized - one for cash vs card but again you don't really see the delineation until you reached the front. The organizers need to have signs posted higher for better visibility. Upon entering the festival grounds, it's sensory OVERLOAD. There's sooo much booths selling goods, foods and lots of large companies joining to celebrate the Lunar New Year. There's tons of free swags if you're willing to stay in line to spin wheels for cookies, totes, drinks, etc. There's also lots of decoration for pictures. It's amazing so many events-goers dressed up in the Vietnamese costumes. Very pretty!!! Overall, I think it's great atmosphere and fun area for community to come together to celebrate this important holiday.

Took my baby to this Tet Festival locates in Fountain valley on Euclid. Parking is free if you can…read morefind some on the road side but be warned, that is very crowded and will often require a hike to get to the destination haha Price: Free! Parking: Free! Some cute entertainment with Vietnamese singers and I'm sure they have things like Ao Dai contestants etc Also lots of booths giving out free swag and even free health screening!! That's awesome. The food booths were great! I had nuoc mia and thit Nng and they were both legit! 3$ for a skewer sounds expensive but once you taste it you will understand that it's worth it! I literally went back to buy a second one. There's an area that's set up with displays like Vietnam for photo ops and it's soo cute! They have little tables and props right by the lake and it's great for photos. Overall, had a great time and hope to go again next year!

Attended the 2nd Annual OC Chocolate Festival again this year. This is a charitable event…read morebenefiting the Fountain Valley Community Foundation that is held at the Fountain Valley Sports Park & Recreation Center. The festival runs only the Friday night and Saturday of the weekend it occurs and this year tickets sold out! I bought my tickets in advance online. The regular $25 admission gets you 8 chocolate/food tasting tickets and 3 wine tickets. If you are not a wine drinker, you can trade your wine tickets for additional chocolate tickets. There are many different vendors here including chocolate companies, wine sellers, candy makers, ice cream and gelato vendors, bakeries, and various boutiques. Many booths at the festival are there representing local businesses also. My friends and I always have fun sampling the different goodies and wines available. We were stuffed by the end of our tastings filled with yummy gelato, cheese, wine, stoli chocolate-covered raspberry martinis, caramel apples, flatbread, ice cream, and chocolates from Luisa Chocolatiere, Godiva, See's, M Josephs, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, Lindt Chocolate, Sueann Molina, Chuao Chocolatier to name a few. Volunteers were circulating also with samples of pumpkin pie. We were definitely "chocolate wasted" by the end our tastings to quote our friend, Nick. Who doesn't love chocolate and wine?! A fun annual event for chocolate lovers to benefit a great local charity.

