Westminster

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.

If you want to live in a culturally vibrant community, choosing Little Saigon is a cinch. Known for welcoming a significant influx of Vietnamese refugees starting in the 1970s, today it remains one of the nation's best for authentic Vietnamese food and cultural experiences. The residential streets evoke quintessential Orange County suburbia as you walk along tidy sidewalks past well-maintained yards. Landscaping, greenery and flowers add to the ambiance. The area is adjacent to Garden Grove and close to Seal Beach and Huntington Beach. Homebuyers can choose from a range of home sizes, styles and price points in Little Saigon, but you’ll need to act fast. “If it's on a good street, over 100 people might come to the open house," says Tommy Du, Realtor, broker and owner of Tommy Du Realty & Mortgage. He points out that offers come in as soon as a house goes on the market. Even with a trend toward higher prices, most homes sell in about a week, according to Du: "A lot of people pay cash because it's a very hot market." The majority of single-family homes here date to the midcentury and include ranch-style homes, traditionals and those with Spanish elements like archways and tile roofs. Prices for these range from about $725,000 to $1.25 million, depending on the size and upgrades. A limited number of homes built in recent decades typically offer four to five bedrooms and attached multicar garages. They're priced slightly higher than their vintage counterparts — from around $800,000 to $1.6 million. Some of these are in gated communities with homeowners associations. Town houses and condos are also available and priced from about $500,000 to $800,000. Homebuyers who have downsized or want to stay economical might opt for a manufactured home. They start at about $90,000 for a modest two-bedroom and go as high as $180,000 for larger models. There are multiple elementary schools here, so younger kids benefit from those within walking distance of their homes. John Murdy Elementary is a National Blue Ribbon School with an A- from Niche. Murdy offers a Vietnamese dual immersion program. James Irvine Intermediate also earned an A- from Niche, which lists it among the top 400 best public middle schools in the state. And La Quinta High is a Niche Standout High School with an A grade. Wherever you live in Little Saigon, shops and restaurants are close by. The corridor along Bolsa Avenue is brimming with choices. Lee's Sandwiches, a regional chain, offers banh mi options like barbecue pork or sardines and standard sandwiches on croissants or baguettes. The company's coffee spot is right next door. Stop by the Asian Village shopping center and Asian Garden Mall for bakeries, noodle shops, juice bars and plenty of boutique shops. Don't miss the annual Flower Festival at Asian Garden Mall. The event provides abundant fresh flowers, plants, and other items customary for the Lunar New Year or Tết. At the end of the Flower Festival, it's time to watch the Tết Parade, featuring festival floats, music and performers. In the summertime, you can shop the Night Market for food and specialty goods — It's held on weekends at the mall. For some outdoor time, whether sports or a relaxing walk, visit one of the neighborhood parks. Bowling Green Park features a sand-base playground, covered picnic tables and a basketball court. From Little Saigon, you'll have close access to roadways like Interstate 405 and state routes 22 and 39. Take a day trip to any of Southern California's top leisure and entertainment destinations, including Disneyland, Knott's Berry Farm and Huntington and Seal Beach. With its wealth of culture in a desired Orange County location, Little Saigon sets you up for a superb lifestyle.