Star View

If you’re looking for Vietnamese food, you’ve come to the right place. Right on the cusp of Little Saigon, the Star View area is well known for having some of the best banh mi options in Westminster. “It’s an excellent area. The neighbors are super nice, and it’s clean and well-maintained,” says real estate broker Theresa Nguyen. “Plus, you’re within walking distance of supermarkets, restaurants and shopping plazas, so it’s convenient even for the 55-plus communities in the area,” Nguyen notes.

With everything from age-restricted communities to mobile home parks to contemporary ranch-style homes with investment opportunities, Star View has a home to suit almost anyone. Some streets feature tightly packed Craftsman-inspired builds with prominent garages, while others include spacious, million-dollar properties with a driveway large enough to park both your car and RV. Those seeking single-family homes are likely to see listings from $800,000 to a million dollars, while senior mobile home communities like Royal Garden Estates offer 1,200-square-foot homes for under $200,000. “The senior communities are very high in demand,” Nguyen says, and many of them sit right off Bolsa Avenue, which is stacked with shops and restaurants.

One of the most popular spots to shop along Bolsa Avenue is Phuoc Loc Tho, known to many as Asian Garden Mall. Stacked with clothing boutiques, nail and beauty salons, jewelers and restaurants, this orderly strip features a stunning pagoda-style entrance with a grand glass façade. The parking lot is almost always busy, but local bus routes help keep the area accessible and make it easy to jump from one popular shopping center to another. At nearby Saigon City Marketplace, you’ll find multiple restaurants that specialize in the mouthwatering banh mi, a traditional Vietnamese sandwich. One of the most frequented spots is Bahn Mi Saigon 168, which is open 24 hours and known for its crisp yet fluffy homemade baguettes. A few blocks south, you can experience another traditional meal at Hot Pot City, where you can customize your raw ingredients and cook at your own pace in a steaming pot of aromatic broth.

If you’re hoping for American cuisine, your best bet is Pavilions Place, which is also home to a Target. Here, you’ll find fast casual favorites like Lazy Dog Restaurant and Bar alongside bright counter-serve options such as Maui Hawaiian BBQ. Once you’ve satisfied your hunger, head north across Edinger Avenue to catch a movie at the theater in Bella Terra, an impressively landscaped open-air mall with everything from Ulta Beauty to REI. Next door, you can stock up on essentials at Costco and pick up all the fresh produce you need at Whole Foods.

Once you’ve stocked the fridge, head over to Mile Square Regional Park for an afternoon under the sun. Covering more than 600 acres, this massive park features three golf courses, baseball fields, fishing lakes and an archery range. Paddle boats are a great summer activity for the kids, and large picnic areas make it easy to invite the whole family out for a weekend barbecue. And when the Lunar New Year rolls around, the park really comes alive: Each year, Mile Square hosts the free OC Tet festival, a traditional Vietnamese celebration with colorful lion dances, food vendors, carnival rides and an impressive firecracker ceremony. With more than 40,000 people in attendance, it’s one event you won’t want to miss.

When it comes to education, students in Star View have lots of options. Depending on where you live, you could be zoned for either the Garden Grove Unified School District, the Westminster School District or the Ocean View School District. Garden Grove is the largest of the three, and many students will start their academic journey at Carrillo Elementary, which maintains a grade of B+ on Niche. Next door, McGarvin Intermediate School maintains a grade of A on Niche and offers eighth graders an annual trip to Washington, D.C., bringing history to life with additional visits to historic Williamsburg and Philadelphia. And at La Quinta High, which also maintains a grade of A on Niche, students can get a jump start on their futures with dual enrollment courses at local community colleges. With more schools, restaurants and housing options than stars in the sky, Star View truly has something for everyone.

Written By

Hannah Rainey

Photography Contributed By

Michael Rutt