Garden Grove

West Grove carves out a quieter corner of the busy city of Garden Grove. “It’s a throwback neighborhood; it's so friendly. It’s almost hard to describe; you really have to experience it," says Geoff Tackney, Broker and owner of GMT Realty. "The litmus test I give buyers is to drive down the street and wave to people. Eighty to 90 percent of them will wave back to you with a smile.” Mindy Luong, Broker and Realtor who lives and works in the area, says the area is older, but it's beginning to reinvent itself as more people move to the western part of the city. The residential streets of West Grove are distinctly suburban, with older homes set back from sidewalks. Palm trees cast long shadows across the network of front yards and driveways. Most West Grove homes were built in the 1960s, and previous owners carefully updated and maintained, making them sought-after properties today. “People are hunting the properties and making high offers,” Luong says. “There are a few newer houses, but developers have plans to build more.” The ubiquitous ranch-style homes of the neighborhood start at $735,000 but can exceed $1.1 million. Modern traditional homes, often with Spanish influence like stucco siding and red barrel tiles, go from just over $1 million to $1.3 million. Luong says West Grove is known for its good schools, which Niche confirms. Any school a West Grove child might attend has earned an A from Niche. Most kids will start at Enders Elementary School before advancing to Hilton D. Bell Intermediate School. At Pacifica High School, students explore their talents and interests through extracurriculars, visual and performing arts programs and college and career readiness pathways. Students can earn college credit or begin learning a trade before graduating. A handful of parks ring the neighborhood, so residents in any corner of the neighborhood can easily get outside. This six-acre Edgar Park shares space with the Boys and Girls Club of Garden Grove, off Cerulean Avenue, surrounded by residential streets. Tall, mature trees dot the landscape and provide shade from the hot southern California sun. The jungle gym and swings sit on a rubber surface, offering some protection for kids as they run, climb and swing. Residents enjoy meeting up with friends for games at Chapman Sports Park. The complex is home to lighted courts and fields that accommodate rounds of tennis and street hockey. “With all the young people moving in, it's starting to get trendier,” says Luong. “There are more businesses opening, like restaurants and places to go on the weekend.” Valley View Street is the neighborhood’s primary retail and restaurant corridor. Locals enjoy dining out at West Grove spots like On the Rocks Bar & Grill and Augustino’s Italian Restaurant. Familiar chain restaurants like Shakey’s Pizza and Dairy Queen also cluster along the thoroughfare. Just off Valley View Street in the center of the neighborhood, West Grove Center is a popular hangout. Residents can catch a movie and then enjoy dinner at one of the many restaurants in the complex. Valley View Street also leads to Eastgate Plaza, where residents shop for groceries at Vons, get their nails done at one of the salons, pick out a new book at the used book store or grab dinner at one of the restaurants. There are plenty of ways for West Grove residents to connect with neighbors and fellow citizens of Garden Grove. “I see Garden Grove as a very supportive community,” says Luong. “They have so many activities for everyone — seniors and kids. There are a lot of clubs and organizations that want to build up the community. The city has a great mission.” From youth sports leagues to professional networking organizations, residents of any age can find something that interests them. The city of Garden Grove hosts various events throughout the year, like workshops and festivals. Most residents will require a car to get around the neighborhood and around Garden Grove. State Route 22 and Interstate 405 run across the bottom of West Grove. Garden Grove’s city center is eight miles away. Seal Beach is seven miles to the west, making it easy to spend a day at the beach.

If you'd like a steady supply of Seoul-ful barbecue or bulgogi close to home, consider moving to this pocket of Garden Grove. Like the well-known Los Angeles Koreatown, this one is notable for a concentration of Korean American businesses, though it's more low-key. Widespread recognition outside of the community is still pending; it was only in 2019 that the Garden Grove City Council officially named it "Orange County Koreatown." The area became an established cultural enclave in the 1970s, though the seed was planted in 1955. That's when, according to the LA Times, Korean War veteran and Olympian diver Sammy Lee bought a home in Garden Grove after being denied the opportunity elsewhere in the county. Like most of the city, it's a comfortable, though densely populated neighborhood. The residential streets have a suburban vibe, with clean sidewalks accompanying small front yards embellished by greenery and flowers. Midcentury designs are common — primarily single-level homes, including ranch-styles, though there are some older or newer builds as well. Single-family two- to four-bedroom homes are priced from about $600,000 to $1.5 million. Town houses and condos cost a bit less: $400,000 for a one-bedroom to over $600,000 for a three-bedroom version. Courtney O'Steen, a Realtor with Keller Williams Empire Estates, shares why homebuyers make the pick: "They choose to live here compared to other areas deep in Orange County because of the affordability," she says, explaining that that translates to more square footage per dollar. Another selling point she mentions is that it's ideal for commuters working in other parts of the county or even Downtown LA. Parents will be glad to know that the schools are highly rated; a positive pretty much expected in Orange County. Stanford Elementary won a Pivotal Practice Award for its student intervention services and was named one of the 900 best elementary schools in the state by U.S. News and World Report. At the next levels, there's Alamitos Intermediate School and Rancho Alamitos High School. All three public schools have A- grades from Niche. A private option in the neighborhood, Olive Crest Academy, serves kindergarten through high school levels and is accredited by the National Association of Private Special Education Centers. Come autumn, join your neighbors at the OC Arirang Festival, a four-day Korean American celebration that's been held for over 40 years. It's loaded with vendors, family-friendly activities and food, food, food. Of course, you can count on Korean cuisine being available any time: many great options are minutes from your doorstep. Plus, grocers like H-Mart and Korea Plaza have the ingredients you'll need for your own recipes. Other shopping and dining in the neighborhood is varied, so you can switch up the flavor whenever you like. Close by state routes 39 and 22, Koreatown gives you easy access to regional destinations and attractions. It's not far from Santa Ana, Anaheim's Disneyland and popular coastal spots like Huntington Beach. This Garden Grove neighborhood offers a desired Orange County lifestyle with a cultural twist.