Why have I never heard of this before?!?!…read more This chocolate extravaganza was at an all-time high for me this weekend. Thanks to my sweet treats bff and her "foodie senses," we were on a mission to get our chocolate fix! The O.C.C. fest went on from Nov. 5-6 only. VIP tickets were sold out for Nov. 5th. On Nov. 6th, it's $25 per person. At the door, you receive 8 tasting tickets and 3 wine tickets. Yessss! We tried everything and anything inside. There were 3 different rooms. Each one had different chocolate/desserts and wine tastings. I'd have to say that I had my 3 top faves all lined up by the end of the day. So here they are.. 1) Socially Sweet Events by Mijauno Pham. She had beautifully decorated cupcakes and cookies. The setup was very cute and girly. I tried the strawberry with vanilla frosting and the banana chocolate. Both cupcakes were moist and delicious! I also tried the chocolate chip marshmellow cookie which was also pretty good. A definite two thumbs up for her and her mini-cupcakes! 2) Ruhl Family Vineyards by Al and Elain Ruhl. They were such a sweet pair. Uber friendly and explained in detail about their wine and what they've done over the years. I could tell they loved what they did. Their Merlot and Chardonnay were exquisite. The best I've tasted at the O.C.C. fest! I'm not too picky between reds and whites, but I have to say that the Chardonnay sure won me over! 3) Mangiamo Gelato Caffe by Bob Hoxsie. Big fan! His champagne gelato was unlike anything I've ever tasted. It had the perfect blend of gelato and bubbly. I went back a second and third time to savor more but they ran out completely! Bummer! It's alright though, I'm glad I got to taste it. It's a must-try! We spent a good three and a half hours there enjoying all the desserts, complimentary food such as steak and pasta salad, and not to mention all the free wine samples on top of the others! I'm not trying to sound like a major alcoholic (or maybe I am) but hellloooooooo buzzzz hahaha. It wasn't a huge, fancy place but if you go with friends or family that love trying new sweets and wines, it's definitely a place for you! I'm not sure when the next event will be but if you keep a look out on their website or info, I'm sure you'll be able to get more details. Here were my select contacts/information: 1) Socially Sweet Events by Mijanou Pham. Email: mijanou@sociallysweetevents.com Website: www.sociallysweetevents.com Phone: (949) 244 - 4280 Specialties: Gift baskets, parties, desserts, florals and decor, party favors, corporate, catering, showers, invitations, fundraisers, weddings, and more! 2) Ruhl Family Vineyards by Al and Elaine Ruhl. Email: kurtruhl@hotmail.com Specialties: Only available for retail at two fine wine establishments -California Wine and Cheese and Holiday Wine Cellar. Please call ahead to verify inventory. 3) Mangiamo Gelato Caffe by Bob Hoxsie. Website: www.mangiamogelatocaffe.com Phone: (714) 536-5388 Specialties: Can serve anywhere from a group of 30 to 180 people. For pick-up of 30-180 people, 24 hour notice is needed. For 120-350 people, reservations must be made in advance.

Gave it a miss for a handful of years, but went back in 2024…read more But why? I like the Street Fair for the nostalgic element of my childhood: always coming here with my family. But now: so much of the food is fried, inauthentic and expensive. The only good thing might have been some of the music stages. While I'm glad we gave it another go, I think we'll miss the next few years again. 2026: 5/100

As many know The Orange International Street Fair began in 1973 ! Ever since I can remember, I've…read morebeen attending this event. If you missed this year's, Labor Day weekend international Food, fair event, please make sure that you attend the next one. There is definitely something here for everyone, the schools, dance studios, you name it. Everything for everyone is here! I like the booth that read " meet the Orange County mayor". I didn't have any questions for him though. This year there was a wonderful area specifically designed for children. Apparently the restaurant, Canes chicken fingers, gave a lot of donations for this area. The only thing I didn't care for was the timeshare booth, they really didn't advertise what their intent was. I noticed that everybody was enjoying the food, it's just such a wonderful event! In conclusion, can't wait to go next year again, because it was really well organized, very clean, everyone seem to be polite. Parking was not an issue for us. We got there very early, and the weather was great.

I won tickets to the Taste of Huntington Beach from Yelp! The event is $65 per person and benefits…read morethe HB Central Library. The event brings in a lot of vendors in and around Huntington Beach. This was my first Taste of HB event. There were breweries, wineries, food, and even grocery vendors. The food and drink is all inclusive with admission which means you get your money's worth just by walking around and trying everything out. It began at 11 am for VIP and 12 pm for the general public going until 4 pm. If you brought your lawn chair you can camp out for the entire time enjoying the live entertainment and sunshine. You park at the HB Sports complex where parking is $1 for the entire day or you could valet for $5. Highlights for me were the spicy edamame from Reef's Edge Grill (Shorebreak), Three Twins ice cream, Strongbow cider, Pan Roast from Ritter's, and the corn and watermelon samples from Solita's Tacos. Great event and can't wait to check it out next year.

Bought 2 vip tickets to this event. We came during vip hour…read moreand they were serving mainly appetizers and drinks that time. It was a little hard to find empty tables to seat since there weren't much seats avaliable. During tasting hours, we tried so much food from the booths. I appreciate how Taste of HB has many tasting booths (40+) for everyone to try! The lines weren't that much of a wait, but there was a lot of people so it was hard to get through. We went for multiple rounds for most of the booths and enjoyed every booth's food! Our experience here was enjoyable. They had bands playing and other giveaways going on. Parking wasn't a haggle. I'm planning to go here again this upcoming year! Can't wait. You guys should go check it out.

Daughter wanted to go here and it was a bad choice. Unless you are into Pokémon or Japanese Anime,…read morethere was nothing to do here. Only 2 cherry blossom trees survived the spring before the festival so that was a bust. There were food booths but they were not that great of choice of food so we didn't get anything. The grounds were wet still from the rain so walking around was a little comber some. It was a nice sunny day but not a great day for this festival. Needs a change of how it is run Lastly, the traffic is terrible when trying to find parking. It was a zoo and I was surprised nobody got run over in the parking lot.

The OC Cherry Blossom Festival event features a variety of live performances and activities both…read moretraditional and contemporary, including taiko drumming, minyo, classical dance, gagaku music, origami, ikebana, cosplay contests, anime characters, and more.⁣ My boys had fun in the craft area. We had a few face stencils. My son had a bat on his face and I got cherry blossoms on my hand. We saw traditional Japanese tea for $5 near the garden section. Plenty of tables to sit at and enjoy the event. There was a variety of traditional and Japanese street food to try in one place. I had the Tokyo Yakisiba spicy noodles with egg and it was so good (it was worth the wait). You can see Happy Man cooking the food and spreading his happiness. Shake Ramen was a different kind of way to eat ramen and it was so tasty. The fried Oreos from drizzle were so addicting and melted in your mouth . It was nice to see everyone coming out to support OCCBFest since this was the first time in 3 years. Entrance was free and parking was free, plus free entertainment. The Orange County Cherry Blossom Festival has been inspired by and helped to fund an international student exchange program between Huntington Beach and its sister city, Anjo, Japan.

Ticket Clarification for Future Guests…read more Be aware: the "Flex 2-Day Snow Pass" is not a two-day pass. It is valid for one day only. While it says good for 2 people, both people must attend on the same day. You cannot use the ticket on separate days for different family members. If you attempt to do so, you will be charged again. We learned this the hard way. Read the fine print carefully before purchasing.

It is true, Winter Fest is quite expensive.. if you can get past that... then it's a cute place…read morefor winter fun for us Southern Californians. The kids love the carnival rides, the tubing ramp and of course ice skating. This year they did upgrade the ice skates-- so no rolled ankles this year! The food is fair food-- so don't expect anything healthy or all that impressive.

This was a pretty fun event - not cheap, but fun. The ticket booths at the entrance were really…read moredisorganized and slow. We could not figure out why it was taking so long for each customer. Then, supervisor dude in pig hat started to sell admission tickets, cash only, on the side of the lines and that was awesome!! So apparently the ticket booths were slow because of credit card transactions or just customer indecision about what to buy? We heard supervisor pig hat dude talking to his staff at the end of the days about ideas for next year on how to alleviate the congestion, so hopefully it will run more smoothly! $10.00 admission just gets you in the door, then $10.00 for 5 BBQ tastes and $10.00 for 5 Beer tastes. The highlight for me was Three Men & A Smoker - they had delicious bacon wrapped meatballs and this super smokey corn souffle! My other favorite was Que'n & Brew'n and their Moink Balls - also bacon wrapped meatballs! If there were any other bacon wrapped meatballs at that festival, they would have also been my favorite! I'm monotonous and boring, I know. I felt bad for customers coming late in the day because the Beer area was totally depleted and out of samples. But there were still booths with BBQ! Definitely a fun time with live music and lots of happy tummies!

I've watched the OC BBQ Festival grow over the last few years, and it's been fun to participate --…read moreeither as a visitor or as a judge. The competition has always drawn local teams from around the area, from 20 teams in its inception to a whopping 70 teams this year. In years past, there was just the car show and a few vendors. For this year, they really increased the amount of entertainment and family fun activities. That's probably part of the reason why the admission price was raised, but all of the proceeds go to charity. If the event organizers are reading, I would suggest having some sort of an "early-bird" admission price, starting at $10 and gradually raising the price as things get closer to the event. At a lower price point, you could bring in a lot more people through the gates, that's for sure.